Color Me Wild (part 3)

And to the next-to-last conclusion I've come to (that I'm going to blog about).

3. We can always change our minds. 
Few things in life are so easily remedied. We may not like what we've picked out once it entirely covers our walls. Perhaps the black wall will be too much, or the orange room too orangey. Thankfully, paint is inexpensive, and it doesn't take too much time or effort to re-paint, especially if it is just one room.

A few years ago when I moved away from home to go to college, I discovered how much I enjoyed moving. In less than 7 years, I have lived in 7 places (going on 8). And I have looked forward to moving each time. I get a thrill from re-organizing our furniture and other stuff. I love purging stuff I haven't used in a little while.

(Here is a completely unrelated photo, just for look-how-cute-he-is sake.)

My mom worries a bit when she hears this. She once said, "Oh no, you aren't going to be one of those families that moves ever 2-3 years are you?" My first reaction was "Well, that would kind of be nice." But in reality, I don't really want to spend the rest of my life moving. I was born and raised in one home, and I enjoyed that. I'd like my kids to have a similar experience. This may not be the home, but we're getting closer.

To balance my desire to be constantly changing, I can always buy some new paint and perhaps a couple new decor items to change the look of our home without having to move. And hopefully we will, so that in 30 years our decorating style won't look like what the 1970-80's styles look to us now.

Which leads me on to the final conclusion I've realized while preparing our home (see next post).

Color Me Wild (part 2)

I mentioned I've come to a few conclusions. Here's the next.

2. Go with what I really want. 
I had almost talked myself into painting a green in the main entry/living room/hall areas, but I really (deep down inside) wanted a softer, cooler, turquoise. 

I had a "color consultation" with one of my best friends and old roommate Jessica (thanks, again, Jess!!), who not only knows me really well, but has great taste when it comes to art, style and decor. She had some great ideas and insights that I hadn't yet discovered (like how the yellow-ish countertops probably would clash with most yellow paints in the kitchen).

After going through ideas with her, we decided that the turquoise really could be a neutral color--it goes with everything--browns, blacks, whites, yellows, greens, reds. I was holding back on that color because I didn't think it went well with the couches we have, and I thought I'd re-paint in a few years when I bought furniture that would go with that color. BUT, we're going to go with what I really want now. Besides, some toss pillows I found a little while back will help tie that color in, as well a newly purchased rug that I may be getting.

The color we chose is flattering on all complexion types--have you ever seen anyone who didn't look good wearing a color like this?

(this isn't quite the color of our paint, but close)

Men or women--redheads, brunettes, blonds, etc.

They all look great in this color.

So, I'm sold on it. We'll see how it looks soon. Things are really coming along. Wahoo!

Color Me Wild (part 1)

A little while before actually closing on our home I have been thinking, dreaming and researching about the colors I want painted on our walls. Sam and I long ago decided we wanted bright colors in our home. Nothing against white or more neutral colors--they have their place, too.

It's quite a challenge when we're starting completely from scratch, with limited furniture and no plans in the next little while to purchase more to fill the home.

My mind has changed numerous times. And I've received all sorts of reactions to my ideas: "oh, that'd be cool!" to "that color won't help when it comes to reselling the home."

After flipping through magazines and books, seeing what others have done, and buying things to spruce up what we already have, I've come to many conclusions and decisions (more to come in future posts).

1. Lots of Color
Some of the color-picking stuff I read from paint stores, etc. stated to stick with one color and paint different walls/rooms/trim different shades or hues of that color, and then picking another color for accent walls or whatever.

I like too many colors to stick to just one or two, but I was unsure how to do it without making my house look like a circus or a theme park. Fortunately, I kept reading and found more tips on incorporating color into a whole house.

A Better Homes and Gardens book Color Solutions offered these possible suggestions to unify the home and connect rooms with colors:
-  Use a thread of color: each room its own personality with a single hue as a theme that runs throughout.   Play that color again and again.
- Set up a dialogue: use a partial wall or peninsula as a dividing line, use same trim color, bring touches of each area’s color into the other. For best results, choose two colors that are closely related and similar in value.
- Unify with white trim.
- Choose a limited palette: repeat same colors over and over.
- Play with light:  choose 2 closely related hues and apply the lighter one to the sunniest space.

So, we're basically going to paint a different color in every room, but we'll tie it all together with white trim and by repeating colors that exist elsewhere in the home.
Here are some of the colors we'll be using (we still have some to pick out):

And here's a sneak peak of an idea I had in my head for a while that my color-consultant friend Jessica (more on her later, too) found in print form from a nifty paint idea sampler pamphlet at The Home Depot.

This doesn't look as good on the computer as it does on paper... But I can't wait to see it in our bedroom, especially with the quilt my mom made us for our wedding.

Generic Kind of Girl

I generally purchase all generic brands, because they are cheaper and I don't notice a difference in quality or taste or whatever.

I am, however, faithful to a few more-expensive brand-name items, because they have proved themselves worthy of the higher expense. For example:

- Gap jeans. Every time I don't buy them and opt instead for something different, I regret it. They fit me much better and they last forever. I heart Gap jeans.

- Mary Kay foundation and powder. I don't feel this guck on my face, and I don't see it either, because it blends in so well to my facial coloring. I can't say that about other foundations and powders--more or less expensive.

- Bath and Body Works anti-bac soap. I actually don't buy this because of the anti-bac properties (in fact, I wish it had non-anti-bac options), but this soap is the best. Especially since they re-formulated it and now it is super silky smooth and leaves you with the softest skin ever. I stock up every semi-annual sale, so I get it for about $2 a bottle.

-Running/exercise/hiking shoes. These have got to be good quality--nike, asics, saucony.

That's about it. Everything else I opt for whatever is cheaper, and that's usually the generic stuff. Diapers, food, whatever. But this past week I have been suffering much due to one particular generic product (blurring photo, I know, but it doesn't deserve anything better, anyway).

This truly is the evil from which generics get a bad reputation.

I was on my way out of the facial lotion aisle with some Cetaphil moisturizer when I noticed this much cheaper generic stuff that is supposed to be like Oil of O'lay or something. It was $3 cheaper, so I opted for it.

Biggest. Mistake. Ever.

And not that I don't like Up & Up (Target's new generic brand), but this one reeks of being super ineffective. It leaves my face even more dry than before.

So, just as a warning, don't buy Up & Up facial moisturizer, k?

Finally Gone

This, my friends, is a photo of our opened window. And though you cannot see it, there is warm air coming through it, and greening grass outside. On a beautiful, sun-filled walk I even saw tulips and daffodils in full bloom!

I think I'll take a gander and say a final "farewell" to Winter (my fingers are crossed). (And no smirking, my dear friends Amanda, Rachel, and Aubrey, who have been enjoying some southern sun for weeks now. I know, deep down inside, you miss Utah's Spring weather!)


Dear Winter,

I enjoy when you come at the end of Autumn, but you have a tendency to stay too long.

My excitement for you to come reminds me of going to a friend's or family member's home to stay for a vacation. But after being there for days, I am ready to go back to my own home. This is how I feel about you--I'm ready to leave you (errr, rather, for you to leave me).

But do, please, come again. Bring with you lots of snow, though, or you are not so fun to bear. And I must, I suppose, say thank you for the final snow storm on Monday evening. Those huge flakes frolicking madly in the dark windy night was a gorgeous way to take your leave.

Please don't take offense, Old Man Winter, for I do truly enjoy you (from November to early March). And don't get jealous of Summer--as a secret between you and me, I prefer you over any hot-hot Summer day.

Expecting you again in mid-November,
Melanie

I'll Take This, This, This AND That

This past week, thanks to Sam's Spring Break, we shopped and shopped (and shopped some more) for all things house.

We spent a lot. A lot a lot. But, we got some awesome deals, so that makes the beating a little easier to bear. We can now check off our list:

• new oven/stovetop
• new refrigerator
• new clothes dryer
• new light fixtures for bathroom, kitchen, living room and entry way
• 22 gallons of paint and primer
• 460 feet of moulding and baseboards
• tree pruning and trimming
• all on top of the new furnace, central air and hot water heater already installed a few weeks ago.

Phew! 

Thankfully, we've been keeping a close eye on ads since before we closed on the home. RC Willey had a fridge we wanted on sale for $749, but we got Lowe's to price match AND they had a $50 rebate for that same fridge (so we got it for $700--boo yeah). Lowe's also had a slightly dented dryer for only $230, and they gave us a discount on the flat-top stove/oven since we bought the other appliances at the same time. We spent hundreds less than we expected on those. PLUS! Lowe's delivers and installs for free--at the date of our choosing (they are coming after we paint). 

Also, there were some rebates on the paint. Some $75 should be coming back for that. AND there are Rocky Mtn Power rebates on the light fixtures, so we'll get back almost 50% of what we paid. 

Check out the before and during photos of our new pantry. Sam, his uncle, and his friend had some fun figuring it out. Before:

During:

Now the kitchen will have some storage space. We're excited!

Next on the list: installing a new railing with new treads, knewels, baulsters, and all (all around the stairway), new doors, and paying for the laminate floor we picked out. The end is in sight.

Easter or Christmas?

Easter morning reminded me of Christmas. Winston was excited about a basket full of new toys (thanks for the recommendations, Nan), books, and snacks.

Strangely, though not really when you think about it, this Easter reminded me of Christmas. There was a fresh blanket of white, clean snow on the ground when we woke up; Winston had a new bundle of goodies; plus the fitting general conference sessions tying in the true reason for celebrating the holiday; and the family gatherings with both sides of the families---all that combined is reminiscent of Christmas.

During general conference today, I was pleased to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing This Is The Christ, written by the late James E. Faust, past member of the first presidency of the church. I wish I had a more direct link, but for now you can find it here, and look for it on the Sunday morning session. It is a beautiful song bearing testimony of our Lord and Savior, who was born, died, and lives again. (Here's another link to the song on youtube.)


We pulled out a not-yet-worn shirt and hat for Winston to wear today. Man, he's growing quickly (way too quickly).

Happy Easter to you.