Painting Party

Our House is Done

Door

We have our closing date on our house! July 28th. We get to do the official walk-through on the 21st.

The builders also let us know that they accidentally painted our front door the same color as our shutters, while it was supposed to be the same color as the siding. After I saw the picture, I asked them not to correct the error. I really like the dark door.

Ugly

I chopped my hair off for several reasons. Mostly, I never had or took the time to style my long hair. It took too long to wash, to condition, to dry and to curl. And usually the curl went flat. So I wore it in a low ponytail every day. I felt frumpy. So I chopped it.

I loved my new hair cut. LOVED. It was everything I dreamed. Wash and wear. It had a grown-up nerdy look to it that suited me perfectly. Plus, I got rid of all the hair I had previously dyed, so I was back to my natural dark color. When I wanted to style it, I could. I used a curling iron 1" in diameter and I did ringlets away from my face. Then I combed through with my fingers for some really stylin' hair. For two whole weeks I enjoyed my hair.

And then I got greedy. What if I could do that every day? What if I could put in permanent spiral curls, and just wash and wear that? I had a consultation at a salon. I explained everything. I used the exact measurement of curl I was looking for. Perhaps these people just didn't know what the word "diameter" means. And I'm sure they weren't ready for the "vertical" concept. I have natural curl in my hair, large loose curls, but it's inconsistent. I just wanted to make it uniform. They warned me that with my hair as short as it is, I would likely not have curl but wave. And it might not last you very long, maybe only two months. Perfect, I said, body wave was just fine with me. And since this was an experiment, I really wasn't looking for a six-month unalterable style. If it didn't take, that was fine by me.

Oh merciful heavens. The rods they used were about half an inch in diameter, max. And they placed them horizontally over my whole head. And on the bottom part of my hair, where it was shorter, they used smaller and smaller rods. Now the hair that grows off my neck, which used to curl into lovely ringlets all on its own, is in small clumps of hair stuck against my skin. As Heather said, I asked for wave and I got Annie.

I tried washing it out. They warn you not to shampoo or condition your hair for 3 and 7 days, respectively, for fear that your curl will relax too much. It doesn't. I tried. Thrice. They also tell you the curl gets looser over the first couple of days. And that is true. But it doesn't make the curls go from a tighter curl to a looser one. It simply makes the hair pull straighter. Now it's not tiny ringlets on my head that reach only to my ears; my hair reaches my chin again and looks like it has been put through a crimper. And it forms the shape of a mushroom, thanks to those smaller curls in my shorter layers.

I have never felt so ugly. I sobbed for hours. I confess to praying in the shower for a miracle that would fix my hair. I didn't mind the lost money, but the hair just hurt. I avoid looking in mirrors, and I have gotten Kevin's promise not to take pictures of me on our trip next week. "What if you look really cute?" he asked. I won't. That won't be a problem.

I can't wear hats, I can't blow-dry my hair straight. I can only plaster it down with conditioner, moisturizing cream and mousse. It's almost not too terrible that way, just wet looking. No worse than the low ponytail, maybe. I might be able to get used to it. I'll just go back to being frumpy all day. Who knows, maybe bobby pins or curling irons will have some effect. It's not the worst thing to happen to a person, but it is the worst thing to happen to my hair.

House Goes Postal and Shutters

We hadn't visited our house in two weeks and we found many changes. The most apparent update is the driveway. But wait! As cool as it is, there are even better surprises to come.

I think the shutters around the foyer window make a nice addition. You can also see our house number -1805- under the very handsome carriage light.

The rubble has been cleared away, and all the little holes and outlets from the house have been covered appropriately.

A post holer. You dig holes. For posts.
Also, as you can see, besides the really fancy fence posts, we have a back patio and a flood light to blind our voyeuristic neighbors.

To get ready for putting in the lawn, they scraped off all that sand and shale topsoil to reveal the special Texas clay underneath. And that's why the garden will be above ground in planters.

Of course, where that garden will go is to be determined, again. See, we were told that the fence would come at least half way up the house. Possibly further. And yet, you can see where the posts stop flush with the back wall.

Not only does the fence-less side yard mean no garden there, it also necessitates some sort of large bush right in front of the master bathroom there. Maybe hydrangeas. Also of interest to us, though maybe not to you, we have an a/c unit.

And on the inside, we have tile!

And a hideous chandelier. I will be replacing this light fixture, thanks in large part to Do-It-Yourself videos from Home Depot.

There are also doorknobs. And the trim, walls and doors have been painted.

Counters. And a sink. And a faucet. And tile back splash. The kitchen is just beautiful.

The black granite counter top is just full of colors, mostly grays and blues. It's lovely.

Here you can see the recessed lighting up above.

Our fireplace, too, has come a long way. It makes me so happy to see it. Kevin says for that reason, it makes him happy too. He's nice.

Our powder bath complete with pedestal sink and oval mirror.

Now, see, I like this chandelier. Good thing too, because as I noted before, this one is out of my reach to replace.

Upstairs bath with tile and marble counter top.

Master bathroom. The sinks are in. I do not love the square sinks, but Kevin does. And for that reason, I tolerate them. I'm not as nice as he is.
We will be replacing the faucets in the bathrooms in favor of higher arched ones. The better to wash my hair in the sink, my dear.

Shelves in the closet. Happy thought indeed.

I am so happy with the tile we chose. It goes so well with the cabinets, and it looks nice on the walls too. Here it is around the garden tub.
And, if this window is going to face the public, at least it is clouded.

And inside the shower, too. Also nice are the plumbing fixtures.

Unrequited Love

I accidentally fell in love with a dress that I can't afford. As Heather pointed out to me, it is a good thing I didn't try it on. Though, maybe if I had, I would see that it didn't fit right, and I could get over this crazy crush. Instead, I will live my whole life pining for the dress that got away.

Hair Chopped

I got my haircut last Saturday. Twice. The first time, my hair seemed the right length until it dried. When I saw pictures of it from our trip out to the house, I realized that I really didn't like the shape of it. The long layers hung down along my neck, and I felt like Mrs. Brady. So I went and got a second cut. And I've altered some of it on my own. This picture is terribly fuzzy, as it was taken on my phone, but it gives you the idea.