Bath Remodel

As mentioned, I am sharing pictures from my sister in laws master bath today. It went with the blue and white theme from Friday- wish I had these pictures handy then!

Sunday morning my husband walks into our guest bath and exclaims "What are you doing?!?!?!" I was standing on the side of the bathtub, with my arms above my head, pulling wallpaper off the walls.

We have a bad history of wallpaper removal, and the very idea of it gives my husband anxiety. At our last home- a 100 year old Victorian- there was horrible green and white scroll wallpaper in the dining room. I decided to take it down, not realizing that there was about 30 layers of paper on the wall! The last layer wasn't sized or anything, and taking it down even took some of the plaster off the walls. My husband is an engineer and he found me having an anxiety attack in the middle of our dining room when I discovered that the last resident had actually wallpapered over a 5 inch hole in the plaster near the fireplace. Duane also said that the paper was so thick it was giving the room an "R value" and insulating it!!! We ended up painting over top of it instead.

So, he walks in a room and finds me tearing down paper, and immediately says "what about last time we did this?"

I tried to accept this paper. It is textured and has fish on it. Big blue and teal fish. Our guest bath look like "The Life Aquatic" missing the trendy music and the lovely Bill Murray/Owen Wilson combination. I convinced myself we would go for a beach theme and I bought a waffle weave white shower curtain, put seashells out in crystal bowls, and pretty blue candles. BUT, it didn't look beachy. It looked like the 1988 "Golden Girls" Florida home- I could see Estelle Geddy in this bathroom.

Then I went to the bridal shower at my SIL's and she had just redone her brand new guest bath (they built their home 2 years ago). And that inspired me! I am ripping paper and glue off this week, and will be painting over the weekend. I love nesting and am so excited about this new project! I have plans to do a paint treatment of somesort- I am also going to replace the faucet, paint the vanity, and hang pictures.

Here is my sister in laws master bath. This is the alcove where the tub rests. It has a lovely vault here. I wanted to take pictures of her cabinetry, too- but decided to just show the pretty clawfoot tub. This is really the only cottagey room in her home. She chose just the right shade of blue with the white beadboard accents, and I love how the tub looks out on their acreage.

BTW- we have a tiny "childs tub" in West Virginia that I want to use and don't know how just yet. It had been removed from the guest bath in the Victorian home, and I took it with us when we moved since no one would use it AS a guestbath tub. The thing is teensy- its only about 36 inches long, but has all the features of a regular clawfoot tub. Every one that saw our home when it was up for sale asked to buy it, too. Its doll sized- sooooo sweet. The idea use for it would be in a powder room, where it could be displayed but not necessarily intended for use. But, with our impending large family, I don't think we can waste space. We will NEED the extra bathrooms for use, not just looks.




This is a closeup of the vanity items she collects on the little table beside the slipper clawfoot tub. She picked up most of the older pieces in England, and then a few little things around town. I have a small perfume bottle collection myself, and like this idea for displaying them. I would love to incorporate some of these details into our master bath when we redo it in the spring! I am leaning toward a spa theme for our bath however. It is going to be "mamas retreat"- ha!



This morning Tilly is leaning up on my shoulder while she watches "Go baby" on the t.v. They have finished up their bottles and their 15 minutes of viewing is up. Its time for them to get into their exersaucers for twenty minutes. We have the strictest schedule EVER, but, they love it and seem to flourish with the schedule, so we keep it. Lucas has his entire hand in his mouth. No wait- he has the cordless phone in his mouth! Hmpfh!

bridal shower

Today I went to a friends daughter's bridal shower that was hosted by my SIL. This friend made the cake for my baby shower, so I made lemon bars and bride/groom strawberries for her daughters shower.



This was my first time making the tuxedo strawberries, and they turned out just lovely. Next time I think I would prefer to add coconut to the bride strawberries, instead of just white chocolate.



Here are the desserts on my sister in laws shabby buffet in her breakfast room. My sister in law had the loveliest spread on her dining room table and I should of photographed it! She had a yummy brie that had been soaked in brandy, pecans and brown sugar courtesy of Food Network and Paula Deen's recipe. She had some jumbo shrimp, chicken fingers, a cheese ball, fresh veggies, fresh berries, melon balls, multiple crackers and breads, and to drink she served a choice of beverage- sangria, lemonade, or iced tea. Yummy!

The strawberries were a hit, and several guests asked me how to make them. I learned at my baby shower that the showier desserts aren't eaten, its the small finger foods.
I made a tiramisu for my baby shower (since its a favorite of mine) and it was hardly touched, but the lemon bars were ate by every guest, so I knew what to make for Jens shower!

Jen is going to make a lovely bride. Shes such a sweet girl, and her moms wonderful.

I took a couple pictures of Lavinas blue and white themed bath to show later this week. Hope everyones having a nice weekend.

Inspiration Friday

I chose one of my favorite decorating themes for my inspiration Friday submission. My husband and I are both very fond of the ocean, and the tranquil colors that accompany a beach setting. And while I love pink and white and all the frilly romance that goes along with it, I also adore the serenity and cottage appeal of blue and white decor, too. The blue and white issues of Victorias are my favorites to "Nest" with, and the cover for the June 1992 issue is the prettiest, in my opinion. The pale shades of blue featured here are my favorites, and just the ever so slight addition of lavender. *sighs*



I love this sofa in this room! It has a nice tall back, which lends itself easily to cushy throws and quilts. This room is considered traditional english cottage, but to me it looks a little french.



I think yellow flowers look so much sunnier, friendlier, when paired with blue and white, don't you? The window dressing- or virtual lack of, is wonderful.




This room belongs seaside, don't you think? I don't know that I would choose this bedroom for myself as I enjoy more white in the bedroom when mixing with blue, but, I do like the cottage colors and how bright and airy this room is.




This mix of patterns for the toss pillows is perfect! My favorite is the green and white toile roses. This would mix with so many different room scapes- blue and white, pink and white...




This was my favorite blue and white setting- the tea table! I would love to be sitting at this tea table with a dear friend, enjoying blueberry scones with fresh lemon curd, and lingering over a warm herbal tisane. Table settings are my very favorite vignettes, and often the most inviting as well. Where else in your home can you make a person feel as welcomed as you can over an intimate dining experience?

And all my favorite flowers as a centerpiece!

In other news- all looks well on the u/s, so big twins and little twins both came through the fall OK.

What? A Victoria book I don't have? Does anyone reading my blog own this one and can give a review? I have At Home with White, Blue and White in your Home, Decorating with Roses, Intimate Home, Baking, Christmas with Victoria (three volumes), Bedrooms, The Heart of Christmas, At Table, and The Charms of Tea.

I had Romantic Country Style and gave it away... the only one I didn't like. My favorite is "Intimate Home" and "The Heart of Christmas" which were both published early on.

Thanks for asking about me after my fall. My pride is the most bruised- and I have a check up tomorrow just to be sure everythings ok with the "little twins".

I will try and participate in Inspiration Friday tomorrow!

Ugh

Today I fell.

I was carrying Lucas out of the play yard and I guess I am just not used to how awkward my stomach is at almost 6 months pregnant with the "little twins". Fortunately, I already had Matilda in her high chair. I crumbled with Lucas and shielded him as I fell, the entire play yard folded like an accordion ontop of us and while he was fine (thank goodness!) I am now sporting a huge scrape from my knee to my ankle and initially thought I broke a toe. I was so startled I almost was sick. I shook all over for an hour. That I could of hurt Lucas, or lost this pregnancy. I fell on pillows that we have in the play yard and not on the ceramic tile flooring just outside of it. The play yard was what scraped my leg.

Apparently the play yard is supposed to be opened and closed the same way it was assembled. This makes it very awkward to get in and out of, especially when I have the "big twins" in it. I called the company to ask if they might make a better and easier to use gate for it, and they don't. Thats crazy considering this is THE play gate system every mom of multiples owns.

Duane said tonight he will try and see if he can fashion something better. A friend suggested I buy a play gate and link it into the play yard with cable ties. It just has to be sturdy.

Ugh, ugh, ugh.

I am an enneagram type 4, and my husband is an enneagram type 9:

This can be, paradoxically, both a very comfortable—and yet exciting—relationship pair. Enneagram Fours and Nines are both withdrawn and private, sensitive to the feelings and needs of the other and, empathetic to the suffering of others. Both can be tender-hearted and highly sympathetic to the suffering that they find in the world and in each other. Both want to find a deep connection with the other, and yet, both also want a certain degree of autonomy and insist on a very real degree of privacy. Both Fours and Nines can be highly creative, and as a pair they enthusiastically support the other's creativity and give the other a good deal of space in which to develop their talents. Both are idealistic and want to connect deeply with someone, feeling that they are on a search for their soul mate, the one person in the world with whom they can completely connect and be themselves.

Both Fours and Nines also bring a sensuality and love of comfort that is noteworthy; this may express itself in their lifestyle, traveling habits, and in their sexual and other intimate activities. This is a couple that likes to stay in bed all Sunday morning, reading the papers and talking. Each brings passion and an appreciation of the other coupled with a desire to be comfortable and build a life with the other. Fours can make Nines become more intense and expressive about how they feel, while Nines can allow Fours to feel understood and accepted for who they are. Fours are good at naming feelings and pinpointing emotional states; Nines are good at creating an atmosphere of nonjudgmental acceptance, Nines may even enjoy the emotional storms and dramas that Fours occasionally get into, feeling that it adds spice to their life together. A lot of the pleasure and passion of this couple is nonverbal in the depth of the understanding that each has for the other.

The first time we read this, we were shocked at the accuracy- right down to the relationship problem areas. My husband had told me when we were dating that I would eventually leave him because I would find him "dull"- the enneagram pairing for us says thats a potential problem for 4's romantically involved with the peaceful 9. And, I was worried he would tire of my emotional storms and shut me out.

But, the thing that really stuck with us is that we can never get out of the house on weekends because we will spend the entire day in bed talking- never leaving our pj's. We even go get breakfast and bring it back to bed. Then we had the twinkies, and guess what? We go get them, and they have their bottles in bed with us. We bought our king size bed just for this purpose! Hee. They like to watch a little t.v., cuddle, and we play with them. Its a nice morning ritual.



I can't believe how well they are sitting up! Its very strange to peek into their cribs after naptime and see them sitting upright, playing with a toy. I swear, it is happening soooooo fast. I keep telling Duane "and next month they graduate high school!" as a joke about how quickly this is all moving.

The other interesting thing is that we purposefully bought the extension to the playyard so they babies could have their own sense of space. They have a 36 square foot area with mats. Well, those silly twinkies are never more than a foot apart, and are usually either lying half way on top of eachother, or are back to back as you see here. Too cute!

Lucas felt bad yesterday and he is clingy when he feels sick. Neither of my twins are especially cuddley unless they feel bad, or want reassurance after a topple. I am warped- I actually enjoyed that he wanted to snuggle, even though it was because he had a tiny fever!!! Tilly only wants hugs and snuggles after she has a temper tantrum. I guess she just needs to know that in spite of how she behaves, my feelings for her remain unchanged. Forever.

Living room

Yesterday Duane and I worked on getting the china display case anchored to the wall, and then we put the shelves in and added my tea things. Here is a view of the case from the kids play pin.



I took a few pictures of our living room this morning- we have only lived in this house for three weeks now, and it doesn't quite look "full" yet. I have boxes of china (most in a West Virginia barn!) and a closet full of pictures (here) to attest to this. However, here is atleast a view. The living room is 20 by 20- but, again, I ma pinned in by the... ahem... baby play yard. This is the best I could get without looking like I was in the play yard!




I love this sofa. We shopped for a "tight back" sofa that had 30's styling for months looking for something just like this one. It reminds me of the sofa in the lounge of the movie "Holiday" with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. I think the 30's- 40's are my favorite period of movies for decor. Just on the edge of glamour, but lots of cottage charm. For instance, the "play room" of Katherine Hepburns in Holiday is so english cottage and I love that room! I also love the entire set of another Grant-Hepburn teaming: "Bringing up Baby". The dutch doors off the kitchen are exactly what I would have in my dream kitchen. The buffet behind the sofa is part of the set that includes my dining room table. Doesn't look "full" at all.





This is another view of the living room, Showing the corner where my over stuffed rocker is, and both china hutches.




Here is the last corner of the living room- its also the last bit of Victoriana in my home, left over from our downsizing venture last year. Before having the twins, we owned two homes- a victorian in West Virginia, and then our primary residence here in Georgia. However, we couldn't devote time to the upkeep of a large Victorian home once we had the twins, and the loss of my income certainly didn't help, either! We sold both homes and bought one house- the one I am sharing pictures of. This also explains why so many of my things are in my parents barn! They live in WV.

I do like this small scaled settee, and it matches my colors, so for now it has found a cozy corner. I have more pictures to hang around it, and also want a different area rug here.

Thats the visit to my home this morning.

Now my vent:

Why do people want me to separate my twins? Lucas and Matilda are going to share a room until they are 7, and the next set (if the same gender as I predict) will share a room *always*. Every like gender twins I know share a room, and are happy about it. But, any time someone visits our home, they inquire about when we will separate the twins (even the like gender set). My sister and I shared a room until we were 8, and its a very fond memory of my childhood that I would not part with. Sure, we argued and bickered, but, we also told stories at bedtime, giggled, and had pillow fights. Since we aren't close as adults, I treasure those memories now. I also believe if we had continued to share a room we may have remained closer. When we each had our own room we stopped the pillow fights, the late night chats and grew apart as we developed more independence and our own interests apart from the other. The one thing these babies will have is they are close- close in utero, close in age. And we want to cultivate that.

I am off my soap box now!