Before and After: Bathroom Pics

A slight departure here. Folks, I have no intention of turning this blog into a DIY home improvement forum. I simply don't have the skills (using a screwdriver and spray paint is as far as I go) plus my sister covers all that. But everyone loves a good before and after and I thought I might pepper in some of those as they become available.

First up, our full bathroom. We have just one upstairs and it is...not the biggest. It was the central drawback to buying this house but we felt it had so many other good things that we were willing to overlook it. And regardless of size, it IS brand new with a nice marble shower. Here's the view from Ashton's bedroom across the hall and then a closeup:

My main concern was the microscopic sink wedged in between the toilet and the tub. 

You couldn't even fit a hand soap on there or a toothbrush or NOTHIN'. Plus, I knew as soon as we hung a shower curtain, the place would get even smaller. 

So what did we do? Are you on the edge of your seats?? BEFORE: 

AFTER: 

I know one of the lights in the vanity fixture doesn't work. It flickers on but ONLY when I am in the shower. It's on the list of "House Quirks" to get taken care of.

Here are the contributing factors to the AH-mazing transformation. We: 

a) painted over the existing color (Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere) and put up BM Mediterranean Blue instead

b) added a chair rail and beadboard

c) got rid of the microscopic pedestal sink and miraculously squeezed a vanity in (and little marble backsplash)

d) swapped out the medicine cabinet for a flat mirror

e) installed a corner cabinet (immediately to the left when you walk in over the toilet)

f) adorned the corner cabinet with a ceramic fish I found at TJ Maxx on clearance (to which you might say, there's a REASON it was on clearance, but I wouldn't hear you). 

g) put up a shower curtain (duh)

h) and then things you can't see: frosted the shower window (because HELLO neighbors), got a really fancy Simple Human shower organizer, put up our favorite Block Island print, and had one of those fans with a heater put in the ceiling.  Ahhhhh. 

Wow I've never listed it all out like that. Impressive! The fish is really central, don't you think? What a showpiece ;)

Jason still wants to add ceiling moldings but he is hard at work on some built-ins and then the fireplace remodel downstairs so this will be it for awhile. I'm not convinced that is the right mirror either (would white be better?) but it doesn't keep me up at night. Voila!

Pix and a farewell

I often ask myself what on God's green earth I used to take pictures of before Ashton came along. Mostly Tate, our garden, and pretty sunsets I think. But my photo-snapping rate has never been higher than it is now, mainly because I average 12 blurry pictures to every 1 clear one (Ashton's fault of course). Here he is at his 19 month finest:

Photo credits to Chera on a few of those :) He remains his usual busy-body self.

On another note, Katie moved to Florida yesterday. She is one of the best friends I've ever had and I know she always will be. We've shared some pretty high and pretty low moments over the past 6 or 7 years and have never failed to be there for each other. Katie is my #1 supporter, loyal blog reader and just an all around favorite person of mine. But as often happens in life, things change and she's off to Florida where her family is (lucky Florida! humpf). So, Katie, please consider this a little tribute to how important you are to me - I love you!! Safe travels for you and Norm, ttys obvi. xoxoXO

Zzzzz

If you read this blog faithfully, you know that when Ashton Smashton is awake, it's full speed ahead. He throws things, he climbs things, he's loud, he's fast, and he's curious. This will be me:

We are forced to employ a strategy I like to call "hands-on parenting" to keep him happy and (the operative word here) safe. I admit I get very caught up in trying to keep pace with him, stay one step ahead of a meltdown and all the while try to get something done. When I close his door around 7:15 pm after playing/dinner/cleanup/bath/books/bottle/brushing/bedtime (phew!), the first thing I do is exhale. Loudly. 

So, we went to our friends' daughter's one-year-old birthday last Sunday in Rhode Island. Sadly I have no pictures but it was nice to just relax and BE at the party without my phone glued to my hand. We had a great time, Ashton ran his little heart out and, predictably, fell asleep in the car on the way home.

Being a mom is a funny thing. I don't spend a lot of time being philosophical about it or gushing about it because, I mean, snoozefest. Plus my days are usually too busy for me to think deeply about anything anyway. But every now and then I get treated to some nice simple moments that make all the mom-chores, hard work and playing/dinner/cleanup/bath/books/bottle/brushing/bedtime routines worth it. This entire post is dedicated to the above photo because seeing Ashton asleep is such a rare sight. I must have peeked in the rearview at him about 20 times because his little face is just so perfect (I should add: to me. Children are like dogs in that very few people are ever going to find them as cute as you do or love them as much, and that's fine).) Anyway, his quiet expression and soft snore gave me a peaceful reminder that I really do love him so much. He's one of the handsomest little boys ever :)

(At least give me credit for knowing that this post is boring!)