Nursery Project #1: The Mural

After we moved into our house, I was eager to start working on the nursery, but I didn’t feel particularly inspired to go in any specific direction. One problem was that I was a little hung up on the Great Pink Expectation. I am not a huge fan of pink, but I wanted the nursery to be feminine. There’s so much cute pink girl stuff out there; I wondered if I should just go the pink route and make it easy on myself. On the other hand, I also loved the nurseries I’ve seen that use gray and a complimentary color… but nothing was really meshing in my head, theme-wise. Until I saw this mural on Pinterest. I loved everything about it – the sharp, modern lines, the complimentary color scheme, the woodland theme. So, I decided to recreate it.

First off, after bringing home practically every paint swatch available from Lowe’s and Home Depot, I ultimately decided that, like the original mural, we were going to go blue. Despite the stigma that blue is for boys, blue is my favorite color, and I knew that we could add feminine details throughout the room to balance any masculinity that blue might introduce. After that, it was a matter of picking the right blue for the room.

We splashed some samples on the wall and went with the least aqua (and least obnoxious): Behr’s Club Soda.

Once the room was painted, I measured the height and width of the mural wall and then recreated the artwork by drawing it out in Adobe Illustrator. I only had the two pictures from the original blog to go by, but surprisingly the design fit perfectly into my specifications. I decided to use the birds that I had drawn for my wedding invitations three years ago, and I kind of faked out the squirrel since his features are lost in the original image, but I kept pretty much all of the same trees and birdhouses. On top of the mural, I drew a grid in which each square equaled 1 square foot of the wall.

And this was it.

For the paper-to-wall transfer, I created an identical grid on the wall using thumbtacks and thread. I used thread because I didn’t have any thicker string, but in the end the thread ended up being the perfect choice because it was thin enough to be unobtrusive, and nicely stretchy so I could push it to the side when I needed to paint underneath it.

MacGyvering a grid.

I chose the colors for the mural from the swatch for the main room color. Club Soda was the lightest color on the swatch, so I purchased sample sizes of the other colors on the card. The samples were about $3.00 each, and ended up being just enough paint for the mural (and enough left over to paint our bookcase/cubbies… but that’s another post). I purchased Frog Tape (based on a recommendation from the blog Young House Love) to tape off the straight lines of the trees and birdhouses. Then it was time to get started!

I started by painting the lightest trees first so that I could overlap with the darker colors if need be.

Hand drawing on a wall is hard.

I found that using a small roller was a lot easier and more efficient than using a paintbrush.

The Frog Tape worked really well! I had a few spots here and there that seeped under the tape, but they were easy enough to go back and touch up.

All in all, I would estimate that I spent about 20 hours working on this – including drawing out the mural on the computer and all of the other prep work. It really wasn’t overly difficult to execute, and I was extremely happy with how it came out.

All done!

I still like to go into the nursery and just stare at the wall.

Of course, in three years time, the little one is going to beg us to paint over it all in cotton candy pink.

Countdown and Catch Up

Well then.

After blogging nearly every day for an entire year, it’s surprising how easy it is to not ever blog at all. The last few months have gone by incredibly quickly. Between moving into the new house and preparing for the baby, it seems like time has been marching forward at an accelerated pace. It’s not that I haven’t had time to blog, so much as I haven’t had the energy. Excuses, excuses.

So, first off, we’re in our new house, and it feels so good! We both love this house so much that we haven’t really felt any buyers remorse, even as we watched our bank accounts empty out. We unpacked with lightening speed; I think we were completely out of boxes in two or three weeks. It had been nearly a year and a half since I had seen my stuff, so I was just excited to refresh my memory on what I owned. I was also a little worried about the condition of my possessions, as I knew that the trip up here could have been rough, and the company we shipped with has a mixed reputation regarding damage. Amazingly, not a single thing was broken. I spent a lot of time very carefully packing everything back in Oakland, and that apparently paid off.

I don’t know exactly how this happened, but amazingly I’m already in my third trimester! The first trimester was such a horrible drag; by week 10 I felt like I had been pregnant forever. But once the nausea and utter exhaustion lifted, things seemed to get a move on. Now I’m at 29 weeks and expecting a newborn in less than three months. I don’t believe that I announced it on the blog, but we are having a girl! There wasn’t any doubt at 19 weeks, but I’m actually going in for a follow-up ultrasound today, so we’ll confirm. After all, mistakes can be made… a woman at Babies R’ Us disgruntledly exchanging pink hangers for blue hangers made that clear to us.

I had some trouble envisioning what the nursery would look like, but once I found a mural on Pinterest that I loved, everything started falling into place. So far, we’ve painted the mural, built a bookcase/cubby, installed a chandelier, made curtains, and we’re working on building a changing table topper for the dresser. I’m very happy about the progress, and I plan on making some more specific posts about our projects, complete with pictures.

And speaking of pictures:

Bumpin’

This was taken at 25 weeks, so I’m a little larger now. I’m still not totally convinced that there’s a baby in there, but at least I’m pretty sure it’s not a watermelon.

Hopefully This Isn’t A Scam

At 3:00 this afternoon we signed our lives and money away, and all we got was this lousy folder. No, seriously. We actually knew that we wouldn’t get the keys until tomorrow morning after the paperwork is filed, but uh-oh; bad news. We were told at the beginning of signing that they’re still waiting on some paperwork from the sellers, who at this point live out of state, and they hadn’t been able to get it done today because they are traveling and in flight somewhere. What this means is that possibly – probably – we won’t get the keys until Thursday. I know that in the grand scheme of things it’s really not a big deal, but we want our house! So after we finished signing, we drove over and looked longingly into the windows. Sad, lonely house. Soon you will be bright and warm.

The Home Stretch

It is 2013 in less than two hours. My bed calls to me. I’m sure there must have been other years when I didn’t make it to midnight, but I can’t recall. I’m too tired to even feel bad about calling it a night. Happy 2013, and adieu to Project 365!

The Year in Blog: A Recap

I made it through 2012!

One day and change remains of 2012, and I am very proud to say that I managed to keep my New Year’s resolution of posting a daily picture on my blog! I only missed two days; one was a choice, the other was a mistake. Otherwise, I managed to get something up every day, from the trivial to the interesting. Sometimes, when I really felt I had nothing to post, I was forced to get a little creative. Some of those little story posts are among my favorites. Sometimes, when I really felt I had nothing to post, I posted a picture of my cats. That worked too, because I never promised this experiment was going to be interesting to anybody but me! Since getting pregnant I’ve really struggled with Project 365, being exhausted in the evenings and and having no extra energy in my bones or brains for creativity. Many nights I’ve actually crawled into bed, the decision made that I just would not do a post that night, but then changed my mind and posted something from my phone.

I don’t think I will be continuing this project on into the new year. Perhaps I will take it up again in 2014, but I think I need a year off from this picture-a-day pressure. However, my goal (or resolution, perhaps) will be to post blogs frequently with quality content. In other words, I’d like to keep up the blog at a similar pace to 2012, minus all of the filler pictures that were posted just because I had to get something up. So, expect future posts about the house, the baby, and more uniquely Alaskan experiences.

For a fun summary of my year, I’m going to steal a questionnaire from Rebecca over at the blog Feeling the Sun From Both Sides. Thanks Rebecca!

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

Got pregnant! Twice, even.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Shockingly, I made it through Project 365. That’s the only resolution I made, and I don’t have any planned for 2013 so far. I do have a lot of various goals in the works though, so perhaps I should label one of those as a resolution? Let’s say: “I resolve to learn basic and intermediate woodworking skills.” We have a couple of projects planned already, but all I’ve ever made before was a really horrible birdhouse.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! One of my closest friends, Cindy, gave birth in April. Some older friends whom I haven’t seen in a few years with had babies as well (Krista! Tawny!) and I was so excited to be able to see pictures and updates on Facebook. Also, a couple of co-worker-friends in San Francisco had babies. It was a fertile kind of year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

I’ll go ahead and count my miscarriage. Bummer, sorry. But as far as people I know and love, thankfully no.

5. What countries did you visit?

No foreign countries, but I did have an enjoyable work/vacation trip to San Francisco. I also did a little traveling around Alaska.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

I am very much looking forward to having a house.

7. What date(s) from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

• January 15th – I broke my ankle! First broken bone ever!
• April 30th – Back to San Francisco.
• July 19th – TMI, but I got my IUD removed, meaning that pregnancy suddenly became a concrete possibility rather than an abstract discussion. It was one of those days where I was completely smacked in the face with feelings of real adulthood.
• September 4th – Our two year wedding anniversary, a massive windstorm in Anchorage, and my miscarriage.
• October 31th – Halloween, and a 5.5 week ultrasound confirming that the new little “lentil” was doing just fine.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I made self-employment work. I was very successful this year, although it’s really because I was able to continue working remotely for Williams-Sonoma. It would have been a much harder year if I didn’t have that. I was especially proud of myself for taking on other clients and teaching myself a lot of new things. I improved my HTML and CSS coding, learned new software, and pushed myself outside of my comfort zones. I will need to continue doing this for future success, and I really feel like I got started down the right path in 2012.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I can’t think of anything that I’m too devastated by. Maybe if anything, a lack of socializing. I’ve been pretty hermity this year.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Yep – see question #7.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

The house isn’t officially bought yet, but money has been put down and contracts have been signed. That’s good enough.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Saving for the house (and soon to be dissolved into the down payment), medical expenses, and taxes.

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

In order: getting to go back to San Francisco, getting pregnant, and finally reaching our downpayment goal for a house (and then everything house-related that came afterward).

14. What song will always remind you of 2012?

Probably any crappy music that plays on my Pandora workout station. Let’s say Party Rock by LMFAO. I think that’s appropriately obnoxious, and in 20 years it will have me pining for my mid-30s.

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a. happier or sadder?

Probably happier, in that I am more secure.

b. thinner or fatter?

Surprisingly, probably exactly the same, although the year has seen both ups and downs.

c. richer or poorer?

Richer! Until we cut the check for our downpayment, that is.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Crafts or fun projects just for me. Reading. Journaling. Oh, who am I kidding? I don’t “journal.” I write in my diary. Drawing. I really need to sketch more.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Procrastinating! Dear lord, the time I waste procrastinating. I’ve read that it’s actually a healthy part of the creative/work process, but I feel so crappy until I finally put my foot down and make myself get something done. Then afterwards I wonder why it was so hard to start. It would be great to learn how to bypass the whole painful thumb-twiddling part.

18. What was your favorite TV program?

We watched all of The Wire. We also got caught up with 30 Rock and Parks & Recreation. And I do love me some Boardwalk Empire and Mad Men. Out of all of that, no #1 favorite.

19. What was the best book you read?

I didn’t read nearly enough this year. For classics, I really enjoyed The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, which we read for our book & craft club. For something more contemporary, How To Be Black by Baratunde Thurston was excellent. I tried to break into my leviathan nemesis, Moby Dick. I actually really enjoyed the first chapter (a shock!), but didn’t get any further. I blame the pregnancy.

20. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Spotify. I like being able to listen to anything I damn well please, and for free too! I don’t mind ads.

21. What did you want and get?

I wanted the move to Alaska to work out, and although it’s complicated, I would say it’s been a success. I wanted moving into Seth’s parents house to be a positive experience for everyone, and improve my relationship with his family rather than strain it. I would say (from my perspective, anyway) that this has happened – it’s been great. And then, of course, all the things that I’ve discussed above re: house, baby, travel.

22. What did you want and not get?

Peace, resolution, and/or understanding in certain difficult relationships. I’m still estranged from my father, but now in communication with one of my aunts, so 2013 may hold something on that front. Although in the case of my dad, I think it can only get worse before it gets better.

23. What was your favorite film of this year?

I actually saw more movies in the theater this year than I have in a long time. Looper and Lincoln were standouts, The Hobbit was pretty a’ight, but I wouldn’t say that I felt passionate about any one to call it a favorite. In the world of Netflix, The Business of Being Born was a total gamechanger for me, and it’s responsible for me choosing a midwife over an OB and a birthing center over a hospital. So I guess of all of the movies I saw this year, that one was the most influential.

24. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

34 years old, and karaoked my heart out!

25. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Honestly, it was pretty good. I conquered a lot of goals and I worked hard. I’m pretty pleased with the results. More karaoke?

26. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

Pajamas. Pajamas for days, and guilt over the pajamas, and then some jeans. Also workout clothes. In other words, cutting-edge.

27. What kept you sane?

Seth. Linda. Good advice. Great support. Love. Cats. Paychecks.

28. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Mike Birbiglia, Marc Maron, Ira Glass. I listen to a lot of podcasts while I work.

29. What political issue stirred you the most?

The ridiculous debate over women and rape and birth control and abortion that just about set us back a few decades made me want to strangle someone. All of the misinformation about the presidential election was obnoxious and appalling. Most recently, the crap spilling over onto Facebook regarding the gun issue (“God won’t be in schools to protect the children if he’s not wanted” – are you fucking. serious. ??) has been making me very sad for humanity. But I generally avoid sharing opinions, and try to distance myself from political hyperbole.

Oh, and any argument against science is an argument for a punch in the face.

30. Who did you miss?

My friends in California – Cindy and Joanne at the top of that list. Besides being my lovely bridesladies, they both recently had babies and I wish that I could be there to see their motherhood experiences and learn from them to prepare for my own.

31. Who was the best new person you met?

Electronically, I have really enjoyed following Rebecca’s Project 365 blog (the person whom I stole this list from). We became acquainted when we both posted our blogs on a Project 365 list. She started following me, and then I followed her. It’s been really cool to see the year in the life of an Australian my same age, and I feel as if I’ve gotten to know her and her family (albeit in a weird lurky/stalkery kind of way). It also makes me feel better about the Australian pen-pal I had in 4th grade and stopped writing to (for a lack of stamps). Mental amends made!

Personally, I became friends with Wendy through Molly and Linda, and she is one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. She has gone camping with us and is part of our book/craft clubs. She is a very talented glass artist, and hopefully for one of our craft days she’s going to show us how to make some glass artwork in her kiln.

32. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

Keep challenging yourself and keep learning new things. If it’s hard and frustrating, that means it’s probably worth it. Nothing feels better than a breakthrough.

33. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

The chorus to Foster The People’s “Waste” was fairly poignant to me, especially when I was still transitioning to my new life in Alaska and feeling fairly depressed:

And every day that you want to waste, that you want to waste, you can

And every day that you want to wake up, and you want to wake, you can

And every day that you want to change, that you want to change, yeah

I’ll help you see it through ’cause I just really want to be with you

Antique Mall

There are wonders to behold at the antique mall! However, I bypassed said wonders and just took pictures of the things that made me laugh.

This lion stood guard in the more “Asian-themed” section of the store. The bow was so jaunty and yet somehow felt inappropriate.

You think you’ve seen it all, but then you find a porcelain doll of Susan Lucci.

Salt & pepper shakers. Do you see where this is going?

Of course you did.

Cat Wars

Goose was jealous of Sweet-P because she was sitting next to me, wedged between my leg and the back of the couch. Prime real estate. He tried all of the tricks he could think of to get her to move. Staring at her, swatting at her, and biting her neck yielded no results. Finally, he just sat on her. She still didn’t move, but at least he got the spot he wanted… sort of.