Mrs. Clean has a house

Well, we're not homeless anymore. We bought a house today.

Tommorow we get to get in and start cleaning. It will probably take Saturday and Sunday to get it sparkling. If you are not busy and want to come call me. I'm horrible at accepting help but I'll throw it out there.

I have 4 pints of paint samples, all Benjamin Moore.

Revere Pewter

Edgecomb Gray

Wedgewood Gray

Rockport Gray

I'll tell you what. It's a lot easier to boldly proclaim I'm changing my colors on my blog. The part where you actually follow through is a little more nerve wracking. The change if official though because today I ordered carpet with some gray undertones.

College

When I was growing up we had the Amy Grant Age To Age tape. I used to listen to that tape at night when I was putting my pink sponge rollers in my hair in preparation for the next day when I would brush the curls out, secure them in a banana clip and top it off with a big pink, lace bow. Oh dear Lord I know.

During this nightly routine one thought often crossed my mind. Night School. I wanted to take night classes when I went to college. Do you know why? Because silly, everyone knows your hair looks best at night. Especially right before you go to bed. You toss it up to wash your face and there you are in your pj's, looking at the reflection of a beauty queen in the mirror. Then you turn off the light and go to bed.

2 words to explain my absense...

DIAL UP.

We do not have access to Hi Speed Internet right now and let me tell you, it is difficult to find the time and patience to log on and wait...

I tried to look at your blog and I cannot see your pictures.

What have you been up to? Have you forgotten about old Bugs & Sunshine's Blog? Oh I hope not. I'll be back. It may be sketchy the next 4 weeks or so. Boy do have have some crazy stuff to share coming soon.

Straight Talk

I've been doing some major blog browsing this week. Here are some conclusions I have drawn. Everything looks prettier when spray painted white. When we first got married and I started setting up a house I purchased tradional looking stuff because I didn't know any better. 9 year later I have realized something about myself.

When I see a photo of a room I love there is not a piece of cherry furniture around. It is all white, white, white.

My goal over the course of this next year is to try to move towards the look I love. You know what else I love about my blog therapy sessions? I know full well that it would make no sense to go to Targe' and pay $80 for a pair of two lamps I love. I know that I can take $10, be patient, and find what I want at a sale of some sort-tag sale, thrift store, etc...

I've been looking at my stuff and it is OK, but it doesn't make me all happy and fuzzy feeling on the inside.

I have some really nice things that are about to get a slap of white spray paint. I know, it makes me feel a little nervous too, the thought of spray painting something I paid good money for. But why not? I'm just going to try it. What's the worst thing that will happen? I have a house full of tacky looking white spray painted stuff? You'll still come visit won't you?

3:30pm Spaghetti?

Do you ever get the hankerin' for a good spaghetti supper at 3:30pm in the afternoon when all the kids are still napping? Yeah, me too.

Here's a little tip for you: Do you store left over spaghetti in one bowl with pasta on bottom sauce on top? Well, when you go to reheat it, add a can of crushed tomatoes-it brings it back to life. So good.

Extreme Make-Over-Bugs Edition

We have moved. Temporarily. And THESE OUR PICTURES OF OUR FUTURE HOME. I will tell you this has been a lllooonggg week. Our real estate agent found this house when the sign had been in the yard less than 12 hours. We saw it and made an offer on the spot. That night we stayed up all night, literally, and I was sick thinking the most horrific decision in 9 years of marriage had just been made.


I was having flashbacks of the dark, tapestry curtains covering the beautiful windows and fisherman decorating in places like the master bath. The next day we went back to take one more look and to tell our sweet real estate agent we just could. not. doit only I fell in love with all the possibility all over again. So, here you go...my next project-I mean HOME...come on in and have a look around.


This is the dining room that will not be a dining room at all when I get my hands on it. I want comfortable chairs, ottomans, beautiful, elegant, a comfy and cozy sitting space. You can see the fireplace from this room. These windows get the west/afternoon sun. MY FIRST DESIGN QUESTION: curtains? 2 inch blinds? plantation shutters? cover all windows? some? what shade of paint? There are 3 gorgeous columns in this room you can see in the outside of this picture.



This is the eat in kitchen. Bye bye big thing on the wall and tapestry valance. And light fixture over the table no offense but I hate you and you are about to get a make-over. Do you need to be painted white? Yes, I think you do. Those shades or globe covers or whatever your name is are on the first recycling truck. Hmmm. Will a nice candlestick looking lightbulb work for a vintagy feel-with no shade? On a dimmer? I wander...

This is the entry that has my mind reeling. The paper shade thing on the window and the sad sheers on the sidelights will be going. I'll be on the scavenge for a gorgeous chandelier with lots of glass and light and vintage charm. I'll be patient and I'll wait but I'm saying it out loud here, a wonderful chandelier will hang in this space one day.

Master Bathroom: No your eyes are not deceiving you and yes that is fish net and bouys adorning the glass brick window. The jury is still out on how I feel about the glass brick but there is potential in this room if I've ever seen potential.

I have a black four poster bed with a white matalesse coverlet. Our bed is king size. I was thinking Benjamon Moore's Wedgewood Gray for this space. This room is seen from the living room. I want it to be clean lined and fresh.

The bathroom can also be seen from the living room if I want it to be...wall color is going to be very, very important in this space. Luckily I googled "Wedgewood Gray" today and found Annie, yes, me and you have a new best friend. We really do. Just like your family had to pay a high price for your absence when you picked up the Twilight series, she too will be the reason you are MIA for awhile. So much inspiration on her blog.

Our future playroom. I know, no room with a bay window and french doors should be the landing spot for your Gazelle, but I must say it has happened without my consent. ANOTHER DESIGN WONDERLAND: visions of Pottery Barn Kids are dancing through my head. Colors. Fabrics. This room screams cheerfulness. The bay window gets the western sun. Plantation shutters? Plaids? Checks? Stripes? Polka Dots? A bench with great pillows, bookshelves with baskets, whimsical rug, this room needs to be a magical wonderland for the boys. There space for them and their friends.

The living room. There is so much about this space that gives me a heart attack but somehow I am till able to sit here and continue breathing and typing. A formal/traditional look is very pretty-just not my personal style. I have this look on my current bedroom windows and don't like it. They are a result of a sale at Targe' before I new better but oh that mantle. What am I going to do with you? And bricks around the fireplace, do you need a coat of white paint?

So, there you have it. The reason I can't sleep. The reason I can't eat (ok, well that is not true). I am emailing the Bossy Color Lady and begging for her color help. I am emailing Nester for design thoughts and I would love to hear your thoughts.

The Cold Hard Truth

The cold hard truth of the matter is we are being worthless today.

Shane and I both have horrible sinus infections, not the fline (Swine) flu as my boys call it. A trip to the doc this morning confirmed this. Last week my oldest son asked me, "If you get the fline flu how many days will you be a pig and when will you turn back into a human?" Great question.

We are both getting on antibiotics to feel better. I slept until 10:30am today. We are all still in our pj's. The boys are playing video games and watching TV. The baby has been running around free reign tearing stuff up. He pulled the acorns out of my arrangement on my kitchen table and has dropped the poor pumpkin onto the floor more times than I care to count.

I am so sad that Coach Mo got the boot last night on Biggest Looser. I really like Coach and Abby. Most of the other people are downright annoying. Not all, but most.

Do you want to know the good news? I don't plan to even brush my hair today or open the blinds. We are staying in and bumming out. It feels nice. Veeeeerrryyyy Nice.

So next time you see me don't be scared. It was just sinus troubles that knocked me out this last week and I'm on medicine now. Sometimes it feels really nice to have to take a sick day. You know what would be even nicer? If Papa John's just happened to deliver dinner to my door tonight. Shane, are you out there? Are you reading my subtle hint? Ahem.