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cleaning our kitchen

June 13, 2015

summer has been a whirlwind already.
my kiddos are all signed up for sports of every kind.
it’s been a revolving door of kids coming and going at all times of the morning and night.
but the sleeping in has been AWESOME!

we have been staying up late…
the kids have a tan already…
the grill is in use almost every day…
flips flops are everywhere…
swimsuits draped on every chair…

i LOVE SUMMER.

the cleaning the kitchen schedule has relaxed a bit.
because we are gone so often with ball games every night.
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i even set an alarm on my phone so that we can remember to get the kitchen clean before bed.
i am that forgetful.
i know some of you are thinking “how can she forget to clean her kitchen?”
ummm…. i just don’t see the mess.
i have become blind to it.

but then on mornings when i wake up and see THIS KITCHEN i can remember more often.

it is SO GOOD to wake up to a clean kitchen.
and i feel quite strongly that the kids should be a part of keeping it clean.
they make most of the messes anyway.

the thing that is the best… the cordless vacuum.

Eureka Quick Up 2-in-1 Cordless with Battery Pack on Amazon.

you can also order it: Eureka Quick-up Cordless Vacuum without the extra battery for a little bit less money.

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it’s one of my favorite gadgets.
i have even given them as gifts for friends that have wood floors!
it’s mainly for wood floors but you can use on carpet too… but i would think if you have carpet that you would already have a bigger vacuum that you are using for that. 🙂

i dislike sweeping with a broom.
it feels like you never quite get it all… and the sweeping the dirt into the dustpan is messy.

AND this is GREAT for cleaning up all the dog hair on our wood floors!!

this is really light and takes up very little space.
it has a battery that recharges after you use it.
and an extra battery if you want to do more than a small area.
we can usually get our kitchen, living room and dining room done with the charge of one battery.
and that’s what this is for…. quick jobs.
times when you would have normally gotten out a broom and swept.
this is much quicker.
and my kids don’t mind doing this job!
it’s a miracle!
even Annie (my 10 year old) can easily vacuum the wood floors.
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as far as the other jobs… they aren’t quite as “fun”.

but none of them are difficult either.
and when we miss a night… they get to team up the next night.
so if annie missed her night on monday then talby gets help with her job on tuesday.
and sunday is usually a catch up day anyway and we all pitch in if we are even home.

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Stephanie - What do you use to mop your wood floors? They always look so clean! We have three boys and a golden too! So I am very curious. 🙂

Ali - I love your kitchen ! What type / color / style of counter tops are in your kitchen?

Thank you!!

– Ali

jennibell - My sister swears by her cordless vac. I love your kitchen-cleaning idea and *will* be instituting it in the fall (when we are back on schedule and – hopefully – in our new home). Thank you for all the great ideas I come across on your blog. . .I shared your laundry post the other day with another blogger who is struggling with her laundry situation 🙂
You are “my kind” of summer mama!!! Wish we lived closer together to enjoy these more independent years together. . .

Joy Cronauer - I love your kitchen! It looks beautiful and comfortable at the same time!

Maria - We have wood floors and a Labrador. Cordless stick vac saves my sanity (almost) daily!

Alicia - can we discuss that calendar for a second? I’ve been looking for something like that to freehand our calendar. I love that it’s made to flip like a calendar. Can you point me in the direction of where to find it? Btw, your kitchen is amazing, as is your entire house!

Kathi - I love your kitchen!

Mindy - Your kitchen is beautiful : )

Melanie - Do you have hardwood or laminate flooring? I am ripping up my yucky carpet this summer and installing laminate wood flooring throughout the house, including the kitchen, but still torn on what shade/color to go with. I am also putting in a white IKEA kitchen (YAY) and I thought your kitchen here looked so, so nice. Thanks for the tip on the vacuum!

Sabrina - I have three boys, 4, 2.5, 10 months. I am blind to the kitchen mess every single night. I just want\need my quiet alone time at the end of the day, so I let my kitchen go. Someday it will be clean. I hope! 🙂

katie skiff - I need one of those handy vacs. I’ve been using my shop vac. lol We have similar rules for chores too – but I should add vacuuming!!

Marsha Kern - We love our cordless stick vacuum, with 2 dogs, 1 cat and wood floors it is the best!

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12 crafts for kids

June 8, 2015

i used to make lots of crafts with my kids.
i am not anti-craft now but they are older and its just not how we spend our time together as often.
BUT even if they are from years past… they are still great and fun craft projects!
maybe your kids (or grandkids) are really into art right now?
i put together my top 12 favorites of all the projects i have blogged over the years.

you can click the link underneath to go to the blog post for instructions.

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1. Water Color Butterfly Canvas

i LOVED these butterfly punch canvases.
Talby still has her hanging in her bedroom.
they are beautiful! these canvases POP!
we used this Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch to make the butterflies.
i looked other places and this was the best price! Those peeps at Amazon know what’s what!

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2. Giant Squids

these were SO FUN!
we loved the book I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean and we made an art project to go along with it.
at the end of the post about making these is a video of teeny tiny annie reading the book!
time is a jerk.

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3. Beautiful Butterfly

a favorits book at our house was ALWAYS The Very Hungry Catapillar.
i remember turning the last page and saying “And he was a beautiful butterfly!” so many times.
we created our own Eric Carle inspired butterflies by using construction paper.

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4. Gumball Machines

what is happier than a gum ball machine?
🙂

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5. Rainbow Windcatchers

i think these are probably my FAVORITE of all the crafts we ever made.
and that’s saying something.
they are just SO pretty hanging in the windows and blowing in the breeze.
we may need to make these again!

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6. Robin Nests

we had a nest of robin’s on our porch and their nest was fascinating!
this project was inspired by our mama robin and her three babies.

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7. Homemade Chalk Paint

this post is one of the ones i go back to often.
it’s the perfect images of summer.
i LOVE this post… sun tans… zinnias… kids everywhere… paint everywhere.
these were the good ol’ days for sure.

8. Crazy Owl Continous Line Drawing

there is even a video with these!
this looks hard but i promise you it is NOT and your kids will feel like experts!
you need to make this one for sure!

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9. Happy Sunflowers
these happy flowers hung in our kitchen for years!
there is an endless way to create with them.
it’s also a very easy project. 🙂

6a00d8341c469c53ef01761661251f970c-700wi 10. Painted Peacocks

So Much FUN!!!
this project was as much fun to prepare as it was to put together.
the colors are awesome!

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11. A Galaxy Far Far Away

you guys this was such a pretty project!
it looks so pretty too wherever you hang it up.
my kids had a good time making this one.

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12. Melted Crayon Art

this post has been one of the top pins in history… like for real!
its been on MSN… The Huffington Post… magazines and newspapers all over the world…
everyone loves color!
it took very little time, a canvas, a big box of crayons, hot glue and a blow dryer.
everyone should try this project at least once. 🙂

now… it’s time to get your supplies and get crafty with your kids!

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Leah - This post brought back so many memories for me! I discovered your blog when my daughter was only 2 (she’s 7 now) and your kiddos were so young! I loved seeing what Craft Thursday would bring. My daughter I did so many of these crafts as she grew. The galaxy and butterfly punch were favorites. But also the rainbow windcatcher and melted crayons. We have to go back and do the ones we missed. Thanks for the happy memories!

Elissa - My 4yr old was viewing this with me. For each new picture she would say, “Do you think we should make that? I want to make that one.” 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - butterflies and galaxies are never wrong. and donuts. (i just threw in the donuts bit, even though you didn’t have a craft or pic of them :)) (but i’m right? no?! :))

Jenny B. - Love them all! I also think it’s neat that I remember seeing most of them. My oldest son (same age as Annie) and I sat and watched the video of Annie reading back in the day. He always enjoys seeing what she’s up to. Can’t believe they are so big now! Yay! Boo. 🙂 🙁

lorieloo - OMG dying over little Sean!! and these are all so fun.

Kim - This post could not have come at a better time. I have my 8 year old grandson on Fridays this summer and he loves to do crafts with Grammy!! I have pinned 3 of these and can’t wait to get started….now which one to do first?

Christy - Thanks for all the great ideas! I think we will do one for each week of summer break!

Ann Williams - Great ideas! Maybe I can incorporate 1 or 2 into my kid’s yoga camp!!

Becky - My daughter and I made the butterfly canvas, and it’s hanging on her wall. It is SO fun, easy, and cheerful 🙂

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SUMMER!

June 3, 2015

it’s safe to say we are enjoying the warm weather and spending LOTS of time outside.

this was in my flower bed.
yeah…. I’m a little behind on gardening.

and then i found this snake.
i called sean from out in the yard – he was in the basement.
i said “sean… i found a snake. come get it.”

i know. i know… a lot of animals.
but hey #sorrynotsorry

🙂

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susan - I would buy a canvas of the kittens and chicken in daisies!
Love them all. Fun!

Wendy - Love the animal pics, so pretty!

keri - pretty. so pretty!

Mj - I want the calico kitten! Can you bring it to California please?

Kristin - I should probably know this, but I don’t think I’ve ever read it here…did you study art in college, or are you just a natural? Your photos are so gorgeous. I love your composition, and wish I had your eye!

Andrea - Some of the photos with a single hen in the daisies should be offered in your shop!

Jen Brandt - Thank you for sharing your art of photography. Absolutely beautiful pictures.

Patti Mullican - Those daisies couldn’t be a more perfect backdrop for your chickadees! 😉

heidi e. - All of those animals made my day! The geese freaked me out a little bit. Geese here in Minne are mean! Can’t believe you were so close and didn’t get chased!

Maria - lol…it is a lot of cute animals…you could have named the post…chickens, the frog, the geese, and then the chickens…oh, and the kittens…lol…loved them all…especially those tiny kittens!

Linda - your life is so beautiful!

Jenny B. - love love love! are you using a macro lens for the kittens? those frogs (toads?) are funny. they remind me of my baby — all floppy armed and double chinned. ha! 🙂

Nancy Wms. - The photos of the chickens should be for sale on your site. They are really fun shots! I mean how could you go wrong with daisies and chickens?!

Sheila Pearson - I adore each and every one of these photos, Meg. You have a great eye!

Kimberlee Jost - You need to make a canvas of a chicken in the daisies.
Also, those daisies…are they different than Shasta’s?
Text me.
🙂

Katherine - What a gorgeous post! Such amazing photos. It’s like distilled 100% pure summer.

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Meg! These pictures.. so, so, good.

Kathi - LOVE! I want kittens, chickens and even toads now! Do you take these pics with your iPhone or with a digital SLR? They are beautiful.

Brady - Would you stop it with those kittens?!? I’m not a cat person, but your pictures are making me want one! So cute!

jill - Meg you are an amazing photographer!!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - ha-ha! that weed could have it’s own movie!! (and i mean weed in the regular old-fashioned weed way ~ lol.)

Heather - Fantastic pix! The snake ones cracked me up.

Laura - dear moderator, see my comment above? please remove my last name- thanks

Laura Cornia - If you were to sell the 4th picture in your shop ( brown chicken in the daisies, trees in backround), I would hang it in my kitchen!

Crissy - daisies, chickens, kids, dogs and kittens… does life get any better!?!?!?

Penny - Aww, some of my best memories growing up were when our mama cat had kittens. I had so much fun with them! Your kids are so lucky to have all of those animals in their life. Teaches responsibility and compassion! Love your chicken. I am too lazy to take care of chickens! 🙂

marcie - I am a child of the South and I love it but oh my goodness your neck of the woods is gorgeous!!

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the Craft House

May 29, 2015

i think you need to come to The Craft House with your friends! 🙂
We have several dates at the end of this post with special discounts for you!

we have work space for 16!

the entire house has gigantic 8 foot windows everywhere.
this house is flooded with natural light every where you look!
the bedrooms, hallway and main floor windows have leaded glass as well!
so beautiful!

there are three full baths each newly remodeled.

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the ongoing bedrooms are like staying in the happiest Barbie Dream House.
bed after bed covered in vintage quilts and chenille.

the master bath is light and airy… with so much space!
the large soaker tub is truly a dreamy place.

the newest addition to the house is the Rainbow Stairs up to the bedrooms off the kitchen.
they are pure happiness!!

the kitchen is fully stocked with dishes, pots & pans, glasses, utensils and appliances.
the island is 9’x5′ which is amazing for cooking and working together for meals.
we also have two 10′ barn wood tables for eating together.
they can be separate to accommodate a full house or pushed together for a smaller group.
this kitchen is an awesome place for sharing a meal!

the kitchen is surrounded by six floor to ceiling windows! It’s fabulous!

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So… how can you reserve the Craft House for your group?
these dates remaining for 2015:

calendar
you can read more details about the house if you would like HERE.

you can also look ahead and reserve your weekend for 2016 if you would like.
several groups already have!

any reservation made for 2016 will get $100 off!

and last weekend… we had a girls scout troop come to stay!
how sweet is that?!

so… get creative! it doesn’t have to be a scrapbooking/crafting group!
there are so many ways to use the Craft House!
family reunion? wedding party? church group? women’s retreat? girls’ weekend?

email me at cdduerksen@yahoo.com to make your reservation today!

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cece - Keeping this blog spot for future rental reference.

Amanda Lee - What does the price include?

Heather - Love the craft house!! Wish I could live there full time. I could be like the house mom!! Covet in a good way the Evie Sign!!

Gayle Williams - Where is the Craft House at? Address/phone number please!

beth larson - OMgoodness Meg, this was such a fun post!!! I absolutely love your house and every little amazing detail you have put into it! You could have your own show you know- such amazing taste you have girl! If I didn’t have to hop a plane to get to you, I’d so wrangle up a group of friends and rent the house for a girl friend’s getaway!!!!

Meredith - I don’t know if the cost of living is perhaps ridiculously high in Sydney but I can not believe how affordable your MASSIVE, gorgeous, beautiful house is!! Bargain of the century!! If only the plane tickets wouldn’t set me back a gazillion dollars, I would be there! Run, don’t walk people!

Lacey - Meg, where is the “live a creative life” wooden sign from? I love it.

Gail - So much inspiration! This is on my bucket list for sure. Especially since I am just down the road in ICT.

jill - would love to know where everything came from.

Kelly - Sorry for questions two days in a row! The bathroom floors! Are they original? That is what I want for my bathroom remodel but I don’t know where to find it. If you guys did it can you tell me where it’s from? Thank you so much!! Kelly

lara sheriff - i love it…..each room is just adorable!

Sasha Greene - You’re my favorite. Seriously. I stalk your blog all the time, because it is a bright spot in my sometimes crazy life 😉
Thank you for sharing your life with your readers.
God’s most abundant blessings, peace, and protection be upon your family!! Amen.
Sasha

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - someday yes! wishing upon a star!

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women of faith

May 28, 2015

have you heard of the Women of Faith Conferences?
they are all over… Oklahoma to Florida to California and every where in between.
it’s a two day conference filled with loads of speakers and entertainment.
i haven’t been to a conference YET but i am going to the Oklahoma conference July 24 – 25!
basically meaning i will follow Jen Hatmaker anywhere.

If you are interested in going… look through their website and find one that is close to you.
get your girlfriends together and get a hotel room!
make it a FUN getaway!
or go with any ladies in your life that would like a time to worship and learn together.
or go on your own! that is totally cool too! 🙂

Women of Faith gave me a discount code to share with you!
what?
i was super excited to get to share that!
if you use the code: Whatever20 to get 20% off your ticket price!!!!

🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

tell me which one you pick! I’d love to know where everyone is going!

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Melia - Hi Meg!
Do you know how long this code is good for? Trying to round up some gals for the Minneapolis one in October!

Becky B - I love Jen Hatmaker, I should totally be going!

Lisa - I’m going to the Portland one with my sisters!

Sarah - Hmm, Jen Hatmaker is in Connecticut too, that’s a little closer to home!

SoCalLynn - I’m so excited for you! WofF conferences are wonderful, so inspiring and refreshing. I haven’t been for several years, but now my youngest daughter is old enough to go so I’m thinking we will this year. Anaheim, CA!!! A hint for buying tickets: if your event is sold out, go on the website where there is a page for churches re-selling tickets. Some churches buy in blocks and they re sell the tickets their church has overbought. Enjoy!

Katie Skiff - I hope you can go. I’ve been to five, including this one here in Billings. You just have to go. These women are so amazing.

Kelly - I LOVE hearing Jen Hatmaker speak! So encouraging, so challenging, so GOOD!!! I see she will not be at Denver which is closest to me so maybe I should come to OKC!! How long is the code good for? Thanks! Kelly

Rachel J - Hey Meg! My church might be hosting the live simulcast in October for this, buttttttttttttt……….there’s a chance I may be at the Oklahoma event too! That would be awesome to see you there! 🙂

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - in my (ever-be-it-so-humble) opinion the number one thing to look for in a woman (spouse) — ‘faithful’ With that virtue, everything else will work itself out 🙂

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RAINBOW STAIRS!

May 26, 2015

The Craft House has a back staircase off the kitchen leading up to bedrooms and a bathroom.
and for the last ten years it has looked like this…

for the past three years i have wanted to paint them but i just couldn’t get it done.
this spring i finally had a long enough break in rentals and craft weekends and i got busy.
i cleaned everything really well.

then i primed all the wood surfaces with Kilz2.
two coats.

and then i painted the walls and the ceiling all same color – Ultra Pure White by Behr in Eggshell finish.

after the walls and ceiling THEN i painted the doors, baseboard, window trim and the treads in Behr Ultra Pure White Semi Gloss paint.
painting wood white takes like a million years and then three more coats after that.
but it is so happy and bright that it is worth it to me.
wood color honestly makes me feel sad to be around… not at your house but yes at my house.
it sucks all the light out of the room.
i wouldn’t be sad visiting your house all decked out in wood everywhere but if i had to LIVE in say… a log cabin?
i would either go into a deep depression or paint the log cabin white on the inside.
(and maybe the outside too)
i know me.

it felt like it took FOREVER to get to the fun part!
i was dying to start on the color.

i taped the edges around the stair riser to help me have straighter lines.
and then i could FINALLY start.

i got the smallest size of paint i could… i think it’s a pint?
i used Valspar paint for the colors.
– Bright Red
– Hint of Cherry
– Orange Ochre
– Dandelion Wish
– Chopped Chives
– Lavish Green
– Wishing Well

i am not brand loyal for paint.
it is purely based on which store i am closest to at the time i need the paint.

and i used a foam brush for the colors.
it just seemed like it would be easier to control for such a small area.

(i am aware that i still need to caulk the baseboards… one step at a time)
——————————————- BEFORE ——————————————————- AFTER ——————————————–
stairs
i mean???
is there anything happier?!
no.
there is not.

i touched up my mistakes with a little paint brush – OY VEH!
i had lots of time to think and pray and sing and plan while i was working on all of this.

and this is the polyurethane that i use on white painted wood projects.
i like it.
i used it a lot.
i used many coats since stairs get a lot of traffic.

i may hang things on the wall.
i may not.

it took a ton of time but it was worth every second.
i wish i would’ve done it when we lived here.
i wish i had it my house i live in now just so i could see it everyday. 🙂

rainbows forever!!!

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Diane McVey - This is one of the most beautiful, awesome things I have ever seen! I absolutely adore it! You are right it is just plain HAPPY!!! It’s GREAT! You should be very proud of yourself for doing this!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Yes! Yes! Yes!

Leslie - Those are some happy stairs – love them!!

Ruth Elder - You are one for being creative so….. go online, maybe Pinterest and look up wall art done with paint chips. You find a picture and make it out of ‘pixels’ of paint chips. I think that would be perfect in that hallway.

Kimberlee Jost - It’s stunning! LOVE it. It makes that area so bright and cheery!

Kristy Mendler - I love this! Looks awesome!

Bethany - Obviously this is the happiest staircase ever. And the fact that it’s a back staircase…just another reason to love the craft house. I’ve dreamt of one day having a house with a back staircase since I was a girl.

The Love List | Gloria York's Blog - […] Meg’s stairs make me happy […]

Andrea - I love this….. don’t you have stairs going to a basement???? boy would that be fun!!!!!!

Carol S. - Sensational. And yes, a ton of work!!

Gevay - I am so with you on the painted wood. It looks so clean and happy and bright. There is a designer on that design channel we all love who goes on and on about how awful it is to paint wood and how people are terrible humans for doing it. She’s been shaming me and now you have set me free to enjoy my painted wood again! Thank you MEG!!! 😉

Beth - Yep, SO COOL! I love it. Job well done!

Judy - Those stairs just make me happy to look at them! Fantastic idea!! I bet you feel happy every time you walk upstairs!! :0)

Talia - LOVE this! Please do this at my house! 🙂

jennyonthespot - Oh Meg. So much the very, VERY BEST!!!

Lisa - I freaking LOVE it! I am with you on the wood being depressing, I would have to paint it all white too…I know lots of people would not approve of that, but oh well!

jennibell - Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. Really, there are just NO other words. These are the BEST!!!

Kimberly - That staircase looks so light, bright, and happy now! I love it! Kudos to you for the patience it took to paint all of that!

bekkah - wow! this is impressive; your dedication/patience is inspiring 🙂

i totally know what you mean about being comfortable in your space vs someone else’s. i LOVE all the colors in your home/craft home but at the end of the day i am a neutrals/minimalist girl.

Kathleen W. - That is so awesome, bright & cheery ! Makes me want to paint my stairs ! You rock Meg !

iralee poore - yup- i love it! i know it was hard and a long process but it looks lovely!!

Megan - Meg-
you are sooooo awesome! thanks for posting the whole shebang…..I can hardly wait to do my back staircase! I have to wait until school lets out (I teach) but as soon as the end of June rolls around….I am breaking out the rainbow paints!

Thanks so much for inspiring me and helping me to be creative!

Jen@thecottagenest - It looks amazing! I could move right into the craft house!

robin - Best.inspirational staircase ever!!…

Kristin S - That is a true labor of love and I so love the end result!

I painted my two garage steps lime green a few years ago and it still makes me happy when I pull in my garage. Rainbow would be dreamy.

Corinne - Hi
Wondered what poly you used there’s no pic. All the ones I’ve tried on white turn yellow and I end up sanding and repainting. Looking at my coffee table now and I have to repaint again to get back to white. Love the stairs. Thanks

Janelle - If I had a million dollars, I would offer it to your for your house. It is so well done, with so much love & thoughtfulness!

Kristen - Meg, I love the way that you feed my need for COLOR!!!! There are 7.2 zillion projects that I should be doing at our house, but I just wanna paint my stairs now!!!!! You did an amazing job!!!

Kristin F. - They look amazing!! And I am completely with you on the painted wood bandwagon. We are in the process of buying my parents’ 1987 log home and the VERY first thing on our agenda? Paint every surface white. I cannot wait to live surrounded by painted wood logs.

Julie - Such a light bright cheery stairway to walk up and down in now. How old is the house Meg?

Kelly - I have never seen a prettier set of stairs! I bet it just makes you smile every time that you see them.

Oh.. and I completely agree about wood tones!

Su - I don’t like purple either. Noticed it got left off the stairs 🙂

And I could not live in a log cabin or a house with wood cabinets, wood trim, wood paneling either. . .when we moved into this house I painted everything white. . it was definitely 70s, Brady Bunch style wood. . .now it is happy.

Thanks for sharing the colors. . pinning it. ..I want to do my dining room chairs each a color.

Pam - Good heavens, we just did some painting so I can imagine how much time it took. And glory how hard to have done all that work and not see it every day. Beautiful, absolutely beautiful!

Cathy - I love it! A trick I’ve learned in all the painting I’ve done: paint, let it dry, tape, paint over the tape with the same color. After it dries, paint the bordering color. The first color is what will bleed under your tape a little bit and that’s ok because that’s the color you put down first. The bordering color won’t bleed through. Remove the tape and you’ll have a perfect clean line.

Ame - That is brilliant – what a fun, incredibly happy idea!

kim - lady, you are DEDICATED. this looks like SO much work (and love) went into them. the payoff is GRAND, they look amazing!! can’t wait to see these in person!

Kit - Meg! Way to go, it’s completely awesome!

sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com - you are so brave and i am so chicken! lol. your ‘more color’ life beckons.

KWolff - Way to go! This would definitely make trekking up stairs a lot more fun! 🙂

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this week

May 23, 2015

i will say it again… i don’t like when shows end.
i don’t mind if it’s like “Full House” or something but when it’s MY show that i go to every week for down time… UGH!
and i keep getting told “all good things come to an end”
umm… NO. No they don’t. they don’t HAVE to.
blah.
mad-men-cast-interview-grieving-the-end-ftr
so it’s over.
and I’m sad about it.
i loved every single episode.
in the beginning, i tried really hard to not like this show but i just could not!
it’s too well done!
you can’t NOT like Madmen if you start from episode one and watch… it’s impossible.

and i could never pick a favorite character because i love how they all work together.
i will miss this show.

and then ON THE SAME WEEK David Letterman retires.
i mean really.
he has been in my life forever.
since before i knew what late night tv was!
and he has ALWAYS reminded me of my dad… the way they speak… deliver a joke.
there wasn’t a single show where i didn’t think “sounds like my dad” and i almost always said it to craig.
1035x801-letterman-1800-1396621705
we didn’t watch much anymore… but i liked knowing it was there.
and then this week with all its farewells i loved Tina Fey’s honest and hilarious and brave goodbye.
i loved seeing REALITY of what it takes to wear those dresses…. she’s a riot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tKhr5Ujbd4

–

and let’s see….what else could end this week?
oh yeah, SCHOOL!

my Annie ended her elementary school career!!!
she is now a middle schooler!
WHAT?!
like as in… i don’t have ANY children who go to the elementary school anymore?!
bittersweet in every way.
the whole school & the parents line the halls of the school and clap for the fourth graders as they leave on their last day. it’s a fun way to celebrate them. Annie thought it was embarrassing. ha ha ha annie

and Sean is now ending his middle school years and is moving onto high school in the fall!
our school does a promotion ceremony for eighth graders that is casual and fun.
since it’s my third i managed to make it through without crying…. knowing it’s just another step in the journey.

i didn’t cry because i know he is going to do great!
he was SO HAPPY to be there with his friends and having such a fun day.
he’s really looking forward to football in the fall.
i will have a senior and a freshman in the high school and an 8th grader and a 5th grader in the middle school.
kinda funny.

–

AND one of my BFFs moved away this week too!!!!
my exercise buddy.
my thought processor.
my organized genius.
my calming presence.
dianna
it’s only two hours away but it will never be the same.
boo-hoo.
i am going to miss her so much.
she is truly the kindest person i have ever met.
EVER.
sighhhhhhh.

so… yeah.
don draper, david letterman and my children’s youth AND my bestie left me – ALL in one week?!!

i earned my margarita last night.
all three of them.

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tracy fisher - i’m just getting back to reading blogs… took some time off. oh boy do I miss reading yours. have the best summer ever!!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Grumpy frog suddenly makes sense.

Wendy - We are going to watch the entire series of MadMen for the third time. I LOVE this show so much and really can’t get over that it is over. I thought the end was pretty good but I was just so sad that it was over. I really liked what they did with Peggy. That was my favorite.

I love the stairs so much and I am so glad you shared. I have an odd stairwell that I seriously am considering doing this to. Right now it is pine treads with unfinished fronts because I haven’t touched it since we removed the ugly carpet. i have painted the walls but that is all. You always inspire me! I love your blog and really how you share. You are still my first blog to check on. Long time reader! You have such courage, faith, and honesty. Thanks!

-Wendy

Debi Meyers - i love ya Meg. I hope we meet someday. Best photo of Dave. I love his little caramel-colored glasses.

At a crossroads, I chose The Walking Dead over MadMen. Can’t say I’m sorry. But you make it look worth my time.

deb meyers

Carrie - I have also never heard of middle school starting in 5th grade. In our area most middle schools start in 6th grade. A few districts start it in 7th grade and some have 6th grade centers.

Eugenia from Southern California - Woweeee. Middle school doesn’t start until 7th grade here. I have two boys in their twenties and another two traveling the journey.
A boy starting middle school and a girl starting 3rd grade in the fall. School doesn’t get out until the middle of June and starts again at the end of August. My kids are counting the days until they get to swim nearly every day.

I love the time without homework and longer fun days.

You are a brave brave woman. xxooo

Jen - I feel the same way about Mad Men. I loved every minute of it, and I thought the finale was absolutely brilliant. And I have a senior who graduates on 6/1 and heads off to college (four hours away) in August. I think I’ll go have a bottle of Moscato! 🙂

Debbie H - I meant 5 to 8. I’m in shock and can’t type, apparently.

Debbie H - HOW is that possible!??? Annie JUST began kindergarten! Have I been honestly reading your blog THAT LONG? You MOURNED the day she left for school (kinder) hahaha. And Kansas does middle school from 4 to 8? California is really out of it, I guess. I learn a lot here. . . I might need a marg. wow.

Lisa - That IS a lot to happen in one week! The friend moving? The hardest I would think. Good friends are the biggest blessings in life. And I have never heard of 5th grade being in middle school? Is that the norm in Kansas?

Lpro - What a week! I think you should have 3 more this weekend 🙂

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