I’m not sure what happened to me as I slept on Friday night. All I know is that I woke up on Friday morning with an insatiable desire to clean some stuff out and get some things done. Actually, my initial desire was to eat a bowl of yogurt now that I’ve been reunited with my triple berry crunch granola, but after that I was ready to get down to business. I would say it was business time but that phrase has taken on a whole new connotation to me ever since I saw Flight Of The Conchords.
I decided to start with making a pile of clothes that don’t fit Caroline anymore so I brought out all her fall/winter stuff from last year and had her try it on. It didn’t really take that long because she’s grown about five and a half feet in the last two months and I knew none of her pants would fit. My favorite moment was when I pulled out this darling leggings and dress outfit that I practically begged her to wear every day last year while she adamantly refused and she exclaimed, “OH MAMA! I LOVE THIS! IS IT NEW?” No, it’s not. You know what else isn’t new? Me beating my head against a wall because I do not understand why you want to drive me to the brink of sanity.
After sorting through her clothes, I moved around a few more things because I was officially inspired to go ahead and paint her room, which is a task I’ve been putting off all summer since I’ve been very busy going to the pool and eating ice cream sandwiches.
Speaking of ice cream sandwiches, I bought the miniature ones at HEB but have discovered they don’t taste nearly as good as the full-size version they serve at the pool. Some may say it’s psychological, but I smell a Blue Bell conspiracy. I’m not sure exactly what the conspiracy is since making everyone eat large ice cream sandwiches doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I’ll let you know when I put all the pieces together.
Anyway, I ordered new bedding for Caroline’s room over two months ago because it was on sale plus free shipping and I am all about some free shipping. As much as I love a good online purchase I just lament the cost of the shipping so I am a sucker for free postage. Long story short, most of the bedding came in, but two of the shams were on backorder and they were a crucial piece of the decorating puzzle because I knew I wanted to paint her walls some shade of green but wouldn’t know what shade until I saw the stripe on the aforementioned shames.
Is anyone even still reading this? Oh my word, cut to the chase.
So the shams finally arrived about a month ago, but I couldn’t get motivated to paint because the thought of taping all the trim, putting down plastic dropcloths, and gearing up to be a totally neurotic perfectionist made me want to throw myself off a speeding bus. And then something snapped on Friday and I was all like “TODAY IS THE DAY!”
Caroline spent Friday night and Mimi and Bops’ house and I spent Friday night painting. P was down in South Texas because he had to get up early on Saturday morning to shoot hogs out of a helicopter, which reminds me that I need to up his life insurance coverage because if he’s going to continue to engage in risky behavior I want to know that I can at least buy an iPhone and maybe a new purse if something happens to him.
I’m kidding because I don’t really need a new purse.
At some point I’ll do a total before and after post of the room, but right now there’s not much “after” because all I’ve done is paint the walls and I still need to get my grandmother’s furniture from my sister before I can finish it all and break out the new bedding that was shipped to me FREE.
This is the room before. I’d never really done much to it after moving her out of her crib, but it did have more on the walls. It just didn’t occur to me to take a “before” picture until I’d taken almost everything down.
And this is the room after I finished painting.
I was a little worried that it was too bright, mainly because it seemed like her room was emanating some sort of green glow reminiscent of a small party room full of leprechauns. However, it’s grown on me and I think it will look magically delicious once I get it all together.
Of course if it doesn’t, I’ll be forced to repaint the whole thing complete with about fifty Q-tips because that’s the only way I was able to perfectly line the edges of the white trim. Once again, nothing brings out my inner OCD like painting. It’s really a sickness.
At one point I accidentally got a blob of green paint on the moulding across the ceiling and I thought I was going to be sick. I may have even turned green.
Or maybe that was just the glow coming off the room.
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Oh I’m first! I love the color. Caroline’s gonna love it, or will she? Maybe some more head-banging up against the wall… Nah, she’ll love it!
Impressive how much you got done in a weekend! I love the color green – you HAVE to show another pic once you get the bedding on!
We painted our daughters room Pepto Bismol pink. I nearly cried because my husband refused to repaint it. Once we put everything in there it is fine or we’ve gotten used to it. It does radiate a strange pink that looks like aliens have landed.
Love it! I’ve been debating painting everything some sort of green, myself this summer!
Love the color. Can’t wait to see the bedding and furniture.
I love the color and can’t wait to see the bedding and furniture.
Looooove the green. It’s like a lovely celery with just a touch of lime.
I hate painting. I despise it. It looks like you did a nice job. I think it’s going to look great once you get it all put together. Way to go.
That’s the color of our bedroom and bath . My son accused me of painting it to match my favorite shoes. maybe maybe not. I do love the color.
Looks great! Can’t wait to see the new bedding.
I am most impressed!!! Think it looks wonderful and then all of a sudden I feel like I did nothing this weekend. You go woman!
I like it, esp. with the white trim! It makes the green pop. I love the “Caroline” letters over the doors….so cute!
How does P get to go helicopter hog shooting?! My T would probably get a kick out of that.
I love the new color. If only I wasn’t renting…
Thanks so much for your blog. I look forward to your posts and actually laugh out loud when I read each one.
Tracy
I’m wondering if he was shooting hogs in Pearsall? They do that a lot around there as those ferrel hogs are such a nusance. I applaud your husband for the good deed! Also love the room. Reminds me of my lime green & pink wallpaper from when I was a little girl in the 70′s.
My daughter Lily’s room is that same exact shade. I was afraid she wouldn’t sleep because it was so dang bright, but it really ends up being a soothing, calming color. Either that or the paint fumes make her sleep REALLY good.
Lovin it!
I love this! I especially love the hanging letters. My best friend is having her 2nd child in October, and they just finished moving child #1 to her “big girl room”. The letter idea would be a cute addition!
Does he really shoot hogs out of a helicopter? I’m from New York City and there are some things we just don’t understand. Like, I honestly don’t know if you’re kidding. And if you’re not kidding, I’m totally not judging his decision! I’m just curious.
My favorite: “P was down in South Texas because he had to get up early on Saturday morning to shoot hogs out of a helicopter, which reminds me that I need to up his life insurance coverage because if he’s going to continue to engage in risky behavior I want to know that I can at least buy an iPhone and maybe a new purse if something happens to him.
I’m kidding because I don’t really need a new purse.”
I died laughing reading that. Only I didn’t laugh out loud because I’m barely awake and relying on caffeine in a cup to wake me up.
Wow- I’m a little jealous you got to paint. We’re in a rental, so no painting for us.
OK, shooting hogs from a helicopter sounds like some real serious S. Texas fun. Right up there with the rattlesnake roundup.
Love the color. what color is it?
Holly
I am dying about the Flight of the Concords…..business time. HA! Color looks great, btw!
Looks great!
Love the color. Glad to hear that someone else is as OCD with painting as we are. We always use tiny craft brushed to paint the edges at the trim.
“Magically delicious” was a nice touch, my friend. We have green walls in the office in our house. When it’s nighttime and I turn on the overhead lights, it looks radioactive or something.
That totally happened to me! I wanted to paint our bedroom a cheerful apple green, but at certain hours of the day it would emit this weird, almost neon, glow! I don’t think my husband has ever quite forgiven me for it, either.
Love the green. It is the exact color of my daughter’s room. Don’t fear the green!
Wow, that is a big change in color! I hope you’ll post a picture with the new bedding.
My 8 year old loves lime green and I’m supposed to paint her room that color this summer. I’m having a hard time deciding on what shade and if I should go lighter so it won’t look too dark. Anyway, we are painting some antique furniture black and distressing it and her bedding is black and white. A friend of mine that is very good at interior decorating is going to do some funky stuff to the vanity and put zebra and cheetah prints and different colors. I’ve been buying stuff like crazy to add finishing touches–but the painting of the walls still needs to be done! Can’t wait to see what Caroline’s looks like when completed.
i can relate on so many levels.
a) OCD painter. jumping off speeding bus. oh yes, oh YES!!
b) my dad was a “bop” too. and my mom, betty, became “betty-bop”
c) my daughter’s room was once green. but not understated. not by a long shot. looked like granny smith tangled with the little mermaid and granny won. edged in day-glo turquoise. i mean it’s only paint, right? she’s about to leave for college and now they are a muted gold-tangerine. but in a good way.
d) green with envy. my daughter leaves in 14 days. what i wouldn’t do for those crazy pre-teen years where i too, about beat my brains out trying to figure out the whims of a miniature woman.
I have also been meaning to paint my oldest daughter’s room this past year and a half, but I’ve been banned from painting. I also can’t decide on a color. And I don’t know if I’m going to switch out her bedding. Decisions, decisions! We also have white trim, I never thought of that adding to the dilemna.
My daughter and I also have clothes issues. I’m not excited about going back to school shopping. Half the things she *promised* me were comfortable and that she would wear this summer were not worn because she put it on “and it’s too tight” or “it hurts right here” or “it is too big” or some other lame excuse she pulls out. Then I go into the whole “I paid good money for these clothes!” Fun times!
I LOVE the color!!
I really like the green! I think any little girl would love it. Can’t wait to see the total finished product. And I LOVE Flight of the Concords. Do you wear black socks?
Very nice job!!!
i love flight of the conchords! so sad that they are no longer. and business time was the song that won me over.
LOVE the color! Can’t wait to see the fully completed room. Nice work!
i love when we can admit our inner OCD. mine always flairs up when icing cupcakes!
My room at my parent’s house is this color and when we painted it, my dad said it looked like aliens had landed in the room. However, it is very pretty and everyone is used to it. Great choice!
The fact that you referenced FOC “Business Time” solidifies it for me… you are my soul sista. Funniest song EVER. E-V-E-R.
I also love the color. I think the answer to your ice cream sandwich question is “if we all eat the big ice cream sandwiches we all gain weight, and if we all gain weight we all want more big ice cream sandwiches.” It is a vicious circle but we are all in it together.
LOVE the green! it’s my 10 year old’s new favorite color (and we just finished painting her room a teal/robin’s egg blue – so won’t be showing her the pictures) I am so with you and Kristyn – my daughter tries on clothes so they fit and are comfortable and not itchy – then they sit in the closet until they don’t fit and she likes them again!
What a fun color green! I love hearing that someone else shares my OCD painting tendencies…I only wish I had thought of using q-tips when painting our apartment last year. I’m betting, however, that my roommate and partner in painting crime is mighty glad that I didn’t have that idea at the time…just guessing
I had intentions of painting this weekend too. I spent the whole weekend on the first step. Now I’m a 24 year old with carpal tunnel and an incomplete master bedroom. I blogged all about it. Naturally.
PS- I love the green.
Green is amazing!
It has stolen my heart for some reason.
We have 3 different rooms in our house painted a different shade of green. Each one receives so many compliments when visitors come through.
It’s a great color to do just about anything with.
You’re going to love it when you get all your goodies up. It makes a big difference.
Oh….and yes…check on that life insurance, please! NOW!
We just want to know if Caroline likes it…a video reaction would probably be entertaining!
the green glow happened at my house too, and i totally wanted to repaint…
See, my daughter was turning 10, and she picked out new bedding as a birthday present. It was from pottery barn kids and super bright. she loved it. she also wanted to have her room the bright green from the bedding and not yellow like she did when she was just a wee child.
her birthday was on good friday that year and hubby (working for a ministry) had the day off, but she didn’t. we woke up and decided to paint while she was at school as a surprise. we went with the lighter shade of green from the bedding and started painting. we thought it was lovely, but I soon realized guilt was overtaking me because it wasn’t bright like she wanted. so we went back to home depot, and repainted with the bright. when we finished, our whole upstairs hallway glowed green. she loved it, I wasn’t sure. couldn’t repaint anyway or I might have hubby-mutiny on my hands…
but…it has grown on me and three years later I must say it’s fabulous!! and sometimes her room is even clean enough that someone can see it!
happy monday!
We should’ve just swapped kids! I just painted my girl’s room pink – it used to be the exact shade of green you just painted Caroline. I was told “Mama, everything in Mississippi is green – the trees, the bushes, the grass! Why do I have to sleep surrounded by green too? Pink is such a nice color!” Ahh, the things we do for love
Love the color! Apple green is my favorite color, but it’s a hard color to achieve with paint…well done! Do you mind sharing the brand/name?
I love the color!! I hope you don’t have to change it and you can go back to not being crazy OCD on the borders and trim!
I love the color and can’t wait to see the after pics. As far as P and his pig obsession, have either of you ever seen the documentary on Discovery- “Pig Bomb” – no I’m totally serious- an entire hour on how feral pigs are taking over the South after they’ve mutated and become huge because of breeding with Russian boars. I am telling you it’s the truth, I couldn’t make this up if I tried. Look for it and get yourself some popcorn and even a Diet Coke (you’ll need just one, even though you’ve given them up) It’s one of the most hilarious and fascinating ways to waste an hour of time.
This is very close to the color in my 15 year old daughter’s room. She loves it. I have grown accustomed to it. It wouldn’t have been my first choice, but once the bedding and accessories were put in the room, it came together. The best part is that she is happy.
Love it! Can’t wait to see the new bedding. I just got new bedding for my room (after 8 years of something I should never have bought in the first place) and am in the process of painting my walls “Dormer Brown.” And when I say “in the process” I mean I’m in the process of writing a check for someone else to do it.
Oh and thanks for the Business Time song…it’s stuck in my head now!
There must be something in the decorating air. I did a whole new curtain treatment thingy in my bedroom this weekend. Not my normal behavior, particularly since I had five episodes of The Deadliest Catch on DVR.
And girl, we are sisters in the painting OCD. I’m all about the free and easy unless there’s a paint brush involved and then I’m into the edging it just so with my snazzy (specifically bought for that purpose) paint brush (angled).
Do you keep a cup of ceiling white and a sponge for any ceiling paint bumps? That’s a new step for me, but it’s made a world of difference.
Oh my word — can’t believe I even wrote that stuff. Maybe I’ll just sign this baby anonymous.
That looks similar to the color on two of the walls in my DD’s room. The other two walls are mauve. Green is totally the new pink.
I can’t wait to see the finished room!
LOVE the green! It is bright and spunky…just like Caroline!
What is it with the kids and the clothes? It really is some type of parental torture instinct they are born with. My son (now almost five) had some green Keens last summer that he hated because they were not red. Every time he put them on it came up, the whining and complaining, and can I please have red ones. This year, the day they came out I bought red Keens. First time he went to put them on he said, “I wish they were green.” And my head exploded.
Hey! We just painted our daughter’s bedroom the same green color … and we went from pink too. Can’t wait to see the bedding!
Let’s return to P shooting out of the helicopter at hogs in South Texas. Sadly, being from Austin, I understood every work of that. My question? Is he with Uncle Ted. Nugent. ?
It is going to turn out great!!!!
I love the green.
I was just catching up on your last few posts and I wanted to re-affirm to you that you are indeed hilarious. HILARIOUS.
What color was it and from where? Also, randome side question..when did you move her to that big bed. I have al ittle girl…not 2 yet and just wondered. I know it is way to soon now but I wasn’t sure what size bed to go to after the crib? Any suggestions?
Now that is green!
And I should know not to read blog posts in a hurry. You see, at first when I read: “P was down in South Texas because he had to get up early on Saturday morning to shoot hogs out of a helicopter.” I scratched my head and thought, “Why would they be shooting pigs out of helicopters? Wouldn’t it be messy when the pigs hit the ground and what is the purpose of this anyway. I lived in Texas for 5 years and that isn’t something that I remember happening.” And then the Dope Slap fairy came, whacked me upside the head and I understood. He was RIDING in a helicopter and shooting at the pigs. I am slow but I get there eventually.
We painted our daughter’s room LIME GREEN right after Christmas, and even though it gave me some stress in the beginning, we all love it now. You’ll get used to it, even though it glows a bit down the hallway. LOL
Painting children’s rooms must be in the air. I decided it was WAY passed time to paint my boys’ room. They’re 6 1/2 and almost 4 yo and it hadn’t been painted since before the 6 1/2 yo was born. So, I purchased new bedding(Daddy thinks they need bunk beds. I, however, see a trip to the ER in our near future.). It’s striped with different shades of blue, red, and some green. I decided to use one of the blue stripes as wall color, and after getting it up on the wall, wouldn’t you know, it’s almost the EXACT same color as before!! How in the world did I do that?? Now I’ve gotten almost the whole room painted and can’t decide if I should just leave it be or go with a different color. And, oh, did I mention that the painting has been done while the 2 boys are here with me?? And we’re here all by our lonesomes. This room re-do may be the death of me!
I do love the new green walls, and I’m hoping Caroline feels the same way.
It’s lovely – I really enjoy the green and like everyone else, can’t wait to see the finished product.
Reading your blog is like reading a great novel. I never want you to cut to the chase because getting there is all the fun!
Congrats on the painting!
Love the green. Matches your blog. Can’t wait to see the whole she-bang!
I love that shade of green. It is so pretty and soothing. I can’t wait to see what it all looks like put together. I’m sure you’ll be happy when it is all finished. Best of luck with finishing up.
I think it’s a great color and putting the furniture back in will help cover it some and make it feel less “in your face.” Is P down at Hearttail again? My husband thought shooting hogs out of a helicopter sounded awesome. I told him I could probably hook him up. But the life insurance policy may have to come first… : )
I also have to say I love the “CAROLINE” on the wall.
I like your randomness and ramblings. It makes me feel better about my comments. : )
Love it! at least if you are driven back to work by the current economic crisis you can take up painting rooms LOL.
http://www.enjoyzibra.com/edge/index.html
You need this. I bought it to paint the bedrooms in our new house and it worked really well. No taping and really nice edges! I got it at Home Depot…and I didn’t see it at Lowes when I went to buy a replacement cartridge. It will change your painting life. And don’t tell me you don’t have a painting life…miss back house+closet+bedroom painting crazy girl!
Noticing an oh-so-faint similiarity to your side banners. :>) CUTE!
The helo hog trips always make me snort.
I just love your blog. I laugh hysterically everytime I read it. I feel a little crazy laughing out loud when noone is here to hear me, but nevertheless, I just love it. Keep ‘em comin’ Big Mama!
This post made me feel so guilty because there is SO much I need to do around my house! I like that color of green! Did you know that looking at something green is supposed to relax you???
Hope you have a lovely week!
Marilyn….in Mississippi
I love the color. My oldest daughter did my granddaughters that color with pink accents. It is beautiful.
http://meganbhulsey.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/emilys-room/
Um…I think you missed a spot right THERE!
Love the green!
Painting tip for best straight lines…use the blue painters tape. Tape the trim where it meets the ceiling. While the paint is wet, yes I said wet, pull the tape off. Do the same thing again where the trim meets the wall. The most awesome straight lines ever!!!
Love that color, can’t wait to see the bedding, but I have to thank you for giving me one of the most spontaneous gut-laughs I’ve had in a long time. It started with the line about P having to “shoot hogs out of a helicopter” and just continued from there. I even snorted.
Beautiful!!
Oh I love, Love, love the color! I go crazy for that color green with pink accents. I bet it will be fabulous!
Looks like the color of Yoplait Custard style yogurt Key Lime Pie – yum!
My oldest daughter loved green anything and everything. Which lasted only until the day after I gave her a HUGE custom box of 300 Crayolas in varying shades of Green. Then, almost like a light switch, her favorite color? Not green. Purple. Ahh, girl whimsy…gotta love it.
oh that’s my favorite color! can’t wait to see the finished product. i’m sure it will be adorable.
Oh, it’s gonna be great. Love it! And I agree about the FREE shipping…they could sell me a bag of ice if it was shipped FREE.
Oh, and the pig thing….you’re waaaaaay to young to remember and it doesn’t even PRETEND to relate but for some wierd reason I thought about an old episode of WKRP where they threw turkeys out of a plane.
Oh my goodness, I was laughing from the beginning when you brought up business time. It does change things.
The room is great! Those letters hanging with ribbons are so sweet. I am so impressed that you just up and painted. I wish I had that in me.
i love it!!!!
last year i did my kitchen walls that color and i love them. now i need to paint my cupboards white, and i am slowly collecting red appliances.
you have inspiried me
–mari
I love the color! My baby girl isn’t even here yet and I’m looking forward to when she’s old enough for me to do a bright green and pink room! (The nursery is “gender neutral” from our boy, so I’m being good and not starting over for now. So sad)
Let us know if her sleep habits change. The pale pink looks so soothing and dreamy, while the bright green screams, “LET’S JUMP ON THE BED AND SING AT THE TOP OF OUR LUNGS!!”
Of course, I love it. I bought a $15 pair of lime green sandals at Target, got a few compliments, then went on a shopping spree of epic proportions, scooping up anything with lime green in it for an excuse to wear my fabulous $15 sandals. “They were on sale!”
Flight of the Conchords! My Fav… if you like them you will like THE IT CROWD. Love the green!
Oh how I wish I lived close to you. I absolutely love how you dress your daughter and if you had a yard sale I would buy up all those clothes! I love to go to yard sales but I never seem to have time! I haven’t hit any good ones yet this year…bummer! Love the color of her room. My girl wants her room painted pink, purple, and light blue. I wonder how I will figure how to do that?!?
My husband is as green with envy as Caroline’s new walls. He thinks shooting hogs from a helicopter would just be most excellent fun.
Men.
laughing soooo hard at “magically delicious”
Excellent color and I can commiserate on taking out new life insurance on P for the iPhone. I’ve been begging for J to see the light for months and get me an iPhone (and I even blogged about it, but to no avail.)
Can’t wait to see the after pics.
Have fun!
I think the urge to clean has something to do with the fact that it’s 105 degrees outside. I have spent way too much time inside this summer, and have managed to clean out my closet (no small feat, believe me), pantry, coat closet, guest bedroom… yeah, I’ve been on a cleaning whirlwind. And I can’t stop. It’s weird.
So does the Q-tip really work for getting the edge of the molding done properly. I’ve got an OCD daughter who is driving herself crazy trying to get the perfect molding/wall line.
My girls’ room is that exact same shade o’ green and we LOVE it. I also painted all their wooden furniture white, while I was at it.
I know what you mean about the painting. I become the most anal retentive person ever when painting. I actually started painting our master bedroom today and I am so glad you mentioned to Qtips. Is that not sad? Paint drips are my nemesis, at least today. You are not the only one.
Regarding miniature ice cream sandwiches vs. the regular size…they DO taste different. This is my theory- it’s the ice cream to wafer ratio…it’s different depending upon the size. Sadly, I have spent way too much time trying to figure out why they taste different.
I just painted my daughters room the same color. It was from Lowes though and it was called landscape green.
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