bathroom update!

Hope everyone had a fantastic and restful Labor Day weekend!

We finally got the downstairs bathroom update [mostly] complete. I say mostly because there are still a few things I'd like to add but they aren't critical so I'll do them gradually. Meaning, when I can spend $5-10 here and there without feeling it.

 As a refresher, here are some before shots (and a video!) of the bathroom:

 

Yup, glossy forest green paint in a space that is at most 5' x 5' and has no windows.  Don't know what design idiot picked that out.

I was inspired to do the update by this pin.

From the pin you can read the entire post on 320 Sycamore, but their bathroom has shower and actual cabinets. Obviously our bathroom isn't that big - it's just a toilet and a pedestal sink. But I love the open shelving and it would solve some storage issues for us. I started the update when I got back from Austin during my week off between semesters and I was hoping to keep it under $100. Spoiler alert: I failed.

The primer went on pretty patchy at first....

... and I may have though about quitting.

Plus, my painting partner was no help. At all.

I learned the hard way that I should have taped everything up before even opening the primer. But getting paint on the light bulbs led to new, clear white light bulbs and that ended up being a small but great change!

After battling the primer and the plastic wrap/tape combo, it would be an understatement to say that I was excited to crack open the paint. The excitement soon waned though. Painting in a tiny bathroom with the door closed to keep the dogs out is a hot, sweaty, pain-in-the-ass job.

Paint is on the wall! Woohoo!

The dirty truth: home updates are messy! And I have to draw things out to understand them. Hence, the notebook sketches, tape markers, and 2 levels.

Hanging these damn shelves took no less than 9 holes and 2 studfinders. We STILL couldn't find those studs and ended up using wall anchors instead.

Shelf brackets are up! Only thing left to do is put the shelves on and...

...decorate!

I'll do another post later that breaks down the budget and gives links to what we used.  And despite finishing this a few hours ago, I've already rearranged those shelves at least 5 times. My money is on another 10 times before I get it right.

Things I hope to add/change about this space:

mirror

framed print on the easel

printed towels

glass canisters with bathroom supplies

flowers

hanging art (on wall across from toilet)

new towel holder

glass shelf between mirror and sink

updated lighting

Have you been inspired by Pinterest to do any updates?  How have they gone for you?

xoxo,

Cait 

sunday social and the bathroom

Since returning to Houston, I've been super busy trying to update our downstairs bathroom.  Expect a full post on it later this week (along with my Cara Box reveal AND an easy wedding DIY) but for now here is a peak at the before:

Yup, that's shiny forest green paint.  It's gotta go!

And on to the Sunday Social for this week from Ashley and Neely!

1. What do you miss most about being a kid?

 

Appropriately enough, being carefree - no bills, very few responsibilities, no pressure.  

 

If you haven't checked it out, I recently wrote about the struggles of being on a budget when you have no income.  As some of you may know, I started nursing school in May while wrapping up my fifth (and final) year of teaching.  My last paycheck came in 10 days ago. Yikes.

 
2. Dd you have a nickname growing up? What was it?

 

Kookookarabajackal. (Hint: sounding it out makes it easier to say. Koo-koo-ka-rab-a-jackal.) My stepdad gave it to me when I was about 10. It stuck and I love it.  I think it's from some old song lyric but I couldn't tell you for sure.

 

And also Kay-Kay. I couldn't say "Caitlin" when I first learned to talk so I was Kay-Kay and my brothers were Pat-Pat (Patrick) and Day-Day (David). Clearly, I was a wordsmith from a young age.

3. What was your favorite thing to do at recess?
 

Given that I grew up in Texas and my recesses were about 100000000 degrees, we tended to hang out anywhere there was shade. Under a tree, under the fort part of a playscape, under the roof's overhang. You get the idea.

 

via

4. What did you want to be when you grew up?
 

I always wanted to be a doctor and I never wanted to get married or have kids.  Then life took me on a different path and now I'm here - in nursing school (which I love) and engaged but still not wanting kids. Yet. 

 

What's they they say about planning and then God laughing? Pretty sure he's enjoying this one!

 

5. Did you participate in any school activities?

 

I loved school activities. My passion was playing volleyball but I was also on student council, in volunteer groups, NJHS, blah blah blah. I went to a private high school and there was a large focus on being the smartest, the most involved, the best athlete, etc. So, you know, typical overachiever right here. Guilty as charged.

 

6. What is the funniest thing you did as a kid that your parents still remind you about?

When I was about 3 years old and my brothers were about 18 months old and I used to torture them. If they were in the little pack-n-play I would throw everything imaginable at them. If they were out, I'd put doll clothes on them. My grandmother used to say, "Get your licks in now.  Pretty soon they'll be bigger than you and don't forget - there are 2 of them and just 1 of you!"
She didn't actually encourage hitting. It was just a joke. Calm down, peeps.


Do you have any funny childhood stories? Any crazy nicknames? Join the link up!

xoxo,
Cait

Late nights at Wally World

Generally, I try to avoid Walmart.  Don't get me wrong; I love a good deal. And I'm not making any judgments about the clientele or the store or their business practices.  I'm just more of a Tarjay girl probably because I love the clothing accessories housewares The One Spot.

However, the other night I went for a few items because it is a) open 24 hours and b) very close to my house.  When you're sleep deprived and on a mission, that equals a win.

What I didn't count on was spending so much money trying to decorate my house while buying dryer sheets, Think Thin bars, eggs and bananas.

Hint: The home goods are hidden by all the healthy things!

Anywhooo.... let's get to the good stuff.

I bought these two galvanized buckets a while back at the Target One Spot but couldn't figure out what to do with them.  We've got this awkward niche spot on our stairs that nothing seems right for but I put them there anyway along with some bottles covered in chalkboard paint (thanks, Pinterest), a lantern from my parents' anniversary party and some stray picture frames.  Well, that is until my delirium-infused trip to Wally World turned into a decorating mission.

I ended up buying some fake flowers and a big block of the green foam stuff.  Must say, despite this terrible "after" pics, I smile every time I see it on my walk up the stairs.

And while I was wandering the faux florals, I found this little basket - perfect for toilet paper in our downstairs bath (which seriously lacks any storage).

I also found this pretty hammer vase and decided to fill it with more flowers and stems and such. Then a "love is all you need" canvas hopped in my cart, because what home is complete without that?

 

The yellow flowers were from a student (not fake!), which reminded me that there ARE good days in teaching.  Just not enough for me to stay.

 That's all for now so I'll leave you with this adorable picture of Milli, my decorating assistant.

xoxo, YFG