Thursday, January 21, 2010

Rules, Schmools!

I have been absolutely torn when it comes to paint choices in our home and I am over it, I just want to get it painted already. When I ask myself why this is so tough all I can come up with is that the rules are strangling me. I know that we have rules for a reason. In general I am a person that respects the rules but this is where I need to be a rebel.

Interior design rules will say that when you have rooms that are open to one another there should be an easy transition by using complimentary colors. Closed off rooms are not as fussy.

We live in a home built in 1945, it is small and we have to sometimes be creative with space. We specifically chose a small home for many reasons. Our kitchen and master bedroom are usually always open to the living room. Now, I know that this being said, these three rooms should be painted to compliment each other. However, my argument is that we paint and decorate our homes in a way that makes us comfortable and happy. That is the point, right? We live here 24/7 and quite honestly our family does not have that many visitors other than kids and they really do not care.

Our family lives by so many schedules and rules due to health issues and Asperger's that I feel if each room wants to be who it is then it should be allowed to do just that. Each room should become what it is destined to be. It was easier with the kids rooms, they are closed off from the main living area and they could choose what makes them happy. The living room is done in warm colors and feels very cozy. The kitchen wants to be light and fun because it is a workhorse. That leaves the master bedroom, and it has been the center of controversy. We want to decorate in shades of blue but that does not follow the rules. Here is where I am done. I will decorate our bedroom in shades of blue and I think the room is very happy with that decision. ; )

Have you broken the design rules? Do you think it should all flow or meet the needs of each individual room? Tell me your story, I would love to hear what you have to say.

Did you know?

I love to learn new things but I love to learn old things too. I thought it would be cool to do some "Did you know?" posts. Some of these items you may know, may have forgotten that you know, or maybe you will get a new wrinkle in your brain. So here is the first installment.

  • 5% solution of vinegar kills 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold, and 80% of viruses.
  • If you want to kill germs on toys with batteries you can just put them in a ziplock bag in the freezer for 2 days.
  • Oven cleaner is great for cleaning hair tools such as curling irons.
  • If you don't know if those eggs in the frig are fresh or not just place them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink to the bottom while older eggs will float.
Cool right? If you have little tidbits feel free to leave me a comment. Until next time, now you know.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Warm Rain

The warmer weather and thunderstorms are hinting Spring, but I realize it is still January. Thankfully the seed catalogs are beginning to roll in and the plotting can begin. I have been trying to do a bit of Spring cleaning around here, at least inside since it has been a frog strangler out there. I know when the official signs of Spring roll around I will be way too busy to get to most of these chores then.

The little girls were very excited to come outside today, even though they are not fans of getting wet. When they all piled out the door they realized there were puddles everywhere and instead of just walking through them, instead decided they should fly over every. single. puddle! They are not the brightest bulbs but we still kind of like them. The big girls had no issues with coming outside, they love the rain. They are not thrilled that they are not getting the daily clover but that last cold spell got most of it. It won't be long they will be knee deep in the green again. (Do chickens actually have knees?)

Sarah bear is battling being sick. Poor baby has a sore throat, pink eye and an ear ache. I hope she starts feeling better soon AND that she can stay away from her brother. She so hates to miss school. Well, I should keep it short today because it is time to give the Big Blue Bear his shot. Tomorrow I plan to add more to the side bar and maybe even post some pictures. Have a good one!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The countdown has begun...

We are ever inching toward next week when our family will have a celebration. Each year on January 27th we have a party. We like to refer to the event as a D-aversary because it marks the date our son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I know that sounds odd, diagnosed with an illness that has no cure and yet have a celebration to mark the date. Yes. That is the day our son, then only 6 years old, received his first shot of insulin. January 27th is the day our son's life was saved from what only 80 years before had been a certain death.

Our D-aversary consists of the meal we had that night, KFC. We bake a cake and decorate it however Daniel thinks it should be, last year we decorated the cake to look like his insulin pump. We hand out certificates to recognize the hard work and milestones that have been met in the past year, not only by Daniel but by his entire team of family and friends who help him live with this 24/7. We have been known to have a little air guitar and air drums at the party to evoke everyone's inner rock star. We celebrate the life, the precious gift of insulin, the tenacity it takes to live every day when your immune system has disabled your pancreas.

This year is a milestone. This year is 5 years of living with Type 1 diabetes. I feel as though we need a bit more for this celebration. I will be working on ideas for this one because I want to show my son that we appreciate every year, every moment we have been given with him. I have to say that not all tears that I shed on D-aversary day are ones of joy. I am still only a mama, I remember in such vivid detail the events leading up to, the day itself, and the time after. Traumatic really does not come close to describing what a family goes through when a child is diagnosed with an illness that has no cure. When you come so close to losing a precious little one simply because you do not see the warning signs or maybe because you are in denial that they are even there, it changes you. The disease changes your child, your family, your world. I am thankful every single day for this now 11 year old that makes me crazy and for his sisters who do so even more. I can not imagine, nor do I want to, my life without them in it. On that day there was a period of time that I believed I was losing my child to something I did not understand and until he received that first shot of insulin, I was.