Lauren and the Amazing Multi-Color Bedroom

I’m excited that we have finally started the process of re-doing our guest bedroom. I have to be honest, though; it’s really gotten off to a rocky start.

If you own a home or have ever undertaken a DIY project, it’s no secret that a run or two to Lowe’s or Home Depot is certainly in order. Or if you’re us, make that FIVE trips. That’s a five.

Since this is the third room in our home that we’ve painted ourselves, we felt like we pretty much had it under control by this point. We didn’t rush, leaving time to think about paint colors. We purchased samples and painted them on the wall and let it sit for about 48 hours so we could see what the color looked like in all different lights (natural daylight, overhead light at night, etc.). I would highly suggest this technique. (This was our problem with the TMNT Secret of the Ooze bathroom paint color.)

We both were on-board with the color selection and on Saturday morning, we got to it. (This was after two trips, once where we forgot the paint sample color, the second time after we’d run home for it. Woops, my bad.)

The room isn’t huge (like our master bedroom and bathroom projects were) so we thought one gallon of paint would be plenty. Mistake number one. We got through the first coat and realized, oh yes, we would definitely need an extra quart. So the hubby went to Lowe’s Sunday morning. No big deal.

Then, we quickly realize (lots of cussing involved) that we need another quart. Fine. So I run to the store to pick-up yet another quart. Except that when I got home and proceeded to paint it on, it looked like a different color. Like an entirely different shade of gray! I kept painting because the same paint color often looks different when it’s wet versus dry. We let it dry and realized (holy eff) that it is in fact two different shades. See?!

So Greg angrily (and rightly so!) stormed off to Lowe’s (making that trip number five) to have them fix the problem and replace the paint with the appropriate color. Luckily, it’s only messed up on two sides, but it’s pretty noticeable. (Note: Lowe's made it right.) So, it’s a little anti-climatic, but here’s the “good side” of the room and ultimately what it will look like.

Let me share our lessons learned. If you plan on doing two coats of paint in a room (and we always do!), buy at least two gallons of paint no matter the size. Overbuy on painter’s tape, rollers and edger pads. You’ll always need more than you think.

We’ll share pics when we finally finish painting and I can get some décor in the room. I’ve got quite an inspiration board going on Pinterest. But it’ll have to wait.

For now, I’m posted in San Antonio this week for work. Have a great week!

Idiotic Monday or Why I Should Have My License Revoked

So, yesterday was a very odd day for me. It doesn’t have anything to do with the fact that it was Valentine’s Day. Or a Monday. I just think I left my brain at home.

Case in point: I was driving back from a client meeting (luckily, I didn’t say or do anything idiotic during THAT) and realized my car was still covered in sand because of all the snow/ice from the week before, so I decided to go get a car wash. Totally normal, right? I’ve even been to this exact car wash SO many times. But for some reason, when it was time to put the car in neutral, I’m pretty sure I put it in reverse. I suddenly started moving backward on the ramp that is supposed to push your car forward. Um, WTF? Pretty sure I’ve been driving for almost 10 years.

The fun didn’t stop there, though. So, I finally get the car in neutral and, quite honestly, I’m thoroughly enjoying my car wash. Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You” was on and I was rocking OUT, channeling my inner “Elton John/peacock costume/Muppet show with a little Gwyneth Paltrow.” You know what I’m talkin’ bout.

So, then the car wash was over and I pulled out onto the street to drive back to work. Guess what I forgot to do? Yes. I forgot to put the car from neutral into drive. So I pull onto the road and begin to accelerate when all I hear is my engine revving. All of the people waiting at the DART bus stop are looking at me like I’m crazy. I’m suddenly VERY embarrassed. So, I put my car in drive and take my bruised ego back to work.

So, then I’m making my usual hour-long (shoot me) commute home. I’ve easily ate about 3,000 calories worth of cookies and brownies (thanks to my sweet hubby for the warm cookie delivery to work!) and to be honest, I’m over the whole car wash incident. I’m talking to my sister (via my hands-free headphones, mind you!) and driving home. I stop off to fill up my tank and I’m still just chatting away. So, I swipe my Kroger card (you get 10 cents off per gallon!), swipe my debit card and jump in the car. After sitting there for several minutes, I check to see where it’s at and realize, um, I didn’t even put the gas nozzle in the tank. Seriously?

So, while I left my brain at home, I did get to enjoy a very quiet Valentine’s Day (hubby had to work late, so we celebrated earlier in the weekend) with a glass of wine, cheesecake and The Bachelor.

Happy Tuesday! Here’s hoping the week gets less weird.