1.31 - Body Art

I'm not particularly fond of tattoos and other body art, but I may have to change my mind on that in the future ;) :I hope he sticks to henna and washable markers, though ;)

P.S. Don't forget to check the other photos from 1/25 on that I posted today.

Hues of Blue

OK, I totally agree with you Susan that the blue in the boy's bedroom is pastel and not a bold color at all... (and I also confess now that K and I are a bit cowardly where bold paint is concerned) but it is bolder and much darker than the previous blue we chose for their bedroom in the old house, check them side by side (click to enlarge):












So, I guess what I wrote about the new color being "something brighter and a bit bolder" is perfectly accurate, isn't it?

P.S. (I'll post more photos of the old bedroom in my regular blog someday, or maybe here).

1.30 - Sick & Asleep

If you wanna know, this is what happened "today," after this photo:I thought that this scene was absolutely heartwarming, absolutely irresistible to a parent, so I just had to take a picture, even if without flash:

1.29 - Hardwood Floors: Before and After

Remember I warned you this was going to be the "before and after" project 365+1 blog? Here's a good example of my sometimes obsessive photographic chronicling of stuff, in this case, the uncovering and cleaning of our hardwood floors. I won't repeat the dose with the other rooms, obviously since this is boring enough ;) (all photos actually taken on the 29th, but posted on 2/3).

Before, general and detailed view.

The floor was covered with the remains of the old crumbled "rubbery" carpet padding which actually turned to powder and stuck to the grooves in between the planks (besides dulling or altogether removing the floor finish -- we may need to refinish it although I do like the matte look of the almost unfinished floors). We removed the sticky green stuff with a wire brush and my husband pulled the wooden "prickly" sticks that were nailed to the sides as well as the staples throughout the room.

Sequence of work on the wall by the window:

I: Just uncovered
II: Holes filled with wood-filler
III: After sanding the wood filler
IV: End results
Not bad, huh?

1.28 - Hardwood Floors

So today I worked on this:Before and after photos of some of the more detailed work forthcoming "tomorrow," OK?

1.27 - Jane Austen Books

Since it's become a "tradition" (thanks to PBS) to blog about Jane Austen every Sunday evening (or Monday morning), and , on account of that and other past posts, I even created a Jane Austen label in my other blog, I took these photos for "today's" post (of course written on 1/31).

I feel a bit ashamed to admit that I had the courage to shell over 40 bucks (plus shipping) to that book club thing for these books just because they were pretty. I didn't even like (more like hate) the "vintage" illustrations, but I guess now I've gotten used to them.And I still think that the books are pretty (although the photo below is not very good).This one is a bit better:
P.S. Don't you dare tell me that you love the "vintage" striped carpet. I hate it. It'll be removed. End of story. ;) (I see your comment coming, Susan, I do).

1.26 - No $ For Tiles? No Problem!

Edited to add comment at the end

If you cannot afford a tiled backsplash in your kitchen, here's a great suggestion for you:Another look:
I tell you, my SIL is a genius :). She did see something similar at a friend's house and that's where she got the idea from, but I still think that I think that the pattern she created inspired by the checkered colors in her sons' stroller/carseat/high chair is AWESOME!!! (of course I love it because I ADORE green).

Edited to add:
My other SIL asked in the comment section how it was done. Our SIL's friend, the one who had something similar in her kitchen, said she'd done it with square sponges, like stamping. SIL tried that approach, but it didn't really work so well, so she actually painted each and every one of those little squares!! (with glossy or semi-glossy paint, to work like a washable backsplash)

1.25 - Rubber Ducky Bathroom

I didn't even ask my SIL permission to share these, but I'm sure she wouldn't/won't mind (I don't know if I told her I've blogged about her party decorating abilities either ;)* So since we are (were) at her house for the weekend I took these pictures to share:

Now these are bolder colors, aren't they?

I love this bright yellow and blue/white stripped rubber ducky themed bathroom (ours has the same theme, but with different curtain and no border or the great paint).

* Now, if my blogging SIL reads this by any chance, I just want to let you know that I'd ask you express permission before blogging about anything, OK?

Eight New Posts Today!

So, today I caught up with my 365+1 project and I posted eight times (OK, nine with this one, and I had to edit a post because it had a previously published picture, sorry about that!).

I guess, however, that from now on this blog should be called "The Before and After 365+1 Project" :)

I take so many pictures that just cannot resist posting before and after shots... (and, on occasion, "during" ones too)!

I am yet to take today's picture, so you'll have to be patient with me. I don't want it to be a lame one, so, I'll probably come back to post it later, OK? On second thought I do have some cute ones, but I have to finish packing to go to Maryland. Have a great weekend everyone!!

1.24 - Blue Paint

We're finally making progress on the house renovation front. This week's project was the boy's bedroom.

Before:During:After:How do you like that blue? We always tend to choose really light, pastel colors and I end up thinking that they're too light, so this time we went for something brighter and a bit bolder and I love it!

1.23 - Playland

This week was "School Spirit" week at Kelvin's school and each day had a different theme. Today it was sports and games so I helped drive some of the the kids to a McD playland. We don't ever go there, so it was a rare treat for the boys. They didn't want to eat the fries I bought, so I ate them all (and didn't complain, I know, bad for you, etc...) Voluntarily Caged Boys:

1.22 - Painting with Daddy

Some of the results:
K let them use ceiling paint and foam brushes to paint around the room while he painted the ceiling tonight. It made for a late bedtime... but was lots of fun!

1.21 - The Boys' Favorite Museum

Today was a school holiday and we drove to Center City so we could take advantage of our annual membership to this place. It was crowded, unfortunately, but we enjoyed it anyway.
Note: photos taken by my parents in April 2007.

1.20 - House Drawing

It was a busy day with guests, so here's a picture of a recent drawing by Kelvin:I can hardly believe it's his own because one year ago he didn't like to draw and never did it, and now he's doing such elaborate creations! Hurray for school!!

I've Been a Bad Bad Blogger

Yeah, and I've also written a post with this very same title before, in the other blog, the browser even had it saved there...

OK, so, I haven't posted for some days, but I did take the photos, so I'm posting them again today, and "editing" the posts to the respective dates. That's how it's going to be from now on, OK? It's my blog, I call the shots. Here's the deal: I'll do my best to take photos everyday, but I may not post them on that day if I don't have the time and I'll come back and post them later. OK?

(Is anyone reading this anyway? I know Kate - hi Kate! [wave]- added me to her feed reader, but I think this brand new blog is still too recent to have any followers ;)

I guess I have a pretty good excuse for at least last night (I'm planning to write about it on the other blog and I'll link to it after I'm done there). The excuse actually is related to this cute little person you've seen here before.

Anyway, let me go get the camera and download the photos so they can be uploaded. So many ups and downs! (silly silly joke).

1.19 - Top of the Pyramid

There's my boy, so proud of himself, and his schoolmates. And he's quite good at gymnastics too. I love gymnastics, I did it for two years at the university -- yeah, too late, I know, but no opportunities early on in Brazil.

1.18 - Multi-Purpose Orange Object

Note: These are from last night, no new pictures today, we were busy with guests all day long...

Hat?Megaphone?

1.17 - Snow

I cannot find words to describe how fascinating snow falling is to me since I saw it for the first time when I was 25 years old.

3:38 p.m.:5:10 p.m.:

1.16 - Like Father, Like Son

Our older son, at the tender age of 5 (6 in March) is already displaying the same penchant for Math that his dad had/has. This is his latest favorite after school "game." He writes additions and subtractions for us to solve as well (the first line), and sometimes we write them for him (the three he's solving). Another funny thing is his English, he says, "I'm going to write a few problems for you to fix" instead of "solve." :-)

1.15 - Lame Workspace Pic

This is the messy desk where I spend several hours a day. Hopefully soon I'll spend most of the time working on the dissertation, but right now it's only checking/writing email and reading blogs. Sorry for such a lame picture on my second day "live" on this blog. We had some pretty (though non-accumulating) snow fall today -- that's what I wanted to have photographed, but didn't... :-( hence this last minute shot.

1.14 - Hair Cut

Before

Output:
Results:
I think I did a reasonable job, didn't I?

1.13 - Long Haired Boy

(taken 1/14 with foggy lenses, camera had been in the car)

1.12 - Baby: After

Baby: Before
(he was born on 1/10, but we only met him today)
I couldn't post just one photo, could I?P.S. (for Aliki) And I didn't pass the test. I exclaimed "I want one!" several times during the visit (sigh). The worse part was that I think I meant it. I must be crazy.

1.11 - One Year Ago

(taken on 1/11/2007)
We were dismantling our Christmas tree (I hold on to it for as long as possible).

1.10 - Mama's Helper

(taken on 1/8)

1.9 - Enjoying Warm Weather

(taken on 1/7)

1.8 - Record High Temperatures

Record high temperatures of 19 C/ 66 F + 4 loads of laundry = a broken clothesline! :(

1.7 - Warmer Day

18 C/ 64 F in January? I'll use my clothesline!

1.6 - Friends for Breakfast

One friend and her two children slept over after the dinner, so we had guests for breakfast the next day! It's fun to have breakfast in the dining room with the table nicely set. :) I guess we should have more sleepovers.

1.5 - Full House

We had all these people (and a few more who are not in this picture) having dinner at our house tonight. It was great and one of the reasons why we wanted to buy a big single house in the first place.

P.S. is it OK if once in a while I appear in the photo, so it's not a photo that I took? (for those who don't know me, I'm the one in black sitting on the floor and looking at the camera).

1.4 - Linen Closets

I took a few photos of our linen closet exactly one year ago on January 4 and posted one of them in my blog here (the above is an alternate).

We sold that house and moved to another one last year. The same linens are in this other closet now (without doors for floor renovation in this picture):