We interrupt the regularly scheduled programming...

...because of technical difficulties. Don't you just love technology? One minute you have the world at your fingertips, the next minute you're completely cut off! The old laptop has gone in the shop for repairs, so I'm blogging from work today (shhhh! don't tell my principal!), and it looks like I'll be a little scarce for a few days. Don't worry, though! I'll be back soon!

A painting we will go, a painting we will go...

So here is our hall bath, the next stop on our to-do list.

About a year and a half ago, I painted the bottom half red to coordinate with the living room. However, as much as I have tried, I just don't like it. I love the beige/red combination in the living room, but here, eh, not so much. So you know what that means...drag out the rollers and brushes, Angela's painting again! I've decided on a soft blue to go with the beige on top (I do still like it, so I'm not changing it). Something along the lines of this:

(This is Danish Linen Sky from Ballard Designs).

Of course, this means stripping wallpaper border, one of my LEAST favorite jobs. I'm still trying to decide whether to put up another border or to do something different. If I do chair rail, it will have to be stained rather than painted (all our moulding is stained). Any ideas out there?

I've decided to fancy up the shower curtain, too. I'm thinking about adding a little fringe to the the valance, maybe something like this:

or this:

(photos courtesy http://www.warehousefabricsinc.com/)

Of course new rugs and some blue towels. And some pretty new chachkis for the shelf. Should I paint that or get something new? Oooh, I know, one of those pretty half-round wire baskets! How about something like this:

or

(http://www.shabbyshorescottagechic.blogspot.com/

and

http://www.idealmoments.co.uk/ )

We're also replacing the faucet with something like this:

(http://www.doitbest.com/)

The good news is, Derek can get it at a hefty discount at work!

Now for the wall with the grate. I'm thinking about moving that somewhere else and putting a vintage window up there. I love the idea of using those old windows as art! I've seen several lately around the blogosphere, and I think that one would fit that long wall just fine. Should I leave the panes empty, or add something to jazz them up? Or just some of them? I'm not sure yet about that one.

So many ideas buzzing around my head! I really can't wait to get started on this one. One thing is for sure, though, I'm gonna need about 3 gallons of primer to cover that red!

One Little Word...

I don't normally make New Year's resolutions. When I was a teenager, I enjoyed sitting down with a pen and paper and scribbling out things I'd like to accomplish in the new year. However, over the years I found that I wasn't too good at keeping those resolutions, so I just gave up. No need to go to the trouble when I know I won't follow through.
The other day, I read about a twist on the resolution idea. Instead of a list of things you hope to do, you pick a word for the year, something to focus on (check out Ali Edwards' blog for more about this). I've been trying to think of what it is that I really need to work on this year, and I think I've found one little word that really sums up what I need more of in my life: discipline. I wouldn't say that my life is out of control, but there are definitely areas that I need to rein in:

• my eating and excersise habits
• my lackidaisical money-management methods (that's saying it gently!)
• my daily quiet time with God (which seems to have been put on the back burner lately)

We can definitely say that I've been a bit on the lazy side in these areas. Maybe by instilling a little (maybe a lot) of discipline, I can grow closer to God, be a better steward of his financial blessings, and stop treating my body so badly. I've even found a Bible verse to go along with it:

"The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied."

Proverbs 13:4 (NIV)

Do you have "One Little Word" for 2009?

Stephanie over at Homegrown Hospitality is even offering hand-drawn, framed doodles of your "One Little Word" for 2009. Go check her out!