Flat White

You'd think that flat white latex paint would be the easiest thing in the world to acquire. You'd be wrong. I'm painting the sink counter and the stove island during our kitchen remodel, as well as some new shelves and brackets. I've started the brackets and shelves with a first coat of black chalk paint. …

Homemade chalk paint

I've tried a popular brand of chalk paint; paid a pretty penny for it, too. I didn't care for the texture and I found it a little too thick. The first time I made homemade chalk paint, I Googled and Pinterest-ed and found a recipe I liked using unsanded mortar mix. LOVED IT! Too bad …

The five most dangerous words

It all started early this year when the kitchen faucet started leaking. The faucet was nothing special; in fact, I never liked it. So I bought an inexpensive but adorable one to replace it until we redid the kitchen. Then I got to thinking. For those of you who don't know me, those words are …

Sweet Potato Casserole

I got this recipe from my beloved Aunt Jenny in 1988. Where she got it, I don't know. It's a fabulous recipe for those who are tired of the marshmallow-sweet tater combination you usually see. And my father-in-law, who doesn't care for coconut, even likes it! Notes in parentheses are mine. AUNT JENNY'S SWEET POTATO …

Martha Stewart, you are not invited for Thanksgiving this year

I have absolutely nothing to say to Martha Stewart and she has irked me for the last time. Never mind the fact that I don't know her, will probably never meet her, and have never spoken to her in the first place, you can be sure I will snub her if given the opportunity. To …

Still hangin’ in there

Well, I came home yesterday, Saturday, the day after surgery, both exhilarated and exhausted. I spent Friday afternoon, post-surgery, drunk Facebooking and texting and it was totally awesome. Luckily the meds made me a happy drunk, not a sad or menacing one, and for once in my life I had an appropriate excuse for being …

Say what?

After over a dozen appointments with Medical Professionals over the past two months,  I feel qualified to say that preparing for breast cancer surgery is, at best, confusing and exhausting. At worst it is an absolute nightmare for Type A personalities and people suffering from anxiety disorders. Did I mention I've recently started taking Prozac? I …

Cleanliness is next to impossible

One of Chuck's uncles was in Texas last weekend, visiting Chuck's dad and stepmother. The really cool thing about this is that it's his mother's brother. I love it when a family can stay family even after a divorce. But I digress. Chucks' father (also named Chuck; it makes for interesting conversations with my mother-in-law …

Bye Bye Boobie

And so the adventure begins. We will be kissing one of The Girls goodbye. Wait, maybe I should rephrase that. Chuck can kiss her goodbye, everyone else can just wave. I met with my breast surgeon yesterday. Chuck came with me; he didn't go the first time but, frankly, as my husband, I figure he …

I’ll give you something to cry about…

I broke on Thursday. I don't break easily but, like a beautiful and delicate wine glass, when I do break, I shatter into a million tiny pieces. (You KNOW I'm going to bring up wine if I can.) I wasn't feeling sorry for myself. That's not part of this journey. No guilt, nothing like that. …