Moving is Not for Out-of-Shape Ladies (like myself)

Hey y'all! It's been a couple of days, since I've checked in on the old blog.  Can I tell you what I'm doing right now? Sitting on The Suze's sofa.

I've been here for about four days.

At first I was just recovering from the exhaustion of having a sick toddler, packing, moving and driving 8 hours.  But then, I slept funny and woke up with my right shoulder about an inch higher than my left shoulder thanks to some massive knots and muscle spasms.  I have never had anything like this happen and it's making me feel every bit the 30ish years I am about to be.  I mean, 30ish isn't even old, but I'm starting to feel old and that's not a good thing.

So all of my plans to shop and play outside with Edward have been put on hold so I can rest my aching back. I need to be in tip top shape for the big move-in/unpacking day next Monday, and right now I can barely hold my own child.  You can see into our house from the street when the drapes are open and I am now a permanent fixture of the interior decor.  Me on the sofa, a heating pad, white cheddar popcorn and any Real Housewives that Bravo is airing*

This is my view from the sofa.

So pretty right?  Our house always looks slightly different when I come home, but I think it looks the best it's ever looked this visit.  I'll try to take a few non-Instagram pics.  I have a couple posts I'm going to try to work on this week, so hopefully I'll be checking in before we move in to the new house!

Also, we have our pup with us, so there are three big dogs in the house.  Clearly, my dog has no problem making herself at home here.

Hope y'all have a lovely day!

* RHONJ fans, did you cry as hard as I did during the reunion?? When Theresa tried to turn the conversation from Jacqueline's child's autism to herself, I decided she's officially off-the-rails crazy.  I mean, INSANE.  I also felt like I was being hit with a baseball bat when they showed the footage of Jacqueline's son.  Serious, heaving, ugly sobs.  I was not expecting it to get so real and I had to go hug my Edward.  Ugh, I'm teary just thinking about it.

Anxiety: What if they pack the bananas??? (and a little RHONJ)

Michael S. Smith

That's my time-out chair.

I had a momentary freak-out on my Facebook page. Then I realized I would look super cray cray to my new friends when I commented 25 more times on my own status. So rather than stop the insanity, I decided to bring it over here for the rest of y'all.

I'm panicking about the move.  Not really full-on panicking, just sort of freaking out.

I'm pretty sure this started with the Real Housewives of New Jersey.  I felt incredible anxiety watching the riveting season finale.*


* I'm still not sure what to believe. Apparently half of them were strippers, but I mean, strippers are probably nice people, too.  Who's to judge besides Theresa, who's never been a stripper, but likes to let it slip when she know you were.  No one's ever accused me of being a stripper so I don't really know how it feels.  I guess I'd be mad, but then I'd be like "sooo you're saying I'm skinny?" and taking it as a compliment.  Wow, what is happening here.  Why am I talking about strippers. Oh yes, my anxiety.  

I never have anxiety (except when I'm flying).  I'm usually like whatevs, we'll get it done, let's open some champagne.  But, no, I'm sitting here in bed thinking things like what if the packers have to call in reinforcements because I'm exhibiting some hoarding qualities, or what if they judge me for having too many toys for Edward? Why do I care? OR OR what if they pack the bananas? maybe it's an accident. Maybe Edward put a half-eaten banana in the sock drawer and then it sits on the truck for 10 days and our whole house smells like a rotten banana.  What other things has Edward hidden?  Sandwiches? They can show up anywhere in this house!

But then my friend Paige left the following comment: "It's exciting to move! Forget being judged - who cares! :)"  She so right.  She knows how to calm a lady down.  She's a wedding planner, and planned my beautiful blue and white wedding, and always knows how to look on the bright side.  I will shamelessly promote her day and night because she's the best and that one little comment made me instantly relax and put things in perspective. (Find her here Paige Chenault Events)

This is exciting y'all! I'm moving!

So no more anxiety about packed bananas and judgey movers.

Let's do this!

Where's my champagne?

The Big Move: Checklist Before Showing

Morning y'all! We are showing our house today! It's not technically on the market yet.  We still have a couple of little things we have to finish before it's market ready so this is sort of like a practice showing, but with a legit, interested buyer.  I just had to sprinkle some fresh flowers around the house.  Trader Joe's y'all.  That orchid was $12.99! It's just as gorgeous as any $45 orchid I've seen.

Here's the checklist I devised for myself to prep the house for a showing.

Did I forget anything?

Getting your house ready to show is sort of a bizarre thing for someone like me who is constantly concerned with how my house looks.  Part of me is like, I don't want people to come in and think I don't have pictures of my family or prefer to keep my shelves bare, but the other part of me is like, whatever, I want to sell this place.  It's a strange dichotomy of making it look welcoming and ready to move in, but also like no one lives there, except like maybe an athlete or business person who travels a lot and just hired someone to furnish it with the bare necessities.

Tiny Dining Table

Case in point: the realtor suggested we take the leaves out our dining room table to show how big the dining room is.  We're using the same realtor who represented the sellers of our new house (he's a great negotiator), and I remember when I walked into the new house, the first thing I thought was, "Why do they have such a tiny dining table in here?" So now I'm all paranoid that people are going to come in and think the same thing about me.  And then someday, if I ever do design for a living, they'll be like, "no way, that girl loves tiny dining tables."

But Imma listen because, again, the point is to sell the house.

Blue and White Fabric Love

Morning y'all! I got so much done yesterday that I sort of feel like a rock star.  I wiped down all of the trim, doors, light switches and cabinets, which sounds kind of silly but it makes a huge difference (kind of like cleaning your windows).  I also touched up the trim and doors upstairs because I tend to run into things with the laundry basket.  I did manage to dip the bottom inch of my pony tail in the can of paint and then smear it all over my new white t-shirt.  Of course, I didn't realize this for a couple of hours so that's awesome.  

Enough of my cleaning biznis, it's soo boring.  As I clean I'm always thinking blue and white (and sometimes pink, but not today).  These are some of the fabrics I'm considering to get the blue and white family room that yesterday's images inspired.  I'd love your opinions*!  

* The new family room is white with white carpet, which probably won't last, and our sofas are a tan raffia and I'm thinking of adding big white euro shams and some smaller throw pillows in one of these fabrics.  I also want to reupholster some bamboo chairs I have in one of these fabrics as well.  I'll probably try to use the same fabric all around to keep it simple.  Finally, we have a black and white striped awning outside the big window.  There now you have the deets. 

This first fabric is so much cuter in person.  I stumbled upon it while I was meandering through Calico Corners.  It is called Medallion Handprint in Lake and it's currently the front runner**. 

Here's a closer look at the print: 

** UPDATE: after I finished this post, I had a new front runner.  ADD much? (see below) 

I also really liked the idea of this Robert Allen fabric for the bamboo chairs, but I haven't seen it in person.  Yesterday, Our French Inspired Home commented that sometimes the ratio of blue and white is off, preferring more white than blue.  I totally agree.  I definitely want this room to be more white than blue.  

Perhaps I should go with a classic toile instead? 

Like this Toile Orientale (** NEW FRONTRUNNER), 

Or this Grand Toile?

I think I prefer the first toile for the white to blue ratio.  My only concern about the toile is that our kitchen is covered in a black and white toile wallpaper that I plan on keeping for awhile.  The rooms are next to one another, but not necessarily open to each other, but I don't want to be "toile lady." 

Then there's the trusty ikat.  But will I love it in 5 years? Does it matter? 

Ok people, if you've stuck with me to the end of this incredibly long post, then you must be true blue and white fabric lovers.  Tell me what you think!

A Lovely Sea Island Cottage

I don't know 'bout y'all, but I'm ready for the beach.  Luckily, we get to go to Sea Island again this summer! I cannot wait.  It's my happy place.  We're not staying in the cottage I'm sharing with you today, but it was among the contenders.  Of course, my little real estate guru sister found it and gave me the ok to share it with you since we're not renting it - she didn't want anybody to steal it.

I actually posted about this house in my round-up of house pictures from our last Sea Island trip.  The stalker voyeur lover of pretty interiors in me is very excited to finally see the inside.

I mean, really?  Who gets that as their beach house? I love the soft cool color palette, which is an absolute necessity in the hot, humid summer.  I don't mind the heat because it forces you to relax.  You literally can't get out of your lounge chair, for fear of overexerting yourself and suffering heat stroke, except to maybe cool off in the pool or the ocean.  It's wonderful.

See here for rental information.

In The Big Move news, I'm heading out to get some boxes so I can pack up all of the unnecessaries.  Anybody who would come to my house today would know the entire history of my life and my family just by looking at pictures.  I love being surrounded by family photos, but prospective home buyers might be a little overwhelmed.  I also have lots of little tchotchkes on display that should probably be removed as well.  So that is my task for today.  That and cross one item off of The Big Clean checklist. Lots to do!