As some of you may know, every closet in our house is wallpapered with strange brown stained wallpaper, circa 1940s. It's gross. It depresses me. But, since it's in the closets it hasn't really been a priority. Especially because we've been scratching our heads, trying to figure out the best way to get rid of it.
We have a wallpaper steamer, which we bought to tackle the equally nasty wallpaper border in our living room (see here for those details). But, frankly, I've been afraid to try it because I've been afraid that it won't work. And if it didn't work... well, who knows what we'd do!
But last night, we decided to give it a go. We realized that there was absolutely, positively no way that we were hanging all those cute and clean baby clothes in that nasty closet. And, wouldn't you know it... it worked! One blast with the steamer, and the wallpaper literally melted off the wall. So, pretty soon, we'll have a cleaned out baby closet as well as a newly painted hall closet. Stay tuned for pictures.
Keep sweeping, Martha
PS - Welcome to the world Baby B! We are so excited you are finally here! Wishing k&d all the best as they embark on this exciting adventure!
Watched Switch.
4.02.2011
3.07.2011
the nest
I've been told by my experienced mom friends that I will soon begin nesting, given that I am approaching my 27th week of pregnancy (hard to believe, huh?). When I asked for some more information about nesting (and looked it up online), I started thinking that since we've moved in to dear, old Quackenbos all I've been doing is nesting! The urge to clean, to make sense of disorder, to get rid of asbestos tiles in the kitchen... those impulses have not been brought on by Baby Beeton.
But, I do feel a lot more anxious about the urgency of this all... so much so that I called Empire to come by and give us an estimate to tear up our kitchen floor before June and contacted a local glazing guy to make an appointment to have our vintage sink sprayed with a new coat of paint. Unfortunately, Empire took one look at our sticky tiles and the two underlying layers of ick and claimed that he wouldn't touch it. So... we are looking at re-prioritizing. The kitchen - with its lead paint and deadly tile - will have to wait a while, but re-carpeting the basement and fixing up the screened in porch have now risen in the ranks. There's always something to be done around here!
What else is new? Well, I think our '99 Honda Civic has finally bitten the dust. It's sad but true. We've had it in to the mechanic twice this past week, and after $700 in repairs (that didn't include repairing the broken air conditioning), our mechanic encouraged us to start shopping for a new ride before we take any long road trips. So, it looks like this weekend will be devoted to hitting the lots.
Moments like these, I just want to look at mobiles like this one by sweetlittlebirdie on Etsy. So much neater and more orderly than what we've been facing lately. Now only if she made a Westie one...
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched You Again. Watching Weeds: Season 6.
But, I do feel a lot more anxious about the urgency of this all... so much so that I called Empire to come by and give us an estimate to tear up our kitchen floor before June and contacted a local glazing guy to make an appointment to have our vintage sink sprayed with a new coat of paint. Unfortunately, Empire took one look at our sticky tiles and the two underlying layers of ick and claimed that he wouldn't touch it. So... we are looking at re-prioritizing. The kitchen - with its lead paint and deadly tile - will have to wait a while, but re-carpeting the basement and fixing up the screened in porch have now risen in the ranks. There's always something to be done around here!
What else is new? Well, I think our '99 Honda Civic has finally bitten the dust. It's sad but true. We've had it in to the mechanic twice this past week, and after $700 in repairs (that didn't include repairing the broken air conditioning), our mechanic encouraged us to start shopping for a new ride before we take any long road trips. So, it looks like this weekend will be devoted to hitting the lots.
Moments like these, I just want to look at mobiles like this one by sweetlittlebirdie on Etsy. So much neater and more orderly than what we've been facing lately. Now only if she made a Westie one...
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched You Again. Watching Weeds: Season 6.
2.23.2011
it's the little things
Last week, we had some unseasonably warm weather in D.C. Of course, yesterday, we had ice and snow, but that brief burst of spring reminded me that it won't be long before it stays lighter in the evening and ballet flats will replace the knock-off Uggs.
Lately, I've been appreciating all kinds of little things. It's been hard to get anything big accomplished on the house with the semester having starting (though we did make some significant progress on the living room and guest room - for pictures, see here). And, though we'd like to spend our days researching baby gears and shopping for baby, grading lab reports and papers, planning classes, and updating announcements on Blackboard have taken over our days and nights.
But, despite our preoccupation with all things undergraduate, there's been a slew of little things making us happy lately - an independent study lunch at The Tabbard Inn, Lil Omm yoga, a fabulous 90th birthday party in Pennsylvania, flutters and kicks, Pizza Movers, a first trip to Babies R Us with Nana Beeton, all things housewives, maternity jeans from Old Navy, Valentine's Day dinner at Mrs. K's Tollhouse, aromatherapy candles, a brand new Roku, Baby Bargains book, raincoats with treehoppers, bugaboo strollers, Sala Thai.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched The Social Network and Georgy Girl.
Lately, I've been appreciating all kinds of little things. It's been hard to get anything big accomplished on the house with the semester having starting (though we did make some significant progress on the living room and guest room - for pictures, see here). And, though we'd like to spend our days researching baby gears and shopping for baby, grading lab reports and papers, planning classes, and updating announcements on Blackboard have taken over our days and nights.
But, despite our preoccupation with all things undergraduate, there's been a slew of little things making us happy lately - an independent study lunch at The Tabbard Inn, Lil Omm yoga, a fabulous 90th birthday party in Pennsylvania, flutters and kicks, Pizza Movers, a first trip to Babies R Us with Nana Beeton, all things housewives, maternity jeans from Old Navy, Valentine's Day dinner at Mrs. K's Tollhouse, aromatherapy candles, a brand new Roku, Baby Bargains book, raincoats with treehoppers, bugaboo strollers, Sala Thai.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched The Social Network and Georgy Girl.
1.31.2011
baby, it's cold outside
It's been a cold, cold January with not much going on. We have gotten some projects done, which I will post photos of soon, but aside from tracking down the ideal chocolate cake recipe (which you can find here), we haven't been doing much - especially in the way of prepping for baby. (Note: This recipe hunt was sparked by a craving and a realization that I can't be a good mom if I don't have at least one go-to birthday cake recipe!) Right now, my priority is relaxing, enjoying my pregnancy, and keeping baby warm. More ice on the way tonight!Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched Scott Pilgrim Versus the World. Started watching Season 1: Californication.
1.14.2011
don't call it a comeback
The long awaited comeback meal post...
I have to admit. The first three months of this journey were not easy. I'm a little slow to warm up to change to begin with, and then when I began to lose my appetite and feel just generally "blah," I began to wonder what Mr. Beeton had gotten me into. Never before had I realized just how much I use food to celebrate, well, just about everything. (I blame my Nana Beeton for this who met both the good and bad in life with green jello salad, sugar on tomatoes, and lobster.) Students groveling over grades? At least beef stoganoff was waiting at home. It's the weekend? Time to celebrate with salmon and lime butter sauce. All of the sudden, though, the only thing I could stomach was tomato juice, banana strawberry smoothies from McDonald's (no other kind would do), and rice cakes... so many rice cakes.
And, then, Thanksgiving weekend, the baby said, "Well, I guess we're done with that," and my appetite kicked back in. Everything tasted good again (well, actually, everything except tomato juice... anyone want a case?). I could eat; I could cook; it was wonderful. I guess it's true that you never really know how much you love something until you don't have it anymore.
The second trimester arrived just in time for our monthly bookclub meeting, which I was hosting. It's a wonderful group of a half-a-dozen women from the D.M.V., and we meet about once a month to talk about whatever book we've selected (appropriately, December's selection was The Persian Pickle Club... pickles were also something I had no trouble eating from Day 1). I decided that I had enough energy to finally remove the wallpaper glue from the living room walls and paint as well as prepare a winter meal for the meeting. I convinced a reluctant Mr. Beeton to help. The morning of the bookclub we finally finished painting the ceiling, and we set up like we were on some kind of design show challenge. But everything looked beautiful. I'll post before and after pictures soon. With the progress we've been making on our house, I almost feel like it's a real home (or at least I will when the sticky tile is out of the kitchen for good).
And the meal. I made Amy's Vegetarian Chili, but I made it in the crock pot - easier and better, I think, because the flavors really have a chance to meld. I also made Nigella Lawson's Ultimate Greek Salad, which never, ever disappoints; it's a Beeton party staple. Mulled wine was also on the menu for those who weren't expecting. I've tried mulled wine in the past, but this recipe is the best I've come across. Our friend E brought an assortment of desserts from a cookie-making party that she had attended, which really saved the day in the dessert department.
And, this weekend, we have our housewarming party! Having all our friends (and some of our family) in to show off what we've done will be so fun... now only if I could have a cocktail.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched The Kids Are All Right, Dinner for Schmucks, Going the Distance, and Cyrus. Watching Big Love: Season 4.
Finished reading The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas and The Atlas of Love by Laurie Frankel (an old graduate school friend).
I have to admit. The first three months of this journey were not easy. I'm a little slow to warm up to change to begin with, and then when I began to lose my appetite and feel just generally "blah," I began to wonder what Mr. Beeton had gotten me into. Never before had I realized just how much I use food to celebrate, well, just about everything. (I blame my Nana Beeton for this who met both the good and bad in life with green jello salad, sugar on tomatoes, and lobster.) Students groveling over grades? At least beef stoganoff was waiting at home. It's the weekend? Time to celebrate with salmon and lime butter sauce. All of the sudden, though, the only thing I could stomach was tomato juice, banana strawberry smoothies from McDonald's (no other kind would do), and rice cakes... so many rice cakes.
And, then, Thanksgiving weekend, the baby said, "Well, I guess we're done with that," and my appetite kicked back in. Everything tasted good again (well, actually, everything except tomato juice... anyone want a case?). I could eat; I could cook; it was wonderful. I guess it's true that you never really know how much you love something until you don't have it anymore.
The second trimester arrived just in time for our monthly bookclub meeting, which I was hosting. It's a wonderful group of a half-a-dozen women from the D.M.V., and we meet about once a month to talk about whatever book we've selected (appropriately, December's selection was The Persian Pickle Club... pickles were also something I had no trouble eating from Day 1). I decided that I had enough energy to finally remove the wallpaper glue from the living room walls and paint as well as prepare a winter meal for the meeting. I convinced a reluctant Mr. Beeton to help. The morning of the bookclub we finally finished painting the ceiling, and we set up like we were on some kind of design show challenge. But everything looked beautiful. I'll post before and after pictures soon. With the progress we've been making on our house, I almost feel like it's a real home (or at least I will when the sticky tile is out of the kitchen for good).
And the meal. I made Amy's Vegetarian Chili, but I made it in the crock pot - easier and better, I think, because the flavors really have a chance to meld. I also made Nigella Lawson's Ultimate Greek Salad, which never, ever disappoints; it's a Beeton party staple. Mulled wine was also on the menu for those who weren't expecting. I've tried mulled wine in the past, but this recipe is the best I've come across. Our friend E brought an assortment of desserts from a cookie-making party that she had attended, which really saved the day in the dessert department.
And, this weekend, we have our housewarming party! Having all our friends (and some of our family) in to show off what we've done will be so fun... now only if I could have a cocktail.
Keep sweeping, Martha
Watched The Kids Are All Right, Dinner for Schmucks, Going the Distance, and Cyrus. Watching Big Love: Season 4.
Finished reading The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas and The Atlas of Love by Laurie Frankel (an old graduate school friend).
12.19.2010
prosperous in war
It's been awhile. I'm sorry. I have a good excuse. I swear. Actually, I have four good excuses.
We've been dealing with a lot around here. End of the semester stress, mice, cockroaches, and on the bright side - finding out that - in June - there will be a Baby Beeton! That's right. Our household is about to grow. And, we can't be more excited.
I've held off on posting because we wanted to hear the baby's heartbeat, tell our families, all that good stuff. And, to be honest, I haven't felt like eating a lot these past few months, so there hasn't been much to report (rice cakes? ginger pops? they don't make for good blogging). But, I've turned the corner now. And, next time, I'll post about my comeback meal. Stay tuned. I won't be away as long as last time. I promise.
Keep sweeping, Martha
These next few days are going to be rough for Mr. Beeton, his family, and me. We've all lost someone very dear to us. Keep us in your thoughts.
We've been dealing with a lot around here. End of the semester stress, mice, cockroaches, and on the bright side - finding out that - in June - there will be a Baby Beeton! That's right. Our household is about to grow. And, we can't be more excited.I've held off on posting because we wanted to hear the baby's heartbeat, tell our families, all that good stuff. And, to be honest, I haven't felt like eating a lot these past few months, so there hasn't been much to report (rice cakes? ginger pops? they don't make for good blogging). But, I've turned the corner now. And, next time, I'll post about my comeback meal. Stay tuned. I won't be away as long as last time. I promise.
Keep sweeping, Martha
These next few days are going to be rough for Mr. Beeton, his family, and me. We've all lost someone very dear to us. Keep us in your thoughts.
12.05.2010
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