Master Bath Reno: Week 3

We're back with another installment of the master bath makeover extravaganza! We made some big strides this week.<br /><br />Quick recap of where we were just 6 days ago... (I actually had to just double check the last time I posted because it felt like way more than 6 days ago!)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRZM2tfu0hus1Esl-3j7aviNv0qga1U96NkxH1P6wSS5xtrvbrZr8V9c9mC7yLP5eybpmAtYI7A-NWdrU_FlsXU7ayUAQaCR0ctSpLFti0kg0clm1vJzT424P7FhaJ0jza3Rg3YvJStve/s1600/IMG_6733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRZM2tfu0hus1Esl-3j7aviNv0qga1U96NkxH1P6wSS5xtrvbrZr8V9c9mC7yLP5eybpmAtYI7A-NWdrU_FlsXU7ayUAQaCR0ctSpLFti0kg0clm1vJzT424P7FhaJ0jza3Rg3YvJStve/s640/IMG_6733.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br />And then this happened....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXeV2n8LvvSTjBQl7fvYdC6RWCSsmharGw3fxp6GAwqP0ykLO_Adne1zM8rvc3PRiLVwfHqxitgSJ5swGBITEuRfubsNW5Gg4q4nGLDyomg0LXk3MzFWcJykKqDKPsbNG2J-e1F75s9L-/s1600/IMG_6786-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXeV2n8LvvSTjBQl7fvYdC6RWCSsmharGw3fxp6GAwqP0ykLO_Adne1zM8rvc3PRiLVwfHqxitgSJ5swGBITEuRfubsNW5Gg4q4nGLDyomg0LXk3MzFWcJykKqDKPsbNG2J-e1F75s9L-/s640/IMG_6786-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />Hold on. Can I just preface any opinions you are forming right now with this: This tile looks WAY louder in pictures. It's not busy or crazy looking in person... it's pretty subtle actually, and honestly I am still quite breathtaken whenever I walk in the room. And you should know by now I am the most un-crazy-risky-loud decor person when it comes to this type of thing, so I speak the truth about this tile. <br /><br />It makes the room. I'm in love with it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXs5jXgJA1CRyhsXhPAfmvFeIiDS00ee5VWwljin3oseTK6-V9hSNMvdoKWZZPLSZtS5zAmzg_Jwvt5YVyN-O-Ygreap4_ULBttpqXMWJYU-f9ykXffrBwj6dM2QQG6uXZ_NtnxIJO3Qe/s1600/IMG_6784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXs5jXgJA1CRyhsXhPAfmvFeIiDS00ee5VWwljin3oseTK6-V9hSNMvdoKWZZPLSZtS5zAmzg_Jwvt5YVyN-O-Ygreap4_ULBttpqXMWJYU-f9ykXffrBwj6dM2QQG6uXZ_NtnxIJO3Qe/s640/IMG_6784.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />And again in the shower...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlkvkpstEukwqf5Wo9efl7GYZrT9I6UwplflU7WW2tnyymZrUpFiVdO3EBR7M4uSiu73PCESR-LWw52udi-VclMXdj4aqwVIdUom3xCEVA6Eb6o-hHP6q5TfzLwmHFlFO4xlPd7grkIDc/s1600/IMG_6783.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlkvkpstEukwqf5Wo9efl7GYZrT9I6UwplflU7WW2tnyymZrUpFiVdO3EBR7M4uSiu73PCESR-LWw52udi-VclMXdj4aqwVIdUom3xCEVA6Eb6o-hHP6q5TfzLwmHFlFO4xlPd7grkIDc/s640/IMG_6783.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />My favorite lights in the whole world happened...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN_sZmJyv5ClXLbS5b_8r0BPykKfeuTSAgzVLik0Rn3KxoUMUMHTbKPemkS1wUe3ChLUL5z77shAKmmwYOd43Gf_cFmIQjEb81cVAxbWI9N_Iovd5NnPxHWMf37nefsVdvXbxOd5ekUYu/s1600/IMG_6699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHN_sZmJyv5ClXLbS5b_8r0BPykKfeuTSAgzVLik0Rn3KxoUMUMHTbKPemkS1wUe3ChLUL5z77shAKmmwYOd43Gf_cFmIQjEb81cVAxbWI9N_Iovd5NnPxHWMf37nefsVdvXbxOd5ekUYu/s640/IMG_6699.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0wgQlisEtDPyaOlxWfJqNSZdL2kdBCTR6t_F2mgfVSxjkdnSoBLZ7Dly9N90xNqvFGq35lZpVyMAfyBk5HI2Rz8y3TAsMWmYKDBXXQTvPtAbrFeiOLcpQhWiAkzDAREmz644FATshXJj/s1600/IMG_6776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB0wgQlisEtDPyaOlxWfJqNSZdL2kdBCTR6t_F2mgfVSxjkdnSoBLZ7Dly9N90xNqvFGq35lZpVyMAfyBk5HI2Rz8y3TAsMWmYKDBXXQTvPtAbrFeiOLcpQhWiAkzDAREmz644FATshXJj/s640/IMG_6776.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br />Some oil rubbed bronze faucet and plumbing happened...<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fHefgj7kopvz8UdNV_0QKELhzYKgD1GYlSuYzqMiu1ELlS7-7C-fm68ZLZHo6BPsjpq7JtIigkvgc0NHU9NmWgGaJhxuJnWecfbCWPokOMNMOhNPFPRNHqbLpxJ-1OwO_6bb_991yKDT/s1600/IMG_6778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fHefgj7kopvz8UdNV_0QKELhzYKgD1GYlSuYzqMiu1ELlS7-7C-fm68ZLZHo6BPsjpq7JtIigkvgc0NHU9NmWgGaJhxuJnWecfbCWPokOMNMOhNPFPRNHqbLpxJ-1OwO_6bb_991yKDT/s640/IMG_6778.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Apparently Mercedes makes sinks now</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />This new *white* toilet happened:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt7HWHddm0FbOChOFy3kMIQ06JDdx1f7Z0D64fx0DLpMKkLGT16DnYP2-KEeJeetgd8me3PSXJWfgezHSF_J_IMrh3NwWnGi3fS4-zp94AT7iGVga7yCdxTZi6esofj4ghj2gAQF6mEzw/s1600/IMG_6791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt7HWHddm0FbOChOFy3kMIQ06JDdx1f7Z0D64fx0DLpMKkLGT16DnYP2-KEeJeetgd8me3PSXJWfgezHSF_J_IMrh3NwWnGi3fS4-zp94AT7iGVga7yCdxTZi6esofj4ghj2gAQF6mEzw/s640/IMG_6791.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Ignore the gross yellow lighting and SLR kit lens... ugh</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br />It was not all good things happening, however.<br /><br />I was about to make a Home Depot run for trim to frame in these mirrors, taking the mirror measurements, when I realized something...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGSVqkpH8CSfSzP-u0036_jaroqYS8_m3faLPhJRtMFvHUgd09EvOJbl31g5EqijXTmkKmX5HF3vlCxgq9f22EDDtaK0hQMI-3BlyXbG9haDe-eKf8iJfQc7qlGLuEb9WBi6-Iu5okmyH/s1600/IMG_6773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGSVqkpH8CSfSzP-u0036_jaroqYS8_m3faLPhJRtMFvHUgd09EvOJbl31g5EqijXTmkKmX5HF3vlCxgq9f22EDDtaK0hQMI-3BlyXbG9haDe-eKf8iJfQc7qlGLuEb9WBi6-Iu5okmyH/s640/IMG_6773.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br />Due to the nature of the way these mirrors are hung, they do not sit entirely flat against the wall at the top (they are hung on screws with brackets). So, if I simply glued some pieces of wood on top of the mirror... there would be an even larger gap where it does not sit flush against the wall. And that would look strange. <br /><br />I did some research and determined we needed wood with a "rabbeted" edge, like so:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWo9f-hcHm80ky29VBjGsJXLmi0B0SQMFy0YzBD47x2I2YIynRbkVdB2LgQI7Awy9MpYzCEy0XpGoTrA14ER6Dok5M5dmCUctI7a6a998VqUpj-HGOZuiGEhBgVzg4l5hEDfoCgB_PJLE/s1600/11Rabbet+Edge+Joint.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWo9f-hcHm80ky29VBjGsJXLmi0B0SQMFy0YzBD47x2I2YIynRbkVdB2LgQI7Awy9MpYzCEy0XpGoTrA14ER6Dok5M5dmCUctI7a6a998VqUpj-HGOZuiGEhBgVzg4l5hEDfoCgB_PJLE/s320/11Rabbet+Edge+Joint.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Unfortunately, we are not in possession of such tool to create these edges. Ugh. Fail.<br /><br />I'm unsure if the hardware store would have some pre-rabbet edged wood pieces... anyone know? Guess I'll cross my fingers and check next time I am there. <br /><br />But until then, the mirrors will remain frameless. Not my favorite look, to be honest.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpn6-u_p_mcjNjaln7H9ETwXdpeGKnMh4FLRLEoYd7J0cjfAA8hlIAyQjE1kYFfxoka4zIS7Z2kvUSPi49aZ6M1cbCUq7cSQp6JWhQUKW-IY1hGiCOa0tU-Yktg2_kL5ifrG1TA0ZhU5XY/s1600/IMG_6788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpn6-u_p_mcjNjaln7H9ETwXdpeGKnMh4FLRLEoYd7J0cjfAA8hlIAyQjE1kYFfxoka4zIS7Z2kvUSPi49aZ6M1cbCUq7cSQp6JWhQUKW-IY1hGiCOa0tU-Yktg2_kL5ifrG1TA0ZhU5XY/s640/IMG_6788.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />While we are on the subject of pesky first world problems, as you can tell my vanity is still <span style="font-size: x-small;">black.</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">Maybe if I write this smaller</span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">no one will read this and notice and this will all just go away. </span><span style="font-size: small;">But seriously... I begged Brad to let me try and make it browner but he refused and wouldn't budge and I decided it wasn't worth causing a rift in our marriage. So I will learn to live with it... or just close my eyes everytime I walk in there.</span><br /><br />You win some, you lose some.<br /><br /><br />Back to happy things.<br /><br />I got some baskets.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgldNtUV1FsQbYGl25nNyZtL5AsDv4AjJ2ggfOVHHnlpjTE7B-klF46R4L1Zt1OnaUN1YNnVIA2nJv7jpRnCplbozJ39v-5pPRBm1N0snhelert4OkrHsKMNzYBW2l6v3g39PTtij8lpY/s1600/IMG_6782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgldNtUV1FsQbYGl25nNyZtL5AsDv4AjJ2ggfOVHHnlpjTE7B-klF46R4L1Zt1OnaUN1YNnVIA2nJv7jpRnCplbozJ39v-5pPRBm1N0snhelert4OkrHsKMNzYBW2l6v3g39PTtij8lpY/s640/IMG_6782.jpg" width="414" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Yes, that is a light underneath the vanity. LED rope lighting, or if you prefer, </em><br /><em>a blue nightlight with a picture of a galaxy. Brad did it.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I was so excited to have a floating vanity so I could put one of my top favorite 5 things ever underneath them. And fill them with pretty white things, like towels and toilet paper. I also store my hairdryer and curling iron in one (it's hidden towards the back). I'm so excited to organize this bathroom!<br /><br />I was actually at Target a few hours ago picking out drawer organizers and baskets for the cabinets. As soon as I'm done with this post I'll be transferring all of my junk back over to the new bathroom, and decluttering/reorganizing in the process. Now that is my kind of Sunday night!<br /><br />Oh... and before you stare at those silver vanity handles in disgust too long... no, they are not staying.<br /><br />We quickly realized that silver and ORB do not mesh well.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfciqckOrGxKoHZgO56N1Hqv-EcRT5spSHj9ZYQfUk7W-rgTuxiF4aFbMqWU9A9iaTfKDPkb7DBe5wIKIF_3pt-VB9iqnXVn2Z0A0M1P54DMvRfE4UilPGePxDf0V6rTuZ84zclqjFmUu/s1600/IMG_6787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfciqckOrGxKoHZgO56N1Hqv-EcRT5spSHj9ZYQfUk7W-rgTuxiF4aFbMqWU9A9iaTfKDPkb7DBe5wIKIF_3pt-VB9iqnXVn2Z0A0M1P54DMvRfE4UilPGePxDf0V6rTuZ84zclqjFmUu/s640/IMG_6787.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />But what were our options? ORB handles? Black on black... meh, no thanks. White handles? Possibly... but that might be a little too much black and white for me. So I'm getting creative.<br /><br />Not giving it away entirely yet... but here is a hint if you can remember back to a few months ago:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYs7nwK7NVe84kDWA7cyylT3EOKRjGWho1Jviad0jf1qPDJylaLg8tee-3JxyipPvpiyILZ2WLWT4_jDOCZ99JZRG5J0tzLyQeZqiOdBL80Catj86OWGlvlWxojV54wXJ6FlJQnyCyaniT/s1600/IMG_5678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYs7nwK7NVe84kDWA7cyylT3EOKRjGWho1Jviad0jf1qPDJylaLg8tee-3JxyipPvpiyILZ2WLWT4_jDOCZ99JZRG5J0tzLyQeZqiOdBL80Catj86OWGlvlWxojV54wXJ6FlJQnyCyaniT/s640/IMG_5678.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I have no idea how this is going to turn out, but I'll be sure to report back with results!<br /><br /><br />Here is another issue we are having.... we did this reno completely backwards. I'm not sure how the shower took the backburner, but it is now a huge eyesore in the room.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-rmKpKiiSHdHjz8PN4IqObtVNmmIi46vzhbShLag3nQpqAevlzDPk5gLTDQWX17gZoUM6NEH9EeXRgvoZAI5bO5I_lg5nlBnmqscwWAY9XryJ7gfsyZlbxvIA8_pn4e6HygNh0q1CdJU/s1600/IMG_6785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-rmKpKiiSHdHjz8PN4IqObtVNmmIi46vzhbShLag3nQpqAevlzDPk5gLTDQWX17gZoUM6NEH9EeXRgvoZAI5bO5I_lg5nlBnmqscwWAY9XryJ7gfsyZlbxvIA8_pn4e6HygNh0q1CdJU/s640/IMG_6785.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br />It's the glowing yellow room of terror! It needs to be addressed. Originally we were thinking we'd just reglaze it, but then we were quoted $600 and maybe that's not the best option afterall. However, we're not exactly looking forward to ripping out that entire room (which means new drywall, having to repaint, possibly rip out the step that is so beautifully tiled now)... and also potentially revealing any hidden issues. Then, of course, there's the cost of everything. <br /><br />I'm going to get some estimates this week, and we'll weigh our options and make our decision at that point. But either way, SOMEthing has to happen. I cannot live with almond tile any longer!<br /><br />Lots of goodies coming in this week... the bathroom is far from over. Here's what's left on the list:<br /><br />1. New vanity handles<br />2. Accessories (ORB towel and paper towel holders, robe hooks, wastebasket, soap dispensers/jars/visible storage)<br />3. Shelving above the toilet<br />4. Wall art(?)<br />5. Mirror frames (hopefully)<br />6. Recessed box shelving/storage<br />7. Recessed lighting in the shower room & closet<br />8. Figure out the entire shower!<br /><br />We may or may not make my initial deadline of Thanksgiving... it all depends on if we decide to rip out that shower or not.<br /><br />Stay tuned... who knows what this place will look like next week :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

Master Bath Reno: Week 3

We're back with another installment of the master bath makeover extravaganza! We made some big strides this week. Quick recap of where w...

Read more »

Master Bath Reno: Week 2

We're currently in the middle of night of painting #2, so I'll make this update brief.<br /><br />When I left off last week, the bathroom had been stripped of carpet and drywall, and left looking like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_8i9f_VcozBqb0DK_mlcOWCj_zBJWGygnJpHkoEPBh9MJVpGNKhtVQMkOehtSUntnsZZfIgNYn0benJme8XyeKTFomUpHG_9c6peufTy1-4c0lpzujKZrVLj7ETIbx0oi6R2198C1mez/s1600/IMG_6688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_8i9f_VcozBqb0DK_mlcOWCj_zBJWGygnJpHkoEPBh9MJVpGNKhtVQMkOehtSUntnsZZfIgNYn0benJme8XyeKTFomUpHG_9c6peufTy1-4c0lpzujKZrVLj7ETIbx0oi6R2198C1mez/s640/IMG_6688.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK0M-orFwSSFdlKHiKSSEHLvDSekkMjx6LNwE9eLJ7yQ2fqUqkGLAJGdPgSMowzxdkoIZ0RzgoB2YvWOBXGPauKCi0MA9HosLhCoWKOL6h4npnvUNq9ktdE_7r6EcglOXBZTf-l1v2oUy/s1600/IMG_6685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK0M-orFwSSFdlKHiKSSEHLvDSekkMjx6LNwE9eLJ7yQ2fqUqkGLAJGdPgSMowzxdkoIZ0RzgoB2YvWOBXGPauKCi0MA9HosLhCoWKOL6h4npnvUNq9ktdE_7r6EcglOXBZTf-l1v2oUy/s640/IMG_6685.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We've been living in complete dust and chaos since the bathroom was cleared out... Exhibit A:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1EEySupA8STdUL9LXMeMF8uMs1BU1LZR94_o6wDmZ53WrRC71XjA-y-vtXbxG9BFrMyLJH_zc7_zYarvrntfhRExP84pt1KXngto0DPl0i-B7MxOfD3TLyo2YzeEvtBtj7SlHiJ7MTFJ/s1600/IMG_6697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1EEySupA8STdUL9LXMeMF8uMs1BU1LZR94_o6wDmZ53WrRC71XjA-y-vtXbxG9BFrMyLJH_zc7_zYarvrntfhRExP84pt1KXngto0DPl0i-B7MxOfD3TLyo2YzeEvtBtj7SlHiJ7MTFJ/s640/IMG_6697.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>And this was before the vanity sat in the middle of the room for 2 days...</em></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The bathroom also looked like this before the drywall went up:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkehoIifChOhAGTFKTmLUtYOITk5HV6_Hpgt-2UWi79IGRHNyIL-1G_Wis-T0XmMVsF8qJwGzvkf2vhkjS_djY1Xt7JbykBMCW-6hrgrgMwtU2tHwtf5IFJ7I8Nn895GwSk8mDlS0A6PX/s1600/IMG_6695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLkehoIifChOhAGTFKTmLUtYOITk5HV6_Hpgt-2UWi79IGRHNyIL-1G_Wis-T0XmMVsF8qJwGzvkf2vhkjS_djY1Xt7JbykBMCW-6hrgrgMwtU2tHwtf5IFJ7I8Nn895GwSk8mDlS0A6PX/s640/IMG_6695.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />First thing in was our new tile floor...<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCppDELbpl4KtZH8RAn44FfimWiYK8MNwMUS3ALwvjEPOGdfMmsxr29RjQ_DMhnl2FXpJiyPMkvjz4aWyQBmQV88V4UT2Vo2ZxhZxl56PrYDRqAgA62nYEegs9Kn72XVz0y65FDjRylD8/s1600/IMG_6737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCppDELbpl4KtZH8RAn44FfimWiYK8MNwMUS3ALwvjEPOGdfMmsxr29RjQ_DMhnl2FXpJiyPMkvjz4aWyQBmQV88V4UT2Vo2ZxhZxl56PrYDRqAgA62nYEegs9Kn72XVz0y65FDjRylD8/s640/IMG_6737.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>I cheated, I actually just took this 20 minutes ago</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br />There's some really awesome glass mosaic along the step of the shower but it's covered in drop cloths and paint tools right now, so you'll have to wait until next week.<br /><br />Then it was time for new dual sink plumbing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVEXfxc412lGI6XmQNhn0unAq0A8V-MJySv6NF9RupV90tahZsyMXpMHa0rWNZ751W18CgTgbvqrusNVyXInN3c_vZiiOLoo60q7NtVNMi61PwT0jwrdgkx0UQD2M7brCqZMhsXtebn7T/s1600/IMG_6704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVEXfxc412lGI6XmQNhn0unAq0A8V-MJySv6NF9RupV90tahZsyMXpMHa0rWNZ751W18CgTgbvqrusNVyXInN3c_vZiiOLoo60q7NtVNMi61PwT0jwrdgkx0UQD2M7brCqZMhsXtebn7T/s640/IMG_6704.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Next came the drywall and patching. We hired someone to do this to save time, and because we were too scared to finish out our medicine cabinet box without having it look completely amateur.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EWR02ehuuq75Fbe8Xl_g_X9Sl5EGOEjVRntclYLtalREwZKG-6rAiJcMLSr6MA53vWFdP7TzzXmcBCcLuiwvjIJnN700dyGKuBolhVVi-SUDcUhJRExy6DBgf5NCZsL3FKabAxUxPn3x/s1600/IMG_6707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EWR02ehuuq75Fbe8Xl_g_X9Sl5EGOEjVRntclYLtalREwZKG-6rAiJcMLSr6MA53vWFdP7TzzXmcBCcLuiwvjIJnN700dyGKuBolhVVi-SUDcUhJRExy6DBgf5NCZsL3FKabAxUxPn3x/s640/IMG_6707.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He only charged $150 for the entire bathroom... WELL worth it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypkDXk3hFv4SIe6_cxChNvYEsOIfUMLrL8ZJaxZP8hClIq3abfd_ffAwYSeHg_RNORukHuEQAbUEi0ksq3LwxYH7GN9gEv_zezPc-z68ppZvgsuFetpbEsZWGs8KcuMjZAd3kHaQk_OQT/s1600/IMG_6706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypkDXk3hFv4SIe6_cxChNvYEsOIfUMLrL8ZJaxZP8hClIq3abfd_ffAwYSeHg_RNORukHuEQAbUEi0ksq3LwxYH7GN9gEv_zezPc-z68ppZvgsuFetpbEsZWGs8KcuMjZAd3kHaQk_OQT/s640/IMG_6706.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then it was time for paint! The winning color was Behr's "Reflecting Pool", which is a very pale gray-blue. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/9f/9ff48b42-a63f-4b8d-aec0-4083f83b3d70_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/9f/9ff48b42-a63f-4b8d-aec0-4083f83b3d70_300.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This swatch makes it look really gray, but my neighbor described it as "baby blue" when he saw it. Either way, I heart it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOav-Up9to63QIkPefpsXNOwRi8y5AxR6_DZvbkcZgzJhcVy14sgmuLbJg8EbFJLN7hddRVtgJXy4Cwb-dpJL5Ys2UR_dB1lu5L6LhGVtdcZA2AwgUdnveQFxpK86cle7v2p7mtkD07BC_/s1600/IMG_6717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOav-Up9to63QIkPefpsXNOwRi8y5AxR6_DZvbkcZgzJhcVy14sgmuLbJg8EbFJLN7hddRVtgJXy4Cwb-dpJL5Ys2UR_dB1lu5L6LhGVtdcZA2AwgUdnveQFxpK86cle7v2p7mtkD07BC_/s640/IMG_6717.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7s90178xOZ7-zZxdgn2AfT1ks3n-QR09ALuUJEQ-37Omdayv_zMw0Soe9XNGN7YqFpCeVmmqLrsi66mjqK9d8CwSlk2hTGMzoOqnmF0_2wQc1h4jYZ6Dxv__QsyZKifSMnsk5YYiADna/s1600/IMG_6715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7s90178xOZ7-zZxdgn2AfT1ks3n-QR09ALuUJEQ-37Omdayv_zMw0Soe9XNGN7YqFpCeVmmqLrsi66mjqK9d8CwSlk2hTGMzoOqnmF0_2wQc1h4jYZ6Dxv__QsyZKifSMnsk5YYiADna/s640/IMG_6715.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Brad also installed recessed speakers and dimmable LED lighting. The light color is unlike anything else in the house... it's the color of daylight, so it feels like we're under a skylight when they are on. Pretty cool.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M-7UceCTyTx59g0prcr4u76CMZI5roTAZShmKdzXfRGOO7kxXtdhqA9LJoE7ROPZ7mR8vAFUhnPzqGG5uB1NBMhRSOuDiKkv9O1PeKryQ3kkRfUhrCbIXjDhXQ_sYkRZRobmI3DOTh5T/s1600/IMG_6718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2M-7UceCTyTx59g0prcr4u76CMZI5roTAZShmKdzXfRGOO7kxXtdhqA9LJoE7ROPZ7mR8vAFUhnPzqGG5uB1NBMhRSOuDiKkv9O1PeKryQ3kkRfUhrCbIXjDhXQ_sYkRZRobmI3DOTh5T/s640/IMG_6718.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally.... the vanity. Ugh. Everything was coming along so well, until we hung the vanity. And I did a big WTF.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you can remember.... this is what I ordered:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyR5qXuse1f5KeLrH20UGf9WUuP6fNrJFgJsUYgGPsF_wEgX50wCXJbq3yNmVCmkqNtisXxZbH0N_ScilSqwOkqdq7dG8zXHDND9wCGC_c4tWbv-0L1clZg3nKLjhtIMwquNx4GQhnGzor/s1600/%2524%2528KGrHqYOKiwE0qN3Q7ReBNZEle2qF%2521%257E%257E_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyR5qXuse1f5KeLrH20UGf9WUuP6fNrJFgJsUYgGPsF_wEgX50wCXJbq3yNmVCmkqNtisXxZbH0N_ScilSqwOkqdq7dG8zXHDND9wCGC_c4tWbv-0L1clZg3nKLjhtIMwquNx4GQhnGzor/s640/%2524%2528KGrHqYOKiwE0qN3Q7ReBNZEle2qF%2521%257E%257E_12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6yw1l61aaYIZu_WTt7_FYr_ky2zi9KJcfc0HfBSPy2Mn5Y13HqFaJsklyHcQNJoaT-va58gaZQ8luaQ5oAchUSZMOx6ddyTpGi9Zs1UXWOe664eBPOe3KjFjt2RbKDK671fs_KsRodvP/s1600/%2524%2528KGrHqQOKjIE0c5ByOq0BNZElTHCEg%257E%257E_12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx6yw1l61aaYIZu_WTt7_FYr_ky2zi9KJcfc0HfBSPy2Mn5Y13HqFaJsklyHcQNJoaT-va58gaZQ8luaQ5oAchUSZMOx6ddyTpGi9Zs1UXWOe664eBPOe3KjFjt2RbKDK671fs_KsRodvP/s640/%2524%2528KGrHqQOKjIE0c5ByOq0BNZElTHCEg%257E%257E_12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />And this is what I got:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRZM2tfu0hus1Esl-3j7aviNv0qga1U96NkxH1P6wSS5xtrvbrZr8V9c9mC7yLP5eybpmAtYI7A-NWdrU_FlsXU7ayUAQaCR0ctSpLFti0kg0clm1vJzT424P7FhaJ0jza3Rg3YvJStve/s1600/IMG_6733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRZM2tfu0hus1Esl-3j7aviNv0qga1U96NkxH1P6wSS5xtrvbrZr8V9c9mC7yLP5eybpmAtYI7A-NWdrU_FlsXU7ayUAQaCR0ctSpLFti0kg0clm1vJzT424P7FhaJ0jza3Rg3YvJStve/s640/IMG_6733.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS21OWp5DbImOxdbNe-SsvBTOL_5wMNWSXsuLmq0Pvk8vD9tOd3bKLAuweDg_JcdGzuzlZbo0AeAvsl1ZcUUf7HIAm1f77hUltlG7A8nAqFPx71kCSLDL7LOfGb5okM32gFd3Q8X_6Lyfm/s1600/IMG_6734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS21OWp5DbImOxdbNe-SsvBTOL_5wMNWSXsuLmq0Pvk8vD9tOd3bKLAuweDg_JcdGzuzlZbo0AeAvsl1ZcUUf7HIAm1f77hUltlG7A8nAqFPx71kCSLDL7LOfGb5okM32gFd3Q8X_6Lyfm/s640/IMG_6734.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAKbNbNuOYCWYkQkfrDbOs88Wo3xRJxsnVKf6ymKVy_gY1-lvugSDnw24h0niIZxL311oHHT42zkvWiD7yy4UDjE6hFua4uZEU9n9YUYR0-uFuVdNI9uIqfud7bvJ2uPRv3Ua9FyHAxMl/s1600/IMG_6735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAKbNbNuOYCWYkQkfrDbOs88Wo3xRJxsnVKf6ymKVy_gY1-lvugSDnw24h0niIZxL311oHHT42zkvWiD7yy4UDjE6hFua4uZEU9n9YUYR0-uFuVdNI9uIqfud7bvJ2uPRv3Ua9FyHAxMl/s640/IMG_6735.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Um, hi? Who ordered the black vanity? Not I. I'm pretty sure it was 'espresso', and I'm pretty sure the pictures showed it ranging from a medium to a dark brown. But certainly not black. <br /><br />The more I look at this the more annoyed I am. Not that there's anything wrong with black vanities.... I just had my heart set on a brown one. The black just makes the space a lot more modern and colder than what I was going for.<br /><br />Returning it is not an option at this point, and I love everything else about it.... so I think I'm going to have to sand and stain it. I've never dealt with this sort of super smooth veneer wood looking material... but I hope this works. I just cannot live with the black. If you have any pointers, please tell me in the comments! I need all the help I can get. <br /><br /><br />So, aside from this huge vanity issue, I'm happy with everything else and the progress we've made. Tonight we finish painting the shower room and hang the screws for our mirrors, and tomorrow the glass tile vanity wall goes in.<br /><br />More updates to come!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

Master Bath Reno: Week 2

We're currently in the middle of night of painting #2, so I'll make this update brief. When I left off last week, the bathroom had b...

Read more »

The next chapter

Today was the last day I’ll ever work as an employee. And I want to share my story.<br /><br /><br />Three years ago, I graduated college with six figures in student loan debt and a wake-up call that maybe I had made the wrong choice. I wasn't doing what I loved. I was in an office all day, generating thoughtless "art" for rude clients and making next to nothing. If this was what I had worked so hard through college for, the next forty years were going to be rough. <br /><br />After two years of getting nowhere, I jumped at the chance to move across the country and start over. Maybe I'd find my dream job in Florida... maybe I could finally enjoy those eight hours of my day. <br /><br />I was fortunate enough to find a job right away, but this town isn't exactly an artist’s haven. I had no choice, so I stuck it out. Outside of work, I focused on what I really loved—art and design. While we were living in a hotel waiting to find our new home, I sat at the computer every night, creating the art I would fill my future walls with. And I loved every minute of it. <br /><br />As my collection grew, I became inspired by others who had become successful at selling their own designs and thought "Wow... I wish I could do that. Must be nice." But as time went on, I had to stop and ask myself Why not? What was holding me back? Sure, it seemed like an unreachable dream and I had no idea where to start, but I'd been on this earth for 25 years with no real accomplishments, and I wanted more for myself. It was time to make my own destiny.<br /><br />I spent hours, weeks, months creating my art, building my brand, researching logistics, getting my finances in order. This was going to be a real business, and that’s exactly how I treated it.<br /><br />My preparation paid off—the very first day I opened <a href="http://jennasuedesign.etsy.com/" target="_blank">on Etsy</a> I sold 5 prints. I was over the moon... jumping up and down, thinking "Oh my God, what do I do now!?" I quickly figured it out and fell into a nice routine. This isn't to say that I was busy all of the time—there were plenty of days where I would go without a single sale. But those bad days did more for me than the good days, because they gave me motivation. The frustration and helplessness of a slow day caused me to create more, learn more, make my business even better. If I ever felt comfortable with where I was at, that would be settling—and that word is not in my vocabulary.<br /><br />Sales slowly picked up over the weeks and months, and I felt hopeful for the future. Maybe there was a light at the end of the tunnel and I could actually do this for the rest of my life. Everything was falling into place. Then, we unexpectedly received some <a href="http://jennasuedesign.blogspot.com/2011/06/well-it-was-nice-while-lasted.html">bad news</a>, and I had even more motivation to bring in sales. I was also promoted to a manager at my day job, which meant we would be able to pull through on just my income until Brad was able to secure a steady job.<br /><br />While I was taking on more responsibility at work, I opened up a <a href="http://jennasuemaps.etsy.com/">second shop</a> on Etsy. My sales practically doubled overnight. This wasn't just for fun anymore, it was becoming a full-time job. I found myself stressing over my business during the day while at work, and glued to the computer all night until I had to force myself to stop and go to sleep. I'd wake up early every morning and work on whatever I could before repeating the cycle. I didn't mind it for a while... after all, I chose to do this. So I sucked it up and continued on, but I knew in the back of my mind that I couldn't do this forever. Brad's reassurance was "Sure, as soon as I find a stable job, you can quit your day job." I held out hope that it would happen, and it never did. I knew the west elm catalog was about to be released, and I was scared for the holiday season. I was slowly breaking down. <br /><br />On the way home from work one day I had a nervous breakdown. I called my mom, sobbing, and she urged me to just quit my job already. I told her I couldn't because Brad wasn't comfortable with it. Etsy isn't a "real job", he would say, "there's no guarantee." I understood his nervousness with neither of us having a guaranteed bi-weekly paycheck to count on, but I tried desperately to convince him that this was more than a job, it was a career, and failure was not an option. We agreed (sort of) that I would give it until the end of the year and put my notice in at work.<br /><br /><br />Fast forward to October. The <a href="http://jennasuedesign.blogspot.com/2011/10/its-here.html">west elm feature</a> had been released, I had booked two craft shows in December, and I was freaking out. I hadn't slept well all week, my eyes were permanently blood shot, and I was mentally drained. Brad was out having fun with his friend Thursday night, while I was stuck home yet again, on my 15th hour straight in front of the computer that day. Annoyed and feeling resentful, I sent him a text message, blaming him for my misery. He jokingly replied with "Just quit your job then, I don't care" I called his bluff and wrote "Okay, I'm quitting tomorrow then." When he replied with a "fine, do it" something clicked inside me. Right then and there I decided, whether he was joking or not, I was going to quit the next day. I had made up my mind. Enough was enough. <br /><br />I have learned a lot from this experience. Life doesn't require eight hour workdays at the office. If that is not what makes you happy, you don't have to do it. You will never get those hours back. Every minute we have on this earth is a gift, so why spend your days wishing they would be over? It's no way to live. I believe you need to be able to look forward to the future and have hope in order to be truly happy, and you need to be happy to be the best person you can be.  <br /><br />No, I can't predict the future. I'm not saying my life will be rainbows and unicorns from here on out. There will always be good days and bad days, but you celebrate the good and learn from the bad. You will work harder for yourself than for anyone else, so learn to let go and trust yourself. If you really, truly want it, you'll find a way. Of course it's going to take effort, and often times lots of it. But working towards your own goals is always easier than working towards someone else's... and of course, so much more rewarding when you finally get there.<br /><br />Not only am I able to do something I love now, but I will become a better wife, daughter, friend, person because of it. I'll finally have the time to cook a meal, go for a walk in the middle of the day, play with my kitty, take a bath, learn to play piano again. These are small luxuries but they make all the difference. And just knowing I can finally do them again is what makes me truly happy. I am hopeful for the future because I've proven to myself that I'm the one in control. Now, I don't just wish... I make it happen. <br /><br />I'm about to close a 26 year chapter of my life and begin a new one. And this time it's going to be good... because now, I'm the one writing it.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZacC7tIn3D42QdevPGKzPifT0k0OP5NupUrWBrlxisHS8yESOkB1cLrGDlbvQSulQxJQUZ2d_eWPXZvG7Y83xdGZlxwVyUi3REaEptsUAnbY4YekEKCHJagn9lXyEybYcAe4LQiNNQWcy/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

The next chapter

Today was the last day I’ll ever work as an employee. And I want to share my story. Three years ago, I graduated college with six figures in...

Read more »