I'm a terrible stripper.

Despite the valiant efforts to raise me right, I've become a stripper.  Good news though - I'm terrible at it.

I wasn't currently using this dresser that used to be in Vivian's room, so I thought I would try my hand at stripping the paint.  

I was watching some show on HGTV a few months ago and they were stripping paint off of old trim and the host said, "Once you've stripped paint, you'll never want to paint wood again."

Truer words have never been spoken.

It's partially my fault - I picked the completely wrong piece of furniture to try this on for the first time.  I've painted this dresser four times.  And it was painted when I bought it.  Once I started trying to strip it, it quickly became apparent that there were many, many more coats of paint on there than I originally thought.  So this is really more of an experiment - I may very well end up deciding to paint it again, we'll see.

So here's what not to do when stripping furniture.

Initially it seemed easy.  Pour on the stuff, wait for it to bubble up, scrape it off.  Now, the can says to wait 20 minutes.  But I'm a picker - so as soon as I saw it starting to bubble, I wanted to scrape it off right away. Therein was my first mistake.  I quickly learned that when the can says 20 minutes, it really means like 40 minutes for this piece of furniture.  And even then the results weren't pretty.

Bubble bubble.

Here's the pile of stripped off paint that's been hanging around in my basement for the last month or so.  Of course I haven't bothered to clean it up at all.

Here's the side of one of the drawers.  This must have been painted white several times, because it takes a lot to get through that white.  This is also an old dresser, and it's possible that some of that paint is 30 or 40 years old, which is even more awesome.

It's so tempting - I literally have to walk away, go in the house, and find something else to do to keep myself from scraping it off immediately.  You can see how easily the top layers come off, this is after just a couple of minutes.

What made it go a bit easier was cluing in to using this Mastercraft multi-tool I have. (It's similar to that one, but not exactly.  Mine has a power cord, so it wasn't nearly as expensive as that one) It has a special attachment for scraping which really helped move things along.  I can't use it for too long though, or else it starts to hurt my wrists.  It's a pretty handy-dandy little tool though!

 Here's the same area as the top picture of this post after I'd scraped it.  You can see how hard that paint clings!  This was after letting it sit for about 30 minutes.

 

On the drawers I even discovered that there seems to have been some old decals hidden under there.  It's hard to tell in this picture, but those two blobby areas that don't have paint on them have traces of little bears.

 So yeah.  The entire dresser looks like this right now.  Some wood, some paint, a whole lot of mess.  I'm pretty tired of using the stripper stuff.  I've tried the gel (that claims to stick to vertical surfaces, but that's a damn lie) and the spray (the nozzle jammed after using half of the can) and this is as far as I've gotten after spending like $60 to do so.  And I keep burning myself with it, which is probably my own fault since I keep going out and doing this barefoot and in shorts and forgetting to put my gloves on.  I'm going to try sanding it down next and see how far it gets me.  I can tell this was never a super nice dresser to start with, so I'm not expecting it to end up being any kind of family heirloom or anything, it's really just a learning experience.  I would really like to try stripping something else - maybe something with only a couple of coats of paint though.

Any suggestions?  I keep thinking that maybe even if I could get the body of the dresser down to the wood and just repaint the drawer fronts or something, that might be a good compromise to save my sanity.

Very Vivian - Big Girl Bed Success (at least so far)

You know how sometimes you get a couch and you end up taking away your kid's crib?

No?  Just me?

Well on Sunday my mom and her friend were bringing me a couch.  Never one to turn down free furniture, I was happy to accept the hand-me-down with the plan of putting it in the office since it was a pull-out couch and thought it would be nice to have it in there as a guest bed. However, once it was here, mom talked me into putting it in the living room.  But putting it in the living room meant that there was less room for all of Vivian's toys.  So Vivian's toys got put in her bedroom.  Which meant there wasn't enough room for the crib and the bed.  Something had to give.

So down came the crib.

It was a spur of the moment decision, but it ended up working out.  On Sundays Vivian and I usually go to my mom's for a hangout and dinner before heading home in time for the good Sunday night shows.  Typically, she falls asleep on the ride home, so I figured this was a good night to start with the bed.  I figured she would fall asleep in the car, then I could just put her right in her bed and she would be none the wiser.

First night went well - after about an hour of being in the bed I heard her crying and she had rolled off of the mattress.  So a quick readjustment of some pillows kept her in there much better.  I had to go in a couple of times through the night to settle her down and cuddle with her, but mostly it was a success.  Especially since she ended up sleeping in until 11:00 a.m.  Yes, that's right - my 2 1/2 year old slept in until 11:00 a.m. on a holiday Monday.  It was amazing and terrifying.

So that set us up for night number two - because she had slept in so late, there definitely wasn't going to be a nap.  So by the time 8:00 p.m. rolled around, she was quite ready for bed.  I only had to go in once to switch movies for her (yes, she falls asleep with a TV on) but otherwise she slept through the night!

Here she was on Tuesday morning when I went in to wake her up for daycare.

Passed out with all of her babies and blankets.  And yes, I need to get outlet covers for that outlet - I'm working on it.

I figured that night number three would be the real test - three times is a pattern, right?  Night number three worked out to be a book club night for me, so I took her along with the intention of her falling asleep in the car once again.  She foiled my plan by staying awake for the drive home, and was still bouncing around in her bed at 11:00 p.m.  I had to go in to settle her back down a couple of times, but the amazing thing is that she's always in the bed still.  Even if she's crying, even if she's having a little party, it's still in the bed.  Every single time that I've had to go in there, she's still physically on the bed.  She hasn't tried to open the bedroom door, and she hasn't been playing with the toys in her room as far as I can tell.

So I'm officially calling this a success.  The crib is officially packed away, and it isn't coming back.  I'm sure there will be lots (and lots and lots) of rough nights ahead, but I think we're doing pretty good so far!

Up next is getting rid of the bottle.  Not looking forward to that one.  Then it's potty training.  Then time to learn how to drive, I guess.

Summer Viewing

Per special request (from Jenn) here's the list of what will be filling up my PVR this summer.  I have to admit, I love summer TV.  Expectations are lowered, so guilty pleasures are that much guiltier, and networks seem to take bigger risks in running some quirkier stuff, which can make for an interesting mix on those long, hot days.  I love that all the good shows aren't piled up in the fall anymore, with the summer being a wasteland of  repeats.  Long live the summer shows!

I've got them in order of premiere date - a couple have already gotten under way!  But please note that these are only the shows that I'm interested in this summer - there's lots more out there too!

• Family Tree (HBO, started May 12) - I actually have both episodes of this saved on the PVR right now, but haven't gotten around to watching them yet.  Starring Chris O'Dowd and created by Christopher Guest, it's got to be funny, but a little offbeat.  It's mockumentary style (of course, Christopher Guest) which I always find fun. 
• So You  Think You Can Dance (FOX, started May 14) - One of my favourite parts of summer, it's just super entertaining, easy watching.
• The Goodwin Games (FOX, started May 20) - I liked the sounds of this one when it came out of upfronts week last year.  It has a great cast (Scott Foley and Becki Newton are the main stars, with Beau Bridges as a guest star) and a fun, outlandish concept.  I have this one recorded too, but haven't checked it out yet.
• Rookie Blue (ABC, May 23) - Now, I have to admit, I've only seen one episode of this show.  But my friend Kimberly loves it, and is always telling me to watch it and to tell other people to watch it.  So I'm telling you to watch it, and maybe I will too.
• Arrested Development (Netflix, May 26) - If I could only pick one show to watch this summer...well, it would probably be Breaking Bad.  But I would be super sad about not being able to see the new episodes of Arrested Development.  Luckily, I don't have to make such a tragic choice.  I'm incredibly excited to see what the Bluths have been up to, and am thrilled that Netflix has really latched onto the idea of people marathoning shows and just releasing all the episodes at once.  THE FUTURE IS NOW.
• The Bachelorette (ABC, May 27) - I didn't watch the most recent season of The Bachelor, and I'm assuming that this Bachelorette was a castoff from that season.  Even without a background knowledge of her, I'll probably tune in, even if only to have something on in the background while I do other things.  
• Brooklyn D.A. (CBS, May 28) - A different kind of summer show - this is supposed to be a 6-part reality series following real Brooklyn District Attorneys.  With all the legal drama/police procedurals out there, it will be interesting to see the "real deal" behind the scenes.  For some reason, I can't find any information about it on the CBS website, but it's showing up on my PVR, so we'll see how it goes.
• Keeping up with the Kardashians (E!, June 2) - I know, I know.  Give me a break, it's entertaining.  And who doesn't want to find out what Kim and Kanye will name their baby?
• Mistresses (ABC, June 3) - This just looks FUN.  Just soapy, silly, fun.  I hope it delivers!

• True Blood (HBO, June 16) - I wasn't crazy about the last season, but I'm assuming that this season will be better than the final Sookie Stackhouse book, which isn't saying much.  Even when this show isn't great though, there's still a pretty good chance that Alexander Skarsgard or Joe Manganiello will take their shirt off, which is always worth the price of admission.
• Under the Dome (CBS, June 24) - I AM SO EXCITED! u I loved this book, and I think doing this as a miniseries is the exact right way to handle it.  I really, really hope that they can deliver on this one!

• Big Brother (CBS, June 26) - I only really got into this show during the summer that I was off on maternity leave, but now it's something that I really look forward to.  It's just goofy and ridiculous.
• Dexter (TMN, June 30) - Judging from the trailer for the final season, they are pulling out all the stops.  I'm super excited to see how they wrap up the story of everyone's favourite serial killer!

• Whose Line is it Anyway? (CW, July 16) - Yes, it's back.  I probably won't watch it every single week, but it's nice knowing that new episodes are there!  
• Breaking Pointe (CW, July 29) - Yes, I watch a reality show about ballet dancers.  Don't hate.
• Breaking Bad (AMC, August 11) - Yes, the king is back.  This is the final (half) season, and I have absolutely no idea where they are going to go with it, but I'm ready for the ride.

Also up this summer are Royal Pains (USA, June 12) and Franklin & Bash (TNT, July 24).  While I've watched both of these shows and quite enjoy them, I can never seem to stick with them consistently.  I will probably tune in and out, but I wanted to throw them in there just for good measure.

Treats of the Week

Yay for the long weekend!  Hope you all had a great time!  Here's the bright spots from my week!

• I finally went to an appointment that I have been waiting for for a year and a half.  
• Vivian spent the night in her big girl bed, and even though she woke up a few times through the night (nothing unusual there) she slept in until 11 a.m.!  On a holiday Monday!  Hooray!  As I'm typing, she just went to bed so we'll see how tonight goes!
• Vivian's speaking has gotten so, so, so much better.  While waiting in the emergency room the other day I brushed her hair behind her ear, and then she went on to yell, "Don't touch my hair!" for about two solid minutes.  It was embarrassing and hilarious.
• I have a teeny, tiny, branch of a lilac plant in the yard.  I love lilacs, and have always wanted to have some of my own.  Well it's not much, but I have one little bloom!

• I took a load of stuff to Goodwill and another load to a free recycling depot this week, which means that as of this moment there is no pile of stuff to go anywhere.  I'm quite sure that this will be different by next week (constantly purging!) but it feels good to have those piles cleared out!
• Finishing the book for book club early!  (Wild, by Cheryl Strayed)  Now if only I would read the book for Graphic Novel Group ahead of time too.
• Drumstick McFlurries.  I saw these last year and thought it would just be peanuts and fudge mixed in, but it's sooooo much better.  It's all little bits of chocolate covered waffle cone and it's amazing.
• Being lazy on the long weekend.  As much as I love the warmer weather and being outside and all that good stuff, sometimes there's nothing better than being lazy and spending the day inside when you know you should be outside.  It was kind of a busy weekend here, so today was spent inside watching movies in the air conditioning and it was glorious.  Speaking of which...
• Air conditioning.  I hate that I had to turn it on in May, but it had to be done last night.  I always hold my breath before the air conditioner or furnace comes on for the first time, and thankfully there were no problems this year.  It was so nice to have it on last night, if only to cover up the noise from the fireworks so Vivian could keep snoozing away in that big girl bed!

Outfit of the Day - One Outfit, Two Pairs of Shoes

My beloved Aldo sandals have finally died.  Four summers ago I made the decision to stop buying cheapo sandals that would just fall apart at the end of the summer and instead opt for one pair of expensive sandals and wear them to death.  The pair I chose were about $50 and worth every penny.  But now they've died and I had to find something new.  Of course, Aldo didn't have anything that I liked, so I went with these flats from Old Navy.

They're okay.  They'll do the trick for now, but I'm hoping to find a nicer, more expensive pair that will last me for another four summers or so.

On the day I bought those sandals and took these pictures though, I started out wearing my new beige wedges.  I took a closer up picture of them for you.

The picture isn't upside down, I was just holding my foot up and taking the picture myself.

They're really comfortable, but I can't drive in them so I'm constantly having to take them on and off and it drives me crazy.  So when I bought the flats on my lunch break, I switched it up for the drive home.  So I took pictures in both pairs of shoes to show the difference.

See, that's why girls wear heels.  Everything looks better!  Your legs are all flexed and look nicer, lifts your butt, just makes everything a little bit nicer.

If only I could drive in them.

Oh and the skirt is newish and pretty comfortable - except I wish it was more structured.  It has a weird little loose waist that doesn't give me the nice flattening action that I usually look for in a skirt.  Whatever, it's still cute.

Skirt and top - Smart Set
Sandals - Old Navy
Wedges - Aldo

Recent Thrifting Finds

Sometimes I don't have much luck out thrifting.  I might find one or two cool little things, but not enough for a whole post or anything.  So instead I save up all those little bits and pieces until I cobble together something for you guys.

Here's what I've cobbled.

I found this little wooden stool at a Habitat for Humanity Re-Store for $4, perfect for Vivian to use to brush her teeth.  Why is it that toddlers have such a compulsive need to wash their hands and/or brush their teeth?

I found this vintage Air Canada bag at One Man's Treasures for $5.  I couldn't resist, even though I don't really have any need for it.  Maybe I'll be a stewardess for Halloween.

A brass snail to hang out with my brass mouse.  He came from Talize and was $2 I think.

 

I found another one of my bowling glasses.  This one is in pretty rough shape though - it's almost all faded off.  Damn dishwashers.  I knew if I didn't grab it though, I would probably never come across another mug like it.  Hopefully I can find some more like this in better condition!  I think it was $1 at Talize.

 

This beauty isn't really a thrifting find, I got it at Heist.  I got it on sale for $35, which is a lot for me!  I love it though, don't regret it a bit!

 

Also in the basement is this chair I got off Kijiji for $20.  The cushions aren't anything special, but I'd love to have it reupholstered one day since I love the vintage wooden frame so much.

Don't mind the cat hair on it.  I didn't get all fancy for these pictures or anything.

Nothing else really of note lately - except that I have been having really good luck with books at thrift stores lately.  I was at Talize the one day and there were a whole bunch of Chuck Palahniuk books (which I left for someone else since I have them all) and I got some Chuck Klosterman, George Carlin, Nick Hornby and Douglas Coupland.  Way better than the usual dog-eared copies of Harlequin romances!

You guys find anything good lately?  It's getting to be yard sale season - it's town wide yard sales here in Strathroy the last weekend in May, and then my favourite Kilworth yard sales are the Saturday of Father's Day weekend!  Can't wait!

Very Vivian - First Trip to Emerg

I was a good kid.  I was quiet, listened to my parents, did what I was told.

My sister, on the other hand, set fire to my grandma's kitchen.  She needed skin grafting after giving herself a chemical burn.  She cut the cat's whiskers.

When we got older, Courtney would imagine that I would have quiet, nerdy children and she would be their crazy aunt who took them on wild adventures.  I always told her that it will be the exact opposite - I'll end up with a kid just like her, and she'll have the quiet, sweet one.

Know what else my sister did as a child?  Shoved pebbles from the turtle's tank up her nose.

What did Vivian do today?  Shoved a popcorn kernel up her nose.

Parents know that receiving a phone call from the daycare in the middle of the day is never a good thing.  So when I got a phone call at 11:00 a.m., I figured Vivian was sick.  But no, I was told there was a kernel in my daughter's nose and no matter what Joanne (my daycare provider) did, it was not going to come out.  So I went running out of work and picked Vivian up for our first trip to emerg.

After a not-too-long wait, we got to see the doctor.  I was pleased that it was a pleasant, young, female resident.  We couldn't get Vivian to hold still to look up her nose though, so we had to go to another exam room to hold her down on a bed.

We got her wrapped up in a blanket with a nurse's help and pinned her down.  Of course now she's screaming, but at least we could see the kernel lodged up there.  I assumed I would be asked to hold her head or something while they tried to get it out, but they completely surprised me when the nurse said,

"Okay mom, we need you to blow into her mouth."

I beg your pardon?

Yup.  They wanted me to seal Vivian's mouth with my own and blow into her screaming, snotty mouth until the kernel popped out of her nose.  Strange, but true.  After three or four breaths, it came right out of her nose, just like that.

Poor little girl was so exhausted she fell asleep on the way home from the hospital - which is saying something, since we're like less than 3 kilometers away from the hospital.

I didn't take any pictures of her while we were at the hospital, because I didn't want to be that parent, but here she is snuggling in her big girl bed (still for hanging out only, not sleeping) before bedtime tonight.

The best part about the whole ordeal?  I forgot to pay for parking and thought for sure I would end up with a ticket, but it was my lucky day!  

So tell me what your kids have shoved in their noses.  Anyone else have to breathe in their kid's mouth?  The doctor and nurse said this is usually something kids only do once, so I've got my fingers crossed I won't have to do it again!