If we haven’t chatted in a while, things in my “perfect” world are NOT…
(…perfect, that is).
The kitchen project, while promising, is still in mid-phase hiatus (preview below). So, we’ve moved on to bathroom renovations, because–in true DustandDoghair fashion–WHY finish one thing before starting another?
So…referencing that newsy tidbit, this month’s “Where Bloggers Live” topic is a roundup of “Ten Things I Couldn’t Live Without.”
Couldn’t? ACTUALLY couldn’t?
Sounds pretty serious.
I am currently very much living without one of the things I can’t live without: a toilet near the bedroom.
At the risk of oversharing. I’m not a spring chick…plus, I’ve delivered four offspring. So when I get out of bed in the morning (after a full night of resisting the necessity to get out of bed overnight) I have a VERY limited make-the-bed window before nature strongly suggests some type of comical sprint is in order. Out of the bedroom, down the stairs, and through the long hallway to my Crystal Beach bathroom. No one can ever say I’m not a risk taker.
Apparently this is avoidable via trendy exercises to bolster said nether regions.
Exercise, however, did not make the “10 Things” list.
The physician who delivered the previously mentioned offspring has warned that women who neglect to do those exercises will be frequent visitors to the Depends section at the grocery store. I do slow down when I pass that aisle…so I guess it might be smart to start THINKING more about developing good habits.
In a somewhat unrelated note, I think “Kegel” could make a hilarious dog name.
In no particular order, here are the other “Nine Things I Couldn’t Live Without.”
LL Bean Wicked Good Slippers – Mama has cold feet (and cold hands, for that matter). Even when I sleep, my feet are cold except in June and July. I don’t need a calendar to know when it’s August 1st. My feet ALWAYS know.
I’ve written about these WONDERFUL foot coverings in a prior post… They are like wearing a hug. Toasty. Comfortable. Essential.
New pairs are strictly for pristine indoor use, the next oldest pair become relegated to floor washing, indoor painting or other potentially messy tasks. The oldest pair, eventually paint stained and dog chewed, becomes the “outside slipper” for morning walks, collecting the mail, and the occasional gardening session.
I mentioned in the prior post that the toastiness comes from the fact that they are shearling lined…much to the dismay of this chap:
Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum – The most essential tool in my tool kit.
With these two ragingly productive hair machines:
…it doesn’t take long for a wispy haze to appear along walls, under tables, mid floor, ANYwhere. I have an arsenal of vacuum cleaners including an excellent Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFin (who NAMES these things). The corded Shark combines the ease of an upright with the versatility of a canister vac. Does a great job…BUT the Dyson is cordless and has a perfectly positioned light that spots hair I might have otherwise missed. I also have a Shark cordless and a Robotic robotic vac and they perform solidly, but the Dyson is top dog.
Check this out:
(Also, I spy a hint of the aforementioned footwear.)
Even with a Black Friday discount, the Dyson was spendy. Fortunately, Mr is always thumbs up on vacuum purchases.
Keurig – I was late to this party because I was a big fan of our old school percolator. Not particularly economical, true. But a single serve cuppa my favorite flavor, hot and ready on demand?
Worth the 50 cents per cup; way cheaper than the place where mermaids have two tails (and by the look of their brand logo, those mermaids must certainly perform SOME of the exercises recommended by their physicians…Yikes!).
(The party bar was Phase 1 of the kitchen remodel and exists where this used to be:
Phase 2 is mostly complete and we’re waiting to start the last part.)
Serta Down Illusion Soft Hypoallergenic Soft/Medium Bed Pillows for Side, Stomach or Back Sleepers – I’m certain (haha) you recall previous regalings about my sleep rules; a down pillow was one of them.
A down-alternative pillow? ME?
Merciful heavens, never! Why I can feel a pea from four mattresses above
Lately, however, I ‘ve been waking up with dull headaches and the occasional “crick” in the neck. I had purchased these VERY inexpensive pillows for our guest room remodel (that I never posted about) and one night I gave one a whirl. My health tracker Sleep numbers have been optimal ever since.
20 Mule Team Borax – I’ve rediscovered this laundry and multi-purpose dinosaur and I am A-okay with things being whiter, brighter, and cleaner. I mean I could LIVE without it, but I like it, alot.
Actually, the remaining items on my list are things I like, but could live without. Just like you could likely live without me adding five more minutes to this post.
Instead, I’ll suggest you use that time to visit one of our blogging pals and see what things float their boats:
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Sally at Within a World of My Own
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings – (Iris is taking a break for a little bit, as is Leslie)
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Welcome to “Where Bloggers Live.” It’s kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…Bloggers!
Who doesn’t like to peek behind the scenes and see inside people’s homes?
The second Friday of each month is when this group of seven bloggers link up to share their workspaces,
homes, towns… or whatever our fearless leader, the fabulous Bettye, proposes.
Make sure you visit everyone to see where the magic happens!
Interesting…I haven’t heard of 20 Mule Team Borax in years. I loved their commercials! I would be hard pressed to think of 10 things I couldn’t live without, or would I? I haven’t splurged on those slippers yet, but every winter I debate with myself (and, I usually win) whether or not to buy them. So far, the winning side has said no. I cannot wait to see the rest of your kitchen…because that is one drastic change! How I wish I had your ability to “see” how something is going to turn out. Actually, I wish I had had you around when we designed our current house because I KNOW you would have immediately said, “Marsha, you need more windows and less room in that stupid big living room!” We have had several Dyson vacuum cleaners because my husband, apparently, is cousins twice removed from yours! We did have to give away our actual vacuum because it voids warranties on new carpets…who knew…well, the guy who sold us the carpet when he saw it. And, my current stick one doesn’t charge anymore even with the after market battery said husband bought. So, right now, it’s the good old dust mop that dusts up the crumbs and dog hair! Kegel would definitely make an amazing dog name! I wonder what the neighbors would think if I changed Jack’s name to Kegel. He would easily trade it for a treat! I do remember practicing those before childbirth but didn’t know I was supposed to continue! I don’t think that muscle memory will easily come back! I do love reading your posts, Em! And, then I write one in reply to you! Anyway, thanks for sharing a bit of your life right now!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
I also have big stupid rooms that I didn’t think to make unstupid when I had the chance…but in retrospect, I didn’t think they were stupid at the time.
Pretty sure I don’t have any actual “vision.” I just shop the internet for ideas from people who do, haha.
Thank you so much for your nice words about reading my posts. I am SO close to joining Leslie in blog retirement and then I read you seven-word motivational speech and ALL the words of your delightful comment and think, “okay, one more month.”
Grateful that you take the time to visit, Mrs. Marsha!
But, but….the title of your blog would be inappropriate, If you didn’t have that dog Fur whisping around.
So isn’t it sort of against the rules to sweep it up?
Just asking from a purely selfish perspective. So I don’t feel so bad for not doing the same.
And that preview of the kitchen remodel looks amazing. Of course, you’ve moved on to another project before it’s finished. It’s no different than, how my knitting projects happen. There’s always two or three in the middle of some sort of finish when I want to start a whole new one.
Luckily, since we are the boss of our lives, we can do that.
Xoxo
Jodie
I hope to be the boss of my life again… sooner rather than later. Seems like these days I just let people in the door and spend all day waiting for them to leave. BUT…I am trying to use some of that time to teach myself how to crochet…so that’s kind of cool.
I can imagine your cordless vacuum gets a work out with those big furry beasts! Isn’t it weird what a difference a good pillow makes? (Though I am SHOCKED that anyone gets great sleep numbers on their tracker; my numbers are always mediocre, which interfered with my sleep until I stopped tracking it, haha.)
You’re right about the tracker, Sally! I get a little too focused on the approval of a device that pretends to have my interests at heart (while I give it waaaay too much access to my life and habits).
We often laugh that the trackers often say we’ve slept well when we thought we hadn’t, and vice versa. I think I should just stick with the step count and call it a day!