You came here for some DIY, right?
I promised over there -> ….. in the sidebar… that I would share my DIY adventures.
This past month, I have DIYed my, um, butt off.
Don’t believe me? LOOK!.
I have enough completed projects for the next several posts: a powder room makeover, stairway runners, new floor and baseboards, and trimwork… (NONE of it in my own house, believe it or not).
PLUS... I finished my unexpected project using the fabric that I introduced in my last post.
This ACTUALLY happened: I completed a project In my house…within a month. You’re proud of me, aren’t you?
So…please, do not race to your UNSUBSCRIBE button when I tell you that THIS post does not contain ANY of that.
And with good reason:
Because I participate in the “Where Bloggers Live” group, I committed in advance to a different topic. Therefore, as a bribe for NOT unsubscribing, I am inviting you into the inner sanctum.
Read a SINGLE OTHER WORD PAST THIS POINT and we have an implied understanding:
You may NOT tell the rest of the world that I am a semi-certifiable weirdo. (I mean, if you’ve seen the pictures I’ve posted here, or here or here, that attribute already isn’t much of a secret. But let’s pretend it is, okay?)
If this is your first stop on the WBL roundup, this month we are discussing, “I Can’t Let Go of… (article of clothing or something in your home that is maybe past its expiration point but you just can’t let it go cuz of sentimental value).”
Whoo…. the mere potential of this post! Any therapists out there?
You already know about my sock bin.
BTW, I appreciated the suggestions to just let go and ditch it, but I didn’t. I raid it regularly, stuffing the socks with spent water bottles, then I let Roland have at them. I AM getting rid of the socks… just one by one, haha.
You likely won’t be surprised to find that I’m over-attached to plenty of things. I still have my Barbies, Dawn dolls
and sweet, dimpled Penny Brite:
My mother loooooved Penny Brite, and apparently thought she was an excellent role model for her only daughter, which is how I ended up looking like THIS on school picture day…
thus cementing my departure from any future yearbook inscription involving the words, cool or popular.
On the “Brite” side, things got better and I eventually took control of my own hair:
Also found in the basement archives… all of my record albums (which my son has been borrowing now that he is “into vinyl”).
And I saved the several matching dresses I made my girls when they were little in case they ever want to share them with their as yet non-existent little girls.
But none of that makes me weird, right (Penny Brite haircut excluded)?
Well, there’s one last weird thing I’ve saved that I am absolutely certain is not among the possessions of any woman my age…at least none that aren’t former circus performers.
(NO, I’m not, in case you were wondering).
Mister likes to ask me about it occasionally when cleaning the basement:
Mare, do you still want this?
YES! I want it.
Arrrrre you planning to use it.
Not today.
You know the kids don’t want it, right?
Yes.
Don’t you think it’s time to get rid of it?
NO!
Seriously, you don’t think maybe…
NO!
And THAT is why, in the back of the basement, past the Christmas and the Halloween decorations, behind the racks of luggage, next to the bins of family photos, we have …a unicycle.
As a kid, every year I circled it in the Sears Wishbook. Apparently, the wishing finally paid off, because it showed up under the Christmas tree sometime around seventh grade.
I envisioned the pre-purchase conversation going something like this:
Paul, Mary said she likes one of the boys in her class.
Really? Let’s buy her that unicycle. It’ll keep her busy AND make her virtually undateable.
Perfect! I’ll order it tomorrow.
Well, Mom and Dad, mission accomplished! “Unicycler” is VERY high up on the checklist for girl popularity.
I spent the next several months in our driveway, perched on the unicycle and hanging onto the fence for dear life. Then, one day, I was able to let go and weirdly pedal my way all around the neighborhood.
I was darn proud of my bizarre and obscure talent, aka the “cool repellant.” I can say with great certainty that no one was as impressed with my utterly sui generis talent as I was.
Over the years, I occasionally rediscover my one-wheeled friend still in the basement, usually by tripping over one of the pedals. Each time I see it, I sort of walk away from it reminded that there are plenty of things that are difficult to learn, but with time, determination, and practice, anyone can be a weirdo so many things that are difficult are not insurmountable (with the possible exception of operating the television).
Actually, this “talent” has been hidden long enough that I couldn’t say for sure if it continues to even BE on my resume of useless skills.
Are you wondering?
Because I am DEFINITELY wondering.
There’s only one way to find out…fingers crossed that there won’t be any broken bones. I think I’ve already reached my three per decade limit.
______________
What kind of long term relationships do you think my WBL friends have with their “stuff”? Check out:
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Em at Dust and Doghair
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Welcome to the monthly edition of 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? Over the next few months, a group of six bloggers will be sharing their workspaces, their homes, towns and more!
Make sure you visit everyone to see where the magic happens!
OMG, the Penny Brite haircut, the acquisition of a unicycle designed to make you un-dateable. You made me laugh right out loud this morning. Then,,,,,you “jumped” on said unicycle and amazed me by staying in an upright position. You are a joy!
Hi, Anna!
Glad you had a smile…because your comment brought one to me!
Also, ANY time I’m able to maintain an upright position, unicycle or otherwise, is a good day, haha!
Thanks for making my morning! 🙂
I am crying! I can’t believe you can ride of unicycle. That’s so cool and funny.
🤡 <= in my jeans
Oh my gosh I was So Scared! I just KNEW you were going to crash into that first planter and I would have your permanent disability on my conscience for the rest of my life! I would move into the mountains and let all my body hair grow out and be emotionally unavailable forevermore…until a beautiful girl pierced my self-imposed prison sanctuary and…oh. wait. that’s the kdrama I’m watching.
BUT STILL.
I am EXTREMELY impressed. That’s right up there on my Things Bettye Is Most Impressed By list, along with juggling and standing near alligators.
I have sort of a similar childhood expertise…pogoing. I was the neighborhood pogo champeen. Everyone else would try, and get all excited if they hit like 7 pogos or 11 pogos. I could pogo until I decided not to pogo anymore. Hundreds, thousands of pogos.
But pogoing is not unicycling. That is a skill unto itself.
I’m shocked that none of your kids wants to carry on the tradition. But don’t get rid of it cuz maybe after you’re dead they might feel differently.
Oh, all the wonderful things that are going to happen after we’re dead.
I’m going in a probably unpopular direction, I should stop.
xoxo Bettye
https://fashionschlub.com
And now I’m impressed!
I tried pogoing. I was good for about six bounces and then plfft (plfft is how I spell the noise you make with your tongue out when you want to say you fell over due to lack of proper positioning).
My brother was a pogo-er like you…could bounce for days. I loved the noise it made and the thought that you were temporarily in flight.
Alas, I was left to wheel on the ground with the peasants, destined to a future of near collisions with planters.
After I’m dead?! 😵 You were not the only one of our group to trot down that path, haha. I try VERY hard to assume that doesn’t happen to everyone. I keep my head securely in the sand on that topic, otherwise I start thinking of eternal fire. (Now who’s commandeered the unpopular direction!? Haha)
Oh my gosh! I can’t believe you can still ride that thing. Good for you!!!
Love your dolls. I didn’t have Barbies (I was already too old), so NOW I have Barbies, and made clothes for them for a long time (need to do that again).
Mostly, I just thoroughly enjoyed your post!
Grace & Peace, Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
I have to say, I was happily surprised I could still ride it, too!
You make Barbie clothes?!!! I bet that’s some of the most difficult sewing there is! Such a tiny workspace. You must have great vision and dexterity. Then again, you are an expert cross stitcher so that’s likely your wheelhouse!
Thanks, Iris!
First, I am cracking up over that Penny Brite haircut. Honestly I don’t even remember that doll and I thought I had them all.
BUT, you and I could have been life long friends https://www.instagram.com/p/CFSCCuFje2a/
Of course I’m not sure I could do it now???
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
No, way! I didn’t remember that IG post!! You’re right, we’d have had SO much fun together, Jodie!
Here’s something ironic: I know my mom loved Penny (and me, haha), but I never connected that picture to the doll until I was writing this post. I’m not sure it was intentional, but wow, the similarity was spot on!.
Terrific blog! Loved everything! And if you ever want to run away, you could always join a circus … with your unicycle!
Thank you, Vee!
Haha, this might be the week for that! Busy, busy, busy!
Best post EVER!! I just love you. Love your Penny Brite ‘do when you were little and your bumless body now after days of successful DIY completion. You are so interesting. Yes, interesting. I don’t know a single other soul who can unicycle. And dismount so gracefully, too. I was a little bit worried that you couldn’t steer that thing and were immediately headed into the flower pot. But I should have known that anyone who can make gorgeous blinds, drapes, and carpet her own stairs could steer a unicycle. You give new meaning to “look, mom, no hands!”
Keep those dolls…I wish I still had mine, the matching dresses – you will have granddaughters, and that unicycle. Be thankful you have a basement. I am trying to sneak and keep things over here without a basement or attic.
What a lovely comment, Lesley! Thank you!
In full disclosure, the first video was a little less smooth. I had the bench too far away for a steady start. I may have to start a blooper reel!
I would be in BIG trouble without the basement. My mom is a huge saver of “things.” (I should get her a copy of your Marie Kondo book!) The bedrooms my brothers and I used to occupy are filled with “stuff”. AND she has a basement. All to say that, even though I’m not on her level of packrat, It’s DEFINITELY in my genes.
Oh. My. God. So much to love about this post! Your missing ass made me laugh out loud. Your mom NAILED the Penny Brite do. (Like, seriously, I’m impressed.) And I was totally enjoying the unicycle story whilst wondering if you could still ride it and then… YOU GAVE US A VIDEO! You have NOT jumped the shark! This post is the opposite. You have… walked? The… um… dog? In any case, you are not the Fonz on water skis.
It’s a good day indeed if I can get YOU to laugh!!!
I had never made the Penny Brite connection until I was assembling the stuff for the post…and there it was…UNMISTAKEABLE! Wow.
Gotta say, I was pretty jazzed to find that I could still ride it… Now, when the Junior League calls, I’ll be ready.
Twelve more days!!! Hope all your DIYs are going well! (If I lived closer I would’ve offered to help!)