Powder Room - Part 1

Planning a new powder room is both exciting and time consuming with so many choices in sinks, toilets, lighting and tile. Determining the floor plan for the new room in an old space means one of the zillion closets will have to go. The luggage closet, a two tiered 4 foot by 3 foot closet adjacent to the front hall will lose the luggage and gain a toilet and sink. To make this powder room large enough to accommodate those in need of "powder," four feet from an adjoining closet will be adopted, so the configuration becomes an "L" shape, with the toilet in the lower right side of the "L," and the sink in the corner left side of the "L." The third side of the room will be built on a slight angle, widest where the sink and toilet live, and narrowest at the entry. The new room will be a long narrow triangle, with the sink visible from the doorway, and the toilet coyly slightly hidden from view.

Large 18" X 18" Italian porcelain tiles will continue to flow from the foyer into the new space, adding continuity and lightening the space. White crown molding will highlight the ceiling, and wide white trim will connect the walls and floor. Wall colors are being evaluated but one thing is clear: light colors seem to make a space larger, and dark colors often make a space appear smaller. Since painting the room a light color in hopes of making it seem larger is absurd in such a small space, a deep dark dramatic color will be selected for the walls. a Merlot, deep red, chocolate or dark blue will be used. As of today, the reds are winning.

An ADA Kohler tall elongated white toilet will be added. The problem is the sink: the space requires a sink of 24 inches, max, either as a pedestal sink, corner, wall mounted, or vessel sink. Always a lover of natural materials, granite or marble needs to be added to the room, somewhere, on the walls behind the sink (?) or as the base of the sink (?) as seen in the photo from Southern Living. Stay tuned as the powder room adventure begins the end of September and decisions will need to be made. Any suggestions? I'm listening.

Photo attribution: Southern Living

Volvo 'Venture

So there we were, me headed north in the roadway outside of T.J. Maxx, and her deciding to back out of her parking space. Into me. Boom. Her red Honda Accord appeared to be fine, but the driver's side of my Volvo XC 90 SUV door took the hit and will need some work to remove the wrinkles. Not a lot of work -- but in car terms, probably around $2500 to $3500 worth of work. On her dime, not mine.

And the good news: no one was hurt and no bags were deployed. Since this happened in a "private parking lot," no tickets were issued. To get to the moral of this story, pick one of your four choices below:

1. Don't go to T.J. Maxx on Sunday afternoon,
2. Don't go out of the house on Sunday afternoon,
3. Drive a big car, or perhaps
4. Look before backing out of a parking space into a vehicle.

Note: This photo was taken prior to this Volvo adventure.
Photo attribution: somewhatfrank

Harley-Davidsons Invade Milwaukee

Visiting Milwaukee Saturday was a bit of a blast as millions and trillions and zillions of cycles, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and others, were in town for the 105th Anniversary of the Harley. Hundreds of Harleys lined up for a parade. Though most parades have floats and marching bands, this parade only featured motorcycles and lots of them, roaring through town. Really roaring. For the faint of heart, factory tours of Harley-Davidson are available anytime and include the history of the Harley and a place to sit and get a bite to eat, inside and air conditioned. All Milwaukee city ordinances regulating noise were off for the weekend, so motorcycles blasted through the streets, waking up patrons living along the lake, whether at street level or on the 21st floor. Nothing like bikers and sleep deprived city folk, mixing at the local watering shed -- hopefully most bikers attended the Bruce Springsteen concert Saturday night, leaving a few silent hours for apartment dwellers could catch some zzzzz's. This too shall pass. Sleeping tonight should be wonderful!

Photo attribution: Harley Davidson

White Hydragenas

This is the perfect time to take advantage of the flowers growing in your carefully nurtured and maintained garden. The flowers in this almost all white and green arrangement are two types of hydrangeas that grow through the summer in partial shade in my front yard. A few purple mums are thrown in for a surprise of color as well as a few stalks of flowering oregano.

To make this arrangement, start with two shades of white flowers, one snowy white, and the other with a slight green tint. Both would be available at the flower mart or farmers' market in your area. A large white Italian pot is used as the base to highlight the various shades of white. The flowers are held in place by floral foam, also called oasis, a green spongy block of material used at the base of floral arrangements to support the flower stems and hold them in place. Before using the floral foam, soak it for a few minutes in water, then place it in the bottom of the pot. Add water, then start arranging the flowers.

Remember the basic rules of flower arranging: use an odd number of flowers (5, 7 9, etc.), vary the height of the flowers, and provide additional height as needed, in this case the purple flowers of the oregano plants are used to provide height and interest on the far top left and right. Wipe any water from the bottom of the pot, and place the arrangement in an area where it will be enjoyed, even if only for a few days.

Photo attribution: somewhatfortyplus

Hard Soles - Away With You!

After a summer of sandals, beaches, pool concrete and going barefoot, hard soles can be a problem for many. What to do? Pedicures are only part of the answer, as rough calloused skin in smoothed away at the spa, only to return far too quickly. CalleX to the rescue.

According to the manufacturer, CalleX Ointment thins and softens hardened skin and exfoliates dry, cracked heels. Its patented, natural enzymes selectively exfoliate only dry, cracked, thickened and scaly skin while its petrolatum base retains natural skin moisture. There are no magic ingredients, only Petrolatum, U.S.P., protease (subtilisin), aminopeptidase, natural peppermint oil.

Easy to use and low priced, $15 for a two month supply, CalleX Ointment is applied to rough and hardened skin twice daily after bathing, or rubbing the skin with a wet washcloth. Always a skeptic, buying the product was the hard part, using it was simple. Take shower, rough up feet with a cloth or towel, apply CalleX. Wait to see what happens.

What happened is this: the feet feel smoother almost immediately but also somewhat greasy, so place a few sheets of toilet paper (4 sheets will do per foot) on the floor, then put the newly greased foot on the TP, being sure it is long enough to tuck the edges in between the toes to anchor it. This will prevent the CalleX from staining carpets or any floor surface. This also works if the ointment is applied before bedtime, and keeps the sheets from appearing stained. But why do feet get so dry, you wonder? Feet have fewer oil glands than any other part of the body, allowing feet of all ages to dry out quickly in the summer. As one gets older, skin becomes naturally drier, permitting feet to dry out super quickly, until now. CalleX works wonders and is one of my all time favorite beauty picks that will be used consistently over the next several months. Available at Walgreen's and CVS Pharmacies, this is one ointment everyone should be using as a way of improving the feet of America.

Photo attribution: CalleX Ointment

Apartment Switch

Every parent knows they have to pitch in and help their children move, regardless the age of the child. Recently an adult child moved from a one bedroom into a two bedroom apartment with a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan. Parents and friends from afar helped with the heavy lifting and in a few hours the kitchen was in order and the bed was made. Even books were arranged on book shelves. The living room features floor to ceiling bay windows large enough to house two chairs and a small table, beckoning one to sit and enjoy the view.

Thank you to all who spent part or all of their day lifting, toting, and carrying heavy objects. Soon life will be back to normal in a neatly arranged new space.
Photo attribution: somewhatfortyplus

Gary Vaynerchuk Tickets Available Online

Tickets are now available online for the upcoming special performance of Gary Vaynerchuk, appearing at the Woodstock Opera House on Saturday, September 20, 2008 previously discussed here. Gary's appearance is a benefit for the Creative Living After Dark Series of the Woodstock Fine Arts Association. Gary will be introduced by good friend and Woodstock native son, Frank Gruber of somewhatfrank and TECH cocktail. To purchase your ticket to the event, which includes a wine and cheese party with Gary and Frank, click here.

Tickets are only $50 -- which includes the wine and cheese party -- and the event begins at 8:00 p.m. on the historic Opera House stage. Only 400 tickets are available and an evening with Gary V. is work a lot more then that! Get yours asap while good seats are available. You can also call the Opera House Box Office at 815-338-5300 to order tickets. I bought my tickets last week so I'll see you there!
Photo attribution: somewhatfrank