Spring is in the Air!

Spring has sprung and so has our grass. It is starting to look like an over grown mess. I just picked up our lawn mower from the fabulous guys at Appliance Fix-It (who rebuilt the motor after the pole incident of 2009). And we are ready for some action. Chas has promised to start mowing tonight! Now I don't have to hang my head in shame in front of the neighbors.

I have started planting (hopefully the deer won't get them all this year). The azaleas are in bloom, so pretty soon things are going to be shaping up on the exterior.

This weekend's project is to re-stain the deck. It is in some serious need of love. I would guess it has been over 5 years since it has been stained. So it is due. I have the deck wash and stain and will be getting to it on Sunday (Saturday is supposed to rain and I have a Junior League event).

But in exciting parallel news, High Heeled Foot in the Door is giving away 5 gallons of Olympic Stain. What are the odds? Maybe you can stain something too!

Easter Weekend

I have officially survived the second Easter in our new house. Chas and I have been busy bees preparing for my family's arrival (they are tough critics). We finished lots of projects like mulching the front yard, installing crown molding, installing a new chandelier in the dining room, and lots of little projects. I will be posting about how we did all these things shortly.

But needless to say. We survived (although I took a 14 hour nap as soon as they were gone) and the house looks beautiful. Pictures coming soon.

One of the best parts of the weekend was our trip the National Mall for a picnic and to see the cherry blossoms.

My mother is the Executive Director at the Family Home and Garden Center in NH and she was beside herself. She had never seem the blossoms before and just loved every minute of it. I have to admit nothing says Spring in DC like cherry blossoms and the whole thing is very Americana.

I hope everyone else had an equally perfect Easter weekend.

He is risen. Hallelujah.

Confessing My Love for Valspar

Oh Valspar paint, how I love thee...

But I have not been faithful, and it will haunt me for the rest of my life.

I want to go on the record proclaiming my love for Valspar paint. I will never use any other brand again. I was lured by the convience of Home Depot and Behr paint (only 5 minutes from my vs. Lowes which is 25 minutes away). I will never make this mistake again.

I was painting all the trim and doors in my house straight up white (judge if you will, but I love true clean crisp white-even if it does get dirty...then I repaint). Anyway, I had used up my can of Valspar so I naively picked up a gallon of Behr white paint.

1st problem, it is watery. The paint does not go on smooth because it is too thin and it drips.

Because of the thin factor you have to do a minimum of 3 coats to get a solid tone.

Finally, and worst of all, it is a different color! I guess I should know that no white is created equal. But when I buy a straight up white can of paint they should all be straight up white no matter what the brand. Well Behr has a blue undertone to Valspars yellow undertone.

Absolutely Infuriating. After trying to work with the Behr paint, I gave up went and got some valspar and repainted everything. Not only did I waste $25 and hours of my time. I think I might have jepordized my relationship with Valspar. Trust me...I will never cheat again. I have learned my lesson.