09 June 2011

eight a.m. ramblings.


spectacular subway tile. a new thing i just learned about. source via apt. therapy..

this post is going to be a speedy post. as my child is still sleeping. hurrah. ever since we moved in, he has started this new habit (knock on wood) of not waking up at 6 a.m. thus giving me the perfect extra little space of time to hunt for houses online (but mostly skim blogs and pin stuff on pinterest in rapid fashion).

+ thank you entirely for your good comments and questions on my last post. they sparked my interest and i plan to gather my answers and give you some good juicy posts. i appreciate you more than words can say.

+ none of the homes we looked through yesterday resembled anything close to the 'dream homes' you find in the nooks and crannies of pinterest. i'm realizing that i'm going to really have to put some sweat into a new place to make it ours. to make it feel like home. to make it cozy and perfect. i realize that home-making is an artform. i'm realizing i have a lot to learn.

+ case in point. yesterday whit and i chatted over salads (greens, tomatoes, blueberries, craisins, raspberries, parmesan cheese, poppy seed dressing) and she taught me all about the joys of subway tile.

+ the reason i'm awake while bear is sleeping (a rare thing indeed) is because we've been going to spin classes with my father-in-law. nothing like getting whooped by your favorite senior citizen. seriously, this man is a machine. anyway, i have decided that my butt has not been properly calloused for this class. i've also decided that i don't know why people do this kind of thing for fun. however the instructor shows all these clips of lance armstrong biking his guts out. when you're pumping your legs like a maniac, it's nice to feel like you're right behind lance. it feels a little like we're taking a bit too much advantage of his victories up the hills in france, but hey, i doubt he minds. (and me waking up at 5:30 to ride on a saddle is a personal victory for me. i must admit i thought of eleanor roosevelt this morning while trying to enjoy the ride.)

+ i'll leave you with a few favorite eleanor roosevelt quotes.
You must do the things you think you cannot do.

You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'

What one has to do usually can be done.

20 comments:

Miranda said...

it is true that there is a giant disconnect between the houses that you look at and the houses on Pinterest/Apartment Therapy. It seems that disconnect is still there even when you find the house that you love. I've learned a lot about how "inspiration" photos are actually to be used as inspiration and not as "this is exactly the way my house will look" photos.

What a happy little change in schedule having your little man sleep in now!

Also. Subway tile. Yes.

Hil said...

Holy crap.. 5:30?! Marta, you are hard core. Way to go. Yay for Benji sleeping in!!

Mills (héron + hibou) said...

Love the Eleanor Roosevelt quotes, particularly, 'it takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.' You always find such great quotes. Good luck with the house hunting!

Anonymous said...

LOVE the quotes! and congrats on the early morning YOU time. xo.

Anonymous said...

LOVE the quotes! and congrats on the early morning YOU time. xo.

Erin {pughs' news} said...

Eleanor Roosevelt is the queen of fabulous quotes, isn't she?

chloe said...

that is how i felt about our first home- its gonna take some work but it is so worth it! i have learned so much in this home. especially when it comes to gardening. good luck in your hunt!

Anna said...

where have I been? These Elanor Roosevelt quotes are "must haves".
I cannot bring myself to even look at pinterest because I do not have more time for computer activities. If I could somehow attach my laptop to my recumbent bike it might me an option tho'. ;)

Susan said...

Those quotes are great!

Emily said...

Even though house hunting can be stressful - it's so nice to dream into what you want for your family. I hope you find something that is perfect for the vision in your head.

Have you seen the counter tile Jordan has at Sweat Bread (and my Angle of Repose)? I've always loved it and it definitely have the subway tile feel. (http://sweatbread.blogspot.com/2011/04/herbed-omelette-with-goat-cheese.html)

Anonymous said...

You put a big smile on my face today. Thank you. Love the quotes.

Gabrielle - Design Mom said...

Those Eleanor quote are perfection!

Dansie Family said...

i miss spin. way to go to try to keep up with E. he rocks that bike. since they got the odometers on the bikes, i find myself working extra hard to make i finish the hour somewhere close to him. and it is no easy task.

Mailbox Moments said...

I love the quotes and good job on spinning!

Lesa

brooke said...

You are awesome to wake up in the middle of the night like that :-). Seriously though, if you are going to spin regularly, may I suggest getting a pair of padded bike shorts...your "bum" will thank you!

Travelin'Oma said...

I needed these quotes to add balance to my dizzy week!

Moments and Impressions said...

Houses are better when they are made with your heart and not move in ready. Applause to you for your morning workouts! Lovely quotes Marta.

polly said...

i'm convinced that you can make any house into a home. it is what you put into it. you sometimes don't get the actual house of your dreams, but when you get into that house, your ideas, work, and creativity along with living there with your family turns it into the home of your dreams. To me taking the shell and turning it into something is like an empty canvas where you have the opportunity to create a masterpiece. Creating a home is like creating a piece of art, and you are the artist!

Dave said...

I can't believe I knew about subway tile before you. Thank Ariane.

brooke said...

By the way, I love subway tile too. I have an awesome, cheap tile guy (he's been in the biz for like 20 years) and a perfectionist if you want to get a nifty backsplash installed when you find a house!!

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