DIY Therapy
August 17, 2011
When I am stressed or depressed or just feeling like life has yanked the rug out from under me I clean my house. There is something so cathartic about polishing countertops, vacumming lines in the carpet, and having everything sparkling. I know other people eat junk food as a comfort, but I can’t even think about food.
This has the weird disconnect of people saying, “Wow, you look great!” And me saying back, “That’s funny, because I feel like shit!”
This is the part where I am tempted to type, ha ha just kidding. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me. But the truth is that I’m not kidding. This has been a really crappy few weeks (months?). It isn’t really one thing in particular, but rather a whole bunch of seemingly small things happening at once. If one more person says that it can’t get any worse I might just hit them. Because I have learned it can always get worse.
So eventually I ran out of things to clean. I decided to paint. Most of the rooms in my house are still the builder’s white flat paint. Flat paint can’t be scrubbed clean. I have several children who think it is their duty to run their hands along the walls while they walk through a room.
You definitely can not appreciate the horror that is the curtains. Sheer hunter green curtains? Why?
I bought a little sample of paint this time. Look at me! Learning my lesson finally. I almost changed my mind in the store when I went pack to purchase the paint. It looked so different under the store light that I began questioning myself.
The point of no return.
Surprisingly I really like the way it turned out. This never happens. Turns out there is a reason people put swatches of paint on their walls before deciding on a color. Who knew!?!
I wish I had better photos, but you know my laptop is dying. And all the other computers in my house are also dead. Just in time for school to start!
Looking around… there are a lot more rooms that could use painting.
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Not to belittle your troubles, but maybe you could become a professional painter! The room looks amazing. I find painting to be cathartic.
August 19th, 2011 at 9:13 am((hugs)) The room looks great - here’s hoping things turn around well before you run out of rooms to paint.
August 19th, 2011 at 9:51 amOh, I hear you on the dying laptops. Mine and my older daughter’s are about to go kaput, and replacements are not cheap.
I love your wall, though. It is very similar to the color in my guest bathroom.
I hope things look up soon.
August 19th, 2011 at 10:36 amIt does look very nice. When life isn’t going the way I want it, I clean, too. My house is messy right now, so I guess it’s been smooth sailing for awhile. Here’s wishing you calmer seas, too.
August 19th, 2011 at 10:50 amThat is a great color! Looks really nice. I hope things get better for you all…
August 19th, 2011 at 11:30 amI hope things get better soon.
August 19th, 2011 at 11:45 amI know we don’t know each other but I’ve really enjoyed your writing over the last few years. Blogs are weird b/c when you like one you feel like you become a friend of the author. One that you never talk to though. My virtual friend Chris. Anyway, my heart goes out to you like it would to a friend who’s had a shitty few weeks (months?). Hang in there my virtual friend. Hope things improve soon.
August 19th, 2011 at 11:51 amThis room looks fabulous. I love this shade of green.Hope it made you feel better.
August 19th, 2011 at 12:25 pmMy little did the wall thing too, until I made them wear gloves in the summer!!
August 19th, 2011 at 12:44 pmWow, what a huge difference! It totally warmed up that room. Love the curtains, too!
August 19th, 2011 at 12:54 pmI’m sorry life has been so sh*tty for you lately.
Sending you long distance good thoughts
Thinking of you. You have a boatload of loyal readers who care. I know there is nothing we can do. But thank you for sharing the real. It is always good to know the truth as much as it is possible to share. Here’s to hoping the school year goes well for you all and especially the kids!
August 19th, 2011 at 1:10 pmFWIW, I am painting this weekend too. It sucks right now. And it *can* always get worse. But maybe - just maybe - it could get better. The odds are it has to eventually. (Right?, she asks.)
August 19th, 2011 at 1:35 pm1) Love the paint color
2) I’m sorry things have been crappy
3) I hope that at some point in the future, you will be able to look back and see that this crappy phase served some purpose in the big picture.
Xo.
August 19th, 2011 at 1:47 pmI knew I liked you !!!! We are kindred spirits in stress relief cleaning. My home shines when I’m unhappy!!!
August 19th, 2011 at 2:21 pmI learned from a friends mom to buy a quart or a tester in the colour you think you’d like to paint& a roll of plain wall paper the kind that can be painted. Paint up several large pieces and hang with masking tape in key areas of the room to see what it will look like day and night. Best advise ever…
Still the guys at Bennie moore call me quart lady because I have a hard time nailing a colour.
Feel better.
Chris - paint away. Life can always be better, but it can also always be worse.
August 19th, 2011 at 2:45 pmBTW - hang in there.
August 19th, 2011 at 2:54 pmChris, the color looks great. I am at that point where I wish I had time to just sit and do housework. A day of just laundry sounds like a vacation about now. School starts Monday, and I think I will be doing back to school shopping on Monday morning. I’m sorry the end of your summer has tanked; I hope things even out a bit for the fall.
August 19th, 2011 at 2:55 pmYou are often in my thoughts! Where DID summer go! Hang in there!!
August 19th, 2011 at 3:27 pmHug
OH - and the room looks fabulous, I love the color!
August 19th, 2011 at 3:27 pmThe paint looks fabulous, but I’m sorry that it happened because life is handing you a crap sandwich. I hope better things are in store for the fall.
August 19th, 2011 at 4:31 pmI am sorry it has been rough lately. This heat and lack of rain does not help either. It all feels endless these days.
It has been tough here too. My 1 year old was diagnosed with cerebral palsy etc., and there has been too much to process at times. Here’s looking forward to fall, the kids back in school, and a margarita tonight. Good luck.
August 19th, 2011 at 5:20 pmLooks pretty, you didn’t even need to crowd-source your color. You go girl! Looks great. I love painting b/c it’s so instantaneous but priming SUCKS.
August 19th, 2011 at 5:40 pmI feel like I’m in the same position as you. I have had a horrible past few months with just little things. I just keep hoping it will get better.
August 19th, 2011 at 6:21 pmI have the same problem when I am stressed, I clean. Actually, you can tell my state of mind by just looking at my house. A tad messy and a little dirty–I’m doing great! But if you could eat off the floors–really stressed! When my husband was ill, the hospice nurse arrived one morning to find me vacuuming a perfectly clean rug. “I clean when I’m stressed”, I said. “Whatever gets you through it”, she said. I feel your pain.
Anyway, LOVE the color of the walls, ever so much better than white.
I have some pantry shelves that could really use painting. Been meaning to get to them for the last year or so. Guess I must be doing okay!
August 19th, 2011 at 8:01 pmOh Chris, I hope things get better soon. And my kids have to run their hands along the wall too. So much that at our little apartment in Nepal, where we only stayed for TWO MONTHS, we had to pay for new paint.
Thankfully it was new Nepali paint, cheaper than new American paint would have been.
August 19th, 2011 at 8:21 pmFor some inexplicable reason I had this fear of picking out the wrong color for any room in my house, so for years, and I mean years, I stayed with the monotone beige. I don’t know what happened, I guess turning 50 and realizing there are scarier things in life than wall color, I have boldly gone where no man should go. Nothing wild and alarming, but I did paint the entire bedroom and before it was even dry decided I had made a mistake on the color and repainted the entire thing ( with the addition of an accent wall) the next day. Now for some reason my husband has developed a fear of me going into a paint store, any paint store.
August 19th, 2011 at 8:32 pmI am the fat version of you. Hand on my heart. Know what I did this weekend instead of freaking out that MY BABY, THE 2 1/2 YEAR OLD, GOT ACCEPTED TO 3-K???? I sanded an entire wall of muther fluffing WOOD PANELING and painted my entire living room. Can we do lunch some day? I mean, I need to learn this whole NOT eating while stressed nonsense. Also? I hope whatever is bugging you quits it. Like, now. I was getting used to you posting all the time. OH, and btw, HI! I’m Tiffany! I’m not lurking anymore! Is it de-lurking day yet? That felt so good to get off my chest.
August 20th, 2011 at 12:00 amI haven’t worked out how to transform my junk food comfort eating into the far more productive cathartic cleaning manner of dealing with things, so you’re gonna need to come over to my place and scrub away your sorrows here.
Hope the painting makes you feel better, it looks great! *hugs*
August 20th, 2011 at 1:29 amSwatches. Who knew? I always just buy the color and go for it. So far it’s turned out OK.
When I’m stressed, I bake. I don’t necessarily eat it, but I bake. It pays to know us if you’re into cupcakes, muffins, and cookies when we’ve got a crisis happening. When we were selling our first house, I baked 70 dozen cookies for Christmas that year. When my husband was deployed, a mere 50 dozen and I didn’t keep track of how many dozens of muffins I baked. I have a feeling this fall may be another baking season. There’s no telling how much I may churn out of my kitchen.
August 20th, 2011 at 7:40 amIt looks great! I hate that second-guessing feeling, when you think “ACK! What if it looks terrible??”
August 20th, 2011 at 8:15 amCongrats on going ahead with it, and with all the rest of the things in your life. Sorry about your computers - technology, while lovely, can be a real pain in the ass.
Sorry things are so crappy right now. But, hey, you picked the PERFECT color of paint!
August 20th, 2011 at 8:33 amWhat a difference a new colour made!
August 20th, 2011 at 9:00 amI’ve just finished changing my studio (bedroom, actually)from looking like a bawdy house to a place where I might get the inspiration to start weaving again. Going from dark orange wallpaper to off-white painted walls, did the trick.
Wow! It looks fabulous. Nice job! Love keeping up with you.
August 20th, 2011 at 9:52 amThe paint is a beautiful color and love the arrangements of all the picture frames. I wish I would paint instead of eating when I am stressed! Miss checking your page everyday for pictures and your humor of your life!
August 20th, 2011 at 9:58 amThe paint color looks lovely. Does it have a green tinge to it, or is it more like a coffee color?
August 20th, 2011 at 1:04 pmYup, I know that feeling. I have a tendency to rearrange the furniture since I can’t even paint my fingernails, so I’m sure as crap not going to try painting a wall.
And the room looks great!!!
August 20th, 2011 at 1:48 pmShit, Damn, Hell and F–K!!!! When things suck the most they somtimes get WORSE!!!! I hate that. Hope things turn around for you soon. In the meantime, the house is coming along nicely. I miss you when you don’t blog and love when you do. Am sorry to think you have not blogged so much because things in life are hard right now. Wish I could help — with the painting — that is something that I love. Good thoughts and HUGS being sent your way.
August 20th, 2011 at 3:51 pmSorry you are having such a crappy time. I went through a similar string of bad luck last summer. I remember not wanting to answer the phone, open the mail or read email because all it seemed to bring was more bad news. Hang in there. I know how it feels to want to hit someone when they ask you if you are having a nice summer.
The room looks great. I love the color!
August 20th, 2011 at 7:00 pmI’m sorry your life kinda sucks right now. At least the paint looks great though!
August 20th, 2011 at 8:34 pmBeautiful shade of paint. Love the DIY results. Beautiful.
August 20th, 2011 at 11:16 pmWOW,I love the new color. And I am secretly turning green with envy, as I WISH that I wouldn’t eat when I am stressed. My house SERIOUSLY needs a good cleaning. But, come to think about it, I don’t clean when I am happy either…so… um… nevermind.
Though my hair has turned gray in 3 months from the intense stress I am currently under…nice addition to the 15 pounds I’ve gained. Pretty girl.
There. There is a bright side!! At least you aren’t turning gray!
Hope it all gets better.
August 21st, 2011 at 1:11 pmPS- what color IS that paint?
{{{ HUGS }}}
It looks great!
I have had the pleasure of keeping the house clean and painted for the NEXT owners, which just isn’t the same as doing it for ourselves. I had to get rid of the fun colors and have mostly boring almost whites now, but such is the way of trying to sell a house. Oh well ^^
Hope the painting helps to lift your spirit AND that this paint will be easier to clean than the old one ^^
Karen
August 21st, 2011 at 1:56 pmI am not feeling sorry for you, I think you are fantastic, but I am sorry that life is sucking right now.
Hope things turn around soon.
August 21st, 2011 at 2:40 pmI love that color!!!! You always have had such a talent for decorating and remodelinG!
August 21st, 2011 at 3:33 pmSorry you’ve been having a rough time. It can always get worse, yes. But that doesn’t mean it will. Hope things are better soon.
August 21st, 2011 at 11:50 pmMostly I’m commenting because that colour looks like one we used several years ago. It was a gorgeous sort of dull gold and it was called something with coffee in the name. I have a very funny story about how we ended up painting the room, but it’s very long. Painting is excellent therapy.
The paint looks great. I think that color is very serene. It makes me want to sit on your couch with some pinot grigio. I love how pictures of people’s homes always appear so neat and perfect. If this were a picture of my living room there would be garbage, toys, and children in the areas not shown (maybe even a wild animal). Please tell me something would be out of place if you turned around and took a picture behing you.
I want to bring you 2 bottles of wine and a giant hug. I also feel like everything around me is broken and I am going broke. I would probably eat junk food but that would require another trip inside a store. Time to get out the carpet cleaner…
August 22nd, 2011 at 10:17 amI have a friend that cleans and organizes like mad when she is down. I am envious of that way of dealing with feeling out of sorts. When I’m feeling down or glum, I just don’t do much. At least this way, you get things accomplished. MUCH better!
August 22nd, 2011 at 11:07 amYou can come paint /clean my house anytime you need! We recently did the wall swatches to try and pick which color we liked better.. Only problem? I now have 2 swatches of wall painted 2 different colors and it’s been more than a month. I still haven’t decided. ugh
August 22nd, 2011 at 4:01 pmIt looks great! You inspire me that a. there is an end to cleaning, and b. that’s when I can start painting.
I’m sorry you feel like crap.
August 22nd, 2011 at 7:23 pmChris - it looks nice - but more than anything I am envious of your wall art ‘groupings’ … it is something I have never mastered!
August 24th, 2011 at 8:15 amthat first parragraph: “When I am stressed or depressed or just feeling like life has yanked the rug out from under me I clean my house. There is something so cathartic about polishing countertops, vacumming lines in the carpet, and having everything sparkling. I know other people eat junk food as a comfort, but I can’t even think about food.”
August 24th, 2011 at 9:17 amyou could have written that about me. I so get what you’re saying, I”m the same.
I won’t say things can’t get worse, cause I agree with you, they can always get worse, but I’ll tell you to hang in there, you’ve come a long way and you have a long road ahead, you can do this and while it won’t be easy, perfect nor “pink”, once you’re through it all (and you will get through it all) you’ll look back and see you did wondeful even though right now you’re just grasping for air.
sending good vibes your way.
oh and I love love the color you chose. it makes the room look so warm and cozy. I just might get in the “painting mode” myself
August 24th, 2011 at 9:19 amlove the new color! I also love the empty IKEA frame on your wall! hehehe
I feel crappy too. maybe it’s the end-of-summer blues?
But on top of feeling crappy, I feel guilty for feeling crappy.
I mean, why should I complain about not having a vacation in 2 years, broken down vehicles and a general lack of money when everyone is alive and healthy, we have a roof over our head and nobody is starving here (except my teenage son, of course - but that doesn’t really count)…
maybe I should try repainting a room or two. because cleaning? only reminds me how filthy the house is, and how short-lived is the cleanliness.
August 24th, 2011 at 10:11 amI love to paint! It means I am by myself and the kids are some where else. With some one else. Peace & quiet!
August 24th, 2011 at 4:42 pmYou are an inspiration. That’s all. I wish that I could “emotionally paint” instead of “emotionally eat.” I will work on that … and by the way, your paint job looks wonderful.
August 24th, 2011 at 5:00 pmLove that color, looks really nice!
August 25th, 2011 at 1:31 pmLove how the white crown molding pops against that color! Wow, it looks great!
August 26th, 2011 at 6:10 pmYou have gorgeous kids and you obviously love them so fiercely. They’re lucky to have such a great mom. I hope you find your joy again soon. xo
*Just* today, after scrubbing THE BASEBOARDS clean, I thought “I need to PAINT THIS ROOM!”.
You and I clearly have the same disease.
August 29th, 2011 at 8:14 pm