I can hardly believe I went a Friday night without going to Wal-Mart, I'm a little shocked and thrown off by the change of routine, but I also feel like a daredevil, a rebel.
Brian and I did go on our date Friday night, we had a wonderful time, we were away from home and children for almost 5 hours. We went to dinner, where I am pretty sure the waitress was very upset with my cheapness. Here's an example of the cheap conversation we had:
"I'd like the Signature Margarita, please."
"Would you like the Premium Signature Margarita?"
I replied with "how much does it cost?"
"$6.99."
"huh?? How much is the non-premium margarita?"
"four something," she replied dryly.
"I'll take it!"
Then I ordered the blackened chicken alfredo and she asked if I wanted garlic bread for forty nine cents. "You charge for garlic bread when someone orders a pasta dish?" She replies "yes we do." Classy.
And although we did stay out of Wal-Mart, we did go to Home Depot because I had this crazy idea to paint Ariel's room on Saturday while my sister was in town and she could help me do it. Because you know, nothing says a nice visit from your sister on a sunny Saturday like painting. It wasn't the easiest decision, I have to tell you, we could have gone to breakfast, gotten manicures, gone shopping, gone to lunch, the possibilities were endless (and fattening!). Instead, we opted to surprise Ariel with the pink room she has wanted for a very long time. Plus, Ariel continues to peel the butterfly border of her walls and things are looking a little rough in there. So, pink paint we purchased. Lots of it. Making our date even more expensive. (oh and we totally did not take a picture of us.)
After Home Depot we went to see "Reign Over Me." Let me know tell you that I am EMBARRASSED by my comment about Adam Sandler taking the serious roles, and how that actually made me NOT want to see the movie. It's even worse that I made the opinion so very public by posting it on the internet. It was an awesome movie. Mr. Sandler knocked our socks off. I laughed and cried and it is still sticking with me two days later. My man Don Cheadle did not disappoint. I.LOVED.IT. Go see it, k?
So, as planned, we spent Saturday peeling wallpaper and painting, without Ariel knowing. She spent the day at her Grandmother's. I'm so lucky to have had my sister help because she is a CRAZY PAINTING MANIAC. Then, after we got all the furniture moved back into Ariel's room, rather than sitting and waiting for Ariel to come home...SHE CONTINUED TO CLEAN! AND DUST! AND ORGANIZE DVD's! I could have kissed and hugged her all night long, but she wouldn't have liked it, I just know it. Especially since, well, let's just say I wasn't smelling too pretty.
Before
After
Before (I had already began peeling the wallpaper before taking the picture)
After
So, there you have it. Lots of pink paint. And a very happy girl. And because I can't leave anything alone, I began stenciling this flowery, hearty, starry, ribbony thing on the top of one of the light pink walls using the darker pink paint used on one of the walls, the only problem is that is looks like I taped a stencil on the wall and then painted with a blindfold on, I'm not a good "stippler" apparently, which I can accept. I had just decided to paint over it when Ariel walked in and almost passed out by it's "loveliness" and where I think it's an eyesore, with each new section I do, she passes out a little bit more because she loves it SO! MUCH! So, it's her room and she loves it and isn't that the point?
Oh and it was heartbreaking to take down her baby border and to paint over the paint we picked for her when she was just a baby. Heartbreaking. I wasn't expecting it until I took a cross off of her wall that read "God Bless Baby" and it made my heart ache just a little bit. But He sure has blessed her, and all of us.
The room looks GREAT!!! I love it very much and I'm sure Ariel is so happy her Mom gave her such a huge surprise. She's a very lucky girl.
So, why no date night pictures, k?
Posted by: Sarah | April 15, 2007 at 05:18 PM
How FABULOUS! I love the pinks together, great choice! And I love how you didn't tell her you were doing it. That is something I will do one day for my girls. It's such a great suprise!
Oh, and I'm proud of you that you did not go to Walmart on your date night!
Posted by: Sara | April 15, 2007 at 05:45 PM
Holy Moses! So you disassembled, painted, and reassembled in one day?? EGADS! I've never heard of such a thing. Good for you!!
I'm glad you liked the movie. I would see it, but the trailers make me want to (ahem) laugh every time I see Adam Sandler's hair...do you think I'll be able to get past that once the movie starts?
Posted by: Thea | April 15, 2007 at 06:48 PM
You're putting the rest of us to shame! Date night? Movie? Margaritas? Room renovation? Quality time with Sis? ALL.IN.ONE.WEEKEND.
The room looks great!!! And I know what you mean about taking down the baby stuff. We just gave away Youngest's crib mobile and "Shh...Baby Sleeping" door hanging and it was tough.
So happy Ariel's pretty in pink :)
Posted by: J. Fergie | April 15, 2007 at 07:15 PM
That looks great! My little princess has a pink room too. You were ambitious!
Posted by: dcrmom | April 15, 2007 at 08:10 PM
I love those pinks together! That's one of the projects we're gonna have to tackle one of these days. We may have to call you and your sister to help!:)
Posted by: Lori - Queen of Dirty Laundry | April 15, 2007 at 08:14 PM
How sweet and oh-so-pink!! I love that she loves it!! :) I would have passed on the .49 garlic bread....wtf?!?! Seriously.
Posted by: Michelle | April 15, 2007 at 08:24 PM
Waitresses just "love" when you ask the prices of alcoholic drinks...I should know, I do it all the time as well.
Where did you go that they charge 49 cents for garlic bread with a pasta dish? Crazy.
I'll have to see this movie when it comes out on video. I have heard good things about it from others, too..but especially that it's a tear jerker!
Ariel's room looks great, I'm so impressed. You don't mess around, girl.
Posted by: Amy F. | April 15, 2007 at 09:19 PM
Thea, I really could not get passed the hair, I did continue to think about his resemblance to Bob Dillon throughout the movie, but that's how good the movie is...it just did not matter.
Amy, TGIFriday's charges for their garlic bread. (it WAS good, but so is a box of Texas Toast for $1.78)
-Beth
Posted by: Beth F. | April 15, 2007 at 11:09 PM
Wow! The room looks just as good in pictures as it does in person. Wonderful! Thanks for the fun time! (and all the coffee) Good job on your date night, now you just have to make sure to keep it up!
Posted by: Amy A | April 16, 2007 at 05:57 AM
LOVE. IT. Great job Beth!!! You paint the way I do. Rip it apart, paint, reassemble in one day!! The 2 colors came out great!!
Glad you had a good date night! I want to see that movie, but I am afraid it will bring up so many memories of "that" day.
Posted by: Tracy F | April 16, 2007 at 06:15 AM
I was smiling and nodding along with your post until I got to the last paragraph...*sniff, sniff* Didn't even think about the "mommy crisis" of painting over nursery walls. I've been thinking about "upgrading" Flicka's room and never thought about the effect of "covering up" her nursery history. *sigh* Another ever-so-small-apron-string to break. *wink*
So glad that it was such a good time tho! LOL
Posted by: Beth/Mom2TwoVikings | April 16, 2007 at 06:39 AM
You and your sister are not a force to be reckoned with! I am impressed at what you got done in a day. The pictures look so girly and so Ariel. I would have loved to see the look on her face, I am sure it was priceless.
And good for you and Brian getting out of the house on a date. It sounded like a fun evening. I must plan one of those too! Thanks for the reminder.
Posted by: Lynette | April 16, 2007 at 08:44 AM
It looks fantastic. Makes me sad that I will never have a pink room in my house.
Posted by: Jodi | April 16, 2007 at 09:27 AM
Wow it looks beautiful. You got so much accomplished this weekend. You are an inspiration on top of all you are doing for the fund raiser. Thanks.
Just wanted to pop in and say I love your blog.
Angel Mama
Posted by: Angel Mama | April 16, 2007 at 12:17 PM
Cuuuute! I haven't painted my girls' room yet, but I want to. Probably yellow & green with pink thrown in somewhere. Who knows?
Posted by: Faerylandmom | April 16, 2007 at 03:45 PM
OMG! I cannot believe that this is the first time I've read your blog! I am hooked! The pink bedroom looks awesome...Ariel is a very lucky girl! Love you guys!
Posted by: Carrie | April 16, 2007 at 05:32 PM
What a great weekend! Ariel's pink room looks fabulous!!! I bet it felt good to get the project done all at once! And the extra cleaning too. Tell your sister she rocks! ;)
Posted by: Jenn B | April 16, 2007 at 07:53 PM
It sounds like you had a really good time and you have been busy! Glad I found your blog!!
If you are interested, Amy's Random Thoughts is having a blogging Scavenger Hunt starting May 1st..A good time will be had by all..
Posted by: amy | April 17, 2007 at 04:57 AM
Ok, I think we are a LOT alike. I pretty much visit Walmart every single day. And I love the room - it is soo pretty. Can you guys come over and help me with mine??
Posted by: Dana | April 18, 2007 at 08:55 PM