Smitty Baby

1. Life with Mr. Plan Man

   As you may have gathered in my last blog and previous blogs, I am continuously being pushed, I mean, strongly challenged, by my husband.  He is the master of setting extremely high goals and doing whatever it takes to finish them. We’ve been working on our place for over two years now, so he’s really dead set of finishing this project. 

   The problem is that my personality has always been a little more chilled out.  My attitude has always been “whatever gets done is good enough for me.”  This attitude, my friend, can really put my man in a tailspin.  So after seven and a half years of trial and error, he is constantly trying to figure out what best motivates me.  Sometimes it’s a little too much to take.  Let’s see, we had “Work November” right before Christmas, not to mention all of the “What are your goals for today?” conversations.  And here’s the clincher:  last week he asked me to clear my social schedule from then until the middle of March to chip away at “Project List of Twenty-ten.”  Seriously? 

   Okay, I admit, the worst part is that some of his tactics really do motivate me.  I said some.  And for whatever reason, this honkin’ list really has gotten my propellor spinning. 

   

   It took us the entire day to go around the house making the stupid thing. But, man.  I’ve been knocking the projects out like bowling pins.  I gave every piece of furniture that was ugly or dirty a fresh coat (or several coats) of white paint.
   Like this little guy.  This was given to us by my mother-in-law the year we got married.  And by the way, MIL, this was in the dirty category…not ugly.  I promise.

   

   And this big ol’ sucker.  Actually, there are two of these.  They came from a school auction and I think we paid $7 a piece for them.  I know it doesn’t look like it, but a lot of work went into these puppies.  Four coats of paint each, not including primer.  They were black to begin with.  Oh, and very ugly. 

   

   Another chest of drawers got in the way of the white paint brush as well, but it’s not pictured.  It’s still too embarrassed about it’s ugly hardware that still needs to be replaced.  But, these lamps were rescued by a can of pistachio spray paint from Big K. 

   

   They felt a little naked until I found these sweet dandies.

    

   Then, there was some sewing to do.  Two cushions for my fireplace.  The fabric came from IKEA—made the flight with me from Houston and everything.

   

   Score!  I ran across these “DIY Tapestries” at Walls Bargain Center (along with the lamp shades above).  What a find!  Right here in western Oklahoma.  I think they came from Urban Outfitters.  My heart was really racing when I spotted these bad boys.  Definite fabric freak-out in the aisle. As you can see, I only have concrete plans for one of these pieces.

   

   Shower curtains for my bathroom.  Still not sure that I love these.  They will do for now, but I feel a replacement coming on soon.

   

   Recover my ironing board?  Why not?  This fabric came from Hobby Lobby.

   

   Window treatment for my craft room.  I wanted to keep the natural light peeking in, so I didn’t line them or anything. 

   

   Curtains are hung in my room.  I love them!  It’s very hard to find window panels that long.  Thanks, IKEA.  You’ve done it again. 

   

   A headboard for our bedroom.  It’s not quite finished yet, but you get the idea. 

   

   And last, but not least. This guy got a definite makeover.  In fact, it might’ve actually been more like a gender reassignment surgery than a makeover.

   

   Booyah! 

   

   And I’m spent.

   Don’t get me wrong.  Do I know think setting goals and finishing them is beneficial?  Yes.  Do I make a habit of writing a daily/weekly/monthly/yearly list of goals in order to check them off with gratification?  No.  Do lists motivate me?  Yes.  Do I want to string my sweet husband up by his ***** when he presents/bullies me with his motivational tactics?  Definitely.  Am I grateful to have a husband that sets high goals and achieves them consistently?  Yes.  Do I love him dearly despite of it all?  Of course.  Have I managed to get this stuff done and still managed to hang out with friends and family?  You bet your bippy.

   ***** = teeth.  Geesh, people.

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