On New Year’s Day I made a double batch of chili which meant chopping and dicing about 200 onions. Okay, I exaggerate, but it felt like a lot. The house reeked of onion so Stewart opened all the windows. Some of our party guests commented that you could smell the chili from the street, but I’m sure when they said “chili” they meant “onions.”
Days later we chopped up a watermelon and the watermelon tasted like onions. I thought “what a strange variety of watermelon!” until I smelled the cutting board. Bleecch. Even though it’s been through many washings since New Year’s Day, it had onion smell leeched into it (it’s plastic, so I didn’t think that could happen). This morning I chopped another onion for a crockpot full of beef stew in honor of my Aunt Kathy’s arrival this evening. While the house does not reek of it, my body’s tolerance for onion must have gone down because I can taste and smell it wherever I go. So I’m having another cup of 1/2 decaf coffee.
Anyway.
Since I don’t have to remodel an entire wing of our house in preparation for the new baby, my nesting has taken on a different form which is twofold: decluttering and searching for the perfect pieces of new furniture. It started in November, actually, when I spotted the perfect bed frame in the Levitz sale flyer and immediately made plans to go and buy that bed. I have not owned a proper grown-up bed, ever. When I was working on Bringing Home Baby (um, that’s the show I worked on last summer, in case I never told you) I watched a lot of footage of families in mom and dad’s bed. The ones that had headboards pleased me; the rooms without them looked like the family had just moved in. So it struck me: that’s what our room must look like! Thus began the yearning for a big-girl bed for Mommy.
I am very particular (no, really?) so I knew exactly what I wanted, which is not this bed, but I was willing to compromise because the price was so so great. Here she is:
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It looks a lot better when dressed, and it’s perfect.
Last weekend I found an office armoire that is perfect for our house. I found it on Craig’s List, that repository of One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure. Oddly enough, the woman selling the piece seems to have a life that is parallel to mine. She delivered her 2 girls at the same hospital, they are exactly 2 years apart, and she’s getting rid of the armoire to make more room for the kids, while I am acquiring one for the same effect. If it wasn’t too creepy, I bet we’d actually become friends.
The awesome thing about this armoire is its unique shape – short and wide instead of tall and thin. The top opens down to a full desktop instead of just having one of those lame keyboard drawers. We are going to put it where the dog crate is right now – out in the family area near the living room, so I can get work done while I watch over the kids, ha ha. But if that doesn’t work out, this piece will be equally as perfect in our bedroom, keeping the new bed company.
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And might I add that I got this armoire for less than half of its furniture store price. I am getting a strange thrill out of shopping for furniture. The used furniture search is a lot more fun, because you never know what’s out there, or what great price you might get. I’ve decided to get a white dresser/changing table combo for the Peanut’s room, so that is the latest conquest. Check back later for my triumphant results!
P.S. I would also like to thank all of you for your commiseration and support during my Foul Weather Spell. I’m sure it will be back, and I hope you continue to be entertained when I write about it again. After all, that’s part of why I do it. Also to remind me not to get pregnant again.
Get some Kosher salt. Cut a lemon in half and rub the salt into/onto the cutting board. That may help with the smell. Or just get a new one!
Um, you might want to note the Foul Weather Spell episodes to re-read on the June/July calendar for 2008….or not.
I was going to say rub a cut lemon on the cutting board but someone already did! Or, spray with bleach/water mixture…My brother and sister-in-law have bought several things via Craig’s List, too. I’ve gotta give that a try! Hope you love your new armoire!
Pictures of new furniture please. Oh, and pictures of your baby belly too! My bedroom?? I’ve also never owned a “big girl bed” … meaning box spring and mattress on a metal bed frame, no head board. In my mind I imagine a brushed steel headboard. Furniture? One short dresser with attached mirror and two tall dressers, hand-me-downs from my in-laws and from the 70’s when they bought new bedroom furniture a few years ago. One tall dresser recently moved into walk-in closet to make room for treadmill (in hopes of getting skinny). This replaces the 1950’s bedroom set that my father-in-law had as a child growing up! One nightstand is a put-together from Target, the other some old thing from who knows where. Sounds dreadful, doesn’t it? And my girls room??? Beautiful new dresser and matching desk from Ethan Allen!