Kett Files: Mowers Make a Home

In case you didn't know...I have a deep love of Pinterest. ;) I use it as a search engine, a vision board, an organizational tool, a planning space, and on collaboration projects. It's one of my online BFF's. 

After moving into our current house at the beginning of June, I wasn't too worried about decorating as we'd be gone most of the summer. I knew though that when I got back that I wanted to hit it hard and really get the place put together. This time though, I told myself that I didn't have to put things up on the wall just because we have them. I want to choose what will look best, what represents us the most, and what fits the style we like. 

And then I froze. 

What style do I like? What do I put up? What do I make? How do I do this without spending a fortune?! 

I just wasn't sure how to go forward. The place felt meh. Not bad, but not anything special or truly us. 

And then the other night I was scrolling through kitchens on Pinterest and found this picture: 

And suddenly the heavens parted and ideas started coming!


My kitchen won't look like this (being in a rental I'm thinking maybe we shouldn't go in and repaint everything they just remodeled, nor do we need to as it's all well done), but I can take aspects of it and integrate it in. Did you see our big crazy bed that got us through our one bedroom wonder this past year? We designed it so that we could take all the components apart and use it as regular furniture some day. Well, that day is just around the corner. We're getting a bed frame again, leaving the dresser in the room, and then moving the other pieces into the dining area as a hutch and the mudroom as shelves. And I get to paint them!! Guess what color?! No, not orange. I still can't figure out how to make it not so garish in decor. I'm going sage green with touches of copper and orange. It's perfect!

I've never painted furniture before, but I'm excited to give it a try! As I jump more into this adventure of decorating intentionally, I'll share more of the journey. I know there will be successes and Pinstrosities with it all. But that's part of it!

I was a little hesitant at first at the idea of sharing this part of my life. While I love our little single wide trailer rental, it's not glamorous. It's not something most people would aspire to live in. But, we are happy here. We are thankful for it. And really it's not about curb appeal or being fancy for guests. Building a home is all about building a haven for my family, a place where we can be together and feel safe, loved, and comfortable. And that is what I'm setting out to do! I hope you'll join in along the way as I try to figure this all out!

What College Taught Me About the Peril of Forgetting Keys with a Communal Bathroom

It's been a while since I pulled something out of my "What College Taught Me" book! Let's get back to one of those. And today's "episode" happened this time of year. Just enough into the school year to feel like I was really getting the hang of things. Just enough time to let down my guard. 

My first year I lived in the dorms on campus. This particular dorm had a wing on the south for the girls and a wing on the north for the guys. Each wing had two floors, with one long hallway housing the community bathroom and the individual dorm rooms. 

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Those communal bathrooms were interesting. It was great to not have to clean my own bathroom, but it was also awkward to share the bathroom with so many other girls on a daily basis. But at least it was just girls (well, usually...unless someone broke the rules and sneaked their boyfriend in and then it was really awkward). 

One morning I got up to shower. My roommate was already up early and gone for the day. I usually just took my clothes in with me and changed in the shower, but no matter how careful I was I always ended up with a big wet spot on my pants or shirt or something. So I decided since the bathroom was just across the hall, I'd just wrap up in my towel to across and back. It was early, most the other girls weren't up yet (I've always been quite private). 

Everything was fine until I got back to my dorm room and realized that my normal ritual was to put my keys in my pants pocket when I walked over to the showers. Since I deviated from the norm and didn't have my pants, I also didn't have my keys. I was locked out, and all I had wrapped around me was a towel. 

Now this was before most college kids had cell phones. I didn't. My roommate didn't. I had no way to get a hold of her. The only choice was to go downstairs and get the RA to come open the door.Luckily when I got down the stairs it was empty. I went to the female RA's door and knocked and knocked, but she never answered. I was there, dripping wet and cold, with nothing on but a towel down in the common area. 

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So I then went to the male RA's door, who was also one of the Football coaches and knocked on his door. I'm sure I was beet red. He answered quickly and was grumpy at first, but as I explained my predicament, he chuckled and went back to get his keys. 

It all seemed like it would only be minimally awkward until right then. That exact moment was when the door from the guys side opened and out came half of the male residents on their way up to practice (this dorm housed a lot of the student athletes). I froze. There was no where to hide. No where to go. Total mortification. 

After what felt like eons (which I'm sure was just a few seconds), the RA came back out, the guys all thankfully were pretty polite and didn't raz me while I stood there, and I got back to my room with only my pride hurt. The RA even said that he wouldn't put that unlocking on my chart, "I figure this has been traumatic enough that you won't do it again." he laughed.

And I never did. After that my keys went with me everywhere. 

A few morals from this story:
1. Take your keys with you everywhere. 

2. Wet spots on your clothes are infinitely better than having to run around a dorm with just a towel. 

3. Getting up early to shower isn't worth it. Just sleep in.