Dear DIY Diary

Dear DIY Diary,
February 24, 2012

In an effort to procrastinate working on the basement bathroom I came up with a nifty project today!  I repurposed one of the hundreds of empty formula tins piling up in my recycling bins.  When I have more time I'll do a bunch more.  I keep staring at them thinking what a shame it is to get rid of them because they would make for great storage for craft supplies or other odds and ends around the house.  Unfortunately, though, they're pretty unattractive.  So I grabbed some scrapbook paper, measured and cut it to size, and, using white glue, adhered it to the outside of the formula tin.  You can see the before and after in the picture below.  Thanks DIY Diary, once again, you've been a great listener.

Northern Mom

Dear DIY Diary,
February 16, 2012
 This is my basement bathroom...

 If there was a word to describe the feeling in your mouth when you throw up just a little, it would be a synonym for what's happening here.  What you can't see is that the sink is about to fall off the wall and the toilet is hopelessly stained.  What you can't smell, well, let's just say we used to have a cat with Litter Box Aversion Syndrome.

It has become my strange (and insane) obsession to renovate this bathroom...by myself.  It will require the removing of the toilet and sink, the removal of the lino floor, dry wall, paint, plumbing, trim, a new ceiling, door, vanity...sigh.  So far in my quest to complete this renovation on my own I must confess I have not accomplished much by myself.

First, I got my brother and cousin to pick up my drywall supplies and deliver them to the basement.  I was nearby to supervise the process.  Except for the part where I gave my brother my bank card to go into town.  I relaxed at home.  I did, however, chill a couple of cans of coke for them to enjoy after their hard work.  That's something, right?

Second, I called upon my brother again.  This time was to help me hang the top row of drywall.  We hung one piece.  It was crooked.  My Dear Husband took it down and rehung it...by himself.  He then hung the rest of the top row of drywall...also by himself.

Third, I removed the lino ALL BY MYSELF!!!  Well, the top layer.  The part that came off really easy.  Then my mother came over to help me scrape the remainder off.  We gave up.  We called upon Dear Husband again to come to the rescue.  He sent me to the hardware store to buy "skim coat".  I'm proud to say that I went to the store..by myself.  All by myself I found the product I needed, carried it to the register (no cart by the way), paid for it, and loaded it into the car.  Sometimes I amaze even myself.  My Dear Husband carried it downstairs for me.  All by himself.

Now I'm on to the hard work of procrastinating.  Thus far in this renovation I have learned that the definition of insanity is, in fact, do-it-yourself bathroom renovations.     

Once again, my dear DIY diary, you have been a tremendous listener.  Talk to you soon.

Northern Mom