Sunday Sweats: The Walk-In Closet Edition

Alert! Picture heavy post here folks.  That's because it is about clothes or, more importantly, where we store our clothes.  Yes, finally. We have our walk-in closet!  It is not 100% complete, but pretty close and we can use it.  How fun is that?

Remember when I told you back in July (note: when it was very warm and not freezing cold like now) that we had plans? The plans were finalized and the closet "built" although not by our hand.  So maybe the title is a bit of cheating.  We have found, however, that when it comes to walk-in closets hiring it out is best.  Also, no one wants to work. Seriously. We can explore that issue in another post.  Right now let's enjoy the closet.  I feel so SJP in SATC!

First a trip down memory lane when we first got the house.  Here is the closet, formerly a bedroom, formerly a cat room or something:

I am going to be a closet some day!

Then we repainted it and it quickly become a storage area or as B would probably say a "trash dump":

Look at all my junk!

Okay, this looks like trash.

So first we cleaned it out:

So shiny and clean!

And then we called in the professionals.  Can I just say that there is a weird trend between B and I that whenever I am going to trial, he has something big that we need to take care of right at that moment.  He does not plan it. It just happens.  I find it very strange though.  During this trial we needed to refinance. During this trial we needed to buy a new car.  Two days before this trial we had our holiday party.  And during this trial I had to approve plans for the closet. Hmmm...maybe I need to try more cases?  They seem to result in some good stuff.

So in went the shelving:

Look at all that wonderful shelving!

More shelving and some drawers:

Look at that nosy cat!

Then we got to fill it up. First B's side (with some overlapping by me) which you see when you first walk in:

Yep, I like to take up space.

The view when you look right in the door.  Did you notice we also replaced the light fixture?  Also, we are going to expand under and next to that window. Soon.

More closet space? Yes please!

Then my stuff, including a space for all my shoes:

I need more shoes!

I found those little red boxes and Bed Bath and Beyond, but I need two more. They are perfect for holding smaller things like gloves:

And a place for my formal dresses and my purses:

I need more purses!

The top pair were placed first a la SATC!

I added those two jars for buttons and safety pins which I seem to have an abundance of:

The view with the real closet door open. There is still space for more closet. Can you see it?

See all my space?

We are in love with this closet and it is not even done! We will probably add carpet since we are going to dress in there and bare feet get cold.  Also, an island in the middle would give us more space and a place for me to iron clothes rather than the bulky ironing board that just takes up space.  We also are going to add a valet which pulls out for dry cleaning or outfits for the next day.  We are also thinking about more drawers.  For now, though, we are good.

What do you think?

Would It Be Better If I Were Wearing a Coach Suit?

It has been rather stressful at the office these days.  I had a really ugly complicated case that resulted in my waking up one day with a huge knot in my back that I not so lovingly named after my opposing counsel.  Luckily that got resolved and the knot went away. I would also like to thank Excedrin Back and Body for coming to my aid.

It's just that things are super busy, which is good and bad. Good because more work equals job security and more fun. Bad because more work equals more work, less time and more scheduling conflicts.

I always know when the stress is getting to me because I will dream about the office, or usually court.  Last night I dreamt I was in federal court to help with a trial that I knew nothing about when the judge told me that I wasn't even wearing a suit. I looked down to find myself wearing a skirt and a jacket, certainly not a suit, but decided that I would defend myself by saying "Oh I see, if it is not a Coach suit, it doesn't count?" I don't even know what that means. Can you imagine a suit with the Coach insignia all over it? I shudder.

So it made me think of this post I drafted a while back about events I saw one motion day in court:

What Not To Say To the Judge If You Want to Win:

"All judges are liars"

"I cannot get a fair hearing here"

"I am suing three judges and the entire court system"

What You Don't Want to Hear the Judge Say If You Want to Win:

"The problem here is your client and her inconsistent testimony."

"What kind of attorney are you? The kind that just stands before me and spews garbage from his mouth?"

"What I want to know is who forged this Order?"

"Your opinion has no basis in fact."

"I have written many articles on this subject. In fact, there are a few cases you seemed to have left out of your brief."

Luckily these things were not said to me.  In fact, my opposing counsel felt the wrath that day when he tried to bluff me into a settlement only to be told by the judge that he and his client better agree to my terms or he was going to make him "try this" while shaking the file at him like it was the stupidest thing ever.  

That's my kind of day, even if they are few and far between.

The Back Bedroom Reveal...Well, Kinda, Since it is Not Really Done But Better Than Before?

Remember when I told you ages ago that I was going to reveal our back bedroom and what we had done with it and what we planned to do with it? Stretch your memory, folks. It was a while ago. So far, in fact, that I cannot even take the time this morning to go find the link.

But today, all will be revealed. Well, all that has been done at least. If B were here this morning instead of at work, he would be shouting "FINALLY!", so just pretend you hear that being shouted in the background as you read this.

The back bedroom, if you will recall, was bright blue with white stars painted on it and red shelves. Very patriotic. Perfect for Memorial Day and Fourth of July. However, since we plan to use the room more than twice a year, we decided an overhaul was in order.

So after careful thought, but unfortunately, no poll, we picked a color and B started painting:

Actually, it started looking even more patriotic after he started painting.

There is B...painting. Isn't he always painting when he ends up in photos?

Yes, sometimes I would have to iron in the midst of the painting. Luckily no clothing ended up with paint on it. This time.

When it was all finished, a beautiful room emerged:

That's a little dark.

I just love this color.

It looks kind of orange here, but it is not the same color of our dining room. This is a much darker red kind of color.

Like this.

So what are our plans for this room?

A walk-in closet!!

I am so excited! We have seen a few of these in different houses we have been in and although each bedroom has a closet, it is really not enough to hold our clothes. Well, mostly my clothes. Exhibit A:

All of my clothes aren't even in there! Some are in the boxes you see in the room. Some are in my dresser where I forget about them. I always wanted a big closet. That I can fill with beautiful things.

When is this going to happen?

It is last on the list. Just kidding. Remember when everything was the last thing on the list? Well, this won't be, but it might be a while.

I will keep you posted.

Today's Public Announcement: The Murse

Gentlemen: just because your recyclable tote is from Pets R Us and just because it is a tote does not make it any less of a murse when you use it as such and carry it on your shoulder like one.

Man up and get a briefcase!

*I don't know if there is any such place called Pets R Us, but there probably is somewhere.

**I totally chose this cartoon of a businessman with a jetpack so that B would read this and say "SEE! We all should be wearing jet packs by NOW" and then stew about it for a few minutes.

Do You Like My Purse?

This is my purse.  Just a normal looking big black purse.  It is not that interesting.  However, what is inside just very well may be.  I decided today I must clean out my purse because it weighs approximately 10 pounds.  This was also prompted by the client that said something to me along the lines of "that's not a purse - that's a suitcase" and my partner who quickly followed with "you're such a girl." Hmmm.

So after taking a brief look inside my purse, I decided it was too crazy not to share.  Men - take note - women carry a whole bunch of shit in their purse for no good reason.  Indeed, here is what I found:

First section (yet it is divided into three sections with an additional inside pocket and two outside pockets - who needs all that? Women! To keep us organized, of course).

Cell phone

Itouch (heavy and only goes to and from the office. Not sure why I don't leave it there locked up. Maybe because that would be smart)

Cell phone charger (don't normally carry that but the phone was low on juice and I needed to charge it while at the office)

Pack of gum (need fresh breath while hobsnobbing)

Makeup bag containing mirror, Carmex, lipgloss, lipstick, another lipgloss, another lip balm, hand sanitizer, three things of floss (I rarely floss), a safety pin and a ponytail holder (yes women also need bags inside of bags - they keep us organized - sensing the theme yet?)

Two Kleenexes (not used, thank you very much)

Business card holder (which I can never pull out easily when a potential client is around, only when I am looking for something else)

Gum wrapper (useless)

Piece of paper with gum in it (nice - I am almost ashamed to admit this but you have put it somewhere when you are in court and there is no trash)

26 cents

Second section (yes we are only on two out of three sections and haven't gone near the inside pocket or outside pockets):

Dunkin Donut coupon

Cheerios coupons

Envelope with expense check stub (yay expense checks!)

Eyeglass cleaner cloth

Samples of feminine products I was supposed to leave at office (oops)

Oral B Brush Up sample

Wallet (with credit cards, driver's license, grocery store cards, etc)

Calculator

Sample of lens cleaning cloth

2 more hand sanitizers (what the hell?)

2 more samples of floss (ditto)

Pen

Crystal Light Immunity sample 

Antibacterial towelette (not used)

Sample of Excedrin extra strength (I like samples and Excedrin)

Splenda Flavor Blends French Vanilla packet

2 stray pieces of trident gum

Safety pin

Lip gloss

Ice Breakers tiny liquid ice things (in a package)

Nail file advertising someone running for judge 

Change purse with no change in it but $25.00 cash (that is a lot of cash on hand for me)

A fortune - oh yes, this one "a tub and a rub will change your day" (apparently my post on that did not have the exact wording)

Whew! On to Section Three (no I am not done - you think I should be done, but I assure you I am not):

Blank Speedi Teller slips to deposit my expense checks (yay)

Copy of deposited speedi teller slip

Speedi Teller envelope

Notebook for important thoughts and plans (mostly blank - no comments on that one!)

A quarter

Three more pieces of gum in paper (I went to court a lot recently)

Gift cards to the mall and to a department store that I need to use

Small wallet/purse with Caribou Coffee gift card, Macy's gift card, and Barnes & Noble gift cards (gosh I have a lot of gift cards - why am I sitting on all of this free money?)

Believe it or not, we are at the end. The inside pocket contains feminine products that I will not go into here or my male readers, all 3 of them, will never return.  The outside pockets are thankfully empty although I believe they contained things at some point in time.

So there it is.  Can you believe it? I cannot. I actually think there is more in my purse than the time my mom and I played this game when I was at her house. You really find out a lot about a person by what they hoard, I mean keep, in their purse.  Yes, Mom, I am talking to you!

Now you might think...what could I possible ever need with all of this stuff? Come on! I am SO prepared for anything.  I can have perfect breath and teeth with my gum and floss; work from anywhere with my cell phone, notebook and calculator; be entertained with my Itouch, buy just about anything with the gift cards if I run out of the cash in my change purse; fix any clothing issues with my safety pins; be ready day or night with my makeup stash; add flavor to any drink; sanitize just about anything at any given time; and even take medicine when this 10 lb purse gives me a back ache.  Is this why I carry all of this stuff? Hell no!  I clean my purse every once in a while (like now) and take out a lot of stuff.  Then, soon, more stuff just finds its way back in. I truly have no control over it.  It is like a giant blackhole.  And these "sections" make it worse because it is deceiving if you only look at it section by section.  That's right - it is not MY fault, it is my purse's fault. Obviously.

Yes, I have a problem.  Do they have a purseaholic anonymous?If so, I may need to attend because I have been eyeing an even bigger purse at Target.*

*I really love designer expensive purses, especially Coach, but I have limited myself to cheaper purses because I grow tired of the styles so quickly and because B said if another Coach purse comes in, one has to leave. Are you kidding me? Who sells their Coach purses? That is almost as dumb as his "one pair in, one pair out" shoes rule.  Please.  That's just crazy talk!