Why I'm crazed and feeling unfab

catgirl

This is our living room! Husband's comment was "supervisor lying down on the job again.". The cat is the only one happy with this situation. Somehow it's affecting my ability to get dressed in the morning - I feel totally frumpy and unfab today.

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13 years ago

Urgent

33 replies

Latest reply was from ManidipaM

lyn67

Veteran

The first thing it catch my eye on the pictie was not the boxes nor the mess but that cheery dark pink wall nearby the beautifully stoned one. Love it!!!! And the cat is so right!:-)) Totally can relate to hating the mess arround, but Una, please keep positive, as your living is beautiful, no matter what's the mess around:-)

13 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

Ugh, that sucks! Clutter makes me grumpy so I would feel crazed too. Just keep thinking of the end result and maybe that will help make the mess seem worth it.

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Thanks, lyn! The wall is actually a deep lipstick red, and there's one other wall that color. The other walls are mango. It's a little intense, but this is only half the room so it's a big space.

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Can't help but laugh at kitty - that's pretty much the version of kitty Heaven, isn't it?

I hear you on the stress. Our kitchen reno took three months and one week and I was going out of my mind with the mess, loss of organization, and people coming in and out of my house. As Sara mentioned, you just have to keep constantly reminding yourself that it will be all worth it.

Plus you've got the stress of Christmas and your sick friend to contend with.

You know what we did when it got to us? We went 8 blocks away to the local hotel and booked in for one night. One night of no mess, no tripping over boxes and cabinet drawers, one night of eating at the hotel restaurant with no dishes to wash in the bathtub, one night of after supper going for a swim in the hotel pool and having fun with our son and then sitting in the hot tub, one night of sleeping in a big bed that I don't have to make in the morning. It was positively rejuvinating. Just saying...

13 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

I swear, aside from extreme poverty, nothing gets in the way of domestic happiness like home renovations -- especially if they impinge on your living space.

Mind you, it could be worse. It could be the kitchen.

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Una. HUGS!!!!!

By the way, my living room has red walls, too.

Love in a cold climate, maybe?

13 years ago

Louise

Veteran

Trust a cat to find a bed!! Hope you get straight soon x

13 years ago

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Oh nos! How much longer?!

13 years ago

Anonymous

I believe that the orderliness (or lack thereof) of our surroundings affects our mental state, so I'm not surprised you're feeling unfab amidst the chaos of the renovation. Hang in there. Remind yourself that this mess is not who you are. It's not how you choose to live normally.

13 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I'll second Shannon's advice. Even one night away from the mess and commotion can be rejuvenating. Hang in there!

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Counter going in today, then hoping our contractor can slam in the top cabinets and backsplash this weekend. Was insane to try to get this done during holiday season. If it works, it will be the holiday miracle and my parents will be so surprised - if not, well, they will still be surprised.

Sorry to whine so much. Anne is exactly right that the chaos has led me to mental disorder.

13 years ago

cobaltblue

Veteran

Just try to remember that there's a fab new kitchen lurking in those boxes!

I'm a total grinch when my house is in disarray, so I feel much empathy.

13 years ago

(website)

Veteran

I can relate. Our house is in quite a state right now, too. And we had the joy of a bath remodel a few years back during my busy xmas/New Year's week at work. Having to finagle a resemblance of a shower in the tub with water pitchers was not so great. Hang in there, it will get done. 3 times longer than they quote, of course, but it will get done

13 years ago

Thistle

Veteran

I'll third Anne's advice! Although leave it to a kitty to be in heaven while you are in such disarray!

I really do know how you are feeling. When we had our kitchen renovated, the saw broke. Apparantly repairing a granite cutting saw takes a long time. Our 6 week kitchen remodel stretched into 12! I was so sick of eating out, and the mess drove me crazy. The only saving grace was we didn't have a kids at the time.

13 years ago

Anonymous

Oh, fingers crossed for easy install of counter and rest of cabinets. Having the heart of a home back together makes everything easier.

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

OMG, never thought I would get sick of eating out but I am SO there. The expense is killing us. Not to mention that right now I can't find anything because it's all in boxes in the living room - this morning I was on a mad rampage for peanut butter. Wish DS would just eat hot lunch but no, he has to have a lunch handmade by his mommy.

13 years ago

RunnerChick

Active Member

Una - sending hugs, I totally sympathize! What you need at a stressful time is a kitty friend, which you've got (I think he's telling you to take a leaf out of his book!). When things get overwhelming beyond control, is it possible that you could let yourself lie back and think of Sundance? Perhaps in a hotel room for all the reasons Shannon mentions? x, RC

13 years ago

Aziraphale

Veteran

OMG, it IS your kitchen that's being renovated! My heartfelt sympathies.

13 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

I know what you mean about trying to find the peanut butter. It was looking for the pepper mill that did me in; my DH took a picture of me laughing manically in the middle of the mess holding the pepper mill in the air like a trophy.

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

We do not have the remodeling gene

My condolences. Hang in there.

How is Kona handling it?

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Kona was freaked out at first but now she is pretty unfazed. I need to get her in for shots so she can go back to doggy day care, which she loves.

Meanwhile, the cat is in heaven because of all the hiding places. I'm afraid we're going to end up accidentally closing her in somewhere!

13 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

Renovating and remodeling can feel incredibly stressful and overwhelming. Hang in there, Una. The living room is going to look brilliant, and you'll get your style groove back soon too.

13 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

Do you have a crockpot? I haven't gone through a kitchen remodel (yet) but I have a friend who did recently. She did a lot of cooking using a crockpot because she could set it up in the one of the other rooms.

13 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

You have my sympathies. We went through this several years ago. We were without a kitchen for about 12 weeks, and the remodel included nearly all of our house. We really should have moved out. Oh well. Focus on the light at the end of the tunnel.

13 years ago

Sylvie

Veteran

Camping stove in the backyard? Guess it's too cold for that.

Nothing but hugs and positive thoughts for it to be done soon.

13 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

LOL, we had the exact same color on the main wall in our old living room in England.

I can totally relate to feeling unsettled in an environment like this, I don't function properly if things are piled up and I have to make diversions though my living space to get from A to B! Btw, we still have about 10 unpacked boxes around us - 6 months after the move, so imagine my state of mind

Hold on my dear, this too shall pass! Trust me, you are in waaay better position than you can imagine. Picture trying to navigate the property related issues in a foreign language and under tight tome constraints, which is the case with us right now.

13 years ago

Sona

Veteran

Una- just a thought is there a corner in your house that can be your serene place? A place where you can spray some lavender or fragrance of your choice and think about your wardrobe choice for the day? Tranquility CAN be a state of mind and exist amongst chaos. It does take 'work' though. I don't know your views on meditation but I do believe that chanting "Om" which is said to represent the sound of the unvierse can help take me away from chaos to a better place. I don't want to come across as a kooky new age Guru or anything but I do think finding a corner to be just you might help. You could even have it be a UWP place with tough boots and the bullet necklace displayed!

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

Sona, you are so right about that serene space. Unfortunately, I don't have that even when the house is in shape - there is always something to be done. I really need to find a way to create such a space.

13 years ago

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

Totally second what Sona said (btw, my initials are OM )

What helps me to regain sanity is even to have one flat, horizontal surface cleared away from time to time at least - it really grounds me! Subconscious mind gets used to one thing (mess) and when suddenly it's all clear you do notice and feel better. A photo, a plant, a candle put there... or boots or necklace, but something that makes you happy...

13 years ago

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