[This is my first Life Skills letter to you girls. I taught a 9th grade course called "Life Skills" and it was kinda strange, because in the context of Watts, Los Angeles, little of the curriculum (while educational and college-prep related) could be considered "Life Skills." In that great spirit of irony, and my desire to show off my own skillz (with a 'z' mind you), from time to time I'll write about how to do things and make things. Most of it will be more of the same useless crap about which I usually write. And, as you'll see below, in my imaginary dialogue with you, you'll probably call me on my wealthy, consumerist, first world, capitalist BS. And we'll feel all conflicted about life and humanity, until we distract ourselves with more wealthy, consumerist, first world, capitalist BS. Smiles!]
Dearest Daughters,
While our home is far from worthy of a cover story in Architectural Digest, I'd say that since we've moved into our new home about a year ago, we've pulled ourselves together. We are, at the very least presentable to common society. I'm happy with our hodge-podge home.
Though I lust after lovely things, I'm more of a DIY decorator. While I despise the pile of clutter and junk mail out of which I am perpetually digging myself, I do favor an eclectic, organic and colorful aesthetic. There is a fine line between the two. Just visit Lola's house.
Also. I don't have loads of cash to buy all the lovely things I desire. About seventy-five percent of our furniture is from IKEA. The rest are hand-me-downs or thrift store "finds" (read: I need a dresser TODAY, what do you have?) Our prized piece of furniture is our dining table which was HANDMADE by Grandpa and Gruncle Don. Before our wedding, I showed Gruncle Don and Grandpa a farmhouse style table from Crate and Barrel. And guess what we received on our wedding day!?! Beauteousness. Hopefully, one of you will want the table when I die. If not, I'm going to keep having children until I find one who does. Because that table WILL stay in our family. The IKEA bookcases, not so much.
As time passes, I'd like to be able to fill my house with furniture that I love and that will endure. I suppose I could have saved my money to buy lovable, endurable things. But, let this be known: I am not a minimalist. I could not have tolerated sitting on floor cushions, next to a stack of books in a curtain-less room until I saved my pennies for luxurious things my children would destroy. Instead, I'm sitting on a slightly damaged couch from a Macy's outlet, next to a brimming (but color organized) IKEA bookcase in a room with cheap red "works-for-now" Target curtains.
The point, Mommy?
Naturally, the bedrooms, being the last places that are presentable to society, have been neglected. Well, finally Mommy is doing something about it. I've been wanting a bed frame. A headboard, at least. Something to make our room feel more like a room and less like a storage unit. We're waiting on pay day over here, so here is my DIY solution:
While this is supposed to be a Life Skills post, I didn't take any photos to teach you about the process. Because I did it during my free time, late at night while you were in Sleepytown, USA and it's hard to take nice photos at night. And why reinvent the wheel when I can just refer you to How About Orange's fabric decal tutorial?
Next, I'm going to put clouds up in your room.
And now, time for a close up. But, don't look too closely. The squares weren't precisely cut or precisely pieced together.
I guess the lesson is, surround yourself with lovely. Whether from IKEA, your family or made with your own hands. Lovely things feel lovely. Unless you're a minimalist. Or you're thinking I'm crazy, because some people don't even have things, let alone lovely things, Mommy. In that case, you're right. Forget everything I've said. And give your HEMNES dresser, your LINNARP bookcase and our SHLAFENBORDENSHMOGEN toothpick holder to someone who needs it. And Babybel, while you're at it, hand over Lovey and Puppy too. Oh, not so high and mighty now are we, missy? Sorry. That's not fair. I've created the little greedy consumer that you are, with your FIVE lovies and don't get me started on the number of pairs of shoes you have.
Okay. Forget everything. Except this:
Flowers are pretty. And lovely. And from nature. You don't even have to buy them; these are all from our yard. So, give Mommy flowers.
Love,
Mommy
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