Holding Your Spouse To A Higher Standard
Some of you may have opened this post assuming it would be about why we shouldn't create unrealistic expectations for our spouses. Why it's unfair to hold your spouse to "standards."
Sorry, this is not what you assumed.
First off, as sinners, we will never meet the standards God sets before us in the Ten Commandments. Are we tasked as Christians to try as we might? Of course. We fail miserably every day, but it's still part of our calling to follow God's commands and live according to His word. It's difficult and frustrating and downright disappointing - but nevertheless, they are standards we are called to follow. Thank goodness there is forgiveness, am I right?
When Tom and I got married, we found ourselves creating our own expectations for what marriage should be. These expectations were outside of God's picture of marriage, so of course we failed and let each other down. They were human expectations with nothing more than selfishness to justify their necessity. They were standards we thought would create a stronger marriage, but instead they created disappointment and hurt.
Where did these ideas come from? Well, sometimes they were silly ideas we concocted on our own, but other times they came from these so-called Christian marriage books we started to read. I really do hate to admit it, but sometimes those books can make you believe your marriage has issues in places it actually doesn't. It tells you that if you aren't doing x, y, and z, in ten years you'll be in a miserable, failing marriage. For those who are struggling I'm sure these books are helpful, but remember to take them with a grain of salt, keeping in mind that every marriage has shortcomings.
From that realization, we revisited our expectations and standards for one another, and for our marriage using the one thing that is far more dependable:
God's word.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV)
As Christians, we realized our marriage should look and act different than others. The standards that we are called to hold to are not our own standards, but God's.
We've realized that some couples behave entirely different when their spouse is around, and when they aren't. And that is just not okay. Many times it's disrespectful and walks a fine line on what's moral and what isn't.
Therefore, I hold my husband to higher standards and he does the same of me.
Looking back, I saw a great example of when he should have expected more of me. It was when I worked for a corporate, but "hip" company. It was a company very well known for its holiday parties, and I happily drank the "kool-aid" (quite literally). At one of these famed parties, Tom had texted me to let me know he was waiting in the lobby to pick me up. Like everyone else, I had had too much to drink and was having entirely too much fun... so I responded that I'd be down in a couple minutes.
But I forgot.
I literally forgot my husband was there.
I was too busy having slurred, idiotic conversations with co-workers who were too drunk to stand on their own two feet.
The conversations and behavior over the course of the entire night were nothing short of embarrassing and inappropriate.
Over a half hour later, I happened upon the lobby, saw my husband, and THEN remembered he was there.
I hate sharing this story.
But I think it's important to admit mistakes. What did that verse say? "...it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth." Even the hard truths, my friends.
I'm humiliated that there was ever a time this happened, but it did. Tom should have held me to a higher standard. Instead, he was patient and kind - which are also wonderful traits - but he should have corrected my moral behavior. He absolutely had the right.
Sadly, we have both been on the receiving end of such an evening and neither of us are proud of it. They were nights we certainly could have done without. In fact, it was after such a night that we had a long talk about the moral standards God calls us to hold to.
Respecting your spouse, doesn't mean just in the times when they're around.
- It means that when one of them is gone on business, you can be sure they'll be going to bed at a decent hour and calling to say goodnight... instead of drinking in a faraway city with coworkers until wee hours of the morning.
- It means that when they're around friends or couples who speak poorly of marriage or spouses, that your spouse will speak admirably about it and stand up for it instead of joining in.
- It means you never do something questionable just because everyone else is. Whether at work, socially, or even with your best friends.
- It means creating boundaries to protect your marriage. These 5 boundaries would have some people rolling their eyes, but as Christians, these ideas should be applauded for their moral basis. When it comes to entertainment, for example, the words, "It's just a movie" is a very poor excuse. Would it be "just a movie" if Jesus was sitting right next to you? Many find that thinking to be "lame"... sorry, I'd rather be lame. I don't need to see every trashy thing Hollywood pours out. I love what Kelsie says at the end of her post:
"Shouldn’t we say yes to our marriage and no to anything that isn’t best for it? Isn’t your spouse worth it? Marriage is a place that requires honesty, faithfulness, grace, forgiveness, and communication. Let’s be intentional about taking care of this relationship by setting godly boundaries. It’s a relationship worth fighting for."
Will we continue to let one another down and fail at some of these expectations? You bet.
It will be times like those that the power of forgiveness shows its true colors. We are not perfect. Our marriage is flawed, because we are flawed people.
But is it worth it to hold yourself to standards that show respect to your spouse? Is it worth it to expect the same from your spouse? Absolutely. Yes, sometimes it's easy to go into marriage with unrealistic, unhealthy expectations. But when you trust God's word and commands and make those the sole moral basis for your life and marriage, having high standards doesn't seem like work or a tight leash so much as it feels like a privilege.
Because after all, marriage is a gift as much as it's a privilege... and it's a gift that is worth protecting.
Gifts For A New Mom
Yep, you read that right.
For the mom.
Sorry baby, there were probably a bunch of showers for your sake. This post is for the mamas!
Well, more specifically, for the mama's friends, sisters, husband... or whoever else might have a close enough relationship with her to know her taste and estimate her needs.
Recently, my best friend from college gave birth to their first child. I felt such an overwhelming sense of pride and excitement for my friend, that during the time she was in labor and for days afterward, I just couldn't stop thinking about her. This girl who I lived with, talked with late at night, went on countless dinner dates with, worked with, talked about relationships with, spent nights on the town with, and stood up in each other's weddings, was suddenly a mom. When I see the photos of her beautiful baby, I can't help but tear up and beam with joy. This little baby made my best friend a mom. And then my next thoughts went like this...
Whoa. She's a mom! She's never been a mom before! Wait a minute... what do you need when you're a mom? Do you have time to shower? Or eat? Or feel pretty? Do you need cute but comfy clothes and big underwear? I have no idea. But she better be taken care of.
*Immediately went shopping*
While I was shopping, I had no idea what I was looking for (because.. you know... I'm not a mom) so I legitimately asked moms who were in the store what my friend would like. It was the cutest thing - they had so much to say! One of them even shopped along side me and pointed out items.
As soon as I left the store with my loot, I shipped it off at the nearest post office.
I'm so glad that she loved my care package and that she felt cared for and not forgotten. That was my biggest concern: that mama wasn't forgotten.
Now that I've done this once, I want to do it again. I want to make sure my mama friends are loved, cared for, and remembered. I'm just gonna guess that becoming a mom is a pretty big transition, so what better way to help them transition than give them some items for them. Remind them that even though they have this little person that's changed their world for the better, that they shouldn't cross the road into motherhood and forget about their own, individual needs. Besides, how can they care for their sweet babe when they're a mess?
After reaching out to some other moms in my blogging network, here are some ideas of how to care for the new mamas in your life. Pass it on if you think it will help others! :)
Comfortable nightgown:
One that is easy to wear while breastfeeding, too. My own mom recommended this because she was given one of these and it made her feel prettier and slightly less frumpy.
Candle:
With the smell of poop, diaper cream, and spit-up lingering around, it's nice to have a candle going to bring a clean/nice smell to your home. A little luxury!
Luxury shampoo and conditioner:
If mama can even squeeze a shower into her day, having something extra special to use will feel pampering.
Big water bottle with a straw:
Many times they'll only have one hand to eat or drink, so a water bottle that holds a lot (so they don't have to refill all the time) with a straw will be extra helpful. From what I understand, breastfeeding makes women super thirsty and hungry! Heck, even if she's not breastfeeding, this will make life so much easier.
High waisted yoga pants:
A mom in the store recommended this one. That high band just holds things in and offers more comfort. She also said it became her uniform and she totally embraced it!
Loose, comfy sweatshirt:
More-so if baby was born in the winter. One that is easy to breastfeed with or throw on with their new yoga pants and take a trip to the store.
One-handed snacks:
Going along with the water bottle, those mamas get the munchies and having healthy, fast, one-handed snacks is a life-saver. Maybe something they can pour into a bowl and leave next to their feeding chair all day would be nice. Do you live nearby? Bring her some cleaned fruit, shelled nuts, granola, chopped veggies, cheese sticks/cubes, etc...
Slippers:
Most people probably already own slippers, but if you're like me, you keep the same raggedy ones for years. Get them some new ones! Also nice if they have a rubber bottom and can run outside to check the mail in.
Not pictured
- Favorite candy
- Gifts cards to movie streaming services or Redbox (for long feedings!)
- Amazon gift card. Because they have everything.
- Maid service gift certificate. Let them schedule it themselves so it's convenient for them. Merry Maids is nationwide, I believe. I worked as a Merry Maid for half a summer, and though it was seriously the worst job of my life, they're incredibly thorough. Like, they clean your floors by hand - no joke.
- Coffee for that sleepy mama! Bring her some for her coffee maker... and maybe a fresh cup straight from Starbucks.
- Spa day
- Postpartum belly band
- Homemade freezer meals
- Disposable plates and cutlery
- Cute granny-panties!
- Nice hand lotion
- Facial cleansing cloths
- Dry shampoo
- Body lotion with collagen and vitamin E
- Mini toothbrushes to keep in their purse (ones with toothpaste built-in)
- Bottled water (keep a few bottles in every room and in a purse)
- A baby sling
- Devotional book
- Set up a mealtrain
- If you're local, offer to pop over and do chores or take care of baby while she sleeps
- Take her out for coffee or lunch and let her talk about anything she wants - whether it's baby related or not.
- Coupons for free babysitting!
- Possibly: thick underwear pads and cooling packs for 'down there' - give her a variety of pads/liners. Tuck pads.
- Essential oils (if she's into them)
- Books by a good author
If she's breastfeeding
Are you positive she's breastfeeding? Is she able to breastfeed? Make sure you know the answer to that question before you buy her a ton of things geared towards that. If you don't know the answer and would rather not ask, try the suggestions above!
- Stool softener, prunes, lube, and good lip balm. Your body liquids can dry up, so these things help supplement that loss.
- Nursing tank tops
- Nursing pads (gel ones too)
- Coconut oil for sore/cracked nipples
- Nursing bras - also ones for sleeping
- Cooling pads
Check out this site for some nice breastfeeding products.
For the dads
Don't forget this sweet guy! If you think moms are forgotten, these guys are invisible! Yes, yes, it is mostly about mom and baby, but this is a major life adjustment for him too. He could use some love.
- Gift cards for food
- Beer (if he's into that)
- His own copy of an informational baby book
- Funny baby books about poop, toots, burps for him to read to the baby soon ;) (I loved this idea - so funny!)
Special thanks to the super awesome, sweet ladies from The Peony Project who offered their knowledgable advice on this list - you mamas are wonderful!
What else would you add? I loved this conversation in The Peony Project group and I thought it was so helpful for people like myself who has no idea what it's like to have a baby. Even some soon-to-be moms were following the conversation and getting awesome ideas! Yay for community! Let me know what else :)
Since I am always transparent with my readers, occasionally, affiliate links are also used in my posts which means I may receive a commission from sales generated by them. Some of the above are Amazon affiliate links. However this comes at no extra cost to you and I would never condone a product I didn't personally believe to be of good quality or price. Extra thanks to you for purchasing through one of these links as it helps bloggers immensely!
Marriage Is Only The Beginning of First Kisses
When I Netflix binge-watch, I choose shows that I can have on in the background of whatever I'm doing without actually needing to watch every moment. The background noise is nice in an otherwise quiet house, and for the moments I need to derail my thoughts, it's nice to glance up and tune out for a few minutes. I've been through Grey's Anatomy, Gilmore Girls, and currently I'm breezing through Friends.
It's not a show I watched much when I was younger, but I get the draw behind the little love interests and deep friendship of the main characters. It's very superficial and not at all realistic, but that's TV... I get it.
The other day though, Monica came to the realization that once she married Chandler, there would be no more first kisses. No more of that beginning part of a relationship that has you clinging on their every word and action.
Yes, she later comes to realize that their more-than-skin-deep relationship is good too, but it really nagged at me.
Is that how some people really view marriage? The "end-all?"
No more first kisses *womp womp*
No more freedom and time that's your own *womp womp*
No more excitement or "firsts" *womp womp*
...and so on.
Here's the point that Monica missed:
It is up to married people to recognize, acknowledge, and cherish all the firsts to come.
Are we long past our very first kiss? Yes... and maybe some would mourn the prospect of never knowing that feeling again.
But I also remember...
- our first conversation about getting married.
- our wedding!
- our first roadtrip.
- the first nights in every place we've lived as a married couple.
- our first big argument and learning the true power of forgiveness and faithfulness from that moment on.
- our first kiss in our first house.
- our first kiss every morning upon waking.
- our first kiss upon arriving home from work.
- our first time *ahem* you know what I mean.
- our first big move.
- our first career change.
God willing, we have plenty of other firsts to look forward to. Including...
- our first major home renovation.
- our first child.
- kissing each new child for the first time.
- kissing each child before they go to bed.
- our children's first words, steps, day of school, S.O.'s, leaving the house, etc...
- our first family dog.
- our first grandchild.
- our first time growing old together.
Life is filled with new firsts after marriage. Monica's mourning over "no more first kisses" made me so sad. Is that really appealing? Spending your life with first kiss after first kiss and missing out on all the firsts you can experience with someone throughout a lifetime?
I know I say it so often, but guys, marriage is such an incredible gift. You may not have that very first kiss ever again... but all the firsts after and to come, sound a whole lot more appealing to me. Don't find yourself tied to that beginning phase of a relationship because it's sweet and uncomplicated. Sure a first kiss is memorable. But more than remembering a bunch of first kisses, I'd like to remember a lifetime with the spouse God gave me. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Let's be psyched about marriage, guys. It's so worth being psyched about.
Stairway/Landing Refresh
It's official.
Our upstairs now looks like an entirely different house than our downstairs. Which is annoying, but good -- progress, baby!
This was the quickest refresh we've done so far. All it took was a weekend!
Here's what we did:
- ceiling: smoothed, primed, painted
- painted the walls
- painted the trim (6 doorways..ugh)
- replaced the light fixture
- replaced the switch and cover
As always, here's the glamour shots:
Here's a breakdown of items:
Wall paint: Silver City by Behr Marquee
Trim paint: Maui Mist by Behr (it's also the same white we used in our master and wood room walls)
Light fixture: Oil Rubbed Bronze LED Mushroom Flushmount
What do you guys think? Easy-peasy and soooo much better. That grey is also going to be used throughout the downstairs as well. That way we'll have a very nice flow to our small home and go from browns all over the place, to some cooler neutrals to brighten the space.
I Argue Because I Love You
Marriage is tough, guys.
You often hear me touting about how great and wonderful marriage is whenever I've written about it here. Maybe you've noticed that even in those posts, I've made mention to the fact that it's also very hard. It's one of the hardest but most rewarding parts of life. The thing is... I've never really expanded on "the hard parts" and I think that's important too. When people who are un-married read my posts, they aren't seeing the full picture. When I give no more than a fleeting "it's hard" mixed in with "but so wonderful, happy, and great," it probably seems confusing - like, "what the heck, then what's so hard?" Maybe to those who aren't in it, those statements don't make any sense. Today, I'd like to explain how even in the hard parts of marriage, there is good. The parts of marriage that sting or hurt are actually one of the things that makes it beautiful.
Let's dive in.
When I was a kid, I was no stranger to the fact that my peers had parents who were divorced. I knew what it meant and what happened when people got divorced and it scared me. I remember very specifically one evening, when my parents were arguing... and that fear crept in. Feebly, I asked, "... are you going to get divorced?" They stopped and looked at me, surprised. They put their argument aside and explained calmly, in such simple terms (that didn't make sense to me at the time) why I didn't need to worry about that.
"We're arguing because we love each other."
Fast forward to adulthood and married life.
I say adulthood, because how many of you have argued with your best friends and come out all the stronger once you worked it out? College roommate battles? Even growing up with siblings... did all that arguing tear you apart? In relationships and marriage, it is no different. We argue because sometimes we need to. Because we have something to fix, and we care enough to fix it.
Something we try to remember is the difference between arguing/bickering versus fighting. Fighting tends to insinuate that you're on different teams... but no matter how "divided" you may feel about a certain topic, you're married - you're still on the same team. With that in mind, we don't "fight" but we do argue. Frankly, I worry when I hear couples say they never disagree. If there is never a disagreement, that says to me that one or both are not speaking their minds fully, and honesty is being compromised. Again, I have no professional training to say this with authority, but when I think about roommates I had in college (my best friends), when no one spoke up about an obvious issue, there was at least someone who was unhappy. Always. Or someone was building resentment internally because so-and-so never did the dishes. Or so-and-so never cleaned the bathroom. Or so-and-so wasn't timely with their rent portion. Disagreements need to happen for a lasting, healthy relationship. However, extreme or constant arguing might be a sign to learn how to better communicate or get a little counseling.
So what did my parents mean when they said they argue because they love each other? Well here's our take...
- The moment we stop arguing, will be the moment we stop caring enough about our relationship to put in the work it requires.
- When we keep our disagreements to ourselves, we withhold honesty and build resentment.
- When we foster an environment where we can't disagree, we are setting the stage for lax communication that spreads to all areas and facets of our relationship. And will probably create "blow-up" arguments in the future.
- When you start to feel hopeless after a week of bickering here and there, remember that marriage isn't such a fragile entity. One "off-week" isn't creating and "off-marriage." Working through it creates strength and keeping God at the center will give your marriage a lasting basis beyond your own selfishness.
It's tempting, of course, to shut down. Walk away. Give the cold shoulder. But being as we're on the same team, we need to care, understand, show patience, and love. And guess what? Once you're a couple weeks past it, I bet you'll have a hard time remembering what you even argued about in the first place. For example, I only remember the fact that we bickered incessantly for the week leading up to closing on our house because I wrote it down in a journal. I'm bewildered as to what we even bickered about, but the days since then have only been better! That's what I mean when I say marriage can be hard. It is hard... but it tends to be an after-thought because the good truly does outweigh it.
Do I think we should still be slow to anger (Proverbs 19:11)? Absolutely. I think Ephesians 4:15-16 says it well:
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Sometimes speaking the truth in love can mean a little arguing, and that's okay... because when you love someone so much, they're worth the 'fight.'
(See 10 Things I've Learned About Marriage to see a little overview of some ground rules we set up from the start to disagree in a healthy way. Disagreements are just inevitable - but how you go about them does matter for the health of your marriage. Again, I'm no professional, but we can all use some tips on how to "fight nice," right? Plus, the other nine things are fun to read too!)
Guest Bathroom
I love an easy update!
Here's the shortcut version of what we did...
- removed chair rails and patched area
- scraped ceilings smooth, primed, and painted
- re-caulked tub, toilet, and sink
- painted walls, cabinet, vanity, and trim
- added drawer and cabinet hardware
- created a faux marble countertop using contact paper
- installed a new toilet
All of these projects were simple, relatively cheap, and we were done in four days. Did it have surprises? Ohhh yes. Unwelcome, accidental, surprises. Lemme just show you the best way we know how.
Hahahaha ...don't you love when you buy a house that literally has holes in the walls? Oh well. We'll fix it later. Here's some more process glamour shots.
So what do you all think? For a simple update, we are super pleased.
Things for Phase 2:
- champagne bronze towel holder (also one for large towels), light fixture, and faucet
- new tub/shower
- new vanity and countertop
- fix the hole in the wall and come up with a better storage solution (instead of the cabinet)
- different flooring
- fix the air vent to actually go outside instead of to the attic (ugh)
- general decor (framed art, etc..)
You Don't Know The Best Time For Me To Have Kids
We know, we're young.
People tell us all the time.
With our youth and marriage, though, there are many who seem to know what's best for us. Strangers, in fact. Or acquaintances. Even friends or family.
Rarely, since we got married, have we been openly advised on what car to buy, where to rent an apartment, what town to buy a home in, or what doctor to go to. Any of those could use a wise recommendation, though, don't you think? Strange, people don't seem to bother with offering well-meaning advice on things of that nature.
There is one area though, that everyone seems to have an recommendation for:
When we should have kids.
I know I know... sometimes these sorts of topics come with the territory of marriage and that's okay. I realize it can even be meant out of love or excitement, and I get that. We've learned to joke light-heartedly about it and brush off silly comments. But as I think about it, and hear it more and more often, it's got me wondering, "Who are you to know when I should have a kid?"
In the Midwest, almost as soon as we said "I will" the comments poured in...
"When are you going to start having kids?" - this one still leaves me speechless. How is that your business at ALL?
"First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes..." - oye.
"You'd sure look cute pregnant!" - *forced smile* ..thannnnks..?
Then there's the grey area of just joking about it. The flat out jokes are the ones we (personally) don't mind. It's no secret that we want children so poking a little fun at the eventuality is understandable and more respectful. These people never claim to know anything about our plans with it, but maybe just like the idea of us joining the ranks of parenthood.
Now in the South, we hear something quite different (and always a little shocking to my Midwest ears)...
"Just waaaiiittt. Take your time. Don't start till you're 30." - I cannot begin to tell you how many people have said this to me. Strangers and everyone in between. Too many people to count, honestly.
"How old are you? Oh, you're a ways off from kids, then, right?" - uhh...
The thing is, their advice in this area will not change what my husband and I talk about. In fact, it won't even make us question our motives or our thoughts on the matter. Part of that is because there is a much better answer to such questions or opinions:
"We don't know when.... but God does."
There are people who get pregnant unexpectedly.
People who wish nothing more than to be pregnant right now.
People who are hoping to wait several more years.
People who are secretly pregnant and the world doesn't know yet.
People who are struggling with infertility.
People who are waiting and have no idea they will struggle with infertility.
People who are using contraceptives.
People who have suffered through a miscarriage or more.
People who are trying, and trying, and trying.
But no matter any of these circumstances, God knows and they don't. Even when we think we know, He may have a totally different plan for our lives.
No one would knowingly set out to tell a woman who is recovering from a miscarriage to "just wait a few years." You would't ask a woman you know is trying amidst infertility "when are you going to start a family?" How could you make the assumption that someone is "a ways off" from starting a family, when for all you know, she is secretly pregnant? Think about the fact that you don't know God's plan for her any more than she does. Also realize that what you wished for in retrospect, may not be something she will wish someday.
As the youngest in a family of seven children, I value large, close-knit crews. My parents married when my mom was 19 so two things seem very normal to me.
1) marrying young
2) having loads of kids
This isn't some kind of forbearance that we're hoping for as large of a brood someday, but for people who tell me to wait until I'm 30... are you assuming I want two or three children? Would you tell me to wait if I told you I wanted six? I find it such an odd piece of advice that no one should feel so inclined to give as it is such a personal decision that varies from one couple to the next.
The same is true for people who encourage it right-after-the-altar. Why would you want to rush children into such a precious phase of life? Because you think we should have twelve of them? Let it be! I know plenty of people who had children right away and are happy as can be, and others who wished it had happened later. Both would say, "...but I am so blessed to be ___'s mom. I wouldn't change that for a second."
People have babies when God blesses them with them. Some sooner than they had planned, and others far later than they'd hoped. Still, God may place children in someone's life exactly when they wanted them. Only He knows.
My point is, please, please, do not super impose personal family planning regrets or opinions on others. You have no idea what they are planning or if their plans are not playing out as they'd hoped. Chances are, they have different hopes and plans than you did. If you're already a parent, think back to the opinions on this that were expressed to you... did they help, hurt, or have any meaning to you at all? For me, in all honesty, these pieces of advice tend to go in one ear and out the other.
A friend recently said it best when she said, "It's all in God's plan. Sure, I wanted it a little sooner than it happened, but then that baby wouldn't be this one. And I can't imagine life without this one."
God's plan is the best plan. Remember that no matter when someone is blessed with babies... whether they're 20 or 32... it was God's will that they begin parenthood just then. Pray God grants them His richest blessings and lift them up. All children are a gift from God... no matter how old their parents are ;)
Garage Laundry Room
This room makes my heart flutter. Why? Because my husband made it juuuustttt for me. He gets the rest of the garage to organize how he pleases, but this is my little corner of bliss. When we moved here, all I asked was that someday we fix up the laundry corner to feel clean, sterile, and welcoming. Before, it felt like every clean sock I dropped on the floor might have sucked up some car oils or a few chunks of saw dust.
This project ended up happening sooner than I had expected, since we moved our tankless water heater to the crawlspace. That switch gave Tom enough room to build a wall and make it feel like its own room.
We went with darker grey walls to better hide any scuffs that garage-life might give it over the years. That cutesy little light is from IKEA and was only $15 (but Tom had to convert it from a plug-in to a switch operated one). Speaking of which, there wasn't even a light near the laundry area to begin with so even that was a huge upgrade. Then, Tom built a shelf. It's basically boxed over two strips of wood on the left and right walls and is very sturdy. We painted it with some white chalk paint and threw on a coat of wax to seal it up. There's an outdoor rug from IKEA as well. Now, it just needs some storage cubes or baskets to complete the look! See the photos for before and afters and just a bunch of glamour shots...
What do you guys think??