A Hallmark Movie Spa Day (sort of)

Hello, there!

It’s February, and boy howdy is it ever weird. It’s been remarkably warm all winter here in New England. Sarah is in a ski club and the only snow they’ve seen is artificially blown onto the slopes. This is so different from our first two winters here where it would snow by early December, and then just keep snowing until March. The ground was always snow-covered. This year, it’s all so very muddy. We had a two-day (very dry) arctic blast over the weekend with subzero temperatures, and then it was 50 degrees outside. I really, really miss the snow. I know our winters here are numbered. I want them all to count.

Mike was gone over the cold snap—away in sunny Las Vegas. He was gone a total of five days, and I tackled a project I’ve been contemplating since before we moved in. Late last year, we drew up some tentative plans to renovate our master bathroom, and we talked to the contractor and carpenter who helped us with the kitchen remodel. He came back with a working budget, and I watched Mike actually flinch.

There’s no way we can do a full renovation job any time soon. The cost is prohibitive.

I’m a relax in the tub at the end of the day kind of person. I love a good soak. I’m far more attached to my skincare regimen than I ever will be to makeup. I love to soak. Did I say that already? I love to get clean. And I love to be alone for a few minutes before transitioning to whatever the evening holds.

But I could not hate that bathroom more.

When we first moved in I was so convinced there was mold growing there, I pulled some wallpaper down. (In my defense, when I did this in the pool bathroom, I did indeed find mold.) There was no mold in the master bathroom. But the wallpaper was very old and the glue was very gluey and I thought we were going to just tear it all back to the studs soon, so I left it. Some dingy paper up, some ripped haphazardly from the walls. For more than two years. Mike never said a word.

But we both hated the bathroom. I have no before pictures. (I regret this.)

I thought I could make a good go at making the bathroom less of an eyesore in the five days he’d be gone and surprise him with the finished project. I never make major purchases without consulting him, so the budget was limited to paint and paint supplies. (I added some new but very inexpensive switch plates and a couple towels and bath mats at the end.)

I pulled down almost all the wallpaper, with the exception of what needed a ladder. Then, I set about removing the glue. So much glue. To do that, I sprayed with white vinegar, squeegeed, and then used a sponge and plenty of water. It took a couple days and I smelled like a pickle. But I think I got those walls very, very clean. It was good, hard, physical labor, and I really needed it. Then, feeling more confident in my technique, Katie and I did indeed get the wallpaper and glue at the very top. We used an extension ladder in the tub. I prayed a lot. Do not do this at home.

These have been some very tense days—months? years?—and I’ve learned a thing or two about stress “management.” One thing I know is that it takes physical activity to “complete the stress cycle.” When we’re stressed, our bodies generate plenty of stress hormones. They course through our veins. If the stress is resolved (and even if it is not), those hormones need a way to release. My puppies (there are three in our house right now—a story for another day) release their stress by giving it a good shake. We can do that, too, of course. Or we can spend three days tearing down paper and washing walls and then two days painting. I knew those days Mike was in Vegas would be tense days in my head, and I knew that I’d feel the stress in my body, so I very deliberately lined up something super physical to do. And I’m glad I did!

Early in the process, I was on the phone with Mike, and he commented that the background noise was very annoying. Thankfully, he didn’t ask what I was doing. I was steaming the wallpaper off with a hand steamer and then peeling it. But he did ask me to put my AirPods away and just talk on the phone. So I did. But I was (1) on the phone and talking about something disconcerting (2) peeling wallpaper (3) trying to think of what I would tell him if he wanted to know what I was doing. So, I cannot remember where I put those AirPods. It’s been almost a week now. I use them every day, all the time. Replacing them would literally double the budget of this project. I’m begging St. Anthony…

Without my AirPods, I ended up half listening/ half watching no fewer than 15 Valentine-themed Hallmark movies. This left me quite sure that I could easily follow the formula and write a movie in an afternoon. It also made me way too unreasonably expectant about the coming holiday. And it made me crave chocolate. Well over half of the movies had chocolate in them. My favorite chocolate used to be chocolate mousse. But after diverging from my careful allergy-proof diet and indulging in some decadent and delicious mousse when I was in Vegas with Mike last month, I learned my lesson. And anyway, I really do adore chocolate-covered fruit. So, we’ve been managing our cravings, and “practicing” for Valentine’s Day with these chocolate drizzled strawberries and pineapple. They’re outrageously simple and very addictive. Be sure to buy good fruit and the best chocolate you can. And take the time you need to pat the pineapple as dry as possible before you drizzle.

Mike was so pleased with the bathroom when he arrived home. We didn’t tell him. He got in around midnight and the girls were all still awake because we were just a little excited about the surprise. They retreated to their rooms and I acted completely nonchalant when he went off to brush his teeth. It was a happy surprise after a hard trip. A pretty place to land at home—something I always shoot for.

All this is just in time for Beautycounter’s new Reflect Effect products. I can finally relax in my tub and use these fabulous new “spa items” without spending the whole time looking critically at how ugly the room is. I made some decisions while I worked in there. There were lots of imperfections that are par for the course with old walls. Younger me would have stopped everything and researched how to make them perfect. I would have been frustrated and I probably wouldn’t have finished. New me fixed what was absolutely necessary and incorporated the rest of the imperfections into the plan. Mike has already volunteered to do the ceiling sometime soon. He can reach the ceiling flat on his feet. What Katie and I did with a ladder to reach the top of the wall near the ceiling over the tub would horrify OSHA I’m sure. So there you have it. Things I’ve taken far too long to learn:

It’s okay to have some imperfections. They add character. And it’s okay to ask for help. We all bring different strengths to the situation. You don’t have to do it all alone.

Back to Reflect Effect. Pardon these commercials, but please know they keep the lights on here. Truly. Beautycounter has made Take Up & Read possible this past year, and we have some good things planned for Lent. That means you’ll get another email from me very soon;-). For the next three days, Beautycounter perks members get double product credit on their purchases. You get 20% of what you spend this time to save to spend next time. If you’re not already a Band of Beauty member, these three days are definitely the perfect time to join. All those details are here.

Back to Reflect Effect for real this time. There are two new products. The first is an all-over resurfacing peel for your body. It smoothes away winter dry and dull skin and leaves it feeling and looking soft and glowy. You’ll feel like the heroine in a Hallmark movie; I promise. The second is a favorite from the Christmas gift sets. It’s a finely ground bamboo powder that you can shake into a cleanser to create your own physical exfoliant. I love this! I especially love it after travel or after a long day in the kitchen. It just feels like it gets all the grime. And of course, the dead cells get sloughed off, too, so moisturizer goes on better. And makeup (if you choose it—I almost never do lately) smooths on better, stays on better, and reflects healthier skin.

When you purchase Beautycounter through my links, you help me show up for my ministry. I’ve spent the last year sinking considerable time (and money) into furthering my education so that I can bring that back to women who are devoting their lives to answering God’s call. I have so many plans for meeting you where you are and journeying with you! I’ll tuck a pretty new tube of good, clean lip balm in my pocket for the journey. Maybe you can, too?

(If you want a really good look at the bathroom, including some in-process shots that give you an idea of how far we came, and more details on how to make it a spa, I made some video here.)

I have a new view from the tub, and I don’t hate it!