Even Perfect People Aren't Perfect!?

This week two of my favorite bloggers have written honestly about anti-perfection (or pro-real life, to frame it in a more positive way), and I'd like to share their thoughts with you today. I hope you'll click and read these posts. Don't forget to check the comments, too, because so many of their readers share great things! (And I'm not just talking about myself, even though I did comment and link to my post GOOD vs. PERFECT: Why Worse Is Better because I felt it went along so well).

Jen from IHeart Organizing posts the most beautiful organizing projects -- whether it's an amazingly neat fridge and freezer or color-sorted Legos in a fun, functional playroom.

Organized fridge and freezer from this post by Jen of IHeart Organizing,

Lego storage from Jen's IHeart Organizing home tour

I know, right!? She is naturally tidy and organized, and her brain seems to easily put together efficient ways of doing things. In other words, she is nothing like me :) Because of the focus of her site and because of the beautiful pictures she posts, it's easy to think of Jen as "perfect" (and easy to think of oneself as not perfect enough). Jen took a stand against this in A "Perfect" Post. Go read it!

Photo by Dana of House*Tweaking, from her house tour

Then there's Dana at House*Tweaking, one of my newer finds in the blog world, whose butcher block island I linked to as an inspiration on my post about my butcher block choices. That's the pretty dining room in her former house, above. She talks about the other side of "pretty" and affirms her allegiance to "real" in a tangent on the post Closet{s}Maid Right. The closet part of the post is great, too, but the part I'm talking about starts after the photos ("Which brings me to another tangent topic: pretty.").

So this is a short post. That's about all I can muster tonight, because, guys, I've got to tell you something. I'm TIRED! Not worn out tired, like when I became anemic at the end of my pregnancy. Not sick tired, like when illness saps my energy. Just sleepy tired, because I've been staying up way too late learning, learning, learning and writing, writing, writing. And I love it. It's so invigorating to be writing daily again and to be filling my mind with new things to think about! I stay up late because night time is the only time I can focus without ignoring my children and husband. At night they are asleep and he is at work. But on the other hand I can't be a good, present mom and wife if I don't get enough sleep.

I am taking on a paid writing project next week, so posting here may be light. I had intended to write every day, and I have been. If not here, on Lisa Loves Logan. I love the lab this blog has become for me, but part of an experiment is making adjustments, and right now I might need to adjust my posting schedule a little.

Anyone else have some thoughts on this pro-real-life stance? Do blogs and Pinterest make you feel motivated or defeated? Been inspired or encouraged by any words lately? I'd love to hear. Okay. Must. Go. To. Bed. I am seriously mis-typing every single word. Good night!

Make A Floor Plan Online - Here's Mine

I have always loved looking at house plans. My friend Alice and I used to create our own when we were in junior high, and occasionally we bought the house plan magazines in the check-out line at the grocery store. I still like to look at those magazines and at house plans online. Kind of funny, because I haven't really seriously considered building a home -- I like the character and landscaping of existing homes too much! I guess it's just fun to picture myself and my family living each home. How would we use the rooms? Where would I put my card catalog? Could we buy a piano? Can I look out the kitchen window and see the kids playing in the backyard? It's fun to imagine...

But let's get back to reality. My own little townhouse is 1320 square feet. I made up a little floor plan on Floorplanner.com to help me figure out possible furniture arrangements. This keeps me from pushing my furniture around quite as often, which is a good thing because dang, that beloved card catalog is heavy!

I thought these Floorplans (which I'll admit aren't perfect in their scale or dimensions) might be helpful to look at to give you a sense of context for the other pictures I post of my house. On the plan of the main floor do you see that white space on the floor next to the yellow circle that represents our yellow beanbag? That white space represents the wall we removed during our remodel.

First floor

Second floor

Floorplanner is pretty easy to use and has lots of different types of furniture. You can save several variations of your design on there for free. I have five different versions of my main floor, but have pretty much resigned myself to the fact that the traffic flow will be difficult no matter what. That's the biggest challenge in my floor plan. That and the kids' tiny bedrooms upstairs.

What's the biggest challenge in your floor plan? What would you like to add to your floor plan if you could? I'd like to have a formal dining room.

How to Condition Butcher Block Countertops (With Laxatives?)

Though the pics below don't show it, our Ikea Numerar butcher block countertop has now been affixed to the base of the island. Read  this post for cost details and to learn how we cut and prepared the surface.

One thing about butcher block as a counter material - it needs some care and maintenance to stay looking its best. In a way it's as if the wood, though cut, is still living. It can expand and contract depending on moisture both in the air and on its surface. Leaving water or wet foods on butcher block can weaken it and cause it to warp, split, discolor, etc. We wouldn't want that to happen to our lovely, now would we?!

Oh, and before I go any further, let me say that much of the maintenance information I'm about to share also goes for other wood items in your kitchen, like cutting boards, knife handles, salad bowls, and wooden spoons. You might be able to get by without maintaining them, but proper conditioning of these items can improve their appearance and extend length of use.

Cutting Surface or Knives Off? 

A few methods of butcher block finishing and maintenance are available. The first consideration is whether you want to use your wood counter as a cutting surface (using knives on it to chop vegetables, cheese, and yes even meats if you follow proper cleaning protocols). Tyson and I had to debate our choice for a while. He loves the character and patina of a well-worn, well-used butcher block. His father's bakery has huge wood surfaces used for the kneading, cutting, and forming of dough. His dad Curtis even got a used piece of butcher block from one of his bakery equipment suppliers to use as the island top in the kitchen of his vacation home, which is a renovated farmhouse on the family ranch lands in a remote area on the Utah-Idaho border.

Well-used butcher block in the kitchen at the ranch (family vacation home)

Curtis's piece of wood has tons of character and really suits location and the hundred-year-old home. I think Tyson pictured us being able to have the same thing, but practical considerations got in the way. And by "practical considerations" I mean me and my wop-wop voice. (When I say "wop-wop", what you're supposed to hear is the Debbie Downer sound effect.)

See, I love the character of used butcher block, too. And yes, as our family's primary food-preparer I would love the ease of using the island top as a cutting surface. However, we do not intend to stay here in the townhouse long-term. (It's a 1320 square foot three bedroom place with no yard, and we are a family of five, so we're really outgrowing it.) Any bit of character our island developed would not be enjoyed by us for long, and might not really be appreciated by prospective buyers or renters. We decided it would be better to try to maintain a clean and pristine look to the island. Wow, that was a really long explanation of our thought process.

Conditioning a Butcher Block to be Used as a Cutting Surface

If you are going to use the butcher block as a cutting surface, you will want to maintain it by using an oil and/or wax penetrating finish. You will not want to use a film-forming or coating finish (lacquer, varnish, shellac, etc.) because the finish would be marred by cutting, leading to moisture damage, bacteria growth, appearance issues, and other yucky stuff.

Penetrating Finishes: Drying Oils and Non-Drying Oils

Penetrating finishes come in two types: drying oils and non-drying oils. The drying oil most popular for butcher block counters is pure tung oil. Tung oil, and other drying oils such as linseed oil, penetrate and harden the wood. They increase the wood's ability to repel water and resist scratches. One concern with these oils in a food prep setting is that they have the potential to cause allergic reactions in people who have nut allergies. If you decide to go this route, be sure you purchase pure tung oil, which you will have to buy online or through a local woodworking specialty store. The home improvement and hardware stores have various products called "tung oil finish", which include other ingredients that are not suitable for a food prep surface.

Non-drying oils also penetrate the wood, but do not harden. They include vegetable oils and mineral oils. Never use a vegetable oil such as olive oil, canola oil, or walnut oil on your counter. It will eventually go rancid and transfer a bad flavor to foods prepared on the counter. That leaves mineral oil, which can be used alone or in combination with waxes such as paraffin or beeswax. Many brands of mineral oil-based butcher block conditioner are available, such as Howard Butcher Block Conditioner. The primary component of most butcher block conditioners is food grade mineral oil, and the secondary ingredients are natural waxes. A less expensive option is to head to your drugstore's pharmacy aisle and find the laxatives. There you will find pure mineral oil for a couple of dollars for a large bottle. Keep reading for application instructions.

It is important to note that you most likely will not want to or be able to stain your countertops to a different finish color if you are planning to use them for cutting, unless you use a completely food-safe method of staining.

Finishing and/or Conditioning a Butcher Block NOT to be Used as a Cutting Surface

If you won't be using knives on your butcher block, as we decided, you have the option of choosing a film-forming or coating finish like lacquer, varnish, or shellac or a penetrating finish as described above.

Coating Finishes (For a More Furniture-Like Appearance)

I would advise you to research the application, appearance, upkeep, and food-safety aspects of these more furniture-like finishes to find the right choice for your application. Some are not food safe, and some have stringent application requirements, requiring many coats and long drying/curing times. The primary choice for many who install butcher block countertops is Waterlox, especially if the butcher block is a "wet" counter (surrounds the sink and rests above the dishwasher). It provides a water-repellant surface, resists stains from foods, can be used on stained wood, and is food safe when properly applied and fully cured. Here is a good blog post that details staining a Numerar countertop and sealing it with Waterlox: Butcherblock Countertops at A Creative Beginning. Waterlox is not available in most local stores, and most likely will need to be purchased online.

I strongly considered using Waterlox for our counter, because I know how hard my boys are on things, how often they spill, etc. And frankly, I know myself well and know that I am not always on top of immediately cleaning up after them. However, Waterlox needs several applications with long drying times, and we wanted to start using our counters right away. Since Waterlox can be applied over penetrating finishes with proper precautions, we decided to start with a simple penetrating finish first and try it for a while. If we decide we need the added protection we can go through the Waterlox application process in the future.

Applying Mineral Oil to Butcher Block as a Penetrating Finish

The section above about drying oils and non-drying oils for cutting surfaces also applies to surfaces that won't be used for cutting, so review that for information on tung oil vs. mineral oil. We decided to start with mineral oil because we could acquire it immediately. Tung oil can be applied over it later if we decide to go that way, as long as waxes have not also been applied. If waxes have been applied, the surface would need to be stripped before proceeding to tung oil or Waterlox.

So, just run down to your grocery or drug store, find the laxatives, and pick up a big bottle of pure mineral oil. People drink this stuff, so it is definitely food-safe for a kitchen counter! Do not use baby oil. Though it is also a mineral oil, it includes perfumes and other non-food-safe ingredients. Also remember not to use vegetable oils because they will go rancid. Pure mineral oil is your best bet, and you can find it super cheap in the laxative aisle!

At night after everyone else goes to bed, apply the mineral oil liberally to your counter and spread it around evenly with your hands, a paper towel, or a rag. Let it soak in overnight. In the morning, wipe up any excess.  When you first start conditioning your counters you may want to apply the mineral oil a few times, waiting a few days in between. After that, just watch your wood for signs of dryness, and reapply the oil when necessary (probably every few weeks). For more protection to your wood and to lengthen the time between conditioning, you can melt beeswax or paraffin in a double boiler with your mineral oil, let the mixture set a little, then rub it into your butcher block. This will enhance the wood's ability to resist water. Just remember that once wax is on the surface it must be stripped before you can switch to other finishing methods like tung oil or Waterlox.

My Results and Thoughts So Far

The day after our first application of mineral oil my toddler spilled a glass of water on the counter. This raised the grain again, so we sanded again before reapplying mineral oil. After the second application the same thing happened again (sensing a pattern here). Again, we sanded and reapplied the oil. This time the grain is not raising as much with moisture, but still is raised (different strips of wood to different degrees). This would not be the case as much with tung oil, and definitely not with Waterlox. Adding beeswax might also help. We are trying to decide whether to live with the not-smooth surface or move on to other conditioning methods. At first I thought the raised grain would bother me a lot, but it doesn't really. We'll just keep playing it by ear.

I'll do a later post about proper cleaning and stain-removal from butcher block.

Whew! That was long! Any questions? What's your dream countertop material? I would love to have a mix of Calacatta marble and butcher block counters. What's more important to you, looks or easy maintenance? I guess in this case I chose looks, because butcher block takes more maintenance than the laminate counter we replaced.

Motivational Song: Never Let A Bad Day Be Enough...

Never let a bad day be enough
To go and talk you into giving up
Sometimes everybody feels like you
Oh, feels like you, just like you

----

I have been catching up on TV shows from last season, including Smash. I've only watched the first two episodes so far. I've heard the show goes downhill over the season, which is too bad because I really liked how it started. Me? Like a musical? Yeah, I guess that's not much of a shocker.

The final number of the second episode was a song called "Crazy Dreams", performed by Megan Hilty as Ivy Lynn after she has just learned she has landed her dream part playing Marilyn Monroe in a musical bound for Broadway. I have not been able to get it out of my head ever since I heard it! While I remembered that the lyrics had a good message about dreaming big and not giving up, it was the piano accompaniment that was really sticking with me. I finally turned to YouTube so I could hear it again and learn to sing along properly (I'm a big Broadway star in my head, and even more so in my car -- any other car-singers out there? Crap I am so awesome at singing in my car! I have won American Idol sooooooo many times in my car!). Since I think this song is so great, I just have to share it. The video is actually just audio, I assume for copyright reasons.



Now, I learned something interesting when I searched for this on YouTube. It's actually a Carrie Underwood song! One of her lesser-known ones, from her 2007 album Carnival Ride. Carrie was a co-writer of the song, and her version is much more up-tempo. Again, this video is just audio:



Which version do you like better? I like both, but like I said, the Smash version really hit me. I wonder who did the arrangement. It reminds me of the type of cover one of my favorite singers, Eva Cassidy, would do. Here are the full lyrics, some of which are cut from the Smash version. I think this song contain a good message about not giving up on yourself.


"Crazy Dreams"

Hello you long shots
You dark horse runners
Hairbrush singers, dashboard drummers
Hello you wild magnolias
Just waiting to bloom

There's a little bit of all that inside of me and you
Thank God even crazy dreams come true

I stood at the bottom of some walls I thought I couldn't climb
I felt like Cinderella at the ball just running out of time
So I know how it feels to be afraid
Think that it's all gonna slip away
Hold on, hold on

Here's to you free souls, you firefly chasers
Tree climbers, porch swingers, air guitar players
Here's to you fearless dancers, shaking walls in your bedrooms

There's a lot of wonder left inside of me and you
Thank God even crazy dreams come true

Never let a bad day be enough
To go and talk you in to giving up
Sometimes everybody feels like you
Oh, feels like you, just like you

I've met some go-getters
Some difference makers
Small town heroes, and big chance takers
I've met some young hearts with something to prove

Here's to you long shots
You dark horse runners
Hairbrush singers, and dashboard drummers
Here's to you wild magnolias
Just waiting to bloom

There's a little bit of all that inside of me and you
Thank God even crazy dreams come true
Thank God even crazy dreams come true

---

I'll be following up on a line from this song in a later post, the one about standing at the bottom of walls you thought you couldn't climb, so stay tuned.

I hope you enjoyed this song. Are there any songs that help you feel motivated, capable, fearless? What about songs that just put you in a "get it done" mood, like ones you'd listen to while cleaning? I'd love to hear some suggestions!

CAN'T to CAN: Lisa Loves Logan

I am starting ANOTHER another blog, oh yes I am! Visit me at Lisa Loves Logan to learn about all the great things to see and do in Logan and greater Cache Valley, Utah. So far I have waxed poetic about mini donuts, since I hope to be eating some today at Summerfest.

I'm labeling this in CAN'T to CAN because this is yet another blog I have meant to do for a long time, and now I am. Stay tuned for my review of a recent meal at The Black Pearl, a heads up about U-pick strawberries in Hyde Park, and a write-up about some of the coolest houses in town, plus more!

See you there!

Regularly Scheduled Content To Resume Tomorrow

I have had two posts fail out on me due to random internet-related problems. Trust me, I've been writing every day like I intended. I just haven't been posting. I'll be back, tomorrow, though. See you then!

Quizness Bizness: Defining Your Style

Today I completed Challenge #2 from Vintage Revivals' Fearlessly Finding Awesome club. If you missed them, you can also check out my posts about Challenge #5 (my DIY uniform - it involves a feral kitten) and Challenge #1 (how I want my home to feel - in a word, "quelegant").

Challenge #2 was pretty simple. Mandi Gubler directed us to visit the HomeGoods website to take a 10-question Stylescope Quiz. I don't often take online quizzes, though I used to be a big devotee of them in Seventeen and YM a few years back. Okay, maybe more than a few years back, but who's counting? I'm not, because I've lost count. Lost count of the gray hairs infiltrating my temples, that is. So, yeah, more than a few years back I used to love to take personality quizzes. It was actually pretty fun to take one again, especially because this one was quick and easy and had fun visual questions. After selecting my answers, the HomeGoods quiz gods gave me my style results:

Lisa, You Are A DRAMATIC MODERN

You keep up with culture, style, and trends, but have a classical appreciation for beautiful forms and well-made, functional objects. You are inspired by good design and quality craftsmanship, but have a sense of the theatrical and the fun. You liven things up and infuse personality into your rooms. You like how something ornate mixes with modern, or how daring flourishes, like bold color or a wild pattern, can inject some humor and contrast to the serious, straight lines of modern pieces. You are a style leader, and your friends look to you for advice. You are not afraid of glamour. Because you embrace color, art, and elegance, your home makes a happy impact.

You value creativity. You are stylish and fun loving, and can be an inspiration to others. You have a natural sense of drama, and you know you have to be willing to take risks—whether with colors, finishes, furniture choices, or ideas—for your home to stand out. Your home can be happy and lively and the place all of your friends want to be.

I think that was pretty spot on in a flattering sort of way, like any good quiz or horoscope. It definitely described what I want my home to be. There were a couple useful extra tidbits:

1. Your Design Challenge: UNIFYThe good news is, you probably have many things you love and have collected, and no one would ever say your home is boring! You've done the hard part; now you just need to pull it all together. If your furniture seems like a mish-mash, unify it through similar upholsters or slipcovers. When grouping objects, try to find something they have in common. If they share a shape, color or material, they will look like a collection. A tray is every decorator's secret weapon for making groups of small objects look purposeful and sculptural. If your accessories are all over the map, try subduing the upholstery or wall color, so your small items are the stars.

Yep. Unifying my look is definitely my big challenge, like I talked about when I made up the lovely word quelegant. Hey, it's better than elegirky, right? And:

Putting Color to Use!

Don't forget that color looks best when paired with some neutrals for a little visual relief. If you go wild on the walls or with your upholstery, pull back a little on the rugs or curtains or vice versa. Each room can definitely have its own color palette, but think of your home as a whole, with each room transitioning to the next. Some tricks: go for fairly neutral hues in hallways, or add some colors from one room into the neighboring room, even in the form of accessories or fabrics.

Pretty basic advice, but good to remember. You can head on over and take the Stylescope Quiz here. Come back and let me know what they say about you, and if you think the results are right or wrong.