The Project Domino Effect (and New Front Door Hardware)

***Overshare post alert*** Some time ago, I replaced my front door handle and deadbolt.

There are a number of reasons why this was a good idea at the time, but there’s one that still makes me laugh to this day as one of the strangest (and yet, still oddly logical) reasons to replace something in my home: I got tired of really, really needing to pee.

You see, the old deadbolt key was getting twisted and stuck nearly every. damn. time. I came home from work and unlocked my front door. In order to get the key to work, I had to wiggle it just right. The deadbolt would eventually catch, the door would be unlocked, and all would be right with the world.

Except, many more times than I would like to admit, I would get stuck in traffic on my drive home from work (it is Atlanta, after all — home of some of the most insane traffic jams ever). And even though I didn’t really think I had to use the bathroom when I left the office, by the time I got all the way home, things would be… considerably different. My bladder would sometimes be so full that I’d need to do that dumb little dance while praying for the door to release its death grip on the interior pins within the lock, and I’d be muttering under my breath, “for the love of God, damn you! TURN! TUUUURN!”

(There were other good reasons for replacing the hardware as well, such as the fact that I only had one really old front door key and it was almost too twisted to even fit in the lock, but the pee-pee dance story is just way more funny and embarrassing.)

Anyway, I picked out a new deadbolt and handle to match the other nickel exterior hardware. And not only am I no longer working on my peemergency dance moves in front of my neighbors anymore, but I have been enjoying another funny, unexpected perk: instead of needing a free hand to turn the handle, I can use my elbow and shove the door open with a nudge from my hip. It may not seem like much, but when you might need to pee and you’ve got two armloads of groceries? Magic.

I didn’t reveal the new door hardware at the time because it was one of those domino effect projects: fix this, change that, and then realize that there are two or three other things that you really should take care of to have a more complete update about it. But then, months pass, you ignore the little things around it that irk you, and the project sort of hangs on the to-do list indefinitely.

After staring at my door like this, every day, for months, I finally got frustrated enough to just fix what was bugging me. Thanks to the different sizes between the original and replacement, a sliver of the old red paint from the original door color was peeking through around the deadbolt, and I had reached a tipping point between putting it off for one more day and being tired of this little reminder still being on my to-do list. Perhaps it was all of the exterior updates surrounding the door. Perhaps it was knowing exactly where the paint was from having organized my garage this year. But all it took was a little paint brush to finally attack that little sliver of red paint. So I did. And I moved on.

Or so I thought. A few days later, I then noticed that by having painted the area around the new handle and deadbolt, the sheen of the dark blue paint on the rest of the door had dulled a little. I could have ignored it, but I knew it would eventually bug me like the red paint did. So I whipped out a regular paint brush, cleaned the door, and repainted nearly all of the door wherever I saw a dull sheen.

I then noticed several old gouges in the trim next to the handle. I’m not even sure why this area had been notched out originally, but using some quick-dry wood putty to rebuild the corner took care of it in no time.

After a little sanding and more paint, the new door hardware looked much more camera-ready!

So, here’s the old door as it was ages ago:

And here’s what it looks like now!

That’s not all that was updated, so be sure to  come back on Wednesday for a quick tutorial on the new doorbell!

The post The Project Domino Effect (and New Front Door Hardware) appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

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Maxi Knight

I put it out there on Instagram.  And now I just wanna talk openly about this dude.

So his name.

I had issues.

When Jeremy and I went into the hospital to have our darling fourth bouncing baby boy, we narrowed it down to two name options.  They were Charles Gray (both family names) and we would have called him Charlie….or Knight Davidson (I became obsessed with the name Knight because of the meaning and because I think it was unique as a first name and David is a family name).  Jeremy really liked Charlie and felt like Knight was more of a last name.  We joked that if he came out blonde, he would be a Charlie and if he popped out with dark hair, Knight would be it.  Well, low and behold, dark hair adorned his little head and my first thought was…well, I guess it’s Knight then.

The problem with the name Knight is that it has a silent K.  And so phonetically it is hard for people to think Knight as in the honorable and brave dude in shining armor and not the dark time of our day.

Also my mom didn’t dig the name.  And honestly, I care very little what other people think EXCEPT my family.  I wanted everyone in my family to be nuts over the name but I get that it was odd comparatively.   The weirdest name she used with her kids was “Katie” which at the time was a nickname and not a proper name.  So wild-woman she is not.

So while we were in the hospital, I said to Jeremy I don’t think he looks like a Charlie but I get that you are still on the fence about Knight.  And he brought up the name Max.  It was a name I had originally suggested months earlier but we both turned it down because of the obvious “maxi pad” reference.  Jeremy kept on saying it in later days but I think he was teasing me because it was always “Maximus” after his favorite movie…Gladiator.

It was about two in the morning on the first night in the hospital when I looked down at my sweet newborn and decided that if we didn’t make a decision soon…it wasn’t going to happen.  Charlie was out.  Knight seemed like it appealed to only me.  And Max seemed like it was the only other name we could agree on….sortof.

I woke up Jeremy and said that I would be okay with Maxwell Knight….not just Max because I like “proper man names”.  He agreed.  And REALLY wanted to go back to sleep

We told our family and friends.  We announced to the world.  We printed out the birth announcements.  I did all the normal things you do but inside I still felt this twinge of doubt that we made a mistake.  Did I really just name my kid Max?  Did I give in because of peer pressure?  Since our last name Bower means a lady’s house…did I just name my kid Maxwell House?  My brain went a little crazy.

I spent the next weeks going back and forth on the name.  In private I would “try out” other names….calling him everything under the moon.  I secretly still clung to Knight as my favorite.  I cried to Jeremy a couple times that I just couldn’t FEEL the name “Max”.  It seemed foreign somehow.  Like Max wasn’t my baby’s name.  But I also felt weird calling him ANYTHING else.  I didn’t believe we made a mistake in naming him Maxwell Knight…but I just didn’t know what I would call my sweet ball of squishiness.

Then I put it out there on Instagram.  Little did I know that ‘name remorse’ was an actual thing that A LOT of people go through.  I felt normal again.  Like a weight had been lifted (thanks you.) and just hearing so many other moms tell me that it was okay for me to feel that way made me do an ugly cry in a good way.  The general consensus was…

1.  I get to call him whatever the heck I want

2.  he might grow into the name

3.  he might not

4.  either way #1 still applies

Oh how sweet it was!  Jeremy had told me that we could call him Knight if I wanted but honestly he is a good husband and was probably saying that to be supportive.  I needed to hear it from outside sources.  And when so many virtual friends made me feel like I wasn’t being crazy, it gave me the confidence to think more clearly.

So now I call him Maxi Knight.  I call him that majority of the time.  Jeremy still calls him Max and the boys still call him Baby Max….and I am perfectly okay with all those names.  I think the name suits him perfectly.  I never thought we would officially change his name…I just needed to know what to call him and what I FELT fit him.  And now I have that.

Sometimes Weston will call him Maxi Knight and it makes me smile.  I love that it’s my own little version of his name.  I love that there is peace in it now.  I love that I have such a wonderful community online to call on when I am too much in my own head.  And I love that there are no doubts now.  My Maxwell Knight is probably going to have a million nicknames and some will make me cringe and some will make me smile and some will leave me head scratching…but in the end, he will always be mine, no matter what.

Also…this is my favorite picture ever

If you have ever gone through name remorse or changed a name or whatever, I thought it would be encouraging to others if you shared.  I would love to hear your story if you want to comment.  I know there isn’t a one-solution-fits-all for you mama’s out there…changing names, nicknames, waiting, etc….but that doesn’t mean you are crazy or weird or whatever…we are all just figuring this parenthood thing out…I say let’s do it together with no shame

Puppy Love (Giveaway)

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored giveaway written by me on behalf of Beneful Brand Dog Food. All opinions are 100% my own.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a good ol’ fashioned post about Charlie. For many of you, you’re already familiar with this sweet face:

For more than four years, this blog has had a furry, goofy mascot with tons of personality. Her name is Charlie, and she’s my crazy “kangaroo” mutt. Here she is, hanging out on my roof like a fearless nutjob.

Sure, she’s timid as can be when tiptoeing across my laminate floors, but life just wouldn’t be interesting if she weren’t a total hypocrite when it came to actually dangerous things. She can also clear my six foot backyard fence like a world-class hurdler. Not to mention, she also seems very aware of her good looks.

When I got Charlie as a pup, I did it mainly because I missed my ex’s dog (who used to live here) and felt lonely living in my house all by myself. I needed a companion, and adopting a sweet little furball from the Atlanta Humane Society seemed like a great idea… right up until she peed on my brand new carpet about five minutes after getting home. We clearly had a few things to work on.

Colby and little Charlie

A year after moving into my fixer upper, the first part of my family came together… just the two of us. And it’s been a riot ever since.

Having a dog hasn’t always been easy, but she has grown to be an excellent companion. Whenever I’m busy on a project inside, she can’t help but get right into the action… even if it means walking into wet paint or getting dust on her nose.

She is always my little helper, ever-curious and wanting attention.

Her favorite spot in the house is on my painted staircase, about halfway up, keeping an eye on the window and the kids playing in the street. She is a much bigger fan of them than they are of her. Same for the pizza guy.

Her favorite toys have been the same since I got her home. Naturally, her rule of thumb seems to be that the more fuzzy mess it can make, the more fun there is to be had. I love spoiling her with them just as much, but those specialty “tough” toys can really get pricey when you throw in treats, dental chews, and all of the other goodies that taunt me from the pet store display shelves.

Toys used to be too big for her!

Now… not so much.

As if I needed an excuse to spoil her more, it just so happens that this is National Dog Week. Beneful asked if they could send over a box of goodies to help Charlie celebrate, and I happily agreed since there’s always a difference between spoiling my dog and having the funds to spoil her as much as I want to. The care package they sent came with a few things that I already know she’ll love, including two packages of dental chews and two tennis balls (this is the only pic I got with everything in the box, since she immediately took off with a ball up the stairs before I could snap another pic!). I see lots of vacuuming of little fuzzy bits in my future, but it’s a small price to pay for her contentment.

And as for the treats? Charlie-approved.

Toys and snacks aside, to “celebrate” National Dog Week, Charlie and I have spent a lot of it outside, trying to enjoy this fall weather as much as we can. Even though I’ve been busy with lots of gardening, she is perfectly happy to play and watch me work… provided that she gets the occasional belly rub or trip to the park.

Beneful is also celebrating this week by offering everyone a $3 off coupon for a 13 lb. or greater size bag of food (which you can get here). And of course, a giveaway! You know how I love simple entry, so all you have to do to enter is use the Rafflecopter widget below and leave a comment on this post about your pup. What’s your favorite activity to share with your pooch? What’s the funniest thing they’ve ever done? Etc., etc. (funny entries keep me entertained while I approve comments). Here are the full details:

• Prize: A fun box of goodies from Beneful
• Number of winners: 1
• Giveaway ends: Wednesday, September 30 11:59 PM
• Ships: U.S. only.
• To enter: leave a comment on this post about your furry BFF (What’s your favorite activity to share with your pooch? What’s the funniest thing they’ve ever done?) & mark that you’ve entered on Rafflecopter (you must do both to achieve entry).

If you want to celebrate National Dog Week even more, feel free to share a pic of your pup by using the hashtags #NationalDogWeek and #FriendsWithBeneful on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram. Lots of luck, and enjoy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Puppy Love (Giveaway) appeared first on The Ugly Duckling House.

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Boxed

DISCLAIMER: Thank you Boxed for sponsoring this post. While this was a sponsored opportunity from Boxed, all content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I have been so excited to share this post with you…it’s like when someone goes vegan and they can’t stop talking about it.  Or those CrossFit fanatics who tell you all about PR-ing whats-her-face.  That is me right now…telling you with the upmost enthusiasm about Boxed.  Again.  Because it is that good.

First of all…Boxed is an online warehouse…they sell bulk pantry and household items.  You might know of other big-box stores where you pay a membership to buy bulk foods and items and you can save because you are buying ninety candy bars vs. two.  Same idea except this is online and you don’t pay a membership fee and they ship it directly to your house.  Since we don’t have a nearby wholesale store (#countryproblems), this is a heaven-sent angel.

Sometimes people are like…dude this is sponsored and you don’t really use it, do you?!

Oh heck yeah.  This is my jam people.  I have shopped for beach supplies while sitting on my sofa.  I have gotten baseball team snacks while waiting for my chicken dinner to be served.  I have bought shampoo, paper towels and organic veggie chips while taking a bath.  Try to do that while in a store.  I dare you.

Of course I was introduced to it as a sponsored post and I am so thankful because now I use it four to six weeks to get our snacks and toiletries.

And every single time I use Boxed, I know I am saving time, money and energy.  My number one problem with going to the grocery store for basics is that I have so many freaking kids.  And they want to play!  They want to eat the cookies!  They want all. the. toys.  And I end up being less than stellar as a mom when it comes to checkout.  DEAR LORD THE CHECKOUT!  I have the five year old pushing the stroller with the two babies, I’m holding Weston like a football, and the cart is overflowing because the diapers take up 99% of the space.

Ordering online is SO much easier.  I can get the basics and have them delivered to my doorstop.  My kids get to play in the new toy…aka the big box…and I have my sanity so that when it comes time to buy fresh produce and meats and cheeses at my local grocery store, I have the room in the cart and the energy to do it.

Last time I talked about Boxed, I compared them and the cost to the other wholesale stores and their prices.  You can read about that here.

This time I thought it would be more practical to compare it to my local grocery stores.  That is where I shop so that makes sense.  Why would I buy something online if it doesn’t actually save me money?!  I hit up Publix and Kroger and Walmart (those are the closest grocery stores I would consider going to).  I first ordered a bunch of snacks from Boxed and then I went to each place and jotted down the prices.  Photographic evidence of me in Publix….

And at Kroger….

Will was my shopping buddy and we searched out the twelve items that we snagged in our latest Boxed order and wrote down all the prices…it was beneficial for him because he got practice calling out the numbers and I got to compare all the prices on the following twelve items.  (click the product graphic for a direct link)

 

Did you see?  Boxed was actually cheaper (or the same price) ON EVERY SINGLE ITEM.  That blew my mind.  I was so surprised because I thought for sure it would be a draw.

Also, I am so glad that buying online helps me avoid this….the never-ending “take a picture for Santa” routine.  That is literally the best thing I ever did and it requires me to have so much patience in the store.  I told Will that we don’t buy toys in the store….we take a photo of them and send them to Santa and grandparents…so now every time we hit ANY store, he wants to take photos of all the things his little heart desires.  He gladly puts them away and doesn’t cry when he doesn’t get to buy it (BEST THING EVER) but sometimes I don’t want to whip out the phone and fill it up with monster truck photos (SERENITY NOW!)

I will have to admit, I did get weirdly excited that there were Star Wars displays out….

But let’s get back to it…

the point of this homework was if I had bought the same exact items and amounts at other stores, Boxed would have saved me money.  Boxed wins hands down.  I know that some of you probably are concerned that I didn’t coupon.  Well, I don’t have time for that.  I have four kids ages five and under.  Sharp objects are not allowed in my house.  The crazy thing is, this comparison is probably even more skewed against Boxed because they offer extras like coupon codes and goodie bags and free face wipes with your shampoo purchase.  It’s the little things!

I know that it sounds too good to be true but honestly this is one of those deals that is just plain awesome.  They saved me money on the items, gas money, time and energy in a store, plus there is no membership fee, free shipping on orders over $65 and have great products.  They even have a wide range of all-natural, organic, and special diet snacks and groceries.  So if you are gluten or dairy free…they even have options for you!

Do you get it now?  Do you see why I am so excited to share this with you?  SAVINGS!  And if you don’t believe me…just do the math.  And if you are a fan of saving…here is a way to do it even more…use the code BOXEDBP  and you can receive 15% off  plus free shipping with a minimum $65 order, expires 12/31/2015!  Happy savings!

P.S. Check them out on Facebook and Instagram!