We’re Feeling Blue

Maybe the title is slightly misleading.

Feeling blue is totally not about any emotional state around here (even though Knox seems to be coming down with something). We are all keeping on keeping on and still coming off the little high that was our 11 year anniversary. (Can you even believe it?! Been together almost half my life. Almost).

Anyway, remember how I was so stoked to finally be clawing our way out of the “dark days” that involved all kinds of baby and toddler survival? I thought I would share my favourite little DIY’s that I’ve done.

One of the things that we did was paint our door blue. It doesn’t sound like much, but it has changed the whole look of the front of the house. So I thought I would guide you through the details of painting a door the right way – kids and all.

In case you’re also a DIY novice (like I am), here’s my tips on how to paint a door:

1. The first and most important step is to decide on a colour that you both love. Try to stay on your partners good side by refraining on calling out their colour blindness. You’ll need them later. Also, make sure you buy the primer and paint at least 2 years before you intend to use it – helps to really set in the colour.

2. Move house. Yes, I know what you are thinking – now the colour that you have carefully chosen will now be displayed on a new property. That’s OK. Also another little tip – make sure to paint the other main walls of the house the same colour but totally different hue to ensure that you scowl at it every time you come home, this is key to overall satisfaction.

3. Clear your schedule in order to paint the door. Find a screwdriver (OK, get partner to find screwdriver), use it to remove the door handle. Feel like a boss.

4. Find out that you can’t just whip out the paint and do it – you need to actually sand it first. Make sure you can’t get any into any possible orifice in your face (this is essential as the bottom of the door looked a bit funky)

5. Stop gagging on the weird smell of the mask and get some fresh air. Shake your tired arms (from doing half of that one panel) in the sexiest way you can without looking like a drowning jellyfish. Then use the love and good vibes that you have been working on with your partner to get them to finish the job.

6. Enjoy a cup of hot tea while you wait.

7. Wipe the surface of the door down with a damp cloth to get off all the dust. Again, try not to inhale it all, the children value your presence despite the fact that they only want it to get them stuff.

8. Mix the primer very carefully on the grass with a stick. Ensure that any stray children are suitably occupied to limit the spillage throughout the house.

9. Get the turps and clean up the mess that has traveled inside.

10. Forcefully hand children over to partner and (because they are no longer needed for manual labour) threaten whichever way you please to ensure they do not come back.

11. Pour primer into the tray and use a little roller to apply the primer to the door. Oooh and aaaah at the pretty pattern that it makes. Take a few too many pictures.

12. Wait for the paint to dry by attending a kiddies party, doing the whole suicide hour, putting them to sleep, hardly sleeping at all because of sick children and then have a hearty breakfast. This really helps to motivate to finish it all in the morning.

13. Get partner to open and mix paint by feigning ignorance about how to do such things and which tools to do it with. Pour some into tray and roll onto door.

14. Stand back and marvel at the awesomeness. Then try not to curse as you turps off all the blue paint all over the house (how did that even happen?!).

And that’s it.

You’re welcome.