Called Out

Tonight I am pouting in our bedroom. I bought this super amazing table for $16 today at the Goodwill that I am going to convert into a bar cart for the hubby over the weekend. (I promise to share pictures as soon as it's done!) In my excitement I wrote about it in my FB status. Within seconds our dear friend Kelly called me out and asked if I was allowed to buy paint during this year long project. Huh- wait, what?!?! ...that question stopped me dead. I have leftover paint from our kitchen walls for this cart project, but what about the dressers we will soon need to buy for the kids' rooms? Or those old fashioned metal lawn chairs I am dreaming I finally find at some estate sale this summer? Or when we move in the next few months and I have to repaint white walls before I go stark raving mad? I can go to the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store to see what paint they have in stock...although I doubt they'll have the bright colors I favor. Naturally, I started whining to hubby about my petty conundrum. The sweet, supportive, wonderful man that he is told me I could cheat on our project at anytime, and he'll just stick to it. Talk about a kick in the gut...THIS WHOLE THING WAS MY IDEA. <sigh> That only means one thing, compromise in another area. After some discussion we agreed we can buy paint, hardware supplies, and fabric/sewing notions to re-furbish, repair, or make things we need. The key word is NEED. In exchange, we won't allow ourselves to buy new gifts for people. We'll have to make their presents, since I absolutely REFUSE to give someone used items as a gift. That's just tacky! Our sincere apologies to anyone who has a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or some other special occasion this year. We promise to be creative, and not make anything too lame for you. Ty's really getting good at his vodka infusing and homemade kahlua...so there's always that, right?


On a positive note, Kelly's hubby (Ty's best friend) recommended a great book to help us on our adventure that I immediately put on my library hold list. Thanks, Matt! Along with several other books on green/sustainable living. I <3 our library! It just opened a few months ago, and I get a sick thrill being the first one to check out the books, movies, and CD's. All the librarians there know our family by name, as we are there so often.


Lastly, someone asked us how we chose our blog's title. It's kinda silly, really. When Tyler found out what city I grew up in (Brookfield), he made a snide remark asking if I grew up with a butler. I didn't, just for the record. And somehow, we took to talking about the lazy, good-for-nothing butler we had around our house. The one that never made the coffee, or shoveled the sidewalk, or did the laundry. After a time we figured he needed a name, and since we both have a ridiculous obsession with bad 80's sitcoms, Mr. Belvedere was the logical choice. So whenever something wasn't done, we yelled for our absent butler, Mr. Belvedere. Someday he'll show up here for real, surprise the hell outta us, and give Tyler the morning off from making our coffee. I just know it! Anyway, since we're giving up so much this year, we knew the butler would definitely have to be one of the first things we let go. There it is...the story of the blog's title.