Connecting Canines

Dear coNUNdrum Experts,

I'm perplexed about a matter and would love to hear from you and your astute readers.

Nearly three years ago, our family adopted a puppy—Gina.  She was adorable and skittish. Very skittish. At four months old, she had yet to be socialized, and therefore was afraid of everything and everyone – especially men. She's a mix of Border collie and Australian cattle dog, in other words, a herding, working animal.  And though she's become a little braver, whenever anyone comes to the door, she barks and hides beneath the bed.

Reader Needs Help in the Bathroom

Dear MikChiks--

 My 50-something husband is nesting, I guess; I can't think of any other explanation for the sudden spurt of house-related energy. He's tackling our bathroom and kitchen--stripping wallpaper and buying vanities, that sort of thing. But he's asked me to do the decorating, and for that I really need your help. I've been to your house, and I know that you're really good at the visual arts. I'd love some suggestions from you...keep in mind that these are going to be cosmetic changes only--we're not remodeling, just redecorating.

Here are the 'givens' for the bathroom: It's very small, with white tile about two-thirds up the walls, a white bathtub, and white-and-navy patterned linoleum flooring. There's also a small cabinet (white) and a piece of I-don't-know-what-you-call-it furniture above the toilet (also white) that holds our towels. Kind of boring, huh? He's stripped the wallpaper and bought a very pretty pale blue paint. So really, the only things I need to figure out are 1) window treatment, 2) shower curtain and bath mat, and 3) pretty things to put on the walls or on top of the small cabinet. There's one window that looks out on the neighbor's (quite close) house, so privacy is an issue.

I'm so, so not good with this type of thing.  Help!

Jan the Inept

Dear Jan the Inept,

Thanks for letting us use your real name.  First off, you are blessed among women!  A husband who strips (walls) and paints?  A husband who does all the menial, not-fun work, and asks you only to decorate?  Let Mr. Jan nest in peace, whilst you fetch his refreshment.


So, let's get down with the bathroom this week and the kitchen next.

The Ivory Double Bloom from Etsy

When it comes to decorating a small loo, your piece de resistance should be your shower curtain.  It will be the focal point, as it usually faces the door and takes up the largest amount of space.  

To keep you from experiencing sticker shock, we'll give you a few options.  This beauty is a $70 curtain.  It's GORGEOUS and will give you a ton of flexibility with towel colors.  It's our favorite, but we'll give you other options. You can purchase it HERE. 

The next one is a retro beauty that combines old charm with a little geometric design--the picture doesn't do it justice.  Don't use those bauble hooks that are shown with  it, though.  You can see and purchase it HERE and HERE.  And as a bonus, it's ONLY $17.99.  This one is tempting! And our #2 Choice...
 

How about a Statement Piece, Miss Lover of Words?

The Top 500 SAT Words

 You can purchase it HERE for a mere $17.59--the only cheap education-related item we've ever come across.




Or... 

If you want something a little more formal with that "tile" feeling, you can purchase this nifty one HERE for $24.99.

 







Or... For clean lines and simplicity, how about this one which you can purchase HERE, but simplicity comes with a price tag:  $55--also from Etsy. 

Then last but not least, a good design and value.  It's called, "Bellis".  It's $24.99 and can be purchased HERE.  This one would look great with eggplant-colored towels.

So take your pick, little lady.  That's step one.  Once you know which shower curtain you want, the rest will be easy-pleasy.
Readers?
What are your bathrooms looking like these days?  Do you have a fav among these or others?
XOXO,
Maddie and Lisa

Plethora Thursday

Greetings Readers!

We have some odds (very odd) and ends today.  

First off, about the Valentine's Day contest—we have three riveting submissions—no understatement intended.  They are riveting.  There's plenty of time to get yours in.  And the sky's the limit about what you write and how you write it.  A favorite moment?  His/Her favorite qualities?  Why your hound is your true love?  Haiku?

 

It can be the story of how you first met.  His first words to you.  I'll never forget Sam's first words to me (Lisa) as I lay on the table next to him at the Red Cross blood drive. "I bet I can fill my blood bag faster than you can."  How can you not fall for a guy with lines like that?  Especially when you stand up and are completely woozy because you've just pumped a quart of blood in record time.

Patron Squeezes Establishment

Dear Mik Chiks,
Restaurant Ethics: A year or so ago several of us were at a restaurant. We were given water with lemon on the side of the glass. Several people in our group didn't want their lemon, so my mother took their lemons, squeezed them into her ice water, added sugar and had lemonade. (which I thought was pretty industrious).

I don't think anyone would have a problem with that, but what if someone asked for several lemons and did the same thing? [basically getting a free lemonade/drink] I was just wondering if your readers had any restaurant stories or ethics questions.

Signed,
Daughter of a Free(loader) Lemonade at Red Lobster

Bridesmaid Color cocoNUNdrum

Dear Mik Chiks,

 I've been reading and enjoying Connecting Now for a while, and now I have a conundrum for Connecting Coco.

 My cousin is getting married in June, and has asked me to be one of the bridesmaids. Her future sister-in-law is a Mary Kay consultant, and will be able to get free samples for the wedding.   She does need to know what colors to get though.  My cousin has asked each of the bridesmaids to let her know what daytime makeup colors go best with her complexion.  Having never worn makeup besides the occasional lip color, I am stumped.  How do I figure out which looks work and which don't?  Mary Kay has a makeover website, but I don't even know where to start.  Any advice?

~Confused by Color

Football Fashion--Does Such a Thing Exist?

Dear, Dear Readers,
Before we get to our football cocoNUNdrum, a word (or two) on the Valentine's Day Contest.  When we announced our Valentine's Day contest, we wanted to be flexible with you. We wanted to be a little tra-la-la and not set any hard and fast rules on word counts, and times and deadlines. We wanted to keep it chill, go where the spirit moved.

But nooooooo. All we've received from you hooligans (Jo being first!) is clamoring and henpecking about wanting rules and regulations!

You want a king, Oh Israel?

FINE!

Late Breaking News: Special Announcement

Hello Readers!

Hope this Wednesday finds you well. 

Today is the beginning of something special, something we hope to offer on an annual basis, for as long as Connecting now exists, which we hope will be longer than some relationships. 

Today we unveil the AJ and Eva Memorial Fund.

Maddie is gifted in photo-shopping, no?

The astute among you may correctly surmise that love did not work out for these state-crossed friends.  We were incredibly saddened to hear of this news, but after a moment of silence, we realized that their match-up should not have happened in vain.  The dirge must be replaced.  Yes, a Phoenix must rise from these ashes. 

101st post! Hair Today!

Readers!
We forgot to celebrate our 100th post last week.
Oops.
As a consolation, here's a brand new CocoNUNdrum for you:

Dear MikChiks,
I was very excited when I saw that the MikChiks give hair advice. Here is a description of my hair needs: I have a high broad forehead and fine, thin, curly hair. I don't like my hair to fall in my face (and it makes my acne worse if it does--I never did grow out of that like is supposed to happen). I also have a hidden disability and I don't have the energy to spend fussing with my hair and cannot keep my arms up (as to wash or blow dry my hair) for very long.

Shaving: The Saga Continues...

It's Finally Friday!

 A round of applause may be in order—what a week!  

Welcome to Shaving: Part Trois, prononunced "twa" not "troys" for reasons only the French and maybe the Canadians know.  Certainly not us.  Say what you want about "Mikitarian," but at least it's phonetic.

Today we bring you an Update and another Cautionary Tale.  First the Update from Too Busy to Shave:

Dear MikChiks,

I bought a Gillette Mach 3 Turbo....no nicks! Still took a good 10-15 minutes, but it was certainly easier with the better razor. ;)
Your blog has changed my life....
Love, Busy

Not About Shaving: Part Deux

Dear Mik Chiks,

 Not to beat a dead cart, but continuing on the theme of public abandonment, what about shopping carts abandoned IN the store--those laden with harvested goodies?  Or, never mind the cart itself, what about stuff that was obviously plopped down and forsaken in foreign territory, AKA: (And yes, I have actually observed these) Aluminum foil in the menswear section (?!), kids shoes in the camping section, a fresh pizza in the linen section, milk in produce, produce in meat....what is this world coming to??!!!  I don’t think I will even get started on the “if you knocked it over, how ‘bouts you picks it up, instead of leaving it there for someone else to run over with their cart. 

Grieved over gross(ery) negligence

Sympathetic Female Writes Tired Texan

Greetings Readers!

Tired Texan's coNUNdrum from yesterday spurred one of you to write a heartfelt comment that was too long for the comment section.

With no further ado:

Hi Mik Chiks…

Tired in Texas touched my heart with his coNUNdrum. It’s amazing that more of our men aren’t Loony Toons characters when you consider all the conflicting messages they receive from society at large, the church closer in, and woman in general. Let me put it this way… I’m glad I’m not a man in today’s world.  (Actually, I’m glad I’m not a man at all… I’m quite content with the gender and role that God has assigned me!)

Even the CoNUNdrums from Texas are Big

Brave New World—ideal or sinister future devoid of human values

Good Monday Morning!

We begin the week with a letter from a frustrated Texan.  Saddle up and don't forget to buckle up.

Dear MikChiks,

Our culture is being risk managed into the ground. Once upon a time, cops would happily deputize people on the spot if they needed help; now, thanks to Risk Management (Stupid Lawsuit Avoidance) most of them would cut off their own hands (a neat trick, perhaps with an illegally large knife held between their toes) and leap into a pot of boiling oil rather than face the paperwork, reprimands, and possible courtroom time that could result.

Wife/Mother Hesitant to Plunge into Staycation

Dear MikChiks,
My husband and I are on a limited income, and we don't have family super close by. We have two school-aged kids. So what does this mean, you ask?  (Yes, that's just what we were asking ourselves.)

Vacations are few and far between. And trips with just the two of us? Pretty much nil.

Well, my hubby and I have a wonderful opportunity to spend an entire SIX DAYS AND NIGHTS this summer away from the kids, just the two of us. I probably don't have to tell you that even the idea of this made both of us smile. (Please, let's keep this PG) I don't think we have been away that long alone since we HAD the kids. And the times we were away overnight? At least a couple years ago, and one or two nights max.

Join the Birthday Party!

Happy Wednesday!

Today we are celebrating the six month birthday of our blog.  We're not sure if it is exactly the six month anniversary of our first blog or not, because that would require math capabilities or a calendar, neither of which we have handy. 

So today it is!  Six (or so) months of coNUNdrum solving (of sorts).  We should all be happy.  If there's anyone, though, who could complain about the last hemi-year, it's our Tech Girl—Mari.  How many times have we emailed her? Mari, how do I make a tab?  Mari, we need a comment button.  Mari, Maddie stole my socks.  And even last week:  Mari, how do we get a date stamp on our blog?

Of NanoNUNdrums and Other Projects

Good First Monday-of-the-New-Year-Morning to You!

Is your engine revved?  Your chrome polished?  Your tank filled?  Cause it's time to get going on whatever project you've been putting off.  

Procrastination Day is over, baby!

For many of the writers in our audience, that means pulling out the rickety novels we built in November during NaNoWriMo.  (We realize we've switched metaphors—from cars to buildings—but we're fluid like that).  It's time to buckle down and batten down and get down to work!

New Year's Elocution—Say No to Prostitution

Were we'd like to be at this moment..

1/1/11

Happy Ones, Readers!

Like many of you, we have opted out of making resolutions this year.  We're not even making plans.  If the Holiday Season of 2010 taught us anything, it was this:  don't make plans.  Snow will thwart them.  The threat of snow will thwart them.  Mountains will thwart them.  Even last night—our very last opportunity to make plans in 2010, a medical emergency (which turned out to be okay) thwarted them. 

We have no plans to exercise more, get a better job, or quit smoking. The coming year will simply be about saying no to prostitution.  We figured if the Bible can talk about it, then so can we.  And we're referring more to the metaphorical aspect of it, than the traditional job title. In other words, there's more than one way to sell ourselves in this world.   Our commodities being our time, our energy, and our money.