What Could Go Right

Yesterday was one of those days that, considering all that happened, I could have very easily played the "poor me, my life sucks, nothing is going the way I planned" card.  But I didn't and I won't.  Not yesterday and I hope I never do.  I found ways to still laugh, smile and be grateful for what I have.

About a week ago, Dakota was teasing his sisters by chasing them through the house and spitting water at them.  I let it happen.  They were happy and water can easily be wiped up.

At one moment, the girls decided to make their escape downstairs, and Dakota slipped on his own spit-out water and cracked his head on the edge of a stair.  At the time that I ran to comfort him, I felt a drip of warmth hit my arm, and knew it was blood.  So I rushed him over to the kitchen sink where I wet a paper towel and cleaned off the wound.  It was about a 3/4 inch split on the back of his little teasing noggin.

Dakota, post parental examination...this was just to keep that little gauze pad on his head)

After a joke with Todd that this little guy truly is his mini-me (Todd has a split on the back of his head from an incident as a child)  and a laugh about the way he looked with the turban on his head, we agreed that I should take him to get it checked out.  It would probably need stitches.

An hour later, I was supposed to be at work, but I was still waiting to get into an examination room.  I called Todd to come and trade me places and I took the two girls with me to work.  An hour later, Todd picked up the girls and Dakota had three staples in his head.  OUCH!

Back to the events of yesterday.  Connor and Abi had been up all night with fevers around 103 and chills and Dakota seemed to be developing the same flu that they had contracted.  Todd had just been experiencing the same symptoms, so I let him sleep through the night while I took turns comforting the kids.  With little sleep under my belt, I got myself dressed and ready for the day.

My plan was to take Dakota with me to work for an hour so I could prep for Saturday's meetings, then the two of us would go and get his staples removed from his head.  I must have been very excited to get to work, because I got caught going 53 mph on Redwood Road where the speed limit is 45.  The officer kindly wrote me up for going 5 over "because I was honest with him when he asked if I knew why I was being pulled over" and I drove on my way to work.

While at work, I tried to prep best I could, but the network was down, so I didn't have access to the programs on the computer I needed, and when I printed out a few of my reports for the clients, Dakota helpfully grabbed them with his chocolatey covered fingers and handed them to me.  Meh!  He's two and was trying to help.

Then it came time for the staple removal.  We got to the Dr.'s office and right away they noticed he had a temperature and that his eyes were blood shot.  So the sweet nurse apologized for what she needed to do, and then stuffed a swab up my baby's nose to determine that he had the flu, and then the Dr. diagnosed him with Pink Eye.  The first nurse couldn't get the staples out, the Dr. couldn't get the staples out.  Dakota had already had it (20 minutes of tugging), so a third nurse was called in, I lay down on the examination table with Dakota on my chest.  One Dr. held his legs down, the other Dr. helped me hold his head in place, while simultaneously I wrapped my arms around his body to keep that wriggling part as still as possible, all the while the 2nd nurse has the "pliers" about 3 inches from my face tugging as best she can.  Those staples were in there tight.

My heart broke when Dakota would cry out, "Hey guys, stop it" over and over again.  And then my emotions broke the surface when all of it was over, he looked at the folks in the room and said, "thank you."  The Dr. gave him a token and eye drops, promised me that all of my family was contagious and someone else would probably contract pink eye and we should not be around people until we can go 24 hours without a fever and sent me home with notes excusing them from school.

I almost left the office without redeeming Dakota's token, but he reminded me that he wanted to spend his coin on a ball.  I love that kid!

The sad Instagram pic proving how sick the boy was

After posting a pic on Instagram and Facebook, the response from other mommies that go through this and remember the misery it brings with it, overwhelmed me and I had the strength to smile (especially when driving through an intersection I saw two teenage boys dancing like robots in their car).  The night before, when I was working, my mom took it upon herself to feed my kids cuz Todd was out sick.  Then that day that the staples were removed and we were quarantined, my visiting teachers came over with goodies, and then a neighbor brought over the world's greatest cabbage salsa.

But the very best part of it all has been letting the kids sleep in the living room.  Connor and Abi talk and talk and talk about everything from school to church to making up games until they fall asleep.  Those two have always had an amazing friendship, I pray it will continue throughout their life.

I've been cuddling non-stop with Dakota and even got to take a nap with Carly today.  These feverish kids are like my own personal heating blankets, and in this cold weather, it's awesome.

I know that all of that isn't enough to warrant a "poor me feeling."  There are fleeting moments that I will recall that Todd is trying to run his own business out of our home, I had to get a job, we have had to ask for assistance from family members, things are breaking and need replacing and medical bills are piling up and the list can always go on.  That could get a good pitty party rolling!

But sometimes, if we only focus on all of the bad things that are going on, they snowball and it gets harder and harder to melt them away to remember what the good things are.  Do you want me to show you what I see when I recall the "bad things" that have happened to us?

Todd got laid off:  FINALLY!  The push he needed to actually put his Doctoral Dissertation into effect and see if it's methods work.  It's been a winding journey, and I am often reminded that we are only in the infancy stages of this business.  We need to give it time and can't give up on it yet.

Todd will be working from home ALL THE TIME:  This one has it's ups and downs and could very easily be the thing he and I both struggle with the most.  It is so hard for him to focus when there are so many little ones that want to be with him...or scream at that precise moment when an important client calls.  I feel guilty following the same routine I used to have when he worked 8-5 out of the home.  I used to take a nap every day.  I never cleaned the house til 4:30.  But now, I feel like the house has to be straightened in case a client shows up, all the time and if I lay down for a nap, I feel guilty cuz he's in the office working.

I could no longer afford my membership at the gym:  Ah, so now I have to get creative and find alternative methods to get in my workout.  I started a Zumba class at my church that meets three mornings a week.  And since I am one of the instructors, I have to be there, no lame excuses to miss it.

The high maintenance blonde needed to be rethought:  An awesome neighbor helped me go back to my roots, who knew that I was a brunette...and I haven't colored my hair since October of 2011.  That has saved me a pretty penny.

We have to ask family and others for help:  Sometimes, the Lord wants you to be able to help others.  The best way to want to help others is to be able to recall the time others helped you...and then when you can, do it too.  I try so hard to take treats to people, offer meals and other little things right now as a small way of paying it forward.

I had to get a job:  The job I have has given me validation in a different way and is in an environment that still allows me to be soft and nurturing.  I don't come home feeling hardened or resentful.  I look forward to going to work and then again, coming home at night to my awesome family.

The greatest lesson learned in the last year and a half for me is that Heavenly Father is so mindful of me.  He is mindful of my family.  He knows what Todd and I want...but is just giving us what we need right now.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes that I keep sharing with Todd to help us get through this rough patch:

"Stop being afraid of what could go wrong, and focus on what could go right."

"Those who move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out."

 ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

"Talking about our problems is our greatest addiction.  Break the habit.  Talk about your joys."

 ~Rito Schiano

Just a little glimpse into what goes right around here

In no way am I stating that my life is bad, because, as you can so obviously see, I have chosen to know it as awesome.  Our challenges and trials could be so much worse.  I am in awe of those around me who have such optimistic attitudes despite their personal challenges that supersede mine.  If you can't find the joy, please write one of these quotes on a sticky and put it on your mirror.  See it every day and believe it.

New Year's Resolutions

Here are mine:

-Fit easily into my Big Star Jeans by September (I have a plan)
-Read a story to the kids each night before bed (maybe not Friday and Saturday's)
-Wash, Dry, Fold and Put away one load of laundry each week day
-Study the Sunday School and Relief Society Lessons the Sunday before they are taught
-Pay off our overdraft

I figure one financial, one spiritual, one physical, one for the kids and one for the house is adequate.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

To Ellen We Will Go

Labor Day weekend, my good friend Nicole offered me a ticket to see a taping of the Ellen Show.  I was thrilled at the chance and Todd nodded in agreement that it would be okay to escape for a while.  Our taping was scheduled for Thursday, October 18th at 6pm.  I was more excited at the idea of escaping for three day, despite the 12 hour car ride...wait...that 12 hour car ride was going to be HEAVEN!  As much as I love "The Wheels on the Bus" and "Where is Thumbkin"playing on constant rotation with kids in the car, I couldn't wait to hear what new soundtrack would accompany us on this trip.

The last time I had been on a road trip with Nicole was when I was just 16 years old and we drove together to Montana.  The music we played then has stuck with me more than a picture would.  Every time I hear Celine Dion or Sarah McLaughlin, I recall that little get away and the fun times Nicole and I have together.

The soundtrack for this trip, however, will always be anything by Taylor Swift..because of the concert that almost was.  More on that to come later.

Wednesday morning, I kissed my family good-bye in Nicole's driveway.  None of them seemed heartbroken that I was going to be away for three days.  The drive there was full of the music that we love and passing stories back and forth as to what has been going in our lives.  I'm somewhat of a paranoid/cautious driver, so Nicole let me take the wheel for about an hour.  Then she took back over, she's better able to handle the crazy California traffic.  Proof that I don't get out much.

We arrived at Nicole's friends' house around 9pm, and each of us pulled out what we thought we were going to wear the next day, to get a stamp of approval (once we were there the variety of wardrobe was from ultra classy to somewhat trashy...I don't think there was much in the way of "wardrobe rules" .  Then we got a great nights sleep...with the exception of the spider I swallowed while sleeping.  I know I swallowed a spider because I woke up coughing with something strange in my throat...what else could it have been?

Thursday morning was the day of our great adventure.  I was somewhat excited, not super duper thrilled, but excited.  We drove down the Malibu Coast, trying to find Oprah's house listening to Nicole, Gina and Bobby share stories about their time together.  We stopped in Santa Monica, took a walk down to the beach, soaked my toesies in the Pacific Ocean...feeling closer to Hawaii than I have in almost 4 years and ventured down the famous Santa Monica Pier.

What trip to L.A. is complete without a proper exploration of Hollywood Boulevard and Grauman's Theater?  We attempted to get close to the Hollywood Sign, and then drove up a windy road to the Griffith Observatory where we changed into our more "glamorous" clothes to prep for our 15 seconds of fame!  The butterflies in my stomach started to flutter at this point.

Finally, we arrived in Burbank for our assigned taping of the Ellen Show.  We had reserved seating, so we felt super special.  Pulling in to the parking garage and getting a spot was quite the feat, it took nearly thirty minutes just to do that!  I was expecting a waiting area inside an air conditioned building, but we waited in a line in the parking garage and got our hands stamped to prove we were ready to go!

Waiting outside, the music was playing, more and more people started coming and we learned that just across the street, the 3pm taping had begun.  It was Taylor Swift!!!  A special concert!!!  I think you could feel the sadness of everyone around that we weren't there watching this great singer/songwriter...especially the girl with the Taylor Swift T-shirt on (no, that wasn't me).

Eventually they informed us that it was time to get our numbers and begin the whole cattle call process again.  The energy wasn't super buzzed, but the people sure were anxious to just get through the line.  I got number 136.  I had no idea what that was supposed to mean.  We'd heard that others that had been to a taping before us had filled out questionnaires, but we didn't.

The butterflies were really flying at the point!  My adrenaline was pumping and I couldn't wait to get across the street and into the studio.  We crossed the street in numerical order, went through metal detectors and then went into the little shop and wound our way through some comfy benches to wait and dance...I swear I was the only one dancing or feeling any amount of excitement at this point.  I honestly feel sorry for Ellen cuz this crowd was a bunch of duds.

We walked up the stairs into the studio, it was a little smaller than I had thought, but it was AWESOME!!!  I thought with as spastic as I was that we were certain to get a good spot, but we got plopped on the second to last row.  Nicole got a great end seat and the energy started flowing...and we were encouraged to shake our groove thangs...which I gladly did!  I did it so much that I got to go down in the front of the crowd and show 'em what moves I got!  It was  BLAST!!!  That was my very favorite part of this whole experience.  The people were smiling and dancing and happy....it's so contagious.  I wish the whole world could feel like that every day.  Eventually I was stopped, thrown (and thankfully caught) a T-shirt for my participation and went back to my seat, but you couldn't stop my dancing feet.

The guests for the episode were LL Cool J, Victoria Jackson and her Daughter, Jerry O'Connel and Portia De Rossi.  The guests were good, but the commercial breaks were better, especially when I shoved Nicole out into the aisle and she had to put on her dancing shoes, she did awesome!  I love watching people dance!!!

We walked out of the taping with some calories burned, I got a bruised and scraped finger from wearing a huge ring (lots and lots of clapping), and a book by Victoria Jackson and her daughter.

The thrill died quickly and the realization that it wasn't as amazing as I had hoped hit me.   Maybe it was knowing what the episode was like before us, or seeing that other people have gotten more than a book before.  But mostly, I danced and sweat way to hard to have not truly gotten my 15 seconds of fame (lame, I know).  That was confirmed after watching the taping and the only glimpse of our crew was a millisecond when you could see Gina's hands up in the air clapping after a commercial break (I had thought that FOR SURE Bobby sitting up straight at the mention of Rebecca Romij coming out would have made it on TV).

The drive home was beautiful past orange orchards and vineyards.  Nicole said it reminded her of her time in Italy.  Maybe that will be our next trip!

A Pinterest Halloween

Every year, my Mother-In-Law throws a rather impressive Halloween Party for all of her grand-goblins.  Each year, it gets better and better, and as adults, we are all so anxious to see what she comes up with!  The kids are always excited to get into costumes early on in the month and I am happiest to get the costumes ready and off of my hectic October To-Do List (best part, I didn't spend a DIME on costumes this year!)

I hope you are ready for lots of links via Pinterest, as this Halloween was brought to you in part by the many creative contributors there.

This little bum of a guy was so fun to dress up.  He totally got into my smothering his face in dark brown eye shadow and then dabbing his face with a washable brown marker to get stubble on those soft cheeks. Sign, compliments of Dr. Todd.

What surprised me the most about this costume were so many of the comments I read on the link.  People chose to be offended by the term "homeless" as though dressing up your baby as such might be meant to be hurtful or as an insult.  However, as one whose husband has lost a job in this poor economy, we chose to dress him up as such, grateful that we have a home and more importantly to be able to laugh at our own situation.  You can choose to be the martyr/victim or laugh about it, start your own business and see where life can take you (we chose that route)!

Do you see this adorable little guy?  He is one of our many nephews, and I was so excited to see him wearing this giraffe costume that Connor, Abi, Carly and Dakota have all worn!

Here's where we get to see all of those things people pin on Pinterest, but never do...until now!

Spooky Handprint Punch

 Sick Pumpkin

Ghostly Cups 

Ghost Treat Bags

(I loved how she put bows on the bags that belonged to the girls) 

Gummy Worm Cupcakes 

I have a funny little tidbit to add here.  Connor dressed up as Indiana Jones, and we all know about Indiana's aversion to snakes, so Connor, taking his role very seriously, refused to eat any of these cupcakes because worms are too much like snakes.

Party Take Away Gift 

 Jack-O-Lantern Putt-Putt was just one of the many games the kids played.  Mom, brilliantly, divided the kids into four different groups by age and had different dads in charge of the activities.

1) Diving for Doughnuts; the kids had to eat a donut hanging from a string, without using their hands

2) Jack-O-Lantern Putt-Putt; using a putter, get the golf balls into the hole

3) Bowling for Ghosts; using a pumpkin as a bowling ball, knock over ghosts made from t.p.

4) Pop the Pumpkin; using darts, pop open the balloons that form a giant pumpkin

Once each activity was completed, the kids earned a treat that they got to place in their little ghosty bags.

 Dad did the flipping at the grill and placed these little cuties on top of the patties.

 Shall we play the guessing game?

Abigail: Rapunzel, complete with frying pan and bare feet

Carly: Rock Star with the bangles and microphone to prove it

Hanky: 5th Generation Giraffe

Whit: Dancer...really

McGarry Clan: Vampires...and a little bat...with another little bat in the making!

Hannah: Ballerina

Sissy: Pirate Bird

Jack: Batman (it took some convincing from his mom to even wear the mask)

Connor: Indiana Jones (using a jumprope for a whip)

Jakey: Captain AMERICA!!!!

T: ZOMBIE, he scared all of the little boys.  They'll get him back when they're older

A: Grimm Reaper (nobody was harmed that night)

Grandma: Spider Lady

Kota: Baby Bum

Dallin: Woody

Rach: Jessi (her mom made her costume, it's so awesome, it should be on Pinterest)

May: Cowgirl

And, on a last note: recently, my girls made a trip to my mom's house.  They were so surprised by her Halloween decor spreading beyond the front door that they began a scavenger hunt throughout her entire home to see which other rooms had been "haunted."

While I was at the General Relief Society Broadcast (with some rather important ladies, to me) my own sweet little ladies began some decorating of their own!  I was so excited to come home and see that each and every room of our own house had been "haunted" too, with these little foam pumpkins.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

In The News

Recently in the news there was a big to-do over the current president of Chick-Fil-A, Dan Cathy, and his response to a question by the Baptist Press in regards to the support of a traditional family.

I couldn't believe the comments and the amount of anger that raged on-line and in the press when this happened.  People started throwing out words like "bigot" and "un-Christian."  My insides began to churn and I was so confused.  I am not one for confrontation and I certainly don't like contention.  Not to mention that I felt totally un-informed.  Everyone was throwing out their own opinions and no facts or references where I could turn to to be educated on where all this anger and frustration was actually surfacing from.

I first went to wiktionary to look up the word bigot.  That's right, I just admitted to now knowing a word I probably should have learned in high school.  Here is what it stated: 

Noun

bigotry (plural bigotries)

1. Intolerance or prejudice, especially religious or racial; discrimination

Right then I was even more confused!  By creating a boycott on his company, or by spewing out words of anger, weren't the people calling one a bigot then becoming bigotted themselves?  Argh!  I was only  more and more confused thinking, "Can't we all just get along and those that aren't seeing eye to eye just agree to disagree?"

Then I spent some time on the phone with my sister-in-law and she was sharing with me her conversations with friends and how upset it was making her and I couldn't believe that so much dischord could happen because of one persons views.  She had told me that someone had stated that no where in the bible does it state that homosexuality is wrong, and then it dawned on me!

I have to stop trusting in everyone else's words and find the truth for myself in a place where I know without a doubt that the answers are true.  So I shut out the world for the remainder of the afternoon and sat down with my scriptures.

A peace came over me and there was that calmness I had been looking for.  I found the answers that put my mind at ease, and even more so when the mail arrived and in it was the Ensign for the month of September.  I devoured the magazine and felt my spiritual reservoir fill with water and knew exactly how I needed to respond to this situation.  Here are a few of my favorite excerpts from it:

"It is up to us to distinguish between questions that are truly essential to our eternal progress and those that result from intellectual curiosity, need for proof or desire for personal satisfaction.

...spiritual knowledge cannot be proven by logic or physical evidence.

"When we are troubled, our first reflex must be to search the scriptures and the words of the living prophets.

"To strengthen our testimonies and protect ourselves from error, we must therefore constantly nourish and fortify our faith."

-Keeping the Faith in a World of Confusion, By Bishop Gerald Cause

"...All of our nation's religious citizens need to develop a respect for other religious people and their beliefs.  We need not accept their beliefs, but we can respect the people and realize that we have more in common with each other then we ever will with the secularizers of this country.

"When we look beyond people's color, ethnic group, social circle, church, synagogue, mosque, creed, and statement of belief, and when we try our best to see them for who and what they are - children of the same God - something good and worthwhile happens within us, and we are thereby drawn into a closer union with that God who is the Father of us all."

Joseph Smith said, "If I esteem mankind to be in error, shall I bear them down? No.  I will lift them up, and in their own way too, if I cannot persuade them my way is better; and I will not seek to compel any man to believe as I do, only by the force of reasoning, for truth will cut its own way.

...Christians should cease wrangling and contending with each other, and cultivate principles of union and friendship in their midst;"

-Standing Together for the Cause of Christ by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

How do I choose to respond to this situation?  I choose to love everyone, avoid contention and trust that the spirit will direct my conversation when asked my opinion.  Most importantly, I hope that others will realize that it seems most people have made up their minds on the situation, and you cannot change their views.  Leave it be and let it go.  Focus on the things in your personal relationships that unite you and let those things lead your discussions.

Gallery Walls

Recently, Todd and I took the kids and met his parents at the White Family Farm in Southern Sevier.  Imagine my surprise when I walked in the front door and there stood his mom, pointing to a blank wall and several frames stacked against it.

She asked if I would mind sorting through them and hanging them in various spots around the home.

Did I mind?  All I could think was "Now THIS is a vacation!!!"

I sent the children upstairs to discover what new-to-them-toys were awaiting them and got to work right away.  Not a moment to lose!  Here's the end result of the three gallery walls I got to tackle.

All of the paintings here were done by Todd's grandma! 

Dontcha love how I worked the doorbell into it!?!   I know what your thinking, "Wouldn't these be cool if each of the frames were painted a different bright and cheery color."  Cuz that's what I thought too!

 The White family!  Aren't they a gorgeous pair?  There are a few frames still to be filled.  One with a poem called "It Takes A Heap O' Livin" and another with pictures of Grandma White's family and the old part of the White Family Farm home. I wish you could see that big ole gold frame in person...AMAZING!!!

Todd spent the entire weekend cleaning out this boat.  It's a classic...1968!  This was what he claimed, I still can't figure out why no one else wanted it...could it have been the dead cats lying around it, the shredded and ripped up seats or the fact that the motor didn't run?  Not to worry!  I got rid of the cats, Todd cleaned it up and even got the motor running for a minute. 

Instead of crying herself to sleep, Carly played the iPad till her eyes could take no more. 

Shirtless...and the belly so full he has to keep the top button undone. 

Abi practiced her balancing skills and helped grandma shop. 

Connor earned $25 by moving branches that had been cut off from the trees...and played a lot on the iPad.   Hopefully he keeps his eye on the real prize and continues to work hard this summer to earn enough money for the space camp he wants to go to.  And by prize, I mean the Space camp, not the jewels he can earn in Dragonville.

Dye-ing for a Change

If you want to get the "how-to" on this project, scroll on down.

If you want the story, well then, grab your favorite drink of choice and sit for a spell

It all started on a dark and stormy day when the work-from-home hubby got sick of dropped phone calls, bringing clients through the messy kitchen and toy strewn basement to his office and constant disruption of little fists knocking on the door asking to play on the iPad, or to get a hug.

Rooms needed to be re-arranged.  Thankfully, that ball had already been rolling because I couldn't stand the two girls sharing such a small space and had moved them from their upstairs tropical jungle to the room formerly called Dakota's.  Just a simple trade.  But the jungle vines were calling to Todd.

He wanted that space.

Where would we put Dakota?  That meant Connor on the couch for a week and Dakota in the disaster that had been Connor's room (because of all of the upheaval, no laundry has been done for over a week).

Once the orange room was cleaned out, I used a regular old carpet cleaner to clean the carpet and then slapped (almost literally, in Todd's terms) a coat of Valspar Artichoke paint on the walls.  Whilst it was drying, I hopped online to begin some research.  It was breaking my heart to think that I would be forcing my husband to spend over 8 hours a day in a room with pink carpet.  There had to be something to do to change it (truly, what was breaking my heart was the thought of all those red accessories, black furniture and gray walls in their masculine glory being thrown of kilter by the femininity of the pink carpet).

We didn't have any money to change the carpet, we didn't even have enough money to purchase a rug.  So I had to think frugally...like I usually do.

I came across this and thought that I might be able to do dye the carpet on my own, but I wasn't completely confident.  So, I called and left a message for a neighbor of mine that owns a carpet cleaning company to see if he or anyone he knew had ever successfully accomplished something like this.  He never called back.  I started getting ready to bring the furniture into the room, admitting defeat, when he showed up on my front doorstep.

He enthusiastically wanted to see what I was thinking of doing and I asked him all sorts of questions, and he gave me tons of tips, but mostly, he gave me the encouragement and confidence necessary to just bite the bullet and dive into this carpet altering challenge.

The greatest tips that he gave to me were:

     *When dying carpet, you should only dye within the same color family, and you can only go darker.  Otherwise, it will just sit on top of the carpet and look like one big ole stain.  He was right, I had wanted to go black or gray, so I tested a swatch and it turned out looking like this:

See how the black just sits on top of the carpet, and you can still see the pink through it, the red attaches to the pink better.  There's a whole science behind it, and I could try to explain it, but I'd mess it up.

*Make sure to add vinegar to the solution or else do a vinegar bath after coloring the carpet.  I opted to adding the vinegar to the dye solution upon application.  This helps the color stay in the fibers better.

*If it turns out ugly, you can always throw a rug on top of it, especially if you aren't too attached to the carpet.

*Fans, lots and lots of fans to speed up the drying time, for those of us who are too impatient and can't wait to see a room put together.

Here's how I did it:

TOOLS

-Carpet Cleaner 

-Rit Dye (this room took 2 1/2 bottles)

-Vinegar

-HOT water

-Thick Painters Tape

(this room looks cute and sophisticated for a little parisian girl...not an architect)

Step 1:  Clean your carpets, taking extra care to treat spots and large stains beforehand.

Step 2:  Apply painters tape to your baseboard, this is to prevent your dye from getting on it, unless you are planning on painting the trim afterwards, then skip this step.  Also, you may want to add a towel or garbage sack taped to the floor outside of the room or at the threshold so the stain doesn't carry into another space.  Thankfully mine was butted up against tile, so this was fairly easy.  I had read somewhere that you can apply mineral oil to the baseboards and the color will wipe right off, but it didn't wholly work for us.  We had to repaint the baseboards after.

Step 3:  Prepare Dye Solution.  I used Rit Liquid dye in Scarlet.  4 Ounces Rit Dye, 12 cups Hot Water, 1 Cup Vinegar.  This was poured into the large bladder of the carpet cleaner.  I had to do this 5 times, throughout the process.

Step 4:  Using the hand tool attachment on the carpet cleaner, I applied the dye in 2' lengths starting in the furthest corner from the door.  The great part about using the carpet cleaner is it scrubs it in at the same time it is sucking out the excess water.  Total time spent applying color: 2 hours.

Step 5:  Once you have completed the whole room, cover your feet in plastic sacks and do one more complete suck up of the excess water using the large carpet cleaning suction part.  I did't cover my feet and the soles of them were red for about three days.

Step 6:  Open a window, set out some fans and in two days time, run over it with your vacuum and you have new carpet!

Total cost to dye carpet:  $9

I had read on-line about other people applying the dye solution using one of those sprayers that you use in the garden to apply weed killer or tree spray and then using a scrub brush to really get it into the fibers.     Make sure you wear rubber gloves, if you choose that method!  Imagine your hands a day later...

By the way, as SOON as I was done dying the carpet, I took the carpet cleaner outside, disassembled it and cleaned the entire thing out with bleach and hot water and even ran through a couple of swipes on an old rug to make sure that no color was left in it.

UL Studios is available to accomplish all of your architectural needs!  Please contact Todd at 801-20-4928 if you have plans that need to be drawn up for a simple renovation or a large office complex.  Or come and visit at their new location, upstairs, where the sun shines and phone calls aren't dropped!