The Room

I know, I promised...something lighthearted and fun!

I actually started writing a post called "The Heat" describing the record temps and how in the world pregnant women everywhere are managing....but then I decided that I owe everyone (who may in fact be reading this blog and getting tired of the non-filtered Carrie) something nicer! ;)

So....babies! colors! room decor! Before we knew the genders of these babies, we had briefly discussed potential decor colors. For girls we thought teal and pink and for boys I wanted gray and brick red or gray and orange. Ben protested the gray but we had some options regardless. Then about a week before we found out they were identical boys, I saw a ThirtyOne catalog by happenstance and while flipping through the pages I noticed a great color scheme. Immediately I took a picture, sent to Ben and pleaded with him not to dismiss it straightaway....

Let me interject here: I am a very opinionated person! Understatement. On the flip side, I am very fortunate to have the most easy-going husband. He pretty much doesn't care what decisions I make, even as they affect our day-to-day lives. He truly is happy to just not have to worry about things and know they are taken care of. Now, when he has an opinion, he certainly shares, but for the most part, he is content to let me take the "reigns" so to speak. Many people give him grief about this as being "whipped" or a pushover. In reality, Ben and I talk through every decision that is made in our lives as a team and we do communicate well, but the truth is most of the time, he really just doesn't care that much sometimes either way. Thus, I make a lot of general decisions in our life by default. We have the "touch base" conversation every so often just so I check and make sure I'm not being too overbearing or if he feels like I am controlling or something (which by the way, HONESTLY he never is and just tells me I shouldn't worry about what other people think about our lives. And he reiterates that he really just doesn't care and is happy to let me make a lot of decisions).

That said, there is one particular area of our lives that always brings out the VERY decisive and firm Ben. That would be decor and design. Since the first morning after our honeymoon eight years ago when he woke up to me gleefully unpacking and decorating our bathroom, Ben has always been the "last say" when it comes to how things look in our home. He really cares about it and makes that clear. :) This hasn't changed. From furniture purchases to curtain colors to every single wall hanging or decor in our home, I literally cannot buy a single thing without running it by him....or risk returning it. Somewhat frustrating, yes. But in reality, this is one of the ONLY thing he has a significant determining opinion about, so why argue!!??!! Plus, might I add, I love his taste in decor and he is notoriously good at putting together a concept and making it happen.

So it is only natural when preparing to decorate a baby(ies) room that I mentally prepare myself for the Ben factor. No matter what I choose or suggest, Ben has a response and there is NO arguing with it or convincing him otherwise. Back to the design concept for the baby room I found....it was one of those color schemes that I just knew was "right." I held my breath and waited for his response...and it was....POSITIVE! He actually really liked it, especially the idea of incorporating circles in the pattern. A resounding success!

Thus began the journey of ordering two small bags in this pattern to match colors, figure out what walls to paint what and determining what else we really needed in the room for budget purposes. And now here we are....

Despite a riveting Shark Week on TV, Ben tolerated my badgering and sat down with me this week and made "the baby room decor plan." Yes, yes, I know there are just too many lists and plans in my life. I cannot help it!!!! It is how I keep things straight and don't get stressed or overwhelmed.

In case you are curious, the colors are brick red, teal, chocolate brown and tan. The two crib walls are going to be teal, the closet wall chocolate brown and the curtain wall a Ben-creation of cream base with large circles in all the featured colors. Complete with brick red crib sheets, brick red curtains and a teal lamp. Sweet! Anyone else excited that I finally get a room in my house with TEAL!!??!! Don't worry, this is much more masculine.....I promise.