Best Day Ever!

I have long awaited for this day. I knew there was a good chance it was going to happen this year, but I've been disappointed before. I didn't want to get my hopes up too high! So I'm sure that's why I was feeling nervous. Was this really happening?!?

You may think I'm talking about falling in love or a marriage proposal or maybe even getting pregnant? Nope.

MY CHIEFS ARE IN THE SUPER BOWL!!!!

For longtime fans of the Chiefs Kingdom, Sunday, January 19 was the best day ever! The last time the Chiefs were in the Super Bowl was Super Bowl IV. It's taken 50 years, my entire lifetime and then some, to get to this moment. So yeah, I'm very excited!

I remember in 1986 the Chiefs had their first playoff berth since 1971, and my dad was getting excited. I learned right then that if I wanted to hang out with my dad, I better start watching the games with him. But it wasn't until 1989 when I became a real Chiefs fan. Marty Schottenheimer became the head coach that year. Steve DeBerg was quarterback. Neil Smith and Derrick Thomas were tearing it up on defense. Tim Grunhard, Dave Szott, and Christian Okoye were names I heard often. It was a fun team and hopes were high. But we fell short time and time again. We came close in 1993 with Joe Montana as our quarterback, but lost to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game.

From 2003 - 2017, we made the playoffs 7 times and only won 1 post-season game. Fans were convinced our team was cursed in the playoffs and with good reason! But I remained faithful as a fan and watched them every Sunday. My son, who was born in 2001, watched with me. He learned early how hard it is to be a Chiefs fan. But still we watched, sometimes to the bitter end. 2013 was exceptionally bitter. The Colts were trailing 38–10 after half. Indianapolis scored 35 second half points to overcome a 28-point deficit to win, 45–44, in one of the biggest comeback victories in NFL postseason history. Yes, it has been VERY hard to be a Chiefs fan.

But we all felt the momentum start to shift when Patrick Mahomes became our quarterback. We were one play away, just 4 inches even, from winning the AFC championship game last year. Heart-breaker!! The campaign to go all the way started at that very moment - with the team and the fans.

Everything started to line-up perfectly this year. We won the AFC West for the fourth year in a row. We got a first-round bye as the two-seed for the second year in a row. We launched our own comeback victory by scoring 28 points in the 2nd quarter to beat the Texans 51-31. And since the 6th seed Titans eliminated the 1st seed Ravens, we played the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead. And we won. WE WON!!! We finally slayed our playoff dragons. The Lamar Hunt Trophy now resides at Arrowhead.

Super Bowl 54 is going to be exciting! Chiefs vs. 49ers. My son and I will be watching with my dad. He's the reason that I am, and always will be, a Chiefs fan. I can't think of anywhere else that I'd rather be to watch the game.

So tell me.... How 'bout those CHIEFS!?!?!?!?!

The Timing Just Seemed Right

It was finally time. We've been thinking, scheming, and planning for months now. Searching for the right design, locating the perfect materials, and deciding on colors we could both agree on. It's a little intimidating taking on a project like this, but we were ready....

The BEFORE photo

Bathroom remodel time!

Yep, it's a big project but the timing seemed right. We figured it would take at least a week to complete. We were almost right about that. But since we were flexible on the completion date, that really didn't phase us much. The delays were mainly because we decided to get fancy with the tile design (totally worth it) and just drying time on the grout. Sometimes you forget to factor that in. We had great help, stayed within our budget (a little over but eh...), and LOVE the results.

The "before" photo I posted was actually taken at the end of day two. I completely forgot to snap a photo before they started. So just imagine a tiny shower with a glass door around that wall.  The mud you see was a regular wall which will now become the extended shower.  Also imagine ugly linoleum on the floor and an old white toilet. If you can imagine all of that, you definitely understand why a remodel was necessary! Not pictured is the vanity to the right which did not change.

Day Three

They made great progress and by day three the shower tile was finished! Doesn't it look great?  This picture is pre-grout. I think cutting the tile and doing the diagonal (like I said before, not in the original idea) added some time to the project. A peek around the corner into the actual shower is posted later (it was still a big mess at the time of this photo).  It's hard to capture it all since the space is so long and narrow, but basically the new shower does not have a door and extends the entire length of the wall. We lost about an inch of width but gained a lot of length and no ugly door to clean (bonus)!

By day five, the floor is tiled and the grout is finished.  Then we had to pause. If you walk on the tiles, they could pop loose or the grout could break... I actually don't remember all of the rules. I just knew I couldn't use my bathroom for a few more days!

Day Six

As you can tell, I don't know much about laying tile, but supposedly there is an acid wash you put over it to remove the film. That happened around day six or seven. Also around this time, the new toilet was installed, the shower was sealed, and then my help was needed....

Day Eight

It was time to paint! Yes, I'm the painter. I don't really mind it as much as my husband (he loathes painting). I actually find it quite satisfying seeing the end of my work. It's a bit messy (I always get paint in my hair) and my arms are usually sore the next day, but I don't mind it. However, I would NOT want to do this for a living. That's one thing I always learn through these projects - I could never, ever do this as a hobby or for a living. That's why I have a desk job.  Ha!

It may be hard to tell, but we went with a very warm color scheme. The walls are a much darker mocha color than the light green from before. The floor is a dark tile that resembles wood. The shower tile has a lot of taupe and brown. The trim on the floor and around the window is a very dark brown. We wanted to keep everything neutral and classy.

Here's a little glimpse into the shower with this three photo collage. The bottom left shows the shower floor and far corner. The top left is the same corner with a little more of the wall showing. In the right photo you can see the built in shelves (which I love) and where the shower nozzle is. The small tile is on the ceiling also.

Welcome to Spa Marks!

Just a few more finishing touches to do like finish the door and put up some blinds. We also want to install some shelving above the toilet to store towels and other items. Total time was almost two weeks. We absolutely love it. It was well worth all of the work and sharing one bathroom as a family (my kids might have a difference of opinion there).

I think remodeling a bathroom instantly increases the resale value of your home, so don't be scared to try it for yourself. Go for it! All good projects start with a thorough plan. So do some planning and then plan some more before you begin. If you've already completed a bathroom remodel, high five, my friend! It's quite a project but the rewards are great!