my favorite things of the week

Ben L'Oncle Soul

practicing french with music videos

C.S. Lewis

this blog

this tumblr

Replacing a leaky faucet

I just learned how to replace a seriously leaky faucet on YouTube. It took about 30 minutes once I had all the proper tools. It was a lot easier than I was expecting. I'm sure you could pull this off too if you put your mind to it. Saved me a ton of money.

Recommended project music: MGMT/Flaming Lips Pandora Station.

This is the OLD nasty faucet. Which, as you can see, is in the 'off'
position and is clearly still running.






I highly recommend a flashlight. I just used my heavy-duty penlight from work.
This lil guy's day job is checking brain trauma patient's pupils. He was looking for a second job anyway.




The most important step is turning off the hot and cold
water supply line (righty-tighty).






By far the hardest part was getting these plastic washers off. Especially because I was told by a real-life plumber that who ever put this sink in originally hooked all of this up before dropping in the sink, making me very thankful to be a relatively thin female. I have no idea how a beefy plumber would have fit back here.


Next: Enter the Basin Wrench! (Basin Wrench even has his own Facebook page....why???) Picked him up at Third Street Hardware which is an excellent resource for anyone fixing up a house in Detroit. It's small but they always have what I need. Also, they sell bikes. Bonus! I can't decide if I scared or impressed the guy there...hot pink nail polish and all.




Nasty old faucet's last moments.









I bought the medium cheap faucet from Home Depot. Good enough for me. Once the old faucet is out just place the new faucet in its place, screw on the new washers under the sink (righty-tighty) and reconnect the supply lines (righty-tighty). Now turn back on the water supply (lefty-loosey). Lastly, wash your filthy hands and think about how much of a bad@$$ you are.



I think the elephants are much happier about their new situation.

My Favorite Covers

These guys stayed at our house when they were touring with Ben Folds. Amazing show. We may or may not have got a private concert of this cover in our living room. I like this version more than the original.






The Civil Wars doing Billie Jean....

Rosie Thomas and Sufjan Stevens doing R.E.M.







M Ward doing Let's Dance by David Bowie.








Dawn Landes covering Tom Petty.







Pomplamoose doing Single Ladies.

Finally a cute alternative to a shoe rack.



My sister chillin' in my little nook.

I'm a little sad this was the first Catholic Church I've ever been to

A picture says 1000 words

Miami

Detroit


glad to be home...

finally finished the living room

This is our semi-put-together living room. We did our best without buying any new furniture. The beige recliner was a dumpster-dive find from college. It was in really good shape didn't smell or have any grody stains. Just Gorilla Glued one leg back on and Fabreezed the crap out of it. The green chairs were from Salvation Army. I think they were 40 bucks for both. Perfect condition. Vintage green rug = $10 at a garage sale. Old golden-yellow couch and wicker chair = inherited (free).





The paint in this part of the room is called "Cavern." Before it dried it looked way too lavender (sick) which I initially freaked out about but in the end I think it helped make the room classy and feminine without being overly frilly and girly. And yes we are still rockin' the plaid couch. I love our built-in bookshelves. Also prior to our makeover the slanted wall there was not painted (just white like the ceiling.... I think it looks a lot better painted like the wall). We were also surprised how the plant (inherited) helped make this corner more homey. The ottoman was a complete rehab of a dumpstered piece of crap by my BFF Lauren and I. Took off the skirt, repainted the legs, made a remote-pocket out of the old skirt and stitched on some cute fabric...FREE!








Ohh this couch.... I find it a little gaudy. But again FREE. White cheapo curtains from IKEA make the dark wood stick out like a champ. Snowflakes for Christmas party = adorable.








Front wall paint = "Cavern" Back wall paint = "Pier"




Apple water color paintings = Angela Wolf is amazing. Plus they help make me forget we have a obscenely large, awkwardly placed column in our living room.




Two sets of 10 assorted black frames for $12 at Target on Black Friday... yep. I finally framed the 20 cutest tidbits I have been saving the last few years with.




Cute, cheap switch plate covers from Home Depot. An Angela find.