Artistic Differences

I care about how a house looks.
I want every room to have a balance of polished and rugged, old and new, rustic and refined.
I placed a few shells on top of my glass living room table to help me decide exactly what I wanted to stage there. They were place holders.


But apparently, my daughters both noticed, and apparently, they disagreed with my artistic vision. My sense of proportion must have been off, because the next day I found my little vignette magically embellished.


To be honest, I barely noticed at that point.
But then fast forward twenty four hours to this:


The Artist pointed it out and said, "What is up with all the shells?"
And then tonight, the Artist and I really had a laugh over it.


I think they are adhering to the school of thought that more is more- push the envelope- and make a space look lived in.

I, myself, tend to more conservative principles of minimalism.

This is not a mess.

This is an artistic difference of opinion.

Or so I say.

Thursday Thank You Notes

Dear Tigress,

Some people you grow into. You get used to them. You adapt.
And a few people you love from first sight. You love the sound of their voice. You love the clothes they wear. You love the way they gesture and laugh and think.
You are one of those few for me.
The first time we ever spoke you came up to me after a harrowing hour of church in a new ward. The Cowgirl has always been a.... free range child. She felt it her right to wander wherever her fat, toddler legs could take her. Up and down aisles. In and out of pews. Dancing to the more stirring hymns. I was red with embarrassment when you came up to me, chuckling like we were old friends, and said, "We are going to be good friends if your daughter keeps that up. She entertained me the whole time."
Good bye, embarrassed blush.
Good bye, frustration.
Hello, new friend.
You were so right. The more I've come to know you over the last seven years the more true those first words ring. You let me into your heart before I had a chance to earn it or deserve it.
I smile when I think of you. But that's nothing special. Everyone does. I have to step behind a whole queue of people who are lined up to be your best friend. Because you are so full of life.
I love your complaints just as much as I love your compliments. You just lay it out there. As pleasant and blunt and hilarious as you please.
Maybe after successfully raising five awesome children you don't have many reservations left. You've been there. You've done that. You've earned the right to say it. And when you say it, people listen. And if they don't, you truly don't care. I aspire to not care.
I just wanted you to know that I honestly admire your creativity, your resilience, your honesty, your courage, your strength, and your warmth.
Thanks for rooting through bargain bins with me. Thanks for leaving a place in your heart for me. Thanks for knowing that I would need you as a friend.

Always,
Tapper

Three Things I Am Looking Forward To:

When it comes to the Dancer, I thank my lucky stars. She is adorable. She is wonderful. She cracks me up. And sometimes she completely does me in.

Here are three things I am truly looking forward to, because I think they will be definite improvements to a pretty cool kid.

1. The concept of directional hearing. Dolphins are born with it. Bats get it. My child has no clue that you can use sound to gauge direction. As soon as I move from her line of sight I hear a shrill "Mama! Mama!"
I'm right here, I will tell her. As in right there. Five yards to her left.
She commences spinning in frantic circles. "Where?" She looks at the ceiling as if I finally confirmed her worst fear and morphed into a matter-less being that floats invisibly around the house.
Mother sigh.
Still waiting for that concept to grow in.

2. Accurate animal sounds. Sounds weird, I know, but right now she can't get the cat sound right. Instead of saying "Meow" she screeches, "Now! Now! Now!" all over the house. It is a very high, drawn out "Now!" that sounds like angry orphans are holding a strike.


Yep, that's her. Mid-"Now!" When I really can't stand it longer I always suggest we play bunnies.
Mmm hmmm. Bunnies. The cute, soundless critters.

3. Fashion sense.
Enough said.

Tutorial Tuesday: Do It Tapper Style!

Before you read a single word, let me make it plain that this is all coming from a woman who's dining room looks like this:(I can't put my under sink stuff back until the new faucet is in)

And whose chaotic desk is currently spawning butterflies ( I hope. They are currently four days overdue)So full disclosures aside this is how I De-Clutter Tapper-Style.

First Mantra: The more stuff you have, the less happy you will be.
I have no idea why this is true. It just is. To a point. I could grab a can of tuna and live in a loincloth in the wilderness and I would not be digging it. So let's say once you've met basic needs for comfort and beauty, the more you acquire, the unhappier you are. You must decide what your personal "basic needs" are.

So step one: Throw stuff away.

Second Mantra: If I have to think about when I might need it, I won't need it.

Step two: Throw stuff away.

Third Mantra: I will not be skinny enough to wear it. If I ever am, I will celebrate by buying something better.

Step three: Give reminders of skinniness away.

Fourth Mantra: This toy/accessory/ broken piece/ scrap of paper/unidentified object does not deserve my love and attention any longer.

Step Four: Throw stuff away.

Fifth Mantra: I am not destitute. If I need something in the future, I will most likely be able to save and obtain it. I do not need to store and hoard for future contingencies.

Step Five: Throw stuff away.

Sixth Mantra: I am not doing the world a favor by saving my old crappola. It is not wasteful to get rid of things I don't need.

Step Six: Throw the stuff away.

And my favorite, favorite mantra invented by Jungle Jane, herself --

A uncluttered house may not always be clean, but it is never far from being clean.

There is nothing more appealing, more lovely, or more liberating than simplicity.

All you need to de-clutter Tapper Style is a very, very big trash can and a lot of mantras. Cookies also help. Not sure why, but it is proven. I think.

The Artist saves the day... or half the day.

When I screeched last night in realization that I forgot to take pictures of the girls in their Easter dresses, the Artist grabbed the cowgirl right before she put on her pajamas and got some great shots in about thirty seconds.
That's why I call him the Artist.
Unfortunately, it was too late for the Dancer. She was already showing off her Dora nightgown.
So for your enjoyment:
The Cowgirl in her Easter dress and the Dancer in her.... nightgown.
One out of two isn't so bad, right?

P.S. Hey, Mama- look what happens when we eat four chocolate bunnies!

Oh my goodness golly...

I am the worst blogger ever!
As I was crawling into my pajamas (It's technically 6 o'clock and that technically counts for evening, which is close to night time so pajamas count, so shush) when I realized that I forgot to document everything today! I forgot to take pictures of the girls in their Easter dresses. Close to criminal.
Take my word for it that they looked very cute and vintage-y. Too bad the most important accessory is a smile. And too bad the Cowgirl was sick last week and missed rehearsal for the song the primary sang in church today. Too bad when they got to the second verse I saw this terrified pallor cross her face that clearly screamed "I had no idea there was a second verse." Too bad she was front and center and speechless. And too bad she broke into furious tears as soon as she got back to our pew and refused to raise her cute, crimped-hair head for the rest of sacrament meeting.
But after church we all relaxed for our traditional Easter dinner. We started the tradition three years ago of preparing a dinner with foods that are mentioned in the New Testament to remind us of the Savior's life and death. Instead of a spiral, honey ham (I've got nothing against spiral honey hams, by the way. You can send me one any old time) we prepared fish, flatbread, oil, vinegar, honey, grapes, grape juice, corn and two little cornish hens to remind of us of the two turtle doves that Mary and Joseph offered at the temple when Jesus was born.
We drape the table in a white cloth and use white cloth napkins and white dishes and as we eat we talk about the places in the scriptures where each food is mentioned. It is a special way to take the focus off the bunny and put it back on the Savior. (Our Easter bunny comes on Saturday and takes the Sabbath off to go to church). The Life Raft and her daughters came over to join us and we had a very nice afternoon.
Too bad I completely forgot to take a picture of our table or our meal. I got so distracted with hosting that I forgot about blogging. Will you take my word for it that it was simple and special?
And will you take my word for it that I have been in a pleasant mood all weekend and did not grumble all day yesterday?
I didn't think so.
We know each other so well.
Dang it.

But despite female hormones and ordinary life set-backs and bad moods, let me say in all honesty that I am very grateful for the Resurrection and the miracle of Easter.
It is a testament to Easter that the spirit of this special day can break through even my crustiest mood and touch the crustiest part of my heart.
It is impossible to stay selfish and grumpy when talking to your friends and children about the Savior's life. Impossible.
Happy Easter, friends.

The Unveiling!

How to do Countertops Tapper-Style

Day 1

1. An old truck pulls up looking like it has some scrap and trash in the back.


2. Men of few words silicone scrap pieces on our countertops. (Silicone makes entire house smell like vinegar) Men of Few words weight down scraps with our food storage until Silicone cures. (Hope food storage will not taste like vinegar)

3. Men of few words and old truck drive away and leave my kitchen looking like this:

Day 2

1. The Artist and I haul twenty boxes of beans and rice back down to the basement.

2. We pull and pry very sticky paper off of what looked like scraps in the truck.


3. We buff and shine new stainless steel counters.

4. We high five over our awesome originality. (not really, but in spirit)

5. We drool a little over the sink we got to design ourselves.

6. We install pretty faucet that doesn't spray.

7. We order new faucet. (It's in the mail.)

8. We start cleaning the fingerprints. ( this battle will never, ever end as long as we live here. We accept the challenge)

9. We imagine the finished product when the cabinets are white and glass and the backsplash is stone.

10. We realize that there is more work ahead of us than behind us.

11. I buy a groupon for smoothies and decide to take a bath.
P.S. I miss my microwave!