Friday 5+1 (5 Things I Love + 1 Thing I Don’t) – 5.5.17

Hello!

It’s been a rainy and gloomy here for the past couple of days, and I’m tired of it.  Doesn’t make for a high motivation level, that’s for sure.  I’m wrapping up a couple of kitchens, but they’re repaints of already painted cabinets, so I can’t say it’s a huge before and after.  But, I sanded them to the point that the brush marks are gone, so they do look much better.  That’s an improvement, right?  So how about we kick off this week’s Friday 5+1 with just that?  This post contains some affiliate links.

No Brush Marks

Here you can see the door before I got to work.  I’m not sure how long ago they were painted, but the brush marks were very visible.

But here they are now – in all of their smooth goodness.  

How do you get rid of brush marks like this?  With one of these:

I can’t tell you how much I love this Festool sander (well, all things Festool for that matter).  This one has a fine sanding mode and an aggressive sanding mode – and when I use the aggressive sanding mode, it really gets the job done.  That’s precisely the reason I bought it, and it is worth every single penny.  If you refinish furniture, cabinets, etc…, it’s a fantastic tool.  I’ve found that investing in good tools saves me a lot of time and money over the long run because they make things easier and faster, which in turn, makes me more productive.

Cute Wallpaper

While we’re still talking about this kitchen, how adorable is this wallpaper?  I love that it’s just one wall, but is enough to infuse a fun pattern into this efficient kitchen.

Here is a view of the other side of the kitchen – the gray walls and back splash are just right with the wallpaper, don’t you think?

What Plus Size Clothing Looks Like on Plus Size Women

This article, showing real women in plus size clothing vs. the “plus size model” is hysterical.  You need to read their commentary, as it just takes funny to the next level.

Try Not to Breathe

I just finished Try Not to Breathe on Wednesday, listening to it in about a week.  It falls into the suspense/thriller category, which I really enjoy, and this book was no exception.  Towards the end, I had an idea of the outcome, but definitely a worthwhile read.  Kind of a “Girl on the Train” sort of vibe.  Here is the summary, courtesy of Amazon:

“Alex Dale is lost. Destructive habits have cost her a marriage and a journalism career. All she has left is her routine: a morning run until her body aches, then a few hours of forgettable work before the past grabs hold and drags her down. Every day is treading water, every night is drowning. Until Alex discovers Amy Stevenson. Amy Stevenson, who was just another girl from a nearby town until the day she was found unconscious after a merciless assault. Amy Stevenson, who has been in a coma for fifteen years, forgotten by the world. Amy Stevenson, who, unbeknownst to her doctors, remains locked inside her body, conscious but paralyzed, reliving the past.
 
Soon Alex’s routine includes visiting hours at the hospital, then interviews with the original suspects in the attack. But what starts as a reporter’s story becomes a personal obsession. How do you solve a crime when the only witness lived but cannot tell the tale? Unable to tear herself away from her attempt to uncover the unspeakable truth, Alex realizes she’s not just chasing a story—she’s seeking salvation.
 
Shifting from present to past and back again, Try Not to Breathe unfolds layer by layer until its heart-stopping conclusion. The result is an utterly immersive, unforgettable debut.”

P.S. – I mentioned the book It Ends with Us in my last Friday 5+1 post – I had just started reading it, and was already recommending it.  I wanted to follow up and say that it was as good as I hoped it would be, on a tough subject as well – domestic violence.  It was a tough, yet very thought-provoking read.

Anastasia Brow Powder

We had family pictures taken a couple years ago, and as odd as it seems, I noticed that my eyebrows appeared to be… faded, for lack of a better word.  Just kind of washed out, you know?  Enter Anastasia Brow Powder.  The difference is night and day for me, with very little effort.  I didn’t realize just how washed out my brows were, until I gave them some life again.  All you need is an angled brow brush like this one.  

My +1 for the week – Houses that don’t make sense…

Now, I grew up in a tri-level home, so I know what they’re supposed to look like.  And it’s not this.  Why?  It’s like a house without a face!

Do you have anything you love and think it would be a great addition to the Friday 5+1?  Contact me and let me know!

Have a great weekend!

Jenny