I’m still looking for my center–I thought I had found it, but it turns out it was just the place where the two love handles come together.

While I continue to work on that, I thought I’d come clean about what I really do for a living. You probably thought I was a professional blogger/blogtographer–and I hate to blow this carefully crafted illusion–but it’s only a side gig. My real occupation is a combination of several part-time freelance affairs which include, but are not limited to: chauffeur, laundress, executive chef, etc.

This week I’ve had a lateral move…project management.  a.k.a. bathroom remodel.

It started out innocently enough, as many of these “small” house projects do. There was a hole in the bathroom ceiling which needed fixing. We had gotten used to seeing it everyday and, like these things do, it went from ‘#1 on the weekend repairs list’ to ‘hardly noticed’ to ‘what hole?’

Over the holidays, some friends were visiting with their small, adorable children.  At some point one of the adorables had to use the bathroom but was afraid to go, due to the “scary ceiling”.

When I say “hole”, I guess I should mention that it was larger than say, a small child’s head. The plaster around it was crumbly, there was lath showing and it looked like a critter refuge–but it had never stopped any of us from using the toilet to this point so…?

‘What hole?’ turned into sheetrock panels, taping, plaster, sanding, (several trips to Menards), primer, argument over toilet paper holder placement, and (my favorite) wall color selection.

Ahh, the paint chips. I love ‘em… and so many to choose from!  Each with the promise of accomplishment and creativity where the discerning paint chooser will get to one day bask in the glow of selecting the just-right shade.

We went with beige. But not just beige, no! Even the noncommittal neutral-hue painter gets to feel creative when she chooses “Monroe Bisque” for her palette. It’s not merely tan or taupe anymore…it’s Heartsmere, Chamois, Morrel. These are from the Benjamin Moore collection.  Of course, Martha Stewart has a neutrals line that offers several distinct shades: Homespun, Travertine, Scone.

Not to be outdone, MarthaUnplugged would like to get in the game with it’s own selection of neutrals: Hairball, Nicotine Stain, Ring Bologna.

CHALLENGE: See if you can detect the subtle differences in the following paint chips…

HAIRBALL

NICOTINE STAIN

RING BOLOGNA