The (unexpected) Joy of Polyester!

Like so many of you, the thought of crawling into bed with a pair of freshly-laundered, soft, white cotton sheets at the end of the day makes my heart skip a beat. And, if those dream sheets just happen to be of the particularly indulgent kind, that also boast a high thread-count and exotic beginnings, then you know exactly what I mean. Actually, just writing about them makes my breath pause, then quicken, as I stop and do a mental happy dance in anticipation...

But, the other day I was making the bed, and the current weather had me undecided on which sheets to use. Don't get me wrong, it's not as if I have a linen closet filled with wonderful choices, but when the temperature at night has been going from 90F to 42F in the space of a week, it makes a seemingly dreary task take on some slight measure of importance. Not one to change my sheets very often, I love the blissful results when I do, but never the act itself. 

So, with wacky weather on my mind, and not being quite ready to commit to my favorite, plaid flannel, I grabbed a cheerful, red geometric set that I spied at the bottom of the closet. As soon as I touched them, I remembered why they were sitting, neglected at the bottom, but the saturated colors and fun shapes danced in front of me, and convinced me to give the perky polyester another try. 

As I easily wrapped the fitted sheet around the mattress, I found myself smiling at how pretty it all looked, and how the colors and shapes were still just as perfect as the day I had brought them home. Ridiculously inexpensive, they had been a random purchase (and a small dose of retail therapy) when I needed a quick boost. 

Smoothing the sheets, I marveled at how I didn't have to run from one corner of the bed to the other, doing the crazy diagonal dance, and trying to stretch the unstretchable, as each end ricocheted back on itself as soon as I moved across the room.

I didn't miss the dance at all, and I daren't say that my bed looked like something from a magazine when I was finished, but I will say that I wouldn't have minded one little bit if you'd have popped over that afternoon and felt inclined to take a photograph of it. 

When I went to bed that night, I was once again struck by the beautiful design and gorgeous fit of the sheets, and I can say with complete honesty, that my (perhaps snobbish?) cotton-rich loyalty took a temporary back seat to my pretty, perky, polyester dreams...

Quick Fixes For Every Day Life

Someone asked me recently if I could repost this Quick Decorating Idea List for them again (so that they could print it out and add it to their design inspiration folder). So, just for Dottie, here it is.....

Drawers, Debates and Decluttering

Just in case you didn't know, this week (Thursday, September 12th, 2019) brings us yet another round of scintillating Democratic Presidential Debates...

It seems like just a few days ago that I watched the first twenty Presidential hopefuls (or was it more?) fill the stage with their boring, new suits and their desperate need to be seen and heard.

Last time, I taped all six hours; determined to be involved in deciding the future of our country, and wanting to make sure that I was good and ready for when I stepped behind the dark blue curtain at the local polling booth next year. But, four minutes in, I found myself staring at a tall man, vaguely aware that he was speaking, but had no idea what he was saying, or who he was. If you had put him in a line-up shortly afterwards, I couldn't have identified him or remembered what he said. Yes, it was that bad.

So, I paused the debate, grabbed a drawer from my kitchen, and tipped it out onto the coffee table. As I sifted through the contents, I began to watch the debate again. Random thoughts about why I had three sets of measuring cups (doesn't everyone who bakes?) combined with amusement at some of the answers on stage, and the not-so-subtle "dog and pony" show that had them all trotting out together, on their best behavior, but still wanting to be the shiniest star.

I have to confess, even with my decluttering distraction, I still couldn't quite watch all six hours of the debates. But I watched most of it, and in just two short nights I was able to contemplate our future and organize all my kitchen and living room drawers.

So, if like me, you're kind of dreading this Thursday night, but you also can't quite stop yourself from staring at the screen, just grab a glass of wine, empty out some overstuffed drawers from the kitchen, and enjoy some good, old-fashioned decluttering with your debate...