This week we’re sharing the story of how half the power in our house suddenly went out just as we were about to leave for vacation, plus an update on the final push to finish our bathroom. Between the flu, an unexpected surgery for our plumber, and an urgent deadline that arrived with very little notice, things moved fast. We also cover a simple yet transformative update to our upstairs hallway and talk about what we learned while handling everyday “life admin.”
You can find this episode on your favorite podcast app; search for our show title to listen on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn.
What’s New
- If you missed last week’s episode about our duplex, you can find the full audio episode and transcript on our website under the podcast archives; we also recap the highlights here.
- Sherry referenced a previous episode about ways we tried to reduce stress during our bathroom renovation—one of the strategies was not having a fixed deadline. That approach worked until a last-minute timeline forced us to hustle.
- To give context on why a sudden deadline from our plumber felt like a kick in the pants: we effectively had three days to get the bathroom ready for him before his surgery. The room looked close to done, but we hadn’t even planned the box molding treatment yet, and critical things like mortar, grout, caulk, and paint all needed proper drying time.
- We shared a follow-up post showing the mostly-finished bathroom and a separate how-to article about installing the decorative molding treatment. Those posts walk through materials, steps, and lessons learned from our tight timeline.
- There was also a GIF Sherry referenced that captured the feeling of trying to coordinate drying times and finishes—basically a frantic but determined math problem of timing mortar, grout, caulk, and paint so everything was ready in sequence.
Can We Just Talk About Life Admin?
- We discussed the book Life Admin and how small, routine tasks can build up into an emotional and practical burden. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, a few systems can help: batch tasks, set short recurring appointments on your calendar, and outsource or automate where possible.
- We also mentioned an audio interview with the author that provides a great overview if you prefer spoken summaries. The topic really resonated with us because it offered concrete tips for simplifying household paperwork, appointments, and repair scheduling.
- And if you listened through the outtake, you heard a humorous throwback photo of Sherry posing with a celebrity she once met—an example of the kind of personal anecdotes we love sharing on the show.
We’re Digging
- One small change that made a big difference was swapping basic flush-mount lights for drum shade fixtures in our upstairs hallway. The new lights open up the space and visually add height to the ceilings. If you have a dated ceiling fixture in a foyer, hallway, or closet, this swap can modernize the area quickly and affordably.
- We reflected on earlier lighting changes in the house, including replacing original fixtures with oversized black lanterns and later pairing those with board & batten and crown molding to give rooms more character and formality.
- Another fun find: a personalized “Where’s Waldo?”-style book made for pets. It’s a playful, customizable gift idea that our kids loved, and there are many breed options available for personalization.
If you’re trying to find an item we talked about in a past episode but can’t remember which show notes to open, we keep a master list of everything we’ve been “digging” in previous episodes, plus a separate page of recommended books from our Book Club. Those resources make it easier to track down products, design ideas, and titles we’ve mentioned over time.
Finally, a quick thank-you to our episode sponsor, Agility Bed, for supporting the show. They ran a Presidents’ Day promotion and offered a discount on mattresses and complimentary pillows with certain orders; if you’re mattress shopping, compare options and promotions carefully to find the best fit for you.
Thanks for listening and following along with our renovation updates, household hacks, and the occasional personal story. We appreciate you being here as we balance projects, deadlines, and the small daily tasks that keep a home running.
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