Keeping the "fun" in Dysfuncitonal

Mondays with Melissa 

Flu, day 5. As I have been lying in bed staring at the back of my eyelids praying that everything in my body will just stay still, there have been certain events unfolding in my family. I have had lots of time in bed to sit and think about my family and what a wonderful thing family can be if everyone just accepts and embraces their inner crazy. :)

As Lucille Bloothe says in Arrested Development, "We may pick on each other, get into little scrapes, call each other names and occasionally steal from each other, but that’s because we are family."

How I came to be Wonder Woman by Keeping the "fun" in dysfunctional.

In as far as I know, my story begins with my Grandma, Ida, and my Grandpa, George. My grandpa, George, died in September of 1992, but Grandma Ida is still going strong! The following story is as told to me by Harold.

Grandma Ida has a friend, Harold, who has been my grandpa's friend since circa Jurassic prehistoric era. Grandpa George and Harold were going to take their girlfriends on a date one night. 

While getting ready for this date, Harold thought it would be a great idea if they just married their girlfriends that night. Sounds like a fun date night. So Harold and grandpa asked their girlfriends to meet them on Main Street in Mesa, Arizona, and the plan was to then go and get married. This plan, of course, was unbeknownst to the girlfriends.

So, Grandma Ida pulled up in her car with who was supposed to Harold's girlfriend. She couldn't make it that night. So Gram found another girl for Harold to go out with that night. And, just as they had planned, they went and married their dates that night.

Harold and his wife, affectionately known as "the battleax" are still married to this day. 

Grandma and Grandpa stayed married to each other through thick and thin until Gpa died in 1992. And thus began the dysfunction and how Melissa came to be.

Stay tuned for more memoirs from Melissa on Mondays with Melissa. How do you keep the "fun" in dysfunction?

Closing Etsy Store details

Bye Bye, Etsy!

Okay, this is kind of a sad post for me. Etsy and I have had such a good relationship, but it is time to go. And I am really sad about it. Seriously, I haven't felt this disappointed since my cousin, Michael, told me Santa wasn't going to be able to get to my house on Christmas because he traded his reindeer for some Victoria's Secret women. 

This was my first etsy picture. When I first opened I think I had four listings. And this was the one for roman shades. 

So, this has been a long time coming, but a recent event was just the straw on the camel's back for me:

I did originally have all my reasons written here but it sounded really whiny. Actually, it was really whiny. Because I am sad about this. But the gist of it is that etsy was getting too involved where it shouldn't have and not involved enough where it needed to be like when people put outright blatant lies in your feedback section and you provide all the necessary proof against it! (P.S. 40 days is not 2.5 months, in case you can't add. It feels good to get my bitterness out there).

So we will be taking custom orders now exclusively through our website windowsbymelissa.com, romanshadestore.com:

Also, we are offering 50% off on our ready to ship items in our etsy shop through tomorrow (we will close the shop at midnight tomorrow). Use coupon code CLOSING to get 50% off. Contact me for custom yardage for fabric.

This coupon is good for the yellow zig zag curtains, however they are not yet constructed. We have all the supplies for them. But they will be made in our regular turnaround time. Everything else is ready to ship.

IF you have an open order with us, do not worry. We will still be accessible on etsy and we will still be responding and communicating with you through etsy until your order has been completed. 

Click here to view what is available for purchase in our etsy shop.

So long, etsy!

Decorating with Polyester

Green and white branch fabric background from Joy By The Yard

Polyester has a bad reputation. It is thought that polyester is cheap in look and quality because it is less natural looking than a cotton or linen. But, polyester is actually a great option for home decor.

 Polyester drapes beautifully and, on curtains, we can usually get away with not lining them. Not only is polyester an affordable option for curtains, but being able to omit the lining will save you an additional $30 per set.

Feder in Ebony from Lynn Chalk

Polyester is a synthetic fiber and is known for being light weight, strong and weather resistant.

Picture from Lynn Chalk

Polyester is also wrinkle free!

Blue and White vertical stripe from Decorate23

While being wrinkle free, stain resistant and draping well because of it's weight, polyester is a great choice for your home decor.

Red Quatrafoil from Joy By The Yard

The shade below is made from two polyester fabrics.

Polyester has come a long way in the past few decades. It is now widely used in home decor and is a great choice for getting the look you want and the print you want at an affordable price.

Hashtag game #TextHap

Hello, readers.I want to get to know you. :)

So, every Friday we're going to hashtag and I want to hear your stories!

Today's hashtag: #TextHap

This past week I registered for my race in Dublin.

So, I have been at the gym a lot. Right now, as I am just starting my training, I am doing a lot of endurance training on the eliptical.

The other day I was on the eliptical that faces a window into the room with a running track. I saw this kid who couldn't be older than 21 with his brand spanking new baby! (Childwatch at the gym doesn't take babies until 6 weeks). So this guy had his baby in a jogging stroller and was running on the indoor track!

When I saw this I thought, way to go, kid! Keep doing what your doing and bring that baby right along. (When I started having kids I was just a term shy of graduating college and my grandma told me to just stick my babies under my arm and carry them along for the ride). 

I thought of a few friends I knew who felt bound to their boppies and hadn't left their homes after their babies were born. So I thought this would be inspiring. I got my phone to take a picture of this guy running so I could post on my friend's FB. 

It all happened so fast I'm not even sure where it started. But right after I started writing a caption for this photo I found myself face to the eliptical screeen, arms around the handles and my feet bellow me frantically searching for the pedals. EVERYONE was looking at me. And the worst part was that I could't just brush it off and say, "No, that's not what you saw." because even moments after it happened I was still scrambling for my footing. So everyone looking got a good long look. 

Don't text and operate heavy machinary. #TEXTHAP!

What emberassments have you caused yourself from texting? I will highlight a few next week and be giving out coupons for participants. :) Leave a comment below!

Horizontal Stripe Curtains, Client Love

Horizontal Stripe Curtains

When I first received my horizontal striped fabric I made a curtain panel to show what it would like, but my house isn't exactly designed for horizontal stripes. Or gray. So I am happy to present the horizontal stripe curtain in a room where it looks fabulous!

This is baby Marlowe's nursery. He was born in early December.

Pin it!

Funny things I have said to clients

So. . .  I don't usually go back and read what I have typed to my clients. I really should though because sometimes I have the TV or Radio on while I do quotes. Or I just mistype, which is usually the case. Here are some emberrassments I could have spared myself by proofreading:



Client: ". . . I have ordered from you before. . . "
Me: "Yes, I recognized your name when it pooped up in my email!"

Client: "This is all over my head. I have no clue how to proceed with the measurements. Do your videos explain what an "Inside Count" is?"
Me: "Sorry, that should have said "Inside Mount." (autocorrect)

.Me: "Here is your quote" TWO Flat Inside Mount Roman Shades BEFORE the cost of family. . . " (I remember this one well. I had Pawn Stars on in the background. . . ).

Client: "I sent the fabric to your business today."
Me: "Erect!" (autocorrect,* perfect*)

Me: "Our current turnaround time is 68 weeks." ( 6-8**)

Me: "You will need 56 yards of your home decor fabric. . . ."
Client: "56 yards?!?!" (The 'y' for yards is awfully close to that 6. . . ).

Me: "The quote below includes the cost of all ingredients except fabric." (ingredients, because I'm gonna go cook you up a roman shade! Should have said materials).

Client: "Do you have an ETA for my shade?"
Me: "Let me check on the status with my sister." (Should have said seamstress).

Client: "Do you have any additional pointers or tips for mounting? I'm really not handy."
Me: "Let me ask my wife. He does my installations and might be able to help."
Me later: "Husband. I will be asking my husband. I am the wife." (I have no excuse for this one. . . ). (I wish I had a wife, more might get done around the house. I am Mormon and a lot of people ask me, "Are you guys polygomysts?" or however you spell it. . .  My response is usually, "At least once a day I wish that rumor were true").

Client: "I've ordered a shade from you before for my patio doors. . . "
Me: "Yah, I remember exactly which ones those were! Gorgeous! And I remember you're in King Of Prussia. I went there during my last Pennsylvania trip and went to this great resteraunt called, "Yummies." Have you been there?!"
Client: "That wasn't me."
Me: ". . . "

I'm sure there are tons more and there are just nice people out that that just try to figure out what I am really trying to say and then don't say anything to me. :) So I never know it's there.

I hope these made you laugh a little. Now what would your day be like today had I proofread? I think my errors add that much more to my personality. I don't know what "Erect!" says exactly about my personality, but whatevs.

Have a happy day!


M.

Emerald Fabrics For Your Home Decor

Here are some of the latest trendy fabrics in this year's color, Emerald!

And a few examples of how they are used in home decor so you can picture it for yourself and imagine it in your own home.

All of these designer fabrics are carried by Lynn Chalk at an amazing price.

Enjoy!

Windsor Smith Xu Garden Veridian

Kelly Wearstler Emerald Cut Lotus Ivory

Kravet Treads in Green

Seacloth Lattice Grass

All of these fabrics are also available in other colors at Lynn Chalk's website.

Envision Emerald In Your Home

I found these inspiring images on Pinterest.

Note the bed spread topper at the end of the picture below. 

Emerald is versatile and can be paired with cool colors. . . 

. . .  or warm.

I love me some houndstooth!

I love everything about the picture below. The emerald chevron stripe is stunning, but my favorite part is the emerald pillow with greek key trim. 

Which is your favorite? Where can you see emerald in your home? 

GT Winner and How To Keep Your Outdoor Decor Stain and Water Repellent

How To Keep Your Outdoor Fabrics Stain and Water Repellent to last many years.

What characterizes an outdoor fabric is its ability to repel stains, water and fading from the sun. This is done in manufacturing by using synthetic fibers and also a chemical treatment that causes water to bead when it lands on the fabric. This beading allows water to easily roll of the fabric thereby avoiding mildew and stains. But this chemical treatment in the fabric can break down over time. Here are some ways to keep your outdoor fabrics in shape and functioning for many years!

When your outdoor pieces are dry shake out the loose dirt often. Dirt aids in the breaking down of the chemical treatment.

Hose down the fabrics to remove any other lose dirt. A general wash of hosing down the fabrics should be done at least once a month.

Only allow to air dry. Do not wash and dry in a washing machine and dryer. 

The most important thing is keep the lose dirt off. So be sure to shake out your fabrics as often as possible. Vacuuming is also very helpful every once in a while.

I learned from ehow.com that you turn any indoor fabric into outdoor fabric by first applying a waterproof spray and then reinforcing that by blow drying the curtain with a hair drying on its highest setting until fabric is dry. 

Here are some outdoor fabric recommendations.

Striped outdoor fabric from Decorate23.

Navy and white awning stripe from Decorate23.

Outdoor pillows from Lynn Chalk.

Outdoor pillow from Lynn Chalk.

Embroidered fish in white and navy from Joy By The Yard.

Stipe outdoor fabric from Joy By The Yard.

Think Spring and Summer and outdoors on this chilly January day. Enjoy your Wednesday, readers!

sources: 

houseofman.com

houzz.com

bellemaison.com

ballarddesigns.com

HEUSEI, you won our giveaway Tuesday towel giveaway. Please email me at windowsbymelissa@gmail.com