When Kyle and I bought a 1960s home with 1970s decor two years ago, our designer assured us that it was a ‘lipstick remodel’ that could be completely reworked for under-$50k.  But life is not HGTV.

Our designer’s estimate turned out to be off by a factor of 3x.  But we didn’t find out the true cost until all of the bathrooms and half of the living spaces had been demolished.  There were no major changes or giant problems, she just didn’t know what she was talking about.  So we have lived with unfinished flooring, one working bathroom, spotty electrical, and a host of other challenges for almost two years.

We have scrimped.  We have saved.  We have tackled as many projects as we could ourselves.  And today, we will sign on the dotted line with a new contractor who is coming to save us.

After being burned, we were very cautious about hiring a new contractor.  We visited their job sites.  We spoke to their clients.  We asked about budgets and timelines.  We got so many estimates, some of them wildly different, that we had trouble remembering which contractor went with which bid.  But we found the guys.

Meet The Christensen Brothers.  As far as I’m concerned, they might as well wear capes.  And in a year when everything is turmoil, being able to put this one thing right feels like a luxury.  I’ve never been so grateful to a couple of strangers.

As we discussed last week, my mental health is a bit of a struggle right now.  So every day, I try to watch or read or listen to one thing that makes me happy.  Last night, it was a documentary on the life of Nora Ephron called, Everything is Copy.

When I was a teenager, I remember thinking that Nora was brilliant.  I rented Sleepless in Seattle so many times that Barb, the woman who owned the video store, just gave me a VHS copy.  Long before the Internet, I would go to the library to read old copies of Esquire on micro-fiche.  And I was probably the only 11-year-old reading Heartburn.

So if you want to know what I’ll be reading this week, it’s her articles in Esquire, and the New Yorker, and whatever else I can get my hands on.

Acne scarring and summer sunshine (even with an SPF) means dark spots.  I picked up this Peter Thomas Roth Niacinamide Treatment a few weeks ago, and it’s helping.  I haven’t been using it the full 12-weeks they recommend for best results, but after 2.5 weeks, I can see the changes coming.

I upped my sunscreen to make sure I don’t endanger any progress the treatment is making.  So I’m now on the Anthelios train.

Looking for a bit of dark spot correction at a drugstore price?  The Ordinary’s Alpha Arbutin serum is also worth a look.

I tried these High Noon Sun Sips at a friend’s house just as COVID-restrictions lifted, and now, they’re all we drink.  Our bar gathers dust.  The wine in the pantry remains untouched.  No White Claws are to be seen anywhere.  Just Sun Sips.

They’re the best vodka soda you’ve ever had.  All the flavors taste delicious and fresh.  And they’re perfect for a backyard or balcony happy hour on a hot day.

On Friday, by order of the Washington Governor, everyone needs to be wearing a mask in public.  While I have a couple of masks, washing them frequently enough to keep the ‘maskne’ at bay isn’t possible if daily wear is required.  So I needed to snap up a few more masks for myself, and for my husband, who will now no longer be able to avoid wearing one.

Since I’m going to be wearing them often, I bought a couple of different styles to try.  American Eagle’s reusable face masks came highly recommended, so I bought one of those.  I loved the print on this light blue mask from Bel Kazan.  And I needed something basic for Kyle to wear, so I bought him a few of Everlane’s face masks.

If you would like to support some smaller retailers during this time, Nisolo has created a mask marketplace featuring several different mask styles from different makers.

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