LUNA'S LOVES: 2020

A few weeks ago, I got the motivation to finally work on our entrance way. I loved how the luxury vinyl tile turned our in our mini bathroom renovation HERE and decided I would do the same to our entrance. So I decided to track the process this time around on Instagram and answer any questions that people may had. I need to set the explain a few things first. So I DID put this over tile. It is not the preferred way to do things, but since this is not our forever home, I was looking for a quick fix. If I had more money I would have ripped out everything and done our whole home in a white oak flooring. Maybe in our next home (*fingers crossed). Second, I am not a professional. This is just what I did and it worked for me.

Step one is to prep the area. I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned- swept, moped, and scrubbed. You bet I did it all. Step two involves leveling and filling in the grout lines so you have a nearly perfect flat surface. I first used a ready-to-use floor patch to fill in the grout lines. I used this one HERE. After it was dry, usually between a few hours and the end of the day, I basically went back to step one. sweep and sweep and sweep. The trick is to make sure there are not major spots where it leaves the floor unleveled. Which, I had two that I completely missed. Andrew and I can spot them, but it's not that noticeable. Next, I use a floor primer to level the area. The primer will also help to get the rest of the gritty bits from the grout filler that was more hard to sweep up.

Step three is a lot of repetition, but its the part where you can finally lay down the tile! This particular tile has the option to use grout. So if you like that look, use spacers. I said in my last blog post that this tile can be problematic, so I use a commercial grade adhesive to make sure it's extra secure. Last time, I found that the adhesive wasn't very sticky. Maybe it is for a sub floor or vinyl but I did not find that was the case for tile. Step four is grouting! I was covering approximately 55 share foot of flooring which needed about 1 tub an a half of the premixed vinyl grout in Saddle Gray that I purchased from Lowe's.

Questions:

What did you use to cut the tile? And will it destroy the floor underneath?

- I use a box cutter with a razor blade. When I had small cuts, I could use scissors. The floor underneath could possibly be usable again, but had it been in my budget, I would have taken out everything.

If it ever were to be changed, what is the removal process with these tiles?

- Hypothetically, the vinyl tile could be removed but there would need to be an extra step of removing the commercial grade adhesive that I decided to use. However, if I wanted to change my flooring completely, I would have to break up the ceramic tile underneath where I laid the vinyl tile on top. That step would have to be done regardless, putting the vinyl did not change the fact that the ceramic would eventually have to go.

What was the total cost?

- In short, $233. That is with supplies, tile, and grout.

Luna

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Earlier this year, I set out to have my "word for the year." Something that was going to set the tone for my year. Last year, I spent mostly pregnant and just not feeling like myself. I was in bed most days and had no motivation for anything. My word that year was create. I decided to adopt the same word because I wasn't happy with how I ended the year. I didn't create a single thing (only Frankie, which I am very grateful for her little life). It quickly became clear that the Lord had a different word in mind for me— rest. It seemed like everywhere I looked, I could feel the Lord tell me that this year was about rest. Slowing down, and return to a garden-like state.
Then COVID-19 hit. And if I didn't understand before, it was now clear that my word was rest. I have this terribly, insistent need to have "arrived." I find the journey painfully slow. No surprise. However, lately its like the Lord has been speaking to me about this. A few months ago we went on a long family road trip that was over the course of 8 days. We stoped in several different places, went on hikes, and visited friends and family. It was lovely. I spent the first few days itching to get to where we needed to be next. I just wanted to get to a place so we could have our vacation. What I didn't realize was that the journey was just as important as the end destination.
For the last few weeks, my temple heart took a few days to really sit still. To just be. I've had to fight the urge from saying, "Okay, I've rested, now what?" Because I knew if I uttered those words, then I really wasn't getting the point. If I have learned anything from walking with my God, it's that He is more interested in my journey than I have a need to feel like I've "arrived." He cares more about my process.

SONG OF SONGS 2:10-15 (TPT)

The one I love calls to me:
The Bridegroom-King
Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling.
Come away with me!
I have come as you have asked
to draw you to my heart and lead you out.
For now is the time, my beautiful one.
The season has changed,
the bondage of your barren winter has ended,
and the season of hiding is over and gone.
The rains have soaked the earth
and left it bright with blossoming flowers.
The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived.
I hear the cooing of doves in our land,
filling the air with songs to awaken you
and guide you forth.
Can you not discern this new day of destiny
breaking forth around you?
The early signs of my purposes and plans
are bursting forth.
The budding vines of new life
are now blooming everywhere.
The fragrance of their flowers whispers,
“There is change in the air.”
Arise, my love, my beautiful companion,
and run with me to the higher place.
For now is the time to arise and come away with me.
For you are my dove, hidden in the split-open rock.
It was I who took you and hid you up high
in the secret stairway of the sky.
Let me see your radiant face and hear your sweet voice.
How beautiful your eyes of worship
and lovely your voice in prayer.
You must catch the troubling foxes,
those sly little foxes that hinder our relationship.
For they raid our budding vineyard of love
to ruin what I’ve planted within you.
Will you catch them and remove them for me?

We will do it together.

There are somethings you don't know until you succumb to the stillness, when all the fluff of life is gone. Who are we when all that is stripped away? What friendships matter? What kind of parents are we when we let go of our activities and rigid schedules? What kind of people are we when we lose the facade? In this season, we've been given the gift of time. We are in need of learning to rest and reflect. This is a Divine pause—use it wisely! Take a walk, create art, have a meaningful conversation, eat a good meal— connect with the Creator! He's all around you, present for it all, in the little and the mundane. He stands witness to our lives and nothing is wasted in His presence. Actively practice Sabbath with Him.

xx
Luna

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Earlier this year, I set a goal to finish our main floor bathroom. Since we moved four years ago, I had not even touched it. It still had the "live, laugh, love" wallpaper border that was just, quite frankly, dated. My goal was too keep the remodel inexpensive, easy, and fast. This isn't our forever home and I didn't see the point in dumping a lot of money into the main floor bath if I wasn't going to see a return on my investment.

Our previous bathroom had bead board that was a pale pink but instead of ripping it up, I decided to work with it and just paint it the color of our trim. The people who lived in the home before us left a lot of materials from their home improvements. When we ripped out the old vanity, I just cut and patched the rest of the bead board that wasn't getting covered with the vanity. We went with a tall 24" vanity as opposed to our previous 30" one. The main floor bath felt dingy and crowded so I wanted to give it as much space as possible. The bathroom vanity is not one I would recommend but it fit our budget and with some new knobs, it was aesthetically pleasing.

Finally, the ever controversial luxury vinyl tile. This is a a peel and stick product, or as a friend of mine cleverly put it lick and stick (lol). I did plenty of research for this product knowing that it could be problematic. I knew full and well what I was getting into. Long story short, I end up putting a commercial adhesive to the tile to the bottom to insure that the vinyl would stick. After the grout, it is so beautiful *insert heart eyes* and I love it so much that I am considering doing the tile in front of our front door.

Here is a rough mood board that I created to see how many vision would come into play.