Barn Door Project Complete!

Remember this?

It's finally time! The biggest Pintrest project to date that I have roped my husband into, has finally been completed!

When we bought our house 3 1/2 years ago, I knew that adding a second child to our family would eventually make it awkward to have guests; our spare room would disappear. I had visions of putting doors on our front (largely unused) room.

After a lot of research and budget restrictions, I temporarily gave up. Although framed in for french doors, the layout of the room doesn't allow for it; it would have to be a slider of some sort.

Well. Barn door project here I come! Too bad the idea of spending 700$ on a track was NOT in the plans.

Enter Pinterest, and the idea of DIY hardware too! I came up with these technical and elaborate plans:

My door was a double door, so keep that in mind when eyeing the pictures.

Here is what I did! The WHOLE project was under $200, including all of the materials listed! I probably could have spent a little less with a smaller can of stain and if I had researched some alternate places to buy some of the materials

Supplies: 

2 pieces 6ft steel track
1 piece 4 ft steel track (cut to make hangers)
4 pulleys, pulled apart to use the wheels
1 4 ft length of aluminum tubing,, cut to space the track from the wall


4 bolts long enough to go through the pulleys and the steel, with washers and nuts
8 bolts to go through metal and doors
10- 3 3/4 inch hex bolts with washers, for the track to the wall. 

Wood- opted for tongue and groove pine 1x6. I used 12 pieces, and  3 -1x4 for cross pieces. 
Wood Glue
Wood stain (optional) 
Spray paint (optional) for black hardware

Cordless Drill
Drill bits
Grinder
Pipe cutter
Sponge for stain
Husband.

Yup. Not hard, but I needed a bit of man strength (not to mention expertise) as I am not exactly practical when it comes to these projects! He was super thrilled to be a part of this, can you tell?

Door Hangers- bend, then cut the hangers. We used a vice to do this as well as a hammer (and husband strength). Tip: we actually put the casing for the pulley wheel inside the hook to keep it the right size and shape.

Drill the holes for the bolts through the wheels.  We  (keep in mind anything technical that says "we" actually implies my husband did it and I watched) used a drill press, but a cordless drill and a good bit work too. 

 Here are the pulleys that we pulled the wheel out of:
We used a 2 1/2 inch pulley wheel. Worked well.

Decide on desired length, drill two holes in the lower portion where the hangers will be bolted to the doors.

Doors: Assemble Tongue and groove to desired width. Wood glue as necessary. Attach Cross Pieces. Stain/Paint to desired finish.

Note: I trusted the wood glue when it said stain would adhere to it. The wood glue lied!

Track: Decide on desired distance from the wall. We had to clear the door moulding .Cut enough tubing to surround each bold to the desired distance. (the tubing acts as the spacer between the track and the wall).

Find studs, mark placement on Track to drill holes. NOTE: Drill the holes in the lower half of the bar, so that there is enough room for the wheel to roll along the track without getting hung up on the bolt.

We mounted the track before painted to make sure that everything was in order.

Paint: If desired, spray all hardware black. (note that the lag bolts and tubing that went from the track to the wall were also sprayed... apparently forgot that in the picture).

Mount the track to the wall.
Hang hangers, decide on placement on doors, and mark where to drill for the bolts.
Mount hangers to the doors, hang doors. Done!

I'm really happy with how it turned out, and the fact that my front play room/guest space now has some privacy! The doors do not take away from the size of the room when opened or interfere with anything. The only thing left to do is construct a door stop for the ends of the track (L bracket perhaps) and maybe a little hook at the bottom to prevent kiddies from swinging the doors.

Happy to answer any questions about how it was done. All of the supplies were available at Home Hardware.  Pretty excited about this one!

In the Books! Rock 'n' Roll Vancouver Half Marathon Revelations

We get to the start line. Nervous as always, my, husband, friend and I make jokes about the things we hate in these races. The loud breather, the gear girl, the over confident runner, the people who choose to run in the middle and start to walk with no warning. I am nervous for no reason, as per usual.

Off goes the gun. I realize that there is no clock at the start, I am going to have NO IDEA how fast I'm going, as my husband is wearing the Garmin. I also have no clue when I crossed the start line, as per the wave start. I hit my pace music, and hope for the best.

Looking back at my times, I am AMAZED at how well using music that matched my cadence worked! Probably better than the watch ever would have. Check out my times. They are pretty consistent. I even impressed myself! (Check out a little more about using your cadence for speed here if you want)

I was looking forward to some awesome music and crowds as we ran. I lost all faith when we reached the top of the hill and there was a lady standing on stage singing a lullaby by herself. REALLY?? RnR Vancouver, where did you find these people? I gave up and turned up my music.

It was nice to have 9 water stations. To honour my dad, I took a GU for my pocket (hey it was free!) even though I had no intention of using it. I had a good laugh and a couple of flashbacks at the finish line as Lane and I stuffed juice boxes, granola bars and various other snacks into our pockets for the road. My sisters will appreciate the familiarity of this scene.

At about 14km, things always get a bit tough. Tired legs, achey body. Right around that time, a boy, about 12 goes by with his dad. My eyes filled up with tears, as I remember so many times being that kid beside my own dad. That dad and the boy probably have no idea of the memories or habits they are creating, but I do. I think it's pretty special. Of course, then I got salt in my eye and spent the next km trying get rid of the sting and watch the road.

I hit the 18km mark and realize I am going to make it, but there will be no sprint to the finish. I cross, and know that despite not having a watch, I gave this race pretty much everything I had.  Of course I had no idea what that meant until my sister texted me 20 minutes later to say "Wow! Congrats on your time!"... uh... What was it!?! Turns out I pulled a 2:01:58! I did cut my time by 4 minutes from my last run.  Either way, I was pretty proud to be doing this post 2 babies. Time and body wise I am so happy to be where I am today. 4 minutes faster than I anticipated!

Which by the way, leads me to my sister. She also ran, and killed it! Under 1:50 for her first time in years. She attributed her success to cross training and improving her stamina in the pool. She is an inspiration, reminding me that great improvements are always possible .

A quick assessment post race said I fueled my body properly: lots of water, lots of clean carbs. As a result I was rewarded with a time to be proud of. Carb loading seemed to pay off at least to some extent!

The mama's training schedule I posted worked really well for me. I missed a couple of runs, but nothing major. It felt like my previous running base really allowed me to run a couple times a week plus a long run and still have a successful finish.

Rock and Roll Vancouver. The post event concert was nice, but I have no idea who these dudes even were (do you???) and I love my music. Well organized, good turnout, but not as FUN as I had hoped. Sadly, it may be my first and last attendance at this event.

This run marks something bigger as it always does. Pushing myself to do something for me. Pushing myself to do something better than I have done in a long time. Not a personal best, but  a personal best post kids and post 10 years! I am still very proud.

Running for me leads to self reflection which leads to thankfulness. I am thankful to my husband who supported me and ran also, knowing that running is not his favourite activity. He continues to be such a big support to me in so many ways. I am thankful for my in-laws who took on our busy kids for a LONG and busy morning to let us have a stress free one. I am thankful for the weather. I am thankful that I was able to obey the funniest sign I saw in both senses:

Most of all I am thankful for my life, body and health, and the balance that those things bring to me. I don't need Thanksgiving to remember these things... I need running.

I am hopeful that one day it will be my boys running beside me, and I will know what it means, for now and for later. I do this for my fitness, but also for them. I want to be healthy to keep up with them. I never want to be sitting at home, left out of the activities because I chose not to take care of my body. Most of all, I am thankful I once again got myself into all of this nonsense to remind myself of all that is good about my life, and that I can achieve my goals.

BUT, dang you 2 hour mark for staring me in the face and taunting me just a little. SOOO close!!

The Formula for Balance

It's not difficult. Finding balance isn't complicated or mysterious, but it requires taking the time to get things JUST RIGHT.

We hit it out of the park this weekend.

A little of everything- A little time away from our kids, a little exercise, a little good food, a little fresh air, a little time with friends, a little time with family.

Our kids had tantrums. They got up in the night.

But... we filled our days with things that actually matter.

My son turned four this weekend. Nothing to me, was worth the price of admission more than the sheer joy of  watching him "be" four. Not about presents, cake or fancy parties. Just being four. His best guess at why the day would be so fantastic was that it would include lots of extra hugs and kisses from mommy and daddy. I gave him SO many hugs and kisses today. He's got it just right. Relationships matter!

This weekend, I spent the time nurturing my relationships. My mom, my kids, my husband, my friends. It feels so good to put those things first.

It felt refreshing to have support, love and help from all of those people.

My mind is creating a conscious list for when I go back to work of what is important...I hope the list stays short.

Making Meaning From Thankfulness- A Word of Action

Sometimes, it's too easy to complain. I'm not a pessimist, but there are a lot of *little* things about being a parent that can get under your skin:

The car that parked too close, and you can't get your kids in the back seat. My son, spilling granola all over the freshly washed floor. Milk in the couch (again)... you get the idea.

Thankfully, it's also easy for me to be thankful. A long list readily comes to mind.  In my head, and when I remember, I am deeply thankful for my family. I know our life is a blessing. Two healthy kids, love from an amazing daddy, parents that support each other and grow together. Beautiful home, nice things, really great friends. Not everything is roses, but I can put those things into perspective. It does not escape me that my life is good.

...That's a start. Thankfulness can come off shared on social media as a time to show off how great our lives are. Truly I am sure our hearts are bursting with greatness we yearn to share, but it gets me thinking. Why do we do this, if we aren't actually DOING anything at all?

Lately, in so many situations, I've felt compelled to *do* something. We are lucky. We are happy. We are healthy.  I really don't have anything to complain about, except for small moments (that keep me balanced and based in reality). I have faced tough times, so I can recognize the good. That said, sometimes being thankful feels like a bit of a cop-out. If we are so lucky, what are we doing to help others who aren't so happy or healthy or thankful?

Coincidentally,  well after contemplating this post, these words were posted by a friend on Facebook:

My thoughts exactly.

I need to find a way to act on more of these moments. Picture this. Driving to drop off my son at preschool, I drive by the same group of people standing outside the pharmacy in the AM, waiting for it to open almost every time, to get their needs met. Yesterday it was pouring rain, and I noticed two of the women were in flip flops. I always feel *compelled* to do or give something, but I rarely ever do. Why? Because I imagine myself driving up to them, and giving them money, or a coffee, or a jacket, and then I imagine being told to get lost. Assured it's not pity, but this is how I fear I would come across.

What are your thoughts on this? I donate items to needy moms, the food bank, etc, but sometimes I just want to stop and DO something that meets someone's more immediate needs. Is it appreciated or misconstrued? Have you ever done this?

This issue is purely my own that I need to get past. Lately it seems like many of my ideas about kindness and generosity are in my head, and I realize that that does not make me a generous person. Doing makes you generous. To be clear, I do not wish to *do* to gain a label as generous, but because I feel in my soul it's something I am not doing enough of that I need to be doing. The concept of "Pay It Forward" is not lost upon me. There is too much to worry about and complain about not to be creating some good in this world.

If you have other ideas about generosity and kindness, little ways you make a difference, I'd love to hear them. I have thought of three things that I want to do this week (which I won't share). And, I would challenge you for Thanksgiving to not only  think about all that is great in your own life, but how you can improve someone else's, even if only for a few moments.

The Momma Who is More Balanced When She Works.

I'm slowing bracing myself. 6 weeks, and I'll be re-entering the work force. Something you don't pay much attention to as you are getting ready to go off with your babies, is re-emerging from you house again after any given length of time as a professional. 

Things are different this time! I'm not so sleep deprived (my kids don't sleep, but now I just don't worry about it) I'm not having an anxiety attack about leaving my babies with strangers (I have possibly the best childcare on the face of the planet with someone who loves my kids like they are her own). I'm a lot more confident! But, yet, I am still very, very afraid. 

Turns out, this second baby business isn't only hard on your body, it's hard on your mind. I don't dare bake cookies without the timer (sorry to the attendees of my son's birthday party... I will be serving burnt goods to you all). Worst of all, the ability to focus on one thing at a time is completely gone. A to-do list swirls around in my head and never makes it onto the paper. Better yet, 80% of it doesn't ever get done.

A co-worker of mine has this philosophy about to-do lists: if you leave them alone for long enough, things end up completing themselves or no longer needing to be done. I thought she was a little nutty, but it turns out it is actually true. She has three kids, she should know! Take today. I needed  wanted to go to the grocery store. My oldest had other ideas. In fact, I ended up leaving him in a heap to sort himself out in the Superstore parking lot (praying he didn't get run over) and then leaving him in the car to kick the crap out of the door until he calmed down. Digressions aside, I didn't ever make it through the store. Turns out I was just fine without the visit! It's a mother's survival guide, being forgetful. Keeps us from getting too overwhelmed.

Perhaps the part of returning to work I am looking forward to the least is the peer judgement I KNOW I will be faced with.  It turns out, in this mothering world, the  majority of those who work part time or not at all, figure I am pretty much throwing the future of my child to the wolves by putting them in daycare full time. 

Ok, that may be a little harsh. But. I can pretty much guarantee that on my first day back, I'll hear no less than 3 times "Oh wow, you are brave. I only ever worked part time when my kids were little". 

I have now been at home for just under 11 months. They have been filled with beautiful family times, family vacations, milestones, and moments where we spend our days in our pj's. I have loved it. These maternity leave years are ones I wouldn't trade for anything. Seriously... these two.

BUT (and I speak solely for myself) there are, those of us who are better parents because we go to work. Sure.. I'd love to work a little less.. and at some point, when I figure out the right BALANCE FOR ME (see how I worked that in there?) I probably will. 

The truth is that If I stay home for longer than one more month, something terrible might happen. I might decide to stop getting out of my pajamas, stop planning play dates and crafts, and start turning the television on a little too often for my kids. There's a term for this: STIR CRAZY.  Yep. There is only a few ounces of full time stay at home mama left in this head of mine. I'm toddler crafted out. I need a break from fishing random objects out of toilets, finding my baby rolling around laughing in the bottom of the shower and drinking the dog water (all of the above were just from today, by the way).  Regardless, I am sure I will still get my fill of these things in evenings and on weekends. 

I promise I just cleaned the toilet before I took this picture.

It takes a special kind of momma who can stay home with her kids full time. That is not THIS type of momma. I have read the articles that argue any momma can and should probably stay home with the proper balance of "me" time, child time, spouse time. Yep. I am sure SOME of them can! This momma has another important piece that adds to her balance: She loves her job, her friends at work, and frankly, the mental stimulation that keeps my brain from exploding. 

I have this passion for my job... and that passion grows as my kids grow. How can a person not be excited to return to work, when they get to work with such amazing little people? I am not solely defined as being a mother, and wife. My work self is a part of my identity that I am proud of. 

So there you have it. This excited fear that lives within me. Will I be able to be on top of my professional game? Will I balance being at home without resorting to too many fast food dinners and missed workouts? Either way, I look forward to the challenge. I can only hope that I will let go of all the right things, and hang tight to those that matter most.