Can we just be friends? Please? Like the kinda friends that hang out with non-cute outfits and ponytails and that talk about how crazy long our leg hair is and how we hate/are totally jealous of those girls on instagram that wear white shorts like two weeks after giving birth? Because that’s what I really want. Also I think that we could totally disagree on political issues and then stuff our faces with Krispy Kreme donuts and make inappropriate thats-what-she-said-jokes at the grocery store (because friends obviously go grocery shopping together!) and it would still be the best day ever. That’s also what I really want. I don’t know if it’s because I am in that postpartum hermit mode and loving these newborn cuddles….but I miss people….I miss my friends. We text and call and all that but honestly I a little social interaction…and a shower….I really need a shower. ok. vent over. or closed. I don’t know exactly how to end the venting….whats the correct terminology for that?
Anyhoo….I have a quick spray paint project I did that I know you are gonna love. Our fish tank (it was Will’s birthday present) has some issues…algae issues…I clean it BY THE BOOK…and then literally five days later, it is gross again. I even asked my mom to come over and help and she cleaned it herself and told me that I shouldn’t have this many issues….yet five days later….it was nastier than a hot tub filled with cow dung. That’s maybe a little extreme…but you get my point. So anyway…because of our tank issues, I am constantly at the pet store…and then I saw this little dude in the clearance section….
It’s a fish tank decoration…faux coral for your aquatic friends to hide and play and pretend to be human inside of. And now it looks like this…
I gave it a couple thin coats of Rust-Oleum’s metallic gold spray paint and now it lives in my bedroom where I pretend to be a mermaid 🙂
Isn’t it great?! And way cheaper than the ones they sell at the store (like this beauty from ZGallerie). So next time you go pick up doggie kibble or kitty litter, check out the faux coral to see if it’s on sale. This one was less than $4! Happy Friday!
If your fish tank is near a window the sunlight will cause algae to grow rapidly. Try moving it into a darker spot in your house 🙂
And the gold coral is fantastic! Definitely feelin’ the mermaid vibe!
Ha ha, I do not care about political views if it involves donuts ;). I feel you on the fish tank, a few years ago we had one. It was so much work and absolutely no return. You cannot play or cuddle fish. They just make messes and die. We graduated to a dog, then a hamster, and then another dog. Fun story, while at a pet store looking for doggy kibble and fish tank coral to spray paint (awesome idea BTW) do not go on adopt a dog day. We now have a sweet new puppy Finn to thank for that trip to the store. Enjoy your newest little guy, and your other important little men in your life.
I would love to eat Rice Krispies with you, Katie. Thanks for the coral idea. Hang in there sister! Girl friend times are in your future yet. Enjoy your snuggles. Don’t their little heads smell kinda like wet sawdust or kinda earthy when they are freshly born? I love that!
I’ll be your friend! I just had my third baby 6 weeks ago so I’m in the postpartum trenches with you! Can we also discuss how nothing fits right now because the Mommy pooch takes a lot longer to disappear the more kids you have (seriously, by this time with my first I was wearing regular jeans). Please tell me I won’t be wearing maternity clothes (when I do get dressed) forever!
I have an irrational fear of holes (that’s what she said?) cant remember the name of the phobia and googling it brings up disturbing images of holey things, so I can’t get behind this particular piece of coral, but it’s a super great idea. Lurrrrve me some shiny coral 🙂
Looks super cute!
Is the tank near a window? If so try moving it away as we had this issue once and it was caused from direct sunlight.
Who wants to clean a tank that often?! Lol
Love it! btw I am so happy you posted something about missing people – I was supposed to meet a friend (just down the street at her house) tonight, just to sit on the couch – and she cancelled on me and I literally almost cried. Being home with little kids is tough! I miss people too! lol (my husband is like – you have me!, I’m like ITS NOT THE SAME DUDE.)
And yours is way prettier. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
I will be your friend! (Say it like Renee Zellweger in Jerry McGuire) I’ve been there…I had 4 boys 7 and under and I was DYING for adult interaction and girlfriend conversations! My boys are now 12, 15, 18, 19 and I still need girl conversation and wearing ponytails and eating donuts. I would totally hang out with you and we’d have so much fun. But, alas, I’m in Colorado and you’re in Georgia. Know that I’ve been there, and it will get better. And make lots of playdates at McDonald’s with your friends with kids and just talk while the little ones play at the play center. Hugs to you!
Do you have lighting in your fish tank? If you do, it may be too bright and causing the algae. I had that problem with mine and when I lowered the wattage, the algae went away.
That’s a cluster of barnacles. They are actually related to crabs and lobsters! Cool, huh?
http://www.shellstorehawaii.com/communities/5/004/006/681/925/images/4539869202.jpg
Get a few snails. They should help clean the tank… They eat all the goo!
For your aquarium, you need an “Uggy” as my youngest son called it when he was about three. He couldn’t say “ugly”. Google “aquarium algae eater” and look at the picture if the wide brown fish with a tall fin on its back. I don’t know the name of it (I think it starts with a “p”). They work great. Have had aquariums off and on for years and I hate cleaning them. This fish does wonders.
I LOVE this!! So cute and smart… You have such a perspective that I just don’t have.
And that isolation with a newborn is lovely but it is hard as well when you aren’t socializing.
Don’t get snails! They reproduce like nobody’s business. One snail turns into five snails turns into snailpocalypse before you can blink. Ask your fish store about a bristlenose plecostomus. Attractive fish, won’t outgrow a smallish tank, won’t get aggressive with other fish, and will eat all your algae. After the tank is clean you just have to feed him some occasional cucumber or zucchini to keep him happy and mild-mannered.
Really digging the gold coral. 🙂
Well there you go. The tag just said faux coral so I assumed it was! haha!
xo – kb
So glad I’m not alone in that. Holes give me the heebeejeebees. And it has a name–you have opened my eyes!
But the coral is awesome. Great idea.
Umm…I love you. Not in a creepy way, but I totally wanted to come hang out at your house after that first paragraph. And why don’t we go grocery shopping with friends? It would make that horrendous weekly disaster a bit more tolerable.
Then I get a totally doable project for under $10?!?!? Damn girl, have more babies, you’re on fire!
We’re polar opposites … you’re donuts and I’m chocolate chip cookies. But I’d still hang and compare leg hair. Looks like your readers got your back with some great fish answers.
Katie Bower you are just the most clever! Love this idea!
A pleco?
You need a plecostomus for your tank. They’ll eat your algae for you, and I’m sure your boys will love to watch their little sucker mouths. They are also my favorite fish…because I’m weird like that.
plecostomus is the word you are looking for lol….big word, I call them sucker fish– I like otocincous better (they are cute and swim up and down in the tank). Do you have a filter on the tank, if not get one and change to charcoal filter (not the net stuff)
i picked up a piece of fake coral that was painted gold at Home Goods a while ago. I now have it filled with a few air plants in my master bedroom. Great find!
My leg hair is long girl, let’s compare! Also I couldn’t get into white shorts/capris until about oh 2 years after I gave birth. That faux coral accent ROCKS ! Frugal and so fab, love it!
xo Kate
Brilliant! Those Target ones are so pretty, but overpriced, even for Target.
Love the gold coral/barnacles. My husband has said no more projects (they tend to die in the garage with all of the newly-bought supplies) but I feel like I could sneak this one in under cover!
Thanks for your honesty about having a newborn. It is so amazing, and such a hard transition all at once.
I’m gonna be honest here and say I’m not digging the gold barnacle. I thought you lost it when I saw it but then I remembered you’re postpartum so cutting you some slack on your weird fish tank decor makeover. I love most everything you do. I will say my most fav post ever was the naked and afraid Halloween costume. It was AWESOME!! Love that show!! We have fish too and bought the biggest filter that would fit on the tank do I wouldn’t have to clean it as often. Fish is about 40 gallons but filter system is for a 100 gallon tank.
KATE! I seriously asked like eight people at Haven where you have been hiding and why you aren’t at dinner with me. I don’t understand why you aren’t in my life 🙂
xo – kb
You are so smart, Katie!