The marble hex tiles for my bathroom were delivered last week. Is it strange to be in love with tile? I actually hugged it, made sure every person who entered my house saw my new tile, and, in true blogger fashion, I set it in good light and photographed it. Now I’m writing about it. I love this tile.
I chose not to use my True Value prize money on it, though. It would’ve been about $1500 to buy it from their tile supplier and I found it on Amazon for about $300. See, I’m even thrifty with prize money! I just can’t help myself.
So, my living room has become the holding area for my bathroom fixtures. That’s the bead board, toilet, tank, and sink basin piled against my piano.
I got a little antsy yesterday and ripped down the wallpaper border that was above the pink plastic tile. I hope to complete the demolition this week.
Today, though, I needed to take care of some things for my own sanity and cleaning my half of the closet was one of them. (Yes, I share a tiny closet with my husband.) I was ready to be ruthless and that’s a good time to clean out a closet. I filled 2 1/2 garbage bags with clothes, shoes and purses without pause, but I hesitated when I came across my collection of dance shoes.
It’s gotten better. I used to have five pairs that I’ve been hauling around since my musical theatre days. Today, I only had three. Why are these so hard for me to throw away? When I gave this a lot of thought, I came up with an honest answer. If I have dance shoes, it means I’m still a dancer.
I challenged myself today. Just let them go. Getting rid of the shoes doesn’t mean I can’t do a mean time step or that I’ll forget second position. Getting rid of the shoes frees up space in my closet and relieves the stress I feel when my home is too cluttered.
So…I threw away my ballet shoes and character shoes.
I wasn’t totally ruthless, though…
…I kept the tap shoes.
You just never know when you’ll need to shuffle off to Buffalo…
…and I just wasn’t ready, yet.
59 Responses
Turn it into a display! Keep it! Make a shadow box!
Very brave. I would have kept the ballet shoes too!
looking at that gorg tile I am beyond excited to see your finished bath!!!!
stellaandgray.blogspot.com
Please take them out of the garbage and donate them! I teach dance to inner city kids and they would LOVE to have your old dance shoes, my friend! Used or not!
Please kiss your tile for me…
I've been MIA in blogland lately but finally added a post last week on my bathroom remodel. I see you are doing one too. I almost went with the hexagon tile. I love it as well. I can't wait to see your finished project. I'm sure it will be fabulous.
Stephanie
http://thevintageglitterhouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/girls-bathroom-remodel-on-budget.html
I know what you mean about the shoes. I dragged around boxes of my newspaper clippings for years. Finally threw them out last year and really felt as though I'd thrown out the "professional" side of myself. Not that I planned to use any of that stuff in my portfolio OR ever work for a newspaper again, but still … those were the remaining artifacts proving I was once a journalist.
Love the tile, too. 🙂
I completely get hugging tile! I want to get penny round for my kitchen. What source did you use with that great pricing? If I were you I would put on my dancing shoes and dance on that great tile!
Is there ANYTHING you can't do???? I love that you ARE a dancer. The dancing, painting, photographing, sewing, blogger. Let's see can you incorporate something to do all those things at the same time–that would be some serious talent!! I agree with comment #1-make a vignette with a pair of those babies! Cute picture of you in costume, program, and a pair of shoes. You got it sister, flaunt it!
Thanks Marian, that was a fun post! I truly enjoyed it, hope you are well, Laura
Marian I used to be a ballroom dance teacher before I had kids.
I have a bag in my closet with my old dance shoes and I can't let them go. For the exact same reason — like if I give them up, I can't tango anymore. 🙁
Or maybe it's just not wanting to let go of my youth. yikes…
I think you need to find a cute place to display them. Next time we are at Blissdom together I am going to ask you to shuffle off to Buffalo! ;D
How funny!!! I am a dancer also and owned a dance school before leaving Ca. I also have my tap shoes since tap is my VERB!! I haven't put them on in only about 6 months but it is a stress reliever for me when I do. My oldest has even asked me to teach him to tap and that I will do.
I would have hugged the tile too. I have tile in my kitchen backsplash that makes me happy every time I see it. I love throwing stuff away, but the sentimental things are hard! Good for you for letting go of a little of it. Now, when you are ready to post "how to" video to tap dance, I will be waiting. Haven't put my tap shoes on since I was 11. Happy remodel!!
Once a dancer, always a dancer. Don't forget that. It stays in your blood. Keep the shoes 🙂
Little Miss Penny Wenny
You're better than me. I don't think I could've gotten rid of them yet. Couldn't you have found something decorative to do with the ballet shoes? In all seriousness, last Spring I had to part with a dress I wore when I sang for a performance at our brotherhood's national convention -nearly 15 years ago! I finally saved just the beatiful buttons on the cuffs to add to a shadow box of photos from the event. It was very difficult to do so I sympathize with you.
Ewww love the tile pretty!!!! I can't wait to see it all done. I know it will look beautiful. And… DONT THROW AWAY THOSE BALLET SHOES!!!! My daughter left several pair here at home from her dancing days and they look gorgeous done in german glitter hanging around Christmas Time. Hurry hope it's not too late. lol
Un petit pas de deux bientôt sur votre joli carrelage… Bisous
well HELLO, silly! of COURSE you kept them b/c think of the awesomely COOL tappy noise they will make when you are tap dancing on your new tile!! that just makes good sense…;)
I seriously could have written this blog post. I, too, am redoing my bathroom… and it includes beadboard. and I too, share a tiny closet with my husband, and I too cleaned my half of it today. Twinkies! LOL
dance shoes to you are what my riding boots are to me. *sigh*
and is it normal for toilets and tanks to come separately? the only one I have ever purchased came in one piece. is it because I was cheap?
Oh how I love it when I get in that same mood. Seems like if I am not in that mood and in just standard mode of house cleaning it's really hard to let go. So when the mood strikes – Watch out! Nothing has a chance if it's taking up space, going unused and so forth.
Love that tile! you are a strong woman I never would've been able to give up my dance shoes. They are precious mementos, and I love ballet shoes. But then again I have issues with parting with things. Also known as hoarding LOL.
I loved reading this post for soooo many reasons. Your exciting bathroom reno has me squealing for you! And yeah, that tile is decadent!
And the shoe story? I've been smiling since I read it. And here I thought you just sang. Boy did I miss a great video op! 🙂
Donna
Love your tile! We just remodeled our master closet and are now moving toward to master bath! Can't wait to see what you do…Keep us "posted"!
I am not a huge "saver". I am pretty good about taking things I don't or won't use to the Goodwill. However, I have been dragging around the uniform I wore in nursing school for nearly 40 years. I don't know if it is because it still has a 25" waist and I don't or because some part of me misses that girl. Either way, it remains in my "hope chest" and will probably be there forever.
I totally understand this post. I am a little sad every time I think of my beloved tap shoes that I got rid of after college when my dancing days were over!
I think it is completely normal to LOVE tile. We are renovating our master bathroom, and I think my husband is slightly jealous of the love affair I'm having with our tile.
As far as the dance shoes…you're creative… couldn't you use them as feet on a dresser??
Gorgeous tile! So excited for you!
I get the 'tile' thing..I just posted about getting 'excited' just hearing my new pneumatic nailer sound off.
Maybe this is how guys feel about their cars? I never got it before…now I get it.
Be well and tap on girl!
janet xox
Those shoes would make a mean still life! I say keep one pair of each….your kids will enjoy having them one day!
I love it!!!! And $300? That's incredible! I cannot wait to see what you have up your sleeves. 🙂 I sort of channeled you yesterday when I photographed some silver in a tin caddy…just made me think of you. 🙂
xo
shaunna
Marian, you are just so sweet, I understand exactly what you mean about the dance shoes. You're lucky to have only 3 pairs remaining. I have about 12. With holes in the jazz shoes and ballet slippers if you can imagine that!
But it's a good idea to let them go and make room for other things in our lives right?
I feel your pain. I still hold onto my track spikes… even though I have blown out my knee and really can't run anymore. Sometimes it is comforting just to hold them for a second, just to remind me of the times when I could. I keep telling my hubby that someday I'll be a coach and I'll need them, lol.
I was imagining a cute vignette with the tap shoes. If it makes you feel any better I still have my black vinyl ballet box with my toe shoes in a size 6. This Cinderella after 2 kids now wears a size 7. Hmmm.
Loved the previous post. People often say to me, "As a designer your house must be perfect." "Ha!" I say to them.
Funny. I just tossed everything except my last pair of toe shoes. I'll never dance pointe again, three foot surgeries, broken toes and babies have taken over! But I can't part with them.
I just can't.
A home orgainzer once told me to put my I-can't-throw-this-away-stuff in a memory box and get them out of my closet. One box for all the things I just can't part with. I can barely close the lid but I still have my memories!
Totally cool tile, your bath is going to be so gorgeous!
As for the shoes, hang them in your craft room or display them in your child's room….somewhere…they are full of memories!
So, hopefully you dug the shoes outta the trash and donated them. But honestly, I'll bet they DIDN'T actually make it to the trash and you just wrote that because you INTENDED to do it and would, EVENTUALLY.
Am I right? 😉
you should definitely keep the shoes!! What a great memory!!
I still have my Capezios that I wore for dance class and dance team. I cannot get rid of them.
I use them occasionally when I'm teaching dramas to the youth group. They still fit like a glove and they still make me feel like a dancer. I'm right there with you.
Oh, and at least your tap shoes are pretty. There's nothing cute about jazz shoes. 🙂 No cute vignettes with my memory.
Drool! How in the world did you get that tile for 300 dollars?
Stunned jealousy! (in a I am so happy for you way though!!!)
That is amazing! If you have any tips let me know, I have heard of other people getting such good deals, are you stalking amazon to get it…(maybe you should write a post about that, I would love you forever for some great amazon shopping tips!)
Anyway, I feel like I haven't talked to you in a long time, I hope you are well! And of course I can't wait to see what you do on your bathroom!
* G' mornin', Marian!!! Just finished this AND reading your Dec 31st blog… YOU, my friend, are being so beautifully BLESSED, with so many good things and opportunities coming your way, that one can conclude (even a NEW reader like moi!) that Y*O*U are most certainly ONE… TALENTED… GAL!!! And it's soooo NICE to see/hear abaout that!!!
Biggest & best wishes on all these GOOD THINGS happening for you!
Linda in AZ *
bellesmom1234@comcast.net
*** P.S… Restaurants and "new businesses" often keep their "first dollar" framed… sure hope you keep those e-mails & use them the same way… I think "someday", when yer old n' gray, you'll be sooo happy to have them!!!
(When my great-grandfather died, my Grandmother saved the actual, personal telegram our family rcvd, from the General Consul of France, expressing the embassy's sadness at his death, for his many selfless contributions to France, the country where he was born… very special indeed!!!) Linda *****
this is so sweet and i understand why you can't part with them. if you ever do want to shuffle off to Buffalo you're welcome to come visit me! have a good one! susan
It can be so difficult to let go of things that have strong memories.
How about this one.
My mom kept both my original ballet slippers and tiny tap shoes.
She's gone, the shoes remain. But, they're in a closet. I don't want to display them. Yet I can't seem to get rid of them. Ugh!
isn't that where EVERYONE stores their extra toilets? That's not strange at all, is it? ha! Go purging – doesn't it feel good! I GOTTA see a tap video of ya now!
i love that you kept your tap shoes. and i think you should pull them out at dinner parties. no really. i'm serious. anyway, it's what all my musical theatre friends would do 🙂
Hurry & did them out before the trash or donation pick up comes!
Decorate with them! They'd be great hanging on the wall!
Meant to say *dig* them out, not *did*!
I was in a rush for you to get those shoes back! LOL!
Andrea | HomageStyle.com
Don't throw them away, use them as a decorating tool. You will be so glad you did and so will your children. quick run to the trash can, you will thank me later.
Oh I would have kept all the dance shoes. especially the toe shoes!! You could have used them in a display somewhere!!
Hugs
SueAnn
My character shoes were the 1st to go. I was tap-impaired, so no shoes.
Lessee, Miss Mustard Seed – Musical Theater, Today's Creative Blog – Salsa; Pioneer Woman – Ballet. I'm thrilled to be a small part of that lovely group . . . MuralMaker – Jazz.
Oh, but wait . . . after a 20 year hiatus, raising 3 boys and one grandson, MuralMaker is going back to teaching jazz . . . "Last Chance" Dance!
Fuh-lap-ball-change!
I don't have mine eiter- but wish I did…not sure why?? But, I threw my JAZZ shoes, Ballet shoes and Tap shoes out a long time ago…I do think my High Heel Black taps were the last to go.I can just hear them tapping on my grandmother's kitchen floor…and all.through.the.house actually! 😉 Oh…and there's NOTHING like the smell of brand new little leather pink Capezio ballet shoes…ahhh…good old days!
Ha,ha. I love it. I have my dance shoes as well. It's just a "dancer" thing. No one else gets it. I always say once you stop dancing, you get old. Dance! Sarah@NorthwestHospitality.org
so glad to see someone else's living room doubling as a staging area! I too have beadboard, tile, and a door in mine waiting while my tiling is done.It is so exciting!!
Nooooooo not the shoes!!! This said from the lady whose closets are deadly! Lol! I wish I could snap those ballet slippers out of that bag! Please tell me they weren't….. pink? Vanna