College is a lot of work......

especially for moms and dads.....

Not only do we have to work and save to pay for them to be there, we have to make sure they live in the style they are accustomed to once they get there. In my case...the style my daughter is accustomed to translates into a Pink Penthouse.
Don't bother to tell me....I know.....I created this child. But, seriously.....she decided that an ugly, dreary, dusty, hot attic could become a place worthy of the princess that she is?
Of course....she knows her mother would never leave her in a place that looked like that!
Never in a million years could her mother sleep if she knew that her daughter was waking up each morning to walls that were not adorned, a floor that was splattered with gawdknowswhat and windows that haven't been cleaned since Reagan left office.
She knew it was a job her mother would take on.....
But, honestly friends, as much as I would have loved to and wanted to---I could not have done this 115 pounds ago.
As I made my 10th trip up to the attic (carrying yet another big pink bin!) in the house Toni will be living in with her sorority sisters, I decided right then and there---this was the reason why I got my Lapband. Forget all the other stuff I said for the past 4 years. That was the moment...the real moment.....when I realized just what this weight loss has done for me.

Let me share with you what I am talking about.....

I wish I would have taken some before pictures of what this place looked like...it was a drab, dust-filled, schorchingly hot, downright yucky attic. I guess we were just so anxious to get started that I didn't bother to pull out the camera until we at least got some paint on the walls and an air conditioner in the window.
So, here's a look at it as things were taking shape....
Here's a shot of Carmen working on putting together the portable closet we had to purchase when we realized the room did not have anywhere to put Toni's clothes! My daughter....Miss Fashionista...without a closet? A true college crisis....
Even though it was a closet....Toni was not at all happy with how boring and beige it was. Thankfully, I found some inspiration and a glue gun and managed to make it a little more Toni worthy....
Here's a shot of the entry way...aka the top of the steep steps.... to what was finally starting to become "Toni's Pink Penthouse".....

After many hours, lots of sweat, a few tears and some major back-breaking work......here's how things turned out....

We came a long way, baby!!!

Keep your fingers crossed that this will be her final college home. I gave a very stern warning as I dragged myself out of that place late Friday night......"I will be 53 next year!! Don't you dare move again!"

Yes, College Year 3 is here.
But, my nest wasn't completely empty.
Vince made a quick trip home from PhDland....it was Fantasy Football Draft weekend. So, he and Carmen studied most of the day yesterday in preparation for the event. Then, they headed out to the very important draft....toting a few pounds of pasta that I made for them to share with their fantasy football buddies as they toiled into the night....
I spent the evening doing a little shopping for our little empty nester getaway to Party Island this week, getting my new iPhone updated, checking on a few friends who were in the path of Hurricane Irene and then meeeting my sister for a margarita and quesadilla before heading home and getting ready for our surf and turf grill today before Vince heads back to his post at PhDland.
Today, I'm struggling with a few aches and pains from our move-back-to-college extravaganza.
But the day awaits me. There's no time for pity parties.
There's shrimp to peel, corn to husk, steaks to prepare and a son to spend time with.
Tomorrow is when the real Empty Nester Life Year 3 begins......



Sending out my prayers and best wishes to everyone dealing with Irene....please stay safe.