A Pool Day That Ended In Crying Over Spilled Milk

Oh, Dear Reader, do I have a story to share on the blog for you today… 

Whoever said “don’t cry over spilled milk” got it alllllll wrong!

It was 5:00 pm on a Wednesday – the middle of rush hour here in Indianapolis. My favorite time of the day to be driving – NOT!

My kids and I had just left the pool we rented through a site called SWIMPLY. (It’s like Airbnb, but for pools.) From the nicely rolled beach towels, to the plethora of pool toys, to a shady spot complete with a comfy lounger perched underneath a patio umbrella – this host had it all!

We were already wowed. But, then realized they took it over the top when we saw what was left on the large picnic table draped with a blue and white checkered vinyl tablecloth. There sat a Starbucks gift card with my name written on the front in black permanent marker. I was beyond wowed! 

By this point, as a business owner who makes it a priority to underpromise and overdeliver, I was taking notes!

As we we left geared with our hosts’s generous gift in one hand and my iPhone with GOOGLE MAPS pulled up in the other, we realized the rush hour traffic would make our drive back home double the amount of time it normally would! 

Since I would rather wait in the drive-thru line than sit in rush hour traffic, it was off to use up our gift card funds instead of driving straight home. I mean, hey! At least there’s a sweet treat waiting on the other end.

Drive-Thru Attendant: “Welcome to Starbucks, what can we make for you today?”

Me: “May I have an iced black coffee with a heavy splash of cream and a caramel steamer with caramel drizzle on top?”

Yes and yes!

The caramel steamer was for my 7-year-old daughter who was sitting patiently in the backseat giddy with the promise of enjoying her drink on the long drive home. 

We pay for our drinks, grab ’em and go.

Then, just about 7 minutes after we pull into the sea of traffic, SPILLLLLLLLLL…

The entire caramel steamer filled to the brim with 2% milk and caramel drizzle now coated the back seat of my car.

There was now a brief moment of complete silence.

Then, the heartbreaking cry from my daughter who was SO excited to drink her sugary concoction let loose. She was devastated that the promise of what she was so confident she would get was now long gone. 

Talk about a mother’s heart – broken! For more reasons than one.

Now, I know. I know. We’re not really here to talk about milk, or coffee, or what’s acceptable to cry about. (Though I’m sure there is someone out there who would be jazzed to dive into those topics.)

But, it feels a little uncanny to note that it can sometimes feel like this when it comes to designing your home.

Get a plan. Check! Everything is going right. Check! Feeling like nothing could go wrong. Check!

And then, BAM!

Something happens to throw everything off. All your hard work and planning can feel like it gets poured down the drain (or in my case, the backseat of your car!) 

I like to say that interior design is not for the faint of heart. So, if you are bravely doing this design thing on your own and need some DESIGN RESOURCES to help get you through, I’m here to help.

In the meantime, enjoy this sweet moment I captured with my kids at the pool that day. Times like this are what keep me going.

Check out this DRESS. I found it on Amazon. It’s the most comfy maxidress I’ve ever worn and it comes in many different colors and patterns! Perfect for days spent at the pool!

I’m ready for summer 2023 already, how about you?