Passports are required now (or, at least soon) to pass over Mexican and Canadian borders. I heard this on the news last night. They made comment about the people on visiting sides and who don't have passports. There will be a grace period so they can get home, if they do it in a timely manner.

I'm 120 miles north of the Mexican border, but since Day 1 I've heard horror stories about people taking their vehicles in. Cars impounded, phony tickets that can only be paid off with huge bribes, etc.

There's a lot of less expensive recycled beach glass tile, great for walls etc., but it hasn't gone through the processing to make it durable enough for floor tile.

I spent 4 more hours today driving around and looking at tile. Wrote down all brand names and style #s. Another headache -- surprise! I believe I'm "tiled out" for the moment -- no more stores -- and I need to look up those companies online and ask which of their lines are for floors. Maybe tomorrow. I've narrowed my selections down to 2 stores.

Could someone explain to me why it seems I go through cycles of preference change? I've painted my dining room red and had oak accessories, for a while I only wanted white or off white walls...for a time I was into light houses and nautical themes...I was into yellow and flowers for a short time..now that I have my own house again, I want to paint my bathroom purple like wine purple and have a cream garden tub and commode. I want my dressing room cream colored with purple accents and the adjoining bedroom khaki tan/sage green trimmed in cream...with purple and cream sheers.
In the past I would have thought that was dreary, now I want that atmosphere.
Any ideas why our tastes can change that dramatically?

Meredith,
You think the tiles are bad, try checking out the prices for the toilets and sinks. Ouch!
Your tile ideas sound so beautiful. I can't wait to see the pics of your finished room.
New leaf,
I think it's normal to change your ideas. If not we'd all get bored with our homes. I pretty much sticke with the same colors but like to add decor changes.

True, but sometimes I think my tastes in colors and themes evolve with differing stages in life and circumstances.

Just a thought. I've known women who have always loved roosters in thier kitchen and by golly, they will always love roosters.

The tiles sound wonderful. That's one of the beautiful things about women and some men, we have such a wonderful bent toward expressing ourselves through our homes.

I have always used a leaf theme in my home. Don't know why I'm drawn to them so much but I am. Anyway, my new bathroom will be no different. I've chosen a tile border for it that has a leaf pattern and just found a toilet paper stand that has a similar pattern. The color scheme is bisquit and the sccessories (and border) are brushed bronze, which is actually black with copper (rust) overtones. Of course I couldn't choose regular (brown) bronze, that would have made finding pieces that go together too easy!

Meredith, how's yours coming along?

Bet all you gals are great at interior decorating. I seem not get a rm. right....which is at odds with my other skills in sewing, enjoyment in photography, painting, etc.

But it must be related to 3-D, spatial skills.

However it's a pleasure to walk into a beautifully and innovatively designed rm.

I DID IT!!!

Yesterday I finally picked out my bathroom tile. Today I bought the paint and primer, and will start priming after lunch. (defined as whenever I finish this post.) Bathroom is already prepped and clean. I'm sooooo excited about this I've been wanting to do it almost forever but work and life keep getting in the way.

Tile arrives in 2 weeks, but then I'm right in the middle of major jewelry sales, so I won't install until early June. My goal is to have the painting done within 1 week.

Paint is brightish turquoise.
four types of tile:
majority is 2x2x2 hexagon pale frosted turquoise recycled glass
bright shiny irridescent turquoise glass 1x2 ovals, running in a swirly pattern throughout. I cut out 150 construction paper rectangles to lay out on the floor to get the pattern, and then took pics.
matching 3/4" bright turquoise circles, which will be installed in random places
sand-colored marble little mosaic pieces, which will fill in gaps where the hexagons don't meet the ovals

Oh yeah, and total cost of tile for this teeny weeny bathroom -- a little over $1,000

If you don't see me for a few days, I'm painting

Meredith, the colors sound wonderful! I hope you'll post pictures!

So happy for you Meredith. I know from your newsletter that this is a very busy time for you. Hope you meet all of your goals. It sounds lovely!