5 minute read
ROAD TEST
HIGHER POWER
“Prayer is an important way I start the day to say thank you, set intentions, and express any worries.”
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MAYBEYOU CAN’T IDENTIFYWITH HER FONDNESS FOREARLYMORNINGS.BUT THIS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR’S OUTLOOKCAN TEACHBUSY WOMEN AFEW THINGS.
MELINDA TSAPATSARIS, 40
•Assistant head of school at the Wildwood
School, in Los Angeles •Married to Andy Powell, with three children, Dot, 6; Theo, 4; and Ephy, 1½ •Los Angeles
MELINDA’S THOUGHTS ON LIFE BALANCE (OR LACK THEREOF)
No.1
“I’ve stopped buying into the trap that everyone has it more together than I do.”
No.2
“Someone once told me, ‘The healthiest families are a third of the time in harmony, a third of the time in conflict, and a third of the time in repair.’ That felt real to me.”
No.3
“On a day-to-day basis, work-life balance will always be lopsided. I’d rather look back on a year and say, ‘That felt balanced.’ It’s a more forgiving perspective.” 6:30 A.M. “I’m up by 5 A.M. I freakishly love mornings. I’m at my best and brightest, and it’s when I like to play with the kids. It grounds us before we head out and go our separate ways.” 10:15 A.M. “Between the students’ classes, I chat with Nnenna, a fifth grader, about our upcoming GardenPalooza event. She’s full of ideas and excited to make it our best one yet.”
11:05 A.M. “Once a week, I meet with Landis Green, the head of the school. We discuss a lot of big-picture ideas, as well as how best to handle the day-to-day type of problem-solving.” 1:45 P.M. “Part of my job is classroom observations, like with this 11th-grade music class. Sometimes I feel compelled to join in. Never mind that I can play only three chords on the guitar.”
4:20 P.M. “After work, I do a yoga class with Jay Co at Yogaraj. When I was pregnant with Dot, I went six times a week. Once I had kids, I stopped. My goal is to go one to three times a week.” 6:05 P.M. “Theo’s preschool friends and their mom, Sabrina, come over for dinner. Her husband is traveling for work, so I said, ‘Come over—joint chaos is better than solitary chaos.’ ”
ALL IN A DAY’S WORK
“I’m either alone on my laptop, involved in committee meetings, or in the classroom.”
ONLINE-FURNITURE CONSIGNMENT: ACHEAT SHEET
CHAIRISH.COM
GOOD FOR: High-style furnishings of all types, from all eras.
BUYINGTIP: When you’re ready to buy, click the Make an Offer button to try to get a lower price. Shoot for 10 percent off the sell price.
SELLING TIP: To help you determine what something is worth, refer to the Chairish Pink Book, which serves as your go-to for online pricing.
KRRB.COM
GOOD FOR: Vintage, secondhand, and handmade wares in your neighborhood.
BUYINGTIP: Look for an uptick in great deals at the beginning and the end of each month, when people are moving and more desperate to unload.
SELLING TIP: If you’re already selling an item on Etsy or eBay, add a Krrb It button to your bookmarks bar to automatically create a Krrb listing as well.
ETSY.COM
GOOD FOR: One-of-a-kind goods from around the world that are handmade or vintage.
BUYINGTIP: Use the Favorites tool to keep track of what you love and organize it by category.
SELLING TIP: Use the site’s shipping services to purchase and print out post-office and FedEx shipping labels at home, with savings of up to 30 percent.
CRAIGSLIST.COM
GOOD FOR: Everything and the kitchen sink.
BUYINGTIP: When browsing, use alternate search terms.In Craigslist world, a couch is a sofa is a love seat. Also be sure to include misspellings.
SELLING TIP: You can repost every 48 hours. Also, because as a seller you’re meeting strangers, it’s best to have a friend with you during transactions.
APTDECO.COM
GOOD FOR: Antique and midcentury furniture, plus secondhand modern pieces from retail stores.
BUYINGTIP: Negotiating isn’t encouraged; sellers are advised on fair-market pricing. But you can message the seller to see if there’s wiggle room.
SELLING TIP: If the AptDeco shipping service is used (from $35 for a small piece, like an ottoman or a side table), the buyer picks up the tab.
Whatyou need to paint anything
This checklistwill keepyou covered.
THE BRUSHES angled sash
Most pros prefer a 2½- to 3-inch angled sash brush for painting trim and “cutting in.” For small spots and maneuvering into the corners of furniture, a two-inch brush with a short, stubby handle works best. Choose a synthetic-bristle brush for latex paint; natural bristles absorb water and become floppy.
flat
For doors, cabinets, and paneling— or anything flat and wide—pick a four- to five-inch flat brush. With long, straight bristles, it easily covers a wide swath at once.
roller
For walls, floors, and ceilings, choose an eight- or nine-inch roller, which will cover the area quickly but won’t be so heavy that it tires your arm. Rolling trim or the stiles of a door? Go with a mini roller, usually about four inches wide. Choose a synthetic roller cover for latex paint; natural materials absorb water and swell.
THE BASICS drop cloths
Plastic ones are disposable,butthey can be slippery and need to be taped down. Canvas drop cloths are about three times more expensive but also reusable. Some pros use both— layering canvas drop cloths over plastic for foolproof protection, plus a nonslip surface. You can get the same effect for less with taped-down garbage bags and sheets of newspaper.
tape
Use regular masking tape to secure plastic drop cloths, but stick with highquality blue painter’s tape for creating sharp lines around trim.
paper towels and rags
Heavy-duty paper towels (like Viva) make quick work of drips and drops. (This may seem obvious, but you’ll probably go through a roll.) Rags for wiping up sanding dust are a must.
latex or rubber gloves
Protect your hands from rough sandpaper and the inevitable paint splatters.
mask
Keep dust out of your mouth and nose when you’re doing any heavy-duty sanding.
screwdriver
You may need one to remove hardware or electrical plates. It can clean out a crack or a gouge before filling or caulking and can also take off a paint-can lid.
