Projects

In the last few months I've taken on a few projects that seem to have taken over me! All I have to say is, they make it look a lot easier on HGTV! :)

This was my first project: an old dresser of Scott's from his childhood.

BEFORE

AFTER

The dresser was fairly void of complications. All it needed was some primer and paint. I thought the same would be true for my next project, an old secretary desk from my grandma's. I thought wrong. I started the project the end of January and I just now finished it today. At first glance it was a simple, wooden desk. But when I started to sand it for staining I discovered that the top was made of some kind of Formica that looked deceivingly wood-like. I'd already sanded everything else and made kind of a mess of things in my preparations so there really was no going back. Plus, my dear grandmother is very driven and was more compelled to finish it than I was. She pried the top off and had a new top made and then ended up taking the sides off too and replacing them. In the end I think she'd invested more energy and time in it than me. :) Finally, I decided to paint it (Scott picked the color) and here is the result:

BEFORE

(Kirsten came along to work on projects of her own)

AFTER

Unfortunately, I won't be able to enjoy the fruits of my labors for awhile as we're moving away for the summer to work and the desk had to be stashed in storage. But it will be waiting for me when we get back and are Provo bound!

A Little Codependent Self Esteem

I'm sure all of us out there have had moments where we feel like life is a perpetual bad hair day or we wonder why those jeans just aren't fitting like they used to. It can be especially difficult when we see magazines and movies filled with images of people that give us a false sense of perfection. On days like these, I sometimes turn to a few links that help me feel a little bit better by reminding me that none of us are perfect:

http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/celebs-sans-makeup/1163

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6820396

This is so Important

Favorite Poem

I would not if I could undo my past,

Tho for its sake my future is a blank;

My past for which I have myself to thank,

For all its faults and follies first and last.

I would not cast anew the lot once cast,

Or launch a second ship for one that sank,

Or drug with sweets the bitterness I drank,

Or break by feasting my perpetual fast.

I would not if I could:

for much more dear

Is one remembrance than a hundred joys,

More than a thousand hopes in jubilee;

Dearer the music of one tearful voice

that unforgotten calls and calls to me,

"Follow me here, rise up, and follow here."

~Christina Rosetti

Apartment Living

There are certain things that are unique to living in an apartment. Like having a bike in the living room. Or the kitchen. Which is where it used to be.

All This Nothing

The other day I was talking to a friend who has entered the world of blogging. She has a family and posts wondeful pictures of her husband and their new son, but she said that her blog isn't necessarily a family blog. She'll post things that are just hers-her thoughts and her own happenings-along with things she's doing with her family.

This inspired me to do something I've been thinking about doing for awhile, that is to start a blog that's just mine. I have a family blog and I'm sure I've posted things there that Scott would not want to attach his name to, a.k.a. posts about Harry Potter and daisies and organizing. And there's more. So, this is just me and I'm excited.