Retail Therapy...A Woman's Best Pick-Me-Up

Ok, I'm feeling a bit better. Nothing like a little retail therapy to make a girl feel better. I headed to B&N with my gift card and perused the bargain aisles. In case you haven't noticed, I hate paying full price for anything. I ended up walking away with Woman's Day Specials: Budget Makeovers and Chore Whore: Adventures of a Celebrity Personal Assistant. I chose the first because it has some great ideas on color and detail for different rooms in the house. Usually when I look at a decorating book, I notice that most of the "wow" factors and ideas are actually just the products that the company is trying to push onto the reader. I like books that have ideas I can actually pull off without having to open up a charge account at my nearest furniture retail outlet. The second book I bought because I was reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for about the third time and was finding it a bit dark and depressing for a summer read. This story seemed more of a light and funny read and more fitting to my current need for such entertainment. I will let you know how I like it soon.

I am also in the midst of a long list of projects around the house. I am currently finishing up the painting in the upstairs hall. My project to-do list is as follows:

1. paint Tiny's room with the Disney colors of purple and green to match her bedding. The result should look something like this, except the green will be on top and the purple on the bottom and a Tink border in between the two. It will also include a section of wall painted with chalk paint.

2. paint Mister's room with another Disney color that is light blue and with white trim. I will also use the chalk paint on his closet doors.

3. a craft table for Tiny's room. I already have the table and need to cut it down in height, paint it, and use a circular router to cut out spots for craft containers to sit right into the table.

4. paint the living room in a warm, neutral color.

5. re-texturize the downstairs bathroom and repaint.

That's the list for now. I'm sure there will be add-ons and at least one deletion...probably the last one...but just until later. I might even take a few tips from that new book. It sounds like a lot of work, but I'm really glad for this time to do it and, if anything, it will be a good workout and should look nice when I'm done. I'll also try to take before and after pics to post as well, so you can enjoy the transformation too. Well, I'm going to thumb through my new treasures before I hit the hay. I'm helping out with the kids' activity day tomorrow at school and have to be there at 8:30. I'm looking forward to it. Good night.