Big sister's desk before and after:

I got this desk at a huge antique/junk (mostly junk, but obviously some good stuff....still tons of fun to shop) sale that goes along a road for miles.  I think I paid $50 for both the chair and desk.  It is exactly what I was looking for for Big Sister's room.  I got some pink patterned scrapbook paper to use as desk liner.  I sanded and spray painted the chair, and I sanded and brush painted the desk.  Learn from my mistake, if you ever try something like this: spray paint is mucho easier to get to look nice.  I tried my hardest to not get brush lines on the desk, but they happened anyways.  Also, I got some super nice high gloss paint, but I still think it will eventually chip off and look terrible over time. (And knowing my daughter, that probably won't be too long)  I think a small roller probably would have eliminated the brush lines, but I still think the spray paint looks better and is easier.  Oh yes, and I really REALLY wanted some of those vintage looking pink glass handles, but they were close to $4 a pop, and I just didn't have that to spend. Luckily Lowes had some porcelain ones that were the perfect color to match for only .97 each.  Much better, but I think they look kinda 90ish, lol.  Oh well, they will be vintage one of these days, right?

Before:

Ugly 70's mustard color.  Even though I got both of these at different places, they almost looked like the same person got ahold of them with the "antiqueing" stuff....ugh


After:

Didn't take Big Sister long to fill it up with all her papers and other little kid treasures.  :)

The holidays are officially upon us

and I am feeling the rush.  We went to Arkansas to hubby's parents house for Thanksgiving.  It's a looooong and very unpleasant drive to their house, but we did have a great time.  They live 4 miles off of the paved road up in the mountains.  Beautiful, but way out in the boonies.  The dirt road is so bad that unless you are a local, you drive as slow as you possibly can.  Seriously, you start feeling sorry for your car about a half mile in.  And clench your jaw so your teeth don't rattle out.  Hubby's parents are the last one's on their trail road that have running water and electricity.  Like I said though we had a great time.  Thursday night we didn't go to bed, but about 11 we loaded up and drove to Branson and went Black Friday shopping.  It was a blast.  It was about 16* I think and our first stop was the outlet mall.  I had baby boy all wrapped up in his moby wrap and a blanket, and he stayed toasty warm, and helped keep me warm too.  We were going to go to Target, but when we pulled in at 3:55 there was a line wrapped all the way around the building.  Talk about insane.  The cheap Wii Fit wasn't worth it.  So we parked right in front of the building to watch the idiots people when they opened the doors.  It was crazy.  I know some people get a rush out of that kind of thing, but I was tickled to sit in my warm car and watch the maniacs freezing, then push through the doors like a pack of wild animals.  We timed the line and after 10 minutes the people were still running to get through the doors.  Crazy I tell you.  Saving a few bucks is not worth it to me.  We did get some good laughs out of it though.

I am pretty sure I am 100% done with my Christmas shopping.  Yay!  And I actually have some wrapped and under the tree.  Big sister and big brothers main gifts are pretty large, so I need to wait to wrap them until they are either asleep or gone.  I am almost done with my decorating too.  Still have to get my nativity set up, maybe I'll do that today, after my nap of course.  I will take some pics of everything and try to get them posted.  I am still planning to take some pictures of Cara's desk and put them up too.  I just have been so busy.  Tuesday I am having  Scentsy party here at my house, so that is helping keep me motivated to get all the little projects done that I have been putting on the back burner for way too long.  The 18th we are having Christmas/Thanksgiving with my family.  Then on the 24th we are having Christmas with hubby's family.  I think on the 25th we will have just our little family thing, then that afternoon hubby's whole family is coming over to hang out before they head back to the sticks.  Whew, just thinking about all that makes me feel tired.  I won't lie, I will be glad when it's all over.  That sounds horrible, but it's true.

Well hubby is wanting me to play a game of pool with him, so better run.  (We scored a pool table the other day at a garage sale for $25.  It's an old one, but it's got a slate top and it is actually in pretty decent condition.  We've been having a blast with it!)