Transformations

After three and a half years I'm finally getting around to working on the guest room.

I don't know about you, but we have very few guests each year since our inlaws live far out of state, and so I lacked any real motivation to paint or decorate this unused room. Part of the problem was simply not having any vision for what I wanted it to become. It's a large room, about 12 x 14 and has its own full bath and lots of windows. It has no furniture really, just a bed on a frame, a wooden rocking chair and some cast off furnishings from our old house when we had a formal living room (I needed someplace for the 30" skirted table with glass top!)

Did I mention the room is painted bright pink? No, seriously, you aren't picturing pink enough. Let me help you:

Pretty inviting guest space, isn't it? Makes you want to stay awhile--provided you are medicated enough.

I decided to get motivated and have it painted (though apparently not motivated enough to paint it myself!). As soon as the painter mentioned his friend the trim carpenter this inspired me to add crown molding to the room because, hey, while I'm stimulating the economy...

This week the trim guys came and the painters are even still here. Because what started as one pink room became triple crown molding, doors, floor trim and then somehow spread beyond the pink room into my son's room and there morphed into repairing corner beads and repainting and, oh yes, FAUX FINISH.

It's the paint fumes. I promise.

So it's almost done. I did buy bedding (overstocks.com) to match the new room:

Yes, the bed is full size, not queen. I have read and read this is a travesty when it comes to guest rooms, but I will be honest with you: I am not spending $500-$700 on an entirely new mattress set for a room that sees occupants twice per year. I figure one day Catherine can have this room to herself and a full with be big enough.

So do you want a sneak peak?

(It looks like the painters took a nap in his bed--no, it will look better when it is all decorated again).

My inlaws arrive in two weeks. I hope they like the new room. I still need to get:

• A headboard
• A dresser
• Curtains
• Art for the walls
• A decorating chromosome that will allow all this to come together

At least it isn't pink!

Goodwill Hunting

A few deals today to share:

Batter's helmet with facemask. Like new. Goodwill: $1.99 (new in Walmart = $20!) William starts baseball next month and this will be a good thing to have.

Decorator topiaries. Nice quality. Goodwill: $2.99 each
Baseball card protector sleeves (going to use them for storing my coupons). Goodwill: $0.99

I thought I'd scored a Trapper Keeper (do you all remember THOSE??) but alas it was not to be.


CVS:
I went on the way home from work and signed up in store for the ECB card (it's their loyalty care). I used it right away. Colgate toothbrushes free after store coupon (I got a coupon for $2.99 off my next purchase). Turned around and used it in a second transation to buy cub scout treats (on sale and with coupon). Used my ECB discount= free

My husband remarked tonight that I am shopping in stores that I have never shopped in before and isn't that exactly what these stores want? I reminded him that if these stores wanted me to shop there for 50-100% off their items, they needed a new marketing strategy. I'm not spending more money with them, I'm spending less!

Pretty good deal considering my governor announced state income tax increases that will hit us to the tune of $2,000 more next year. Great.