I know, I know, Where's the SPLASH of color?  It's coming, *holding up 2 fingers* I swear!  But I couldn't wait any longer to share the pictures. 

Here are                 BEFORE                             and                     AFTER photos

I thought I'd share some other photos as well.  I was so into all the sanding, priming, and painting that I forgot to take some "before" photos.  I know I have some of my "hope" chest and when I come across them I'll post the "before" and "after" photos then.

I am very pleased with the progress I made over the weekend.   I hope to have all the painting and sealant applied so I can put everything where I want it and start the actual fun stuff.

COMPLETED:

    Entry wall (brown)
    Short wall by door (white)
    Wall by closet (brown)
    Purple-blue wall (brown and green)
    Window wall (green)
    Long wall (white)

    5 - two space QB (primed and painted)
    2 - 3 space QB (primed and painted)
    2 - 4 space QB (primed and painted)

    Hope Chest (primed and painted)
        I even took the time to refinish the bronze hardware.  Now all I have to do is replace the lock.
        Thankfully I found a woodworking specialty shop close to home.  *crossing my fingers*
   
    Ceiling Fan Installed (and the hubby didn't electrocute himself!  Yay!)
   
    Desk (sanded and primed)
    Bookshelf (sanded and primed)

LEFT TO DO:

To be painted and sealed

    Desk
    File cabinets (I'm second guessing on these...I'll have to wait and see what they look like first)
    Bookshelf

To make or upcycle
    Curtains - upcycle
    Fabric bins - make
    Cushion - make
    Other - as I think of or need them (too many ideas currently floating around in my head). 
   
Other decorative touches
    Decoupage - CD holders, photo holders
    Picture rails - make
    Wall art - make

Purchases yet to make
    Wall lamps

Today is the final day of my February NaBloPoMo challenge.  I can't believe that I actually posted every day this month.  I have to admit, it was a challenge, yet I didn't use any of the writing prompts.  Maybe I should have, then again I felt like it was too much like writing essays in school.  I found this to be a wonderful exercise and maybe I'll do it again...but not too soon.

For me, writing is spontaneous.  I write about what I see, smell, taste, do, etc.  I tried to share my day with everyone.  It may be boring to some but I'm good with boring. 

I may tone it down to every other day now.  It's been a challenge with a family, full-time job, redecorating, and organizing.  I hope to make my posts more interesting.  Hopefully, I will learn something new and be able to pass that knowledge onto someone else.

So for know, I'm going to say, adieu to NaBloPoMo...and Thank You. 

My desk and the book shelf are a type of laminate (more like paper than vinyl or plastic).  So I've ventured into painting laminate.  I found some good directions on HGTV.com to paint laminate counter tops and spoke with a guy at the hardware store who does kitchen remodeling and gave me some pointers.  So here's the process I'm using.

1. Lightly sand with 150-grit sandpaper. This allows the primer adhere better to the surface.
2. Wipe the surface down with a damp cloth (or tack cloth) to remove any dust. 
   
3. 2 coats primer - I'm using Zissner Bulls-eye 123 but any primer that indicates it covers gloss or shiny surfaces will work.
   
4. 2 coats indoor satin/semi-gloss paint - I'm using Dutch Boy DuraClean Satin finish (White Lullaby) to match the walls
5. 3 coats acrylic sealant - I'm using Minwax Polycrylic Semi-Gloss.
   

No one told me if I should use a roller or brush so...I'm rolling on the primer and paint.  For some reason I get a more even coat when I roll the paint on than when I use a brush.  When I finally get to the sealant I think I will use a brush but will be able to tell if that's a wise choice when I do my first coat. 

The key (I'm told) is to let each coat dry completely before applying the next coat.  Yes, this is taking forever and sometimes I get a little impatient watching paint dry.  But I'm following the directions and suggestions given to me.  I will let you know how it comes out in the end.

While I was finishing painting the walls last week, my beagle, Mollie Bollie had to go outside.  Since everyone else was already out there, she came to bug me.  Unfortunately, she got a little too close to the green wall that I had just finished painting, wagging her tail like crazy.  You got it...she did a little decorative painting herself.  For those of you with pets you know that sometimes they are a lot like children when you want to take a picture and they don't want to participate. 

So for a giggle, I thought I'd share my attempts at trying to take a picture of her tail...She kept flicking her tail up so you couldn't see the top of it.  My favorite is her sticking out her tongue just as I was about to get a picture. 

Finally...my husband scratched her ears and I was able to get this one and only shot of the top of her tail.

Today is sort of another bust when it comes to the office.  I went to visit an old friend who's husband started his own plumbing business and she needed my help with the accounting aspect of the business.  Since it's what I do for a J.O.B. I figure I can help her out, stay for a visit and get to see her new granddaughter too.  The only bad thing about visiting is she lives an hour and a half away so it kind of takes all day. 

When I got there, her granddaughter was just going down for a nap (perfect timing).  I answered her questions about the business and what she needed to provide her tax accountant to file the business taxes.  I also reviewed her quarterly filings and did a mini-audit for year end, just to make sure everything was in order.  By the time we were done, the wee one was awake. 

Her granddaughter is adorable.  She is a very happy baby.  She didn't fuss at all, even when she needed to be fed or have her diaper changed.  Her daughter is very lucky to have such a sweet, happy baby. 

Once I had my baby fix it was time to drive home.  Why does it always seem to take forever to get somewhere and it only takes minutes to get home?  I think it took half the time to get home as it did to drive there.  Oh well.  It was a lovely visit and I'm glad I took a little time off from redecorating to do so.

Ahhh...now back to painting.  =D) 

Playing Wii®

I love listening to my family play Wii®.  Last night they were golfing...I don't get the appeal of the game in real time let alone on the TV (my husband loves watching the golf channel).  You can tell how well or bad they are playing by the response of the other two.  Hoots and Hollers mean it was a great shot.  Giggling (yes, my boys still giggle) and Ahh's mean they "sliced" or missed a putt.  I can't help but giggle right along with them. 

After they were done golfing they invited me to play...Good lord, did they not remember how bad I play that game?  So they paired me up with my oldest son who apparently "whipped" my husband and youngest during the game before.  Apparently, you have to keep your arm straight and not twist your wrist.  Both boys kept trying to hold my wrist and that made it only worse.  We started laughing so hard, I spewed Sprite® out of my nose (that hurts by the way)! 

After my disgraceful attempt at golfing we changed to bowling.  It was parents vs. kids.  My hubby and I won the first game.  Then the boys decided we were going to play 100-pin and they won by 4 pins.  It doesn't matter that we won the first game...we won't be allowed to forget they beat us at 100-pin until we settle the score. 

The most fun is watching our beagle baby, Mollie while we play.  She does not understand why everyone stands up, sits down, stands up, sits down.  She actually gets a little nervous and doesn't know if she should lay down on her pillow or wait for someone to take her for a walk. 

PROGRESS REPORT:

COMPLETED:
    Entry wall (brown)
    Short wall by door (white)
    Wall by closet (brown)
    Purple-blue wall (brown and green)
    Window wall (green)
    Long wall (white)
    3 - two space QB (primed and painted)
    5 - two space QB (primed)
    Hope chest - emptied, taken apart, all the holes puttied, and sanded
    Hope chest bench - bottom primed

LEFT TO DO:

To be primed and painted
    2 - three space QB's
    2 - 4 space QB's
    Hope chest bench - lid
   
To be sanded, primed, painted, and sealed
    Desk
    File cabinets
    Bookshelf

To make or upcycle
    Curtains - upcycle
    Fabric bins - make
    Cushion - make
    Other - as I think of or need them (too many ideas currently floating around in my head). 
   
Other decorative touches
    Decoupage - CD holders, photo holders
    Picture rails - make
    Wall art - make

To be installed (and hopefully the hubby won't electrocute himself!)
    Ceiling fan with light

Purchases yet to make
    Wall lamps

It's not that I'm discouraged or want to quit.  I spend 75% of my free time in my office and right now, I feel...disjointed.  Like it's not quite my space...yet.  And it's no wonder since I'm typing this from a kiddie desk.  Even my Mollie Bollie is unsure about the room.  She wanders around looking for a place to lay down and then wanders back out...she too is a little lost.  (She used to go lay down in the closet and now there is no room.) 

I continue to paint (and paint, AND paint) whenever I have time and each time I cross off something from the "Left to Do" list and move it to the "Completed" list I feel a little closer to getting this done.  I try not to think about all the organizing I'll have to do when this redecorating is done.  (It's a little intimidating.)  I already feel good about the wall colors and the other little decorating pieces I've picked out.  I won't have to worry about what needs to be painted, sewn, or created.  It will be warm and inviting.  I will want to be in here (and Mollie will too). 

For now, I'll accept the fact I feel a little disjointed and get back to painting. 

Thank God for Hump Day!  My week starts to wind down, plans can be made for the weekend, and I can breathe a sigh of relief.  Not that things don't surprise me at the end of the week but for some reason I feel better prepared.  I don't feel rushed or pulled in 20 different directions. 

Mondays are bad but for some reason Tuesdays are the worse for me.  Meetings and conference calls at work chop up my Tuesday and I never feel like I get anything done.  Wednesday are my catch up day.  I don't usually have meetings or conference calls and I can focus on what I didn't get done on Tuesdays.  Thursdays and Fridays are "clean up" days.  Days where I can get all the bits and pieces put together and completed. 

What day is your "I wish this day was over" day?  Which day is your "Whew! I'm half way there!" day?