Table for Four-ty Bucks!

I'm pretty impressed with my most recent purchase. I'm an avid Craigslist-er & always get excited about a good deal. Last week I found this dinning table & four chairs for $45! - I was surprised the lady I bought it from let me talk her down on the price to just $40! There are a few scratches & dings here and there, but for the most part it's a very sturdy solid table.

I will take better before pictures once I actually get to work! But this is a screenshot of the actual table:

Since it's a little hard to see, here is another picture of what it actually looks like:

(just with a little darker wood top)

My plan is to sand down the top of the table & re-stain it with a dark finish. Then paint the legs & the chairs an off-white/cream color. I might get half way done & realize it would have been easier to leave well enough alone! But I'm excited to get started on a project.

I envision the final product will look similar to this:

Wish me luck!

Starting Over

In the last year and a half of my life I have successfully lived in six different places. I really didn't think that was possible but I guess I'm just making up for living in one house throughout my entire life (until moving to college of course). I don't really do well with change. I like things to be settled & somewhat predictable. Don't get me wrong, I'm always up for a good adventure but I like MOST things in life to be established (job, house, etc.).

I've learned a few things throughout all of these moves ...

1. I have too many shoes (it almost hurts to say that & even as I type it I want to go shopping for more ... ).
2. The only two things I own that go in the kitchen are a wine opener & an espresso machine (my goal is to work on that one).
3. I'm too independent to want help ... but sometimes need it.
4. Things never happen like you have planned ... but it keeps things interesting.
5. Save for a rainy day. It rains in Portland ... a lot. (Also, carry an umbrella. Even if it's sunny in the morning ... the days not over ...)

6. There are a lot of people that come & go in your life ... & this is completely okay. It's mainly to teach you lessons ... usually about yourself.
7. Then there are those special few that are there unconditionally, no matter what, through the good, the bad, the really stinkin' ugly. When push comes to shove, you can easily seperate the two kinds of friends.
8. You can spend a lot of time missing the 'way things used to be' but then you miss the beautiful life right in front of you.
9. Listen to your heart. There are a lot of other voices, pressures, opinions ... but at the end of the day you have to live with the choices you make.
10. Call mom.
11. Work hard & be nice to people.