When the cat's away...

**Welcome readers from Fingerprints on the Fringe and Shabby Nest! I originally posted this on March 30th the day after I completed this project! Welcome to my recently re-done study!**

Usually when the cat's away the mice will play. In this case, the mice worked their tails off! Dave left bright and early Friday morning for his weekend of testosterone, golf, poker, probably a lot of basketball talk, and overall "guy time". He had been looking forward to this weekend for a while and I was so glad the time had finally come. I had 2 days and 2 nights all to myself! I dreamed of girly movies, a mani-pedi, sleeping in and eating spinach dip and Ritz crackers for a meal and chocolate chip cookies and milk for another meal! Oh the joy....

Imagine my surprise when sometime Friday morning I had a "brilliant" idea to put myself to work the entire weekend. Why not re-do the study? That study has been a burr in my side since we moved in 6 months ago. It is a total modge-podge of furniture from college houses and first apartments. There was a black bookcase, a wooden desk, an old black filing cabinet, a deer head, a white couch and scuffed up yellow walls with so many nail holes it looked like a pin cushion. So, I decided that this would be my super secret project for the weekend. I didn't want Dave to know I was doing it for fear that he might not be too thrilled...and those that know me know that I am a dreamer and a starter. Finishing isn't always my strong suit. This time would be different!! I left work on Friday with high hopes and 15 paint swatches headed for Lowe's. I bought 4 samples of paint in different shades, painter's tape, rollers, painting trays and such and was all set for a night of work and random iPod play lists.

By 10:00pm the room was completely painted!! I woke up early Saturday and headed to Hobby Lobby, Lowe's again, Wal-Mart, IKEA, Hobby Lobby again, Wal-Mart again and finally home. I was in search of mirrors, lamps (floor and table), a rug, curtains, shelves and spray paint. I hung the aforementioned mirror and shelves, and sanded and spray painted the desk black to match the bookcase. It looks 100 times better!! By Saturday afternoon I had the desk moved back in (my dad did come over and help me carry it upstairs!) and all I had left to do was find curtains (which I found at Wal-Mart), hang the remaining pictures and "decorate" the shelves and bookcase.

What was done:

• Painted the room
• stripped and painted the desk black
• new mirror
• added shelves above the desk
• hung diplomas
• new pillows for the couch
• added curtains
• I'm still looking for a floor lamp for the right side of the couch and a rug (maybe zebra!)

Check it out!

Before

This is the new paint

The only casualty of war: Rookie is going green!

AFTER!!

Notice how much better the desk looks painted black

I put the deer head back up...we do live in Texas.

PS...Dave was SHOCKED and he loves it! What do you think??