The Stairs

Ever since we moved into this house 4 years ago I have wanted to paint the wooden hand rail and add some molding to the stairs. It has always just looked unfinished. I have been putting it off as I knew it would be a long and tedious job. But I finally decided to tackle it and although I had to tape around EVERYTHING, I am so glad I did.

{before}

{during}

I finished the one side and now I just have to finish the other side. But it is coming along! 

Flying the Coop

Up until yesterday our little chicks (that aren't quite so little anymore), were in our bathroom (contained, but still). This wasn't an issue when they were 4 days old, but now at 4 weeks, they are welcome in my en suite no longer. This was an problem because they are still too young to be put with the older birds in the chicken coop and we have no where else to keep them safe. We needed to come up with another option for the next 6-8 weeks. So last night this is what I built! Pretty, no. Functional and super exciting because it means that I would no longer have birds in my bathroom, YES!

The Last Straw

I was at Superstore today and I saw these really cute straws for 99 cents, and I thought, I don't have straws, I should get some for the kids {they are always asking if we have straws} and just to have on hand for get-togethers. Who doesn't love straws! They just make everything taste better. {Oh, and for the record I am a notorious straw bitter. So much so, that if Darren and I share a drink he will ALWAYS get 2 straws. Not for germs, oh, no - but because I bite!}

Anyways, I bought 6 packages {well o.k. I bought 12, but the other six packages were a different color, so it really doesn't count}. It wasn't until I got home and I was looking for a place to put them that I realized that each package contains 200 straws! I am sure that you can do the math - do you think I got enough?! 

Months ago, I bought these 3 metal nesting containers at Liquidation World. I use the biggest one for a trash can in the main bathroom, and the medium one is being used in the kids bathroom and I had the smallest one sitting on the bookshelf, looking pretty but not really doing anything. So I used it. It fit all 6 packages of straws perfectly! Now whenever the kids want a straw, they are ready and available.