Chevron Chevwrong

I posted this last week not knowing about this link up,

so next time I'll post a new one.

Assuming I'd have some new readers here's my experience with a chevron lampshade. 

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Pinterest and I have a love-hate relationship.

I love the plethora of ideas.

I hate that I hardly do anything I pin.

I love the simplicity and the projects that spawn my imagination.

I hate that it "makes" me unhappy with our home and the decor we have.

Specifically in our bedroom.

So last weekend I decided I was going to whip up some chevron lamps.

I got these lamps last year at Goodwill, I had already painted the bases but the lampshades were just off-white and boring. 

I thought it would add a little modern touch to our room if I made them chevron.

I had the tape.

I had the paint.

I had some time.

Perfect. 

Adalyn went down for her nap, I got my supplies and it was time to transform the lamps. 

After about 30 minutes of trying to figure out how to even tape a point, I was getting really frustrated. 

Not only was I wasting nap time, I was annoyed with myself and my brain....why couldn't I figure this out?!?

Seriously.

I've seen a million and one DIY chevron projects.

Why am I not capable of taping a zigzag onto the lampshade?!

I'm annoyed again just thinking about it. 

I'm pretty sure another 15 minutes passed by and whenever I thought I finally "got it" the next one I tried wasn't lining up right.

Since Mr. B is much more of a perfectionist than I am he decided to give it a try.

I found online that if you put some tape as an ending point for your points it's easier to line up the points.

So we gave it a try.

Please note all the bunched tape on the ground...which may or may not be half of the pile from my trial and error.

We wasted more nap time.

And tape.

And happiness. 

Mr. B thought he got it and then, sure enough, the more he did it the more it wasn't looking right. 

Adalyn woke and it was a whole {at least} hour and a half hour nap completely wasted. 

Well... not completely.

We did get one point done.

Do you understand the value of a nap time and how detrimental it is for one to be wasted on trying to make a triangle with tape?!?!

So our day went on, we took some breathers until it was time for time for Nap #2. 

I had a new idea and used Adalyn's nesting box to make my points so they would be even and the same size.

This started out as a great idea until I pulled the tape off the box and ripped it multiple times. 

Awesome. 

I was almost finished with the top row and then I got to the end and there wasn't enough room for the rest.

Hmm, I guess this is why people measure these things....

I gave up and tried again at bedtime. 

Using a new wooden box toy this time for my angles, I was on a roll and it was finally working. 

I finished the top row and then it was time for the second row which then created it's own problems because this row really needs to be measured equally {aka way too much work}

Mr. B helped- we tried- we failed. 

It stayed like this in our room for a few days. 

Super classy.

I went to take the tape off and officially give up and decided to give it one more try.

This time all the zigzags were lining up. 

I was feeling relieved and happy.

I put it up, took a few steps back 

and realized it wasn't even.

At all.

And then the thought of making another lampshade and going through this process again made me want to cry. 

And punch it. 

And then throw it at the wall.

So the tape came off. 

I wasted hours of free-time.

Loads of tape.


I eventually measured it and the lampshade is smaller on top and slowly gets bigger towards the bottom. 

So I think {and hope} that this has something to do with my big fat failure of a chevron lampshade. 

And in the end I was left with this amazing transformation!!

I have a new respect for the people that do DIY chevron. 

Seriously.

It takes some patience.

And skill.

And major brains.

Ok, maybe not major brains...but it definitely takes a fully functioning brain.

Which these days is rare for me. 

I'm lucky if I can even remember how to spell or have an adult conversation. 

Summer Goals: Hobby Style

I have a list of personal goals I'd like to achieve before the end of the summer, but I also have a list of "me time" goals that I'd like to accomplish before the end of the summer.

I am hoping that if I put an end date to it then maybe I'll actually do it.

But if it's anything like how my exercise and diets go....

well, let's just say I don't have the best track record.

I've never {a whole 7.5 months} been one of those moms who needs to work in order to feel independent, good about themselves or any other personal reasons {other than money}, that people go back to work for. A majority of those feelings, I am sure, have to do with the fact that I have always been a nanny or worked with kids. In a way, this is all I know. It's all I've ever wanted and I am truly doing my dream job every day. {Thank you, Lord and Mr. B!} In saying that, I do think it is still important to have hobbies. To have something outside of being mommy and wife that make you feel good. For me that is DIY stuff and I'd really like to get back into it! I also enjoy taking/editing pictures and I do make time that, but I'd also like to start some other projects.

So my list that I'd like to accomplish before the summer ends:

::Learn how to use my camera::

I have a few tutorials pinned and bookmarked.

 I know my camera can do so much more than what I do with it, so I'd really like to figure that out and learn how to take good pictures in manual mode.

:: Refinish the island::

We put our old little kitchen island in Adalyn's room and I planned on refinishing it to match. I'd like to start and finish that.

::Cover the living room pillows to add more color::

 ::Finish the kitchen curtains::

::Re-do/organize sewing room::

I was so excited to have a sewing room in our new place and I have yet to really use it. It kills me! I've only done the kitchen curtains in there and I didn't even finish that project! Everything was just put in there when we moved and I'd like to organize/make it fun and use it!!

::I'd really love to get Adalyn's monthly books completed started or at the very least her birth!::

:: Make at least 5 new meals and 5 new projects that I've pinned!::

I am not sure where this is from, but I saw it on Pinterest one day.

How true is that?! Ha!

Pinterest {I can't think of a more creative name}

So yesterday I re-organized my boards/pins and whew do I feel good!

I feel like there should be a limit or something on how much you pin {but not really because that wouldn't be fun}, but it can get overwhelming! 

And you pin so much you forget what you've pinned! 

Anyways, while doing this I think I found what my username is.

You're never going to guess.

thesmellylife.

Super creative, right?

I wonder how I came up with that one...

So....if you're on please follow me so I can follow you!

I love following people.

Following people=less work for me. 

Because you know, it's a lot of work to really search for something to pin. 

Plus, the last few times I've tried searching something hardly anything comes up and if it does it barely even relates to my search!

Super lame.

But I think it might be fixed..

So I hope that works! 

If not leave me a comment with your username and I'll find you! 

Thursday's Ten

{one} I am so so so excited that The Vow comes out tomorrow! I kind of have high expectations for it which will probably be a bad thing, but with Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams it can't really be bad. 

{two} Roxie was driving me nuts this morning. She has some days where she wakes up and decides she's not a fan of Adalyn. Today was one of those days. She wouldn't stop barking/"talking", she started biting Adalyn's toys, biting my socks, ringing the bells over and over and over. She just needed to play and let out some energy, but I was busy with the baby and oh my goodness...could not stand her.

{three} I am sometimes mean to Roxie during the day and then I feel guilty at night when she is cuddling with us and then the next day...rinse and repeat.

{four} I think Adalyn is going to have blue eyes. I know she still has time for them to change, but I feel like they might be here to stay! Mr. B has bluish/greyish eyes and since brown eyes are more dominant I thought for sure she would....

{five} Baby smiles never get old. Especially when it comes from a little someone that you've made.

{six} I am so excited to move! I bought some moving boxes today and I can not wait to start packing! And possibly getting rid of somethings. I am a borderline hoarder though so we will see what happens. It's times like this when you realize just how much crap valuable belongings you have. 

{seven} I am also excited to whip up some Pinterest DIYs in our new place! And I still don't really know how to find people to follow on there so if you're on it {who isn't?!?} could you find me and follow so I can follow you back? I don't really know how you would find me...maybe jpsmelser?

{eight} I cut Adalyn's nails all the time and she still manages to scratch her face off. This has been a new thing since her hands have been attempting to find her mouth and it's not always successful. She took a little chunk out of her forehead on Sunday and then she scratched her nose twice yesterday and then she woke up and her cheeks were scratched this morning! I'm thinking I might need to cut and file them- so I did that today and I hope it helps! 

{nine} I am trying to blog more again- I have been pretty successful this week! I think the key for me is to plan ahead/have "themed" days. 

{ten} I had a cute idea planned {thanks to Pinterest!} for Mr. B's birthday from Adalyn and she didn't really cooperate like I had in mind...shocking right? This new love for her hands was really messing with my pictures. And then I realized that I wouldn't have enough time to erase and re-write and have her smile for a picture- it would take way too long. So after the first one I decided to make it blank and then just add the text on Picnik {which is a post for another day!}. So I did what I could and in the end it still came out cute{how could it not with that little monkey??} 

and Mr. B loved it!