There is no frigate like a book

Yep, I've been around the world in 80 days. I am a close personal friend of both Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. My resume includes jobs like geisha girl and cattle rustler. Just kidding. The truth is that one of my life long loves has been reading. Which is why I'm excited about my newest discovery, www.paperbackswap.com. Just as the name implies, it is a free online, super simple book swap. Here's how it works - join for free, then list 10 of your own books to swap, and get two swap points just for listing. All you have to do is key in the ISBN number from the back of the book. After you've listed, it's browse time! I chose two books: The Quilters Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini and The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks. I've already gotten confirmation that one is on its way! I was so surprised that within hours of listing, four of my ten books had been requested. The requests arrived in my inbox, I went to the website, printed out the mailing label, paid for the postage online and prepared my books for shipping. I didn't even have to buy a shipping envelope. I just wrapped the books up in paper, as instructed, taped them up with shipping tape, and dropped them in my mailbox. I didn't even have to leave the house (except for walking to the end of my driveway). As soon as those four books arrive at their destinations, I get four more swap points.

Cost = free membership, $12.00 for mailing four books.
I got six books at about $2.00 a piece.

What a bargain! As soon as I read these books, I plan on relisting them to swap again. No over due fines, and I can keep the book if I really like it.

They also have movies and CDs but I haven't gotten into that yet.

Emily Dickinson was certainly right - there is no frigate like a book!

Have spray paint, will travel.

There are certain things in decorating that you just don't do.  That is the myth that has kept my house full of brass fixtures that were fashionable in interior design back in my heyday - the 1980's.  Rubik's cube, parachute pants, Molly Ringwald, the British Invasion, and my dining room chandelier all remind me of a younger, bigger hair me.   A memory which is not totally grody to the max, but just the same, it should be just a memory.    I decided that I must cast off my big hair and 1980's brass and decorate my house to reflect who I am today.  Unfortunately, setting out on a quest to purchase newer, updated light fixtures sent all my hopes for new self expression plummeting.  Talk about sticker shock!  I am a Dollar General girl living in an Ethan Allen world.   Time to regroup.  What are my options, I thought?  Thrift stores, garage sales, making my own out of pipe cleaners, or spray paint.  Spray paint brass?  I could hear it now from all the hardcore brass lovers of the world with their mauve curtains and goose wallpaper...how dare you defile the brass, they would say.  Wait a minute, I thought, I'm the one living with it, staring at it, eating under it day after day.   So, off to Home Depot I went with a twinkle in my eye and a bounce in my step.  The before and after photos show my handiwork.  From plain to Pottery Barn in one sweeping spray.  

Heres how I did it:

I used RustOleum spray paint in Oil Rubbed Bronze.  I salvaged some crystals from an old chandelier and hung them around the arms and candle cups.  The problem was there were no holes to hang them by so I fashioned some loops and S hooks from wire, sprayed them and used them to hang the crystals by.   I also purchased some black shades from Old Time Pottery, I think they were a buck a piece.  My investment was about $15.00. 

Armed with a can of spray paint I fearlessly work my way around the house, eradicating the offensive brass wherever I go.