Ok, so maybe saga is a little strong of a term, but in many ways, that is what it feels like.

A little while back (I think it may have been when I asked how people put books on their bookcase *is a dork*), I mentioned that getting a bookcase was a whole other post. It appears that it is post time.

We have needed a new bookcase for awhile now. We have several shelves around the house and a bookcase in the basement, but everything is packed full. So full in fact that the bookcase has had a few unfortunate accidents over the past year. We need a new bookcase! The only place we have space for it is the living room, so ever since we got our furniture I have been looking for one. I had originally wanted a Billy one from Ikea, but when I saw that the medium brown was almost 1/3 more than the other colors, I wanted to look around some more. So we went to about 5 furniture stores here. Two of the five actually had one, and by one, I mean one! Ok, well Sears Homestore, had about 3 but, still... We actually liked the first one we found. It was similar to the Billy bookcase I had found, but it was real wood. The only thing was that it was quite expensive, and it appeared that it came in one of those gigantic boxes and since we know no one with a truck, it would cost another $50 or $60. Since the next few stores we looked at didn't even have bookcases, we decided to look at the Ikea one again. Even if it was more than the other colors (which annoyed me on principle alone), it was cheaper than the other one. So I go to the website to order it (because right now we don't have an Ikea here, but that is another story...don't ask lol), and the shipping came to more than the bookcase!

As you can imagine, we were not ok with this, so we decided to go shopping once again. This time we ended up at the Sears Homestore, where they did have a few to choose from. Again, we found one we liked, and it was cheaper than the other one we saw, but we weren't sure of a few things so we talked to one of the sales associates. One of the things I wanted to know was how much weight each shelf could hold. After saying he had no idea, the sales associate asked what we were planning on putting on it. After a moment, I answered. I'm kind of curious as to what he thought we may put on it. Anyway, one of the questions hubby asked was whether it was real wood or not since it was similarly priced to the other one we found at the other store that was. We were actually prepared to buy it at this point, but the guy laughed. Let's just say that that put an end to that buy.

So where did that leave us? Back at Ikea of course. I was going to see if I could get someone who lives in the US (because the bookcase which is still 1/3 more of the cost, is a lot cheaper there), to buy it and ship it to us which I know would be cheaper than getting it through the website here. I hadn't had a chance to consider my options since most of hubby's family live in states far from us before I talked to a friend of mine who gave me a great idea. Her dad is one of the main people in a custom broker company and they have a US address at the border. From there I just pay the fee for them to bring it over. I loved this idea! So yesterday I went to see what the exact shipping would be so that I can tell her dad and to order from the US site I have to have a US billing address! Where does that put us? Back at square one. We are in need of a bookcase and we have no bookcase. Who knew that getting something as common and simple as a bookcase would turn out to be this difficult?


Also, I want to wish all my American friends a Happy Independence Day, and a belated Canada Day to all my fellow Canadian friends! *g*

It's kind of an odd question too. How do you organize your books on your shelf or in your bookcase?

We are getting a new bookcase (which is a whole post on its own), for the living room since we are completely out of space for books on our shelves. The problem is, I'm not sure how I want to organize the books once I get the case. I know for most of you, this probably isn't a problem. lol

Right now, I have a system where I keep books by the same author together but how they are on the shelf is by some random, and I mean random, categorization that I came up with. I don't think I want to do the same thing in the living room, so this brings me to my question. What do you do? Do you alphabetize by author, by title? Do you put them together in order of size, regardless of who they are by? Do you just randomly put them on the shelf? Any suggestions would be helpful.

*makes puppy dog eyes*

*waves to flist*

I have an odd question. Does anyone know how to do DIY (do it yourself) art projects? As I mentioned, hubby and I are keeping our furniture so I am needing some new art for the living room and really have no desire to buy anything expensive. We are doing one piece as a photo as a painting, but I need two others. I was thinking of getting canvas and taping off sections, then painting squares and lines and such. Now that I'm thinking about it, I can see this quickly turning into a disaster. lol Has anyone done it or know of a way that may work? The colors I want to stick with are brown, blue, and cream/white. I don't mind adding a few others, but I want those to be the main ones. Also please feel free to point it out if you think I have gone completely nuts!

You may be wondering where I got this idea from. Jon and Kate Plus 8, yeah....I have issues. lol

It's raining, in February!

Normally I would be psyched about this because it is raining, which means that it is a)not snowing and b)not freezing; however, right now, I would prefer both of those options. It is miserable outside. It's wet everywhere and since it's February and the ground is still frozen, all the water has nowhere to go. This means that every single major street has turned into a lake.

Now, this wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't for the fact that every single side street, parking lot, drive way, and front step have turned into ice rinks! Anywhere there was a bit of ice or snow previously is now covered in a slick layer of ice. Not only do you slide all over the place while walking, you can't really stop or start in a car either! This does not a pleasant driving experience make (channeling Yoda here....wait is that right?).

To top it all off, hubby slipped and fell on our stairs while leaving the house this morning. His feet went right out from under him as he took a step down. He's ok, but pretty sore. I'm just happy that he didn't break anything. The whole incident caused him to be late for work and myself to be late for volunteering at the school. It's a good thing that everyone had to deal with the same weather.

Anyway, I'm off to figure out if I really need to buy food since I do not want to go back outside!

Oh and in other news.....we are basically finished redoing the kitchen, dining room, and hallway! We just have to put some of hubby's pictures in the frames that we have up already and we will be done! *does little dance*

In my New Year's Eve post I mentioned that 2009 was going to bring some redecorating. We've started! This past weekend, hubby and I spent the weekend in some pretty frightening clothes. *g*

( Click here for the paint spattered details )

So that was my weekend.

I saw this picture on reality_escapee's page and needed to have it. It is definitely thud worthy! *g*




One last thing. There were a couple of OTP's left on my meme, and since no one has even come close to guessing them, I think I am going to give the answers.

#2: She claimed they were the same person, yet she married someone else.
This is Catherine and Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

#7: She was his outsider, yet she chose to stay.
This is Claire and Jamie from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

Anyway, it's back to peeling tape for awhile, then I'm off to get coffee with a friend.

*waves*

These are all I seem to post lately, so to help balance them, I decided to include some pictures in my real life post. You have to read the real life stuff first though. lol I promise it is very small. *g*

What do people know about Ikea bookcases? I need to get a new one and since I really don't have anywhere else to put it, I'm thinking of putting it in my front doorway area. How well do they stand up? Since this is a higher traffic area, I'm sure it might get bumped or have more than the usual amount placed on it. I was thinking of going with one of the Billy ones, because then I could add on. Does anyone have one that they would like to share stories about? *g*

Now the balance....

In 2 hours and 26 minutes it will officially be 2009, at least here in my part of the world that is. So I want to wish everyone on my flist....


Happy New Year!

I hope you all have a wonderful 2009. *hugs*

I know mine is looking like it will at least start well. Tomorrow morning hubby and I fly off to Dallas at 6am *cringes* for a belated Christmas and wedding reception with hubby's family. We are there until Sunday and I know we will have a great (and hopefully somewhat relaxing) time. After we get back home we are right back into the routine since I am back at school bright and early Monday morning. Scarily enough, I'm looking forward to going to class because I think it might actually mean I will get more rest! lol

I have other things on my upcoming 2009 agenda as well. I plan on volunteering Monday afternoons at an elementary school's resource program and I plan on taking on a large redecorating project in my house. The first thing to be changed.....the moss green walls in the dining room and kitchen. After three plus years, I think it's time we waved good-bye to those.

Now, I ask you what you have planned for 2009? Any upcoming projects or plans that you plan on undertaking?

Once again, I hope you all have a great upcoming year and thank you for helping to make this past one very enjoyable for me. *g*