Sprucing anyone?

Monday I went on a shopping spree.  Now, if you knew me at all you'd know that shopping and me just doesn't happen much.  But I was determined.  I had a list and I stuck to it.

My goal:  stuff for the family cottage.

We have two little windows on the east side of the living room (we're talking 28 x 24 inches) and ever since we've owned the place, they have never had any kind of window treatment.  The fact that they're surrounded by a brick wall (first there was a fireplace, now a wood stove) might have something to do with that.  So I was determined to get some kind of sheers to cover them.  Why?  Our neighbor's upstairs windows look right into them.  Sometimes you don't want to be the show they're watching.

Could I find ANY kind of sheers I liked?  But I did get a couple of spring rods.  (More on the sheers later.)

I bought a new garbage pail (with a foot control!), a new shower curtain, a kitchen timer (because who knows how to use the built-in one on the microwave?  Not me--and I read the directions, too).  I broke the traverse rod on my "office" window, so I hit JCPenny to get a new one.

I'm also in the market for a new area rug for the living room (ideally I'd like something in a blue oriental--but haven't found anything like that locally and within my budget), and slipcovers for the couch (and some new throw pillows).

About those sheers . . . I couldn't find ANYTHING I liked.  Time to hit the Internet.  After looking at countless sites I asked myself, what is it I really wanted?  Victorian lace curtains.  Bingo!  I also discovered they come in what are called "tiers."  Found the perfect ones, very pretty and the exact size of the windows.  Win-win!

The next few times I'm down there, I'm going to be busy, busy, busy.  (Did I mention I need to do some painting, too?)

Okay, I admit it.  I've been watching Sarah's Summer House on HGTV and I was inspired.  Of course, I don't have Sarah's budget, and we're not doing a renovation, just a little redecoration.  But by the end of the summer (if not well before), I'm hoping the place looks spruced up.

Is there any sprucing up in your future?
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