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Do-it-myself, that is. I kept seeing all these sunburst mirror tutorials made with a little hot glue and some clothes pins. Everyone kept saying how easy and cheap it was to make. Everything was at the dollar store. I was convinced that I could do it, too.

So I headed to the dollar store and found me some clothes pins, but they had no mirrors I could use. Michael’s had some, but they sure weren’t $1. While there, I picked up some wood glue and some scrapbook paper for decorate the shit out of my future mirror. This sure was more expensive than everyone else’s project, but I figured I could decorate the clothes pins with pretty paper until I found a mirror. Of course, I needed an utility knife to finish it off.

I went home and glued a bunch of paper on a bunch of clothes pins, but that’s not any fun, and I couldn’t find the right mirror, so I stopped for a while. The other day, I randomly found the right type of mirror at the dollar store and picked it up, so I finally sat down glue my pins onto the mirror. I found out/remembered a couple things:

• Hot glue is hot
• I sure use that burned finger for everything
• Hot glue is also messy
• Apparently, it’s harder for people–like roommates–to remember that having two pairs of scissors allows you to keep on for non-food stuff. Mine was nice and sticky from popsicles. Yay.
• Lining up clothes pins is a little harder than I figured
• The whole thing wasn’t much fun

I lucked out, I had exactly enough clothes pins and hot glue to finish the project. It’s drying, upside down, and I’m afraid to move it. You see, the glue acted less like glue and more like little silicone grips. I think it’ll work fine. I mean, it’s not like the pins will fall off. Maybe I should have gotten better glue. This is only a glue gun and sticks from a 100Yen store in Japan.. from like five years ago. Does hot glue go bad?

Anyway, let me know if you want pictures. I don’t think I like this whole project after all. Everyone else’s look so much better..

So, Ryan basically said if there is anything I want to do to the house, I should do it while he’s gone because he has no control. This is fine with my even though it’s not like I wouldn’t have done something I really want when he is here. LOL But I’m not really rushing to do anything. I do want some shelves but don’t want to have to ask my father in law to pick them up in his truck so I don’t even know if I’ll get around to that.

On the other hand, we were looking for a coffee table when we first moved in but eventually decided that because of the space we have and the way the living room is set up, we don’t really need one and we’ve done without thus far.

I still want to add something to the walls in the bedroom which are pretty bare; I wanted to do some fabric art but I just never got around to buying the fabric (I did find some great stuff on Etsy) or supplies especially because Ryan was never really excited about the idea. Though, I suppose if he’s gone, it might be perfect timing to do that now, huh?

Another option we have might be to get an area rug or 2 area rugs. Especially in the living room, a rug might help define space better without taking up space but I wouldn’t even know how I would go in terms of colour because I am not a big fan of our furniture despite the fact that it’s the colour scheme I am working with (I did get a matching mirror a while back which I do like but I would love to get the furniture reupholstered eventually). I’d also only really be interested in cheap rugs because we are trying to save money. Plus, I’d still have that transportation issue so I don’t think I’ll buy any rugs soon.. but I probably will do some bedroom art.

Over the past week or so Ryan and I have hit up a multitude of stores including Walmart, Target, Michaels, Yankee Candle and Carlton Cards for Halloween decorations. Thus far, I have been several disappointed about the variety of items. We most bought indoor candle stuff and while it’s all really cool, I haven’t seen a lot of non-candle decor that’s worth a damn. However, we did invest in some fun gel window clings, a little gargoyle we put out front and a decoration for outside our door.

I wonder if this year is just a bad year for Halloween? A few years ago I reveled in the treasures I found at Wal-mart; I don’t even know if I bought anything elsewhere. Unfortunately, those items are stored at my mother’s house and probably will be for some time yet so I don’t have access.

Maybe I am just too picky? Generally, I am looking for decorations which are elegant and gothy – not gorey and cheap. I especially don’t like a lot of animated and noisy stuff. I just find it so tacky. While I enjoy lighted decor, much of it is just so hokey. I just want something dark and beautiful. If I could use something all year that, that would be even better.

Maybe next year will be better? I guess I can’t really complain. Halloween shopping was non-existant in Japan.