Old Project Revised: Mosaic Table

I always have enjoyed crafts, or crafty things.  When I was a sophmore in college, I was given a table that was my grandmothers. It was a beautiful table, made of mahogany and it had a beautiful glass overlay.

Front of the Table:

I loved that it had belonged to my grandmother, and I wanted to... "make it my own" so I really thought about what I could do to make it unique.  I have always enjoyed "shiny" things *(like most girls I'm sure). I always really liked the iridescent color so I thought I could jazz up my table with something that had that shimmer.

So I thought my best bet was old CDs.  I took a bunch of old ones that I had lying around that had a pretty color on the back. Then one by one, I boiled them in water to make them easier to cut. While they were still hot, I would use a sharp pair of scissors to cut them into smaller peices, of all different shapes and sizes.  

Once I had A LOT of pieces, I put a super small dab of glue in the inlay of the table and put the cd piece on the glue just to hold it. Then I arranged the peices, into a shape I liked and... Behold the finished project.  It took probably a months worth of boiling, cutting, gluing, and arranging in a pattern. Some of the CD pieces would flake a bit, so I'd have to cut more. But overall I was very happy with the result. 

With Flash:

Without Flash:

Eventually I would like to try to get different colored CDs and arrange them into a pretty shape or something, but I need to find a large quantity of them and something to put them on. 

Either way comment any questions you have :]

"Little" Assembly Required : Magazine Organizer

Today while I was looking for two very SMALL things at Michael's, I came upon this magazine organizer that was on a super sale ($59.99 for $17.99).  I decided for $17.99 I had to get it, since I could use it at home or in my classroom.  I kept thinking the box was heavy for something so small but when I took the pieces out I realized it was definitely bigger than I anticipated.

I also realized that there were A LOT of pieces. The box claims "little assembly required" which I now know is a lie.  I started putting it together, and after about an hour and a half later. I was finished.

Then I realized that I forgot the two back pieces, so I had to take a side off, slide them in, and re-screw them in.

FINALLY I was finished.

I'm pretty happy with the final project.  I only wonder why the middle section is bigger than the other four compartments, but it is what it is (can you tell?). I followed the screw guides, so I don't think it's user error.
Either way, I'm now ready to load up on some magazines and get myself organized.

"Summer" Cleaning?

I'm not sure what prompts me to want to clean randomly.  I'll be somewhere, doing something with someone completely unrelated and the wave will hit me. I get this sudden urge. Must. Clean. Everything.  Then usually, once I get home, I don't do it. But not today. Today I went above and beyond the norm. I decided that I wanted to get rid of all of my dishes from when I lived in Savannah, thinking that I will never need those again. Whenever I move out, I will want new things I'm sure... things that will be more "permanent". So, I went down to the storage room in the basement and searched for yard sale treasures.

I started by going through the boxes labeled "Jamie's Books" and I didn't find too many things to sell... throw out yes, sell no. Then I moved to the boxes labeled "Jamie's Kitchen" and boy did I find some goodies. Pots, pans, plates, glasses, utensils, bowls, you name it.  I decided the flower print plates were a go, along with the bowls and mundane glasses. As I moved to the bigger boxes filled with the pots and pans, my mother came downstairs to see what was going on.  She was surprised that I was getting rid of so many "essential" things in her mind.  She asked what would happen when I got an apartment. And thought it was crazy or dumb to part with all those things, when I don't have a ring on my finger.

Is she right? Is it stupid for me to part with all those things when my life's plan isn't certain?
She's implying that I should have an engagement or some sort of plan before I toss all my apartment goodies. While I would just rather... "start fresh" when I do move out. Either way, that stuff is from when I was 19 and almost 5 years later, I think I'm ready to get rid of it.

To toss or not to toss, that is the question.

Starting somewhere...

Starting a blog is always weird. How do you even begin to start writing about your life, or how do you pick a topic to write about?
I find myself thinking of a million things to do, yet I don't feel like doing any of them.

List of To-Do's (pictures to come upon completion):

• Start budgeting binder 
• Make classroom schedule cards
• Complete classroom projects
• Laundry
• Put clothes away

Ugh the list goes on and on, and I can't even think of anymore.  I did complete projects today that were unnecessary... way to go.  I hope by tonight I can at least finish some of the classroom things...and hang up my clothes, but I have a feeling that it won't get done. 

What else is new?