2x4s are not 2 by 4...and other things I learned building a headboard.

This is what I've been up to.  Building a delicious headboard. (Idea from http://www.shelterness.com)

And I learned some things along the way. 

First and Most importantly: 2x4s are not 2'' by 4'' - if you have the guy at Lowe's cut your boards for you, and your plexiglass is already cut to fit your plans, this will be a crucial fact. 

A fact that I may have been the last human to learn. 

But real handywomen won't be deterred by such minor errors. :)

1. I built 57'' frame with cross boards out of 2x4s and secured it to the wall with anchors and L-brackets.

2. I put a layer of primer on the frame, and then lesson 2 made its point: If you buy boards that aren't really really straight, then you will have gaps when you try to fit things together.  The gaps were more pronounced with the primer on, so I filled them with a paint-able caulking.  Then she got a good layer of gloss white paint.

3. Each box got a strand of white LED lights, which I pinned to the wall and frame as needed so they wouldn't just be little tangled masses of lights at the bottom of each section. On the bottom left, where it would be hidden, but still easy to reach, I installed a push-button on/off switch.  

4. The plexiglass that I acquired (Thanks Brother! You are the best!) was the crystal clear variety.  I tried a few different products to make it frosty (opaqe-ize? to opaquen it?).  You can see in this picture how it started - the green bit down at the bottom.  I found a frost spray (designed to make glass look etched) was the best option.  All three sheets of plexi got 4 coats of spray and dried out overnight. It turned out even better than I expected!

5. I drilled guide holes for screws through the plexi and frame and attached with screws. (Third lesson learned: flat-head screws are a lot harder to tighten up with a drill than phillips head screws.  Just sayin'.) That's it!

It is perfectly awesome.  Bright enough to read with, but not garish. I kind of love it.  

Happy new year! 

My next growth experience will be some winterization stuff.  

What projects are you working on?

It's a Brand New Year.

I set three goals for 2011.  And by halfway through the year, I could see that I was doing a mediocre job of focusing on them, and that without a change I wouldn't be reaching them.   I felt so scattered all the time - frantic and scared that I wasn't doing enough, always feeling like I just wasn't enough.

I have always believed in the power of words.  I think that if we keep words in front of us, if we say them out loud, if we testify of them, they are given power.  I started a list of words that defined who I want to be: Deliberate, Consistent, Simple, Peaceful, Loyal, Loving - and eventually I adopted the words "Peaceful Consistency."

I put them as the background on my work computer, my iphone, my life.  When I started to feel like I couldn't reach my goals I would just shut my mouth and trust in the peace that the savior gives to us.  I don't have to feel all of that anxiety and pain because he already did.  We can slow down, focus on consistently doing the right thing in THIS moment, and reach out for peace.

 I don't have to be perfect forever - I just have to be perfect in this moment.  And I can do that. I have got right now covered.

The 2011 goals were:

1. Lose some chunk - check!
I have taken off 50 pounds so far; and for the first time in my life I have done it the right way - It has been a lifestyle change.  I am regaining my health, and I will keep it for life.

2. Make scripture reading into a true daily habit - check!

3. Buy a home - check!

Left  -  Girls Camp
Right  -  12/31/2011, yesterday!

And best of all, I have a measure of peace and a witness that I am doing all I can to qualify for the things that I want most in life.

I haven't settled yet on what my goals will be for 2012, but there will be three: Health, Spiritual, and Financial.

 What are your goals for this new year?