Pura Vida: Blood, Sweat, and Tears...

With the long weekend approaching, many will be traveling, but we will not, our good friends will be traveling to us! We are very excited to welcome more people to our home! Visitors in our home means Ryan and I will be taking the weekend off from our home projects. We have been planning and building almost every weekend since we arrived in Louisiana. And with any home projects, we have endured blood (a little), sweat (a lot, thank you, Louisiana), and tears (not positive on this one, but I am sure I shed a few during all the projects).

I mentioned in a previous post, if you want to test a marriage, tell the wife to plan a project, give the husband the tools and materials he needs, and tell them to build the project together. At this time, I would like to share the Top 5 things I learned along this process:

ACE really is the helpful place. An ACE Hardware store is located approximately 1 mile from our home. Not a weekend has passed in which we have not visited them at least once or twice. They have provided endless bits of advice, refrained from laughing when we asked naive questions, and celebrated when we brought pictures of completed projects.

When planning projects, take into consideration how you plan to finish the project. Paint is my friend, spray paint is not. Stain is definitely not my friend. Polyurethane is an acquaintance. Also, small nooks and endless corners means more time and effort in the painting process.

Sometimes it is best for the wife to go in the house. I say this on Ryan's behalf, but also as a bit of knowledge I learned. We started these projects with very little experience. It is never a good combination when the husband is using new tools, and trying new plans while having his wife constantly asking him questions. Sometimes it is best to go in the house.

Once construction is complete, it is best for the wife to finish the project while the husband is at work. Going back to the previous comments about finishing the project, it was best I did the painting. We found our perfect balance, for the most part, Ryan built, I painted.

Never underestimate what you are capable of. We are very proud of our accomplishments. If anyone comes to our home and judges our work in a negative manner, you will be asked to leave. If you ask us to build it for your house, we will consider, but it will cost you a million dollars.

The proof is in the pictures:

Materials for our biggest project are visible in this photo. Cajun was not able to park in the garage for quite some time after this materials delivery.

First completed project, headboard, side tables, and bench for guest bedroom.

Second completed project, frame above couch.

Third completed project, side table in library.

Fourth completed project, corner table in living room.

Second and fourth projects together.

And the granddaddy of all projects…the pergola.

The posts were put in by Ryan and a friend from work. No pictures during the process, because I went shopping with the friend's wife while construction was taking place. See number 3 of the Top 5 things I learned.

Weekend two. Ryan needed documentation, (see number 5 in the Top 5 things I learned) I helped carry the 12 foot boards. I would like to add another thing I learned. You never realize how sore you are from home projects until you attend your weight lifting class at the gym the next day.