home improvement.

i recently realized that i need to get organized. this actually encompasses all areas of my life, but cleaning out my room was the simplest starting point. to help myself i just got (and assembled) the following 2 pieces of furniture:

1. a $45 nightstand from Bed, Bath & Beyond. i assembled it myself. check it out:


2. overpriced bookshelves from the container store (the major appeal was that they matched the bookshelves i already had in my room):


what do both of these things have in common? apart from white paint and me dragging them up five flights of stairs in the sweltering east coast heat? sadly they were both poorly made. the nightstand had depressingly badly translated instructions that made little sense AND the pieces were put together wrong and/or did not fit properly. the same went for the stackable bookcases.

twice in 12 hours i found myself shaving down wooden furniture so that pieces would fit together properly. though i did this angrily, deep down i felt a sense of pride in my household handiness. i have a sneaking suspicion my father would be impressed.