oops I did it again

I bought what I thought was a bargain and it turned out to be kind of a nightmare...

Zoe has been wanting a new bedside lamp for a long time. She felt like she had outgrown her Hannah Montana one and frankly, I was glad, pole dancing and pot smoking teenagers are definitely not on my list of role models!!! (By the way, Hannah was a sweet young tweeny when we got the lamp orginally!) Any-who, she and I talked about getting a lamp from the thrift store and making it more to her liking. That girl loves a good craft project like I have never seen, although she has big ideas that don't always translate into reality.

She originally wanted a lamp she could paint "hot pink" with a zebra print shade. Hmm, a little to Jerseylicious for me, sorry honey. So we found this really cute silver lamp base at one of my favorite thrift stores. A note, I always ask to check electrical products before I leave the store and this time was no different. Unfortunately, the meanie-head lady who was working the fitting rooms was already mad at me for asking her to unlock the restrooms! The nerve of a pregnant woman for goodness sake! She grumbled under her breath "ok, big pregnant woman." Nope, I am not kidding. I got over it quick. I had to pee after all!

We brought the lamp home. Put a lightbulb in it and plugged it in. Hot diggity, it worked. Zoe and I were so excited. Then we noticed, there was no on/off switch. What the? So when Big Tall Hubby/Daddy came home we showed him. His response, "well that's why it cost .99!" My response, "hush" which followed with a slug to his arm.

The next day Zoe and I went to get supplies for the lamp redo. We got a lampshade, spray adhesive, lamp kit (with on/off switch), fabric, ribbon trim and jewels (Zoe insisted). It took us a couple hours to get everything glued and Big Tall Hubby/Daddy put the new switch on in about three minutes. Zoe is loving her new lamp, and I love that she is happy with it. She has a long list of craft things she wants to do with me. She must really think I am Martha!

(Please ignore the cardboard Zoe has tied to her bed, it is a collage she made and she will not take it down. I have tried to get her to remove it but she is one stubborn girl. It was either a cardboard one or she was going to glue stuff to her actual bed.)

I definitely learned my lessons, do not under any circumstances leave the store without testing the lightbulb (find another worker who will help you if you come across a grumpy, rude one) and pee somewhere that does not lock the restroom doors.

Original cost of our lamp: 99 cents

Final cost with all the supplies: about $25, I should have just went to Ikea! ;)