The Simple Mama: My Adventures with the Free Desk

Some of you probably remember my post about snatching a free desk and 2 chairs off my neighbor’s curb earlier this summer. I bet you thought I gave up on it, right? Yes, I know I’ve left you hanging concerning the end of this story and for that I apologize. To make it up to you, just know that this little project made me laugh, cry, and sweat for about 3 months, but I will always remember my adventures with the free desk.

Oh, the free desk. Nothing is ever really free, is it? Now don’t get me wrong. It was free in the sense that I didn’t have to buy it. And it cost me very little money to actually fancy it up a bit. And I LOVE how it turned out (don’t worry; you’ll get to see some pics I promise!). But that “little” project sure did give me some headaches!

You’ll remember that I was texting with my Austin BFF when I first saw the free desk and chairs sitting out there calling my name. And she convinced me to go grab it and redo it. Oh and she said she would totally buy it from me if it would fit in her house. Score!! I already had a buyer and I hadn’t even done anything with it yet except carry it to my garage and into my husband’s usual parking spot. (Y’all hug him when you see him.)

It sat there for a few weeks before I started working on it. Luckily we had a fairly mild summer, but it was still summertime. In Texas. It took me about 2 days to paint all of it. Then another day to antique it a bit. And another few days to spray paint the hardware. But at last it was finished and it was glorious!! There were days and even weeks sometimes between each stage of the process. All the while, Brad graciously parked his car in the driveway and continued to park it there even when it was finished because I had a great plan to deliver it to my Austin BFF! (Remember: y’all hug him.)

Teachers go back to work 1 week before students start so the day that Brad had to return to work from his summer break, I was going to load up our Toyota Highlander with the desk, 2 chairs, my children, and our luggage and zip down to Austin to make the delivery to my Austin BFF and have 1 last summer hoorah! Two days before our scheduled departure I thought it would be wise to measure the desk and chairs to make sure they would fit in the back of the Highlander. I felt super organized!

Ummm…I totally have a problem with size perception. There was absolutely NO way all of that was going to fit in the back of my car. Feel free to laugh at me here because I’m sure you all saw this coming. I, however, did not. And I was totally mortified and stressed. How in the world was I ever going to get this desk and 2 chairs to Austin??? And naturally, like a crazy woman, I started calling around to see how much it would be to rent a truck or a small u-haul. Yes, I know. I’m crazy.

Lucky for me my Austin BFF is way more clever and level-headed than I am and she told me to give her a day to figure out a way to make this work. So I did. And guess what? She came up with a plan!!! Some friends of hers happened to be up in the Dallas area for the weekend and had room in their SUV to take the desk back to Austin and make the delivery for me! (I would still go down on Monday with the chairs.) Hallelujah! Everybody say AMEN!!

So early that rainy Sunday, my hubby (hugs, remember?) removed our children’s carseats, folded the 2^nd row down and loaded up that free desk so I could meet these Lifesavers about 40 minutes away and make the hand-off. It was raining...like hard raining. Did I mention that? Oh and we were having a Kindergarten Kick-off party with our church peeps right after church that day and I was helping with that. So my plan was to drive the desk to the Lifesavers before they left to return to Austin and then drive back to my neck of the woods to make it to the party...all in the pouring rain...sorry, I forgot to tell you that. ;)

I might have hydroplaned once or twice. And I might have had to drive 30 MPH in some places, but I made it to the meeting spot and the desk transfer was completed. Whew! Then I made it back for the Kindergarten Kick-off party just in time (luckily because I had the plates, napkins, and the all-important Kinder 2014 banner!) I definitely needed a nap that afternoon. I. Am. A. Hot. Mess.

Monday morning came and we said good-bye and good luck to Brad as he started back to school. I loaded the 2 chairs and the children into the Highlander and off we went to Austin. Me, to go shopping with the Austin BFF for fabric to re-upholster the chairs, and the kiddos were going to get some fun time with their Austin grandparents.

By this time I was SO ready to be finished with this little project, but thankfully, it was all smooth sailing from here.

Here I am with my Austin BFF at the fabric store looking for the perfect fabric to re-upholster those awful chair cushions. She is much better at selfies than I am.