Shiny and New

6:00 AM Elizabeth Seckman 48 Comments


I'm getting new furniture. For real new, not the new-to-me variety.

I've had a lot of the new-to-me kind.

In my twenty-three years of marriage, I've gotten two sets of new furniture. This will be lucky number three. We started off broke, so our house was furnished with hand-me-downs from family.

Our first bedroom outfit was from my brother. I'm pretty certain he may have gotten in from a dumpster. I mean, when I asked, "Did you get this from a dumpster?" He said, "What the *bleep* do you care? It's free."

Needless to say, this is a pretty big deal for me. I got my coupon last August, and it's taken me this long to Pinterest, web shop, and calculate. I got a little worried that it would expire, so I had to pull it out and check the fine print. Fortunately, white and tacky were excluded, but the time frame for purchase was infinite.


Now, I'm excited. I'm going to toss the old stuff and leave the living room empty long enough to paint the walls and polish the floors.

Then I'll get the furniture.

It's going to be pretty, and clean...and people will want to sit on it...

And someone will eventually spill something on it.

That's similar to my the book launch I have coming up. As long as it's still in the planning, hopeful stage it's all shiny and bright. No bad reviews. No poor sales.

Then comes the worry that someone will spill something on it.

For the furniture, I got the fabric protection plan. Too bad there isn't a new book equivalent. A five-year protection plan from bad reviews and poor sales.

Hey, I may be on to something...

Thanks to our hosts LexaL.G, and Tonja Drecker for this weekly good things check in! 

There are so many good things coming!

I'm really looking forward to the furniture and the book. Life can't always be shiny and bright. Being a gal who likes antiques and patina, it's only the first spill that makes me cringe. After that? Well, that's life. It's meant to be lived.
We also have graduation coming up, and a party to plan.
And the boys are coming home for the summer from college.

Whew! Try not to be too jealous.



My current read!

It's not yet available for sale. I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy from Lee.

This is a great book. Reminds me of the books I loved when I was a middle-schooler. Sort of like a Nancy Drew mystery without the hokeyness. Definitely a recommended read. 


Bio: C. Lee McKenzie is a 4 & 5 star reviewed author. Her greatest passion is writing for young readers. Sign of the Green Dragon is her third Middle Grade novel. Alligators Overhead and the sequel, The Great Time Lock Disaster were her first two. She has traditionally published four young adult novels: Sliding on the Edge, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Double Negative and Sudden Secrets.

Summary: When a wall of their cave hideout crumbles, three boys discover a skeleton, clutching a treasure map. They set off to trace the story of an old murder, but stumble into a modern crime, and confront ancient Chinese dragons. 


48 comments:

  1. Cool you got to read Lee's book early.
    Smart to exclude white. Who really wants white anyway? Just sitting on it will mark it, let alone spilling anything on it.
    Curious about the line that says Cole gets ten percent...

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    1. It's good to know people. Early copies are pretty awesome.

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    2. Oh, and I did give him 10%- in the form of groceries. He can be indebted to me for the rest of his life for the rest. LOL

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  2. Great to reaad Lee's book. Enjoyed the read Elizabeth.
    Have a fun week-end.
    Yvonne.

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  3. Yep, something will always be spilled. But what's the good of it always looking new as that means it was never used. Have to make it lived in.

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    1. I've always said there is no fun in perfection. I suppose I have to live by my own words.

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  4. I was curious about Cole's 10% too? Lee's book sounds good and yours is good I know. I have read it several times during it's journey to publication and last time I couldn't put it down. Enjoy your new furniture.

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    1. Yeah, right. He will get his 10% in room and board. LOL.

      Can you tell he made the gift card?

      Thank you for the kind words about the book. You kept the poor little manuscript alive.

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  5. Yay for new furniture! In ten years of marriage, we've gotten two new pieces so far: a loveseat and a bed. And I'm the same way when I'm dreaming of stuff, it's so perfect and wonderful. But reality can sometimes match up too! =)

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    1. At our ten year mark, we were just happy to own a house. Things come in time. It makes you appreciate the hunt and the finding of the gems.

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  6. Yay, you! Get pieces on which mai tai spillage won't stand out. Have fun shopping.
    Happy weekend, girlfriend.

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    1. I got red. That should work, right? Been so long since I had one, I'm forgetting!!

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  7. Congrats on being able to get new furniture! I've had 2 sets of furniture--one during my years in the US, and the second when I married and his bachelor furniture came with him. It's kind of yucky. I try not to look at it too much. I like the analogy between new furniture and a book release. So clever! Have a lovely weekend and a Happy Mother's Day! :)

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    1. We both came from our parents houses, so we didn't ever get to have bachelor pads...or do dorms count?

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  8. Get me a fan! Liz is pulling out the big guns of her totally amazing life! Jealousy can come in many flavors, just don't let in it's cousins, bitterness and obsession. The coupon angel be with you Elizabeth and who does not love family happenings and cool new reads? Enjoy your weekend.

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    1. You are so right about that! I have met those cousins before, I certainly wouldn't want to live with either one. You always have the most creative ways of saying things!

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  9. That first spill always is the worst. How exciting to have brand new furniture though.

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    1. It really is. When we were shopping, the had the floor models on clearance. I told my husband we could get those- they were already stained up, so we could skip that stress.

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  10. If you're worried about spills, then cover everything in that crinkly plastic. That's super attractive.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. That also comes in handy if I ever want to do a hit in my house.

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  11. That certificate-- Love it! So creative. Happy shopping and decorating.

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  12. I LOVE it! So exciting. We bought a new house last year and we didn't have enough furniture to fill it...so we've bought a few new pieces and gotten a few hand me downs. There's nothing like a new comfy couch!

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    1. That's my other dream. A brand new house with all new stuff in it...though I love my house and would have to bring my antiques with me. Meh, may as well stay put.

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  13. We still have hand-me-downs and old stuff so I can relate. My kids are almost old enough to risk buying new furniture, but we still gotta wait two or three years. It really depends on the boy. ;) Hope we get to see pics when your shiny and new come in!!

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    1. It's really not worth the headache to have new stuff with little ones. Even now, when I was shopping, the sale lady was showing us the "nice" stuff, but I knew to go for the affordable, durable section.

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  14. Awesome that you are getting new furniture. Must be fantastic feeling to go shopping for them!

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    1. I do love shopping for stuff so much better when I can buy it.

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  15. It took me about the same amount of time before I got new furniture, Elizabeth. Like everyone else, I waited until the children got a little older. Then I forever told them NOT to eat or drink while sitting on it. Like that would really happen. I was dreaming. All the best with your new furniture, my dear.

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    1. I know it will never happen because their dad is the worst one. He grew up in a non-eating in the living room family and refuses to play ball now.

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  16. I'm sorry, but I'm experiencing furniture envy here. You've got me looking around my office at what I thought was just perfect about fifteen years ago and saying, "What the....?"

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    1. I totally understand furniture envy. When my neighbor's moved in, they painted and bought all new stuff. I just rotate the old rooms. One will be refreshed while the others are aging.

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  17. I'm still living off of new-to-me furniture. Cheers to your soon-to-be completely new furniture!

    I'm okay without having stain protection on our books. Bad reviews are few and far between, but some of them are just hilarious. Call me crazy, but I wouldn't trade those for the world.

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    1. I was a whole lot skinnier in the new-to-me years, so there is that. LOL

      Ever notice the worst book reviews are usually hatchet jobs on the English language too? What's that all about?

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  18. So exciting to get new furniture.

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  19. Woo HOO! Have fun getting ready the room ready for your new furniture... and then getting it! Some of our furniture is more than 45 years old, but it still suits us. :)

    I don't think you have to worry about anybody "spilling" on your book. Your new sofa? Yeah. But your book should be impervious.

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    1. I have a wardrobe that dates back to the French Revolution. My grandmother's family were Huguenots and had to flee France. I find it funny that in the fleeing...they brought furniture with them. I suppose that means they had some cash, which they didn't save for their great-great-great granddaughter. But they did invest in our Revolutionary War, so I guess they spent it wisely.

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  20. YAY for new furniture! I'd really like a new L-shaped corner sofa but they're so difficult to find these days (not to mention super expensive) so I guess I'll have to settle with what I've got... for now. At least until we move house. Whenever that may be!!
    Suzy xx
    www.suzyturner.com

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    1. Those are nice. My living room has too many doors and a fireplace making any sort of sectional or L shape impossible.

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  21. I look forward to Lee's book. I can't wait to get new furniture. I want to wait a little bit longer since my furniture still has some life in it, but it's time to throw out the super old stuff.

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    1. I do like to get the maximum wear out of mine too. That just makes sense.

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  22. YAY!! I love new furniture. The smell, the arranging of it... so pleased for you! I'm looking forward to reading Lee's book. Have a great week, Elizabeth and continue to spread the happiness :)

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    1. I am so boring. I have one arrangement and that's it. Old stuff will go, new stuff will be set right in the old stuff's place. In my defense, we have a small living room with a fireplace and two doorways. Not a whole lot of options.

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  23. Congrats on the new furniture/painting/polishing!!! We also started with all borrowed furniture. I'm also in that hopeful pre-release phase, but I'm slowly beginning to realize that my sales aren't going to be great, at least not at first. Ugh. Life is hard. :)

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    1. There are so many good books on the market, I'm just elated that a few people buy them. I know I'm overwhelmed myself as a reader about what to pick. (I do start with friends books...that helps!)

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  24. Good for you! I hope you enjoy it:)

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