Trials with a Roman Shade

Yesterday I was on my usual Target adventure and I was checking out the window blinds and shades section when I saw the exact same energy saving, cream, 31 inch roman shades that I have been desiring.

Target had a multitude of these shades a few months back and I of course was waiting for them to go on sale. Then one week (I go to Target at minimum once a week; yesterday it was 3 times! eek!) they were all gone and in their place was a sad red sign that read "We are improving this section. Check back in later." or something along those lines. I was heartbroken thinking that they were going to replace my energy saving, cream, 31 inch roman shades!

Since the incident I have been shopping around to find a replacement. Wal-Mart carries something similar but cheaper looking (not less expensive at all). Anna's Linen's claims to have good deals but their window treatments are junk. Being the hopeless romantic I am, every time I would go into a Target I would check the shade section with hopes that my love would be waiting. Then one day (yesterday that is!) there they were. Crammed in with the bamboo and mini blinds were two energy saving, cream, 31 inch roman shades! Hallelujah! Unfortunately there was no sale or clearance sign in sight but there was also no correct price label on the shelf... So I snatched one of the boxes and power walked to the price checker in the main aisle. 

Here's the best part. They were half off! YAY! That is like getting one free!!!!!!! $17.49 a piece; that may not seem like a good price but if they stay up a fraction of the time that the old blinds did it's a bargain.  As you could guess I bought them. Now getting them up and functioning was the hard part.

I began last night taking down the 23 year old outdated mini blinds. These blinds had depressed me for the past few years when I became aware that beautiful rooms make life..well...more beautiful. To make a long story short I will just say that by the third hole in, my drill bit broke and it was 10 PM. Saddness. I bought two replacement bits just in case I broke another one and guess what. I broke another one on the first try. I thought I was going to need to buy 3/32 inch drill bits in bulk! Fortunately the third bit did not break.

Now that the holes were done all I can say is screw these so called electric drill/drivers! The drill part worked excellently minus me breaking the bits, however the screw driver function was defective and useless. I was pissed. Correction, I am still pissed. My hands are still aching and nice red calluses are forming because of hand screwing in 16 screws! Yuck. But that really is the least of my worries now because for some reason I can not get the damn shades to fit on the brackets I so carefully drilled and hand screwed into the window frame. After 15 minutes of attempting to jam the metal "head piece" on to the brackets I make-shifted it and they are functioning...but please if you come to my room do not yank on the cord. :)