I feel like a cheater but IDHTBPTBB.

I have a problem. I feel like I cheated on a project. A home decorating project. Let me start over. For three years, my family room windows have been bare except for the wood blinds that came with the house. Because I didn't know what I wanted. I have this dilemma often. I don't know what I want, so nothing gets done. Sometimes this lasts for years. But I'm really okay with that. I have these crazy windows. As you can see from the "before" pic, they are not the same size nor shape nor distance from the ceiling. A challenge, but not an overwhelming one. Eventually (about a year ago) I decided I wanted valances. Cool. First decision made. Then about six months ago I figured out that I just needed to place the curtain rods over each window at the same height, so the windows would appear the same height. The vertical window's rod would just be really high, and the valance would mostly cover wall instead of window. Second decision made! At this time I also decided on some type of white fabric for the valances. Then a month or so ago I stumbled across this very addicting blog. This woman has some great ideas, especially about window treatments, one of which was the "hang the curtain rod too high so your windows look taller" trick. I felt smug that I had figured that one out on my own. Then I noticed the theme and decorations on her blog. Birds! That's what my room needed! The family room had been looking too stark and needed a little charm. I was so excited! I searched for bird curtain rods, and found these adorable ones with little birds. I ordered two online. Then I went to another website and ordered some curtains that were just what I had been imagining. I pulled out my credit card, and in a few weeks the stuff showed up on my door and we put it up.

Whaddya think? Please ignore (or snicker at) the laundry to be folded and the spew from my kids' backpacks. Here's the cheating part. It was too easy and certainly not creative. I didn't sew the curtains. I didn't find the curtain rods at a discount store and repaint them. They weren't even on sale for Pete's sake! I feel guilty and not too proud of the final result. Its not my work, I just paid for it. Something is wrong with me. Oh, and the pillows on the couch? Didn't make those either. But, as I have learned from the above mentioned awesome blog, IDHTBPTBB. Meaning, it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. The curtains are a little too sheer and show the wall above the window, the panels should be a little wider (and they would have been if I had sewn my own) and I'm not sure if the hanging strings of the bows are charming or messy. But thanks, Nester and cyberfriends for giving me the kick in the rear and the inspiration I needed to finish my three-year decision.