Hey, I finally got around to fixing that old bookshelf I found at the garage sale. Sanding it down took way longer than I expected, but the stain turned out really nice. I ended up painting the back panel a dark navy blue, which gives it a lot of depth. Now I just need to organize all my books by color or genre, I haven't decided yet. It's pretty sturdy for a piece that was practically thrown away. Anyway, let me know if you want to borrow any of my books now that I actually have a proper place to put them. It feels good to have a little corner of the room looking exactly how I imagined. The whole project only cost me about twenty dollars in supplies, which is a steal compared to buying something similar at a store. I spent most of Saturday working on it and listening to podcasts, and it was honestly a really relaxing way to spend the weekend. I have a few more small pieces of furniture I want to refinish, so maybe I'll tackle those next month if I have some free time. The weather has been perfect for staying indoors and working on projects like this anyway. Let me know what you think when you see it in person.

We tried that new Italian place downtown last night. The ambiance was really cozy, dim lighting and brick walls. I ordered the mushroom risotto, and it was cooked perfectly. My friend got the lasagna, and she said it reminded her of her grandmother's recipe. The tiramisu for dessert was a bit too coffee-heavy for my taste, but still good. The service was a little slow because they were packed, but the staff was super friendly. I think we'll definitely go back to try their pizza. Have you been there yet? I’d recommend making a reservation though, especially on weekends, since it seems to be getting popular. We had to wait about twenty minutes for our table even on a Tuesday night. The prices were reasonable too, especially for the quality of the food. I'm hoping they add a few more dessert options to the menu, but overall it was a solid experience. Let me know if you want to check it out together sometime next month. I'm already looking forward to going back.