Unable to resist her cuteness, I gave in. I also figured it would be a long time before we had enough books to fill such a big shelf. Well, I was wrong.
Several days after we had moved into our rental house in Tennessee, I realized that we needed a bookshelf. As newlyweds on a tight budget, we decided it would be financially irresponsible to just go out and buy a bookshelf.
What was I supposed to do? I walked through our house, looking for any sort of shelf that would work. At one point, I even tried balancing our books on a windowsill, but that didn’t work very well.
I came across a plastic milk crate that fit half our books. Then I noticed a pile of empty moving boxes and thought, ‘Why not just turn one of those into a bookshelf?’ I pulled back the flaps, filled it with books, and voila! A makeshift bookshelf! It’s not the prettiest think ever, but it meets our needs.What do you think?
Those look a lot like the bedside tables my husband and I had when we were first married! 😀. Are you guys doing the first year without T.V.?
Hi there!
We have a TV because we received it as a gift, but we don't have TV service. We use our TV to watch football and major news events, which we pick up with an antenna, as well as old TV shows on DVD. 😉
~Ellie
I think your incredibly sweet to give your bookshelf to your sister-in-law. I love that you don't want to go into debt buying furniture you cannot afford. Way to go for coming up with a shelving solution for your books. 🙂
Ellie it look great. Good idea. I would have done the samething. Your so talented.
I like it! I think many readers – including our family -would love to know how you started to write about the Duggars and the Bates. Were you close personal friends, or did you have an interest in them – like I bet all of us on your blog!:) and just start to write about them? When was the first time you met them? I'm thinking that being Duggars and Bates fans is something that connects us all here, so we would love to hear your story of how it all started – and maybe tips on how to meet them ourselves!
Hi Sonya,
It's a long story, so it will take me a little while to write up a post, but I'll get started. 🙂
~Ellie
We will look forward to it! Thank you!
Perfect idea! 🙂
That is so cool!! 🙂
Good Job 🙂 :p
Cool idea! but what is your husbands real name? if you would rather not say that is totally fine!
She has said a few times she is not going to reveal that, maybe he doesn't want her to
Aww that's a cute story. You seem very thoughtful. How many siblings do u have? Is it funny having a sister in law only 12?
Thank you. 🙂 I only have one sibling.
Blessings,
Ellie
Thanks for the reply Ellie. I was just wondering do u personally know the Bates, Willis or Duggar family?
We know all three families personally. 🙂
~Ellie
Wow that's really cool!
You can get really reasonable bookshelves at Target, they make great kids room shelves when you can eventually afford nicer for your living areas, IMO it is actually the cheapest to check out most books and not purchase, then you are double saving!
Very resourceful, ingenious, and useful!
Great job 🙂
Alexis
well it works, you need to pray for a free book shelf, as you give you should recieve
I just wanted to say that I like the name of your blog site. You were creative to think of it and lucky it wasn't already taken!
I'm sorry, but as a huge book lover, I find it said that two adults don't own more books than that.
I'm a book lover too (actually a librarian!) and I don't own many, I check them out, enjoy them and send them on their way to the next reader. Economical and both a physical and mental space saver!
That is a really good idea…you could also do the same thing to several others, stack them together, and wrap them in some sort of solid color wrapping paper to make it match the rest of you living room
thats a good idea!!!:) also if u screw old drawers together u can make a cute little shelf/bookshelf!!!
You are right on.
My first bookshelf out of college in the 70's was made by stacking (3) 2×6 or 2×8 boards 3 feet long with bricks. 1 brick at each end on the floor then a shelf, a few more bricks on each side and then another shelf. I know I didn't buy them so I must have gotten them free somewhere. Maybe today you could find them at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore.
Ellie I really admire you for your sure grip on the dollars. I think 'this way' is going to serve you and your husband very well. I appreciate your good example. I should try to be more like you.
Nothing like getting creative! It's amazing how thrifty you can be when you think outside the box. When I was a newlywed our 'couch' consisted of 2 camping chairs and a beanbag. Our plastic 'dining' table was purchased from the hardware store using a gift voucher we'd received as wedding gift. It's such a sweet time. Love the newlywed memories 🙂
Will you ever put any more pictures of your wedding and wedding party into your blog?
I really like your blog!
While that is cute – why not go to Ikea – super cheap and great looking!!!!! We were young newlyweds too but just didn't buy anything until we could afford it…..
I agree with Anonymous, Aug 31. I was poor and could not afford bookshelves even from Dania or Ikea. I used bricks and boards. You can paint the boards to match the wall or contrast with the walls. If you find good scrap boards you could varnish them. These shelves can be quite attractive. When I up graded my furniture I kept my board and brick ones shelves..They had become part of my home and fit in beautifully. They can be quite attractive.They might become the center of attention of your home. Use the large grey bricks so you don's have to stack the red bricks as they might slip and your book shelves will fall apart.
I love books! I've found bookshelves at yard sales. Sometimes libraries will have book sales and you can find used bookshelves there that are really cheap. Teachers are always going to those library book sales to find children's books for their classroom. I have an old bookshelf you could have, but I live in Georgia. Not very close by. Sorry.
You should read books by Francine Rivers! She is an amazing Christian author.
Just wanted to say Hello.