I’m pretty sure this dumb box is to blame:

I brought it home from Michael’s a few weeks ago to house the kids’ school supplies.  Anything to simplify homework time, you know?  Anyway, Matt took one look at my new $4 purchase and acted utterly confused.  “Why would you buy something like this when I could make it?”

Well, my dear husband, allow me to explain.  We Allisons are not box-makers.  We are box-buyers.  That’s why.

But I moved on, completely oblivious to the foreshadowing of this event.  Because flash forward a few weeks.  For some reason or another, I casually showed Matt a picture on Pinterest of something I’ve been eyeing for a few months.  A wood pallet map.  FROM ETSY.  Because remember?  We’re not box-makers.  Which means we are absolutely and positively not wood-pallet-world-map makers.  DUH.

Oh, but no, my friends.  Matt was not convinced.  In fact, it was like something clicked in that cute head of his the moment he caught a glimpse of the map that fateful day.  “We’ll make it!” he said enthusiastically.  “Together!”

Now, people.  I may have mentioned a time or twenty before, but Matt and I are not so much alike.  This truth manifests itself daily, but we’ve learned the dance of give and take.  In this situation, Matt was placing a very high value on the idea of spending time together working toward a common goal.  We’d build something beautiful for our home!  Together!  We’d look back on this project with fond memories for years to come, and we’d live happily ever after.  Meanwhile, I was placing an even higher value on my sanity.  Because I could think of many more experiences I’d rather share as a couple than painting the world.  Like eating burritos together.  Binging on Netflix together.  ALL GOOD THINGS.

This time, however, I gave.  Marriage is hard, y’all, but I’m learning.

You should know better than expecting a DIY tutorial out of this here blog.  Nuh uh.  Not happening.  Because (a) I don’t even know how we pulled it off and (b) it’s too soon.  I just can’t relive it yet.  Or ever.  It took a long time though.  Did you ever KNOW how many islands are in this great world of ours?  A LOT.  And I traced them all.  Three times.  And then, guess what!  I got to PAINT them too!  YES!!

At the end of the day, I love it.  It turned out way better than I thought, and I’m so glad we have it.  BUT (and this is where Matt and I disagree), I’m not convinced that I’d do it again.  It took way too long.  And apparently tracing (again, TIMES THREE) and painting a gigantic world map all day makes me cranky.  Etsy exists for a reason, you guys.  The reason is me.

The good news is that the world map is going to be a permanent fixture in our home forever.  It’s going wherever we go because I WORKED for that thing. And when I gaze at its awesomeness, I will recall so many lovely marital moments.  Magical moments like that time I looked at my beloved and snapped, “How do you expect me to paint the islands of Indonesia with you staring over my shoulder like that????”

Also.  I’ll remember that the next time Matt suggests another “fun experience” to do as a couple, he’s taking me out for burritos instead.