It's a little sad but very true that we re-live our lives through our kids.  I always wanted a canopy bed, and a very girlish room.  We were always in a rental so no painting, and Mom was down on stuff collecting.  The last part I understand more now because kids cane really collect the junk, and they don't keep it picked up really well either.  But, I do enjoy doing girlish things with my two mini ladies that I only dreamed of as a kid.  So, when a friend offered me a second hand princess canopy I couldn't resist.  It has been quit a story, at first my kids had a fight with one of the bars before I even got it assembled, and I hid it for a while.  Then on Anna's first day of school last year I cleaned her room and put it up for her.  She was so rewarding, she said things like " Your the best mommy ever", and "This is so beautiful"!  Then it got pulled on and had things tide to it and the bars got swung from and bent, and finally I pulled it down, but it was fun while it lasted, and very girlish!  I hope it made a memory for my girls!  And in the end that's what it's really all about!