so, umm...as bebe time approaches at a cut-throat pace my farmer and i have bits and bobs around the house that are certainly mandatory to complete before we actually bring a helpless, sweet bebe to the farm.

one of those bits may be installing fire alarms. granted, this should have been done about five months ago...when we moved in. (especially since we did all the electrical work ourselves...) alas, we just got around to it. rest-assured, bebe will now be in a safer environment.

so today i'm going to learn you up real good on how to install a fire alarm. why not, right?

here is what you DON'T want your bebe's fire alarm to look like...



please take special note of the ragged wires hanging from the ceiling. not exactly to "code."

first you are going to want to trim those ragged wires down to something more manageable...


next, you'll have to actually expose the wires so you can...well...wire them to the alarm, like so...


boom. all the wires are exposed now. but then you have to expose the actual wire. see all the little copper tips? that's what you want exposed...


now we're ready to bring in the wires that were provided in the fire alarm box. and seriously people, it's as simple as matching the colors...



just like that. red to red, black to black, white to white, and copper to copper. see what i mean? seriously, so easy.


next, you just need to tuck those wires right back up into the ceiling so that your actual alarm can sit flush.


make it look real pretty-like by screwing the fire alarm plate to the ceiling. the only piece that should hang out is the wire that connects the fire alarm.


and just like that, your bebe room has a fire alarm. and it looks safer. and you'll no longer show people your bebe nursery with shame in your heart.


wow, what a thrilling way to start labor day. what are the odds i'll get lucky and this will be my labor day? none.

labor day link-up over here...

miscellany monday at lowercase letters