Slowly- things are getting accomplished- House update

It always goes slower than you think it will and its always more frustrating than you anticipate and always feels like nothing is really getting done. Except, it is. 

Slowly, so slowly, things are getting done. 

I finally have curtains in the living room and I could not be happier about it. Curtains in this particular spot have always been an issue. The space is over 12 feet long and in the past, I never wanted to spend the money to get a real rod, so I made do with a DIY project, and some sheers from another room, and it was fine, but not exactly what I wanted. But thanks to some gift cards from Bed Bath and Beyond, and a handy husband, there is a real rod up with real drapes and I am real happy about it. It really makes a difference to have curtains up, finally. It suddenly feels more like a finished room.

Pillows, rugs, coffee table, side tables and somehow hiding the TV wires are next on the list. I also want to change the curtains in the breakfast nook which is on the same wall. The black and gold that are there now feel heavy and old in the lighter, whiter, brighter kitchen They were fine in my dark blue and Oak kitchen. Now they are out of place in my light blue and white kitchen. I am looking around for them now.

Some progress was made outside as well. What started as trimming a few branches in order to move a shed into the backyard, quickly turned into cutting all the limbs. I didn't expect the tree to be cut back this severely, but I agree it does look a lot better in my back yard. There is a lot more light in the back of the house, and the squirrels, cats, raccoons and who knows what else was climbing the braches cant jump onto the house (or the birdfeeders) anymore. However, now the husband decided he wants a new shed built in the backyard and not the older one moved in. 

It feels like the ladders are always up in my house. On one hand, it means things are getting done and I am happy to see them. On the other hand.... they are always up.  One Sunday afternoon, we changed out almost all the air filter grates on the first floor. They had been half painted over and the ones that were not painted were browned with age. They had been up there for at least 18 years.  Changing them out sounds like such a miniscule job, but it took all afternoon and it made a huge difference. The look so clean and  fresh. 

A project that was not really on my immediate to-do list was getting the yard on shape. I realize it has to be done and I have long neglected it in favor of working on the inside.   This little job was not as far back on my husband's list as I thought it was because I came home to find it half tackled. There use to be a brick planter along side this wall, but now it is gone. Frankly, it was just holding a box of weeds.  In the last 14 years, I had attempted and failed at keeping this area in good shape. I had tried so many plants here but nine really took. For years the gardenia was in good shape, but the weeds were uncontrollable.  After the flood, the weeds became small trees and now everything is cut down and will be completely gone soon. The plan is to keep it a grassy area (for now).  I am sure I'll get a wild idea and try and plant something else here soon. As soon as my attention is on the outside again, that is. Who knows when that will be.

closet organization

A little more closet organization going on. This time its the one in the entry way. It was just crammed full of random things in no order that had no where else to live.  Curtain rods waiting to be hung in the dining room, some old law school books that should probably be thrown out,  Tupperware containers holding bird food.  Frankly, I wasn't sure what was in there, I just knew it was all dusty and the space could be put to better use.  Specifically, I just got a new vacuum and wanted the vacuum and steam mop to live here. 

First, I took everything out and stacked it on the table, and cleaned the closet (with the steam mop). For  quite a few days, the dining room was looking pretty rough. I slowly started stacking like with like, throwing things out, rearranging and making a plan.

It actually went quicker than I thought it would. I worked on it a couple evenings after work when my husband was working offshore. Why can you accomplish so much in a few evenings alone?  Coming home after a long day of work to get in your pajamas and do a little piddling here and there really works wonders. Plus, sometimes its really enjoyable to take care of my house and get things to run more smoothly, when you have the time and energy to do it. 

For many years, I have kept some Thanksgiving and Christmas magazines. Not all of them, just the ones I particular liked. I  have a couple of Rachael Ray magazines, Southern Lady,  Better Homes and Gardens and Southern Living and Paula Deen. I like to look at them as the season approaches. It puts me in the holiday mood and sometimes I make a menu from the older issues. They are still full of valuable information. I have kept all of the Southern Living Decemeber Christimas issues (all the December issues have a different white cake on the cover) and the Paula Deen Christimas issues.  I sometimes find them at yard sales and will buy the old magazines for $.25.  It turns out,  I had  two or three years which had duplicate magazines (sometimes hard to tell because of all the white cakes). They went in my own garage sale box.   Now, the magazines are all organized  and  in their own spot. 

The finished closet, clean and organized:

My favorite floral Pioneer Woman basket (thanks to my very productive Saturday) holds all the vacuum cleaner and steam mop accessories in one place.


The  Christmas magazines and Thanksgiving magazines are all stashed together on the shelf above that. I did throw out some law books, but one was re-homed to my office and the others I couldn't part with are on the bottom shelf.

The top shelf has all the Bible studies on it. These are Sunday School books, Bible studies I took and Bible studies I taught to high school girls Sunday School, all living in one spot. 

Now, onto the next area............

Productivity

This weekend has been one of the most pleasantly productive days I've had in a long while. I am not sure why it happened but I think sitting  down late Friday night and putting a list together had a lot to do with it.  

The list probably doesn't look as impressive to you as it was for me, but it was a really productive weekend. I think having it written down means you don't waste any time deciding on what to do.

What has also been helpful is attempting to get back into the Fly Lady routines . At one time, I was really following the program and felt on top of things at home. I hope to have those feelings again. I just found  these videos (here) and the daily reminders are a big help. 

It also helped that my husband had to be up and out of the house early Saturday morning, which means I was up and started to tackle things early as well.

Saturday morning I was able to get up, get my breakfast made, clean the kitchen, get dinner in the crockpot and start laundry all before 8:00a.m.  That gave me momentum to then specifically concentrated on the little things that need attention but you never really get around to doing (like finding a home for blowup beds). I also attended Bible Study and went to Walmart.

The two blowup beds have been moved from this closet to that closet, upstairs, downstairs, stuffed in a corner and  generally homeless in my home and it was time for them to have  some sort of a permanent place to live that was out of the way and not taking up valuable real estate.

It started with throwing away the big cardboard boxes they came in and taking a trip to Walmart  for Better Home and Garden under the bed storage bags  and this solved this problem. 

Actually, going to Walmart solved a few issues. I had been wanting this specific polish and putting it on my list meant it actually made it home with me.

I have also been working on organizing the small closet in the entry way (more on this later) and wanted to finish this up. I did not completely finish but almost. I did find a place to keep all the vacuum cleaner attachments and steam mop accessories together.

The  Pioneer Woman's basket.  I really like this one.  This is about the third one I've purchased, and although I don't consider myself having a country aesthetic, I do like a few pretty little floral fabrics here and there.

Another little chore checked off the list was cleaning the glass  French doors in the living room. It just required that I get the squeegee and Windex and just go do it. It took all of 8 minutes. Why did I put this off? Just not assigning a specific time to do it meant it just did not get done.

Sunday..... was not as productive  as Saturday but was still productive in its own little way.  We went to Sunday School, church,  a nice lunch, ran a few errands at the mall and I was in my bathrobe by 6:00 p.m. 

It was a good weekend.

master bathroom organization

 Organizing one bathroom cabinet did not go as quickly as you think it would.  Its not like you see on youtube videos or magazines. 

I started late one night when my husband was out of town working. It needed to be done, and I kind of thought this would be a quick and simple little project to kick out while he was away.  Instead, it took days (and days) of arranging and rearranging and moving things to different areas. 

All the while, most of the stuff in the cabinets sat hither tither on the floor and I apologized to company (and to him), and just worked around it.

It also required a  trip to Tuesday Morning for some storage boxes.  Actually, I think they are gift boxes and I'm pretty sure they were not made to hide bath products or makeup removers, but they work really well for it and got them out of the cabinets and organized all in one place right where I need them. 

There was also some creative uses for a spice rack (small things I need to keep handy that I don't need everyday- like hair color) and a lazy Susan (for the things I reach for everyday) and two trips to Walmart for  clear storage boxes for extra items.

 

The perfume was pretty enough to sit out together and got its own spot on a little glass cake plate.

I dedicated Saturday afternoon to finishing up ( and also did a few kitchen cabinets). I'm feeling pretty successful and proud of myself. 

weekend update

The weekend was strangely productive and I was quite surprised at how many things from the April Goal List, which seemed almost impossible at one time, have suddenly been accomplished.

All the Christmas decorations (along with the Easter wreath) was corralled in one location by me, and a spot made for storage in the attic by the almost husband.

The desk that has been sitting in the entry way for far too long made it upstairs but without legs. I've been reassured that when I am ready for it, the reassembly will be quick and painless. 

I half-heartedly started rearranging the linen closet and right now almost everything is out on the floor and it is a mess. I've accepted that this does not need to happen before the wedding.

Home Depot came Saturday morning (at 7:30 a.m. !!) to measure for the carpet upstairs and that is in the works.

Some furniture was rearranged in the dining room into its permenant location which means I can now give it a good cleaning and start using it as storage / displaying the china / setting up my dining room.  One piece of furniture was moved to the bedroom  and that needs some love and attention as well.

I also got the new PJs, took two dresses back to Dillards (one was a potential wedding dress and one was a potential shower dress), and we found his suit and my wedding shoes. 

makeup organization, part 2b

The best laid plans....

my beautiful makeup organizational system was lost in the flood and  makeup organization part 2 didn't work. 

I've been forced to abandoned my plan of the makeup living in the Target silverware drawers that fit perfectly in the drawer and look so uniform and nice.

Makeup organization part 2b involves looking through the trash for sturdy small boxes. I've resorted to the not so fancy, temporary,  but better system of using the shallow top of random boxes, situated every which a way to hold each category. It has a lot of good points. It actually works, but.... there are still some issues. 

I've also accepted the fact, I need more space and commandeered a large deep drawer that is also scheduled for a makeup makeover.

The system, like so many other things in the house, is a work in progress. We are just not where we need to be. but... we are closer

makeup organization part 2

Two plastic silverware dividers from Target that costs $7.99 each fit perfectly, side by side, in the new makeup drawer in the new bathroom.

Not quite as nice as the makeup organization I had going on, but I'm excited to start.  (and yes, everything you see in that picture was lost in the flood)

Weekend accomplishments

 

Since it was approximately 163 degrees in Baton Rouge this weekend, I stayed in and one thing is now complete. The guest room is completely swapped over and put together, and the office is waiting to be painted.

 

Since I used the paint I already had in the garage, the guest room move costs nothing but $5.97 for  brackets to hang a curtain rod from Home Depot, and $21 for paint supplies. I'll eventually get more white shears for the second guest room window, and the room needs a door. The old door had seen better days and I removed it from its hinges and its now sitting on a set of saw horses as a table in my garage.

 

Of course, I had help. Help in the form of a dog laying on the rug all day long. She approves of the new arrangements.

 

 

weekend projects

 

 

 

Where did the weekend go? Seriously? Between church services and crying all day for the Baton Rouge Police Officers, the only proof I have to show that I actually had a weekend is the memory of a Sunday nap and the accomplishment of cleaning this now empty room. Baton Rouge is all just walking numb and wounded.  I finally had to turn the news off and put my hands to something productive to do.

 

I really cant call it the office anymore, but its not quite the guest room yet... so I started calling it the upstairs room.

 

Baseboards, windows and door frames were scrubbed and the wood floor was mopped with my newest discovery of vinegar and water (I'm mopping all the floors with it. How does it clean so well?)  and then waxed. I love Orange Glow for the wood floors. I've been using it for about 10 years. Nothing perks me up like seeing shiny wood floors. Its very satisfying, in a weird sort of way.

 

 



 

 

I wish I had one more day to putter around in the space, but the work week has arrived, and I honestly don't know when I will get back to it. Every evening after work this week is full. 

 

Monday: Pampered Chef party

Tuesday: Candlelight Service for the Baton Rouge Police Officers

Wednesday: Youth at Church

Thursday: Exercise class

Friday: Church service

 

This is why its called "being a weekend warrior", I suppose.

 

I am actually surprised at how quick the transformation from neglected/abandoned/half-empty/sad office to guest room has been. Its ready for the fun part... organizing and arranging the guest room furniture waiting to be moved from the guest room... or rather the other room that is no longer the guest room, but doesn't yet have a name. 

 

When its empty, what is now the guest room, is going to get a little paint job, a little cleaning, and a little waxing of the wood floors, then become the new office.   

Weekend Projects

It feels like its been a long time since a project was completed in one weekend.

So long, that its kind of surprising to have this one done. It went faster than I thought it would. (I did have a little help...)























Part one of the plan to move the guest room is to empty then paint the office, but I wanted to do it quick and cheap. With the leftover paint in the garage, it made sense to make do instead of putting a whole new color up.

I'm so glad I did because I  had forgotten how much I loved this pale yellow color that I picked out 10 years ago. It had been sitting forgotten, and we were re-introduced. Hello old friend. I remember you now...

And I was happy it only took one coat to make the whole room look fresh again.

And I saved some money.

Except I didn't.

I still ended up spending some money on it for disposable paint trays, tape,  and new rollers but it was a lot cheaper than a gallon of good paint (the bathroom paint job was surprisingly expensive.)



 

 

 

I filled the nail holes with wood filler and sanded it down then one thick coat of paint, cleaned everything up and I am done!

 

Except I am not done....

 

Is anyone really ever done with projects?

 

Just like the bathroom, the fresh paint makes the baseboards look dingy, so before the rooms are swapped around, I now plan to paint them bright white.

 

It does not end.

 

 

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Second Quarter Goals Update: The livingroom

Much like the one room challenge,   my goals this year are specific and small and focus on one thing at a time. I started with the  bathroom and it almost killed me was a success.

The second quarter is finished  (April-May-June) but the living room isn't.  I'm giving myself one more week before turning my attention to the upstairs office. I feel like I got a late start, which I did. Bronchitis in April put me out of the game for a while. 

I started this with the goal of getting curtains up, the nail holes filled and everything painted a fresh white. The curtains are up and the nail holes are filled but everything is not yet painted. Somewhere along the way, I bought a new couch.

The old couch was never "me" and I couldn't stand to make do with it another minute. Combine my over-eagerness to get rid of it with a deep discounted Memorial day sale at Ashley Furniture and the bottom line is, I unexpectedly bought a new couch.  I sold the old one so that helped. And I LOVE the new couch, so that helps justify the purchase even more. I really feel like the house is becoming mine and reflecting me more and more.

I have not so distant plans to paint all trim and baseboards fresh white, to touch up the wall paint in a few spots, all things I already have and will cost nothing to accomplish.

I have very distant plans for a rug and coffee tables and probably a chair and throw pillows and all the little decorative things you think of when you re-do a room, but the bank account just laughs and says not any time soon.

The curtain rods were by far the hardest part of this little makeover, and surprisingly heavy and difficult to maneuver.  Not hard just not as easy as it would have been to just buy a long curtain rod, find it delivered by UPS at my door, and put it up.  But I didn't want to spend $135, and I couldn't get it from yard sales (how I've outfitted rooms before) so I DIY-ed it with help from  this blog.  

Two 10 foot pieces of electrical conduit: $5.90 each (I had to buy two 10 foot sections and cut one to add to the long one. So I still have an 8 foot piece in the garage which will probably be another curtain rod in a different room some day.)
Little thing to connect two poles together: $.68
3 cans of bronze metallic spray paint: $5.76 each (I would have never believed it would take 2 1/2 cans of spray paint for this but it totally did. I had to go back twice to get more.)
Curtains: Free from another room
Curtain hook: Free from another room
3 curtain brackets: Martha Stewart $8.97 each

I spent about $55.  The main point of having the curtains is privacy and security,  and the sheers are not doing the job in either of those things.  They are a placeholder until I find curtains I really want at a price I can really get them, probably from TJ Maxx. (something like this or this but both of these are not quite right.... the search continues).

And, in all truth, this still would not be done if I did have some help.

 

 

 

I am linked here

I am linked here