Using Your Time

I read somewhere recently that 45 minutes was suggested for kids getting ready for school in the morning--this was not including eating breakfast!! I think this is nuts! What little kid needs 45 minutes to get dressed, brush their hair and make their bed? I know it can be done in 25 minutes..TOPS..as we have been doing it for 3 years.

I believe by shrinking down the time to get ready and out the door, actually organizes kids and really makes them use the time, a skill they can use all over the place. It is not that we don't have enough time, it is that we don't use it well. (Well I use all my time really well. :)) There are so many hours in the day, plenty to get everything done, for the most part, unless you have like 5 kids and work full time and are a single parent..you know what I mean..but for most of us, it is just the way the time is utilized. Time is this amazing thing stretching out before us everyday, ready to be sliced and diced and used in so many ways. But I believe people are often stuck, and cannot decide what to do first, what needs to be done, what must be done, etc..and so often nothing gets done, or things that don't matter get done, and other things just get behind.

It is taking advantage of those moments or hours here and there to get things done that are just hanging around. Like putting photos in an album, raking up leaves, catching up on email, paying bills, cleaning the microwave, going to Goodwill, calling your mom, and on and on and on. If we don't plan our time, all and everything just piles up and then d i s organization sets in and seems to never go away, and becomes a vicious cycle of trying to catch up. For me, my mind is wired in a way to always get things done and always be thinking of what needs to be done next, like a system implanted in my head, so it is so easy, but I realize this is not for everyone. I wake up ready to go, not one drop of caffeine needed.

If it is not easy for you, start with a list. It might be a very long list, but make a list. Then turn it into sections, like Immediate, This Week, This Month, Within 6 Months, or however you want to structure it, and there will probably be quite a lot under each heading. And then tackle the sections you have created for yourself. Do it now, do it all the time, and soon, well a few months, it will become a habit, right? But if you keep "falling off the wagon" it will never become a habit. And that is where people get frustrated.

If you just cannot do it on your own, hire someone to come to your home or office 1x, or maybe on a regular schedule, and let them become your "coach" in this area of your life. You might just breathe a lot easier. I do believe the older I get, that while organizing can be learned (it is not rocket science) it is very hard for many people, they are just not wired that way, just like some people don't exercise or eat right, so they hire a trainer, or just simply go to a gym to get motivated. People hire CPAs for their taxes, party planners, gardeners, house keepers, etc..and oddly enough these are all positions helping people get organized with something in their life, getting something taken care of.

I know these helpers can be expensive and often not part of your budget...most of us have to do it ourselves. So, if so...tackle one thing at a time, and just get on the road to getting your life organized, stay on the road, stick to your lists. A life taken care of is much more enjoyable to travel through than one full of disarray. Really, you will see ;)..

5 Easy Quick Fixes

Well I just spent a good part of my weekend organizing and cleaning. For me it is less of a chore and more something I actually look forward to..but I know that is not true for everyone! All these things to do just loom there in the background and it is hard to get started when you really want to settle into your easy chair and watch another episode of "Friends" on Fancast (and I have been doing that lately, in lieu of cleaning..!)

Instead of being overwhelmed with so much to do, make yourself a small list..and then do it. Everyday I clean a little something, straighten something up, do some wash, whatever, so it is always in process. Okay, it is Sunday, what are 5 easy fix things you can do in an hour or so..

DO a sweep through your closet is there anything hiding out in there that could go to Goodwill? I did this today. It always surprises me that something I thought I liked, I realize I really don't , or don't like the fit, whatever, so out it goes. It you do this enough, you are never overwhelmed.

CLEAN the hall closet. Now my daughter has it packed to the gills with dress ups, doll clothes, tons of stuff..and her idea of putting it away, is to just stuff it back in, kind of in order. I really should make her do the cleaning, but she was out, and I can do it faster and don't have to hear "but I want that!" So I took 30 minutes or so, went through it all, had a trash pile and a Goodwill pile, and the closet looked like a new version of its old self.

CLEAN one bathroom. Now I cleaned 3, but really if you clean one, it is no big deal.

GO through your magazines...they pile up. If you just have a few subscriptions, before you know it you have dozen + magazines sitting around. So sort through them. I often go through and pull out my favorite pictures, and have a little file for them--fashion and decorating--who knows maybe one day I will use the file. Recycle them..some libraries even take them.

CLEAN your desk. This really needs to be done weekly. It is just a catch all for a bunch of clutter. Dust it, straighten it up, throw out old papers, get your bills all in one place, make a to do list.A clean desk is a welcome. I cleaned my daughter's desk this weekend and she noticed it right away.

Now that wasn't so bad :)

Organizing Kid's Backpacks

Children are like a whole category, a whole book, a whole movie on organizing! Your life might be pretty well put together until you bring that little bundle of joy home, and then watch out!!

As I even begin to write this, I am thinking about all the topics with kids..so this will be about the "backpack!"

Are you like me, and everyday you pick up the little cutie at the bus or school and into the house they run for a snack, tossing the backpack on the floor? And they are off and running!

Okay, the backpack comes in and lands on the floor, what do you do? Really my child is just about old enough to put things away, so before long.. this blog entry might become required reading..

Like anything, just deal with it as it happens. Like the mail (you know how I feel about the mail!)Open it up. Take out the lunch pail, any papers, any books, any random toys or clothes, etc.. Just today I found damp mittens and a hat, I must not have done a good job yesterday! That is a surefire way to get the musty smell going, never leave anything damp in an enclosed space. There are things that stay in the backpack, like a tissue package, music player, pens, etc..but if not watched everyday, soon it is a catch all for a lot of junk.

-The lunch pail is emptied of any trash or recycling and rinsed out if necesary. Nothing worse than a sticky lunch box.

-Papers, papers and more papers!! School work--review it by that evening with your child, smile at all the "great job" and happy face stickers, and then most goes in the recycle bin, saving a favorite or two, maybe..it adds up fast. School notes, etc..frankly there is way too much paper for me, but I read it all then and there, recycle what I can, and save anything I need, in a drawer or on my calendar (Note I save very l i t t l e paper..)

-Junk there is always junk. A left over baggie, small papers with notes, a broken toy, on and on. Again, it adds up fast, so just take 5 minutes and go through it.

-Once you are done, the backpack has a home someplace. For us, it is a little bin in the coat closet right by the front door, always the same place. Coats are hung up right above it, and shoes are in a bin right next to it. Like a "getting ready for school" station right there.

-If there were any damp items, they have been dried and put back or replaced with others--hats, gloves, etc..if you live in a cold and rainy place.

And this goes on day after day, with a respite for the weekend. And then comes that wonderful day in June, when the backpack gets cold storage for 60 days :) If you have more than one little one, you have a lot more to keep up with. I think by age 9 or so they can be given the job of dealing with their own "stuff."

Clutter being my NUMBER ONE peeve, I cannot handle back packs, and jackets, and shoes, and everything else lining the entry way, mud room, laundry room etc..so easy to put things away.

10 Signs Your Life is Too Cluttered

"Are you tired, run-down, listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular? The answers to all your troubles are in this little bottle, Vitameatavegamin." We all know those famous words Lucy Ball so convincingly said to us like 50 years ago! It is certainly one of my favorite episodes.

Anyhow, I can mimick her and say, "Is your house a mess? Can you not see the kitchen table? Do you lose your keys? Are you embarrassed to have people come further than the front door, even to the front door? Is your mail stacked up for the last 2 weeks?" All your troubles can be solved with Danna." ....all these signs might just be pointing to the fact that your life is
too C L U T T E R E D. Don't despair, I have some ideas for you :)

Life is a series of actions. We all know that. One thing leads to the next and the next and the next. Do the wrong thing, and wa lah, you end up in a crappy place (I speak from experience. in my personal life...)Anyhow, keeping a home neat and organized is really a series of actions or choices.

Here are 10 things to consider that show your life is too cluttered..
1. Mail piled up
2. Late fees on bills
3. Taxes filed late
4. Dinner table too full to sit and eat at
5. Laundry coming out of the hamper, not done for more than 1 week
6. Newspapers, receipts, and other items laying around your home or even your bedroom
7. You have to think where your checkbook is, your extra credit cards, a suitcase, scissors, baking powder, snail bait, just to name a fun list of random things :)
8. Your clothes and shoes are not put away in the closet and dresser, they are everywhere else
9. You don't want to entertain anyone, as you feel your house is a mess, all the time
10.Your refrigerator is a hodge podge of items, things well past the date, old produce, nothing to offer yourself or a guest.


MAIL
If you bring the mail in each day and put it on your kitchen or dining room table, well after a week or so, it is stacked high. If you don't go through it, is just keeps going. Now you have no table to eat at, let alone you are running the risk of paying bills late, missing important information, etc.. So when you get the mail, SORT IT right then. Bills, (these get put in a folder on your desk and you always keep it in the same place..) JUNK (most of what I get), anything good? 95% of my mail is just plain old recycling. Take it out to the recycle bin right away. Shred anything that needs shredding right then and there. My recycle bin and my shredder are right next to each other in the garage :) So now you have the mail thing handled, you do it everyday right then and there, and do NOT let it pile up. Easy. Really.

LATE FEEs
Well the above just took care of that.

TAXES FILED LATE
I never have understood this! For God's Sakes, they give us until April 15. That gives you 3.5 months after New Year's eve, to get your taxes together. Really it is not that complicated. Filing late is just nuts. I am not a fan of taxes or the IRS at all, but unless you want to end up with major problems you have to file your returns and pay if you owe, so do it on time. And, really, figure out with an accountant what you are going to owe, and then plan accordingly. Unless you are in dire straights, borrowing from what you should be paying to taxes right now, in order to have the money in your pocket right now, is not really a plan. I know, it has been a tough year, but overall, please don't do this.

DINNER TABLE TOO CLUTTERED
Well I am going to guess a lot of this is mail and other junk. Your table, any table in the house really, is not a spot for mail and other junk. Every evening, take 5-10 minutes, go through the junk and don't pile it up on your kitchen table, don't pile in anywhere, a huge pet peeve for me!

LAUNDRY
Okay, laundry has to be done at least 1x a week. I know people with a lot of kids and they are doing laundry all the time!! But if you only have a small amount, do it 1x a week, all of it. And fold it and PUT IT AWAY. I cannot handle laundry left in the laundry room, on chairs in a bedroom etc..One time my friend told me that her sister in law could read a book right next to laundry that needed to be put away--I almost fainted :)

NEWSPAPERS
Another pep peeve of mine. Read the news online! It is free, mess free, and better for the environment! But if you must read the paper (I know people who still do) please R E C Y C L E
it everyday!! Don't leave it around..Piled up newspapers are a total mess. Anything lying around is an eyesore--papers, receipts, dishes, etc..everything has its place, or the trash can or recycle bin, really it is that simple.

WHERE ARE THE SCISSORS
Well that is easy, in my "junk bin" in the laundry room, on the shelf. I know practically everything in that junk bin. I know where everything is. I don't write it all down and think about it all day, but I plan where it is, and then it is always in that spot. Totally learned that from my mom. Don't just put things anywhere, that is why you can never find them!

CLOTHES
Your clothes and shoes belong in the closet (HUNG UP) or in the dresser--not ON TOP. Think of clothes and shoes and personal items as total extensions of ourselves. Things to be taken care of and respected. When things are just lying around on the floor it really is not a sign of respect--if anything for your time and your money. So pick up your shit. I had a friend who would try on clothes, and then just throw them on the floor until she found something she wanted to wear. I would cringe.

A MESS ALL THE TIME
I have met so many people who don't want to entertain because their house is a mess. What a shame. Life is SO SHORT, it will be over before we know it, ENTERTAIN! Don't you just love to have friends over to laugh! It does not have to be, as I say, "Danna perfect" but yes, it does have to be suitable to have guests. Take a hour or so to straighten up (if you need more than that then you really need to read this list) and get your home ready for some guests. It does not have to be fancy, a little wine, cheese and crackers and some music and candles--all set.

REFRIGERATOR
Okay, I cannot handle a refrigerator that is a mess. Outdated food grosses me out. Old produce, yuck. Sticky jam and bar b q sauce and salad dressing bottles--such a mess. Organize your refrigerator by shelf and crisper drawers, and once a week, for like 5 minutes, really, get it in order. Do not have a refrigerator that has beer and ketchup as it only contents either. A refrigerator is like this happy spot, filled with some of your favorite foods and beverages, arranged nicely, is such a welcome sight. :)

Okay there is the list. Happy de cluttering!!

Rit Dye

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to give fabric a whole new life is to dye it. A couple of years ago I dyed my plain old ivory velvet drapes a wonderful emerald green. The green is so beautiful I could look at it all day long. I have one extra drape and think I should make a dress or something out of it! Anyhow, they came out so good, like I bought them in that color. I have had so many people inquire when they see my room and I tell them about the drapes. It seems that dying fabric eludes people, thinking that there just must be more to it than how simple it really is. I have to admit before I knew how simple it was, I had no idea either!

A couple of weeks ago I saw some really cute purple bamboo sheets at Target. I really wanted them, but for $60 (which in the world of sheets is not really expensive, I know...) but $60 is $60 and I watch where I spend the dollars..so I thought about it. Then it ocurred to me, I have ivory (there is that color again!) flannel sheets, that are perfectly good, but I don't want that boring color, but I could dye them. I don't know why it took me 3 years to think of it.. So off I went to Ace Hardware, which has a huge selection of Rit Dye. I think I had done the powder type before, but now there is a liquid, and for $4.50 for one bottle, was all I needed.Purple, one of my favorite colors.

Now this is the easiest thing to do..really.

-First you just rinse the sheets (whatever fabric you are working with..and this is all on the label..) to get the sheets wet.

-Then you fill the washer with hot water and dump in the dye.

-Once the water level is full, and the dye is mixed, gently fold in the fabric.

-You will want to wear rubber gloves (and of course you all have your gloves) and careful not to splash, on yourself or anything else.

-Then the washer does the work for you.

-You want to run about 30 minutes of the wash cycle, then let it rinse, and wa lah! the work is done.

The purple is even better than my expectations! It is a deep beautiful color, and totally even. The washer did not even look like it had been full of purple dye, but I did a rinse cycle just to be sure. Tossed the sheets in the dryer, and 45 minutes later I had stunning, warm, soft, deep purple sheets. All for the bargain price of $4.50.

Rit Dye, totally recommend it! It can transform old tired fabric into something you never even thought possible. :)

Putting Away Summer

Funny, I started this, well I wrote the title! weeks ago..and then I forgot. Summer is definitely gone here, quite a long time ago. For all the seasons, just like in our emotional life, we have to pack them up, and plan for the new one. It is much easier to pack up seasons in the physical sense, no doubt!

PLANTS..
Well there are the annuals, and while I still have some holiding on, and I won't yank them out until they are really done, but yes annuals need to come out. I always hate taking any plant out, I feel like it is some sort of death. Why can't they just live all year round? So out come the annuals. The perennials need to be cut back in some cases, or sometimes they just lose every single leaf and wither away, I mean you think the plant is a gonner, and the next spring it comes back--I find that a small miracle! The evergreens, a great time to give them a bit of a hair cut and prepare them for the long winter ahead (if you live in a winter climate like I do.) And of course the leaves, the leaves, the leaves, I will be spending many an hour picking up leaves. I cannot believe how many leaves are just on one tree!

FURNITURE..
One year I left my chair pads out all winter (I am not sure what I was thinking) and they got pretty darn weathered, not that all summer in the sun doesn't do the damage too. But I decided no point in leaving them out all winter to get perpetually soaked, so I finally brought them into the garage. I am going to clean them up with a light spray cleanser and that way they will be ready for next summer. The frames of the furniture stay outside to face the winter. It probably won't look so hot by next spring, and I think a spray painting is in its future. I guess if I was really good I would buy all the plastic covers, so you might want to think about it, certainly if it is wood, but then again, I don't really like wood furniture, certainly not in a rain soaked climate.

PLAYSETS..
Well these stay out all year, and I think mine is going next spring. I almost feel like looking at it now, like it is a house of cards, and one more card on top, and the thing will just cave in. Wood, again why wood, it is just rotting away at this point. I have diligently restained it two years in a row, and can totally see the destruction of rain and snow and wind the following spring when it looks like it is on death's door (for a playset that is.)

KIDS TOYS..
I keep a large trunk outside where all the kid's toys goes. And I only keep what fits in there.
Every year about this time, I go through it, and toss out the broken and well loved outdoor toys that no longer are working--amazing how kids go through things. Amazing how kids put things away--throwing them in there like a wishing well. So it is all cleaned up again and straigtened up waiting for next spring. If it is broken or in bad shape, do NOT keep it. Toss it out. Recycle if you can. Don't keep junk lying around--my major pet peeve.

CLEANING GUTTERS..
Well this is not exactly putting away summer but much more preparing for winter..and I get mine done, which reminds me I have not..gutters can get loaded with leaves and other debris, and wait until that major rain, and suddenly your gutter is spewing water all over the top, most likely right at your front door, because this is the way life is. This did happen to me last year, and I am happy to say I was still married, so I was able to send my husband out in a rain coat and ladder to fix it, not so this year..

LEAKS..
Again more preparing for winter. Windows and doors, caulk where you need to. I have a window that leaks like a pasta strainer, and my neighbor was going to fix it last year before he almost fell right down off the roof (so that ended that..) and it was leaking the other day, and I am dumbfounded as to who will fix it--a roofer? Ugh, I blew this, I should have had it done last summer when I had more extra cash. Leaks are bad, they lead to rot, I don't even want to write that..

HEATER..
Remember when the house was so warm all summer? I love it really warm and seldom use the AC, but that might not be for everyone. The flip side is the winter is coming and I have to manage my heater, so not to pay big bills one month later..so I work on turning it down even just a couple of degrees from where I would really like it, and I see the savings. Like my dad would say, put on a sweater!!

Embrace the change of seasons. That is where I try to stand. It will happen anyhow.

Halloween Decorating

No matter what, I love decorating for Halloween. I guess it is the endless child like spirit in me, but I cannot skip the season. Halloween has become a multi billion dollar industry, it rivals Christmas..I remember being astounded by that fact. When I was a kid (y e a r s ago..) it was very simple, a homemade costume or one from the drug store, a pillow case or plastic pumpkin to collect candy, simple stuff for decorations...I just don't remember the boom that it now has become. But I cannot say I don't like it, on the contrary I have grown to love it.

Where to start...I know, not everyone will decorate for every time of the year..but if you are reading this you probably do, or someone stumbled on this blog and think it is the dumbest thing you ever read and cannot wait to get out of here...! bye :) But for those of us who love holiday decorating :) this is a good one!

Great places for inspiration..Target (well of course) Jo-Ann Fabrics, Pottery Barn, Halloween magazines at the grocery store, Pier One, Cost Plus, to name just some of my favorites!

Now, although tempting, I don't think it is a good idea to go overboard, again so tempting. Every time I go to Target (my Mecca!) I see more and more things I want to buy, but I restrain myself, well...sometimes.. But as we all know, for the most part, too much of something, well is too much!

So...

Decide first what is the look you are going for..
Classic...crazy...scary....colorful....Martha Stewart ish....homemade....expensive...I mean there are lots of ways to slice and dice this holiday. But if you go with a theme, sort of, it will make it much easier to skip over buying those cute things (like accessories for your home, if they don't go, then you don't buy them..)

My look is probably kind of "classic/cute stuff from Target look." Colorful, whimsical, not scary and dark..some things I love...my "the witch is in" witch hat hanging sign, that reminds me of something from Peanuts, when Lucy had the sign for when she was in for pyschoanalysis. My plastic/heavy foam pumpkins, that are pre carved and light up--love them--one is a skull with a crown on its head, I am in love. A little black metal container, that has a haunted looking house on the outside cut out, so when you light a candle you get to see the glow..my scarecrow well he stays up until Thanksgiving so he makes 2 holidays...he is the figure on the porch. So you get the idea. There are so many accessories to chose from it is overwhelming, but stick to some type of theme.

Front door..so much fun. This is where you show your holiday spirit! It is like a little glimmer into the personality of who lives behind the door. So I have my scarecrow--his face got a bit mildewed over the years, and the bleach cleaner on a sponge cleaned him right up! There are the couple of pumpkins, the little sign that hangs on the porch that says "sweet treats" something like that, today up go my orange lights, which I love at night. Pumpkins and lanterns lit up make the front porch, it is like a picture in a magazine, and you want to go inside..I would not mind a few more little things here and there, but overdone holiday decorating is just an eyesore.

Inside...things sprinkled here and there, some more than other, maybe like the kitchen or entry. Fun things in the bathroom, like festive tissue boxes and soap bottles. I love the way just one or two things in a room catch your eye. Now for Christmas, I do believe in more, without being overdone, it just suits the holiday...maybe overtime Halloween will too become like Christmas decor to me, but for now, I prefer a bit less, but it is tough with all those cute things to buy.

Kids artwork..always a sweet little addition. Kids love Halloween, so they are all about art projects. My daughter swoons over Activity TV to see the latest and greatest for every holiday.
Keep things that are special and bring them out every year for a dash of sentimentality, who doesn't love memories.

Photos, food, parties, costumes!! It is fun to bring out a few holiday photos. Food, that is a huge category! Perhaps the most fun holiday to have a party for, because the food really can become part of the theme..and parties, Halloween parties may be the favorite of all. And of course costumes, the flagship of this holiday, and it is only for a few hours, maybe a bit more if you go to a party a week before...but costumes clearly define Halloween, and as we know it is a big business. I have to say I love so many costumes, I wish I could just buy them and wear them around, like mermaids, and witches, and cute maids, and teachers and fairies, and princesses, I love them. But really, where am I going to wear them..?

But like everthing around your house, approach it with a plan and some order, and your Halloween spirit with flourish.

Refrigerator Cleaning

Even a neatnik like me can find things to clean! The other day I was putting some stuff away in my refrigerator and really noticed it was not up to par, I don't know why I had not noticed earlier (maybe the divorce had me sidetracked..) Anyhow, the crisper drawers and door compartments, just really looked neglected...so off I went.

I guess the best thing to do is take everything out, well depending on how bad it is..I found it easier to go section by section. It was behind the crisper drawers that really was gross. Tiny bits of food, almost like bread crumbs, I had no idea that was even back there. So those areas are really ones to notice. Let alone the crisper drawers themselves, especially ones with vegetables--so many little pieces of onion skins. Oh and if your garlic has sprouted a sprout, time to throw it out!

I recommend just a very mild cleanser, I like the all purpose cleansers from Target, like the one I have now that smells like Grapefruit. I get a papertowel damp and then spray the spray on that and use that to wipe down the refrigerator.

So the crisper drawers and behind them were really the worst spots. They look 110% better!

The door compartments also had little bits of junk, it is strange how stuff just ends up in the refrigerator.

So what started out as cleaning one crisper drawer, ended up in cleaning the whole refrigerator.Freezer too, but that was much easier. But again, behind the one drawer in there, yuck!

The outside of it is nice shiny white variety--I love it. It does tend to get fingerprints on it as well. If you have a water /ice dispenser, please keep that clean. That is so noticeable for a guest when they go to get some water, and they see splashed juice, smudgy water in the "drain tray" which really isn't a drain, the water just sits there...

On the inside..I must have mine organized by what goes where. For instance, on the door are compartments for salad dressing, bar b q sauce, mayo, etc..that shelf would not make sense for hot fudge sauce or whipping cream..I just have these little rules..the shelves, same thing. Bread is always on the same shelf, yogurt, eggs, whatever, they all have their own space, just like I have my closet. Looking into refrigerators that are all over the place doesn't do it for me, but then again I am far pickier than most!

And then of course I had to clean the microwave and the dishwasher and the oven. But what a difference. I am not sure if anyone else would notice, but I really had not kept up with keeping them shiny and clean.

Of course that then led to cleaning cupboards inside, again what is it with the bread crumbs! ReAlLy!

Anyhow, the main point here was the refrigerator. You will love it after it is clean and shiny and you open it looking for your next meal!

Bathroom Remodels--Easy and Cheap

Considering how much time, well at least women!, spend in the bathroom every day, it really should be attractive and clean and organized! I shake in my boots when I have to use an unsuitable bathroom, ugh, I would rather wait until I go home. I did that last week at a restaurant, okay it wasn't a house, but nonetheless I decided to wait!

Bathrooms can provide fun and easy "fixes" to the decorating bug! You can do a lot with $100, and in just a day or two.. Here are some ideas..

Paint, paint, paint...we all know it is the easiest way to redecorate and cheap. Go bold if you dare! I just read that, and now wish I had not gone the safe creamy tan route I did with the master bath..hey, maybe I will repaint it! I even suggest painting the ceiling. My guest bathroom is painted on all walls and the ceiling and I love it. It is this deep magical green, like dark golden moss.hmm.. sounds like I have some moldy room out in the forest!! But really, the color is gorgeous, set with brass and gold fixtures, mirror, etc..I love that little room--the Barbie classic old prints may be my favorite part.. Anyhow, get some swatches, think to yourself, what do you want to feel when you are in there, and pick a color--or maybe even 2..have fun!

I just read about paintable wallpaper you can get at Lowes. God it looks beautiful, like embossed plaster. I am not sure if I would do it all in that, but a wall or two..

Flooring..if you have carpet, rip it out, immediately! Who invented that! It is awful! That is as bad as carpet in your kitchen--and I have seen that, indoor outdoor I think it was. Seriouly I would rather have raw floorboard, and make sure the nails were bent down, than carpet--but that is just me, if I cannot stand something, it must go immediately!! But, if you have ugly vinyl, don't despair..I just read that you can PAINT vinyl--I had NO idea! Apparently you just prime it first, and then put 5 or 6 coats of polyurethane paint on top..sounds really interesting, and something I would love to see. Now I also recommend vinyl stick on tiles, I wrote about it earlier in the year..http://findingorganization.blogspot.com/2009/01/installing-vinyl-stick-on-tile.html
and I can swear by it--it looks great, inexpensive and can be done in a day--it does take longer than one would expect, but such a great improvement over ugly old vinyl--it goes right on the top of it! Okay, so NO carpet, vinyl is okay, of course tile, slate, stone,etc.. is my favorite, but much more pricey and time consuming, but if you can, do...in the meantime you can get vinyl stick on tiles that look like stone, for like $30 for the room.

Toilets..there is nothing worse that an old, run down toilet. Who wants to sit on that? Now you cannot put in a new toilet for under $100, so you might have to work with what you have. Get out your bleach, rubber gloves, of course! and clean that thing!! Pumice stones work miracles, my plumber actually showed me that! A new toilet seat is not expensive, $20+, and makes a huge difference! Maybe new hardware. PLEASE, try to keep all hardware and faucets and trims the same family--brass, chrome, rustic metal, whatever, but mixing and matching is such a no no for me..A clean toilet will go a long way as an improvement. And remember, the whole thing needs to be cleaned--not just a quick run through with a toilet brush!

New faucets..again this cannot be done for the under $100 cost, but they do make a huge difference, so do sinks. But if you must keep what you have, then make them shiny and clean. One thing you can do, for the vanity, is paint it, if it is tile. I did, so I can say it worked. I primed it first, and then used a paint that is a sandwash look, so it looks rustic, in a sand color. I am very happy with it. NOTE, you cannot paint a shower, it will peel off. But for a vanity, or even the deck of a tub, these areas are not getting pounded with water, so they are fine. I clean mine every week, just like normal cleaning, with a sponge and cleanser, and it does not peel off. Love it so much more than the shiny white tile I had.

Shower head..please have a decent one..I have been in so many places with awful showerheads--either the water hits me in the face, or feels like little pins hitting my skin, or is sending water all over the place except in the center, and on and on..shower heads are an easy fix. Again, keep it matching. I am NOT a fan of the kind that have the hose and you can remove it from the holder, I like mine stationary--those other kinds I have found hard to use and awkward--and I don't like hoses all wrapped up.

Lighting..make it bright! Nothing is worse, well next to a bad toilet, than bad lighting! Have you ever used a bathroom with like one 60 watt bulb--ugh! Light fixtures also won't fall in the under $100 budget, but you can paint them (I have!) you can clean them up, add nice bright bulbs, at least make the effort.

Towels and rugs..this is in the budget :) Even I could use some new towels..These get so worn, that after a year or so (unless they are really nice) they just look worn out and tired. Geez, I need new towels. I love the ones from Pottery Barn that are leopard, but of course there are tons of choices. Get something fluffy and thick. Rugs, don't throw old mats down, or things that don't match. Your toilet does NOT need a scarf and a hat (A rug that wraps all around it!) I just put a small square one in front. Honestly, I could almost do away with all rugs except by the shower/bath...but it is so cold here so often, and the tile is freezing! Now I was just in my bathroom and totally forgot about towel racks! This is an easy one. I prefer hooks (so they don't have to be hung evenly like a towel rack does..and don't those always feel like any minute will be its last and it will fall of the wall--for me it does..) so I like hooks. But whatever you do, hang them well (use the reinforcements in the wall in addition to screwing them in) and please make them all match--again not chrome, brass, whatever..all the same.

I love my hooks, love them.

Accessories..in the budget! There are so many great things out there! I love Cost Plus and Pier One, they are excellent sources. Keep it simple, don't stuff your bathroom and don't put things in there without thinking about some sort of theme. Please always have tissue, I love the tissue box holders, or the designer boxes, but please have tissue. A vase with dried flowers, candles, small jewelry box, fun touches, all are great. I saw a wine bottle in one photo, I don't think I would have a bottle of wine in my bathroom, not as an accessory..PLEASE do not stack your counter with all your toiletries--store them under the sink, or someplace you can, mine are in baskets under the sink cupboard, and in the drawer, make up in little trays.

Artwork...so easy, take what you already have, maybe re frame it, or find some cute pictures in a magazine and frame those, put up your kid's artwork--again, not too much, but dress up the room. Painting frames for a whole new look is easy to, love spray paint for that.

And the mirror...the place where you see you everyday. I love framed mirrors, they are so classy looking. I have the type type that is huge, glued to the wall, and I like that okay too, as it really makes the room feel big. Have a mirror, keep it clean!

I just looked at a bathroom online, and it was so girlified, it was horrible. Please do NOT do this if you are married/live with someone--no guy wants a bathroom that is all ruffles and pink and smells like powder--even I don't want that. Bathrooms to me should invoke peace and harmony and a space to begin or end a day, not something for show girls..

Have fun breathing new life into your bathroom!

Cleaning is an Endless Battle

Well, gosh, another 3 months just zoomed by and nothing to say. Oh I am sure I did, would have loved to, but got caught up in getting unentangled, which proves to be quite a job. Talk about messy but at the same time de cluttering! It really is the ultimate throw out! Just throw the crap out--mostly mental, after all the other crap has left the house. So I guess I have been decluttering my mind for quite some time.

I am fortunate. I have a neighbor who loves my ideas. She told me my ebook is "like gospel" to her. "If Danna says to get rid of the junk drawer, by God, I am going to get rid of the junk drawer." Being so fortunate to find a fan club just doors down from me has been a saving grace to me over the months of sadness. Her total joy at talking paint colors, decorating ideas, things to get rid of etc..has been so fun for me..like a little spark that has still been able to find its way..

I have read many books this past summer, and one was filled with all kinds of meditative thoughts. One thing really stood out, so I wrote it down..

"Cleaning is an endless battle that can never be won, but from which there is no retreat. All important things are like this, love, work, and life itself--we always lose them in the end."

Can I say how much I love this quote!! It really helped my heart. And it made me feel better about my c l e a n i n g--like a testament out there that cleaning is important. Yes it never ends, but as the quote says, the important things in life never do, and one day they will all be gone. So does that mean we just ignore all the important things and live a life of chaotic impulses, free of commitment, free of morals, full of clutter!! :) Well for me the answer is an easy and resounding NO, we strive in all we do, it is important.

I wish I could be like Mary Poppins and fly around with my umbrella and bring my cleaning supplies with me and straighten up and clean people's homes and get rid of the junk!! But no, I don't get to fly around. So the blog kind of does it for me.

Enough with the philosophy, I know you are here for ideas! There are lots before this blog. I am now going to get "back in the saddle again" (can you hear that song in your head?) and start writing all about cleaning and organizing and getting rid of clutter!

Thank you for reading me!

My Path

I cannot believe it has been almost 4 months since I wrote this blog. My life stopped 4 months ago. While divorce is not really the focus of this blog, that is what stopped it. Just like that, I had nothing to say. Decorating and cleaning and making a home beautiful were so far from my reality that I could not even find them, let alone the words. Like the poem from Four Weddings and a Funeral, by Auden,

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.

My clock stopped. There was no day or night, there was no time, I could barely breathe. And it seemed silly to even think about fireplaces, or organizing, or the Magic Eraser, beyond silly, it seemed to be cruel to my heart that these things even had importance.

And so I stopped. At least for awhile. But as he moved out and I waited awhile to put the house back together, and slowly I had to, and had to buy some things, and I could not hold back the happiness I find in putting a home together and keeping it cleaned and organized, in many ways this is my soul's work, it saves me.

I am sure there are not many followers, are there any? I don't know...but I plan to be back now. I love home and garden and my home life is like my own little spirtual sanctuary, my temple, and being with it keeps me on my path.

Fireplaces

No doubt about it, fireplaces add instant warmth and character and comfort to any room. I have loads of memories of sitting around the fireplace with my family when I grew up, munching on popcorn, and "special drinks" (Shirley Temples) and listening to a variety of my parent's music choices..The fireplace is like a welcome mat inside the home.

Fireplaces should never be ignored. They are such a focal point, and to ignore them is a shame for the room. There are so many ways to go, I just had some fun looking at different pictures on line. There are the traditional type, brick and burn real wood, all the way to contemporary gas or electric fireplaces.

Last year I gave my fireplace a slight make over. It had kind of boring cement colored stone look, and a dark green tile floor in front of it--neither matched well and really did no service to the overall look of the room. So I painted the whole thing black. I just used black paint I had (it has been a year and never chipped, etc..) It is shiny black. It instantly gave the whole area much more pop and merged it into the room with black and red and yellow, instead of it looking like "one of these things just doesn't belong here" to quote a Sesame Street song.. I also took little pieces of red mosaic glass, and just glued them sparingly on the black, to give it a little sparkle here and there.

As we know, paint changes everything, and is probaby the cheapest decorating thing you can do.I also love a white fireplace. Brick painted white looks fabulous.

Candles inside the fireplace in place of a log is a look I love, and something I must do this summer. Ivory colored candles of all sizes inside the fireplace look so beautiful, during the day give character and at night add just a lovely little sparkle to a summer's evening. On the mantel, an assortment of candles, varying in size, or maybe just a few sprinkled about in tea light holders, whatever the arrangement, really look great. On my mantel, I have a large print of a tropical scene (right from Hawaii) which I love. It makes me so happy, especially in the gloom of Washington winters. I already had black wood candle holders, and put 3 inch candles on each, and it ended up giving it a tropical torch kind of look next to the print--something I had not even considered when placing the objects.

Other great items on a mantel, are a few photos, a vase of flowers, a large mirror, colorful knick knacks--but never too much. The mantel itself is like an accessory--so doing too much to it can really kill it.

These are all simple ideas that can tranform your fireplace and virtually with no spending (seems to be the buzz words these days..)

If you have some budget, you may think about refacing your fireplace--perhaps with stone, or slate or tile (I saw a photo of one done with little mosaic tiles--beautiful!) I am not sure if I could reface the fireplace, so I don't have tips for you. I have not done work with tile and grout, but I don't think it is all that hard..

A new mantel is also a nice addition. I happen to like mine, just the standard white millwork type. But there are some stunning mantels, often you can even buy them from antique stores or estate sales, or have a new one crafted by a carpenter. My mom had a new one built, and it really changed the look.

If you only have one fireplace but desire more to "light up" your home or no fireplace at all, you may consider electric fireplaces. They are not over the top expensive, I see them from a few hundred to over $3000..what a great addition to another room, like your bedroom or master bath.
http://www.electricfireplacesdirect.com is a good site to check out.

Whether with flames in the winter or candles in the summer, your fireplace brings a welcome glow to your home.

Organizing Photos

I feel overwhelmed by photos. With the invention of digital cameras, taking photos is so easy, and there are so many! I download them all to my computer, after editing them.. (this is a pet peeve of mine, why don't people edit their pictures--take out the red eye, center them, fix the lighting etc..?)and then I have 100s of pictures on my computer. Many stay right there and play all day long as a screen saver, but I still print out many of them and then have to put them somewhere...which is mostly albums. And then they get looked at like once a year, but I cannot imagine not having photos in a hard copy.

There are many things that can be done with photos to keep the organized!

Never have them leave your computer! That is sure one option.

Upload them to the new digital picture frames, and keep scrolling through all the pictures.

Put them in albums. I just organize them chronologically. But there is also by event, or people, certainly the whole scrapbooking phenomena has taken off over the years. Just a level of commitment not for me. My albums are are black faux leather. I realized one day a couple of years back that my albums were really horrible, all just cheap things I bought over the years at the drug store, all mismatched. So I went through all the albums, taking all the pictures out, getting rid of a lot of them (even too many photos is clutter) and then redoing all the albums by date and in nice matching albums. A huge difference.)

Use frames. This can only go so far. I am not a fan of a million picture frames all over the house.

Well at least the small ones. Really nice gallery type framing, all matching, like black, can really make a wall pop.

I like to put them out sparingly. But if you love them everywhere, then please do, but make some sense of order--like all on a large bookcase, or going down a hallway wall, or following the wall up the staircase, etc..But even so, if you have tons of pictures, you just won't be able to frame them all. Pottery Barn has great frames.

Photo boxes are another great way to put them away. I like albums better, they seem more attractive to me, like a book, but these boxes are a great organization tool and keep things together easily.

Photo books. These are pretty cool. I have seen with Shutterfly, how you can send them photos and they will create a hard cover book for you...I think I need to try this. You can send children's artwork too--I love that idea!! No more trying to find room all over the refrigerator (which I don't like anyhow..)

Pictures are a tremendous part of our legacy and bring such joy in life and are a gift to leave behind. Managing them can be something of a chore, but like everything else, once you get in under control, you will be glad you did.

Spring Cleaning Your Yard

Well I don't know about you, but spring can NOT come soon enough!! I feel like I am living the title, "The Winter of our Discontent!" It has been cold and wet and snow at times, and the dreary economy and financial picture every minute of every day makes me want to just go to sleep and wake up in 12 months! Oh well. At least spring is beginning to spring, and that is always a good thing (to quote Martha!)

With spring, comes cleaning of course! Today let's just talk about the outside. If you have a yard, and mine happens to be quite big, there is a lot to do. But never fear, it does not all need to get done today, so make a plan, and take your time.

Main things to consider--

the lawn
plants and shrubs
weeds
outdoor furniture
the bar b que
fix its
play structures
patios and walkways
fencing
fixtures

The lawn. If you are going to have one, it should look pretty good. Now I am a huge fan of the perfectly manicured lawn. Love it. But it does take work and may not be possible every day! So sometimes I settle for good to pretty good for my lawn to give myself a break. You will want to schedule your lawn care -- I use TruGreen. They fertilized and did the moss kill on my lawn. Lovely, I then have a huge part of my lawn that looks like it got the black plague--that is what happens to the moss. You must then rake it out. Tiring!! But you will be glad you did. In just a little over a week I can see the lawn greening up from the fertilizer. A nice change from the short, yellow, sorry looking lawn all winter. Probably just about time to give it its first mow as well. Trim it too. Now your lawn is ready to welcome those spring days. (Hopefully you took my advice months ago, and raked up all those dead leaves!)

Plants and shrubs. Perennials will look bleak, but they will be back soon. Prune them up a bit, like getting a haircut. If you have any annuals that managed to hang on, you might wait and see it they come back. I thought I had some, but after the snow, no way. So soon I will be buying some wonderful vining red petunias. If a plant is just not coming back, up to you ..pull it or wait? I had a couple of heathers, looked deader than doornails, but I cannot believe it, after like 1 year, they seem to have come around.

Weeds. Where do they come from? Everything else looks like it is hanging on for dear life, but these damn weeds are prolific, sprouting everywhere! I prefer to pull them out versus spraying them, because then you just have a bunch of dead weeds, and I don't like using so many chemicals..but sometimes I do. If you keep up with the weeks, you will have a handle on them. Beauty bark does help to keep them away, but I have seen weeds popping up through that as well.

Outdoor furniture. This is time to spruce it up again. If it can be spray painted, then get it on a surface that you can work on (and not ruin) put a large tarp down and spray away. Like painting a room inside, freshening up your yard furniture is such instant gratification. Hopefully you have stored away your cushions, and can now pop them back out, or if they are pretty bad, treat yourself to some new ones. Like everything, I don't believe in spending a fortune on cushions.

The bar b que. We bar b que all year, and never cover it (I have to say, taking the cover off and putting it back on all the time does seem like a hassle.) Get cleaner for it, and get going. I have a stainless one, and the cleaner makes it look wonderful. The grill can be cleaned with grill cleaner. A clean and shiny bar b que is much more inviting than some dirty old thing.

Do you have fix its? Broken pots, lights that don't work, paint that is chipping, etc..now is the time to address them. Make yourself a list.

Play structures. Our house came with one. My daughter loves it. I wish it was more of a gazebo or little summer structure, like an art room, or something like that, but right we are doing the play structure thing. If it is wood like ours, it needs to be tuned up every year. Scrape away the old chipping paint and then freshen it up (well it is a redwood stain not paint.) Amazing how every year it looks so weather beaten, terrible. I also clean all the swings etc, with cleanser. Mildew and other junk accumulates over the winter. I like to put some little potted plants for her on her little table as well.

Patios and walkways. Power washing may well be in order. If you live in a wet climate like I do, the winter really does a number on patios. I had mine treated a couple of years ago, so they look pretty good all year round--but it is expensive, and only lasts 3-4 years..Get all the leaves, pine needles, etc. up and make your hardscape or gravel or whatever come to life again.

Fencing. Fences can start to look pretty bad. Our fence is not stained, some of my neighbors have gone that route, but then you are going to need to keep it fresh, so I prefer the weathered look. But if your fence has boards missing, nails sticking out, etc..it needs to be fixed up.

Fixtures. There are so many from light fixtures to yard ornaments. Give them all a once over. Aged yard ornaments are wonderful and lend character to the yard. But if it is broken or falling apart you may want to junk it. If your light fixtures are on their last leg, you may want to think about replacing them. It is not expensive and totally changes the look.

I think of my yard as an extension of my home, but a little less meticulous, which I find refreshing for a clean nut like me. But I never want my yard to look ignored or abandoned or forgotten, especially the front yard, it is such a major impression.

Enjoy these first few weeks of spring (well it is actually about one month away :) )

Spring Cleaning Your Bathroom

Well spring is not here yet, another 6 weeks at least! But you might want to think about giving your bathroom or bathrooms a freshening up! It is easy to let these rooms kind of fall into hum drum. Cupboards get filled with junk over time, towels get frayed, rugs get flimsy, the dust collects, even mildew can grow--yuck! So let's talk about bathrooms!

A clean bathroom automatically looks new! Amazing how a few cleaning products and your effort can shine up a bathroom. But before we talk about cleaning, let's look at the whole picture.

Bathrooms, certainly your main bathroom, get a full workout everyday. So even if you are not a clean freak like me, please clean your bathroom ONCE a week. It needs it, yes it does!
Sinks, tubs, toilets, the floor, the counters, the mirror, the whole thing. Sinks, use a cleanser on the counters, there are tons to choose from. If you have a white porcelain sink, there is nothing I love more than Comet. It is the greatest. Clean your faucets too, every part of your counters and sinks needs to be cleaned up. Have you ever looked at a clean sink and counter, before anyone has used it again--it is like a work of art!

Showers--these get a major work out. The whole thing needs to be cleaned. There are cleansers that claim they clean by just being sprayed on every day, but I never found that to really be satisfactory, I don't think there really is any scrub free cleanser--well except for mildew remover, like bleach or Tilex--that stuff does the job! The shower, if you have shower doors, which are not my favorite, really take a beating and must be cleaned every week, or pretty quickly they will look terrible, and over time enter the world of no return of ever looking good again. Shower curtains are my choice. Much easier to clean, so many looks to choose from, and you can always change it out every year or so. The plastic liner responds great to Tilex for any mildew. The shower caddy for shampoo and soaps, etc.. needs to be scrubbed. Don't overload your shower with a bunch of junk, it is just more stuff to move around to clean and screams clutter. And I prefer matching containers for soap, conditioner, etc..than a bunch of mismatched bottles.

The toilet..every one wants an automatic cleaner for this. Again, they don't do the whole job. This is why rubber gloves were invented! Well they are needed for anything with cleansers and water--always wear them! A toilet that is not clean is gross. I cannot stand using a toilet that is not spic and span. The whole thing needs to be cleaned, not just the quick wisk with a toilet brush, no no no..but really, 2 or 3 minutes and you are done.

If you have a separate tub, it is kind of like cleaning the sink and counters again. A beautiful clean tub is so inviting.

There is a lot of dust. Our bathroom collects so much dust from the heater--on top of picture frames, the light fixtures, etc..Just try to remember to clean dust every now and then, even I don't do it every week.

The floor. At very least vacuum. For a solid cleaning, get on your knees and spray cleanser and clean with a mop or a sponge. A bathroom floor should always be clean.

Towels and rugs. I cannot stand mismatched junky towels. I mean it is the worst. I don't believe in really expensive towels either. But put fresh ones out every week, changing the face/hand towels every few days. The rugs, they can last a long time if you take care of them.Please don't put out mismatched rugs, and please do NOT put towels on the floor to serve as a mat! So if you need new towels, go buy some!

In the cupboards..these need cleaning out from time to time. There are those items you buy, like lotion, perfume, whatever and it just sits there and is not used or just gets old. So every 6 months or so review what you got going under the sink. Keep little baskets or something to store all your stuff in an organized fashion. If you have drawers, keep them clean inside. IE I make sure my husband's shaving creme is not all over the cupboard. I am not a big fan of items on the counter, like razors, toothbrushes, make up, etc..Keep it minimal and simple. Really a well done bathroom, even if not fancy, is such a pretty and relaxing room. Your bathroom is where you begin and end your day, so treat yourself, and keep it clean.

Organizing Dressers

Dressers. I kind of think the closet, if it is a walk in, should house all the clothes. But not everyone has a walk in closet, or room for a dresser, or some people still really like dressers in the room. Dressers can be a very attractive part of the room decor. While decorative, they are also highly functional, so there are two things going on with them.

I don't think more than one dresser per person is necessary. That rule does not hold true in my house. My husband has WAY too many clothes, so he has his own 3 deep -drawer dresser, and then shares the 8 drawer dresser with me (so I only use 4 drawers, and he uses 7, nuts!) But I cannot get rid of his excess, as much as I would like to! Really, how can one ever wear 30 polo shirts, 30 t shirts, 15 bathing suits, and we live in Washington, where it is not sun weather for 9 months a year!! Anyhow...

Depending on the size of your room, and what you really need, you will want to choose a dresser that flows with the style of what else you have going on--like the bed, nightstands, a chair or bench or desk, etc..Things can mix and match well, I am all for it, but it can be a fine line of what looks great and what is a "miss."

So you have your dresser. What do you do with it? Well the top should host some decorative items. I believe simple is best, an overcrowded dresser with knick knacks and other stuff might be cute in a kid's room, but comes off awful in a grown up room. Maybe a few photos framed, frames that look good in that room, a lamp, an accessory, like a vase or sculpture piece, perfume bottles if you are a girl, maybe a candle on a stand, a valet for a guy is great, for his keys and wallet, but don't over do it, you can almost always remove one or two items. And as always, this is not permanent, maybe in 6 months you change things around. Do not cover it with bills, laundry, dishes, etc..please!!!

Inside the dresser seems easy. But many have clothes and underwear just stuffed in, a total mess. Just because you cannot see inside, does not mean it should not be orderly and neat, an extension of the decorating really. See I am a detail person. So everything to me should always be neat and organized, even if you don't see it. Pick drawers for specific items, like underwear, socks, pajamas, t shirts, sweats, whatever. I prefer the dresser to hold less, as I like to "see" my clothes in the closet--so I don't like to put sweaters away, too hard to see them all. Each drawer should have the items folded or lined up in a way that is easy to see. If the drawer is over stuffed and you can barely close it, it is a SIGN it is time to get rid of things. My favorite thing to do. Like your closet, think of the inside of your dresser like a store. You would not want to rummage through a pile at a store--so keep your dresser neat inside.

Some people even install additional items in the drawer--like dividers or little boxes to hold things. It is a whole world of organizing in itself! Go to the Container Store if you have one, they are awesome! I could get lost in there.

So now you have the top and inside of your dresser in tip top and decorative shape. One less thing to worry about ;)

Accessories

Accessories make the room. They make the outfit too! They can be very simple or very busy. Too simple or the wrong item, and you just don't see it. Too much, well you just don't see anything but too much stuff at that point. So sometimes it can be a bit hard to figure out what stays and what goes. We all have heard, "less is more." But what does that always mean, and how do you decide which item (s) to take out?

Color. Go with what works in the room. That may be the toughest thing. We all see just adorable cute stuff out there, and want to buy it!But does it work with any room in the house? If not, it is just a waste of money, or worse yet, will look terrible and awkward in the room you place it in. I love all the pink and black I am seeing these days, but I really have nowhere to put it, unless I completely redecorate, which is not an option.

Size. Again, there are some really cool things out there. Have you ever been to Cost Plus and seen like a 3 foot wood carved giraffe, stuff like that? I love those. But I am afraid that my rooms don't have the space for something that dramatic.

Style. That can be a fun one. Styles can mix and really come across well, or just look awful. In my family room, I have different things going on, a tropical print, zebra rug, red couches, yellow walls, but it all comes together really well. Mixing style can be easy, just flip through a decorating magazine to get some ideas.

The fun element. Accesories add to the room and give it the punch. So select things you love and are going to see all the time. If all or some of your rooms in the house go well together, which if you ask me is a really great way to go, so you have great "flow," then every so often you can move things around to other spaces in other rooms--giving things a whole new look, for FREE.

Just like your outfits, you have to put some thought into it. Less really is more. Take one or two things out, move things around, see what is most pleasing to the eye. And you can always change it. A bit simpler than an outfit. Once you go out the door, that is pretty much it for the day! Have you ever worn something and could not wait to get home and take it off, or even stop somewhere and buy something else--I have ! But your rooms are much more living than a one day outfit, so don't stress if it looks less than great today, sit in the room, think of what you can move, change around, and slowly it will come together.

Choosing a Paint Color

Painting is hands down the fastest and easiest and cheapest way to totally transform a room!
Every single wall of my home has been painted, mostly by me, from the dining room to even the garage, and everything in between--including closets and the pantry! I love paint. I love working with it, and seeing a room transform before my eyes.

Choosing the color is a big deal. Many people s t r u g g l e with this. I mean it holds them up for months. They put a few color swatches on the wall, and then never move forward. For me it is really easy.

The best thing to do, is start with something small. It is far less daunting, can be done very quickly, so you have very quick gratification, or..it is a small mistake that you can easily fix.
So go with a powder room, the closet, a pantry..

How to pick a color? I guess I am easily inspired and sold. It is very easy for me to pick a color. I have had one room painted 3 times--2 times by myself. I did not like the color I picked. Well I did, but just not for this room and this house. So I redid it. That is the worst thing that can happen, you have to redo it..

Picking colors should be easy, but as mentioned it can really trip people up. Look for inspiration in your home--artwork, accessories, bedding, dishes, your own clothes. What colors really make you happy, and what mood are you trying to invoke?

Often people go with softer colors for bedrooms, more intense colors for dining rooms, and strong neutrals or darkers colors for more formal or well used spaces. If I have a word to the wise, always go darker than the one you like. I cannot tell you how many people have said, "I should have gone darker." I have thought that too. If you are going to go to the trouble to paint, or pay someone to do it, you want to like it, a lot. Darker/more intense almost always wins out--you just feel and see the difference that much more.

Be conscious of the lighting. Daylight and bright sun are way different than dusk or night. Rooms look totally different during the sunny day. We have had just a little sun lately, and I have been surprised to see my paint colors popping so much more than they do on all the gray dreary days!

A decorative finish is so nice. I used a sponge roller in my bedroom, so it gave the walls a terrific texture, almost like plaster. I love it. One can over do the textures I think, so don't do them on every wall or in every room. You can always play with a little section on the wall, if you don't like it, paint back over it. Sponges, rags, glazes, are just some of the decorative finishes you can play with.

Make sure you are thinking how paint colors look room to room. You do want "flow." It really is not ideal to have each room look totally separate and standing on its own. It creates a very disjointed feeling. That is what happened with the one room I repainted. My home is warm yellow and green and black and neutral, and then I painted the office marina blue. Why I loved the color, it just did not flow at all with the rest of the house, let alone go with the house--the color belonged in a warm climate, or maybe just a little bathroom--but wrong for the office. Now it is a terrific warm orange, which compliments the other colors and is so warming.

Also keep in mind that you can use the same color but a different finish--i.e. you can go with matte paint on the walls, but then semi gloss on the frame--very nice look.

So if you are ready to create some feeling and atmosphere in your home, easily and over a weekend, look no further than your paint store. You will love what you can do for very little money.

Clean in 30 Minutes or Less

Help! You just got the call, friends are coming over in 30 minutes with Chinese food, wine, and a great movie! You have been out all day, and the house is less than ready for guests. Where to start?

Well you are going to be in the kitchen, dining room, family room or living room, so those rooms take first priority. You won't be in your room or the office, so if they are a mess, close the doors, you can even jokingly tell you friends those rooms are off limits tonight!

Kitchen. Put dirty dishes away. Hopefully you have a dishwasher and can pop them in. Dishwasher full of clean dishes...well you need to unload it. But really, that does only take like 3 minutes. If you don't have one, hopefully you don't have a sink or counter full of dishes. If you do, stack them neatly as possible in or next to the sink, at least your clutter will be organized, and then you can get the group to pitch in after dinner! Clean up the counters, get rid of clutter. You don't have time to do a great job with clutter right now, so just put it out of sight, BUT make a note that you must deal with it tomorrow. Get a candle lit to get some nice aromas circulating--cinnamon is always a favorite.

Wherever you will be eating, get the table cleared and set. Does not have to be fancy, but functional and clean. Again if they have clutter on them, put it away for now, but that does not mean forget about it.

Furniture. Make sure it is puffed up as I like to say. Fluff up the pillows, fold the throws, bang the seating to get rid of dust and freshen it up. Make it look inviting. Cofee table full of clutter, you know what to do! If you have a fire, light it.

Guest bathroom. Make sure it is clean. A toilet can be cleaned in 30 seconds. Wipe down the counter and sink, put out a fresh towel, light a little candle.

Run the vacuum in the areas you will be in. Probably nothing makes things look more clean than freshly vacuumed carpets. If you don't have carpet, still run the vaccum--not good seeing a dust ball blow around.

Turn on lights, close the blinds, put on some music.

Change into something you like, and settle yourself on the couch for your last 3 minutes with a glass of wine. You are ready.

Note, if you are a guest, always arrive 5-10 minute late (unless you are on a time limit, like a surprise party, picking someone up for a function, etc..) but when going to a dinner, etc..the host will love having those 5-10 minutes of bonus time. I am super organized, and I love having the bonus minutes.


Remember, tomorrow you need to go through the clutter that I gave you a pass on for tonight :)