More to do...

The first portion of this post was also posted at my "Life in the Details", but added some tips for you at the bottom of this post.
How ya'll doin? Can you believe that this month is half way over? I'm not sure where the time is going but it is moving, I think the older we get the faster time travels. Before long, instead of getting ahead, I am going to be falling way behind. So glad Michael got the yard work done last night, because the rain set in this morning. It rained all the way into work on me. Word has it, it isn't suppose to rain all day. We will see. Right now the clouds look grab and drab. Poo! But that makes it a good day to work in the house..huh? So back to my list.

Last night I finally got my main floor cleaned completely up with the exception of a few boxes that we need to move to the garage for storage. They are just to heavy for me to lift alone...but other than that..I finally feel like I can breathe again. I hate when my house is in a state of chaos'. My plans for today are to start on my room upstairs. I have a antique cabinet in there that has all my collection of books (that I want to keep), so I need to box all them up. So we can remove the cabinet from the room. I also have a chest at the foot of my bed that houses bunches of my handbags, so I need to box them up as well. Need to get that chest out of my room. I'm trying to create space as well as have things out of the way for the carpet layers. Basically my room is going to get a good clean.

I think Michael is going to start painting in the foyer. We have a tall foyer (20 ft.) so he is going to freshen that up with a coat a paint and bring it on up the stairs into the hall area. After that...ALL the painting will be done in the house. Woo Hoo! So guess that means we will both be busy tonight.
I am hoping that I can get that done tonight since tomorrow night there are some things I want to, and don't want to feel the pressure of not completing my goals for the week. I have my weekend list started too.

"The 7 Habits of Very Organized People" by Maria Gracia

"Have you ever wondered how some people could be so very organized, when you're struggling on a daily basis just to get your home looking halfway presentable and to get at least a few items checked off of your To Do list?
Most organized people follow a few simple rules. Here are the 7 habits of very organized people.

1. They have a place for everything. Every item they have has a consistent, assigned home. The home for books is on the book shelf. The home for toys is in the toy room on the toy shelves. The home for blank greeting cards is in the greeting card organizer in the office.
2. They put things back. Whenever an item has been removed from its assigned home, it is used for whatever reason and then immediately returned to its home when no longer in use. There are no temporary holding places. It's just put back where it belongs, right away.
3. They write things down. Organized people make lists and notes, and keep these in one consistent place such as a planner, notebook or calendar. They don't try to remember things in their heads. They let the pen and paper (or the computer) work for them. They reference their lists and notes on a daily basis. Many use the Get Organized Now! Easy Organizer as a tool:http://www.getorganizednow.com/ezorganizer.html
4. They don't allow papers to pile up. Papers to file are filed each day, not left to grow into mountains. Mail is opened over the recycle container so papers not needed don't even have a chance to multiply. Kids permission slips are signed right away and sent back to school with the kids. Bills are tucked into a bill paying system until bill paying day, and paid bill statements are filed away that day. Magazines are read within a week or two and then recycled or donated.
5. They don't procrastinate. When something has to be done, organized people schedule time to do it and then they keep that scheduled appointment. They know that the more they delay, the more likely deadlines will be missed or opportunities will pass.
6. They set goals and assign deadlines. They know if they want to get things done, they need to know exactly what they want the end result to be and by what date. They review these goals often and set aside time each day to work on achieving them. They review what they've accomplished and never forget to reap the rewards.
7. They only keep what they use and/or they enjoy. They can't stand anything taking up space that doesn't have a useful or pleasurable purpose in their lives. They're big believers in simplicity. They breathe easier knowing they've lightened their loads and can move easily without having to climb over boxes and piles of clutter.
Do you have any organizational tips that help you stay on track? Let me know.

Wrapping this up so I can get started....
Blessings to you all!

Disorganized Life Syndrome?

I'm back! Bet you didn't even miss me huh? Last night, I worked on my living room. Woo Hoo! Glad I can see the floor in there now. Before, you couldn't move in there. Hubby did a awesome job on the new floors. Love them!!! The room is put back together, but I have little trinkets filling up my dining room table until I find a new home for them. We still need to hang some blinds in there, but that isn't a major deal. Other than that, I think it is done.

We also had a bunch of boxes that need to go to our storage unit sitting in the middle of the floor, and we moved those to the garage as a holding station until we have enough stuff to warrant another trip over there. We also had several bags and boxes for goodwill. I am thrilled that we moved them out of the living room, so now I have a little more space to move now. When my house is unorganized I feel terrible, and now I know why...I have DLS! Do you?

Awhile back I found this article at Refining Life!

Do You Have DLS: Disorganized Life Syndrome?

By Jan Hayner

Symptoms: messy tendencies, packrat feelings, mental confusion, lack of order, constantly losing things, loss of control, depression, high anxiety, feelings of hopelessness and a massive feeling of the world closing in on you. (Boy can I relate to these symptoms)

Sound like you? Almost all of us go through this several times a year - especially around spring and fall cleaning times.

What is the remedy?

1. Make a list of your problem areas
2. List why they bother you
3. Decide what you are going to do about it and at what level are you going to be happy with the outcome?

The first two items are easy to do, but what about the third item on your list?

That is the one that gives us the most problems in completing the task. We become so over-whelmed that we give up.

For some reason we always tend to think that if things aren't done like Martha Stewart, it isn't good enough. This can lead to projects being in a constant stage of organization – never quite done to what we think is expected. We need to lose those expectations we’ve buried ourselves under. Our goal at that point to should be to get it under control and keep it there. Take things down to the simplest form and decide how you will organize it so that you are happy with the outcome for this particular time in your life.

This same theory can be used in every project that you do whether it is at home, in the office or any recreational hobbies you may have.

Always remember that once you have something organized to the point of satisfaction for you, it will relieve the stress and anxiety and make life brighter and easier to cope with. Not to mention a lot easier to keep up and to re-organize later!

Do you have DSL? If so, I hope this remedy will help you too!

Hugs,

Cindy

Kitchen Inspiration

Hi Ya'll! Happy Monday! I hope all you Mothers had a wonderful day with you kids yesterday. I had a chance to spend a little bit of time with mine and it was wonderful. I am so proud of young adults that they have grown into. They do a momma proud.

My weekend was spent working on the house, as I knew it would...but am really glad that we had such a productive weekend. Even though everything we wanted to do didn't get done, I think it is attainable this week. Michael completed some of the projects and I worked on getting the Kitchen, Family Room and Dining Room and Living Room back in order. I succeeded with the exception of the Living Room, which I will work on a little everyday this week after work. I can't wait to show you all some of the pictures once it is completed. (we are working against a deadline because my daughter graduates the first of June and we want to have EVERYTHING done by then because we have out of town guest coming in).

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.
~Robert Collier

With these renovations comes a new sense of organization and design. I have ALOT of stuff, so I am packing lots of that stuff away. Mainly for myself, but also when the time comes to sell our home, I know prospective buyers don't want to see all my knicks knacks. So going for a more clean look. So that is where the inspiration comes in. Some kitchens that I love...

So what do you think of these kitchens? Have any great inspiration sites, if you do, please share?

Cindy

Weekend Plans

Howdy friends,I am so glad it is the weekend. I can't wait to sit in my jammies and sip my coffee out on my deck in the morning.

I'm hoping I can get a few things done without a bunch of interruptions too . Don't know about you, but when I get started, I hate to have to stop. Don't you?

My primary goal this weekend, is to get my main floor back in order and more things boxed up and put into storage. Once I can actually walk through the main floor again, it will be like I have a new house, I can't tell you how eager and excited I am to see how it all is going to look with all the hard work that Michael has put into it. Poor man, he works all day and comes home and works all night. He is such a trooper. I am one blessed woman.

I'm also working on a shopping list, you know for those things that you need so that your house looks new and clean when folks come in to view it. So far my little list consist of:

• pillows for the sofa (now that it is in the Living Room)
• Decorative towels for the downstairs bathroom
• possibly window coverings for LR/ FR

If you can think of any small little touches that I should add, leave me the idea in the comments...K?

Yesterday on my lunch hour, I took a little stroll over to "Home Goods" and "Pier 1". . Boy do they have some pretty stuff at "Home Goods" , my head starting reeling and going a mile a minute with all the things I would LOVE to have. So pretty.If you have one near you and haven't been yet, it is really worth the time. Basically trying to get some ideas and inspiration, and the creative juices flowing, if you know what I mean.

Over these last several months that I have been away from my computer I have been scouring websites for inspiration to use while staging my house, and for my new home, wherever it might be. Some sites that I just love are:

Bienvenue
Cynthia's Cottage Design
Nesting Place
The Lettered Cottage

Again, if you have any sites you just love for inspiration please do share....

Guess I should hop off here and start my weekend instead of writing about it. Got lots to do, and only two full days to do it in.
Hope you all have a wonderful "Mother's Day" if I don't get back before then.
Blessings!


Happy Mothers Day!!!

Working round the clock!

So you wonder what I have been up too, huh? Bunches of stuff going on with me and my family. At the moment, just trying to keep our heads above water. We are busy,busy in the middle of doing some renovations in our house, and seems like every spare moment is taken up with that. Some of the things we are doing is we have ripped up the old carpet in the living room so wonderful hubby can install wood flooring. He installed all wood flooring on the main level of the house 18 months or so ago and we left the LR until later, it is now later.

We ripped off old wallpaper in the dining room (which I liked but hubby didn't,

but we were ready for a crisp new look) and repainted the room (country white) as well as the LR (butter cookie). In order to do all this, we have had to rent a storage unit and move furniture into it so that we could move around. My LR and DR has a open concept so we had to remove almost everything for all the supplies and tools. So we truck back and forth to the unit to get what we need until it is complete. Hubby is also framing in my LR windows to give the room a more custom feel. Over the last several years we have redone almost all the house, and that is THE one thing we have done in every room. It is such a small and inexpensive thing but makes such a big difference. Once all rooms are completely finished we will be ripping out all the carpet on our second floor. Whoopee!!!! So I am in the mist of looking at carpet samples. It's gotta be something that doesn't show dirt, and can handle high traffic. Especially the steps. Thinking maybe a berber. Any tips?

On top of all this, my sons have been looking for jobs. One down and one to go....my daughter took ill and was out of commission for over a week, running extremely high fevers. Three night in a row at the ER. Doctors thought she had mono but all the test came back negative, but she was exposed to it and it was kicking her little butt. I am so glad she is feeling much better and is back in school. My aunt passed away unexpectedly and it was a total shock...so I had to make a quick trip to Kentucky for her burial. Needless to say, there have been many days that I felt like I was on "auto pilot". Doing all this on top of trying to work full time, the only time I missed work  was for my aunt funeral. Whew!

My step son is getting married this weekend, so have had to shop for "something to wear". I picked out a little sleeveless navy with small white polka dots (so Julie Roberts) and the cutest shoes.  Still haven't packed, but looking forward to the trip.It will be nice to visit with hubby's siblings and his kids. It also happens to be my first anniversary so hubby and I are going to take a few days afterwards and get some R&R. Believe me we both could use it. It has been a highly stressful time for us. with everything that has been going on.

We will be in the Gatlinburg this weekend, and I can't imagine a more perfect place than the mountains to celebrate Easter and our anniversary. Once we get back, we will have to gear up for my daughters graduation and a party for her. It is hard to believe that my baby is graduating from high school in just a few short weeks. Where does the time go?

Ok...I wasn't going to write a book...just a update. Hope all is well with you and your families and your enjoying this Easter season.
Hugs

I feel like decorating

that is what happens to me at this time of the year.  Once all the Christmas is put away and things are sparse, I like to rearrange and move things around.  Sometimes I do, and other times I just pick up my magazines and cuddle up under a  blanket with something to drink and let my mind daydream.  And when I daydream, it always cost MONEY.  Recently while I was daydreaming I was online and I found all sorts of kitchens that inspire me.  (I think Michael would love anything that I could get to inspire me to cook...because lately that isn't something I have done alot of.  Oh I digress.)Anyhow, I wanted to show you these rooms and if I could steal little things from each of them, I would be working on MY perfect kitchen.  Get your walking shoes on....here we go....

 

 I love the colors of this kitchen, the white cabinets with a mixture of soft brown wood tones. Plus I think the antique pulls add a great finishing touch to these cabinets. 

 

In this kitchen I love the rock oven/stove area as well as the soft wood tones. I love that table/bar.  Aren't the windows great too?  Can't you imagine looking out of them onto a wooded lot full of nature.  A small piece of heaven.

 I really like the cabinetry in these, the cabinets are made to look like furniture and the open cabinets for showing off all my bowl collections, and pottery. Plus I like LOVE  the wood ceiling beams.  Such character they add.

What about this island?  Too die for.

I like all the cubbies in this island.  It would put things right at your fingertips.  Love those wide drawers for pots and pan and lids!  That plate rack is a dream too.

I just love all the clean sleek storage in this picture.  Maybe shelving like this in a walkin pantry.  *eyes twinkling

 

Ok...another white with wood. Something about this combination gets to me.  

So what did you think about my little kitchen tour.  Did you have a favorite, which one and why?

Hope your enjoyed yourself.  Have a Wonderful Wednesday

Before and After

This hasn't been a very productive weekend for me, as I haven't felt much like working or doing anything. Granted I have a list a mile long of projects but just didn't feel inspired. Although with saying that, Michael has spent most of the weekend working on finishing up our bathroom renovation from last year. Yes, last November.

Once he finishes it completely I will post some pictures. I wish had of taken before pictures but I didn't. But I do have some of the redo of my kitchen...so I will share those.

Before ( although originally the cabinets were the standard builders oak cabinets), I had already painted them antique white. Notice: old white linoleum, replaced with wood flooring. All appliances were replaced with stainless steel.

After (these were made right after the renovations, I have made several other changes since then. I will share some of them soon.)

A wonderful find online

I'm back. I can't believe how long it has been since my last post, but it has been awhile. At this time in my life, I am super busy so don't have as much time to play and update my blogs as I would like too. But occasionally when I have a few minutes that I can surf the net, I seem to find things that capture my heart. For instance, I found this photo of a secretary that I would love to have, or something similar.

Of course when I saw it my mind started reeling with ideas. First thing I thought of is: I need to put that on my yard sale and thrift shopping list. It is getting about that time of the year, and I can't wait. Anyway, isn't this lovely?

About this time of the year, my creative juices start flowing and I want to dig into some projects for the home. Michael and I have done several big projects (renovating this house from top to bottom) But I many smaller projects to take on. One of them is organizing my craft area. It is small so I want to utilize it as well as I can. This past fall, Michael added me a built in work table and shelves. I not only have room for my craft tools, I also have room for ALL my gift wrap and bags.Which was wonderful at Christmas. Now what I really need is a ribbon center like this on in the picture. Someday my goal is to have a whole room dedicated to my crafts. "Craft Central" I think I will call it. I just love those bright green walls. So cheery. Who wouldn't enjoy working in this room all day.

I want to share one of my favorite sites with you. I check Alison out frequently. Although she hasn't posted in bit, she has some wonderful pictures on her blog that she shares of her home. Check out My Cozy Home.

Happy Decorating!

Cindy