Some Simple Changes

So I'm slowly learning (and I do mean slow - I've had this blog for over a year now), that I really need to schedule blog posts if I want them to done regularly. If I don't, I just end up with a gigantic pile up of pictures and notes about projects and then it becomes overwhelming to tackle. For now I'm going to jump right in with three simple things that I've done - two are organizational, one is decorative and was a fun way for me to put my Pinterest time to good use. :-)

My first little change was done after yet another attempt at cleaning out my beauty items. "When did I buy this?", "Did this always smell this way?", "I wonder how long is too long to keep foot cream?", etc, etc. So I found a list of the standard shelf life for common beauty items and printed it out (you can find it here at Real Simple). I then found a clear sleeve from an old binder, put the list in, put double sided tape on the back of the sleeve, and attached it to the inside of one of the cabinet doors under my sink. I also have begun writing down the month of purchase for each item so its easier to keep track of how long they've been in there. Easy peesy! And now I feel completely at ease rubbing lotion on my face because I know exactly how long I've owned it.

The second change required my hubby's help, but it took maybe an hour out of his day. I've always hated my spice cabinet. And when I say spice cabinet, I mean cabinet next to the stove with all of our spices tossed in. While I like the idea of a spice rack, I don't have that much counter space and any wall space that could be usable for a wall mounted one really can't be considered part of the kitchen. 

But then I realized that there was some space under the microwave. Hmm. So I had the hubs grab a piece of leftover wood from a former project, cut it the correct length, sand it, and paint a clear coat on it. Once it had dried for 24 hours or so, he screwed the board into the bottoms of the cabinets on either side. Viola! Little spice shelf. It's right there where I need it, I can find everything immediately, and dare I say that our food has become more flavorful ever since? Turns out being able to actually find the spices is pretty important if you want to use them. As the glass spice jars become empty, I've been cleaning them to peel the brand labels away. I am so excited to create clear labels for them all! It will be cute, clean, and standard - and my OCD will love it. 

Here's the third item and something that I had tons of fun doing. Maybe you've seen that DIY gigantic ruler on Pinterest? Not only is it a fun decor addition, but a great way to measure your kids' height and keep it forever. I decided to make one. Once again, I took a piece of board from a former project and had the hubby cut it into the right length (I chose 6 ft for mine), and then sand it down.

 There it is. Waiting to be turned into something fabulous.

I carefully measured out each inch (I did begin the measurements a little over 1 ft and then ended it a little over 6 ft, based upon where it was going to be hung on the wall), stenciled in the numbers, and then filled everything in with black craft paint. After it dried, the hubby used a stain that brought out the beauty and natural grain of the wood.

And there it is. I am happy knowing that I made that and it's a unique addition to our home decor.

The littlest things really can make a big difference.

Keeping it all Straight

For over a year now, I've been gathering ideas and thinking up ways to simplify, reorganize, and decorate every single area in our home. Obviously, I utilize Pinterest like a mad woman, so I can "store" various ideas there - even if I end up never using them or decide that they won't actually work for our home. But beyond that, I've been keeping all of my ideas and reminders for our home projects solely in my head. And it's taken me a year to realize that it doesn't work very well. I never remember what I wanted to do when I'm headed to Home Depot/Target/thrift store and I get frustrated. Also, my husband has no idea what I want done because he has nothing to reference.

So here's my plan: I am going around to each room of the house, armed with a notebook, a pen, and a camera. Each room will have their own page and on each page there are three headings: Maintenance, Organization, and Decoration. I will take a picture of each area of the room that I want to make changes to, so we have them on file for Before/After photos.

The Maintenance section will be mostly for my husband to reference. Organization will belong mostly to me, with an asterisk next to the items that both of us will need to be involved in (building, supplies, or large purchases). And Decoration will be solely my section, although I do occasionally have the hubby assist with decor projects that require woodworking.

So there's my project for this weekend. I'm excited about this. Not only because I will finally have everything written down for both of us to reference at any point, but I can add or take away from the lists as needed, keeping it flexible. And who knows? Maybe our projects will get done a little faster this way!

Renewed

I've been trying. Trying really hard to get this whole simple living thing down. And I feel like a massive failure. I was in tears the other night, feeling so overwhelmed and not understanding why, when I've done so much so far. But it is not where I want it to be. Not even close.

I picked up a book from the library yesterday called "The Money Saving Mom's Budget" by Crystal Paine. I read through the first couple of pages while I was waiting to pick up my youngest from preschool and it completely renewed my sense of hope for living simply. Not only to get a better grasp of our budget to pay down debt, but also to live with fewer things, fewer distractions. It was also a great reminder that projects like this - a complete life overhaul - don't happen quickly. It can take YEARS and I need to be prepared for that possibility.

I can do this. I will do this. And it will be worth every bead of sweat, every tear, and every frustrated tantrum that comes out in the process.