Goals are meant to be broken. Right?

Happy Wednesday Friends! Hope you had a chance to check out The Holiday Guide by Emily Henderson yesterday! On October 5th we set out to reoganize our lives and comit to a to-do list (while sharing a bunch of free downloadables!) Today we are on day 28, and I have to be honest, plans changed, projects were added, and there is no way to knock this list out (the countertops just got here yesterday!)

So here is the origional list in it's current state:

The to-do list over the next thirty days looks a little something like this:

1.) Finish the kitchen cabinets (oil polyurethane yellowed, now we need to redo with water based. we were warned).

2.) Finish the curtains in the guest room; I reordered the fabric! Should be here soon! + Finish styling

3.) Greywash fireplace in bedroom

4.) Greywash heater covers in bedroom

5.) *Bonus* Greywash whole closet in master bedroom.

6.) Patch water leak in dining room + paint entire dining room

7.) Patch water leak in foyer + paint entire foyer ceiling

8.) Paint/Stencil downstairs guestroom

9.) Patch wall in downstairs bathroom

10.) Move couch to Joey's office; two flights of stairs...ugh!

11.) Buy new dishwasher and have it installed

12.) Buy five (yes five!) fans and install

13.) Install backsplash in kitchen

14.) Install counters in kitchen

15.) Purge my closet, big time - Hello Goodwill!

16.) Install light outside we bought two years ago - I know, I know...

17.) Hang pillars in bedroom + finish that window wall

Not so hot. 3.5 items off a 17 item list. However, we did knock out a few projects not on the list. Like painting the kitchen door red, and refashioning a light we have yet to tell you about!

So item #17 made the bed wall of the master a little more complete. For your viewing pleasure:

We painted the bases  Joey made, and put them right back where they belong. Our room has been a bit of a problem. See it's really big and long. And trust, I love a big bedroom. However the TV cable is alllll the way across the room so putting the bed where it is, only makes sense. So we were going to do this whole curtain-across-the-wall-thing, but now we may switch it up. We'll see.

In the next seven days I vow to complete #15, and am ditching #3, #4, and #5 for now.See why the closet needs some time:

So the new list looks something like this:

1.) Finish the kitchen cabinets (oil polyurethane yellowed, now we need to redo with water based. we were warned).

2.) Finish the curtains in the guest room; I reordered the fabric! Should be here soon! + Finish styling

3.) *NEW* Paint Dining Room

4.) *NEW* Install kitchen cabinets

5.) *NEW* Style downstairs guest room

6.) Patch water leak in dining room

7.) Patch water leak in foyer + paint entire foyer ceiling

8.) Paint/Stencil downstairs guestroom

9.) Patch wall in downstairs bathroom

10.) Move couch to Joey's office; two flights of stairs...ugh!

11.) Buy new dishwasher and have it installed

12.) Buy five (yes five!) fans and install

13.) Install backsplash in kitchen

14.) Buy + Install counters in kitchen

15.) Purge my closet, big time - Hello Goodwill!

16.) Install light outside we bought two years ago - I know, I know...

17.) Hang pillars in bedroom + finish that window wall

18.) Paint Kitchen door red

19.) Refresh light over sink

So now it's more like 5.5 of 19 items are done and to be realistic, I think we should add another 30-60 days simply because we need a dishwasher to be delivered and still need to agree on paint colors, and some other things. If you have read our blog for any amount of time, you know decisions can take a long time with us.

Do you switch your plans mid project? Ever think you finished a room only to change your mind - and your room all over again right after?

A Messy Room is a Messy Mind

I heard this saying a long time ago. Have you? It seems to really ring true with me and my life. For some reason I can keep my "work life" super organized, almost effortlessly. Home life? That's another story. We have lived in our home almost two years, and moved in with nothing but a few pieces of furniture. Now, we have packed every closet, and seem to have cluttered it quite successfully. My office, forget about it. The only room not "under construction" this very moment is our master bedroom. I NEED the bedroom to be clean. But then again I do have a packed suitcase in there...

So in efforts to commit myself to keeping my mind less messy, I am making a public statement! I am going to organize my whole life in the next thirty days! I have about four weeks before I head back out to LA, and I am planning to use every non-working moment to work on the mess and chaos around me.

I found some fanatic tools to help me with my mission. So excited to share!

source

Design Finch has a slew of these awesome downloadables along with some more! Check out her blog post about Sunday Planning if you want to snag these free downloadables. 

source

I have been using this list above I found on Perideau Designs. You can also download this one for free. 

The to-do list over the next thirty days looks a little something like this:

1.) Finish the kitchen cabinets (oil polyurethane yellowed, now we need to redo with water based. we were warned).

2.) Finish the curtains in the guest room; I reordered the fabric! Should be here soon! + Finish styling

3.) Greywash fireplace in bedroom

4.) Greywash heater covers in bedroom

5.) *Bonus* Greywash whole closet in master bedroom.

6.) Patch water leak in dining room + paint entire dining room

7.) Patch water leak in foyer + paint entire foyer ceiling

8.) Paint/Stencil downstairs guestroom

9.) Patch wall in downstairs bathroom

10.) Move couch to Joey's office; two flights of stairs...ugh!

11.) Buy new dishwasher and have it installed

12.) Buy five (yes five!) fans and install

13.) Install backsplash in kitchen

14.) Install counters in kitchen

15.) Purge my closet, big time - Hello Goodwill!

16.) Install light outside we bought two years ago - I know, I know...

17.) Hang pillars in bedroom + finish that window wall

Being we both work 15 hours days, this is a super aggressive list, but we are going to do everything in our power to make it happen! Wish us luck!

Let us know about your goals and how you accomplish them. Do you make lists? Do you have a system that works for you? Spill the beans!

10 Things to do to Prep for Spring

Hello lovelies! I am very excited Spring is upon us. This Winter was an exceptional one. More snow than I ever experienced in all my life all combined. So with great joy, I am brining you 10 things to do to prep for Spring, because after all if it's Spring in your mind, it's Spring outside!

1.) How does your Garden Grow?

We don't have a green thumb. Not even close. I kill about 75% of the plants that come into this house, but I am determined to grow a garden of fruits, veggies, and flowers. I am prepared this year! Wish me luck!

2.) Purge, Donate, Trash, and Breathe.

Gotta lotta clutta? Somehow we racked up about a million boxes, filled every closet, and already want to swap out furniture we got specifically for the house - and it's only been 15 months. Check out a challenge room, which has turned into a catch all...

Ugh..thanks goodness it's Spring in my head and I got to cleaning out this unused breakfast nook. We have bigger and better plans for this space, and we cant wait to share. But for now, at least she's clean.

We threw away a bunch, made a box for donations, and stored some away. We gave ourselves a one box limit for stuff we don't use, but wanted to keep. If we don't touch what's in the box by next Spring, off to donations it will go. 

3.) Lighten Up!

I feel better in Spring. I like to walk the dogs, go outside, and notice things more. This year I am going to buy a bicycle and explore my "new" town more. Maybe you are into Yoga or hiking. Whatever your thing, Spring is surely the time to wash the stress away and do something you like. 

4.) Get Together

We love having BBQ's! People in "the city" don't like crossing bridges and tunnels to get to those of us who no longer dwell there. Hence, it's a special occasion when we all get together to just hang out and do nothing and everything at once. Spring is the perfect time for those get togethers. It's far enough away from Christmas, and before we start our Summer travels. Plan a get together. It's worth it.

5.) Make Do

The sunshine aint gonna quit once Spring is "really" here! Make stuff. Fix stuff. Alter stuff! So many farmers markets will have scrumptious fruits, make a tart! Paint the house (God knows we need to!), build something, use those extra day light hours to get done what you lost this Winter. 

6.) Go Shopping!

Even if it's window shopping. Shopping draws inspiration. It shows you the trends, what's new, and even how to rework what you already have. We love shopping, even when we don't buy anything.  

7.) Plan a Road Trip/Get out of Town

This is a must. What's better than the wind in your hair? Driving down an empty highway seeing new sights? Spring is so the time for this! Plan something now! It will make you miss home in addition to creating some new memories and perhaps finding something cool to bring home with you. 

8.) Scrub, Scrub Scrub

Here is a quick guide to scrub your abode to make it squeaky clean this Spring. 

• Pour boiling water down all sinks including, kitchen, bathtubs, and bathrooms
• Put the winter comforters away, and pull out the lighter stuff
• Run the washing machine with only vinegar added, your next load should be whites only
• Vacuum and mop under all bulky furniture including the fridge, behind heaters, and inside fireplaces
• Wipe down all small kitchen appliances and electronics, including the power cords 
• Steam clean the curtains
• Take down all hanging art, mirrors and picture frames and dust
• Wash baseboards throughout house and fans in every room
• Swap out high wattage bulbs for energy-efficient 3-way bulbs
• Take all books and trinkets off bookshelves and dust
• Take all rugs outside and beat them
• Clean out closets and donate what you don't need
• Set up your compost
• Set up your seedlings indoors (yay!)
• Make some cleaning solutions* see below for some recipes
• Clean fridge out and replace a baking soda
• Buy new cleaning tools

I got a little book Make Your Place, and it has a ton of info on how to make a lot of your own cleaning solutions and a whole lot more. Here are a few of my faves:

All Purpose Spray Cleaner:

1 t liquid castile soap

2 T white vinegar

3 Drops Tea Tree Oil

1 t Borax

2 C hot water

1/4 t eucalyptus & lavender oil

Mix all ingredients together in spray bottle. Don't use on glass. 

Homemade Bleach:

1 c hydrogen peroxide

15 c water

3 T lemon Juice

Mix together and keep in large plastic container. 

9.) Refresh

I love the smell of fresh sheets and a clean house. Which is why I love the days that follow the big Spring Clean! I refresh the decor in the house, and switch out fabrics, swap out trinkets, and it really makes me feel like Spring when I do this - with open windows of course!

10.) Enjoy!

What's all the hard work worth if you can't enjoy Spring?

What do you do to prep for the Spring? Do you have a cleaning list or a home made recipe for cleaning solutions? Share!