Bleh. Home sick and feeling bad for not being back at work but glad I'm here. My fever is down and that helps but I'm brain dead. It just took me many minutes to figure out the address I go to to write this blog. Hunh. I've spent most of the day laying on the couch alternately dozing, coughing, blowing my nose and trying to get my ancient laptop to feel more enthusiastic about life, all while watching Ernie take the ornaments off the Christmas tree.
Do you think it was time?
Yeah...me too. I actually hated to have it down this early....I like to leave it up until January 6 as my father did. The tree made the choice for us. Some years I'm ready to have it out...some years I'm not.
Given my brain dead status I've been nosing around the internet looking for entertainment and trying to avoid actual news. So I just announced to Ernie that "we" are taking part in the Apartment Therapy January Cure. He didn't seem to mind which is amazing as it means more work for him. He is a wonderful man. We did something comparable a few years ago and rather enjoyed it.
So today, January 2, is Day One and this our assignment:
Make a list of projects. Walk through your home and make notes on any trouble spots organized by room.
You'll want sections in your notes for the entryway, living room, bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. Start at the front door and do a thorough walkthrough, noting each area or item that needs a good cleaning, a de-cluttering or a re-organization. Resist the temptation to dive in and start cleaning or moving things around - stay on task to just observe and make note of any problems you see that you would like to improve.
When your tour is complete, grab a highlighter and select a few (3 - 5 is ideal) key sections from each room that you plan to focus on - the spots that will make the biggest impact on the look and use of the room as a whole when they are improved. Now, write up your projects list, room by room, featuring the highlighted sections (remember, just 3 -5 per room, maximum) from your observation notes as the main bullet points.
Stay calm, just observe and make your list. We'll have plenty of time to focus on the "doing" later and - don't worry - the intention is not for everything on your list to be completed this month. You are really just assessing your home in full right now, creating a master plan of goals, both short and long term, to work on over the coming year. The big picture behind this assignment is that locating trouble spots and setting goals is half the battle and you'll have this major first step completed and under your belt before you go to bed tonight!
I will note that I did mine from the comfort of my couch....I didn't find it hard to picture problem areas from here. Also note that I had no problem resisting the urge to dive in.
Here is my list:
Media Room Sort magazines and papers Hang posters Hang other guitar hooks Fix or get rid of chair Living Room Clean/sort drawers in dresser Clear/organize top of black blanket chest Redo mantel Rearrange wall items Rearrange furniture Dining Room Clear stuff from under tables Find spot for silver chests and turkey cover Get estimate for outlet for jukebox Kitchen Clean off refrigerator Clean off ceiling fan Clear peninsula and counters Clean and sort cookbooks/non food pantry shelves Bathroom Replace/wash shower curtain Figure out rug Items on walls? Our Bedroom Find places for musical instruments behind door Rehang items on walls Curtains Boys’ Room Clean Go through clothing Get new blankets/coverlets Upstairs Bathroom Hang other mirror Replace/remove shower curtains/liners Pull off border….decide on paint/replace? Sort/purge unused make up etc.
Lots of other things to think about–like what do we do with our crumbling plaster walls–but I'll stick to little stuff for now.
I'm hot again. Ernie tells me the heat is still set at 66 and given our drafty windows that don't even have the storms on them yet (what are we waiting for? Why I don't KNOW....) it should be cooler. Bleh. Maybe it's time for more ibuprofen....or should I just let my fever go? Maybe it's time for a nap.
