Toss the Project

I love the idea of redeeming objects. When I see something with potential, I grab it. That tossed out chair by the dumpster. That dresser someone is selling for pennies at a yard sale. That yardage of fabric grandma doesn't want.

My home is decorated with re-purposed or renovated items. It's cheap and it's rewarding, but it has a dark side.

For every warm feeling that comes from finishing a piece of reclaimed furniture, there is the ever-looming guilt of what is yet to be finished. There's not much that stresses me out more than unfinished projects. The do-it-yourself becomes do-it-or-else. The undone do not go unnoticed.

So enough! Just because it can be done, doesn't mean I should do it! There is a time for seizing and redeeming, and there is a time for releasing and relaxing. Today, toss one of the burdens. Evaluate your awaiting project and ask yourself if it will be worth the time. Also, is it worth the daily weight it puts on you before you can finish it. If it's not, send it to the charity store or put it by the curb for the next ambitious project manager. Who knows? It may be exactly what someone else needs right now.

5 Tips for a Good Paint Job

1. Prep the walls.
You wouldn't put make-up on a muddy face, would you? Stripping wallpaper, filling holes, sanding rough spots, and wiping down with a tack cloth will insure a better finish every time. Preparation is the most tedious part of the whole project, but this is what separates the sloppy from the sleek.

2. Use primer when color is drastically different.
A good primer is almost always worth the money and time. I recommend Kilz brand. One coat of primer and one coat of paint often are better than two coats of paint.

3. Buy the right paint for the job.
If it's a kitchen or bath, buy kitchen and bath paint. Research, ask professionals, and ask the person assisting you at the paint counter. In my humble opinion, for walls, I love eggshell finish in most brands. It is usually able to be wiped clean. Eggshell reflects some light, but still does not highlight every imperfection like semi-gloss or gloss. It also does not absorb oils and stains like a flat finish.

4. Get a good quality angled brush for cutting in.
I learned this lesson the hard way. After cutting in (painting the edges of) five spaces with cheap, straight-edged brushes, I felt I was just bad at the whole painting thing. My mom recommended a Purdy brand angled brush. Wallah! I felt like a pro! I've since discovered that other brands are wonderful as well. I like the 1 1/2 inch angled brush best. For me, a proper brush eliminated the need for taping off. If you are new to painting, I would still recommend painters tape, but the right brushes make a much cleaner edge.

5. Buy two shades lighter than what you think you want.
Have you ever gone into a home and thought to yourself, "Good grief! Did the owner color match their paint to a box of magic markers?"
More often than not, the intentions were a subtler hue. When you paint four walls in one shade, the result is more intensity. I have never heard a homeowner say, "I thought this would turn out brighter, but I'll have to settle for this washed-out look, I guess."
In this realm,"Less is more." Thanks for the quote again, Robert Browning.

Happy New Blog!

With the new year comes new goals, new resolution, and new ideas.

Let's start with a new book! I recommend Lose 200 Pounds This Weekend by Don Aslett.

Most of us just received a plethora of wonderful gifts in the past month. Now we suffer from affluenza. Affluenza is an overwhelming sense of dissatisfaction amidst bountiful provision. While we desire to "count our blessings," we dread the upkeep of our possessions. Being thankful becomes difficult because we have too much. Let's be honest, all of this accumulation just doesn't bring affirmation.

While taking a huge pile to the local Goodwill may not nip the bud of American consumerism, it may be a great start to the new year. Why not? We have so much to gain by losing some of the stuff.

Read the book. It's fun and motivating. When you finish, pass the book on to someone else who wants it.

A Simple Way To Make A Difference

I'm always looking for more value for my money. Cheap groceries, clothes at deep discount, or ways to cut back on the costs of family entertainment. But some things are always more valuable than others. People always matter more than things. With that in mind, I point you to this video. Today was the launch of a campaign called 5 Dollars In 5 Days.

Safe Harbor is a local organization in the Upstate that cares for victims of domestic violence. Please watch this video and consider joining the cause.

Five Ways To Simplify Your Christmas

1. Decorate minimally. A few lights and ornaments go a long way. We limit our holiday decorations to one large Rubbermaid bin. (Aside from the tree itself, of course.)
2. Be selective about holiday activities. Discuss what events are meaningful to each member of your family. Then say "no" to the extra invites.
3. Turn off the TV. The glow of the Christmas lights are great ambiance for cuddling up to read a great story.
4. Cook easy recipes. Now is the time for a pot of soup and popcorn.
5. Buy less. This year we let our children pick a gift from Samaritan's Purse Christmas Gift Catalog. We bought less for them and are giving a gift in their honor to a child that needs basic essentials.

Where Ornaments Go to Die

Have you ever noticed the back of a Christmas tree?

The rear of the tree is where all the ugly ornaments go to die. Well, not really die, just hide. All of us have them: the tacky dough ornament that was an unwanted gift even the day it was opened, the souvenir ornament from Aunt Gertrude’s stop in Dolly Wood 12 years ago, the handmade pipe cleaner and clothespin reindeer from your third grade Sunday school Christmas party (yours never looked like the teacher’s example.)

There is a guilty feeling that washes over each person as they bring out the Christmas trimmings. Those ornaments we all wish didn’t exist, but we are stuck staring at year after year. Why can’t we just throw them away? Or donate them? There’s just a twinge in one’s gut that says, “You must hold on to this. It is a Christmas treasure. If you toss it, you will lose the Spirit of Christmas Past.”

And so it goes, we find the least visible branch. We unwrap that bane and place it gingerly on the unnoticed bough. “Well, I paid homage this year,” you say to yourself as you wish you had not been so gentile with that horrid memento.

“Next year I’ll let the two year old help me with the back of the tree decorations…First I’ll load her with sugar, then I’ll dance with her until she’s dizzy in the living room, then I’ll moisturize her hands, then ask her to put it as high as she can reach… All of this I’ll watch with loving, careful supervision…in hopes that the dough ornament will find a crumbly end.”

How is it that the accidental breaking of an unwanted ornament is easier on the psyche than the passing on of such items? It just seems more honorable to bear this burden until the burden no longer exists.

Next time you go to a friend’s house, take the time to inspect the wall-facing portion of the largest Christmas decoration. (Then secretly gift your unaware buddy with one of your own back bough beauties!)

So Mini Things to Read

You may not feel you have time for a book, but everyone has time for an article. Here are five links to quick reads on decluttering. If your interest is piqued, you may be surprised at what you can find at the library on this topic.

1. Where Do I Start? OrganizedHome.com
   
2. How to Declutter Flylady
   
3. Ten Ways to Declutter Your Home Peter Walsh
   
4. The Clutter Control Rules Jeff Campbell
5. Interview with Don Aslett, Author of Clutter's Last Stand Sarah Aguirre