Libby's 2012 Goal - To turn her home, into a *real* home

**forHISglory** · 02-01-2012, 09:17 AM

Originally Posted by Sumacaroni

Making small strides in this challenge. Cleared off the top of my dresser by discarding a jewelry box that just wasn't cutting it, instead I was just leaving all my jewelry laid out on the top of the dresser rather than in the box, pretty much just a mess of scattered tangles.

Reading another thread I was inspired to go buy a picture in a frame, discard the picture and glass, bought some animal wire and cut it to size to fit in the frame, then hung the wired frame on the wall. I repurposed paper clips as necklace hangers along the bottom. Pins and dangly earrings hang in the wire. Also from that thread, got the idea to go looking for small ice cube trays for my small post earrings, that works really well. Bought a candle for good smells

Top of dresser is neatly organized now and I can actually see all my jewelry for bleary-eyed morning dressing selection! When I'm motivated in the evening, I now even have room on the dresser to lay out a selection the night before.

GREAT idea!!!! Thanks for sharing. After studying my closet, and sorting thru items, I've decided to put in cubbies with the cloth covered bins to hold items. I'm measuring today, and then off to the store to see if I can afford the ready made units, or if it would be cheaper to make my own.

**pollypurebred39** · 02-06-2012, 05:28 PM

I've fallen behind, but I do have something to add. Yesterday my Mom gave us 2 huge chairs. They are perfect for the ends of our dining room table. So now my dining room set is complete. There's nothing fancy or special about it all, it's just a nice place to comfortably be about to eat supper with the family, and have guests now. Nothing matches, but if I keep it clean and polished it will be very homey.

Now I'd love to find two really big area rugs. 1 for the dining room part of the room, and 1 for the living room part of the room to further drive home the point of separate areas in a common room. I've been looking for art work to do the same thing, and would have something up if I were not so darn picky. I'm partial to art work with animals. I don't much care for landscape, or pictures of flowers, cottages or bowls of fruit. I've frames in the attic, and I could put art that I've created, but I'm not fond of modern, which is all I can create. I like it understand, just on someone else's wall.

**oheoh's momma** · 02-06-2012, 09:28 PM

well I am really behind not gonna lie the tree is still up and the decorations are in boxes under the window.
all my decorations on the china cabinet is still there.grandmas tree is also up ugh... never goning to get anything accomplished....

**Libby** · 02-07-2012, 12:17 AM

C'mon OM - you can do it!! Even if you put three branches away daily, that tree WILL come down

polly - congrats on your chairs and the two rugs sound great...love using rugs to 'define' living spaces

fHg - I know WalMart sells a less sturdy version of the cube shelves but the ones we bought were from Ikea...a bit more pricey but a lot more stronger. Another thought for your closet - would heavy duty plastic utility shelves work in your closet? You can stack things in boxes on the shelves instead?

--------------------

As for myself, DH finally moved the new upright freezer to the laundry room and got it going and food moved over from the old freezer into the new. I LOVE IT!!

Now I have what I perceive as a 'gaping hole' in the living room where the freezer sat until we had time to move it and I plan on keeping that empty space as it is currently. And the old chest freezer is in the hallway until we sell it or move it to the garage. Our fear - dad will plug it in if its in the garage and continue to use it. We decided to upgrade b/c we needed more freezing space AND needed to know what we had on hand - with dad digging around often, things got unorganized and dove to the bottom to their death b/c we'd never find them or know they were there and end up freezer burned and needing to be tossed. Not very frugal and defeats the purpose of us buying in bulk and freezing for later.

AND I have been able to keep things off the end tables AND coffee tables - as in put away daily and its been wonderful to see a clear surface

**oheoh's momma** · 02-07-2012, 03:16 PM

grnadmas tree comes down like that so no excuse there. My tree is 7 1/2 feet tall it comes a part in 2 pieces and folds...it is a pain in the a##. beautiful but amkes me miss my little dollar store tree...... ugh hubby did put away a load of clothes and grandma washed dishes. because I am feeling poorly

**pollypurebred39** · 02-07-2012, 04:16 PM

WTG! Libby! I can hear how happy you are that your freezer's in it's new home

That's great! I know that feeling.

And thanks Libby

I do love that my dining room is looking more defined in the combined area. So blessed by my Mom sharing.

Eventually I'll come across area rugs to define the dining room from the living room even more.

And artwork, I need to keep that creative vibe open for creating space for artwork, and decor to further define the different areas. Now if I can just get my DH to fix the wooden rod bracket. I have only one curtain hung up in the butler's pantry/home office. It's driving me insane.

O's Mom. take it easy darling. It will come together. I think you should do some delegating from the armchair.

**oheoh's momma** · 02-19-2012, 01:38 PM

Hubby is taking down the Christmas tree today upstairs and putting all the decorations up... go me

**pollypurebred39** · 02-27-2012, 01:14 AM

Today was crazy good for getting stuff back in the attic where it belongs. 7 totes packed and in the attic. Woo Hoo!!!

Amazing how much room is in my dressing room/closet/craft room now that I've got a lot of everyone else's stuff out of my space.

I've got a lot to do yet as the room became a catch all when I could not find the pieces of furniture I needed for the room. I figured I better get it cleaned out and organized, because when I do come across that bed frame I won't have anywhere to go with it otherwise. Besides, it's my goal this year to turn my home into a *real* home.

I've got a few things in the works here, gathered boxes to fill with the cupboards odds and ends cookware. Need to scrub out cupboards really well. Decide where these odds and ends pieces are going, getting the butler's pantry completed. I call it a butler's pantry, and to me it is every bit of a butler's pantry. In reality it's just mismatched plastic shelves, and one wooden shelf I have lined up against a wall. I plan on doing something to make it nice, not sure what yet. But I've seen lots of homemaking blogs where the homemaker used only what she had, was given or curb shopped, and they created a beautiful space. I'm positive I posses the ability to create a pleasing space as well.

So that's it. Been working on my room, and the kitchen. Oh! Hey, I forgot about this, a friend of my DH's had an old monitor he asked DH if we wanted. Woo Hoo! No more monitor supported by a book because the base is broke. no more wavy lines on the monitor screen. That definitively improves the look in the living room.

Actually the monitor supported by a book didn't bother me. I just closed the computer closet doors when company stopped by. But it was amazing what a difference it made to the look of our room. It was like we stepped out of a time warp. LOL!

**Libby** · 02-27-2012, 10:14 AM

OM & polly - WTG ladies!

Nothing new on my front...life keeps 'happening'. I'm hoping for a quieter life in March so I can get MY stuff done.

**oheoh's momma** · 02-27-2012, 11:35 AM

way to go Polly and like Libby waiting for mental stress to ease up.. for big projects.. day to day is ok

**Libby** · 02-27-2012, 01:29 PM

Mental stress is a killer. Just got back from Dr...stress is taking me down a horrid path unless I take charge and change things.

OM try to deal with it now while you can vs later when its too late! *hugs*

**pollypurebred39** · 02-27-2012, 09:27 PM

Libby

so sorry about the stress.

O's Mom, cheering you on.

So today was productive. Cleaned out all pots and pans, and odds and ends from the bottom cupboards. All packed in boxes, and awaiting a fresh scrub and inspection before heading to the butler's pantry. Boxed up 4 huge garbage bags full of material scraps and ribbons. Given to me by a friend of my oldest. Most would think it garbage, but I see hankies, and birthday party banners, and cute little tutus for my niece. Oh so many crafts in my future. They are on their way to to cubbie hole above my closet.

Funny thing is, I've worked all day today. Not able to sit still for long, or enjoy a cup of tea. But it just looks a mess, like I did absolutely nothing today. I feel guilty stopping. Haven't been able to sleep well because of it. I just keep going and going. Regular chores too.

**oheoh's momma** · 02-27-2012, 10:01 PM

way to go polly I miss our buttons.....

**Libby** · 02-27-2012, 10:09 PM

*hugs polly* Take a break, get some rest tonight WITH a cup of tea and vow to spend 2 hours/day going through your stuff. Thats what I'm going to have to do as well. This *ideally* allows time for daily chores & time for personal projects within your day - if you're able to commit to 2 hours/day.

Sadly, I find I'm constantly being called upon by dad when I'm at home (even when I tell him I'm busy down here with music blaring). I'm still going to try to aim for 2 hours/day on decluttering/organizing.