I made some goals at the start of last month and, shockingly enough, actually accomplished everything on my list. The focus of the month was Charlotte's room and I reached all my goals of moving the dollhouse to her room, hanging artwork up, making and hanging curtains (that still need to be hemmed) and creating a photo/art display piece. This month the focus is on our only full bathroom. Here's the plan:
* De-beige the space. Our bathroom gets a lot of light, which is lost on the cream tiles, cream floor, cream/tan walls and wood tone vanity. It's boring with a capital B. So we're going to paint the top half of the space grey, hoping that it'll perk up the beige tiles below.
* Add some vintage fun. A month or two ago, on our Goodwill Tour, I picked up a bedcover in a fun floral fabric, with fringed trim. I loved it, but had no clue what to do with it. Then inspiration struck - a shower curtain! So I'll be adding some button holes (once I figure out how to do that) and hanging it up.
* Hang some kitschy art. I already shared the great old posters I found, but haven't come up with a solution for how to hang them just yet. I'd originally planned to laminate them and use clipboards on to hang them, but now I wonder how well the clipboards will fare in the steamy bathroom. Up they'll go, just not sure how yet.
* Pretty up the fixed pieces. The vanity and mirror must stay as there's no way to swap them out easily. So they'll be painted a deeper grey to try to camouflage their beat up wood finish. It wouldn't be what I'd pick were I designing a brand new bath, but you gotta work with what you've got.
We'll see how well this month goes, because it's bound to be a busy one in other ways. There's Halloween and its related parties, a road trip weekend and another 5k race in the works. I've got my work cut out for me, that's for sure!
Showing posts with label To Do. Show all posts
Showing posts with label To Do. Show all posts
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
September Goals
Last month I put together a short list of things to accomplish during the month. Between working full-time, running, and spending time with family, I've found it increasingly difficult to get things done. I did manage to make progress on, and in some cases complete, the items on my list. Maybe I'll snag some photos of the results soon. And yet, I still end each month feeling like I haven't gotten much done. What do I do all month? I certainly don't have a lot to show for it. Hmmm... I'll have to think more on that and be more intentional with my time. That said, here's the plan for September:
* Make and hang curtains for Charlotte's bedroom. Quite frankly, it's pathethic that these aren't done yet. I first posted my plan for them over seven months ago. Yes, that said seven months. See, here's the proof. Ugh. Gotta get on that.
* Swap furniture in Charlotte's room. I found a huge dollhouse for her a while back and we gave it to her for her 4th birthday. It's been in our family room ever since. I haven't been comfortable leaving the Barbies and accessories that go with it out because other little people use that room and many of the items are too small for them. So it's time to move it up to her room where she can play with it to her heart's content.
* Get some stuff on the walls. In Charlotte's room, of course. I have a fair amount of artwork that was already purchased with her room in mind. I just need to get them in frames and figure out what other items I'll need to round out the space. Should be pretty simple.
* Work on a way to showcase some of her artwork and family photos. I have a plan in mind for a display solution that will allow for easy swapping as I find new favorite photos and she makes new painting/drawing/cutting masterpieces. Now to just put that plan in place.
So, as you can see, the focus for this month is mainly on Charlotte's room (#4 on that list will actually be in the hall outside her room). My girl has been nothing but spectacular for her whole life, and she deserves a room that is pretty and special. And complete. So the plan is to give her one.
* Make and hang curtains for Charlotte's bedroom. Quite frankly, it's pathethic that these aren't done yet. I first posted my plan for them over seven months ago. Yes, that said seven months. See, here's the proof. Ugh. Gotta get on that.
* Swap furniture in Charlotte's room. I found a huge dollhouse for her a while back and we gave it to her for her 4th birthday. It's been in our family room ever since. I haven't been comfortable leaving the Barbies and accessories that go with it out because other little people use that room and many of the items are too small for them. So it's time to move it up to her room where she can play with it to her heart's content.
* Get some stuff on the walls. In Charlotte's room, of course. I have a fair amount of artwork that was already purchased with her room in mind. I just need to get them in frames and figure out what other items I'll need to round out the space. Should be pretty simple.
* Work on a way to showcase some of her artwork and family photos. I have a plan in mind for a display solution that will allow for easy swapping as I find new favorite photos and she makes new painting/drawing/cutting masterpieces. Now to just put that plan in place.
So, as you can see, the focus for this month is mainly on Charlotte's room (#4 on that list will actually be in the hall outside her room). My girl has been nothing but spectacular for her whole life, and she deserves a room that is pretty and special. And complete. So the plan is to give her one.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Summer Fun List: Checking In
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
August Goals
We're a week into the month of August, and aside from creating a new Nike campaign with my sister, I haven't accomplished much. The Olympics, while I love them, are really putting the kabash on my productivity. So I've decided I need a list of goals for the month. Not too many, because there is still a lot of the Games left to be played and I'll likely be glued to the tv for much of that time. But here's the should-be-doable list:
* Paint art for my bedroom. I know what I want to paint. I have the canvas. I probably even have the paint. I just need to get my act together and get it done. And since I can do it with Olympics coverage playing in the background (it'd be super appropriate actually - more on that later), there's really no excuse.
* Finish painting the chair for my bedroom. I started painting it several days back, but ran out of paint. So now I just need to pick up another can, do a better job prepping my painting space (I did it barefoot last time - not a great idea) and finish the job.
* Print some free art for my bedroom. Are you noticing a theme yet?! I've decided to focus on our bedroom. I just recently found a piece on Pinterest that I want to print and frame. I like my art to either be vintage or funny or both, and this piece will counter the kitschy big-eyed girl prints and needlepoints that I already have in the space.
* Reorganize my bedroom. A while back, when an antique mall in my area closed for good, I picked up a leggy cabinet for a steal at just $23. It's been in my bedroom for months now, completely unused. Which makes no sense at all since I have piles of out-of-season clothes, linens, etc sitting around the room. So now is the time to organize and find everything a permanent home.
Do you have a list of things to accomplish this month?
* Paint art for my bedroom. I know what I want to paint. I have the canvas. I probably even have the paint. I just need to get my act together and get it done. And since I can do it with Olympics coverage playing in the background (it'd be super appropriate actually - more on that later), there's really no excuse.
* Finish painting the chair for my bedroom. I started painting it several days back, but ran out of paint. So now I just need to pick up another can, do a better job prepping my painting space (I did it barefoot last time - not a great idea) and finish the job.
* Reorganize my bedroom. A while back, when an antique mall in my area closed for good, I picked up a leggy cabinet for a steal at just $23. It's been in my bedroom for months now, completely unused. Which makes no sense at all since I have piles of out-of-season clothes, linens, etc sitting around the room. So now is the time to organize and find everything a permanent home.
Do you have a list of things to accomplish this month?
Thursday, July 5, 2012
At the Carwash
You might have thought it a little strange that 'carwash' made it on our Summer Fun List. In actuality, there was real purpose behind that inclusion. Our regular gas station has a glass-enclosed car wash, and the people around here must love a clean car because we almost always see one getting a wash every time we go to fill up our tank. Charlotte has been asking to use it for months, and we figured it was finally time to oblige.
First, just so you understand the rationale behind what you're about to see... I usually let Charlotte choose her own clothes. And headbands, shoes, etc. So don't be surprised that a big, red bow on a Snow White headband is paired with a Peter Pan shirt and flowered flip flops. It is what it is.
Now, on to the actual car wash photos. Which were all taken with my cell, so mind the photo quality.
It was a bit loud in parts, but overall Charlotte really loved it. She was especially fond of the multi-colored soap (blue, green and pink) and the dryer. I'm fond of the clean car that no longer has bird poop on the door handle. Yeah, that was a fun discovery.
First, just so you understand the rationale behind what you're about to see... I usually let Charlotte choose her own clothes. And headbands, shoes, etc. So don't be surprised that a big, red bow on a Snow White headband is paired with a Peter Pan shirt and flowered flip flops. It is what it is.
Now, on to the actual car wash photos. Which were all taken with my cell, so mind the photo quality.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Summer Fun List
I've learned from experience that I never get anything done if I don't have a list prepared of what I want to accomplish. It doesn't need to be scheduled or spelled out in minute detail, just listed and out there for the world to see. With summer quickly approaching I decided it was imperative that I have a summer fun list ready to go. Last year our family had 19 items that we aimed to accomplish. This year we've upped the ante and made it an even 20. Here's the plan:
Are any of these items on your list? Or do you have any must-dos that we've missed?
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Month of May
It just recently occurred to me that I haven't made a to do list in a while. Months probably. Which explains why I haven't accomplished much around the house in the past few months. Sure, we've worked on the yard and shopped for Charlotte's room, but crafty DIY projects have been few and far between around here. I plan to remedy that and have come up with a short to do list for May. I realize we're still nearly a week away from May, but I figure allowing myself a couple extra days can't hurt. So here's what I hope to get done:
* Plan and throw Charlotte an awesome 4th birthday party - if you recall, the theme is 'flowers', at her request. This will involve a lot of little projects (I mean, you've seen last year's party, right) and preparing for it will take up much of the month. Aside from a few ideas I've pinned, I haven't accomplished much. Must get on that!
* Make some progress in Charlotte's room - I've got sheets waiting to be turned into curtains and art ready to be framed and hung. Why am I stalling?
* Gussy up the blog - Yeah, I've mentioned this a couple times already, but haven't done anything about it yet. Well, that's not true. I purchased a template I love and just need to add some extra touches to make it my own. The idea of sizing down all my photos (the new blog will be a bit narrower) is daunting, but needs to be done. And I'd scheduling time to make it happen.
* Drink more water - Alright, arlight. This is definitely not crafty or DIY, but it's something I really should be better about. Aside from when we go out to sit-down meals, I can't remember the last time I drank water. And that's horrible. So I'm going to start now.
Do you have a to do list you're working on? How are you fairing?
* Plan and throw Charlotte an awesome 4th birthday party - if you recall, the theme is 'flowers', at her request. This will involve a lot of little projects (I mean, you've seen last year's party, right) and preparing for it will take up much of the month. Aside from a few ideas I've pinned, I haven't accomplished much. Must get on that!
* Make some progress in Charlotte's room - I've got sheets waiting to be turned into curtains and art ready to be framed and hung. Why am I stalling?
* Gussy up the blog - Yeah, I've mentioned this a couple times already, but haven't done anything about it yet. Well, that's not true. I purchased a template I love and just need to add some extra touches to make it my own. The idea of sizing down all my photos (the new blog will be a bit narrower) is daunting, but needs to be done. And I'd scheduling time to make it happen.
* Drink more water - Alright, arlight. This is definitely not crafty or DIY, but it's something I really should be better about. Aside from when we go out to sit-down meals, I can't remember the last time I drank water. And that's horrible. So I'm going to start now.
Do you have a to do list you're working on? How are you fairing?
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Christmas Countdown
Happy first of December! Hard to believe the year has gone by so quickly. But here we are, just weeks away from Christmas. Last year after Christmas, Mark picked up a clearanced wreath from Target that was made up of 24 small boxes. It's not the most beautiful wreath ever, and I hope to replace it with something homemade for future Christmases, but it will work well for this year's countdown.
So I snagged some candy, looked at my calendar and started planning our Christmas festivities. In the past we haven't done much in the way of month-long celebrating. Our festivities were mostly limited to riding around to look at Christmas lights, making cookies for gifts and reading the Christmas story from the Bible. Now that Charlotte is older I want to make sure she gets to feel the joy of the season for the entire season, not just a few days.
Our wreath hangs on her bedroom door so we can open up a new box every morning. Each day has a piece of candy in it, but several of the days also have an activity for us to complete together. Hopefully seeing it as soon as I get up in the morning (her door is opposite mine) will keep me accountable! Here's what we have planned:
Yup, we've got a lot on our plate. Not mention that I have my own mini to do list: mail out Christmas cards, prep the spare bedroom for my mother-in-law's arrival, finish Christmas shopping and decorating, revamp this blog's design and more. Even though we've got more activities planned, having an actual plan as opposed to just winging it should help me to appreciate this Christmas season instead of rushing through it. Hopefully your holiday is relaxed too!
So I snagged some candy, looked at my calendar and started planning our Christmas festivities. In the past we haven't done much in the way of month-long celebrating. Our festivities were mostly limited to riding around to look at Christmas lights, making cookies for gifts and reading the Christmas story from the Bible. Now that Charlotte is older I want to make sure she gets to feel the joy of the season for the entire season, not just a few days.
Our wreath hangs on her bedroom door so we can open up a new box every morning. Each day has a piece of candy in it, but several of the days also have an activity for us to complete together. Hopefully seeing it as soon as I get up in the morning (her door is opposite mine) will keep me accountable! Here's what we have planned:
Yup, we've got a lot on our plate. Not mention that I have my own mini to do list: mail out Christmas cards, prep the spare bedroom for my mother-in-law's arrival, finish Christmas shopping and decorating, revamp this blog's design and more. Even though we've got more activities planned, having an actual plan as opposed to just winging it should help me to appreciate this Christmas season instead of rushing through it. Hopefully your holiday is relaxed too!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
So Much For That Plan
November didn't exactly go as planned. Heading into the month I had two to do lists that I was managing: my monthly to do list and a fall fun list. Here's how I did, or didn't do as the case may be, with the monthly plan:
* Paint the dresser in the spare bedroom -- done and moved back into the bedroom, photos to come
* Hang artwork in Charlotte's bedroom -- um, does one poster count?
* Create a Thanksgiving tree -- yup, and I loved it!
* Make a (possibly Christmas) dress for Charlotte -- nope, I decided she's going to wear last year's instead
* Finish making cloth napkins -- finally checked this off the list (see them here)
* Make a Christmas garland -- decided I didn't need this, but am still thinking about doing one anyway after seeing Ashley Ann's cupcake liner garland
* Plan out a Christmas countdown and related activities -- done and will share more tomorrow
Three things missed and some of the others just barely got done (as in I was finishing up the dresser last night). Here's how things went on the fall fun list:
* Collect leaves -- um nope, and would have been so simple to do
* Harvest Party -- glad we went!
* Pumpkin Picking -- got some good ones
* Hayride -- luckily they offered them at the Harvest Party
* Apple Print Painting -- Elijah and Charlotte had a blast!
* Rake and Jump in Leaves -- my girl couldn't have been more excited about this
* Road Trip to Georgia -- a whirlwind weekend, for sure
* Halloween Party -- my friends came, we rocked
* Make a Fall Dessert -- we made several (nutella cookies, plum tart, pumpkin spice cupcakes)
* Carve Pumpkins -- I did with work, but we didn't as a family
* Paint Acorns -- started but didn't finish
* Pinecone Birdfeeder -- bought the supplies - that counts for something, right?!
* Trick-or-Treat -- Charlotte made for a very cute gnome!
Eesh, we totally missed out on some of the quintessential autumn projects. And for no good reason, just procrastinated. I did find that November went much smoother than October for us, even with a host of unexpected events thrown in the mix, because I had a plan set early on. It was much easier to shuffle a few days around when things came up, as opposed to putting everything off until the end and not having enough time to get it all done. That's why I already have a plan for December. Check back tomorrow for the details!
* Paint the dresser in the spare bedroom -- done and moved back into the bedroom, photos to come
* Hang artwork in Charlotte's bedroom -- um, does one poster count?
* Create a Thanksgiving tree -- yup, and I loved it!
* Make a (possibly Christmas) dress for Charlotte -- nope, I decided she's going to wear last year's instead
* Finish making cloth napkins -- finally checked this off the list (see them here)
* Make a Christmas garland -- decided I didn't need this, but am still thinking about doing one anyway after seeing Ashley Ann's cupcake liner garland
* Plan out a Christmas countdown and related activities -- done and will share more tomorrow
Three things missed and some of the others just barely got done (as in I was finishing up the dresser last night). Here's how things went on the fall fun list:
* Collect leaves -- um nope, and would have been so simple to do
* Harvest Party -- glad we went!
* Pumpkin Picking -- got some good ones
* Hayride -- luckily they offered them at the Harvest Party
* Apple Print Painting -- Elijah and Charlotte had a blast!
* Rake and Jump in Leaves -- my girl couldn't have been more excited about this
* Road Trip to Georgia -- a whirlwind weekend, for sure
* Halloween Party -- my friends came, we rocked
* Make a Fall Dessert -- we made several (nutella cookies, plum tart, pumpkin spice cupcakes)
* Carve Pumpkins -- I did with work, but we didn't as a family
* Paint Acorns -- started but didn't finish
* Pinecone Birdfeeder -- bought the supplies - that counts for something, right?!
* Trick-or-Treat -- Charlotte made for a very cute gnome!
Eesh, we totally missed out on some of the quintessential autumn projects. And for no good reason, just procrastinated. I did find that November went much smoother than October for us, even with a host of unexpected events thrown in the mix, because I had a plan set early on. It was much easier to shuffle a few days around when things came up, as opposed to putting everything off until the end and not having enough time to get it all done. That's why I already have a plan for December. Check back tomorrow for the details!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
30 Before Thirty: The Final Result
I still have no plans to make hugely dramatic life goals for myself (see this post), but I do think having a small list of attainable projects in your back pocket is a good way to get things done, hence why I'll be making a to do list each month, just like the one I shared yesterday. And in light of that plan, I thought it important that I recount how I did with my goals for last year.
Here's what I accomplished on my 30 Before Thirty list:
1. Decorate for holidays other than just Christmas.
2. Make a quilt.
3. Enroll Charlotte in gymnastics/dance.
5. Watch all the year's Oscar Best Picture nominees.
7. Sew a costume for Charlotte.
9. Have family photos taken.
10. Teach Charlotte to swim.
11. Get a shared room (i.e. not a bedroom) decorated the way I like.
13. Make dessert more often.
14. Vacation somewhere other than Disney World.
15. Learn to style my hair in different ways.
16. Complete a craft with Charlotte at least monthly.
18. Improve my photography.
21. Take Charlotte to Sesame Place.
22. Reduce my reliance on paper towels.
23. Build something from scratch.
24. Host a party at our new house.
26. Read every book club book. (close enough anyway)
28. Organize my photos.
29. Prepare dinners regularly.
30. Use produce from my own garden.
Here's what I missed:
4. Learn more about Photoshop Elements. ... I definitely want to do this, but haven't even managed to install it on my new laptop yet. Hmmm, maybe that should get added to the to do list.
6. Learn to crochet. ... I've got high hopes to get this checked off the list sometime in the future too. Mostly because I've seen so many cute things that I want and would rather make than buy.
8. Learn to cook a good steak. ... Never happened, and to be quite honest I don't even care. We don't need to eat steak often so it's just as easy to go out to eat it when we do.
12. Organize all our bills and important documents. ... Ugh, utter fail here. Should add organization to the to do list too.
17. Attend church regularly. ... I feel we'll get better at this now that Charlotte has no qualms about going to her class.
19. Lose at least 30 pounds. ... Nope.
20. Have a date night with Mark at least once a month. ... Big time fail. It only happened once and we just ran errands.
25. Take walks as a family. ... Hasn't happened yet, but it is on the calendar for this month.
27. Revamp a piece of furniture with paint. ... Missed this one too, but again, it's on the calendar.
I'd hoped to have fared better than 70%, but I think that this 30 Before Thirty plan has put me in a rhythm of setting small goals for myself, which is most definitely a good thing. I've always had a list going in my mind of different projects I've wanted to accomplish, but have never put them out there for the world to see and set a deadline to them. So even though I barely got a passing grade, I consider this project to be a success because of the habits it has created in me. The true test will be over the next few months, as we see how diligent I am about coming up with a monthly list of tasks and actually crossing those tasks off the list. Fingers crossed!
Here's what I accomplished on my 30 Before Thirty list:
1. Decorate for holidays other than just Christmas.
2. Make a quilt.
3. Enroll Charlotte in gymnastics/dance.
5. Watch all the year's Oscar Best Picture nominees.
7. Sew a costume for Charlotte.
9. Have family photos taken.
10. Teach Charlotte to swim.
11. Get a shared room (i.e. not a bedroom) decorated the way I like.
13. Make dessert more often.
14. Vacation somewhere other than Disney World.
15. Learn to style my hair in different ways.
16. Complete a craft with Charlotte at least monthly.
18. Improve my photography.
21. Take Charlotte to Sesame Place.
22. Reduce my reliance on paper towels.
23. Build something from scratch.
24. Host a party at our new house.
26. Read every book club book. (close enough anyway)
28. Organize my photos.
29. Prepare dinners regularly.
30. Use produce from my own garden.
Here's what I missed:
4. Learn more about Photoshop Elements. ... I definitely want to do this, but haven't even managed to install it on my new laptop yet. Hmmm, maybe that should get added to the to do list.
6. Learn to crochet. ... I've got high hopes to get this checked off the list sometime in the future too. Mostly because I've seen so many cute things that I want and would rather make than buy.
8. Learn to cook a good steak. ... Never happened, and to be quite honest I don't even care. We don't need to eat steak often so it's just as easy to go out to eat it when we do.
12. Organize all our bills and important documents. ... Ugh, utter fail here. Should add organization to the to do list too.
17. Attend church regularly. ... I feel we'll get better at this now that Charlotte has no qualms about going to her class.
19. Lose at least 30 pounds. ... Nope.
20. Have a date night with Mark at least once a month. ... Big time fail. It only happened once and we just ran errands.
25. Take walks as a family. ... Hasn't happened yet, but it is on the calendar for this month.
27. Revamp a piece of furniture with paint. ... Missed this one too, but again, it's on the calendar.
I'd hoped to have fared better than 70%, but I think that this 30 Before Thirty plan has put me in a rhythm of setting small goals for myself, which is most definitely a good thing. I've always had a list going in my mind of different projects I've wanted to accomplish, but have never put them out there for the world to see and set a deadline to them. So even though I barely got a passing grade, I consider this project to be a success because of the habits it has created in me. The true test will be over the next few months, as we see how diligent I am about coming up with a monthly list of tasks and actually crossing those tasks off the list. Fingers crossed!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
November To Do List
Some big name bloggers (Sherry, Katie, Ana and Erin) are doing another Pinterest Challenge this month. I had grand plans to get some fun stuff accomplished to share with the masses, but a little something I like to call "a self-diagnosed sinus infection" thwarted my plan. Instead here's a recap of some Pinterest-inspired projects I've completed in the past.
(Clockwise from top left: crate bookcase, Dad Rocks paperweight, apple print painting, marshmallow sculptures, cross stitch wall art)
And because I know I get a lot more accomplished when I have a plan, here's what I want to get done this month:
* Paint the dresser in the spare bedroom (pin inspiration)
* Hang artwork in Charlotte's bedroom (pin inspiration)
* Create a Thanksgiving tree (pin inspiration)
* Make a (possibly Christmas) dress for Charlotte (pin inspiration)
* Finish making cloth napkins (pin inspiration)
* Make a Christmas garland (pin inspiration)
* Plan out a Christmas countdown and related activities (pin inspiration)
What are you hoping to cross off your to do list this month?
(Clockwise from top left: crate bookcase, Dad Rocks paperweight, apple print painting, marshmallow sculptures, cross stitch wall art)
And because I know I get a lot more accomplished when I have a plan, here's what I want to get done this month:
* Paint the dresser in the spare bedroom (pin inspiration)
* Hang artwork in Charlotte's bedroom (pin inspiration)
* Create a Thanksgiving tree (pin inspiration)
* Make a (possibly Christmas) dress for Charlotte (pin inspiration)
* Finish making cloth napkins (pin inspiration)
* Make a Christmas garland (pin inspiration)
* Plan out a Christmas countdown and related activities (pin inspiration)
What are you hoping to cross off your to do list this month?
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Fall Fun List
Our summer fun list was fairly successful, so I decided to make a fall version too.
Everything is pretty self-explanatory and we've already crossed two items off the list -- pumpkin picking and road trip to Georgia. Yay for stacking the deck!! And shhh... I've got plans to cross another off when my nephews visit with us this Saturday. So check back next week to see the fruits of our labor. That was a hint by the way. :)
P.S. Check out yesterday's post for details on how to get 25 free photo cards from Shutterfly.
Everything is pretty self-explanatory and we've already crossed two items off the list -- pumpkin picking and road trip to Georgia. Yay for stacking the deck!! And shhh... I've got plans to cross another off when my nephews visit with us this Saturday. So check back next week to see the fruits of our labor. That was a hint by the way. :)
P.S. Check out yesterday's post for details on how to get 25 free photo cards from Shutterfly.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Summer Fun List: The Result
At the start of June I posted our summer fun list - a list of activities that we wanted to complete by the end of the summer. Autumn officially started back on September 23rd, so time is up and I'm ready to share what we accomplished:
* Vacation to Sesame Place --- Done. We had a really fantastic time!
* Road trip to Michigan --- Went swimmingly. The road trip was easier than expected actually.
* Take Charlotte to a movie --- We skipped this, mostly because there weren't any movies in the theaters that I thought she'd enjoy.
* Celebrate family birthdays --- My family's birthdays never really got celebrated (shameful), but we did celebrate with her cousins on Mark's side.
* Visit Bruster's for a treat --- Very yummy!!
* Play a round of mini golf --- She definitely looked the part, even if we didn't play a full 18 holes.
* Hike along the B&A trail --- Ha! Nope. Didn't happen.
* Play in the sprinkler. A LOT! --- With lots of yard work comes lots of sprinkler action!
* Do bubble painting artwork --- Fail. And this was one I really wanted to do!
* Make chalk drawings --- We did a lot of this. Here's an example.
* Bake a treat together --- Charlotte is a great kitchen helper, especially with chocolate chip cookies!
* Have a bubble party --- Nope.
* SWIM! As much as possible! --- That girl is a swimming machine!!
* Dunkin Donuts for breakfast --- Enjoyed by all.
* Make marshmallow sculptures --- Charlotte's cousin Penelope even joined in the fun!
* Visit the library often --- Not even once. But we did a lot of reading at home.
* Family day at the airplane park --- Nope.
* Go on a family picnic --- Not this either.
* Fourth of July fireworks --- Enjoyed these for sure and Charlotte even likes to sing about them!
I guess 12 out of 19 isn't too awful bad. Let's see if we'll be more successful our our fall/winter fun list - coming soon.
* Vacation to Sesame Place --- Done. We had a really fantastic time!
* Road trip to Michigan --- Went swimmingly. The road trip was easier than expected actually.
* Take Charlotte to a movie --- We skipped this, mostly because there weren't any movies in the theaters that I thought she'd enjoy.
* Celebrate family birthdays --- My family's birthdays never really got celebrated (shameful), but we did celebrate with her cousins on Mark's side.
* Visit Bruster's for a treat --- Very yummy!!
* Play a round of mini golf --- She definitely looked the part, even if we didn't play a full 18 holes.
* Hike along the B&A trail --- Ha! Nope. Didn't happen.
* Play in the sprinkler. A LOT! --- With lots of yard work comes lots of sprinkler action!
* Do bubble painting artwork --- Fail. And this was one I really wanted to do!
* Make chalk drawings --- We did a lot of this. Here's an example.
* Bake a treat together --- Charlotte is a great kitchen helper, especially with chocolate chip cookies!
* Have a bubble party --- Nope.
* SWIM! As much as possible! --- That girl is a swimming machine!!
* Dunkin Donuts for breakfast --- Enjoyed by all.
* Make marshmallow sculptures --- Charlotte's cousin Penelope even joined in the fun!
* Visit the library often --- Not even once. But we did a lot of reading at home.
* Family day at the airplane park --- Nope.
* Go on a family picnic --- Not this either.
* Fourth of July fireworks --- Enjoyed these for sure and Charlotte even likes to sing about them!
I guess 12 out of 19 isn't too awful bad. Let's see if we'll be more successful our our fall/winter fun list - coming soon.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Summer Fun List
Lots of bloggers are doing it, so I decided to jump on the bandwagon. I made a list of fun activities for our little family of three (and occasionally more) to do this summer. It's not a hugely involved list because Mark and I will still both be at work full time, but we do have a short vacation or two planned, not to mention some random days off here and there.
The photo is a little out of focus (sorry, I was taking photos at about 8pm and the light was basically gone), but here's our list. Despite several years of writing on flip charts for a living, I cannot write in a straight line to save my life. Luckily I had some striped gift wrap in my stash. I just cut it to size and used it as my guide. The list got popped into a frame and we'll use a dry erase marker to check off the items (right on the glass) as we go. Here's a few detailed shots of what we plan to accomplish these next few months:
I may swap out the paper and do this every season. And if I didn't already have a chalkboard wall in my kitchen, I'd use this idea to keep track of our weekly menu and grocery list. As it stands, this summer fun list will live in the dining room once I find some adhesive hooks that will work for it. Here's the plan:
Have you made a similar list for your family? What are your to dos for this summer?
The photo is a little out of focus (sorry, I was taking photos at about 8pm and the light was basically gone), but here's our list. Despite several years of writing on flip charts for a living, I cannot write in a straight line to save my life. Luckily I had some striped gift wrap in my stash. I just cut it to size and used it as my guide. The list got popped into a frame and we'll use a dry erase marker to check off the items (right on the glass) as we go. Here's a few detailed shots of what we plan to accomplish these next few months:
I may swap out the paper and do this every season. And if I didn't already have a chalkboard wall in my kitchen, I'd use this idea to keep track of our weekly menu and grocery list. As it stands, this summer fun list will live in the dining room once I find some adhesive hooks that will work for it. Here's the plan:
Have you made a similar list for your family? What are your to dos for this summer?
Monday, May 16, 2011
This Week's Menu {5/16} + Book Club
These next few days are likely to be busy, so planning ahead for our meals is especially important. Here's what the menu will look like this week:
Monday - Tuna Casserole (this got skipped last week)
Tuesday - Pork Chop Skillet
Wednesday - Brats & Tater Tots
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Shepherd's Pie
Saturday - Party!!
Over the weekend I worked on my party to do list. And by that I mean I created it, not that I accomplished much on it. As I was writing it out I got to thinking about our last book for book club (I'm happy to say that I've been successful thus far in my goal to read every book club book).
We read Still Alice, the story of a 50-year-old Harvard professor who struggles to maintain her lifestyle through the confusion of early onset Alzheimer's. It's a heart-breaking and haunting read, but in the best way possible. It makes you want to not worry about how each minute decision will affect your future, but instead live for now and cherish the moments you have here on earth. So while I'll be enjoying a party on Saturday (part of living in the moment) I won't be stressing about the items that never got crossed off my to do list.
Have you read anything recently that you particularly enjoyed? This month's book club pick is decidedly more fluff in nature, but I'm thoroughly loving it too. Gunn's Golden Rules.
Monday - Tuna Casserole (this got skipped last week)
Tuesday - Pork Chop Skillet
Wednesday - Brats & Tater Tots
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Shepherd's Pie
Saturday - Party!!
Over the weekend I worked on my party to do list. And by that I mean I created it, not that I accomplished much on it. As I was writing it out I got to thinking about our last book for book club (I'm happy to say that I've been successful thus far in my goal to read every book club book).
We read Still Alice, the story of a 50-year-old Harvard professor who struggles to maintain her lifestyle through the confusion of early onset Alzheimer's. It's a heart-breaking and haunting read, but in the best way possible. It makes you want to not worry about how each minute decision will affect your future, but instead live for now and cherish the moments you have here on earth. So while I'll be enjoying a party on Saturday (part of living in the moment) I won't be stressing about the items that never got crossed off my to do list.
Have you read anything recently that you particularly enjoyed? This month's book club pick is decidedly more fluff in nature, but I'm thoroughly loving it too. Gunn's Golden Rules.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Progress in the Dining Room
Mark and I have been working busily to get our house more presentable since Charlotte's birthday party will be held here in just over a week. Our focus of late has been on the dining room. Here's a photo of it back when the old owner lived here, courtesy of the MLS listing:
Lovely isn't it? I'm sure it'll come as no surprise that the wallpaper came down pretty quickly, in favor of a pale blue-green paint (Behr's Valley Mist) that we've used on the entire first level of the house. Here's where we're at now:
Not the best picture since it was taken at night, but you can see the walls look a million times better. And our new light fixture is in place. I'll make sure to snag some photos that show its sunny yellow color at a later date. We put together our new dining room table and matched it up with borrowed (thanks Mandy!) Target chairs and a two-seater bench found on Craigslist, which you can only see a small peak of.
And did you spy my Ikea hack? I already had the 5x5 Expedit bookcase and wanted to use it in the dining area for storage. The wall was large enough for it, but the baseboards and heat vent got in the way of it sitting flush against the wall. So I built a platform with legs to go underneath it and then bracketed it to the wall to keep it from shifting.
We've still got loads more to do on the main level - painting in the kitchen, removing unnecessary cabinet pieces, accessorizing in the living room and dining area... not to mention a laundry list of party-related items that I want to accomplish before the 21st. Wish me luck!
Lovely isn't it? I'm sure it'll come as no surprise that the wallpaper came down pretty quickly, in favor of a pale blue-green paint (Behr's Valley Mist) that we've used on the entire first level of the house. Here's where we're at now:
Not the best picture since it was taken at night, but you can see the walls look a million times better. And our new light fixture is in place. I'll make sure to snag some photos that show its sunny yellow color at a later date. We put together our new dining room table and matched it up with borrowed (thanks Mandy!) Target chairs and a two-seater bench found on Craigslist, which you can only see a small peak of.
And did you spy my Ikea hack? I already had the 5x5 Expedit bookcase and wanted to use it in the dining area for storage. The wall was large enough for it, but the baseboards and heat vent got in the way of it sitting flush against the wall. So I built a platform with legs to go underneath it and then bracketed it to the wall to keep it from shifting.
We've still got loads more to do on the main level - painting in the kitchen, removing unnecessary cabinet pieces, accessorizing in the living room and dining area... not to mention a laundry list of party-related items that I want to accomplish before the 21st. Wish me luck!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Shopping & Storage
Last weekend was extra long for me thanks to having Friday off work, and I spent a good chunk of that morning shopping. The Old Navy near me just became an outlet store and was celebrating with 40% all the kids clothes. I snagged everything pictured below (plus some khaki capris and a pair of sunglasses) for just under $100.
Not too shabby! And FYI - it looks like they're running a good online sale now, in case you don't have a store near you.
Afterwards, I spent a little time working on my to do list. I managed to cross off "install vanity storage drawers."
I started with a cardboard box holding all my extra toiletries. Stylish, I know. But with about $35 worth of shelving and 20 minutes time, I wound up with two pull out drawers of storage space.
And for anyone looking to do something similar, my shelving came from Home Depot. It's made by ClosetMaid and is item #3608.
Have you gotten any house-related stuff done lately? Or hit any good sales?
Afterwards, I spent a little time working on my to do list. I managed to cross off "install vanity storage drawers."
I started with a cardboard box holding all my extra toiletries. Stylish, I know. But with about $35 worth of shelving and 20 minutes time, I wound up with two pull out drawers of storage space.
And for anyone looking to do something similar, my shelving came from Home Depot. It's made by ClosetMaid and is item #3608.
Have you gotten any house-related stuff done lately? Or hit any good sales?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Whole House To Do List
John & Sherry over at Young House Love created a to do list for their entire place and that's inspired me to do the same. I figure this will help me see the big picture and not overlook little things that can be accomplished together. You know, like touching up the master bedroom trim at the same time we repaint a bedroom door, since the colors are the same. So, here's the master plan for what we want to accomplish:
KITCHEN:
* Get a new stove
* Paint the walls
* Remove wallpaper border
* Remove gallery rail
* Remove light fixture over the sink
* Remove drapes (they removed themselves when they fell down one day)
* Replace switches and outlet covers
* Replace countertops(???)
* Replace sink(???) and faucet
* Replace backsplash (???)
DINING AREA:
* Remove wallpaper
* Paint the walls
* Set up storage unit
* Set up table and chairs
* Replace light fixture
* Replace switches and outlet covers
* Fix french door curtains
* Remove folding door
* Buy/build dutch door
LIVING ROOM:
* Paint the walls
* Replace the curtains
* Buy a couch and rug
* Buy a floor lamp
* Disguise window on front door
* Create "mudroom" area
* Paint/replace ceiling fan (decided to leave as is)
MASTER BEDROOM:
* Prime and paint the walls
* Touch up trim
* Make and hang curtains
* Paint/replace ceiling fan
* Replace switches and outlet covers
* Make headboard
* Hang closet doors/curtains
* Replace dresser knobs
* Swap and paint bedroom doors
CHARLOTTE'S ROOM:
* Paint the walls
* Replace ceiling fan
* Replace dresser knobs
* Hang window treatments
SPARE BEDROOM:
* Swap and paint bedroom doors
* Go through boxes
FULL BATHROOM:
* Paint the walls
* Hang shower curtain
* Paint vanity
* Install vanity storage drawers
* Paint/replace wall storage
FAMILY ROOM:
* Replace light fixtures
* Replace window treatments
* Repair paneling on stairs
BASEMENT:
* Set up storage shelves
* Go through boxes
OUTDOORS:
* Paint stucco
* Catalog plants
* Remove excess stone/mulch from front yard
* Remove excess mulch from side of sunroom
* Replace house number
I created this list a while back (hence the items that are already crossed off) and have been adding to it regularly. Some rooms I haven't even begun to make lists for (laundry room, half bath, sunroom, etc) and it goes without saying that actually decorating the rooms needs to be included on the list as well. So this is a working list to be sure, but has plenty of items to keep me busy. Now to just decide where to start...
KITCHEN:
* Remove wallpaper border
* Remove gallery rail
* Replace switches and outlet covers
* Replace countertops(???)
* Replace sink(???) and faucet
* Replace backsplash (???)
DINING AREA:
* Buy/build dutch door
LIVING ROOM:
* Disguise window on front door
MASTER BEDROOM:
* Touch up trim
* Paint/replace ceiling fan
* Make headboard
* Hang closet doors/curtains
* Replace dresser knobs
* Swap and paint bedroom doors
CHARLOTTE'S ROOM:
* Replace ceiling fan
* Replace dresser knobs
* Hang window treatments
SPARE BEDROOM:
* Swap and paint bedroom doors
FULL BATHROOM:
* Paint the walls
* Paint vanity
* Paint/replace wall storage
FAMILY ROOM:
* Replace light fixtures
* Replace window treatments
* Repair paneling on stairs
BASEMENT:
* Go through boxes
OUTDOORS:
* Paint stucco
* Catalog plants
* Remove excess stone/mulch from front yard
* Remove excess mulch from side of sunroom
* Replace house number
I created this list a while back (hence the items that are already crossed off) and have been adding to it regularly. Some rooms I haven't even begun to make lists for (laundry room, half bath, sunroom, etc) and it goes without saying that actually decorating the rooms needs to be included on the list as well. So this is a working list to be sure, but has plenty of items to keep me busy. Now to just decide where to start...
Friday, October 15, 2010
30 Before Thirty
For the past several months I've been following along as Nicole over at Making It Lovely crosses item after item off her list of things to do before turning 30. Val (In the Meantime) did a similar list, having 28 goals to accomplish in her 28th year. Since I'm about to turn 29, I figured I'll need to make my list now if I'm ever going to be as successful as they've been! So, without further ado, here's my list of things to accomplish before I hit the big three-oh:
1. Decorate for holidays other than just Christmas.
2. Make a quilt.
3. Enroll Charlotte in gymnastics/dance.
4. Learn more about Photoshop Elements.
5. Watch all the year's Oscar Best Picture nominees.
6. Learn to crochet.
7. Sew a costume for Charlotte.
8. Learn to cook a good steak.
9. Have family photos taken.
10. Teach Charlotte to swim.
11. Get a shared room (i.e. not a bedroom) decorated the way I like.
12. Organize all our bills and important documents.
13. Make dessert more often.
14. Vacation somewhere other than Disney World.
15. Learn to style my hair in different ways.
16. Complete a craft with Charlotte at least monthly.
17. Attend church regularly.
18. Improve my photography.
19. Lose at least 30 pounds.
20. Have a date night with Mark at least once a month.
21. Take Charlotte to Sesame Place.
22. Reduce my reliance on paper towels.
23. Build something from scratch.
24. Host a party at our new house.
25. Take walks as a family.
26. Read every book club book.
27. Revamp a piece of furniture with paint.
28. Organize my photos.
29. Prepare dinners regularly.
30. Use produce from my own garden.
I'll be crossing items of the list as this accomplished in this same post, and may (or may not) create separate posts about how I'm faring with each goal. I encourage you to make a similar list for whatever age you're approaching!
4. Learn more about Photoshop Elements.
6. Learn to crochet.
8. Learn to cook a good steak.
12. Organize all our bills and important documents.
17. Attend church regularly.
19. Lose at least 30 pounds.
20. Have a date night with Mark at least once a month.
25. Take walks as a family.
27. Revamp a piece of furniture with paint.
I'll be crossing items of the list as this accomplished in this same post, and may (or may not) create separate posts about how I'm faring with each goal. I encourage you to make a similar list for whatever age you're approaching!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
To Do This October
Sheesh! Almost a week into the month and I'd forgotten all about posting my to do list. To update you on last month, I'm an epic fail. Well, moderately epic anyway. My goals were to exercise (I used the Just Dance game on the Wii once), make some crafty projects (I did make two dresses for Charlotte, hence the "moderately" part), and majorly crapped out of taking more photos. But enough looking back... let's see the plan for this month:
Get moving. We're scheduled to close on our current house in mid-November and need to get cracking on packing things up to be stored. We likely won't rent the storage pod until early November, but I want to make major headway on putting things in boxes before then. While I tend to do my best work at the last minute, I don't want to be stressing on our last few nights here.
Get crafty. I did fairly well on this last month and want to keep it up. I already have plans to make a stroller bag that turns into a messenger bag (I'll share the great tutorial I found with you once I try it out myself). And we'll need to make t-shirts for our upcoming Disney trip. I mean, topping what we did last year will be no easy feat:
We went to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party as the cast of the Imagination Movers, for anyone who isn't current on their kids tv programming.
Get snap-happy. I failed ridiculously in this area last month. And I mean ridiculously. I save my photos on the computer with a folder for each month and day. September has two measly folders in it. Pathetic I know. But with fall colors, Disney World and Halloween, there's bound to be tons of good photo-taking opportunities!
And that's the plan. Don't you like how I stacked the deck? I mean, two of the three things will be impossible not to do with our vacation plans. Feel free to do the same with your to do list!
Get moving. We're scheduled to close on our current house in mid-November and need to get cracking on packing things up to be stored. We likely won't rent the storage pod until early November, but I want to make major headway on putting things in boxes before then. While I tend to do my best work at the last minute, I don't want to be stressing on our last few nights here.
Get crafty. I did fairly well on this last month and want to keep it up. I already have plans to make a stroller bag that turns into a messenger bag (I'll share the great tutorial I found with you once I try it out myself). And we'll need to make t-shirts for our upcoming Disney trip. I mean, topping what we did last year will be no easy feat:
Get snap-happy. I failed ridiculously in this area last month. And I mean ridiculously. I save my photos on the computer with a folder for each month and day. September has two measly folders in it. Pathetic I know. But with fall colors, Disney World and Halloween, there's bound to be tons of good photo-taking opportunities!
And that's the plan. Don't you like how I stacked the deck? I mean, two of the three things will be impossible not to do with our vacation plans. Feel free to do the same with your to do list!
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