*A new year , a new method of shopping*

This year, as you know, I am on a budget. I go grocery shopping with a list, and I have stopped going to many of the stores that I had been known on a first name basis previously, and all in an effort to save money. To prevent shopping for inspiration, I have begun instead shopping online. To begin, I go to my favorite online stores and register for their emails and mail coupons. After I get my discount coupon, I shoot over to my favorite stores, click the sale section, choose my size, and then order each of the items I am thinking about. This past time, I ended up ordering about 8 pair of pants to my home to try on in my own space. Here, there is no pressure, good lighting, and the rest of my wardrobe so that I can see how it fits with what I already own. Of the eight or so pair of pants, three of them looked really great. What about the rest? Simple, I can either drop if off at the store, or to be even easier, I can just throw it back in the mail for a return. Et voila! I don't even get tempted by the new and expensive items, I don't distracted by that giddy feeling that comes along with filling a dressing room with lovely items, and I don't think that the sales girl is as concerned about my budget as she claims to be. I worked in retail for years and it always happens when they have a few full priced items that they would just feel horrible if they didn't show me, after all, it is simply fabulous! So, the result of this latest shopping spree, only 3 pair of amazing trousers, not one of which is over $3o. Yeah, this is sweet.

*I just can't help it, she is so cute*

*Fly lady's zone 3- the bathroom and one extra room*

Ok everyone. He is the latest detailed cleaning list from the fly lady. Make sure to check her out at flylady.com and see how her simple steps can eliminate CHAOS from your life. (Cant Have Anyone Over Syndrome)

Bathroom Detailed Cleaning List
1. WASH AREA RUGS
2. SCRUB/WAX FLOOR
3. STRAIGHTEN DRAWERS/ CABINETS
4. CLEAN SHOWER STALL/ WAX (not the floor!)
5. WASH SHOWER DOOR
6. CLEAN MEDICINE CABINET
7. CLEAN SCALE
8. THROW AWAY EMPTY BOTTLES

and then chose your next room!

Extra Bedroom Detailed Cleaning List
1. POLISH FURNITURE
2. STRAIGHTEN DRAWERS/ CLOSET
3. CLEAN COBWEBS
4. WASH MATTRESS PAD/ DUST RUG
5. FLIP MATTRESS
6. WASH CURTAINS
7. WASH WINDOWS
8. CLEAN WINDOW
9. CLEAN BATH TUB
10. CLEAN TOP OF SEWING MACHINE
11. STRAIGHTEN BOOKCASE
12. STRAIGHTEN COMPUTER DESK
13. CLEAN OUT THE CLOSET
14. PUT AWAY STRAY ITEMS
15. FERTILIZE PLANTS

Children's Bathroom Detailed Cleaning List
1. WASH AREA RUGS
2. SWEEP/ SCRUB/ WAX FLOOR
3. STRAIGHTEN DRAWERS/ CABINETS
4. CLEAN SHOWER/ TUB STALL
5. WASH SHOWER DOOR
6. SCRUB BATH TOYS
7. WASH DOWN OUTSIDE OF TOILET
8. THROW AWAY EMPTY BOTTLES

Children's Bedrooms Detailed Cleaning List
1. POLISH FURNITURE
2. STRAIGHTEN DRAWERS/ CLOSET
3. CLEAN COBWEBS
4. WASH MATTRESS PAD/ DUST RUG
5. FLIP MATTRESSES
6. WASH CURTAINS
7. CLEAN WINDOW
8. STRAIGHTEN TOY SHELVES
9. CLEAN UNDER THE BED
10. CLEAN OUT THE CLOSET
11. PUT AWAY STRAY ITEMS
12. SORT OUT-GROWN CLOTHES
13. VACUUM UNDER BED/ CLOSETS
14. DUST BASEBOARDS
15. CLEAN FINGERPRINTS OFF DOOR/ WALLS
16. REARRANGE VIDEOS/ GAMES/ BOOKS

Office Detailed Cleaning List
1. CLEAR OFF THE SURFACE OF YOUR DESK
2. THROW AWAY PENS THAT DON'T WORK
3. SHARPEN PENCILS
4. THROW OUT ALL THE TRASH
5. PUT ITEMS TO KEEP IN A PENDING FILE FOR WED (desk
day)
6. DO NOT STOP TO PAY BILLS
7. STRAIGHTEN ONE DRAWER AT A TIME
8. TOSS OUT OLD RECEIPTS FROM OVER 7 YEARS
9. CLEAN OFF THE MONITOR SCREEN
10. FILL PRINTER CADDY WITH PAPER
11. ESTABLISH A PLACE FOR CURRENT BILLS
12. VACUUM UNDER DESK AND THE WHOLE ROOM
13. DUST FURNITURE
14. CLEAN WINDOWS
15. REMOVE COBWEBS
16. CHECK SUPPLIES OF PAPER AND PRINTER CARTRIDGES
STAMPS AND ENVELOPES

Laundry Room Detailed Cleaning List
1. WIPE DOWN THE TOP OF THE WASHER AND DRYER
2. CLEAN THE GUNK FROM UNDER THE WASHER LID
3. THROW OUT EMPTY BOTTLES AND BOXES
4. EMPTY THE GARBAGE CAN
5. CHECK SUPPLIES OF LAUNDRY DETERGENT, SOFTENER,
SPOT REMOVER
6. SWEEP AND MOP THE FLOOR
7. REMOVE THE COBWEBS
8. PUT AWAY ALL CLOTHES
9. LOOK BEHIND APPLIANCES FOR ODD SOCKS

I know that it looks like a lot of work, but remember, just do 15 min a day and eventually after rotating each of the rooms, you will have deep cleaned your home in no time!

*Little stay-cations*

This is a recession folks, and so we need to cut the fat. I chose to generally not participate in the financial woe and act like business as usual except for one thing: I have a newly found love of stay-cations. I am working on one corner of my world at a time to dress it up, and make it a place that I can relax in right in the comfort of my own home. My favorite place at home this week is my bedroom. I love to come in at the end of the day, turn down the covers, turn on the bedside lamps, and cozy in for an hour or so as I turn the pages through another great book before I go to sleep. There is such comfort in these simple routines, and the cozy nests that we have created for ourselves. Where is that little place in your home that you love to escape to? What about it makes it so special? Want to share any pictures? I would love to see them!

My writing nook with the requisite kitty

My favorite little chair in the world

* What a difference a day makes*

Ladies and gentlemen, if you know me than this next statement will not surprise you. I am not a hands on home improvement guru. Though it is true that I at different times have hired people to do my yard, my lighting, my repairs, my landscaping, my cooking, my painting, my cleaning, my decorating, and my errands, that is not to say that I do not enjoy doing those things myself! I adore learning to do new things! I learned only a few weeks back the pleasure of spending an afternoon in the garden weeding, and now eagerly look forward to those days where time permits such activities. I loved the few months I took before starting my current position when I spent the days organizing linen closets and working through Julia Child's baking bible. The issue arises that though I love these things, I often lack expertise in proper execution, tools, and time to do them myself. This past weekend, I struck upon genius!

I asked about, and ended up hiring someone I know well to "assist me" with the installation of wainscoting in my bedroom. It was perfect! He knows that I talk incessantly, and take pride in doing things myself. He also was, in a former life, a contractor managing all sorts of individuals and therefore had the needed expertise and management I sought, and he is a father to two boys, thereby able to tolerate my questions and insistence on stepping in to "help."

So, the day arrived. He came over to my home on Saturday at 8 am and we headed off to Home Depot to collect our supplies. I got to sift through roughly 80 types of trim and make sense of the scores of boxes of nails with his guidance, and then, for the rest of the day, he allowed me to be his "little helper." Yes ladies and gentlemen, a reasonably intelligent 10 year old could have done the jobs that I was assisting with, but I got some valuable on the job training and had a total BLAST in the process. I look at it as hiring a home improvement tutor of sorts. This sounds reasonable of course, right? Listen, how else am I to learn how to properly and safely utilize a table saw, or a circular one, or a reciprocating saw? How would I have even heard of all of these items on my own?! I came to master a brad gun, learned the true importance of measure twice, cut once, and came to the conclusion that caulk is God's little magic eraser. After just a few short hours, I was able to transform the space. Now that there is the added bit of architecture in the room, it makes the space seem larger as the eye takes its time traveling the room. My bedroom now seems taller, and more substantive. All in all, it is perfection!

Now just to be clear, I have not yet completed this room, but I do adore instant gratification, so I will post pictures now and add updates later. Day one, I installed the wainscoting, and then day two, I patched, primed, sanded, and painted it. I am still waiting on the silver sage floor rug that will float midpoint at the foot of my bed, as well as an incredible chandelier I ordered to replace the current version, and the large mirror will go horizontally across the then CLEAN dresser. The dresser has new pulls awaiting instillation, and the new switch plate covers will be here shortly. Whew! Ok, y'all enjoy now!