*Summer Lazy Days*

Im not really a great fan of cherries but these were just too beautiful to pass up...

Kelsey and Brian stopped in to say hello...

Madison enjoys a day of rest...

Mary's recipe for tabbouleh...

*all and all, a lovely day*

*Fancy a Peach/Blueberry Crisp?*

Tonight I have been in a bit of excited panic - note that as I write this it is 1:45 am and I have yet to feel sleeps restful hand. I determined a few days ago that I would hold a rather impromptu Memorial Day picnic tomorrow (or technically in a few hours) after I get off of work for just two or three friends. Well, we all want too much of a good thing at times, and now we have a pretty healthy group of people headed to 4th south at 4 pm for some good old fashioned fun.

Yes, I know this sounds idyllic: a BBQ in the freshly grown gardens in the backyard with summer fruit and lawn games, but pause for one moment if you will. I realized a few minor things this evening. People never stay in the yard. They will invariably wander into the kitchens to provide some assistance of some sort, and it will most certainly be appreciated. Someone will go to visit the powder room as we will be enjoying ourselves for quite some time, and invariably, a tour of the home will be requested which is a gift for the hostess to provide. All of this sounds lovely and should be but for one small detail... my house is a mess!

This is where many feel they ought to panic and spend the day dressing their home for company, but I am a special sort. What did I do today? Well I began a new Capote book, snuggled in bed with my Pooh bear (the hubby) played with the kitties, and got in some DVR Craig Fergueson, and then finally went shopping to get the ingredients for tomorrow. Simple enough but on the way to the store I recalled that I could really use a new camera charger as I have once again begun documenting my life for each of you and it would be a pity not to have photographs of the party. After running to multiple stores to get to one who had the charger in stock, Madison and I (my usual partner in crime) finally returned to my home around 8:30 where we proceeded to practice a new dessert for tomorrow night and where we added yet four more people to our little fete. After such a diverting day, we sat down and were delighted to discover that the newest recipe of the pear and blueberry crisp with a bit of vanilla ice-cream is truly one of life's little luxuries and perfect for our picnic. After the much appreciated brief respite to snack, Mads and I came somewhat into this reality and in one swift choerographed motion, bounded up and into the kitchen and front room like two desperate cats in water to once again make things somewhat presentable for tomorrow. Now, all I have to do is prepare the kabobs, shuck the corn, make the salad, ready the tabbouli, make the apple pie and the official version of the crisp we sampled tonight, clean the bathroom, mop the floors, tidy the laundry room, freshen up the little girls' room, prepare the back yard, and cook the food. Ahh, did I mention that I work until 2 tomorrow and I have everyone coming over at 4? No fears though folks as I was just reminded of a few simple truths. We can always cross our fingers, bless the stars that we only invite good friends over in the first place who love us and help us tuck away less flattering piles of daily life, and know that it is my party and it isnt starting without me!

We prepared the veggies for the skewers tomorrow
Fruits and veg are awaiting their entrance into the party
Here is the fruit crisp as we sliced the poached peaches and combined the ingredients for the crisp

*Have a seat on my couch*

Yesterday was a crazy day at work! There I was at my weekly meditation session though traditionally, some may call it therapy, and right as we were getting into some good stuff, my phone began vibrating. Now, my people at work know that my Wednesday mornings are reserved for my personal time, and so when my phone rang as I sat on the couch, I assumed that it must be BIG. This is true! It appears that though my staff understands the importance of my Wednesday morning ritual, the state auditor for the bank had not been informed. Needless to say, I stopped mid-sentence, got the call, and bolted out the door for work. I do not believe that this sort of event which only comes by every two years or so is something that I would be able to follow my own timeline. Well, now it is all said and done and a big sign of relief as it appears that we did quite well. Hurray! So what do I recommend to bring yourself down from 60 mph to 0? For me it meant looking at fun websites, playing house in my head, and looking at the Alice Lane Blog. Enjoy the loveliness of my favorite store here in Provo which inspired my home. More photos on that coming up. ENJOY!
http://blog.alicelanehome.com/

*Walk in my garden*

OK folks, I am back with all of you, and why not? It is spring and flowers are pushing up through despite the temperamental daily environment. Saturday we got my garden finished with planting and then Monday after weather in the 80s, there was what can only be described as a total snow storm which knocked out lilacs, african daisys and some of the weaker budding flowers. Let me take you on a tour of some of the scenes of my yard coming to life. Enjoy!!

My front entry after removing the spiral topairies with wisteria just planted to grow up the posts and across the porch. There are also the rust lanterns to welcome friends.

Window boxes upfront

A window box off of the front railing

Walking into the backyard on my pebble path. The swing is just out of the frame on the left and the shed and cutting garden are just on the right.

My sitting nook under my "popcorn tree" - a perfect place for a cup of tea

When the popcorn trees begin to bloom

My reading nook and corner garden in context next to the cutting garden

At the base of my ladder looking into the orchard behind. There are pumpkins, squash and zucchini below

My old wooden ladder from the orchard looking into the lilacs~

My favorite flower of all, english daisies

Tucked in my little corner of the yard, my favorite place of all... english daisies and soon a big peony bush.

A look through to the lilacs

One of my favorite photos. Anyone who knows me knows that I adore grape hyacinth. I took this before the garden was planted. Beautiful brown earth mixed with the different textures around it.

Somethings to marvel at

These were too beautiful to cut to bring inside and this way I can share it with all of you~

*Boxing Day*

Now that the holiday season is over, just like you, I have the sad task of having to pack up what so many of us see as happiness. So, last night, I wrapped up my Christmas tree, filled my newly purchased ornament snapware, and removed all traces of Christmas from my home. It didn't upset me to remove the snowmen and nativities alone, but the gentle reminders of peace, love, and hope that we are all better than the news states day after day. Perhaps I shouldn't be so simplistic. Why do I look to these symbols to remind me to love a bit more, or trust humanity just a bit more than I would typically expect to? Well, because a bomber stepped onto a plane Christmas day and tried to create another horrific scene of panic and hopelessness. Perhaps because people who are "too qualified" and desperate for employment are being turned down for positions like the ones that I offer because they have lost their current jobs due to downsizing, the stars, whatever it may be. Perhaps because daily I have to look people in the face who are on track to lose their homes, their cars and so eventually their jobs. So, for me, packing up the advent calendar, the pillows, the cookbooks and other paraphernalia, was more significant than in years past. It was harder for me to put away those daily remembrances of the dream that we are better than the sum of our parts. That it will be OK. That we can collectively fix this, and that we get to trust more and judge less. So, for this new year here is to love, to safety, to security. And perhaps I will put up some hearts and glitter for Valentines day to remind me to once again love my brother.

*There is potential in this old house*

Sorry everyone, I was trying to email these to a few people, but it wouldn't work, so if you want to see some of the fun that is unfolding in the next week or two, enjoy. If not, no worries. PS- you might just get motion sick. Enjoy!

*The Game Plan*

Ok folks, I do best when I have some sort of accountability so here is my to do list

Today since I got off work early for the holiday and have admitted to slumming around lately I get to complete the following:

Make homemade clam chowder ( I made corn chowder yesterday but it wasn't as creamy as I like it to be)

Do two loads of dishes

Hang up the current laundry piles

Do two loads of laundry

Change the sheets and make the bed

Wash the fabric to make the table linens for Kelsey's wedding

Iron Linens and sew table cloths and napkins

Choose the ribbon for each set of linens

Whew! Well I will check in later and let you know how I do. Today has been a cleaning day both at work and now at home.

*****

Ok, it is now 11:15 pm and I have completed the following:

Three loads of laundry, three loads of dishes, washed the fabric for making linens, incredible clam chowder (roughly the third thing I have ever made that Brian said is good!) changed the sheets on the bed, hung my current laundry piles. Whew, a good night and I even got in watching waaay too much of my new obsession on television, Bones.

* I am unfortunately an open book*

Here is a little bit about me. When I am tired and stressed, a few things happen. First, no people are invited over. My home gets overwhelmed and dishes pile up on all surfaces. It starts to smell like cats, and their hair seems to follow wherever I go. My clothes stop getting hung up and instead get piled on my closet shelf. I stop changing my sheets every few days, and making my bed every morning. I start going to sleep later and later each night, and on the rare day that I don't work, rather than spend time with friends or working on projects, I sleep.... all day. One day I woke up at 1, today I got out of bed around 11, but then ended up taking a four hour nap in the evening and missed seeing my sister and her children for dinner. I stop cooking and doing the laundry. My car fills with bags of what should be happiness while at the same time, my refrigerator becomes bare. I have now recently added a new symptom to my list... I stop writing.

Right now, I am blessed in many personal ways. I love my husband. I love how he knows what is best for me, even when I hate him for being right. Fine, it is true that it is better for me to go bed to read and and get drowsy before he comes in. Yes, I am crotchety and toss and turn for the first hour at night, but by the time he comes in to blow out the candles, I am snugly and sleepy. I love that he has navigated the subtleties of my needs, and is supportive by allowing me to simply be without complaint.

So what is bothering me? I suppose that we all know that we become more vulnerable to stress from time to time in our lives for various reasons. Sometimes this is due to finances, family, or work. Currently, it is all of the above. It seems that the outside forces are more oppressive that I have been prepared to negotiate and of course, all of this happened to coincide as I thought it was an appropriate time to get off of my anxiety medication. Hmm... perfect recipe for disaster.

So how does one get past this phase when work will most certainly become yet even more stressful and difficult, when a family member has chosen to continue to indulge their absurdities causing pain and isolation, and to cope with it all, I fell off the wagon for a short time financially trying to buy some peace and happiness? I don't know. Tonight I decided that perhaps the thing to do was to simply chose to move on. So, tonight, I write. I have nothing to say except that I choose to rejoin the human race and I hope that you will indulge my rusty attempts. So, here is to cleaning, to budgeting, to writing, to forgiving, to managing, to cooking, to working, and to smiling. Wish me luck, and lets end this quarter in style.

*Signs of the times*

As I drove home through my regular route, I noticed a cute college age girl sitting on a darling picnic basket on a billboard with scrapbook writing. It was darling. Vaguely interested, I read the caption assuming that it was for one of the local housing communities offering bliss and a happy home starting in the 200s. Not quite.

"Birth control makes all other choices possible"
- planned parenthood

Creepiest billboard ever!

*P.S. I Love You*

I love it when you search my eyes. I love feeling you breath on my ear. When I hear the steady rhythm of your heart, I am daily grateful for the simple fact that I am in possession of it. I marvel at the way I fit into your arm nook, and that though we have been snuggling for thirteen years, each night we drift towards each other in our sleep, and each morning we find our arms and legs twined together as if they are only comfortable when colliding. I am the one with whom you have chosen to share your heart and hopes since we were children and I am learning to be a loving steward of those dreams. You are the most gentle man I know, and I am sorry that I have been the cause of callouses in your heart. I pray for our marriage to be the completion of our joy in this life. Thank you for accepting the fact that though I may be perhaps a touch dramatic, I attempt to use that gift to issue dramatic and true apologies. Thank you for being mine for the last seven years. Happy Anniversary.

Brad and Carli, simply the most lovely couple I have ever met

Berries in cream

Sea shells in the bathroom look good again

*Gilding the Lily*

Some things are encased in God given beauty. My friends Brad and Carli are so stunning in their wedding photos, I described it as a perfect ad for a life insurance commercial, you know, protect the ones you love? Guess what, she wears a touch of make up anyhow. I have young ones around me whose glow in their cheeks are like strawberries in cream. They still are dressed well. I love my bare feet. I still get pedicures. I have heard it said that God is truly an artist. Anyone who may doubt this need only look at his color palate and creativity to confirm the statement. And yet, he has given us Barb. Like any artist, she has only one name like Cher, Madonna, or Martha. Barb is an artist who has taken the beauty and simplicity of a shell given by God, and then gilds it, literally. She has taken the tacky out of shells on a bookshelf or the bathroom and has left little painted miracles in her wake where ever she may go. Forget less is more, sometimes, MORE IS MORE! This teal and gold conch version is mine. If you want your own, invite her over and perhaps the muse will strike again~

Facing the bed: a vintage fan replica, Annie's art, and my jewelry station (note the red accents)

Our bed:his side with the Japanese print with red pops, my side with the photo of our feet with red again on the bed.

On his side of the bed I have some oversize pillows that we are just waiting on a basket and my collage I made of tender things of our relationship with a red backdrop. I know, collages are silly, but mine rocks!

My dresser top with the old mirror, candles, and perfume. I feel like an adult when I have some lovely perfume on my dresser.

*My bedroom project phase 2*

Last time, I showed you my latest home improvement project when I installed wainscoting in my room. Today, I used Suzanne's great eye for arranging accessories (something which completely eludes me) and we went to town! It started with a trip to my accessory shop in the basement where we pillaged for candles, depression glass, a retro fan, and all manner of lovely things to pull together the space. Then, with the power combined genius, we started hanging mirrors, paintings, chandelier, and the like. All I am missing now are photographs of us blown up and cleverly arranged, my new silver sage rug, and a french market wire basket to hold my oversize pillows at bedtime.

Ah, the thrill of fabulous~

*Souvenirs*

My father traveled to Asia on a fairly regular basis when I was a child. I recall that though it was tough to see him go, it was always tempered with the satisfaction that when he returned, he came bearing gifts! I lived for these sorts of physical evidences of his love for us. A souvenir was his way of showing us that even when he was across the globe, we were there in his thoughts. I recall him bringing home paper fans, seaweed candy sticks (also known as yucky I taste like death sticks) and mega pumped up business class travel kits. I loved it when it was my turn to get the little black travel bag stuffed with mini toothpaste and toothbrush, sleep masks, floss, etc. This is something that I still look to see as an adult. Brian learned long ago, that when he goes on a trip, I delight in seeing (and have sadly come to expect) a token of his affection upon his return. In high school after a trip to Mexico, he came back with little rocks he collected over the week in every color of the rainbow. I would have never known it was possible to find a blue rock, or a yellow one let alone a perfect pink rock. After we were older and married, he went on a business trip to a work convention and knowing how obsessed I am with quality ink flow pens, he brought me home, to my utter glee, two gallon sized Ziploc bags of nothing but quality pens. It is now roughly 6 years later, and I still have an enormous box full of them, even after allowing a few sisters to raid my stash. Now that I am taking trips on my own, I have elected to continue this tradition myself. I have come bearing chocolates, books, and then most recently, a gecko.

Don't worry, you read it right. I returned from my latest romp to the humid land of Houston, and marvelled at the little critters that I just don't see in Utah. I was wooed by the lush grass, completely forgetting that in Texas, the grass fights back with an invisible terror-chiggers. I remembered that I was once again in the land of the cockroach and lizard. When I know that though I am in their territory, it is a temporary situation, I am able to enjoy the exotic nature of their existence. After returning home to my dry life in Utah, imagine my utter amazement then when I opened my suitcase two days after getting home, and something odd caught my eye. Right there, on top of my patent leather stilettos was an actual living creature. A gecko just ran onto my shoe and watched me, likely just as amazed that he had made it through the non-pressurized stowage cabin of the airplane as I. When I finally determined that I was in fact lucid, and this creature was here watching me, I went to get a glass to remove the new found friend. Returning just a moment later, he was gone. He may be in a nook of the still untouched suitcase, or perhaps scurried off to create a home for himself in the living room, maybe is is now fast friends with Mary Morey. Ooh, poor thing. I have a house of four bored kitties who love to chase flies and bugs.

*My only thought to my new house guest is good luck buddy*

*This I Believe*

-Marriage is a process, not an event.
-The twilight series rocks! If you deny it, it is because you either haven't read them yet, or like to lie.

-Never eat the last bite, all the fat is in the last bite.

-Wickedness sometimes IS happiness.
-Yes, your voice really sounds like that.
-If you think that it is a hassle to shave your face, don't ask us to shave our legs.

-If it looks that good on you, get it in all the colors!

-Shoot, you want a boob job, satisfy your bliss.
-I love my body, learn to love yours.

-It is only money.
-Never hold a compliment.
-Fine, I admit it. I am hard to buy gifts for.

-Hitting on someone at their job is just rude, after all, they are being paid to be nice to you.
-Ohio, Iowa, and the Dakotas just don't count. No offense.
-Just like you find fault in my family, and think I have it rough, I am thinking the same thing about yours. The good news is, we get to live our own lives, not each others.
-A photograph lasts forever so... yes, those pants do make you look fat.
-If you keep having problems with coworkers from one job to the next, YOU are the problem.
-Go ahead, you deserve it!
-Church is too long.
-Give until it hurts.
-Have you ever meet anyone who arrogance or cockiness look good on? I haven't.
-Running is for gerbils on an exercise wheel. We have adopted it, and that's cool, but lets not forget who it is made for.
-It is exhausting to be charming all the time, so give us a break.
-The better you dress, the better you are treated. So do not go around wrinkled.
-Fish and house guests start to stink after three days.
-Never trust a skinny cook.

-The "Not to be rude" game is the greatest game of all. Watch! Not to be rude but that shirt looks great on you! Or not to be rude but I love having you around. No matter what, it is rude!
-Crazy is OK so long as it is unintentional and you rock at apologies.
-If your apartment is ugly, blame the landlord, if your house is ugly, blame the owner.
-I'm cancelling my subscription to your issues. (thanks Ram)

-Not all babies are cute. Some take your breath away, and not in the good way.
-People are nicer to your kids if they are dressed well.
-Though advice is fun to give, it may be wise to hold it in. It can create scars.
-Smoking is tacky... I don't care how cool you think you look, you smell.
-Cheap perfume is never worth it. Your budget punishes the rest of us.
-For you to ignore a family that loves you is your prerogative, but keeping your kids away from family that loves them, makes you evil.

-If I keep calling you a cute pet name like love or sunshine or sugar, that means that I don't know your real name.
-Reality TV allows us to be a voyeur in a socially appropriate way.
-Being constantly late means that you value yourself more than others.
-The more you horde, the less you have.
-I am a bad neighbour, and I like it that way.
-Cookies and cream ice cream solves essentially all of life's issues.
-Not all children are loved equally.

-Just because Bush was a total moron, doesn't mean that Obama rocks. I know, lets keep spending monopoly money! But Bush was horrible, yeah, and?
-Often old people are abrasive so that we don't overlook them. Squeaky wheel, right?
-All that is tacky is housed in Florida. Google eyes on seashells, Miami airport, really?
-Men really do want a women to be home and take care care of them. A hot dinner isn't that out of whack. Maybe June Cleaver knows something.
-He with the most friends on Facebook wins.
-If you choose to have kids, they deserve to have you raise them.
-Blogging makes us feel that what we have to say is somehow important.
-I love my nieces and nephews that I see often, not those whose names I don't recall.
-I like to be superficially superficial.
-The more righteous you claim to be, the less I believe you.
-Overdrafts are because you are bad with money, not because the bank if out to get you.
-This post is slightly abrasive.

*Listening is an act of love*

Yesterday I chose to sit quietly and just listen. Shutting the world out, I luxuriated in omniscience. I spent hours with voices filling me with the most beautiful confessions of love, sickening recounts of ignorance and hatred, and anecdotes of the splendor of decades past. I welcome you to one of the truest forms of love for our fellow man, StoryCorps. This is a project I came across through NPR (National Public Radio) which documents moments of every day Americans' lives. Those seemingly trivial moments and memories which slip away with age, illness, and pain. These are three minute excerpts of interviews between individuals who know each other intimately. I listened in on mothers and children, parents and teachers, sisters and neighbors, laughing with them, sobbing, and learning from them. One of the many that I repeated over and over again is a simple one called "Mom teaches Son That "Love is What You Do." It is from March 5th and the whole episode is about 2 minutes. There are a few things she said to her eleven year old son that were so beautiful to me, I thought almost instantly of how important it is to share them with you. I bring you a reply from a Florida mother to her son's query of her happy and hard times with her husband.

"Marriage isn't always pretty. I think sometimes we act like children and we need to be more mature about it because it is a privilege to be married to somebody and you need not to disrespect it like that, like sometimes we get angry and we do. . .I think your dad has taught me the meaning of love. Love is as much a feeling as it in an action. . . to love somebody is not just how you feel about them, but what you do also."

I am sure it may seem silly how moved I was but these few phrases, but I was struck with images of my own marriage of seven years. How over the years, truthfully, we have not changed. In our actions towards one another for the most part we are the same as we ever have been, but rather now, we have found peace and love through our treatment of one another.

At work, I chat. Clients come in to discuss their personal finances, and because of that, we often diverge onto other matters of importance in our lives. We begin a true conversation of the battles we face "choosing in" to this life day after day. One such conversation was held last week with a stunning and loving client Lillian. Lily is married to her second husband, and she wants passionately to be well matched. She loves him. She wants to be with him, and yet, she often feels a sense of lacking. I shared with her a similar time in my own marriage, and how I was able to escape that empty feeling towards my spouse. I told how there was a time when I just decided to pretend that Brian was the man of my dreams. I pretended that we had a well suited partnership, and that I wanted nothing more than to be in our home together, and treat him as the man of my most intimate prayers. I shared with her that as I treated him as my supreme match and love, eventually, I forgot that I was acting. Despite the years of pain, sorrow, and loneliness, he became that ideal match for me. As I treated my spouse, so he became in my eyes. It isn't that he has changed himself, only that I chose to shift my focus to those divine qualities he possessed rather than those I found fault in. How magnificent to be in a relationship with someone who chooses to see the perfection in us, rather than the failings. After all, that which we seek, will always come true.




Please enjoy listening to this beautiful interview which caused me to contemplate what love looks like in my own life as I am sure it will cause you to do with yours.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101507281

StoryCorps website states, "StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate one another’s lives through listening."

*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!