weekend recap | getting stuff done at home

 

veggies from D's dad | abby waiting patiently for her treat | hedgehog closeup | blurry selfie, since i rarely post my face on here.

This weekend was just what I needed. I think D and I were both craving some time at home to do some cleaning, watch movies and relax.

On Friday night we watched FIBA Americas (basketball). Then on Saturday, I had a laughing fit with the seniors at our dance fitness class. The theme was ABBA and we came up with some pretty creative choreography. "Jump with my baby", turned into us miming being pregnant while hopping up and down. Almost everyone was in stitches. Maybe you had to be there?

Saturday night we watched The Beach - I know. I can't believe it took me this long to watch it. Apparently, it's a classic Leo movie. I liked it, but I feel like it started going downhill about halfway through. The whole gameboy scene was a bit wacky.

Today we got a few things done around the house that we've been procrastinating on. Hung a curtain in the living room (pics soon!), cleaned 3 windows, and hung up this painting I did a while ago.

I try not to see the mistakes when I look at it. I do like the hair though and it's the first of my artwork I've ever framed and hung. Plus I think it coordinates well with the wall colour.

What did you do this weekend? Fill me in.

Thanks for stopping in,
xx Janelle

sundays are for ... cleaning?

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a lovely, relaxing weekend. I usually tell you about how Sunday makes me want to bake, but today I went on a cleaning/de-cluttering mission.

the only photo i have of myself "cleaning", Summer 2011.

Although I still managed to be lazy for most of the day and watch multiple episodes of Say Yes to the Dress & the latest Amazing Race, I managed to cross these items off of my to-do list:

- put away half of the gigantic pile of clothes taking over my closet.

- re-organized my big drawer of toiletries. my parents & D's mom always give me a slew of bath goods for Christmas. i have unopened bottles of almost every bathroom 'necessity' including 3 sugar scrubs, 8 bars of soap, 4 toothbrushes and 3 things of floss. seriously!
- scrubbed the burners of the stove. this was so long overdue.up until today i had to strategically pick which burner to use based on how little it smelled like smoke when i turned it on. (gross, i know. but i'd rather be real about it)
- 2 loads of laundry. baking soda in with the towels to make them smell super-freshhh.

- washed utensils.

- cleared off my dresser, went through my jewelery & set aside anything i didn't wear for donation.

Sometimes completing a bunch of little tasks can feel so good. I know it isn't that much, but it was a serious step toward simplifying the apartment. One of my goals for this year is to focus on paring down my possessions and focusing on the non-material things that make me happy. When we next move, I do not want to lug around a bunch of junk. My gimpy little arms can't handle it. I want to take only the things I need & love.

There were, and still are, things around the apartment that need to be done. But they can wait. My dog needs cuddling.

PS: I'm thinking about doing a short series of posts called The Lazy Girl's Guide to Cleaning.It would have quick cleaning tips for when you only have a few minutes and some very simple green cleaning methods. Would you guys be interested in reading something like this? Let me know your thoughts and any suggestions on areas of the home or specific tasks you want me to cover.

Casa Fridays: Mini Closet Makeover

Good morning!

I'll have a post up today with before & after pics of my storage closet. In the meantime, check out these creative closet makeovers from Real Simple magazine. 

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As promised, here are the before & afters of my storage closet. Note that the Before is actually midway through as I only realized I should take pictures after I had already pulled out all of the cardboard boxes that were stacked there.

Avant

Apres

Please ignore the large door on the side that looks like an old piece of plywood. Our closet door in our bedroom kept coming off the track, even after being repaired, so Darryl took it off and we're storing it here for now.

This is what we were up to on Victoria Day! D started vacuuming and this motivated me cleaning out the storage closet. I used to have to keep my dresses in the coat closet which was not very convenient. That added to the fact that I also have gym clothes in the storage closet, pyjamas in a box under the bed, clothes in a dresser and in my room closet made me consider the storage closet as an option for a 2nd closet. So I pulled out the mountain of boxes in the closet and rearranged the rest of the junk and pushed it to the opposite side of what you see in the photo. (That's when I took the before pic) Then after I vacuumed and washed the floor I moved in my plastic storage container, all of my dresses & my jewelery hanger. A new walk-in closet in one hour and fo' free!

Thanks for reading,

xo Janelle