Tag: organization

To-Do List Revisited

With only 8 days until my parents’ arrival, and this weekend approaching, it’s time to re-visit that ole to do list. Picking out the most important items and conquering this weekend will make me a happy little clam. Wait, I don’t think they have clams in Kansas….

Well, I crossed off the “done” and made the 5 most important items bold, for some self-guidance.

  • Put up the Christmas tree (did it this weekend!)
  • Do “something else” with the fireplace (paint or replace items inside)
  • Purchase a rug pad for diamond jute rug in living room
  • Purchase a rug pad for zebra rug in guest room
  • Clean off the guest bed so it’s sleep-able
  • Generally make guest room ready for guests
  • Do a little more festive Christmas decorating
  • Decide yes or no on outdoor Christmas lights (we have no outdoor plug so improvisation will be necessary)
  • Get a shower curtain (right now we just have a liner)
  • Curtain clips for the dining room (so the curtains won’t look so much like high-waters)
  • Hang higher curtain rod in guest room
  • Do a little kitchen re-organizing
  • Buy groceries (so they don’t starve while they’re here! Our fridge is usually a big cold empty box…)
  • Liven up the white wasteland that is the hallway (halfway there!)
  • Hang pictures in guest room and master bedroom
  • Frost window on kitchen door and in bathroom (I want to try this)
  • Paint front-door dresser and move cold-weather accessories into its drawers

It looks like I’m about one-third one. Breaking the list into thirds is not a bad strategy, I guess. Some of these will probably not happen, but the guest room MUST be prepared. I’m trying to avoid the cop-out solution of “stick everything in a box and move it to the basement,” which is an option but I’d rather go through, organize, and put stuff away in appropriate places instead of hiding it downstairs where it won’t be seen for the next 5 years.

What I wish I could do is get a proper curtain bar for the guest room. Proper fixtures really can transform a room! Currently the curtain rod is a flimsy light metal that sags in the middle and does not cooperate with the fabric of the curtains. I don’t think they’ve been opened since I put them up. It’s a shame because I love the way the guest room’s color pallet is coming along–much more than the master bedroom! I may have to move down the hall!

Packing

Who knew that a person could get rusty at packing? When I was going to school in San Diego and spending many weekends in Temecula (where my parents live) I was a pro at packing a weekend bag–I had it down to a 15-to-30 minute science, in fact. My how things have changed.

Last weekend we went on a quick overnight trip to a friend’s wedding. I haven’t really gone anywhere since last Christmas, so I was a bit rusty on the whole “packing” thing. I got all my makeup but forgot my foundation. I brought my favorite dress but forgot the top is a bit… loose… and forgot to bring a camisole to wear underneath (an embarrassing situation was avoided due to the lucky find of a straight pin.) I forgot my straightener and hairspray. Let’s just say that packing in a rush did not pull me through this time. I mean, the trip went OK and despite my complete lack of preparation, I looked passable.

We’re going on a four-day trip soon and I am starting to pack now. Things will be better this time! I’ll have enough completely put-together outfits for the amount of time we’ll be gone and I’ll remember other things like traveling snacks, a variety of shoes, all my makeup and hair essentials, etc.

What is the one thing you cannot travel without? 

Industrial Shelving

Next time I have the opportunity to fill a whole wall with shelves, I am going to seize it with both hands and do it! I’m thinking painting a pattern or wallpapering behind the shelves first, then putting up rough industrial shelves: gray brackets and white or light pine boards. I especially envision this in/near a kitchen, holding nicely stacked groups of dishes.

I love the repetition of using the same wood and brackets for the whole space, and leaving the back open so the wallpaper or bold wall color can peek through.

Here are some inspiration pictures, gleaned from Pinterest (click the image to get to the original source):

From Country Living (my personal favorite)
From Apartment Therapy
From Roseland Greene

Excellent. Inexpensive, chic, and useful.