No we aren't renters and our house isn't in forclosure...

I know. I have "that" yard. Its embarrassing. I realized this summer that even though I LOVE gardening, and I love working in my yard, I DO NOT love the heat, so even though the year started out right--well...I now have weed patches where my flowers are. The flowers are still there for the most part--just truly overshadowed by all the weeds. Its sad. This month I am spending an hour out in my yard every day. My goal is that by my anniversary on the 24th of this month (so 20 days from now) I won't have "that" yard anymore. It won't be perfect but it will be pretty and on its way. I will after that spend time prepping the yard for the winter. Next spring it will be easy again to get going, and then next summer I am hiring someone to come and maintain it throughout the summer. I've learned this year that the heat is too much for me. And that is ok. Its good to know and understand that. So for June, July, and August I will have someone coming to help maintain my yard so that my minimal time I can spend out there is enough.
Having made this decision I am not so overwhelmed thinking, its just going to get like this again next year--why bother? pave the whole thing over. haha...--Instead I am thinking ok. I can get this back--and then it won't get like this again. And that feels good.
I'm sure my neighbors will be thrilled next summer when they don't see my yard turn into a weed patch. And maybe we will stop getting realtor letters in the mail saying we can help you sell your home right now as is...because when they drive through the neighborhoods--it won't be my house that sticks out like a sore thumb.
Instead it will stick out for all the right reasons.

Jilly's Room Check.

Another room Yay! Each time we accomplish one of these big todo's off the list it is just relieving, and mind boggling at how there always seems to be a million more projects to do in the house. Especially now--we've been here 8.5 years. Paint colors are ready to be changed. Chips in walls need to be fixed...the blasted NEW range is having problems...it just never stops. So what makes it home? that we don't wait for it to be perfect to LIVE in it. and lived in my home definitely is!
I'll share a few photos of the latest project now before I'm off to see what needs to be done next.

Korey worked hard with the help of my brother Jay (not picture)

Since by time I got home he had left.
I don't have the whole gruesome tear apart pictures but here are some from as it was being finished up. Terrance is Jilly's Puppy and man he was confused

Looks like he adapted pretty quick though!

The room looks awesome! And Jilly has a nice new room to sleep comfortably in. She's even been hanging out in there during the day the past few days, which never happened before. (and if you had seen the carpet you would completely understand why)

 One more room down at the Christensen House. Just need to get her chair rail put up between the peach and the stripes. Quick and easy project though. :) The best part for me is that this means we have started working on the bedrooms! I know mine isn't next (too much square footage) but I think this winter we will get to tile the bathrooms upstairs and maybe even get the art studio done! By the end of next year though the upstairs will be like we moved into a new house. YAY! without boxing it all up and going through that whole process. Which is great because the truth of it is, I love my home. I love this house, and I love making it home. I never had that before. Its really rewarding to see it coming together into not just a house but truly into our home. Our dream home.

Organizing those dang grocery bags...

If I could completely have it my way I'd never have these grocery bags--but hubby's good sense and economics prevail...so now and then instead of using my reusable grocery bags (or when I forget to take them with me to the store--or even sometimes take them to the store and then leave them in the car...ever done that?) I get groceries in plastic bags that we reuse for garbage bags in the bathrooms, bedrooms and for quick trash cleanups around the house.

 Well I had purchased a couple of these wire baskets to help give me more storage in my pantry.
Unfortunately plastic bags are like rabbits, I think they make more and more as they sit places...







so now now my basket looked like this...and it was never even intended to be the home for the bags.

 

 So tonight I decided enough is enough I need that space. I want the snack area to be easily accessible so you don't really have to think. Just grab a snack and go. I've worked hard to make sure that there are snacks on hand that are healthy, and give good energy. So dried fruits, nuts and healthy bars. But if we can't find them in chaos then what's the point of having gone to that trouble?

So I emptied the basket.

 Now what to do with the bags?












I was getting ready to throw out an empty disinfectant wipes container when I had an epiphany. I could up-cycle, utilize wasted space and still keep the bags that I'd worked so hard to collect (haha)

So I stripped the lid till it looked like this--I took the flap part of the lid and attached it to the bottom of the container because I like the color and wanted to see a little peek of it on the soon to be top.


I printed out a free stencil pattern that I liked,
and wrapped it around the jar.

I placed the bags in the container pulled the top
bag through the hole and secured the lid

Looking Good!!!

Next I cut a hole in the back. I just used a pair of scissors and made a stab. Nothing pretty...you'll also notice my wrap doesn't go all the way around. I figured it would be against the wall, why print out two sheets and try to line them up etc. etc. I may use fabric to cover my next one (I'll be making these for each of the bathrooms and bedrooms!)


I used a basic 3M hook and put it on the wall in the pantry making sure I wasn't blocking my access to anything.

 Finished Product--What do you think?

 Even better? I've now reclaimed my baskets for their intended purpose.
Healthy snacks. Check.
Easy to find. Check.

Not bad for a few minutes work.
(took longer to make this post than it did to complete the project!)

Cleaning Indoor Air with Plants

I've come across this amazing article of some of the best plants to help keep the air in our homes clean! Enjoy!!
Cleaning Indoor Air with Plants