Category Archives: Home Projects

Jun 29

Staycation: Backyard Pool Time

Summer is James’ crazy-insane-busy time at work. Instead of heading off for a family vacation we opt. for staycations during the summer. This year we are working on the backyard. 

  
We spent a lot of time clearing the site and hauling in lots of dirt to level the ground. 

Last weekend we dug in and got the pool up, and pavers buried. 

  

 
We filled the pool, but we haven’t been swimming just yet. We are still getting the chemical balance just right. 

  

I get the job of testing the pool in the morning and evening. It is pretty fun though, my inner science-nerd can’t resist playing with chemicals.

Hopefully we’ll open the pool on Friday or Saturday. I think it is going to be a great addition to our little outdoors. 

 

Feb 11

Stockpile Building

Over Christmas break, I started noticing that we ran out of everything way too quickly. I was always in the kitchen cooking a meal, making more cookies, and then cleaning up another mess. The kids were hungry around the clock, and when we ran out of something I didn’t want to drag them to the store. That got me thinking about stockpiling…

I haven’t kept a decent stockpile, or a proper stocked pantry since Dylan was a baby. I haven’t once a month shopped since Thade was a baby. I also haven’t hadn’t kept a decent coupon binder since Agnes was a toddler. I need to get back to being better organized, and keeping a better stocked kitchen.

First I need space. Since I have a (ahem very) small kitchen, I started out by cleaning out the cabinets. I cleaned out a lot of clutter, and we gave some unused small appliances to a good friend of ours. Once I had a little more space to work with, then I started list making. List making is my favorite!

I’m building up my stockpile, one week at a time. I’m allowing an extra $10.00 – $15.00 per week on the grocery budget for items to stockpile. That way I won’t break the bank, or use up too much space.

Here is a little of what my list looks like (all prices are estimated):

Week 1:

  • BBQ Sauce (5) $5.00
  • Brownie Mix (5) $5.00
  • Pasta Sauce (5) $5.00
  • Cake Mix (5) $5.00

Week 2

  • AP Flour (3) $6.00
  • Broth (3) $6.00
  • Sugar (3) $9.00
  • Mustard (3) $5.00

Week 3

  • Spaghetti (5) $5.00
  • Ketchup (2-3) $5.00
  • Asst. Ramen Packets (10) $3.00
  • Black Olives (3) $6.00

Week 4

  • Dried Beans (4) $6.00
  • Rice 5 lbs $5.00
  • Mac & Cheese (5) $5.00
  • Re-fried Beans (4) $6.00

I pick an item or two per shopping trip, and add it to the pantry. So far it is going well. We are running out of Saltines a bit too quickly though. I swear my kiddos eat those non-stop. I’m trying to think of more non-perishables to stockpile that we’ll use.

It seems to be an ongoing battle in the kitchen with a tween, a teen, and one cute picky girl that doesn’t want to eat what the boys are eating. What about you… What do you like to stockpile in your pantry?

 

 

Jan 6

Clearing Out The Clutter

img_7830

While the kids home for a good three weeks on Christmas break, the house got trashed… There is stuff piled here, there, and everywhere, it is driving me crazy! Monday, I woke up extra early, and cleaned the living room. I got a big bag of clutter out of the house, just from one corner of the room. I was feeling pretty good about it, so I moved on to one of the kitchen cabinets. I got another full bag out, and now I’ve got a little more space to store paper towels. Both of those cleaning tasks were fast, and I’m going to keep it up throughout the house.

I’ve also cleaned out the closets. I cleaned out my closet, and all of the kids closets right before Christmas. I love the donation bins around town, they make it easy to donate unused and outgrown clothes.

Today, the kids were back to school, so I spent a lot of time just catching up on dishes and laundry. Next week, I hope to get a few larger cleaning projects accomplished.

 

img_7773

Apr 27

Summer Quilt

I think I started a quilt for Agnes two, three, or maybe even four years ago. Last weekend, I finally finished it.

IMG_6471

I found this fantastic vintage sheet at a yard sale sometime last year. It was the perfect size to back the quilt.

IMG_6479

Agnes loves the bright colors, and the quilt is the perfect weight for warm Summer nights.

IMG_6480

Maybe I’ll make another one or two in the future.

 

 

Oct 20

Cleaning Out My Closet

You’ll see the chore of cleaning out the kids closets/dressers often on my monthly to do list. I don’t always get the task done, and it gets bumped into the next month. While James was on vacation, I was catching up on the mountain of laundry from upstairs, when I looked at my own horrible cramped closet… Something needed done. Agnes was happily hanging out with Dad downstairs, and I decided to dig everything out of my closet and start from scratch.

It sounds silly, but here is what I tell myself when I’m doing a deep clean-out:

  • Do I love it? If I don’t, then it goes
  • Do I actually wear this? Again if I don’t, it goes
  • Just when did I wear this last? If I can’t remember, then it’s gone
  • Does it actually fit my body now? If it doesn’t, be it to big or a’hem way too small, then it is gone
  • Is it beyond repair? I have a slew of vintage goodies hiding away in my closet, if they are too far gone, then they go
  • Is is age appropriate for me right now? Again, this is one that I am coming to grips now that I am in my 30’s. I want to dress what is right for me now, not what was o.k. for me a decade ago
  • Does it fit in the space that I have? I have one (small) closet. It is home to my entire Summer/Winter wardrobe, a whole bunch of bags, and a library of books, and shoes too. I don’t have a lot of space, so I have to use it wisely. I also have an antique vanity in there. Seriously, cramped quarters in the closet.

Once everything has been sorted to either toss, or donate. I put the remaining clothing back up in order. Yes, OCD has a hold on me. My closet goes from left to right, and is in this order: Dresses, Skirts, Pants, Tops, Sweaters, and Jackets. All in R.O.Y.G.B.I.V. arrangement too, by section of clothing. It is a bit obsessive, but I can literally get dressed in the dark .

  • Another thing that helps me… I don’t have an emotional attachment to clothes… It is strange, but I just don’t. That really helps when cleaning out the goods.
  • Also, bag it up, and get it out of the house. I get everything that is going to be donated into my car. That way it is ready to go when I run next batch of errands. Anything that is in the trash bins gets taken out right away, no second chances.

This last clean out helped my space issue drastically. I cleaned out four grocery sized bags of clothing, and felt great when it was donated. I took the time to organize my handbags by season, and they neatly fit on the top shelf by the books. I ditched a lot of shoes too… I can no longer wear sky-high platforms, and that is o.k.

The closet still needs some work. The bookshelves need tended too, and reorganized badly. One step at a time though…

What about you… Do you love cleaning out the closet, or do you dread the task?