'LIFE JUST GOT A LITTLE EASIER' DECORATING. SPRUCING UP THE INTERIOR OF YOUR HOME FOR LITTLE OF NOTHING

'Life Just Got A Little Easier' Decorating.
10 STEPS TO SPRUCING UP A ROOM.

SPRUCING UP the interior of your HOME for little of nothing can be a snap.  Do you hear that? A snap.

AFFORDABLE and inspiring.  

SUGGESTIONS.
1) DECLUTTER the room right off the bat.  
2) GAME CHANGER by vacuuming, sweeping and dusting.  A clean room is a GAME CHANGER, right?
3) PAINTING the room a different color is the number one thing to be done to create a different MOOD and cause an overall big affect.
4) HANGING DIFFERENT PICTURES.  Some Public Libraries allow pictures to be checked out for HOME use.
5) CHANGE THROW PILLOWS on the furniture and beds.  Pillows created out of placemats, bedspreads, handkerchiefs, tablecloths, old curtains and sheets are just a suggestion for recycled pillows.  Last I looked at the thrift store, they had an abundance of gorgeous throw pillows on the cheap.  SHOPPING THRIFT can be an outlet to embrace.  Hello THRIFT.
6) REARRANGING the room's furniture.
7) ADDING SLIP COVERS to the furniture or different bedding to the bed can change everything.
8) SWITCHING OUT different curtains, shades or draperies.
9) ADDING a new fragrance to a room.
10) MOOD MUSIC.  Turning on some quiet background music adds charm.

There you have it.  A spruced up HOME for little of nothing.  'Life Just Got A Little Easier'

I'm working on the decluttering part as I speak.  This is a work-out for me as we downsize and smile all the way to a thrift store for a drop.  GRINS.  

I have a large box of items by the front door to haul off.  Taking it to the GOODWILL.  I'll add some clothing that I have hanging in the Utility Room waiting to be dealt with.  Amen.

Plans.  The storage unit will be shuffled some to make room for muscle racks and then we'll begin to declutter the cellar and make sense of decorations and other items. 

Praise the LORD.  We're morphing into more organized peeps.  The chaos is downsizing.

May you have the best day,

~d 

SOME DECORATING IDEAS

Gathering decorating ideas.

Trim work adds a great deal of character 

to this stair rail area.  

From plain jane to a glamorous wall.

BEFORE

AFTER

GARAGE IDEA


Storage idea worth copying.



BATHROOM
An added archway about the shower caught my eye.

A great idea for the vanity wall. 

Porch idea.

Kick yo' shoes off and sit a spell.

Though the porch floor is rather rough, 

the accessories add a distraction.

A long time ago I took a college decorating class where the instructor told us to keep a picture box full of decorating ideas for future use.  I did for a number of years.  

If you came across an idea that you liked, 

you'd save it. 

Here's to gathering ideas,

~d

SMALL TOUCHES

THE LITTLE WHITE SHELF THAT I HAVE KEPT WITH ME IN A BOX FOR YEARS, finally made her way to hang on the wall in the LIVING ROOM.  I simply sat a small, white pitcher filled with faux Lavender on it. 

💕Love it.  💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕 💕

Going SIMPLE to declutter my space in this tiny COTTAGE.  Making our HOME a HOME with small touches.   This downsizing at an older age has been a bit tricky for me, but I'm making headway at it.

GOD BLESS and HAPPY DECORATING,

~d

SOME DECORATING AT THE COTTAGE

Some greenery above the antique mirror brings the outdoors indoors to warm the room and I really like having greens above mirrors, pictures and windows.

Greenery at Christmas: an overview
The history of bringing greenery indoors pre-dates Romans.  In early times, evergreen plants represented new life in mid winter, and gave hope for the spring. The Romans had a Saturn Festival at a similar time to Christmas, and decorated with greenery.

Why do we bring greenery in at Christmas?

By the late Middle Ages almost all surviving church records include entries for the purchase of holly and ivy in the winter. For Christians evergreens symbolized eternal life and the promise of the return of life in the spring.  We know that private homes would also have been dressed in greenery at this time of year.

A NATIVITY SCENE IS DISPLAYED on the antique walnut chest that sits in the Living room on December 1st which pleases me that we started the month out with placing the Nativity Scene.  I placed some twinkle lights behind the scene.  Makes for a HAPPY face to have this Nativity scene out.  I wasn't sure if we'd get to the place where we would even have one due to overcrowding from moving boxes.  

A few days ago, we came across two vinyl storage boxes in one of our storage units holding the stable in one and the people with animals in the other.  Took these boxes HOME and today the pieces were unwrapped and displayed.

This morning I woke early because my neck hurt.  A pain in the neck stands true.  I got up and took a potty break then sat in my blue chair reading.  In the early hours of the morning I located a red table runner to lay on the chest before getting the stable out.

I made a special trip to St. Marys to purchase two faux Juniper Berry garlands that I hung above the mirror and above the HOME SWEET HOME picture.  

I know 37 PINE has faux garland when I saw them about ten days ago.  They are 20% off.  37 PINE is beautifully decorated for the Christmas HOLIDAY.  So festive.  They'll be having their OPEN HOUSE on Saturday and more than likely they'll sell out of their garland that looks so real.  

I bought some last year and have yet to get it out of the shed.  Where are you and in which BOX is a mystery.  I had truly hoped that before CHRISTMAS I would have gone through all the CHRISTMAS DECOR and thinned down also relocating the boxes into the cellar.  AUTUMN was so busy I didn't get to this.  Didn't happen, but it's not the end of the world.  When we have a warm snap I hope I can get back to it.

Back to bed I went and fell asleep waking mid morning.  I felt better after sleeping.  My stomach has been a little queasy.  7-up time.  

I'm staying in my housecoat today all day resting.  A load of laundry is going.  The rubber seal around the door of the machine was cleaned as the machine smells slightly musty.  Washing blue jeans.  Will launder some towels and curtain panels through the day.  I'll be tinkering on everything else.  

It will be pleasant to have more things off the floor and in cabinets.  The KITCHEN pans will be worked on off and on.  

YESTERDAY was a very full day as we returned the moving truck to it's rightful place.  VICTORY.  We accomplished getting much off the property.  Hubby had emptied the truck earlier in the morning and we needed to return her before 1.  We succeeded then drove on over to Manhattan to get Hubby a BIG BRUNCH at IHOP.  We went to TARGET to look for blue carrots and of course I just wanted to browse.  I visited with my Mom and Sister ON THE CELL PHONE while browsing the store.  They are both terribly ill.  

Remembering that 37 PINE in St. Marys would be having their OPEN HOUSE on Saturday, I drove on over to St. Marys to purchase some Juniper Berry garland.

There will be little decorating in our HOME this year, but will have some greenery in various places.  No tree.  For the front door, I would like to find my plain faux green wreaths that are in the shed and simply place Burgundy colored velvet ribbon on them.  Burgundy instead of red.

UPDATE on the selling of the house.  We have a contract.  Inspections were done along with the appraisal.  There is additional expense when selling property and the expense of it comes out of the proceeds.  If everything goes well, we are thankful that we will not have to WINTER the property.  Closing date will be soon and we will celebrate.  PRAISE GOD.  Praise GOD.

When I go over to the house, it's like a dream that we have moved.  Already a month has passed since we started sleeping at the COTTAGE.  Our big adventure started.  The digging out of the boxes will be a thing of the past in 2024.  Clearing the storage units will take us until SPRING.  I'm not going to kid myself, it will take until SPRING.  SO much stuff.  It will be answered prayer to be in order and have downsized.

ANSWERED PRAYER,

~d

DECORATING THROUGH CHANGES

Finding MY TEXAS HOUSE on facebook, I turned to admiration for this woman's decorating taste.  ERIN.  I would like to morph my decorating style more in lines like this.  This natural looking phase when it comes to decorating seems to be more in lines with a Scandinavian decor.

The trends change often as we skedaddle through LIFE.  The shabby chic phase was a hot one for decades.  Still popular.  Chippy paint was welcomed into home interiors.  I couldn't get into it at the time when it first became popular, but have relaxed a great deal with the distressed look with all its dings.

FARMHOUSE DECOR with natural textures, whites and lots of light colored woods have made their mark on this go round of decorating.

I believe I will RELAX my decorating and get on with LIFE.  Naturals and neutrals will be welcomed. 

~d

 

GREAT NEWS!

THE PHONE RANG THIS MORNING.  Over the week-end, I saw the health update from the surgery in my health portal, but wanted my doctor to tell me in layman terms what's the skinny on it.  The cancer was contained.  He'll see me in a month for follow up exam and a visit.  PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW.

CANCER CONFINED.  It's a concern when you do not know when the slow growing cancer started growing in the first place.  No way of knowing.  So when I heard I had cancer, this came to mind.  Just how advanced is it?  Has it spread?  So many people were praying for me.  I am grateful.  

I've been walking on the side yard sidewalk a little each day and need to walk again this evening. Walked early this morning already which contributed to a needed nap.  Very HOT outside, so if it cools some that would be welcomed.

Eating well.  Breakfast was yogurt.  Water to drink.  
Lunch was an Asian Salad.  
Snack was cheese and crackers and Star Bucks Iced Green Tea.  My fav.  
Supper was chicken tenders with sweet potato fries and water.  

I plucked some mint from a patio container which I added to a bottled water with some lemon added to sip on.  I've been adding lemon to my morning water and am getting the hang of it.

My mint has taken a HIT from this KANSAS HEAT.  To me, it's neat to pluck a herb that I planted a few months ago to use in water that I sip on.  NEAT.  I could get into his whole HOMESTEADING MOMENT THANGY if I tried even on a small plot of land.

Easing up on pain meds some and taking naps.  First week after surgery is behind me.  Into week two.  My incisions look good, but I'm still quite sore.  By next week-end I hope they are less tender.  I carry a great deal of fat on my gut which is a nuisance.  It'd be better if that was not there.  Insulin resistance.  Thyroid resistance.  Doesn't help at all.  

In a couple of months, I will have to focus on gut exercises to see if some of this unwanted fat disappears.  Eating better and planning on continuing to do so.  Very important to be getting nutrients and getting healthier as I go.  

  

HOMESTEADING as an old woman is likely to become a new HOBBY for me. Taking an interest in this could get INTERESTING to say the least.  FARMHOUSE DECORATING has a very relaxed feel to it and I think I could unwind with that.  Switching over to this style will take some undoing as I turn loose of things and re-evaluate what the heck I'm doing these days.  Daily LIFE should not be taken for granted. 

Years ago, I had taken an interest in making my own soap and candles.  Lotions and creams was in there somewhere.  Natural skincare.  There's an audience for this these days. 

I may make some RAG DOLLS.  Take that old woman and see what happens. 

How do you morph from one style to another?  Not always overnight.

Does it really matter how fast I morph?  No.  It's a personal thing that I will oversee and be blessed to see it take place.  After all, it's just things that I will have arranged in my HOME and that's the way it will be.  Does it really matter if any one else likes it or not?  Nope.  It's a personal thing. 

 

TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS 

HE HATH DONE,

~d

FEELS LIKE SATURDAY TO ME!

GLAD IT'S ONLY THURSDAY.  I have stayed in my housecoat ALL DAY working on sorting through financial papers.  Making headway and needed a break.  

I took all the papers that were in one rather large cardboard box and made individual piles for each account such as Banking, checking, savings, retirement, credit cards, etc.  

This morning I began taking a pile at a time and sorting through the pile dating each paper on the upper righthand corner for quick identification of dates then putting the papers in monthly order.  When I finish a pile, I go to the next one.  I am so contented to be making progress.  ahhh.  

I like having my paperwork in order.  This downsizing phase is helping me move forward in LIFE as an older woman.  Once again I will have order.  After our 2016 fire, all the order I physically had was gone.  Total mess.  After 5 and a half years, I have finally been able to dive into the boxes that we had stored in the garage shed.

It's like having a heavy load lifted off my chest.  

My plans are to stay in my housecoat and work all day focused on paperwork getting organized. After these financial piles are done, the medical box full of info about health issues and individual accounts will be dealt with.  I know I have medical papers from as far back as 1987.  It use to be when you visited your doctor, that as you were checking out you were handed a piece of paper showing what you were there for, the diagnosis, tests ran, etc.  Here's your receipt. 

I want to keep these older papers as a LIFE HEALTH JOURNAL.    

No more is this done.  It's now, you owe us this much, no paper, no print out, no nothing. I SUPPOSE I COULD PRINT OUT MY OWN AT HOME to keep on file for future references such as why and when I went to see the doctor, their diagnosis, medicine prescribed, follow up. Might come in very handy.  I know there have been times that my recall of when I had such and such doesn't come to remembrance.  The health portals are very helpful these days for recall if the portal is up and going.  I started printing out my pages.  I know more paper, but it sure is handy having these print outs on hand for quick recall.  

After going through THYROID CANCER, I began to do loads of reading and printing off articles that I wanted to keep on hand.  Each health issue will have a file on it.  

THYROID
DIABETES
OBESITY
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
CHOLESTEROL
NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA
VITAMINS AND MINERALS
DIETS/FOOD PROGRAMS
BLOOD WORK/LABS
ETC.

I may have a medical library after I get done.

YESTERDAY I MADE ANOTHER TRIP TO TOPEKA.  Had a great time getting out.  I returned to OFFICE MAX for a wider binder for my greeting cards.  This morning I transferred my 25th Wedding Anniversary cards into a 1 1/2" thick binder.  This size holds the cards nicely.  I wanted to get a sparkling silver colored binder representing our 25th Wedding Anniversary, but they didn't have this color.  I may have to try the internet for my Wells Fargo Wagon order.  

OFFICE MAX did have a gold sparkly one that would be great for one's 50th Anni. cards.  I bought a ruby colored one for when I come across our 40th Wedding Anniversary cards.  I have them somewhere around here. 

When I glance at the book shelves, I will know in an instant that those are our cards.  Silver binder for 25th anniversary cards, Ruby colored for 40th and gold for 50th.  Instead of having these cards boxed up, they will be in binders sitting on a shelf.  

Each Grandchild will have a binder in either light pink for the girls and light blue for the boys or I will chose a special color per child.  Don't want to make this complicated.  I've already done that and it kept me from being productive.  

Welp, I had better get after more sorting.  I've finished retirement papers, credit union, savings account piles...now for checking accounts and credit cards.  I'm forging ahead and will have another paper shredding day very soon which is actually FUN.  

Did I ever think  P A P E R  would have such importance in my book keeping?   

N E V E R! Here I be going through papers GALORE again.  

Fine tuning is a must.

ALSO went to SAMS as I saw the day before some wonderful interior paint with primer  called Tribute CONTEMPORARY WHITE made by KILZ in eggshell.  It has a blue undertone making it look slightly gray.  

I checked this paint and color out on the internet and liked it thinking it would be a good fit for our COTTAGE and our BUDGET.  The price was exceptional.  We bought enough for the COTTAGE's two bedrooms, living room and dining.  It's a soft white that I believe will be relaxing to be around.  

 

With a gift card from my Oklahoma Family, I ordered a book I had on my WISH LIST.  It arrived yesterday and I am so please with its content.  BEAUTIFULLY ORGANIZED A GUIDE TO FUNCTION AND STYLE IN YOUR HOME BY NIKKI BOYD.  

I came across Nikki Boyd's youtube channel a few years back and fell in love with her style and ability to organize then when she wrote this book... I wanted it.  I waited.  I FORGOT.  I remembered.  I ordered.  I received!  

The book is chalked full of helpful ideas.  One can watch for FREE her videos which are all informative.  www.athomewithnikki.com 

She has recently relocated so I know there will more than likely be newer videos coming out about her new HOME.  

I like the bright WHITE cabinets and the airiness of this KITCHEN.

Back to it.  I had a nice BREAK now to get after another pile of those  w o n d e r f u l  PAPERS that aren't going anywhere unless I help them along.

AND AWAY I GO,

~d~

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Dollar Tree bathroom DIYs for a *LUXURY* look on a budget!

WAY TO GO!  Helpful hacks that won't break the bank.  Upgrade items and make your money go further. Made me smile.  

That's the ticket,
~d

NEW CHANDELIER and THRIFTING FOR FUN

THE FAUX CANDLES SITTING ON THE FIREPLACE MANTEL ARE LIT helping to warm the room up.  Peaceful flitters of light coming from the fireplace this time of day warms my heart.  Makes the room cozier.

I'm slowly wrapping up my grown children's childhood Christmas ornaments and putting them away.  Slower than molasses.  I enjoyed seeing these on our tree this holiday.  It's been a few years since I decorated a tree with these.  Very sentimental to me and a warm blessing to recall all the CHRISTMAS PAST we have been blessed to have in our HOMES along the way.  Good memories that I cherish.

STILL IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT...as I was deleting the 'not so good' pics off the camera chip, I reminisced our outings during the Holiday Season.  What a lovely HOLIDAY I had.  January's colder than cold temps has not kept me frozen for long when warm memories come to life. January is here for sure, but I remind myself that Spring is coming.  One day closer to Spring.  It is during these cold months that I warm my spirit with thoughts of a beautiful Spring coming. Irises will bloom in their new location at the COTTAGE around April. 

Yesterday, I went to St. Marys with a $15 PINE DOLLARS coupon to purchase something at the new shoppe 37 PINE.  Walking out of the store with 5 faux cedar sprigs that cost me nothing because of the coupon.  These Christmas sprigs were marked down 75% off.  Originally the sprigs were $10.99 each marked down 75% off making them very affordable then the coupon was used. This is the kind of sale I covet.  A big score for someone on a TIGHT BUDGET.  I look forward to decorating for CHRISTMAS next year using FAUX greenery indoors.  Will start in November and leave through January. 

The week before, I was treated to long faux cedar branches 50% off that I will display in various places in our COTTAGE for the holidays.  

Had a pleasant day out and about as it was 60 degrees with blue skies.  My kind of day.  In the morning we hung the new Chandelier in the Dining room.  Also a larger different medallion.   LOVE IT!!!  SO pretty.  OUR new addition.  

Much nicer than what was there.  That Chandy will be cleaned and hung elsewhere in this old house.  I think maybe in the Media room that is presently being used for storage.  Another PROJECT underway.  Each day, I take a few items out of there to clean the room out.  Slow process.  Making headway though.

CHANDELIER UPGRADE:

Modern Chandy with Old World Charm to it.

Tuesday, I did a lot of driving, but enjoyed my outing immensely.  A Rachel Salad for Lunch at Sugar Creek Deli, 37 PINE for Christmas Sprigs, back HOME because Hubby forgot to take his morning meds, over to daughter's house to pick up HOME-MADE loaves of bread she had made for us, Dollar General, off to TOPEKA to God's Storehouse to thrift.  Successfully DONATED to charity bags of Hubby's clothing that he no longer wanted along with two pairs of shoes, a little of this and that.  Then shopped at Natural Grocers for some veggies, Sams for coffee pods and coffee cups, Panero Bread for Bread Bowl of Cheese and Broccoli Soup, and finally Menards for special light bulbs for our new chandy.  By the time I drove HOME in the dark, I was tired, but it was a nice kind of tired to be. 

A thrifty find GERITY GEORGIAN PRODUCTS.  
Just the right size for serving smaller salads at HOME.  
Petite Georgian Serving and Salad Set.

Hubs unloaded our spoils.  He's wonderful to have around.  We took the evening off. No movie or tele.  Just a quiet place to relax.  Lights out.

TODAY, we started the morning with Eggs with AVOCADO on toasted Ezekiel English Muffin. Very filling and I'd do this again.  Organic Free-Range soy-free eggs, organic avocado on Ezekiel muffin.  Welp what can I say, we tried it and I believe it was a nutritionally dense meal.

I wish I had gotten more done today and that bothers me at times.  Oh well.  Perhaps I had better accept that I am who I am and this is as good as it gets.  I managed to get two care packages filled for LOVED ONES and mailed.  Taping up and addressing boxes cannot be considered aerobics...right?  It takes more out of me than I want to admit when wrapping boxes.  sigh.  But I did it!  

Paired Husband's socks and folded undershirts then put away.  
Went to Media room to tink about some...what a huge mess. 
Worked on ornaments.  
Watched a few videos on how to prepare foods.  Surely I can learn some new tricks.  After coming home from shopping, wash the greens right away such as Kale.  Slice it and place in large bowl to pour lemon juice on it then add olive oil to it placing the Kale in a baggy to refrigerate having it ready for when you are ready to eat it.  Whaalaah...a new trick to use.    
Went through the mail.  
Took price tags off my faux greenery.
Deleted pics off camera chip. 
Put clean dishes away. 
Shuffled some stuff. 
Went through piles of old papers.  This is overwhelming as the pile has grown.  
I have yet to try the new shampoo and conditioner.  Gotta get this done right now.  
Waiting to hear how my Mom is doing.  She had a doctor's appointment yesterday and was asked to return today.  She has a lot going on health wise.  

Spaghetti for supper.  It's been awhile since I ate Spaghetti.  Can't wait.  It's one of my favorite meals.

Until next time,
I hope all is well in your corner of the world
where ever that is,

~d