Holiday & Home Progress Week 5

Time for another weekly check in! I admit this past week was not as focused or productive on my holiday goals. That is fine, it is still early and nothing is really pressing to get done. I am attempting to follow the weekly plans at Organized Home.

I did put up a new wreath for fall on our front door and swapped out some artificial flowers I have in some baskets. I went from spring to fall flowers in those. 

I need a mirror here on this wall! 

I didn't declutter much more, but I did set out a lot of things on my front porch to give away. Nearly everything was taken within just a couple hours. I feel so much lighter. 

Yes, I gave away toilet paper!! It was scented and purchased by mistake. My body didn't like it and I know those fragrances are not good for our bodies. In addition to the giveaways, I did list several things on eBay and Facebook marketplace. I sold two, but the rest seem to be slow on the sales front. I think several will be donated by the end of the month.

On the Christmas front, I did receive a small gift list from one of my daughters with instructions to purchase one of them as soon as possible. I need to get on that right away. I'm so excited to already be to the point of making gift purchases!

How was your week? What did you accomplish that you feel good about? 

Slow Decorating Progress! Still No Tree Up!

It's a full week into December and we still have not put up our artificial Christmas tree. That is first! We are slow decorating this year. A little comes out at a time! I'm actually really enjoying it. 

My pictures are random and not necessarily the order that I brought them out. 

I made this wreath for the front door, with supplies from Hobby Lobby. Grapevine wreath, six various springs and some ribbon turned into a bow. I did have to watch a YouTube video on how to make the bow, but it was quick and fun to put together! 

I put out this sign on a windowsill. It might just be my favorite decoration this year! 

And this might be a close second. Simple felt berries added to a basket of greens. 

Here I swapped out the pink flowers for red, and the white lantern for the tall red one. I like the items all separately, but not sure I yet like the grouping. Oh you didn't know I wasn't a professional decorator! Well now you do.

The day after we returned from our Thanksgiving trip we did put up two strands of globe lights on our front porch and balcony. They come on every night for a few hours. 

The next day I put the pillows I made in early November on the chairs for a little pop of color. My mums are still hanging in there...may have to move those at some point. 

Our nutcracker has emerged as well. He is in our dining room, but I may move him to the upstairs hallway by our girls bedrooms. He can greet them each night when they go to bed while visiting. 

And I popped this little sign up on the shelf in my kitchen. 

Slowly little infusions of festive Christmas decor are filling our home. I'm finding it very pleasing!

Is your tree up? Are you done decorating or are you doing a similar type of slow decorating? 

Slow Christmas Decorating

Have you heard of slow decorating? The idea is to put something new out every few days in the days (or weeks) before Christmas. The idea is that the season and preparations unfold and present themselves slowly, so that each new addition gets its own time to shine, to be noticed and appreciated for the gift it is to the home.

Generally, we decorate our tree and put out the other decorations on the same day, often the weekend after Thanksgiving. However, we are traveling until just after Thanksgiving. I think instead of a whirlwind decorating session just after a trip; why not let the decorating come into our home slowly and with appreciation?

For example, that basket above looked like this during the fall months. It's nothing fancy just some greening in a basket, usually on a shelf, with a couple fall sprigs.

But a simple switch of springs and it looks like this! 

Or if that isn't clear, I imagine it might go something like this:

The tree goes up with lights. Maybe add our gold star ornaments a few days later. Maybe the remaining ornaments don't get hung until the girls are home to enjoy the experience.

On another evening I pull out the nativity puzzle and set up the manger with the sheep and oxen. I could set the other pieces out another day.

And on even another day, I put a wreath out on the front door.

Slowly, the season unfolds.

I just like the idea of it!!

I'll let you know how it goes. There is likely a downside to this, but I won't know how it feels until we try.

What is your decorating tradition? Do you have simple decorations or do you go all out? Have you heard of slow decorating?

Inspired But Not Planned

This summer I picked up four free light green adirondack chairs, two of which are on my front porch. I started thinking about how I may want to decorate the porch this year for Christmas, and realized I might like some pillows for the green chairs. Something in red was coming to mind.

I took myself for a date at Joann's Fabric, and picked up two yards of Christmas fabric on clearance. Likely last years stash! By the way I bought one yard too much...I only needed one yard for my pillow project. 

I got to work using Martha Stewart's instructions for an Envelope Backed Pillow Cover. 

Keep in mind this decorating project was not planned, simply inspired by the new to us chairs. Chairs we didn't own last year! I really don't try to find projects to do in the midst of the holiday season, but I trust that when they are inspired they are the right thing to do. 

I made two covers and put them on premade pillow inserts. Here's how the pillow looks on the green chair. 

This chair happens to be on our back porch, but I really like how it turned out! I will share front porch pictures once we actually get the decorations out this year. I don't really recommend projects like this in the midst of busy season, but I did get a lot of joy out of making the pillow covers and I'm looking forward to a little refresh of our front porch this Christmas!

Be kind and gentle to yourself! Know when a task or project will bring you joy or stress. Choose only those that bring you joy! 

Getting Things Done: Sew Pillows

As you can imagine, I'm still loving my church pew! It's one of those things I'm so glad I finally finished and it makes me happy each time I see it. I decided to go an extra step and make pillows for

it. 

I found upholstery fabric on clearance for $7 a yard. I bought just one yard to make pillow covers they way Martha Stewart does here using the envelope method. I also bought two 16"x16" pillow form inserts for $3.49 each at Walmart. My total cost was just $14. 

I may change the fabric up for different seasons. They are very easy to whip up and swap out. Here's how they look on the church pew. 

Sorry a bit of a dark day for the photo, but you get the idea!

So this wasn't on my original list of things to get done this month. I just had to add it once I had the pew complete. And it still feels good to get right on with something I want to do rather than wait and procrastinate. 

Have you ever made your own pillow covers? What method do you use?

Fall Porch Decorating

This Getting Things Done series is really helping to motivate me to get things done and checked off my list. Please keep reading and cheering me on, it's working!

I haven't decorated my front porch for autumn the last two years. This year I thought I'd take a go at it. And preferably with little investment.

Here is the door before:

And here is what I came up with without any outlay of cash.

I decide my little grouping needed a mum for the smaller pot. And I found a small white pumpkin at the grocery store to add. I thought about making a wreath, but I'm calling this done! In total I spent $4 for the mum and $2.99 for the pumpkin.

Another item I can check off the list! And the reason it is getting done is because I put it on the list. This is one of those items that, if I was overwhelmed, would get crossed off and skip. But this year, I'm in a good place to get it done.

What can you check off your list today?

Christmas Mission: Another Tree Decorated

We were traveling over Thanksgiving. I had hoped to have our main tree set up with lights before leaving. That didn't happen.  We did get it up yesterday, just a day after arriving back from our trip. 

I'm going to guess the tree set up was just about an hour, maybe less! There were three of us adding all the ornaments, so it doesn't take too long. We also set out some scented pine cones, our nativity, the stockings on the mantle and some table top decorations.

There were some things I didn't set out this year: Christmas themed picture books, small tree and ornaments, and two Royal Doulton figurines. My husband put them back in the garage. I may pull them out later if I feel we need more in other areas of our home. I'm really liking the simple decorations! I just don't need decorations everywhere. 

Have you decorated your home for the holidays? 

Christmas Mission: A Tree Decorated

I posted on the Organized Friends Facebook page on Saturday night that we had put up our 'second' tree! This is a first for us to decorate before Thanksgiving just so you know. I feel like I have a good reason though. We are traveling for Thanksgiving. I expect we will be exhausted when we return on the weekend, which means the likelihood of decorating that weekend is slim. 

In the past we have decorated the Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving and I liked that! It was very festive getting the house trimmed. Last year, we were also traveling, and we didn't get the tree up until the following weekend after Thanksgiving. It felt really late.

So this year, as part of my Christmas Missions, many of which take 20 minutes or less, I'm adding decorating to the list. The tree above is our second tree that we set up in our bonus room. This tree has coordinated ribbon and ornaments. It's not nearly as sentimental as our main tree. And because it is not sentimental it is super fast to put up. I'm guessing my husband and I got it done in about 30 minutes. (I now wish I set a timer! )

By the time you read, this I expect we will have our main tree at least set up in our living room with lights on, so when we return from Thanksgiving we can enjoy adding the ornaments that have stories attached to them. 

Does anyone else decorate their home before Thanksgiving? If so, why do you do it? Are you traveling or celebrating Christmas with out of town family over Thanksgiving? What Christmas Mission can you accomplish today? 

Attempted Decor Update

Laundry rooms came up on the Organized Friends Facebook page recently. I thought I'd share ours. 

It's functional and has just what I need. It's not particularly pretty, which makes me a little sad. But look how there isn't any laundry visible. It's all clean and put away! For the most part you would only see laundry in here at the times we are doing laundry. What a concept huh? 

We hide a broom, the Swiffer and the ironing board behind the door. They are all slim enough to stay put even when the door is fully open.

In an effort to improve my laundry room, I found a picture to put up. The picture was actually in our downstairs living area. I had been meaning to take it out of it's frame because I knew that behind it in the same frame was our family picture! I had covered it up with a landscape picture when our home was on the market (Spring 2015).  Time to show our faces to the world again.

I found an unused frame (technically it is frameless) just the right size for the landscape picture. After cleaning the glass, I installed it on the wall in the laundry room. Here's how it looks now:

I'm not sure I like it, but it may be better than a blank wall. The best part is I did get the photo of our family visible and I tried to make use of something I already had to improve an area of my home. I think I maybe just am no longer a fan of these types of frames. If that ends up being the case, then I know I have two to donate!

What do you use your laundry room for besides laundry? Do you hang art or decorations in your laundry room?

Time to Plan

It's the beginning of the month! Again.

I find this is often my signal to create new goals. A few goals each month helps me focus on what I want to accomplish, improve or pay attention to in the weeks ahead.

I know that without this blog or my plan to get some cleaning done in March that I would have accomplished far less. The goals for me are the first step to guide me where I want to end up. Writing for the blog adds an additional push to keep moving forward on those goals because I know someone is reading. Right now, I see my April goals being a mix of home and health. Design and weight loss to be a bit more specific.

I have some goals to improve the decor in our home this month. Primarily we need to make a few changes to our living area. We are in need of an area rug, coffee table, a couple end tables and lamps. And I admit need may be a strong word. We want to make some improvements would be more accurate.

We also have a church pew that I want to refinish. It has been mostly stripped of its stain previously and currently sits on our covered porch. The next step is to finish removing the stain, so that we can stain it again. It will then come into our home and into our entry hallway.  I have never stained a piece of furniture before and I have been putting it off long enough.

The health goal is going to be to lose weight. I have eaten too much and moved too little in last couple years and it is shows! I'm going to try a Diet Bet this month that starts on Monday. The goal will be to lose 4% of my weight in four weeks. I will bet $30. I hope the risk of losing money will motivate me to make the right choices that will help me lose weight. And by right choices, I mean moving more and eating less (likely by counting calories).

Thanks for reading about my goals! Have you considered goals for yourself or your home this month? Do you want to share?

Decluttering By Putting Items to Use

We have lived in our current home since mid July. I'm finally doing something about getting our bedroom curtains hung. They have been stuffed on a shelf in our master bedroom closet. I realized those are clutter! And I'm tired of that clutter.

We purchased two curtain rods for the girls rooms this weekend. We also installed them! (Yes, we can put curtain rods up in our rental, as long as we take down and repair wall before we move) 

There is something about curtains that make a space just a bit more cozy! 

And now one of our closet shelves has less clutter! I'm not entirely sure if we are putting our master bedroom curtains up. I'm starting to lean towards yes...especially now that the sun is waking me up earlier than I prefer on the weekends! The other advantage is less clutter!!

Do you have anything sitting around as clutter that could be put to use, thus eliminating its status as clutter? 

The Planning Is Paying Off

We have three events to attend in the next 8 days! It's going to start feeling a little busier. And it's about this time of year, where I'm very thankful for all the planning I did in November. It's stressful to try to be shopping, wrapping and baking when there are more activities you are invited to attend or chose to attend. 

Part of the 'Holly Tree' in our yard

As of yesterday all of our cookies, bars, and breads are baked and tucked away in the freezer. Our final batch of cookies were Raspberry Jam Thumbprint cookies. I originally planned to bake those this coming weekend. I moved the baking of them up to accommodate my husband's need for cookies to take to work for a cookie exchange. The nice thing is he only needed 2 dozen and I made five dozen, so plenty left for us at home without needing to go to the store. And now I don't need to bake any more cookies this season! 

I've been working on our meal plan for the rest of December. I have MOST of the days complete up until December 24. And a few meals are planned for the last days of the year. It's just those few holiday meal days that I haven't yet firmed up. At least I'm closer. I'm making a bean chili this week that I will have leftovers for another meal later in the month. And the same goes for a rice dish I'm making that I think would freeze well. I've made sure that there are plenty of simple meals in our plans to accommodate for the few busy days we have coming up, one of those being just having a baked potato and salad for dinner. 

We are also done decorating! We took two evenings to put up our two trees. Each one by themselves didn't take more than 45 minutes. (I'm guessing on the time, but that feels about right.) I liked that we separated that task out, rather than cramming it all into one evening...likely exhausting ourselves in the process.

There isn't much left on the Christmas 'To Do' list. There will be the wrapping of gifts once the final ones arrive in the mail. And of course, at least two more trips to the grocery store. I guess I will have to make the lists of items I need at the grocery store too. This task never seems to end does it?

The other big task is to get a couple of gifts mailed. I decided that I'm not going to worry about getting them to arrive as close to Christmas as possible. This would mean going to the post office during the really busy times when everyone else is going. I figure once I have the gifts wrapped they can be boxed up and mailed. And since they are wrapped gifts, the receiver can decide to wait closer to Christmas if desired. Less stress makes me feel better!!

What have you done to reduce your holiday stress? Did planning help in any way? Do you have more activities you attend or participate in this time of year?

Decorating & Decluttering

We were able to get our two trees up for Christmas this weekend. This is the latest we have ever put up trees, so I was very ready to have them up and decorated. Here's our main tree:

And I did what I mentioned last week. I decluttered while I decorated! I asked my daughter to help. She was so good at finding the ornaments that no longer resonated with her that she was trying to let go of ornaments I had as a child. I'm still not ready to let them go! They still make me happy. We do put them on the tree every year, so no reason to let go yet.

We found 12 ornaments, a polar bear figurine, a Christmas CD and two Christmas themed picture books. A total of 16 items out of our home. I honestly could have parted with more, but not everyone is ready. Our memories and attachments are all different, so I chose to respect that and keep these things for now.

One of my favorite decorations is some vintage ornaments from my grandparents. Last year I popped a few into a blue Bell jar and tied on a ribbon. I had them in my laundry room window. Just the right amount of festive for a small room. This year, I have put them on the counter in our guest bathroom. At least for now. If I find a better place, I will move them. 

Did you do any decorating, decluttering or both this weekend? Do you have any favorite decorations?

Declutter While Decorating

I had this thought come to me, so I wanted to share even though I haven't acted on it yet myself. I'm going to declutter while decorating for Christmas! I'm pretty sure there are items in our Christmas bins we don't use each year, In fact, some things NEVER get put out. So why are we saving them?

We plan to put up our trees this weekend. As we put ornaments on the tree, I'm going to decide if we keep each ornament or not. Most still have meaning, but some do not. Sometimes they don't even get hung. Those are the ones that need to go! (Of course, I already took care of the lights!)

We store children's Christmas books, movies and CDs in the drawers of our family room tables. I'm going to scour those as well. With one daughter in college and another in high school, I think the picture books read at Christmas are a thing of the past. I'm pretty sure they haven't been read in at least two or three years.

Another place to look for Christmas clutter now, is your kitchen. You may have holiday dishes, linens, Christmas themed serving pieces, holiday cookbooks and baking items. If you don't like, or use, let them go. So many recipes can be found online now, so don't save a book for just one recipe. I can only think of a few items we have in our kitchen specific to Christmas (salt and pepper shakers, cookie cutters, and two mugs) and I think they all can stay for now.

Do you keep old Christmas cards? If you come across those consider if you want those saved. If you rarely look at them, or wouldn't know if they have been lost, it might be time to recycle either with your regular paper or mail to St. Jude's. Do you have excess stationary you don't plan to use? That can be recycled too. One year I made sure to use up the various extra cards before buying more. I saved money and decluttered at the same time. And Christmas wrapping is another place to look for excess clutter! 

I'm excited that I can keep decluttering while I prepare our home for the Christmas season. So often it feels like we have to put it all on hold while Christmas happens, but if we do a little during the midst we might just end up with less at the end of the season. That is my hope at least!

Do you have excess Christmas decor that you can declutter this season?

Gift Progress

We just returned from our Thanksgiving festivities yesterday. We made sure to get right on putting our things away. I even did four loads of laundry!! I didn't have my December meals planned, but we did make it to the grocery store with a list in hand. I think this week I can get to planning the rest of the month's meals.

The really good news is that I am so close to being done shopping for Christmas! I ordered two final items for my husband this weekend. I can only think of one thing that still needs to be ordered online. I'm primarily down to one gift and some stocking stuffers. I have a plan for those, too, so that feels really good. I may just make my December 1 goal to complete shopping, if I can a lot done today! (No big deal if I don't since I'm so close.)

I expect several items arrive in the mail, so expect to hear that I did some gift wrapping later this week. Of course, I don't even have a tree up at this point to put the gifts under, but what fun it will be to have gifts to put under there as soon as I do!

Right now our plan is to put up the tree this weekend. This will be the latest I have put up our tree EVER, but we have never traveled so far away for Thanksgiving before. I now actually understand why some people probably put up their tree BEFORE Thanksgiving. Of course, there is no right or wrong way, right?

Did you get a start on your holiday shopping? Are you finished, or close? When do you put up your tree?