QUARANTINE HAS THROWN A HUGE WRENCH IN ALL OF OUR PLANS BUT WHAT BETTER TIME THAN NOW TO TACKLE THOSE TO-DO LISTS. I KNOW I HAVE FELT ACCOMPLISHED BY GETTING SOME PROJECTS DONE THAT HAVE BEEN NAGGING ME FOR A WHILE. SOME OF OUR PROJECTS THIS YEAR REQUIRE A BIGGER BUDGET SO TO KEEP OUR COSTS DOWN DURING THIS UNCERTAIN TIME WE HAVE DECIDED TO TACKLE ALL OF THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WE NEVER SEEM TO HAVE THE TIME TO DO….
Magazine Wall
THIS HAS BEEN PROBABLY MY FAVORITE PROJECT IN QUARANTINE. I HAVE HAD THIS COLLECTION OF VINTAGE ARIZONA HIGHWAY MAGAZINES FOR A WHILE NOW AND I HAVE JUST BEEN WAITING FOR THE PERFECT IDEA TO COME TO ME. THE COVERS ARE WORKS OF ART, AND I KNEW THEY WOULD MAKE SUCH A COOL DISPLAY PIECE. I HAVE HAD A BLANK WALL IN OUR GAME ROOM FOR A WHILE NOW AND SERIOUSLY ONE DAY IT JUST HIT ME THAT I JUST NEEDED TO MAKE A GALLERY WALL USING THE MAGAZINES. AT FIRST I WAS THINKING OF FRAMING THE MAGAZINES, BUT AS WE KNOW FRAMES CAN BE EXPENSIVE AND BUYING 12 ADDED UP. SO I WENT FOR A MORE AFFORDABLE AND VINTAGE LOOK BY USING BULLDOG CLIPS AND DISPLAYING THEM LIKE YOU WOULD SEE ON A COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD. I DID AN ORDER PICK UP FOR THE CLIPS AT MICHAEL'S, SPRAY PAINTED THEM BLACK, AND USE PUSHPINS INTO THE WALL. SIMPLE, QUICK, CHEAP AND EASILY REMOVABLE IN CASE I WASN’T IN LOVE WITH THE PROJECT. THANKFULLY I AM IN LOVE AND AM SO GLAD I TACKLED THIS LITTLE PROJECT!
Drywall Patching
OK FROM MY MOST FAVORITE TO MY LEAST FAVORITE HAHA…I HATE DRYWALL PATCHING. IT CAN BE SO EASY BUT IT IS TEDIOUS THEREFORE I ALWAYS PUT IT OFF. I THINK ITS A DESIGNER THING BUT I AM CONSTANTLY MOVING THINGS AROUND IN MY HOUSE INCLUDING MY WALL DECOR WHICH OF COURSE EAVES PESKY HOLES BEHIND. NO BETTER TIME THAN TO FILL, SAND, AND PAINT.
Carpet Cleaning
OUR LIVING ROOM RUG WAS IN DESPERATE NEED OF A GOOD SHAMPOO BUT WITH QUARANTINE WE HAVEN'T BEEN COMFORTABLE HAVING CARPET CLEANERS INTO OUR HOME. LUCKILY OUR FAMILY HAS A BISSEL CARPET CLEANER THAT WE COULD BORROW. I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A BEFORE/AFTER BECAUSE THE DIFFERENCE WAS AMAZING! (BUT I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO SHOW HOW DIRTY THE RUG WAS). NO NOT EVERYONE PROBABLY HAS A CARPET CLEANER IN THEIR HOME ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE CARPET'S BUT ASK AROUND AND SEE IF YOUR FRIENDS/FAMILY DO. IF YOU DO YOU HAVE CARPETS OR KIDS OR PETS MAYBE IT IS TIME TO INVEST IN A AT HOME CARPET CLEANER SO YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE CLEAN CARPETS ON YOUR TIME. IF YOU DO END UP BORROWING A MACHINE MAKE SURE YOU RETURN IT SANITIZED AND READY TO GO.
Purging
I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE AND I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, PURGING IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU CAN DO IN YOUR HOME. I TEND TO DO A GOOD PURGE EVERY SEASON BUT THIS SPRING IS GETTING SOME EXTRA ATTENTION IN THIS DEPARTMENT. I KNOW A LOT OF DONATION CENTERS ARE CLOSED RIGHT NOW BUT THAT SHOULDN'T DETER YOU FROM PURGING YOUR SPACES. CREATE A SPOT IN THE GARAGE OR PATIO TO HOLD YOUR DONATION ITEMS UNTIL CENTERS ARE OPEN AGAIN. CLOSETS, PANTRIES, OFFICES, FILES, BACKYARDS, FURNITURE, TAKE INVENTORY OF WHAT NEEDS TO GO AND CLEAR IT OUT SO WHEN NORMALCY RETURNS YOU WILL FEEL FRESH AND READY TO TACKLE THE OUTSIDE WORLD.
Computer Clean Up
COMPUTERS NEED LOVE TOO! WITH A LOT OF US WORKING FROM HOME WE HAVE PROBABLY FORGOT HOW MUCH CLUTTER IS ON OUR COMPUTERS. MAYBE OUR COMPUTERS ARE GATHERING MORE CLUTTER BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING AND LEARNING FROM HOME. SET UP AN ORGANIZATIONAL FILE SYSTEM WITHIN YOUR COMPUTER THAT MAKES SENSE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND HELPS KEEP YOUR FILES ORGANIZED. GO THROUGH EVERY ITEM SAVED ON YOUR COMPUTER AND FILE OR DELETE THEM ACCORDINGLY. TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER AND LOOK INTO SOME SOFTWARE UPDATES OR CLEAN UP APPS TO KEEP YOUR PRECIOUS TECHNOLOGY IN TIP-TOP SHAPE.