Kinda skipped out on the whole blogging thing this week a bit. But Week Three was an easy one for me, with not so much to do, so I used it mainly to catch up on cleaning and de-cluttering everywhere.
The real to-do list was:
1. Vacuum, dust, mop throughout: Just finished this earlier today. So much easier when you keep up with it, you know!
2. Clean your entry-way and related closets: Easy, too. My entrance is pretty neat already and I don't have a closet that's "related." I consider my hall closet more of a bathroom closet, since it's extra storage for that, cleaning stuff, and random other items.
3. Arrange for all repairs to be completed in the next three weeks: The light fixtures that I want replaced are on my short list - my friend's bf might be able to help me out. I'll check with him next Friday. The dripping faucets aren't too bad and are just gonna have to drip. I read how to do it in a home improvement book and it's over my head, and my landlord won't do it, I can promise. He's an "if it ain't broke" kinda guy, so it would have to be gushing or something. Same goes for the toilet with the leaky flapper. I might try that myself though. I'll also keep working on the squeaky screen door in the back.
4. De-clutter the entrance, move old mail/catalogs/magazines to outbox or recycling and cancel unused subscriptions: Took care of this earlier this week and today. I've been using Catalog Choice to opt-out, and keep track of, all the nonsense catalogs I receive but don't want. I mean, really, I don't think I need to be receiving Delia's and Alloy at age 26. Nor do I need a monthly pound of paper from Victoria's Secret and please, someone, how in the world did I get on Dell's mailing list when I own a Mac? Regardless, I've cancelled 10 catalogs and it's been great for my mailbox for sure. Took care of the junk on the console by the door and I've got the magazines and catalogs I DO like spread out on the floor waiting to have sheets torn and then off the recycle bin for them.
5. Look into what you need to create a landing strip: Well, this is all good to go since last Fall, so that's easy. I did get the idea about moving my cordless phone around the corner from where it is now (dragging the cords around and stuff), into the kitchen. I may even eventually get a fancy new one, because I do like having my land line, and the battery is ready to go, which means you (sadly) might as well get a new phone since batteries are half the price of a new phone.
6. Identify which rooms are cool and which are warm: Not temperature-wise, but in terms of their color schemes. This was easy - Cool: Bedroom, living room, bathroom. Warm: Hallway, dining room (Fiesta-Ware!), kitchen. Pretty straightforward.
7. Apply the 80/20 color rule: This rule means that you have about 80% of your room in neutral colors, and 20% in strong colors. Makes sense, you could think about this in terms of how you dress. Although right now like 99.9% of my clothes are black, brown, or gray, I really should be following 80/20. Most people do. As far as my apartment goes, it's close, I think. The kitchen needs more color since the cabinets and walls are white. I'm thinking of painting the wall behind the sink something bright and fun. The dining room needs more color, too, and I am planning on painting those walls eventually, and then recovering the chairs with something cute and fun and bright. Bed, bath, and living rooms are all fine color-wise, but every room needs more things hung on the walls, in both neutral and strong colors.
8. Cook 2 meals at home: Hasn't happened yet. Cooking dinner tonight though, but tomorrow night is Easter Redux at my Mom's (she was sick last week). Maybe we'll cook some good breakfast tomorrow. Ooohh yes: bloody marys, coffee, pancakes, and bacon. Alright, it's a plan.
So there you have it, my Week Three progress. Not too bad considering I didn't do much until today :) But I have been keeping up with lots of folks, and doing lots of planning in my head for when I have a little extra cash to spend. Cleaning today with the windows open was really great though, and my outlook for next week is good!
Oh, and before I forget, the Kitchn Cure task for this week was:
"I dare you to toss anything artificial, processed, containing MSG, artificial flavorings or high fructose corn syrup."
Haha! Well, that was easy! I had a New Year's resolution to do this sort of thing anyway, so I am in pretty good shape. It's not like you have to get rid of it all, and never buy anything "processed", but it's just that I want to be more conscientious of my food purchases. And amazingly, it hasn't been too hard. Glad to have the support to keep up with it though!
Also, supposed to go through cabinets, junk drawer, etc. and purge excess, clean, and reorganize. I am thinking that's a task for tomorrow (some I have begun, though, and I don't have a junk drawer - you can't really when you only have two drawers to begin with!).
I'll let you know how it goes!
2 comments:
Excellent work!
Who pays for water? You or your landlord? If he does, he'd be motivated to fix those plumbing issues: if you do, I strongly recommend you find someone to help! Taps really aren't that hard: you just have to know which kind you have. As for the toilet flapper--easy peasy. I think all you have to do is replace it.
Alana,
You make a great point. My landlord pays for it, and actually as of April 1, the rates went up 19%. I stuck a measuring cup under the tap for 24 hours and it dripped over 4 cups worth (probably nearly 5). That added up to something like 1,200 gallons/year.
As for the toilet flapper, the maintenance guy replaced it last year, but it still leaks! He also really needed to replace the arm that goes from the handle to the thing that holds the flapper. It's cut off really short, and so it catches when you flush. The problem is, I can't unscrew the bolt. It's really stuck on there.
I'm just afraid of making a mess and breaking things, and ruining my status as "the good tenant". Crazy, I know :)
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