Links! for the first time ever.
I don't think I've ever done a post like this before, but I came across several blog posts this week that I just had to share with you.
First, check out this awesome coffee-table makeover from Sabby in Suburbia. She used my favorite Painter's Touch paints that I use when I paint furniture, and I think her table is beautiful!
Second, Sierra from ChildWild wrote a post called "Why I Quit Everything", and I love it. It's all about how she decided to stop over-scheduling her children and instead enjoy a slower-paced life at home. My childhood was very un-scheduled and unprogrammed, and I think that's one of the features that made it so enjoyable. Children need time to just be kids, and I think we often underestimate the value of an afternoon spent playing outside or an evening at home with the family.
And lastly, over at Unclutterer, there's an article listing 10 Uncluttering Things To Do Every Day. I seriously could have written that myself, because almost all the jobs on the list are part of my daily routine (except for maybe getting rid of stuff every day. I don't think I have enough stuff for that! and the email part. I regularly get behind on that!). My home is never perfectly clean, but it's a lot neater and cleaner that it would be if I didn't do the tasks on that list.
If you're drowning in your clutter and mess, give this a read. Even if you only incorporate one or two items from the list (and really, you probably only want to try to implement 1 or 2 at a time), it'll make a big difference in your home.
Thank you for sharing these. I have a coffee and end table I want to turn black also. I have to read the uncluttering post but I probably do a lot of those things myself too. Maybe not daily but at least once a week. (I do have a morning routine though and love having a clean kitchen and running dishwasher after the kids and husband leave for school/work.)
Thanks. I always hesitate to write 'link' posts on my blog as well, but as I read yours, I came across two blogs that are new to me, that I'm really interested in. I think you've done it effectively by choosing a few and letting people really know what they're about. I might steal that tactic.
Thanks for the links. I am about the read them now, especially the one about reducing stuff as I am trying to incorporate that into my life on a daily basis.
The coffee table post will do me good as I have 2 free chairs that I am going to redo very soon for my new home and the tips will be great. Also, I am painting them the same chocolate brown as the coffee table. thanks again for sharing great stuff from your readers.
Speaking of links, didn't you used to have a list of other favorable blogs in your sidebar?
We had a very unscheduled life when the boys were young-it makes high school all the more fun because we aren't all burned out. I love big chunks of unscheduled time-they seem to be the most creative. Thanks for the fun links.
Jana
Thanks for the feature Kristen! If it wasn't for your awesome paint post, I wouldn't have even tried Painter's Touch. And, of course, you are my favorite baking recipe lady. I'm kind of a Frugal Girl Baking stalker....sorry. 😉
Checking out the other highlighted posts now!
I needed that coffee table link. We're still trying to furnish our home. We've been here for 8 months now and have yet to furnish one complete room 🙂 Furniture looking this weekend though.
The clutter 10 list is good Once a month i go through things if i havent wore it in 6 months i get rid of it , and i do that through my whole house .. It feels revitalizing to get rid of stuff you dont want or need . I also take things like purses , wallets to our senior centers those older ladies love getting a new purse for free Giving is awesome .. Good luck on getting clutter free it is great ... Sara
I throw out, recycle or give away one thing every day. I have a recycle box I put things in and then on the weekend I take it to one of our thrift shops like Salvatioin Army. Some weeks it has 7 items and other weeks only 2 or 3 because the rest were redistributed some other way. It really keeps things under control---even if all I did that week was get rid of 7 pairs of hopelessly elderly underwear!
Awwww. Thanks! You totally rock. My child was spent absolutely feral in the woods, and was completely blissful. I can't exactly give my kids that, what with living in the city and all, but we're trying.
Thanks for the links!
Hmmm...I'm usually a die-hard stain-don't-paint kind of gal, but these pieces look really nice (Sabby's table and the tall boy dresser you linked to). I have a dresser in the garage that was painted metallic gold at one point. My mom got it at a garage sale and one of my sisters used it when we were kids. I have it now and have it mostly sanded (the trim areas are the hardest). I was going to stain it, but since there's no sentimental value, I might paint it after all. It just never occurred to me that it could come out looking that good.