Cure Update, Weeks 1-3

I may have been tight-lipped about the Cure so far, but rest assured I've been sticking with it (unlike the last time I tried) and working pretty hard. And it's been worth it. Here's the update:

Week 1: I started off with a bang and:

1. Dusted, vacuumed and mopped the kitchen, living room, bathroom, office and bedroom. You do not want to know how badly the kitchen floor needed to be mopped. *shudder*
   
2. Cleaned out the fridge and rearranged the freezer
3. Cleaned one kitchen cabinet, the counters and stove
4. Decluttered my growing collection of mags and catalogs and even recycled two old IKEA catalogs (I don't know why I was keeping them either)

The boyfriend even got into the act and cleaned manland (the family room) and the landing strip.



Week 2: Oi, kitchen week was a bit of a motivation killer, the idea of pulling EVERYTHING out of all the cupboards and drawers is not my idea of fun. However, I still managed to:

1. Did the usual cleaning bit (dusting, vacuuming, laundry and general cleaning)
2. Bought and hung curtains for the living room (yippee! Big reveal coming soon). The boy installed the curtain rods of course.
   
3. Took everything off the open shelves in my kitchen, cleaned it and put it all back. Definitely a job I should do more often.
4. Straightened a few cupboards
   
5. Washed and rearranged the silverware and utensil drawers
6. Bought some lovely orange tulips

Week 3: Landing strip week. Since my landing strip arrangement (aka place to put coats, hats, mail and other things you need when coming in or out) is in as good as shape as it's going to get, it only needed some straightening up. So in theory I have plenty of time to finish deep cleaning the kitchen. Oh boy.

1. Did the usual cleaning bit (dusting, vacuuming, and general cleaning)
2. Straightened up the landing strip
   
3. Cleaned two more kitchen drawers. The others were reorganized recently and are still looking good.
4. Emptied, cleaned out and reorganized three big cabinets and one little one that really needed it.
5. Cleaned the "pantry"
6. Finally used my outbox. It really does help to put those "I might need it someday" items in a temporary place.
7. Bought two bunches of daffodils (for just $1.49 each. TJ's is now my first choice for weekly flower purchases. Which will of course all be daffodils as long as I can get them).
   

It's so nice to know the house is squeaky clean, well most of it anyway.

The First Spring Flowers

I'm craving spring like it's European chocolate right now, so what perfect timing to see my first flower buds of 2008! These crocuses are not quite open yet, but I'm still so excited to see them. I'm not sure anything is appreciated quite as much as the first spring flower.


And they are joined by plenty of friends. Next thing ya know it will be daffodil season and I can't wait!

Blue or Green?

So after 2.5 years, I'm on the downhill stretch of finally getting curtains for the living room. I found them at Target of all places (first place I looked actually).

I bought a sample of each color from Target and had a mini curtain fashion show (a fantastic idea totally stolen from This Young House, thanks!) I just have to pick a color. It's definitely the blue ones, right?

I must admit that it kills me a little to pick the blue ones, because the boy said the blue ones were better from the very beginning and he'll never let me live it down. I was SURE I'd prefer the green, cause I have that green elsewhere in the room and like it. But the green curtains just don't have provide enough contrast. Drat! Now I have to go pillow shopping... although the boy volunteered to sew some. I don't know if I can handle it if it turns out he can sew and I can't.

Also, anyone know where to get cheap curtain rings? They really do make a big difference, but I need a LOT of them.

Cure Goals

It's time to nail down exactly want I want to accomplish in this Cure. Some of these come straight from my to-do list for the year. I also need to figure out the budget

1. Major deep cleaning treatment of the entire house (this is long overdue) - $0
   
2. Decluttering (especially the linen closet, under the bed and the kitchen cabinets) - $0
   
3. Purchase and hang new window treatments for living room (the hardest part of this one is picking window treatments) - $300
   
4. Find art for the living room - $50
   
5. Fix living room walls and repaint (there's a moisture issue I've been trying to fix with free help, but it's time to call in a pro. I have no idea how much the repair might be. I'm hoping less than $300)
6. Install shelf and lighting above bed - $70
   
7. New fanlight for bedroom - $100
8. Art/wall interest for bathroom (maybe a decal?) - $30
9. New towels? (having all matching towels would be nice, I haven't bought towels since college, but since I have ones that are perfectly fine... I dunno)
   

Wow - it all adds up quick, doesn't it? The $850 budget is definitely a maximum, I hope I'll come in much lower. Maybe I'll get lucky with the moisture repair, even though I'm fearing the worst.

updated 3/13

Living Room Art Inspiration

The wall art in this picture, from a recent CasaSugar post, caught my eye. I've been casually looking for art for my living room for over two years. I even bought some prints, but never put them up. The delay was partly because of my irrational fear of putting holes in my plaster walls (please, please do NOT ask the boy about it), but was also due to not being able to find any art I love.

I don't just want to put any cute picture on my wall, I want something a little whimsical, something I really love. So far nothing has spoken to me. But after viewing these circles (minus the string), I haven't been able to get them out of my head.

Best of all, I think this is a DIY project even I can handle. And one I can probably hang without holes if I really want to. The excitement is almost overwhelming.

Keepin' Up with the Trends: White is the New Everything

The hottest (or should I say coolest?) color in home design in Ohio this very minute is white, white, white. White walls, white floor, white ceiling, white accessories. . . you get the idea.

white furniture

white cars

white street

And it's still coming down. All I have to say is, honey, it's your turn to shovel!!

Currently Coveting: The Himmeli Duvet Cover

I went in Crate&Barrel last Sunday, just to browse, and fell in love with this Himmeli duvet cover. I wasn't even looking for a new duvet cover. The $109 price tag seems a little steep to me for something that will be shed on, spilled on, etc. But still, I wants it.The fact that it's Marimekko makes me want it even more...

Wouldn't it look great in the bedroom?

Scandinavian Style

When I think about the style I'd most like to achieve in my home, only one comes to mind: Scandinavian style. The Scandinavian style I prefer is cosy, uncluttered, stylish and features clean lines. It is not stark and minimalist, nor is it overly painted and decorated (like Swedish country). Most of the homes I've visited while in Denmark, Norway and Finland were like this. Incidentally, I'm a bit obsessed with all things Scandinavian, hence the name of my blog, which is Danish for my house.

I haven't found many books in the States that feature the Scandinavian style I love. Luckily for me, the Internet has been more helpful.

More Ways to Waste Time recently featured Heike Schmidt and Erik Mortensen's lovely house outside of Malmö, Sweden. See many more pics at More Ways to Waste Time and Heike and Erik's blog, Svensk hus.


Another great source for Scandinavian style inspiration is Normal Room, based in Finland, Normal Room shows everyday rooms from around the globe.



I'm becoming more amazed every day at what you can find on Flickr. I find Chez Larsson's photos very inspiring.


I don't know that I'll ever be able to declutter and pull together my rooms as well as those pictured above, but as I strive to make my house the best home I can, Scandi style is the look that inspires me most.

Signs of Spring

Today, for the first time in a long time, it feels like winter might eventually end. It was 60, warm enough to open up the back door and air out the house, drive with the sunroof open and wash the thick layer of salt off my car. I LOVE spring!

The beautiful French tulips above were purchased earlier this week. They really cheer up the living room. My second batch of Paperwhites (below) are also looking great. This set of three bulbs has three sets of blooms and four more buds.

The bulbs in my garden are just starting to peek through the much and soil. Maybe with some warmer weather they'll start growing and blooming. Of course this glimpse of spring we're enjoying today through Tuesday is just that, a glimpse. It's supposed to snow AGAIN at the end of this week.



** Gardeners, plant and nature lovers can join Green Thumb Sunday every Sunday, visit As the Garden Grows for more information.