|
|
Post by SueDonym on Jul 20, 2008 21:39:26 GMT -5
I remember when I first arrived at SS. My front living room was 2-3 feet deep with junk. You couldn't see (or get to) the couch or chairs. All I had was a path to the front door. Five months later, I had my house appraised to refinance. Here is the actual pic from the appraisal.  I have not done well with maintenance, but I am still proud that I have never slipped back as far as I once was.  I spent about a total of an hour cleaning and decluttering the front room today. It doesn't look nearly as good as the appraisal 3 years ago, but I would not feel uncomfortable answering the door. ![]() i9.photobucket.com/albums/a68/Lisa0825/house/frontroom7-08.jpg[/img]I definitely like the light curtains and the area rug better. I threw it out because the edges had begun unraveling. This is where I started about 3.5 years ago...  I think most of my house is in the same state... with an hour in each major area, I can have it presentable. I just wish I could get the hang of *keeping* it presentable rather than needing an hour in each area to get back. Anyway, the reason behind the cleaning tonight is that I might have a handyman coming tomorrow evening to look at a couple jobs I need done. I have the feeling he won't be making it, but wanted to be "presentable" just in case. |
|
|
|
Post by SueDonym on Jul 20, 2008 21:46:28 GMT -5
Oh, BTW, I also wanted to add that around here, we don't have "mud rooms." But I totally relate to the posts I have seen about difficulty keeping mud rooms clean. The front living area is where I drop everything when I come in full my hands full, tired after work, etc. It becomes cluttered very easily. I actually put away FOUR pair of shoes that were left within 4 feet of the front door. Only one person lives here, and kitties don't wear shoes.  |
|
|
|
Post by threeg on Jul 20, 2008 21:56:07 GMT -5
You have done great!   3g is me PS...wish I could say that I have.  |
|
|
|
Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Jul 20, 2008 23:14:29 GMT -5
-
Oh Suedonym -- your pictures have been so inspirational to me.
It's amazing to see where you were three years ago... and where you are now.
Your pictures and story let me know that you were able to change, and therefore, I could too.
You and Kimmy both made me believe in what I had once thought was impossible.
In the past three years, (since the old pictures) you've gotten a fantastic new job, lost weight, gone on marvelous vacations, etc. You've really turned your life around.
You continue to inspire me, Suedy.
Hugs,
Lioness
--
|
|
|
|
Post by molly on Jul 21, 2008 1:56:53 GMT -5
You're doing great!
|
|
|
|
Post by packusratus on Jul 21, 2008 4:55:51 GMT -5
I took pictures of my place before starting but I was out with a friend who started flipping through the pics in my phone (she was looking for a pic of someone). I knew she was going to do it, so I fumbled around with my camera and deleted those pics before she could see them. Oooops...
Those pictures are so great to see!
They're inspirational, really! You've come so far.
You've already learned a lot. I know you'll keep getting better at maintenance. Just try to do a little everyday. Maybe try to get into a routine. When I was a teen I was responsible for cleaning the bathroom on Saturday mornings, so I've started that again. I've switched it to Sunday, but I'll just make a habit of giving my bathroom a quick cleaning once a week on a Saturday or Sunday. I'm doing the same with my dishes and laundry. Before I let myself get to decluttering, I wash whatever dirty dishes are in the sink and put away my dry clothes or hang my laundry to dry.
I do well with routine and habits, so I'm trying to establish or reestablish them.
|
|
|
|
Post by heylady1 on Jul 21, 2008 14:23:24 GMT -5
Are you sure about that?  Cats can be mighty mischevious....maybe they're walking around in your shoes when you're not home and talking in high pitched voices!  You've come so far Suedonym.....you really have!  Maintance is just getting yourself routines and sticking to them. Make them such a habit that you don't even think about doing them, you just do them. Like for me, when I get home from work in the morning (I work nights), my purse is always hung up on the bedroom closet door and shoes are put in the closet. Dirty clothes go right into the laundry room. When I get up out of bed, it's made shortly after. Pets are fed and watered then too. Mail is dealt with as soon as it's brought into the house. Dishes are always done after dinner. Garbage is always taken out after dishes are done. All these things only take minutes to do, but when left to sit they can really pile up. These are routines that I do every day - my problem lies with the not every day stuff like dusting and then there are the "projects" that need to be done like cleaning out the closets, etc... |
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Jul 21, 2008 14:41:33 GMT -5
You've come so far!!!!!! I too have trouble with maintenance and with finding a place for everything because it seems I have too much stuff. My good stuff I am actually using often goes on the floor because other spaces are full. So a big part of my program has been to really think it thru each thing I own and where it ought to go and whether I use it/need it/love it anymore. Times change and yet I hang onto old stuff I'm not longer "into". In recent years I have found great improvement with some shelves I bought at Walmart which have 2 drawers in the bottom. That helped have display on top, the 3 shelves and 2 drawers. I've improved the looks of 2 rooms with those.
Good luck -- I know you are going to get your rooms maintained really nice from where you are. Your appraisal picture is absolutely inspiring!!!!!!!!
|
|
angelbec
New Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7
|
Post by angelbec on Jul 21, 2008 15:52:55 GMT -5
Thank you for posting these pictures. It gives me strength - tonight I am doing some cleaning myself. Thanks again for sharing and for being so open. I am very proud of you!
|
|
|
|
Post by messymimi on Jul 21, 2008 17:24:39 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by anonymoose on Jul 21, 2008 17:29:20 GMT -5
Lovely room and a beautiful kitty decorating the chair!
|
|
saza
New Member
Joined: July 2008
Posts: 12
|
Post by saza on Jul 21, 2008 18:15:36 GMT -5
Hi, Good work, and yes maintenance is the hardest part that is for sure. I always do dishes right away (well, almost always), because other wise they will pile up and pile up and I will get overwhelmed. My mil always thinks I'm jumping the gun when I clean up right after dinner - she doesn't realize that if I don't, it will stress me out too much! She is able to let everything sit there, and then before she goes to bed gets it all done. (Her house is impeccable, but somehow she doesn't ever seem to be rushing around organizing and getting things done...I guess she is doing that when I am not there watching,  .) In fact, my mil unwittingly gave me the best advice I ever had, seriously. She said one day that whenever she thought of something she had to do, she did it right away. I know for some people that would be obvious, but it wasn't for me. I am more of the type: Think of something and then add it to the list of other things that had to be done, plan when to do it etc. Um, nope, that's not all that effective, . Oops, went off topic a bit! Sarah |
|
|
|
Post by SueDonym on Jul 22, 2008 21:09:48 GMT -5
Thanks for all the kudos :-) I know I have too much stuff. That is why I focus on always throwing away more than I bring in. I haven't shopped for anything else aside from outdoor stuff (garden supplies) and food in months. About once a month I have at least 4 extra bags of trash, aside from the usual household waste. I also feel like it is hard to find homes for things where there are just too many things! This weekend, I plan to clean out my bathroom cabinets and throw away a bunch of perfectly good stuff just to get down to a manageable amount of bathroom stuff for one person living alone. I also plan to start attacking the space under/behind the dining room table. The handyman didn't come Monday. We talked and decided (since he is 40 miles away from here) that if I took pics and measurements of my doorways and the water damaged ceiling, he could probably get a good enough idea to know what to expect and make plans for the repairs. On the bright side, that means by the time he comes here, I should have the house in even better shape. And heylady1.... I think you may be right. Maybe I should think about setting up a nanny cam to see what those mischievous felines are up to while I am away! |
|
