Some of my days were more productive than others this past week, and I definitely veered off task a few times, but overall I am feeling pretty good: as I look around my apartment, there is visual proof that I am making some progress. More

Day 17: Thursday, January 24
Assignment: Assess your lighting in the living room and plan improvements

Today is a bit of a breather as we hit the home stretch...just one week to go! No big chores this evening, just a little time assessing the lighting situation in your living room. Maxwell writes that "most homes are not well lit, which is a shame, because good lighting is a luxury that everyone can afford." He's right - I'm a big believer that nothing has a bigger impact (for the smallest investment) than lighting - its often the difference between a space that feels cold and dull as opposed to one that's warm and welcoming. More

I hit a bit of a wall this week in my January Cure. It seems like the more I accomplish the more I find that needs to be done, while still maintaining everything I've achieved so far. I'm struggling to stay positive in what has started to seem like a climb worthy of Sisyphus. More

This week I beat the dust bunnies under my bed, the yellow-y white on the walls (including this niche), and the clutter by my front door. There are cheerful, inexpensive flower arrangements dotting my household. I feel like I got a lot done, and I'm grateful for the accountability writing about my January Cure has required of me. More

I'm telling you, it would be a lot easier to Cure my home if I could cure this cold! Instead of getting better, I only got worse last week — seven days of coughing, sneezing, runny nose and pounding head congestion. Ugh. Shawn's semester also started Monday, so we did what we could. (Hopefully you were more successful than we were this week!) More

I am so back in business this week. My cough cleared up, and I dove headlong into my January Cure activities with gusto. That might be overstating it a bit. I dove headlong into my Cure activities with tempered enthusiasm. Nope, let's call it mild interest. More

Now that I have completed the third week of the January Cure, I can already feel a substantial difference in the comfort of my home. There are still projects to be completed, but our living spaces are always a work in progress. It's just when the progress gets halted completely that it can be difficult to pick it up again. That is how the Cure has helped me most: motivation. More

There are many problems with my small bathroom, but one that is easily fixed is the medicine cabinet, with rust-ringed shelves that have seen better days. I brightened up the inside of my mirror with the help of my newest BFF, contact paper. More

Day 16: Wednesday, January 23
Assignment: Clean and declutter your bathroom cabinets & medicine cabinet

Why spend precious moments each morning searching through an overcrowded jumble in the bathroom when they could be used to be blissfully snoozing...or sipping coffee...or how about about catching up with the posts on your favorite blog? You are just one cleanout session away from a smoother, streamlined start (and end!) to your day. Ready? Let's go... More

I was a bad Cure-er this week. (Curor? Curator? Curate?) First there was a hangover that I claimed was the flu, then there was an actual flu that nobody believed was a flu. Between the two of them, I'm playing catch-up this week. More