Does anyone else feel like they are limping towards the finish line? Am I really that averse to cleaning? Good lord.
Day 14: Get Papers & Files in Order
We call this - ominously - "the drawer." Have you seen the checkbook? It's in "the drawer." Where did you put that gift card? In "the drawer." It's where stuff lands when it comes through the door, but before it gets permanently filed in the filing cabinet. It holds unpaid bills, important papers, and store credits (Yes, I found our car title under that pile of paper. Classic.) It's also a catchall for small things we don't want to lose but we really don't have a place for, like our neighbor's keys. And then there's the stuff that gets thrown in there right before people come over, like cough drops. We only deal with "the drawer" every once in awhile, so it often explodes when we open it.
Here it is, all cleaned out and spiffy. There are actually trays for paper in there! A bonafide inbox and an outbox! It's also where I keep all my extra exclamation points!
Day 15: Cord Control 
Okay, full disclosure. I procrastinated on this one until yesterday, thinking I could do it quickly in two minutes, blog about it, and no one would know the difference. Our cords in general are in good shape, but my main goal was the technology hub above. (Don't you love that I just called it a technology hub, but really it's just a shelf with a bunch of electronic crap on it? I'm fancy.)
So yesterday I sat down and removed all the unneeded cords, then got stuck. With the open wire shelving, there's just no place for them to hide. I did the best I could with camouflage, but I'm starting to think it's the shelving that's bothering me. Maybe I need something enclosed to hide all those unsightly supplies and stuff.
Day 16: Bathroom Cleanout
We have a ridiculous amount of storage space in our bathroom, so this was just a matter of organizing things, and tackling my drawer in our vanity. (These are both the "after" shots.) A few things I learned in the process: 1) When the Apocalypse comes, I will thankfully be able to see for quite some time; and 2) I have more outrageous fake eyelashes than most drag queens.
This is a thing that needs to be collectively addressed as a nation. How many plastic bags to you have kicking around with travel size toiletries? Be honest now.
Hey, here's something I find handy, if you're interested: use old milk glass dental trays to organize jewelry and other bathroom stuff. They have their own dividers, and they are super pretty. You can usually find them on eBay for about $10 each.
Day 17: Living Room Lighting
Our living room lighting needs some serious help. We have a ceiling fan overhead, but never use the overhead light. There's a line of pendant lights over our "window seat" in the front of the room but, besides that, we really only have one table lamp on one side of the couch. It's pretty dark at night as a result. Except for the safety light from our neighbor's house that shines right into our house, but that's a whole other post.
Day 18: Weekend Chores
I've managed to gloss over this for the past few weeks, but I actually bought flowers this week. I can't believe that, of all things, this is the task that's managed to elude me this whole month. I was at a farmers market the other day and a vendor was selling some basic poms for $3. Sold! I am so not a flower arranger, but they made it into a vase and have been a cheerful presence this week.
And once again, I was saved by Ann, who completely vacuumed, dusted, and cleaned the glass coffee table in the living room. This is soooo much easier when there are two of you doing this process.
One week to go!
MORE OF DABNEY'S JANUARY CURE:
• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3
(Images: Dabney Frake)
The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
Soda Recipe: Homemade Ginger Ale
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
Everything looks wonderful. My only concern are the 'pins' sticking up you attach your receipts too..looks like an accident waiting to happen. How about a small file folder?
I actually SIGNED IN to comment on this. I haven't done that in almost 6 months. Anyways, so for your media station, I would suggest boxes. Something you can label, so you can group together your printer paper, labels, clear stuff, envelopes, whatever. If you don't want to splurge for the cloth boxes, you can get really nice looking cardboard boxes from any office supply store to put up there to catch the clutter (or, like paste printed paper onto ordinary boxes). Plus, then you won't have to get your nice piles in disarray again trying to hunt for what you need.
I actually like the old fashion "pins for receipts", it looks like it might be low enough in the drawer to handle it. this week I'm trying to clean my office at work. Not going too well because I'm online looking at what everyone else has done!
Great job! I love those dental trays. Never thought of that! Really never knew they existed. I get those cheapy plastic dividers. These would be much nicer and easier to clean.
It seems like you like the shelf enough since only after straightening you were thinking of changing it out. Might I suggest some sort of backing that you could drill a cord hole in? Maybe even pegboard. The big hardware stores have a section back by the wood with that stuff. And they cut to your size. You could easily paint it white and drill holes attaching it with white zip ties in strategic places along the edge. Cheaper and easier than having to find a whole new piece of furniture!
Nice work and very funny post! One thing, though. As a true believer in decluttering, if that were my stuff I would get rid of all but one of each of the scissors, contact lens cases, box of file folders, etc. If you only need one of something, don't hang on to 5 more just in case.
I missed the drawer, day 14, and this gave me a great idea to use the kitchen junk drawer for the In/Out drawer. Excellent idea. Also, hadn't completed the walk-in closet/office supply reorganization, and this also gave me ideas and inspiration to get that done. Cuppa tea and here I go....
It's called a spindle, folks. As in the admonishment on punch cards and other machine-processed paperwork that says says "do not fold, spindle, or mutilate."
For the wires, zip tyes are your friend. The open shelving has lots of places to hook to and if you run it down the back of the monitor, right angle turn at the shelf line, over to the leg and then down they wont be invisible but Will Look Much Better. Promise. My partner and I actually do this as part of our business and have worked with setups like this. Plus some cute storage to wrangle the appearance of the storage over head. Maybe something in silver or gray to keep it lite and clean. It's a bit top heavy now and those colors will blend in and match your other accoutrement, thus keeping the heavy look away.
I have the exact same wire shelving and use half as a shoe rack and half as table for Husband to store his things *clutter, cough cough.*
I agree with the zip tie idea to hide the cords.
Great post! D, I always enjoy reading your writing!
For your entertainment hub - Maybe something like this would help? It's gray, but I've seen them in white.
I'm impressed with the lack of what I call, "girl crap," or are there drawers of makeup and hair ties that you aren't showing us?
Sadly for me, shopping for toiletries at Costco is anti-Cure!
Also, have you done a house tour? I'd love to see more of your bathroom!
More fake lashes than most drag queens! Extra exclamation points! Dabney, you're my favorite :)
I actually REGISTERED to be able to comment on this. Dabney, I love your January Cure!! You're one of my favorite bloggers. Please do save all of your contacts, you never know when the Apocalypse might hit (and you sure want to be able to see clearly when it does!).
You did awesome! My results are hardly noteworthy yet - that is until I finish my vanity: http://katskull.com/tag/the-january-cure/