Last week during my January Cure I crossed a couple of big projects off my list, while this past week was spent mostly cleaning and organizing my bathroom and living room. Not as exciting, but just as rewarding.
Day 14: Get paper and files in order.
Looking back on the week, I realized I skipped this day. I do all of my banking electronically, my bills are set up on auto pay, and not too much makes it past my landing strip. That said, I do have a drawer in my kitchen where any paperwork I deem important goes, but there is no real organization to it. After reading about Abby's home journal on Monday, I am going to revisit this challenge some rainy afternoon and create a journal of my own.
Day 15: Exercise a little cord control.
I sourced this project out. Same friends who helped me install new under cabinet lights a couple weeks ago returned to securely tuck those pesky cords away. This week I was reminded that cords are frustrating and that I have good friends.
Day 16: Give your bathroom and medicine cabinets a cleanout.
I found this challenge to be incredibly satisfying. After reading the purge guidelines, it was hard to justify keeping expired medicine or makeup I literally have not used in over 5 years. One trash bag later, my bathroom is feeling lighter and more organized.
Day 17: Take a look at your living room lighting.
The living room is the room I spend the most time in, and I am mostly satisfied with my lighting. For ambient light, I rely on both the pendant light above the bar cart and the string lights that are wrapped around the steam pipe; they are in opposite corners of the room and each cast a nice, warm glow. If I am reading or need a task light, I add the floor lamp next to my couch. When I sat down last Thursday, I realized my floor lamp could use a dimmer switch and a new lamp shade (the current one is pretty dingy), and I was reminded that all 3 fixtures could use a good cleaning. I added the dimmer and the shade to my shopping list, and a light fixture clean to my to-do list.
Day 18: Weekend chores, flowers, living room, empty the outbox.
Living room and light fixtures are officially clean. My outbox, not so much. Unfortunately I am still having some trouble (and guilt) with about half of my outbox. I added it to the top of my list for this week and will report back. Wish me luck!
MORE OF KATE'S JANUARY CURE:
• Week One
• Week Two
• Week Three
(Images: Kate Legere)
8 Secret Spots to Hide Valuables at Home
The Live/Work Studio of Robert Siegel Handmade Ceramics
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Howard Butcher Bloc...
10 Easy Vacation Meals to Feed a Crowd
Recipe: Chopped Brown Rice Salad with Grapes and Pecans
I am so enjoying these liveblogging posts as part of the cure. The pictures remind me of old school AT. They give a glimpse into the lives of renters, sometimes owners, of real people on real budgets. People figuring out how to make the most of their space when the first answer is not hiring a contractor or buying something new. How can AT make this slice of real life last past January please?
You're place is so cozy! I love that you did your photos at night. Your ivy looks so pretty. *swoon* I so wish I could hang mine. Rental with weird plaster. Ugh.
I had some issues with the outbox, too. I got rid of a few pieces of small furniture and shelves that had been in the attic for years that hurt a bit at first. But once it's gone you won't even miss it! Just go for it!
@Thorndale....yes. Thank you.
Your space looks great. I feel like I could just sit down and relax. The fun light solutions have inspired me to review mine here again. Thanks for sharing.
Lovely place you have there, Kate. Your pics emit a warm, cozy feel, mmm....
Just a lil encouragement...definitely revisit the home journal bit. I set up a maintenance notebook when we bought our house near 15 yrs ago and I can't tell you what a lifesaver/timesaver it's been. Here's my lazy ONE STEP version to get you started while you wait on that 'rainy day'...
Grab a 3-ring binder + a pack of clear sheet protectors & pop 'em in the notebook. Now pat yerself on the back & call it a day. Hey, just THINKING about gettting files in order is exhausting, rght? But look at what you can accomplish in under a minute!
Then...as you run across manuals, warranties, receipts (you know, those ya just tossed in that drawer 'just for now' to deal with later) tuck 'em in one of the sheet protectors in the notebook & fo'getaboutit, 30 seconds spent, piece-a-cake. NOW, when that 'rainy day' finally rolls around - somewhere in the faaarrr distant future - grab that notebook, rearrange the pages in order that makes sense to you & add some labeled dividers. OR NOT. Matters little, as now all the important stuff is contained in one place & can you can put your hands on it in another 30 seconds.
Oh, and while yer revisitin', revisit thorndale's post (1st reply on this thread). A slice of real life from the past, old school AT. Imho, it's what makes The Cure such a success. Don't get me wrong...it's great fun to dream and plan. I just think we sometimes get a bit too caught up in 'the latest & greatest' gizmos or fads and lose sight of what we have. We all need to learn to be *content* with that as we continue to grow and improve our lives...
The Cure reminds us of that and I, for one, am thankful.
...and please overlook my typos
Where's your floor lamp from?
is that a bowl of water sitting on your radiator? why is it there? my only guess is that it's supposed to act sort of like a humidifier.
Ditto Enoch's question! I am having a floor lamp/lighting problem in my living room and love yours! Where can I find one?
What's the source for your floor lamp and the wooden chair in your living room? Your place is adorable!
I have that same floor lamp...and want another one...where did you find it? (got mine at a thrift store)
old time dimmer switches are ugly. I've hung a picture over mine, but no one else knows where the switch is.
Thanks everyone!
I got my floor lamp from Pottery Barn about 10 years ago. The chair was a tax return splurge from Room & Board; it is the Sandberg Chair in Walnut. And finally, the bowl on my radiator is in fact for humidity.