Making Humdrum Chores Fun

There is no such thing as a humdrum chore. It is our attitude that affects us. As I've said before, I find joy in the mundane things around the house because of the way I approach it. If I have ironing to do, I may take a bit longer to do it, but I go about it cheerfully. It's a difficult chore if one has a bad back, so I "break it into periods of time." I'll iron a few shirts and then come in on the computer and do something, then go back to it and take another "break" when I'm feeling as though I need one. Same with most things. If it is boring to you, it is only because you make it so. Make them fun to do.

I usually have a drink with me when coming to my office; although, I never put the liquid on my desk. It sits behind me on a credenza. This I learned from spilling a glass of mango/orange juice into my keyboard! Never ever again. Always on the credenza.

If you have to write some correspondence then, put soothing music on and a flower on your desk and write! If you have something you absolutely detest doing, just do it. There is nothing to it but to do it. It'll pass quickly and you'll have gotten the chore done. :-) Always have a positive attitude whatever you are doing. Find the "joy" in it.
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Spending Time & Money

I've been very busy with my laundry room but it is finally finished. Haven't I said that before?!?! I made a darling little clothespin holder and couldn't find a hanger to put in it that would fit. I eventually went to the infant's department at Wal Mart and they gave me a little plastic hanger. That fit, but I shall be more careful with the next ones that I make. Above is a photo of it.
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I received a magazine the other day that I don't subscribe to, but it had my name on it. I've never cared for this magazine because it is 90% ads. But I wondered why it was sent to me. I immediately emailed them and told them I had not subscribed and asked if it was perhaps a gift subscription. I am always receiving things from people who like me - hmmmmm, can't figure that one out, but it's true! (Received something 3 days ago and hubby said, "You have those people wrapped around your little finger." I said, "No, it's just that they love me!" ) Anyway, in the magazine was an article "Hidden in plain sight"! Well, I tell you, I almost fell over. Just what I've been telling you on this page. Only this instance was a bathroom. Yes, they hid a bathroom in plain sight. Very well done also because most people thought it was a hallway entrance. See how creative you can be.
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Now, I want to discuss what a lot of people do. Most of them spend all 95% of their money on 5% of their lives. Ridiculous. Live life fully and spend all of it on the 95% of your life. Make the things you do everyday beautiful. I could have settled for the laundry room just the way it was - boring. But that is NOT the way I do things. If I have to spend any of my time someplace it had better be beautiful - laundry room, bathroom, kitchen, whatever room. I love seeing the beautiful things in every part of my house. It certainly didn't take a lot of money to do that laundry room. A few scraps of fabric, a wallborder which cost a total of $40, old rugs, vintage bookcase for $20 and a few incidentals I had laying around the house. You go on a "once in a lifetime vacation", come home, have photos, may have spent thousands of dollars and have nothing to show for it except those photos. I'd rather put it into my home where I'll spend the rest of my life and view lovely things than that. But, hey, that's just me. Get inspired and do something beautiful!!
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Finding Unexpected Uses

I was at the crafts store the other day and bought some little cherries for a project I was doing. When I got home I didn't have any room in my sewing/craft room to put them! I kept them on the kitchen counter until I cleaned my sewing/craft room. I have some order in there now - some being a relative term. Hah. Anyway, I had this old vase and some vintage hankies I display and thought "hmmmm........well, what if I just put them in there until I can figure out what to do with them and then wrap a hankie around the vase. Voilà! It turned out even better than I could have imagined. They look adorable sitting on that counter in the living room. Hubby is going to take that out (someday!) and put a wall there to separate the two rooms. When he does I think I'll just leave them in that vase on a shelf that I will put up there. See how cute it turned out.
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Make a Date with Yourself

Time for yourself. It is alright and "just fine" to say "NO"! So many people have a hard time saying that when asked to do something. Now, I understand that there are things you have to do, but there are things you don't have to do. The problem is determining which is which. I have no problem saying no. Sometimes when someone asks me to do something, I have a stock answer: "Oh, I'm sorry, I have other plans." I doubt I'd turn down a luncheon date! But when caught unaware, just have a ready answer available for it. I sometimes "schedule" in time for me. I'm a stay-at-home wife, but that does NOT mean that I have any more time that a working wife. My time is still valuable and needs to be scheduled. Sure, I have more time to fix my home, shop, etc. but that is my choice and others have made their choices. I still have chores, etc. do. I also schedule time for reading, crafting and just "down" time. I need it. Life is frantic no matter who you are or what you do. So remember, you do not have to always say "yes"; NO is perfectly fine. And.............have that "stock" answer in your mind at all times for when caught unaware. :-)
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Laundry Room Finished Finally!!

Take a look what can be done with a pass-through laundry room from the garage to the hallway. It's a tiny space probably 7' x 8' but I've given it a little "oooomph" with a rose border. I could not find a laundry room border appropriate to my taste and roses never fail! Then I found an old clothespin bag and hung it on a little metal hook. The laundry sign I decoupaged and tried to sell on ebay and didn't sell. Now I'm glad it didn't because it looks adorable in my laundry room. I can make others just like it though, so if anyone is interested go to the miscellaneous page of this site and you'll see it available. The little french laundry packets are included with fabric that I buy from a woman on ebay. They have sweet smelling detergent in them so I am going to use them but I emptied the envelopes and put them on the wall above the sign. I also have some on the message board that shows in the third picture. There was a "command center panel" there and it was ugly so I covered it up with a lovely message board.

So "gussy" up even the least "handsome" room in your home with "energetic abandon" and see what you can do. It is, after all, your home!
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