I can’t write about my bathroom tile today. I hope you don’t mind. I’ll get back to that later in the week when I figure out if Pete’s plan and fix worked permanently (or for at least another few days). No, today I’m writing about my second spring makeover tip. Cleaning. I know you’re about as excited about cleaning as you are doing your taxes, but this is a very inexpensive way to freshen up your house without a lot of bucks 
(unless you’re using eco-friendly cleaning products). I’ve spent the last week cleaning areas of my house that I didn’t even know collected dust (or at least from my 5’2″ view point, I couldn’t really see). Corners of window sashes, tops of trim, ceiling fans, plants, walls and since our whole house is wood (except for my hideous circa 1980 vomit-colored bedroom carpet), I’ve been cleaning under every piece of furniture and even broke out the Swiffer – if you know me, you know how much I hate mopping, which is why no one is allowed to wear shoes in the house.
Today I took down my heavy, red silk dining room curtains, despite it still being in the 30′s here at night and traded them in for my light, breezy, cream-colored linen roll up shades. I can’t tell you how much better I feel, except of the fact that now I can see all the dust on every surface of the room. Oh well, there’s always next week. I almost got out the vacuum (another chore I hate since I bought The Boss a few years ago) to give the roman shades and upholstery in my living room a once over, but since we’ll probably be burning wood for another two months, I realized there really was no point. I’ll only have to do it again in June so I might as well put that off til then.
This past week, I’ve also been pulling our heavy winter jackets and snow pants off the hooks and washing everything before I put it away for the summer (or in the case of my toddler’s stuff, away for sale next fall!). I know, this is totally wishful thinking; it is only April, after all. But I just don’t know how much more of my puffy coat I can stand. I’ve been wearing it since November – enough is enough. All of our heavy jackets are fresh and clean, and packed away for at least 6 more months, I hope! I also had a little time this week to go through the boys’ closets and put away some winter clothes and to hang up short sleeved shirts and spring jackets. I had to organize their closets to make way for the new clothes so I got to check one more to-do off my list. I also FINALLY remembered to change the bulb in the closet that has been burned out for three months. Another check!
I know none of these things seem like big changes and you’re right – they’re not. But having a great house that you love doesn’t always mean going out and buying something new. I already had my cleaning products (albeit the expensive, lovely smelling eco-friendly kind), I used the baby’s old burp clothes, and even got the boys into the action. Gotta love those Pledge Grabit Cleaning Mitts. Don’t worry – I got a nice birthday gift from my in-laws today and I’ll be running out to purchase some gorgeous fabric to make a new set of curtains in the next few weeks which will more than make up for my lack of spending on the cleanup of my dusty old house. I did just get several trade accounts opened this week and I’m dying to purchase some product samples. Hmm, what do I need to get?
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