2013 Home Goals Progress Report

Can you believe we’re almost halfway through 2013? Where did the time go?!?

With that in mind, I thought it would be a good time to do a mid-year check of my 2013 home goals.

#1 Make Decisions and Kick Fear to the Curb

I think I’m doing really well on this one so far. I’m actually making decisions and I’ve made a lot of progress so far this year. The kitchen is almost complete and I’ve made significant progress on the living room and office. Now I just need to keep the momentum up until the end of the year!

#2 Stop Procrastinating and Start Spending

Done! I finally bought a new stove in February and I bought a new sectional in May!

Landscaping the backyard is probably going to be my next big home purchase.

#3 Live and Let Go

So, I finally admitted to myself that I cannot do it all and ended up hiring someone to clean my house. It’s totally worth the money! Seriously, there’s nothing better than bumming on the couch watching Downton Abbey while some cleans your house.

And yes, I’ve started watching Downton Abbey. I’ve watched four episodes so far – I like it, but I’m not completely obsessed yet…I’m sure that’ll happen though. My boyfriend is going fishing tonight, so I’ll have the TV to myself and will probably finish Season 1.

One Bonus Personal Goal:

Live Healthier

Like all of my attempts to eat healthier/exercise more, progress on this one is spotty. I started tracking my food and exercise using My Fitness Pal and that’s helping me to hold myself accountable, but I still wouldn’t say I’ve been very successful with this one yet.

At the beginning of the year I also called out some specific projects/rooms I wanted to work on this year:

Painting My China Hutch – Not Started

The Backyard – Not Started

Guest Room – Not Started

Office – In Work

So far I’d say I’m doing pretty well keeping to my goals for the year. Now I just need to keep up the pace for the next six months. It should be fun to see the difference in pictures from the beginning of 2013 to the end of 2013!

Yellow Ticking Stripe Curtains

As soon as I ordered my new rug I knew that I’d have to change my living room curtains. The blue Moroccan print of the rug was too much with the blue Moroccan print of the curtains.  Plus I’ve always wanted longer curtains so I could move the rod up higher.

I searched around for new curtains, but nothing caught my eye, so I decided to make my own…again. I ended up buying five yards of Michael Miller Yellow Ticking Stripe fabric from eBay for $8.50/yard.

I really cheated making these, so please don’t expect a tutorial on how to professionally sew curtains. I used the leftover iron-on hem tape from my office curtains to hem the top and bottom and I left the sides as-is. Someday I’d like to add lining…someday.

I re-hung the curtain rod 5 inches higher, which really makes the window look larger. To hang the curtains I used a set of curtain rings that I found on clearance at Target. I spray painted them white to match the rod.

Doesn’t the window look so much bigger now?! I’m still getting used to the lighter color curtains (right now it looks a little washed out), but I like the change. I think I’ll like it even more once I add bamboo blinds and bring some more color to that side of the room. And with that, another project is crossed off the list!

Find sectional

Replace arm chair

Buy rug

Find coffee table

Sew throw pillows

Buy garden stool

Style entertainment center shelves

Replace missing baseboard

DIY abstract art

Re-paint console table

Buy large plant/pot

Paint China Hutch

Decorate fireplace mantle

Sew curtains

DIY card catalog

Accessories

Spa Blue Moroccan Trellis Rug

The living room has needed a rug since…well, since I moved into the house. The living room/dining room/kitchen area is all tile flooring with high ceilings, so sometimes there’s a bit of an echo. Adding furniture helped, but I knew a rug would help even more. Plus adding a rug can really help pull a space together. I held off buying a rug until I bought a new couch (and until our puppies were housebroken), but that didn’t stop me from eyeing the Moroccan Trellis rug from Rugs USA. Now that I finally bought a new sectional (and our dogs are housebroken/have a doggie door), it was time to do some rug shopping.

I knew I wanted the Moroccan Trellis rug in spa blue, but I wanted to wait for a sale. I refuse to spend $566 on a rug! Granted they’ve been running a 50%-off sale for awhile now, but I knew I could do better if I just waited for a holiday. Luckily I was right and over Memorial Day weekend Rugs USA had a 65%-off sale plus free shipping on all their rugs. That’s right – I got this $566 rug for $198! I think that’s a pretty good price for an 8’x10’ wool rug.

I’m so happy with my new rug and would recommend it/Rugs USA to anyone looking for a new rug (I’m not being paid/perked to say that). It’s soft, plush and gorgeous in person. I should also mention that some of the reviewers complained that the rug sheds a lot, but I haven’t noticed any shedding yet. And for anyone wondering about the colors - the white is an off-white and the blue is a blue/gray, but definitely more blue than gray.

Oh, and the dogs love it too. Ringo was so excited when I rolled it out and he’s already rubbed his body over the entire thing.

Now I just need a new coffee table that doesn’t block so much of my pretty new rug!

Find sectional

Replace arm chair

Buy rug

Find coffee table

Sew throw pillows

Buy garden stool

Style entertainment center shelves

Replace missing baseboard

DIY abstract art

Re-paint console table

Buy large plant/pot

Paint China Hutch

Decorate fireplace mantle

Sew curtains

DIY card catalog

Accessories