A Change of Scenery

This time last year, Dan and I were working hard to get our house ready to list.  When the big day finally arrived, we were nervous.  What if it didn't sell?  What if we couldn't find a new house in our price range?  What if?  What if?  What if?

I really, really needed to get out of our old house.  It was too small for the four of us, and we were always on top of each other.  We didn't really have anywhere to just be and have our own space.  Because I had grown to intensely dislike our house, I didn't take much interest in caring for it or keeping it neat and tidy.

Now, a year later, we've sold, bought, and moved.  We purged and purged and purged.  It's been about 9 months and most of the boxes are unpacked and things have PLACES.  The kids tend to keep their things in their rooms so the shared living spaces aren't so messy!

Complete with a white picket fence!

Now I don't mind spending an hour or two on Saturday morning to tidy, dust, and vacuum.  I like puttering and going to HomeGoods to find something cute to hang on a wall or to display on the bookshelves.  I like coming home and sitting in my beautiful Guilford Green living room and reading.

It's amazing what a change of scenery can do for a person.

Basement Confessions

This must be my weekend for confessions, because here comes another one folks.

My basement is a mess.

Yes.  A mess.  In September of 2008, we got 4.5 feet of water in our basement during a massively heavy rain.  In the aftermath, we filled a dumpster with stuff that was ruined, including a couch, many scrapbook supplies, and various other things that cluttered that area.  I told myself that I wouldn't let my basement get so full of stuff again.

Fast forward to March 2011.  The wallboard is still cut at the high water line, the floor is back to its original concrete, and yes, the basement is full of stuff again.  The difference, though, is that most of the stuff is in bins.  Today I made a dent in that stuff, though... I filled many bags and boxes with clothing and toys to donate to Goodwill and Freecycled a bread machine.  It feels good to let go of stuff. 

Now if I could just convince my kids....