Bedroom is Stripped, Sanded, Patched, Primed...

It is a great day! The Bedroom is ready to paint.




Everything has been stripped, sanded, patched, wiped down and primed.
The closet is built. The old doors we used for the closet walls give the room a touch of my quirky style.



I will be painting the walls with American Pride "Aged Paper". Same color I painted the home office. I adore this color. It is very comfortable.

I decided a while back that the majority of our rooms will be painted soft neutral shades. As much as I love color, a whole room of color can grow rather tiresome quickly. I will pop color with accents and fabrics.

This has been a VERY long project. Stripping paint is tedious. It is messy and dirty and goopy. But I can't wait to pick up that Corona Minipro Red today!

The renovation part of this project is almost finished. Finding the motivation to start the next one is going to be challenge. Thank goodness there are only two rooms upstairs left to strip and a super thank goodness for the Silent Paint Remover.

The Transformation of a Home Office.

Here's a peak at the new home office space.



I was organizing my photos in the new iphoto and came across shots of my previous home offices. Ugh, I look at the first couple photos and think I can't believe I could work in such a dark and dreary space. (but I was feeling a bit dreary at that point in my life and it shows!) I set this up in our old basement with stuff I had around the house. This was my first official home office, dated 2002. I think. Notice the really old Mac. I really didn't need a home computer at that time because I was never home. I was always at work. Always.



These shelves were the first real DIY project my husband and I did together. They were ugly but functional.



The office moved up to the open airy empty loft when I started working from home full time. I created a simple and bright space using inexpensive storage options from ikea We wanted to move. It was just a matter of when. So, spending a lot of money for the space was silly.

Home Office. Almost Done.

After stripping and sanding trim. After removing plaster from the old chimney. After prepping, priming and painting. After working on a old table in the dining room for almost a year, I moved into my home office a couple months ago. I am still working on the final decorating details, like the color of the cabinet, curtains and a few things for the wall. But the new light is hanging and I am loving my new creative space.

Love Them or Let Them Go. Creative Uses for Old China Tea Cups

Isn't this just a wonderful use for that collection of heirloom tea cups? I am sure grandma would smile knowing that her cherished china is still lighting up your day!




This is a page from my HomeDone JOYS idea notebook. I pulled it from a magazine because I loved the whimsy of it. (Anyone know who I can give credit too for this one?)

I have a saying, Use it. Need it or Toss it. Unless it makes you smile.
My grandmas china makes me smile. It brings back lovely memories. But I am not using it. It just sits on a shelf collecting dust. I do keep things just because they make me smile. But if I can put them to good use, all the better.

Today I am just sharing some unique repurposing ideas. There are some wonderfully creative people out there! Thanks for the inspiration. Found these on Flickr.

A Little Action in My Kitchen.

One of the first things I did when we moved into our new house was recreate our Action Center.



This was a simple and effective way to keep papers off the dining table and in a place. It had three containers. File. Use. Act. It worked great in our old house, but with all the responsibilities in the new house we needed something more.
So, I tried a full out tickler.




43 Folders + Actions Tickler File
31 Days, 12 Months and a few actions. Too much for us. The Basic Tickler worked so much better for our lifestyle.
So, I modified to a monthly tickler.




12 Folders + Actions
12 Months and about 6 Actions. I think this will be perfect. The only thing I might add would be a few years. Like Next Year, 2 Years...



The monthly with the actions is working like a charm. The best part is my husband is actually using it. After creating this for our space, I decided to write a little tickler file instructional booklet and create some pdf labels for JOYS.

Why Organizing Paper is so Challenging

I posted a new slideshow on my website. Why Organizing Paper is so Challenging.

Discover the 3 reasons why you struggle to organize your papers, the 1 emotion they all have in common and 3 simple guidelines to help you keep your papers organized.

One Little Basement Organizing Project Complete.

I have wanted to do this cool organizing idea since seeing it in a magazine a few years back.



I was actually inspired after another diy project flopped. I had made a large frame with leftover wood and an inexpensive piece of plywood to use as a magnet board in my office. But when the magnetic paint I purchased (twice) totally flopped, I was left with a big ugly black board.

So, since the gladware (inexpensive way to keep small stuff organized and contained btw) wasn't working as great in the new house as it did in the old, I decide to spend a little money. After all, there is nothing more frustrating than not being able to find what you need in the middle of a bigger project.




I ordered this 60mil magnetic adhesive and a whole bunch of different sized metal containers. Now all my nuts, bolts and screws are organized. It wasn't an inexpensive project (around $100), but it is definitely an effective organizing solution and this was not a make it work project. This is a permanent fixture in our basement. I have seen where people have used old glass jars by screwing their lids to the bottom of a shelf. I always liked that idea too. I just didn't like the glass part.

This Weekends Top Ten!

10. Fabric store on Friday to find curtain fabric for guest room.


09. Door and shelves in guest rooms sanded, painted and back where they belong. Thanks honey!

08. Blueberry and raspberry bushes planted. Thanks honey!



07. New bud on our new rose bush, can't wait to see the full pink and orange bloom.

06. Dimmer installed and switch plates and outlet covers updated.
05. Radiator scraped, primed and painted.

04. Ceiling fan light kit updated.


03. Great dinner and conversation with new friends.
02. Great cookout and conversation with old friends.
01. Floor in guest room, cleaned and polished!



Even though the old light kit was hideous (and is now on freecycle) and changing the light went a lot smoother than I anticipated, past experiences with anything electrical have been a three day affair; the floor was my favorite week-end project. The floor is always my favorite. I love cleaning my floors, because it means a room is ready to move into. Finally and thank-you!

Much Joy all, especially to those who are serving, have loved ones serving or have served our great country. Thank-you!

Surprise! The Joys of Fixing Up an Old House.

I like surprises, particularly when they are happy surprises.
This was not one of those.




Someone at some point did not do the proper prep. All the paint was peeling like a bad sun burn. Which meant ALL the trim in ALL the upstairs rooms needed to be stripped before it could be painted. Not in the PLAN and a major renovation set back.

I am not going to go into the sloppy details. I used Smartstrip and it worked. I guess. But chemical stripping, even the green options, really suck. It took me a few weeks to remove all the paint and clean up the wood work. Then the room became storage for our attic renovation. That took months.




Now, almost a year later, I finally have paint on the trim and walls and I am so looking forward to decorating. I can't wait to check room 2 off my list. At least 10 more to go if you count the bathrooms and the kitchen!

A year ago, an oh crap, now what!


Yesterday, a little joy and sense of accomplishment.


This was definitely a job I would have loved to hire someone else to do. The stripping part a least. Painting is not a just make it work project. Painting is a do it right or you'll be doing it over kind of thing. And if you do something silly like no primer and cheap paint, you'll be making A LOT more work for yourself (or someone else).

New Inspiration. New Direction.

We moved over a year ago and since then I have been struggling to get myself re-organized. My business and our life. I had all my systems in place and everything in it's place on Amethyst Lane. It was simple to write about getting organized when I was organized. Now, not so simple. Now, I feel like a hypocrite as I am surrounded by renovation clutter and stuff that doesn't have a place.

Life was pretty easy before. I guess that is why we decided it was time for a change.
Change is a wonderful thing. It comes with lots of surprises. Stepping out of our comfort zone was necessary to have the life we dreamed of. Part of that dream included a beautiful old house in a wonderful neighborhood.

Needless to say I had grandiose plans. The renovations would go quick and I could go back to 150% focus on growing JOYS. Reality finally struck me this past week.

My idea of "perfection right now" is ridiculous.

We are making great progress but the house will be finished when the house is finished. It's time to just make it work. (thanks, tim gunn). Make my rooms all they can be right now with what I have. If I can finish a room, great! If it requires big project dollars. The money will come, I am sure of it. In the meantime, be creative and enjoy what we got ourselves into.

I think I am ok knowing, it's ok, to just do all I can each day. That a plan is great, but a plan can change and when it does the inspiration in the detour will make the outcome even better.

The JOYS of Managing Your Money

Tax records pile up year-long. Establishing a system to collect and organize your tax-related receipts, papers and spending throughout the year will end tax-prep panic. A great paper filing system is a must, but a really good software is a must consider.

03 The JOYS of Managing Your Money 

Do What You Need to Do to Protect Your Identity.

On May 03 the names, social security numbers and birth dates of 26 MILLION LIVING VETERANS from 1975 through the present were stolen.

Sure the VA is hopeful that the person who stole the information doesn't know what they have. Even wishful that he/she will have a blast of morality and return the information. Personally, I wouldn't hold my breath.

Fast action is the key to limiting the financial and emotional damages of identity theft. Don't wait until you see suspicious activities on your credit report. It can take months before you realize you are a victim.

01 Step.
Place a fraud alert on your credit account.
Contact one of the Credit Reporting Agencies by phone. (and don't be frustrated when you never get a real human.) You will need personal information including your social security number.

Equifax: 800-525-6285
Hearing impaired: Call 1-800-255-0056

Experian: 888-397-3742
TDD- 800-972-0322

TransUnion: 800-680-7289
TDD- 877-553-7803

Because it can be a hassle if you need to apply for credit, not everyone would advise a fraud alert in this situation. When an alert is placed on your account, a business must verify identity before issuing credit. This may cause some delays. It's your call. But, I wouldn't be taking chances with my financial future if I thought someone could have my name and social security number. Find out more details about Fraud Alerts from the FTC.

02 Step
Call each of the Credit Reporting Companies and request a copy of your credit report.

Equifax: 800-685-1111

Experian: 888-EXPERIAN

TransUnion: 800-888-4213

03 Step
When your credit reports arrive, review your credit reports carefully.

1. Highlight unfamiliar inquiries or accounts.
2. Highlight unusual charges on existing accounts.
3. Highlight errors in personal information such as Social Security number, name, address and employers.

04 Step
If any errors are found in the report, contact the credit reporting companies to correct

05 Step
If fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or there are unusual charges on existing accounts, contact the creditors of the fraudulent accounts explain the situation and then follow up in writing. The contact information should be provided on the credit report.

If you aren't keeping good records, start now; good records are vital to clearing you name and credit.

JOYS has a few tips but The Identity Theft Resource Center has fantastic resources. Use them.

1. Templates for Letters to Creditor and Others.
2. A Detail Course of Action if you are a Victim.
3. Tips to Help You Organize Your Case.

06 Step
If fraudulent accounts and activity appear in your credit report File a Police Report
This step may be the most frustrating step, because many departments don't understand the importance of a police report to identity theft victims. Insist on a Report. The FTC provides some straight forward insight if you are having difficulties.

07 Steps
If fraudulent accounts and activity appear in your credit report File a Complaint with the FTC. Information you provide may help law enforcement official across the country track down identity thieves.

Finally, please know that placing a fraud alert on you account will not guarantee protection against identity theft.

You may consider one more step.
Each of the Credit Reporting Companies provides services that will monitor your account for unusual activity. Although a bit pricey, these services would pay for themselves if fraud were caught early. Free Trials including a Free Credit Report may also be available. You may be interested in:

1. Equifax Credit Watch™ 3-in-1 Monitoring
2. Experian Credit Manager™
3. TrueCredit™ from TransUnion

By law you are entitled to one free report, at your request, once a year. Many different situations may dictate another free report, at your request. Check the FTC web site for more information.

03 Three Tips : Setting Up a Maintainable Home Filing System.

Tax Day is fast approaching. Did you know the average taxpayer spends more than 24 hours preparing their 1040 “long” form? That is according to the U.S. Tax Payers Union. Establishing a functional home filing system is a key factor in reducing the stress of tax preparation. It may take some time to actually file your piles but you can set up a functional filing system in an afternoon. Here are three simple tips…

Containerize
Most papers are never referenced after taxes are filed. However, they must be kept for many years. Create a place for papers and information to be stored depending on when it will be needed.

An effective filing system will help you…
1. Keep current information easily accessible and maintainable.
2. Keep support records from being lost in piles of reference materials and everyday information.
3. Keep vital documents safe and secure.

Categorize
The whole family should be able to file and retrieve information from your household filing system. Filing your papers and personal information under consistent simple categories will help anyone quickly locate anything they need. Choose categories carefully by making sure they are broad enough to cover multiple subjects. Studies have shown that colors and graphics are recognized quicker than words, so consider using them in your system.

Keep your system simple by…

1. Limiting your main categories to five or six
2. Choosing a color or graphic to represent each category.
3. Keeping categories consistent in all containers.

Save time by using a pre-designed system like JOYS™ Brand Organizational Products.

Familiarize
If you can look at a piece of paper for what it is you can quickly make a decision to keep or toss it. Take the time to read the IRS publication on Record Retention (Publication 552) and know what personal documents are considered vital. This will help to eliminate some of the fear associated with tossing papers.

Any piece of paper can be classified as one of the following…

1.Documents provide proof of ownership, responsibility and identity and are considered most important or vital.
2.Records support past activity and information and are primarily needed for tax and insurance purposes.
3.References provide general or specific information and are considered the least important or clutter.

Remember, the rewards of a balanced life are worth the commitment it takes to get organized. This is especially true this time of year when locating support records for tax preparation can be time consuming.

How To : Keep a Contact Log

If you are making a request, seeking information or attempting to correct a problem, you'll want a record of what has been advised, promised or denied from individuals or companies your are dealing with. A simple note in your household notebook will help jog your memory for basic maintenance and service. But if your situation requires ongoing contact, a dedicated contact log may be needed.

A detailed log includes:

01. Date
02. Contact Name
03. Company Name
04. Phone Number
05. Discussion Points
06. Action Required
07. Agreements Made
08. Confirmation Numbers

After contact, confirm in writing your discussion, include actions required, agreements made and timetable for completion. Make sure to send confirmations by return receipt requested mail. If you fax or email, request a written response for receipt of confirmation.

Download JOYS™ Contact Log if you want to add a log to any subject in your household notebook.

If you prefer to keep your log on you computer, check out My Little Note Saver shareware for your pc or Mac Journal for your mac. But remember, logging on the computer doesn't carry as much weight in court.

07 Seven Good Reasons : Why Keep a Contact Log?

If you are the victim of identity theft or have a child or family member with an ongoing medical condition or you are collecting child support it is vital you keep a contact log. The truth is people make mistakes. And someone else's mistake can hurt you. You will be the best keeper of information that supports you.

Staying organized and keeping a contact log helps you:

01. Bring your situation to a quicker resolution.
02. Return your life back to a more normal state.
03. Discredit inaccuracies and exaggerations.
04. Appear and be more knowledgeable.
05. Prove possible violations of court orders, law or policy.
06. Clarify thoughts and memories of incidents.
07. Provide clues to locating helpful records.

What to Do : I Lost My Wallet.

Take action quickly. For legal and tax purposes - keep a log of all conversations, including dates, names and phone numbers. Also note time spent and keeps receipts for any expenses incurred.

First : Place a Fraud Alert on Your Credit Account. Don’t be frustrated if you never speak to a live person.

Second : File a Police Report. Keep a copy in a safe location and make a note of the report number. You may need it in the future.

Third : If you know what’s in your wallet, start making phone calls. If you don’t know what’s in your wallet, take a breath, it's ok.

Read the straightforward information from the Identity Theft Information Center. It provides a checklist to help you remember what was in your wallet, actions to take and numbers to call.

Even if you know what’s in your wallet, I might make one more suggestion. Print the information from the Identity Theft Information Center today and put it in your household binder or with the copies you made. Don’t waste time searching for this valuable information when you really need.

Do You Know : What’s in your wallet?

If your wallet was lost or stolen, how quickly could you notify all your financial institutions? What phone number would you call? What if you were on a trip and didn’t have quick access your files?

It could take forever to locate all the number on all your cards. Besides that, could you even remember everything you had in your wallet? Save yourself some time and reduce stress. Make a copy of all the important stuff in your wallet. Front and back. Then file it away in a very safe and secure place.

If you have a computer and scanner, it takes less than 15 minutes!

01 Step : Review. Take everything out of your wallet and check it out. Ask yourself…Do I need to be carrying this with me? Does it have my social security number on it? (If the answer is yes to this question, it should not be in your wallet.)

02 Step : Scan. Arrange as many cards as possible on your scanning bed and scan.

03 Step : Scan. Flip to scan the other side.

04 Step : Print. You may wish to print the document containing the front of your cards and then flip the paper to print on the back.

05 Step : Check. Review your printouts. Make sure you can read the contact phone numbers. It may help to write the phone number next to the card. (Those numbers are always printed so small!)

06 Step : Delete. Any scans you saved on your hard drive. You don’t need them. And make sure you shred any printed pages you are not going to file safely away.

07 Step : File. The pages you just created should be kept in a secure location. File in your Vital File.

Please Note : If your Drivers License, (or any card for that matter) is displaying your Social Security Number it is time to request a new one. It’s may even be law.

Second Thought : Don't Toss Your Manuals

Some organizing experts suggest tossing your product manuals. Reason being, “You can just get online to find the information you need.”

It is a good chance you will have to refer to a manual during the life of any product, so I have to respectfully disagree. I like my paper references for so many reasons.

1. What if your computer is experiencing “technical difficulties”?
2. What if your internet "connection goes down"?
3. What if there is a "power outage"?
4. Even if you can get online, how long will you have to search for the information you “specifically need"?
5. After finally finding the information, you’re probably going to want to print it out, because your computer doesn't provide "viewing flexibility".
6. Now what if your printer is experiencing “technical difficulties”?

I could go on…but in my humble opinion : Save some time and fileyour manuals.

30 Days : To Less Clutter

Let go of one thing. Go for it. Get rid of something. Just one thing. It can be anything.

1. The lonely sock waiting for his mate to return from the dryer.
2. The non-stick frying pan that has been scrubbed free of it’s non-stick powers.
3. Any catalog dated 2005. It’s 2006, the prices have probably changed anyway.

It’s less overwhelming when you let go of old stuff a little at a time. Once you start you may not be able to stop. So go ahead. Toss something. If you can’t bear to toss it give it away. But get rid of it.

Do this everyday for the next 30 days and you’ll have less clutter in no time.

01 One Simple Rule : Helping You Organize Life.

Use it, need it or toss it, unless it makes you smile. This one simple rule can help you keep everything in your life organized.

The main focus of JOYS™ is to help you get your personal papers and information organized. But eliminating clutter in all areas of your home and life will certainly help you find balance.

Just start with a few small things. The feeling you get from letting something go will snowball. Take a few minutes each day to get rid of something you no longer need or use. If you haven’t used IT or needed IT in the past year, it is time to let go. If IT is still in good working condition you may want to Sell It, Donate It or Trade It.

Be honest with yourself. Selling and trading stuff take time and energy. What is your time worth to you? Someone may truly benefit from your generosity. Stop hanging onto things because you think you can make a few bucks. Having more space and less clutter is worth a lot more that a couple dollars.