Well, my house is OFFICIALLY done. Pictures were taken this morning and I plan to do a pretty serious post later this week. You see, I got caught up in a project that ended up taking waaaay longer than expected, and because of that project I couldn't clean the rest of my house.
Seriously.
What happened was I made my own bathmat out of washcloths and towels. This was supposed to be a "neat, easy, green project" that would take 2 hours and 2-3 bath towels. It would help reduce waste, AND give me a super cute bathmat in no time!
....14 hours, 21 washcloths,1 bath towel, and a house COVERED in terrycloth fuzz later--I have a bath mat that decided to split in half as soon as I finished. But never fear, I did what any good Southern gal would do---
I tried not to scream, duct taped the crap out of the back, and vowed NEVER to wash it. Problem solved.
But anyway, I finally got everything cleaned up and I'll show pics of the mass transformation later.
Tonight, I want to talk about Listia. This has become my new favorite site, I check it fanatically. What is Listia, you ask? It's brilliant! It's fun! It's genius! It's ebay...for poor people!
Listia is an online auction site where everything is free. People put their stuff on the site and sell it for "credits," which is the system of currency on the site. Everything is bought and sold for credits. Here's how it works:
Step 1: Sign up. Or just go on the site and link it with facebook. That's what I did, it's free and painless.
Step 2: Find junk in your house you don't want anymore and don't think anyone would pay money for. I raided the "complete waste of time" section of my DVD collection. I wound up with 6 movies I had either bought and hated or tried to sell on Amazon and couldn't.
Step 3: List the items for sale. It always helps to include free shipping. Most of the items on Listia ship for free. I've paid a small amount for shipping a few times, but these were larger items. Then, set the price (DVDs start at 100 credits usually) and wait for the magic to happen!
Step 4: Cha--Ching! From those 6 DVDs, I wound up with roughly 1700 credits. Pretty decent considering the movies were terrible. The next day I mailed the DVDs to their winners and I waited for the credits to deposit to my account (for your first auctions you have to wait 10 days).
Step 5: SHOP! Using the credits you earn from selling your stuff, you can bid on new stuff that you actually want. So far I have won 3 auctions:
-An FM transmitter for my car (it didn't work, but I think it was my radio)
-A brand new DVD of the movie "21"
-A brand new Taboo game, still sealed in plastic!
Step 6: Repeat steps 4 and 5. I recently received 2020 credits from selling an old external hard drive I hadn't used in years. I'm also selling an old photo editing software program, and who knows what else I can find! The thing is, most everything sells on Listia because it's not real money, and people love free stuff!
Anyway, I just wanted to share this with everyone. Enjoy the fun of online shopping with none of the guilt!
If you want to check it out, go Here. But when you're ready to sign up go Here. That way I can get credit for referring you.
Happy shopping!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
WoR-Days 2 and 3
I really have been working hard on my Week of Responsibility, I promise! I just haven't really had time to blog about it much. However, today's room is really bad, and it's going to take me all day to do it so I'm doing what I do best--procrastinating! Although, at the end of this post I'm going to show some "before" pictures of the room so everyone can see the mass transformation.
But first, updates and promises to rooms!
On Tuesday I cleaned my bedroom, it's in the back of the house, and hidden from view most of the time. Because of this sometimes it becomes a dumping ground for random items that I either don't want to, or can't figure out how to put away. However, that's how I USED to be. That girl is gone, and a new one who takes pride in her room is in charge.
To my bedroom:
You are my favorite. You provide me with rest and clothing, two things I so desperately need. I am sorry for neglecting you for so long. From now on, you will be a sanctuary of relaxation, not a bastion of chaos...
...Dang it, Laundry! I can't escape from you!!! Wait, why do you need 3 hampers? Ohhhhh no, you're not pulling that old "just transfer the clothes into a new hamper when the old one gets full" trick anymore! Guess what? I'm taking 2 of your hampers and putting them to better use. You see, my shoes have a habit of wandering off and winding up scattered throughout my house. One of your hampers will now contain them! And the other hamper? I'm tired of having dog blankets all over my floor. They are being folded and put into the other one. So there. You are going to be working at 1/3 of your capacity now, and that means that Washer and Dryer are going to have to step it up. Maybe you can talk about it at your next "We Hate Kerri and are Going to Try to Ruin Her Sanity" meeting...
...I apologize, Bedroom, you and I both know that Laundry is what prevents you from doing your job of letting me sleep. Hopefully I have now solved the problem by taking out its support system. I think Laundry was the biggest problem here. That and the issue of Marley jumping on my bed when I'm not home. Now that we've had a few grueling weeks of training him to sleep on his bed, this shouldn't be a problem anymore.
Here are photos of my new and improved (clean!) bedroom!
Yes, I am still rocking the twin bed. But it's comfy, so I'm cool with it (however if anyone is getting rid of a double, I would be MORE THAN happy to take it off your hands :)). My mom made the quilt that's on it. That's my great-grandmother's sewing machine to the left. Um...the lamp is from a thrift store that I spray painted to make look antique, the evil hamper is on the far left. I love those flowers on the wall. I found them at Target a little over a year ago and stalked them until they went on clearance.
Other view of the room. The other three walls are a really pretty light blue. Marley's bed is on the floor, and the photo collage above his bed will hold pics of my family. Right now all that's in the frames are my grandparent's prom picture, one of my other grandparents and me when I was a baby, and 8 of the stock photos that came with the frames. In the bottom left corner is Abby.
I also worked on the dining room, but I think I'll wait to post those until my living room is complete since they are connected. For now, here is the "before" picture of the room I'm tackling today:
Den....prepare to be transformed.
But first, updates and promises to rooms!
On Tuesday I cleaned my bedroom, it's in the back of the house, and hidden from view most of the time. Because of this sometimes it becomes a dumping ground for random items that I either don't want to, or can't figure out how to put away. However, that's how I USED to be. That girl is gone, and a new one who takes pride in her room is in charge.
To my bedroom:
You are my favorite. You provide me with rest and clothing, two things I so desperately need. I am sorry for neglecting you for so long. From now on, you will be a sanctuary of relaxation, not a bastion of chaos...
...Dang it, Laundry! I can't escape from you!!! Wait, why do you need 3 hampers? Ohhhhh no, you're not pulling that old "just transfer the clothes into a new hamper when the old one gets full" trick anymore! Guess what? I'm taking 2 of your hampers and putting them to better use. You see, my shoes have a habit of wandering off and winding up scattered throughout my house. One of your hampers will now contain them! And the other hamper? I'm tired of having dog blankets all over my floor. They are being folded and put into the other one. So there. You are going to be working at 1/3 of your capacity now, and that means that Washer and Dryer are going to have to step it up. Maybe you can talk about it at your next "We Hate Kerri and are Going to Try to Ruin Her Sanity" meeting...
...I apologize, Bedroom, you and I both know that Laundry is what prevents you from doing your job of letting me sleep. Hopefully I have now solved the problem by taking out its support system. I think Laundry was the biggest problem here. That and the issue of Marley jumping on my bed when I'm not home. Now that we've had a few grueling weeks of training him to sleep on his bed, this shouldn't be a problem anymore.
Here are photos of my new and improved (clean!) bedroom!
Yes, I am still rocking the twin bed. But it's comfy, so I'm cool with it (however if anyone is getting rid of a double, I would be MORE THAN happy to take it off your hands :)). My mom made the quilt that's on it. That's my great-grandmother's sewing machine to the left. Um...the lamp is from a thrift store that I spray painted to make look antique, the evil hamper is on the far left. I love those flowers on the wall. I found them at Target a little over a year ago and stalked them until they went on clearance.
Other view of the room. The other three walls are a really pretty light blue. Marley's bed is on the floor, and the photo collage above his bed will hold pics of my family. Right now all that's in the frames are my grandparent's prom picture, one of my other grandparents and me when I was a baby, and 8 of the stock photos that came with the frames. In the bottom left corner is Abby.
This is what usually happens with the dog bed situation though.
The den. It is the catchall for all random items.
Den....prepare to be transformed.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Week of Responsibility--Day One
I was recently reading a post by my favorite blogger, Allie Brosh at Hyperbole and a Half. She talks about how a few times a year she tries to be an adult, does really well for a while, and then reality--and hilarity--ensues. This article mirrored the past 25 years of my life (read: every moment since I've been able to make a mess, forget about it, not clean it up, then feel like a failure for being so messy). Here's the post if you want a reference point (note: some pretty strong language in parts, but good nonetheless).
Anyway, I am determined to change. I have to change. This week I am getting my house in order, and I will keep it that way, darn it!
Every day I will tackle a room, and finish it to completion. Then I will make a promise to the room to keep it that way. And because it is my new house, I will post pictures of the room when I am finished so everyone can see what the house looks like.
Here we go!
Day One--Kitchen.
Mr. Refrigerator, I promise to:
Clean out of you all food that smells weird, is expired, or looks like a biology experiment. I apologize for putting things in you and then forgetting about it. I no longer will allow food to drip on your shelves, which I am scrubbing today. I promise to turn off the ice maker when the ice bin is full. No longer will I allow your freezer's bottom shelf to become an overflow for ice cubes because that is wasteful. From hereon, I promise to remove leftovers that are more than a week old, and I will pay attention to expiration dates of perishables, especially milk and produce.
I so solemnly swear.
*Pause in writing while I go clean the fridge (12:30 P.M.)*
12:51
Laundry (my washer/dryer is in the kitchen)
Dear Laundry:
I hate you. You hate me. Our mutual hatred for each other goes back to the day I realized that you only keep clothes clean temporarily. While that was a sneaky trick on your part, I'm here to tell you that YOU WILL NOT BEAT ME! Dryer, you think it's cute that you wrinkle my clothes after they've been sitting in you for 3 days? Guess what!? I'm gonna take the clothes out of you AS SOON AS THEY'RE DONE! Yeah, how do you like them apples? And Washing Machine, you think that you can wait until my hamper (and bedroom) are overflowing to wash my clothes? Think again, buster! From now on YOU work for ME! You will be working at least 2-3 times a week, so get used to it, pal! And no more of this "I'll wash clothes that are clean already simply because the dryer wrinkled them up" business. My clothes are getting folded and put away in the dresser, so there!
Pause while I lay the smack down on laundry (12:59 P.M.)
4:13 P.M.
Okay, I'm tired of writing letters to individual parts of my kitchen, and I will condense my promise to a list:
I promise to:
-Put dishes in the dishwasher and not the sink
-Unload the dishwasher as soon as the dishes are done
-Wipe up all messes on the stove and counter
-Put my dishes away in an orderly fashion instead of cramming them in the cabinets and hoping they won't fall out.
-Keep the floor swept
-Water my plants
-Put snacks back in the pantry after I get them out.
So help me, Mr. Clean.
Ready for pictures? They posted backwards, but it's okay.
My mini-farm. I'm trying my hand at gardening--and I'm seeing growth!
Other sink view. I have a weird island in the middle of the kitchen. I painted it to match my KitchenAid mixer.
The weird island also contains my stove. This view looks into the breakfast nook. The corner cabinet holds all my coffee making devices. Since the house is so old, I went with a "1950's diner" theme in the kitchen with records on the walls, and Kayla's bringing a Coke table as well!
The photo of the washer and dryer didn't post, but I'm not missing it. Just know it's on the other side of my stove and right next to the fridge--weird!!
Tomorrow I tackle......my bedroom!
Anyway, I am determined to change. I have to change. This week I am getting my house in order, and I will keep it that way, darn it!
Every day I will tackle a room, and finish it to completion. Then I will make a promise to the room to keep it that way. And because it is my new house, I will post pictures of the room when I am finished so everyone can see what the house looks like.
Here we go!
Day One--Kitchen.
Mr. Refrigerator, I promise to:
Clean out of you all food that smells weird, is expired, or looks like a biology experiment. I apologize for putting things in you and then forgetting about it. I no longer will allow food to drip on your shelves, which I am scrubbing today. I promise to turn off the ice maker when the ice bin is full. No longer will I allow your freezer's bottom shelf to become an overflow for ice cubes because that is wasteful. From hereon, I promise to remove leftovers that are more than a week old, and I will pay attention to expiration dates of perishables, especially milk and produce.
I so solemnly swear.
*Pause in writing while I go clean the fridge (12:30 P.M.)*
12:51
Laundry (my washer/dryer is in the kitchen)
Dear Laundry:
I hate you. You hate me. Our mutual hatred for each other goes back to the day I realized that you only keep clothes clean temporarily. While that was a sneaky trick on your part, I'm here to tell you that YOU WILL NOT BEAT ME! Dryer, you think it's cute that you wrinkle my clothes after they've been sitting in you for 3 days? Guess what!? I'm gonna take the clothes out of you AS SOON AS THEY'RE DONE! Yeah, how do you like them apples? And Washing Machine, you think that you can wait until my hamper (and bedroom) are overflowing to wash my clothes? Think again, buster! From now on YOU work for ME! You will be working at least 2-3 times a week, so get used to it, pal! And no more of this "I'll wash clothes that are clean already simply because the dryer wrinkled them up" business. My clothes are getting folded and put away in the dresser, so there!
Pause while I lay the smack down on laundry (12:59 P.M.)
4:13 P.M.
Okay, I'm tired of writing letters to individual parts of my kitchen, and I will condense my promise to a list:
I promise to:
-Put dishes in the dishwasher and not the sink
-Unload the dishwasher as soon as the dishes are done
-Wipe up all messes on the stove and counter
-Put my dishes away in an orderly fashion instead of cramming them in the cabinets and hoping they won't fall out.
-Keep the floor swept
-Water my plants
-Put snacks back in the pantry after I get them out.
So help me, Mr. Clean.
Ready for pictures? They posted backwards, but it's okay.
My mini-farm. I'm trying my hand at gardening--and I'm seeing growth!
Sink area with 1960's avocado green counter tops. Check out the colored glass on top though!
Other sink view. I have a weird island in the middle of the kitchen. I painted it to match my KitchenAid mixer.
The weird island also contains my stove. This view looks into the breakfast nook. The corner cabinet holds all my coffee making devices. Since the house is so old, I went with a "1950's diner" theme in the kitchen with records on the walls, and Kayla's bringing a Coke table as well!
Tomorrow I tackle......my bedroom!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Mystery Solved!!!
It was Kayla!!! She is doing service projects around here and stopped in for lunch.
I am so glad I'm not going to get murdered in my sleep!
I am so glad I'm not going to get murdered in my sleep!
Friday, June 4, 2010
There's something strange, in my neighborhood...
Something very odd is happening to me.
I have a phantom in my house. Or a ghost. Or a homeless person. I don't know what yet.
All I know is I'm starting to get freaked the crap out.
Either that or I have suddenly developed schizophrenia.
It started off very subtle. I'd come home and think "hmm..I don't remember getting that glass out, but oh well, I know I forget things." Or, "How did that box get there?" I really did think that I was just moving things and in my rush, not realizing that I had done it.
Yesterday things changed. And today I'm writing a blog about it.
I found an Arby's bag on my counter.
I haven't had Arby's in a few weeks. But even THEN I thought "Okay...uh...maybe my parents got Arby's on Monday when they were here and I didn't notice it for 3 days....yeah that's it! I don't have some crazy person using my kitchen when I'm not here....with a key to my house....and a desire for the blood of a 25 year old female..."
Today it went too far.
I got home from work and saw a glass of sweet tea on my table. I had water last night, not sweet tea. Still hopeful, yet starting to get really paranoid, I thought "Maybe it's Paul's?" However, Paul hadn't been to my house in several days, and I don't leave glasses of tea on the table.
Then I saw the ramen pot in my sink and the bowl with the fork in it. I KNOW I haven't eaten any ramen, plus I emptied my sink out last night. This is starting to get a bit ridonkulous.
I am trying to do some sleuthing, and I have come up with the following list of suspects:
-Marley and Abby
WHY THEY ARE GUILTY: Very smart, lots of free time, unlimited access to the kitchen.
WHY THEY ARE INNOCENT: No thumbs.
VERDICT: Innocent (for now)
-Me
WHY I AM GUILTY: I like ramen, sweet tea, and Arby's. I also forget things a lot and have a tendency to be messy.
WHY I AM INNOCENT: I'm not crazy, plus I'm gone at work all day when this is happening. Also, I put dishes in the dishwasher, not the sink.
VERDICT: Innocent
-Paul
WHY HE IS GUILTY: He has a key, likes Arby's (not sure about the ramen though), and he is able to go wherever he wants for lunch.
WHY HE IS INNOCENT: He works in Charlotte, and he said he didn't do it.
VERDICT: Innocent
-Kayla
WHY SHE IS GUILTY: She has a key, likes ramen, likes Arby's, and is my roommate. Aha!
WHY SHE IS INNOCENT: She's at church camp right now.
VERDICT: Innocent, although momentarily promising!
That's it! Those are all the people who have a key and a motive. I am completely at a loss for what is happening to me.
So I'm blogging about it.
Dear Mr./Miss. Phantom or Homeless Person,
Why do you come to my house for lunch? Aren't my dogs intimidating? Marley could eat your face off, you know that right? Okay, he obviously hasn't yet so you must have a way to charm him. Will you please tell me who you are? It is scaring me. If you are going to keep coming to my house, will you please put your dishes and trash away properly? I know my dishwasher was full today, so I can excuse that--but just note that for future reference, I put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Also, I am sorry my house is so messy. I didn't know to expect intruders...uh...visitors, I mean. Thank you for throwing away Kayla's Buffalo Wild Wings box. That was very nice of you. But still...its creepy.
Have a good day!
Love,
Kerri
I have a phantom in my house. Or a ghost. Or a homeless person. I don't know what yet.
All I know is I'm starting to get freaked the crap out.
Either that or I have suddenly developed schizophrenia.
It started off very subtle. I'd come home and think "hmm..I don't remember getting that glass out, but oh well, I know I forget things." Or, "How did that box get there?" I really did think that I was just moving things and in my rush, not realizing that I had done it.
Yesterday things changed. And today I'm writing a blog about it.
I found an Arby's bag on my counter.
I haven't had Arby's in a few weeks. But even THEN I thought "Okay...uh...maybe my parents got Arby's on Monday when they were here and I didn't notice it for 3 days....yeah that's it! I don't have some crazy person using my kitchen when I'm not here....with a key to my house....and a desire for the blood of a 25 year old female..."
Today it went too far.
I got home from work and saw a glass of sweet tea on my table. I had water last night, not sweet tea. Still hopeful, yet starting to get really paranoid, I thought "Maybe it's Paul's?" However, Paul hadn't been to my house in several days, and I don't leave glasses of tea on the table.
Then I saw the ramen pot in my sink and the bowl with the fork in it. I KNOW I haven't eaten any ramen, plus I emptied my sink out last night. This is starting to get a bit ridonkulous.
I am trying to do some sleuthing, and I have come up with the following list of suspects:
-Marley and Abby
WHY THEY ARE GUILTY: Very smart, lots of free time, unlimited access to the kitchen.
WHY THEY ARE INNOCENT: No thumbs.
VERDICT: Innocent (for now)
-Me
WHY I AM GUILTY: I like ramen, sweet tea, and Arby's. I also forget things a lot and have a tendency to be messy.
WHY I AM INNOCENT: I'm not crazy, plus I'm gone at work all day when this is happening. Also, I put dishes in the dishwasher, not the sink.
VERDICT: Innocent
-Paul
WHY HE IS GUILTY: He has a key, likes Arby's (not sure about the ramen though), and he is able to go wherever he wants for lunch.
WHY HE IS INNOCENT: He works in Charlotte, and he said he didn't do it.
VERDICT: Innocent
-Kayla
WHY SHE IS GUILTY: She has a key, likes ramen, likes Arby's, and is my roommate. Aha!
WHY SHE IS INNOCENT: She's at church camp right now.
VERDICT: Innocent, although momentarily promising!
That's it! Those are all the people who have a key and a motive. I am completely at a loss for what is happening to me.
So I'm blogging about it.
Dear Mr./Miss. Phantom or Homeless Person,
Why do you come to my house for lunch? Aren't my dogs intimidating? Marley could eat your face off, you know that right? Okay, he obviously hasn't yet so you must have a way to charm him. Will you please tell me who you are? It is scaring me. If you are going to keep coming to my house, will you please put your dishes and trash away properly? I know my dishwasher was full today, so I can excuse that--but just note that for future reference, I put dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Also, I am sorry my house is so messy. I didn't know to expect intruders...uh...visitors, I mean. Thank you for throwing away Kayla's Buffalo Wild Wings box. That was very nice of you. But still...its creepy.
Have a good day!
Love,
Kerri
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