Edited with new date and graphic.
Our first house was an old house. A really old house. A house so old that, when we first walked through it, we were able to look at the kitchen floor that had a slope of approximately thirty degrees and say, “Oh! Isn’t that charming?!”
And we meant it.
Clearly we weren’t thinking about that fact that if you dropped an apple in that kitchen, you were gonna be walking about six feet to pick it up.
We were undeterred by the kitchen’s hilly terrain.
And because the house wasn’t in pristine condition, I never worried too much about messing it up. The smallest cosmetic changes did a world of good, and I loved the whole process of transforming that house into our first real home.
And yes, that even includes the time that I ripped the carpet out of one of the bedrooms and gagged for about six hours as a result of all the exceedingly displeasing smells that seared themselves onto my temporal lobe, thus ensuring that I can never forget the foulness, EVER, and sometimes still catch a whiff of that carpet at the oddest moments, like when I’m walking through a parking lot or putting a puzzle together or unloading the dishwasher.
It was, in a word, horrific.
Thankfully our next house was in much better shape and didn’t require nearly as much work. The same goes for our current one. But this house was built in the early 70s, and there are parts of it that, while in fine condition, are a little dated. And after a year and a half here, it’s time for me to start tackling some of those things. Our master bedroom and bathroom are at the top of my list.
But here’s the thing.
If left to my own procrastination-oriented devices, I’ll make lots of plans for the master bedroom and bath, and I’ll make lots of lists related to the master bedroom and bath, but I won’t actually do a dadgum thing because I’ll get overwhelmed that I won’t be able to get everything like I want it.
Have I ever told y’all about my passive-aggressive perfectionism? It is loads of fun.
Anyway, I figured that since interweb accountability helped when I did this and this, it might also help when I’m working on our bedroom and bath.
And thus, a Before and After bloggy extravaganza was born.
Brings a tear to the eye, doesn’t it?
So here’s what to do if you’d like to join the fun.
Grab the button by using this code:
Then write a post that tells us what your goals are. Maybe you want to paint your kitchen cabinets, or maybe you want to rearrange your den, or maybe you want to weed the area around your mailbox and then plant some flowers there. Whatever suits your fancy.
And your post doesn’t have to be long. A list-o-goals would be perfectly fine. Here are my goals, by the way:
1) paint our bedroom
2)paint our bathroom
3) paint the storage cabinet in our bathroom
4) tile our bathroom floor because there is CARPET in there right now but I can’t talk about the carpet anymore or I’ll start to itch
And if you only have one goal, that is perfectly fine. Not to mention reasonable. I just have a lot of goals because I’m ready to get this stuff done, and I figure that if I work on these projects a couple of days a week for the next four or five weeks, I should be able to get ‘er done.
On September 26th I’ll put up a Mr. Linky here, and you can add your post so that we can all see your fab Before and After pictures. You can tell us all about your project(s) – what worked, what didn’t, and maybe even share some helpful hints for people who might want to do something similar.
And then we will all gather ’round for a group hug.
Oh, I’m totally kidding.
Kinda.
Have fun, y’all!
June 18th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I hope we accomplish at least one item on my list. :)
June 18th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Well, shoot. I just finished painting four rooms in my house, and I’ll be in Asia for half of July, so I think I’m out for this round. Can I count the post I’ve already posted with all the painting, or would that be cheating?
It may be cheating, but what the heck. It took me two weeks to do all that work(including the Bookcase Reorganization Extravaganza). So here’s my cheating link. =)
http://put-it-on-the-list.blogspot.com/2008/06/to-satisfy-masses.html
June 18th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
It’s because you use phrases like “hilly terrain” to describe your kitchen that I heart this blog so much.
Peace!
June 18th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I admit, I’m not sooooo excited about this, but I see it as a necessary evil to force me into action. We’ll see if the internet accountability really does anything to resolve my terrible procrastination habits.
Great idea! Can’t wait to see everybody’s pics.
June 19th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Well, this is just a great idea. I need some accountability and motivation.
Thank you
Kathy b
June 19th, 2008 at 6:59 am
oh, haa haa this is too funny. You actually think we will actually DO this stuff? I always start out with the best of intentions. LOL I bet there will be a lot of “before” picutures and no so many “afters”
Love the idea, hopefully it will keep me motivated!
Take Care,
Trixie
June 19th, 2008 at 8:00 am
You are such an ambitious one!!! Can’t wait to see the final product. By the way, should you need a designer, I know a really good one. I also happen to live with “Handy Man” who I’m sure would be more than happy to provide advice about tiling your floors. Have fun!!!
June 19th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Count me in on this one. I have one goal: to tidy up the toy room.
Thanks for giving me the impetus I needed to actually *do* something about it and not just moan a lot.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Great idea! I have a looonng list of things to get done around my house.
June 19th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Ahem. I just re-read and it says to leave the list of things here.
I always get things about a meter off center.
Whatever.
1) I’m finishing a jeans quilt for my son that I started when he was about 5 or 6. He’s now 15.
2) Weeding the flower beds. It’s a spring job, but it got overwhelming and I get scared to get anywhere near it this time of year. Fifteen minutes a day, I’ll get that one.
3) Lose ten pounds. It’s a home improvement project. Because if I don’t, and if I keep going, I’d have to enlarge the door frames. It’s a preventive measure.
June 19th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Feeling pretty confident that I will actually finish this one…since I’m almost done already!!
June 19th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
HELP! You have to fix my “thingy”…I typed in the URL wrong on your fix-it-up post and it won’t link to my blog (have I mentioned lately that I’m technologically challenged??) It’s #53.
June 20th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Okay … I am here. I posted. AND included pictures. Well… my house looks bad but until I took the pics, I did not realize just HOW BAD. I must get this place decluttered, organized, and looking like a home. I have lived here in a brand new house for almost two years now and it looks like this… AHHHH… Thank you for posting this challenge. Maybe it is a swift kick in the derrière that I need in order to get myself going… that and a little accountability !!! Good luck everyone !
June 20th, 2008 at 6:48 am
count me in too … I have been slack lately.
June 20th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Oh, I am so in! I just found your blog..love it! I can hardly wait to see all of the before and after pictures. Accountability…what a motivater :o)
June 20th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Just the excuse I needed to finish the home improvement project I started over a month ago.
Plus I loved the Christmas Tour of Homes so I know this will be fun!
June 20th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Considering that these projects range in start date from five years ago to six months ago, I guess I needed a boost! Thanks!
June 21st, 2008 at 7:20 am
i’m in!! i’m always up for a challenge :)
my goals:
1. paint and decorate oldest daughter’s room
2. paint and decorate youngest daughter’s room
3. paint and decorate their bathrooms
4. paint master bedroom
yes!!
June 21st, 2008 at 4:44 pm
We moved into our house fourteen years ago and at the time I thought it was perfect. Now there’s lots that needs updating, but it seems like we spend the funds on keeping things in good repair. I’ve got a long wishlist and big plans for the future.Add mouldings, change countertops, refinish the kitchen island, new window treatments in master bed and bathrooms, you get the idea.
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:10 am
I’m in …. committed …. need this to motivate me!! This should be fun …. can’t wait to see everyone’s results!
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 am
Thanks for the “BooMama Before and After!” Committed indeed. This is exciting. And will be so great to be finished!
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Maybe this will motivate me to finish unpacking everything and get the house put together sooner rather than later. Like sooner, before the rest of our stuff arrives…
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Okay, I made my list. Now to get out of this chair and get to work on it!
June 27th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Great idea!
June 27th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Seriously?! YOU MUST check out my post from earlier today about just moving in and getting our house feel like home! Maybe I can get something accomplished with this nudge! Thanks!
July 3rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
my hub will be thrilled with anything that will motivate me to get some projects done. i’m in. got my list. hey ckb! wanna’ come to my place and help? i’ll spring for the fried chicken. :)
July 10th, 2008 at 9:18 am
steve(the hubby)will be glad to get all of this stuff out of the dining room. not always on the table, but in the room for a few weeks(don’t think it’s months at least)i needed the jolt to get going…thanks:)
July 19th, 2008 at 9:15 am
i have been working on my house all summer but just was facing burn-out… and the desire to quit.
somehow i missed this challenge/post earlier, but when i saw it today, i realized this is the motivation (a.k.a. accountability!) that i needed to push through and finish!
yay for internets and boomama’s great ideas :)