Front Porch Makeover -- Curb Appeal Part I (BEFORE)

It's that time of year when I find myself with a list of to-do's a mile long. Who am I kidding? I always have a list of to-do's a mile long! Anyway, it's seems spring gets me itching with things I want to do around the house. Where I think I will find time to do these projects is another story? Have I mentioned I work full-time, go to school full-time, and have a family? :)

Anyway, the weather here has been GORGEOUS the past couple of days which has ideas twirling about the outdoors. I don't mind digging in the dirt in sprucing up the outside. There is the WISH LIST of "to-do's" and the reality list of "to-do's" as well. :)

Here is a pic of our house... it's a simple ranch style home and it works for us. Nothing fancy :) I've never been able to get the entry way just right. This is usually what I start out with each and every spring --- I plan to add a hanging fern by the front door & the flower pots by the front door will be filled with lots of color (usually impatients, geraniums, & a sweet potato vine). I LOVE to infuse color by using flowers. Needless to say, that will make a BIG difference, but it never seems like enough -- it doesn't say cozy & welcome as much as I would like.

Things I'm pondering...

1. I found the rocking chairs at Goodwill last summer. They were well-weathered and a steal at $15.00 a piece! I brought them home and spray-painted them. Not convinced I love the red, which now has a weathered look.... what do you think?

2. When we moved here several years ago, we added the concrete pad in front of the sidewalk. In the past, we have used it for a parking spot - but now we do the car switcharoo. Should I attempt to make that more of an outdoor living space? If so, what would you do?

3. The area to the left of the front door seems blah & bare. In the fall, I have a lovely sign that is hand-painted with a pumpkin and fall colors that says "The S****'s". I love the sign and had hoped to get some additional seasonal ones, but the seller no longer exist on eBay. I have yet to find anything I like or similar on etsy or eBay.

4. Additionally, in the space to the left of the door -- the white chair seems to small for the space, but hey it was FREE! :) I've considered moving the large flower pots to the corner of the concrete pad -- trying to find a small bench for the door area OR another type chair and maybe something like a sofa table (obviously for the outdoors) to go on that wall that I can add some decor too.

5. I would like to paint the front door a classic black -- the rest of the house is a light grey with white trim -- on my wish list, I would paint the whole house. :) Does the front door need a wreath?

6. I think I need to invest in a welcome mat more inviting... LOL! The one we have is super cheap -- the black with "welcome" just doesn't say cozy to me. :) And, I'd love to add a light by the front door (currently it is overhead).

What are your suggestions?

My main goal is make it feel more cozy and welcoming & as always design on a dime (the cheaper the better!).

PS - I love my seasonal flags (I don't care if they are "yestersday" -- I love them), so don't tell me to ditch them. *smile* And, we usually freshen up the flowers beds with fresh pine needles as well. :)

Do you coupon?

Have you tried couponing? Are you a seasoned pro? I have tried before (10+ years ago) and failed miserably. Frankly, I think I had no clue what I was doing! I've been reading alot on blogs recently about huge savings from couponing. I would love to get our weekly budget for groceries down to $50 per week. In order to make this a reality, I know I need to invest some time and energy into couponing. I do have a few criteria...

1. I will not buy something just because I have a coupon for it - IF it is not something I normally use, I won't but it.


2. I will continue to prepare healthy meals for my family. In other words, I'm not stocking up on Totino's pizza because they are on sale and I can get them free.


3. I will try to make couponing a game vs. a chore. How much can I save this week?

Here are a couple of websites I have enjoyed browsing...

Homemaking Mom -- One of the reasons , I like this website is because she doesn't stock up on "junk". You can tell she trys to buy healthy!
Total Kitchen Makeover -- Again, she shops reasonably & offers great tips for produce, etc.
Southern Savers -- This is the "big daddy" of them all -- helpful hints, gettings started and a coupon database

Do you have any tips or advice to share?

Distractions

Are you easily distracted? Once upon a time, I was a very focused young lady. I had my list of "to-do's" and focused on getting my list accomplished it. I tend to do well with list - whether they are for cleaning, errands, schoolwork - I enjoy checking the box off to see the task completed. Once I became a mom, it has become harder for me to stay focused on my list. It seems that I am more easily distracted now. Not necessarily because of my son (perhaps I could use this excuse when he was a newborn, but he's TEN now!) -- there are lots of things I "should" have done this weekend -- a take-home history exam due Tuesday; a 10 pg research paper due May 3rd; a 7 pg research paper due May 10th; more cleaning... but instead I was distracted. I've put the take-home exam off which I may regret *ugh*.

As I sit in church on Sunday, it's hard not to notice some of the distractions. I try very hard to stay focused on our Pastor who has a specific purpose -- to deliver the Message that God has laid on his heart for us to receive. However, some Sundays it is harder than others -- paper rattling; people in front of you whispering; children crying; people looking around and you can "feel" they are looking in your direction; candy wrappers being opened; people yawning (or some snoring!).... you get the picture I think! There are SO MANY things that can distract us away from the Message. However, I think we need to try as hard as we can to put blinders on (as the picture above) and really focus our mind & heart on what we need to hear.

Weekly Menu

This is week #5 of menu-planning for my family & I love it! I'm trying to assemble and prepare all the meals on Sunday afternoon which makes dinnertime painless! :) You can get lots of other meal planning ideas here.

Saturday - We had an early Easter dinner with my parents. Ham, roasted asparagus, deviled eggs, fruit salad, corn on the cob, baked potato salad & yeast rolls. YUMMY without a doubt!

Sunday - Grilled steaks (found a 3 pack on-sale at Food Lion for under $10); leftover baked potato salad & steamed veggies

Monday - Crustless Spinach quiche & sliced strawberries

Tuesday - Baked Pork Chops (5 Dinners); corn on the cob & applesauce

Wednesday - Fellowship Meal at church - BBQ, slaw, baked beans (I have missed going on Wednesdays nights. It's been a challenge with super-husband working evenings; me catching up on school work; and super-son having soccer practice). Our class is providing the meal - we are skipping soccer, so I can help serve & clean up.

Thursday - Grilled Chicken Salad

Friday - leftovers or sandwiches

Happy Easter!

I love the colors of Easter - beautiful pastel eggs; gorgeous azalea blooms; Easter outfits full of frills and occasionally an Easter bonnet. While these are all wonderful things about the Easter & spring season, let us not forget the reason of the Easter holiday. Thousands of years ago - it was a very dark & sad day that our Savior hung on a cross for my sins and yours -- tortured and bleeding for our transgressions. But, what a glorious day it was when they found the tomb EMPTY that morning -- Praise God - He Lives! I hope you know Him and have a personal relationship with Him. For in Him, you will find peace, comfort and best of all EVERLASTING life!

Enjoy one of my favorite songs -- reminds me of Easter... "In Christ Alone" By Avalon.

Are you ready for summer?

You should totally head over to my friend, Sally's blog & check out how she has made areas of her home serene beach retreats!

Decisions, decisions...

Life is a constant whirlwind of decisions. We make lots of decisions on a daily basis that we don't even think twice about. There are other decisions that we mull over in our head, over and over and over. And there are times we make impulsive decisions like eating two candy bars without a blinking an eye only to regret it 30 seconds later or reacting with words & quickly realizing our mouth needs a filter.

I've made my fair share of poor decisions in life. Some of have been expensive lessonsm, and others have helped build character (in hindsight of course). Not sure why I'm rambling about life tonight... but life is a longitudinal journey. If you've made decisions you regret, pick yourself up - dust yourself off and move forward. You won't gain anything by drowning yourself in the foolishness of the decision that can't be reversed.