Trying My Hand at Decorating

One of the 4 simple goals I set for myself a couple of weeks ago was basically quit thinking about the possibilities and just decorate my condo. 

Get some stuff on the walls.

Move furniture to where it looks and works best and not leave it in the same place it was plopped down when I moved in 3 years. 

So here is what I tackled first...

I love this piece. It was in my parents' good living room (did you have a "good living room" growing up?) and is one of the first pieces they bought after they got married. 

As you can see, I did a decent job with the inside of the cabinet (though my mom had to come over and help) BUT I had been using the top of the cabinet and a catch-all since after Christmas when I had my snowmen out.

So I cleared it off and started over again. 

Here's one grouping...

I'm really digging my initials lately so I grabbed this metal K at Pottery Barn Kids and paired it with a round mirror and my Indiana print from Etsy.

Then I tried my hand at being crafty with some beans, a candle and a large glass holder.

I couldn't find red beans so it kind of blah but I like it so who cares!

This is where my decorating skills had me stumped. I think I need something large to go next to or behind the candle. But I went through my condo and couldn't find anything that I thought worked. So I left it half-finished.

So, now I'm on the look out for a cool fall/autumn piece to round it out.

Now, on to another space in the condo. Maybe I should remove my old TV and stand that is sitting next to my new flatscreen...

4 Simple Goals Before 2013

While browsing through Pinterest the other day, I came across a blog post that really spoke to me.

Unfortunately, I found it through another pin and thought I pinned the post but didn't. 

Oh, Pinterest you giveth and you taketh away! 

Fortunately, I remember the gist of the post. The blogger came up with four simple goals that she could start right now and still accomplish by the end of the year.

She encouraged setting simple goals that are personal as well as action-oriented, not result-oriented. She also suggested giving yourself a reward for each goal accomplished AND to blog about each goal once it's done.

So, I decided to go for it. 

Here are my four Simple Goals before 2013...

1. Make my health a priority. This means exercising regularly, actually eating vegetables daily, taking my vitamins and getting enough sleep. Hopefully, this leads to some weight loss but if it doesn't, then I'll settle for feeling better.

2.  Decorate with conviction. What I hope to accomplish with this one is for my home not to look like I just moved in. Put some pictures on the wall. Get rid of my old TV which is sitting next to my new flat screen. Put away the boxes of stuff that always seem to appear.

3.  Reconnect with my friends. I do NOT like to talk on the phone and I live a boring life so I never think my friends will want to talk to me. However, I DO want to hear about their lives, so I am going to pick up the phone and start calling. If you are my friend, you've been warned!

4.  Tackle one housekeeping job every day. This one is going to be the toughest...I hate to clean and I've gotten used to my house the way it is (No, it's not a candidate for hoarders, but I wouldn't eat off my floors!) But I think if I just choose to do SOMETHING each day, then hopefully it becomes routine.

For my rewards? I haven't decided on my individual rewards but I AM going to buy myself a rocking pair of jeans in the New Year if I am successful!

If you've seen this concept on another blog, let me know. I'd love to give the credit for this idea to the blogger who came up with it.