To-Do List Update

It's been six months since we moved in, so I thought I would do an update on our to-do list. Here's where we are so far (remember that some of these items are more long term, 5-10 years down the road).

Exterior

• reseal driveway
• repaint exterior next spring -- the colors are fine, but there are some places that are chipping and our inspector recommended taking care of it within the year

Yard & Back Deck

• remove old satellite dish to give access to electrical panel
• door mat by sliding door
• repair/replace back deck steps
• weed front yard
• planters on back deck
• get bird feeders
• plan & plant veggie garden -- in progress, but it's still a bit early
• plant fruit trees
• install compost bin -- we have the HOA approval now!
• build chicken coop & run

Front Porch

• new welcome mat
• potted plants on either side of entry/near bay window

Entryway

• paint
• update light fixture
• turn coat closet back into coat closet (it currently has wire shelves, but we would like to hang coats in there)
• figure out some shoe storage near door
• get runner
• get coat rack/hat stand for corner in stairs -- something that is functional, but also provides visual interest

Living Room

• fix drywall patches
• paint
• repair windows with broken sashes: living room left
• hang art
• get rug

Dining Room

• fix drywall patches
• patch trim
• install beadboard wallpaper below chair rail
• paint beadboard wallpaper to match trim
• paint upper part of walls
• update light fixture
• get rug
• new dining room chairs

Office

• remove wallpaper
• patch & paint trim
• paint walls
• new window treatments
• hang shelves
• remove closet doors, turn closet into filing/bookshelf area

Kitchen

• new fridge
• caulk around kitchen sink
• paint - in progress
• update knobs
• update light fixtures
• update appliances to stainless steel when needed
• eventually replace countertops & sink; change out range for gas

Family Room

• get fireplace gas adjusted correctly (currently burns too orange)
• change out surround sound for something less visually obtrusive -- speakers mounted flush into the wall? white?
• paint - in progress
• get rug
• new larger couch, larger coffee table

Downstairs Bath

• paint
• update vanity & fixtures

Downstairs Hallway

• paint
• hang art
• get runner
• update thermostat?

Laundry Room

• paint
• buy washer & dryer
• update cabinet hardware
• install folding shelf over washer & dryer
• get wall hanger for iron & ironing board
• figure out closet organization

Garage

• fix garage door opener
• build work bench
• add storage for bikes, shovels, tools etc.

Stairs & Upstairs Hallway

• paint
• remove carpet on stairs, put in hardwood with runner
• refinish banister

Master Bedroom

• patch holes in drywall
• paint

Master Bath & Closet

• replace lightbulb in closet
• get plumber in to install new wax ring on master toilet
• fix grout in master shower
• paint
• new towel bars/hooks
• fix linen closet doors -- they currently rub each other
• update mirror & light fixtures
• update shower

Guest Room & Bath

• touch up enamel in upstairs guest bathroom sink
• repair windows with broken sashes: guest bathroom
• patch trim, remove half finished framing below chair rail
• paint wall above chair rail - currently primed, awaiting paint
• paint bathroom
• get furniture for our holiday guests!
• replace ceiling fan blades
• new window treatments
• update mirror & window treatments
• update vanity
• replace bathroom window with safety glass

Future Kid Room 1 (Currently Sean's Office)

• patch trim
• install beadboard wallpaper below chair rail
• paint beadboard wallpaper to match trim
• paint wall above chair rail
• replace ceiling fan blades

Future Kid Room 2 (Currently Cat/Sewing Room)

• patch trim
• install beadboard wallpaper below chair rail
• paint beadboard wallpaper to match trim
• paint wall above chair rail
• replace ceiling fan blades

Jack and Jill Bath

• replace knobs
• paint
• update mirror & light fixtures

Basement

• determine & label ethernet cables in basement junction
• replace water diffuser in humidifier prior to turning on heat
• new window well for basement window
• finish out basement

#WasteNot 30 Day Challenge: Day 4

Today is my fourth day of the #WasteNot challenge, sponsored by Travel Well Magazine. Here's something that is making a difference in our yard waste:

Fiskars Reel Mower at Amazon

Our new lawn mower!

Because we moved into this house right before the first snow, we've gotten away with very little yard work so far. But now that it's spring and the temperatures are above freezing, the grass is growing again so it was time to go buy a lawn mower. We don't have a ton of lawn, and we preferred not to get a gas powered one, so when this Fiskars reel mower was nearly 50% off at Sears we grabbed it!

How is it waste free? Well, it came with no packaging (it was either a return or discontinued, hence the mark down); it has no emissions and takes only human energy; and after mowing the clippings can either be left in place to add nutrients back into the soil or they can be raked and put in the compost bin.


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Linked up to:
Waste Not Want Not Wednesday

#WasteNot 30 Day Challenge: Day 3

For Day 3 of the WasteNot Challenge, I'm sharing my homemade lemon curd.

After all of the Passover baking at the beginning of April, I had a bunch of unused egg yolks. Not wanting them to go to waste, I decided to turn them into lemon curd.

This is actually a picture from the last time I made lemon curd, back in CA, but it's the same recipe and I even put it in the same clip top jar! This is the recipe I use. It's delicious!

I love lemon curd on toast, English muffins and scones. I also mix a spoonful into my plain yogurt, sometimes with some blueberries. There are so many great ways to use lemon curd.

What are your favorite ways to eat lemon curd? How are you reducing food waste? Share in the comments!


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Linked up to:
Waste Not Want Not Wednesday

#WasteNot 30 Day Challenge: Day 2

Today is my second day of the #WasteNot challenge, sponsored by Travel Well Magazine. Here's something you've seen on the blog before: our glass milk bottles.

Dairy delivery is a big thing in Colorado, and the dairy we chose was already delivering to many of the homes in our neighborhood. They use all glass bottles, which we rinse out and put outside for the delivery person to take back. The bottles get reused by the dairy until they break. The only "trash" is the lid, but it's actually a recyclable plastic!

We love that by getting all dairy products in these glass bottles, we don't have lots of plastic milk jugs going into the recycling or those Tetrapaks which can't really be recycled at all.

How do you reduce your garbage? Join the challenge, and share in the comments too!

#WasteNot 30 Day Challenge: Day 1

While I was gone for a wedding in NYC this last weekend, my awesome friend Ali started posting pictures of steps she takes towards a zero waste lifestyle on Facebook. She was tagging them with #wastenot, but since I was relying purely on my phone for internet it wasn't until today that I got to actually find out about the 30 day challenge she was doing, sponsored by Travel Well Magazine. That's a challenge I can get on board with! The official rules for the contest require a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram post, but I wanted to share on the blog as well. So, for the next 30 days I'll be sharing different ways I work to reduce my trash and make my footprint on the earth that much smaller.

To start off with, here's an exciting piece of mail we received:

Yep, we have approval to put in a compost bin! 

Our HOA is pretty lenient compared to most, and I did get a little designer-nerdy and draw up very detailed VectorWorks plans of exactly what I plan to do. Since the best location for the compost bin is on the side of the house that faces the street, my proposal includes using lattice fencing to block it and then planting perennial shade-lovers in front. So hopefully in just a few short weekends of work we will have a compost bin and lattice up, and I will be able to toss almost all of our food scraps in there instead of in the garbage. Plus, by next summer (if not sooner) I'll have "free" compost instead of spending money on bags and bags of it at the store in order to amend our very sandy soil.

Do you compost? How else do you reduce waste? Join the 30 Day Challenge and post in the comments!