The To-Do List

I am going to be a single girl for the next five days.

And I am not excited about this.

Tim is in Cincinnati for a conference until Sunday. And while he's learning about drugs, I'll probably be needing drugs.

Being by myself means I have time to think and breathe....and walk around our house and see all the things that I have not paid attention to and need to be accomplished.

Here's a peek at our 2010 to-do list. I'd love to have these all checked off by 2011, so we'll see how we do.

1. The Wall of Blank.

This wall of nothingness is in our office. I'd like to do a DIY collage of picture frames, including pictures of our little family, people we love, quotes and abstract art. And maybe some monograms, too.

2. The Dining Room on Display.

I'd like to come up with the right window treatment for the dining room. Sheer drapes? Pattern homemade drapes? Roman shades? Ah, the possibilities run through my head. We better do something soon. Everytime we eat, the whole neighborhood joins in because they can see us now that it is dark in the morning and getting dark earlier at night. Plus, if you eat too early, the sun pours into your eyes. Definitely need to get something up...soon.

3. Continue the kitchen redo.

Thanks to Mike and Jackie, we were able to purchase these bamboo shades from Home Depot for only $10 using their gift card :) But now we'd like to put in a new light fixture to match the rest. And maybe new paint? And maybe a rug under the dinette?

4. Welcome to our home...and our dog dishes.
Unfortunately, we don't have a laundry room to stash the dogs' dishes. I'd like to use elevated wood feeders with beadboard around the side and paint them olive green with a big "A" monogram on Ava's and a lowercase "d" on Dora's. This project hasn't been done because of one person. Me. If I would just get the measurements for the project to Mike, he'd totally make them for me. Sorry Mike, I'll get going on that!

5. Carpet and flooring.
I hate our family room carpet. The stains Tim worked so hard to steam clean out when we moved in resurfaced. And the berber carpeting snags on dog claws. So, it's definitely time to replace. Luckily, it's a small area so it won't hurt us too much to replace. I think. It is also time to put in some new flooring in the kitchen. It is bubbling at the corners and it looks like the contractor was drunk when he installed. Clearly, whoever put in this floor did not know what they were doing and it shows. Again, the area is small so it won't be a huge undertaking.

6. Hit the deck.
The deck is definitely in need of a new paint job. But when do you tackle this project? In the fall at the end of deck season? Or wait until spring after the snow and start the project? I don't know when, but it needs to be done!

7. Grow some weed....er, pull some weeds.
It's time for landscaping part two. Except I don't really need help with this one. Just motivation. I need to get on my hands and knees and get dirty. Pulling up all those nasty weeds and preparing it for a little beauty come next spring.

8. Beautify the guest corridors.
We recently bought a new comforter and sheets for the guest bedroom. One that dogs haven't laid on. And never will. It looks great and brightens up the room (and was on sale for 50% off!), but now the rooms needs a new paint job and blinds to bring it all together. Plus, new lighting would help it feel more like a room and less like a cave. Did I mention the new bedsheets? Well, they are that jersey fabric that feels oh-so-soft when you climb into bed. But. They are white. Did you hear me? White. I NEVER buy white sheets even though I love the look. Why? Have you seen my dogs? I know better than to buy white sheets where black and blonde hair alike attract to it like magnets. I'm hoping this fear encourages me to keep the door shut and the dogs out for as long as we live in this house.

The guest space also needs a makeover in the bathroom....ugly. I don't have any idea or plans on what that will look like, but it definitely needs to be brightened up and cleaned up into a more friendly place to wash your bod.
I want it to feel like the Spa de Ulbrich when you come here. Even if you are just in Rootstown.

9. The what-the-heck blue room.
Ok. This room really needs a new paint job. And a purpose, too. I have two extra desks. So, maybe this becomes Jessica's inspiration room. Where I can work out, and then go to a desk to write, read or blog.

10. The Secret DIY project.
So, Tim and I aren't just being lazy all day and looking at a to-do list of house projects without at least working on one. We've been working on a secret do-it-yourself project that we will reveal soon when we make a little more progress. We think it will be awesome and add a lot of value to our home as long as we don't mess it up. We're not very handy and may have to call in reinforcements for help.

I know, I'm being mean keeping you from seeing all that we are working on. But, hey, you'll come back often looking for an update won't you? So stay tuned! (Plus, since I ran out of picture projects, I had to add something to make this a nice round numbered list!)

That's all for now! Stayed tuned as things get busier around here next month. I will be running in the Race for the Cure this Sunday with my mom and Jenna and then to kick-off October, Tim and I are taking a weekend all to ourselves and have our very own fall weekend complete with a trip to the National Park, a couple hot ciders, and making our very own applesauce for the first time. Then, we'll head to NY for the second annual wine tour with the Andersons and Ulbrichs!

Lots to look forward too and tons to be thankful for.