What I'd Like [to do in] 2013

1. Finish our home renovation. We've owned our home for about 2 1/2 years now, with only the third bedroom and second bathroom left to finish. I have to make a few more tweaks and makeovers, like the upstairs hall railing, kitchen backsplash and my dining room chairs. After that, I wonder if we'll move?

2. Lose weight so I don't have to keep getting my rings re-sized (among other reasons, high school reunion(s) being one reason, not having to buy new jeans is reason #3).

3. Paint. I'd like to make a night sky painting, a swan painting, and paint my old dresser something bold and glossy.

4. Buy a super soft, plush red king size blanket , or a powder blue / seafoam green duvet cover. Or both.

5. Help my friend decorate her new house (and put before and after pictures on this blog). First on the to-do list is to paint her octagonal coffee table.

6. Take care of ALL my appointments, chores, tasks, to-do lists, etc.

Give your home a Valentine's Day treat

Last Valentine's Day I made a special dinner and brought out the nice dining room accessories I had - table cloth, table runner, monogrammed paper napkins, fine wine, and the prettiest serving ware I had. The red roses my husband got me were the centerpiece, along with some nice candles to set the mood.

This year I plan on making my home like a romantic retreat. Here's how I plan on doing it.

1. Candles everywhere. Candles are romantic. If I had a fireplace this step would be easy, but I don't. So candles on the dining room table, the kitchen island, the bedroom, the bathroom, etc.

theglitterguide.com

2. A pretty dining table, and one themed room.This might require fresh flowers. Usually girls get flowers from their significant other on V-Day, but I'm personally not a fan of cut flowers. I'd much rather get a potted orchid, so I will be making use of my new orchid and other plants. Maybe I'll ask for another flowery plant, who knows. Anyway, by one themed room, I mean one room with Valentine's decorations. Subtle is the best way to go, unless you have kids. I like to do a red or pink color theme, with our Valentine's Day cards, flowers and presents displayed, as well as themed food, such as heart shaped pancakes.

Skinny Taste Recipe

3. Deep clean and cozy it up. This means plush blankets, pillows, rugs, and spots to relax. Possibly breakfast in bed. For me, it simply means cleaning my house so that there's room to relax together. Everyone is happy when the house is clean and organized. So go about this way: deep clean everything while your significant other is out, then make it pretty and organized. (Make a list, too. Change the sheets, scrub the tile, wash the clothes, file papers, do the dishes, dust, etc.) When they come home, I guarantee they'll be in a romantic mood.

 

via Houzz

4. The present. Many people give gifts for Valentine's Day, but one of the nicest gifts I've heard of is doing something the other person has on their to-do list that they don't really want to do. Traditionally, I've seen gift certificates serve this purpose, like massage certificates, but it could be anything from cleaning cat litter to finishing a major project. My present to my husband is going to be finishing our third bedroom and making a space in there for his gaming. He's got a brand new monitor hogging my coffee table, and we've been working on the third bedroom anyway, so this is really a kill-three-birds kind of deal.

 

via AVforums

(the room won't look exactly like this, but you get the idea)

* Side note: If you haven't experienced the joy of getting gift certificates or gift cards, you're missing out. I know a lot of people who refuse to give gift cards, and want a personal touch on their gifts, but many of us struggle with budgeting and finances, so a $50 gift card for gas or groceries, maybe a trip to the bookstore you keep forgetting to go to, the restaurant you love most...priceless.

Shopper Beware: SheInside

She Inside is not necessarily a scam, but it might not be a site you want to buy from. They are based in China, have ridiculously slow shipping/processing time, give false tracking numbers, and are notorious for not giving you exactly what you ordered, and their sizing is extremely confusing. There are also no labels on the clothes, which would lead me to believe the clothes are made on the spot after you order them. See these sources for extra consideration:

http://dropdeadgorgeousdaily.com/forum-posts/sheinsidebad-experience/

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/view/Sheinside/page/3

http://www.ripoffreport.com/sheinside-com/clothing-stores/internet-internet-41112.htm

New for the New Year: Curtains & a Rug

The new rug in the upstairs hallway... (although the hallway is getting new paint soon) $40 TJ Maxx

The new curtains in the living room... (we have the new chair that will replace the red sofa now, just haven't gotten around to switching them out) $40 Overstock