Getting Organized

It’s been a crazy couple last weeks: getting the kids ready for school, 2020 product designs due at work and my mom being in the hospital.My mom was  in the ICU for a week while visiting my brother in PA due to new blood clots around her lungs and legs. The doctors wouldn’t let her fly back to Idaho without travel oxygen. FYI, getting travel oxygen isn’t cheap! So, my siblings and I worked together to drive her safely back home. Last weekend Nate met my brother in Milwaukee to pick up my mom. Because it was a busy work week for both of us, she stayed with us for a week and then I drove her to Bismarck to hand her off to my sister to get her the rest of the way to Idaho.

Side note: As I was driving back from Bismark I couldn’t help but stop at one of the golden sunflower patches that I saw from the freeway. Instagram gold, right?!? I pulled off on the exit, parked along the side of the road and proceeded through very marshy thick grass. It was about three steps in and I was full on swarmed by crickets jumping all over me. I was jumping all over the place, swiping at them to get them off my pants, shirt and hair. Anyone who saw me would have been thoroughly entertained.  I’m sure I looked ridiculous…

I found another way into the sunflower patch through an electrical substation (totally safe, right!) and made my way in. Yes, I was totally trespassing.

I was ready to take a quick selfie, when I noticed the sunflowers were all facing the wrong direction! UNBELIEVABLE! HA!

I went in a little further to get a better shot and then the wind picked up. So, this was as good as it was going to get… Plus the crickets wouldn’t leave me alone so I dashed out of there and proceeded home. I tried! 😉

Long story short, it’s been super busy around here. So, thank you for being  patient with me as I took last week off to take care of my mom and everything else.

Right before my mom arrived I finally cleaned up all of the construction dust that was left on EVERYTHING in my basement. It was thick and everywhere. I mean all our camping equipment, holiday bins, air matresses, luggage, etc., were super dirty. But now: it’s all clean and beautifully packed away in the new built-ins!

Getting all those items cleaned and put away in my built-ins felt like winning a million bucks. It was SO SATISFYING!!! I also love how easy it is to pull things out and then put them away. It makes me SO HAPPY! Seriously, I feel like I could fly when I get things organized!!!

Even Nate loved seeing how the camping equipment was put away.

Adding the built-ins was an additional expense (that didn’t have to happen), but I’m so grateful for the big, pretty storage and so glad I did it! No regrets here!!

Each week I get closer and closer. I still need to paint the exterior of the cabinets and the walls need another coat of paint, but everything is primed and mostly sanded, thank heavens!

The finishing work for the electrical, HVAC and plumbing are happening mid September. So, I’ve got time to finish painting the vanity black before it’s installed in the bathroom.

Then, I’ll be able to focus more on the decor side and start painting the fine art pieces for the rooms. I love painting in large format. It’s so freeing and relaxing.

Coming up in the next few weeks: I’ll also be finishing up a couple of rooms for clients that I can’t wait to share with you!

Thanks again for all your support and comments.

XO,

Melessa