Retro Rustic Clean Country Laundry...

Good Morning!

I have never been SO excited in my entire long three decade life to do laundry. Yep, we finally upgraded! No more el cheapo craigslist castoffs! With the amount of yucky dirty laundry I do in a week, it really trumped all other home upgrades/furniture/yardstuff/travel trailers etc.

Seriously.

We ordered our new washer and dryer about 5 days before our long trip to South Carolina...and despite having to try and figure out how to pack the entire house into 4 suitcases, I decided to repaint my laundry room. I had TONS of time.

Because really now, what better time is there to paint your laundry room when you can completely remove your washer and dryer? And what paint lovin lady wouldn't seize the chance for a room redo and to cover up more babypoop colored walls and ceilings? (yep, ceilings too)


Hello, perfect chance. Couldn't say no.

My Mama was kind to help me paint AND did my laundry for me at her house (yup, washed, dried AND folded!) during those 5 days pre-trip when you do so stinkin much laundry just to have all of your regularly worn clothing ready to pack.

I chose my fave new neutral: Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage. (Er...I mean Home Depot's Behr Paint and Primer in one color matched to RH's Silver Sage from a paint sample card.)
(Course, I was not thinking clearly and threw the empty paint can away - doh! I'm praying my friend still has the can so I can get the formula.)

The glorious new washer and dryer arrived 14 days ago....and I am in love. Big RED puffy heart in love :)

I love doing laundry!!!

It's the actual folding and putting away part that's been the problem. I have piles of super clean perfectly steamed laundry all over the house and just don't want to do the unfun part of laundry.

(No this is not a local casting call for dirty laundry. And before I get baskets of laundry on my porch with little notes that say "wash me!" let me say something here. All laundry that isn't from my own family...or has not received the laundry blessing from the laundress will be taken to the backyard and torched. Bless your heart.)

I'm still working on the decor/organization in my walk-thru laundry room. I'm hoping to convince my hubby that installing a built in side shelf, high wide plank beadboard, a sitting bench with shoe cubbies and a coat rack with shelf would be an exciting early summer project. Jury's out on that one.

I'm hoping for lots of galvanized metal, pops of red and aqua, some worn edges. I'll call it retro rustic clean country.

Now if you will excuse me, I plan on shirking my laundry folding and putting away to browse inspiration photos on my new fave, Pinterest. Seriously. Get on there. It's way too fun.

Amanda

P.S. The $50 giftcard giveaway for blessing Mama's and Babies is still going on! You have time to enter to win, go HERE.

Of course, FACEBOOK :)

Twitchy Labeling Fingers...

I FINALLY purchased a label maker.

SO. Stinkin. EXCITED.

My handwriting development hit a roadblock in 2nd grade and…well…I hate my handwriting. It’s not purty.

Also? When I crashed into that roadblock way back when I also suffered permanent damage to the organizational section of my brain.

However, despite how organizationally and penmanshipally (yes that is a word) challenged I am I crave order and perfection in my house.

Yep, that's a problem.

I decided to fight my own character and bring some order into my usually disorganized and messy home.

Step #1. Everything Must Have A Place.

Enter the label maker:

Brother P-Touch. Costco. Best price! (Duh)

First, I read the entire informational pamphlet, including what will happen if I drop it into a bucket of water and how to properly dispose of used batteries.

Then, I burned through two full tape cartridges in FOUR DAYS. Yup. Major labeling OCD over here. I barely restrained myself from labeling my children. (FYI, buy a 4 pack of label cartridges at Costco. Seriously. Super duper good deal, best I found.)

Newly Labeled Organized Goodness:

* 4 under bed bins of all things related to wrapping and giving presents
* 2 purged and completely redesigned and reorganized file cabinets (only took me two full days, but whatever)

Gave myself a gold star :)

*Kiddos dresser contents. Really ladies, this is brilliance. Now my hubby will never say "I have NO idea where you keep the kids' shorts/undies/tshirts/swimsuit/socks/pants/hats/jeans!? You'll have to go and get it yourself". See? Brilliance!

(to be fair, Lance is an excellent hubby and daddy and doesn't shy away from helping with the house or kids :)

*Batteries. If you have been around me the past four days I have probably blabbed on and on about my newly compartmentalized and labeled battery organization. And my Asics GT2150's that I found for a smokin' deal at TjMaxx. I am SUCH a nerd:

Inspiration photo found here.

*All TOYS. Goodness gracious it felt good to get toys in bins!


Think they will STAY in bins? Yup, me neither. But ya gotta try, right?

I've got a few other hundred ideas and inspiration photos to attack my home, but I feel like I've made a huge dent.

Next huge project will be the bonus/craft/sewing room. That may take a few MONTHS :) I feel like I've gotta get it organized and running well before my fall/winter/holiday Etsy rush. It will make an already busy and chaotic season a bit less stressful.

Ok, I need MORE ideas! I've got twitchy labeling fingers. What else should I label?

Amanda

P.S. The $50 giftcard giveaway for blessing Mama's and Babies is still going on! You have time to enter to win, go HERE.

A Chance to Bless Others... and a Giveaway!

Want to know what this is all about?

Have a heart for babies and Mamas? And would love a chance to randomly bless those babies and Mamas? Then click over to the Vintage Dutch Girl Giveaway Blog and see what's up!

Amanda

Seriously, go check it out, it's pretty stinkin cool :)