December Updates: Projects Past and Future

Hi! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Ours was even more cozy than usual with a three day blizzard. I thought it might be fun to look back at the project list from January 2022 as well as considering future 2023 projects. Of course, there are some random items at the end of the post too.

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Projects Past

Scanning the January 2022 project post with some trepidation, I was pleasantly surprised with the number of projects I actually completed.

I’m very happy with our kitchen organization, including this bamboo silverware tray and glass canisters. The ornament storage upgrade (similar) also made life easier.

Our laundry/mudroom area was on the list. It ebbed and flowed, sometimes more picked up than other times. R organized our paint and tool area and that is functioning so much better! I’m hoping to make better use of the cupboard area, with bins and labels. (So, I guess this overall project is getting moved to 2023.)

My friend’s office project actually didn’t happen. She was super nice and gave the space to her husband for his projects.

We updated our kids’ bathroom lighting. It is so much better! I had my eye on this but it wasn’t exactly “in budget.” Our lookalike works just as well.

Also on the list and checked off, we got new bedroom lighting! (And bedding too 😉 I also had a desk on my wish list and simply moving one in from a different place in our house worked great! Now, I just need to actually sit at the desk… And take an ever-elusive photo of said desk once it isn’t under a pile of papers.

Our bathroom was on the list and did not get done. I will probably spend the next 5 years hemming and hawing over that one.

I sort of forgot about my idea to use one of the Pendleton quilts to DIY a headboard in our son’s room. This could be a fun 2023 project!

If our colonial home stair runner was on the list last year, it DEFINITELY needs to be on the list this year.

The kitchen table was on the 2022 list and it was finished with plenty of time to spare. It may be my favorite 2022 project.

The final item on the list was the dining room rug! And it has been replaced- yay!!!

Overall, a great year of checking off the project list!

Oh, and not on the list but super exciting was the Beach Cabin Exterior paint refresh! Okay, that is my favorite of 2022.

Projects Future

The year 2023 will have some carryover from 2022: the stair runner, possible (but unlikely) primary bathroom refresh, DIY headboard, and the laundry/mudroom organization.

In 2023, we have plans to have the exterior of our colonial home painted. Don’t worry though, there won’t be 10,002 paint color flip flops like there were with the Beach Cabin exterior update. We are sticking with our classic white paint. Raj and a friend painted the house when we first moved in 10 years ago. They did a great job but it took so long! (Or, at least felt that way while I was home with a 3 year old and 5 month old slowly packing up our old house- lol!)

While we are talking about our colonial home, I would love to replace our accent chairs in the living room. They have definitely seen better days. I hesitate though, because Crew loves to perch on the top of them and N cannot seem to stop kicking the soccer ball against them.

A very small space but one that could use an update is our entryway. I think it might be fun to attempt to build a pedestal for the small nook.

Some new art throughout the house would be a nice refresh and welcomed addition. I’m wondering about putting something on the empty kitchen wall and also in the dining room.

I have a hard time taking photos of our garden window in the kitchen. When we first moved in, I was not a fan of it but have grown to really enjoy the extra space and light. A few times this year, I would love to attempt to give it more attention and try some different styling ideas.

We have another project at Gretchen’s house that I think will be fairly simply but make a lovely impact. I can’t wait!!!

At the Beach Cabin, I would like to play around with how we are using the space, specifically the bedrooms. We have two rooms that are cramped due to the size of the beds/ how they are positioned in the room. It will be one of those projects that does not have an actual plan and we will just have to play around with it.

Okay- I think that’s all for now. I’m sure other projects will come up throughout the year. They always do!

December Book

In other news, I branched out from my typical historical fiction favorites and read Light Pirate. This is a beautiful story of hope and resilience with an underlying current of heartbreak as the story follows Wanda, born and named after a devastating hurricane, and the rapidly changing world around her.

December LTK: Top Purchases

At the time that I wrote this post, here were the Top December purchases. (I can’t see the Amazon data, so that is excluded.)

This 4 Piece Staub Baking set is an amazing price! It comes in blue, red, and white.

I own this pair of jeans and they are on repeat! I love the wide leg that isn’t too wide on me.

Goalkeeper gloves for your soccer player are always a fun idea. Speaking of soccer fans, cards are a fun form of winter entertainment. So is the kick soccer trainer.

These bracelets are beautiful year round.

Happy New Year

That’s all for now- I hope you all have a wonderful New Year and 2023!