Renovation...

What started out as a simple "house cleaning" turned into a two week cleaning extravaganza in the LeJeune household...and I'm still not finished!

Can you believe it all started with a measly light fixture?

and the fact that our house will be on the Christmas Parade of Homes in 14 days?

It's really about the light, let me explain...

I hate florescent light.

~just hate it. I'm a romantic, soft light kind of gal~

I called an electrician and replaced the huge wooden boxed florescent light with lots of recessed lighting in the kitchen.

~why didn't I do this when I built the house? seriously!~

The electrician made a dust mess so I wiped down the kitchen cabinets.

~I almost forgot how much I love my black walnut wood~

While wiping down the kitchen cabinets, I decided to clean and weed out the inside of the cabinets.

~how did I accumulate so many plastic containers without lids? like who needs 20 empty pickle jars anyway?~

After cleaning the inside of the cabinets, I noticed some the baseboards were slightly nicked on the corners so I broke out with the paint touched up a few corners here and there.

~3000 square feet covered in blue tape. imagine that~

While sitting on the floor, I noticed the tile was in dire need of a steam clean. Needless to say...I did that too.

~love my Hoover floor cleaner. it really got a work out. and...so did I~

I don't know about you, but when I'm in "cleaning mode"... I am a MONSTER. Don't talk to me, don't make me stop to eat, don't you dare make a crumb on the countertop, don't walk through my house with your shoes on and most of all...don't EVER disturb me when I'm in "cleaning mode".

leave. me. alone. until. I'm. finished. grrrrrr!

Got it?

Well! And if I was going to be a monster, I wanted everyone in the house to be in "monster mode" too...

So I made a "to-do" list for The Man.

You know the old saying...

"If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

It was just a simple list...I don't know why he had that look on his face but he's been a good guy, scratching off one honey-do after another (with only minor huffing and puffing).

A few things on the list were simple...

Pressure wash the rest of the house.

~I started a month or so ago, but didn't finish~

Take the faded shutters off and repaint them.

~while he was at it, he painted the only exterior wall that's not brick or stucco. looks lovely. I'm happy~

Take the Christmas decorations down from the attic. There's only a million and one totes up there.

~the son came to his rescue~

Take all the light fixtures down so I can clean them.

~If I weren't scared of heights, I'd have done it myself~

And while on a ladder, change all the batteries in the fire detectors.

~whether needed or not...it's time...don't ask me why!~

Caulk and paint the front door.

~pronto. I need to decorate it for Christmas~

And...paint the two rear doors too.

~it only makes sense since he has the brush in his hand, right?~

And there are a few other small little "to-do's"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the meantime, I'm still cleaning but it IS starting to look like Christmas in the LeJeune household.

No more florescent light, no more dust.

I'm not "quite" such a monster anymore.

I'm seriously thinking of calling a therapist about my OCD...

(thanks for reminding me of my illness Lisa! You and The Man must be in a conspiracy to put me away)

In the meantime, I'll be walking around the house in my white socks...

~ maybe the next time you'll hear from me, I'll be wearing a white straight jacket if my white socks become dirty ~

;)

Note to self:

* I still have many birthday presents to open. If I haven't posted about it yet, I haven't opened it :)))

* I still have to send "thank you" notes :)))

* Thank you to all of my new followers...I can't wait to stop by and visit with you soon too :)))

* Thank you for all of the comments you leave here even though I haven't had the chance to visit you lately...please don't give up on me...I beg of you! :)))

* I'll try and post sneak peeks of my decorated home but I can't show you the "big picture" until after the Parade of Homes on December 5th.

Hopefully by then, my green skin will return to a pale shade of freckled white, the hair on my teeth will have disappeared, my claws will have shrunk and I'll be back to the same old Jodie as once before ;)

Sorry this post is oddly short of photos...

Instead of my camera, my swiffer has been my new best friend lately!

Are you ever a CLEANING MONSTER?