The Joys and Trials of a New House

We moved (Yes, once again...) into a new house in April.  6 whole months ago.  Now, I should mention that it is new to us, not new in the sense that it was just built.  Also, I should mention that it is a a rental, but Praise the sweet powers that be, I was able to convince Chris that we really needed a 5 year contract this time around and not just a year or two.  I keep adding to my dishes which means that he has to move more and more heavy things each time we move, so he agreed to the 5 year contract.  Ladies, when talking doesn't work, dishes will!!

So, after six months, everything should be settled, right?  Not right.  While this is a great house, it was almost completely bare inside.  And every wall of the house was painted off white.  Every room, every stairwell,  every single wall.  And let's talk about the great banisters.  All yellow.  A lovely yellow paint that scratched off easily.  Then we could see that they were once black and before that, a hideous maroon.  So, we have been transforming this into something that represents us a little more.  When it is done, I'll get you all some pictures. (Actually, to be really honest, you have a better chance of seeing those if you follow me on Instagram.  I won't say that I am addicted, but the ease of it is too convenient!)  So, I have been focused that last few months on finding furniture that we really like and can afford, narrowing down paint colors and replacing curtains.  I'll just say on that subject that orange curtains are hard to pull off and bright green with yellow and pink flowers do not exactly soothe the soul.  The whole process  has actually been tremendously fun!

However, I have learned something really frustrating about myself.  Which is happening right now, which is why I am writing this post in the first place.  Am I the only one that puts things off until guest are coming over?  It's like I can ignore anything until someone is coming over.  Now, I don't mean that I have piles of trash sitting around or that I never mop.  I'm talking about the fact that I was outside scrubbing the sidewalk today and buying new curtain rods and trying to get curtains hung.  I even considered (briefly) taking down all the curtains and washing them.  And who are these all-seeing guest?  Abbey and Ethan's best friends.  Kids that honestly will see nothing but toys and friends and possibly notice if I have food or not.  Which has lead me to this question...

"Do I use the excuse of guest coming to motivate myself or do I have issues?"

Okay, that isn't meant to be taken too seriously.  We all have issues.  Deal with it.  But it seems that the day before someone comes over is always a bit frantic and I so wish I could be one of those people that thinks to herself, "Oh, we have guest coming tomorrow?  I can't think of one thing that I need to do!"

Do those people exist?  What kind of person are you?  The Laid back housekeeper or the frantic cleaner?

Ahh.. the desire to be perfect can be such a drag! (I guess that I shouldn't mention that Chris is repainting the kitchen right now as we speak or that I'm off to reorganize my laundry system...)