Project Mama lessons for the Christmas Season

I so love that it has been 20 days since my last post.  Ha!  Turns out a little bit of water in a house can really affect your lifestyle....

Anyway, we had that giant flood in our house and we have been all but turned upside down.  Project Mama is not all that pleased.  So now with one bathroom not functioning, one bathroom with only a toilet working and the other bathroom taken over by workmen - Project Mama is not feeling so festive.  However, I have learned a TON of interesting things that I feel need to be shared with other project rookies.

#1.  Get a Costco card.  My friends are all addicted to Costco - but here is why I remember my love affair with Costco.  I renewed my membership on the urging of my sister-in-law and a few darling friends.  The day I went in I should say that my youngest spent a good while lying flat out on the concrete floor (Project Mama had to use her kindest, most restrained voice...), but we survived as a family.  Anyway, as I was wandering in that special Costco haze, I found a single vanity for my destroyed ensuite.  Espresso wood, 3 drawers, and a granite counter top.  All I have to do is find the tap.  All that gorgeousness for $350!  I know this sounds high for my talented friends who could make the same thing out of egg cartons and wax candles - but this is a smokin' deal for the beginner who wants a good quality piece at a reasonable price.

#2.  Don't do any sort of project that requires outside help over the Christmas season.  Just don't.  No one is giving any love away over Christmas. Everyone is busy, and most people seem to be trying to get previously started work done in time for Christmas.  Every person has called me back (oh Merry Merry!), if only to tell me that they will get in touch with me in the New Year.  I am currently expecting about 15 calls on January 4th.

#3.  When you have a big disaster in your house and you know NOTHING about these kind of things, start asking questions.  Lots of them.  Ask your mom, your neighbour, your friend.  Mention your question at the grocery store.  So many people have very helpful things for you to consider - from the cost of flooring, types of paint, what to do with your stuff, even how to cook while your house is a disaster (barbecue).  It amazes me the amount that everyone else other than me seems to know about home restoration/renovation.  Really.  It's impressive and the resource shouldn't be ignored.

Well, I wish you all a Merry Christmas.  I am going down to throw some food in front of my children (playing the Wii) in the hopes that those little wild animals might smell it enough to throw some of it in their wee gullets.

Blessings to you.

Love,

Project Mama

Craig's List? Love it? Hate it?

I have to admit - Craig's list freaks me out.  Hubby and I once bought a new wall oven (well - new to us) that NEVER worked.  Never.  What did we do about it?  Well, we're Canadian.  We did nothing - of course.  Instead, we went out to Sears like we should have in the first place and bought what we really wanted and paid for it a year later.

ON THE FLIP SIDE....  I have recently been converted to being a seller on Craig's list.  It's super recent, but people will buy anything - and they shouldn't be faulted for doing so.  Here's why: there are people in the world who are way more talented than me.  They can take something that I will never use - like the coffee table that I am just about bloody well finished with and turn it into some shining piece of glory.  Honestly, I know that this aged wonder will be turned into a piece of art.

In the future - that will be me (of course....) - but until then, things that are grinding me down are destined for the Craig's list chopping block. 

Here's what I started with.  I got rid of a big bag of toy clutter.  I put up three old Leapfrog leap pads that were just festering in my house - and you know what - it was about 2 hours before someone wanted them.  2 of them ended up not really working, so I sold 1 and gave a questionable one away.  The one that is really fried will be discarded.  I might even see if I can recycle it - go green!  Yay!  It wasn't much, but it was my addictive start.

My kids are even on the bandwagon.  You should see one of my boys - now that he knows cash is involved - he's pretty excited to sell just about anything.

I was intimidated to set up the account - but it was just about the easiest thing I have ever done technology-wise. 

If if keeps stuff out of landfills, if it makes my home more clutter-free and peaceful, if it buys a few new cans of paint - then Project Mama likes.

If I can do it, you can too.

Project Mama