Easy Peasy

I've been thinking a lot more about small changes that make us happy (happier?) in a big way. I'm guessing it's because of all the great ideas I've seen out there in blogland, but I think it's also a bit related to the book I just finished. {More on that book later, I promise.}

I knew buying a house and making it my own would be a process, but I don't think I expected I would sometimes sort of "forget" that it's my house and I can change things, darn it! But every once in a while I will catch myself thinking, "grrr, this drives me nuts" or "I don't like that" and every once in a while I will realize, "Oh yeah! I can change that!" Does that sound crazy? Any other somewhat-new homeowners out there feel similarly?

For example...how long did I live with this hateful door before I took it down? Or the ugly-floral-print-swag-thing draped ever so carefully over the curtain rods in my bedroom? What about those dark curtains in the bathroom I recently mentioned?

I mean, my DIY Homeowner Heroes certainly do not wait to change things around!! I've been inspired ... and I am giving myself permission to start changing things I don't like! Especially when the changes are relatively simple things I can do in a short amount of time!

I made a very quick, very minor change today...really it was more of a rearrangement...and it made me smile. And again, I thought, "Why? Why didn't I think of that sooner?" It's too boring to explain, but basically I rearranged the curtains on the patio door/window so that they would no longer get in the way when I opened and closed the door (it's not a sliding door), plus without my make-do quick-fix, it doesn't look so ridiculous.

It's with a tiny amount of embarrassment that I share this next easy change...The other day I took out a shelf in my small bathroom closet so I could fit the garbage can inside. See, my dogs are the type that will get into the garbage, even though they've been disciplined for it countless times. So after I was entirely fed up, I just started leaving the small bathroom garbage can on top of the back of the toilet. It didn't really fit elsewhere and in the moment it was easy to do...yet...a little embarrassing. I mean, my garbage can was on top of the toilet. {In my defense, other people don't use that bathroom too often.}** Finally, I rearranged a few things and took out a shelf so the garbage can would fit neatly inside the closet! Voila! No more surprises when I get home and the dogs don't get yelled at! Now...if I could only keep them out of my laundry baskets...

**{OK, OK, if I'm being totally honest, I ended up with the garbage basket on top of the back of the toilet in my half-bath downstairs. I've since removed a lot of random crap from the teeny cabinet under the sink and stored the basket there.}