A Little Saturday TCB

Happy Monday!  This is a short week - Friday is Good Friday and the kids are off from school, so I'm taking the day off and going to my parents' for the night.  I'm looking forward to seeing them and to sneaking in a nice long run where I grew up.  

This past Saturday the kids and I went to Home Depot.  They like it there almost as much as I do.  I had a list of things I needed but of course always end up with more.  The purpose of this trip was to get the stuff necessary to TCB (i.e., take care of business) with several tiny projects around the house - projects that would make my life immeasurably better.  And here they are!

1.  Trash Can/Recycling Can Combo.

I brought this white trash can from the old house.  I have never liked it in the kitchen, but just haven't gotten around to replacing it (sidebar: see that stool? I am dying to paint it.  I need the weather to warm up so I can do it).  

I also hated my recycling situation: as in, I hated that I didn't have a recycling situation.  I didn't have an extra trash can for recyclables, so I would just pile them on the counter near the sink and move them outside in the morning.  Like so - see them stacked by the toaster?

I started researching dual-chamber trash cans and found that Simple Human has one: the rectangular recycler.  It's pricey, but I had a Simple Human trash can before and loved it.  I found Bed Bath and Beyond sells it, so I grabbed a 20% coupon and was able to buy it for about $150 (was $180 but then $36 off).  Yes.  Expensive for a trash can but the functionality is worth it to me.  Now I can put my recyclables out of sight!  

2.  Cord Cover for the Dining Room Buffet Lamps.

I just, as in maybe a week ago, realized that the light switch in the living room controls the one outlet near my dining room buffet.  I have two lamps on that buffet, so I jumped at the chance to have the switch turn them on. The only problem ... the extension cord.

You know I hate this.  So I bought some plastic cord covers at Home Depot and hid the cord along the baseboard.  Ooohhhh ... look how much better.

3.  Longer Chain for the Laundry Closet Light.

Chalk this one up to supreme laziness.  The little pull chain in my laundry room closet was way too tall for me to reach comfortably.  I'd have to get up on my tip toes and stretch my arms as far up as possible.  I am surprised I didn't pull a muscle.  

So in the lighting aisle at Home Depot, I just bought another pull chain and extended it.  Now I can reach!  And the end has a little circular medallion so it is super easy to grab.  Oh so much better.

4.  Tray for Cookies & Coffee Grinder.

This one was more about appearances than function.  See the cookie jar, toaster and coffee grinder before?  They were fine but it felt kind of like Appliance Row or something.

I found this wooden tray at Home Goods for $9.  I think it adds a bit of charm to that area of the counter - kind of breaks things up a bit.

Sometimes a slew of tiny projects with a big, helpful impact are as gratifying as finishing a really big one.  I have soooooo many painting projects waiting in the wings.  Mother Nature has decided she is ready for Winter now that it's Spring.  Gah.  The paint will have to wait a bit longer.  

See you swoon,