16 minute read
Ideas for Sprucing Up Home
Sprucing Up Without Going All Out
2022 is knocking. How does your front doorstep look?
We’ve gone from working from home to returning to the office, to back to working from home—and it’s been a lot. So it’s no surprise that the place we have bounced back and forth from might be in need of a little love. What better excuse than a brand new year to clear out some clutter, rearrange a few sofas and perhaps swipe a pop of color onto the walls?
There’s no time like the present, so here are some ways you can spruce up your space, without taking up too much time and precious resources.
Go shopping—in your own space
It’s very easy to get attached to an idea for an object: the green vase goes in the dining room, and the gold frame goes in the living room. But do they really have to? Consider moving accessories, artwork and even rugs to different rooms in the house. By switching up where things are “supposed” to be, you easily breathe new life into a room that has felt stagnant for a while. And, by the way, when you move those items, go ahead and give them a nice dusting. Trust me, they need it.
Refresh your front entry
The front doorway has seen a lot of action these last few months. Deliveries, trick-or-treaters and holiday guests have likely done a number on your door mat. It might seem a trivial item, but consider replacing that mat or, at the very least, give it a good cleaning. The sweep of a broom to the corners of the entry will also help spruce things up. Cobwebs are for October.
Initiate the purge
It is time. Your kids have outgrown the shoes you trip over in the hallway. You’ve never worn the faux leather trousers you wanted before the pandemic introduced you to Cotsco sweatpants. It’s time to let some things go. Get your family together and give them this task: Bring 10 items from your bedroom that you wish to throw out or donate. GO.
Don’t limit the purging to only clothing either. It can be easy to hang onto objects you spent money on, but if artwork or an accessory is no longer supporting your space or your aesthetic, it’s okay to gift them. If Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist is your thing, you might even be able to add a little jingle to your pocket! (Please meet in a safe place to make those exchanges.)
Clean your windows
Your windows are the home’s eyes. Give them a nice cleaning and watch them sparkle. If you can, consider hiring someone to have your windows professionally cleaned once a year. It’s worth every penny. Window washers are whizzes at getting grime off that you never knew was there. And while we’re talking windows, when was the last time you cleaned your draperies? That’s what I thought. Take them down and wash away years of dust mites, or consider replacing them altogether if they’re beginning to show signs of wear. If you love the curtains still but want a change, you can switch out the curtain rod or the hooks to give the draperies a fresh vibe.
Upgrade your lighting
Change out every bulb in your house that flickers, dims or flat out doesn’t work. Bonus points if you can switch to an energy efficient LED bulb. Additionally, ask yourself where adding an extra light or lamp might help. Lighting is an instant mood lifter and space changer. Give yourself some extra watts and watch the atmosphere change. Let there be light!
Settle the great comforter debate
What is it with people and holding onto their comforter for 100 years? With so many patterns, colors and textures to choose from, know that the switch of decoration on something you spend 365 nights a year with is more than acceptable. Go on a comforter hunt and find one you love, then donate the old one. You’ll be shocked at how much fresher your bedroom feels.
Don’t get me started on mattresses
Your mattress is icky. It’s been on your bed for 12 years. I’m not saying you have to replace it (and with supply chain shortages, I don’t know that you even could), but you do need to vacuum it, remove any stains, and douse that bad boy with some baking soda to deodorize. If you have a mattress that can be flipped, do it. Lastly, consider purchasing some fresh new sheets to go with your newly cleaned sleeping oasis, then settle in for a long winter’s nap.
Change small details
Oftentimes, people mistakenly think they need to change something massive to create an impact. Not true. Perhaps you want your kitchen to feel fresh without painting every cabinet. Switch out the hardware on the cabinets for an instant uplift. Change the covers on the throw pillows in your living room to shift the vibe. Lastly, consider changing the photos in your frames. It can be a dauting task, particularly if you have a lot of frames to start with. But trust me— photo frames are like makeup. Switching out the images that you pass 25 times a day is like shifting from Chapstick to a bright red gloss. Everyone will notice, and so will you.
No matter which room you choose, or how big a change you make, the energy will undoubtedly shift. Ruts are easy to fall into in home décor, so occasionally mixing things up is an easy way to inject some inspiration into our lives. And don’t be surprised if you start small and wind up getting ambitious for more. Improvement is addictive, and your home will thank you!
Quick Changes for the Lowest Cost
Paint a room – Low cost and laborious, but worth it. And you get to eat pizza afterward.
Clean the floorboards – Once again laborious, but so satisfying when it’s done. Encourage your kids to help; they’re lower to the ground! File your papers – Get a filing cabinet and kick that paper clutter to the curb. If you’re inclined, there are thousands of websites dedicated to showing you how to start this process. Blast that grime – A pressure washer will do wonders for decks, front stoops, lawn mowers and garage floors. It’s amazing what a blast of water can do to clean up the grossest of spaces.
Kim Antisdel is a freelance writer and interior design sales rep for KC. She lives in Liberty with her husband, stepdaughters and son.
Finding joy in eating well together
Local mom Michele Hackett has transformed her diet and improved her health recently. As the primary cook in her family, she has helped her husband and daughters make better diet choices as well. “I am putting those better choices in front of them,” Hackett says.
Although people typically focus on health and wellness at the beginning of the year, the thought of making dramatic changes to how our families eat can seem overwhelming. Yet, as in Hackett’s case, it often simply takes one family member to initiate changes for an entire family.
Take it one step at a time
Hackett says one key to her success, and that of her family, is not making huge changes all at once but focusing on one or two smaller changes at a time. To this end, one of the better choices she makes for her family includes using leaner meats, which involves choosing turkey and fish over beef.
She has also cut down on the consumption of sugar and carbonated drinks and works to drink a significant amount of water each day. Drinking plenty of water is something she is helping her daughter implement as well. Additionally, she eats smaller snacks between meals to keep her metabolism going. For healthier on-the-go options, she says she always has fruit, low-fat cheese sticks, nuts and yogurt on hand for her family.
When it comes to eating out, she recommends checking restaurant menus online before heading out and deciding in advance on a healthier option by reviewing the nutritional information restaurants provide.
“When you have that in your control, and you make that decision before you go, it’s easier,” Hackett says.
Tracey Shaffer, a local registered dietician and owner of KC Nutrition Coach, recommends starting to make changes one meal at a time. Find ways to improve just one meal of the day, and this could include adding more fruits and vegetables, decreasing unhealthy fats or including more protein. Once you have improved one meal, you can move on and work on the next meal.
Shaffer says to encourage kids to eat more fruits and vegetables. She recommends trying different preparation methods, including serving them raw, roasted, stir-fried or with cheese, offering them with dips or adding to other foods, such as eggs, sandwiches or pasta.
Bethany Frazier, a local registered dietician and owner of Kansas City Dietician, says she encourages families to begin their efforts to eat well by cooking at home and helping everyone in the family develop a healthy relationship with food. She encourages families to offer a wide variety of foods, and it is important for kids to have the exposure to different types of foods even if they do not eat all of them.
Frazier recommends making sure children have a “safe” option on their plate that they enjoy and pairing that with an option they might not enjoy as much, such as pairing chicken fingers with salad. She also recommends offering dips with vegetables to boost interest.
Frazier says some kids have sensitivity to textures and do not enjoy foods being mixed in a casserole, so you may find it helpful to offer the different foods separately.
“Keep the freezer stocked with frozen veggies,” says Abby Stanley, a dietician with Revive Nutrition Solutions. “Frozen veggies are healthy and can be prepared in just a few minutes. With a quick addition of some olive oil and seasonings, they can taste great, too. When you haven’t been to the grocery store or just don’t have time to cook, there is still a quick and easy way to get veggies on the plate for the whole family.”
Overall, Frazier recommends making sure you always offer good sources of protein, fat and fiber. She says protein is generally the most overwhelming to prepare, so having simple go-to protein sources are important.
Encourage a positive relationship with food
Both Frazier and Shaffer agree one pitfall families often fall into when it comes to diet can be making different meals for different family members. Shaffer says to avoid becoming a shortorder cook by serving one meal and including a food your children enjoy so they have something to choose even if they do not like the rest of the meal.
Not planning can be another diet pitfall.
“It does not have to be full meal preparation, but having an idea of what the menu for dinner will be and having all the ingredients available will make mealtime go much more smoothly,” Shaffer says.
Another pitfall can be stressing over meals and putting pressure on yourself and your family.
“If you are serving a variety of foods from the food groups, they will get all they need even if they don’t always eat from all food groups all the time,” Shaffer says.
Frazier emphasizes the importance of demonstrating a good relationship with food and not forcing the kids to eat. She suggests making mealtime fun by turning on music during dinner or even having a picnic on the floor.
She also recommends letting kids explore different foods—even if they do not eat them. With older kids and teens, she says it is important to control messaging about food and keep it positive. Avoid saying negative things about foods or even your own body—this is vital.
Shaffer says even if you do not like a specific food, do not keep your kids from trying it. Do avoid telling your kids you do not think they will enjoy that food. After all, the kids might surprise you.
Overall, let kids see the value in food and, as a family, enjoy having mealtime together occasionally as you seek to make positive diet choices. You will likely make memories and develop a closer relationship as a family as you spend time eating and exploring food together.
Allison Gibeson is a local writer and mom who is working to drink more water each day.
As always, please consult your health care provider with any question or concerns.
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what comes to mind when you hear the phrase “Live life to the fullest”? My first thought was something daring and adventurous, like rock climbing, skydiving, running a marathon or traveling the world. For some, these things might sound fun and exciting, but other folks might go to extreme measures to avoid these activities altogether. Although thrills on occasion might add spice to life and be a great way to live life to the fullest, most of our lives are lived in dayto-day activities, not the highs that come with an exciting adventure. How can we parents embrace life during the daily routine and pass that priority on to our children? Laugh
Laughter is truly the best medicine and can turn your entire day around. If you are mad, sad or just feeling bored, finding something to laugh about can change your attitude for the better. After laughing so hard that tears are streaming down my face or until my face hurts from smiling, my heart feels fuller and the worries seem lighter. Laughter can’t wipe away all your troubles, but it can turn your day around and help you appreciate and bond with the other people in your life. Laugh with your kids and allow them to be silly and to laugh. Life passes too quickly not to find some humor along the way. Enjoying moments of fun and laughter with people you love is a great way to embrace life. Slow down
Today’s society encourages us to rush from one thing to the next and fill up every waking moment. Try to pause and appreciate the beauty around you. Take time to notice the sunrise in the morning, appreciate the fresh snow on the ground, watch squirrels chase each other and point these things out to your kids. Show your kids how to taste their food, take deep breaths of fresh air and snuggle a little longer before bed. You don’t have to stop participating in activities you and your kids enjoy, but when you have a free moment, pause to enjoy it. Talk to strangers
Encourage your kids to meet new people and relish the joy of making a new friend. Some of life’s greatest joys are connecting with other people and the experience of being part of a community. If you are at a park playing, encourage your children to say hello to other kids their age. If your children have a new classmate, suggest they go out of their way to include the new child at recess. Welcome new neighbors by taking a plate of cookies to their door and introducing yourselves. This may be out of your comfort
Teach Kids to Embrace Life zone, but it’s worth it to make a new friend. A great way to embrace life is through relationships with people in our community. Go for it Offer support when your children express interest in trying something new or if they want to set a goal for themselves. Finding new hobbies and activities they love can help kids understand their place in life and feel part of a group or team. This is a great way to embrace and love the life they are living. Trying new things can be overwhelming, but the reward can far outweigh the risk and your kids will enjoy a great sense of accomplishment when they reach their goal. Cultivate a servant’s heart One way to appreciate the blessings you have in life is to give back to those in need. Consider serving your community as a family. Ideas include collecting nonperishable foods for a local food pantry, doing yard work for a neighbor, taking a meal to a friend in need, hosting a playdate for a mom who needs a break, writing thank you cards to teachers or lending a hand when you see someone who needs help in the grocery store. Your kids will follow your lead and will begin to not only notice what they have to be thankful for but to pass that joy along to others as well.
Look forward
As I have watched each of my kids grow and mature, the temptation is to feel sad that time is passing so quickly. I have also found myself looking forward to events and milestones in the future with either anticipation or worry. When I am stuck in either of these mindsets, I miss what is going on today and forget to appreciate the joys and challenges my kids are experiencing. The best balance is to live in the here and now and teach your kids to do the same. When you are spending time together, enjoy that moment rather than worrying about yesterday or tomorrow.
As I reflect on these tips, I see a theme. The things that matter in life are people and time. How you spend your time and who you spend it with are what makes for a happy and fulfilled life. Adventures like zip lining, vacations and skiing are fun and exciting and certainly produce joy in our lives, but that doesn’t mean we can’t embrace the wonderful moments in our daily lives as well. Laugh hard, love fiercely, try new things, talk (and listen) to people in your life and slow down to see the beauty in the world around you. Your child is watching you and learning how to live life to the fullest from your example. Embrace the life you are living right now before the moment passes by.
Ideas to Help Embrace Daily Life • Give someone a hug or a high five. • Read a book. • Have a playdate with a friend. • Bake a cake for no reason. • Try a new restaurant. • Have a campout in the living room. • Take the kids to the dollar store and pick out one item. • Eat your dessert first. • Go to a movie. • Eat dinner together. • Play a game. • Have a dance party. • Tell silly jokes. • Share a blessing from today.
Sarah Lyons is an Olathe mom of six children, including 7-year-old triplets.
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