Tag: jessicamxchelle

Easy Tasks and Subtle Ways to Make Your Home Feel New(ish)

Furniture restoration project (by me, Fall 2020)

The spring season is upon us, and it is a wonderful opportunity to start anew. For those of you who want to make a big impact on the home on a modest budget, here are some ideas on how to make your home feel brand new(ish).

  • Wipe down and repaint your walls. I personally believe this is one of the first spring cleaning tasks to complete after decluttering if you want to add that feeling of newness to a room. Wiping down walls before touching them up with paint helps minimize the chance of having a streaky or uneven finish.
  • Mop your floors and/or deep clean your carpets. These tasks can brighten up a room immediately. I try to get my carpet professionally cleaned once every six months. I also have a reliable carpet cleaner for accidents and high-traffic areas that I use at least once a month.
  • Wash your sheets, pillow shams, and comforter. This is a relatively small chore for most people, but this task goes a long way if you want to ease into spring cleaning.
  • Update/restore a treasured piece of furniture. This for those of you who just can’t let a favorite statement piece go. You can start a restoration project with the help of a professional, or you can do it yourself if you are able. Personally, restoring furniture is one of my favorite pastimes when I’m stressed out. (You can see a before-and-after photo of the vintage dresser that I restored last fall at the beginning of this post.)
  • Clean your windows, mirrors, and glass furniture. This is another one of those little tasks that go a long way if you want to add that feeling of cleanliness and clarity to a room or space.
  • Deodorize your home. An open container of baking soda, kept in a discreet place (such as on top of your kitchen cupboards or in a closet), can help absorb smells and clear the air. Two other excellent, all-natural products that can help with this are FreshWave or DampRid, which absorb smells and trap excess moisture in the air.
  • Replace old and builder’s grade light fixtures and hardware. This is a relatively inexpensive way to transform a room or space entirely. Out with the old, in with the new.
  • Add light to a dark or dim room. This can be done by either adding more light fixtures or by removing interior blinds or screens from windows.
  • Update old outlets and light switch panels. Find cracked and yellowed light plates and switches as well as outlet covers.
  • Get rid of old, unwanted, or unnecessary furniture and decor. When all else fails, declutter.

As always, please feel free to share some of your restoration and renewal ideas or feedback in the comments or on my social networks. Best of luck to you on your future projects.

How To Know If You Have Too Many Of The Same Things

Processed with VSCO with av4 preset

For some of us, it seems as if no matter how much we clean and organize our homes, there’s always that one type of frustrating thing that constantly shows up in multiples as excess clutter. For some of us, this can be papers, clothes, shoes, children’s toys, dishes, electronic parts, or just anything we tend to collect without really thinking about it. So when you decide to declutter, be mindful of those multiples you have around the home and consider the following:

At what point does too much of a good thing become too much?

-When it gets everywhere no matter how much you try to organize it.

-When it’s hard to let go of because of guilt, memories, or “fear of missing out” (or as some would call “FOMO”).

-When takes up an unnecessary amount of space.

-When you can easily live without it if you get rid of at least half of your collection.

-When you have items with the tags still on them, in their original packaging, or have rarely been used, if ever. 

-When it’s an expensive habit.

If you’ve answered “yes” to two or more of the items listed above, consider purging those repeated items. 

For me, my biggest vice is collecting purses. I had 21 purses as of last week. I ended up donating 7 purses to Goodwill, and I’m selling some of my gently used Coach purses and wristlets online. (Links to each item will be listed at the end of this blog post if you want to get an idea on how to sell an item online, or if you or someone you know may be interested in buying a gently used purse or wristlet.)

For me personally, getting rid of those repeated items felt liberating, but please remember to carefully consider your own personal values and where you are in life right as of now before purging several items at once. This should be done in moderation and not out of impulsivity. You can always revisit what is leftover and purge it at a later time, if necessary. 

That being said, I still have 10 purses left. (Baby steps, ok?) 

Items for sale on Ebay

Black Leather Coach Wristlet with Gold Chain (brand new!)

Brown Leather Coach Town Tote Classic Shoulder Shopper (gently used)

Burgandy Leather Coach Town Tote Classic Shoulder Stopper with Matching Corner Zip Wristlet (gently used)

Treat Yourself to 1-3 of Your Favorite Things This Valentine’s Day

Whether you’re single, taken, or taken-ish, you deserve to celebrate yourself, too.

This was my first time being single on Valentine’s Day for about a decade, so I decided to treat myself to three things that I enjoy: candles, wine, and flowers. Here is what I bought:

  1. Byredo – Fleur Fantôme Candle
Best when lit on a rainy day with a book in-hand.

2. McBride Sisters Collection – Black Girl Magic 2019 California Rosé

Cheers to supporting black businesses this month (and every month)!

3. Fleurs de Paris – Eternal Roses

No one has ever bought me flowers, so I decided to buy my own roses this year.

I recommend setting a personal budget if you plan on spending any cash on yourself for your 1-3 items. Also, don’t be afraid to get a bit more creative when it comes to treating yourself, either. You don’t have to treat yourself to just store-bought items. You can go on a small trip, have a spa day, visit friends or family, cook your favorite meal, et cetera. Whatever you decide, have fun with it.

Care for yourself like you would for someone else you love.

A Letter of Hopeful Intentions

Dear Reader,

Hi. I’m Jessica Michelle. I’m a survivor of year 2020. And if you’re reading this, so are you. Welcome.

Through a series of unfortunate events from that year, I rediscovered my love for home decorating. This hobby of mine unexpectedly became a healthy outlet for me during a time where I struggled with my own personal frustrations and hopelessness. A significant part of that process was getting rid of the household items that I no longer needed or wanted. Oftentimes these unwanted items were attached to a negative thought or memory. So with careful consideration, I decided to purge those negative and impractical things from my home and from my life. Eventually, I found a new appreciation for the extra space I had in my apartment and I began surrounding myself with carefully selected items that I valued the most. Seeing these valued treasures around the home reminded me of not only who I am, but also, who I hope to become. This enabled me to refocus my boundaries and refine my purpose in life, which is a continuous process. So to keep myself motivated, I’ve decided to start a blog on how to live a minimalist lifestyle. 

On its surface, minimalism means getting rid of the unwanted clutter from our surroundings; however, practicing minimalism in our daily lives is not strictly limited to getting rid of tangible things. This can look like clearing, storing, or even transforming the things or ideas that take up space in our lives. One of my favorite quotes about minimalism is from Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist. He defines minimalism as “…the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.” To me, this means setting a boundary between keeping what is needed or cherished versus getting rid of what is impractical or unnecessary.

I used to picture minimalism as white walls, modern Scandinavian furniture, and maybe a capsule closet with no more than 20 items inside. And everything is overpriced. No, the minimalism tips and tricks that I will be promoting here does not romanticize the kind of minimalism exclusively for the wealthy elite or trendy Instagram gurus. The kind of minimalism that I want to promote is achievable by all. 

“Minimalism is about intentionality, not deprivation.”

D. Stojanivic

It is also important to acknowledge that our values can look quite different from one another. A minimalist lifestyle does not have one singular look to it, and it may change frequently depending on our circumstances. This can be an immensely personal matter that requires a deep understanding of who you are, where you currently are in life, and your own core values.  It is a process that requires careful consideration and should not be done out of impulsivity or excessiveness. And while a minimalist lifestyle may not be for everyone, I believe a that some of its basic principals are achievable to those who seek it.

So, with all things considered, I will be blogging bi-weekly about miscellaneous topics revolving around the following objectives:

  • Less clutter, more space
    • Less debt, more savings
      • Less stress, more health
        • Less oversight, more intention

Practicing minimalism in our daily lives can help us adjust our mindsets to live more consciously by surrounding ourselves with the items that bring us purpose and peace. It is my hope that this blog inspires you to define what you value most and to live a more purpose-driven lifestyle. And please, feel free to reach out and contact me by either leaving a comment or by reaching me on one of my social networks if you have any ideas on what minimalism looks like to you, or the things that make your life easier and more efficient. I am always eager to hear from you.

Wishing you a better year than the last one. Cheers!

Sincerely,

Jessica Michelle