Spring Cleaning and Soul Cleansing

I must have caught the Spring Clean Bug! My house has gone through a major transformation this past week! It all started with moving one table.. And it was like the book "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie." In order to move the table, I had to move the shelf, in order to move that shelf I had to rearrange the closet, and before I knew it I was buying a new couch! 

All last week was spent rearranging my furniture or organizing my home! I had some projects I wanted to work on, but I just couldn't focus until I got it all done. Sterling and I have often joked about writing about book. "If You Give Rachael A Project." Because like the original book, "If You Give A Mouse A Cookie" one things eventually leads to another until something either genius or disastrous happens. 

I'm hoping this week's couch purchase ends up being a good one. 

I'll post photos on Instagram tonight! 

It was 1 in the morning when I rubbed my tired eyes and told Sterling he was totally right to tease me about that book. But I can't help it. My mind just works like that!

I've been living in this apartment for 6 months now! I can't believe it's been that long. Time has flown by. This apartment is small, so I didn't thing rearranging the furniture would even be possible, but it looks great. It's so open, fresh and beautiful. I've also been following some rules for Feng Shui lately and I'm already feeling so much better. The energy of the house feels lighter and fresher. 

Plus, I strongly believe that cleaning a home is a metaphor for cleansing the soul. As I donate and release old things from my home, I release old energetic cords, emotions and memories. It makes space in both the home and the soul for something new. Rearranging furniture, and organizing items in your home helps rearrange memories, thoughts and ideas that come up.. leaving you with a new perspective and outlook.  

I'll be sharing an entire blog post dedicated to those two elements very soon! I've had a lot of messages and comments about my process of keeping my house beautiful and clean.

I'm just waiting on that couch to be delivered! 

I'm hoping as soon as the couch is here I can be done with this spring cleaning process! As much as I love it, I'm ready to start painting again and getting those decks going! 

Plus, I need to get some better photos of my house! These instagram photos just aren't doing it for me anymore.

Frustrated... And a Bit Cold

I'm pretty frustrated guys. I found out that I have been paying the gas bill for the entire unit. I live in an adorable house from the 50's, it has a downstairs apartment too. I live upstairs. It's awesome. It recently went for sale and so we had a lot of people walk through to inspect it. A lot of people asked me if I was aware that there was only one gas meter, and if I was paying the gas bill, I was paying for them too. I was pretty upset. I tried calling my rental management company on the matter, but no one got back to me!
Finally today, my apartment manager called. She said the entire gas bill is in MY lease. I told her I didn't know that, and she said my roommate did, and signed her name, and when she moved out, everything got put into my name... so I'm basically paying for the downstairs neighbors to have hot showers.
And, there is nothing that can be done. The owner knew about it, and figured giving me lower rent would do the trick. But the heating bill last winter was over 200.00 a month! Which was fine when I was splitting with roommates..
I JUST signed a new lease with these guys and I don't want to move, and Im stuck in a contract. I'm pretty upset. I've had a lot of advice on facebook already, and I might report it all to the housing authority. I'm planning on keeping the thermostat to low, and using thermal curtains. I've got heating pads and heated blankets for the pups and I'll wear socks and drink hot cocoa.

I guess what I'm shooting for now, is either low heating bills this winter, OR my rental agency putting new insulation my attic.
I'm also pretty open to a new house if it's perfect. I've been looking into some Artist Housing. Basically low rent, with studio space, if you can prove you are an artist.

But, this whole thing has been so upsetting. I barely slept last night. I've been so upset over this. I don't know if it's the pride factor, or the money. But I'm pissed.

I've tried processing this with Sterling, my mom, my rental agency, and now the blog. I seriously can't shake the upset that I'm feeling.

Anyone have any tips on keeping a house warm through the winter? I've got thermal curtains, heated blankets, warm socks, and lots of hot cocoa.

But, like yesterday's post... I'm sure I'll come out on top.


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Home Improvement

 After all that yard work... My lovely little home is looking very lovely! 

There has been a lot of improvements going on in and around my home. 

Negative energy is literally packing up and leaving 

and I can feel my home wanting to be cleansed and reborn. 

Before I can spiritually clean and cleanse my home I must first clean it up physically.

It's time to get rid of the junk, the trash and the old things 

that no longer suit my needs or where I'm at in life. 

Spiritual unrest usually follows clutter and disorganization. 

So, this weekend my house will be getting a very deep clean. 

Furniture will be reorganized. The new things will be brought out.

The old will be put away, donated, or thrown out. 

Once the house is sparkly clean, organized and feeling new again..

It's time to cleanse it spiritually. 

I plan on unplugging all electronics, making a mixture of sacred water,

 and burning lots of white candles, sage, incense and saying some blessings. 

Sterling and I might take a quick trip to one of our favorite holistic stores for some tapestries.

I can't wait to show you the "new" house. 

I plan on making things feel and look like new again.

I've got a few pictures of the progress snapped with my phone.

You'll get some good ones soon! 

 New kitchen table, and table decor. All found at the thrift store! 

 My lovely backyard.. 

You all know I have a thing for cemeteries.. 

And gnomes.. 

My new entertainment center.

We found this little shelf and painted it black to match the rest of my furniture. 

Lovely.

Unfortunately... 

I can't get started on any of the cleaning or organizing 

until everything that isn't mine is packed up and moved out. 

My old roommate is moving everything of hers out today and tonight..

So, until then... 

I paint! 

Snowy Times

We had a lot of snow on this weekend.

I tried to compromise with Mother Earth 

that the snow would be gone for the rest of winter by Monday Morning.. 

She just wouldn't do that. 

So instead I'm working on the deal that she have it as snowy and icy as she wants...

as long as my car will start and I won't be slipping and sliding all over the world. 

Meet me in the middle here ma'am.

The snow is gorgeous! 

And I'm loving that my hair matches it. 

I spent a bit of time snapping photos outside with Wicket,

then we hurried inside where I made myself hot cocoa, and set up the heater for Wicket. 

I will accept these snowy days.. 

I won't be bitter.

Because it's the snow and the storms that bring the green grass and the flowers.  

Always Hope

It's Friday. The week is almost over, and I survived.
I didn't just survive, I conquered. 

I was hit with a nasty cold, a migraine and an eviction notice in one day.
And, I made it through.

My cold is almost better.
The migraine has subsided.
And, I now have a new home.

My little angel has been stopping by to visit. 

He always leaves me little feathers to show me I'm on the right path

or to remind me, he is always near. 

The Blue ones represent "I am here, watching over you. This is me. "

The rare White ones represent hope to me.

Traditionally a white feather means courage, and persistence.

It's no coincidence that I would find these feathers the same day. 

The day I was scrambling to find a new apartment.

Stressed over a multitude of things.

Wanting to just give up, crawl in bed and sulk.

But, yesterday we put down a deposit on a new home. 

It's definitely a step down from our current castle. 

But, that's the hand I'm dealt with, and I can still win. 

Let me describe it to you, since I haven't been able to get pictures.

The outside of the house is bright blue.

You walk all the way to the back of the house for my front door.

You open the door, that was put on backwards,

walk down some creaky stairs into a small living room,

with a stone wall. 

You can see a bit of exposed pipes.

And a small door with the original skeleton key doorknob.

From the living room, you enter my huge bedroom.

There is no extra room for my studio, 

but with my expert skills of arranging furniture, 

I can block off an area in the room for a studio.

Also from the living room, you can go into the bathroom

From there you can go into my roommate's huge room.

Or the kitchen.

I'm so glad our bathroom is the hallway. 

(Sarcasm)

Okay, it's an odd little house.

It's got it's quirks.

It's got it's problems.

It's got it's blessings.

And the blessings are what I will choose to focus on.

Like it's pet friendly, with NO pet fees, or pet deposit.

It's got BIG bedrooms, which means, I WILL make a studio.

It's old, and interesting. (Built in 1923)

It's only a block away. 

And best of all, I will be paying almost $150-200 less a month.

The house was the first house we looked at, but we just weren't sure.

It was originally the same as what we are paying now.

We looked at other options, but for some reason, our minds kept going back to that one.

The landlord said, "It's going to go fast, so if you want it, take it now."

I decided to wait. 

I thought, if it's meant to be ours, it will be there tomorrow.

So, the next day I asked.

I got the answer that it was still available.

I choose to wait a little longer. 

I thought about it, I even think I dreamed about it.

The next day the landlord told me it was still available.

I told him, it was just too much of a step down 

for us to be paying the same price that we are living right now.

He offered to take the rent down quite a bit.

The deal was sweetened enough, and we move in on September 1st.

I'll get pictures as soon as possible.

My cold has been lightening up.

Things are improving.

I'm not going to say it was a bad week.

But, it was a week of trials. 

This was also my prep week at school. 

Where I had a whole week with no students.

Just time to get lessons prepared.

Rules posted.

Posters hung.

And supplies purchased.

I couldn't have asked for a better time to have a hard week! 

And next week will be spent packing, and unpacking.

Un-decorating and redecorating.

Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.

Heavy boxes and probably broken dishes...

But, you know? 

I made it through THIS week.

Bring on the next one.

Finishing Touches

The new house is about 99% finished. I can't wait to show you pictures.
But, just to clarify, I do not own this house. I'm just renting it.
The approval process was background checks from the rental company.
But it is MY house to me!
I just have a few more things I need to get for The Studio.
(Yes, I just turned it into a proper noun.)
I need a nice rug or two, and a beautiful comfy chair.

It's beautiful. Ah, I can't wait for pictures.

Here are a few I snapped outside on my way out this morning.

 And, to show you that I am capable of talking about other things besides the house...

Brad and I went to the antique mall a few days before the big move.

I think they have a no photography rule..

So, I would pull out the camera real fast, snap a picture all while coughing.

I think it worked.

Besides, I go there often enough the owner recognizes me and likes me. 

Also, I'm officially starting a Star Wars collection now that I have a place to put it.
So far, I have the Wicket Pez Dispenser, a lunch box, and a pencil box.
I'm going to need a lot more. 
I've convinced myself to go back for this entire set.
Or at least Darth Vader.
If he is still there.


Oh yes!
And I'm sorry I haven't been responding to comments these last few days.
I normally try to reply to each comment, but I've been mega busy.
Thanks so much for all your support and comments! I'm back to replying!

Nealry Settled In

We are slowly getting settled into our new apartment. There are still a few boxes that show up periodically and a few things we keep forgetting to pick up at the store... but we are loving our little apartment.

Destinee and I each have little babies to take care of, so we are kept busy during the day, and kept awake at night.

This is Destinee and her kitten Samson. He likes to attack people and curl his tail under like a monkey.

Wicket has developed a nasty habit of growling and snapping at people if they come to close to him while I hold him. We are fixing that ASAP.

But I am quite pleased to say that we are settling in nicely. I almost have my workshop all set up, and I can't wait to start creating again.

Our house is filled with mostly my decorations. Which include lots of earthy objects, curiosities, bottles, tea sets and owls. So far no complaints have been made.