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Typically when week five of the One Room Challenge hits I’m running around finalizing one last project and grabbing everything I need to style and have my room shot for the big reveal. But if you read last week’s post, then you know that this is not a typical ORC for me. This ORC has been full of more challenges than all of the last five ORC’s put together. Challenges that are both professional and personal, and have taught me the meaning of grace under fire.
So where do I stand for week five? Unfortunately it’s not pretty. The two largest pieces of my room are still yet to be determined; the sectional and coffee table. And I’ve still got custom draperies and benches hanging over my head. While all my gorgeous Stroheim fabric arrived on time, my upholster was OOO (out of office), so this morning I’ll be in his office praying he’ll be able to make a miracle happen.
The good news going into week five is that I was able to paint last week and thankfully Farrow & Ball’s All White was able to cover up my navy blue ceilings. It took about four coats, but the room has been transformed perfectly to white and bright. I also hung my Jonathan Adler chandy, laid down my Karastan rug, and had the hubs help me put together the bar cart. So it’s not all doom and gloom over here.
I will be sharing some snaps on my Instagram Stories today of the pieces that have arrived and progress made so check them out there. And definitely read about all of my fellow ORC participants progress via their links below. Fingers crossed their a bit farther along than me. Thanks for following along, and fingers crossed next week brings a bit more to share. Truly, MKR
P.S. This image is from my fourth ORC and is speaking to me today!
If you read last week’s ORC update then you’d know that I’m probably not going to finish on time. Or so I thought. For the first time in the history of One Room Challenges’ we got an extension. That’s right, instead of six weeks to complete our spaces we now have seven. Praise Jesus, hallelujah!!
Why the extension? Basically because of life. With all of the natural disasters and craziness currently happening shipments have been delayed, or canceled all together, so it just made sense. Which means we’re stuck together for another week so let’s get down to business shall we.
For me, things are finally beginning to move along. Tomorrow painting will begin. While I originally planned to hang grasscloth wallpaper I decided to instead keep things nice, light and bright with Farrow and Ball’s All White paint. It’s one of the paint colors I used in my Shoppe, so I know it’s the perfect shade of white. And yes, there are shades of white.
I mentioned last week I’m getting custom draperies made as well as recovering benches in the most yummy of Stroheim fabrics. Here’s where a major mistake on my end comes in. I of course was in a rush and didn’t read through what the fabric categories were, focusing instead only on the pattern. So when they arrived and I saw that one design was sheer I knew I was in trouble.
Don’t get me wrong, the sheer Kefalonia fabric was drop dead gorgeous, it just wasn’t right for the room. I hemmed and hawed trying to figure out what I was going to do when I finally reached out to Stroheim and explained the mistake. To my surprise and delight, Stroheim jumped in and fixed my problem switching out the sheer Kefalonia for Palapye Jute which will work better in the space. Talk about customer service. I’ve always been a huge fan of Stroheim, but how they helped me in this situation that was clearly my fault made me a loyal life long customer.
So what’s left? I still don’t have my sectional or coffee table situation quite figured out. Yes I know those are MAJOR pieces. And, I’ve still got to decide on the art. I previously had a giant Gray Malin hanging, which I adore, but it won’t go with the room. I’m swooning over Atlanta based artist Kristen Giorgi from NG Collective. And I also have dozens of other gorgeous pieces of art I’ve collected I may move around. It all depends on timing, right?! Truly, MKR
A few weeks ago I caught myself off guard by the date. Actually, it wasn’t so much the date, but more by the fact of what the date meant. It meant that 2018 was almost over and 2019 was almost here. I thought to myself, how could 2018 be over? There was so much change I wanted 2018 to bring. But in all the areas of my life I wanted to see “change” in 2018, I instead saw a massive backslide.
Which led me to thinking a lot about change, and how to go about making change actually happen. And not just happen, but more importantly, stick.
You see, I always have grand plans. And maybe my plans are just too grand. And maybe, just maybe I always seem to want to change parts of me that will never really change. And maybe, just maybe, I’m now sounding like a Dr. Seuss book.
Dr. Seuss aside, I believe I’m on to something. Sometimes the best way to make something big happen is slowly, simply, one foot in front of the other, each and every day. And hence, the first annual 31 in 31 has been born.
So what is 31 in 31? Well, it’s 31 small changes in 31 days to renew, refocus and recharge your life. The changes, or rather challenges, will focus on mental health, physical health, non-toxic living, and getting your sh** together. Each day you’ll be presented with a challenge of sorts, and yes there will be a big ol’ grand prize at the end. Because we need accountability, and we all need prizes, and if there’s one thing I’ll always it’s competitive.
I’ve spread out and set up the challenges via a customizable calendar you’ll get emailed to you on the 30th when signing up, but the calendar is customizable so you can change what you do on what day based on your schedules. Some days will only take 5 minutes, and some a bit more time. Some examples of the “challenges” will be things like: schedule all of your 2019 doctor’s appointments and don’t cancel (because you know we all wait till December to see every single doctor we go to), drink more water, to deleting 60 minutes of television from your DVR.
The challenge won’t cost you a dime. Yes, there will always be suggestions of products or calls to action. But spending money is not mandatory. The entire “challenge” will be via email and social media because let’s be honest that’s where we all live. Emails will be going out the morning of the 31st with your calendar and everything you need to participate. Then each day you’ll get an additional email with each day’s challenge.
If you want to truly participate I’m asking you to share your day’s challenge and if you’re accomplishing it on social media taking me and using the hashtag #31in31. I did mention a prize, basically, the more you share the more points you get. We’ll also be sharing fun graphics, and questions that will be easily shareable throughout the challenge making it easy for you to earn points. And the prize is BIG, so you’ll want to share. Don’t worry all of this will be explained via emails!
So with small steps in mind, I say no there will be no major fasts, no purging of my entire life in one week, no 10 days to a new me. There will just be simple ways to bring about change and make time for what has always made me (and likely you) the happiest.
And one more thing, there’s nothing magical about January 1st. So if you’ve found you’re reading this on January 25ht, sign up, print it out, and just begin. Small steps lead to big leaps, and consistency is key so let’s do this friends! Oh, and keep reading for a MAJOR ($775 value) giveaway to kick the challenge off right! Truly, MKR
P.S. if you’re reading this on Bloglovin’ or anything else you’ll need to click in to the post to enter the giveaway.
