Opting out a few of our ideas

One of us has been listening to Cait Flanders Opting Out Podcast.  She wrote two books one about not spending and the more recent The Adventures of Opting Out.  The podcast is enjoyable as Cait is easy to listen to - no drama. She usually tapes it outside so water, wind and her seeing the occasionally animal or one week a proposal. 

So we thought it would be fun to give our list of "opting out" here it goes....

• Drama - don't need or want.  Maybe on the screen but that is about it.
• Negative people and/or conversation.  Yes we need to debrief and that can get negative.  But you know the people we mean. It is all negative. They are victims and nothing is held accountable for them.
• Events we are not interested in. We say yes because we feel we should. That being alone is not an excuse. It is. If not a special occasions we can say no. Our time and needs are important also.
• Book recommendations and books people give us.  If we are not interested say so and don't take the book. Or if you do, start it and it doesn't catch your attention don't bother finishing it.  Yes you heard that right you don't have to finish a book you are not enjoying.  Yep, it is okay you have permission.  Life is short there are a lot of books read one you want.
• Shopping for the sake of shopping.  One of us is doing Project 333 where we wear 33 items for three months. No shopping. It is to see what we have in our closets and what we really want and wear. It is okay to say no to shopping with friends for the sake of shopping. Meet them for lunch later.
• Not to answer the phone if we are exhausted and know that person is just calling to talk. Nothing major just talk (which is great) but not at our expense.  One of us is taking a no answering the phone in the evenings for a bit - leave a message. One friend said she had a phone phobia.  Seriously. Creating boundaries is okay. You do not have to be at people's demand 24/7. 
• You decided what you want to opt out of.  Maybe it is working full-time. Too much over-time. Too many activities on your or family plate.  Keeping up appearances.  Have a look around and see what you can opt out of. 

Side or end table call it what you will

 The decorating talk is having functional furniture. Pieces you can move around.  To shake up your décor. So what piece is the most versatile? A few were out right away. Not a sofa. Yes to certain chairs as can be moved around and even to bedrooms for a seating place. After discussion and we went with majority. We decided side or end table is pretty versatile. Besides by your sofa it can be a bedside table. Certain ones can be plant stands or even storage in a closet.

Below are a few of our favorite end/side tables and why.

This would look good in a living room as an end table or nightstand in the bedroom. Enough space for a small lamp in the bedroom, phone and of course your book can rest on the lower shelf.  The living room large enough for a drink and to display items on the lower shelf.

This was written as a "nightstand" but we felt it could easily be an end table in the living room.  Again we want room for maybe a small lamp, place a glass and most of us like the second shelf.  One person calls it a dust collector. There we put that in so that person is happy.  The draw is great as items you might want around but not out can be slipped inside. 

This is a favorite for one of us as light and airy with the slats as the bottom shelf and glass.  Feel could be a nightstand or end table.  Could see this as a plant stand off in the corner also. 

Love the white and wood look.  Shown as a nightstand but could so be in a living room. Would look great by a chair as very pretty. Also plantstand would work.  Show off those legs.

These are just a few we thought looked good in a few rooms.  Do you have a favorite from above?

Statement or accent walls

 If you are limited on time, energy and money consider a statement wall.  An easy commitment.  Here are a few of our favorites.

• rainbow corner accent wall.  A beautiful mess shows us a few incredible accent walls but one of us is drawn to this rainbow corner one.
  
• While visiting A beautiful mess we had to show you this wall using old picture frames.  
• Young house love post is on installing removable wallpaper, but we also liked the wallpaper and it is a neat way to have a statement wall.
  
• Again Young house love shows us a beautiful painted mural.  
• Apartment Therapy shows us an idea with a small can of paint.

Brush strokes.  Yep that's it a brush strokes.  I'd practice a bit first.

Painter tape and a good chalk line should work for above.  

There is also taking your color swatch and going with a darker color on the swatch.  One of us did that in our living room and looks great. You know it goes as same paint swatch.

If you have a neat idea for an accent wall let us know.