This is my 80/20 life. Project 1: the kitchen.

Funny story. July 4, 2005 I decided to tear a strip of 15-yr-old wallpaper from the kitchen wall. It was time. Don't get me wrong, my kitchen was sweet! When MachoMan served in Desert Storm, a couple encouraging friends had wainscoted, papered (navy blue gingham), and painted my kitchen. Loved that wallpaper. Love my friends. MachoMan, 'he lay low.' (Name that book!)

Now it was time for a refresh. One slow, painful strip at a time. I worked on a section, then another, then another. 'For-ev-er' (name that movie). Slowly stripping, scraping, washing, scrubbing. Amylove cleared it from over the soffets. MachoMan, 'he lay low'.

I decided to motivate us to complete the kitchen refresh project by Christmas 2005. You know, the most wonderful time of the year...' What was I thinking? The next step was to pick out the paint chips. Borrowing the peacefulness of OldestSon's bedroom colorscheme, I selected Sherwin-Williams Hopsack and Latte! with red accents. MachoMan, 'he lay low.'

He tried, but by now he was sucked in and painting is one of his areas of expertise. He wasn't about to turn me loose with a gallon o'paint and a brush! So after some discussion, we started painting and loved it! We were done, clean, and decorated before Santa scurried down the chimney! Well about 80%.

Here's the thing. We seem to leave about 20% of a project unfinished before we get distracted by life, four kids, work, two dogs, or something else that needs fixed. This is my 80/20 life.

Yesterday I cleaned the kitchen, rearranged furniture, redistributed decor, added more red accents, and realized I must figure out how to beat the Law of 80/20. MachoMan, 'he lay low.'

The Law of 80/20 really drains my happiness quotient (see http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2009/11/a-surefire-way-to-make-yourself-happier.html). Gretchen Rubin, of The Happiness Project, encourages cultivating an atmosphere of growth. Begin a project, fix something, learn a new skill, take up a new hobby, help others, you get the picture.

Enter Project 1: the kitchen. This week I will begin to tackle the 20%: change 5 cupboard knobs, touch up paint, wash and paint the main door, repaint an informal china cabinet black, clean up & paint an old school chalkboard to hang on wall. Pantry door knob needs changed to oil rubbed bronze or black. We must replace the refrigerator that quit two weeks ago, now functioning as a second pantry. Must write a list!

Cultivating an atmosphere of growth. Curbing the Law of 80/20.

I may even post photos!