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I realize that not everyone reading this blog resides in the Pacific North West. But if you do, then you have a solid appreciation for a warm, sunny day. When these days first start to appear, the Sun not only warms the Earth, but the soul as well. You're revitalized, awakened, and energized.

So get out there and put that energy to good use; go for a walk in the forest or on the beach, and be reminded why you live in the Pacific North West (because its beautiful).

On the home front, use that surplus energy to spruce up your home. This is particularly important if you're thinking of putting your home on the market. Right now, there are more homes for sale than there are buyers. So you really want your home to jump up and say, "Look at me!!!"

Start by looking at your house objectively, as though you were thinking of buying it for the first time. What do you see? Is the paint peeling or faded? How about the trim: could it use a touch-up?

Here are some suggestions to help get you on your way. Even if you're not planning on selling your home, it always feels good to purge away the winter doldrums.

Outside:

Pull the weeds in your flower beds, and while you're at it, any plants that didn't survive the winter. Add some new, brightly colored flowers and add a fresh layer of topsoil/bark.
Get that lawn mowed, trimmed and weeded before it has a chance to get the upper-hand. (Now's also a good time to re-seed those bald spots in the yard.)
Prune your trees, especially the ones that might block light from your house. The brighter the inside of your home, the more spacious it feels.
Make any repairs you've been avoiding. Replace lightbulbs, clean out the gutters, paint/repair the fence.

Inside:

Wash your walls. Repair and repaint any scratches or dents. If you're planning on selling, you may just want to paint the walls. If you do, be sure to stick with lighter, neutral colors. Again, the brighter a room, the more spacious it feels.
Check around the windows and sills for mold or mildew buildup. If you find it, you can use a mild solution of bleach and water to clean and disinfect (be sure to do this only in a well ventilated area!!).
Go through your closets and dressers, and purge all of the things you haven't worn in at least a year. Worn out shoes, too-small belts, and socks with holes in the toes really have no further use to you, other than to take up space (which, as we all know, is truly at a premium already).
Clean in places you wouldn't normally think to clean: the top of the kitchen cabinets, the light fixtures, under the bathroom sinks (might as well purge in there, too), under the beds. Remove the filter from your hood range and clean that as well (most of them are dishwasher safe).

These are, of course, just a few suggestions. I found a wonderful article on About.com that includes checklists, cleaning supply lists, etc. I hope you'll find it useful as well.

Well, because of all of this Springtime energy, I could probably go on forever. But rather than keep you tied to your computer any longer, I'll let you go so that you can jump into all those projects, and burn off some of your own Springtime energy.

Until next time, Happy Spring!!

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