Over the years the one thing I have enjoyed is home improvement and decorating. I love the satisfaction that goes along with taking an idea and turning it into reality. Most the time it is born out of a leisurely hour pouring over a decorating magazine or walking through a show home with my eyes dancing around everywhere. My photographic memory kicks in, must have list starts typing away in my head, file in my brain for upcoming projects is opened, and there you have it…something is about to moved, demolished, primped or bought.

My husband knows the look in my eyes and then the usual statement that follows “I have an idea”. This is where he says, “Oh, No.” He envisions his time being taken up to accommodate my idea and that causes him stress. Lots of times though it does not involve him at all. He just comes home to a newly designed room, painted walls, landscape changes, or hammer and nails being put away.

One of my favourite things to do is to organize the garage and tool area. I am particular that my tools and machinery have a place so that I can access it quickly when inspiration hits. Paint cans and accessories have their shelf, drills and drill bits stored, peg board with inside and outside tools displayed and larger garden equipment placed and hung accordingly.

This is how I remember my fathers garage too, orderly and it certainly was the space in which something to enhance our home had its beginnings. Of course in those days I never saw my mother or any other mothers stepping into that domain, but times have changed. Today, you see women all the time in the local home improvement stores, tools have even been modified and marketed differently and informative workshops are offered monthly for the DIY divas. Women, just like myself, have seen an increase in our self esteem as we venture onto the next project, learn, grow, face trial and error and eventually reap the benefits of our idea coming into reality.

If you have something you want done around your home be adventurous. I encourage you to get beyond waiting for someone else to do it and unleash your inner builder, decorator or landscaper! Thinking about a career change…how about the trades? Or, like me it can all be something that inspires you and stays a past time, either way satisfaction is guaranteed.

By the way, I did this post in between cooking a dinner which is normally not my idea of fun. This followed a day I spent in home cleaning and decorating mode, lighting improvement discussions and more,  today I was a”jack (or Jill) of all trades.”