I see blue skies! I know we need moisture, but this girl loves the sun! Makes me happy happy happy. You know what else makes me happy? Easy, free improvements that require only your time and add value and enjoyment to your home. Here are a few I came across:

• Grab a trash can and some gardening gloves. Winter is just plain hard on our landscapes. Branches can break, old leaves can pile up, and critters can leave “gifts” in your yard. Spending just an hour clearing away dead brush, sweeping leaves out of porch corners, and raking your soon-to-revive yard is like taking a hairbrush to your toddler’s unruly hair, making everything look a little spiffier.

• Declutter your vanity, medicine cabinet, linen closet, and bathroom cabinets and drawers. I am HUGE on decluttering. I just went through a bathroom/closet purge and love how open it feels when I walk into organized space. “But I have so much stuff, & don’t know where to start” you say. That’s probably true. What’s also probably true is that a lot of the stuff is either expired, rarely used, or both. Start with the linen closet. It’s a no-brainer to donate sheets and blankets in sizes for beds no you no longer own or just stuff you really don’t like anymore. Have some of those handmade afghans that you never use? They can be exactly what someone else is looking for. Toss expired products. Move on to the medicine cabinet and your vanity cabinets and drawers. Chances are, you now have room in the vanity to hold what used to clutter up your countertop. And now you can add a fun or fancy accent like a potted orchid or pretty dish for your hand soap. If you’re like me and need some help with this, I know the best organizer in town (http://www.squaredawayhome.com) – give her a call! You will love the results.

• Set up a “coffee station.” If you’re like me and love coffee, this is essential! In addition to your coffee maker, consider a display of beautiful or fun and funky mugs. Sugar, creamer, and stirring spoons look great in matching or artfully mismatched containers. Coffee filters or instant-brew pods can be kept close at hand in a decorative tray. And don’t be afraid to think outside the box – there’s no rule that says your coffee station has to be in the kitchen. Sure, you can set it up on your counter or on a cute accent table. But depending on how you live, it may make complete sense to place it on the top of your dresser, in your dining room on a sideboard, or even in your home office.