A Day with William Morris

I was pleasantly surprised to read a comment from reader 'Anonymous' quoting the famous English architect, William Morris.  I've not heard of him, but he seems like a pretty down to earth, bright, man as his philosophy was to have nothing in your home that is not useful or beautiful.  A modern day spin on this thought is the Konmari method where the author of the book instructs us to ask ourselves if an item brings joy.  I see this as the same line of thought.

I've taken a break from organizing and de cluttering for about a week to focus on other projects.  This morning brought with it a desire to continue the path of de cluttering.  One would think that I wouldn't have much since I moved in a bit over three years ago with a clean slate.  However, I have made some mistakes in the purchases I have made.  As an example I bought a juice container from a famous home party company when I moved in.  I have never used it because it's too big for my needs.  My family are big water drinkers so that is the drink of choice when they visit - straight from the refrigerator door.

I also recently purchased a set of four matching coffee cups that are bright and cheerful.  I always choose the unmatched cups that a family member gave me that have a sentiment on it or a picture imbedded on the surface.  Only twice have I chosen the matching cups, and that was when they were new.  The ones my family gave me bring joy.  The others are pretty, but no joy is evoked.  So, out they go.

The most recent cup sent to me from the North from
daughter number two.  This one brings joy to my heart.

The kitchen cupboards were emptied and wiped down with peppermint spray with only the useful and beautiful (in my eyes) items returned.  Useful and beautiful.  An especially easy formula to follow.

This morning's activity removed nineteen items from my cupboards.
All are in pristine condition so I will offer them to my daughters
before I send them off to donate.

I don't have many items in the garage because of the simple fact I live in a condo, I don't need many tools.  I have a rake, a broom, a hand fueled mower, and a leaf blower.  The other items consist of things like 'hurricane' water, canning supplies, gardening bin and tool bin.  Saturday I bought a second shelving unit to use for the items that were scattered on the floor.  I love the feel of the room now because it would take very little effort to set up a table and chairs for a family get together when the temperatures are too hot to enjoy the outdoors.  I'm seriously considering looking for a few beach looking items to hang on the walls.  I also have room to pull my vehicle in during inclement weather. (Hurricanes) 

During the sweeping I found a little spider behind the mower that was kind enough to catch a couple flies for me.  Even though I considered the fact that 'it was earning it's keep' I didn't want to take the chance of finding a number of babies running around the garage. 

The small grill will be going outside when the sun goes down a bit
this evening for a good scrub.  If it's stored under
the back eve the weather won't affect it. 
The dog?  I can move her any where else in the house with just
one word!   LOL

The shelves were wiped down with(you guessed it) peppermint spray and items re arranged to fit the space better. The floor also received a spray of the peppermint bug spray.  My house is beginning to smell like a peppermint shop!

A Joyful Transformation

Quite a few of the ladies I watch on yoo toob have read a book titled 'The KonMari Method of Organizing'.  The book has inspired them to declutter their homes and it is enriching their lives by experiencing the joy of a streamlined home environment.  Not only has the information in this book helped people to live a more simple life, it seems to transform some of their personalities in a more peaceful and loving way.

I have not read the book, but I have followed through on some of the suggestions my yoo toob ladies have mentioned they read in the book.  The information tends to work on the spirit as well as the home environment.

Yesterday I watched a video by 'Living Like Julie' (Video below) where she admitted she does follow the method outlined in the book, but tweaks it to match her personal needs.  She moves slower in the decluttering process because she wants to maintain her efforts.  Julie is currently going back through items she decluttered in the winter to see if there were items she didn't use.  This is brilliant!  She has inspired me to do the same.

While following this train of thought a realization flashed before me this morning.  I keep things 'in case' I will need them in the future.  I thought I dealt with that glitch a few days ago while watching Julie's video, but it appears that I only dealt with the obvious things like holding on to children's clothing in case I needed it.  I did this for a number of years because I knew we couldn't afford to replace an item that we 'may' need.

This morning I realized I still cling to this mentality, but with smaller more practical items such as toiletries and even food. 

As an example I have a bottle of my favorite perfume.  I thought I was forgetting to use it because it was in a drawer in the bathroom.  So to remedy that I got a tray and set it up in my closet where I choose clothing for the day as a reminder that I have it and can use it whenever I want.  Still, I don't use it often.  This morning I realized why.  I'm afraid to run out of it and never be able to purchase it again.  This is absurd because I can purchase it any time I want.  Or not, if I choose.  The mentality that developed when we were broke is still haunting my spirit dragging down the joy that that item could bring.

Who knew that our consumer habits are formed by emotional set backs?  I knew the obvious, but not the hidden secrets behind the things we don't pay attention to.  Armed with this new information my spirit is a little bit more free and joyful.  All of the little bits add up to reveal a complete picture of joyfulness.  I like joyfulness!

I have asked myself what brings joy to me.  Top of the list is a clean and un cluttered environment.  That's a no brainer.  My pup brings a smile to my heart whenever I look at her under bite and uneven eyes.  (One is a boxer breed eye and the other is a bull dog breed eye.)  She is beautiful to me and makes my heart melt when I look at her.

A small thing that brings joy is the clear squirt bottles I purchased on amazon with credit card points to fill with condiments in the refrigerator.  They are clear and match in size and shape.  A small thing, but joyful to me.

How meat is this?  These are the items I use most with meals.
I have two more that I can fill.  I'm thinking one will be for home
made salad dressing.

I think I'm liking the joyful transformation I'm currently going through.  My smile is becoming more relaxed and real because of the small things in life.

Stay safe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8p4U0mWY_Q

Organizing, Part 4

I had this post written up, and almost completed, a few days ago.  To my surprise my computer ate it and never returned the post.  Rather than getting upset, I walked away until it struck me to redo the post.

The last entry in this series is meant to help us reflect on storage and stockpiles.  The end result will not be the same for everyone because we all have different needs and commitments, as well as the amount of space available.  I would only ask that the foundation of whatever you come up with is kept in mind.  The foundation of all of our efforts is scrutinizing the amount of real estate space we have and how we'd like to use it.  This differs with personal needs.

To begin, ask yourself what you want to get out of this exercise.   Taking notes on a scrap of paper to remind yourself later what the goals are can be helpful.  As an example:  Do you need more useable drawer space in the kitchen?  What can you do to accomplish this?  Do you need a junk drawer or can the things that reside  in there be placed in a pretty bin and stored in sight to add to your decorating theme?
(I just gave myself an idea.)  Do you use all of the kitchen towels you have, or can they be rotated or pared down?  Maybe there are three boxes of disposable baggies in a drawer.  Having one open and one as backup may work for you.  These are the questions that will help you look at your personal space and use it to it's full advantage.

Organizing and de cluttering can be such a cleansing thing.  Not so much because the end result is reached, but more because we learn about our true wants and needs.  We grow and mature with knowledge.  Knowledge is power.  Power to be more content and relaxed as we strive for that simple life everyone is talking about.

Items To Reflect On

Linens: towels, sheets, table cloths, cloth napkins
Storage items for food: foil, wraps, baggies, etc.
Repurposed glass jars
Office supplies: pens, paper, staples, etc.
Socks
Freezer containers
Make up
Nail polish ( Do you really love all 100 bottles?)
Holiday decorations:  If you chose not to use it last year, you're unlikely to use an item in the future.
Shoes
Scarves

Cleaning out the kitchen towel drawer made room for me to add
the wraps I use most often.  Organizing is an on going process
that makes life easier.



 

There's nothing wrong with re thinking what we have bought in the past.  As we mature, our needs evolve.  It's up to us to recognize the changes and rise to meet them.

Stay safe.

PS:  Welcome to a new follower, Elizabeth.  Thank you for liking this blog.  We hope to hear from you in the comment section now and again.

The Weekend

I'm not sure when this will get posted, but this morning is a sunny, yet cool early Sunday morning.  Since the term 'cool' is relative I'd define it in this area as being in the 60s.  As soon as I got out of bed the garden got a visit.  Among the plants that were woken up to my prodding were the marigolds and dill.  Both are in pots as seedlings with little production.  Each pot has only two seedlings peaking out.  I aerated the soil and gave them a drink placing them on the patio table where both of the plants will get more sunlight.

The radish experiment did not go well (I didn't cull the seeds when they were babies to see what would happen.)  The space was needed for additional food, so I pulled the radishes and weeded the area to make room for something else.  I also amended the soil with compost, egg shells, and coffee grounds.  A rest for a couple of days and something else will go in the space.  I may plant a melon plant knowing the spinach will be pulled as soon as seeds are formed.  Since the spinach is next to the radish space I'm hoping there will be plenty of room for a melon plant or two.

The beans have not broken through the soil yet, but the sunflowers have.  There are four flowers along the fence near the gate.

Saturday was fun because my eldest daughter picked me up to take me shopping for tops.  I found two - a black and a white one - at Target on sale for 5.40 each.  If they last a year, I'll be satisfied. Then we had to go to the book store with the kids in tow.  Each of them can choose ten dollars worth of books that grandma will happily pay for.  I bought one book and my daughter picked up one, as well.

At home we went our separate ways, me for a short nap and her to the YMCA for a lay by the poolside with my other daughter.  Of the two in the Northeast, one had a garage sale and the other spent quiet time at their cottage.

My daughter in law posted some of the items for sale in the garage sale on Facebook.  The eldest spotted a toy police car in a box of hot wheels and requested that be sent to her.  I told her she had eagle eyes to have spotted that car in the box of many.  Since her husband is a peace officer they collect little police cars.  Not too many, though.

I have no plans for today, but since it is Sunday (the day of rest) I will not do any housework other than dishes and make the bed.  It's difficult for me to go an entire day without the bed made up.  Even when all four kids were growing up my bed was made most days.  My mother in law, who had eight children, told me if a bed is made and the dishes were done a home felt more comfortable,  I took that to heart because she was a wise lady.

While I have been writing about organization, I have also been working on an organizational project.  The master bedroom closet has been receiving a tweaking.  This is the perfect time since I finally changed over winter clothes for summer ones.

The closet is a nice size so I've tried to use it to it's fullest advantage without crowding and cluttering it up.  The closet not only holds my clothes it holds: shoes, a sewing basket, craft items, medicines stored on a shelf so the kiddos don't get into them, winter sweaters in bins, extra pillows, stuffed animals that my grands have given me, and a tray displaying the scent items I use.  A picture hangs on the back wall that was a birthday gift from the COO of the company I worked for.  The picture is a reminder of the good times during that season of my life.




Summer clothes and a couple of winter tops in case the weather
dips.  I also keep the four dresses I own in here all year.  Two
for winter, two for summer.  All pans stay in this closet, as well.
Dressy pants can be worn in any season.

These bins hold craft supplies and medicines/ toiletries.

The bins on the top shelf hold winter sweaters and socks.


Stay safe.
Angie

Areas That Are Most Encouraging to De Clutter and Organize, Part 3

In most homes the kitchen is the area with the most need for organizing.  If this area is un organized, then a habit of not wanting to cook meals can easily sneak into our spirits.  I know if I leave dishes in the sink I have little desire to cook because it means more dishes.  Keep the sink empty?  Too easy of a solution.  Use the dishwasher?  Not frugal friendly for a one person household.  To beat this lazy habit I have decided if washing a dish takes less than 30 seconds, I will do  it right then.  (Make no mistake, I can be lazy in the this area.)

Space - or real estate - is costly and precious to most of us.  Using it in it's most productive way is imperative for a pleasant experience in the kitchen.  Here are a few ways to maximize and organize kitchen spaces.

The utensil drawer:  If you empty out this drawer and take stock of what's in there, you will most likely find items that 1. you seldom use and 2. items that are doubles or can perform the same function.   How many slotted spoons reside in that drawer?  Are there more than three wooden spoons?  Are the other wood utensils that came with the wooden spoon ever used?  One way of making more room in the drawer is to use a utensil holder near the stove.  Items that are used most often can reside in the holder.  If you don't have one on hand, using any tall container, such as a water pitcher or canning jar, will serve .the need.

The famous linens drawer.  Mine recently got revamped.  The linen napkins were placed in the closet with the table cloths and I rolled the kitchen towels to allow for a more organized drawer.  Next to the rolled towels there is room for the wraps I use the most for storing foods in the refrigerator or covering when cooking.  This includes plastic wrap, foil, parchment paper.  (I use a cloth washcloth when needed while I eat.)

You may recall that I have a penchant for kitchen linens.  I now rotate them placing the ones I have for decoration in the one dedicated drawer in the bedroom for my 'pretties'.

To add to this, I use three sets of towels in the kitchen.  One to look nice as a decoration hanging from the oven door, one for drying hands that hangs on the refrigerator door handle, and one for drying dishes which is usually covering the draining dishes,   They are kept in separate areas and have different patterns so they don't get mixed up.  Why bother to wash dishes by hand in hot soapy water then dry them with a germy dish towel?

Do you have a junk drawer in the kitchen?  How many pairs of scissor are in there?  Or rubber bands?  Or tape dispensers, pens, pads of note paper?  Emptying it to go through the items will be worth the time invested.  Perhaps enough room could be found to put other items such as cells in there. 

When the project is complete I think you'll discover more space to use for the items that are actually utilized for cooking.  I have only five drawers.  Here's a breakdown of what's in them.

Junk drawer:  Note paper, tape, pens, pencil, tacks (in a small container),  Just those little things we use but can't really be categorized.

The junk drawer.  It's not a study in perfection, but at this time it
serves my needs.  Yours, too, should be personalized to serve
your family's needs.

Silverware drawer:  This is a small one and can only hold the silverware we use to set the table with.

Utensil drawer:  This one is the least pleasing to me, but contains items I use often like scissors, can opener, bench scraper, tea ball, etc.

Knife drawer:  This holds the kitchen scale, knives, and pot holders

Towel drawer:  Towels, dish cloths, and wraps are stored in this one.

Towels are fold in half the short way, then folded again.  The ends are brought
 in to meet each other, then folded again.  I found this saved enough room to put
the wraps in the drawer where they are easily accessed.

All drawers, with exception of the junk drawer, are utilized for items that pertain to cooking.  The junk drawer is for ease of use.  I may rethink this one at a future date.

Let's move on to the glass and mug cupboard.  Most homes have an over abundance of these mis - matched items.  Old plastic water bottles, cracked plastic cups, souvenir cups from a ball game, to name a few.  Going through these items and pitching the ones that no longer are reached for can  free up quite a bit of space.  If you find you're having an emotional attachment to the cup you received at an event, keep in mind you will always remember the event in your spirit.  The smile comes from a memory, not the item saved.  The new found space can be used for serving bowls or something that you use most often.

Food storage containers can also be an area that needs organization.  This is where I'm at, at  the moment. I've been trying to figure out what my needs are.  I know that left overs, in my case, are small.  I also know whatever I choose, the shape needs to be consistent for stacking in the refrigerator.  Currently the plastic containers that soup comes in from a restaurant are the choice.  I like the size and shape so I may stick with them - but not too many.

If all of this talk about organizing the kitchen is overwhelming, look at just one of the areas at a time.  It took me a few months to organize and down size.  The time passes anyway, might as well use it to benefit you and your family.

Stay safe.

Organization, Part 2, How Many Do I Need?

No one understands the concept of, 'I may need this some day',  better than I do.  It began as a child when the only treat we received was a pack of five sticks of gum to last for the seven day week.  The pack of gum concept was introduced to me when I was six or seven - with no instructions on possible ways I could make it last.

I began by splitting two pieces in half thereby have my treat each day of the week.  From there I discovered that chewing half a stick was just as gratifying as consuming a whole stick, so I began using a half a stick a day.  My stockpile grew out of hand because the gum eventually became stale.  I still used it, but softening it was a chore.   This is when I learned about rotating stock.

As an adult when we had four children and loads of chronic illness in our home I saved EVERY glass jar, EVERY rubber band and paper clip.  EVERY everything!  I had no where to store the items I used every day in an organized manner because the 'reusable' items took up lots of space..  If you know me at all, you'll understand how de stabilizing this was to me.

Then one day - when I was about to clean and save a rubber band that was wrapped around a veggie -I stopped and thought about how many rubber bands I actually used. Maybe four a year.  Then why did I have a whole peanut butter jar filled with them?  Soon I realized I would never use the number of jars, or the paper clips, or anything else I thought I was in need of.  This was the beginning of the de cluttering process for me.

 Fear (of being in need) can be disabling.  We can carry it around with us like an old friend, but really it's an old adversary.  Have you ever noticed how quiet it is?  It's favorite hiding place is in the back ground in plain sight.

This is under one of the bathroom sinks  If an item
doesn't fit in the fake book box, I don't bring it home.
I keep my hair items, cleaning items, and Christmas cooking
brandy here.  No E., I don't throw it down the drain!  LOL

The point I'm trying to make is, yes reuse, but pay attention to how much of something you will need before the need to reuse again arises.  We all have limited space, or real estate, in our homes.  Filling it with fear items is not a productive way to utilize that space. As a matter of fact, the space we don't use is more productive because it's for us to use.  After all, we pay for it, we should be able to enjoy what we have.

Things I Will Always Have A Problem With

Linens:  Any kind.  Towels, sheets, wash cloths, EVERY type of textile know to mankind.  I have learned to admire items in the store then walk away reminding myself I have what I need and some of what I want.

Soaps:  Pretty ones, organic ones, nice smelling ones.  Dollar Tree ones, all kinds.
I force myself to walk away from these, too.

Books:  I've been really good about this one.  The truth?  Not many come will large print!

Stay safe.

Organizing, What A Challenge!

I was talking to a friend on the phone yesterday for quite a while as she has become exasperated with her efforts to organize.  She looks around and feels defeated before she even begins.  How many other women feel the same way?  Then in a hopeless emotional state walk away to hide from 'it all'.

E told me that whether I know it or not my desire for organization is a gift.  To see an area and figure out a way to make it acceptable to me is envisioned by her to be a gift.  I never looked at it this way.  It's just who I am and I go to lengths to accomplish an organizational goal.

The key here is to focus on one small area at a time.  Looking at the big picture is so overwhelming that I don't think anyone could achieve a goal  to revamp the whole thing at once.

She came up with a number of questions for me about organizing which I jotted down and will do a series on organizing.  You must know at this point, I'm no expert.  My need for order is what drives me.   I kind of looked at it as a glitch - if I were being honest.

E has certainly been working on de cluttering her house for a few months.  The amount of items that that have been donated or sent to the land fill -in her estimation - is astronomical.  This has been very pleasing to her and  her family.  She is currently in the mode to fine tune her previous efforts.

.As she  went on she brought to the surface the things that have been bothering her.  We talked about storage containers first.

I love these Mason brand storage jars.  I'll be adding to the collection. 
They match my canning foods nicely.

Recently, I have discovered that - for me - just having containers is bothersome.  Having them does not serve to reach my goals 100%.  I had to rethink the way I have been looking at things for many years.

When we had a large family to spend our resources on, then I would save jars and containers from store bought foods.  Doing this served it's purpose and was great on the budget.  But, I don't have to do things like that anymore.  This realization was very moving, meaning it got me to move forward.  I'm still frugal, but the need to be frugal in all areas is no longer a concern.  Neither is it a concern for E at this stage in her life.

The thing that opened my eyes was a birthday gift from my daughter of two quart Mason storage jars.  I've been wanting these jars for some time, but refused to pay the price.  Why?  The twelve dollar asking price was not out of reach for me.  I think it falls under old habits are hard to break.  When the filled jars were placed in the pantry, my heart sang a hippy tune.  At last!  I finally figured it out.  Consistent looking containers is the key to an organized pantry. Organizing life after that was so much easier.   To be continued....

This video has quite a bit of wisdom in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUOVYATHRgQ

Fine Tuning the Organizational Plan

This past week has brought to my attention small areas that needed better organization.  I re organized the files and removed the plastic tabs on the folders.  Maybe it's me, but they never seem to face the same direction plus my handwriting has always had a lot to be desired.

Last week when I went to the dollar store I picked up a package of white labels designed for use on file folders.  I went through each file and removed the plastic tab replacing them with a label placed in the top left corner.  Consistency.  I need consistency.  I feel that I'm being a bit obsessive about organization, but I'm preparing for a time that I may not be as sharp mentally as I currently am.

I'll have to make it a point to remember to grab before pictures
of things.  The tabs were really ugly, but I'm loving this system with
just the labels on the front of the folder.

I told that to my daughter last night and she exclaimed that she hates those plastic tabs, too.  So, I'm not the only one.  Or have I passed down a gene that she may be angry about in the far future?

I also went through the kitchen drawers thinking I would donate anything that I haven't used in a year.  There was nothing I don't use.  The sore spot is the utensil drawer because it seems to be so crowded and messy.  There are dividers in it, but it still didn't seem to be working well.  The small change made in there - after a good cleaning - was the division of items.  Items not used often went in one section, bulkier items, such as the can opener, went in the second section, and commonly used items went to the middle section.  Measuring cups and bulkier items were placed in front of the long dividers.

One of the changes I made in the utensil drawer was to [lace bulky
items going in the opposite direction.  This appears
to be using space more effectively.

The towel drawer is small so I found a way to make space while adding more items in by folding the towels used to dry dishes in fourths then standing them up rather than laying them down like I have for all these years. 

The towels are folded in half, then in half again.  The ends
are brought up to meet in the center, then again.  The two towels
in the front left are the ones I got at Marshall's for 1.50
each.  A great price for a good quality towel.

I moved on to the laundry room displeased with the number of items that were stored in there.  I have a large coat closet that has plenty of hiding room in it so I moved the steam mop and Swiffer in there as well as the drying rack.  It amazes me that it took three years to figure that one out.  Success sometimes takes time, I told myself and moved on.

The laundry room is not glamorous, but it's clean and
functional.  This is where Marley eats, too.

If you remember from a previous post I made a commitment to check out new items at the dollar store each week since one never knows what could be lurking on those shelves.  I'm keeping the commitment.  I found a loaf of Jewish rye bread from an artisan bakery that quickly went into the basket since it was the only one left.  I also found those little clear rubber thingies that are put in a soap dish to save the soap from wasting.  Double sided tape and a nail file cube went in there as well.  The hauls are small and not too exciting, but the weekly trips are very helpful for staying within my budget.  I've waited years for the nail cube because I wasn't willing to pay four or five dollars for one.  I had no problem going without one. 

The seedlings that are in the window are doing well and appear to be growing strong.   The new to me heirloom melon seeds that a friend sent me 3000 miles across the country are a major focus this year because it's the first time I've grown them.   It'll be interesting to watch their maturing cycle.

This tray holds a tomato, marigolds, and a melon plant.

Happy looking tomato plants.  I culled out the weaker ones.

On the left are cucumbers and to the right are melons.

The sun is peeking out so I need to get moving in the garden to remove those tiny pesky weeds.  Remember, if you don't pay rent, you don't live here!

Stay safe.

I've So Much To Talk About Today

Good morning to you dear readers.  I've been a bit busy as Sunday was my birthday.  I am now 'older than dirt', as the saying goes.  Still moving around even if not as fast as I once was.  My career was in heath care and moving fast was half of the job.  Pushing heavy equipment also kept my muscles toned.  The last 10 years weren't as physical as I ended up as a director of a department, so not so much toning going on there.  I do some exercise at home, but it's not my favorite thing to do.  It never was, even in gym class.

It snowed here again last night with about 4 inches.  Today is sunny and bright which is melting the snow.  But, tonight we are expected to get 6 inches more.  Where I'm from in the North that's a walk in the park.  In the South it's sheer madness.  The normal temperatures in this area - for this time of the year - are in the 50s, and have been known to be as high as mid 70s (F).  It appears the term global warming needs to be altered.

Decked out in my 30 degree below jacket, ear muffs, and mittens, I ventured out to grab some milk.  Venturing out to buy one item is something I haven't done in years and years.  The need arose because the milk that was delivered by the milkman was in a glass bottle.  Since I am the first stop on his route of 156 deliveries, the milk froze and the bottle shattered.  I didn't want them to make a special delivery just to me and told them I could wait.  I had no idea all of the snow and ice we were in for.  All's well that ends well.

A trip to the dollar store again this week netted a few good finds.  I picked up Easter cards for the grandchildren who live in the North , as well as stickers to pop inside the card.  Even the 15 year old will get stickers this year!  I'm sure he'll find something constructive to do with them.

They had quite a bit of Easter decorations out in the front of the store.  I was thrilled to see a large violet colored cross that I'll hang on the pantry door.  I also found a large magnet of the Easter Bunny that I put on the dishwasher.  The refrigerator won't hold it up because it's stainless steel.  Since I fell in love with the magnet, I thought the dishwasher would work just as well.  It's in the sight line of the 2 year old.  This should be very interesting.

They also had gardening items on the shelves.  I got soil, a weed mat, and tomato fertilizer spikes for the garden.  The mat is large enough to cover the area behind the blackberry bush so I don't have to crawl back there to weed.

My total came to $12.00.

My birthday went well.  My kids took me out to dinner when we could all be together,  The service was so poor that the manager gave me a load of things to make up for it.  Two meals, a $20.00 gift card, and a dessert at no charge.  Happy birthday!

I received some nice gifts, as well.  Look below for a picture of a couple of them.

I think you may have picked up how obsessed I am with an organized pantry.  My eldest daughter found these 2 quart jars for me.  I have been looking at them for quite a while, but would not pay the shipping charge.  She found them in a local store.

Is this the cutest?  A dress to keep a potted plant warm.  A few giggles escaped when I opened this package.

A friend sent me a pair of mittens she knitted for me.  They came in handy when I popped over to a local store for milk today.

And, of course, you remember the bay plant a friend sent me a
few days earlier.  No name yet, but I am leaning towards Bobby Bay.
 

Something else that I started doing.  I bought a set of 2 journals in the clearance section of TJ Maxx for $2.25 each.  One will become my gardening journal and the other I have next to my computer to jot down notes.  No more pieces of loose paper hanging around waiting to be thrown out.

What have you been up to?  I hope you're keeping warm - or cool - depending on where you live. 

Before I leave may I ask a favor of prayer?  There is a 10 year old boy who lives in my home town who has cancer.  There is nothing more the doctors can do for him, but I know God can.  Would you keep him in your prayers for a while? He's touched my heart in a special way.  Thank you.  His name is Julian.

Stay safe.

The New Year - Organizing, Cooking, and Shopping

I've been up to lots of different projects.  Like most everyone else, I'm trying to get things organized for the coming year.  The process has been slow, mostly because I have been sleeping quite a bit so far this month.  Yesterday the wind chill was minus one (F) so I put on three tops, long johns, and sweat pants.  Then I wrapped up in a shawl and burrowed in under a blanket - in front of the fireplace.  In minutes I was asleep.  I woke up at 11:00 AM, sleeping close to three hours.  This was followed by a bed time of around 10:00 PM.  Six AM this morning was wake up time.   My energy level is back to normal this morning.

The day before I went shopping to find a few after Christmas bargains, as well as a couple items I needed.  I went to the Coast Guard Exchange only to be a bit disenchanted.  The candy was only 50% off, but holiday items were 70% off.  The only item I found was two packs of stickers.

Since TJ Maxx is in the same shopping center I hopped over there to see what was left.  Another minor disappointment since most of the sale items were not such a good bargain.  I did find small Burt's Bees stockings that were very well made for .50 cents each.  I bought all four for the grandchildren next year.  Also calling my name were a few candles.  Since my weakness for candles is well known, I chose only one to bring home.  Normally I like the spice scents, but this one was sandalwood.  The container was black and matches well with the picture frame on my husband's picture on the fireplace.  I also found a silk plant that I was looking for to soften up the display on the fireplace.

I like this arrangement around my husband's picture.  As I said before, he is 17 or 18 in this picture learning how to play the guitar while on ship in the Navy.  The silk plant and candle were the items I bought at TJ Maxx and the three tier candle holder is from Yankee Candle.  I got that last year after Christmas for $3.49.  The glass globes were on sale, too, but I can't remember what I paid for them.

Next stop was Ross.  I needed shampoo and black tights.  I know Maxx has these items, but Rose would have the same items at a lower cost.  Score!

The tights and shampoo from Ross ended up costing 8.87.  The stickers said the total would have been 30.00 if purchased retail.  The candle came from TJ Maxx at 8.00.

The stocking from TJ Maxx were .50 each and the stickers (from the CGX) were .40 cents each.

This morning's energy has been spent aerating the lemon tree and olive tree.  I ground egg shells for the garden in the spring, but grabbed a couple teaspoons to share with the house plants.  A nice watering, ground up egg shells, and a soil aeration and the plants are good to go.  Later this month the two trees will be transplanted to larger pots with new soil to encourage new growth.  I know they slow down in the winter months, but they need to go in larger pots.  The lemon will occupy the pot the olive tree is currently residing in and the olive will get a new pot.

I had to read a heading from a local grocery ad to a friend on the phone last night.  This was also shared with my daughter.  The heading read, ' A New year, of new savings!'  I laughed out loud because I was pretty sure I could read between the lines.  Sure enough the cost of a pound of hamburg was $4.99.  Up from $3.99 the 'year' before.  There were not many good sale prices in any of the flyers, but I will go to the new Wal Mart grocery across the street and price match a few items.  Special K is $1.99, Colgate is $1.00, - I have a $1.00 off two coupon for this item - Belvita bars are 2/ $4.00, again I have a $1.00 coupon off two, and green peppers are .69 cents each.

Last night's dinner was covered in home made sauce and meatballs.  Lots of parm on top and heaven was formed.    Since I finished the quiche I made earlier in the week it was time to make another entrée.  Enough noodles were cooked to provide lunch today.

One of my favorite meals.

The other thing that needs to get finished is organizing the paper work for 2014 and packing it away.  This is such a sore spot with me as I'm not so good about keeping things organized throughout the year.  I vowed to get a handle on this for 2015.  Let's see how long it takes before I get lazy telling myself I'll do it later.

What have you been up to since the new year rang in?

Take Care of the Pennies and the Dollars Take Care of Themselves, Part Four, De-Cluttering

Do you go out into the world and race around running errands, picking up and dropping off the kids, working, grocery shopping?  That's just what life is today for the average woman with tons of responsibility.  When you reach the final destination at the end of the day, you want to plop in a chair with a good book.  But, you aren't able to.  There's dinner and bathing the kids, a load of laundry and lunches to be made for the next day.  There's no energy left to pick up the house, let alone organize things.

I remember. It's something that is burned into the memory.  Always tired.  Will it ever end?

Yes, it can.  There's a bit of effort we put into the situation, but yes it can end.

The first thing I did was take some vacation time and dedicated it to de cluttering.  If that's not possible, put aside an hour on a weekend day to de-clutter you home.  What does this have to do with a hectic life?  It brings order and peace into your little hide away.  Even if it takes three months, it's three months you will be walking the earth anyway.  You may as well benefit yourself during that time.  You could say it's a way to show yourself some love.

De - cluttering will also have a calming effect on your family.  When your environment is orderly, spirits tend to become calmer and more relaxed.

How do you begin?  Small.  You can start with a kitchen drawer.  Whatever you have not used in a year put in a box and put it in storage in the garage or whatever area you have designated for storage.  Leave it there for a couple of months to see if you want to use it.  If not donate it.  Go to the next drawer.  Keep going each day until the kitchen is the way you are comfortable working in it.

The next small area would be magazines and books.  How often do you really use them for reference?  Donate what you can part with to the library.  They can decide what they want and often have book sales to make extra cash.

Clothes and toys can be next on the list.  Just systematically go through items in each room in small spurts, when you are motivated.  I promise you, you will be happier and more relaxed when you end your day at home.

Areas to consider de-cluttering are; bathroom cabinets, linen closets, (do you really need four sets of sheets per bed?) clothes closets, toy chests, kitchen drawers, garages,  paperwork, books, magazines, kitchen cupboards, pantry, and the refrigerator.  These are all areas we put things in 'until we can find a place for them'.  Ask me how I know.

Where does saving money come into this?  Have you ever known you have an item, but can't find it?  Then buy it again?

Let's say you have done all this and your spouse doesn't seem to be on board.  Watch the video below from a young mother who has a husband, a baby, and works full time.  She is wise and has answers on how to handle this situation.

A word of wisdom here.  This process takes time.  It depends on how much time you have to put into it.  But, I Know the results will be glorifying.  Peace will begin to enter life, if not outside your home, in your home.  Good luck.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAYR72UYM8M


Stay safe.