Room Challenge: Home Stretch

We are in the home stretch of the Organzing Challenge. I started with the Corner Room, and updated here and here. Today is the final update, before the upcoming big reveal. I have been working the PROCESS, and this week my focus was on E (evaluate) and S (solve & simplify).

In my grand plan, we were to acquire, something from Craigs List, or the like, for me to re purpose or upcycle into a usable desk space. Remember, I love my current desk, but it just isn't cutting the cake, in this space. Unfortunately, none of my go-to places seem to have what I was looking for, for free. So I went back to the drawing board. With my husband's help, we solved the problem. I found some particle board in the garage. He volunteered to cut it down, and while it won't be the prefect desk top, it will sit nicely on top of these beauties.


These were found around the house. One was in the bathroom- taking up precious space. I think the last time I got something out of it, was at Halloween. One was holding toys. Old toys. Toys that have not been played with in over a year. And finally, one was holding meds, homeopathic & prescription. Way to be super save, there Super Mom! So they all got emptied out, (used the the PROCESS- to purge/donate/relocate) cleaned up and moved into the Corner Room. While taking everything - I realized, that next month, I will be working the PROCESS in the master bathroom. It is in desperate need of an overhaul. Especially now. Challenge? Accepted!

I also realized this week, that I am probably the family inheritor. Not in a good way. I take, (willingly- sometimes) everything else the family doesn't know what to do with. How this happens with me being the only out-of-state family member, I'm still a little baffled over. My sister, who is also participating in this challenge, (see her work at Crazy Organizing) might disagree. But I ask you: why do I have these?

The gremlin bag? I never saw the movie until it was a Saturday afternoon B movie rerun, on basic cable. Nope- that bag- was my sister's. *love* The purple/pink-ish bag, we both had one. And those strange looking bows and Christmas tree things? Those are t-shirt transfers. My parents had a store for a while, that specialized in personalized t-shirts. Why do I have these? Simple. I am the family inheritor. Will I still inherit? Yes. Will I let the stuff I inherit age two or three decades before I purge again? No. Absolutely not. Will I move five or six times, times with this stuff again? No. I have grown. I have changed. I have PROCESSED. Finally, today, one last time, before my big room reveal next week:

You see there in that purge pile? Live Theater posters. That- is very hard for me. I love having a poster, or five, from every play I have worked on, and playbills. But I don't need five. I need one. One poster and one playbill, from each show. Maybe in a frame. So, purge, purge, and purge, as painful as it is, I do not need more then one.

Don't forget to check back next week, for the big reveal. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone has done and showing what I have done, on a zero budget. And then, I am looking forward to moving on to another space in my home, in need of the PROCESS. The Master bathroom.

Mobile posting abilities

I recently discovered, I can compose & post from my phone.  My beautiful, wonderful, phone.  Where would we be without our phones?  Right now, I wouldn't be posting.  That's for sure! 

Tell me about your phones.  Your love.  Your hatred.  How they help you.  How you use them. 

I was talking to some friends the other day about our phones.   When our youngest kids are 'phone age' the 'free phone' is going to be a smart phone.  I'm not sure I like that.  But I do like my smart phone.   Do you? 

Org Junkie Room Challenge: Progress Week 2

Progress Check!  If you are looking to get caught up on all the fun:  The Challenge is from Organizing Junkie

You can see the start of my journey here and my first progress check here.

This week my focus was on the O (organize) and C (containerize) of the whole, PROCESS. Working on the room this week, has proven difficult for me. I still have my motivation, so that wasn't the issue. No, it was more a feeling of, "What next"? I was at a loss of what organize and containerize meant to me. I couldn't go out and buy a bunch of new boxes, or desk, or interesting dividers. What I found was a dresser, in my daughter's room- that wasn't being used... much. So we emptied it out, sanded it down, painted it, with left over living room paint, and voila!


This 'new' dresser has been re-purposed into our new sewing dresser. It is the proud owner of material, needles & thread, and sewing accouterments. All that used to be housed in two large 58 Gallon totes and several plastic bags. While going thru these totes and bags, I had a lovely 15 year old daughter assistant. This gave she and I a wonderful opportunity to spend some quality time together.  I actually heard her say, "Mom, your enthusiasm is contagious".  That. Made. My. Day.

Laughing + Sharing + Smiling = Happy Mommy

 

Next came time to start putting some of the craft supplies back in the closet.

I even got a new shelf in there! That will soon hold all the kid, 'no permission needed' craft supplies. I have also started to pay attention to the shelf the supplies are kept on. The most used need to be more accessible, then they were before. While at the same time, the least used, can go up higher.

I am still looking to use my old bookshelf, in a new and fancy way. It too, got a light sanding and a new coat of the same living room paint.


Finally, my two favorite parts of the room this week:

Challenge- Progress Week One

Today is our first progress check for the Organizing Challenge, over at Organizing Junkie

Her PROCESS to purge, clean and organizing, is keeping me on track with my corner room.

The PROCESS is simple:

P: Plan: plan the space, plan your steps, what works, what doesn't, etc.
R: Remove: Just like on all the shows: empty the space, and start with a fresh clean slate
O: Organize: Piles: sell, keep, toss, donate, relocate to another space, etc.
C: Containerize: Find and implement, storage solutions that work for you, time, space, budget, etc.
E: Evaluate: Is the plan working? Are you on track? Do you need to modify anything?
S: Solve/Simplify: Any other issues, that you need to address?
S: Smile: You did it!

In the first week of the challenge, I have begun the PROCESS and completed, P and R.

My Plan:

What was working in my corner room:  treadmill, the closet to house the crafts, launch pad, printer
Not working:  Organization of the closet, printer stand, corner bookcase, boardgames up high, boxes, table
Budget:  Zero. As a family of five on an enlisted military salary, there is no extra money in the budget to spend on the room. Never fear! I am the queen of using what I have, making it over, re-purposing, and upcycling to "Make it Work".
Timeline: The Challenge is the entire month of February with check in dates thru out. I will work little by little each day, and on the weekends, the Mr. and kidlets will help out, as needed

New Systems:  Ribbons on a rod in the closet. Better use of bookcase, shelves, better printer stand- perhaps with the printer paper in the stand- 'New' desk- still modular, and easily removed and stored when room is used for guests

Here are a few pictures to show you my progress thus far:

While I was emptying out the craft closet, I discovered that there was a lot, A LOT, of stuff in there that was not actually crafts.  I was under the impression before emptying out, that removal of the stuff was silly, as all of it got used, regularly.  I noticed that only three totes on the top shelf ever got used, and that 4 totes on the top shelf were not even crafts!  I had no idea.  Also, discovered that the lowest shelf, was not the most used shelf- that in fact the middle shelf was where most of the everyday supplies were kept.  Out of reach from the daughters.  But there fore nothing was getting put away properly- because it was too much work.  So the space in front of the boxes on the lowest shelf is where stuff would collect, from not being put away- because it was easy.  AH HA!  I also noticed that since the filing cabinet never actually made it into the closet from the garage, there was a lot of junk, piled up, on the floor of the closet.  So now I need to decide if the filing cabinet should live there- or if I should ask the Mr. to put a few more shelves. 


This bookcase, has been in the corner for at least 6 months.  I don't remember a single time in those 6 months, ever using anything in it.  Heck- I don't remember even looking at the bookcase- other then to get a board game down from the top.  Not Working! 


The desk.  I heart this desk.  It changes height, it can even change angles.  But it isn't working in the space.  Not the way it is being used, at least.  


The board games above the kids launch pad- is fine- if you don't mind feeling like they are going to fall down on your head, as you use the launch pad.  The printers up there, was only okay also.  All the cords are there too!  (bonus point)  But that means, you have to get them down, plug them in, etc, to use them.  I would much rather have a space for them to always be out and usable, like the large printer.

My thoughts on the PROCESS so far- thank goodness for actually doing P and R!  I know that I have planned before, but I don't think that I have ever removed.  A clean slate is really necessary.  I had no idea more then half the craft closet was not crafts.  I also had no idea that the bookcase was never used.  I now know that I should remove each and every time I redo a space.  Thank you Laura - thank you.

Finally, to end this weeks link up progress post, a few pictures of the stuff- removed from the room.  

Organizing= the corner room

I have joined the challenge, over at Organizing Junkie
I am going to work this month, to reorganize my
corner room, others call it a den.

It's the room that holds my treadmill- (and it gets used everyday)

It's the room the holds the daily launch pad (where the kids hang their backpacks & coats)

It's the room that the printer is housed. 

 
It's the room where the sewing machine; all craft supplies live.
It's also transformed into a guest room, when guests come to visit. 
It is a multi purpose room, and needs to be that way.

Because of such, it is a crazy smorgasborg of corners. This corner is the treadmill, that corner is the printer, that corner is the sewing machine, this corner is the backpacks, this corner is the desk, that corner...wait that's too many corners! See- this is the problem.


Challenge. Accepted.

Nutella Cookies, Yes Please!

I am obsessed with www.pinterest.com.  It is a great waster of time, that leaves you feeling inspired and with a plethora of new ideas!  <3 it!

Last week, I found a recipe for Nutella cookies.  Yum. 
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/nutella-cookies/
Sunday mornings around here are baking day for the week.  I schedule a few goodies on the monthly menu to be prepared each Sunday morning, and used as after school snacks or dessert. 

Without further ado: here is the Nutella recipe


1 Cup Nutella
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Flour
1 Egg

Mix together.  Form into balls, flatter with your hand or the bottom of a glass and bake: 350 for 7 minutes

Mine turned out kind of hard. :(  When they come out they are a little squishy still, so give them a few minutes to harden.  I think next time I will also use two eggs.  They were a bit crumbly.

Let me know how your batch turns out.  The kidlets really like them here!
Enjoy! 

Preschool Pick up Dilemma

We have launched into the world of preschool and all that it encompasses.  Snack time, the tears at drop off, the making of new friends, etc.  What I did not anticipate about preschool was the immediate need for food, at the conclusion of the three hour school day.  Lil Miss is 'staaarving' when I pick her up.  We drive the 10 minutes to our house.  Where she walks in the door and flops on the couch.  And suddenly no longer is hungry, but it is lunch time. 

So, here is my dilemma:  child hungry when I pick her up. 

Possible solutions:
* let her skip lunch
* give her a snack in the car and then nothing for lunch at home
* give her a packed lunch in the car

What say you blogosphere?

We have tried all three.  And so far, there isn't a blaring winner.  But I do think I am leaning toward, lunch in the car.  Yippee!  :)  But the draw back, is she is so busy eating in the car, I don't hear about her day.  :(