Junk Is Junk - Toss It

It's the thirteenth day into my January resolution and I can't believe the money I've saved!  My resolution was to only make a resolution for a month at a time; not the whole year. So far it's working for me.  January's resolution was to spend money only on food, gasoline and medicine. So far I haven't used a credit card even once.  And I actually put money into my savings account. Why haven't I thought of this before?

I am continuing to drop something into the donation box as often as possible and last week I took seven shopping bags to the local thrift store.  Saw a chair there that would be perfect in my living room, but no, no, no.  I was able to resist and keep my resolution one more time.

So, are you thinking you don't have anything to donate?  Oh but you do.  Everyone has a junk drawer.      A junk drawer is just that; a place for junk.  Where does junk belong?  Sort out what can be used and put it in the Donation Box and toss anything that is broken.  Now you have a clean drawer.  A nice place to store spices, napkins or maybe a handy place for healthy snacks.

Enjoy your new space and remember, junk is junk.  Toss it!

Happy New Year! Resolutions? What Resolutions?



It's the second day of 2013 and so far I've been true to my resolution.  A record perhaps?  I've decided to go easy this year and only make a resolution for one month at a time instead of the whole year.  I am not that strong willed.  More of an immediate gratification type.  When I want to do something, I want to do it right now.  When I want something to eat, I want it right now.  So, no, New Year's Resolutions for the whole year have never worked for me.

My January 2013 resolution is to work on uncluttering my home.  Minimalism seems to be an attractive route but not to the extreme.  It just means that I am not going to buy anything to bring into the house except food, medicine (if needed) and gasoline for my car.  Yes, take out pizza is food. 

My Christmas decorations and tree are all packed away and I even pulled some items for the donation box.  My December donations made their way to a little shop run by a local church to raise funds for those in need in the community.  It felt good to get rid of things I've been clinging to for years.  A little brave of me even.  So, put those things in the donation box for another month and don't look back.  You'll feel better for it.  Happy New Year to You and Yours.

December Organization

"THE HURRIER I GO, THE BEHINDER I GET"

 

 

 

I don't know who said this first but I would imagine they were in the throes of getting ready for the holidays and company coming for the big feast.  Sometimes stress is good for you, but when it starts to overwhelm you, it's time to STOP!  Time to do something just for you.  Maybe a little power nap before the kids get home from school.  Perhaps sipping on a cup of sweet Jasmine tea and having a nibble of some of those cookies you've been baking.  As for me, I'm going to spend some time with a sweet friend at the movies today.  After I'm refreshed, I'll be able to attack today's assignment.

 

Here it comes.  The one tip you have been dreading.  Let's clean out the refrigerator!  I know, that ranks just behind cleaning the oven on your list of favorite things to do in the kitchen.  Just think of how nice it will be to open the refrigerator door and be able to find just what you need when you need it.  No stress!

 

I usually have an insulated cooler handy for the frozen items and perishables.  Your condiments should be fine sitting on the counter while you clean.  As you remove items, check for expiration dates and toss what needs to go.  Put that on your grocery list so you won't be without what you need.  Also, get rid of any leftovers.  No, don't save last night's mashed potatoes.  They'll just be green the next time you lift the lid for a look.   Next, have a bucket of hot water with some Dawn dish soap in it.  Dawn will help cut the greasy spills that have accumulated.  Don't have it too sudsy or you will be spending too much time rinsing.  You will also want to run a sink full of hot sudsy water.  Take out any and all removable shelves and drawers to clean in the sink.  You can also clean the empty containers now.  Then take your bucket of water and start wiping down the interior.  After you have dried everything off and returned the shelves and drawers to their proper places, you can reload the food.  Now is a good time to specify certain areas for certain foods.  And look, you have lots of room and all those leftovers you threw out will leave you with some nice shiney clean containers to store Christmas dinner leftovers.  There...wasn't that relaxing?  

December Organization - Day ?

Just like everyone else, I've been busy getting ready for the holidays.  Today I'm going to take it easy.  I thought I might run to the local dollar store and pick up some disposable cameras. 

I want to place them at different spots around the house so that my Christmas guests can pick one up and take random shots of each other enjoying the day.  Children especially like to catch each other in silly poses.  And aren't we all just children at heart on this special day.  After the day is over, I'll take them to be developed and have pictures printed for family members and guests.  Can't wait to see the results of the memories of our wonderful time together.

 



December Organization - Day 7

Did you put up a cut tree this year?  If you did, I hope you made a cut on the end of the trunk so your Christmas creation could drink freely throughout the holidays.  A cut tree from your local market could have already been cut for a few days or even weeks and sap has sealed the cut.  It only takes seconds for a dry tree to go up in flames!

Candles are so very pretty and smell like the holidays.  However, you can't be too careful.  It's easy to forget them when you leave to go shopping or visit friends.  You don't want to come home and find your house gone.  It is safest to burn only the candles in jars and votive candle holders.  Make sure they are made for candles.  Some glass could break from the heat of the flame.  Tea lights in votive holders are a safe bet.  They only burn for a couple hours and then burn out by themselves.

Extension cords are another hazard during the holidays.  Be sure to check your strings of lights before putting them on the tree and check the cords to make sure no wire is exposed.  Too many extension cords strung together is not safe.  Use longer cords and don't use indoor cords for your outside displays.  If you decide to put old strings of lights in the donate box, remove the bulbs, pack them safely with a label and toss the cords in the trash.  You wouldn't want some family to lose their home in a fire caused by your faulty light strings!

Have a Safe and Merry Christmas.

December Organization - Day 6

We've gotten our cooking utensils in order and today we are going to get the table settings and decorations ready.  Make sure your tablecloth and napkins are clean and wrinkle free.  The silver should be polished and the Christmas place settings shiny.  Do you have enough settings for everyone you have invited? If not, you might consider going eclectic and purchasing a set of white plates.  These should be placed at every other place setting.  That way it will look like that was your plan all along.  The glasses should be sparkling!

Do you have leftover wrapping paper?  A strip of this could be placed down the center of your table with an arrangement placed in the center.  Easy!

I like to put a Christmas ornament or perhaps a candle votive or some little holiday memento at each place setting for my guests to take home with them.  I noticed this year there are a lot of cute holiday flatware holders that could be used for this.

The idea is to be creative, have fun and enjoy the day.

December Organization - Day 5

Your menu is written, tweaked and complete.  If friends or family asks what they can bring to contribute to the meal,  for goodness sake, let them.  Even if it's just a 2 litre of soda or their signature broccoli-cheese casserole, every little bit helps make your holiday a little more stress free.

Now you need to decide if you have enough pots, pans and baking dishes to get the job done.  Get your recipe cards out and take an inventory of the utensils needed to prepare that particular dish. Now put those recipe cards in an envelope marked "Christmas Recipes" and tape it to the inside of your cupboard door so you don't have to search for them later.

Next, make sure everything is in working order.  Is the mixer ready to mix, the blender ready to blend and the chopper ready to chop.  Nothing worse than finding something broken on Christmas Day!

December Organization - Day Four

We’ve all been there. We’ve made our list. We’ve checked it twice. And yet, once we’ve got our bags packed, headed out the door, and made it to our destination, we find we’ve forgotten one or more of the essentials. Guess what? It happens to your overnight guests, too. They, too, managed to walk out the door without a toothbrush or their razor or some other little thing that makes life livable. Since your goal in having guests is to enjoy yourself and have them enjoy themselves as well, a little planning ahead will relieve the difficulty of forgotten essentials. I like to create a little welcome basket that I place in my bathroom for my guests. I pack it with travel-sizes of some commonly forgotten items, along with a bath towel. Leave it on the bathroom counter, so that it’s easy to find. You may even want to attach a little tag that lets them know that yes, this is for them, just in case. Here’s a sample of what I might include:

•toothbrush •mousse •tissues •soap •floss •lotion •toothpaste •deodorant •file •razor

And I’m sure you could come up with many other little items that will be useful to your overnight guests. Check out the travel section of your local store for ideas. Small hairbrushes, mouthwashes, and other goodies are readily available. You might even consider tossing in individual packets of aspirin or allergy medication.

Here’s another tip: If you have guests of different ages or genders, you could easily customize a small basket for each. For example, kids might like some bubblegum-flavored toothpaste or even a character washcloth in their baskets. A man might prefer some hair gel, shaving cream, and masculine accessories.

December Organization - Day Three

You may have noticed that I haven't been telling you to clean this, mop that, dust something else in our effort to get ready for Christmas in a stress-free way. I am also not telling you how to put up your tree and decorations. That's something that most of us have done already. I just want you to be able to approach the holidays in a calm manner. Are you having a house full of company for Christmas? Yes? Well, we need to feed them don't we! The first step is to make up a menu for Christmas Dinner. Take into consideration any special dietary needs of your guests. Vegetarians, diabetics, gluten free; all need to be recognized when dinner is served. After the menu, you will need to make a grocery list specifically for the meal. You can add laundry detergent later. Do you have coupons for any of these items? Good for you. Save all you can on this meal. Now, put the list on the side of refrigerator so we can tweak it and add to it later. In the meantime, if you see any sales on any of the items on your list, go ahead and purchase them and mark them off your list. You've done enough for today. Good job. Let's go relax with our family in front of the TV or on the computer. See, stress free! What did you put into the donation box today?

December Organization

During December we are going to focus on getting ready for the holidays. Today we are going to set up a gift wrap station. My challenge to you is to wrap as many gifts as you can. I know, I know, gift bags are easier and faster but wrapped gifts just say Christmas don't they? You can set up in a little used space (Perhaps a room you can lock if you have inquiring little ones). Mine is in the spare bedroom. Make sure you have an ample supply of pretty paper, ribbon, bows and tags. You will also need a sharp pair of scissors and a good quality tape. I prefer the Scotch brand transparent tape. Sometimes the magic tape doesn't hold. Now that you have wrapped some gifts, check them off on your index cards and put some under the tree as a teaser (Not if you have little ones or curious pets). The rest should be well hidden. As you purchase more gifts, mark them, wrap and check off. This way you won't be up all Christmas Eve wrapping and swearing. Just sit back, have a glass of wine and watch "It's a Wonderful Life." Now would be a good time to put some of those leftover wrapping supplies in your donation box.

My Baby Is All Grown Up

Sophie was just a small handful when we first saw her. My daughter and grandson went with me to check out the ad in the paper for minpin puppies. Little did we know how this baby would impact our lives.

As small as she was, Sophie flourished and grew into the mistress of the household. Making demands and sharing love with every member of the family. If you are not part of her family, you are barked at severely!

When she visits the vet, she is encouraged to wear a "party hat" so she won't bite anyone. Well, wouldn't you if someone put a thermometer in places where a thermometer should never go?

Sophie is an old lady now and like most small dogs she has dental problems which makes her breath unbearable at times. Visits to the vet usually cure this problem. She has to watch her weight like a lot of us senior citizens do. I know that I will not have her with me forever but hope to make her remaining years as happy as she has made me.

Trevor & Chester

Trevor and Chester bonded the very first second they met. These pictures show them together within moments after their introduction. Yes, Chester was loved.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Loss of a Love

Chester had been with me for just a little over two years . He came to me when he was eight and apparently his owner developed an allergy to him. One of the first things I discovered after taking him in was how much more upsetting it was for me when he had seizures than it was for him. His former owner said he had them once in a while but the vet said there was nothing that could be done about it. He had two the first week he was with me. I immediately took him to my vet and Chester responded almost immediately to the phenobarbitol and seizures were almost nil.
We overcame the seizures for the most part. But then we discovered a new and even more devastating problem. I was petting this sweet boy when I got home from work and discovered a lump on his neck. Off to the vet the next day and home with a diagnosis of lymphoma. This led to one of the saddest Christmas days I can remember. He was to go to the specialist the day after Christmas for his first chemo treatment.
He was such a brave little guy. He suffered through the effects of chemo very bravely and when they passed, he was one of the happiest dogs I have ever known. He was so loving; so even tempered and was loved by everyone in the family.
I hoped when his treatments were over he had a few good years left. I was thinking positively for him. However, in the middle of June the cancer came on with a vengance! His intestines were being forced to the outside of his body to make room for the tumors which invaded them. He hadn't eaten for a week and slept most of the time. The vet was kind but not hopeful. So we made the painful decision to "let him go."

The vet, her assistant, my son and I surrounded Chester as he lay on the floor on a blanket. He assured us we were only being kind and that he was looking forward to relief. After about a half hour of tears, kissing those velvet ears and telling him of our love for him, I looked at the vet who had tears in her eyes and nodded. She inserted the medication which gave him a peaceful sleep within seconds. He just lay down his head between his paws, closed his eyes and was gone.

Goodbye, my sweet boy.

Whooooooo's There?

My two daughters and I just spent a glorious weekend at a Bed and Breakfast Scrapbook Retreat this past weekend. It was perfect for each of us for each of our own reasons. The girls have had a lot of stress lately and between being waited on hand and foot and the morning at the spa, they started to unwind almost immediately.

I went on this mini vacation just to have some quality time with my girls. I was not disappointed...we enjoyed our time away from our everyday lives and with each other.

Part of the fun of our stay was that the inn was supposed to have "other" guests...not of this world if you know what I mean. We all wanted to believe this was true but were a little skeptical. Until...we heard noises. None of us saw anything but we each were sure we heard "something."

The innkeeper scoffed at the idea of ghosts but said she had one guest who was never coming back. There have been guests who have taken photos and have discovered a pink orb somewhere in their pictures. My girls and I have affectionately named her "Pinky Orbison." We look forward to going back!

Make a Smilebox slideshow