Monday, January 23, 2012

Laundry Area

As some of you may remember my word for the year is ORGANIZE.  My goal was to set the timer and work for an hour in a certain area of my house.  Let me tell you, it is amazing what you can get done in an hour.

A.MAY.ZING.

One of the areas I thought I would share with you today is my laundry area.  I do not have a laundry room.  Our washer and dryer are in the basement, just up against the wall.  Under arrest as I like to say.  Have you noticed that a lot of people have their furniture under arrest?  As in, "up against the wall and spread 'em".  

Anyhoo, my laundry area is right at the bottom of the basement steps.  It's just a washer, dryer with the wash basin and a shelf above it all.  The unorganized area was the shelf.  It holds my detergent and miscellany laundry needs, but over time has just become a catch-all.  

Without further ado, here is a before:


I'm embarrassed to say that most of it was empty stuff that just needed to be tossed in the recycle bucket.  I tossed what was empty, took the shelf down, washed it off and put it back in place with everything nice and orderly.  

After:



my favorite detergent:


I do enjoy some oxygen bleach:


I got this jar a few years ago for my oxygen bleach.  I believe I got it at the Container Store, but I could be wrong.  (It happens every once in a while).  

I love the Mrs. Meyers and Method product lines.  Mrs. Meyers has a wonderful oxygen bleach, but I don't know if they make it anymore.  I haven't been able to find it in a while.  *sob*
Recently I just picked up some Oxy Clean, but it doesn't smell as good as Mrs. Meyers.  

I keep a little scoop in it


and it works very well for me.  

I also have a little dish for the coins and buttons that you inevitably find whilst doing laundry



And there you have it.  An hour of my day not gone to waste.  

Happy Organizing!




Friday, January 6, 2012

Ice Ice Baby

My in-laws live in a town where they have festivals, and art shows, and all kinds of wonderful things.  Why we don't live there I still haven't quite figured out.
Every year, on New Year's Eve, they have a 'festival' called "First Night".  Although, since it's New Year's Eve shouldn't it be called "Last Night"?  When we move to that town I will bring it up with the board.  But, in the meantime, First Night has ice sculptures.  All over the place.  Companies sponsor an ice sculpture and put it in front of their office and there is also a little park where ice sculptures are out to be perused.  It's like a little art show for ice.  Very lovely.  There is also someone selling hot chocolate and hot apple cider and kettle corn...  it's quite quaint.  (say that 3 times fast)

Can you guess which company sponsored this sculpture:
 Yep, the plumber.

Oh, and in the past, there is usually snow on the ground and people are wearing their snow boots and are all bundled up.  This year?  Not so much.  Global warming?  All the ice sculptures were on green grass and causing quite a muddy mess...

This guy was not quite finished his masterpiece

A T-Rex


This guy was busy working on something as well.

 Looks like it's going to be a pair of eskimos in front of an igloo.

Sculpting is amazing.  Any form.  Whether your medium is ice or clay or marble.  It is just amazing to me how someone can see nothing and another person something incredible.  



Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Deja Vu all over again

I know I have written this post before, it seems so familiar to me.  We've all played this game.  It's (drum roll please...) WHAT'S YOUR WORD?

I haven't posted in so long, it may well have been the last post you read...

I don't do resolutions.  Instead of resolutions I do a word for the year.  I have been doing this for the past few years and I really enjoy it.  I try to think of that word everyday and meditate with it and bring it into my prayers.

This year I am mixing things up a little bit.  My word is a resolution as well.  Say whaaaa??  Gotta pay attention on this here blog.  Didn't I just say that I don't do resolutions?  Well, this year, my word is my resolution.  So there.  Nanny nanny poo poo.

My word is my bond.  What's that from and why did it just pop into my head?

Without further ado, my word for 2012 is

ORGANISE
or,
ORGANIZE

depending on where you live.  The meaning is the same though...get yer shizz in order!

So, I am going to dedicate an hour a day (is that too much?  too little?) to organization.  I need to organize my time, so it may just mean I get an hour to myself some days.  I can sit around and scratch my armpits.  I also need to organize my bedroom and the toy closet, so I see a lot of laundry folding and board game stacking in my future.  Who knows, I may even post a few before and after shots.  I know you all are dying to see a photo of my armpit post scratch.

Huh?  What?

But, whatever the organizational challenge I will accomplish (a previous year's word) it and, in the long run, be able to spend quality time with my family (last year's word).

Here's to you!  Let's organize the shizz out of 2012.