I'm super excited this week. I am by nature a hoarder. Not to the extreme but I do like to keep things that can be re-used or re-purposed or recycled. This can be a good thing but when you're sharing a 950 sq. foot apartment with 3 other people, it can get to be a little much. But I am excited to give away things to people who can use them.
Danny and I went through our closet last night. Today my goal is to go through the pantry and give away some food items that have been hanging around that although I like to have it around, I don't really need it. We have a local food pantry that has helped us out when we needed it and I'd like to donate back to them.
I also want to go through a few of my boxes of books that I've got buried in my closet. And I want to go through some of our stored clothes. Ok, now I'm getting a little out of control. One thing at a time right? Ok, off I go. Tootles!
Showing posts with label organizing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label organizing. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Book worming it
So, I've been reading like mad lately. I've been burning through the Anne of Green Gable Series. I'm in love with it and have been since I was a girl. I wish that Joey had the attention span for reading it with me. :-( She kinda lost interest in the Little House Series once the story grew too old for her. Ahh well, How much should I really expect from a nearly 3 year old anyhow. We made it through 4 of them before she lost interest and that's quite a lot, and of course, I went on and finished reading the rest of them on my own just to satisfy my own need to finish things that I start. I am loving that I can get most public domain books for free on my Kindle! Almost all my books are books that I've been reading lately, I've gotten for free. There are so many wonderful books to chose from. And Danny's been making regular trips to the library with Joey and she's been loving having new stories in the house and she memorizes them so quickly. I'm really in awe of that little one.
I also think that I've narrowed down my specialty that I'm going to focus on for my Etsy.com page. I know I've been meaning to do it forever but I just haven't been able to figure out how to do it affordably. The cost per picture per month with all the inventory that I have was just too much to fathom when my profit margin was so low to begin with. But in my search for diaper bags with this pregnancy, I found that I could make a completely machine washable diaper bag that I would actually be proud to carry for 1/3 to 1/2 of what I could purchase one for. The only one that Danny and I could agree upon that I found available retail was $80 (yeah, totally out of the question). So, I made one out a some fabric that I'd been dying to use but hadn't found just the right thing for yet. It only cost me $20 for the materials and I can throw it in the washing machine AND the dryer. I have not found a diaper bag yet that boasts that and looks any kind of decent. So, now I think I've finally found my niche! Woo Hoo! Plus the cost difference between what I can make them for and what I can sell them for might actually mean that I can afford to market them properly. I am so excited to get cracking on them. I've got some fabric ideas working already and I do so love having ideas to mull over and perfect.
Now to just finish organizing the house so that my ideas can become reality. We really are close to being done. We've gotten our bedroom nearly in order and ready for the bassinet. We've gotten the girl's bedroom closet cleared out of most unnecessary stuff and we've been making regular trips to Savers to donate things that we'll not be keeping. We're down to just needing to go through books of ours and sorting toys (which has been started but seems to get undone every so often). I've even conceded to throwing away all my DVD cases. We'll be organizing them in binders and separating out the kids movies once we get some more binders.
We've gotten all or Joey's clothes in plastic drawers so that she can choose her own outfits in the mornings and she can get herself mostly dressed. She still needs a little monitoring to make sure that she doesn't just wear the same ballet tutu every day with last night's shirt and galoshes. But she's loving being able to do more on her own. And it's super helpful for laundry's sake because she can put her clothes away by herself too. I love that part. I just hand her a stack of shirts and tell her to put them in the appropriate drawer and they almost always wind up in the right place.
Well, I'm off to Michael's today for a new sketchbook. I am in such a need to one and here's hoping I find a coupon file folder that I can use as well. I need to be more organized but I'm getting better at the couponing. I was only able to save about $50 this past month with deals and coupons and card savings and all but that's $50 off an already minimized budget and I think I can do better next month. And the fact that I chose to make and reuse things that I can, saves me quite a bit to begin with and then on top of it I buy in bulk where I can. But I still think that I can do better.
I also think that I've narrowed down my specialty that I'm going to focus on for my Etsy.com page. I know I've been meaning to do it forever but I just haven't been able to figure out how to do it affordably. The cost per picture per month with all the inventory that I have was just too much to fathom when my profit margin was so low to begin with. But in my search for diaper bags with this pregnancy, I found that I could make a completely machine washable diaper bag that I would actually be proud to carry for 1/3 to 1/2 of what I could purchase one for. The only one that Danny and I could agree upon that I found available retail was $80 (yeah, totally out of the question). So, I made one out a some fabric that I'd been dying to use but hadn't found just the right thing for yet. It only cost me $20 for the materials and I can throw it in the washing machine AND the dryer. I have not found a diaper bag yet that boasts that and looks any kind of decent. So, now I think I've finally found my niche! Woo Hoo! Plus the cost difference between what I can make them for and what I can sell them for might actually mean that I can afford to market them properly. I am so excited to get cracking on them. I've got some fabric ideas working already and I do so love having ideas to mull over and perfect.
Now to just finish organizing the house so that my ideas can become reality. We really are close to being done. We've gotten our bedroom nearly in order and ready for the bassinet. We've gotten the girl's bedroom closet cleared out of most unnecessary stuff and we've been making regular trips to Savers to donate things that we'll not be keeping. We're down to just needing to go through books of ours and sorting toys (which has been started but seems to get undone every so often). I've even conceded to throwing away all my DVD cases. We'll be organizing them in binders and separating out the kids movies once we get some more binders.
We've gotten all or Joey's clothes in plastic drawers so that she can choose her own outfits in the mornings and she can get herself mostly dressed. She still needs a little monitoring to make sure that she doesn't just wear the same ballet tutu every day with last night's shirt and galoshes. But she's loving being able to do more on her own. And it's super helpful for laundry's sake because she can put her clothes away by herself too. I love that part. I just hand her a stack of shirts and tell her to put them in the appropriate drawer and they almost always wind up in the right place.
Well, I'm off to Michael's today for a new sketchbook. I am in such a need to one and here's hoping I find a coupon file folder that I can use as well. I need to be more organized but I'm getting better at the couponing. I was only able to save about $50 this past month with deals and coupons and card savings and all but that's $50 off an already minimized budget and I think I can do better next month. And the fact that I chose to make and reuse things that I can, saves me quite a bit to begin with and then on top of it I buy in bulk where I can. But I still think that I can do better.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Productive weekend
I must say being without advanced technology at home has been rather refreshing. We're getting so much done. We've gone through every box in the house. We've cleared out so much crap. We found lost loved items. We even found an old Raggedy Andy doll that used to belong to Danny's dad, that Joey has quickly fallen in love with and calls Andy Dandy.
I organized all of our old baby clothes from when Joey was a wee one. Now I just have to go through the new hand-me-downs that I've been too overwhelmed to get to yet. I'm super pumped. I found three nursing bras amongst all the baby clothes along with two pairs of maternity jeans and two pairs of maternity Capri's and one pair of maternity shorts and three of my favorite tops from the last go round. Oh man, what a score!! I was so stoked!! I think I actually squealed.
I got all of Joey's clothes organized in drawers at her height and she's very excited about being able to get herself dressed. She still needs a bit of help making sure shirts are on the right way front and that shoes are on the right feet but she's getting pretty good at it. Now if only I could get her to focus on learning what all the letters in the alphabet song look like. She seems totally content on just knowing the letters and never learning to recognize them. A little frustrating but we have time still.
Got to visit with my family on Father's Day and it was a blast. Joey and my sister Maggie spent 3 straight hours playing with the hose, two buckets and two dish soap bottles. They only took one short break for brownies and that was it. They had such a blast and it was awesome fun to watch. I was really glad that I had that SPF 60 for her though. She is just so fair skinned and never seems to pick up any color. Not even a freckle.
I've got an ultrasound next week. It seems our little Norah has decided that she has to be different from her sister. She was breech at our last appointment (and in our last ultrasound) and the OBGYN wants to double check on her position as we get closer. Fun Stuff. At least we were already planning on a repeat c-section. So it doesn't change our plans much. It just really helps ease our minds more than anything that our sense that this was the path that we were supposed to take. And that those urgings that Danny and I felt from God way back at the beginning of this pregnancy were accurate. Yay God!
Oh well, I'm off. The hubs will be picking me up from work soon and off we'll go.
I organized all of our old baby clothes from when Joey was a wee one. Now I just have to go through the new hand-me-downs that I've been too overwhelmed to get to yet. I'm super pumped. I found three nursing bras amongst all the baby clothes along with two pairs of maternity jeans and two pairs of maternity Capri's and one pair of maternity shorts and three of my favorite tops from the last go round. Oh man, what a score!! I was so stoked!! I think I actually squealed.
I got all of Joey's clothes organized in drawers at her height and she's very excited about being able to get herself dressed. She still needs a bit of help making sure shirts are on the right way front and that shoes are on the right feet but she's getting pretty good at it. Now if only I could get her to focus on learning what all the letters in the alphabet song look like. She seems totally content on just knowing the letters and never learning to recognize them. A little frustrating but we have time still.
Got to visit with my family on Father's Day and it was a blast. Joey and my sister Maggie spent 3 straight hours playing with the hose, two buckets and two dish soap bottles. They only took one short break for brownies and that was it. They had such a blast and it was awesome fun to watch. I was really glad that I had that SPF 60 for her though. She is just so fair skinned and never seems to pick up any color. Not even a freckle.
I've got an ultrasound next week. It seems our little Norah has decided that she has to be different from her sister. She was breech at our last appointment (and in our last ultrasound) and the OBGYN wants to double check on her position as we get closer. Fun Stuff. At least we were already planning on a repeat c-section. So it doesn't change our plans much. It just really helps ease our minds more than anything that our sense that this was the path that we were supposed to take. And that those urgings that Danny and I felt from God way back at the beginning of this pregnancy were accurate. Yay God!
Oh well, I'm off. The hubs will be picking me up from work soon and off we'll go.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Meal Planning and To Do list
So, I've been slacking on my meal planning, I really need to stay on top of this. I have been more diligent on creating checklists to keep myself on task though. I'm starting to get ideas for some frozen meals for when baby comes. So much to do.
I've been trying to figure out organizational things for the apartment. Today I ordered some drawer organizers. I figured that I'm just not going to find the time or tools to make them myself. I've also been peeking at car organizers at Target but I'm pretty sure that I could make one myself for way cheaper. It's essentially just a apron with a bunch of pockets in different sizes and elastic or velcro closures. I have all that I need already to make something like that. The only thing that I think I will surely need to purchase is the soft, leek-proof trash container for the car. I haven't figured out how to make one leek-proof myself yet. :-/
I finished up the sketching of my painting that I'm working on last night. I'm hoping to get started on the painting sometime this week but I don't know when I'll find the time. I think it might be better to get started on the car organizer today since I can clean up the fabric and stuff easier than I can the paint.
So, my to do list for the day: start a project (just one), do dishes, make a meal plan, do two loads of laundry, vacuum, a nap. Not a long list but my brother's also coming over later to hang out a bit so a short list is better I think.
Meal Plan:
Thursday
breakfast: cereal and bananas
lunch: leftovers
dinner: frozen pizza
Friday
breakfast: eggs & oranges
lunch: sam's club combo
dinner: chicken stir-fry
Saturday
breakfast: fruit pancakes
lunch: mac & cheese & peas
dinner: hotdogs & baked beans
Sunday
breakfast: eggs & yogurt w/ berries
lunch: cheese ravioli & baby carrots
dinner: grilled cheese & tomato soup
Monday
breakfast: leftover pancakes
lunch: leftovers
dinner: chicken tikka masala & rice noodles
Tuesday
breakfast: eggs & oranges
lunch: egg salad sandwiches/ pb&j & celery sticks
dinner: cheese tortellini & sauce
Wedensday
breakfast: cereal & bananas
lunch: leftovers
dinner: balsamic glazed chicken & potato salad
I've been trying to figure out organizational things for the apartment. Today I ordered some drawer organizers. I figured that I'm just not going to find the time or tools to make them myself. I've also been peeking at car organizers at Target but I'm pretty sure that I could make one myself for way cheaper. It's essentially just a apron with a bunch of pockets in different sizes and elastic or velcro closures. I have all that I need already to make something like that. The only thing that I think I will surely need to purchase is the soft, leek-proof trash container for the car. I haven't figured out how to make one leek-proof myself yet. :-/
I finished up the sketching of my painting that I'm working on last night. I'm hoping to get started on the painting sometime this week but I don't know when I'll find the time. I think it might be better to get started on the car organizer today since I can clean up the fabric and stuff easier than I can the paint.
So, my to do list for the day: start a project (just one), do dishes, make a meal plan, do two loads of laundry, vacuum, a nap. Not a long list but my brother's also coming over later to hang out a bit so a short list is better I think.
Meal Plan:
Thursday
breakfast: cereal and bananas
lunch: leftovers
dinner: frozen pizza
Friday
breakfast: eggs & oranges
lunch: sam's club combo
dinner: chicken stir-fry
Saturday
breakfast: fruit pancakes
lunch: mac & cheese & peas
dinner: hotdogs & baked beans
Sunday
breakfast: eggs & yogurt w/ berries
lunch: cheese ravioli & baby carrots
dinner: grilled cheese & tomato soup
Monday
breakfast: leftover pancakes
lunch: leftovers
dinner: chicken tikka masala & rice noodles
Tuesday
breakfast: eggs & oranges
lunch: egg salad sandwiches/ pb&j & celery sticks
dinner: cheese tortellini & sauce
Wedensday
breakfast: cereal & bananas
lunch: leftovers
dinner: balsamic glazed chicken & potato salad
Monday, January 31, 2011
Such a slacker
I've been feeling like such a slacker lately. I'm been so tired and just crazy wiped out lately. I'm usually all go-go-go. But not this go around. Oh well. Maybe my body is just storing up energy in preparation for being a mommy of two (I hear that can be exhausting as well). I've been a little stressed out too which I'm sure doesn't help. I can't seem to get myself to eat enough. I've been losing weight this past week. I'm trying to hold steady where I'm at. I'm not supposed to be gaining any weight but it is not healthy to be losing weight either. So, Danny made me brownies last night with a lovely peanut butter swirl and marshmallow chunks. So YUMMY!! My hubby takes such good care of me.
We've been getting a little snow logged and I hear that there's more on the way but I'm just plugging my ears and singing, "lalalalalala!" We've already lost our regular parking spot to the 3 foot snow banks of the first storm. Then we lost our back up parking spot to the 7 foot snow banks of the second set of storms. The 2nd back up spot that Danny found will be under parking ban tomorrow and Danny's beginning to wonder weather just letting it get buried and leaving it until spring is a viable option (not really but it's nice to dream). I've a little concerned because we've all got dentist appointments this week for the first time in 11 years for me, joey's first ever and Danny has some serious dental work to get done. We finally got through to a dentist that takes our insurance (woo hoo!) It's time to get cracking already. I just don't want to have to reschedule.
I started feeling teeny tiny baby kicks this week. I love that feeling. It's only right after I eat and only if I'm laying still that I can pick them out but that little one is in there for sure, and boy oh boy the somersaults going on. I so hope that I'm nearing the end of all the yucky feeling and I can start to get some of my baby prep list working. I've got so much to do to get ready. I can't wait to get started, I just wish that I felt well enough to get going already. I have baby blankets to make and bedrooms to redecorate. Danny and I are switching our larger room with Joey and little #2 so that we can fit the crib and Joey's new bed both in one room. We've also got a bunch of crap that needs to get thrown away. And I've decided to try and use up some of the fabrics pieces that I've got lying around to make a nice large rag rug for the kids room and to get them out of our closet. I'm trying to not over purge but at the same time we need way more space if another person is going to fit into our little 800ish square foot apartment with us. At least we've got the hard part (the plan) done and ready to move on as soon as I feel up to getting it going. I've planned out the few new purchases (all IKEA) that we need to make in order to make some order to our space. And I've been scouring craigslist to try and find the same or similar options for cheaper. I think I can, I think I can.
We've been getting a little snow logged and I hear that there's more on the way but I'm just plugging my ears and singing, "lalalalalala!" We've already lost our regular parking spot to the 3 foot snow banks of the first storm. Then we lost our back up parking spot to the 7 foot snow banks of the second set of storms. The 2nd back up spot that Danny found will be under parking ban tomorrow and Danny's beginning to wonder weather just letting it get buried and leaving it until spring is a viable option (not really but it's nice to dream). I've a little concerned because we've all got dentist appointments this week for the first time in 11 years for me, joey's first ever and Danny has some serious dental work to get done. We finally got through to a dentist that takes our insurance (woo hoo!) It's time to get cracking already. I just don't want to have to reschedule.
I started feeling teeny tiny baby kicks this week. I love that feeling. It's only right after I eat and only if I'm laying still that I can pick them out but that little one is in there for sure, and boy oh boy the somersaults going on. I so hope that I'm nearing the end of all the yucky feeling and I can start to get some of my baby prep list working. I've got so much to do to get ready. I can't wait to get started, I just wish that I felt well enough to get going already. I have baby blankets to make and bedrooms to redecorate. Danny and I are switching our larger room with Joey and little #2 so that we can fit the crib and Joey's new bed both in one room. We've also got a bunch of crap that needs to get thrown away. And I've decided to try and use up some of the fabrics pieces that I've got lying around to make a nice large rag rug for the kids room and to get them out of our closet. I'm trying to not over purge but at the same time we need way more space if another person is going to fit into our little 800ish square foot apartment with us. At least we've got the hard part (the plan) done and ready to move on as soon as I feel up to getting it going. I've planned out the few new purchases (all IKEA) that we need to make in order to make some order to our space. And I've been scouring craigslist to try and find the same or similar options for cheaper. I think I can, I think I can.
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