52 Weeks…..Starting again…

 

I could go into great detail, but let’s just keep it to:

1.  Trip to San Francisco for Giants game.

2.  DH gets sick and after a week is admitted to the hospital with pneumonia.

3.  The day he is admitted I am diagnosed with Lupus.

4.  Middle daughter, Emily, is driving cross country from Reno, Nevada to her new job in Charleston, SC.  So I have to worry about tornadoes and strangers.

Here are a few highlights, but the main point is I have not organized a thing.  Just taking care of DH has been a full-time job.  However, I did take 2 hours away from the hospital (when DH had a friend visiting) to watch Bridesmaid’s after Iris’ hilarious review.  My older daughters were seeing it that day and I just spur of the moment thought I have got to get out of here.  I told DH I was going home to rest after all I do have lupus….., but veered into the local theatre on the way home and the movie was just starting.  Just what I needed!

Me so happy to have not just one, but 2 Websters, the gold one with an extension to reach the highest points of my house so I don’t have to wait for DH to come and get cobwebs down (I am talking outside).  We have a terrible spider web problem here in Northern California and you house can be as messy as you want, but for some reason I HATE seeing cobwebs around a front door!  I confess I am very judgmental when it comes to that.  But hey if it looks like a storm went through your house, I have no problem with that.  At this point I had no idea what the next 2 weeks would hold for me….. I was just blissfully envisioning a cobweb free zone…..

Are we having fun yet?

Well these two obviously are.  MD asked an Arizona player as they were on the field warming up if she could “have his balls”, which apparently cracked up everyone around her.  First he gave one to a little boy and then to her…of course….she is a fake blond by the way, but was a sweet little blond 2 year old who caused people to ask who her father was….DH did not find that amusing…how did I get off on that.  She is 30 now and is acting like a 14-year-old!  I have to admit my girls are a lot of fun.  Just watching all the men look at them and make remarks as we walked a distance behind them into the pregame sports bar for dinner was pretty entertaining. 

This was parked outside our hotel.  I think it was a BMW, but I just had to take a picture and share. 

The view of the city after the golden gate is beautiful:

Oh wait, that’s Sausalito….

Aah there it is…San Francisco.

So life has been rough as evidenced by:

My former lovely dining room table that was even featured one of Laura’s 52 weeks posts (www.orgjunkie.com) :

Ooh that Mother’s Day orchid does look pretty though doesn’t it!  I have missed keeping up on everyone’s progress and hope to get back to my habit of reading every single entry of this challenge.  It really does help keep me motivated.

And for all you Southerner’s ahem (coughirsiscough) this is what a real taco shell is:

Taken at a Walmart somewhere south of us since our county will not allow one.  Here are a few closeups in case anyone is confused:

and our favorite:

Also I have discovered at Costco a delightful new adult beverages for those of you with children out of school or soon to be.  It can be disguised as lemonade.  Just make sure you have real lemonade when the kids want some. 

You can even pretend to me one of those totally together fabulous Italian women like DH’s TV girlfriend Giada:

2 parts Lemoncello

1 part San Pellegrino

Squeeze of lemon

Perfection!  If you are feeling really elegant, slice a lemon and put on the side of your glass!

Happy Organizing.  Hope to see you next week with someting accomplished!

52 weeks—-I did something!!

I figured after semi-sort of organizing the past couple of weeks I needed a real problem area to fix.  One cupboard I open every day is my coffee cupboard which also holds my most used leftover containers and the containers I use or DH’s breakfast and lunches that I pack for him every day (excet this morning when I dragged myself out of bed only to realize he had left already, I’m telling you that new drug regimen is helping me sleep really well!).

Anyhoo during my time of figuring out what I was going to do I used my last paper towel and was left with this:

 I wondered if I should start saving them for Iris….http://www.thebeardediris.com/2011/05/03/pootorial/. I mean does she have enough for all three of her kids to have fun?  Besides I love being the person that my neighbor knows I will have whatever she needs like foil, cooking oil, sugar, ketchup and yesterday zit medication!  Yes I found some Oxy spot treatment in my cabinet as little Paisley used Ally’s potty.  Then I gave her some whipped cream:

Okay enough chit chat onto the cupboard:

Not sure why some of my pictures are blurry, sorry…anyway here is what was in the cabinet:

We also had 2 big bag of Costco sized Starbucks French Roast beans.  I am not one of those “I hate starbucks coffee” people…..obviously we  love it:

Well I cleaned out the garage cupboard that held the large bags of coffee, put the cereal up with the other 8 boxes, the pasta with the other pasta and ended up with:

Wow look at that….empty space!!

The garage cabinet went from:

 to this:

Omgosh more empty space!!   See the coffee on the second shelf?  I am only keeping one at a time in the kitchen.  As I was moving all my food around I started to understand why those extreme hoarders, er I mean couponers keep rearranging their food stash.  I felt like I needed to rearrange mine to get all my beans and marinara sauces together:

But I have way too much stuff going on in the next week to deal with that now.  I had a flat of impatients to plant.  My DH’s brother and SIL are arriving Saturday.  We are having brunch here on Sunday.  Monday I have a quilting class AND an appointment with an attorney for a consult on my comp claim.  Then Tuesday we are driving to San Franciso to meet our older daughters for a Giant’s Game.  Before Tuesday I need to finish the quilt tops I bought as kits for them.  I finished one yesterday and will work on the other again tonight during sit on our butts and watch TV time.  Here are the fabrics:

And then just for fun, what do you think is beneath the pillows of our quickly made bed?

It’s this:

Yes he actually did not move as I made the bed around him.  What a lazy ass dog.  The only time he gets to sleep in our bed is when DH is gone, as he was that night/morning since he had play-off tickets for the San Jose Sharks.   He is so smart, that night he jumped out of his usual bed and jumped right up on our bed.  He knew somehow that daddy was gone and he got to sleep with me that night.  Obviously the next morning, he wanted to enjoy the bliss as long as he could!

I know I said I would print my freezer inventory, but I will save that probably for next week, when I will have even less time than I did this week to accompish something.  So my typing it into a list will look like I accomplished something next week!

This week’s questions:

1. Do you sometimes use limited funds as an excuse not to get organized?  Not really, I’m pretty cheap so I always look for bargains…like my 41 baskets from Kohl’s I got for 80% off!
2. What’s on your list to organize this week?  I have a busy week with a quilting class on Monday, driving to San Francisco for a Giants game on Tuesday, driving home Wednesday….so it will have to be something quick and easy!  Like this week!
3. What one task do you notice yourself continually putting off?  Why do you think that is?  Organizing my pictures because I have 32 years worth unorganized and it is a daunting task!

Keep on keeping on everyone who”s participating in Laura’s 52 weeks challenge over at www.orgjunkie.com

52 weeks… still going strong….kind of….

Two weeks ago it was an MRI, last week it was a colonoscopy…this week a pneumovax shot that has rendered my left arm pretty useless.  I had my annual exam Monday along with a pneumovax shot.  Because I have asthma, my doctor, Dr. Beth thought I should go ahead and have it, especially before my good insurance runs out at the end of September (COBRA). 

My older bossy fun sister challenged me to a month of buying nothing but perishables from the grocery/drug stores.  I have to admit that once I realized I was not going back to work I began using coupons and hoarding er stocking up on stuff.  So I inventoried both my pantry and freezers (large stand alone and two refrigerator freezers)  to get started.  I made an excel spreadsheet myself after spending way too much time surfing the net trying to find one.  My inventory consists of unopened jars/boxes/etc.  It does not include what is already opened or spices, etc. 

So here it is:

Baking Items
Chocolate Chips	Mini chips	1 1 1 1 1 1
	Butterscotch	1 1
	White Chocolate	1 1
	Regular semi-sweet  12 oz	1 1 1 1 1 1 + 1 gallon
Hersheys	Kisses-dark chocolate	1 1
	M&M’s peanut butter 11.4 oz	1
White sugar	5 lbs	1 1
Brown Sugar	pounds	1 1 1 1 1
Powdered sugar	pounds	1 1 1 1
Canned pumpkin	15 oz	1 1 1 1
Splenda	lots!
White flour	5 pound packages	1 1 1
Gourmet cocoa powder	1.54 cannister
Crisco sticks	1 cup	1 1 1 1 1
Jello	assorted flavors	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	chocolate pudding	1 1 1 1
	vanilla pudding	1 1 1
Beans	Navy beans 1 pound	1
	Pinto beans (dried )	25 pounds
	Bush’s grillin beans	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Pinto beans (canned)	1 1 1 1 1
	Black beans (canned)	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Garbonza beans (canned)	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	S&W Carribean	1 1 1 1
	Hormel Chili	1 1 1
Beverages	Crystal Light	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Lipton Tea bags	1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	TJ’s straight Cranberry Juice 32 oz	1 1 1 1 1
	Apple juice 64 oz	1
	Light Cran-Rasperry 64 oz	1
	Blueberry Pomegranite 64 oz	1
	Cranberry-grape 64 oz	1
	Shasta Lemon-Lime 1 liter	1
	Diet Pepsi -12 packs	1 1 1 1 1
	Pellegrino	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Pomegranite-Blueberry 64 oz	1
Cereal	Assorted cold cereals	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Oatmeal	1 1 1
Dessert	Choco covered almonds	3 lbs
	Brownie Mix	1 1 1 1
	Cake Mix	1 1 1
	Jello	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	ice cream 1.5 qts	1 1 1
	Chocolate syrup
	Whipped cream
Canned fish	Salmon	1 1 1 1 1
	Tuna	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Fancy albacore	1 1
Coffee	Starbucks instant 24 pack	1 1
	singles	1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Starbucks French Roast Beans 2.5 lbs	1 1
Condiments	Spicy Chipolte Relish TJ’s	1
	Best Foods Mayo qt jars	1 1 1
	Heinz ketchup 40 oz	1 1
	Heinz Relish 26 oz	1
	Kikoman soy sauce 10 oz	1
	Tobasco 2 fl oz	1 1
	El Pato 4 oz	1
	Barbecue sauce	1 1 1
	Weber Black peppercorn marinade	1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Brown Gravy mix pack	1 1 1 1 1
	Lawry’s Mesquite marinade bottle	1 1
	Lawry’s meat marinade package	1
	McCormick Chili packet	1 1
	Mongolian Beef Stir-Fry packet	1
Cooking Oil	Canola Oil (Wesson)	1 1 1 1
	Olive Oil (2 liters)	1 1
	Flippo (16.9 Oz)	1 1
Canned Fruit	Peaches	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Pineapple	1
Jelly, Etc	1/2 pints of apple butter	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	1/2 pints of strawberry jelly	1 1 1
	quarts of applesauce	1 1 1 1 1 1
	Hot sauce	1 1 1 1 1 1
Pasta
	Spaghetti	1 1 1 1 1 1
	Lasagna	1 1 1
	Medium Shells	1
	Gnocchi	1 1 1
	Mini Piccolini	1 1 1
	Fun shapes	1
	Linguini	1 1
	Garden Rotini	1
Pasta Sauce
	Marinara	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Butternut	1 1 1
	Alfredo	1 1
Peanut Butter
	Skippy	1 1 1
	Smuckers	1 1
Salad	Dressing	1 1 1 1 1
	Nut toppings	1 1
	Croutons, etc	1 1 1 1
Salsa	La Victoria 12 oz	11
	Pace	1
	Herdez	1
	hot sauce	1 1 1 1 1 1
	Enchilada sauce 28 oz	1 1 1 1 1
Soups	Cream of Chicken	1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Cream of Mushroom	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Chicken Broth (1 qt)	1 1 1 1
	Beef Broth (1 qt)	1
	Progresso assorted	1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Side Dishes	Stove Top Stuffing	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Instant Potatoes	1 1 1
	Rice a Roni	1
	Grits	1 box
Tomato products	Bruschetta TJ’s	1
	Sundried Tomatoes TJ’s	1
	Italian Style 14.5 oz	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Mexican Style	1 1 1 1 1
	Fire Roasted	1 1 1 1 1 1
	Stewed	1 1
	Tomato sauce 6 lb, 2 oz	1 1
	Tomato sauce 8 oz cans	1 1 1
	Tomato paste 12 oz	1 1 1 1
	Plum Tomatoes TJ’s 28 oz	1
	Rotele 10 oz cans	1 1 1 1
Vegetables	Beets	1 1
	French cut green beans	1 1
	French friend onions 6 oz	1
	Olives	1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
	Chopped green chilis 4 oz	1 1 1
	Chipolte peppers 7 oz	1

I think I listed hot sauce twice…oh well you get the picture.  There are only 2 of us in the home…me and DH!  I do need a few items, some ww flour, some brown rice and quinoa which we are low on all of those.  I also have some coupons I want to use before they expire tomorrow.  So I am going to go shopping today to get a few more items.    Next week I will post my freezer inventory. 

Also in an earlier post I talked about DH’s man cave bookcase and how I needed to get it organized.  Well using 2 of the bins it went from this:

to this:

The bottom two rows hold bins with my granddaughter’s books in them.  We also had a busy week that took our backyard from this:

 to this:

 with a small misshap outside the back door where a small landing was poured:

which was done by:

I was switching some laundry from washer to dryer when out he goes through his doggy door in the garage to the outside onto the new landing.  Poor thing had been going nuts looking and barking at all the strange men at our house this week.

I also managed to finish this:

So I stayed pretty busy even with my arm pretty painful.   Now let’s go through our fearless leader’s  (www.orgjunkie.com) questions of the week:

1. Do you rotate your seasonal clothing?  If so, have you done it yet?  Sort of.  We live in a very temperate climate so I don’t actually pull out really summery clothes unless I am going on a trip somwhere hot….like South Carolina….or the Sacramento valley… or the weather calls for it.  I have a rubbermaid container in the garage with shorts, capris and sleeveless tops in it.  I should probably dig it out, but I am afraid I will look like a fat cow in everything!
2. Are you celebrating your accomplishments as you go?  It’s so important no matter how big or small the task is you complete!  Every day at home is a celebration, seriously, after working outside the home for over 30 years, I am just so happy to be a homemaker.
3. What’s on your list for this next week?  My list…well I did write down two things while reading everyone’s posts from last week.  One is washing my teapots that are above my cupboards in the kitchen, the other I cannot remember, but will when I find where I wrote it down….

I also plan to get another quilt done, between today and tomorrow hopefully.  DH left this morning after stopping at our business, to go to another Sharks game tonight.  So I will be alone today and tomorrow and hope to get a lot accomplished on the quilt for my middle daughter, who is moving to South Carolina about the middle of May.  She requested it after I posted the picture above on facebook.  I ignored her, so I am hoping it is a surprise.

So happy week everyone, both organizing and just living!  And prayers for all the people who are suffering from the tornados!

52 Weeks and I am channeling Laura

 

I can’t believe it.  I am on topic again!!  I think Laura from www.orgjunkie.com has some sort of mental telepathy going with me….  Well I had the “welcome to middle age exam” (otherwise known as a colonoscopy) this week.  So Tuesday prep day (otherwise known as I will never eat orange jello again day) and Wednesday were out for organizing projects.  I knew I needed to do an easy project quick!

Well you know where you have your eating utensils, probably in some rubbermaid type organizing thing?  If yours is as old as mine it is even in avocado green!   Have you ever noticed how little bits of stuff fall into the nooks and crannies until you are totally grossed out and wonder how in the world are you eating with those forks and spoons?? 

Well I finally used the PROCESS and got them all cleaned out.  I dumped everything on the drainboards:

Then I threw the organizing containers in the dishwasher.   Luckily it was full and needed to be ran:

Then I rearranged everything back into the drawer:

I ended up getting rid of this stuff….well not getting rid of it, but putting it in a plastic shoebox and sticking it out in the garage:

I have another drawer where our cooking utensils are next to the stove and a container next to the stove where the most used things stand up.  I did not take a picture of those, but they are looking pretty good.

I spent most of my time this week working on a quilt for a great-niece and great-nephew.  I will post pictures when they are done. 

I also decluttered a lot of weeds from my yard…does that count??

Check out everyone’s posts to get inspiration for your own projects to whip your life into shape!  It’s really working!!

Also since all I talk about is my granddaughter, I thought I would post a picture of my oldest daughter and my husband (they are the two in the middle) at a recent San Jose Sharks game.  We live about 7 hours north of San Jose.  My daughter lives in Reno.  They had a great time even though the Sharks lost….badly…..

She is single if anyone has any single 30 something year old available good man in mind for her!  She is an ultrasound tech in Reno, Nevada, but is probably moving to the South where my youngest lives and my middle daughter is moving in less than a month!  Please submit resumes and pictures to me!   HAHA!

What do you think it means that all 3 of my daughters are moving about as far away from Northern California as you can get and still be in the continental US???

Ooops forgot the questions!:

1. Have you got a drawer that needs a little organizing?  Will you tackle it this week or something else?  I have lots more drawers that could use some help!
2.  Was last week an organizing success for you?  Yes, a small success.
3.  Has the habit of just doing one thing at a time helping to keep you from feeling overwhelmed?  Totally!  I can’t believe I am sticking this out.  I am terrible at follow-through generally, but vowed this year would be different.  So far it is working and I am very happy!

52 Weeks…not a good one.

 

Okay it’s official, I get nothing done when I have an appointment.  I know it is mental.  The appointment only takes a few hours out of a day, but I can’t seem to start anything or accomplish anything on those days.  Unfortunately this week I had an MRI one day, started a new pain group on another day and had both a recheck with my rheumatologist and an appointment with my physical therapist who made my shoe inserts!  So okay I admit it I didn’t get anything new done this week.  I had a feeling this would happen so I decided to share some more cheap Kohl’s bin pictures and what I am doing with them.  If you don’t know about my great buy on bins you can review here:  https://allysgrandma.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/holy-canvas-bins-batman/

So without further ado, adu???

I think my camera is on the wrong settings, but this is our closet that had sweaters and sweatshirts falling out of these shelves.  I put the bins in to make it look nicer and I think it does (I guess I should take the price tags off).  I don’t have a before picture but you can imagine I’m sure.  Our closet has no door.  We took it off and DH built this closet himself.  I was very proud.  No one really comes in our bedroom other than family and I don’t care that the clothes are not covered, actually since it is on the north side of the house, it prevents dampness and mildew by having no door on it.  For some odd reason we have the smallest closet in the house.  Well the 4th bedroom also is this small, but the other two bedrooms have normal big closets. 

I used one large bin to put DH’s hunting clothes, hat and gloves in.  It fits on the top shelf of the closet.  

I can’t believe my post fits right in with Laura’s questions this week.

1.  Will you be tackling a closet this week?  If so, don’t forget to follow the PROCESS to make it quick and simple.
2.  Did you run into any road blocks last week?  See first paragrah.
3.  Since starting this challenge can you name one habit you’ve been able to develop that has stuck?  Keeping my drainboards cleared off for the most part! 

 Pop on over to Laura’s fabulous blog at http://orgjunkie.com/2011/04/52-weeks-15-organizing-closets.html for lots of inspiration!

 So that ends this week’s organizing feature!  I am hoping to do better next week!

52 WEEKS OF ORGANIZING

I’m diving right in, after my giddy 12 days on prednisone and a few additional pain-free days, my fibro pain is returning.  I knew it was going to at some point, so I had started evaluating Laura’s questions (  http://orgjunkie.com/2011/04/52-weeks-14-does-your-system-need-a-change.html )    about my day to day organizing and cleaning tasks.  And yes I love April Fools Jokes!

1. Have you got a system that needs some evaluation?  My entire system!
2. Pay attention to the areas that annoy you the most.  What can you tweak to make it work?  Who might you need to compromise with?  It’s just me and DH so if it is to be, its up to me.  DH works very hard at our business so I try to do as much as I can at home to make things easier on him. 
3. What was your organizing highlight from last week?  Okay this may sound really dumb, but I moved the place where I keep my coffeepot.  Now that I have gotten addicted to absolutely clean countertops I cannot stand the coffeepot left out.  Each morning after we are done with coffee I rinse out the pot, dump the grounds and put it in a cabinet.  The cabinet underneath our built-in oven.  Well it hurts each time I bend over to get it out and put it away so I realized I needed to move it to where it is easier for me to get it and put it away.  The only spot was in the middle of our cereal cabinet.  So that’s what I did.

It’s former spot:

Why yes that is a rubber salamander lying on it’s back.  It is one of thos things you throw in the freezer and then in your lunchpail to keep your food cold.   The coffee maker’s new spot:

Yeah okay, obviously I need to reorganize the cabinet….but hey at least I can shove the coffee maker up there!

This does not seem very exciting, but really it is.  We do get stuck in doing or putting things in places that are not the best and we just need to free out minds (and the rest will follow) (hey maybe I should write a song!)!  I may be moving a lot of stuff around as I really evaluate what is going to be easier for me in the long run.  Unfortunately I cannot be on prednisone the rest of my life OR I WOULD BE!!  I want to make things as easy on myself as possible so I can actually succeed in the homekeeping department.

Other highlights from this week:  Katie and Ally flew to San Diego to meet DSIL who arrived from Afghanistan on Tuesday very early a.m.  After they left, it was easy to pick up and get the guest room cleaned up using some of my new baskets, see previous post here:  https://allysgrandma.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/holy-canvas-bins-batman/

Here is how Ally’s bed looks now with her new quilt (no room in the luggage to take it home):

It’s like a mini sofa for her stuffed animals and baby dolls!  The Ikea chest of drawers has a very deep drawer where I put these:

This brought up another issue that was not working, which was stuffing all my underwear, socks and bras, slips and stockings into the first two drawers in my chest of drawers in my bedroom.  So I decided to put some of my less worn items into this almost empty Ikea chest of drawers in the guest room.  Now my other drawers are easier to shut and get stuff in and out of.  Another “think outside the box” moment for me. 

While shopping at Kohl’s I also found this cute little heart shaped candy bowl that fits right into the decor in my quilting room.

How cute is that?  $1.64 I paid for that little bowl.  Oh plus 20% off…..

DH mentioned at lunch (we usually go out on Fridays since I cannot make lunches without meat and it’s Lent) that he was thinking of running over to check on another one of our car washes (3.5 hours away).  It was all I could do not to jump up and down and say “goody, goody, goody!”.  I calmly asked what was holding him back??  Good wife that I was, I encouraged him to go, I would stay busy all weekend sewing…I tried not to act too giddy as I pointed out all the good reasons to go…..

Well he left and so this weekend I am working on two boy quilts, one for my great nephew who is turning 5 and one for an expected June baby.  Boy quilts are not that fun…sorry but they just aren’t, so I want to get them both done this weekend, so I can go back to doing fun girley things like this knitted dress for my granddaughter:

 

The first is for the soon to be 5-year old, the back is the dark brown (not black as it appears in this picture) minky with the main fabric the under the sea, with the coordinating fabrics:

The other fabric was picked out by the mom, dad is a game warden so the bear fabric fits that theme, with the back the lighter tan minky:

Katie and Ally will be back for another visit in 10 weeks!  Katie has a wedding to shoot and Ally has lots of things to do with grandma!!  DH and I made a list of  things we need to do around the house this summer and one thing I would like to get done before they get here is a new patio poured.    I also have a bunch of sewing to get done and more organizing of course!  I am so glad that I bought all the canvas bins, they are going to be used up quickly!!

I cannot close this week out without stating the reason I am doing all this organizing and cleaning.  I want our home to be a relaxing peaceful sanctuary for both ourselves and our children and their families.  And really, how relaxing and peaceful can you feel in the middle of a mess?    

     They are finally together again after 8 months apart.

  Ally is so happy daddy is back.

I love how Ally is smiling and then watching mommy and daddy kiss!  Thank God my SIL is home safe and sound. 

Holy Canvas Bins Batman!

After 10 wonderful days of this:

and this:

this:

and this:

and after going through this at the airport:

I really needed to indulge in some retail therapy.   I really never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever live so far from grandchildren.  I know I am luckier than a lot of women in that I have gotten to see her about every 3-4 months since she was born.  I had $30.00 Kohl’s bucks and a $10 off any $20.00 purchase, so basically $40.00 to spend.  I had given it to my daughter to buy some new shoes, but she did not find any she liked, so she remembered in the airport to give them back to me.  

So with heavy heart I drive the 15 miles to town to bury my wounded heart at the retail altar…. I walked into Kohls and immediately spotted 80% off canvas bins.  I immediately started feeling better.  I picked up a few, went onward to the clearance racks of clothes, both for Ally and myself.  Found good stuff, onward to the checkout.   I found some long sleeve shirts to put away for the fall and some Christmastime shirts for Ally for $1.20!

I thought 26 canvas bins was plenty and out I went after saving $666.70 and paying $152.64 for the bins and 16 items of clothing.  Pretty good shopping!

As I wheeled out to my Camry, I started thinking….did I get enough…what if I needed more and have to look back at this great price…what if I regret not getting more, after all my entire home needs to be organized…..I’m going back in…..

I went back to the display that obviously other people had noticed by then as there were an assortment of about 15 baskets left.  I took a few more and put them on the checkout area, waiting for the person in front of me to be finished with their transaction, I kept eyeing the display….mmmmmm…..Nope couldn’t stand it, I went over and cleaned out the rack.  Do you think I have a problem???

I have already started this project since today is Monday, Master Bedroom/Bath Day:

I have also  used a bin to get all the sippee cups out of my cupboards and into the garage shelves until Ally is back for another visit.   I figure I will keep more than a few empty for those times I need to clean quickly and can scoop a bunch into a bin and hide it!  I know I have committed an organizing sin in buying before knowing what I am doing with them, but if you could see my house and how disorganized it is, you would forgive me….hehe.