Pictures!

This picture is from the side. On the right is the paper/cardboard bins (notice the overflowing pizza boxes?)!! These bins are 2 parts from a rolling cart-thing that I have. The wheel base piece is being used for something else right now. The shelf thing with tubs is on the left.

The picture at the top is from our door going to the garage. See the nice handles to pull the "drawer" out?

I think that I need to practice using the picture thing but hopefully it gives you an idea. I need to paint the wall behind this area....but that is WAY down on the to-do list!!

Recycling Clean-up

I've tried many different things to keep the recycling area under control. When we lived in Mason City we got spoiled with the curbside pick-up. All we had to do was throw everything in the blue tub and put all the paper stuff in a brown paper bag. They took care of sorting it from there. Since we have moved to the southern part of the state we now have to take our stuff the the recycling drop off sites. (it's a good thing that I truly like to recycle!). So began my quest for a good sorting system that is compact and easy to use.
The first thing I tried was some trash cans with lids. That was O.K. until it got too full and the lid was then permanently open. Also, when I put the trash can in the van to transport to the center the cans just never fit right in the trunk space and would shift or spill out (because they were tall and had a narrow base)! It also took up too much floor space because the were not stackable.
Next was those tubs designed to stack on each other with the door flap on the angled front area of the container. They are a great idea because you can stack however many you need and not eat up lots of floor space. The draw back is that you have to unstack everything to take out the container that is full. And when I went to load in the van they just didn't fit right....just a pain!
Yesterday I had an idea for how to work the system to fit my needs and style. I found a square shaped shelf system at WalMart that has 4 tube legs that fit between each layers (3 layers in all). Then I found some tubs (they came with lids) the fit nicely in each space that have a grab handles on the sides. This "center" sits very nicely in the spot right by the garage door and the handle on the tubs makes it easy to pull the tub out (like a drawer). I've got cans, glass, and plastic in the 3 spots right now. Started sorting out the bags of stuff and already took 2 bins worth of recycle to the center. The tubs fit nicely in the van without being tippy.
Now I have to get busy and get the rest of the pile sorted out and off to recycle. I will probably add another shelf set to accomodate the newspaper and the cardboard but for now I have those in something else that is working for the moment. However, it would be nice to have it all in one tower area it doesn't eat up valuable floor area!

Olympic thought

Sock drawer DONE!! Pajama drawer DONE!!! Lydia went right to sorting her drawer too and came out with a bag full of socks, etc that she doesn't wear any more. I'm enjoying getting this done...its very satisfying!

Different subject: I've been enjoying watching the Olympics and the amazing work and talent there is out there. They had showed a clip of the medals ceremony for the Bode guy (the skiier) who had won the gold medal for the event. I was sad to see that while our national athem was playing that he didn't mouth the words to our anthem nor did he put a hand over his heart. Why did this bother me so? Do other athletes from our country act the same way when they win a competition? Hmmm, I got to think about that and watch to see how others are when they win.

Owner's manuals/receipts

The other thing that I did while cleaning out my "box of doom" was to take the manuals & receipts from recent appliance purchases and tuck them in those clear plastic page protectors and then store them in a 3-ring binder. Thought that was a nifty idea! I'm thinking that my sock drawer may be the next area of attack! Going to Target this afternoon to see about getting some more of those spring-loaded drawer dividers for that drawer!

More Baby-step cleaning!

The baby step cleaning is continuing!! I did my "junk drawer" in my dresser. Found an expanding wood organizer at WalMart in the kitchen drawer storage area. It felt really good to get it cleaned out, trash thrown out, and stuff that I "inherited" that I never wear/use sent off to Goodwill. Then I sorted the rest and put them in the cubbies. I have been catching myself just opening the drawer to admire the organization!

I have now moved on to my bill/paper box. THIS IS A LARGE TASK!!! I had been pretty lazy all year (and last year too) and threw everything into a box to sort "someday". Well, it is tax season and I needed to find some receipts for my accountant guy. That meant that I needed to sort through the box of doom! I spread it out on the floor and made pile of the various catagories. Gathered up all the old credit card offers and checks from the credit card companies so I can shread those. Then I put the other piles in individual file folders and put them back in the box. I will need to go through those more thoroughly later but for now it is MUCH better! From this point forward I will have a CURRENT year file folder (one of those expanding ones with dividers). It will be on the table at bill paying time. I also have a 5X8 size 3-ring binder with pocket files for each month that I sort my bills into (done that for years and works very well for me). That binder also houses my labels, stamps and few envelopes. The idea is just to set both items out when I pay bills and just sort everything RIGHT AWAY!

Probably need to work on the kid's paper/keeper storage next. I have a crate FULL of stuff as well as some plastic drawer things and some shoe boxes for each of them!! Need to get everything into ONE storage container and then have a CURRENT year storage box. Someday they will enjoy looking back at those items. I know that I enjoyed the few items that mom stored for me! I certainly don't keep everything but I do keep a few of the interesting and unique items for each of them.

Baby-step Cleaning

Another goal that I have set for myself, in regards to the Bible Study, is to clear out the junk! After cleaning out the attic at the house where I grew up, I said that I wouldn't do that to my kids. I had forgotten about it until now. If something should happen to me I would want to leave things orderly. So I have started small and cleaned out a dresser drawer and added some nifty spring-loaded dividers (found them at Target) and then sorted the items. I have to say that I love not having to dig around through the drawer in the morning to find a clothing item!! When I emptied out the drawer I was shocked at some of the junk that was lurking in the back. So it now clean and sorted. Definitely baby-steps at this point but will continue on my journey!

New Bible Study

There have been several ideas converging on me at once. Let me explain. Our church is embarking on a "30 Days to Live" event. The idea is to think of what you are living now and how would you live differently if you only had 30 days to live. Then.....on a blog that I like to read they have a month long challenge to either get up extra early everyday to pray for your family OR to fast one meal a week to pray for family. THEN I started seeing references to binding scriptures to you to keep the LORD in the forefront.

This has really gotten me thinking about life. One of the first steps that I am taking is having a "mother's ring" made so that I have a visual reminder to pray for my kids! They NEED me to pray for them! I am hoping to add a fasting meal each week as well (shouldn't be too hard....I am definitely NOT starving!). The other thing that I/we want to do is take the family to the ocean! We love the ocean and husband & I have been wanting to take a trip out west again. The kids are old enough now to make that happen. So the planning has begun!!!

I am hoping that this month-long study will reveal other areas of life that need GOD's light to shine!