And while I'm at it, I'm going to link you to Erin's blog "Lucky By Design". She is a teacher, and while on spring break a couple of weeks ago, re-organized her craft room. She and her sister are the most crafty girls in the world, and now that they have a "new" craft room, I can't wait to see what they produce next!
http://luckybydesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/craft-room-reorganization.html
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Office Organizing
My friend Laura has her own blog about mid-century houses - specifically, HER mid-century house in Calgary. She`s been discussing renovations, antique stores, repairs, etc. and it is quite a fun blog.
However, she just published a blog about her office and how she is getting it organized, so I thought I`d give her a shout out and post a link to her blog here.
Enjoy!
http://midcenturymoderncalgary.blogspot.com/2011/04/office-de-cluttering.html
However, she just published a blog about her office and how she is getting it organized, so I thought I`d give her a shout out and post a link to her blog here.
Enjoy!
http://midcenturymoderncalgary.blogspot.com/2011/04/office-de-cluttering.html
Sunday, March 13, 2011
One Screw at a Time
Liz, a friend of mine, e-mailed the other day saying that I had "gotten to her" ... in a good way. That my efforts (small though they have been so far) to de-clutter my house and my life had her thinking she needed to do the same thing.
But she was feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. And I agree whole-heartedly. If this was an easy thing to do, we'd all have done it by now, right? You either have to be at a breaking point where you just can't stand it any more, or you have to start small and just do a little at a time. Chip away at it.
While at the Kennedy Space Center last week, we watched an IMAX film about the Hubble Telescope - at one point an astronaut (amazing people, by the way) had to unscrew about 30 small screws - while on a space walk in his space suit - like doing it with oven mitts on. A challenge to say the least. He said the only way he could approach it was by being zen about it - one screw at a time. Don't think about what is coming and don't think about what you've done. Just do them. And I think that's how you have to approach any task that seems overwhelming. One screw at a time. Don't look at the whole thing or you'll be put off from even starting.
So just pick a drawer, a shelf or a box, and start doing it. Or pick a corner of your desk! If it's something you feel you need to do. If you don't feel that your life is too cluttered, by all means don't de-clutter it. Do what YOU have to do, not what I do.
The other thing Liz relayed was a paraphrase from the FlyLady - a woman who has a site dedicated to organizing and de-cluttering your life - she, Liz says, has a rule: "If you don't love it, why keep it". And this struck me. If I am going to buy anything else to go into this house, I think I'm at the point in my life where I can put a little more money into it and buy the one I love instead of buying the cheaper but still tolerable model. (Oh, by the way, I am CHEAP - it's something I've known for a long time - comes from being, well, not poor, but by no means rich, when I grew up, and having Scottish ancestors - but my friends now tell me openly and I accept this as just the way I am. There are worse things I could be).
So: "one screw at a time" and "if you don't love it, don't buy it". That's the wisdom from the Flylady and the space engineers.
But she was feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. And I agree whole-heartedly. If this was an easy thing to do, we'd all have done it by now, right? You either have to be at a breaking point where you just can't stand it any more, or you have to start small and just do a little at a time. Chip away at it.
While at the Kennedy Space Center last week, we watched an IMAX film about the Hubble Telescope - at one point an astronaut (amazing people, by the way) had to unscrew about 30 small screws - while on a space walk in his space suit - like doing it with oven mitts on. A challenge to say the least. He said the only way he could approach it was by being zen about it - one screw at a time. Don't think about what is coming and don't think about what you've done. Just do them. And I think that's how you have to approach any task that seems overwhelming. One screw at a time. Don't look at the whole thing or you'll be put off from even starting.
So just pick a drawer, a shelf or a box, and start doing it. Or pick a corner of your desk! If it's something you feel you need to do. If you don't feel that your life is too cluttered, by all means don't de-clutter it. Do what YOU have to do, not what I do.
The other thing Liz relayed was a paraphrase from the FlyLady - a woman who has a site dedicated to organizing and de-cluttering your life - she, Liz says, has a rule: "If you don't love it, why keep it". And this struck me. If I am going to buy anything else to go into this house, I think I'm at the point in my life where I can put a little more money into it and buy the one I love instead of buying the cheaper but still tolerable model. (Oh, by the way, I am CHEAP - it's something I've known for a long time - comes from being, well, not poor, but by no means rich, when I grew up, and having Scottish ancestors - but my friends now tell me openly and I accept this as just the way I am. There are worse things I could be).
So: "one screw at a time" and "if you don't love it, don't buy it". That's the wisdom from the Flylady and the space engineers.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Travel Utensils
Thanks to Beth Terry of "My Plastic Free Life" for the inspiration to make these portable utensil holders. Of course, the whole point of these little kits is to stop us from utilizing single-use plastics while on our vacation to Florida in 3 weeks (and hopefully other places thereafter).
Beth has lovely bamboo utensils in hers, but I decided to use what we already had in the house. The glass straws I ordered the other day will go in the small pocket on the left.
Perhaps these pretty packages will help us do our part to slow down the plastic usage.
Beth has lovely bamboo utensils in hers, but I decided to use what we already had in the house. The glass straws I ordered the other day will go in the small pocket on the left.
Perhaps these pretty packages will help us do our part to slow down the plastic usage.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Straws
Thanks to Beth Terry of My Plastic Free Life, I got motivated today to buy glass straws to take with us on our trip to Florida in 3 weeks. She also has inspired me to make holders for re-usable utensils that we can take with us (a slot for the straw will be there, too). I'll post pictures when I have them made.
I bought the straws from Dharma Glass out of Mendicino, CA. They have a wide variety and a lifetime guarantee.
I also ordered bamboo toothbrushes this year and now feel much better about brushing my teeth. The bamboo brushes are completely biodegradeable as is all the packaging that they come in.
I don't know about you, but until fairly recently, I didn't ever think about drinking straws, plastic utensils or toothbrushes. But now I think about such things all the time. Think of all the plastic toothbrushes that go into our landfills. Okay, they're small, but a lot of small things can make a big mess. I read somewhere today (the Dharma Glass website as a matter of fact) that McDonald's sells 52 million meals each day - and apparently each meal goes out with a plastic straw. Just think about that for a minute.
Our trip to Florida is going to be a challenge with regards to lessening our plastic use, but I'm for sure going to try. Wish me luck.
I bought the straws from Dharma Glass out of Mendicino, CA. They have a wide variety and a lifetime guarantee.
I also ordered bamboo toothbrushes this year and now feel much better about brushing my teeth. The bamboo brushes are completely biodegradeable as is all the packaging that they come in.
I don't know about you, but until fairly recently, I didn't ever think about drinking straws, plastic utensils or toothbrushes. But now I think about such things all the time. Think of all the plastic toothbrushes that go into our landfills. Okay, they're small, but a lot of small things can make a big mess. I read somewhere today (the Dharma Glass website as a matter of fact) that McDonald's sells 52 million meals each day - and apparently each meal goes out with a plastic straw. Just think about that for a minute.
Our trip to Florida is going to be a challenge with regards to lessening our plastic use, but I'm for sure going to try. Wish me luck.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Great-Grandma's China
I finally got my great-grandmother's china out of the basement and emptied 4 boxes that have been sitting packed in the basement for 4 1/2 years! I have to admit that I'm not getting rid of much that was in those boxes. But I did get it all put away in my sideboard and china cabinet. So now it's on display, can be used, and is no longer taking up space in the basement.
Those last two pictures were for Marie :)
Anyhow, in going through these 4 boxes as well as the stuff I've already gone through, I do realize that my environmental tendencies are making me reluctant to get rid of things. I'm always looking for some way to re-use or re-purpose something and I don't like excessive garbage. So it's really hard to throw things out if I think there's even the possibility of using it in the future. This I must get over. If I'm not going to use it for sure, I need to get it out of the house. It's a careful balance. I'm attempting to strike it.
The sideboard with Great-Grandma's china right where it should be.
The China Cabinet with new additions.
While I'm at it, I'll also show you this piece that was given to me (along with this gorgeous china cabinet) by our dear friend and old neighbour, Linda. This piece is a collectible (not worth a lot of money, but I like it) and dates 1890-1920:
Those last two pictures were for Marie :)
Anyhow, in going through these 4 boxes as well as the stuff I've already gone through, I do realize that my environmental tendencies are making me reluctant to get rid of things. I'm always looking for some way to re-use or re-purpose something and I don't like excessive garbage. So it's really hard to throw things out if I think there's even the possibility of using it in the future. This I must get over. If I'm not going to use it for sure, I need to get it out of the house. It's a careful balance. I'm attempting to strike it.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Mad at Myself
I just realized something. I may come across as mad at everyone else because of the plastic problem out there. But the fact is that I'm part of the problem and the real anger is at myself. Well, and other people, too. Because, let's face it, I'm not responsible for ANY of the Tim Horton's lids or Wendy's plastic cups that I see regularly on the street in my town. But I am responsible for my part. And that is the part I can change.
So instead of coming off caustic and potentially alienating my readers (the few of you who are out there), what can I do to really make a change in the world?
Maybe this might be a start:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-the-plastic-bag-out-of-the-cereal-box/173200019391677#!/pages/Get-the-plastic-bag-out-of-the-cereal-box/173200019391677
Help me out with this new page. Maybe we can get people to think!
So instead of coming off caustic and potentially alienating my readers (the few of you who are out there), what can I do to really make a change in the world?
Maybe this might be a start:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-the-plastic-bag-out-of-the-cereal-box/173200019391677#!/pages/Get-the-plastic-bag-out-of-the-cereal-box/173200019391677
Help me out with this new page. Maybe we can get people to think!
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