Even Creepier!

Yes, we did it. We pulled off the kitchen countertop. It'll be used as a template for the replacement. It's on its way with DH in the truck down to our friend's workshop. When you pop off a countertop (and yes, I was amazed, it really does "pop" right off), you see other things that need tending. Right now, it feels like a whole lotta nuthin' in my kitchen. Here, take a look!

Happy Easter!

I hope the Easter Bunny paid you a visit. Easter Blessings, Peace be with You!

Kitchen Makeover: Project Creep!

So, as you my stalwart readers know, I had decided not to change out the countertops and sink, due to, well, apprehension let's say, about how that all would go. A dear friend, let me call him Mr. Berry, who is a contractor, strongly suggested that we re-do the countertops and sink. He came by today, and make some suggestions, and, well, here's the result. I'm half "oh my God, what have I done?" and "Wow, this'll be great!". What do you think?

We're going to go with laminate again on the countertops, and a self-lipping white sink, same basic dimenions. Here's the laminate we've chosen:

Kitchen Makeover: Finally Painting

Today is Day 14 of the Kitchen Makeover. Yesterday, I finally got to start painting! I first had to protect the surfaces that won't be painted, including the floor. We'll have it refinished, but no need to make the refinisher's job harder. Lots of blue painter's tape and dropcloths. I ran out of drop cloths, and almost stopped to run to the store, but I decided to just use what I had: newspapers. I had to go out anyway later, turned out, since I had forgotten that there were a couple of spots near the windows that needed caulk. Oh, well!

Here are some shots of the new interior. There are still bits of the old green, a door and trim which I'll prime today. I have some drips to tidy up with chisel and sandpaper. This was my first time using this particular primer and it's drippier than what I'm used to. It was cheap and the coverage was good, so I guess that's the price you pay, eh?

Oh, to answer a few questions...I actually have a heat gun, I got it when we removed the vinyl tiles from the kitchen floor way back when (and I'm not telling you how long ago THAT was:). I don't really feel confident to use it for paint, especially near window glass. I did use it yesterday to remove the vinyl tiles that were under the sink area. It took 'em up nice and easy. Those will be replaced with new ones in a shade that matches the new kitchen.

Lenten update: I've kept to my intention and haven't set foot in Target or any thrift store. I even managed to toss Sunday's Target ad without reading it.

In the Belly of the Beast or Never Strip Paint

unless you absolutely, positively, have no other choice. That's my wisdom for the week.

Well, here are some updated photos. Lots has happened since I began this project last Wednesday, but it feels like it's going slow as molasses. Thus far I/we have: removed appliances (including 40" stove, dishwasher, fridge), attempted to strip paint off several areas (windows, decorative door frame, part of a door frame, drawers). Paint stripping sucks, it really does. And they lie to you on the packaging--I've had to put three coats of stripper on most of the surfaces so far (scraping in between of course). I guess there's about 5 layers of paint on the surfaces.

Anyway, by today, I still have to finish most of the stripping. I've been working 8-9 hour days, everyday, and am exhausted. I have to take a hot bath every night so my back doesn't ache the next day. I am trying to hold the vision of the finished kitchen in my mind's eye, but it sure gets tough when I'm squatting over the kitchen sink scraping at the intricacies of the wooden window frames.

I've been listening to the audio commentaries for films I am very familiar with. It's good entertainment, and because I know the films so well, there's no need to watch to enjoy them. Yesterday, I scraped through the entire two-disc version of Fellowship of the Ring, listening to the director/writers commentary. The day before was North by Northwest, before that, Ocean's Eleven. Today will be the Two Towers, again with director and writers.

The Kitchen: Letting Go of the Avocado

Take a look. It's green. Lots of green. A 40" stove of green.



Soon, it'll be some other colour. Probably white. Lots of white.

Yes, I'm re-doing my kitchen. It's not a remodel because I'm not changing the structure. I am changing the paint, the floor and the appliances. The appliances will be white. I'm especially excited about my choice for a new fridge. Why? Because it's small! It's only 24" deep and 24" wide. It's 80" high and has a freezer on the bottom not the top. It's capacity is 7.1 cubic feet. Yes, you read that correctly. Yes, it's small. But small, for me, is better. You know why? Because I won't be able to keep those ten jars of jam (yes, I have 10 jars of jam in my fridge!) anymore. Or that old miso (hey, it might still be good!) or stock up too much. For me, I've found that a small amount of storage is best. If I can't change myself, I *can* change my environment.

Essential Truths

If you have one pen, you'll always know where it is. If you have a dozen, you'll constantly be searching for one.

Apply that to everything and you have the life of a hoarder. We have EVERYTHING and we can find NOTHING.

I've talked about my bathroom before, haven't I? It's the tidiest room in the house, takes about 15 minutes to clean and is relaxing to be in. Why? Because there's no vanity! No etagere! Here, let me show you:

The contractors kept asking us if we were sure about not having a vanity. We knew we wanted a wall-mounted sink, to give a 1940's effect to match our house. They'd suggest hanging a curtain around the sink and putting some shelves underneath. I kept saying "No thanks!". I knew the dangers of it--our old bathroom had a vanity with cupboard underneath and a large medicine cabinet. It was always stuffed full of who knows what. Junk. Old makeup, appliances I never used, extra shampoos and hair treatments. Bubble bath enough for a sorority. I love the new space because it's almost impossible to clutter it up. Everything there is USED almost daily. Those silver cannisters atop the toilet? They hold manicure tools (nail clippers, etc) and Q-tips. The medicine cabinet holds tooth brushes, shaving needs, contact lens solutions. Not much else. Not much else is needed. Now, I do have a linen closet nearby, so I don't need to store my towels in the bathroom as some do.

Coming soon...notes on a kitchen makeover!

Itching to Stray

I tortured myself on Sunday by looking at the Target circular. Their ads are so nicely done! They're well-organized, easy to read, and aren't overwhelming as some ads are (for example, I NEVER look at the Penney's or Macy's ads...too much stuff to sort through).

There's only one item I use regularly that's on sale for a good price. My beloved Method cleaning spray. But, it's more important to me to stick to my Lenten intention that to stock up on cleaning spray. And, I do still have some Mrs. Meyer's geranium stuff, though I don't like the smell as well.

And yes, the smell of a cleaner is more important to me than the cleaning power. If I like the way it smells, I'm more likely to use it, so that'll outweigh any minor cleaning strength differences.

Stumbling Through Junk

The basement. I had it tidy-ish. I had things in place. What happened??

Choice

I notice I've gotten several comments on my post about choice. I'm going to mention a book here, one that I think is worth a read by anyone pondering the issue of choice in our society.
My main take-away from this book is the concept of "maximizers" and "satisficers". A maximizer will go to great lengths to get just the right item or experience. If a maximizer wants to go to a restaurant, reviews will be read, friends consulted, the Internet scoured. And still, the maximizer may not actually enjoy the experience. Why? Because what if, after all that a-do, the wrong restaurant had been chosen? The angst, the pain, the frustration, the paralysis.

The satisficer, on the other hand, decides to eat out. He or she perhaps asks their spouse what they prefer, Mexican or Chinese. There's a Mexican place down the street, they go there. They have a good meal, maybe not the best ever, but it's just fine.

Can you guess which type I am? Ha ha! I can't tell you how many times I have gotten so hungry that I'm no longer hungry trying to decide where to eat. I have put off purchases by researching, browsing, shopping 'til exhaustion (but not buying anything, oh no, that's too much of a committment) and not ending up with the item. I choose the stores I actually do shop at based on their liberal return policies, because, gosh, what if I change my mind?

Here's the funny thing. When I do make a purchase or decision that I can't take back, I'm most often happier. I committ more fully to the decision, BECAUSE it's not one I can easily undo.

So that's my personal take on choice. For me, for my happiness less=more. So, I minimize the stores I shop at to just a few, get the bulk of my books from the library (hey, I HAVE to take them back!), and try not to want too much. Because that wanting leads to research, which leads to a whole mess of decisions that I just can't make.

The Paradox (and Pain) of Choice

I had just been thinking about choice, as it affects our living spaces and our life dreams, when I got an email from my sister with a link to an amazing essay that spells out the pain of choice. Do read it: Too Much Choice is Pure Hell.

It's true. Too much choice IS pure hell. And today, we are faced with more choices and options than ever before. We know about the choices, thanks to the media. Advertising is designed to make us want...everything! Choose...HD-DVD or Blu-Ray (well, that choice has been made for us now!), Starbucks or Tully's, and the list goes on.

Every step in life is a choice. But I know that I am happier when I have fewer choices. This is why I shop at Costco for most of our groceries. I can choose from Tillamook shredded cheddar or from Tillamook shredded cheddar. No angst over store band versus Kraft versus Tillamook versus Horizon. I have one choice if I want shredded cheddar, and, yes, it's a good one! All through the store, little to no choice. It's great! I can't even choose if I want four bananas or six, the only choice is a four pound bag!

Choice can paralyze you. Have you ever decided with your sweetie to go out for dinner and spend an hour trying to choose a restaurant? Indian or Italian? Mexican or McDonald's? Chain or independant? It's why the happiest people who dine out are the regulars. Their server knows them, they know the menu, it's like being at home but with someone else to do the dishes. I always envied the regulars that feeling...but I have this craving for new, for different that I strive to keep in check.

Choice. Think about it.

Temporarly Chaos

We just had my sister-in-law and her son visit for a couple of days. Oh, and their dog. Let me just say that the house is quiet for the first time in over 48 hours. There's dog hair on the living room carpet. The floors aren't too covered in crumbs, thanks to said dog (a quite civilized beast). I see dust and hair balls everywhere, and you can't move without knocking over a LEGO brick or stepping on a rubber boot! The kids had a blast playing together, and we had a good visit. SIL is easy going and pitches in--she actually vacuumed and helped pick up the day they arrived.



My precious little fur babies, though, were very happy to see the tail end of the dog! (finally able to relax)

A Little at a Time Really Makes Progress

So I've told you about my counter cleaning ritual, right? Well, once you've been doing that for a couple of weeks, you've gotten up the grime, and since you're doing it every day, nothing builds up and gets all crusty and icky. So it takes less time to do it. What do you do? You expand your area, and you find yourself spritzing and swiping more and more of the kitchen. I've moved on to bits of wall, stove hood, front of the cabinets. It's looking good.

So good, that I may actually do my kitchen update this year. I found out that you can have countertops refinished, which would be cheaper and faster than new ones. I'd paint the walls and cabinets, refinish the countertops and maybe sink, and refinish the floor. It would cost around $2000 (as compared with the last quote I got for a remodel--$20,000!).

Here's a picture of how my counters looked last night:
This was just as I was making dinner; that stack of Zip-Loc boxes contains leftovers that are ready to be heated up. The purple mug is waiting to be handwashed (and it was, later that evening). The fruit plate holds our current fruit for breakfasts and lunches.

Politics

A brief interlude to note that today was my state's caucus day. We also have a primary, but for my party, that won't make a difference. I'm an elected official, the very bottom-most tier elected official, and so I got to run my precinct's caucus. Good times, folks, truly good times. A great bunch of people turned out and we had a great time electing our delegates.

On the decluttering front, here's the load I dropped off at the Goodwill today. No, that doesn't break my Lenten intention, because I didn't go into the thrift store, I merely handed bags to the nice gentleman outside and got a receipt.

Oprah's Interventions

Oprah and organizing guru Peter Walsh worked together for two shows on hoarding. I didn't watch them when they first aired (I don't watch much TV), but last night, I watched the video available on Oprah's website.

These are painful to watch. I feel grateful that I got my wake-up call because it's clearly a case of 'there but for the grace...'. In one situation, the hoarder clearly is trying to fill the space left after her children left the home. What's really sad is how the husband simply let it happen. He lost his home to the clutter and hoarding disease.

I worry that the fix won't stick. Removing the stuff helps, providing that the hoarder is on the path to recovery and wants assistance, but it will just pile up again unless the underlying psychological issues are dealt with. I hope the show is providing counseling because without it, the house will just fill up again.
* * *
Today, inspired by the folks featured on those two shows, I dug out some junk. I have a coat rack in our basement hallway (we leave the house most often by the back door, since I park in the car port and my sweetie parks in the garage--yes, we can get a car into our garage!). Under the coat rack are these bins:

Until just now, they were full of all this stuff:

To make it easier, I dumped all three bins out into a laundry basket. Next, I grabbed another empty basket, a garbage can and a recycling can and went at it. Above, in the basket on the left, is what I have yet to sort. The bin on the right is the keeper stuff. The garbage is full of just plain trash that was in those poor bins. Old napkins and Kleenex, bits of this and that. It'll be at least another hour's worth of work to finish the sorting.

Lent

No, you haven't accidentally been switched to Confessions of a Catholic, but yesterday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Lenten Season. Lent is the 40 days preceding Easter (not counting Sundays). Lent is a time of reflection, and to participate in the custom of forming an intention for the season. Often, people choose to give something up for their intention, coffee, chocolate, alcohol, sugar. I prefer to think of the intention as either adding something to your life or not doing something with the goal of moving closer to God (as you conceive of God). Sometimes giving something up will do that, you'll perhaps move closer to the spirit of creation and life if you're not eating chocolate. Or, perhaps you'll add a daily walk or 10 minutes of meditation. Or maybe you'll choose to give to the local food bank every week, instead of once a year when the Postal Carrier leaves that handy bag.

Whether one is Christian or not, adopting a practice that brings one closer to...well, spirit of creation and life and energy for want of a better word can be a powerful time of personal growth.

Wondering what I chose to add or give up? Going to thrift stores and shopping at Target. I had pretty much already given up the thrift stores, I think the last time I went to one was over a month ago. But, still, the intention will solidify that aim. And Target? Well, it's just a pit of temptation. I go in for kitchen cleaner and come out will all sorts of wonderful things that, yes, will "enhance" our life, but that we don't actually "need". Since other stores that stock the items I usually buy at Target have higher prices, I'll be more able to stick to my list.

Super Tuesday or Fat Tuesday?

Today is Super Tuesday, the day 22 states hold presidential primaries. This year, today is also Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday, the last day before the start of Lent. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, day 1 of the Lenten Season.

Lent is a time of reflection. Usually, those who celebrate Lent will give something up for the 40 days. I prefer to think of it as either giving something up or adding something to your life that will enhance your spiritual life. That could be adding regular exercise, which can be a time for reflection. Or giving up a habit (smoking, biting your fingernails) that interferes with the full celebration of a healthy life.

I haven't yet decided what I will add or give up for Lent. I don't always figure it out before the season begins, but it's the spirit, the intention, not the exactness that really matters.

How To Clean A Bathroom in 15 Minutes

Thanks to the Flylady, my bathroom is cleaned regularly. I do it quickly, and some may say well, it's not perfect, you missed that bit of grout there! But do you know what I say? Ha! That's what I say. (I also add...well, sure I missed a few spots, I did it in 15 minutes. But can you really say that it looks 8 times better when it takes you two hours? No? I didn't think so!).

Here's how I do it. You need some tools. I use: Swiffer dry mop with a fresh cloth on it, Windex, two paper towels, one baby wipe, a HandiVac, and the toilet brush.

To prepare, I grab the old rug, bathmat and hand towel and put them in the laundry basket. Then I move the plunger, toilet brush in its stand, bath toy bin, and kid potty into the tub so they're out of the way. I give the toilet a quick scrub with the toilet brush. If it's extra icky, I'll spray some Windex in there and let it soak while I do the next step. I spray the mirrors and the bathroom sink top with Windex. I let it soak in for a moment, then wipe it off, doing the mirrors first and then the sink faucet, then finally the sink itself. We have a wall-mounted sink with old-fashioned chrome legs, so I run the towel over the legs too for extra shine.

I use that same paper towel to clean the tub faucets and spout, adding a little more Windex as necessary. Then, I swipe the rim of the tub, the top of the toilet tank and that spot behind the seat that accumulates dust, and the window sill. Toss that towel now, it's done!

Time to Swiffer. I swiffer the floor, and then use the HandiVac to vacuum up the dust. Empty the vac into the garbage. Time to use the baby wipe to scrub up any dirty spots on the floor or the base of the toilet. OK, done with that. Now, I put back the items that were in the tub, put out a fresh rug, clean bathmat and hand towel, and dump the garbage. Done, in fifteen minutes!

You'll notice I say little about the tub. Well, I don't like to use harsh chemicals in the tub since our cats often hop in there and lick up the water at the drain. So, while I'm in the shower, I'll take a minute and use the scrubbie I keep on the tub rim to give the tub a quick scrub.

A Year Ago Today...

I learned that my mother had died. She chose to take her life (or, she came close to choosing and got too close to turn back). We had a challenging relationship, neither of us meeting the other's expectations. But I know that the last words I spoke to her were "I love you". And that has to be enough.

I've spent the last year wrestling with the whys. Why did she make that choice? What could I or my sister have done differently? Is she at peace? These are questions with no really satisfying answers.

My younger daughter talks about her often. She'll come out with, often out of the blue, "your mom is dead." Or "Gramma Donna died." She remembers doing activities with her, traveling back East to visit relatives with her, games they played. Older daughter is more hesitant, doesn't like to talk about it. She'll try to stop us if we're talking about her. That worries me. I want her to remember. I have but one vague childhood memory of my maternal grandfather and only one adult memory of my maternal grandmother. My paternal grandparents died decades before I was born.

It's been a year of tears and sadness. I could cry every day. I don't, because life would go on hold if I did. But not a day goes by that I don't think about my mother.

Thinking About Excess

I recently read this book (no, it's not Thursday)...

It's a great book, but man did I feel like the loser parent when I was done. Because...there are so many times when I cave and become the permissive parent. It's the easier thing to do, in that moment, but I know it'll make life harder in the years to come. It's a constant battle to stay in the balanced parenting mode, and it is frankly exhausting. But I know it's what I (we) have to do.

So about excess. See, I think it's hard for kids to focus when they are surrounded by too many choices. I know it's hard for me, and I end up with tunnel vision, either reading a book or diving into the finite/infinite world of the Internet.

What does this mean for my household? I'm going to remove some of the little one's toys. It's so hard to do this, because she's creative with her toys and actually does play with a lot of them. But I think her creativity and imagination could allow her to repurpose the ones I leave her with, so she doesn't feel deprived. My gosh, deprived! These children are anything but.

How do you cope with excess in your life?

Thinking about Travel?

I found this lovely informative site via The Consumerist. Upgrade: Travel Better follows the ups and downs in travel, primarily by air, with asides on such varied topics as the short film Helvetica (yes, about the font), how the Wynn Las Vegas makes sure no one steals from the mini-bar and the strange definition United gives to the word 'forever'.

Book Review Thursday

I confess, I read a lot. I can't help it. It's like an addiction. I don't buy many anymore, thanks to a great local library with an online catalog. I've learned, finally, that I can enjoy a book without having to own it. Saves a lot of space and money, let me tell you.

My latest read is a slim subtle volume by Stewart O'Nan. It's a book I spotted on the New Fiction shelves at my local bookstore-cafe, and I noted the title and later placed it on hold at the library. It came in yesterday and I finished it that day.

"Last Night at the Lobster" tells the story of Manny, the manager of a Red Lobster restaurant in Connecticut. Corporate has decided his restaurant isn't pulling its weight and will be closed. By the last day of operation, Manny is down to just a few employees, a handful of which he's being allowed to bring with him to his new job at an Olive Garden in the next town over.

Anyone who has ever worked food service will appreciate this story. We meet the chef, who cares more than anyone would expect of a chain restaurant chef. The waitresses are a mix of stereotypes; the "lifer" whose nametag is so old it's been out of production for years, the highly emotional new one, who complains if she has too many tables or too few. Manny himself is torn between a relationship with his current girlfriend, and a waitress at the Lobster, with whom he'd had a not-so-secret secret affair.

This is the first book I've read by Stewart O'Nan. I've put some of his others on hold at the library. For baseball fans, I notice that he has co-written with Stephen King a book on the Boston Red Sox.

Slow and Steady Gets Results or The Flylady is Always Right

I'm sure most of you out there in InternetLand are familiar with the Flylady. If not, here's a quick overview. The Flylay, real name Marla Cilley, is a taking-care-of-your-home evangelist. Her focus is on loving yourself, taking things bit by bit, and not beating yourself up over perceived failures. She's really more of a coach than anything else. Her website is www.flylady.net; check out the Baby Steps and Routines as well as the Ask Flylady column.

I've griped silently about the grease spots that won't come off on my range for a while. I tried scrubbing every once in a while and not much came off. I tried ignoring it, but the look of neglect always nagged at me. So, the past couple of weeks, I've tried a new approach. I spritz the areas with my nice-smelling Cucumber cleaner. I give them a swipe, but just a swipe, not a scrub not a lot of time. And I do it at least once a day. Here's the thing: thanks to these two weeks or so of once a day swiping, those stubborn spots are gone or going.

One of the Flylady's main points is that we should aim to do a little each day, rather than a big amount once a week. Think about it. For those of us who have trouble keeping up with the house (or anything for that matter, you could apply her techniques to writing your book, doing your taxes, running your business), we can become addicted to the rush, the high of seeing extreme results. I mean, if you neglect your bathroom for a month and then clean it, wow, it's going to look great! If you clean it once a week though, it'll *always* look great. But you won't get that high that comes from seeing or being the creator of an extreme transformation. Why do you think makeover shows, for body or home, are so popular? There's a rush to seeing that huge change happen so quickly.

I've started doing the same thing I do with the range with the bathtub. It's grimy and gross. We have a refinished tub and it's quite hard to clean. I've tried many cleaners, scrubbing and scrubbing and no luck. So (finally), I took the Flylady's advice and put a small surface-friendly scrubbie in the tub. Each time I shower, I put a little shampoo on it and scrub the tub surface for about a minute. That's all. I anticipate a shiny, no grime tub within a week or two. And that will be good enough.

Clean Spaces

Lately, I've been really focused on keeping a kitchen counter clear and the top of the stove clear. Each time I glance over and see those open, clean spaces, well, I feel uplifted. Free. I want more.

The back of my range used to be really icky with grease spots. I'd try to clean it, but it never seemed to come clean. Lately though, each time I clean the stove surface, I'll spray some cleaner (Method Cucumber, yum) on those knobs and the odd bits at the back. I'd give it a few swipes, but not push it, not let myself get frustrated. Well, what do you know, after doing that for a few weeks, that area is almost shiny. I can see reflections in the chrome bits of the knobs. It's such a reward for being patient.

Lists

Making a list of your day's accomplishments can really revitalize a bad day. Not that the day I had today was bad, rather, it was one of those days that leaves me feeling that I didn't really *do* anything.

So, for the record, today I:
*ran two loads of laundry
*did one load of dishes
*prepared a Crock Pot meal
*cleaned the kitchen counters
*wrote a draft of an article
*updated stock at the website I manage (see sidebar)
*took recycling and garbage out to their bins
*swept the kitchen floor

There are other things I wanted to accomplish today, but I didn't get to them. I want to make more lists in advance, as that seems to help me more with my time-management.

Making Lists

I've gotten out of the habit of making lists, and the result is that at the end of they day, trying to fall asleep, my mind scrolls through all the tasks that I have yet to do. I've decided to start making lists again.

What's on my list today? Certainly not everything that I'll actually accomplish. Bank, library, drop off one child at preschool, pick up another at school, drop off a donation at the school, do some writing. What I didn't write down but actually did includes laundry, tidying the kitchen, preparing a snack. Feels like cheating to write those things down, but they are tasks that I completed.

Recently, I read a book that consisted of lists concocted by contributors. Some were decades old, and had been rediscovered. Others were composed just for the book.

Merry Christmas!

A low-clutter Christmas is my wish for you!

A Clever Site

I just found this site and it's so stinkin' clever I had to share it.
http://anerroroccurredwhileprocessingthisdirective.com/

Keeping the Holiday Craziness at Bay

So, on Sunday I took the kids to visit Santa Claus. We went to our nearby mall, rather than to downtown since I really didn't feel like dealing with downtown traffic. Still it took quite a while to find a spot to park at the mall. I did have a lovely karmic moment though, when, by stopping so a pedestian could cross, I was just in time to get a perfectly placed parking spot.

This mall's Santa area has a policy of only allowing you to take your own pictures IF you buy at least the smallest package from them. I had actually forgotten my camera and wasn't about to pay $20 for likely mediocre pictures, so we just visited with Santa. The girls got to tell him what they wanted, sit on his lap, and received candy canes as they said good-bye. It was all really sweet. We did have to wait quite about twenty minutes in line, but it went fast. I called my sister while we were waiting and the girls both got to chat with her.

We didn't spend ANY money at the mall. It was a nice feeling, actually, to just be there as observers, enjoying the holiday decorations and the smells of cider and hot cocoa and candy canes.

Keeping it Simple for the Holidays

This year, we won't be putting lights up on the house. Too much ladder work, and my husband doesn't want to do it. Since I don't want to go up on a ladder either, well, that's that. In a year when we're more flush in the pocket, I'd love to hire one of those companies that come and put up your lights. If they installed permanent hooks, even better.

We compromise though by decorating the fence that surrounds our front yard with lights. For Halloween, I put up purple and orange lights. The other day, I dug out our Christmas stash. Found out that the icicle lights had bit the dust so to speak. I have about 24 feet of them that work, and since I really don't want to buy more lights, I'll fill in with some of the coloured ones that we have for the tree. There are always a few extra strands left after we decorate the tree so we should be fine.


I had a lovely pewter Advent candle holder last year, but it wasn't well designed and spilled wax onto the white-painted mantle. This year, I'm using four small glass tealight holders in a row. They hold three purple and one pink tealight. It's close enough. The photograph is of my mom with older daughter (at age 3), shopping downtown at Christmas time. The dry-looking things are palms from Palm Sunday.

So Much Wasted Thought

Sometimes when I'm in a store, I'll glance at a product for sale and in an instant, change my focus. It's as if a switch were thrown, and I start asking questions, such as...
"Who designed this? Who chose the colors? Who decided it would be a good addition to the world to make this product?"

For every single product out there, someone had to make these decisions. An actual person designed a mold for that plastic doo-dad you saw in the Dollar Store. A real live human had to choose the colors for the (lead) paint that covers it. Another person had to design the packaging, and arrange to have the items fabricated.

Whole rooms full of people (likely Chinese, but perhaps Indonesian, Thai or Vietnamese) created the items that stock our shelves.

When you go into a store, think about these questions. Ask them, before you put down your hard-earned money to add that item to your stockpile.

Yet Another Toy Recall or Why Not to Buy Stuff

So, there's another toy recall in the works, this one involving asbestos. Apparently, an asbestos-illness survivors and relatives group funded the testing themselves (a rare occurance). Read the whole story here.

My thoughts? Don't buy anything!

Cutting Down the Stockpile

I'm a stockpiler. Sales are dangerous, because I'll just stock up. Sure, I do mostly do it with items that we tend to use: shampoo, soap, canned and dry goods, wrapping paper. But...there's always a but, isn't there?

But, I have a small house. I also have trouble letting go. That's a bad combination. The fact is, I don't really save that much money by stockpiling. As you saw with my pantry, all stockpiling got me there was an extra donation to the city compost fund. I have thus been working really hard to avoid building up a surplus.

It's ironic, because I love love love clean open spaces. When the kitchen counters are clear and freshly wiped down, man, what a feeling of peace that invokes. I love an almost empty fridge. Part of that I believe is linked to my clutter disorder. I have so many things out because if I tuck them away, they'll get forgotten. I need to have visuals of everything to keep it in focus. When, say, the fridge is packed, it's overwhelming--I can't see everything. When it's less full, I feel calmer, more in control.

It's very hard to balance the need and desire for open space with the urge to keep, collect and accumulate. That's why I write here, in hopes of finding that balance, finding a way to simply be in the manner that I know leads to more peace and happiness.

Thoughts on Black Friday

I am not a fan of lines. Now, I'm happy to wait for a reason: Disneyland rides, a free cup of good coffee, a restaurant that'll make me go "yum". But waiting in line to buy stuff? No thank you. I'm not a big electronics geek (yes, I like my digital camera, my computer, my laptop, but since I don't play video games and only update my electronics every 3-5 years, well, not much for me to buy). I don't like standing out in the cold, and I also don't like to get up early on a day that my older daughter has off of school. Sleep in and snuggle time!

So, for us, Black Friday was pretty much a non-event. We did head to our downtown to see the shops and the Christmas spirit. We peeked at Santa through the store window (the line was too long and the kids didn't want to talk to him, too shy!). We had a hot chocolaty beverage (love an Americano with some chocolate syrup--good for those of us who don't do so well with milk), we browsed the shops, we didn't do any shopping for the holidays. Well, we did buy a math workbook for older daughter, but that's more of an educational expense than a holiday gift expense, especially since she dove right into it!

How did you spend you day after Thanksgiving? On the couch recovering from too much turkey? Out in the cold, doing an icy sport? Or out in the cold of dawn, waiting outside the Best Buy for the chance to nab a bargain PlayStation or XBox 360 or other of their ilk.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's the food shopping holiday not the stuff shopping holiday, but still! I did manage to get our Thanksgiving meal shopping done for under $40, including turkey, so I feel good about that.

Happy Thanksgiving! Remember to think about thankfulness, gratitude...we have so very much, it's easy to take it for granted.

Love to you all, In Recovery

Courage

I was courageous yesterday. I walked away. I trusted my gut.

Yesterday, after mass (that's another post, OK?), I stopped by the local Goodwill to drop off some donations that I had organized and packed my trunk with earlier in the day. I pat myself on the back for remembering both to pack the car and to actually get to the Goodwill.

While there, well, someone pulled out of a perfect parking spot right in front of me. How could I not stop in? Besides, it's the holiday season, there might be some fun decorations. So, I did it, I went in.

I browsed for a while. Pink tags were marked 50% off, tempting. I tried on some shoes (nothing there that was more comfortable than the ones I was wearing, but there was this pair of cute heels...too big, but still...). I found 7 or 8 books, for me and for older daughter, who is just tearing through books at a reckless pace. Found a puzzle, Ravensburger, the good ones. Those are almost impossible to pass up and they're very expensive new, close to $10. To find one with all the pieces for a buck, well.

I finally finished, needing to get home and arrange dinner. There were only two cashiers checking out, and one was searching for a DVD for a customer. They keep them in a binder, to cut down on theft. Slow lines. The other cashier called over the next customer, who was two people ahead of me. Still slow. I switched lines, just as the woman ahead of me told the cashier she wanted to buy a piece of furniture. Off they went to the back. The lines had built up behind me. I questioned myself, did I really need these things? I browsed through the books again, looked at the puzzle. I carefully, slowly set the basket down. Stood up straight. And walked out the door to my car.

I breathed deeply as I left the store. And only regretted that it had taken me so long to make the decision to leave.
* * *
Here's a picture of two more bags of donations I sorted out this morning. They'll go tomorrow.

Return to Sender

Or, in this case, to lender. Yesterday I returned three books and a pitcher from the friends they'd been on loan from. That felt good. Of course, both friends had forgotten that I had the items, which either tells you I had them way too long or I have friends with conveniently short memories. Well, you choose.

In other news, local author Sherman Alexie has won the National Book Award for his young adult novel The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian. You really should buy it and read it.

Resisting Temptation

The sale season is upon us. Special deals (Black Friday!), special events, and the obligatory gift giving that gives us a reason to head into the stores.

Resist. I must resist. Because as I've learned on this journey, keeping the stuff out of the house is the only way for me to have hope of reducing the clutter. Once I claim something, once I see it, want it and acquire it, it becomes...precious...to me. Once it's precious, heck, you'd need a bull and a whip to pry it out of my hands. Once it's been claimed, it wants to stay.

I'm really not a big shopper. There's virtually nothing I need, and frankly, little that I want that can be had for money. But the things I do settle on, well, see above for the risks.

It's early, but...Christmas!

OK, here's a post I really like, about Christmas and frugality over at Being Frugal.net.

I used to love the fall and winter holidays, starting with Halloween, moving to Thanksgiving (love to go shopping in downtown right after Thanksgiving, everyone is still happy and cheerful), Solstice and Christmas. For me, it's more a celebration of the lovely cool weather than the specific religious aspects of the season. We always have a tree, decorated by the children (with help from the cats). We enjoy hot cider, cookies, and, some of us indulge in fruitcake.

None of those things cost much money. You can make a pot of hot cider, with applejuice and a few spices, for about a dollar. A tree? Well, get a forest service permit and you can choose a great tree for just a little $$. Or, buy the "Charlie Brown" tree for about $5 or $7 bucks. You can enjoy the lights and bustle of downtown shopping and not actually spend any money. Visit Santa and let the kids tell him what they want, there's no need to buy the fancy picture package.

In this sense, I think the folks spouting about keeping the Christ in Christmas have a good point-the season isn't about what you can buy but what you believe, whether it's that Jesus was born or that the Sun King is returning or that the oil lasted the full eight days. Or simply that life is precious, and goes all too fast.

How will you keep clutter away at the holidays?

Toy Recalls: Oh, the Angst!

They just keep getting stranger! Read this NY Times article on the Aqua Dots recall.

The toy recalls make me want to box up every toy in the house and start from scratch. Heck, the kids can play with leaves and sticks, right? They don't need toys!

Admittedly, the Aqua Dots one is more disturbing than the more-common lead scares. That a child's toy has an industrial chemical, used deliberately (and yes, used for its intended purpose, which is to prevent water-soluble adhesives from adhering prematurely) that can metabolize into a date-rape drug? That is enough to scare any parent into using only homemade natural toys. Many blogs are tackling this issue, including Parent Bloggers.

The real question is, what to do about the whole phenomenon? Should we all stop purchasing mass-produced toys? What about avoiding toys that are manufactured in certain countries? The problem there is that it's simply hard to find toys that aren't made in China. And that isn't even enough to keep your kids safe. The recent Mattel recalls were for design issues, that is, things that Mattel had control over. It's one thing for a factory to substitute a cheaper, but potentially unsafe for children paint. But when a toy has a design flaw that can lead to an injury? How do we protect ourselves? Information of course is key. Be sure to check the Consumers Union for details of the recent (and, I fear, upcoming) toy recalls.

My answer: keep it simple. Keep the amount of toys in your home to a minimum. Ask for gifts other than toys for holidays and birthdays. Books, gifts of experiences (such as a zoo trip or membership), and clothing are safer choices. Also, consider sticking with the classics: Lego and Playmobil are made in Europe and have been for decades. Both lines have options for multiple ages, and are toys that can jump-start the imagination.

What do you think? What choices will you make this holiday season?

A Few Fun Blogs

Here are a few of the blogs I've been looking at lately. Take a look, you might find a new favorite!

• Cheap Healthy Good - a fellow mayonnaise hater
  
• Wise Bread: Living Large on a Small Budget
  
• National Novel Writing Month - lots of inspiration, and tips for writing that novel!
  

...oh, and today, I cleaned my basement. Swept, tidied, took out the catbox, all the fun stuff.

And to end, a quote for you to ponder!
"Acknowledge the inner twelve year old ... but don't let her drive!"

Keeping Eyes Wide Open

It's so easy to stop looking. When you see something for the first time, your eyes can't take it all in, but they see it. Colors pop, edges are sharp, content is deep. But the next time, it dims a touch. And if you see something (or, someone) everyday, you start to stop seeing it at all.

This is how our houses can become so very cluttered. After not very long, we stop seeing the stuff. We step over it, or around it, push it to the side to get through a doorway, toss it into a pile, which becomes a mountain.

That is why it helps to have a fresh look. New eyes, any eyes. The person need not be an expert. It's purely the new phenomenon that makes it work. Because, to me, that mountain of paperwork on your desk, it's not a fixture, it's an eyesore that I'm seeing for the first time.

The true secret of decluttering, is, thus, to always look with new eyes. Sometimes you just need to take a break from your space for a little while. But you can activate that fresh look, those new eyes, with a little control and determination.

Up to 5,000 words

I've got 5,000 words now. A bit less than if I had averaged 1600 a day, but still making progress. I'm afraid I have to kill off a character I like. It's best for the story though.

NaNoWriMo

810 words today....can't update on the official site, as their server seems to be slammed (no surprise).