Reader, I went to Target

I went in with a list. I bought only what was on my list, no impulse items. I didn't dawdle. I couldn't dawdle, I timed the trip so that I had just 20 minutes before picking up my older daughter from school.

It feels strange to have Target bags in the house. Such mundane items...Windex, baby wipes, paper towels, air freshener, cat box liners, cereal.

A must read book

Anyone who wants to lose weight, improve their health or who has been told to use drugs or diet to lower their cholesterol should read this book. I warn you, it's a fairly academic tome. The author spent five years researching and writing this book. It's an eye-opener!

Keeping kitchen clutter at bay

We've been slowly moving items back into the kitchen. Since we have the space (garage, basement), my plan is to move items back in as I need them. Thus, the salad spinner came back last week when I needed to wash and dry a head of lettuce. The cloves came back last night to make sweetie a hot whiskey. The grill pan came back to cook steak. You get the idea.

There are items I like, that I want to keep, but that I do not use. That is do not use, never have used. An example? My burnt orange Bundt pan. It's a real Bundt brand pan, in nice condition. Never used. Why? I don't know. I guess the only recipe that appealed to me that's made in a Bundt pan uses three sticks of butter and I just can't bring myself to make the recipe. The possibilities cause me to keep the pan. I've had it for years, "rescued" it from a thrift store. Yeah. That one's going to have to go. Ditto the angel food cake pan (it's a really nice one). I used it once. Thing is, I don't care for angel food cake. Too dry and spongy.

We've almost completely transitioned to the new, small fridge. Remember the new fridge is less than half the capacity of the old. I was brutal with the condiments and salad dressings. So many had been kept because "oh, that's still good!" but really, if it was still sitting in the fridge months after being opened, that's a sign that NO ONE LIKES IT. Seriously, let's get real here. If you like a food, it'll get used up. So out went two bottles of salad dressing, a couple of odd sauces and some stale beef bouillion.

My dream kitchen will contain only what we use, in quantities suitable for our family size, neatly arranged. It's on its way to my house!

A low-clutter Mother's Day

This Mother's Day, I asked for specific gifts. Perfume, because I'm running low and I'm the sort of gal who wears it every day, and the chance to see a movie all by myself. I'm one of those odd ducks who prefers seeing movies alone. I like to escape into movie-world. It's more like reading a book that way, you know?

On Saturday, while my sweetie took the kids perfume shopping (always go to Nordstrom, they take good care of you) I went out to see Iron Man. I wasn't an Iron Man comic fan, but it's been getting really good reviews. I generally don't actually read the reviews for films I want to see since I hate spoilers and reviews don't seem able to write about movies these days without giving half the plot away. I did notice lots of stars on the reviews and that was enough for me. I love comic books and superhero films too. Daredevil, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Spiderman, all books I read monthly back in high school and college. Not sure why I never picked up an Iron Man issue, guess I had enough to keep track of.

I'll cut to the chase: that was the best movie I have seen in years. And, for the first time in I don't know how long, I walked out of the theatre, called my sweetie to let him know, and then walked right back in with a ticket for the next showing. It was that good. I won't say more, but do go out and see it yourself. This is one for the big screen, don't wait for the DVD.

After that decadent afternoon, I had to zip home since I had an appointment. Dinner was pizza--hey, it was Mother's Day weekend, I'll take a night off. We had brunch out on Sunday, then while sweetie, the kids and MIL/S-FIL took a trip out to the Snohomish river, I went out to see another movie. This time, I picked a chick flick, Made of Honor. It was ... ok. I left thinking, well that was cute, but not worth seeing again. I do like that Patrick Dempsey though, he was worth the admission price. Annoying movie goer in front of me kept lifting up her arm to play with her hair. I could have done without that.

I don't usually buy snacks in the movies. I'm not above sneaking in a treat. I had some almond M&Ms and Raisinets for Iron Man (1). Picked up a banana for nutrition at the supermarket next door for (2). Didn't have any snacks during Made of Honor. Just didn't need 'em. I was momentarily tempted by the popcorn, but it never tastes that good and it's so expensive. I'd rather just wait. I mean, it's only an hour and half. I never bring or get drinks at this particular theatre since the restroom is across the lobby and up a flight of stairs. There's no way I'll miss part of the movie for a potty break.

Yeah, I'm an oddball. But you knew that, right?

Consider the Magazine

For some reason, magazines are especially precious to hoarders. Not as dear as books, but up there pretty high on the list. They're so pretty, with the photographs, drawings, and even the ads. They're seductive, with their promises of renewal, knowledge and fortune.

I have about five years worth of Martha Stewart Living magazines. They're close to the last of my magazine stash. I let the bulk of the scrapbooking ones go last year, a hard decision, but the right one. Now, I'm pondering the MSLs. Can I let them go? Well, I never refer to them. I have the The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook which has most of the recipes from the magazines that I actually use. I pulled out a lot of the recipe cards (back when the magazine had them) and those are in my recipe card box. I even have a couple of annuals, from the few years they were published, that have every single recipe from that year's magazines. And, on Martha's website, one can search and find just about every recipe published.

But then, I think of the craft ideas. The lovely articles on whiteware, early American pottery, kitchen linens, dusting techniques. How to make a pincushion from an acorn.

These magazines are the ultimate in aspirational goods. I want to be a Martha, a creative, engaging, powerful person in charge of my life and surroundings. I want every meal to be not only nutritious, but bursting with colour and freshness, and seasonality. I want my bed linens to be fresh and scented with lavender or lilac, and to coordinate with the colours of my walls and my art.

Will keeping these magazines allow me to live this dream? No. Will I ever be able to live that dream? Yes, if it's important enough to me. Is it? Only I can decide that.

Using your noodle to cut down on clutter

Commenter Jay B. suggests using Netflix and the library to avoid media purchases. Amen, I say! While I don't plan on getting a Netflix sub, I do love love love the library. We get the bulk of our media there, books, movies and music. I have around 100 items on my holds list most of the time. When a movie I'm interested in is moving from the theatres to DVD, I just pop it on my holds list. Now, yes, sometimes you'll wait. And wait. And ... wait. We just came to the top of the list for Pirates of the Caribbean 3, and that's been out how long? There's the Netflix advantage, a lot less waiting! Still, I don't mind the waiting to save the $20-$30 a month.

There are some movies that I'll still buy. Back before Netflix existed and buying or renting from the local shops were the only options, my rule was, if I knew for sure that I'd watch the movie more than three times, I would buy it. When we got our first DVD player, I was more liberal than I would normally be, because of the novelty of the new form. Wow, a disc can hold a whole movie and special features! I've become a lot more discerning.

Why buy at all? We love to watch movies. We don't watch any broadcast TV. For example, I own the Lord of the Rings trilogy extended editions and I've watched each one at least ten times (yes, that's a lot of screen time). I like owning them, I can watch any time I please, no waiting, thank you ma'am. For the Ocean's Thirteen example, that's a movie I really love (I'm a sucker for caper movies, and add in George Clooney, well, there you go). I've already watched it twice since we bought it, and will watch it many more times.

A couple of years ago, we culled our DVDs and sold the ones we didn't feel we needed to keep. There were some early mistakes, ones we'd bought on impluse when the medium was knew. We just don't do that anymore. We've made the choices mindful.

Those who've seen my bookroom may be surprised to learn how few books I actually buy anymore. Most of my collection was amassed long ago, when I was in high accumulation mode. For the past five years, I've purchased very few books. The ones I do buy are ones I either know I will read again, ones I plan to read in compromising situations (while traveling, on the beach/boat, in the bath). It's worth $.69 to me to not worry about the condition of a book while I'm reading it, and likely, I'll either pass it on to a friend or use Paperback Swap and exchange it for something else.

How do you handle your media purchases? Do you buy or rent, borrow or rip?

Target & Thrift: Update!

I have still not set foot in a Target store! I do peruse the ads and last week, there was an item I really wanted (Ocean's Thirteen, widescreen, for only $9.99!). I was tempted, yes I was. But I held fast, and rather than going in myself, I asked my sweetie if he'd mind stopping off at Target on his way home from our daughter's guitar lesson, it's on the way. He was happy to, and thanks to our daughter's sharp eyes, they brought home my prize! Nothing else tempted them!

I stopped in at a thrift store last week. I went in looking for two particular books and left with four, three paperbacks for me, including the particular book (pbs are only $.69 at Goodwill), and one book for my older daughter. It'll be saved for an occasion, perhaps an upcoming weekend out of town.

Over at Chief Family Officer, Cathy is halfway through her 29 Day Giving Challenge. I plan to consider a similar challenge.

Do you have a storage unit?

(Get Rich Slowly has a great post about self-storage units.)

I do. It's not full of my stuff though. It's full of my mom's. I haven't had the heart to go through it yet. Neither has my sister. Oh, both of us have poked at it. Last time I visited it, I brought out an oriental-style runner rug that she used in her hallway. Now it's in mine and I think of her every time I see it.

Every month, I call the storage company and pay for another month's storage. I haven't set a deadline for how long I'm willing to keep paying. It's been over a year now. Still, I feel the loss every day.

I've occasionally toyed with the idea of getting a storage unit. I do my decluttering best when I'm able to let things "age", that is, to have some time where they're out of the house and out of sight. A month is good, sometimes it takes longer. This allows the attachment to fade, usually, and then those items can be donated or sold. I've used our garage, but have been tempted to try a storage unit just so I can do more at once. I fear though, that it would be far too easy to just keep paying the bill and avoid making decisions. Clutter comes from unmade decisions, postponed decisions. Every choice that can be made right away? That's a gift, of time and space.

How about you? Do you have a storage unit? If so, why?

No One Needs 13 Jars of Jam

Really, what were we thinking? I'll tell you how it happens. It's easy, really. You run out of your favorite jam. There's a whole slew of jam in the pantry (from the summer of canning). You open up one of those jars, hoping for something tasty. You spread it on your toast. It's...ok. Not great, not the best, but ok. So, it goes into the fridge. Another time, you stop at Trader Joe's. Wow, they've got that great usually expensive ginger preserve cheap! Better get some. No matter that only one person in the house likes it. (Notice the price tag? Remember when Trader Joe's used to use price tags? Yeah, it's that old!)

Then, there's the aspirational jam. That's the jam you wish you liked, but don't. In my case, it's the low-sugar jam. I just don't care for it. I wish I did, but I don't, no matter how many times I try.


Then, there's the jam I really love, that I only buy when it's on sale, that I always use up lickety-split (which is why there are no jars of it in the fridge!).
So, in a nutshell, that's how one can end up with 13 jars of jam in the fridge. Now, some of the gory pictures!
These are the ones still in the fridge. Both are almost empty. Y'know why? 'Cause they're tasty!

Just so you know...

So, I did go to a thrift store recently. Remember, while I gave them up for Lent, I didn't swear never to enter one again. Rather, I had planned to shop there mindfully. I really like using thrift stores--I'd much rather re-use something already created than buy something new. Such a waste to buy new again and again when there are perfectly good things already in existence.

I went in with a plan, with two items on my list: dressy pants and Daring To Dream by Nora Roberts. I found two pair of dressy pants (had to try on two dozen!) and I actually found the exact book I was looking for! I left happy, and having saved a lot over buying new.

Mindfullness is key. I didn't shop for entertainment, or just as a habit. I had a plan, I went in with a list, and I came out with exactly what I wanted.

It's Alive!

Thanks to a certain someone's ingenuity, we have a working gas stove. Extra cost due to the poorly placed gas line? About $3 in parts.

So Close...and Yet...Frustration

We got the range hood installed yesterday. It's a Craigslist find, $20. Today, we planned to install the range. Well, we tried, but as you can see in the lowest picture, the gas line (which we had installed ages ago and have never used) is too far from the wall and doesn't allow enough clearance for the range to fit properly. So frustrating! We've got to re-do the gas line to allow more space.

Ah, the Gleam of Fir!

The floors are done. The floors are done!! And, they look amazing!

Here's a reminder of what the floor used to look like. Isn't the transformation amazing?


Yesterday, DH installed the dishwasher (he's done it before and he likes plumbing, go figure!); today, we set the sink. That was a messy, annoying job. Still need to either clean up and re-use the old faucet or get a new one. There just aren't any new faucets that we like--they're all too modern or too old fashioned.

Here's the nice after, that is, after an hour of wiping up excess caulk!

Heading into the Home Stretch!

Well, yesterday I got the final coat of pinot noir on the walls, and did another coat on part of one cabinet (we'd sanded some drips aggressively). The new countertop is in, but not yet screwed down. The new sink is here, but it is unfortunately defective (warped, so it doesn't sit flat--and yes, we checked that the countertop was level!).

The floor refinishers come on Wednesday and work 'til Friday. Today, we cleared everything out of the pantry so the food wouldn't get contaminated by floor finish fumes. Still need to move out the house plants...remind me, will you?

We have our gas range, thanks to CraigsList. CraigsList has yielded: range, range hood, and dishwasher.

Everything is coming together. I'm working on the "punch list" so we can finish up the odds and ends.

My Pinot Noir Kitchen

Welcome to a new world of colour!

Today's Update

Well, after much thought, I decided that I miss the green. I'm going to stop at the paint store today and pick up some chartreuse paint for the walls, and go for puce on the cabinet doors. What do you think? It'll set off the white fridge well, but I may need to choose a more complementary color for the range...any tips? Maybe fuschia?

Lenten Resolution Update

For those of you following along, I made it through Lent with my resolution intact. I didn't set foot in either Target or any thrift store for the entirety of Lent. And, I still haven't even though Lent is now over.

The New CounterTop!

Here's an early-bird peek at the new countertop. That's Formica laminate on it, with a polyurethaned fir trim on the edge. The floors in the kitchen are fir, hence the trim choice (our Mr. Berry's idea!).

Happy 100th Birthday Dad!

I'm sad he's not here to celebrate. My dad was born in 1908, one hundred years ago today.

The above photo was taken at his work. When he met my mom, he was working as a longshoreman on the San Francisco Waterfront. I can't remember his pier #... He retired when I was in first grade or so, and then started working again a few years later. I guess it was hard to support a family on his ILWU-PMA pension. And, he liked to work, it was his main social outlet.

My dad was a great guy and a great dad. He had a lot of friends, was very social, and loved to chat with people of all types. He shared his love of reading with me. I remember one time when he tricked me into an addiction to Sherlock Holmes. He knew I'd enjoy them once I got started, so he paid me $1 to read the story "Silver Blaze". Of course, I did get hooked, and read all of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's ouvre.

I miss him all the time. He passed away in 1986. He was and is dearly loved.

Plumbing for Fun and Profit!

OK, so joking about the profit. But we did just save at least $300 and maybe more. Dear DH, who hates to paint, enjoys things like plumbing and electrical. Good thing I like to paint:-). The previous previous owners, when they installed a dishwasher, didn't properly do the drain pipe--they installed it too high, so we always had problems with the sink draining slowly (and, when we had a garbage disposer, it would back up). To do it right, we had to remove the old galvanized pipes. I mean it when I say old, these pipes were full of crud and stuck together. We had to use our little brains to get the job done. And, good old Archimedes!