Daily Declutter Challenge #35 - Games....Worth the Valuable Cupboard Space!

Back before my husband & I were married, we spent a lot of time with another family who had been married for over 10 years with two children.  One thing we loved about this couple is how much they enjoyed playing games with each other & with their guests.  I don't recall ever seeing the TV on in their home.  But they had the most impressive games CLOSET!  From the top to the bottom, filled with nothing but games.  I distinctly remember my then fiancee & I saying how much we wanted that for our future family.

We are well on our way.  We don't have an entire closet, but a few select cupboards.  As I was organizing them today, I only had the heart to get rid of two - Who Wants to Be A Millionaire and Magnetic Backgammon.  I'm tempted to get rid of Monopoly, because we never play it....but it's just such a classic.

I did manage to shift some shelves around a bit to better contain the ones we are sticking with.  But that's the great thing about decluttering.  You get to decide what's really worth keeping.  And this is one investment in love and laughter in our family that is worth holding onto.  (Especially since we get most of our games from Value Village - you can pick up some real gems there!)

These are just the games that our 4 year old can play - won't be long till she's into Catan & Ticket to Ride!

Daily Declutter Challenge #34 - $2 Linen Closet Solution

I actually did do a daily declutter yesterday, but I didn't post it, since it was more of a "Spring Clean". I pulled out the bottom drawer from under the oven, and decided NOT to take a picture and horrify you all. I'm sure your brain can imagine the scunge.


Today's declutter was much more gratifying. The linen closet. I have to organize this area on a fairly regular basis, since let's face it, kids aren't that careful about keeping stacks of towels neatly folded.

The area that was the most troublesome was the bottom.  All the big blankets and extra pillows get stored here, but our girls also like using this area as a great hiding spot.  It becomes a real pain though when blankets are spilling into the hall and you can't close the door.

Through all my decluttering and home organizing I've been learning that SMALLER SPACES = BETTER STORAGE.  I asked my husband if he could build another shelf for the closet.  A trip to IKEA and a visit to our favourite "as is" section produced a $2 piece of shelving.

Can you spot it?  Just one extra shelf made such a difference!  I was able to take a bag of scrap fabrics that was in my closet and put it in the large basket.  I also stored our winter flannel sheets in a clear bedding bag and put those on the very top.  Another great tip I learned for keeping sheets nicely organized is to fold them up and place them inside their pillowcase.

Fitted sheet, top sheet, & pillowcase, all nicely kept together & ready to go.  Thank you, Martha Stewart!


This $2 shelf took my husband less than an hour to cut and put up.  Why didn't I ask him to do this years ago? What a difference an extra shelf makes!  Are there closets in your home that could use an extra shelf or two?  All you need is a piece of wood cut to size (Home Depot will do this for you if you don't have a saw) and a couple brackets.  My husband just cut a few pieces of wood to size to make brackets to match the other ones already in the closet, but you can buy all sorts of easily mountable brackets from hardware stores.  Two dollar storage solution - sooooo simple.  Especially if you have a Mr. Fix-it-Fox like I do!

Japanese Themed Crafts and Baking - Fundraising Ideas!

When something as incomprehensible as entire villages, towns, and entire cities are literally swept away by an earthquake and resulting tsunami, it's easy to watch it all with a sense of helplessness.  But I am a firm believer in the fact that when everyone does what they can (even if it seems so very little!) it can accomplish a great deal.

Thus, tonight we had a simple fundraiser for Japan at our little, inner-city church's midweek bible study.  Anyone could easily do this after a sunday service at their church, or even during your workplace's coffee or lunch break.  We served green tea and green tea cookies before the teaching time and just asked for any donation that people could give.

Also, during our young adult bible study time we also served sushi and everyone brought their donation for that as well.  I spoke with the owner of a local sushi bar and he gave me a very good deal on some great sushi.  He was so funny, because I requested a party platter, and he asked, "Are they Canadian or Asian?  Men or women?  Aaaaahhh...I'll give you some of my beef teriyaki sushi."  Hee!  Hee!  I had no idea there was "cowboy sushi"!  It was very good, by the way.

My ten year old daughter helped me put together some very easy paper crafts.  (Why decorate?  Because it inspires people!)  We made a string of paper lanterns and also some simple folded fans which we gave out to at the end of the evening to remind people to pray for Japan.  I didn't have any Japanese themed paper, so I simply copied and pasted images and printed them out from this free site.

I loved the Green Tea Cookies recipe so I'll to share it with you.  I think I'd like to try it with Earl Grey and Chai Tea as well.

GREEN TEA WHOLE WHEAT COOKIES
1 Cup Butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
3 green tea bags, crushed a little
1 egg yolk
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder

1.  In a medium bowl, mix together the butter and honey until smooth. Empty the contents of the tea bags into the mixture and discard the bags. Mix until well blended. Stir in the egg yolk and peppermint extract. Blend in the flour and baking powder. Divide into 3 sections, wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

2.  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). On a floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough at a time to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into 2 inch round shapes using a cookie cutter. Place cookies onto ungreased baking sheets spaced 1 inch apart.

3.  Bake for 7 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until the tops are dry, and the edges begin to brown lightly. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature when completely cooled.

Enjoy with a cup of tea, share with friends, or raise money for a great cause!

Homemade Green Carpet Deodorizer

Is anybody getting a spring cleaning urge?  OK, maybe you haven't, but here is a super cheap, green way to give your carpets a little perk up without going all out and giving them a steam cleaning.  And it uses that amazing cleaning product that should be in every home.

Baking Soda!

 

HOMEMADE GREEN CARPET POWDER

1.  Put baking soda in a repurposed container with holes drilled in lid.  (I used an old peanut butter jar and tried to punch holes with a nail, but it just cracked the plastic.  Hubby suggested trying a drill next time.)  A cheese shaker would work as well.


2.  Sprinkle a few drops of essential oil and mix well with a fork to remove any clumps.  I used orange and eucalyptus.

3.  Sprinkle on your carpets and let sit for anywhere from  15 minutes to overnight if you don't mind the powder everywhere, then vacuum.  Or in my case let your Roomba loose.  (I love my Roomba!  I tell him all the time so he feels appreciated.  And yes, my Roomba is a he.)

This powder doesn't just need to be used on carpets  Sprinkle anywhere that needs a scrubbing - sink, counters, fridge...skip on those nasty chemical cleaners!

Daily Declutter Challenge #33 - Bulliten Board Makeover

I can't believe I'm getting to the end of the kitchen decluttering!  And it feels even more amazing, considering I have such a pretty area to work with thanks to my Surprise Kitchen Makeover!

This was not only a declutter but a "pretty-i-fier".  Messy, utilitarian bulliten board.

I had some really pretty paper that I got on sale at Michael's.  I loved the vintagey floral print so I picked it up on a whim.

Most of the stuff on the bulletin board was expired or useless information now, so I didn't need to keep very much at all.

AFTER:

It goes so nicely with the new flower prints that my friend gave me.  I'm starting to feel practically springlike in spite of winter's chill that is still in the air.

Kitchen Makeover Surprise!!!

I came home today to be completely suprised by a kitchen makeover!  A couple of my friends had snuck in while I was gone and blessed my socks off with repainting a kitchen table & adding so many more beautiful little touches!

Okay here's the back story.  My husband and I found a solid wood kitchen table and four ladderback chairs from a thrift store about a month back.  They were in great shape but the table top was painted a light sagey green, that while probably looked great in someone else's kitchen, wouldn't work in mine.

I thought of my friend, Michele, who is great with do it yourself decorating, and asked her if she could come over to give a few pointers on what colour I should paint it.   Plus it was a great chance for two busy mommies to visit. She was awesome in her painting advice and I could see her mind whirring with possibilities for the kitchen.

As she left my house that day she later said that she felt the Lord telling her that she was supposed to bless our family with a kitchen makeover.  So she conspired with my husband to get me out of the house for the day (church in the AM & then lunch & shopping at IKEA in the PM.)  He spent the day before testing out his new sander on the kitchen table so that it would be all ready for the painters!

Here's the only before I have of the $20 thrift store find.

The colour isn't very accurate in this picture, the top looked a lot greener in real life.

This is a before in the kitchen that my husband snuck this morning.

When I came home I discovered THIS!

Not only had my "little elf" painted the kitchen table in a beautiful, glossy white, but she also put up a gorgeous silver framed mirror, and added a whole bunch of other decorative elements and vignettes to tie the whole thing together.

This mirror fits perfectly and makes the kitchen seem waaay bigger!

 

I "heart" this!  And I never would have thought of adding a black shaded lamp here.  So elegant!

The black touches help balance what was previously a space overly washed in white.

 A sweet little trio of botanical prints.  Michele said she was inspired by my yellow kitchen walls.

 

Another happy little spot!

Everything including the kitchen sink got a special something!

What a great, inspiring place for my girl to do her homework!

My friend could not keep herself anonymous.  I KNEW as soon as I walked in that my friend had pulled this off!  She had help from her hubby and our friend, Deanna.  Thank you, everyone!  In the typically humble manner of someone who enjoys blessing others, Michele wrote this in a note to me...
"You and Mike are amazing people - you have given so much of yourselves to those you've been called to serve. A mommy's life is always busy and added to that for you are the many appointments and care for sweet Ellie. You are a blessed family in so many ways - the treasures you have in each other are beautiful, it is very evident!!

So, all that to say this, enjoy your space. I was so inspired that day - you had everything already there - the furniture, the desk, the table - it was great!! I didn't think you'd mind, but I called Mike with a bit of timidness, knowing in my heart what I was to do, and yet to ask someone if you can come into their house and "do stuff" - ha'!! Well, it's a first for me - but I do hope you enjoy it."
My kitchen may have been a first for Michele, but I hope it's not her last.  I told her she could do this as a business and I know that if you needed a consultant that she would have great advice for you!  I'm officially endorsing, "Designs by Michele" or whatever she should call it.  No pressure, Michele.  Okay, maybe a bit of pressure.  Forget Benjamin Moore - you've got what it takes girl!

Thank you, thank you, thank you again!  I know that blessing will be poured out on you because, "The generous will prosper, those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."  (Proverbs 11:25)

Daily Declutter Challenge #32 - The Recipe Cupboard

Today I decluttered a cupboard above the stove that I rarely open.

As much as I love to cook, I find that I rarely look into my recipe books.  And when it looks like this, can you blame me?  I look online for most of my recipes, and often have my laptop sitting next to the stove while I cook - much to my husband's horror!

I pulled everything out - recipe books, magazines, loose papers, cards, and went through it all.

This is what I decided to get rid of...papers went into the recycle bin and the cookbooks went into the garage sale pile.

I couldn't part with it all so I kept the ones that were sentimental to me (...the 4-H cookbook my Grandma gave me shortly before she passed away, our church cookbook...), my Company's Coming books ('cause they're just spectacular), and I kept in the card box my favourite recipes and my holiday traditionals, not just, "Hey this recipe looks good...maybe I'll make it someday."

Once everything was decluttered I realized that I had waaaay more cupboard space than I thought.  Up went the fondue pots, freeing up the cupboard over the fridge.

So much better!

I took a couple items that were cluttering up the floor next to the fridge, and was able to put them in the newly freed up cupboard!

My house seems bigger by the day!  I don't need more space, just less stuff.