Tackle-it Tuesday (Airing My Dirty Laundry Room)

My contribution to Tackle-it-Tuesday, hosted by Five Minutes for Mom, is Laundry!! Or I should say my Laundry room. The inspiration for this post came from Pickles and Cheese - her laundry Room Redo is so lovely ad it looks completely functional - check her out! Okay - here goes -My PC and I were in Costco just before Christmas, doing some shopping; we go down every aisle, just to be sure not to miss anything, and it's a good thing or we would have missed this:Pretty, huh? Well, I thought so because I thought this is the answer to all my laundry troubles! Troubles, you ask? Yes, troubles. My laundry room and master closet are on opposite ends of the house and I thought this would keep me organized and in clean laundry. The helps my back but that's about all. I have posted photos of my cute little laundry room before, you know the photo post that we all do, right after we have cleaned (or thrown everything into a corner you can't see on the blog) and everything looks perfect. Like this: But today here is the everyday reality: Those are clean clothes that I just keep taking out of the dryer and putting them in my pretty little cart and the hamper is Bubba's I have no idea if the clothes are clean or not and the other hamper is baby girls but I sort of kidnapped it when I put in dish towels. So what's the problem here? I have no interim space...a space where clean clothes can live and dirty dishtowels can hide. I really need to think about this and would love any suggestions. The problem with not having the cart in there is that three different people do laundry all week long and just take out the other persons laundry and throw it on the counter...not very pretty. I want to pretty it up and make it functional. Help Blogland - what would you do?

Okay- gotta go fold some of this before I go to work- Tata for now and thank you in advance for any help you may offer!

Tackle-it Tuesday - Scraproom Redo or A Room of One's Own

It's Tackle it Tuesday over at 5Minutes for Mom and as I said yesterday - I am de-decorating a room a day. Sunday was the day that I put away the Scraproom Tree and decorations. I had been thinking about this room quite a bit, because I haven't really used it that much this year...sad. I think part of it is because I keep thinking Momma will be home tomorrow and she will need the room back. Until Sunday...on Sunday I thought..."just make it what I want...my space ...my domain...a room of my own."

Please come in... I have been thinking a lot about resolutions and commitments; I feel like I need a place to close the doors and focus on my goals, a slice of solitude even though the house is empty most of the time...if I'm in this room...I can give myself permission to focus on my needs and wants and let the rest be damned for an hour or two!

I can create with all the tools I have at my disposal.

I can weed through all the memorbilia so neatly stuffed into my baskets (I am a basket freak!)...

I can daydream about my next blog post.....

I can invite the BFF over and we can sip wine and create works of art together....So I did and the BFF came over yesterday and we sat in here and pretended to be creative for a few hours and it was good. I love the way this room feels now...I feel like I am ready to tackle 2010 with grace and gratitude. I probably won't have to give it up...Baby Girl will probably have her own place by the time Momma gets back, so Momma will get a bigger room (she needs it- she's been collecting stuff). Hope you enjoy the view of my little slice of solitude. Off to a Facial Party with the Girls- I Love Winter Break! Tata for now!

Tackle it Tuesday

As you can tell, I love blog parties...they are just genius! I would never have stumbled onto some of the best ideas and met the nicest ladies if not for Blog Parties. They are just too fun! So today, over at 5 Minutes for Mom, it is Tackle it Tuesday. Basically you pick something that you have been procrastinating on or something that is just sort of nagging at the back of your mind all the time and you tackle it. So today my project is my cute Parting Favors for my Cookie Exchange coming up on Sunday. I know! I know! They should be finished, but that's why I have to tackle them today. Here's a sneak peek at what I have before me...I don't think it will give too much away to the ladies who are coming to the exchange and reading my blog.

So tonight after work, I'll be printing, cutting, mixing etc to get these puppies finished. I can't reveal what I am going to do with them today, but I will post next Tuesday about what I did with them...and just a hint...I'll be participating in more than one party...I'll get to post on all the Tasty Tuesday parties...yeah! Okay off to work, TaTa for now!

Tackle it Tuesday - The Sock Drawer

Today I Tackle the Sock Drawer! Does anyone else in blogland have a drawer that looks like this? My poor PC has to root around in here every morning to find a flippin' matching pair. So today I decided I would tackle this big ol' monster and make it useful. But then I thought what a boring post...what can I do to Jazz up the sock drawer post - Internet research of course! Let's see...

I could direct you over to the funny little "My Sock Drawer" Blog, where you can discover the Sock of the Week, or take a poll and contribute to the missing sock theory.

Or we could go traveling with Bubba (not my Bubba) from Bubba's Sock Drawer. I never knew Sock Monkeys got around so much but this little guy has been to quite a few places and he has friends - a Blogland for Sock Monkeys!
Then we could read about the Dragon in the Sock Drawer or just the review, but if I had little Kiddos believe me we would be reading that story this morning and go looking for that dragon. Of course WE would have to match and fold all the socks and find a lizard instead (stuffed of course, because Momma has one). Oh well, no little kiddos, can I borrow one or two of yours?
And of course, there is the monetary benefit of having a sock drawer. Women's Day Magazine says: Make your sock drawer an ATM -Instead of paying ATM fees every week, figure out your monthly expenses and put that much cash in a drawer or shoebox on the first of every month. "Whenever you need more cash, take out $20 at a time," Knuckey suggests. "By having only $20 in your wallet, you'll be much less likely to spend a dollar on a soda here and $3 on a snack there." You'll also tend to be more careful with your money so that it lasts all month long.

Photo: © Comstock

They also had several other tips about saving money but this is a Sock post...let's stay on track.

What about MAKING MONEY with the sock drawer? or Shopping out of the sock drawer? The Sock drawer shelter over Etsy has some really cute critters. Go see this little shop - very cute. What? okay...back on track.

We could explore alternatives to the sock drawer. Over at Organization Quest (informative little blog), this blogger talks about a friends "naturally organized" mom storing socks in shoes. Interesting...however PC has 2 pair of shoes and a gazillion socks. Nope won't work. She has a bunch of good ideas on her blog - go visit and leave some love.

Lastly, I can give you (and myself) tips copied from eHow about sorting the sock drawer:

Step 1
Pull all socks out of the drawer and onto a bed or table. Match up pairs of loose socks. Set aside those that need mending. Remove socks that are beyond repair, along with single socks, and reuse these for another purpose (see Tips) or toss.
Step 2
Insert a drawer organizer. Use narrow shoe boxes or commercial sock boxes. Make use of as much space as possible, placing the boxes lengthwise in the drawer.
Step 3
Designate a small area as a holding place for lone socks. Toss them after a month.
Step 4
Return the pairs to the drawer, grouping them in the boxes by color and type (pantyhose, sport, dress). Use a trifold method for storing the socks versus the cuff-over strategy. It's quicker and minimizes stretching of the cuff elastic.
Step 5
Match up pairs as you sort each batch of clean laundry and place them in the appropriate box.

AHA!! Step 5 is the glitch! I have to sort them BEFORE they go into the drawer - I thought my drawer was broken. Oh well, I guess what it all boils down to is that this post is still boring, and I still have a sock drawer to tackle. TaTa for now!

Tackle-it Tuesday with PC

PC and I have been working on the stone columns all day today. We have been grouting the joints. It looks beautiful when we complete one, but we worked from 10:00am - 3pm and only finished 4 of the 7! So tomorrow we'll be tackling it again, but for now we are getting cleaned up to go to dinner and maybe a movie. Yeah! I really wanted to work on the craft room and maybe sort some stuff for a yard sale, but he said "let's go get some breakfast and then come back and work on the columns: wanted to spend time with him. Be still my heart, he wants to send the day with me.........Do you think he'll help me sort paper and stickers? Oh well, a girl can dream. Here are some pics from today.

This is our little breakfast spot - The Skillet Cafe. The car door is open because he just opened it for me (see why he has the name PC).

It's the sweetest little place, our usual waitress, Gayle, wasn't there today - we were sad.
PC thought I was crazy for taking pictures - I told him to get used to it - I'm a blogger now, which is way more dangerous than a scrapbooker -poor thing (because I'm both)!

Here's my Coffee on the Table (hee hee), cute cups huh, very cafe. "Now we have to work it off "he says. That is Tea in the HUGE cup on top - that is not the decorative light fixture.

Nothing says summertime like lemonade in a mason jar. We keep the lid on it around here to keep out the dirt - not the bugs.

Okay - off to dinner - Have a great evening - TaTa for now!

Summertime Day 3

Oh! I'm so excited! My Momma sent me a thunderstorm all the way from Ohio! It is the perfect day to putter around the house and organize my closet! I chose this project for my Tackle it Tuesday and Works for Me Wednesday because I was procrastinating and letting it get worse by the day AND I already knew that Color-coding my closet shaves at least 10-15 minutes off of my morning routine. Added bonus: I used Tracy Porter's idea for creating a Jewelery Nook - because my Jewelry is always a mess in my drawer. Not anymore! Isn't it Darling! What a beautiful day and it's only 9:00!

Here are a few Before shots:

See, everything is just thrown on a hanger and hung on the rod - no rhyme or reason, looking through this just frustrates me!

My shoes are the worst - I have shelves - but for some reason, they end up here.

This little chest is at the end of the closet, serves it's purpose with the drawers, but I am about to spice it up (it's a little boring).

Now the After shots (I Love this part)Color Coded - ROY G BIV then Black, Gray, white, Cream, Brown

Shoes back in their place on the shelves , window seat to sit and get dressed. Lovely!

My brand new Jewelry nook! Pay no attention to the men's clothes to the side - he has to have somewhere to put his clothes.

I don't have a lot- so this is too perfect. The Picture, the relish plate and boxes were bought at yard sales, the scarf in Paris, the Cake plate was a birthday gift from a friend. I think it needs a mirror of some sort.

Oh, this so something my Momma would do!

I hope ya'all enjoyed the post - have a great day!

Summertime Day 2

Well as I was reading my favorite blogs last night, I stumbled onto Rhondi's Porch & Patio Party. Our porch is currently under construction, but I took pictures anyway (my momma wants to see the progress). I loved seeing all of your beautiful porches, a real inspiration to what my will be soon. You may see caution tape and dirt, but I see a little bistro set sitting stage right, red geraniums on the steps, and two beautiful topiary on each side of the door. My Prince Charming has been working very hard on the weekends, and as you can see - not much left to do; 1 step and the stucco on the walls. Then the dirt mounds on the side will be a small hill of grass (we have to plant grass out her ya'all). I can't wait!

This is the little spot of color that makes me smile right now. My Momma left me her container garden, and I plan on bringing everything up front, but for now, this little guy is the winner.

As for my Tackle-It Tuesday, I am heading into my bedroom closet and will post pictures tomorrow because it also counts for a Works for Me Wednesday. Curious? It's no big deal, just something that makes my mornings smoother. OK, off to have a little yearbook party with the kiddos at school (I will be having fun, I will not be working). Yearbook day is so exciting (especially this year - I was the advisor), I already pulled my Junior Year (1987) off the shelf and ruffled through the pages of time. Can you say "Big Bar Hair" , girls what were we thinking?! Oh, I hope twenty years from now EHS students ruffle through and say "Why is my belt around my knees?". TaTa for now.

Today I am going to begin preparations for heading to Europe on Monday. I know, I know - I should be packed already and living out of my suitcase from home, but I am a procrastinator. So today I am going to begin my list of things to do before we go and things to pack. I have done all the research about where we will go and what we will do and see, now I just need to have clothes and accessories for the trip. My challenge is to have as little luggage as possible for our 12 day trip - meaning- carry-on only. I learned my lesson last year when my daughter and I were lugging our HUGE suitcases onto the Metro and then onto the Euro-star (you feel very silly when your luggage does not fit). So here's my list and a picture of my closed (because it is empty) suitcase.

To do:

1. Get hair trimmed and roots touched up

2. Put Passports, phone, camera and moleskines in travel purse.

3. Put together outfits based on days' activities and note needed items.

4. Stop paper (kiddies and mum will not read)

5. Stop at bank, get some traveler's checks and advise them of International travel.

6. While in town, shop for travel size toiletries, snacks for hubby and a few essential fashion pieces for the two of us.

7. Buy extra memory card (maybe look for smaller camera).

8. Make a list of people to buy for and note likes & collections.

That's all I can think of today.

Check out more "Tackle It Tuesdays" at 5 Minutes For Mom!