Ice Cube Tray

Life Cycle of the Ice Cube Tray
 

Before kids - the ice cube tray is for ice cubes.
Raising babies - freeze lil portions of homemade baby food in it.
Tween girl - uses the ice cube tray to corral earrings :)
Busy Mom - tidies the junk drawer with it.
Garage - relegated to nails, screws, and bits.
Recycle bin - Recycled - into another ice cube tray?

What to Wear - The Six Items or Less Clothing Diet

Fourth in a series:

Six Items or Less - becoming a habit.   

After applying the Six Items or Less philosophy to my clothes for two months, true change began to set in!  No longer racing around in the morning trying to figure out what to wear, I could focus on the task ahead.  I learned it's NOT all about the accessories (It's All About the Accessories, Right?) and I certainly learned What NOT to Wear.

I also learned that, because of the temperature controlled world we live in, my clothes did not get THAT dirty.  It was rare that I would sweat or play in dirt! without time to change.  As a result, I began changing out of the selected items as soon as possible.  This way, I could get a 2nd, or 3rd! use out of them before laundering.  Two particular cotton t-shirts and yoga pants became my uniform around the house - or when getting sweaty or dirty.

I learned to hang-up my clothes.  I know, not a big deal, but it was not my habit.  Take it off.  Hang it up.

In anticipation of November, I began to scrutinize my wardrobe and add to the donation pile.  Sweaters with any trace of wool - gone!  Too itchy.  Cropped pants - gone!  They look all wrong on me because they hike up in back.   Cute tops that hung limply at the wrong length no matter how much I liked them - gone!

November was upon me, and I was ready.  I thought through my month - Homebound Tutor for special needs child, Battle of the Books coach at the Elementary School, Thanksgiving hostess, Temple Library volunteer...I spent 30 minutes here and there scrutinizing my options.  The clear winner was the black stretch pant, as it could be dressed up or down.  Two cardigans followed.  And my favorite brown corduroys.

In the closet, I pulled 10 brown hangers to use as a guide for my new hanging habit.  And culled my November wardrobe to 10.  No need to limit all the way to six.  I had learned my lessons.

The Six Items or Less challenge reminds me of when I tried the South Beach Diet.  Eating consciously and eating the good stuff - spinach, tomato, and egg omelettes.  I didn't last two months without cheese mixed in, but I carry habits from that experience to this day.  Whenever I need to drop a pound or two, I skip the carbs.  And I always have eggs for breakfast!  

Thursday...Synopsis and takeaways.

What to Wear - It's All About the Accessories, Right?

When I selected my six September clothing items for the 6 Items or Less challenge last August (see yesterday's - What to Wear), I thought of all the possible combinations.  I did the math.  Because two tops could also be worn UNDER the dress AND with or without the white button down shirt, I determined there were about 20 possible options.  Here are photos of three:
 

Cute top OVER dress

3 items at once

White shirt OVER dress

Next up - the accessories!  I piled jewelry from various sources (read - tween) and selected color stories.  Then I organized them in bags for easy retrieval.

I also selected 6 options to "Get Really Sweaty" in.  These were clothes to use when cleaning house, completing yardwork, walking in forest preserves, or doing pilates. I chose to use them as pajamas too.

2 items with icing

Etc...etc...etc...

6 "Sweaty" options

In the end, however, I really only used 4 of the "Get Really Sweaty" options.  I just kept throwing the Life is Good t-shirt and the yoga pants in with other laundry.  They were comfortable and flattering and I got good use out of them.  

It was from my "Get Really Sweaty" options that I began to understand how to achieve success when wearing fewer clothes.  

It was NOT:

1. How the items looked in tandem on a bed.

2. How the pieces hung in two feet of space in the closet.

3. How chunky turquoise accessories accented the black.

4. How white floral accessories highlighted the floral print.

5. How creative it was to layer shirts OVER a dress to make it look like a skirt.

The way to achieve success was finding clothes that fit.  And only one of the six items was comfortable and flattering and made me feel good.  It took me nearly 30 days to figure this out.

Tomorrow...trying again.

What to Wear

Please join me as I prepare my 8-10 wardrobe pieces for the month of May.  What started as an experiment last fall, has become a life-long habit.  It changed the way I use my clothes. 

WEAR it all began...

In August 2010, I read about the 6 items or less challenge in the Chicago Tribune.  The challenge?  For people to look critically at their clothing and keep fewer items in rotation.  The actual challenge was to wear the same 6 items for 30 days.  Inspired by the photos, I spent several days thinking and paring down.

Looking back at the earnest photos (followed by supportive comments) posted to Facebook eight months ago, causes me to shake my head and smile - I have learned so much since then...

September 2010.  First attempt at pairing down my wardrobe for 30 day stretches.

1.  Jeans

2.  Black Shorts

3.  Colorful T-shirt

4.  White Shirt

5.  Cute Top

6.  Dress

More 6 items or less tomorrow...

Eco Easter

Easter baskets are a colorful tradition, but you don't have to spend money for them to be festive.  In fact, you do not need to purchase plastic Easter eggs, plastic grass, or baskets.  Get in the habit of reusing these items from year to year - think Christmas ornaments (and/or menorahs and dreidels, for double observing households like mine).  Make do with what you have on hand.

If you didn't save last year's grass, you can STILL make your own (and toss it into beach buckets?)!  Martha Stewart suggests shredding old wrapping paper.  Too cute :)

Martha Stewart

Shredded paper Easter grass!  

Eco Easter made Easy!

Reuse plastic grass from year to year.  About a week after Easter, dismantle the baskets and store everything (baskets too!) in an "Easter" box.  Check the plastic eggs for jelly bean crumbs first.

This year, try filling the eggs with loose change and serve the candy in bowls!  My mom (aka: Easter Bunny) used to hide jelly beans in cupcake liners.  And reuse peeps!  For constructing award-winning dioramas (Chicago Tribune Peep Contest).
 
Declare Order learned something new:
Beeping Easter eggs are available for children with visual impairments.
Inspired!

Hysterical Memorabilia

Parents are downsizing...

Hysterical, historical memorabilia.  We're crying.  We're laughing.  We're all a bit vulnerable processing the objects of our shared history.

After some cleansing breaths (and a few hugs) we prepare to pass the treasured memories along.

Great-great-great-great Grandpa Milo

  Delicate blocks.  From a time without bells and whistles.

Sweet photos of simpler times.

If you want to understand today.  

You have to search yesterday. ~ Pearl S. Buck

Know all the words to this album by heart.

Free to Be...You and Me, 1972
A project of the Ms. Foundation for Women
click to listen to: "When We Grow Up"

Spring in the Big Box Store

Spring!  
'Tis the season of reNEWal - and the kids they are a-chirping...
 Mom!  We need new soccer balls!  Ours are...
Too small!
Dirty!
Going flat!

Why would they even bring up soccer balls?  Didn't we come here for new shorts?

And then you see them.  The objects of their desire...

Tie-dye soccer balls!  How to resist?

Not unlike the mating call of birds, Big Box stores entice (even tweet @) us to spend, spend, spend!  Acknowledge the appeal of the wall of colorful soccer balls on display at the Big Box store, but recognize the intent of the display.

Before you bring another soccer ball into the fold, take a few pages from the Big Box store of marketing and apply them in your own space.  Address the condition of all of the balls you already own.  Work with your kids to organize the KIDZONE of the garage.

For now, keep the spring transitional clutter at bay.  Appreciate the brilliant design of the tie-dye soccer balls

...and leave them in their Big Box nest.

Sneak Peep

     'Tis the season to re-purpose peeps.  Tween gave this couple the keys to the playmobile car.  They have the top down and are ready to roll...

Beep Peep

No texting while driving!

Want some serious inspiration?  The deadline for the fifth annual Washington Post Peeps Show is Monday, March 14th!   View pics of  previous winners @ Peeps Show IV.

 Update:  Chicago Tribune has a little diorama contest too!  Peeps in Play.  Deadline noon on Friday, March 25th.

Organizing 101

24 clear pocket / over-the-door / shoe organizer

     This winter, our family used a shoe pocket organizer for corralling hats, mittens, and gloves.  It proved to be an efficient home for these items.  Now that March is here, it is time to think about storing the winter gear away and using the organizer for something else! 

My sister sorts incoming mail in hers...

Please click links below for other colorful solutions:

 10 unconventional uses for a clear pocket shoe rack

Vertical Vegetables?

Or maybe even...shoes?

LOL

“I have a microwave fireplace in my house. 

The other night I laid down in front of the fire for the evening in two minutes.”

- Stephen Wright

Define, "mantel."

mantel n : a beam, stone, or arch serving as a lintel (horizontal piece across the top of an opening that carries the weight of the structure above it) to support the masonry above a fireplace; also : a shelf above a fireplace...

Two years ago, while re-purposing our guest room to host a French High School Student for two weeks, I hopped on the Quotes on the Walls bandwagon.  Looking for something friendly to replace a series of five floral papers in marching frames, I turned to the computer.  My tween opted in and (for free!) created a kicky set of letters for us to spell out, "L-A-U-G-H."

Together, we pulled the decorative floral papers out of their frames, slipped her "L-A-U-G-H" letters in and...voila!  Très bon.

Can't remember when they were removed from the guest room to rest upon the mantel, but they have been living there happily ever since...

Amusant :)

Seeing Red - A Love Story

Last minute Valentine's Day errands have you frustrated?  Rushing to "put on a show" for your family?

Think you don't have the energy or creativity to do it on your own?

Yes, you DO!  The only Big Box store you need is your own home!  You don't even have to get dressed.

DECLARE ORDER WITH RED.

Take 5 minutes to make a pile of RED household items.  Go ahead.  I'll wait...
I raided my Kitchen, Birthday Box (see archives - Pencil Giving Needs), Gift Wrap drawer and found -

RED STUFF!

FOCUS ON YOUR SCHEDULE. 
What would make the most sense?
For your life.
For today.
A CENTERPIECE?
PLACE SETTINGS?
ENTRY?
LUNCH BOXES?

After looking at the RED STUFF and thinking about OUR schedule,
I chose to RED UP the kitchen table.
I started with the white breakfast bowls...

Hey!  

These look pretty sweet against the RED STUFF! 

Then I remembered the white tablecloth from Thanksgiving...

And...voila!

PRETTYFUL

My mom is an expert at making do.
She taught us that little loving touches can have as much impact as an "in your face" display.  My tween wandered past and asked to help blow up the balloons.  Then lamented she, "hadn't gotten me anything."  But the day is young and she is resourceful...Can't wait!
Thanks, mom. xox

LOVE STORIES

Oooh!  Inspiration!  I think I will take the paper placecards and write thoughtful little one sentence messages on the inside to my husband and kids...

"I love it when you___________.  

It is fun when we ___________.  

I am proud of you when___________."

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Declaring Order in a Storage Room - The Gift That Keeps on Giving

With the fast and furious
dump/recycle complete...
(please refer to blog archives) 

What is "left" in the leftovers?

Photo 1 - Colorful Donations for Goodwill

Photo 2 - School Papers for Recycling

Photo 3 - A Gift Certificate for a Beloved Teacher?!?

Expires 6/2011

...OOPS!

Brought it to school and gave it to her.
Seven months late!  She was tickled :)

Book Whisperer

 

"My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way." ~ Hemingway

Not sold on the e-book trend.  Real books wilt in the attic.  Live in stacks.  They eat, pray, and leave (perhaps in a tote bag at a book club, or a seat on the train).  Occasionally they meander back.  Or they don't - making room for more!

Books comfort.  Enrich.  Beg to be handled.  Removed.  "Take me with you!"  Then, "Pass me along..."

Make a home library if you must - sorted by subject and/or size.  Author, color, or treasure factor.  Keep track of them when they go.  Fret until they return.  But cherish.


The Book Whisperer 

Tiptoe

    In last week's "Pencil Giving Needs" post, I described the contents of a much-used Birthday Box.  One of the list items included "slightly loved" birthday candles.  Another candle tip follows below, but...it's been a hectic day...let's take a moment to imagine the shimmer of a candle...reflecting on the water...How about a little musical interlude?... (click now to listen)...breathe in...breathe out...breathe in...breathe out...;)

YouTube - Candle on the Water by Helen Reddy

"Let this candle guide you..."

     Ahh...much better...So, the problem with using candles for entertaining is - wax runs like water.  Your tapers runneth over.  To slow the burn, place tapers in the freezer for 24 hours.  Remove.  Warm to room temperature and forget about them.  Whatever your future taper needs, there will be far less wax dribble.  And your candles will last for years.  And you won't waste your time googling, "How to remove red wax from carpet fibers?"

     It works for pillars too.  But sometimes they crack.  So tiptoe around them. Shhh...

Do or do not...there is no try

"Do or do not...there is no try."  ~  Yoda

Warning:  The following is a clothing experiment that requires more than an, "I'll try."

The only way to fully grasp the freedom of the "Six Items or Less" challenge is to DO it.

Or do not.

From the website, "Six Items or Less"
http://sixitemsorless.com/the-experiment/: 

"What do our clothes say about us? 
Why do spend so much time on what we wear? 
What happens when we don’t?

 

Six Items or Less began as a small experiment between friends and quickly grew to become a global movement questioning the power of what we don’t wear.

The scope of the Six Items project expanded rapidly around the world, exposing individuals and even entire families to explore a life with less. The community now acts as a participant-driven platform that features discussions on everything from fashion to financials to personal feelings and development.

The experiment is simple: each participant gets to choose six (and only six) items of clothing and pledge to wear only these six items of clothing for a month.

Logistically, there are exceptions that don’t count towards the six: undergarments, swim wear, work-out clothes, work uniforms, outer wear (rain slicker, outdoor jacket), shoes and accessories. You can get multiples of the same item for laundry purposes, but different colors count as separate items.

Most people have asked about the reasoning behind the experiment and most also assume it’s a grand statement about consumerism. In reality, there is no dictated driving thought–it’s for you to decide its meaning and relativity in your world. It’s about putting a challenge out there and seeing what people bring to it, do with it and talk about." 

Six items for 30 days.  
It will change the way you think about your clothes.    

Just Do It.  

There is no, "try."

Boys 8-10

Mission: Establish A Nerf Bunker

Objective: Control Nerf Gun Clutter

Method:
1.  Gather Nerf weaponry.

2.  Gather Nerf ammunition.

3.  Measure weaponry and ammunition.  Calculate storage needs.

4.  Locate and repurpose laundry baskets, cardboard boxes, and plastic storage bins for storage.
(Ended up purchasing a 44 gal artificial xmas tree bin at the Container Store ).

5.  Designate an out-of-the-way corner or empty portion of a closet as A Nerf Bunker.  Space should be large enough to store the storage - with room for two 8-10 year old boys to manipulate and load Nerf guns.  (Ended up dismantling daughter's seldom-used dress-up room under the basement stairs!)

6.  Dig around for accessories - clipboard, old grey fleece vest with zipper pockets, net from a previous Pirate themed party, protective eyewear, flashlight, handcuffs, ammo belts, etc...   

7.  SPLURGE item - a camouflage patterned Snuggie cammo Snuggie - for sniper cover.

Pencil Giving Needs

     Recently saw an ad for teachers addressing "pencil giving needs."  Throughout my stint as a classroom teacher, I stocked a container in the classroom for birthdays.  It held crown-making materials, a big birthday badge, and an assortment of colorful gift pencils.  When a student celebrated a birthday, the anticipation of access to this all important box, and subsequent pencil selection, was cause for a little extra celebration.
     These days, my "pencil giving needs" involve keeping sharp pencils on hand for homework.  I do, however, keep a designated Birthday Box in a back cupboard of the kitchen.  The current contents?...

Two gaudy polyester Happy Birthday hats,

one Happy Birthday banner - 4' long,

20 "Boy Assorted" balloons
(leftover from a package of 72?),

a baggie of new and slightly loved birthday candles,

a colorful assortment of really cheap!
leftover plastic leis, 

AND...

a half-empty roll of yellow crepe paper!

     You say it's your birthday?  Give me a minute...I'll stick a few candles in a brick of cheese, throw on a plastic lei, and festive up the place!   Who knows, I might even give you a freshly sharpened pencil :)

Good Will Hunting

     Shopping for clothing at Goodwill - when it is not an economic necessity - is not universally appealing.  I get that.  I also get a Liz Claiborne shawl collar cardigan for $4.99!  I recommend inspecting every inch of the garment, shopping on half-off certain colored tag days, and always, always trying pieces on.

     If you are not inclined to poke around Goodwill, here is a colorful tip about Lands End Inlet.  I was in search of a robe to replace my ratty maroon old-timer with the broken zipper.  I learned I could get an additional 20% off the already discounted price if I selected an item that had been monogrammed.  Monogrammed?  Always intrigued by unique ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle, I kept an open mind and found my new best friend, "Patricia."  

     "Patricia," as she proclaims from below my left shoulder, is my red fleece hoodie robe.  She falls about mid-calf and zips up the front.  My family teased me at first, but have come to accept Patricia as an honorary member of the family.

my good will ambassador :)

Smart Balance

     While raising a child with severe food allergies, our family has developed intense brand loyalty.  One staple in our fridge is a dairy-free butter substitute called, Smart Balance.  We knife our way through about two containers of the stuff per week.
     Somewhere along the way, we began to keep and reuse the containers.  They hold up nicely in the top rack of the dishwasher and the petite size comes in handy for a variety of mini storage needs.  Our tween draws the line at using them in her school lunch, but they are our "go to" containers for snacks on the run.

Life is a balance.  Stack smart.

     The lids deserve a mention as they are secure, yet easy enough for little hands to manipulate.  Lids for traditional small-sized plastic containers can be cumbersome to remove, resulting in orange Cheddar Bunnies explosions.  Yikes!
     When the color on the Smart Balance containers begin to fade, they are used for non-food purposes.  Most recently, we used them during Junior Great Books to hold crayons.  Eventually, they find their way to the recycle bin.