The Game Cupboards

BEFORE...

These cupboards store mostly games and puzzles...a few speakers and electrical chords and the tools that will help the 16 year old bulk up (if he'd actually drink the stuff) so that he doesn't get cracked in half playing football.

THE TOOLS
Isn't this big guy cute!
The very talented mother-in-law made him for me years ago.



THE PROCEDURE
I cleared everything out.
(Let me say something here--BBA...in my past, unorganized life, I would take a few things out at a time and put them away or move them to another shelf...I used to never completely clear the shelves...now I completely clear the shelves, then put back only the the things that belong and that are used...it isn't until the shelf is finished that I put away, throw away, or DI the other stuff...this method has worked well for me, I highly recommend it.)




AFTER...

I made room for the husbands popcorn popping supplies so they are no longer taking up space on the counter.

D says Perhaps your family enjoys such traditions as playing car games as you travel (notice our travel Apples to Apples game and that black case next to the Scrabble game is travel Scrabble!), displaying the flag each national holiday (the husband loves to do this), popping popcorn and eating it together (love love love popcorn--especially Mama Jan's caramel popcorn), freezing your own ice cream and having the first spoonfull right from the dasher (Mom, finally opened that ice cream maker 2 months ago you gave us 3 years ago for Christmas and we makes sorbet's all the time), camping or picnicking in the canyons (love this but don't do nearly enough), or visiting an amusement park each summer (the kids' Papa Tom takes them every year and they love it!)

Tomorrow we move to the DVD cupboard!

The Storage Room

When I read on Cheri's blog (http://chericarroll.blogspot.com/) that the fly lady says you can do anything for 15 minutes, it reminded me of when I was pregnant with my 3rd child...I was talking to my OB about having him with no pain meds and she said, "You can do anything for 24 hours, including hard labor".

I trusted her.

She lied.

I only had an hour and a half of hard labor and it about killed me. Needless to say, he was the ONLY baby I had without an epidural.

BEFORE...

Not too bad, it could be worse...

and it is.
This area was completely cleaned and organized about 6 months ago...in the mean time the kids have grown out of old clothes and toys and this is where they've dumped them.


THE TOOLS



THE PROCEDURE

I set the timer for 15 minutes...I worked for about 7 then the phone rang.
I answered it...BBA--turn OFF the phone while in the midst of a project.

The distractions are endless for us homemakers, aren't they!
The timer went off while I was on the phone so I had to start the 15 minutes over.

This was what it looked like at the end of the 15 minutes plus the 7 I was on the phone.
I couldn't leave it like that so I set the timer for another 15 minutes...still couldn't get it done so I set it for 15 more.

I was NOT wanting to be an Almoster today so I even pulled out the shop vac and took care of this
...and vacuumed out all the corners and cob webs.

When I finally took the time last Summer to take all the kids old clothes out of boxes and sort them into these clearly labeled bins, it made my life oh SO much easier!

DI Stuff

AFTER...

D asks us, "How can you make each minute and even every second count? How can you be pleased at the close of the day with how you've spent your time?

The answer lies in budgeting your time just as you would your money. Don't be fooled by the clock. there are only as many hours in the day as you make use of.

My 15 minute project ended up taking me about an hour.

I do budget my time like I budget my money...when I go to the store thinking I will spend about $25, I usually leave having spent $100.

Maybe I'll have better luck with a 15 minute project tomorrow!

More Cupboards!

I need to thank Trish (from our Desperate "Dirty House" Wives Club) for inspiring me to clean out this cupboard! Ever since she mentioned cleaning out from under her sink I couldn't stop thinking about the mess mine was in.

BEFORE...

THE TOOLS

THE PROCEDURE
Thank goodness I decided to clean out this cupboard...I discovered a little leak problem.

Yes, those brown spots are mold. It looked even worse in real life. Thankfully it was just a loose part...I tightened it up and it was as good as new. And the mold cleaned up quite nicely.

Who knew so much stuff could be packed in there.


Does one really need 2 million plastic bags?? I sent most of them to the recycle bin, put the water bottles out in the garage, and chucked a few things (that is becoming my favorite part of all my projects). D says HAVE THE COURAGE TO THROW AWAY.
You bet I do D! For those of you who currently do not have this courage...try it, you'll like it!



AFTER...



I went totally out of my comfort zone today and did a little over achieving by cleaning out not one, but TWO cupboards!

BEFORE...

I haven't used this since I nursed my 2nd baby (she's now 13)...to the DI it goes!

I put all my canning jars at the top of the cupboard. Since the only thing I can is freezer jam I don't need to get to them very often.

This freed up almost an entire shelf in another cabinet :)

AFTER...

I can almost hear all my little gadgets thanking me for de-cluttering them and finding the strays a home.

Today I will leave you with a little BBA--if a cold, allergies, or your sinus's are getting you down, I highly recommend you pick up one of these...

It will bring sweet relief, I promise!

Painting Around the Window

Last Summer my 15 year old put one of these through my kitchen window...

while trying to hit one of these

(this is one the dog got hold of)

"I don't know how it happened Mom, I was just winding up, and the bat flew right out of my hands!"

BEFORE...


Come in for a closer look...

Months ago, when the window was replaced, I never took care of all the touch-up work and it's been bugging me ever since.

THE TOOLS

THE PROCEDURE

Normally I would use a smaller brush but I didn't do a very good paint job around the entire window to begin with, so I thought I'd give the whole thing a face lift. (By the way, this is not the faux painting job I promised, it's coming, later in the week.)

BBA--Take Time or Make Time!

Ok, to be honest, I stole this from my dad. Whenever we start a project he says "Take time or make time"...and what he means is, take the time to do the prep work and clean up throughout a project or you make the time later because it takes longer.

I always suit up in my old painting clothes before painting but with this being such a small project I thought I'd be like Lisa LaPorta on Designed to Sell and paint in my nice clothes (Have you ever noticed how all those designers never wear painting clothes and always look so clean and lovely while they paint?).

As you can see, I should have taken time to change into paint clothes because then I had to stop and make time to clean my pants--and then go put on these...

They have seen me through a lot of painting projects over the last 13 years.

AFTER...

I can't speak for all of you but I am really getting tired of these kitchen projects...D says to "STICK TO A SPECIFIC JOB UNTIL IT IS COMPLETED" so I will take her advice and carry on in the kitchen...but it's so unlike me, not to jump around from project to project.

The Dreaded and Much Avoided CUPBOARD

BEFORE...

I am truly embarrassed.

It hasn't always been this bad.


THE TOOLS

I found these earplugs while cleaning out the cupboard!



THE PROCEDURE

I started by taking everything off the shelves. You wouldn't believe all the junk I was storing. Thankfully a lot of the stuff went in the trash because clearly there wasn't room for it all.

This is everything I was storing in the junk bucket.

I took all of this...

...and condensed it down to this!

Along with the earplugs...I was SO excited to find these little treasures! My son will be thrilled to remove the duct tape from the back of his cell phone and I love my personalized little recipe cards...I had no idea where they'd disappeared to!

AFTER...

I was able to relocate a few of the items to the pantry (couldn't have done that 2 weeks ago). My vitamins needed a better home so now they're happy. D says...Replace shelf paper if necessary. There wasn't any shelf paper to begin with and now that I can see the shelf I'm thinking a little decorative paper might be nice.

As we conclude week 3 I have to say, I'm a little wiser than when I first started. I have procrastinated with several of these projects for months (some years) but actually doing them is not near as bad as thinking about having to do them. So, my BBA (Becky's Bit of Advice) for you would be...Don't prolong the pain! Just Do It!

Tune in next week for a little faux painting in the kitchen...a project 4 years coming!