Wrapping paper station DIY!

With the holidays coming up I decided to get my wrapping paper and ribbons under control so I don't have to dig through the attic. Usually I forget what I even have stored and buy more and so I end up with way too much. That past practice has left me with quite a stash so I really need to work on using what I have this year. For easy viewing I decided to take an old bar stool and spray paint it black. Then I turned it upside down. I placed all my rolls of wrapping paper inside the stool. I had some old laundry bags I got from the dollar store, and I tied those onto each side to store my ribbon in. Still need to find something larger to tie on the remaining 2 sides to store tissue paper and maybe even some gift bags, but it's a start!

                   Before:                                                                      After:

Insomnia + nesting = closet makeover

Ok, after 3 hours of trying to sleep last night I finally took a sleeping pill. But before that I decided to organize batteries in the junk drawer (I'm really grasping at straws to find ways to nest at this point). Anyway, I came across some old curtain hooks we used to use in the living room. Then in the next 10 minutes I came up with no less than 50 ways to re-use them. All of which I woke my husband up to tell him about. Since I only had about 12 I had to really cut back on what exactly I was going to use them for so at this point in time I've only tackled 2 of the ideas I had. First, I hung them in my closet and attached scarves to them since fall is here and having my scarves organized will hopefully help me to remember to accessorize! Second idea was for the nursery closet. In the nursery we do not have any drawers, so I have been looking for ways to make sure that the outfits stay together. So really simple, I hooked the opening over the hanger that has the shirt on it, put the pant hanger through and even used the clip to attach the matching hat. Baby pant hangers must be in short supply because I didn't have any more of those, but for outfits without matching hats I just used the clip to clip the matching pants with the top on the hanger. I think this will also come in handy helping my husband dress the baby, since unlike me he doesn't have all the baby outfits memorized, and he would not even know that certain shirts have matching pants and I can see him just grabing everything.

Other potential uses I have in mind if I come across any more (for old shower hooks too!)
1. Slide across bottom of a hanger and clip baseball caps to
2. Slide across bottom of a hanger and place in entry way closet to hook winter scarves/hats onto. My current system involves them shoved in a bag on the floor.
3. Slide across bottom of a hanger and use clips to hang my clutches from. I don't think they would be strong enough or open wide enough to clip purses this way.
4. Slide across bottom of a hanger and place in laundry room to clip baby clothes to in order to dry. In my first attempt at washing onsies I shrunk them all but it's not exactly like you can put them on hangers to air dry.
5. Slide across bottom of a hanger and clip my dogs sweater vest collection onto. My dog is awful at keeping his clothes folder in neat piles!

Ok I know that only totals 7 ideas so far, not the 50 I mentioned. But it was after midnight and I didn't write anything down. If you have any other ideas feel free to leave them in the comment section!

Jump start on Thanksgiving!

It's about one month to Thanksgiving but I decided to get a head start on my decor since when the holiday does roll around I will have a 2-3 week old baby. I love fall decor and so far I have tackled a few spaces in the house. The first picture is on top of the cabinet in the dining room. You can find plenty of print outs online or just recreate your own in Word. I picked up some frames from Michaels that I can reuse for Christmas with other printouts. I also picked up some fake pumpkins and decorative twine, along with a pumpkin candle.

In the kitchen I started on my coffee/dessert station. Once again I just used a print out and a frame from Michaels. Really easy and fast and now I just need to start on ideas for my tablescape!

Nursery nesting despite pinterest disasters

So I've finally used up my last available vacation day before maternity leave. I used the day organizing the house and finishing up the nursery. And by organizing the house I mean sitting on my couch pinning ideas from Pinterest on good organizing ideas. It's the thought that counts. I did manage to complete the nursery. We went with a Winnie the Pooh theme. I've added photos below.

I tried a lot of DIY crafts from Pinterest for above the changing table. DISASTERS. I googled to see if there were blogs about Pinterest DIY fails and there are so many, it's clearly an epidemic, and I'm glad I'm not the only one. You will notice there is just a picture now hanging. I did manage to make the closet dividers which I think turned out pretty well! Also, in the picture of the shelf you will notice something I loathe...nicknacks. Ok, here's the agreement: I display the Lenox winnie the pooh my dad gave me at my shower as a one time exception to the rule. I've also agreed not to sell it at a garage sale and save it for the baby. All future nicknacks are headed right for the yard sale bin though. I give people an inch, they will take a mile and next thing you know I'll have some sort of display case to show off my "collections".

One of my mom's basement saves actually made it into the nursery! That winnie the pooh lamp was from my nursery as a child and it's pretty cool. So ok mom, you got me. One of the 500 items you have saved from my childhood I'm using. Still, statistically speaking, that's not really good odds.

See, rainsticks are funny.

Ok, I haven't posted in a while because I've been busy growing a human inside me. So deal. However, let's talk about last night. I'm sitting on my couch watching Up All Night on NBC. In the episode (season 2, episode 3), Ava becomes a hoarder and what item is found in her house? A RAINSTICK.  Ok, see my post about 2 down on my basement find. Coincidence? Have rainsticks become the new rave? I know sometimes people hold onto things so long that they come back in style, but I've found no proof of this in my moms basement so I'm sure that is not the case.  Anyway, no progress on cleaning moms basement but I've organized my entire house. We have a neighborhood yard sale tomorrow and I don't even have anything to sell! I mentioned it to my mom but she did not take the bait to come unload her basement. Probably since she's too busy turning the office into a guest room and the guest room into an office. If you are going to be looking for an update ever on that I can guarantee there won't be one.

When's the last time we went to Disney?

"Anyone who has ever cleaned out a closet
and taken stuff to Goodwill knows how liberating it is.
You feel lighter, your mind feels clearer."
Cecile Andrews (author and sustainability proponent)

Before:  

After: 

The answer to the question in the title is 19 years. Yet I found 4 soap packets with Mickey's face on them from the hotel stay during that trip in this linen closet. In any case, progress was made! Ok, I could have easily done without half of the items that ended up back in the closet, but I'll take it :) I think my favorite part of cleaning the closet was when I hadn't cleaned the very bottom where the cleaning supplies are kept and my mom cleaned it out. Baby steps! Most of the items weren't even donate-able (at least to people, but pets will like the old towels) and a big chunk of trash was expired medicine and travel toiletries from hotels no one has been to in 10+ years and wouldn't even think of using to wash their hair or body. Anyway, the linen closet was cleaned 2 days ago an I'll be stopping back today to see if it's still in the same shape. Any bets on how many items I threw away/attempted to donate (true mom fashion, I wasn't allowed to throw it out or take it with me I can only assume that my parents followed through, but that reminds me I'll have to check the basement too) that made it back into the closet? I'm going with no less than 5.

I spy....

Mom will probably want to know how I got these pictures despite not being allowed down the basement but I have my ways. Not only did I get these images, but the first item has been retrieved and removed from the basement. It must be something very valuable to be the first item rescued, but you would be incorrect. Drum roll please....

It's a rain stick! I made it in second grade. It's crafted from the finest wrapping paper tube, full of rice and nails, covered in the finest linens, and sounds like rain when you fill it upside down. Rain stick you have been set free! I cannot say the same for the other items found in the images below...

 Also, fair warning for all family and friends...there is a high probability someone is finding this under the tree on Christmas morning with their name on it.





One of the 4 corners of the room. Not sure if they are stocking up on cat litter or if they are saving the containers from the cat litter...and honestly do not know which one is worse as they only have one cat :/ Anyway, I doubt this will get cleaned because like everything else in the basement these are likely not mom and dad's and storing of these item's are clearly the cat's doing as I also see a cat tunnel.
 


This appears to be the organized section under the stairs. It looks like a calendar on top and I can't help but wonder what year it is from.

 

Here we have a kinect toy in tact since approx. 1995. Which is good because every kid knows the fun part of playing with kinect is not building anything with the pieces. But what really catches my eye is the bed frame my sister is storing that is CLEARLY taking up the entire basement and should be added to the list of reason's why mom can't clean the basement.


Hopefully these images serve as BEFORE pictures at one point and I have actual after pictures to post one day. The wall color really makes everything pop and stand out. My brother picked the color as a kid since it made the room "look like night" (his exact words). No worries though, he has glasses now.

Looks like you can get rid of your bedroom furniture.

"Gifts (including those bequeathed) should be given unconditionally, giving the recipient the right to decide for himself or herself whether they want to keep the gift, return it to the shop it came from, re-gift it or simply give it to charity. It is the act of giving that is important here."

Hey remember that game we probably all played as kids? When we would visit our grandmom wearing something totally hideous, but our mom said we *had* to wear it because grandmom got it for us and we couldn't hurt her feelings...That was probably all of our first encounters with keeping gifts and being forced to use gifts we didn't want or like. So mom, be VERY suspicious if everytime you see you grandkids they are only ever wearing clothing that you purchased while I make it a point to tell you how cute they look in said outfit. It means the cycle is repeating iteself for yet another generation.

Yet, most people grow out of this stage (maybe when their mom stops forcing them?). For example, I'm not a knick knack person/displayer so while the collection of snow bunnies I have received is cute, I don't feel the need to display them all over my house just because grandmom bought them and visits occassionally. And when grandmom wonders where they are I have no trouble letting her know they are in a box in the attic. I've since stopped getting snow bunnies as gifts. (which is a win/win really, I don't have to store them and grandmom doesn't waste money). Anyway, I doubt anyones intent when giving a gift is to force the receiver to use/display/idolize the gift for life. That's not realistic. Otherwise I would be surrounded by beanie babies every where I went, the streets would be littered with them! The horror!! The truth is people grow out of things, their tastes change, their space/decor changes, and it's perfectly acceptable to get rid of gifts without feeling bad that the gift giver is going to come looking for it and quiz you down to see if you still have it.

In any case, this picture on the left is what I'm thinking of getting mom for her next gift. It would look great on her mantel for the next 25 years at least. And I would definately make a point to ask about its whereabouts at every visit.

Saving Kids Artwork - Ways to Display Kids Artwork - Parenting.com

Saving Kids Artwork - Ways to Display Kids Artwork - Parenting.com

Came across this article and thought it was worth sharing since I'm not a "saver"... I don't plan on saving all my kids artwork <<gasp>>...but if I ever regret that someday I'm sure my mom will have some stacks stored in her basement ;) I'm more of the opinion from the quote in the article “When everything is precious, nothing is precious." However, I'm not oppossed to finding usefull ways to display or actually use items instead of throwing everything out. In fact, I'm liking the idea of using artwork as gift wrap, especially for gifts to my mom. I'm 99% sure that this would eliminate her ability to save the art but I've seen her save wrapping paper before so there's still a 1% chance.

Note to mom: That rainstick in the basement from 2nd grade isn't even art! I'm coming for it!

1 box down, 4789 to go

So on this past Saturday I was all set to go clean mom's basement. Or at least get some pictures for my blog. Neither happened. Refer to post listing reasons why she can't clean the basement and insert any of those. Also, since starting this blog I'm pretty sure I will never be allowed to be in my parents house alone anymore :/ I did however stop by during the week where I saw a lone box containing misc. items in the hallway that I was allowed to take with me to donate containing valuables such as a plastic container and a child's toy construction hat. My brother is 19 so I want to know how much use the construction hat has been getting in the past 15 years, but I guess this will be one of life's unanswered questions.

Cleaning ninja (not actual picture of mom)

If my mom is reading this, kudos on your ninja stealth abilities to quietly remove the box of rugrats toys I had placed with my stuff. Don't think I didn't notice that you hid them so I couldn't take them with me in the donate box.

I was also able to go through some dresses that my mom saved from when I was a baby to see what I would like for my future child if it's a girl. My baby will be a vintage fashionista come summer time assuming the Chinese gender predictor is wrong, as it currently predicts a boy. For the clothes I didn't pick, if I had a yard sale the Amish community would go nuts, but my mom decided to keep the dresses to "give to someone else" which really means "keep forever."

Will mom be mad?

How dare you?! She's a nice lady!

So as you can see I've started a blog. (Pronounced blog for you newbies). Let's start with some background information first. My parents visited me this past weekend bringing items from my childhood nursery to me that I wanted to use in the nursery I am setting up for their first grandchild. I had decided to go with a Winnie the Pooh theme and since my mom is what I'll term a "saver" she conviently had all the Pooh nursery decor from my nursery 27 years ago.

My house is very neat. I've been nesting and I've organized and cleaned my entire house. I'm out of things to clean. Then, here my mom is with all this old stuff and it hit me, clean mom's basement. Win-win, I feed my nesting addiction and my mom gets her basement cleaned out. Only my mom really likes her stuff....

I think my mom spent 2 hours telling us why she needed everything in her basement. Or why someone else would need it. But they can't have it because 1) it's in my mom's basement 2) they don't know it's there 3) she won't give it to them anyway.

What qualifies me you ask to clean out my mom's basement? Well first of all, I've already done it approx. 25 times (conservative estimate). I have also been a proud basement owner for the last 3 years and I don't have anything in my basement. I repeat - there is nothing in my basement. How can this be??? Well I'm not a saver I'm a thrower-outer.

So here is my blog where I will chronicle my journey of trying to clean my mom's basement. For part of my "grand opening" if you will, I have decided on a giveaway.

"This is a used childrens book in acceptable condition" you may say to yourself. Oh, it's not just any book. See, over the weekend my mom brought me a stack of Dr. Seuss book's she's been saving (which she wants back when I'm done). In the pile there was a duplicate! So mom if you are reading this I'm sorry but you are not getting it back. It's not going back in the basement. I'm taking a stand. First person to comment WHO IS NOT MOM gets the book!

Usless items worth noting found in mom's basement

Below are a list of items found in mom's basement that can clearly go:

• her prom dress
• approx. 275 boxes of Christmas decorations
• Baby clothes (worth noting: has not had a baby in 19 years)
• Children's games (worth noting: no children live here)
• Books (worth noting: mom can't read. I kid!)
• Bridesmaid dresses from several 1970s weddings
• Old license plates

If you are a criminal that reads blogs in search of homes to perform B&E's on, you have come to the wrong place. While I'm sure (ehh...) there are things of value I assure you this basement is not the place for theft. Unless of course you like 1970s fashion (one of the dresses is rumored to be made of the finest velvet), but my guess is that most robbers probably are not into that.

Reasons mom can't clean the basement

List of reasons' why my mom cannot clean out her basement.

• It's your stuff
• It's Jess's stuff
• It's Joe's stuff
• It's dad's stuff
• Joe's not home
• I'm having people over
• I'd rather go to the pool
• You won't get here early enough to clean
• I don't want you to stay too late cleaning
• I already cleaned it
• There stuff in front of stuff so I can't get to all the stuff
• I'm drying my hair and can't talk about this now
• I'm saving this for someone
• I'm saving this for your future kids
• I'm saving this for Joe's future kids (skipped over Jess so she has extra time to not give up stuff)
• I'm donating this to someone
• Someone else will want this stuff

Have you seen us?

When speaking about why she keeps so many things, my mom started thinking about things she did actually give away (what she now refers to as letting someone borrow) which she would have actually liked back.


1) The bedset from her bedroom as a child. Last seen at my uncles house around 1990, but when he was done using it the set was donated. Probably since my mom had no spare bedrooms or need for the furniture. Anyway, if you've seen it please notify me ASAP! See artists rendition in photo.

2) Halloween costumes my brother wore from approx. 1994-1997. Possible get ups along the lines as cow, fireman, ninja, etc. size infant to 4T.

3) She wants back all the Dr. Seuss books she just gave me when I'm done. I am NOT to pass them on directly to my sister or brother, they must go through her.