Organized Space

Yes, I’ll admit, I’m obsessed with frugality, simplifying life, and organizing space.  These three are some of my favorite blog searches that I will do while playing on my computer.  Ah, the topics that middle aged women enjoy, strange but true.  I like the same things that a stay at home mom might find fascinating.  So what if my children are cats!  Sue me!

I read somewhere that spring break for the over 30 crowd means sleeping in and catching up on housework.  That’s just about right.  Even when I was younger, and had a husband and step-daughter, spring vacation meant family time, nothing elaborate, mostly at home activities. 

So, this break I made my usual to-do lists and got busy.  I’ve cleaned up the front yard of all the plant debris and between the front and the back raked up six bags of green waste.  I’m pretty sure that I could rake up six more in the side yard alone.  The moles have “aerated”  the lawn plenty this year!  I’ve been walking around stomping the mounds of dirt down.  The lawn is still brown, but this week promises a few days of rain which should bring it all back to life.  I've researched and pondered composting.  Seems like the logical thing to do with all the leaves and such.  However, it would have to be tidy, in a barrel, stink proof!  And then, once I had the complete product, what the heck to do with it?  Duh, use it in the garden, I know, but the whole thing leaves me confused when I should not be.  

My indoor work included the tea/coffee cupboard.  I’ve kept the tea and coffee in a designated cupboard since moving in eight years ago, but it got messy and overrun by tea bags.  I’m pretty pleased with the outcome, but the top shelf still looks a bit messy even though all the tea is in a container and organized by flavor.  What I still am bothered by is the amount of items on the counter.  I don’t mind having the coffee maker there, but the toaster oven is seldom used and it would be great to have a home for it, but I do not.  My kitchen, with its white cupboards and floor is pleasing to my eye, but cheap.  When the money comes eventually (I have a budget) then I’d like something clean like this Ikea kitchen. 

I’ve added a few other projects here.  One is the linen cupboard in my bathroom.  Everything was organized and anything I don’t use was thrown away.  It’s all easy to see and access.  The one thing I dislike in my bathroom is the unglazed tile.  I feel I can’t get it clean.  I also admire bathrooms in Finland for having “water proof” baths that really let you hose the room down!  I don’t even know if that would be possible here, but it’s so functional.

My computer room remains a cozy reading and work room.  The drawer is one part of my organizing solution.  I’m trying to only get books from the library and not crowd the shelves.  I mean, it’s nice to have some books at your house, just not too many.  What I really have been trying to find online are pictures of minimalist houses around the world.  I love seeing all the different styles.  It’s inspiring.