One thing I like about our home is the terrific number of available friends.
Friends make life fun.
And manageable.
For example, today I had a hair appointment. So I took Zeke to a friend's house and then drove her son and Victor to school. She took Zeke and her daughter to another friend's house, where they played with yet more children.
Meanwhile, I went to the stylist recommended by a third friend. Great stylist!
Then I ran into a fourth friend at the grocery store.
After that, I picked up the children of the first friend and a fifth friend at the preschool of a sixth friend, where I ran into a seventh friend who was picking up her granddaughter, whose mother is also my friend. Then, as I was leaving, I saw a ninth friend and made a date with her for next week.
Moving on, I drove the children of friends one and five to the house of friend two to pick up Zeke. Friend two loved my new hair. Then Zeke and I retrieved Victor and a daughter of a tenth friend at preschool. We took the daughter to friend two's house and then went home for lunch.
There are dear friends and casual friends and neighbor friends and church friends and blog friends and mom friends.
So many friends!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Sweet Words
Are there sweeter words than "Mommy, I love you?"
Yes. There are.
Victor discovered them.
"Mommy, what can I do to help you?"
It's love AND service AND gratitude all in one.
Yes. There are.
Victor discovered them.
"Mommy, what can I do to help you?"
It's love AND service AND gratitude all in one.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
More Closets
There are some other guiding principles for organizing one's closet.
First, the things you use regularly need should be easily accessible. In my closet, the shoes I wear the most are at the top of my shoe shelves. The clothes I wear the most, or which are in season, are in the front of their section. The workout clothes are in the top drawer or on the shelf.
Conversely, storage and out of season items are towards the back, on the very high shelves, or in lidded boxes.
Second, items should be put in the closet of the room where they are needed. For example, spare hangars should be in the laundry room or the guest closet.
Third, long-term storage should be organized by category and clearly labeled. You might have a medium-sized plastic bin of "2T Pajamas," or a box with your "Olive Wood Nativity," or a space bag of "Baby Blankets." Do not put items in long term storage unless you actually want to reuse them. Worn out baby clothes, for example, should go.
I do not favor space bags except for very long term storage because they are not sturdy. They re-inflate if jostled too frequently. Neither do I use very large plastic bins. They are too difficult to store and access without undoing a lot of other work.
Fourth, all old junk must be removed. If it is truly junk, take it straight to your trash can. If it's usable, put it in a bag or box and then take it directly to your car. I like to keep a medium-sized paper bag in my closet to collect Goodwill items.
Fifth, all items should be neat and readily usable. That means all clothing, sheets, blankets, towels, etc. must be folded or hung. Hanging is a great option for table linens. Shoes should be matched and clean. Bags should not be crushed. Items that need repair should be together in a separate location.
Sixth, do not build towers. A tall stack of games, books, boxes, blankets, or whatever else is almost impossible to access without causing a landslide. Instead, find a way to subdivide with shelves, drawers, hanging baskets, or hanging shelves. I have found the Michael Graves line of hanging shelves at Target to be very sturdy. I use them for shoes, sweaters, and kid items.
First, the things you use regularly need should be easily accessible. In my closet, the shoes I wear the most are at the top of my shoe shelves. The clothes I wear the most, or which are in season, are in the front of their section. The workout clothes are in the top drawer or on the shelf.
Conversely, storage and out of season items are towards the back, on the very high shelves, or in lidded boxes.
Second, items should be put in the closet of the room where they are needed. For example, spare hangars should be in the laundry room or the guest closet.
Third, long-term storage should be organized by category and clearly labeled. You might have a medium-sized plastic bin of "2T Pajamas," or a box with your "Olive Wood Nativity," or a space bag of "Baby Blankets." Do not put items in long term storage unless you actually want to reuse them. Worn out baby clothes, for example, should go.
I do not favor space bags except for very long term storage because they are not sturdy. They re-inflate if jostled too frequently. Neither do I use very large plastic bins. They are too difficult to store and access without undoing a lot of other work.
Fourth, all old junk must be removed. If it is truly junk, take it straight to your trash can. If it's usable, put it in a bag or box and then take it directly to your car. I like to keep a medium-sized paper bag in my closet to collect Goodwill items.
Fifth, all items should be neat and readily usable. That means all clothing, sheets, blankets, towels, etc. must be folded or hung. Hanging is a great option for table linens. Shoes should be matched and clean. Bags should not be crushed. Items that need repair should be together in a separate location.
Sixth, do not build towers. A tall stack of games, books, boxes, blankets, or whatever else is almost impossible to access without causing a landslide. Instead, find a way to subdivide with shelves, drawers, hanging baskets, or hanging shelves. I have found the Michael Graves line of hanging shelves at Target to be very sturdy. I use them for shoes, sweaters, and kid items.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Important Questions
I often get questions about closets because organizing closets is one of my very favorite things. Let's imagine a typical question.
Question: I have tons of clothing in my closet, but nothing to wear. How do I know what to get rid of?
Answer: There are some important questions to ask as you put away your winter duds and pull out your springy ones.
Many people suggest asking, "Have I worn this in the past year," but that's too stringent for me. Such people have not spent the last six years having babies and chemotherapy. They do not understand a figure's ebb and flow.
I suggest the following questions instead.
1. Even if this item fit me perfectly, would I wear it?
2. Should a person my age wear this item?
3. Do I like it?
If you answered NO to those questions, let it go.
Similarly, if you answer YES to these next questions, it's time to toss.
4. Is it stained?
5. Is it unmendably ripped?
6. Is the fabric pilled?
7. Is it hopelessly faded?
8. Have you always hated the way it fits but held on to it out of hope?
9. Has it lost its shape?
10. Does it look OLD, and not in a good way?
Question: I have tons of clothing in my closet, but nothing to wear. How do I know what to get rid of?
Answer: There are some important questions to ask as you put away your winter duds and pull out your springy ones.
Many people suggest asking, "Have I worn this in the past year," but that's too stringent for me. Such people have not spent the last six years having babies and chemotherapy. They do not understand a figure's ebb and flow.
I suggest the following questions instead.
1. Even if this item fit me perfectly, would I wear it?
2. Should a person my age wear this item?
3. Do I like it?
If you answered NO to those questions, let it go.
Similarly, if you answer YES to these next questions, it's time to toss.
4. Is it stained?
5. Is it unmendably ripped?
6. Is the fabric pilled?
7. Is it hopelessly faded?
8. Have you always hated the way it fits but held on to it out of hope?
9. Has it lost its shape?
10. Does it look OLD, and not in a good way?
Sunday, March 27, 2011
New Fun
Today I bid farewell to the Beehives and returned to Relief Society.
It will be an adventure, especially as I have only had a RS calling once, for two months, in college. And especially as I have never before been in an auxiliary presidency.
New things are fun!
It will be an adventure, especially as I have only had a RS calling once, for two months, in college. And especially as I have never before been in an auxiliary presidency.
New things are fun!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
New Game
On the way to the park yesterday, Victor suggested we play a guessing game. We took turns thinking of items to guess.
Victor thought of an excavator, a dump truck, and a cemetery ("it's a big place where you bury people").
I thought of a cow and a grocery store.
Zeke thought of a crane and monster trucks.
Victor thought of an excavator, a dump truck, and a cemetery ("it's a big place where you bury people").
I thought of a cow and a grocery store.
Zeke thought of a crane and monster trucks.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Reluctant No More
Victor has a new-found enthusiasm for praying.
That is, his prayers have gone from cursory to detailed.
Last night he prayed for a force field to protect our house. And to lift when we have guests. And to dissolve in the rain.
He also prayed that no old people will die.
That is, his prayers have gone from cursory to detailed.
Last night he prayed for a force field to protect our house. And to lift when we have guests. And to dissolve in the rain.
He also prayed that no old people will die.
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