From the category archives:

Stuff

Operation Minimize: 337-520

by Stacy on September 1, 2010

Wow! I can’t believe I actually did it. I made it passed the 500 mark, meaning my home is now rid of 500 pieces of useless clutter. THAT IS HUGE. yet not. Since I obviously still have so far to go. I chose not to tackle any specific areas, but rather to just pull junk from anywhere I happen to be at the moment. The results are slower but I feel less confined by rules (alright, I’m a rebel). Corners of my home are starting to look better and I am “getting” to the point that I might be comfortable posting photos of my progress.

What do you think? Would you like pictures to go along with this challenge?

I hope you guys will not think less of me or cast judgements based on the state of my home. We’ve got three kids and I am borderline pack rat … it was only a matter of time until something happened and I would much rather lay out all my dirty laundry here with folks that care about me then ever be on an episode of Clean House. Sure Niecy is cute & all AND I would love to see what outrageous outfit or what color flower she would wear to my house … but … I would never, NEVER want the world to see my home like that.

NOTE: My home actually looks nothing like the ones on Clean House – we have all the usual – you know, visible floors, usable chairs & other home furnishings so I’m not sure we could even make it on the show but you get my drift. Don’t you?

It’s the lack of visible counter space that is driving me mad. The state of my bedroom which somehow became the drop off point for things we would put in the garage sale one day … when is THAT day going to come? Soon I tell you, people! Soon!

This week we sent 40 more items to the Medina Children’s Home, 133 items to the recycle or trash bin and 11 items marked for resale.

I gave up 13 magazines (one of my weaknesses) which is monumental for me, hey that’s more than an entire years worth of magazines folks! And found out my baby boy has only 4 shirts and a few pairs of shorts that actually FIT him. Hence the reason if you see us around town, he is rocking his older brothers way cool swim trunks. No worries though, new threads are on their way and I’ll be trading in some of his nicer duds for some new ones at our local Once Upon A Child.

274 Trash

59 To Sell or SOLD

187 To A Better Place

__________________
520 Items No Longer in My House!!

I even had a moment to create this snazzy new tracker which I will use to keep you updated on my progress along the way. Why yes, the Mister is out of town this week … why do you ask? No, I actually get this much stuff done all of the time. Thank You Very Much. Ok, I’m lying now. Not only am I a horrible liar but I actually don’t get all that much done around the house with three kids 4 & under and none of them in school.

How about you? Did you rid your home of some useless junk this week? If you did, you KNOW I want to know all about it!

I added this post to the Raising Homemakers homemaking party!

Miss the start of this series? No problems, you can catch all the decluttering goodness right here:
Operation Minimize – A journey in decluttering

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Operation Minimize: 231-336

by Stacy on August 23, 2010

Operation Minimize is a challenge to rid my home of 2,010 items by the end of the year. I’m playing along with several other bloggers/Moms from You Are What You Keep. I started around the first of August so I have a lot of work to do if I want to finish by the end of they year. Along the way, I post updates of my progress here.

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted an Operation Minimize update. It seems the further we get in to this challenge, the more difficult it becomes. I’m ashamed to admit the first 200 items were easy because they were all just visible clutter taking up space in my home and while I still have my fair share of visible clutter (and even more hidden away) … we are getting to the point where I have to make decisions.

Oh, how I do not like to make decisions. Honestly, it is my lack of decision making that got us in to this mess in the first place. I read a book a few months ago that stopped me in my clutter tracks. It taught me two lessons I am trying desperately hard not to forget. The first – piles of clutter are just stacks of unmade decisions taking up residency in your home. And the second – everyone has a routine for organizing. Even if your organizing routine is to drop everything when you walk in the door. You still had to make the decision to drop the items there and walk away. Or leave the dishes in the sink as opposed to washing them or placing them in the dishwasher. Even walking away from an overflowing trash can … they are all decisions you make about the state of your home and the way your items are organized.

For some reason, these statements just made so much sense to me. Every time I walk in the door with a pile of mail and want to throw it on the counter. Piles of clutter are stacks of unmade decisions … plays in my head. When I want to leave my folded clothes for the next day or the clean clothes in the dryer … again, I hear a voice saying, it would only take you a few extra seconds to go the extra step and cross this off your to do list.

It’s been helpful, but alas … I need more help. I only managed to gather up 105 items over the last two weeks and while it felt like it should have been much more … 105 is better than nothing. Two more giant bags of stuff dropped off for the Medina Children’s home, an ice cream cart that is going to have a fabulous new life, a more organized pantry, fewer needless items in my bathroom. It feels good to get rid of these things and for the most part I have done a good job about not bringing in any new items while we are trying to get rid of the overflow we have already.

141 Trash

48 To Sell or SOLD

147 To A Better Place

__________________

336 Items No Longer in My House!!

But we’ve still got a LONG way to go to get to 2010. My goal for the next week is to break the 500 mark.Wish me luck!

Miss the start of this series? No worries it’s all right here:

1-115
116-231

I added this post to the Raising Homemakers homemaking party!

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I’ll take one of each

by Stacy on August 22, 2010

Every now and then, something pops into my inbox and I simply MUST share it with you. This was one of those things:

Amy Butler Luggage Amy Butler Bags

Amy Butler Carry On Amy Butler Tote Bag

Amy Butler Toiletry Bag

It’s Amy Butler’s new line of luggage & handbags and aren’t they gorgeous? If you’ve followed KSW since the beginning, you’ll know I have a soft place in my heart for just about everything this woman touches and this new venture is no exception. Just imagine how lovely it would be to see a few of these beauties spinning around the luggage carousel. You’ll never have to search through all the black bags again. Not to mention how inspirational they would be in planning your vacation wardrobe!

Bags seen above priced $90 & up. Available on Amy’s website or from a list of retailers you can find at the bottom of this page.

So tell me, do you love them as much as I do? Which pattern/style is your favorite? Oh yeah and last question, with gorgeous things like this arriving in my inbox, do you think I should share the good stuff more often?

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Wholesome Whole Wheat Applesauce Cake

by Stacy on August 12, 2010

Wholesome Whole Wheat Applesauce Cake
from one of my favorites, Trainer Momma

2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)

Mix it all together and pour it in a 9×13 pan that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 mintues.

24 bars at 110 calories each. (64 calories!! without the chocolate chips)

This recipe appeared in my reader one morning and I jumped up and made a batch right away. I was that stoked for something wholesome and simple and new to feed the kids in the morning. I was out of chocolate chips so I used carmel bits and pecans and it was delish. The perfect accompaniment to a berry smoothie in the morning and they held up so well I think I’ll make some to take with us on a VERY LONG road trip I’ll be telling you about real soon.

The base of this recipe was so tasty I’m going to try making some banana bread out of it too.

The kids & I baked this together so it is a very kid-friendly recipe and just in time for back to school. Oh yeah & speaking of back to school, I’m guest posting over at Simply Modern Mom today with a ton of ideas on what to pack for school lunches. I hope you’ll head over and check it out, it’s my first guest post and I’m a little nervous.

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National S’mores Day!

by Stacy on August 11, 2010

Ok, I’m a little late since National S’mores Day (August 10th) was actually yesterday. But hey, when you’re talking about s’mores its never to late, am I right?

I heard the news right before dinner, scoured my pantry and whipped up this super simple S’mores pudding.

Instant Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding + Mini Marshmallows + Chocolate Chips + Cinammon Toast Crunch Cereal + Toasted Coconut
= S’mores Pudding

Little Tested – Little Approved!

I’ve also been waiting for the right moment to try some sun baked s’mores with the kids. Um, I’m guessing no moment would have been better than yesterday … Oh, well. To try it with your kids, break up some graham crackers, add some marshmallows and chocolate pieces and wrap neatly in aluminum foil. The same way you would cook veggies or fish in foil packets. Then just leave to bake in the summer heat. (I have no idea on how long – I haven’t tried it yet. It all depends on the outside temperature – just check it every 10 minutes until its gooey enough to eat out of the foil with a fork or spoon)

And finally, what would National S’mores Day be without a list of creative & new ways to try s’mores.

Gourmet S’mores from Sunset Magazine
S’mores Cupcakes from Annie Eats (omg, these look fantastic!)
S’mores Cheesecake
S’mores Cookies from Coconut & Lime
S’mores Nachos (I suggest you swap Stacy’s Cinnamon Pita Chips for the Graham Crackers)
S’mores Stuffed Brownies from the Picky Palate
S’mores Brownies
S’mores Pie found in the Pioneer Woman’s recipes
Oatmeal S’mores Cookies
Raspberry S’mores from Real Simple
S’mores Bars
S’mores Bars 2