First De-cluttering and I Found A Bag Of Money!!!

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No kidding, I really did!!!

I spent longer than the 15 minutes, probably an hour but I cleared out

and straighten up my gift wrapping closet.

It's amazing how much gift wrap I have.  I won't have to buy any for a long time!!

Here's before:

AND

Under that mess, I found this!

A heavy canvas bag from the U.S. Mint!!

More about that in a minute.

Here's all the wrapping paper that was useful.

I threw away a lot that was wrinkled and loads of tissue and old cards.

So this is how neat my closet looks now.

OK, back to the MONEY!!

I sort of remember my husband finding it in his parents house in FL when we were clearing it out years ago, after they passed.  They had hidden a lot of money in strange places.

My husband must have put this bag in this little closet and it got covered up with all this stuff!!

He probably meant to go through the coins as there are a lot of old ones.

This note was in the bag.  I wonder what the X5 meant!!!!

Well, I can only hope my de-cluttering is this fruitful in the future!

Certainly helps to spur me on!!

Shirley

Should I Try To Make a Resolution or Two?

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Happy New Year to you all.

I usually never bother to make resolutions.

I mean, I might have but they never lasted so I don't even remember.

This year I have got to make a REAL EFFORT to organize and de-clutter things in this house.

It's starting to drive me nuts.

I found a site that I'm going to try and follow. 

How to declutter for 365 days, 15 minutes per day!

(I'll put the address at the bottom)

I can do 15 minutes a day right?

RIGHT?

I did clear my kitchen island and get the new calendar.

I think the trick will be not to re-clutter the places you've de-cluttered!!

Hmmmmmm.

And

There's something else I want to re-try!

I think I blogged about having an over-abundance of food in my freezer and pantry and that I was going to stop going to the grocery store except for perishables and live off what I have.

Here:

http://shirleys-world.blogspot.com/2014/03/i-think-im-food-hoarder.html

Well . . . 

That hasn't worked so far.

I did go through everything and threw outdated stuff away.  

(Which was a lot but I still have way to much)

So I'm going to try that again.

My problem is reading wonderful sounding recipes on line (darn Pinterest!!)

Then I want to make the dish but I need one or two things at the grocery store.

Which, of course adds up to a basket full.

More stuff into the pantry!

Everyone makes a resolution to lose weight and exercise, right?
Well, since I don't really need to lose weight (don't hate me!), I do need to get myself moving, become more active like I used to be just a little over a year ago and to get out among people more!!
So I have made the first steps:
I joined "Silver Sneakers" and today I joined the Rec. Center which is free when you are a "Silver Sneakers" member!!

You can read more about this journey on my other blog:
"It's Always Something"
http://shirleysworldproblems.blogspot.com/

As promised the web site of the Decluttering 365 is here:
http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/declutter.html

Have a nice day everyone and a very Happy New Year!

Shirley

I Think I'm A Food Hoarder!

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I cannot believe how much food I have in this house.

I think I could live on what I have for a year with an occasional trip to the store for milk, paper and personal items!!

These are just a couple pictures of my food storage.  Also have a freezer in the basement plus the two drawers in the fridge.

I think this all started slowly when I was doing the coupon thing a little more seriously.

I tried to just buy the things I use but it's really hard for me to pass up a bargain,

especially if I also have a coupon for it!

Today was a prime example.  I went to the store to buy milk because I had forgotten to get it yesterday and I want to make bread pudding to use up ALL THE BREAD I HAVE!!!!!

I came home with three bags of things plus cat litter that was on sale and I had a coupon for!

I suppose thats OK.

I shopped at Giant Eagle.  I think they are expensive but they have good sales and if you limit yourself to those items, you can make out.  Plus they give you more coupons at the check-out and you get fuel perks.

I also like their produce.

The things I got that were not on sale and no coupon were:

Ice cream and chicken tenders which I really didn't need.

I bought more coffee K-Cups but they were on sale and I had good coupons.

So I guess today wasn't too bad.  Yesterday was much worse at Walmart.

Here's how I know I have way too much.  I go to the store to buy something I think I need for a recipe and more times than not, I will already have it tucked away that I had forgotten about.

Not good.

Maybe I should make a list of everything I have.

Does anyone have a solution??

Here's what I've decided to try!

When I cook, I just automatically make enough for at least four!

Now, there's only me.

Yes, I freeze left-overs but about half the time I don't like how things look when I take them out of the freezer or I didn't put a date on them and I end up throwing them away.

Now, any money I may have saved when I bought the items went right into the trash.

Most recipes are for 4 or more so I guess that's why I make too much.

I love reading recipes and collect them on Pinterest so that makes me want cook!

I'm really going to try and use up what I have on hand including freezer items and canned items.

Then maybe I'd be better off buying the small cans of vegetable and fruit or only buy fresh . . . and only the amount for one!

Also I'm going to look online for recipes for ONE.  I'm sure there is a site somewhere!

As far as meat goes, I've decided to buy from the organic food store and get my meat from the meat counter . . only what I want for ONE!  I will go meatless at least 2 or 3 times a week.

What do you all think?

I'll let you know how things are working!

Shirley

A Little Reorganizing

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I spent this morning throwing old things out and reorganizing a few places.

I started with one of my medicine cabinets then went on to a cupboard under one bathroom sink and then the big job . . . my linen closet.

Here's proof!!!!

From this:

To this:

From this:

To this:

And from this:

To this:

It's amazing the junk you collect or the stuff you keep thinking you'll use!!

It all went in the garbage!

Shirley

A Little Kitchen Organization!

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I didn't take before pictures but as all counters and islands do, they become cluttered with "stuff".  

You know, "any flat surface!"

It was becoming distracting and confusing to do any baking because that alone sort of makes a mess.  

At least when I do it!

So I cleared off my island and my window seat.

I took my daybook and calendars off the island and made this sit-down area here on my window seat.  It's working out really well.

I even got my crock pot off the island and put it up here in my cupboard.  It's still handy to get down to use it.

I cleared off my other counters too.

And put my blender away since I don't use it all that much.  I was making more smoothies in the summer.

I totally feel more organized now!

Shirley