Mission Organization: The Master Closet Edition

Elle has put forth her Organizational Orgasm Challenge for this week.

The Master Closet

First.   I must explain.  Our bedroom is upstairs and the closets are built into the eves.  This makes for little stubby spaces.  Below is my main closet.  It contains all of my work and weekend tops.  In spite of how it might look to you (two-tone paint, light rope hanging), it is actually pretty streamlined.  I bought a giant pack of those narrow hangers at Costco.  I like them but you do have to exercise more care when hanging things because they stick wherevery you put them on the hanger.  Does that make sense?

 

So I realized this closet wouldn't be much of a project.  It needs to be painted.  It needs the little lights I got installed, it needs command hooks to hang the rope lights.  It needs fabric to finish the jewelry hanging board.  None of these things are happening today.  What DID happen?  I rearranged the hanging things so cardigans are all together, long-sleeved, short-sleeved & tanks... done.  And not photographed.

So I moved on to the dresser.  Below is the bottom drawer.  Socks (trouser socks for work, athletic socks, hiking book/smartwool socks).  Tights.  Middle is panties.  Left is foundation garment oddities... slips, jog bras, control garments, long johns....  I only own two good bras.  Yes, you read that right.  They hang on the back of the bathroom door.  I alternate them daily and hand-wash on the weekends and replace them on my birthday.  This system has been working for me for a while now. 

Top drawer:  T-shirts, shorts, long underwear tops, yoga capris, painting clothes (tank & shorts), jammies.  They all get crammed in this drawer.  I got rid of a couple of things but this drawer stays full... although the long underwear tops will go in a tub in the closet in the spring.

Top drawers:  Right drawer is spare socks without mates.  This is where they go.  Don't ask me why.  Middle is jewelry.  Left is odds-n-ends... sentimental jewelry boxes, shoe thingies for my cute sandals, notebook for recording weights and measurements, love cards from spouse, travel alarm clock for days I need an extra reminder to wake up, tape measure.

Odd cabinet of sweatshirts.  I have 7 items.  Top one is a zip-neck sweater for weekends.  Next is a red woolrich sweater I can't part with... I wear it when I need to wallow about something or on really cold weekends.  Bobcats painting sweatshirt.  Red fleece sweatshirt.  Yellow Saints hoodie that doesn't fit right... will be replaced.  Bottom is two fleece sweatshirts and a pair of running tights?  How did those get in there?  Get out.  I also regularly wear my husband's fantastic collection of hoodies and, of course, the grey zip-up sweatshirt you've already seen in all the photo challenges.... I'm wearing it now.  It usually hangs in the dining room/entry way closet for quick pull on when it is cold or my inlaws show up and I'm in jammies. 

Now the other closet.... side A.  Skirts, work pants, capris, wool pants, jackets.  Paper box of clothes that don't fit right now or are sentimental.  (Yes, my holey Dolphins t-shirt is in there.)  I need some better skirt hangers.  I culled this side pretty mercilessly earlier this year and then filled it up with stuff from other parts of the house.... snow gear, all of my coats from the dining room/entry closet.  Ah... the life in a tiny house....

Side B:  Jeans & yoga pants, vests, jackets, ski gear, randomness.  (The bottom of this side stores all the things I need to give to someone else.... right now the carpet cleaner is in there....)  See the poplight on the ceiling?  Not worth a damn.

Oops.. back to the top of the dresser.  My jewelry box.  Yes, I do love big chunky rings.

And the bottom section.  Yes, there is a rubber rat in there.... I have no idea why... tradition.

And a detail of that jewelry drawer.  Those are all bracelets in that cigar box, my friends.  ALL BRACELETS.  Also... I adore the change-a-stone necklace.  Adore.

Ah... a detail of the redneck rope lighting system.  The closets are dark and I get dressed in the dark all winter and most of my clothes are dark colors.  Made me crazy.  See that scarf hanger thing on the left?  LOVE IT.  Did not pay $7.95 for it.  Still love it.  I like scarves.

So we did this.  I need command hooks to put it up correctly.  Nothing like some rope lights for ambiance.  I have two sets of three lights that screw into the wall to put in each section of closet but that involves getting out the drill and the kids keep taking the lights to play spy games.  That's why the closet is two-tone.  I slapped some white paint where I will put the lights so I don't have to take them down when I paint.  How pathetic is that?

Lovely wall of belts and necklaces.... needs fabric to cover the corkboad.  I put cup hooks across the top... I'm pretty pleased with myself about that one.

Scary area under the hanging clothes.... that purple tub is my shoes.  Minus the 2 pairs of danskos I wear to work most days.

Cowboy boots.  And two plastic tubs.  The back tub has some random gear and outdoor clothing.  The front one is swimwear and panty hose and stuff like that.  Usually my grey duffel bag is on top of the front tub but it is in the car full of swimming gear right now.

Baby with crazy hair:

Oh... NAKED baby with crazy hair.... see the two pull out bin under the clothes.... one has turtle necks and the other has the three knit dresses I own.... the closets are short for them and they stretch funny when they hang.

Crazy, scary-hair naked baby IN BOOTS:

Strike a pose.

See the cedar chest she is holding onto?  FULL of purses, backpacks and bags.  Oh my.

Hmmm... also please note beautiful dolphins blue toes and it appears SOMEONE colored on her feet.  Catch that foot-coloring stranger....

So here's the final parting shot of random cabinet-o-sweatshirts & closet of skirts/pants/randomness.  You can actually SEE the lights that should be put up on the desk in the front there.... I'll get to that.  The door is just to the left of this picture and the other closet is to the right of the desk-ish area.  See the slant of the eves?  And all that painter-grade wood...

day 9. a photo of your family

Well... I've already done the immediate family.  The hubs, the kids, the pets.  Here's my extended family. 

My mom & dad.

My brother, his wife (pregnant in the photo...), and the one year old boy... And Sarge... the (German Shepherd) First Son. 

My sister, her husband and the baby due in September.  Olive & Daisy... the (Bulldog) daughters.

And, of course, the patriarch..... my grandpa... there in the front

day 8. a picture of something you dislike.

Dislike.  Hm. 

I don't love radishes.  But I don't have a picture of them either.

I also don't like spider veins and all the strange skin things that happen in old age. 

I don't like how my cuticles look today and I definitely don't like how I look in peach.  (coral, yes, peach, no.)

Some things that I am really having a dislike about today.... my house.  Specifically the damn bathroom.  Here's a couple shots of the house before we moved in.  The photo doesn't do justice to the shade of peach we were dealing with:

Elle was here in the summer of 2005 and talked me into painting it purple.  We also painted the dryer and completed several other home improvement projects.

Since these pictures we have reorganized a bit.  The big shelf thingy is where the dresser was and the dresser is where the white upright thing is under the cabinet.  Both white floor cabinets are moved to the shed for now.

To categorize:

1.  Giant room.  Poorly organized and laid out.

2.  Ugly flooring.

3.  Tan tub/toilet.  Prefer white or slightly off white.

4.  Small tub. 

5.  Ugly hollywood lights by mirror.

6.  Old and cheap vanity.

7.  Dinged up and dated sink/counter.

8.  Really ugly ceiling fixtures.

9.  Ugly fake wood window and door trim.

Where to start?  Where to start?

day 7. a photo of someone you love

day 6. a photo that makes you laugh

day 5. a recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself.

Fifteen Interesting Facts:

1.  yeah....  I really got nothing.  I'm not even sure why I blog I so have nothing to say.  Um, ok..... let's start again....

1.  I don't watch much tv but I really like "Raising Hope" and that means it will be cancelled soon.... why do shows about babies never last??

2.  Lists.  LOVE lists.  All sorts of lists.

3.  I am a fan of the Miami Dolphins.  My son recently saw a guy in a dolphins beanie and said, "Look mom, there's the other guy that likes your team."  I keep a dolphins sticker on the inside of the most-used kitchen cupboard to remind myself to be faithful and dedicated to what I believe in.

4.  Office supplies.  Love office supplies.... especially binder clips.  SO very useful.  I have a binder clip on the toothpaste, chip bags, charger cords, labeled binder clips marking things on my shelves at work.  Attached to my jump drives so I can clip them in my briefcase. 

5.  I will squeeze a nickel until the buffalo poops.  I don't do debt.  I try to be thrifty but sometimes I'm cheap.  I'm trying to teach my kids to live without.  It ain't a fun lesson.

6.  I drive a minivan and I'm ok with it.  By the way... it has AWD and it will go places you can not go.  Also.... it can haul a lot of hay, it has a good sound system and I let the dog in once a week to eat the stray m&m's and pretzels.  Also... I love heated leather seats.  I think they should be a tax write-off as a theraputic device.

7.  I like Dansko clogs, Smith sunglasses, vintage jewelry & cardigan sweaters.

8.  I have had 6 surgeries.  My knee, my back, my ankle 3 times, my eyes (lasik), my sinuses... oh wait...that's 7.  Surgery sucks.

9.  I am allergic to latex.  (all that surgery)  I have no other allergies.  20 years of claratin for a not-real pine allergy..... I coulda bought a lot of good chocolate and red wine with that money.

10.  I sleep on a buckwheat pillow.

11.  I talk to my sister and/or my mother and/or my mother-in-law several times a week.  I also have two sisters-in-law who pretty much rock.  I have Elle & Kaye.  Other than that I don't maintain a lot of women friends in real life.  Friendship is a lot of work.  I'm ok with it.

12.  I am starting to miss parts of my old self.  The active parts.  Fishing, kayaking, skiing, hiking....  I need these things back in my life.

13.  Until 2011 I had dial-up internet access.  I don't have cell service in my house.  I do not text.  I have a Motorola Barage phone.... we call it the playschool phone.  I keep a paper calendar.  I just (today) learned how to make a ringtone.  And, yes, my job is about 50% information technology.  Does that frighten you?

14.  I like to cook.  I hate to meal plan. 

15.  I've always been a reader.  Love the library.  Subscribe to 4 magazines and would get more if the clutter and cost didn't drive me insane.  I'll read the back of the tylenol bottle if that's all that is available.  I like trashy books.  I like history.  I like fiction, non-fiction, self-help, spirituality, budget.... every category. 

day 4. a photo of the last place you went on vacation

Our last vacation.  May 2005.  Canon Beach.  Really? You want photos? From back in the day? I have the same hair and sweatshirt as this photo from a year ago. How's that?

We used my frequent flyer miles from back when I had a life and flew....  Sweet liked it.

See... same hair, same sweatshirt.

Sweet baby.

Sweet baby with a stick.

I love this one.....

Things I need advice about.....

1.  Having photos and/or negatives scanned.  I have a box of negatives.  Who will do a good job and how much should I expect to pay?  Costco was my first choice but I don't see anything about scanning negatives on their website.... just slides.  Am I missing something?

2.  Vitamix blender.  Anyone?  Opinions?  The old blender (from my sophomore year of college) is starting to die on me.  I've heard vitamix is the way to go but I need someone to justify the price for me.  Oh shit.  I just priced them.  Wow.  Any other recommendations?

3.  George Grill.  I love my george BUT it is the old-school style.  I want the one with removable plates so it is easier to clean.  The old one was a wedding present and is starting to show some wear.  Any opinions on it?  And which one? 

4.  My salad shooter is starting to break.  Don't laugh.  I adore that stupid little thing.  I can shred an entire block of cheddar in no time flat.  We eat tacos weekly so that's an important trick.  I know you can buy it already shredded in the bag but it tastes funny to me.  Ok... now you are watching the video for the salad shooter and wishing you had one, aren't you?  It's ok... I'm a trend setter like that. 

5.  Swimwear.  Currently I'm leaning towards something from Land's End.  The giant baby blue faille suit is so stretched out as to be obscene.  I have a fairly hideous green-print suit from Land's End that at least sort of fits but is really, really ugly on me and it should go away.  And a black Anne Cole one piece that is serviceable but not attractive.  So I'm shopping.  In ten pounds I will be buying.  My arms and legs aren't hideous but my belly goes on for miles.  I'm leaning towards this suggestion from Elle.  Although I can't decide which bottoms would work best.  I would like to try some boy-short ones but they don't really have any.  I was thinking these industrial ones might work best for all-over slimming and muffin top control.  Although I'd be horrified for the neighbors to see them drying on the clothes line.  They also have these with tummy control and these beach living ones with tummy control.  I can't tell what the real differences are.

6.  Leggings.  I need to get on this leggings trend before it fades completely away.  I need leggings and tops.... and the appropriate footwear.

7.  Summer shoes for work.  I need cute, comfortable shoes with decent arch support.  I currently have these Keen sandals and I love them.  If they had my size I would probably just get them again.  I'm eyeballing these Dansko sandals.  I also think these ballet flats are fun.  If you shop Sierra, remember to sign up for their emails....  the discounts are way better than the regular discounts on the site.  The cheapest I've seen the $75 Dansko sandals is $50.  So what shoes?  I'm open to suggestions.

day 3. a photo that makes you happy

I love these pics.  We are out being active and doing fun things we love.  Bugsy is on the shore playing "sand buckets" with my cousin.  This is totally the image I have in my head when I picture us as a happy & healthy family.

day 2. a photo of yourself a year ago

A quick kid photo shoot for Valentine's Day turned into a family protrait on "Pirate Rock" out behind the barn......

Project Couch

This is what my couch looked like a few weeks ago.  Notice the sage green Pottery Barn cover is gone.  I've always hated that cover....ever since I got it (and a chair cover) for a screamin' $80 shipped from Ebay.  It never stayed on quite right and it always looked tired, faded and sad.  This is the couch with the original back cushions replaced.  And the bottom cushion slipcovers have been dyed about a thousand times.... they are worn and frayed.

This is what the couch looked like new.  Ten plus years, three kids and a husband in fire boots ago.

Here's how it looks on any given Saturday.... laundry pile, dog & cat.  Oh... and see my cute new ottoman?  It was one of those buy now, talk later purchases.  $40 on Target clearance online.  My husband hates it.  I like putting my feet on it, the kids love it, and the storage is fantastic.  It stays.  Although the tray on top had to go. 

 Target had RE brand slipcovers on sale for $50.  I figured it couldn't be worse than the stupid sage green one.  So I got chocolate. 

Yes, it shows dog hair.  Yes, I DYSON it every weekend.  Yes, I LOVE it.  It stays tucked and looks nice.... well.... as nice as a couch with a dog on it can look.

Here it is all gussied up.

I also sprang for some clearance nesting tables.  Much loathed and much used by the husband.  Fantastic for the laptop.

Mmmmm.  Do you see my latest "art" project in the background?

Do you know what this fantastically modern piece of art is?  And can you tell I busted out the glass while assembling it?