Too many things-VHS tapes

I finally decided to hire a professional organizer. I will try to pass on  some tips she is giving us. So far we have been in the kitchen and our bedroom sorting and clearing away things and finding new "homes" for the stuff. A place that makes more sense. 

My husband is on board and has been unstoppable in getting his amount of stuff reduced. Today he was told that he needed to go through a set of upper cabinets where he has stored a huge collection of VHS tapes with sports recordings. There was an average of three games on each tape. Here is a picture of all the tapes he culled:

That is 272 VHS  tapes. 

Here they all are ready to go to the trash:

SEVEN bags full. 

After he returned from the dump, he told me that he has taken 11 bags of trash to the dump this week. 

Fix it because you don't want to forget it.

You know the crock pot saying fix it and forget it?  My saying has to do with fixing, but along the lines of repair. And I want to repair it so it won't be forgotten.

I love the Christmas decorations I have gotten over the years for the kids.  I had two special ones: a little green bear that my Dad had painted for my daughter and a little reindeer that he  also gave her.  The ear broke off from the bear and the leg broke off from the reindeer.

I had thought of ways to make new parts but finally decided on Fimo Clay.  One bakes it to harden it. I shaped a little leg and a little ear and attached them on with a cool melt glue gun.  I was not sure if the hot glue would melt that modeling material.

I am so happy with the results.

I am very happy to get a project ticked off my list.

I can happily put these two away with the decorations for Christmas.  Now what do I do with the leftover green and white Fimo?

Find a small project that will give you pleasure to complete and do it. 

Fix it...when?

The toilet valve downstairs has been struggling for a while now. On the top of the fill valve I had written: "5 year warranty. Installed 11/11/07". So it gave me 7 good years. This is the Korky brand of valve. 

I purchased a new one a couple months ago and wanted to install it. But as usual I saw it as somewhat overwhelming. Decided that I didn't need new items adding to my clutter so installed it today. Took about 20-30 minutes. DONE!  Old valve beside the new valve box. Both went to the trash after this picture. 

What can you do with two shots? Use 'em up!

I got inspired by my friend who was mentiond on my very first post on April 2, 2014. She has restarted her Simplify blog encouraging readers to get rid of one thing a day. So this morning I went in my closet and saw this box:

 I wanted to get rid of it because I don't really like it. 

But why not just use it up?  It ended up having 2 "doses" left. I used them and tossed the applicator and box   in the trash. 

By the way her blog is at http://simplifyoneperday.blogspot.com

check it out

Use it or toss it, or both

I bought some luminaries at a yard sale years ago. I liked them but they never made it to display. So I decided that I was either going to use them at Christmas (2014) or toss/donate them. It turned out that Christmas was not at my house. So I waited til New Year's Eve  I took them to a friend's and we set them up, lit them, showed them to the husbands and at the end of the night I told my friend she could keep or toss them. 

Loyalty cards

I alphabetized, punched holes in, and secured all my loyalty cards on a homemade key ring. A beaded key chain might be better. Glad I made it to this point.

My sister cut all of hers to the same size as those little cards. About 1-1/4" x 2". 

Here's my stack. A little too bulky for my purse but better than hunting through all of them. 

From A. C. Moore to the YMCA. they are all together. 

Ah, for the simpler life

My sister, a friend and I just returned from a girlfriend trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to see the Sight and Sound Theater production of "Moses". Lancaster is Amish country and we saw and learned about the Amish and their way of life.  

Horse and buggy. Plow the fields with mules and work horses. Trust and honesty-we saw little road side stands with a can to pay for your lemonade or vegetables. Very clean at "Katie's Kitchen" restaurant-my friend peeked in the kitchen of this authentic Amish eating place and it was immaculate. I noticed when people left the restaurant one waitress wiped the table down and another waitress (using a different cloth) wiped down  the back and seats of the booth. 

We stuffed all that we could into two days. The "Moses" production was spectacular. 

We also saw a life sized reproduction of the Tabernacle and took a tour of that with a Mennonite. Asked lots of questions.  Lots of fun was had by the three of us. 

Ate at a smorgasbord. Yummy. 

My sister bought a piece of furniture  right from the Amish man who created and built it. We were amazed by the craftsmanship and he was impressed that the Prius was not only got good gas mileage, but could hold a piece of furniture. 

Beautiful. Handcrafted by Levi Fisher. 

We went to a quilt shop and saw some exquisite quilts. This shop was near the Miller's Smorgasbord.   The proprietor said these quilts had to be made within 20 miles of the shop and all had to be hand quilted. The white one took 1-1/2 years to quilt. We had to wear white gloves to touch the quilts. 

So how does one have time for this? Getting rid of some everyday distractions might help: 

TV? Yes. 

Computer? Maybe.   

Electricity (this is a little too far for me).