Library on Wheels.

When I saw the Library on Wheels book at the library, of course I had to check it out. The thought of a vintage bus loaded with library books just about bursts my heart.

This book turned out to be great fun. It tells the story of the first United States bookmobile, which was actually a horse-drawn wagon. The woman who dreamt it up was so determined to make sure that books were available to EVERYONE, not just those who lived in town.

The Wisconsin library system is stellar and I’m thankful to be part of it. But, I’ve had Illinois and Tennessee library cards too. Here is something fabulous about all libraries, they stack and store books, maintain the collection, buy new and weed out old, and keep on going, so you can have access to materials for free. And not just books, but magazine subscriptions, and music, and new movies, and on and on. They don’t even stop there. If you want a book they don’t own, they can search it out and get it from another library via mail. You just ask them if they can track it down, and very often they can. Plus, they have online access to databases so you don’t even have to leave your home. You can download plenty to read on your tablet if you prefer. Wait, there is even more. Libraries have programming for children, comfy places to read, free wi-fi and even computers with online access with printing capabilities. Libraries are a social place for self-directed learning.

Even though they offer so much, library use is declining even as many proclaim their love for them.

So, when I read Library On Wheels, it was so telling to how much librarians wanted everyone to have access to material. I think that spirit is still there today. If you don’t have a library card, I’d highly recommend you get one and then use it. If you don’t understand how to find something, just ask. Librarians want to connect you with what you are looking for. (I know, I worked in one and continue to volunteer at our local library.) They want to buy books that get checked out often because that means they are buying the books that readers want. Most of all, they want to be a sharing, rotating resource of information.

Libraries are a treasure trove of reading and media outside your home. They are free to use, have great resources, and most often have just what you are looking for. As homeschoolers, we are constantly thankful for the rotating interesting resources we get. As an added bonus, libraries store the books at their spot, so you don’t have to tidy and maintain your own collection. Just keep a designated small spot for your loaned books, return, and repeat.

Meal Planning.

I take on the task of feeding the family most of the time. My husband makes some killer pizzas and the best home fries ever, but for the daily lunch and dinner menu everyone usually looks in my direction. I never enjoyed cooking, never really learned as a child, and had been slowly accruing skills just as my sons were born. They, in turn, became little toddlers and preschoolers whom thought every evening I was trying to provide the grossest items I could find. This stalled any desire to prepare meals.

It’s been a long road, but the boys are 9 and 12 now, and I’ve continually persuaded the family to try what I serve and help me with ideas. I’m willing to invest more time in cooking these days and finally started meal planning this year.

I started by writing down 1-30 (an approximate month) in my bullet journal and when I served a meal that got 3 out of 4 yums, I would write the meal down next to the number. Steadily my list has grown. Currently we are up to 23 items that the family is pretty happy to eat most nights and I’m happy with that. We continually try new recipes from the steady flow of library recipe books and rate if they are keepers or not. I’m confident we’ll have 30 meals by this summer. I will likely keep adding those we enjoy to keep our meal list from getting boring.

At this point, I just equate the 1 on my list to the first date of the month in my journal. Now, weeks 1-3 are almost completely filled. Of course, we experiment and I shift things around as needed, but the basic framework is there to support me. I know what is for dinner when I wake up. Now I have it figured it out before it’s too late, and I can easily start the ingredients I need (like bread in the bread machine or soaking beans and what not). Another benefit has been the savings in the grocery bill. By knowing exactly what I am making and what we need, we have shaved off $75 per week!

For list making, I use a fabulous app called Anylist. My husband’s and my phone are linked to a single, shared grocery list. Whomever shops always has it on hand, so if we decide to shop while out, without really planning for it, it’s no matter. We already have the week’s needs loaded and ready.

I am trying to make the meal process a bit easier and be ready with tasty and healthful options. Pre-planning has reduced the annoyance of making last-minute dinners I’m not proud of and saved a bunch of money too.

What are some ways you plan meals? I’d love to hear.

 

Wool Dryer Balls

I appreciate cleaning more since I do it less (as a result of owning less) and I do it on items I truly like. I’m not one to purchase disposable items if I can help it and as a result I have been using handmade wool dryer balls for four years now on our clothes. They are so cute and easy to make, so I thought I’d share a tutorial with you today.

To make wool dryer walls you will need:

100% wool yarn

100% wool roving

nylons

rubber bands

washing machine

dish soap

To start:

1. Put a “chunk” of an old wool sweater, wool yarn scraps, or something of the kind together for your center. You can use just yarn here too. It’s easiest if you cut a chunk and ball it up to start winding around.

2. Using this chunk as your center, start winding wool yarn around this, turning and shaping into a ball as you go. Do this until your ball is about tennis ball sized. Now wrap the 100% wool roving tightly around the yarn core, trying not to expose the yarn anywhere.

3. Take your ball-shaped mass and put it in the legs of a sacrificed panty hose. Slide the balls in carefully to try to maintain their shapes. Tie off between each ball with rubber bands. Make as many as you wish, I usually do a few at a time so as to not waste the laundry water.

Washing Instructions.

1. Put the pantyhose snake in your washing machine on HOT and use 1 tbsp. dish soap (not laundry detergent). Check after first load. To be completely felted (matted down) it may take two washings.

2. Put your pantyhose snake in the dryer.

Finalizing.

Remove your sweet little balls from your snake and use in your dryer as a dryer sheet alternative. They eliminate static electricity and cut down on drying time by separating your clothes.

Optional.

Put 2-3 drops lavender essential oil on your balls for lovely scented clothes. Be sure to let your oil dry thoroughly before drying so you don’t stain your clothes with it. You can try putting the oil on the day before the wash.

Tackling Music

(above: one of my favorite records)

My phone cannot hold my entire computer’s iTunes library. I make sure my current favorites get loaded, but my phone loads the rest arbitrarily. So, the other day when music was shuffling while driving, I was rather annoyed when Dora the Explorer came on.., again. It’s not that I don’t like Dora the Explorer, clearly I purchased her awesome tunes. Rather, it’s that I’m really over Dora the Explorer since my boys are now 9 and 12. When we belted out Baby Einstein, Dora, and other fabulous children’s music, it was fun. Years ago. But now, I’m done.

It’s fantastic that music is so compact. That it’s just files that store on our computer or even more awesomely, files that get streamed! But, it’s sometimes so out of sight, out of mind, that it’s easy to skip updating. I haven’t been rocking Dora for quite a few years, but every time the song came on, I’d just skip it, instead of deal with it. But, now I’m proud to say Dora is gone! And Baby Einstein! And Crayola Kids!

These past few weeks, I broke down the iTunes list by artist and spent a little time each day processing through a letter. A’s. B’s. C’s. and so on. I deleted those that no longer spark joy for me – in fact they actually irritated me. (If the song was someone else in the family’s then it stayed – as is always the policy – we can never declutter for others.) So, now I can jump for joy because when I hit shuffle, I will enjoy music I love today.

So today, my digital advice to you is don’t skip it. Deal with it:)

(If you live in fear that you may one day long to re-own that song, click here to see if the library owns it. And I may rest assured I can listen to Dora again via CD if my heart ever desires- even some newer ones).

Making Clay Labels.

I love the process of making things. Recently, I created these clay labels to affix to my copper bathroom baskets because I wanted something that looked nice and was waterproof. If you are crafty and have some baking soda and corn starch around, these might just be up your alley.

You will need:

  • Baking soda
  • Corn starch
  • Water
  • Bamboo Skewer (or something similar in size to punch holes through clay for affixing
  • Alphabet Letter Punch Stamps (or you can just let it dry and hand write on the dry clay with markers or paint)
  • Fine Tipped Marker Pen
  • Decoupage Glue (optional)
  1. Make the clay: I used this super easy recipe. It requires baking soda, corn starch, and water. That’s it. It also stores well in the refrigerator. I made the original labels in November, this dough is left over from then!  
  2. Roll the clay. I rolled it between 1/4″ and 1/2″ thick mainly with patting it out with my hands. I wanted something pretty durable and was okay to wait for it to dry. I grabbed my small measuring glass to shape the labels. Use whatever you have on hand. 
  3. Stamp out the clay. Just after I stamped the shape out, I put holes in with a bamboo skewer and gathered my stamping set. Next I stamped my labels into the wet clay. It is important to stamp lightly as too much pressure will show the letter with a circle around it. 
  4. Let dry. I let it dry overnight, flipped it in the morning and let that side dry through the day.
  5. Color in the letters. In order for the text to stand out, I traced in the letters with a very fine tipped felt tipped pen.
  6. Wipe with decoupage clue. I wanted to protect the labels from the moisture so I wiped a coat of glue water over the top of them. Decoupage glue works, but I used my boy’s school glue mixed with water just fine.
  7. Affix. Finally, I used white cotton twine to affix the labels to my copper baskets.

Making our home space joyful and tidy is the ultimate fun for me. I hope to post tidy crafts once a month. Please subscribe to my blog and check back often. Thanks for reading.

 

 

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

How to Deal With Product Labels.

When your home is tidy and it sparks joy, you start to notice something annoying creep in, product labels.  It definitely sparks joy to have cleaners, lotions, and the like around, but looking at the clashing labels can be downright annoying. From quick to methodic, here are some ideas on how to delete or minimize some labels and “noise”.

Eliminate It: 

If it’s not there in the first place, it can’t bug you.

Find an alternative.

Soap bars are a great label free option to plastic soap containers. You can even get a shampoo bar. You can read more about no ‘poo options too.

Make it yourself.

Instead of buying lotions, I’ve found that coconut oil is a fantastic face moisturizer and lip balm. I store it in a small canning jar on my bathroom shelf. Pinterest is abound with loads of homemade options and check out this amazing magazine with gobs of recipes.

Contain It.

Most items fit well in rectangular baskets or containers. These usually hide most labels until needed.

Transfer Contents.

You could transfer the contents from the original container to another clear container.

Plastic containers:

It is possible to buy clear, plastic containers and spray bottles at most stores. I have a clear, plastic squeeze bottle for my husband’s shampoo. I keep the original bottle in a basket and refill as needed. He said the bonus is he uses less shampoo with the squeeze bottle.

Glass containers:

Lotions & Hand Soaps: If you’d like a less plastic option (I usually do) for lotions, you can purchase pumps set in canning jar lids and put hand soaps and lotions in the glass canning jar. I found these at World Market and I think the neutral label is cute. I have refilled this container for over 3 years, and it still works perfectly. However, I know you can purchase just the pumps set in lids on amazon.com as well.

Household cleaners: I have these from Grove Collaborative. Also, resale stores are full of clear containers. I bought a glass jug from Goodwill that I keep my vinegar in. Just be sure to remember what’s in your unlabeled container or label minimally.

Alter the Label.

If you don’t want to eliminate it or transfer it, you can alter the label, then label it the way you prefer.

Rip it off:

For toilet paper you can simply remove the paper label. When stacked under the sink, it’s protected from regular bathroom moisture and easily identifiable.  For lotions or cleaners, you can remove labels by ripping the paper label off and clean the glue off with baking soda and water. Please be sure to label items directly so you remember what you have.

Cover it.

You could cover the current label with a new paper label. I mentioned Pinterest before, but will again. I often see printable labels available. Or, channel your inner crafter. Grab paint, markers, or matching washi tape. I am a knitter and I have a new mission this year for my pantry. I’m planning on knitting some tubes to slide up and over containers. I will post on that at some point. Use your talents and what’s around you. Make it pretty, have fun with it.

 

SaveSave

My Closet is Decluttered. Now What?


When I worked at the library, I had the fabulous opportunity to check in books, routinely. Streams of books ran through my hands, many I never would have searched for. The Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees was one of my favorite accidental finds.

After I Konmaried my closet, I diagnosed my troublesome purchasing habits and curbed those to ban clutter from returning. When I found The Curated Closet, it helped me plan for what to buy to shape my wardrobe for my ideal life. This book set me up to develop the style that is uniquely mine, through prompts for creating lists, goals, color families preferences, and so much more. It fast tracked me to the places I wanted to work on, with a diagram in the front of the book. It dovetails so perfectly with the Konmari Method. I refer to it often to define my clothing needs before I shop.

So when you are ready to start purchasing items with intentionality take a good look at this book. It’s available at the library here in Wisconsin!

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Holiday Gifts That Won’t Be Clutter.

(ABOVE: Some of our reusable holiday gift bags.)

When I followed the Konmari Method and decluttered my home, a tough category for me was gifts. I persevered, have no regrets, and embraced what I learned. Since then, I think deeply about what I am giving to others, because I’d hate for them to feel guilty if they got rid of something I gave!

Here are some ideas I have for holiday gift giving:

For family:

  1. Ask what they want. Contrary to what advertising might make you think, it’s not rude to ask someone what they’d like. It’s smart. Surprise gift successes are rare, instead if you buy something someone wants, it’s likely it sparks joy for them. Likely it will end up used and kept. I know, crazy!
  2. Be there. Us mothers want to see you and know you are happy and well. The fact that you had to dress up and drive over is enough for us. Talk, sit and drink tea, watch a movie, go for a walk, it’s just about being together. If you promise you’ll consistently come again in a card, it’s a mother’s dream. Then DO it.
  3. Experiences. When I was moving to Nashville, TN years ago, my family lived in an RV until we could find the right house. My sister gave us an annual pass to the local zoo. That was one of the best gifts we have ever received. I was a mom of two very young boys living in an RV! We had very limited space. The zoo, however, was vast and we went early and often. Ask if someone would like a membership to a zoo or museum. Often these gifts are appreciated the whole year.

For acquaintances:

  1. Try consumables. Stuff adds up, and when we receive items we really don’t want, well, it can easily become clutter. This is why I found gifting consumables works great when I can’t ask what people want! When I was a florist, we had beautiful holiday arrangements that brought nature and cheer into every home we could! Flowers are a thoughtful, uplifting option. Or, healthy snacks are great as gifts and give many busy mothers a place to send hungry family members. What mom wouldn’t appreciate not having to prepare a snack?
  2. Utilize cash. Again, not thoughtless! You are saving this person the burden of stashing away something they may not want. Cash works everywhere for everyone every time.

Remember, we give gifts to show we are thinking of someone. We may not get it right all the time, but we try because we want to show our thankfulness for that person in our life. When you offer your gift and it’s received, the care is shown and appreciated. If it sparks joy is ultimately for the recipient to decide.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

Holiday Decorating.

I am excited about decorating my small home and chicken coop for my family and friends this year because last year I was a bit rushed just moving in. Happily, we cut our living space by 1,000 square feet which now forces me to be mindful of display space. Here are a few things I try when it comes to decorating.

I remember to shop what I already own before shopping any store.

  • Chances are I have something already that would work. I make sure I look through my decorations before purchasing anything new.

I try to use books and magazines as inspiration only.

  • I find items I currently have that are similar in shape or color to what my inspiration is, wisely reminding myself it doesn’t have to be that EXACT thing in the photo. Sometimes I even find something I own works better.

When I open my holiday boxes I revisit if the items spark joy.

  • I have to touch each item as I bring them out, so it’s easy to reassess each item.

If shopping, I search for the item I need instead of browsing.

  • Lists help me focus and plan and save me unnecessary purchases.

Holiday cheer is better than holiday clutter, so I try to be vigilant. How about you? What are some ways you avoid adding clutter but instead add holiday spirit?

SaveSave

Generic Containers.

In an effort to make our bathroom advertisement free, I switched our shampoo bottles to generic, clear, squeezable containers. A few weeks later, my husband thanked me. He noticed that his shampoo wasn’t spilling out in droves every time he used it, annoyingly wasting plenty. He said the new tinier spout was helping him dole out just what he needed. That was a great second benefit, as I was just trying to make it look nicer.

In fact, he asked me if we could find something better for our syrup. We buy syrup in large half gallon containers, and yes, a lot flows out too easily. Often. I found a great option that fits in the top of a canning jar and has a flip top lid. I purchased two, one for our homemade dressing as well.

Now we don’t have to purchase as often because we aren’t wasting as much! Tidying often leads to saving time and money!

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave