Legoland Corner, in the Home

Lego's small pieces tend to scatter everywhere & anywhere!
UNLESS they have a home
Located where curious 1-year-old sibling won't dare enter without a fight from older sib.

A bit of a squeeze, but YES.
Random Legos neatly store
in a lower drawer that transports to a table

Thrift store wooden chess & game tray storage box
+ Lego 10x10 building board glued to a game board
= ease of portability to a table for creative building

Lego towers on a table

Craft Cabinet Presto-Chango

In its former life, this thrift store gem was a portable bar.
Now the outside is painted black & re-purposed to a craft cabinet.
The top flips open for use as a surprisingly sturdy, laminate-covered, 6-ft. tabletop.
Hmmm. This monstrosity? in the master bedroom?

Shelving holds tape, ribbons, embellishments

Shelving holds glue gun & sticks & glue

Paper, felt, acrylic paints

Clear shoe boxes = view-able items

Top flipped. Doors closed & locked.
Presto-chango. Where did the craft items go?
No one knows.
The cabinet can be rolled to the dining room to use as a serving table,
&, during the holidays, it will be
rolled to the living room's second entryway to deter a curious 1-year-old
from easily attacking the Christmas tree!

At-Home "Crossfit Box" on Garage Landing

Five workout zones created for under $30
All are non-electric thrift store purchases

     Our ample yet formerly under-used garage landing is now re-purposed as a workout area with five Eco-friendly, non-electric items. It is a healthy addition to our home and a value-added idea. The better each space in the home is used, the greater its resale-ability.

     A recent Healthspan study found that women spend an average of 5 hours a week in a bad mood. One positive way to attempt to fight a bad mood is with exercise. Strengthening workouts build muscle, and muscle helps for higher caloric burn. In other words, hit the exercise machines rather than kick the dog.

     (Potentially germ-filled) gyms haven't fit into our one-income budget, so I've spent the last few months purchasing the following workout zones, in counter-clockwise order:

1. Vintage stationary bike ($7.50)
2. Core-strengthening, "Red" swivel seat ($5.50) and a 10-lb. workout ball ($3.00),
3. Folding, non-electric treadmill ($6.00), 
4. Lateral thigh trainer ($3.00)
5. A variety of hand weights ($2.00),
6. A flight of stairs (not shown in photo) is a sixth zone for stepping variety ($0.00).
7. The sturdy railing is perfect for important cool-down stretches.

     Multiple stations and upbeat music makes strengthening workouts a bit less tedious, or possibly workout-buddy-welcoming.

     The garage door can be opened for added airflow and variety. A mirror makes the area feel larger and is helpful for the all-important posture check, especially during weight training.

     A fan is cooling during warmer summer temps, and will be replaced with a space heater in the cold winter months. I read while pedaling the stationary bike. Bright, colorful circles affixed to the cabinet are cheerful, and a large, eager-eyed ladybug bank (to the left of "Red") is my accountability partner. A token into her slot each exercise time is motivating. I NEED any tangible motivation I can find.

     Caution! Make certain that your landing is sturdy, AND that any chemicals stored in the garage are contained and sealed. Temps in the higher 80s and above seem to create fumes (breathing fertilizer or insecticide odors during workouts negates the healthful benefits of exercise). 

     A small area in the basement might be an ideal alternate location. Always use caution on any exercise equipment and with weights. Moderation is the key. My cardio workouts are generally done outdoors.

Ways to fix a bad mood

Dishwasher Sparkle

Be kind to your dishwasher & it will be kind to you. Just do it.

     Are your dishes dingy? and you think your dishwasher is the culprit? Over a year ago I thought this about my less-than-6-year-old dishwasher and that it needed replacing. I did some research and saved a major appliance purchase.

     To restore your dishwasher's cleaning punch, the following are manageable and do-able tips. Saving money as well as enjoying sparkling glasses and dishes are bonus by-products, (really, the tips are basic, but do take some thought):

• Before starting the dishwasher, run the tap water until hot water comes out of your kitchen faucet. Otherwise, the water will be tepid for the first two cycles of cleaning.
• Is the rinse aid dispenser empty? If so, fill it.

        It may help to switch your dishwasher soap. More than 3 years ago, soap manufacturers changed their formulas, omitting phosphates from their ingredients, to benefit our environment. Our environment is happier, but the dish sparkle factor has decreased... thus, the need for the right soap. Cascade Complete is the best option, but it is a bit pricey.
          A cost-effective alternative is Walmart's Great Value powder.

• Refer to your dishwasher's owner's manual to learn the proper dish-loading instructions for your machine. The positioning of the various items, allowing for the soap to freely discharge from the dispenser and the water to adequately flow, makes a difference.

• Load dishes down. Make sure no pans, bowls or cups are facing upward and open. Open dishes catch dirty water, and the entire load gets repeatedly bathed in it (Tip: When a load doesn't clean, this is usually the culprit!).

• Use full-strength, white vinegar to sink-soak dingy, stubborn build-up on everyday glassware.

    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

     IF your dishwasher is older and the above steps don't adequately produce the sparkle factor, don't purchase a new dishwasher yet. Buy a dishwasher cleaner (CLR or Dishwasher Magic) and follow these steps:

1. Empty your dishwasher of any dishes.
2. At the sink, run the tap water until it becomes HOT.
3. Select your dishwasher's "High Temp Wash" or the "Sanitize" setting.
4. Start the dishwasher....
5. The first step or cycle of many dishwashers is to drain! You need to make sure the initial draining is complete before adding CLR or Dishwasher Magic, lest it literally runs "down the drain" prior to performing its magic.
6. When you hear the dishwasher actually begin to wash, add CLR or Dishwasher Magic (refer to the package for the accurate amount and precautions).
7. For the initial treatment with stubborn build-up, run only briefly, and then stop the dishwasher to allow the solution to set (refer to package directions). Then, finish the entire cycle. For successive treatments, the set time is shortened, so refer to package directions.

     Your mind is now fully loaded... with more dishwasher information than you will ever need. Enjoy the sparkle, money savings, and saving precious landfills by extending your dishwasher's lifespan.

Click the link for some thoughtful reading material: Dishwashers... and Easter?

Suitcase Packing Cubes: Like Drawers-to-Go

Packing Cubes have netting, for breathe-ability & view-ability
Rolling my clothes seems to lessen wrinkles

     I am recovering from Packing Anxiety Sanity Syndrome (PASS). This ailment's symptoms include sweaty hands, a racing heart, and mind confusion that peaks the day before a trip. Avoidance was my response. I would find anything to do but pack; and, because of PASS I was at times tempted to PASS on some intriguing trips.

     Until.... the day my husband purchased packing cubes. These life-savers made me step back to re-think packing. The helpful cubes are like drawers-to-go, suitcase style:

• For lengthy trips, one cube can hold pants, another tops, and another underwear.
• For overnight stays, each cube can hold entire outfits.
• Different colors and sizes of cube sets create quick visual cues for locating items. 
• Packing organization options are numerous.

     We like the portability of packing cubes. Upon arriving at a hotel, entire cubes can be transferred to a dresser drawer, keeping its contents in the cube. When it is time to pack up to leave, simply zip the cubes and transfer them back to the suitcase. And (for germaphobes) they're washable.

     Forgive me for sounding like a commercial. I receive no kickbacks from this endorsement or from any of my blogs, and I don't plan to. I merely enjoy sharing gems that save my sanity, and summer travel is coming soon.

     An Internet search will lead you to various companies that sell packing cubes. EBags work for us, but there are other companies.

Kitchen Organizing 101 in Pictures

     Here is a brief pictorial purview of a few of my kitchen's organization centers. These centers help, particularly when more than one cook is in the kitchen.


Less-used & smaller UTENSILS
Contained in narrow, section-creating baskets
...SPATULAS, etc. are handily contained on the counter above
for easy access to multiple cooks

Plastic-coated spinner in the pantry
Easy viewing & no oil on shelves

Cooking spices create a Cooking Center
Stored on levels (sold at BBB) for easier viewing,
in somewhat alpha order left-to-right
(Baking spices are in a different cabinet, for the Baking Center)



Hide produce in a drawer?
Out of sight, out of mind! At eye-level healthy foods will be eaten.

     For additional kitchen ideas, click this link: Stations, everyone!

Kitchen Tips, a Pictorial Purview

     An organized, thoughtful kitchen welcomes memorable people-events. This past year I've had time for many things, including developing kitchen flow for advantageous culinary group workouts. Here is a pictorial plethora of ideas, for family baking/cooking times. Please note disclaimer, located way at the bottom*:

Knives & utensils attractively reachable for guest cooks

BAKING spices store separately from COOKING spices, for stations
To view: Kitchen Organization: COOKING spice rack--click here

Tea organizer (Ikea) lets company easily view their options

  

Rolling pins creatively store in an unused space



Green Tea (high in anti-oxidants) brews easily every a.m.



Kitchens may have can openers, but this is...

...an electric JAR opener to save precious wrists

 

For frugal dishwasher tips, graduate to:
Sparkle University--click here 

*Disclaimer: Confusion (OR even over-organizing) may be a comfortable dynamic for some families (avoiding unpleasant or delicate issues as in my toxic, dysfunctional childhood home).

OR, maybe chaos creates adventure! Approach organizing with caution, & avoid extremes.

Synchronized take-away:  1) "Birds of a feather flock together" and,  2) "You can't have your cake and eat it too."