Public Restrooms

I have a huge pet peeve with public restrooms.

The other day I went to a meeting for work and needed to use the restroom. It was a unisex restroom which I really DO NOT LIKE! I don't want to share a restroom with guys..

Anyhow, I go in, but then decided it was too yucky to use. The toilet was unclean, there was water on the toilet seat, a lot on the floor, and all around the sink area--on the shelf above the sink..I mean it looked like somehow had a block of ice that melted everywhere. So now I am in a quandry, as I no longer want to use the restroom..but there are other people out in the lobby waiting, so if they came in after me, they will think I caused this mess!

So I had to kind of clean it up--I know, gross! But I felt pressured to do so.But I still did not want to use it.

How come public restrooms are often so disgusting!! How come people cannot go in, do their thing, n e a t ly, and then wash their hands n e a t l y (without water all over the counter and floor) and then leave. Really. How. Hard. Is. That!?

Can we all learn the rule of scouting, leave the place cleaner than you found it!!

I am amazed over and over how gross the ladies room is..that really stuns me. I expect the unisex bathroom to be gross since I am forced to share with men..but ladies seem to be pretty gross themselves. People need a refresher (no pun intended) course on bathroom etiquette. And just like I have said in my book about your guest bathroom at home, public restrooms should at minimum have a toilet bowl brush and b l e a c h cleaner handy.

This was a huge, successful company. Their bathroom should not look like that. People really need to get a clue.

Cleaning House

I read somewhere, that cleaning your house and your relationship really go hand in hand. I have thought about that a lot. Makes total sense. Yet for y e a r s, I totally missed it. It was like the two never intersected. It was like I could not see how they connected at all. I have been cleaning away for years. Popping on those rubber gloves, and scrubbing away. Pushing a vacuum cleaner all over the place, like an extension of my arm. Dusting to a brilliant shine. My house and everything in it and around it was in total order. Well not all the people inside. That was something I could never "clean." I could never get it (him) in order. And I tried and tried and tried. Maybe it just made me clean and get rid of clutter more, it is hard to remember these days..

But now I don't have a relationship to clean. It is g o n e. While I am not happy about it, as far as it not working out..I am happy that I don't try and try and try and try to make it sparkle, I no longer have to. I have all this perspective now that I did not even know about a couple of years ago, let alone 5 or 10 years ago..it was not possible for me to see.

So I guess my point is, while you are cleaning away, really notice how the main relationship is going, for me, my age, that meaning marriage. Are you spinning your wheels? You may never be able to achieve what you need in order to feel grounded. Pay attention. I spent a lot of years not doing just that.

Bathroom Organizing

I prefer the calm soothing colors in bathrooms, that can easily be accessorized. I like the soft cream and white and light tan colors.
-Walls—always paint with semi gloss in kitchens and bathrooms, as they repel water and are easy to clean. I do like texture and in one bathroom in my house I added sand to it—they actually sell little boxes of fine sand at Home Depot just for that, I had no idea!
-Go with a theme, or at least be consistent. Don’t just put things on the walls to fill up space—like a still life of flowers, and then a dolphin print—stuff like that, it is just not cohesive. I went with one of my favorites, a mermaid theme. So easy to find artwork and small accessories for the counter.
-Again, big fan of shower curtains-they are just softer, easy to change out, easy to clean.. personal preference but I don’t like glass (unless they are very nice) or faux glass doors.
-Lighting—always important!! And stick with the same metal—all brass, all chrome, whatever—that alone makes a huge difference.
-I love chrome, I mean it is classic. But my 3 bathrooms all are different—one is chrome, one is brass (for the powder room and I think brass really suits those bathrooms) and burnished bronze in the master—each bathroom has its own personality.
-Sinks, toilets and tubs, keep them all the same color too—it is not preferable to have a white sink and an almond shower—but at least you can use a nice shower curtain to tone it down and tie things together better.
-Counters—like every bathroom, keep it simple. Do NOT put all your toiletries out—that is what cupboards or drawers or bathroom organizer shelves are for.
-Always have soap, preferably in a dispenser that matches, tissue, and toilet paper stocked and easily accessible to find a replacement.
-Towels and rugs—make sure they are in good shape-nothing is worse than one or two thread bare towels and an old mat—really who wants to get ready in that??
-If you have a window, don’t over dress it, but please put something there that is consistent with the room. I hate valences, you know those over done frilly ones you see—don’t do it—a simple short curtain or white blind—something simple and attractive is best.
-Don’t pile up the bathroom with junk that collects dust and closes down the space.
-Flooring—do NOT have carpet in your bathroom—it is just gross.
I had cheap white vinyl, so I put the vinyl tiles that come in a box, and it looks like ceramic tile—it took a few hours, and you have to pay attention as there are grout lines to consider, but man it looks so much better!! And it only cost $30. It just gave the floor substance—and the floor is so important in every room.
-Keep some bathroom cleaning supplies under the sink—every bathroom should have toilet bowl cleaner and a brush tucked away but easy to find. Keep your toilets clean—it is bad and gross to have to use public toilets, never let your own bathrooms go down that road.
-Oh and in the shower/tub do NOT stock it with a zillion shampoos, body washes, soaps, etc…it is such an eye sore. Get matching dispensers for a few items, and keep out what you use a lot—the rest can be neatly stored until you really need it.

Cleaning Tips

Magic Erasers—I cannot say enough how much I love this product!! I hate marks all over baseboards and doors—I mean it is just so noticeable. This gizmo takes them all off. It will remove the sheen, but not in a way that it makes a big statement. But do NOT use on color painted walls—it will screw up the color.
Your home will looked so well taken care of if you clean up all those marks.And then keep on top of it.

Wood Scratch Cover—another must! Do you have vacuum, and accidentally bump the legs on the couch or chair in the kitchen? A little scratch cover on a rag, goes a long way..I mean the bottle will probably last ten years, unless you have a large piece of furniture you are fixing up, etc..

Paint – paint can transform so many things. I had a coffee table and should have kept it—all I needed to do was spray paint it black. I painted all my white frames black last winter because I decided that I did not want white anymore. Painting rooms is cheap and transforms them before your eyes. Paint is like the cheap fix for decorating.

Bins and containers—I love these things. Bins are great for so many kid things, from Barbie clothes to Playdoh. I cannot imagine being without them. Organize your life with bins, big and small, and you will see how quickly it comes together. Bins are a must for the garage!

Outlets—paint your outlets with the same paint you paint the room. I love the streamlined look. I am not a fan of white outlets everywhere…I do like nice outlets though, like brass, or pretty ones to match a bathroom, etc..but plain white, if the room is painted, either get matching outlets, or just paint them...you may need to touch some of them up from time to time..

-Subscribe to one or two decorating magazines. You will find something for you in every issue. So often the change you can make is cheap and easy. It could be just redoing a bookcase, or making your own artwork, or revamping your living room, etc..I have gotten so much inspiration from magazines. And tear out pages with information you really like, whether it is an article, or a “How to” or a picture of a room—these are fun to store away in a file and look at when you need some inspiration. (I do love Domino magazine!)

-Walk around a decorating store or home improvement store just for fun. I love to walk around Target, Ikea, Cost Plus, Pier One, Home Depot, just let things grab you and inspire you. It does not mean you are buying anything today, but these are often where your ideas will come from.

-Go through your mail that day! Sort all the junk out, and for the most part recycle it! I keep a catalog or two, again for inspiration, but I get way too many these days. Try to get off the lists, it can be a challenge..Toss what you can in recycling; shred what you must, i.e. the “checks” we all get from credit card statements, and other personal information. Then take what is left, like bills, and file them to be paid – that should be done 1x or 2x a month…if you are paid like me, the 15th and 30th, then make those your bill paying days. Keep everything organized and together!

-Think about reading your news online if you don’t already do so. I know some people who still get the paper. I gave that up years ago..It is so easy and neat to read the news online, and you get such a large variety, and for FREE, and there is nothing to put away and recycle. It is a way to cut down on the clutter in your kitchen or family room where papers just stack up, is it environmental, and it is FREE and you will have one less thing to put away every day.

-Go through every room of your house on a regular basis and ask yourself, do I still like the way this room is put together, am I using the space fully, is there stuff in here I don’t like at all anymore, or just don’t want, how could this space work better for me??, etc..! You will be amazed. I do this all the time. Just recently I redid my family room bookcase, and my office. Two months ago, I thought those areas were just fine, but then one day, I thought, “These spaces could be better.”

-Remember, less is more! Get rid of your stuff that you don’t use or don’t like or are just holding onto. Free up your life for new things and new experiences. Take one room, or even one section of a room, at a time. There is no deadline to get everything done, but take it on and work on it. If unattended, like a garden full of weeds, our houses can fall victim to clutter and disarray very quickly. And always, wear your rubber gloves. :)

Entry Way

Like the front, the entry way is super important, as now your friend or neighbor or dinner guests are now inside!! Make it nice!

I have so much in my E Book, so I decided to start posting the information here.:)

-I don’t like entry way rugs. They take up space on the floor and visually in the area. Also people are inclined to wipe their feet all over them—let them do that on the nice doormat your have outside! But if you must have a rug, get something that looks expensive and fits the space well. Not too big, but not a postage stamp either. And make sure it flows with the color theme for that area—i.e. not a light blue rug, when your living room is black and white.. (I have to say I love the rug in the picture!)
-The hall closet—this is going to get used, especially when guests have coats.
-Make sure you have at least 10 nice hangers—again, make sure they all match.
Don’t put old dry cleaner wire hangers mixed in with plastic white ones and yellow ones from your little girl’s room..I use all white and black plastic hangers.
-Make sure the center section is open and available for guest coats. No one wants to shove their coat into your over filled closet (right there is a signal you need to organize and unclutter your closet.)
-For your own family, supply bins is the way to go, for shoes and umbrellas and backpacks—going with a color theme.
-I painted my coat closet the same as my entry way, so it is a seamless transition.
I also put black and red bins in there to go with the color scheme of the downstairs.
-Have attractive knobs on the closet—don’t go with stock ones.
-Lighting—most entry ways have some sort of light fixture. Make it nice, make sure you love it, as you will see if often, and it is something your guests will comment on.
-Install a dimmer, as sometimes the light can just be too much (I need to do this.) But don’t put a 40 watt bulb in and call that dim—that is just plain awful.
-Have a mirror that is a focal point. Everyone loves that.
-Have a small table or chair or bench, whatever you can fit—not overtaking the space, but utilizing the space. It is great for people to have a place to put their purse, etc.
-Do NOT overfill the space with furniture—that says cluttered as soon as they walk in the door.
-A few nicely framed large family photos, art, etc..really make the entry way its own statement. Go a little elegant—this is a great space to do it in.

Now I know many homes don’t have a full entry. In one of the homes I lived it, we did not at all! You came in, and there was about a 4 x 4 foot tile square, with a staircase going up or down—awful really. So I just had a mirror there. Work with the space, if you have it, use it! If not, keep it simple.

Hoarding

The word alone, HOARDING, is an ugly word. It sounds like some ugly troll trudging along a dark road.

Many years ago when I lived in California, I remember a neighbor telling me about another neighbor's home. I don't think the word "hoarder" was used back then, I think she just said it was unbelievably messy, something like that. I was so intrigued. I always am with things like that. It so is beyond my little Brady Bunch lifestyle..So I used the reason that we were having a party, to drop off an invitation when I knew he was not home, but I could easily look through the front windows (I guess I was afraid maybe he had a video camera watching the front door, I don't know..) But I did not want to just walk by his place, without having a reason. I am like that, I like to plan ahead. So I went over with my little invitation, and wow oh wow, the house was so filled with crap, had never seen anything like it. It was like a little rat maze, like all these little trails carved out of crap. And Mr. Pib soda, the cans were everywhere! I could not over stay my viewing, so that is all I ever saw. He never invited us over, but he did come to the party!

Without saying his name..he was just the nicest guy--well who knows..I realize these days that seems like a big statement to make. But at least he seemed so. He was always friendly. He had a job as a programmer or something, I got the sense he was quite brilliant. He saw his mother often. I remember I thought "how could he ever have a date over in that mess!" These are the things I worry about. It clearly was way beyond that!

I moved away in the midst of my first almost divorce from my second husband, so I never saw the house again.

I read that hoarding is largely about being insecure about the future, trying to be prepared and being quite self absorbed. This line struck me "..resist the temptation to worry about the inadequacies of tomorrow because it does not belong to you.." How true! Depression. Childhood issues unresolved and more triggers.

My main goal is for people to get rid of their sh%t. I absolutely cannot stand clutter. Beyond that, I don't even get it. From a very early age, I have always taken such good care of my things. Everything has always had its place. Some may find me over the top, but I don't think I am. I have plenty of free time, sometimes way too much, so it is not like everyday, all day, I clean and organize, but yet everyday I am doing some cleaning and organizing, if that makes sense. I like myself, my children, and when I am married, my spouse, my home, my yard, all around me to be pretty and well cared for and clean, and free of unnecessary junk. I almost think of it like building a continuous church (which is not something I really thought about until this past year..) but it is like that for me, always working in and towards order. Perhaps I am lucky, because it is so easy for me.

I heard a great line on the Hoarding show tonight--he said "this does not look like it even works. If we throw this away, I don't think it will upset your life." That seemed to be the line to end all. Honestly, while I love keeping things in order, I don't really have huge attachment to things. They are all just things, almost everything I have has not been with me forever, and will not be with me forever. I have a small treasure chest in my closet, where I do keep things I have had for a long time, and some for much shorter time. One thing I have is my POW/MIA bracelet from the 70s. My guy never came back (if they did, you were to send your bracelet to him.) That is a very special piece of my childhood. I remember my friend had one, and my mom was nice to order me one. I wore it for years. I have special cards from my kids, artwork they have made me, special cards from my parents, my grandmothers, friends, husbands.. not so sure, those may have been put in place for the respective children--see I am not about holding onto people from love that did not work out..although as we all know, it can be very hard for me to let it go. So maybe I have spent some time hoarding, memories and what ifs..maybe I have had clutter in my head, maybe as I write this I am saying, ah, I am having an ah ha moment..

But back to the box..it is small, it can only hold so much, and I won't be getting a bigger box. That is the point. Because I keep all my things in tip top shape, anything I sell, or most likely give away, is almost like brand new. I would be too embarassed to give away something junky. I love giving things away. It is so easy for me.

I am really concerned about hoarding. Just another problem/addiction for people. It is hard to imagine that it is this big deal for people to get over. If it was up to me, I would just say, "throw out your sh^t" well in a loving but forceful way. Think of the freedom of clearing your mind and your space. This might not work for the full blown hoarders, but for many out there, it is really just taking notice, being present to your life and what you have, and making sense and order out of it.

Spring is Springing

It is not official yet, we have 16 days to go..but even in soggy Washington, spring is evident. We were lucky, at least so far, a very moderate winter, hallelujah! It really makes a difference when it is not pouring or drizzly, day after day after day after day..these past few months have seen plenty of sun. But the dark days are over, the temperatures are rising. The back lawn is almost near needing a goat to mow it..I cannot believe how it has grown. Bulbs are popping.

Five quick fixes..

Change out your door wreath--what, you don't have one? I think all doors should have a wreath. I did not do this in my not so distant past, but for the last 5 years I have become quite enamored with door art. Wreaths are perfect, but so are cute items made to hang on the door, like last month I had huge red sparkly hearts--sounds kid of garish, but they really were perfect (just right for a few weeks.) December were large red Christmas balls. Now, cute yellow bumble bees grace each door.I think at minimum, something new on the door for each season, if you want to break it up by months/holidays, that is more work..but hey, don't you think festive doors are welcoming?

Pick up all remaining junk from your yard..leaves, dead plants, branches, you know all that stuff that you could leave laying around the past 3-4 months. I know I did. By the end of November I am DONE picking up leaves..branches (small) from all the wind, strewn about on the ground, plants that did not survive (these are annuals that I hope sometimes will come back..sometime..usually not..) Weeds. Rain brings weeds. So a couple of weeks ago I did a clean sweep of the yard..what starts as 20 minutes becomes 2 hours, but it looks so nice now.

Plant some little flowers here and there for color pop. Pansies, love them. And what I really love about them is they have babies all over the place, I find pansies all over that I did not plant. They are very vigorous too, which I love. No "shrinking violet" hah.

When you have days, moments, of rain free, snow free, sun filled weather, open those windows and let some fresh air in. Amazing after sitting in a heat forced home for months on end. It really will be like a "breath of fresh air." I can NOT wait to stop using the heater..and I rarely use AC--love no air being forced around.

My favorite..go through your closet, again..I just did a month or so ago, but then one night I was obsessed with going through it again. Things I thought I really wanted, but had not worn for at least a year (and I cannot believe I had anything in that category..) but I did..so go through it again. Unless you LOVE it, don't keep it. You won't love it when you wear it. I had some very nice items, but they just did not fit me right, (I am small and really have certain ways I like things to fit) so I finally pulled the plug on some stuff.

..a sixth idea..go through your decorating magazines, or go buy a few, and look for new ideas. Simple and inexpensive ones. Breath some fresh air into your home.

Even the Best Fall Down Sometimes

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

From Howie Day, Collide..

I love this song. While it is surely for two people, it even works for just one. Struggling against ourself. Sometimes even I don't know where to start. It is like my mind completely crashes and burns on me without a whole lot of notice. And then I don't know where to start. This doesn't happen often, but enough for me to see it coming. Suddenly even getting the mail seems like an effort. I don't wipe down the counters or put the dishes in the dishwasher (I know, I know, so not me..) So was the case this past weekend. Call it "the heart breaks again" for me, but I don't think it always has to be something so dire, so upsetting, it can just be you lose steam for awhile. Here is what I found..

Just go with it for a day, or two, or three..whatever you need, without going overboard. Do what you must do, the minimum, and just allow yourself to float for awhile. It will feel odd, and probably not grounding, but at the same time all you can really do. Watch a bunch of TV, read books, get a lot of sleep, retreat from the world for awhile if you need to. All of this might be hard if you have little kids, or a sick spouse, parent, etc..but wanting to run away for awhile is a common thing we all share. I believe we live in a society that puts on us, this never ending need to look happy, successful, together, social (aka Facebook constantly!) in charge and making great strides..truth be told, I believe that is somewhat of a farce. Really, did people even do that 50 years ago, let alone 100, 200?

Anyhow, after I have my extended quiet time, I realize I have to get back into the swing of things, before my mind rots. But it can be hard to know where to start again..Start small. Go get the mail. Wash the dishes. Pay some bills. Simple easy things. Remember, "What About Bob" and "baby steps.."??? Baby step your way back out. Make a list of what you need to do, ie the laundry, yardwork, house cleaning, cleaning closets, doctor appointments, tax returns, and just start back in. Oddly enough, this has all just hung out in the quiet waiting for you.

While I am usually a cleaning machine and somewhat freaky about organizing, I too have times I just cannot get it going,I just want to hide away.

Once you get your mind back on track with tasks, plan some fun stuff, go shopping at Target for a pick me up--works for me! Plan something fun in the near future. Do something creative to get the wheels rolling again. And you are back--organizing your mind and life again, and it does feel good :) You collide with you again.

Pet Peeves

The other day I went to dry my wet hands at the kitchen sink, and yuck, the towel had peanut butter on it. I asked my daughter, and after making sandwiches she had wiped her hands on it.."UM.....NO!!!!!" And there is a pet peeve of mine. A towel in the kitchen, by the sink, is for drying your wet hands on, or maybe a dish or two. That is its role. But I have had countless people think it is some type of catchall, some sign that says "wipe anything here..!" Now I know some cooks like to have a towel or two around when they cook up a storm, okay, please do. But those are no longer hand drying or dish drying towels. So it got me thinking, what are some of my household pet peeves..

In no specific order..

>Using a dishtowel for anything but drying your wet hands or dishes.
>Unclosed toilet lids, they should always be DOWN when not in use!
>No tissue in bathrooms, not toilet paper for your nose, or your crying eyes.
>No air freshener in bathrooms--it is a must!
>Sticky counters, sticky floors, sticky anything!
>Eating on the couch, and getting crumbs inside the couch.
>Bad lighting, especially in a bathroom.
>Dirty refrigerators, inside and out.
>Laundry rooms filled sky high, looking like the work is n e v e r done.
>Empty toilet paper dispensers, and no toilet paper to be found!
>The tiniest soap bar in a shower, and the shampoo is upside down and virtually empty.
>Dirty garbage can cabinet in the kitchen.
>No outside lights on when you come over for dinner.
>Dead or failing house plants.
>No hangers in an over stuffed coat closet.
>No soap in the guest bath to wash your hands.
>Lamps with burnt out lightbulbs.
>Marks on walls.
>Filthy dirty rugs inside the front door entry --I prefer NO rug--wipe your feet on the outside mat!
>Clutter!!!!

I could go on and on! Want some great decorating and organizing tips..? Check out my ebook, it is listed in November 2008.

http://findingorganization.blogspot.com/2008/11/buy-now.html

The Kitchen Sink

You know the phrase, "Everything but the kitchen sink.." I wonder where that phrase even came from..so I Googled it, and found some interesting things, that I never knew..

Meaning.."Practically everything there is; every possible object whether needed or not"...I never thought of it as describing excess, which I cannot stand..I thought of it more as a fun term.

"Everything but the kitchen sink - comes from World War Two when everything possible was used to contribute to the war effort...all metal was used for the U.S arsenal. The only objects left out were porcelain kitchen sinks. "

"... the origin of 'everything but the kitchen sink' dates back to the 1940's and a radio program called Queen for a Day. Several women contestants told the very sad stories of their lives. The woman whose story was judged the most poignant was dubbed Queen for a Day and won many prizes. After listing the prizes, the emcee would say, "You've won everything but the kitchen sink". "

"This expression was born in the early 20th century and became popular after World War II (the late 1940s). The kitchen sink is heavy, connected to pipes and usually bolted down, so it’s not easily movable. But if you took everything but the kitchen sink, you’d be taking virtually all there was. "

I guess this was kind of like the character the Grinch, when he took everything, even the last crumb for the mouse!

The other day I was cleaning the kitchen sink, and the phrase popped into my head. So while I was going to write about that, then I got side tracked and had to find out more about the phrase itself!

The kitchen sink, really all sinks. There is nothing worse than a dirty sink. I have a thing about kitchen sinks--they should be empty--dishes should be washed. I know, I know, I am a cleaning nut, but kitchen sinks with dishes piled, food, dirty sponges, etc..just are not my thing.

After every meal or snack I rinse the dishes and put in the dishwasher (sometimes, just once in a blue moon I don't follow my own rule--being truthful! but almost always is the case..)All I have in the sink is a soap decanter--a white one that matches the sink. That is it. No cleansers, no gloves or sponges (all of this is stowed under the sink.)

The sink should be very clean. If it is like mine, white Corian, use a non abresive cleanser, stainless steel, use a cleanser for that..the sink should shine (that is a tongue twister!!) While the kitchen is the heart of the house, I think of each part of the kitchen, the sink, the refrigerator, the oven, the stove, the microwave, they should all be clean. It is just my thing, I like clean kitchens and bathrooms--if I had to absolutely pick, those are the rooms that must be clean!

So the other day, I looked at my kitchen sink and thought, "wow, this really needs some Comet." It had been awhile. Now it is shining again. That led me to look under it, which is very clean. I only keep dish soap, dishwasher soap, rubber gloves, sponges, a trash can and a recycling bin (that is funny, my friend gave me a large Kitty Litter bucket to use for that, but I could not handle the Kitty Litter stickers--and they do NOT come off..s0 I spray painted it black!) I don't store a bunch of stuff under the kitchen sink. I keep it totally free of fold ood laying around in the cupboard, sticky stuff, etc..just because it is closed up, does not mean it should be any less clean that anything out to see. When I am somewhere and I see less than a clean cubboard under the kitchen sink, I am dying to give it a make over!

With all of this, I decided to look at my bathroom cabinets. For as organized as they were, they could have been that much better. Take out all that junk under and in your bathroom cabinets. THROW STUFF AWAY that you never use, like old face cream, old shampoo, expired aspirin, whatever. You will be amazed.

Then categorize into baskets and organize, and wipe down the inside of the cabinets, dust, dirt, grime, it will need it (mine did, shocking I know!) And the sinks and counters as well, they should be totally clean. A bathroom counter top does not need 35 things all lined around it--like deodorant, shaving creme, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, hair products, perfume, hair brushes, nail clippers, and on and on. A soap decanter, a few well placed accessories, tissue in an attractive container, must have tissue!!, but please store everything else. It does not all need to sit on the counter waiting away the day until you pick it up to use it, it will be fine stored below :)

I just had not thought about it in so long, but now when I open the cabinets, they look so nice on the inside, it is just like they are part of the room. So much junk just gets thrown in the bathroom cabinets, and at least 1x a year totally go through them and clean them out. And the front of the cabinets, they really take a beating with water, dust and bathroom products. I feel like my cabinets have been reborn!

I like the origin of the kitchen sink phrase, because I am all about not having excess, all about getting rid of clutter. If I had to sum me up in one word, okay a few, it is about getting rid of stuff! Not just possessions, but bad habits, bad people, bad ideas, etc!! Living more and more clutter free is totally liberating.

Happy New Year! I hope to get back on track and write a lot--2009 side tracked me in a BIG way..but now, now I am back :)