[She's here]

Pictures were worth the wait. . . such a sweetheart. 

[She's here]

Now all we need is a picture!  Congrats and welcome to the world and your loving family, Rosemary!

[Decluttering and organizing goals, week 3]

I've been filling my van with stuff for Goodwill and finally got it donated today.  I also donated two big trash bags to another textile donation site.  I cleaned out/resorted two of my junk drawers in my kitchen.  And this may not count, but I filled my yard waste bin on Tuesday for the Wed. pick up, and now I've filled it half way again with blackberry vine clippings. 

[Decluttering and organizing goals, week 2]

That's been really hard for dh to overcome.  Things we haven't used for YEARS he wants to keep 'in case' because we've already spent the money to buy it. And I'm calculating how much it's going to cost us to move all this stuff and keep thinking that if we have to rebuy 50% of it (which is wildly overestimating how much we'd want to rebuy) we could with the money saved from moving it.  The man is an engineer- started as an industrial engineer- he KNOWS this. But combining his sentimental side with his 'I've already spent money to buy this' is making it super hard to get rid of stuff. 

 

My dh keeps things just in case, and then he can't find what he needs and ends up buying that missing tool or whatever again!  I'm thinking we could save money just by getting rid of unused things so we can see the things we actually might use!  Anyone else have to buy something you needed because you couldn't find it in the mess?

 

[Decluttering and organizing goals, week 2]

Last week I took about 20 bags to donation - 8 were from my sister, but boy did that feel good.  We also did a van full of stuff to the dump.

 

This week my goal is to fill the van for things to Goodwill - I know I have an old desk, a baby cradle, an old artificial Christmas tree, wall hangings, and more odds and ends.

 

I also need to fill my yard waste container by Tuesday night, so that means a couple of hours out in the yard. 

[Update: Help me plan my wedding (simple, relaxed, second)]

When is your wedding, cuz I totally want to see some pictures posted here!

[Update: Help me plan my wedding (simple, relaxed, second)]

I saw a wedding where it was the second marriage for both and they had 6 kids between them.  Each child had a different color of sand and poured it into a vase or it could be a fancy jar with a lid.  It made for a pretty keep sake and showed the blending of the families.  Just an idea on how to involve the kids in your ceremony.  Best wishes to you.  When is the date?

[I am sending my niece some board books for a baby gift. Which are your favorite?]

I don't have any particular names, but look for touch and feel books or ones where they get to open a flap.  You get the longest use out of those. 

[Sad news this evening]

Prayers and virtual hugs for you and your family.  I'm glad you have some family and friends for support.  Are you ok financially with him out of the home?  

[Americans, I need help with this phrasing...]

I voted" I wish you a good night", but I think it depends at what time it is being said.  If there is some time left in the evening "...a good night" sounds like there is time to do something to make it a good night.  If it is immediately before people go to bed, then "...good night" is what I would normally say to my family.  As long as you are making it formal by saying I wish you . . . , then I think you need to put the "a" in there. 

[Decluttering Goals and Weekly Thread Feb. 25-March 3]

What a great idea, DawnM, to have a thread for this.  Thanks for sharing how your organizer works with you.  Oh how I would love to have a professional organizer work with me.  I think it helps to have someone to do the work with and keep you on task. I get stuck on what to do and how to do it.   I had hoped that would be my dh, but he is a sentimental, we might need this some day, kind of guy so I have to use him sparingly.  He is great for taking things to the dump and thrift store which I'm so appreciative for.  My goal is to declutter by April 1 too, Storygirl. 

 

Today we are working on the garage.  We have things that need to go to the dump and we need to make room for a car - something that garage hasn't seen for about 20 years! 

 

Tomorrow I am donating clothing, shoes, old sheets, etc.  I have 4 big bags so far. 

 

It is amazing how much "lighter" the house feels as I work through this process!

[This Is Us....Do you like the show if you are not adoptive family?]

I enjoy that show and I don't have any experience with adoption, multiple births, musicians or actors in the family, people with money, homelessness or drug addiction.  I do have a weight issue, but not to that extreme. It is so different from other shows out there. 

 

[What do I use to make a puzzle stay together. . .]

My hairdresser has a puzzle always going at her salon for customers to put pieces into.  She then hangs it on the wall when it is complete.  She puts regular Elmers glue on the back of the completed puzzle and flips it onto poster board. She must have 50 puzzles on her walls and they have held up great.

[I just ate that (spin on would you eat this)...]

I think it depends how hot your house is over night.  Our house is in the 50s at night at this time of year so I wouldn't have a problem eating it. 

[Today I realized that the necklace that my daughter is wearing, that I gave her, that was once mine]

Turning 50 was the hardest year for me.  I don't mind being in that decade.  It's just that I was (am) the youngest in my immediate family and of all my 1st cousins.  How can the youngest be 50 years old?

 

[POLL- If they couldn't determine baby's gender at 20ish week ultrasound......]

There was a first time mother where I worked who was told she was having a girl.  She had the pink baby shower and everything.  She ended up delivering a boy.  That's one of the reasons I didn't want to know ahead of time.  I was afraid I would have my mind set on one sex and then have the opposite.  Then I would wonder what happened to the baby I thought I was having.  I think, though, if I had 3 boys, I would want to know if I was having a girl.  It would give me time to get over the disappointment of not having a girl (if that was the case).  If it turned out the tech was wrong and I did have a girl, I would be thrilled.  I'm sure you'd be thrilled with either. I believe every baby is special. 

[Things I am NOT doing this year]

I refuse to buy gift cards anymore.  If I can't find a gift that is special for the people on my list, I'll give cash in a card so that they can use it in any store, I have it handy, and it never expires.

 

On behalf of those of us who hate gift cards - thank you!  I do child care and some of the moms gave treats and cards.  I am truly very thankful, but a couple of the moms gave gift cards to Starbucks.  I don't drink coffee.  I know they have other stuff there, but I would have much preferred the $5 in cash.  I love the kiddos, but I'm really doing it for the money.  (I guess I really needed to say this - thanks for opportunity!)

[Prepping ahead for Thanksgiving dinner]

That far ahead I make sure the house is clean, the linens are ready for the table, I have all the silverware I need, and any decorations are out.  I prepare the turkey and stuffing Wed. night, so I just need to make sure everything else is ready to go.  I might set the dining table the night before or early morning too. 

["My French teacher was actually named Mrs. French," and other people we knew with names like that.]

My sister's French teacher was named Mrs. Parris.  My OB with my daughter was named Dr. Storck. 

[What cash amount would you give to DD's boyfriend for 21st?]

My sister gave her nephew $21 in cash - so I guess it depends how close you are to the young man.

[What cash amount would you give to DD's boyfriend for 21st?]

I gave my son two $20 bills and a $1 bill, and taped it to the card so you couldn't see the second $20.  It only looked like "$21" because that was symbolic of this special birthday.  I thought $21 wasn't enough, and we did take him out for a special dinner too. 

[If you made specific but casual plans with someone...]

I would wonder who is initiating the plans.  Is it you and your daughter or the other family.  If it is you or your daughter who brings up getting together and they keep cancelling, then I would not keep trying.  If the other family is interested in getting together, let them make the first move.

 

[I feel like crying.]

Ok, I'm guessing you meant to type "kid" - am I right?

[I feel like crying.]

Dd texted me from the high school and said a lid walked into the library and she could smell his BO immediately, across the room.

 

Just thinking about high school kids and how they treat each other. How some kids get teased relentlessly. How hard high school can be. :( Ok. I have tears in my eyes.

 

Anyone else ever get like this?

 

Who or what is a "lid"?  You used a male pronoun, but I'm clueless. 

 

[That one thing that I do not use and will never get rid of...]

My mom knitted me some leg warmers (think Jane Fonda in the early 80's) 4 months before she suddenly passed away.  I never wore them, but nope, I'm not giving them away.  Her loving hands made them for me.  It's okay to save stuff like that.  Hope you have loving memories of your mom each time you look at or touch the fabric of that skirt.