Using my powers for good

[threadwalker]

People talk about "spring fever" in terms of that cleaning frenzy and doing jobs around the house. Who wants to waste beautiful spring weather being trapped in doors? Bleck. My version of Spring Fever is "let's hit the road and go somewhere".

I get Winter Fever instead and I get it hard, which fueled the complete overhaul of the garage last month. This month it's bedroom closets and conquering pockets of disorder in the kitchen.

The kitchen is just about done. Certain pockets of resistance are confounding me; I have a hard time getting rid of cook books, so I'm scanning recipes I like and saving them that way. (Or tearing them out and pitching the rest of the book). I have a spice rack scheme in progress and did a lots of squeeling and happy dance when Jeff got my new magnetic spice rack installed on the designated cabinet door last weekend. Rat and Stacey came over within minutes of us getting that up and I was so thrilled I demo'd how cleverly it fits over and over and shared my plan for eventually reconquering the spice cabinet. Yes they are excellent friends and humored me while I waxed about the wonders of magnetics and how my spice scheme would make my kitchen more efficient. Rat jokingly asked if the other spice rack with the racks of labeled jars is alphabetical... I was confused. Of course it is? is there any other way?

Now I've turned my powers to the bedrooms and closets. (muh-ha-ha!) I dove into the closets with labels and sharpie, boxes for storing, and bags for collecting the rejects. I emerged from Miss E's room with 3 large bags of stuff. I labeled boxes with contents and reorganized the stuff we use all the time into more accessible reach. I did the same for my half of the closet I share with F.

Why do we weigh ourselves down with so much stuff? Maybe it's just me. I feel like my closet is a dumping ground for things that don't fit anywhere else in the house or anywhere in my life. My cleaning strategy is to grab things and ask myself, "Does this improve the quality of my life?" If I can't say "yes", into the donation box it goes. If I forgot I had it, into the donation box it goes. If I have 5 of them (like small umbrellas), I widdle it down to 2. And gifts? my closet was the stash spot for gifts that I bought for others, which I'd forget I got so I'd be storing stuff for years. I've purged most of that at 12th Night, loading down loved ones with stuff I've been accumulating for them for years. yay.

And those metal cookies tins.. Why do I save metal cookies tins? Seriously, my fettish to own containers is strange and although cookies tins are charming, I really don't need dozens of them. Into the donation pile they go. (after culling out the small square ones I can put embroidery supplies in).

I was so pleased with my efforts, I sent the husband in to look and he came out confused; he hadn't noticed any difference. At first I rolled my eyes at him and told him he did not appreciate the subtlety of an organized closet since his half was clearly a zone of utter chaos. Then it dawned on me. He won't notice if I tackle HIS side of the closet. (Emit evil laughter) I need more labels and donation bags. And boxes. I'd suspect him of setting me up to want to tackle his stuff except he never gets rid of anything. Even when he admits he doesn't want it anymore. This will be a great intervention.

I was standing in my closet last night admiring my handiwork and snickering. The husband stuck his head in and wanted to know what was so funny. I shrugged. There are no words to explain how happy it makes me when I have control over my space nor how it pleases me on a gut level when it all fits. The symmetry is beautiful. He shook his head at me and left me to my happy.

Comments

[xrian.livejournal.com]

Seriously, my fettish to own containers is strange and although cookies tins are charming, I really don't need dozens of them.

I think it's a Girl Thing. ;)