MarytheKaytheBlog

Organizing in the New Year: The Medicine Cabinet

Please welcome my big sis once again, as she shares some of her organizational wisdom.  I've been begging Gina to write some organization posts here for a couple of years.  Y'all, Gina has such fabulous organization ideas in her home that she doesn't even mind that I open all of her cabinets and closets when I visit!

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I love to organize...I do it like an extreme sport at times!!  But like most of you, I am busy and I sometimes live with a less-than-organized cabinet or drawer--until I really have the time to tackle it or I get tired of the mess.  Today was one of those times.  I was putting away medicine that I bought while travelling for Christmas holiday and I had trouble closing one of my medicine drawers...ugh!  So I got to work taking everything out, and inspecting the dates on all the bottles and packages.  I incorporated all the band-aids in one box which helped a lot. After that, I put back into the cabinet only what we really use.  I didn't take a "before" picture, but here is the "after".

Each of the drawers are labeled for a husband and children to easily find what they need.  You can see we don't have a lot of medicine.  Our kids are not sick very often.  But we do have 8-10 kinds of bandages--so you can guess what kind of ailments we have at our house!  Most of them are left over from surgical procedures or stitches!!!  Those go in the first aid drawer, along with antibiotic creams and poison ivy meds.

 The drawer labeled "Pain Relief, stomach, etc." is a catch-all for sinus medicine, stomach medicine and travel sickness medicine.  We don't keep any narcotic medication like Hydrocodone where our children can get to it.  Actually, if we are given narcotics after a surgery, I only keep it while it is needed. 

 Finally, I keep a drawer for kid's medications, and the caps for our ear thermometer.  I only have one child still taking children's medication, so this drawer will soon be used for other things. 

 Here is the trash pile!  I found a lot of things we don't use anymore (children's tablets, for instance) and drugs long past their expiration date.

Whew...20 minutes later I feel so much better just looking in this medicine cabinet!  I think January is a great time to tackle places like this in our homes.  It is good to take one at time...unless you find some unused steroids in your medicine cabinet.  In that case, you could get a LOT of organizing done!  :)

 Happy New Year!

 All right--who's motivated to tackle your medicine cabinet?

Or...who wants GINA to come work on your medicine cabinet??

An Easy Way to Get Rid of Pesky Fruit Flies

I don't know WHAT is up at our house, but lately we've had lots and lots of fruit flies.  Please tell me I am not alone, and please tell me it's not because I am a slovenly housekeeper.

Have YOU had trouble with fruit flies lately?

Just in case you missed my post a couple of years ago, I thought I'd be all helpful-like, and re-post it.  Fasten your seat belts--I am about to give you an EASY BREEZY SOLUTION (literally-ha!!!) to murder those little suckers.

Without further ado, here is the super-secret solution for fruit fly homicide...from October 2010...

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 If you followed along last week on our Great Bike Challenge, you know we've been out-of-town for over a week.  When we got home from Maine, we had a little problem.  Fruit flies.  We were welcomed home by the friendliest sort of fruit flies--they just swarmed to welcome us!

Those pesky things are VERY annoying!  They seem to come from nowhere, and honestly--give me the heebie jeebies. 

I did a little bit of research, and found a VERY EASY WAY to escort them...well, onto their final resting place, that's where!

Don't you love a solution that uses common household products?  To get rid of fruit flies, all you need are 3 things:

  1.  A bowl

  2.  Apple cider vinegar (or soda, fruit juice, or wine)

  3.  A drop or two of dish soap 

Pour about an inch of the apple cider vinegar (from what I read, white vinegar does not work nearly as well).  On top of the vinegar, put a squirt or two of liquid dish soap.

Leave the dish out overnight, and watch those fruit flies take a nose-dive to eternity.

The vinegar/dish soap trap works really great--but don't forget to take care of the things in your kitchen that are attracting any flies.  Put any fruit sitting out into the refrigerator (or throw away).  Wash any dirty washcloths or sponges, wipe up any spills or messes.

(I'm sorry if there are any fruit fly animal rights' people reading.  Just rest assured the fruit flies died happy--swimming in the apple cider vinegar.)

 

On a related note...I am loving vinegar's widespread applications lately, and am using it for more and more things around the house.  Do you use much vinegar?

How about you?  What is your favorite natural remedy around the house?

A Weekend at Home: In Pictures

Today, let's pretend you're visiting at your Uncle Eddie and Aunt Agatha's.  You're perched on the edge of the old sofa, and the backs of your legs are sweating from the vinyl covering.  Your whole family is crowded into the suddenly overly-warm formal living room. Uncle Eddie is narrating each slide projected onto the portable movie screen, while holding that cool clicker that switches the slides--the clicker he won't let anyone else hold, because they go too fast...

Ya got that mental image?  Because I am about to show you pictures of our weekend.

And those pictures may be probably will be as exciting as Uncle Eddie's.

Except, I promise not to show you 78 pictures of your cousin Little Eddie Ray posing in front of Old Faithful.

And I also will not show 13 pictures of Aunt Agatha hiding her face from Uncle Eddie's camera.

So, are you ready for some pictures of our weekend?

Hello?  Hellooooo?  Anybody still here?

If any of you kind and patient people are still reading this nonsense, I'll give you an overview of our weekend in 7 words or less:

Laid-back weekend at home, doing projects.

If you would like to subject yourself to more of my nonsense, here are the pics:

We had a doll beauty shop going on...

And a Pinterest-inspired crayon on canvas project

And some projects had no purpose at all--except sparkling and glittering, of course!

 

Umm--homemade chili dogs for lunch!  Yum.  I sure do miss that chili dog...

Ah, NOW we're talking!  We tackled some basement organization this weekend.  This picture of all these organizational bins just waiting for some higher purpose makes my heart go pitter-patter!

This little tower there is called: Mason Jar Heaven.  Where all Mason jars go, while they wait on their heavenly salsa.  Wait, I guess that would be called Mason Jar Purgatory.  Never mind.  Too bad you can't see inside that white bin on the right.  That holds my husband's antique A&W mug collection.  I'm not sure why we're keeping them...except that maybe they are going up in value as we speak.  Okay, maybe we're keeping them because they're cool, and root beer floats taste better in them!

 

Now, THIS is the BEST picture of them ALL!!!! 

Please do not be concerned about my health.  This is NOT my regular fridge.  This is the fridge in our basement.  Which sprung a leak recently.  Or not so recently, only I am not going to tell you, because then I would seem like a slob that I let it go so long.  But, look at it now!  Isn't it be-yoooo-teeful?!!

GUESS WHAT I call this fridge???

You ready for this?

I call it "My Coke fridge."  'Cause that's where I keep all my chilled Cokes. (Can you tell I'm smiling right now?)  Oh, I keep other stuff in there, too...but the most important thing I keep there?  My Cokes!!

 

And we ended our weekend with a spontaneous and last-minute dinner out with some friends.

Yee haw!  The end!

Tune in next week--when I'll show you exciting pictures of our grass growing!

What was great about your weekend?

TOP TEN Things that Bug me

Well, good day to you, too!  I thought it would be fun to start things off with some good old fashioned negativity.  Nothing like a cranky list to help you people feel like YOUR LIFE is just DANDY.  Okay, I don't even know what I'm saying here.  I just thought it was a list kind of a day.

And just so you know--I thought of this list idea because I was doing #1.  And, dangit, I just am not good at doing #1.

1.  Folding fitted sheets - My lack of perfection in this task makes me feel d-u-m-b.

2.  Television commercials that are extra-loud - Geez louise! I won't buy your product JUST because you're loud.

3.  Restaurants that serve Pepsi - ESPECIALLY when they don't offer sweet tea as an alternative.  (Can we say sugar addiction??)

4.  9 pairs of shoes in the living room 

5.  The fact that I cannot make a decent omelet - How difficult can it be?  Too difficult for me, evidently.

6.  Telemarketing and campaign phone calls - Umm...no, thank you.

7.  Slicing the "quick" under my fingernail - WHY, WHY does that hurt so much?

8.  When someone removes the (G2 gel) pen from my purse (front pocket, left side) - That just really interferes with my OCD.

9.  Lukewarm soup - I like mine scalding hot, please.

10.  Politicians 

So...your turn!  What really bugs you?

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Creating Space out of Thin Air in my Refrigerator - It's magic!!

I've been perplexed by my fridge lately.  

No, no, no, I'm not opening and closing it--wondering who the heck it turning on and off the little light inside.

We all know that fridge fairies do that.  Duh.

No, I've been frustrated over a disorganized fridge--and a ton of wasted space above my top refrigerator shelf.

Here--I'll show you!  Please don't judge me too harshly.  I have delicate feelings.  (Okay, not really)

So, I did what all good women do when they are at their wit's end with refrigerator clutter:

I pulled every doggone thing out of the fridge!  (Okay, not everything...just everything on those 3 shelves.)

Ain't it a beaut, Marge?!!!  It's a thing of beauty and a joy forever...Its loveliness increases...  Sorry, got a little carried away there.  (Name that poet)

Oh, but I cannot tell a lie.  I actually edited out 2 teensy black specks off that top shelf in the picture.  Somebody did not have on her glasses when she snapped the picture.

After cleaning the shelves all sparkly, I started rearranging the shelves.  My main goal was to get rid of that wasted space at the top of the fridge, and moving up the smallest bin shelf to expose a hidden shelf underneath it--thereby creating 4 shelves out of 3!  Ta-da!  It's like MAGIC!!

Drum roll, please....I present to you the Main Attraction of this household today...the new and improved Maytag refrigeratorrrrrr!!!!!!

*insert wild screaming and clapping here*

Here's how I organized the shelves:

Top shelf:  All of my sauces (that aren't on the door), jellies, water and G2 bottles.  And for you OCD ladies, you'll be pleased to know that the Mexican sauces go on the right, and the Italian sauces go on the left.  Call me a sauce racist--but it's all Mexican and Italian over here, people.

Middle shelf:  Milk jugs and drink pitchers

Small drawer:  Sandwich meats and cheeses (this family likes the cheese)

Lower shelf 1:  Snack bin (NEW!) and leftovers

Lower shelf 2:  Egg carton and leftovers

And, that, my friends, is the story of how I created space out of thin air in my refrigerator.  Tune in next week to find out how I will create empty space in my husband's wallet!!

P.S.  In case any of you are alarmed...I have an entire fridge for my beloved Cokes in our basement.  

What around your house has perplexed and frustrated YOU lately??

Welcome home...Cap'n Crunch! We really missed you...a bunch!!

Does anybody remember this commercial jingle from the 1980's?

I guess I've been in a singing mood these past 2 days.  But, can ya blame me?  I packed up summer camp, and have MOVED HOME!!!

(Can I get a "Hip hip hooray?")

In case you're wondering what a home looks like after living at summer camp for 3 months, here is a leetle beety peek...

 Oh, how I love laundry baskets and bins for moving.  Don't you?

 See those pink bins on the far left?  I've now had those for 12 summers.  They guard and protect...my unmentionables.  (Name that show)

Oh, and while we're name-dropping, let's go ahead and talk about that hot pink Vera Bradley duffel bag.  L-o-v-e.

Oh look--a mountainous mountain of dirty laundry.  And at least 3 t.v. shows' worth of folding.  Am I right?

If you need me in the next couple of days, you can find me:

a)  In the bed

b)  In front of the washer and dryer

c)  Lying on the couch watching t.v. and eating bon bons

d)  All of the above

What will you be doing in the next few days?

A Very Scientific OCD Quiz

I had a fascinating conversation with one of our summer staff members the other night--about the way she ate M&Ms.  I figured she had a "system" of eating the colorful candy, but I had no idea it would be quite so interesting.  For myself, I know that I subconsciously eat 2 plain M&Ms at a time.  But, this girl--let's call her "T"--she not only eats them 2 at a time, she eats them in the ORDER of the RAINBOW.  As in "Roy G. Biv" order of the rainbow.  (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)

Wow.  That practically knocked my socks off.

She also confessed to her system of eating Wintergreen LifeSavers:  2 in each cheek for maximum enjoyment and fresh breath!

I should tell you right now that "T" is one of my favorite summer staff.  She is not only very smart, she is very funny.  The fact that she eats her M&Ms in rainbow order only further proves to me that she is "good people."

In light of my fascinating M&M and Wintergreen LifeSaver conversation the other night, I thought it would be FUN to host a little

What is YOUR Preferred Mode of OCD?? Quiz

All very scientific, of course.  

'Cause you know--I play a scientist on the internet, I do.  I am very good with the Wikipedia and the Google.

Enough chitter chatter.  On with the quiz.  On with scientific discovery!

 

What is YOUR Preferred Mode of OCD??

1.  Do you have a special system of eating M&Ms?  Please explain.

2.  Do you have a system/order for eating the food on your plate?  Please explain.

3.  How is your clothes closet organized?

4.  How is the cash in your wallet organized?

5.  Which foot leads, as you're walking up or down stairs?

6.  Do you load or unload your shopping cart a certain way?

7.  Do you like your martini shaken or stirred?

8.  If you did not understand the reference in #7, then you obviously did not have an older brother growing up who hogged the channel changer, and made you watch James Bond instead of The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.  Meanie.

9.  Speaking of growing up, does this quiz remind you of the awesome quizzes they used to have in Young Miss or Seventeen magazines growing up?  I LOVED those quizzes.  Have you looked at those magazines lately???  Either I have become an old fogey, or those magazines are tra-shay now.

10.  Can you tell I just HAD to get to #10?  Well, duh, this IS an OCD quiz.  And only crazy people would end on an ODD number.

Now...GO!  Answer the quiz in the Comments...if you DARE!!!  

And then--just for fun--we can vote on WHO is the CRAZIEST COMMENTER!!!  

Oh shucks, ya'll know I'm just kidding! 

(or am I???)

Quick and Easy Teacher Gifts

What is it about me...that I love the words "quick and easy" so much?  Today's edition of Quick and Easy is brought to you by the Letter "T"...for TEACHERS...and TARGET!!!

Ya'll know how much I love to plan ahead, so on Wednesday--my daughters' last day of school--I ran to Target to find their gifts.  Nothing like some good old fashioned out-of-time-stress to inspire a great idea. Right?

I started in the $1 aisle to find containers for my gifts.  I knew I wanted to give gift cards, but in a creative and thoughtful way.

I SCORED in the $1 aisle--because everything I bought there was on a half-price sale.  So, that made each of my containers 50 CENTS each. (My math skills are impressive.)

I bought some cute packs of thank you cards to add in.  

I finished off the gifts with darling teacher-specific gift cards, and a large cellophane basket bag (that I cut in half to use for the 2 larger containers.  I do LOVE a cellophane bag, ya know.)

Here's what I came up with.  What do you think?

Here they are up close...

Not bad for a 10-minute shopping trip, huh?  Like I said--I do love these words...QUICK and EASY!!!

(Want some more quick and easy gift ideas?)

What is your most recent great "Quick and Easy" idea?

Please help me pick out a lamp

I don't know if you noticed how sneaky I was the other day...when I asked what was on everyone's wish list--and just-so-happened to mention what was on MY LIST.  

I just figure ye have not, because ye ask not.

Do you agree?

Anyway, I need to amend that list.  After looking with my mom at the table that I wanted to put the orchid on, she wondered what a lamp would look like, instead of the orchid? She was worried the orchid might not get enough sunlight in that spot.

So, today, I tried out a lamp that I already had, and I also walked through the lamp aisles at Target.  But, I'm no good at this decorating stuff.  My decorating style is called "Hand-Me-Down Decorating."  Nearly everything in my house is from family.  I LOVE having furniture that was my grandparents' and my parents', but when it's time to purchase something new and different, I am at a total loss.

Which is why I am coming to you, dearest readers.  I know that many of YOU are fabulous at decorating.  I've taken a couple of pictures, and I really hope you will help me figure out what to do with 2 tables in my living room.

Ready?  Let's get started!!!

This first picture is how I've had this corner table for years.  I originally loved the silk plant with pomegranates, but now I can't stand it another second.  It is a terrible dust collector, and I just don't like the look of it anymore.

I am open to changing anything on the walls, and anything on the table. Please don't tell me you don't like the tablecloth--I really love the fabric, and love the way my curtains bring out the red tones in it.  The shelf was my grandmother's, with several angels from her collection.  The pictures I bought years ago when we visited the Smithsonian American Art Museum. 

Oh, and in case you can't tell from my lame photo-taking skills, the walls are a buttery yellow.

 

Here's the next table I need help with. Again, this is the way I've had it for years:

Ya'll, these pretty chairs were my great Aunt Mae's  I can just see her tiny self perched in one of these, as we'd visit in her living room.  That needlepoint footstool was made by my grandmother, and sat in her living room. I can remember my uncle's gigantic feet propped on it, as he'd con me into giving him a foot rub.  The tiered table was also my grandmother's, and probably sat very near the footstool in her room, too.

I know you don't need all of these sentimental details.  But, I just can't help myself.  I just love furniture that tells a story.

 

Okay, next picture.  Here is the first table as a blank slate.  What would YOU put on it?

And here is this table with the dark red lamp (from the other tiered table).  What do you think?  Is it too much red?  (The light makes the lamp look funny--but it is the same deep red as the curtains.)  Would a darker color lamp look better?  Black?  Rubbed bronze? Or a different lampshade?

 

Here is the tiered table with nothing on it.  Except for a doily.  I know, I know.  People haven't decorated with doilies since the early 1990s.

 

 

As I walked the lamp aisles at Target today, I snapped a few pictures.  Do you think any of these lamps/lampshades would work on either of these tables?

 

The pictures don't do these lamps justice.  I just love the gold (glass) lamp!  Also, anything mercury glass makes me swoon, and this "antiqued" mercury glass lamp is no exception.

 Please don't tell me to use the Eiffel Tower lamp.  My favorite lamp here is the dark rubbed bronze twisted lamp on the right.

 

Oh, how I love this golden yellow lampshade.  I realize it has more of a modern flair than my very traditional living room.  However, I'd love to transition it slowly into a slightly more modern space.  (Emphasis on "slightly.")   What would this lampshade look like on a dark lamp--on the 2-tiered table?

Okay, there ya have it!  Please please just make out a plan for me, and tell me what I need!  Oh, and could you do it soon, please?  I need to tell my daughters what they need to "suggest" to their dad for Mother's Day.  *grin*

THANK YOU for your help!!!!  I promise to post pictures after you guys tell me what do do!

The 10 Smart Phone Apps I Use Most

I could write a Broadway musical about how much I love my smart phone. 

Is that terrible? 

Should I even admit this shallow fact about myself? 

But, it's true.  I NEVER thought I'd like my DroidX phone as much as I do, and I NEVER KNEW just how helpful a little phone could be to my everyday life.

Part of my motivation in writing this post is to share the smart phone applications I find most helpful, but also to hear what apps YOU love most.  I'm sure there's so much more I could be doing with my beloved phone. 

And you know...I'm doing research for that award-winning musical...

The TOP 10 apps I use the most (on my DroidX phone):

1.  Alarm & Timer - My phone charger is on my bedside table, so I am able to use the alarm on my phone every single day.  I LOVE that I never have to worry about a power outage (not that uncommon in our neighborhood) messing with my morning alarm.  I hope I never have to go back to a traditional alarm clock.  This is one of my favorite features on my phone!

2.  Facebook and Twitter- I know those are 2 separate apps, but I use them pretty much the same on my phone.  I rarely look at Facebook or Twitter on my home computer anymore...I just don't have the time.  But, when I have a free moment in the carpool line, or waiting for an appointment, I am able to search all the latest goings-on in my social media apps. 

3.  Instagram- I JUST joined the Instagram ranks--since they just rolled out the Android version.  I'm still learning how I will use it, but so far I'm enjoying sharing photos.

4.  Gmail- I really drug my feet in making the switch from my old e-mail account to a web-based account like Gmail.  But, now, I cannot imagine switching from Gmail!  I LOVE being able to access my e-mail from anywhere--especially my phone.  My favorite feature is the ability to search old e-mails from ANY word or phrase inside the e-mail--or from the sender's name or e-mail.  I use the search feature all the time!

5.  Calendar - I am an old fashioned wall calendar hanging on the side of my fridge kind of girl, but I have recently started using my phone's Calendar app, and am feeling much more organized when I'm out-and-about.  Mostly, I use the Calendar app to schedule my family's appointments.  Standing at the receptionist's desk, I open the app and type in the next appointment as we're setting it.  Then, I always set a 24-hour-ahead reminder, so that I never forget about an appointment!

6.  Netflix- I must admit that my KIDS love this app most of all!  Since signing up with Netflix a couple of months ago, I found out there was an app--score!  I have a love-hate relationship with Netflix on my phone, though...because my kids want to "borrow my phone" ALL THE TIME.  Netflix comes in handy when we have a long wait at a restaurant, during long car travel, or when waiting on a long appointment (with the volume turned way down, of course!)

7.  TV.com- This app came pre-loaded on my Droid X, otherwise I might not have found it.  Sometimes, I will use this app to watch t.v. while I'm on the treadmill.  (I do use headphones, in order to hear better.)  This is a CBS-owned app, and it plays full episodes (as well as short previews) of some shows I would not normally have time to watch...like NCIS Los Angeles, Blue Bloods, 60 Minutes, 48 Hours Mystery, and Undercover Boss.  I don't use this app often, but when I do, I really appreciate how well it works!

8.  iHeartRadio - This is THE app I use for music when running.  I really love listening to the K-Love radio station; however, there are hundreds of other stations to choose from.

9.  Pandora- Okay, so sometimes when I'm in the mood for a particular style of music (like classical piano or Josh Groban-style ballads), Pandora is where I go. 

10.  Bible and Daily Bible - I love having a Bible with me at all times!  I use the Bible app for looking up a reference when I'm on-the-go.  The Daily Bible app sends a Bible verse or passage to my phone every single day.  I like that when I see the little Bible icon pop up (telling me there's a verse waiting to be read), I can wait until I have time to focus on that day's verse(s).  It's such a small way that I can help keep my day focused on important things.

Honorable Mentions:  I use these apps, but on a much-less consistent basis.

AccuWeather, Car Dock (for navigation), Where (for finding yummy FOOD on vacation!), Brightest Flashlight, Flixster, Shazam, and StumbleUpon (my favorite app for long road-trip "surfing")

What are your favorite smart phone apps?

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