My dream pantry...almost!

First I have to apologize for keeping you hanging...we found out this afternoon our toddler has pneumonia (!!) so we have been dealing with doc and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pharmacy visits</span>, breathing treatments, phone calls, etc., all night. He's only got a cough and otherwise is great...we just feel so awful for him. AND I'm supposed to go on a trip out of town this weekend and now I'm not sure if it will happen...time will tell. I hope he gets better quickly! My poor baby...<br /><br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Anyhoo</span>...last year started my quest to have a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">GORG</span> pantry. Don't ask me why. I obsess about the little things. I want to get a new door with glass panes...but with the seedy glass in them so you can't really see everything inside. I want a light installed at the top of the pantry (WHY don't we think of these things when we build our homes???) so when the lights are off in the kitchen, I can just turn that on and it will just glow...sigh. I see it all in my mind. I'm weird, I know.<br /><br />BUT that takes lots of money...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">soooooo</span> onto the new plan. I saw <a href="http://mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-organized-pantry.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Melaine's</span></a> new organized pantry last week and it put me into a tizzy. I HAD TO HAVE IT. So I started my thrifty <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">sleuthing</span> and figured out a way...<br /><br />I found some big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">honkin</span>' glass containers that were perfect for my quest at Hob Lob early this week. I stood in the aisle staring at them for about 15 minutes because they were $8 and not on sale. Should I?? Shouldn't I?? I decided to be patient and wait till they went on sale. But then I went to the Deals store and there they were. For $5. OK, still not a great deal, but better. And no more delayed gratification! So I grabbed one, thinking I'd see how they worked.<br /><br />Got to the checkout and she says, that will be $1 something...I said WHAT HUH?? And asked about the big $5.00 tag on them and she said, nope they are ringing up at a dollar!<br /><br />Good God woman, I love you!!<br /><br />Before she could change her mind, I said real quick and quiet (so the manager wouldn't hear) -- can you add five more on please??? I went back (fast.) and scooped up five more, blew a kiss to the cashier on the way back out and SKIPPED OUT THE DOOR. <em>Whew. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">hoo</span></em>.<br /><br />I went ape crazy when I got home...and turned this:<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293958702397287170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhds82uwEP6kiNmJ8IExmtKKclRqAt5GsPn5eRzgwlhaqqqniF05HWetxOSD6W30zChgziqtVj0FpkFpDMMU_FQzcWLALejaq-AU9mkMI48evrOENQeg20ZdAKb_w8iNXKw2_lDGJbvd3Nf/s400/DSC07562.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><br />Into this:<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAEBMoleJ1nMsj982VI4J2t4LgeIHc-EistsGctERAv2D6on6IpsCjPph-JIMC-p53bdH0YpAefrJdlOfx77VSl6GWpZD3rPaslroGIzKJMZpiFn8Tt5T76OAaSztk1fPtNay-O9yBAjB/s1600-h/DSC07566.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293958708972948642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPAEBMoleJ1nMsj982VI4J2t4LgeIHc-EistsGctERAv2D6on6IpsCjPph-JIMC-p53bdH0YpAefrJdlOfx77VSl6GWpZD3rPaslroGIzKJMZpiFn8Tt5T76OAaSztk1fPtNay-O9yBAjB/s400/DSC07566.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The skies open up...birds sing...</p><p>Later that day, I went back for more. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">DRATS</span> they had fixed the price!! But the kind checkout lady pointed to some huge <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">honkin</span>' plastic containers that were a dollar as well and the skies opened up again. They were PERFECT for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">snacky</span> foods my son eats. This way he can get to them and not have to pick up a five pound glass container. (This is good. Things happen for a reason.)</p><p>Then I went to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Lowe's</span> and got a piece of plywood cut into five shelves. Got some shelf liner and covered them and just laid them on top of the wire shelves (I. hate. wire. shelves.) and this is the result:<br /></p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZ17XSjEgxcYOxlly-Gp3qlNuewdnybkNJ7bmRysHukL_fTkU2mewoeItgKt1ScUVhG4ABmTMtVpd6HKjByYWYTkQTePxRw11kN7ntV-wgVbqX9MWc2SdofbbIm7BMPHdjIT5lVmfrs3E/s1600-h/DSC07581.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293958699893618738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZ17XSjEgxcYOxlly-Gp3qlNuewdnybkNJ7bmRysHukL_fTkU2mewoeItgKt1ScUVhG4ABmTMtVpd6HKjByYWYTkQTePxRw11kN7ntV-wgVbqX9MWc2SdofbbIm7BMPHdjIT5lVmfrs3E/s400/DSC07581.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>Do you hear singing? I hear singing. Remember my little clue? (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ummm</span>...hilarious reading your guesses by the way...) I bought wood rulers, painted the backs with my extra chalkboard paint, and hung them with ribbon:<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9WltHehHyYkYMpOxwGiU4ig7N5Eg_DkbR0r3GXUYAKA2G6AXMAKmwuRqhaU0m_3I0Dd03CZgSy2DVvjlRxhn3PXgVFwQD_aD4TyEQYY09CKCw0MIFlbZUQkPK5k14KArTgjhCWLucqLx/s1600-h/DSC07582.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293958491790779106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9WltHehHyYkYMpOxwGiU4ig7N5Eg_DkbR0r3GXUYAKA2G6AXMAKmwuRqhaU0m_3I0Dd03CZgSy2DVvjlRxhn3PXgVFwQD_aD4TyEQYY09CKCw0MIFlbZUQkPK5k14KArTgjhCWLucqLx/s400/DSC07582.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> You know I labeled them all:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi7IJYkQ0WMRH8IAdV4xMs61iFV-kn4Ogm-CvzZthY8br7JT6RqL3J92wta1Jj23JdstynTjQnEa8rkNUSxs63j4f-BPdnn6LWFRSjZUtSr_O0Sm_DipYQl7s5ZDwnBHMZx1oN15yfm4r/s1600-h/DSC07583.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293958489731477570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixi7IJYkQ0WMRH8IAdV4xMs61iFV-kn4Ogm-CvzZthY8br7JT6RqL3J92wta1Jj23JdstynTjQnEa8rkNUSxs63j4f-BPdnn6LWFRSjZUtSr_O0Sm_DipYQl7s5ZDwnBHMZx1oN15yfm4r/s400/DSC07583.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz86mfnXfHCPsIMP6y_zS_0_FIDf6o1L9A7jixxaOWOK0Axddwo8iRgDGNcSGlkfA8C4e19r9WHDxjV4pTsA0EHt5MFOXYLliL1_i26K0VmSbyR19C3jq6OSrd6BZPfkIpnzySivCAPzZy/s1600-h/DSC07584.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293958481023822594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz86mfnXfHCPsIMP6y_zS_0_FIDf6o1L9A7jixxaOWOK0Axddwo8iRgDGNcSGlkfA8C4e19r9WHDxjV4pTsA0EHt5MFOXYLliL1_i26K0VmSbyR19C3jq6OSrd6BZPfkIpnzySivCAPzZy/s400/DSC07584.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlcyys-pcdY79ky7ZhM760h4My4dBx3bO0IoOdv5yxeCxByr4W6tJSNOZc_efLpHYuwmyzBFr5brz8Y4NopLAKH6_a_TyXBx0to-YX5EkU0raN-Mda2aKDFVUaeInOq1yQR1Th6j9iMT0/s1600-h/DSC07585.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293958481839559634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlcyys-pcdY79ky7ZhM760h4My4dBx3bO0IoOdv5yxeCxByr4W6tJSNOZc_efLpHYuwmyzBFr5brz8Y4NopLAKH6_a_TyXBx0to-YX5EkU0raN-Mda2aKDFVUaeInOq1yQR1Th6j9iMT0/s400/DSC07585.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I ended up putting all of the pasta, flour, powered sugar, rice, brown sugar and three containers of crackers and two of cookies into these glorious jars/containers. (Oh, and I need to go grocery shopping in a BAD way. It is normally not this empty, I swear.)</div><div> </div><div>I hear singing.</div><div> </div><div>I never knew how glorious the container in the pantry idea was -- it's AWESOME. Now I can see what we have and how MUCH we have. Deals Store Heaven, help me. </div><div> </div><div>This whole project was $10 for the plywood. Six dollars for glass containers. Six for plastic containers. Five for shelf liner and $2 for the rulers. Two trash bags full of old food and cardboard boxes and $29 later, a new organized pantry. </div><div> </div><div>I realized last night many of you probably aren't quite as excited as I am about this...but I just had to share. Many of you are saying..."Huh. A pantry. Wow. She's lost her mind." But you know I'm a bit of a freak so you'll just have to deal. </div><div> </div><div>Thanks for sharing in the madness ladies!</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau53uh9eazCjdcxyZchKbF4bpDNDU2eZCCVmTI-UNb_Bz-pNkJICf-ki6kRbURg9e0WHiphTDUj9x_keYjfm1yZKUhGK49dtA_NLMIEuLVlBBvPmVCYJ1darKwBd-NXhgfNfFdLdy6oOO/s1600-h/DSC07588.JPG"></a> </div></div></div></div></div>

My dream pantry...almost!

First I have to apologize for keeping you hanging...we found out this afternoon our toddler has pneumonia (!!) so we have been dealing with ...

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An organization tease

So I realized after Aimee commented on my last title that it sounded like I was gettin' a little frisky with you all...with my "Valentine <em>quickie</em>." I thought I'd keep getting fresh with you with this one too...a little <em>tease</em>:<br /><div></div><br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293587222544210290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYewg9Swjf66k-lsRO6085LIG7shjS9SxqoZaqeJ9mYmwZ-Td618GO6K5ePX75kwqV1vi4O_nxWeO4VWakx4MzbZ3L-rRxRKzs2Ci4dtlxyCYAJTVajeZRdmnW4fU4mSoQYZr5CZzdpfx8/s400/DSC07574.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 326px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><br /><p>I swear to you I have died and gone to the Organization Heaven, and that Heaven is called the Dollar Store. </p><p>I'm almost done with this project. But I had a margarita with dinner and I'm extra tired tonight -- there ain't no way this girl is staying up till midnight to finish this one. I only have ten more minutes of work to finish up...but the way I roll -- ten minutes will turn into two hours. </p><p>So I'm going to bed...but any guesses on this one? (I'm sure the out-of-focus, too close-up, dark picture really helps you out.) I'll post it tomorrow! Good night!</p>

An organization tease

So I realized after Aimee commented on my last title that it sounded like I was gettin' a little frisky with you all...with my "Val...

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A Valentine quickie

Keep linking to the Organizing Party <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/01/our-mission-declutter-and-organize.html">here</a>! Mr. Linky has been grumpy, leaving the party here and there, but keep checking back if he's gone.<br /><br />I had grand plans to make a fluffy GORG Valentine's wreath this year, but I'm on a self-imposed spending freeze.<br /><br />Well, let's just say thaw...<br /><br />I planned on using a ton of red flowers to make a wreath, but when I figured how much I would need, it was getting a little ridiculous. I decided to try rose petals instead. I got teeny tiny pins so I wouldn't burn the tips of my fingers off with the glue gun:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJTNcjPgHeNL-BLQfoCfSj3xJNJEMC9V-v-eg0Syz7vz_PpVfzNcpd1VZr4l7HGFiWwVDp_eXkYLx2PJrIplr5qwtlz6YonOWz8Qw09Z9L4AmzFAd0RCIaK95JyraPaHxoIyoJrEsTVx6/s1600-h/DSC07552.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292354925392454130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJTNcjPgHeNL-BLQfoCfSj3xJNJEMC9V-v-eg0Syz7vz_PpVfzNcpd1VZr4l7HGFiWwVDp_eXkYLx2PJrIplr5qwtlz6YonOWz8Qw09Z9L4AmzFAd0RCIaK95JyraPaHxoIyoJrEsTVx6/s400/DSC07552.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />Oh wait. Need these too...it's cold outside and I couldn't resist the chocolate at the checkout lane:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuZIOaAcjVdfV_5uv5wAF8Rlol2X3l43l1Kn__9E4ysJO7lpT8tMKvv1iLlctHhCFqKDTJinINLEWJQld3MzUfZrrYoieO_aMFYqRhSoofaRQ8feIl_ENa0m2zQat4pCr-AcrnKAAEjLr/s1600-h/DSC07556.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292354914889896290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuZIOaAcjVdfV_5uv5wAF8Rlol2X3l43l1Kn__9E4ysJO7lpT8tMKvv1iLlctHhCFqKDTJinINLEWJQld3MzUfZrrYoieO_aMFYqRhSoofaRQ8feIl_ENa0m2zQat4pCr-AcrnKAAEjLr/s400/DSC07556.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Half an hour and half a bag of Flipz later:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij43fYLM31lM9Wpohn3cwe7NRjPmFAUWzCx38w0dgb_zjzxiY2cZo9rfRm2AD-UZlow-z09MQcmZ8IK48kGtbgoBz5nBlL4CZFk0Q7CtM02o-YB8Sc3x7Niq71DxCacDC9UZbTNfW60WhE/s1600-h/DSC07559.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292354908633961810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij43fYLM31lM9Wpohn3cwe7NRjPmFAUWzCx38w0dgb_zjzxiY2cZo9rfRm2AD-UZlow-z09MQcmZ8IK48kGtbgoBz5nBlL4CZFk0Q7CtM02o-YB8Sc3x7Niq71DxCacDC9UZbTNfW60WhE/s400/DSC07559.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />Not exactly what I had planned, but it works. The red looks awesome from the street. I still have half a box of rose petals left, so I may keep adding to fluff it up more. </div><div></div><div><br />AND it was CHEAP! So that means it will stay, for now. :)<br /><br /></div><div></div><div>Have a great weekend and clean out some closets! (I've done three so far. Just sayin'.)<br /></div><div></div>

A Valentine quickie

Keep linking to the Organizing Party here ! Mr. Linky has been grumpy, leaving the party here and there, but keep checking back if he's ...

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Our Mission: Declutter and Organize!

<div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/10/mission-declutter-and-organize.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://www.homespun-threads.com/images/Image1.png" width="190" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">Welcome to the party ladies! I think I'm most excited about this one. Decluttering makes me giddy. Organizing makes me blissful. I heart them both, very, very much. </div><br /><br /><div align="center">If you decide to take on this mission, you will find out what I did last year --<br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">1. YOU HAVE WAY TOO MUCH STUFF.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">2. There is nothing quite as satisfying as throwing out trash bags filled with junk and taking weekly trips to Goodwill to drop off junk.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">3. You have WAY too much stuff.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">4. Decluttering feels BETTER than spending money/shopping. I swear to you.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">5. You know...you have way TOO MUCH STUFF. </div><div align="center"><br />Last year about this time, we had been in our home for almost four years, and I realized I had never really gone through the entire house. I thought it would be easy because I didn't feel like we had a lot of "stuff." (I was wrong-O!) But there was a pile in the basement that was growing and growing and GROWING. So I realized I had to do something. </div><div align="center"><br />My plan was to go through every. single. nook and cranny of every. single. space of our home. I went through EVERYTHING. Closets, baskets, under the beds, in junk drawers, in cabinets, jewelry, linens. </div><div align="center"><br />I mean EVERY. THING.</div><div align="center"><br />I did it room by room and did NOT start one room until I was done with another. I tossed whatever I knew we didn't need anymore. The rest I took to the basement. It was my landing zone for everything I was going to donate or that I knew needed to stay down there. I think this is very important -- having a spot to put everything while you are in the process. </div><div align="center"><br />Next step was to reorganize it all, or organize it better. I labeled A LOT. I bought lots of bins, baskets and storage containers. </div><div align="center"><br />Third step was to deep clean each room as I finished with it. I made a list for each room (it was mostly the same for every room, but I'm a list girl and love to cross things off.) I moved furniture to vacuum, cleaned baseboards, got on ladders to clean above eye level...have you ever seen the top of your refrigerator??</div><div align="center"><br />YUCK.</div><div align="center"><br />The final step was to work on the basement, to sort through everything and bag it all up. I had a MASSIVE garage sale pile sitting down there for months, waiting for the warm weather, and it just about killed me, but I was determined to make some money from it. </div><div align="center"><br />We donated ten LAWN trash bags of clothes to Goodwill. (Not exaggerating.) We took another three to a clothing consignment shop. Another four loads to the home decor consignment shop. You CAN make money from your old stuff -- do some research in your area. </div><div align="center"><br />Our home functions <em>so much</em> better now. When I open our linen closet in the bathroom, I don't stand there for five minutes searching. I grab what I need and am done. I know where all of my kitchen gadgets are and USE all of them. Our unfinished basement is <em>functional</em> now...I'll show you that soon. </div><div align="center"><br />It feels like a breath of fresh air. </div><div align="center"><br />But it's time to do it again! So here we are. Share <em>your</em> tips for decluttering. How you determine what to get rid of? How often do you do it? Show us how you organize:</div><div align="center"><br />tools<br />kitchen stuff</div><div align="center">jewelry</div><div align="center">clothes</div><div align="center">toiletries</div><div align="center">junk</div><div align="center">mail</div><div align="center">shoes</div><div align="center">wrapping supplies</div><div align="center">crafts</div><div align="center">toys</div><div align="center">kid clutter</div><div align="center">DVDs/tapes</div><div align="center">office supplies</div><div align="center">food</div><div align="center"><br />The list is endless! Just show us! Also, show us how you make your organization look <em>GOOOOD</em>...like tags, pretty boxes, benches, chests, open cabinets...whatever! I want to see it all!!<br /><br />To kick us off, here's some of mine...there will much more to follow!</div><div align="center"><br />I LOVE cigar boxes. I got these for a buck each in NYC and use them for office supplies: </div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMpH_zF-9ALAkiIepj77ajLVraMqr6ZLatxvHqfXz_bvSsUxDH9-6qHo04V65RMnPMa5dv-g9vlRWfxGjX2qUwNE9k6Udo7poQDWed-DlgMXcT5j9rJK4ZZFIoMK25fkVdQREMRzML6_t/s1600-h/DSC07472.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290246408213466338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMpH_zF-9ALAkiIepj77ajLVraMqr6ZLatxvHqfXz_bvSsUxDH9-6qHo04V65RMnPMa5dv-g9vlRWfxGjX2qUwNE9k6Udo7poQDWed-DlgMXcT5j9rJK4ZZFIoMK25fkVdQREMRzML6_t/s400/DSC07472.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> </div><div align="center"></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSVNAlo86jtyhN5TUGofMFEbCL8MKZc75KiWgTW7SG9Jr2R_HD8cy90F_xnx-W3_Pmapdgf3px98DMTN-wMgnJuEKbyM06vQALF4VwIPI0XKneNQ4eeFMwBbLmaMZH0rcBHy8XxBdrHxU/s1600-h/DSC07475.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290246398609450834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWSVNAlo86jtyhN5TUGofMFEbCL8MKZc75KiWgTW7SG9Jr2R_HD8cy90F_xnx-W3_Pmapdgf3px98DMTN-wMgnJuEKbyM06vQALF4VwIPI0XKneNQ4eeFMwBbLmaMZH0rcBHy8XxBdrHxU/s400/DSC07475.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />I found photo boxes that matched my family room perfectly, so these stay out...I printed out the labels on the computer...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbubOfjhRbiNaVHXKTSGMCLNPhwYSZAdRGrYdYYHM_-VRcPGVw59zp0vImoo-x3jJiHj1_YTD7O043ZFEApIekfP-8aRT_UiXbEmNLo6C901xRgJVOWWxoB1_o2GQtGVZsivTDw9ZifY0/s1600-h/DSC07485.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290246031073942162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbubOfjhRbiNaVHXKTSGMCLNPhwYSZAdRGrYdYYHM_-VRcPGVw59zp0vImoo-x3jJiHj1_YTD7O043ZFEApIekfP-8aRT_UiXbEmNLo6C901xRgJVOWWxoB1_o2GQtGVZsivTDw9ZifY0/s400/DSC07485.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />The Bub's step stool is storage for the power room. (Reading materials mostly. Shhh!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRh_iIcXlGjs5A6DVtWxDyoAdy5ntl-SiQKiuQtsKE6CS1bj_j6mk5dIP9_DUx-u0CTCZj93zx1zz_ociKzO4YcEtOoOiF-1ODaX8id8VLcfxDgaJiqZKM8q-ndphqj34tifTIW0B7qlm/s1600-h/DSC07477.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290246020699952818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRh_iIcXlGjs5A6DVtWxDyoAdy5ntl-SiQKiuQtsKE6CS1bj_j6mk5dIP9_DUx-u0CTCZj93zx1zz_ociKzO4YcEtOoOiF-1ODaX8id8VLcfxDgaJiqZKM8q-ndphqj34tifTIW0B7qlm/s400/DSC07477.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />I wanted a mail sorter for the mud room and couldn't find what I wanted for less than $40. This was less than ten...I drilled holes into the back to hang it. I also added the tags to the front:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepYQ0tTtFWu-N0tlvN7XKTQmc5PmGUFZWhpJH5NveIZsZqZQP-0lQHvSKbq7QSnqaXBAZwf5QDiluYkA6dPa5g207CK0CGT_pN7yyNUi6oNHatsay7jSgDONLJVbSWS0jCv-bqJTbbevO/s1600-h/DSC07488.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290246015348203042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgepYQ0tTtFWu-N0tlvN7XKTQmc5PmGUFZWhpJH5NveIZsZqZQP-0lQHvSKbq7QSnqaXBAZwf5QDiluYkA6dPa5g207CK0CGT_pN7yyNUi6oNHatsay7jSgDONLJVbSWS0jCv-bqJTbbevO/s400/DSC07488.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Pottery Barn bins for my son's bathroom hold everything in the open so I can just grab it, but is still CA<em>UUTE</em>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoSkoCsgygHwx2DALCsERbeG3WXEGkjMCoUlZ0StG6xn_gPFGLbd0ZzH0Mg0q9YDsUd-_vSmWnvHG_o-4f-IjrPHoblVBVbsEQ-8g2XTBVvfflEwBmVdzuZSu_t5f4T7BjeyuSsU6-krU/s1600-h/DSC07494.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290246004679108274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoSkoCsgygHwx2DALCsERbeG3WXEGkjMCoUlZ0StG6xn_gPFGLbd0ZzH0Mg0q9YDsUd-_vSmWnvHG_o-4f-IjrPHoblVBVbsEQ-8g2XTBVvfflEwBmVdzuZSu_t5f4T7BjeyuSsU6-krU/s400/DSC07494.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />I love chests, I have them all over my house. This one holds magazines:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2_xTfcbotqHHHF58AnjCt_B19owv1dxm2V5xrIG_raFKQeMHmLuuN4z8dqGpGsGP91WM6BNDaIu9m-s3G9szOZjv3HEstIwHdh7nFESFyONzSa0sw32MycsUP0McJw-i5lb9JI-Y3Rx0/s1600-h/DSC07464.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290245998884823186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2_xTfcbotqHHHF58AnjCt_B19owv1dxm2V5xrIG_raFKQeMHmLuuN4z8dqGpGsGP91WM6BNDaIu9m-s3G9szOZjv3HEstIwHdh7nFESFyONzSa0sw32MycsUP0McJw-i5lb9JI-Y3Rx0/s400/DSC07464.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMVl9U_HwozdW2pnnTa3cR5hMXcjJff1YObmFQ0Q-kbrwG08jZ2byH8vJ2Hw32iFDRl9nQS-1pKOUjhlD2g4Cb_W3ecBdfA9Z-Jq3PHpss0gV6ZSEVDe9vRM88oXnoTA3ZFr-R-zkzBIP/s1600-h/DSC07468.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290245621734609970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMVl9U_HwozdW2pnnTa3cR5hMXcjJff1YObmFQ0Q-kbrwG08jZ2byH8vJ2Hw32iFDRl9nQS-1pKOUjhlD2g4Cb_W3ecBdfA9Z-Jq3PHpss0gV6ZSEVDe9vRM88oXnoTA3ZFr-R-zkzBIP/s400/DSC07468.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><br />This one used to be just for baby stuff -- diapers, wipes, blankets -- so I didn't have to run upstairs all day long. Now it just holds random stuff we use but I don't want out. And still a few diapers. ;)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKj8XtZOUi0-l9hwfi_RW2FDc-0BwHDE5g0OFoGyXKFOgEIbwVXFQtLGcwe_Wo41H7N1CaMbs8z7hr1-JpVU53mKnkZEEpmW1L4sdF9qU7WrnXzkuqBx1lhC-0LiQRgyqgIjPcsg-SM9R/s1600-h/DSC07470.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290245613622210994" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKj8XtZOUi0-l9hwfi_RW2FDc-0BwHDE5g0OFoGyXKFOgEIbwVXFQtLGcwe_Wo41H7N1CaMbs8z7hr1-JpVU53mKnkZEEpmW1L4sdF9qU7WrnXzkuqBx1lhC-0LiQRgyqgIjPcsg-SM9R/s400/DSC07470.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 325px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Extra blankets and pillows in our loft:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9qP9K4_ick6fGhIemD60dSzd5keH2z-KaOmKWc83rlzNTRKc8JYwb2gQyhqUblEtaBF5oduh5ydvl8J9xyZ9bPs6fpFxXR95FmTPcWBCTpfFFBcuTPlEz-XXAWihB8Ub6XUwggg9Bl91/s1600-h/DSC07493.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290245609703224706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9qP9K4_ick6fGhIemD60dSzd5keH2z-KaOmKWc83rlzNTRKc8JYwb2gQyhqUblEtaBF5oduh5ydvl8J9xyZ9bPs6fpFxXR95FmTPcWBCTpfFFBcuTPlEz-XXAWihB8Ub6XUwggg9Bl91/s400/DSC07493.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 313px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I needed a spot for the decorative pillows on our bed, and these were a DEAL on clearance at Target:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xrpYVWXnWL0EgK_gi4qF-cmJs-vsKdrQmKTHrDMxpCfinhai9Gxj75yq5UdujWcXG8fwSe8xyYosO407QTzRAurCwtw7n-kNH0qxM6ZFaU74mQWRsg0Gj0pbkiggm1WvnwsgVQpdO03i/s1600-h/DSC07500.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290245601008710242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xrpYVWXnWL0EgK_gi4qF-cmJs-vsKdrQmKTHrDMxpCfinhai9Gxj75yq5UdujWcXG8fwSe8xyYosO407QTzRAurCwtw7n-kNH0qxM6ZFaU74mQWRsg0Gj0pbkiggm1WvnwsgVQpdO03i/s400/DSC07500.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Because I only make our bed five times a year, the pretty pillows don't see the light of day much:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkzYowvthpyyA1CuKh9kionL2HF78QhE0rDBwSA4-7gUn4h487_yv9HYuhkdfcmn9AjxodlCWmRyJDZ6riJuaw5ZDtaYaDn7JCTTZ29dhK9vuoKgR9wezkuiy2Akr8YDEmDsuyABy5xEN/s1600-h/DSC07498.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290245596020612386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkzYowvthpyyA1CuKh9kionL2HF78QhE0rDBwSA4-7gUn4h487_yv9HYuhkdfcmn9AjxodlCWmRyJDZ6riJuaw5ZDtaYaDn7JCTTZ29dhK9vuoKgR9wezkuiy2Akr8YDEmDsuyABy5xEN/s400/DSC07498.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />I'll be back to show you more! Now show us yours. If you have an organization tab on your blog, just link to that. Feel free to link to old posts as well! Have fun!<br /><br />Oh, and YOU HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF.<br /><br /><script src="http://www2.blenza.com/linkies/autolink.php?owner=thriftydecorchick&postid=11Jan2009" type="text/javascript"></script><br /></p>

Our Mission: Declutter and Organize!

Welcome to the party ladies! I think I'm most excited about this one. Decluttering makes me giddy. Organizing makes me blissful. I hear...

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Adding some texture!

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288767430265348162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5F73CHdl2dKYTAhvcQM7zJvQAAIXBvWa0gi8imi9HAOpvzKA_EFZtFtZhhRIZrItvADcmz2RxoPIi-Yyn-YsVcdrwqfysj_KWNYc7f1S8hGkQxSMihYwxZP47VfxDogRgjDPZZQJUaxb/s400/DSC07423.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><br />Yes, I am still here!! I felt so much better after reading that you are all (most of you) obsessed with Twilight and Facebook too. Crackbook is still fun but it's already wearing off just a bit.<br /><br />I'm totally lying. Every time I get a new friend request, I get all giggly and I'm obsessed again.<br /><br />You all have scared the crap outta me about Twilight though. I need to make plans for my family because it sounds like I'll have my nose in a book 24/7 for a week. I'll be ready...soon. I have about 105 things I want to get done first. I'm sceeeeered to start reading!! :)<br /><br />But I told you I wouldn't let you down...here's a project I've been thinking about doing for a couple weeks now. Remember these walls in my bathroom that I molded-up?? (That doesn't sound good, huh?)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgA4w5e7Jy3UYiepAFX1LfOM2KdwWvUa1UDhvmo_WyIUnw7rgHwCVof_fuJVyRvqF_Z8G1jysrEARLSL31NLIilIJhwaJ5Wq-1fxBX3azZ98exuPj8Dz7Q-t01f-9wLSeY8JYihoPWNgs/s1600-h/DSC07410.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288768113914238578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgA4w5e7Jy3UYiepAFX1LfOM2KdwWvUa1UDhvmo_WyIUnw7rgHwCVof_fuJVyRvqF_Z8G1jysrEARLSL31NLIilIJhwaJ5Wq-1fxBX3azZ98exuPj8Dz7Q-t01f-9wLSeY8JYihoPWNgs/s400/DSC07410.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I've enjoyed how clean and simple these were but in the back of my mind, something was always bugging me. I mean...they are frames...meant to frame something...so I had to do it.<br /><br />Remember these raised jobbies that I showed you <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/11/tour-of-pot-tay.html">here</a>?<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288775573076495410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGkZzybtwKu6ARa_EyOnUf5QzFVHQaT1Si_5BMW8IG5ESsVpH7idWf5pDnI-ytjq9afuDQkY3M0SeGupGMER1LSHRVokuT_KCLqpGHZTxVuDmynIazZ2AUBKVxeKFkl95_HPCWpZbtGlE/s400/cropped.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 348px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><br />Well it's time to show you how to do it yourself!! You will need spackle, a putty knife and a stencil:<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288775577539207938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqhJ2VvmSdxzi4UhUg1MV3bcXHaMokr5nfRIq22jTIzFEYemfvxsq7jKjed36eq3BePbPwcjKaobskr432807Om3ZpaJvsezvxWcaSomJgKpgRnM-4Bfh25HS8UBP2uApB3ikZoYDLv3X/s400/DSC07441.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />I got one of these at Hob Lob for 40 percent off:<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288766363155978210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9TBe2EjMkTtB1EbvUlzIAlXVYT-l7EoVdNuqmD7RHO81ys_fSFn6xycT4NSxqHf-YazDHo8I1cE7PM0dcr0B8sDqx010KqViyFJyaAYwjDSHpL8G5U-UvnQAfe0_fkKV_iQZ2cuKGJfE/s400/DSC07433.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 391px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />I love these stencils...they have so many options and they are LARGE.<br /><br />Then I found the center of my "frames":<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg194y_AvhHAbniGIY2lDHPeSoZlpvf8-gCa9gcLt04yEh8OV50z5S6YMQBmcrkfRMdZHecyc-RxN4os5IaYDLCvQygQN6_kZu9ku70Njb-NKfeGl84nIX8Vw45k6kbT8kH7BH4rtwjXISP/s1600-h/DSC07413.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288768105642526562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg194y_AvhHAbniGIY2lDHPeSoZlpvf8-gCa9gcLt04yEh8OV50z5S6YMQBmcrkfRMdZHecyc-RxN4os5IaYDLCvQygQN6_kZu9ku70Njb-NKfeGl84nIX8Vw45k6kbT8kH7BH4rtwjXISP/s400/DSC07413.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I taped the stencil up, making sure it was level. Then I taped off the spots I didn't want to be included:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KD5Fvw77agb8DwJX8rMyBctkz6vgr6VVz5vIk9BH8pZOJC0CsiTnziypjRvIbUcmDNU2yiCcJmlkFQDqBevY_OLBGRCPJeaSDQh3BouuEszFus67a6AwAz60UVL9oo5bRHe8f_jckjRG/s1600-h/DSC07414.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288768100729161682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KD5Fvw77agb8DwJX8rMyBctkz6vgr6VVz5vIk9BH8pZOJC0CsiTnziypjRvIbUcmDNU2yiCcJmlkFQDqBevY_OLBGRCPJeaSDQh3BouuEszFus67a6AwAz60UVL9oo5bRHe8f_jckjRG/s400/DSC07414.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />If you are using the whole stencil, obviously, you can skip this. Now, here's where I make this take twice as long as it should...</div><br /><div>If you are doing these in white, skip this. But if you want color, like I did (I used extra paint from that room), you just mix the paint and the spackle together:<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDq_A9thgd8nm_J7_AMIxKt3Lr6PVwGj9jKz0_ZrNnPqGQYT0laXbsbX2eyVk4ovjWpk7qr4Em4guu10OUangI6JMDf0nDEqRYXZ_7nJgXaJ1Byt_CYnmADZO_PezGsIOLgiUOkOnKc7ac/s1600-h/DSC07415.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288768088570042610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDq_A9thgd8nm_J7_AMIxKt3Lr6PVwGj9jKz0_ZrNnPqGQYT0laXbsbX2eyVk4ovjWpk7qr4Em4guu10OUangI6JMDf0nDEqRYXZ_7nJgXaJ1Byt_CYnmADZO_PezGsIOLgiUOkOnKc7ac/s400/DSC07415.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />When I say "just mix them together" -- I mean it. It's easy. Just make sure there's not too much paint. You will need VERY little paint. You want the spackle to have it's spackle consistency. It will end up like frosting and you will want to eat it:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1Nvsp74d641qPl5dELN2EWY_1y4kGy7-RAlQEFZBFk5BrfdmiNtnBuY_9UkxeEN1jQxo_h963SadB0Y8C2eACK3Pc3Kf-nZSNiNw4ErRkM4i_Id7vImx-iRyuKP8s5CoLCmKfV94YJcT/s1600-h/DSC07416.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288767447282509666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1Nvsp74d641qPl5dELN2EWY_1y4kGy7-RAlQEFZBFk5BrfdmiNtnBuY_9UkxeEN1jQxo_h963SadB0Y8C2eACK3Pc3Kf-nZSNiNw4ErRkM4i_Id7vImx-iRyuKP8s5CoLCmKfV94YJcT/s400/DSC07416.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />Get some on your putty knife: </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJW-UNACFOs_urqqiVfqlSvBFElp_YD58r74Gea9Qlr7dI-K15cxjIXeR-2XsCqnNftDLibaby4ew0uB3_oKhJrkxlL8J1SwG2p18MF3AKCILZ107LN_wHgrjPOLZSAj8fQ8RFmIIUdcbq/s1600-h/DSC07419.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288767442551586386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJW-UNACFOs_urqqiVfqlSvBFElp_YD58r74Gea9Qlr7dI-K15cxjIXeR-2XsCqnNftDLibaby4ew0uB3_oKhJrkxlL8J1SwG2p18MF3AKCILZ107LN_wHgrjPOLZSAj8fQ8RFmIIUdcbq/s400/DSC07419.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> See, don't you want to take a lick???? </div><div></div><div>Then putty away on the stencil:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqT-KiUyWXIBjaMvaCdhV3SyYgIoEkZ7dxYdAfDIUq1O4PK_IteFYrCxjHUqj-wirYDpZ0TGctYAMX8sGDBVuIM5torQcP57u78CpPVoDXY_QTLVYIu9dpNzsyngcJU7pwtijM81TZA-H1/s1600-h/DSC07420.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288767440365875122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqT-KiUyWXIBjaMvaCdhV3SyYgIoEkZ7dxYdAfDIUq1O4PK_IteFYrCxjHUqj-wirYDpZ0TGctYAMX8sGDBVuIM5torQcP57u78CpPVoDXY_QTLVYIu9dpNzsyngcJU7pwtijM81TZA-H1/s400/DSC07420.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> </div><br /><div>I like a real textured look, so I just kind of slap it everywhere. What I love about this stuff is you can also make it really smoooooth and pretty too. It just depends on what you want. </div><br /><div>Then pull off the stencil slowly and carefully. If some of your spackle gets under the stencil:<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TVJzSriSG4CUlGKGdNmCGqmUHyeMVgUT_3qfOL6PMFy63y7NY958u-rmpuG4PR4yTB8WsxxIV0blQUbVOAWFPTUolscJWROqvPNucDPhGye7P8DqvcQn7TbxI-DCtmzpNQGj3kBRD08E/s1600-h/DSC07421.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288767431147235346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TVJzSriSG4CUlGKGdNmCGqmUHyeMVgUT_3qfOL6PMFy63y7NY958u-rmpuG4PR4yTB8WsxxIV0blQUbVOAWFPTUolscJWROqvPNucDPhGye7P8DqvcQn7TbxI-DCtmzpNQGj3kBRD08E/s400/DSC07421.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> </div><div>Just wipe it off! It's like butta people, it will come right off. I just use a paper towel and my finger nail to wipe off the excess. If you really mess up, you can wipe off sections or the whole thing, I swear! Just do it within a couple minutes or so. <div><br /><div>This is the result:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmxhbltzDhgCkeHAOS9XPFb7GjJ0XJkE5ZezeI8H5l_i2fVTitcPBfjTR89UftAXnmOarcT1iu_5l3T0AOGPNCBwlZcQOgf_ufUu_xJ0KweT_OPFj-1UYlEIJ4TJhyphenhyphenpCtcqLuBoFQbq6P/s1600-h/DSC07430.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288766359334855858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmxhbltzDhgCkeHAOS9XPFb7GjJ0XJkE5ZezeI8H5l_i2fVTitcPBfjTR89UftAXnmOarcT1iu_5l3T0AOGPNCBwlZcQOgf_ufUu_xJ0KweT_OPFj-1UYlEIJ4TJhyphenhyphenpCtcqLuBoFQbq6P/s400/DSC07430.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a></div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Pwy1tCAn8TTdQxI_rsf2YQHC_MdzOJK-7dFDY8I-u05OMCbM5W8TiyVy-kHRW_WRFC-yqBBByPYrn7eP-QvDzaaoambiBUGFBU_YTvxZHm8eQVkTaLe_0CjL8m7hD7cWrSxN4zNdzWus/s1600-h/DSC07436.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288766345726227410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Pwy1tCAn8TTdQxI_rsf2YQHC_MdzOJK-7dFDY8I-u05OMCbM5W8TiyVy-kHRW_WRFC-yqBBByPYrn7eP-QvDzaaoambiBUGFBU_YTvxZHm8eQVkTaLe_0CjL8m7hD7cWrSxN4zNdzWus/s400/DSC07436.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxyucWdDWxywSdJ8Kp4yGrAZhksT3alxZdZRTTuOD_X-FX_YDlksWcDJYpru7EJt9-j6BkQ7t2LVWnJcFgGuKlOeM_gRspChmV1Tzk1dCDX8T8sYwE9wF7bExc9fM5kunpru2Vwnb9Qk8/s1600-h/DSC07435.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288766341799889634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxyucWdDWxywSdJ8Kp4yGrAZhksT3alxZdZRTTuOD_X-FX_YDlksWcDJYpru7EJt9-j6BkQ7t2LVWnJcFgGuKlOeM_gRspChmV1Tzk1dCDX8T8sYwE9wF7bExc9fM5kunpru2Vwnb9Qk8/s400/DSC07435.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 390px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />Ummmm... I LOVE IT!! I was going to keep going with them but decided I like just one per frame...any more would be overkill. (But in a bigger room, that would be GORG!)</div><br /><div>Total cost for this project was $9 for the stencil. Serious. Ask your hubby, I bet you have spackle in your house. I like using the lightweight spackle, but I bet any would be fine. And you don't need much! The amount in the bowl I showed you did all but one of these!</div><br /><div>Best part is, you can paint over them. Or make them the same color as your walls...use word stencils...the possibilities are endless!! I LOVE this stuff. (And yes...they can be removed, it would be a bit of a PITA but you can do it.)</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>This project took about 2.5 hours for the whole thing...obviously, the smaller the stencil, the easier and quicker it will be. My powder room stencils took maybe ten minutes. Also, PLEASE experiment first, on a piece of paper, cardboard, whatever. See what you like and see how hard you will have to press, etc. </div><br /><div>I have another small project in this room I hope to finish tomorrow, and then I'll show you better pics! </div><br /><div>Off to check my Wall. I mean...go to bed....<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div>**Edited to add...for the most part, you will want these were small hands cannot pick at them. They will be tempted. :) The thicker stencils, like my power room, would be harder to pick at than these. But you will be surprised at how strong the spackle is when it dries. If you are worried about kids or people in general bumping into them -- put them high. Professionals space them out around the top of rooms all of the time, for a little detail. </div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Adding some texture!

Yes, I am still here!! I felt so much better after reading that you are all (most of you) obsessed with Twilight and Facebook too. Crackbook...

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Twilight and Facebook

<div align="center">First of all...to all my girlfriends who have been <strike>harassing</strike> encouraging me for months to create a Facebook account...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />I seriously hate you. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />I had two things I was waiting purposely till after the New Year to start -- Facebook and Twilight. I was going to wait till every trace of Christmas was gone from the house and I could take a breather and just relax. (Buuuwwaaahhhahahhhaaa!! Funny.)</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />You all might as well just give up on this blog. I am serious. I will not have time to do anything else, ever again, in my entire life, because of this stinkin' site:</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287933567972372178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24fdaiOaw7Xb_6JAgKnpMZwl6ZLIO6u26w05AJ75BhBp3edbmgBHDnVRdfBsElR4_Le8PtM7Bh_GoyJt6_RyMlc-xN_5kDKW8fbOOo_vKNxxOXVSaxp2-nAWr2hBOCSnorZ_Zv7a29lwn/s400/facebook.png" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 217px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 289px;" /><br />Plan for last night:</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Put the Bub to bed.</div><div align="center">Check blog.</div><div align="center">Fold some laundry.</div><div align="center">Take tree down.</div><div align="center">Pick up.</div><div align="center">Take every last bit of Xmas to the basement.</div><div align="center">Take a bath.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br />What that plan turned into:</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Put the Bub to bed. </div><div align="center">Check e-mail, get another request to "join."</div><div align="center">Spend every waking minute till 12:30 a.m. on <strike>CRACKBOOK</strike> FACEBOOK.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />I hate you. I do. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />What I hate more is I LOVE THIS SITE. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Gah. </div><br /><br /><div align="center">Next, I plan to read this book. Which in turn will make me want to read the next three, IMMEDIATELY, like go-to-Borders-at-10 p.m.-when-I-finish-each-one kind of immediately: </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287933573675846434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUl5-7z7zRka1m46NaGM6Jflr7fs756naqyVGraZDgtZchdDYkVeiqlB4TNIzNA-BV6F8GeZ-zIaoVdH11U9RVQu-x0dMrEmGieyrSgGTtWZqnjCKdDrRZ6H9K588kYypoezBNBiLFoVUS/s400/twilight_book_cover.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 267px;" /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I have heard all about this series and then Sister bought them...and was obsessed. I don't want to get obsessed! I just want to read a good book! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Is there any hope for me? Is there any way that I will really still love my husband after I am done, and not want a vampire to come sweep me away? Really, I love my husband a lot and would like to keep it that way. </div><br /><div align="center">So do you Facebook?? Have you read Twilight?? I am making a promise that I will not abandon my home, my projects, and you...I will figure out to make time to do my fun stuff, even it it means I get two hours of sleep a night. It is my pledge to you.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Now, I must go see who has written on my wall. See ya.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div>

Twilight and Facebook

First of all...to all my girlfriends who have been harassing encouraging me for months to create a Facebook account... I seriously hate you...

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100.

<div><div><div>Whooooooty Who!! One hundred posts <em>BAY-BEE</em>.</div><div> </div><div><br />So to celebrate, I am giving away one of these cutie-patoot "Santa Rocks" carafes you were all googly over:<br /></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287279542566386402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxtlZc3qV9NLLZ1k1d8blNnQ6rfsRssU3bmM38QBr0MixN6lWDLf-3ZwMmbUUhS_UhFTFkPf3ku3-RPEMC2TekO6-Rx0ex1gAqkFXtzZdNaBAOhkPaiEXdVqgkOqAlIfg9GuXKK-cnUeR/s400/DSC07225.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><br /><div>I know, it's stinkin' cute. Do any of you have a Flower Factory? We used to have one nearby. When they offered free memberships my girlfriend and I nearly passed out from the magnificence of it. Then our location closed...and this week we made the trek about 30 minutes away to check out one on the other side of town. It was even MORE glorious than our old one.<br /></div><div> </div><div align="center"><br />Clean. Massive. Cheap.</div><br /><div align="center">TROUBLE. </div><div align="center"></div><br /><div>Good thing is half an hour away. We're already dying to go back. Anyhoo, I found more of these, so that's the fun giveaway for the 100th post. Just leave a comment and you are entered. We'll give it a couple days...say Monday evening?<br /><br /></div><div align="left">Check out the other finds from Flower Factory and other places (just a sampling):</div><div><br />Three bucks people:<br /></div><div align="left"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287280406206125090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAyXGAx-pSP9iti0plTN-ZpL8Z-CL84yjq867v5V4UbuWBOf2to_HOR_WJjvD28CND6cE94JgoM6C7tC9xjC7UzlT1bH7kB6fGiO42nxFnchmHy4GLkzohepeAi8h7pDTHy3sbfRrCgtt/s400/DSC07395.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><br /><div>Less than $5:</div><br /><br /><div align="left"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287280398505721634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHIzM8Anz7xMZx4BvdFDeQbD3R3v50WxdiJmCQNpj1hTb8WTcq1iET9Iu7oD9ZrW_jB6NJ48APra2hsnZX2Ahnd_i3c76TyTMX5YQJ9778XvJlAWAkynRklkS2ZdFQEqfQwoiEP6KwkO1/s400/DSC07394.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div></div><div>Can't beat the Dollar Store at half off, really:</div><br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287281537628853282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3FCfp8RJo5fqaTRIhJAVMNDfgytfbj_tEyVZtGSlDsvir8dmHgeHb_soCnJ62R7h2eh7EolhYJ4bLALX6eBmIIQr1YbfCuc5mnbqWLGknqgPzcZBnAr9N0ef8YqRFWuICmZokFeMA_-M/s400/DSC07369.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287281546176416610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxRfqkbrw0qG1LoP2hTw7LHM0L4Xe1HN9_xzMcZbcHsRzgGUUdNDFyWVIdYZAw9zIQNXjdvfKHh9SPEaz7zWZmqC3xRv_8RKC_w_FhVV8W4iO3KChrv2I-wGXijZr4IZMP8VywILheYL1V/s400/DSC07368.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>And all kinds of goodies from Micheal's to candy cane up the kitchen next year:</div><div><br /> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgrZRzxF7Orq0Vx0pZ-Tx64pn9xUKtJUeU0hnD_124VnSxNImD6OSbbNugwQj821mnsh08xsMzpVS-9kLFkJB4POVPYCo3HrpbEdSu2PNKbDJtE9nT5gnMtBNN_Ooj9KftQszWtD1bnMg/s1600-h/DSC07367.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287280424524602034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgrZRzxF7Orq0Vx0pZ-Tx64pn9xUKtJUeU0hnD_124VnSxNImD6OSbbNugwQj821mnsh08xsMzpVS-9kLFkJB4POVPYCo3HrpbEdSu2PNKbDJtE9nT5gnMtBNN_Ooj9KftQszWtD1bnMg/s400/DSC07367.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> </div><div align="left">STEAL OF THE CENTURY! I wanted a skinny little kitchen tree...walked into Micheal's, saw this, originally $70... on sale for $27 but it was the last one. Asked if I could buy it off the floor and he said yep, for <em>TEN DOLLARS</em>!!<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjs_DH_Xv5eNJuvfcjhkABirgbdSD7meKoFGEE3erJJ7_RfHUc3bX58P6R0tBTH4zc2o1w6LSPsEtnlVR6JI6gpxz_KZCVzVzk7zQn3mZdLsq5I72e8GkTa9kc0btopH9UNRcuBo3whdq/s1600-h/DSC07363.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287280420370785666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpjs_DH_Xv5eNJuvfcjhkABirgbdSD7meKoFGEE3erJJ7_RfHUc3bX58P6R0tBTH4zc2o1w6LSPsEtnlVR6JI6gpxz_KZCVzVzk7zQn3mZdLsq5I72e8GkTa9kc0btopH9UNRcuBo3whdq/s400/DSC07363.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 171px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />The pic doesn't do her justice. She's perfect -- all glittery and fun. I <em>very</em> <em>nearly</em> skipped out of the store with it.<br /></div><div> </div><div><br />And I am always on the lookout for things I can use all year in the clearance stuff. I usually find some good deals and did again this year. One example are the gold chargers for the dining room:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7s0-__Jbbkca010NOqIjMXhYKk3Sa4wRz5saR5vHKCoKvgQ1MAZV0VaT0zZn-nnuZML6oUBKCpunj2TdCu9y1qIxJ0wybsMu4vM6HfrnwYst_FoE-ZK40cx91laYNs9KX0V73XnU3e_3/s1600-h/DSC07364.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287280411435314498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7s0-__Jbbkca010NOqIjMXhYKk3Sa4wRz5saR5vHKCoKvgQ1MAZV0VaT0zZn-nnuZML6oUBKCpunj2TdCu9y1qIxJ0wybsMu4vM6HfrnwYst_FoE-ZK40cx91laYNs9KX0V73XnU3e_3/s400/DSC07364.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />The cheapest I've seen them is $1.87 each at Hob Lob...I kept holding off because I think even $2 each is a bit ridiculous for plastic. These were $7 for eight at Target. Whew-Who.<br /><br /><div><div><div>And finally, to prepare us for the GLORY that is <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/10/mission-declutter-and-organize.html">decluttering and organizing</a> on January 12, I thought I'd share my tips for packing up Christmas. </div><br /><div>I pack up one room at a time, and have specific bins for each room. I always have baggies, shopping bags and a Sharpie with me. </div><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvPpMQ1jjLXAHhDxsRAeJOU-CXenYqau76zGX6sOSxjCr5GjqA94qyQbyIfdO0pQWe1Bkcl93mn9GfdSrqGCtja-wXo6eoIec9D8j2uI3Wa6Ln-HTsRKY3AUHng7EruyZklB2pNGaAJtb/s1600-h/DSC07393.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287279564342572962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvPpMQ1jjLXAHhDxsRAeJOU-CXenYqau76zGX6sOSxjCr5GjqA94qyQbyIfdO0pQWe1Bkcl93mn9GfdSrqGCtja-wXo6eoIec9D8j2uI3Wa6Ln-HTsRKY3AUHng7EruyZklB2pNGaAJtb/s400/DSC07393.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrBZeedHaozvSr_MW4vsuDWPdasTw-M_ss7EpwMRKmXGeZIAqt6W9EI0dXL-7-5zUMHJYxE8VUmL-CNpAxoPaDp1qgAzzZ8yn8fD5i_Ap-v8MrmW84YSFVhyphenhyphenhutpjKVZ0SQn_slMq1Jn8/s1600-h/DSC07392.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287279562758159346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrBZeedHaozvSr_MW4vsuDWPdasTw-M_ss7EpwMRKmXGeZIAqt6W9EI0dXL-7-5zUMHJYxE8VUmL-CNpAxoPaDp1qgAzzZ8yn8fD5i_Ap-v8MrmW84YSFVhyphenhyphenhutpjKVZ0SQn_slMq1Jn8/s400/DSC07392.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />I don't use any more than these bags to protect things. The bins don't have far to go, just down to the basement. (God Bless you who have to lug those things to an attic!!!) I try to only work with one bin at a time, so I don't get overwhelmed. </div><br /><div></div><div>This year, I've been <em>really</em> particular about everything, I even vacuumed out the bins before packing them back up:<br /><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287279551353797650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLwJgsfQQEFd2HG6ygR9iEYljKLEEUTxZXdutod6VlOUxW-eqmFhV3nEBuybjXKHaeqLQE_7NxWEL9QzpftPKvoiZBLNyM5VWsMtDgNEyxyRnITOAqjVUovjtjegDVcvNAfyl0tqcR9Q1/s400/DSC07390.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>Told you.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfacgPVjP7y5MejXpnZvSOf2i9zHSrmwq6-8rWuOkC9cy4wm6bdN8kpsbBMOt475oVRzdTuLxQbYZxf6bl8kcylMkaw9cHj_FrqMIPcGD_52LxtWKomS2Gbi50ncfXUCvKoUa-o2WOydu_/s1600-h/DSC07391.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287279555926371906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfacgPVjP7y5MejXpnZvSOf2i9zHSrmwq6-8rWuOkC9cy4wm6bdN8kpsbBMOt475oVRzdTuLxQbYZxf6bl8kcylMkaw9cHj_FrqMIPcGD_52LxtWKomS2Gbi50ncfXUCvKoUa-o2WOydu_/s400/DSC07391.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div><div>Then I write on the top with Sharpie what room the bin is for, and then use my Dymo to label the sides so I don't have to unstack everything to get what I want:</div><div> </div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287284702222039890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxOy3c-5y8paznGUdeyqF87mlesSzoeHtSgIvK-58V4ojtifpAc2cyO7uozNk_Tqd5-0KqeLKXDScwePqBxfA5NhIAxdI-sM56N-hGXZW-EutrhidCjl95w1tvcfkhdPe893dBFuA-plQ/s400/DSC07396.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Finally, I used to always take pictures of things I had done every year and would keep them in a file on the computer so I could see exactly how I had decorated. This year, I just have to look here, so I won't have to worry about that. ;) </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>I've got one more room to pack up and the tree tomorrow. Now that it's mostly packed up, I realize how much I will miss it all, and can already hardly wait for ten months from now!</p><p>I have SO many projects running through my head right now, and I can't wait to get started. Thanks for making my first 100 posts so fun! Hope you'll join me for 100 more!</p><p> </p>

100.

Whooooooty Who!! One hundred posts BAY-BEE . So to celebrate, I am giving away one of these cutie-patoot "Santa Rocks" carafes yo...

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