Monday Makeover: The Train Case

As promised on Friday, we're introducing a new feature called Makeover Monday. Each week, we will take on a project. You never know what we'll be remaking, reorganizing, or reworking, so you don't want to miss it! Last week, I promised to transform the train case I featured in my Friday Find in order to make my life easier. I know you've been on the edge of your seats since, waiting impatiently, to see how I'll use it. Right?
                            
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Organization Dilemma

 I don't know about you, but there are times when our family has a hard time getting out the door without forgetting something. Someone is always running back in for tissues or snacks or hand sanitizer or lotion or lip balm or a hairband or SOMETHING. When he or she runs in for "just a minute", it always takes FOREVER. And then, we're running late, which I absolutely, positively HATE.

Organization Solution

  

For a while, I've been thinking about getting those frequently forgotten items together and putting them in our laundry room, so we can grab them BEFORE we head out of the door, saving us precious time later. Of course, I can't think of every single thing someone might have overlooked, but I can think of a lot of them! It's a good plan, but what will I store all this "stuff" in? I'm not a huge fan of plastic storage containers, especially if they're sitting out on my counter all the time. If I have to look at it every day, I'd rather look at something I love, and I'm crazy about this case.

Making It Happen

Now that I have a container in mind for my project, I need to get to work.  I just hope everything we need to keep in it fits! Being optimistic, I cleaned it inside and out. It really wasn't too bad. I didn't find any money (rats), but there was an old gift tag in it. "To: Herb  From: Jr. & Naomi" in neat, elegant handwriting. Makes me wonder who they were and what Herb's gift might have been.

Next, I gathered all the gear I need to stow ...

Yikes! That's a LOT of stuff! There's a first aid kit, sewing kit, pens, pencils, tissues, wet wipes, lip balm, lotion, umbrella, notepad, snacks, sunglasses, hair bands, flashlight, hand sanitizer, scissors, and the ipod cradle for the car. I have a feeling the next step is going to take a little time, some patience, and a lot of rearranging and puzzle-solving. Keep your fingers crossed because I'm not sure it'll all fit. I may end up looking for another container, and I really don't want to do that. I love this one. I really, really do! After lots and lots of thinking, placing, rearranging, I finally got it to work. Yes! Everything is in there! Every. Single. Thing!

The case now resides in the laundry room. We can grab things on our way out the door, and I really think it's going to make a difference in our departure times. Because it's always open, we're taking advantage of the mirror in the back. We won't be leaving with spinach stuck in our teeth anytime soon. *lol* Depending on the season and what activities we're doing, I'm sure its contents will change. During the summer, I'm sure it'll house sunscreen and bug spray. I'm so glad I spied this vintage case at Salvation Army, and I'm happy I've been able to find it a new purpose, new life, and a new home. A simple solution and project that'll make our lives less stressful.  I love it when a plan comes together. And now, I'm thinking about the A-Team ... lol.

Share you're organizing solutions! I'd love to see them. : )

Friday Find!

Welcome to our new weekly feature: Friday Find!  Kimberly and I both love seeking out unique, functional pieces that we can use in our own homes or pass on to others. We enjoy "the hunt", whether it's in a thrift store, attic, auction, or antique shop. I can't tell you how many times we've texted each other with the message, "Guess what I found!!!" Yeah, we get that excited. :) Each week, we'll be sharing a new item we've found on one of our hunting expeditions.

When I'm out and about, I'm always excited to find old suitcases, in any shapes or size. They are a versatile and stylish storage solution and beat out plastic containers in my book every single time. Recently, Kimberly wrote about using one to organize her craft supplies. I've used them for all sorts of reasons in my house, and I love them ... the older, the better. Recently on an outing to Salvation Army, I spied this beauty, hiding underneath a rack of houseware linens. I almost missed it because it was clear back next to the wall. I crossed my fingers hoping it was in good shape and started digging. When I pulled it out, I couldn't believe what great shape it was in. This vintage Samsonite train case was perfect, right down to its monogram and U.S. Custom Inspection sticker. Sure, it has some bumps and bruising, but, as far as I'm concerned, these marks only add to its charm. I was even more surprised to see it tagged at a mere $2.99. Score!

I wonder where this case took AVG? No matter where it's been, its journey ends at my house. I have a pretty good idea how and where it will be used. I'm going to get this baby cleaned up and tricked out, and it's going to make my life so much easier.

Stay tuned! I'll be revealing this train case's redo in my next post and in another of our new weekly features: Monday Makeover!


Can't wait until Monday, right? In the meantime, let us know about your recent exciting "scores". We love to hear what everyone else is finding!

~Joyce

Sewing Basket Reveal ...

Last Friday, Kimberly finished her suitcase, so I figured I'd better work on this mess to the left. My challenge was to get this all organized, but I could only use things that were in my house. I couldn't go out and buy anything new. By the time she had finished her project, I already felt a little frustrated with this assignment because I really need TWO different boxes for my sewing: one for mending and one for repurposing. The repurposing gear takes up massive real estate compared to my general sewing supplies, yet I continued to jam everything into this basket and any other container that might be hanging around in the vacinity. No wonder it wouldn't close anymore. My solution was to separate them into two different containers. Depending on the project I'm working on, I'll grab the box I need to finish the job.

To be truthful, when I took on this challenge, I had a vague idea of the container I would use. Since I started knitting, I've been housing my needles in an old silverware chest I purchased a couple years ago. Since my needle stash has grown, this chest wasn't working for that purpose anymore, but I was pretty sure it would store my repurpose supplies. When I started putting some of my thread in, I knew it would be perfect.

I had the first part of the assignment nailed, but I had also added that pesky extra challenge to not spend any dough on the inside of the container either. I'm not sure what I was thinking. I had nothing, no ideas! That's where I got stuck. I thought about using jewelry boxes, or fitting together cardboard to make little areas. I even had this crazy idea of making little origami dividers. Wouldn't that be cute? Little folded paper baskets to divide everything. Then I started thinking about all the time that would take. Yeah, the origami thing wasn't happening. I was trying to make things easier, not sit at my table for hours folding paper baskets. My hats off to anyone who has the patience for that endeavor, but it's not for me. So, I was really, really stuck. Until I remembered these little squishy drawer dividers I purchased on clearance at Dick Blick last summer. I don't know what they're actually called, but they're really neat. They are colorful, flexible plastic dividers that, at the time, I could see the kids using in their top desk drawers for school. However when I got home and tried them, they didn't fit in the desks, and since then, I've never really found a place to use them. I crossed my fingers, dug them out, and guess what? They fit! Amazing!

With that problem solved, I started my redo. First, I tore the bumper strip off the lid of the chest and put it in the top tray to form a nice little divider/tray for my scissors, fabric markers, pin cushion, etc. Then, I plopped in three "squishies" for loose buttons and the like. As I said before, my thread fit nicely in the top section, so I put the rest of it in there. I kept looking at the lid, thinking I should be able to do more with it. There were pockets to hold knives in there. Couldn't I store something there or use them in some way? Then it dawned on me that if I put popsicle sticks in the knife slits, I could store things behind them. It worked like a charm. The bottom drawer has 6 more squishies filled with accessories, felt, and trimming. Nana's sewing basket also got a redo, housing only my mending/sewing supplies. Both containers reside on a shelf together, waiting to help me finish my projects, aggravation-free. This makes me one happy mama, and, even better, I didn't spend a dime. That's the kind of projects I love to do.

Since I seem to be completely blog challenged at the moment and can't figure out how to add my pictures within my text, I'm just going to add them all to the end of my ramblings. Just click on "read more" underneath my signature, and it will direct you directly to the gallery of pictures. Then, you can share in my organized bliss. I'm quite pleased with this little project. :)

Worked on any fun, organizing projects lately? If you have, please share!

Until next time, let's keep things simple ....

Team Legomaniacs Gone Lunar

We are a group of friends, crazily addicted to Legos. This Spring, we started a Lego Club in the area for our homeschooling community. Joyce, Grace and Phillip's mom and our team captain, started calling us the "legomaniacs" in her announcement emails. The club has been a success, with quite a few families participating. We always love to see what everyone has created. When we found out about this challenge, we decided it sounded like it would be a lot of fun. So, we're ready to take on this new challenge, explore this new frontier.  That also how we came up with the name. Our club is going lunar! We have little to no experience with robotics. but we are certainly eager to learn.

Team Legomaniacs Gone Lunar includes:

Zach is called "Zasquatch" because of his size 13 shoes and "Mr. Minimalist" because he likes everything plain and simple. He's 15 and is interested in history and literature and would like to pursue a career as a professor in either field. He has over 400 books in his library.  His favorite books are:  To Kill a Mockingbird, Frankinstein, Fahrenheit 451, and Time to Get Tough.  Zach enjoys golfing, swimming, and singing in choir. His favorite TV shows are Alcatraz, Touch, America's Got Talent, and Eureka. He has a laugh reminiscent of Herman Munster, so we all love to get him going. He's also our walking Spell Check.

Grace (aka The Doctor) is 12. Besides building Legos, she loves swimming, cooking, reading, drawing manga, watching anime, playing video games, acting, Green Day, and all things Doctor Who. Her favorite author is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and she believes everyone should read The Hound of the Baskervilles RIGHT THIS MINUTE! She also loved the Harry Potter series and is currently reading The Maximun Ride series. If you can't find her, she's usually tucked away somewhere with her nose in a book. She's all tomboy and believes every outfit could use some wild and funky mismatched socks and Chucks. The current pair she's rockin' are a Robin's Egg Blue.

Andrew (The Mad Scientist <insert evil laugh>) is 11. He loves swimming, tennis, chess, golf, making movies, and composing music.  He's attended sciences classes at both Fermilab and a local university. He's wants to become an Astro and Theoretical Physicist.  His favorite TV shows are Eureka, Dr. Who, Stormchasers, and Fringe. Andrew's favorite books are Universe in a Nutshell and Rendevous with Rama. His favorite author is Isaac Asimov. He just got his first pair of glasses this year, and he made sure the ones he picked looks like Fargo's pair from the show Eureka. He's an amateur meteorologist who likes to chase storms but is afraid of lightning.

Phillip (Black Star) is 10. He loves Legos, of course. He's best known for modifying his sets. You'd better look at them quickly when he finishes because they'll never be the same again. His other interests include playing video games, playing outside with friends, chess, farming with his dad, and romping around the yard with his two dogs. He loves all things Star Wars. He can change his accent in a blink of the eye, so you never know what you're going to get when you talk to him. He can usually be found sporting some sort of camo, a Nerf gun, and has various minifigs or Lego pieces in his pockets. His motto, "Never leave home without them!"  He'd like to be a pilot or design planes or work in the engineering field when he grows up.

LEGOMANIACS GONE LUNAR 

I'm Grace and Phillip's mom, Joyce, and I'll be serving as this team's captain.

Our mascots include:

Suki,

Poochee,

and, of course, these guys!

We're excited to begin this new, exciting adventure!

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What we've accomplished so far ...

July 1 ... I found out about this competition from another homeschooling family's post on our facebook board. I asked the kids if they were interested, and they said they would think about it.

July 3 ... I talked to another homeschooling mom in our Lego group, and she said she'd talk to her kids about it too.

July 5 ... All kids are on board and getting excited about this project.

July 9 ... We're brainstorming team names, talking essay questions, and imagining lunar landscapes.

July 10 ... We have a blog! Our working title right now is Legomaniacs Lunar Adventures, which might end up changing.

July 12 ... We worked out many details today: took mountains of pictures, made final decision on team name (legomaniacs gone lunar) and designed our logo, worked on our blog, worked on essay questions, researched for and worked on what they would be doing for their individual spots in the the team video. Andrew worked hard on our video submission.

July 13 ... Brainstorm session today. We worked on our application questions. We also were able to see what Andrew has gotten done on the video. We're all glad he knows how to make movies. It's looking great. We just need to film each of the kid's segment to finish. We also worked more on our blog, finishing up our introduction post. Zach completed his video segment later in the day. Phillip did his video segment too, but the camera operator (me) messed it up by turning the camera sideways to get a better shot. He'll have to either be horizontal in our video, or he'll have to do it again. It's a shame because he did a great job on it.

July 14 ...We taped the three remaining spots for our movie today. Andrew filmed in a different location, so I  haven't seen his spot yet, but I can't wait. He's dressed up as a Mad Scientist, that's all I know for now. Grace and Phillip's segments went pretty well, no scripts for these two. They thought a little more about what they wanted to say, and they went for it. We got both on the second take, and they didn't go over their time limit. Yeah! That means little to no editing will be needed on Andrew's end of the project.

July 15 ...We transferred all video segments to Andrew this morning so he can put the finishing touches on our video. Grace and Phillip's segments are in a different format. Grrrrr. Now, to find out how to change format and make them work. Lots of research late into the night to figure out how to work this problem out. Finally, I found a blog from a cool, tech dude that answered our questions. We hope the files are converted correctly.

July 16 ... Success! We were able to transfer Grace and Phillip's segments, so Andrew can put them into our video entry. It looks terrific! We're excited!! We'll finish the rest of our application, and hopefully, submit our entry later on today.

Update: We've done it! A couple hours after we registered, we were listed on the Team page, with our own dot on the map and everthing. Phase 1 is complete for Legomaniacs Gone Lunar! We hope we'll be able to advance onto the next Phase, but, if not, we have learned a lot and had a lot of fun learning. :)

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Legomanics Gone Lunar

Phase 1 Video Submission

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvLhNW8CO2w&feature=plcp

Check it out! 

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UPDATE

We didn't make it past Phase 1, but we had a fantastic time. And, we made the wrap up video for the competition. How fun is that? Out of 147 in 22 countries, I think that's pretty awesome that we made the cut. Below is a link watch the video. Our team picture is 42 seconds in ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vx1JMlZ2BA

What did we learn? 

Even though we didn't win or advance past phase 1, we had a blast. We learned a lot about making videos, blogging, research, and writing. We enjoyed working hard on a big project and becoming closer friends. We learned a lot about the different space exploration and the individual missions. 

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NEVER STOP LEARNING!

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Sewing Basket Challenge

I've been thinking about Kimberly's challenge to cull her craft supplies from last week, and I have the same dilemma. While working on repurposing pieces, I've been reaching for my sewing basket a lot lately. I love my sewing basket. It belonged to my grandmother. She gave it to me after I got married. Because I'm sewing a lot, I keep trying to add more things to this container. What do you think has happened? Well, right now, it looks like this ...

Lovely, isn't it? My basket no longer closes, and it appears to have spawned a few extra containers along the way. This doesn't simplify my life at all. Instead, it makes me crazy. I can't find what I need when I need it. I end up frantically shuffling through things, thinking to myself, "I know I put it right here." It's not productive, it's not simple, and it's just plain IRRITATING!

The challenge I'm giving myself is to do the same thing Kimberly is doing, but I have to use another type of container. She's using a suitcase, so that's off limits for me. I also have to use something that I already have in the house. I can't purchase anything for this challenge. Nothing. It all has to come from my house. This goes for the actual container I use and any dividers I might use inside. When Kimberly decided to work on her project, I wasn't thinking about this one. Her post made me think of something I needed to do in my home to make my life easier. We're both dealing with a similar problem, and we'll solve it in two different ways. That's why I decided to add the extra restrictions to my project. I want to demonstrate that you can use items you already own in your home in new ways to accomplish your project. Look at everything with a fresh eye. Think outside the box.

Hopefully, I can tackle this challenge. If not, I'll more than likely go insane, looking for that one thing I know I have but CAN'T FIND! Root for me, people! I like being sane! I'll post when I come up with a solution and conquer my clutter.

Have our dilemmas prompted you to start an organizing project of your own? If so, what are you working on? We'd love to hear what you're doing to make your life easier.

Until next time, let's keep it simple!

P.S. Don't fret about my Nana's sewing basket. I won't be getting rid of it. It may be used to hold my mending supplies, or it may end up serving a completely different purpose in our household. It's one of my favorite things, so I know it'll be here somewhere.

Finding your balance & letting things go ...

I had a post due this morning, but it didn't happen.

Well, let me put that another way. The original post isn't going to be published today. I had every intention of writing about the new items I was introducing, along with posting them in our shop. There were going to be pictures, descriptions, etc.  Well, it didn't happen and not because I don't think it's important. It's because my life got in the way.

Earlier this week, my family went out to dinner and enjoyed some Tanzanian cuisine. It was excellent, until later that night. My son and I starting feeling awful. He got better. I haven't. A few days later, I'm still not feeling the best. It wasn't the food that made me sick. It's the nasty stomach bug that's been circulating in our area. Ugh. I don't have time for this AT ALL. *sigh*

When this happens, I try to give myself a pep talk, which sounds something like this: "Don't panic. Just breathe. Take care of yourself right now. It's ok to let a few things go, cancel things, etc. The world isn't going to end because you didn't get everything done."

But, inside, I'm cringing, thinking, "How will everyone survive?"

I've read posts by my friends on facebook saying, "I think I'm getting sick, but I'm choosing to ignore it, hoping it goes away." Well, the truth is that sometimes "it" just doesn't go away. As moms, we feel we can't be sick. Our job is to take care of our family and our home, making sure everything runs smoothly.  The harsh reality is that we do get sick, and sometimes, we just have to succumb to it and let it run its course. When that happens, do we always remember to take care of ourselves? Oftentimes, the answer is no. Or we feel guilty about it when we do take the time for ourselves.

So, this isn't a post about knitting or repurposing as it probably should be; instead, it's a reality check ... it's a reminder ...

 Remember to cherish yourself as much as you cherish the people around you.

.

... read that sentence again ... 

... take a moment ... 

... take it in ... 

... commit it to memory ...

... live it ...

 It's awful when you're sick, but take the time you need to recover. Your family will survive! My household has endured, even though I haven't been at the helm. The kids have kept up with their schoolwork, no one is starving to death, and the dishes and laundry have "sorta, kinda" gotten done. Is it perfect around here? No, not by a long shot. Is that ok? Yes! It definitely is.

There will be a post about the business and what we're up to, I promise. But first, I'm going to step back, take my own advice, and get some rest.

Until next time, let's try to cherish ourselves as much as we cherish our loved ones.

Let's keep it simple!

Joyce

Take a leap! New year, new endeavor ...

I'm really starting the new year with a bang ...

My friend Kimberly has asked me to join her company, Simple 66 Stuff, as a co-owner and designer. And, guess, what? I'm going to do it!

We both share a passion for handcrafting beautiful items, renewing the unused into something useful, and making an organized, cozy home for our families. I've watched Kimberly build her business, and I've been so proud of what she's accomplished, but, as she was doing this, I also wished I had the nerve to do the same. It's always something I've wanted to do, but I've always had convenient excuses not to try. I was pleasantly surprised when she asked me to join her at Simple66Stuff, surprised and a little scared. I don't want to fail, you know. Perfectionists never do! (Or worry about letting anyone down. They hate that too, believe me, I know.) But, here was my friend, giving me the nudge I needed. Instead of coming up with another excuse, I decided to jump right in. How else will I know if I don't give it a go? The simple answer is, "I don't!" Why now? Because I'm older and a little wiser? Perhaps I'm feeling triumphant about  outliving that pesky Mayan calendar? Feeling adventuresome? I believe it's because I'm tired of letting my excuses stand in my way, and I'm finally willing to try, whatever the outcome.

As I start this new year, brimming with change, I challenge you to take a moment to reflect on where you've been and where you're heading. Is there something that you've always wanted to do? Are you worried or afraid to do it? Why? There's no time like the present to make your dreams come true. Be fearless. Allow yourself to try. Stop worrying about failure. When I met Kimberly in Jr. High, I never dreamed that later in life we'd be going into business together. However, here I am today, embarking on this adventure with her. It was her confidence in me that pushed me to try something new. So, here I am, giving you that same friendly nudge, pushing you out of your comfort zone. Be open to change. Be open to new possibilities. Be fearless. Take that leap. You never know where it may lead!