My (Sorta) KonMari Closet

I've been hearing so much about the KonMari decluttering and organizing method that I had to take a look at what it was all about.  In short (in case you're one of the few like me that isn't up on it), it is a decluttering method made popular by Marie Kondo.  It's being called the "Japanese Method"... "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up"... "Revolutionary"... and so on.

OK, whatever.  Let's see how it works.

Her first tenet/rule is that you only keep things that "spark joy" for you.  Ummmmm... right... You know, for some people EVERYTHING 'sparks joy'.  And there are quite a few things that don't spark joy that are kinda needed... like ye old toilet plunger.

But if you go middle of the road and use sense, that can be a good measuring mark.

Her next instruction is that you must declutter by 'type' not room.  For example, when you declutter books (which she says is the 2nd thing you must work on... clothes being first), you must bring ALL books to a central location.

That is so not going to happen in this 2 floor house.

Next principle is that you must physically touch each item and consider it.  That makes sense as it makes you actually think through the process.  Then after you've gone through things, everything must be put away in a permanent place all of its own.

Extremely little should be put in storage containers and you shouldn't buy any sort of organizing containers (tho she does use a lot of small boxes to keep things sorted).

There are parts that are not going to happen in this house... like thanking each item for its service to me, making sure things are put away in a method that makes the thing 'happy' and rested, getting rid of ALL paper, getting rid of any book you have not read yet, and so on.

But that being said, I gave her decluttering method a whirl with her first organizing area... clothes.

I've just recently committed to discovering and going towards my own signature style.  And my weight loss continues, so my clothes definitely need culling.

I pulled out all my clothes by type... winter jackets, sweaters, etc were first so I could prep them for summer storage.  I tried every single piece on and decided if it would be wearable next fall.  There were quite a few pieces that didn't fit well now... so they went into the eBay pile.  Then on to shirts... then slacks... and so on.

Although it has not been all that long since I did a culling, I was surprised at how many more things I let go of as I thought about "does it bring me joy".  Did it bring a smile to my face when I looked in the mirror?

I also put a limit on myself as to how many articles of 'work' clothing did I need to keep.  Those extras went straight into the trash since their sad condition is what landed them in the work category in the first place.

I've been using the 'upright' folding method for many years now, way before KonMari made it popular.  It works beautifully for drawers, tho I can't see it being used on a shelf area as some do.  Whatever works for you... right?

When it was all over, I had all sorts of extra space in both my closet and dresser.  I was able to rearrange how everything is organized to make it even easy to use.  Not bad for a few hours work.

Have you heard of this method?  If so, what do you think of it?

Beautiful Children's Book Illustrations

Since December Himself and I have started participating in a discussion group at the local art museum.  The group is for those who appreciate some of the incredible artwork that can be found in children's literature books.  We both love beautiful children's books and pick them up for practically nothing at library book sales, yard sales, and Goodwill.  We've gathered quite a little library that we look forward to sharing with Little Bird and Little Hoss when they come visit.

Each month's meeting there is a different topic up for discussion.  Our first meeting was, of course, Christmas works.

Our last meeting topic was international cultures.

I shared "Turtle Bay" which was illustrated by Nilesh Mistry, an artist from India.

Himself's book was "A Country Far Away", illustrated by Philippe Dupasquier who is from Switzerland.

Do you have lovely illustrated books for your children or grandchildren (or yourself)?  They really are a gift that will last forever.

Improv Cooking: Mediterranean Stuffed Green Peppers

The March challenge for Improv Cooking was "lamb and rice"... which was my theme!  (This year many of the recipe challenges were suggested by participants.)

This recipe is my take on an old family favorite.

Mediterranean Stuffed Green Peppers

6 large green peppers

1 to 1 1/4 pound ground lamb

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 Tbs zataar seasoning

1  16oz can diced tomatoes

1  8oz can tomato sauce

1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce

2 cups cooked rice (I like basmati)*

6 oz Velveeta cheese

Cup tops from peppers, clean out insides.  Chop enough of the tops to equal a 1/4 cup, set aside.  Cook the whole green peppers, uncovered in boiling water until just tender... approx 10 minutes.  Carefully remove from the boiling water, invert on dish towel to drain well.

In a skillet cook ground lamb, onion, and chopped peppers until the meat is browned and the peppers are tender.  Drain fat.  Add zataar, stir in well.  Add undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, and  Worcestershire sauce.  Stir well.

Fold in rice.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Bring up to a boil.  Add cheese, folding in gently to not break up rice.

When rice is melted in, remove from heat.

Set cooked peppers into a baking dish.  Stuff with the lamb mixture.

Since everything is fully cooked, you can serve immediately or you can put under the broiler to brown the top.

*For the rice I fix up one cup of uncooked rice (that makes about 3 cups cooked rice).  Sometimes you need to add a bit more rice to the recipe.  I suppose this has to do with how much liquid is in the tomatoes.

An InLinkz Link-up

A Two Bucket Day

Doing a 5K was the first thing I marked off my 'bucket list' on Saturday... the second was to 'try acupuncture'.

I noticed in the race info I received that an acupuncturist and a massage therapist were going to give free demo treatments after the race.

Free!

Alright then!  

I've had a curiosity about acupuncture for a long time.  A bit skeptical but also open to the idea.  I've read about how it is being used on thoroughbreds to relieve pain after races, to reduce stress, and to speed up healing.  Since horses can't be conned into believing something I figure they are pretty good 'witness' to the effectiveness of the treatment.

Heidi asked if I had any particular issues... besides just finishing a 5K soreness.

No, my posture isn't indicating that I was tense... I was tired!

She was doing 'ear acupuncture' for the demo.

The first needle that went in wasn't even felt.  (They are 36 gauge needles... which is tiny.)  The second I could just feel.  The third... very different sensation.  There were about 5-ish feelings of a shock, like an static shock.  It did not hurt at all.  The shock feeling continued after she had finished placing the needle.  The fourth needle gave two tiny 'shock' feelings.  The final needle I didn't feel go in.

And there I sat with needles sticking out of my ear.

What do I think?  As I said, I was skeptical.  But as I sat there, I felt a sensation of "release".  It's very hard to describe.  OK, I've just finished this long tiring walk... my body is stressed, my mind is a bit stressed, and with all those people around my little ol' introvert self was a bit stressed too .

The sensation was like a bubble burst.  Seriously, there was a 'feel' when it happened.  Extremely interesting... and nice.  Instant calm.

Next.  I have a bad back.  Way down in L4, L5, and S1, it gets out of whack occasionally.  When that happens I get a connective tissue & muscle knot that hurts.  I'm talking a big knot that you can feel.  At such times I have to stretch, Motrin, and give time for it to feel better.

Said knot decided to flair up on the last half mile of the walk.  I was even limping a bit because it pulls as I step.  So here I am sitting and thinking about how 'chill' I'm feeling when I realize my back is not hurting.  0% not hurting.  Wow.

I sit a bit longer, then Heidi removes the needles.  That tickled!

I get up... and my back feels great.  I reach back and rub... NO knot.  None.  Zero.

24 hours later and still no knot.

(Edit: Four day later - back is still doing great.)

I can not vouch for all forms, treatments, or practices of acupuncture.  But I can vouch for what I experienced:  it was real and it worked for me.

I will be going back.

(I was NOT compensated for this review.  My free session was available to anyone who stepped in the door.)

If you are from the Clarksville area, here is the contact information:

USO Run

Bucket List:  Do a 5K.

Check!

Please note that I did not say 'run' a 5K.  Baby steps thank you.  Himself came along for support and encouragement even tho this distance is nothing for him.

Got my number on and I'm ready to go!

I knew the run had different levels for all who wanted to participate...

... but I don't know about these characters!

Actually they were leading the family 1 mile fun run/walk.

Some of those kids had energy to spare.

But then... so did this mom.  Yes, that is THREE kiddos that she is handling beautifully.

You go girl!

First through the gate were the 10 mile runners.  These people are serious!

Me?

Ummmm... no thank you.

NOW it's my turn!  The 5K-ers line up.

Since 'time' wasn't my objective (finishing was what I was aiming for), we let all the runners go ahead of us.

Crossing under the gate.

Found out that our race numbers had a chip embedded that took our start and finish time.  That cat looking pictures all around the gate are the receivers (I think).

Along the way folks were waiting to cheer on the participants.  This is "Team RBW".  See the blue haired lady on the left?  That would be Skye, our teacher from the granola class.  LOL

A little farther along was the 101st Airborne jazz band.  They were good!  Had to laugh, on the way back they were playing "Eye of the Tiger" (the "Rocky" theme song).

5K... that's ME!

At the 5K halfway point.  Bless their little ol' ears... they had water to drink! 

By my 2 mile point the first 10 miler lapped me.  That's OK, I was still walking.  I think I was the only 5K that was there to walk, not jog/run, the course.

I joked that I was guarding the rear flank.

What was really cool is the encouragement given to me by the runners.  

Under the gate and DONE.

And I have the medal to prove it!

Now I know I can, and I will again!

Brass Buttons Up Close (#urbanjunglebloggers)

Let the spring planting begin!

We've picked up our first new plants for this spring, these to go in the trellis planter on the front porch.  The plant is called "Brass Buttons".  It's a low growing perennial that spreads... a lot.  I think it will look nice in the planters with the runners hanging down.

What caught our eye is the fern-y looking leaves.  But don't let that delicate look fool you.  Brass Buttons are tough enough to stand light foot travel.

The deep brassy purple and green are a plus.  I think I'm going to go with a purple theme for the porch this year so this is a good start.

The flower buds are so interesting!  The flower will be a bright yellow.

Doesn't it look like a miniature Jurassic Park?

I'm looking forward to seeing how it works out.  

Recipe Chaos Under Control

Finally finished a chore that I have been putting off for way too long - sorting my recipes.

I pulled out this tub, which was FULL.  And this tub was the improvement!  I started out with the next size larger crammed full of recipes.

It's taken a long time to go through them.  They looked soooo good but I had to say to myself, "Are you seriously planning on making this?"  Some had too many ingredients, some had too many steps. 

And a few I had no idea why I had saved them!

First pile I tackled were my recipes from classes I've taken.  That pink card is my registration for my very first cooking class.  September 1983... bread baking.

I pulled the recipes that I really liked and tossed the rest.  Even with that the recipes I kept almost fill a 3 inch binder!

Lots of tabs so I don't have to hunt too much.

The next notebook has my international recipes.  It still needs some work as I want to organize it by tabs with the various countries of the recipes.

My last notebook has my canning recipes.  I'm going to decorate the other two notebooks like this one, using my photos.

For those recipes that I have clipped and pulled to try, I used two pretty accordion folders.  That was my biggest mess of sorting.  I strictly limited myself to no more than 12 clipped recipes per category.

I threw a lot away.

Here are the results.  My organized recipes on the bottom (the magazine holder is to catch class and clip recipes for putting away).  The top has the cookbooks that I use all the time, plus my recipe box.

Done!