It Doesn't Take Much to Make Me Happy

Yes sirree, the littlest things can make me happy. Like trash cans. When it’s of the pull-out variety. My trash can has always been in my way. So I gave up one of my cabinets and hubby installed this for me.



Henry was added for cuteness because who really wants to see a picture of my garbage cans? Gosh he needs a groomer.

some stylin hardware, no?

No more blocking the walkway. They are neatly hidden away. One for trash, one for recyclables. Bonus: someone can’t pull out those tasty napkins anymore and leave them shredded all over the place.

There is one little thing. I now have dead space to the right in the corner. I had this plan to go to the other side of the peninsula and cut a hole to have access to it over there.



But we decided against that for fear of weakening the cabinet and potentially cracking the granite from lack of support. This is something that would happen to us. Trust me. I had always planned on adding bead board back here so it will get covered.

There is an overhang for barstools but we don’t use it for that. So, another idea is to make some freestanding cabinets that will fit under there but could be removed if the next owner wants barstools. That’s not high on my list. Painting them, on the other hand, is. Waiting on the weather for that one. It may be a bit of a wait by the way things are looking around here.

Maybe trash cans don’t make you all giddy. So tell me, what little things do make you happy?

see ya,

Hiding in Plain Sight

I have been trying to get things put away around here. I'm taking my time. No hurry. But I came across something that I found sort of funny. It was a bowl of kisses.

I find this funny because they are sitting out in plain sight. They might not be on the coffee table/pie cooling rack but they were right there next to the Christmas tree. No one ate them. I wish I could say the same for my Ghirardelli's.  I have been known to keep a stash of my chocolate in my desk. I try to hide them but everyone is on to me and my covert ways. Oh look, there are actually two bags. Everyone just helps themselves to my heavenly dark chocolate squares. Perhaps I should keep them in a bowl for everyone to see. Out in the open. They might last longer. Pfft, who am I kidding? Then they wouldn't be so handy when I'm blogging.

The tree is down and out at the curb now. Sort of sad. I liked having it in here. The smell was great.

whoa, blurry picture

The ornaments are packed. I still want to get rid of some of my other stuff. Off to goodwill they will go. I didn't put up half of my stuff this year. That's a clue that it should go.

okay, so I need more practice with the new camera

And the giant ball of lights is ready to be put away. There are zip ties in that mess somewhere. Don't you worry. But, sadly hubby did step on one strand so next year I'll be swearing at them I'm sure, trying to find that one darn bulb. Because did he replace it when he smashed it? No, he just kept wrapping them up.

Last but not least my sweet angel must get packed away too. I think she got a stiff neck from being in the box all year which might explain her head cocked to the side. I just noticed how she's holder those lights like a defibrillator. Perhaps she's waiting to jump start someone's heart and yell, CLEAR! So nice to have her watching over us.

Better get back to it. I'd rather be playing with my camera but this clutter is calling my name. And it's not a very nice name.

see ya,

Recessed Magazine Rack

Hi everyone. Just wanted to thank all of the new followers that have joined along. I really love hearing from all of you and I thank you for taking the time to leave your comments.

 Let us revisit this little problem shall we?  You can review my slight anger management problem here. So, what does one do when there is a hole in the wall?

One makes it bigger of course. Or one gets hubby to make it bigger. Look what was in there. A metal strap on both sides. I'm no construction guru but this seems excessive to me. This is just a pony wall. He had to work a bit to cut through the metal but he did it. It was opened up as wide as it could be between the 2 2x4's.

This is the bad boy that was used to cut through the metal strap. It's the Dremel Advantage. It's quite the handy tool to have. I must explore it more as it even has a router attachment. It was such a tight spot to work in I couldn't get a picture of it in action.

Then he put this little box together with leftover stuff we had from the half bath. Basically it is just 4 pieces of wood. In this case it's mdf and a piece of bead board for the back. Just measure out the hole that you just cut. Two 1/4 inch holes were drilled in the sides for the dowels which hold the magazines in place. I gave it all a coat of glossy white paint.

He slipped it into the hole in the wall and screwed it to the 2x4's on either side. Then counter sank them so I could just fill and paint. The trim I had to get. I matched up to the trim in the bathroom. The bottom piece of trim creates just a bit of a lip to hold the magazines in along with the dowels. These are simple miter cuts that can be cut with a miter saw or a simple miter box and a hand saw. Fill in any gaps with caulk. Then touch up with paint.

Now I must edit my magazine and catalog stash. It's a sickness. I need help. The ones I will keep will go elsewhere so I don't trip every time I go potty.  Do you have a magazine obsession like me? How do you keep it under control?

Linking up with:

DIY Showoff Project Parade

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Debbiedoos Before and After Party
DIY Project Party

And It's Done

So here we are. I am baring my guest room closet to you all. Donna over at Funky Junk is doing her Gitter Done series. So, this is all her fault.

I had used this closet as my catch all. There was stuff in here from when we moved a year ago that had not been touched. There were clothes, blankets and all sorts of crap. I have been ignoring this area. I could just close the door and not see it. So many other things to be doing.

It was not a pretty sight. I wanted this closet to be my sort of inventory closet. For all of my decorating items, projects to do and things I want to sell. But I had no idea what I had. It was time to Gitter Done. It wasn't going to be all fancy. No ooohs and aaahs. I knew this.  I also wanted to work with what I had on hand for organizing. So lets get to it shall we?

Everything had to come out. I set stuff aside that I knew I was getting rid of like old blankets and pillows we had used for padding during the move. I had two large tubs of sewing stuff. One had not been open in years. YEARS! Some things I got rid of just because they now smelled funny.

Henry tried to help but there was thunder so he hid under the bed. Oh the stuff I had. Things that were brand new and projects I never got to. Now, I haven't a clue what it was I was going to do with it. I put more aside to donate.

Maybe someone will still want these. I might have cross stiched these bunnies on a pink sweat shirt and wore them while I was pregnant. But there is no proof. None that is going on this blog.

Now here is a stylin lady in her ribbon vest. Look at the size of that bow and her matching lipstick. She is ready for a night on the town.

Look, I found cording and trims. Thread, glue, ribbons and a roman blind kit!

I start getting it all back in there. The stuff on the back wall is mostly stuff I want to save, sentimental stuff or the kids old toys. Some will be staying some are getting sold. But they are organized and labeled now.

The left side still needs some work. I do not have an official linen closet so I have used this hanging shelf thing to put my sets of sheets in. I even used my labeler from an estate sale to label it. More on that labeler later.

The right side is where I'm storing my crafts, sewing and decorating stuff. The metal shelf is the only thing I bought. The rest of the organizers I had already.

I have lamp shades and frames and wall ledges.

 
The little drawers hold my paint, ribbon and smaller items.

The fabric went in the plastic file box.

This red rolling basket I bought in Germany 25 years ago. I got it to hold my son's diapers in the nursery. I think I've gotten my moneys worth out of it. German made, can't beat it.

Ah yes, the label maker. See how I nicely labeled my sheets? Does anyone remember that episode of Seinfeld with the moving boxes and the labeler with labels that didn't stick?

Perhaps it had been regifted. They all popped off and I had to tape them all on. I should have known. Stick with the packing tape and a sharpie.

Before

After