Friday, January 10, 2014

Friday Mishmash

As I mentioned last Friday, I've been all about the organization lately.  I am loving the new set up in my office - in fact, I was so excited to get going that after we got home on Friday, I built the Expedit that night!  Jeff helped me with the handling of the bigger pieces, but then he went to watch a bowl game fell asleep in front of the TV, and I channeled my inner Helen Reddy (I am woman, hear me roar) and built the drawer units AND installed them myself.  Yes, I am proud when I manage to do these things on my own!  Also, I knew that after running 11 miles the next day, I would be too wrecked/sore/tired to do much of anything, so that had a lot to do with my wanting to get it done right away.

Here's the new storage/display set up - I had the horizontal white cubby (Expedit from Ikea) and added the vertical one, plus the drawers:
So much room for my yarn and things!  My new sewing machine fits on one shelf, and I can put fabric (when I get some) on the shelf next to it, or in the bin below.

Here's a collage I made of the details:
I put some of my prettiest yarn in jars and vases that I had - I love seeing it like this, and until I knit it into something, why not use it as art?  Middle section shows the drawers, bottom is more of my storage with the tin buckets, along with more pretty yarn and things.

I found a chair at Ikea that I think will look great in my office!  It's rattan, and surprisingly comfortable:
It's still at Ikea - but hopefully soon I'll budget a way to bring it home and replace the antique gold one.

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Speaking of knitting, this is what I've been working on:
It's supposed to be a long, lightweight cowl, although it looks pretty small to me right now.  Maybe once it's off the needles and blocked, it will stretch out.  Pretty yarn, anyway, and I like how it's turning out.

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I've been enjoying the milk frother Jeff gave me for Christmas - I feel like Lori, with my afternoon latte:
I haven't been able to make any art in the foam, but that's OK...it still tastes wonderful!

This week I've been going light with food - my usual breakfast of Greek yogurt, strawberries and homemade granola:
Followed by more fruit for lunch (what can I say, I've been on a fruit kick):
And a latte in the afternoon.  I'm not particularly trying to diet, but the last couple of months did have some heavier eating, and since this kind of food sounds good to me, I'm going with it...it's been a bit of an ebb and flow with weight maintenance lately, so bringing it back to the basics is probably a smart thing to do right now.

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All the animals were cold earlier in the week, and Kip, our cat who really only loves Jeff, somehow got first dibs on my legs when I was knitting.  I've never seen Paco look so defeated at not sitting with me:
Usually, he'd push Kip off and claim his place, but not this time...he just looked dejected instead.  Poor pup!

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Only eight miles on tap for tomorrow.  I have moleskin ready for my blistered feet and am going to tighten the laces on my shoes a bit more...I wonder if the cold weather means my feet aren't swelling as much inside the shoes, which means they're moving around more and that's causing the blisters?  It's a theory, anyway.

Have a great weekend!

34 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh look at Paco, he really looks disappointed. Don't tell him I laughed at him for being that slow so Kip was first :)

    I love love love your room! I totally get it why you are so happy with it, I would too.

    I have a milk frother too but am too lazy to use it on weeknights but at the weekends I do use it a lot.

    Good luck on tomorrow's run and maybe, just maybe, you should let Amy pick the route just to be sure you will be running 8 miles instead of 9 or more LOL (just kidding you know that :) )

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    1. I forgot to mention, he kept looking at Kip and sighing. It really was hilarious!

      LOL - Amy will be in charge of leading us on our run this week for sure!

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  2. we neeeeeed that storage display for the child's BARBIE CR*P especially with the puppy coming tomorrow (!!)

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    1. I know where your Ikea is...I've BEEN to your Ikea. Go now, and build! ;)

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  3. I love the color in your office. It looks great especially contrasting with the white shelves.Poor Paco!

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    1. Thanks - I'm really loving seeing more white against the bright green walls!

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  4. Lots to comment on! First, on the last picture, I LOVE the trail of chips and bones, like he's marked the path from--what? You to you--your office to your knitting chair? Anyway, I like seeing that a really tidy person has doggie bones in her living room (like me!)

    I am so JEALOUS of your organization. I am only halfway there! I like those drawers in the expedite boxes. I was looking for glass front drawers at Ikea. I can't see them online--do you know if they have them? And the row of black down below--are those bins or more drawers? Well, I see in your description you say bin.

    Love the Ikea chair, love the cowl, love the greek yogurt and Shelley granola. I think I might let myself have a batch of that next week--I'm switching from cottage cheese to yogurt for a while! And of course I love the latte!

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    1. I didn't even notice the treat trail, that's how normal it is in our house! Paco is funny in that he'll go to grab a chew and root around until he finds THE one.

      They have glass shelves and doors for the Expedit at Ikea; I don't think they have drawers made from glass. The bins are fabric, again, from Ikea (my one-stop shop, can you tell?).

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  5. I have been in organizational mode lately too (post to follow soon)! I'd love to have a unit like that. Good for you for putting it together all on your own!

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    1. Thanks - Ikea stuff usually goes together pretty easy...you just have to put your mind into Ikea-mode when following directions (meaning, don't question the logic, just follow it step-by-step) and it works out.

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  6. I love your office!! That is so cool how you arranged everything - I need you to come to my house and arrange...everything. :)

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  7. Gah, I need to do some organizing so bad. No motivation to be found though! Your office is great and I'm sure it makes you so happy to go in there and see it all put together!

    Good luck with that run - fingers crossed no new blisters are formed.

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  8. Your office is beautiful! I love the green color on your walls. My craft room is very cluttered since our daughter from college has been home. She loves to scrapbook and make homemade gifts which she did for Christmas. Your cat Kip looks exactly like my cat Momma Girl. Have fun running and enjoy your new office!

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  9. First off - hooray for the latte! We can be twins in the afternoon :D

    I love your organization - can you come over and do my house after we move? I can build stuff, but I don't organize very well.

    Here's to no blisters tomorrow.

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    1. Looks like I'll be making the rounds - call me SuperOrganizer! :)

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  10. I am totally jealous of your organizer/shelving unit! I MUST have one of those ASAP! No place to put it, though, until the kids finish college and I can finally claim their rooms for my own :-)

    About your blisters - have you tried alternative lacing techniques? Runner's World has a couple different ways that may help http://www.runnersworld.com/running-tips/custom-tie-your-running-shoes

    Also, DH has had some relief from blisters by using toe socks. http://www.injinji.com/ They keep his toes from rubbing together, which was causing blisters.

    Just a couple of things that popped into my head when you mentioned you were still having issues.

    Good luck on tomorrow's 8 (not 9!) miler :-)

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    1. Why wait until they finish college? LOL - ok, that might not have been the nicest thing to do, but our kids didn't even come home for summer, so at that point we figured their rooms were fair game.

      Thanks for the lacing link - I have seen that but forgot about it. I've tried Injinji socks and not liked them, but I swear, if I blister again tomorrow, I'll have to try them again.

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  11. Sorry about that - my comment duplicated itself for some reason :-(

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  12. Wow, it all looks so lovely! How much do you charge to fly across country and create similar splendor out of a chaotic crap-filled home office? I'll start saving my pennies, you have a gift!

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    1. I'd love to help you out - it's actually more fun to organize someone else because I have less emotional attachment to stuff and have not problem saying "do you REALLY need this item??" - haha, now do you want my help? ;)

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  13. I love your new storage unit! Everything looks so organized! I also really like the vases with the pretty yarn in them, very creative. I have always wanted to learn how to knit or crochet pretty things, maybe someday now that my kids are getting older. I have looked for classes but can never seem to find one. Oh how I hate blisters, I hope you are able to avoid them on your run!

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    1. I think a better bet for learning how to knit is one-on-one - go check out your local yarn shop and drop a hint...I bet there are people would would love to get you started knitting! It's not a cult, it just seems that way, lol.

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  14. You are so handy (who needs a man?)
    Good luck with the 8 tomorrow. We're running 11 downtown, followed by breakfast at a new biscuit place. Does it get any better?

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    1. It does not, especially if you can keep it to only 11 miles! ;)

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  15. So proud of you Shelley for putting that stuff together - I am no help with projects like that - I cannot read instructions at all, but luckily if I do have to put something together, I can find a video of it on youtube!

    I hope to do some organizing this weekend too - first up - my pantry!

    Good luck on your run tomorrow - hope the blister isn't too bad!

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    1. Pantry organization is always more like an expedition for me - I come across some things I swear I didn't buy!

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  16. Ahhhh, I love organization. I wish I could be better about parting with so many "just in case" items.

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  17. I really like the springy green paint color on your wall! I also really like the idea of a milk frother. I'm going to look into that...

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  18. Love your organized cubby...and the Hansel & Gretel treat trail. :)

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  19. LOVE the "wall of organized"!!! Awwww, KIP!!!!!

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