Creative Changes Blog

Check out this blog site that I just learned about: http://unclutterer.com

What a great resource for creating a more simplified life, with a focus on recycling and earth stewardship.

I love to see and hear about the ever growing awareness of the effects we humans have on our precious planet. Our consumer culture encourages much waste, with over shopping, over packaging, and disposable electronics. We tend to have way too much stuff - certainly more than we need.

Not to get on my soapbox here - just wanted to say that it makes me happy to see the environmental impact awareness grow.

Another interesting "GREEN" blog I found recently is: http://dannyseo.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/07

I have subscribed to both of these blogs so I can be up to date on all the cool things these guys are writing about. The ability to gather so much information, so easily, still boggles my mind, but I love it!

Until next time,
Sandra

I think junk drawers are essential - I have two. The thing is, you have to organize them on a periodic basis, or the accumulated bits and pieces can get completely out of hand, and then you can't find anything in the jumble.

Cleaning out the junk drawer can be a very satisfying little task that you can do on the living room floor while watching TV. Here's how:

• Lay out a large towel, or cloth to dump the contents of the drawer onto.
• Wash out the drawer
• Have a garbage bag ready for the throw aways
• Create a pile for the items that need to be returned to other parts of the house or garage
  
• Start sorting - Only return items to the drawer that you need and use on a regular basis
• Drawer dividers will help to organized your items, and make them easy to find
  

Once you have decided what you really NEED in your "essentials" drawer, the rest is easy. Broken pens, take out menus, old store receipts and such are obviously garbage, but many items end up in the drawer because we don't know where else to put them, or because it is easier than returning the item to where it really belongs.

I just cleaned out my kitchen "essentials" drawer the other day and found that I had three different little containers, and jars of screws, nails, washers and other miscellaneous bits and pieces. I found a nifty divided plastic box at Lowes and I was able to consolidate my collection of hardware. Now, when I need a nail to hang a picture I can easily find exactly what I need, without having to sort through various containers and locations. Why didn't I think of this before?

Until I went through the drawer, I did not appreciate how much hardware I had been accumulating. I also found items in the drawer that I had been saving because they were parts to one of the children's toys. My children have long outgrown the toys so there was another little pile of garbage. I discovered tools that belonged in my tool box, and that got re-organized as well.

When I was done, I had a drawer with the essentials in it, a hardware box with dividers to keep everything organized, and I had my tool box organized as well. It felt like a great accomplishment, and it only took about half an hour, at the most.

So, what's in your junk drawer?

Sandra