Clean house

I like to organize. That is not to say that our house is always neat and tidy, I still make my share of messes (just ask Phil), but I like to go through, sort, and get rid of things. A lot. (You should have seen me in my pregnant nesting stage, all things cluttered were unsafe). For me, organizing and getting rid of items is therapeutic. I always feel better when I have done some good sorting and throwing out.

I like to follow a few steps when I decide to clean something out:

1. I prepare myself for things to get messier before they get cleaner. When organizing or cleaning anything, it usually requires pulling all items out (of a cupboard, box, drawer, etc) so I can see what I have. It always seems a little chaotic at first. But don't worry, it gets better. 
2. Make piles. As I sort, I usually have a keep, maybe, and a throw away pile. I go through the whole mess and put each piece in its pile, then put it in its place once I'm done. 
3. When deciding what to keep (usually the items in the maybe pile) I ask myself: "Is it useful? Is it beautiful?" If I answer yes to either of these then I will probably keep it. But its important to not be too vague, even to yourself. Useful should mean its something I actually use, not just something that could be useful because I don't want to throw it out. And beautiful means that I currently find it beautiful, or that it helps to beautify my home/office/self/etc. Something that I loved in seventh grade may not still be beautiful in the sense I am using it here.
4. Finally, everything has a place (Phil is big on this). Once I have gone through my piles, I consider this as I am putting things back. Even if I initially put the item in my keep pile, and I find it useful and/or beautiful, if I have nowhere to put it, it defeats the purpose. I think this is where my biggest desire to throw things out comes from. I don't like things to just be out. I want them to have a spot. So, if I can't figure out how to store an item appropriately, it will probably end up going to Goodwill.

We almost always have a donation bag or box around our house because we get rid of items pretty frequently. It a great way to clean out the house, and contribute to your favorite thrift store. However, in an effort to make a little extra money (see why here), we started saving our donation items over the past couple of months to participate in a garage sale with some friends from church. That sale will be happening this weekend. Can't wait to see what sells and what we make!

Peace in the temple

I was so grateful this week when our good friends offered to watch Luke so that Phil and I could go out. We decided to use the time to go to the Mesa temple and then go eat at one of our favorite restaurants, Cafe Rio. We haven't been able to go to the temple since before Luke was born so it was a much needed trip.

If nothing else, the temple always provides me an opportunity to reflect and ponder. Phil will be graduating in two weeks, but hasn't found a job yet. We have been trying to decide what our next steps will be. Sometimes with the busyness and stress of life it can be hard to know if you are making the right decisions. In the temple it is quiet and peaceful. Gospel principles are taught and sacred covenants are renewed. It feels like everything slows down for just a little while and it is easier to consider our choices and make the best decisions.

We don't know everything that the next few months will hold for us, but we have each other and I feel confident that The Lord will continue to bless us and guide us on our way. 

Making the Most of Your Clothes - Part Two: Minor Repairs 1

So now that you have cleaned out that closet, you may have be feeling a bit lighter on the clothing side. Its ok. Part of the point of this series is to help you appreciate the clothing that you already have. We live in a consumer driven, "gotta have it NOW" kind of world. But the fact is, most of us probably don't have the money to have all those clothes that we see on the fashion blogs we love so much. And hopefully, we are also unwilling to go into debt to get them. So we have to make do with what we have.

Learning how to do some minor repairs can make your favorite items last just that much longer. To start with, knowing how to sew a few simple stitches can sure come in handy. Even if you don't have a machine, hand sewing can work on most little repairs.

Somehow, I've had too many shirts come out of the dryer with little holes in them. I'm not sure how it happens, maybe I am washing them with something rough that snags them, but I just bought this shirt a couple months ago and didn't want to get rid of it already because of this little hole.

The best way to repair a hole like this is to use a single strand of thread, you don't even need to knot it at the end because the stitches you will make are pretty much like one big knot (usually you would double up the thread and tie it together at the end). Also, this repair works best on knit fabric (like cottony t-shirt material). It would not work on silk or very sheer fabrics.

 To start, turn the shirt inside out and start stitching on one end of the hole, making sure not to pull the thread all the way through (once you make your first full stitch the thread will be secure).

 Overcast stitches (like a loop around the hole) are best for this tip of repair because it pulls the fabric back together. Try to make your stitches as close together as possible and as close to the edge of the fabric as possible.

After you have sewn all the way down the hole, sew back up to where you started to really secure it. This also helps to tighten up any spots that maybe you missed with your first few stitches.

Once you have finished sewing up the hole, knot off your fabric by making a loop and pulling your thread through the loop. Do this a couple of times and you wont need to worry about the stitches coming undone.

Snip off the excess thread and you're done! You can barely see the stitches when you turn the shirt right side out, and now its fit to wear again.