My Tupperware collection

I know that it isn't all Tupperware (and I've got some mixing bowls and other glassware there), but they are the most valuable pieces of my collection. ;) Mr. Fix-it built these pull-out shelves for me a few months ago and I've really enjoyed them. On the plus side, I did get rid of a lot of the cheap, old stuff that was cluttering up the old shelves since it wouldn't all fit on the new shelves. I must confess that this isn't all of my collection...I've got a couple of more shelves full of plastic ware that I'm not showing you.

A thousand sheets of paper

My friend Nancy posted that her friend Amy over at A Thousand Sheets of Paper, is giving away a thousand sheets of paper, plus a bunch of stamps! How's that for a prize?!!? Actually, she has several prizes. Check it out!

A little bling

I don't usually do my nails, but when I saw this glitter polish, I couldn't resist. It looks awesome over red, but I wasn't brave enough to wear that to work. The gold over silver is actually relatively subtle.

Awkward

As we were out and about with our errands today, we ran into a few people we knew. One was an acquaintance of Mr. Fix-it who has had some difficult times. He was laid off over a year ago and hasn't been able to find a job since. We've seen the guy out and about since he lives in the neighborhood. The acquaintance told Andy he was buying food for just a few meals at a time since he couldn't afford more. When Mr. Fix-it told me that, I wanted to do something to help. I usually give groceries to the local food bank a couple times a year. Why not give it to someone who you know instead?

Mr. Fix-it was hesitant, but I wanted to try. I knew that it might be refused, that it could be embarrassing. And as it turns out, it was...both. I tried to be gracious, the acquaintance tried to be gracious, but it was still embarrassing. I understand, but I don't understand too because in my family, we're always giving food to one another. It might be something from the garden or a favorite food or something purchased on sale that you got a great deal on. I'm not an extreme couponer, but I do get a lot of good deals. I'm sorry I couldn't share them.

Later, we ran into one of my coworkers at Home Depot. I didn't even know she lived in the area. Thank goodness I looked presentable. Sometimes, I don't bother changing out of my "garden clothes," which are really suitable for public viewing. Or I'll just throw on a plaid shirt over striped pants and wear socks with my sandals. Yes, I have no fashion sense, lol. So, not too awkward, but still, I'm going to be more careful about what I wear when I'm out and about.

Six on Saturday

1. I've starting listing some of my silk art supplies on Craigslist. I guess that means my career as a silk scarf artist is really over. (Actually we closed our art "business" several years ago, but I couldn't bring myself to get rid of my supplies at the time.)
   
2. Either my pedometer is broken or I've been sitting at my desk too long. My daily step average for the past week is a couple thousand less than usual. On a funny note, Mr. Fix-it noticed my pedometer on the counter and told me I was doing really well on my steps. That is, until I told him that was three days worth.
   
3. After a great start to my decluttering challenge, I already reached a plateau and have no idea what to get rid of now.
4. I need to start planning my fall garden. With food prices slated to go up, I hope to offset some of that cost with home-grown vegetables.
   
5. I painted my nails for the first time this year. I am so not a girly girl, lol.
6. Went to the chiropractor yesterday. Hope that gets rid of my earache.
   

Six on Saturday is a random collection of thoughts from the week. Feel free to post your own thoughts in the comments or on your own blog and link back here.

So pretty!

A coworker was wearing this necklace and I was so enamoured of it, I asked if I could take a picture of it. I'm not sure how long it is, but she had it wrapped at least once around her neck and it hung almost to her waist (she wouldn't let me photograph it on her, even without her face).

The necklace so delicate and funky and colorful and creative. Here's some more detail:

Does anyone know where I can get one? I did a search on etsy and found a million crocheted lariat necklaces, but hardy any were multicolored and delicate like this one and most didn't have beads. The beads are not a requirement, but I think they add a nice touch.

100 things update

It is day 2 of my 100 things challenge and we're off to a great start. Yesterday, we dropped off two boxes of magazines and 12 books at the library donation box. If I wanted to make it easy on myself, I'd count the dozens of magazines individually, but I'll be good and count each box as one item.

I also tossed two cardboard boxes. Now, you might think that is cheating, but the truth is, it is a very practical tossing. Practical, because that means I can't fill the boxes up with stuff that "I'll put away later." Practical, because that means I actually put away the stuff that was in the boxes.

Mr. Fix-it listed a couple things on Craigslist and they went fast! The rabbit hutch sold yesterday and an old bike sold today. Mr. Fix-it (and I) are thrilled to have a few more bucks in his pocket.

Gone:
2 boxes of magazines
12 books
2 cardboard boxes
1 rabbit hutch :(
1 bike

total gone: 18/100

My 100 things challenge

You may have heard of the 100 thing challenge, but if you haven't, here's a great recap by Conscious Frugal. I would never be able to reduce my belongings to 100 items. I have waaay more 100 clothing items (thank goodness I don't have 100 pairs of shoes), more than 100 pieces of plastic ware (Tupperware, Gladware, Ziplock, Rubbermaid, and more), more than 100 sheets/pillowcases/towels/blankets (I think; I'm too scared to count). I probably have 100 utensils and dishes. Oh wait, I'm sure I do since I've got 16 place settings of fancy china and flatware, plus serving pieces. What was I thinking? In my defense, that's what people registered for when I got married oh so long ago. As for scrapbooking, I'm sure I have at least 100 sheets of cardstock in every color of the rainbow, plus black, white, tan, 100 kinds of ribbons, flowers, fibers...I better stop there.

So in my quest to simplify my life, I've issued myself a challenge: Get rid of 100 things in 100 days. Starting tomorrow, August 13th, ending November 20. That's one thing a day. Whaddya think? Can I do it??? Think we can do it? Note that Mr. Fix-it doesn't know about this challenge (yet), but I'm sure he'll do what he can to help. I hope I don't start out strong and then fizzle out. The reality is, I will most likely be getting rid of stuff on the weekends and not during the week, so I need to get rid of 5-10 things every weekend.

There's only one rule. To count, it has to out of the house. It can't be in the donate box, it can't be in the Craig's List/ebay box. It has to be gone! Wish this packrat luck!

MacGyver cooking

Even though I love cookbooks and have several shelves devoted to them, I rarely refer to them. And even though I've pinned dozens of recipes on pinterest, I rarely go back to them. And when I do try to follow a recipe, I usually modify it somehow because I might have more or less or an ingredient (or I'm in too much of a hurry to follow the instructions exactly). I call it seat-of-the-pants cooking or use-up-what's-in-the-fridge cooking, but Mr. Fix-it came up with a new term: MacGyver cooking. I like it. But this style of cooking makes it difficult to post recipes on my blog. I hope by posting ingredients and a brief description, I inspire you to create your own dishes.

Tonight's MacGyver dinner was inspired by a dish my mom used to make, plus the huge onion I got in my first CSA box.

Ingredients:
1 huge onion, 3-4 stalks of celery, 1/2 of a kielbasa sausage rope (it was in the freezer), 1 bell pepper (optional), 1 can stewed tomatoes.

Directions:

1. Slice all ingredients.
2. Saute the onion and kielbasa sausage until they are slightly browned and the onion is almost cooked through.
3. Add the bell pepper, celery, and stewed tomatoes. Also, add about 1/4 to 1/2 can of water, depending on how much sauce you want.
   
4. Add seasonings. I just added powered garlic, dried oregano, and freshly ground pepper. You may want to add salt. We don't add a lot of salt when we cook.
5. Simmer until all the veggies are cooked through.

Serve over rice or pasta or with some fresh bread. (I always serve it over rice.)

As written, this dish serves four. It has a lot of flavor, even with using half the sausage.