KonMari 2018 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Siebrie

My parents had managed to put up the artificial yree, but not to decorate it, so that's what my dds did yesterday. I took the opportunity to look through the decs box and throw out any damaged and discoloured ones.

I told my Mum that one of the things I was looking to buy in a secondhand store was small dessert bowls in cheerful colours, and she gave me the set from her Mum! They are clear glass, with six molded feet, very fifties, with a 'lace' band and a coloured band all around it, every bowl a different colour, and a gold rim. They can't go in the dishwasher, but I don't mind. Mum is happy they will get used again after twelve years in her cupboard.

GreyQueen

Sounds great, Siebrie.


In the 50s-60s there was something called 'harlequin sets' here in the UK. It meant each plate, bowl etc of a set was a different colour, often pastels. We had a set of plates like this when I was growing up; one each of white, grey, pale blue, pale pink, pale mauve, pale green and pale yellow. I think they've all since been broken, there may be one of them at the bottom of a pile somewhere.


I think I will try and get some of the holiday crockery out of the cupboard in the parental living room. It takes up a lot of space and is never used. It could do with an airing and, if Mum sees it and thinks better of it, she may decide to release it in the New Year. She may or may not let me hoik it outta there, she may or may not decide to let some of it go. We'll see, I won't push it.


Have been to the lottie and got wet both ways, have my clothes dripping from the shower rail and a wool rug over my bare legs to warm them up. City traffic is as busy as a weekday. Have heard a couple in the supermarket discuss going on to the carpet place to choose carpets, not my choice of activity on the weekend before Christmas!:p

Karmacat

Just remembered, I have a Christmas set of two cups and saucers that are just right for my daily cup of coffee, always swore I'd start to use them. The time is now! I'm just off out for a walk, but I'll get them out before I go

Thank you both!

Siebrie

Enjoy your coffee, Karmacat!

Thank you Greyqueen, I just spent an enjoyable ten minutes g00glng harlequin sets, and my set would very well fit in.

We went ice skating today; my hometown has a temporary icerink on the central market square. Not frugal, but definitely fun!

daisy_1571

I love love love harlequin sets. Santa will be bringing me a harlequin set of butter knives this year (if I've been a good girl):santa2::xmastree::xmastree::rudolf::xmassign:

Merry xmas everyone,

Daisy xxx

greent

So the main day of festivities is over - and I hope that you all had a lovely day, however and wherever you spent it

For me, my presents were great from a KM pov - a new dough hook for my KA (requested), 2 new loaf tins (ok, so I only really wanted the one), (needed) new slippers (old ones will be making their way to recycling at the end of this week), my usual brand of face cream, my favourite 'posh' smellies, lots of various salted caramel goodies for consumption, a tote bag which folds up/ zips up for putting in my handbag , a new bottle of my favourite perfume, a beautiful bouquet of roses and foliage - and my favourite - a stylised pic which my husband had done of the 6 of us - Family

All food leftovers have been tubbed and refrigerated/ frozen and we will start making our way through them later. I dealt with the bird carcass last night. The only things added to the food waste bin yesterday was 1/2 roast potato from dinner and the layer of fat from between the meat and the crackling from the pork joint. Bird bones will be added later when I've finished with stock making.The guinea pigs enjoyed a selection of veg trimmings for the bed time snack last night and more trimmings which they don't like went in the compost bin :T

We did gain a bag of rubbish for the bin of all the non recyclable wrapping - but both us and my mum were using up previously bought from several year ago non-recyclable paper and won't buy similar again. I also used several previously used gift bags on presents and kept all received gift bags for re-use However, a kitchen bin liner of non-recyclables is not top bad a deal in a week from a family of 6 at this time of year - there is no way our bin will be anywhere near full, let alone overflowing when collection is due, unlike most of our neighbours (none of whom have the same sized household as us, either) I'm also likely to 'attack' the Xmas cards (non family ones) for making into gift tags later today - I don't display those ones - they just sit in a heap, so they may as well get chopped and recycled (where possible) sooner rather than later.

I genuinely can't think of any of my presents which will leave and I think the boys really liked all their presents. DD had a tin of chocs (pretty decorated tin) where she will eat the chocs and the tin is then going to be offered to an extended family member who adores the theme of the tin (and is much younger so will also no doubt still have random items to put in the tin) OH has a shirt which he loves - but is a weird fit, so we will try and swap that for a different size, otherwise we will change it for a different one/ something else.

A success - much family time spent together over the past few days and games played (apparently Risk is today's game of choice for later.....) and time just to 'be'. Yummy food with leftovers for easy Boxing Day filled (HM soft, fluffy) rolls (combinations of roast chicken/ pork/ pigs in blankets/ stuffing/ roast potatoes/ red cabbage/ roasted carrots/ bread/ cranberry/ apple sauces and mustard and mayo) to be eaten with (if desired) sweet potato or 'normal' chips Yummy and minimal work from me! :T And then there's a heap of other veggies which will make bubble and squeak tomorrow

Wishing you all a joyful time
x

greent

Have given our bedroom a thorough vacuum this afternoon (it's the present and wrapping station in the run up to Xmas, so was awash with glitter and teeny bits) Removed everything from under the bed (2 underbed storage boxes -1 for Xmas wrap/ bags/ cards and one for birthday stuff) and 3 empty gift boxes (pre-used)) and gave under there a really good go, too. Also tidied and sorted the contents of both boxes - nothing to go from Xmas one but birthday one relieved of several rather burnt down 'number' candles (binned), about a dozen pink balloons (put aside for an extended family member with 2 little girls) and 4 small very pretty gift boxes with inserts for jewellery - these have been put in a bag and labelled as 'empty gift boxes with jewellery inserts' and put in the CS bag, as they may be able to use them for jewellery donations. Have also sorted out the candles and birthday banners for DS2's bday (early Jan) and realised that we didn't have any suitable wrapping paper or a card for him - cue a quick trip to Tesc0 to get these and also 2 rolls of reduced Xmas paper (needed). A small pile of very creased and torn tissue paper also removed - added to flebay packaging supplies, so at least it gets used

Other item added to CS bag today - a boxed pair of my late dad's cufflinks which OH likes, but never wears - far better someone else may get use from them.:)

Karmacat

My sister and I weren't exchanging presents, but I had one gift set left in my stash - pretty gardening gloves and some barrier cream. The barrier cream is about to go out of date, present giving has been erratic for various reasons the last few years, so I gave it to her anyway - she liked the gloves, didn't like the asymmetry! Don't blame her, of course, but it flattens out my Christmas box nicely

Moll

WeeMidgie wrote: »

Congratulations Moll on your wee grandson Chase, my wee granddaughter is called Saoirse ( it means freedom and is pronounced Seer-sha). Her daddy is a very happy Irishman!

what a BEAUTIFUL name , i havent heard it before and think its lovely

WeeMidgie

Thank you Moll. I'm still looking at the name and chanting the pronunciation... She's doing well and it's lovely to have good news in the family

I've only one Christmas gift that's a wrong size, and as I was given the gift receipt with it, it can be converted into something more suitable. Christmas has used up stores of wrapping paper and Christmas cards which are now at optimum levels. The friends I have no cards or presents agreements with, I exchanged texts with on Christmas morning and that was much more enjoyable