Giving up...and getting organized

I finally gave up on trying to do everything myself and hired a team of organizers to come in and help me unpack!  I still feel guilty that I can't do it all myself, and that I'm spending money on people to unpack boxes, but I'll probably get over it once the house is clean and organized. 

 

My friend Nicolas and I had dinner the other night, and while enjoying Pappadeaux's food, we talked about getting everything unpacked and how much trouble I was having.  One of the things bogging me down is trying to find a place to put books since I decided to use dadddy's study (where all the books were kept) as a studio. 

 

As we talked, Nicolas wisely suggested using a room we call "the gameroom" as my studio.  When he asked why I wasn't planning on using it as my studio, I blithered and dithered and finally came up with, "but it's decorated to be a soda fountain."

 

A little backstory here would be helpful:  when I was in high school, Mom and Dad got this idea to turn our "gameroom" into a replica of an old-fashioned soda fountain.  Over the next few years, they worked hard to gather all the pieces and parts:  the original soda fountain cabinets from their home-town drugstore, a 1946 Wurlitzer bubbler jukebox (all restored!), a restored brass cash register, a penny scale, a soda fountain table, original drug store stools, and tons of drug store/soda fountain memorabilia.  Now I can't really remember what sparked this idea, but they were enthusiastic about it and went whole hog!  When it was complete, it was a really cool place to have parties; to this day everyone that comes in the house marvels at what a neat room it is.

 

It is really unusual, but unfortunately, it is also the least-used room in the house for me.  In fact, ever since I've moved in, the door has been shut and I've rarely even gone back there.  I mean, what use do I do have for a soda fountain right now?  It's not like I'm hosting parties--ever, actually.

 

When Nicolas heard my lame excuse, he just looked at me in that way he has--he's one of those lucky people who can arch one eyebrow to express disbelief (and sarcasm!).  With the dreaded eyebrow-arch out of the way, he proceeded to convince me that my parents wouldn't have wanted me to be bogged down and unhappy by their possessions. 

So...fast forward two weeks:  After spending more money than I care to think about, I only have a couple of unpacked boxes left in my house!  I can't say enough good things about the team of ladies from Organized Touch. Melora, Susan, Joyce, and Callista swept through my house like a troop of organizing angels!  They were so sweet and easy to work with--they definitely made my life a whole bunch easier!  I feel as though I've made four new friends.  If you ever need any organizing, I highly recommend them!

I still have plenty to do.  I need to "settle" into the house and make it my own, but that's relatively easy.  That's the "fun" part.

Pictures to follow (as soon as I charge my camera battery)!!  Oh, and, thanks, Nicolas, for the wise words of advice and the encouragement.

You might be a hoarder if... (part 2)

Any of these things can be found in your kitchen cabinets:

 

A collection of six sets of salt and pepper shakers, plus five--count 'em--five stray pepper shakers, one stray salt shaker, and four assorted salt and pepper grinders.

 

The world's oldest baking chocolate.  I know that my mom has had that paper-wrapped stuff since I was little because I remember tasting it and thinking it sure didn't taste like a Hershey bar!

The world's oldest marshmallow--found loose on the top shelf of the spice/baking cabinet.  No telling how long it had been up there.  It actually looked worse in real life; it was dried out and dark!  Yuck!

 

The world's oldest onion soup mix.  Another yuck!  Mom had this stuck in a tupperware container on the top shelf of that cabinet.  Another item of indeterminate age--I'm betting on at least 20!

 

I'm pretty sure that some of the spices that I have yet to go through belonged to my grandmother, who died 46 years ago. 

 

Yep, good times!

Progress?

I truly don't know whether I'm making progress on this house or not--or even whether I'm making progress with ANYTHING in my new life.

I think I'm just shuffling stuff around!  Today, I've just started pitching stuff in the trash. 

 

I'm not giving up...not yet!

Box-hab

Have you ever seen the Internet-famous cat, Maru?  He is fascinated with boxes!  Go to YouTube (Maru on YouTube) and watch him indulge in his passion.

Maru would be extremely happy in this house!  Boxes everywhere!  I'm trying to whittle down the piles, but it's going slowly. 

 

This was the long weekend's work--12 boxes emptied.  I know it doesn't sound like much, but that's 12 less boxes than I had on Friday!  And everything emptied from the boxes has a permanent home--although I may have to do a little rearranging to suit myself later.

 

I also put up shelves in one of the bedrooms for teddy bears and paperback books.  I have moved vinyl records, thrown away magazines, put books on shelves, put away paper, and thrown away what seems like tons of junk.  I finally just moved the city trash bin right outside the door and started tossing stuff.  Just a personal note--use those "just for looks" candles!  If you save them, they will end up melted together in a box and be totally worthless. 

 

 

See that empty space there?  Got rid of three boxes that had made themselves at home here! 

 

I vow to put up the kitchen spices, get rid of five more boxes in the den, and build the teddy bear shelves this week!  Check in and hold me to my promise!