What's happened?!

A post each and every day for the New Year, and then nothing! This is fairly typical of my life. I get stuck into a new project, and then struck by a bit of lurgy, and I end up retreating to my bunker. The good news is that the bunker is being maintained in a good state of order.

My aims were to lay my clothing out for the next day, make my bed each morning, to wash the dishes each evening, and to have a clean, tidy kitchen. This has happened pretty much every day this year. There was one evening when the dishes were not done, but that was a grand total of three plates and three glasses, and it was remedied the next morning.

A number of websites/blogs have been extolling the virtues of laying out your clothes the night before. I'm pretty much a morning person, and I don't have problems deciding what to wear etc, but I decided to give it a try.

For 11 evenings I dutifully laid out my clothes before I went to bed. It worked fine. Yesterday I decided to switch it around, and made the conscious decision not to select clothing. This morning I ran into a little problem, the black tailored trousers I wanted to wear were in the washing basket. A quick re-think was needed.

I am now fully dressed, and appropriately dressed. However, I am going to continue to select my clothing the night before. It's simpler.

15 Minute Declutter: Baking Cupboard

The baking cupboard has now been decluttered, cleaned and tidied. Baking ingredients are in their original packaging or clip top containers. I have two different styles of clip tops, glass Kilner jars and plastic Lock and Lock. My preference is for the glass jars. Over the next few months I will buy more glass jars and use for things like dark brown sugar, and drinking chocolate. Later still, I'll buy some large jars for white sugar, gluten-free SR flour, gluten-free plain flour, gluten-free oats, and icing sugar.

Recipe to retry: Cranberry Seed Bars

Ingredients

100g sunflower seeds

100g sesame seeds

100g pumkin seeds

200g semi-dried cranberries

100g gluten-free porridge oats

2 Tsp soft brown sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tin of condensed milk (400g)

150g butter

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180C. Line a 24cm square baking tin with baking parchment.

Gently heat the condensed milk and butter until well blended and hot. Stir the seeds and fruit into the condensed milk mixture. Spoon the mixture into the tin and pack down lightly with the back of a spoon.

Bake for about 20 minutes until slightly golden. Cool and then cut into 16 bars.

Review
It is delicious. However, it's too soft and doesn't hold together well. Definitely more oats are needed.

Recipe to try: Maple-glazed Pecans

Ingredients
500g pecans
75g melted butter
4 Tsp maple syrup
1 Tsp brown sugar
1 tsp salt

Method
Pre-heat oven to 190C.

Place all ingredients in a large bowl an large bowl, and toss to combine.  Spread the nit mixture in a single layer n a rimmed baking sheet lined with baking parchment.

Bake for about 12-15 minutes, until browned, stirring frequently to ensure even browning.  Allow to cool.  Store in an air-tight container.

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Tuppence's original recipe also included 1/4 to 1/2tsp of cayenne pepper.  As I react against peppers I have omitted it.

Chocolate Bombs

This is a firm family favourite.

Ingredients

100g digestive biscuits (Graham Crackers in the US)

2 tablespoons  (rounded) drinking chocolate

3 tablespoons (rounded) desiccated coconut

half a tin of condensed milk

50g of melted butter

chocolate vermicelli or coconut

Method

Place the butter and condensed milk in a saucepan and heat until the butter melts into the condensed milk.  Crush the digestive biscuits. Add the biscuit crumbs, drinking chocolate,  and desiccated coconut.  Mix well, and then leave to solidify.  

Roll into balls, and then coat in chocolate vermicelli or coconut.

Recipe to try: Pear and Walnut Cake

Ingredients

150g SR flour

150g butter

150g sugar

3 eggs

Topping

100g butter

100g brown sugar

70g walnuts

2 poached pears

Method

Preheat the oven to 175C.

Peel, core, and poach two pears.  Mix together flour, sugar, butter and eggs. Whisk until light and fluffy.

Thinly slice poached pears. Spoon half the cake mix into the 23cm cake tin.  Add the pears in layers, and cover with the remaining cake mix.    

After baking for 20 minutes, prepare topping by placing butter and brown sugar in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Fold in walnuts.

When the cake has been baking for 30 minutes, spread the topping over the cake and return to the oven for another 15-20 minutes, or until done.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, before removing cake from pan. 

Week 2: Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers

Last year, these challenges were a huge deal of work, and I needed to split it over two weeks. As a result of the work done last year, it is incredibly simple to do these challenges. Last year, eliminated the junk drawer. It's contents were decluttered, and the items that were kept (eg light bulbs, candles, keys for windows...) were given permanent homes in other parts of the house.

The last two days are a combined challenge for me as the cupboard under the sink is where the pots, pans and cooking (as opposed to baking) sheets and dishes are kept.

Monday's challenge: read Organized Home Challenge #2: Kitchen Cabinets. Done

Tuesday's challenge: declutter and organize cutlery drawer. Cutlery was been washed and dried, as has the drawer and the cutlery container.

Wednesday's challenge: declutter and organize kitchen junk drawer. None!

Thursday's challenge: declutter and organize cling film, parchment, foil and bags. Absolutely nothing needed to be done.

Friday's challenge: declutter food storage containers. Again, absolutely nothing needed to be done. This time it was because it had been done in mid-December. The containers we use as 'take away' containers. There were two styles, but I decided to ditch the less robust style. These are fantastic. I often cook extra portions and freeze the leftovers for lunches.

Saturday's challenge: declutter and organize under kitchen sink.

Sunday's challenge: declutter and organize pots and pans.

Banana Bread Muffins

Ingredients

285g plain flour

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

110g butter

225g caster sugar

2 eggs

4 ripe bananas, mashed

85ml milk

100g walnut pieces

100g chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 180C.

Mix all of the ingredients until light and fluffy.  Spoon into muffin cases.  Bake until cooked all the way through and the top is golden brown.

I found this was enough to make 14 muffins, although I've no idea how long they were baking for as I was in the kitchen pottering around and forgot to check the time!

15 Minute Declutter: Linen Cupboard

The towels were decluttered earlier in the week. And now the duvet covers, pillow cases and sheets have been done too.  My aim is to have my linens arranged in nice neat packages that contain everything needed to change the bedding.

I've realised I don't have enough fitted sheets to do this, and some of my linens need to be replaced. This is going to be a job for February.  I'll buy some new fitted sheets and a new duvet set.

When I open a cupboard or drawer and it's tidy, there's a little moment of peace.  It's wonderful.

15 Minute Mission: Christmas Decorations Away

It was a 45 minute mission rather than 15, but the Christmas decorations have been taken down.  The ornaments have been packed away carefully, and stowed in large, clear plastic boxes. I am going to buy another one.  This can be stacked on top of the existing two, and it will be for gift bags, wrapping paper, and sundry gift things.

The 6th of January is Epiphany, when the Wise Men arrived to see the infant Christ.  The Nativity set have been moved, and the Wise Men are entering from the East.  They will be popped back in their boxes at Candlemass, on the 2nd of February, and ready to reappear on the fourth Sunday in Advent.

Repurposed Christmas cards

To go with the new gift bag, some gift labels. These one have been made from last year's Christmas cards.

The problems I had in the summer with my hands and wrist have returned.  The gift bags and labels have given me a crafty outlet whilst i am unable to knit, crochet or hand sew.

15 Minute Declutter: In the office

Today's declutter was in the office. A load of Christmas decorations were sorted and uncluttered. The storage room is looking a great deal better. The Christmas tree has yet to be put away, but that's tomorrow's task.

15 Minute Declutter: Towels

It's 23 years since we married. One of my memories was my Mam's friends looking at the stacks of towels we had received as wedding gifts and exclaiming over them. They were commenting on how beautiful they looked in comparison to their old, worn out towels. Their wedding towels had all been received about 25-30 years ago.

Last summer I bought new, beautiful, big, white bath sheets and dainty hand towel as our towels were looking so old and weary. Today, I finally got round to decluttering the ones we don't use. They will gain a second life at the local animal shelter for drying/rubbing down dogs. The old towels we are keeping will be used for mucky jobs around the house, like dyeing hair etc.

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I ran out of 15 minute challenges this week, so I've 'borrowed' one from the future.

An Upcycled Duvet Cover

Every so often I get annoyed with how inefficient and wasteful wrapping paper is. But, it looks so pretty.  Today, I've done something about it. I've started making fabric gift bags that are drawstring and lined.  They will be suitable for use for at Christmas, and other present-giving occasions. 

What's even better is that the fabric used to make them has been salvaged from a lovely duvet cover was damaged whilst being laundered.  Very little of the duvet cover will go to waste, and this will help reduce our consumption of wrapping paper in the future.

Oooh... I've just realised the matching pillow cases can also be used, and they will make excellent large gift bags.   

I'm

15 Minute Declutter: Restocking the Kitchen

The Saturday challenge from Week 1 was to declutter potholders, kitchen towels, tea towels etc. I was able to to do that, but it left me rather short. Short to the tune of only having two dish cloths!

A trip to the local supermarket didn't yield ANY results. Looking on-line at Mark and Spencer, and Lakeland did not result in any purchases. I just wanted 'clean and simple', not fancy patterns. Thankfully Amazon was able to supply.

  

Amazon was also able to supply a simple milk jug and a set of 6 coupe plates.

Week 1: Kitchen Countertops and Sink

Each week (starting on a Monday), the challenge is to 'read the challenge'. As Monday is my day off, it makes far more sense for me to not just read, but to do as well, and to fit in a few of that week's challenges too.

Monday's challenge: read the weekly challenge - this gives an over view of what to expect, and why it's being done. The reasons are important to me. I hate doing stuff because I have been told to do it. Give me a reason, and I'm on board!

Tuesday's challenge: declutter and organise kitchen sink area. Done.

Wednesday's challenge: clear kitchen counters. One of the presents I received from the Beloved was a new Kenwood food mixer. This is replacing a food processor we received as a wedding gift (almost 25 years ago). It's currently out on a work surface, and needs to be put away. The cupboard where the food processor was has been emptied and cleaned. I've gone through the items removed. Things that haven't been used in a year have been put in a box, and if they are not used by Easter they will be recycled/donated. The new food mixer is now away, freeing up a bit more space.

Thursday's challenge: clear kitchen table. We have no kitchen table.

Friday's challenge: declutter kitchen utensils, measuring cups etc. Done

Saturday's challenge: declutter potholders, kitchen towels, dish cloths etc. It's time for a whole new set of kitchen linens! I'm tired or having a mis-mash of randomosity in the kitchen.

Sunday's challenge: create a household notebook. I'm not sure I'm sold on this idea. We already have a financial folder where we keep important information. I think I would prefer to have a separate folder for each thing, eg finances, recipes, cleaning rotas etc. Most of this will be on my computer.

No Resolutions for 2017

This year, I have no new resolutions. Instead, I'm going to be undertaking a number of challenges.  

There's one on-going challenge, 52 weeks to an organized home. If I am unable to follow all 52 weeks it's not a problem. I dipped in and out of it last year and found it really helpful. The areas I tackled are still looking good, but could do with a re-fresh, and the rest of the house could definitely do with a bit of organisation. I don't expect my house to be organised within the year, but I know it will be in a better state by the end of the year than it is now. Baby-steps forward are what I'm after.

One of the challenges set at the end of 2016 was to establish an evening routine. This will be a re-establishment for me.  Previously, I would get ready for bed at 10pm, then sit on my bed in pjs, and listen to an audio-book whilst crafting. This really put me in a good frame for sleep. Sadly, when I developed De Quervain's disease (inflammation of the tendons in the thumb extending in to the wrist) this good pattern stopped.

My new pattern will be to start getting ready at 10, getting into pjs, laying out my clothes for the next day, reading and a little bit of crafting.

Christmas Treats

A couple of Pinterest ideas made in nom-nom form.

And so to bed!

Whew! That's another section done! This time in my bedroom.

On Sunday I split the bedroom into seven section, with the idea of doing one section a day for a week. This would result in a very tidy, clean bedroom Two sections have been completed. This makes me very happy.

During the 52 week challenge I sorted through a lot of clothes and did some serious decluttering in the bedroom. This hasn't stopped a load of stuff accumulating though. As I was moving things around I realised that four of the boxes were things belonging to my daughter. I think they are items she no longer wants, but I'd rather she gave them another look over when she is home for Christmas. I would hate to be getting rid of treasured items.

One of the boxes is full of things to be donated to a charity shop. We shall attend to this on Saturday. The rest is crafting materials seeking a home. For the moment, that home will be in my study. After Christmas, I will need to get into the study and declutter in there too.

What do I use, what do I need?

Whilst thinking, planning and designing the new house, I have been stopping and pondering what I actually need, and what I use. My conclusion is 'a whole heap less stuff than I have!'

I'm going to list all of the the household items I have used. This will help with the planning and design. It makes sense to ensure there's a sensible place for everything that is used regularly. It also means that at the end of a period I can get rid of things that are not used.

Here's the things I have used today, assembled in a useful sort of manner.

bedroom: bed, bed linens, duvet, pillows, bath towel, hand towel

electronics: Kindle, laptop, phone, phone charger

kitchen: cooker, frying pan, wooden spoon, veggie chopping knife, chopping board, fridge, plate, mug, kettle, larder, sink, draining board, utensils storage, cutlery storage, recycling boxes, towel