apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

My spring cleaning agenda (I am open to suggestions/ideas):
1. Deal with the thousands of recipes that I have clipped from magazines and stuffed into my file cabinet. Maybe find some software that allows me to scan and categorize.

2. Sell some awful light fixtures.

3. Do something with the tupperware my mother gave me. Barter maybe?

4. Figure out a use for my old pantyhose. I will starve before I take another job that requires them!

5. Sell scrapbook/cardmaking materials on ebay.

6. Make a plan to actually use the fabric in my 7 12 gal bins.

Joy... something from every room in the house. This may take the rest of the year!

About the fabric, Heather, there are sewing groups all around the country that make quilts for charitable causes (for instance, a local group here makes them for young, single mothers-to-be). Most communities have some sort of volunteer clearing house, which could help you find a recipient.

Pantyhose would be welcomed by your local community garden (or gardening friends). They are used to tie up plants. I haven't bought pantyhose in years.

Scrapbooking (or any craft) materials would be welcome at a senior home, a senior center, a teen center, or your local Scouts programs or equivalent.

Tupperware has it's own life and tends to return home on its own. Fill it with cookies and give it to your best friends. You'll probably get it back when you have a pot-luck.

I put my tear-sheets and clippings in a soft-sided album that has full-page pockets so you can slip stuff behind them. These can be found in art-supply stores with the portfolios.

I have found that no one else wants the horrible light fixtures I don't want. Many people use them as a base for orignal creations, though. If you don't know any crafty people, Goodwill is always there to take them.

And none of this will gain you a dime, of course, but you will feel so much better.

My spring cleaning involves moving every piece of furniture to get the gobs of dog hair hiding under them, getting the carpets cleaned, cleaning the windows, washing everything that can be washed and sending the rest out, and vaccuming the closets. It takes weeks, mostly because I get sidetracked with painting a room, repairing damage, or something else. Always something else.

1) re-pot all of the plants on the deck and replace those that didn't survive the winter - my favorite spring activity.

2) go through my closet AGAIN and try to get rid of at least a few more items.

3) finish sorting through the file cabinets and make new file labels so that everything has a place.

4) talk friends into getting together this month for a group garage sale/bbq and subsequent trip to goodwill so that nothing comes back in the house.

5) reward myself with a nice summery white wine.

Spring cleaning, assuming I'm that organized...

1. Unload the old nightstands, the excess dresser, and the wrong-size shelves that we didn't install. The first two items are on CL now.

2. Do the Oxyclean thing to the bathroom floor and maybe the shower grout.

3. Tackle where I've been throwing manuscript submittal junk in the front of the LR closet because it's too stressful for me to file.

4. Do a real dusting and polishing on the LR bookshelves.

Everything! The move to the Bay Area has been set for May 23rd; 3 weeks from now ... dun dun dun.

hey all. does anyone want my domino (and etc) magazines? i'd rather give them to someone than recycle... they're located in berkeley.

Oh Victoria, if you come a couple of days earlier you can view the spectacle of Bay to Breakers and have a true "only in San Francisco" welcome.

You'll fall in love with SF after just one summer here.

I'm upset that I'll be missing the Bay to Breakers event, but I plan on training and being in it next year - what a better way to join in!

My boyfriend is looking forward to the winters in the area. He wants to hear out and do some real California snowboarding

Allison, im in Oakland, and i'd love to take your old Domino magazines!!!

email me if you still got em! thanks