The 413 Mom

Winter Composting....anyone with me?

Until this year I've been a fair weather composter. I love to compost during the summer and fall when the weather is lovely but in the past have always given it up in the winter months. Who wants to trek out to the compost pile in the snow? Well, all of a sudden, this girl does!

I had such a successful compost season this past summer that I didn't want to stop just because winter arrived. I intended to move the compost tumbler (it's not really THE compost tumbler...it's a generic equivalent) closer to the house before the ground froze but it was too heavy. 

If I couldn't easily get to the dump site without putting on boots then I needed an easy collection system in the kitchen to hold the scraps so I would only need to make the trek a few times a week.

Thanks to a tip in Organic Life Magazine I realized I could use my plastic lemonade pitchers as collection bins under the kitchen sink. I only use the pitchers in the summer so they were available and they hold enough scraps that I only have to walk through the snow twice a week usually. The pitchers are lightweight and the lids pop on and off quickly so it's very convenient. 

Lucky for me, I drink a ton of peppermint tea so there is actually a pleasant mint aroma under my kitchen sink that overpowers the other compostable items in the pitchers. My compost mix is mostly made up of veggie scraps, fruit peels, tea bags and the occasional coffee filter with grounds. Also, since the pitchers have lids there is not much odor at all. 

I really thought my compost would not progress through the winter with the cold temperatures but apparently I have such a good cook going on that this pile just keeps on cooking. I add to it twice a week and give the tumbler a good spin. When I come back a few days later, all of the scraps are breaking down nicely. 

I'm so glad I've figured out a system that is working for me so that I can continue to compost all year long. I can't wait to add this mix to my garden beds in the spring. I love taking trash and turning it into treasure and composting is one of the easiest ways to do that. 

How about you? Do you compost? I'm glad I've finally got this figured out but I'm sure there are other tips I'm missing. Please use the comments field below to share! TIA!

Done!

Bathroom refresh for under $20? Here's how you do it....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You know that January feeling when you want to upgrade the house, but it's, well...right after Christmas and the budget is basically $0. Or maybe $20? 

Yeah. Me too.

Which is why I challenged myself to see what I could do with this bathroom with less than $20. And lots of elbow grease.

What needed a do-over:

• Old, faded shower curtain
• Window curtain that hangs over the toilet paper roll
• Dirty marks above the window
• Empty walls
• Dim lighting

What I did over:

• New shower curtain $14.99 at T.J. Maxx.
• Coordinating hand towel $0 at T.J. Maxx. (Of course it wasn't really $0. The price was $5.99 but I was making a return in the amount of $5.99 so to me it's a wash.)
• Those new curtains are actually a set of panels that previously hung on our sliding doors. I cut the length and hand-sewed a hem. No more fumbling for the toilet paper. Cost $0. 
• Found an old can of the bathroom wall paint in the basement. The lid was rusted on and the paint was a little gummed up but after a good shaking I had just enough usable paint to cover the one stained wall. Cost: $0. 
• I also had a good can of white paint on hand so I repainted all the trim in white. Goodbye nicks and dings. 
• Removed the light fixture globes and soaked them in hot, soapy water. You would not believe the dust that came off of these things. The bathroom was immediately 25% brighter. (Gross.) Please don't underestimate a good scrubbing of the light fixtures when wishing to update a room. I also scrounged around other light fixtures in the house to find three matching light bulbs. What. A. Difference. It's like having a brand new light fixture. Cost: $0.
• I also searched the house for some wall hangings that were being underutilized. I found a set of three floral prints in matching frames that brighten up the room considerably.
• Don't underestimate a good scrubbing of the floor when wanting to renew a room. 

It only took a couple of hours to refresh the bathroom. And it was only $14.99 out of pocket. I'm super happy with the results and the fact that I was able to repurpose and or use up other things from around the home. #reduce #reuse #recycle #repair #redo

 

I'm Not Taking it Down!

Any other holdouts? 

This is the longest I've ever kept the tree up. (She's a fake, you see, so there are no needles dropping). 

I just don't want to take it down. I don't want that dark corner in the living room. I don't want the Christmas feeling to fade. 

In past years I've been anxious to get the Christmas decorations packed away because I "needed the space." I couldn't stand the clutter after December 31 or so. 

However, this year I've made so much progress on clearing out the clutter. Not just in the house but in life. Our Christmas season was so fun and simple. We said 'no' to several long-standing commitments that were no longer working for us. I scaled back the decorations. I've gotten a lot better at intentional gift giving. Before I buy something I stop and question "where is this going to live in the house?" 

Yes, a lot of new items came into our living space this Christmas season but as we simplify we're in a continuous process of deciding which items we can do without. I was housebound with a sick kid today so another bag of donation items made it's way to my car trunk. I cleaned out two drawers and filled a recycle bin. 

Getting organized is not a one time thing -- it's an ongoing process. But once you get the hang of it you'll find it leads to so much more space in your life. Space for things you really love. Like keeping the spirit of Christmas alive for as long as you'd like and not feeling like you have to pack it away just to make space. Because you've already committed to making all the space you need. 

I feel like our beautiful little tree is testament to how much progress we made in 2016 in focusing on how we want our space and lives to be. I want that testament to glow a little longer. There was even some discussion at dinner the other night about decorating it with some paper hearts. That we could make together. With the time we've made in life for each other, instead of what other people might want us to do. So, we'll see. I think it could look cute with Easter eggs too. #familyfirst #priorities #cleartheclutter

I voted! Early Voting in Massachusetts through November 4

 

So this happened today! I was at town hall paying some taxes and noticed the signs for early voting. I wanted to check it out. I wasn't alone! There was a steady stream of folks coming in to vote early. I decided to join in the fun. 

I just told the registrar my name, accepted my ballot and filled it out. You also have to fill out a manila envelope with your name and address and testify to the fact that you are who you say you are. Then you put your ballot in the envelope, seal it up and hand it back to the registrar. They will add it to a tote box which will be secured until election day.

I feel good about checking the vote off my list. Quite frankly, I was done with this election months ago. I just can't take the hate and negativity any longer. 

If you're interested in doing the same, you can use this link to find the schedule for early voting in your town. Many towns are even offering weekend hours. Last day for early voting in Massachusetts is November 4. 

 

Tackle a Chore Tuesday: Make something old new again

One of my goals for spring cleaning this year is to get into all the nooks and crannies of the house and find all the hidden stuff we're not utilizing. 

When I came across these button pins in a drawer in Eden's room I knew exactly what to do. Especially since she is always asking me about what life was like when I was a kid: What did you wear? What was for school lunch? Who did you play with?

So, yep, it was time to introduce her to the 80's staple -- the pin covered jean jacket. She loves it. And I love that that I gave new life to her worn out jacket by utilizing a hidden treasure.

How about you? I'd love to hear about your recent upcycle. How have you made something old new again? 

Tackle a Chore Tuesday: Tiny wardrobe malfunctions

This here is one of those parenting tasks that makes me break out in a sweat. When someone is having a freak attack because her doll is having a wardrobe malfunction. Oftentimes, I can fight with one of these tiny issues for a while before the light bulb goes off. All the while, the preschooler is screaming in my ear that her doll is broken and I'm screaming a string of profanities in my head. Cause I can't get the dang glove back on! Those pointy fingers are like needles, unrelenting in their pursuit of snagging on the mesh fabric. 

Ding! Painter's tape to the rescue. Or any tape, really. Just wrap the hand in tape and the glove slips back on easily. Without snagging the fingers on the fabric sixteen times. Sweating, grey hairs, and mental profanity averted. You're welcome. 

Tackle a Chore Tuesday: 24 kid freebies you can toss within 24 hours of receiving (without anyone noticing)

Freebies can be fun -- especially for the kids. A magnet, pencil, or sticker is like gold to them until their short attention spans wane and they abandon their trinkets -- stuffed in the car seats or lying around on the kitchen counters. UGH. Here's a list of 24 freebie items that you can/should toss within 24 hours of entering your home without the kids even noticing (or maybe you can even toss them into the recycle bin in the garage when you find them in the car seat -- then they don't even  make it into the house):

 

 

1. Magnets
2. Rubber bracelets
3. Generic coloring books
4. Restaurant crayons
5. Restaurant lidded cups
6. Incomplete craft projects
7. Stickers (from the bank, post office, doctor's office, dentist)
8. Pens
9. Pencils
10. Bookmarks
11. Paint color cards (can't get out of Home Depot without these)
12. Anything from the treasure chest at the dentist's office
13. Coloring sheets
14. Brochures
15. Beaded necklaces
16. Kids tattoos
17. Paper masks
18. Posters
19. Crazy straws
20. Keychains
21. Combs
22. Lollipops/hard candy
23. Kids Meal toys
24. Toothbrushes

Tackle a Chore Tuesday: The Kid's Closet

How to tackle the ominous place knows as the kid's closet:

Step One: Send closet owner in the other room to play with sibling. 

Step Two: Remove Everything. Make a big pile on the floor. It feels kinda good.

Step Three: Vacuum the floor, wipe down any shelving.

Step Four: Start sorting. ONLY put back items of clothing and shoes that still fit and are in good enough condition, the non-clothing items that child cannot live without, anything that is actively use. For all the other stuff -- make another big pile on the floor. This pile should include any items that may be handed down to another sibling, items to be donated, garbage or recycling-worthy items, or items that would be better placed elsewhere. We needed to swap out the hangers in this closet (buy-bye kid hangers -- kind of bittersweet):

Step Five: Get your haul where it belongs -- we had some clothes and books to be moved over to little sis's closet, some items to donate, magazines to recycle, and a lot of little hangers to clear out. The important part is to get this stuff out of site ASAP. I try to put donation items in my trunk immediately -- before they can make their way back into the stream of household flotsam. 

Step Six: Enjoy the new white space in the closet to be filled with new treasures!

 

 

Tackle a Chore Tuesday: Spring Cleaning Prep

Although I've spent all day clearing snow it has not deterred me from mentally preparing my Spring Cleaning to-dos. Last week's mild weather combined with the fact that Faith actually asked for a napkin the other day (she is literally THE messiest person I have ever met) really has me planning to attack this house. Now that Faith is taking pride in the fact that she gets more food in her mouth than on the floor at mealtime I am encouraged that my efforts to clean house may actually be possible. I've spent the past three years attempting to clean up one mess while she's busy making three more but I think we're finally moving on from that phase. In short, I'm jazzed to get this place in shape. 

But I need a little direction. I have my to-do list, yet I know I'm missing some must-dos. That's why I love this printable Spring Cleaning Checklist from Ask Anna Moseley. She's got all the nooks and crannies thought out. Of course I've got plenty more jobs to add (who doesn't?) but this is a great start. Plus, that groundhog promised me an early spring, so it's time to get cracking. (Use link for printable download).