This week took me by surprise. It was stressful, sad, and worrisome. I wasn’t able to tackle any new projects because of this, but at least one bump in the week–Mikey getting hurt during recess bad enough for the school to call me–gave me an idea for a project free post for today.
I’ve been meaning to go over the projects I’ve worked on the last almost 2 years to review what has worked and what hasn’t. Today provided inspiration to do that following a call from the school.
When the front office called me, I assumed it was about Nicholas. Just the day before, his PE teacher told me as I pulled into school that he hurt himself again during class, but this time there wasn’t blood. The poor child really is a klutz, so when the caller ID on my phone lit up, I bypassed regular greetings and got right to it.
“Well, this can’t be good.”
“Actually, Mrs. Kendall, today it’s Mikey.”
She bypassed the regular greetings, too. We’ve established a comfortable rapport, what with me being there almost weekly.
Mikey fell during recess and scraped his arm and knee. My first thought was…and? I know it sounds callous, but Nico has effectively trained me react somewhat calmly when faced with unknown injuries.
She went on and said there was a lot of blood and that if I had the time, she would like for me to come and look at it and apply antibiotic ointment. They can only dispense band-aids, and she would feel better if he got some ointment on the scrapes. I told her I was on my way.
I slipped on my shoes, walked into the kitchen, and grabbed my First Aid box from the medicine cabinet, and drove to school. Once there, I irrigated Mikey’s scrapes, put on some ointment, and wrapped him up in some sterile gauze. (I’m telling you, Nico has me trained. I’m like a war nurse.)
As I was packing up, Mikey looked at me with admiration and said, “Mom, you’re, like, a clinic or something.”
A medicine cabinet organized the way we have it (kids, adults, first aid) has been a project that worked. When the kids are sick, I grab the entire box and leave it in their room while they’re sick. (There is a great comment in the comment section about the potential safety issues by doing this–proceed with caution!) When they’re better, it goes back to the cabinet. I don’t worry about accidentally giving them our medication because ours is in a separate box. I never have to dig around the back of the cabinet looking for little bottles. Everything is contained. I would love for the boxes to be made of metal, and I saw some great ones at IKEA, but size is an issue for me. My cabinets are narrow.
My Mama’s Toolbox. I no longer have to go into the garage (unattached) and hunt around for tools. I have everything I need in one box that I carry with me around the house. The only problem is that now everyone uses the Mama’s Toolbox and let me tell you, you haven’t seen angry until you’ve seen me go for a tool in my box only to discover that someone “borrowed” it last week and forgot to put it back.
The Quakehold didn’t withstand the moisture of a bathroom without proper ventilation–and I didn’t think it would–but my organized hair accessories is still another favorite project. I have plans to velcro the boxes to the door, but for now they sit on the bottom shelf. I couldn’t be happier to have my bobby-pins and hair ties organized and separated. It really has made a difference getting ready.
The fitness drawer? Brilliant. It makes getting ready easy and it makes putting away laundry easy. Plus, don’t ask me why this is, but having everything there down to the socks is key. Honestly, I think it’s the socks box that makes the difference.
We should have redone the laundry room years ago. The only problem I have with it is that the Mister likes to store all the paper products on the top shelf. I’m 5’4″ when I have my back up about something. The rest of the time…I’m not 5’4″. Getting items from that top shelf is a real pain. The clean room is worth it, so I can’t complain.
The family room was years in the making and discussed in countless posts as we slowly got things done. The wall of books is a favorite and is a good use of space. I love my white ektorp sectional from IKEA and could write a whole post about the pros and cons. Short answer: I would recommend it in in a heartbeat, with caveats.
There are many other projects that have worked out well, but the only other one that stands out right now is the binder method for storing pictures. It makes it easy to store new pictures as they come in.
Next week I’m going to discuss the projects that haven’t worked, or haven’t worked as well as I hoped. There have been plenty.
Now it�s your turn! Feel free to share how you have lived according to the William Morris quote, �Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.� Made a plan? Cleaned a drawer? Bought a sofa? Tell us about it with a link or comment. A few guidelines:
- Please link to a specific post, not a general blog address.
- Your post must relate to your efforts to create an intentional home. I have a delete button, and I�m not afraid to use it.
- No links to giveaways, please.
- Let�s use this weekly link up as an opportunity to gather inspiration and motivation. Click links. Discover new people. Say hi and good job and all that stuff.
Hi Jules,
I’ve been reading your blog for a few months, and feel it’s really inspiring. I keep in mind the William Morris quote, and often refer to it when considering buying something for the house. I recently found perfect bedding sets for my boys room, and gave away existing sets, to make room in the linen closet for the new sets. It was liberating. Our lives are quite different – I live in Israel, I’m Jewish, and work full time, but there are lots of similarities too. I’m thinking of taking up the daily walking thing. You’re my inspiration :-), thank you.
Thanks so much, Ahuva! I’ve always wanted to visit Israel. :)
My husband and I have been planning to use a portion of our tax refund for the ektorp sectional, so I would LOVE to hear your pros and cons!
I’m working hard on my husband for an extorp and would love to hear your caveats on it.
We’ve been thinking about one, too. Give it up, Jules! :)
I just clicked out of the reader to read the comments and say “I’d love to hear your pros/cons” as well! :)
Ask and you shall receive! I’ll put one together. You do realize it will be geeky and detailed, right? ;)
That’s the best kind!! :)
I’ve adopted so many of your ideas above. I currently own a jar of museum wax, put the outlet strip INSIDE the cabinet (brilliant), and updated the boys bathroom with paint, wainscoting, crown molding, a new shower curtain and I even stenciled something for the wall! I designed and helped hubby build new shelving for our closet. AND I’ve started to walk 4 miles every other day! You have inspired me and it’s always exciting to see what you come up with next. I still think the cafe curtain rods in the drawers for shoes was a killer idea.
Wow! You’re just making my day.
I forgot all about the shoe drawer, probably because now that Mikey and Nico are sharing a room that drawer looks like a bomb went off. The entire closet area is a disaster.
Your William Morris series is one of my favorite features of your blog. So, to be able to get a follow-up look at what worked and didn’t work and lessons learned is like the icing on top. I know I’m always tweaking my own organizational solutions, but I just love the way you write and your insights into the “why” of things. It helps me to dig deeper into thinking about why something was amiss in my own dilemma.
Thanks, Lan. This post was a good exercise for me, too. I should do it more often than every 2 years!
What a great idea for a post. It really helps show how worthwhile this undertaking has been. I cannot tell you how much I have accomplished by being part of it. Thank you a million times…thank you!
Glad you had your first aid kit at the ready. Hope next week is much better for you!
The beginning of your post got my heart racing–I was worried that one of your boys was seriously hurt. When my accident-prone daughter was in 4th grade, she took a hard tumble on the playground, and I didn’t think all that much of it when the school called. She was very quiet and didn’t move around much that night, but I still didn’t think much of it. I took her to the doctor the next morning “just to be sure” there was nothing serious going on, feeling like I was being an overly cautious mom. Yeah, until she peed a cup full of blood. She’d landed on a concrete curb and lacerated her kidney. It was a huge ordeal for all of us. So glad to know your kids are OK!
You picked out a few of my favorites. Especially since I have a wall of books and the white ektorp sofa (though not in the same room). I’m still trying to work out a first aid/medicine system that works for us. We always seem to have things in the bathroom/the kitchen/the bedrooms. No matter how I try.
Your medical box organization is one of the first posts I read, and I implemented the same system almost immediately. It’s not only a great way for me to know what I have in stock and what we need, but it’s been a godsend for the Gentleman, who is rather new to parenting. Before we had the labeled boxes for grownups, kid, and first aid, he didn’t always know what was okay for Scout to have if I’m wasn’t around and she didn’t feel well. The last thing I want to add to the stress of working an after-hours cooking class is a frantic text message from him asking whether or not she can have Tums, or asking where her inhaler is. And he feels empowered because we have the tools in place to make good decisions about the care of this sweet child he loves so much but is still so baffled by.
This comment made me really happy.
So sorry it’s been a rough week for you. :( Sending hugs and wishes for sunnier days ahead!
I wanted to thank you for this post. I started following your blog because of the William Morris Project and I have started to slowly put it into practice. Also, your walking is inspiring me to get off my couch and get moving. Thank you so much for sharing.
i am always so inspired after reading your WMP posts. thursday afternoons are for DOING!!!
I love so many of these ideas. Thanks for going back and talking about what has worked out. I am in the midst of working with and organizer. Some has worked and some hasn’t. But putting all of my workout stuff together has also worked for me. Thanks so much for the idea!
When you talked at the beginning about leaving the kids stuff in their room when they are sick, I had a flash back: when I was 3 I took a lot of baby aspirin. Because if one or two was good then more must be better and I would get better sooner. Luckily my mom caught it and took me to get my stomach pumped. And I’m still alive today. She still freaks out when she thinks about it, especially because she is a nurse. I’m sure your boys are probably too old to do something like that. But for those reading who have younger kids, I thought I would mention my story. Hope that’s ok.
Such a great point! My brother did something similar, but his was bubblegum flavored antibiotics before there were safety caps, and he took the bottle out of the fridge.
My boys don’t like to take medicine–it’s a battle–so I’ve never considered that, but it’s a really great point.
This is my first link- up. I’m such a newbie, I put MY name in the cute title space.
Rookie mistake.
Love this series and have been inspired by it for a while. Also, you crack me up.
Yay! I don’t think there are any rules for the title space?
Nope, no rules! But if you want me to change anything, let me know. :)
Thanks but that’s alright. I’ll just know for next time:)
So many good, no great ideas. Yes, please spill on the white Ektorp. I have an Ektorp that needs a new slipcover and I was considering white. I have teen age girls…don’t get me started I think they are fouler than boys….
Now I’m feeling all inspired… the wall of books is especially tantalizing. I love the white sofa too but how is it with kids? We have a brown couch and it’s already speckled with stains– and our little Simeon is only one!
Trying to pin the photo binder idea so I won’t forget, and it is not working. I hope I don’t forget. Thanks for sharing this project, I have gotten a lot of ideas and I am currently looking back at some of your posts because I need to start an organizing project at my house.