Bedroom Closet Solution for Renters

 

The problem with my closet is, instead of one long bar at normal heighth and a shelf which I could have worked with. The landlord hung two bars, one about shirt heighth off the floor and the other up so high I had to get on a step stool to hang shirts. Dresses, even the shorter ones of todays style did not fit on either bar. So what do you do? I went online and starting looking up closet organization systems. I really wanted just a plain old set of shelves and 3 bars, 2 on one side for shirts/pants and 1 on the other for longer items. They run a respectable $150 or so for fairly decent ones. Now this is where my husbands voice of reasons starts entering my brain. We live in a rental, so anything I spend of course I would like to take with me when I leave. Therefore, those cute little closet organizers are out of the question. Walking up and down the aisles of my close favorite one stop shopping place I stumbled across those cheapy metal shelves. I wonder..... Ok, there was a chrome bakers set of 5 shelves. You know the ones you see in Sears now in the kitchen area. Chrome is cool, you wouldn't need to dust it very oven because it was very open and airy. Price can't be beat ringing in at a nice $59.99. Size was a little bigger than what I wanted but shoot, my closet is 9 ft wide, I can give up a little space for some nice shelving. Sitting just a few feet away were the cheaper version of "Gorilla" shelves. They're heavier duty, work wonderfully in the garage or basement, and $10 cheaper. This would work! Afterwards when we find a house this one can go just about anywhere. So I picked up this shelf, and knew the next stop was containers. I opted for the cheapy steralite ones, (8) shoe boxes, (3) 6 qt, (2) sweater boxes later and I was skipping to the register with a system that would look nice and cost less than $100. Check it out for yourself! The only thing you have to remember is, if your leaving the bars in the closet during this reorganization, you need to assemble the shelving inside the closet. ;)




I even tackled the problem of not having
 any closet doors.
 

Top rack houses coats and seasonal clothing
items, bottom rack is my shirts.

The second closet in my bedroom had all shelves and since I needed more room to hang things in the bigger closet since I took up all the room with the shelves, I decided to put my husbands shirts in the smaller one. So, I removed all the shelves but two, using the top one as the hanger, and the bottom one for misc items such as overalls, and thick bulky sweaters he never wears.

Quick summertime timeout is over! Game ON!

So had to take a little while off to tend my beautiful daughters graduation. It turned out wonderful and thank you to all who were able to come, and those who sent well wishes. I appreciate my family, blood relatives and extended you are all terrific!
Putting away the empty bowls, leftover decorations in anticipation of Cody's graduation in 2 years, and trying to find all the stuff that I stashed in out of the way nooks and crannies around the house. (if I can remember them all)
Time to straighten up my closets that I worked so hard on. Remember that when you do a major reorganizing project that it's important to go back, straighten it up and maybe change what's not working.
I'm finding that I'm really not too happy about spending more of my check on healthcare and getting mediocure service at the doctors office. I think we all need to stand up against that famous reschedule in 3 months and seriously asking if it's necessary. You'll get the weirdest look from the doctor, but then really they don't know how to answer it. If medically there is something that they need to check in 3 months than by all means do it. However, if, like me, you have an issue that they can't really help with (tremors) and they just want to know if you want to be medicinally treated or if it gets worse then don't waste your money.

Here is the dragonfly I made for the "Restore" what a great place to get craft supplies!
 

So I went to the local Restore by Habitat for Humanity here and talked to the manager about craft ideas. I asked if I had a good idea if I could run it by him and he liked it, then he would supply me with enough items to make two, then I'd bring one back to him for the store to display. He loved the idea and this is the first thing I made for him. Now I have to finish a pet bed out of a drawer! With the weather being so great though I've been working outside a lot, trying to save on money in the long run from our veggie garden.
The garden is just about complete, there are some plants that need replaced and a few more empty spots to fill but it's getting close. Now weeding is a completely different subject, we'll be doing that until well into harvest. What a great workout every other day or more! I'm forever asking friends, would you like to come over and do some squats and finger dexterity exercises? Alas, none take me up on it, but I'm ok with that because this chick is going to have awesome glutes and one heck of a tan by the end of summer.
The beginning of the summer has seen the death of some of our beautiful chickens, I'm sorry to report we are down to eleven. The coyotes are absolutely horrible this year and I am putting a chicken tractor into the planning phase. Along with that project I need to add to my honey do list a compost bin made out of pallets and a chile roaster for harvest. If any of you have ideas shoot me a message.
Still at the top of my list is getting closer to God because I believe that a closer relationship to him and our own development into caring, kind, and loving people is the reason we're here. With that I bid you farewell for now. Until next time! 
Take care all.

This is going to be a real quick post to show some friends of mine my version of some stuff I found on pinterest. I have detailed pictures of the progress from start to finish that I will post in a later blog. But here they are, enjoy!

  This trellis was shown in Lowe's Creative magazine but on a grander and much more expensive scale. This one is a miniture that cost me about $10 the paint I already had on hand.

The topsy turvey planter I found on pinterest and had a blast making. The colors I think will really pop once all my flowers start blooming this summer.

 

Spring cleaning or succomb to the throes of malay?

Hello friends, I'm back on track again. It seems as if my life goes in and out like the tide along the shores of Lake Michigan. I'm jamming along getting things accomplished then all of a sudden something gets me off track then before you know it a week later I'm going, "What the heck happened?" This time, however, I know exactly what happened. My cousins wedding was last weekend! Oh boy, oh boy, what a shindig it was. My feet still hurt from those heels I wore. Congrats Justin and Jamie!
It looks as though the weather will keep me from my walk/run today but as I have some errands to run I'm good with it.
I really have to attack some boxes before Friday to clean out some old kitchen items for the silent auction at the craftathon at church. Then after that I'll be able to return to posting my projects.
If any of you have any helpful hints on Graduation Party Planning, can you leave a comment please. Ter's graduation is coming fast and I have to get some plans in the works.
Meanwhile found some really cool planter projects that I'm in the midst of, here's some pics to inspire you, springs upon us!


cheapy pots from Big Lots!



After a few modifications.

I was looking for some urn pots for in front of the door and really didn't want to spend $20 a piece for ones I was pretty sure were way too big for my porch. Then an idea hit me and I ran with it. Total cost for 4 pots was less then $10 a piece, paint and bolts I already had. WAAALAAA  custom urn pots! $6.98/ea for little trees and I have the beginnings of a really nice looking front door.

Interpretting Lifes Instruction Manual III

The Third and last installment of my Interpretation of what I believe to be key to developing as a christian. I pull direction straight from the bible, here is the quote again. "For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 5-8
I have completed quick researches of the key words in the bible, and certainly there are other quotes of scripture to explain the qualities talked about by Peter. Persevere to do research, add to your knowledge, and grow in the name of the Lord. The last of these qualities are godliness(little "g"), brotherly kindness, and love. For godliness we can really get in to some debate, for we should never place ourselves equal to God, nor above our fellow man/woman. I think that we should not focus on developing perfection. However, we should walk our christian walk as Jesus and to the best of our ability. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. That doesn't mean that we should just give up and not try. We wash our cars because they get dirty, knowing that they will get dirty again and need to be rewashed. The same goes for many things in our life, our houses, our bodies, our animals. This is true of our spiritual selves as well. As we try to live godly lives we sin, (get dirty) and need to be washed (forgiven) over and over. We learn the basics of what sin is and hopefully we develop and learn  to not repeat them, as we grow we notice other nuances in life that the Holy Spirit draws our attention to and labels as sin. Godly is defined as conforming to the laws and wishes of God, it does not mean placing ourselves up on a pedestal and acting better than anyone else. If therefore, you are conforming to the laws and wishes of God, then you will be working on brotherly kindness. Brotherly kindness I believe is going through this short life of ours and paying attention to others. I drive my family absolutely nuts, talking to strangers all the time. How else are you suppose to give brotherly kindness unless your paying attention to your brother? If he has fallen, help him up, if she is struggling offer a helping hand. Just go through life not with your head down racing to the finish line, but with your eyes open, looking, watching. Then there's love. John instructs, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God." 1John 4:7 Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" John 13:34 Stearn warnings from the bible if you do not abide by this principle, "If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." 1John 4:20
All these principles that are talked about by Peter are guidelines we should instill in all our lives. I want to add to them in increasing measure every day of my life. I am not a perfect person, far from it in fact. I sin daily, I trip, I fall, I get back up and keep on going. It is imperative that we do not quit! For even as Jesus carried the cross and stumble he kept going, and he was headed to death! We can have peace and joy here on Earth. Upon receiving it though, we need to spread it out to others, "Give as freely as you have received!" Matthew 10:8.  If we try to  simple things everyday to improve upon them, we can't help but add them in increasing measure. Personally I want to walk my walk closer to God, he's got AWESOME plans for all of us. Have a wonderful Easter and may we all be renewed in the spirit as we delve deeper into our lives.
Thanks for letting me put thought to blog, and thanks for reading.

Interpretting Lifes Instruction Manual II

I'm trying to interpret, and work out in my own mind, basic instructions that Peter gave us. I believe this is the foundation of how we are to go about fulfilling our purpose, and growing as a Christian. I quote the scripture that caused a "light bulb" moment, and then break it down referencing other scripture to understand it better.
"For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 5-8

Self-Control, whew that's a difficult one. It's the one thing that as an imperfect human being I lack greatly and that covers a broad range of areas in my life. I smoke, I consume some alcohol, I'm overweight, I cry for different reasons at the drop of a hate, I am quick to anger at different times, on different issues. I can't control my tongue and often say the wrong thing. It seems this may be something that you do learn in increasing measure with age, as long as you can identify that whatever it is that you have an impulse issue with is a problem that needs to be worked on. I am working on the food issue now. I've found that there's certain foods that adversely effect my body and therefore must be avoided. There's soda, I've quit drinking that even in the face of an obvious addiction. I'm working on smoking less, quitting eventually. Self-control, is keeping your house neat instead of flopping down in front of the tv, maybe filtering the types of shows you watch. Spending too much, using profanity, being lazy, working too hard, being too silent. These are all things that we can control ourselves. So what does the bible say about self-control. My favorite verse is this one; "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with temptation he also will provide a way of escape, that you will be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10-13. Training for a 5k, one cannot ignore this one; "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Let us live our lives, striving to be better and resisting evil.
The desires of our fragile human bodies can lead to a "back sliding" if we have no self-control. So once we have begun to mastered self-control we must continue on, or persevere. I say begin because it's a never ending process. I am in the middle of several self-control projects. Very much like my craft hobbies, always starting one before finishing another while in the middle of a third and completing the fourth. It's definitely never boring, I often wonder if I have some ADD issues. No one says that you complete one virtue and move on to the next, for that would suggest that you could finish, and finishing would imply perfection which, as long as we inhabit earth we cannot have. Perseverance it is told leads to rewards in heaven. I think this is one of the hardest lessons to learn. To learn it you have to experience pain, persecution, and sometimes loneliness in your life. When I was down and felt like I was being kicked, bruised and beaten it was exhausting, and to hold on was, I thought, impossible. There was a moment where I gave up and turned from God, thinking I did nothing to deserve this, why was I enduring his wrath? Like Peter I took my eyes off God and immediately my solid footing disappeared and I found myself drowning. In hindsight, I had it wrong. God uses adversity to mold my character. Often to get weeds out of the garden we need to til the whole think up, strip it bare of every plant. Then we can sow our seeds in nurturing soil, free from those nutrient sucking weeds. He says, "lean not on your own understanding", so let me draw on the everlasting life giving words of the bible. "And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9. And if we can learn perseverance "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." James 1:12.
So continue on learning, and with your struggles, knowing that He never leaves you. He never stops loving you. Just as those of you who are parents mold your own children, so he molds us. The glorious riches that await us in heaven come at a steep price, that we pay here on earth. Take heed my friends that even though we are his lambs, the evil one waits to try to lay waste upon the herd. "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8
I leave this train of thought with a message to my "health" stars. So as they treat their bodies like temples they don't forget..."For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." 1Timothy 4:8

Interpretting Lifes Instuction Manual

If your anything like the rest of us, then perhaps you felt drawn to God, went to church, were saved, maybe even baptised. Upon returning home you sit down and wonder, well now what. What's it all for, where do I go from here? I know certain truths  in my life, I know that I'm a believer saved by the blood of Jesus, God's son who was sent to die in my place so that I may live an eternal live in heaven. I know that once saved you can't continue on being the same person you were. I know that although there are struggles in life being a Christian, there are also blessings. Life, I do believe, is the most unrandom thing in the universe. Everything is orchestrated, connected and aligned, throw free will in there and whoa momma, tell me again how God isn't awesome. I can't even wrap my mind around how he knows the things he knows. So, there I sit doing my bible study one day, when a most disturbing thought crosses my mind. I am not going to bore you with the details of what the question was or the journey that I took to find the answer. Suffice it to say that it took me the rest of the morning until I was satisfied, and then I stumbled across the most life changing, light bulb moment words I have ever found in this wonderful book. You may think the bible is a bunch of hooey, but in all actuality if you know your history at all, tons of historical facts have been proven through the bible. Let me get back on track before I lose myself in a tangent of evidence. So there it is, the ultimate step by step guide on how to live, and  the order in which to work things out for yourself. My translation quotes it as follows:
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. -2Peter 1:3-8
I have underlined the parts that stood out to me on the day I first read them. Next I will break it down, not  for your benefit, but for mine. For I truly believe the Holy Spirit spoke to me that day and gave to me the key elements for "everything we need for life". I have been on the path to return joy to my life. Somewhere in the hussle and bussle I misplaced it. I questioned why we were here, why we have to go through so many troubles, why we go through pain and hard times. I have always believed that we are put here to serve a purpose, but exactly what that purpose is and how we are to go about finding it and fulfilling it had escaped me. So here we go.
First and foremost you must have faith. Faith that God does exist, that he sacrificed his one and only son so that we might have a relationship with him. Without Jesus we could never be good enough to be with God. The Jewish people have proven that, time and time again. They are his chosen people, the ones that could, if they followed the law exactly, have a wonderful love relationship with him. He has done great things for them, proven that he exists and loves them, and yet, they have fallen short of his holiness.  Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as this, "... faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." The instructions put to words by Peter rely on the fact that you have faith above all else.
Once your faith has been "nailed down" so to speak, then you should build upon it goodness. Don't we all strive to be "good" so that we may be loved. Many christians I know believe wholeheartedly that after you are saved, all you have to do is be good. Their belief in this simple version limits their whole life to the fact that, after goodness what is there? Their theory on life is we are saved, then we're instructed to be good until we go to heaven. There is so much more to life than that, there is so much more to live for. Life is not simply a crap shoot, and then things (good or bad) just happen! He loves us, he created us for his good purpose. To sit idly by and watch life pass, good, bad, whatever is a huge waste of what could be an amazing life! However, it is an important trait. Right up there ranked number two.
After we agree on goodness, we must look at knowledge. What kind of knowledge, you might ask. I theorize that knowledge in the Lord Almighty is the answer. He is The Way after all. Some argue that it is not our place to have His knowledge. I on the other hand think it's hardwired into some of us. Perfection, completely unrealistic here on earth, but practice makes perfect. I think our time on earth is our practice. I decided to ask around a little about knowledge of God. After just a few minutes of research and some picking of brains in my chatroom of friends, I think this could in fact bring up so much debate that I will defer to Peter, who, put the answer right there for us. No way to overthink it if the answers right there. Simply stated, His power gives me everything through my knowledge of him. It's right there, it's a promise. You see, God is a creator, that's what he does. He didn't simply create the universe, world, everything in it and then call it quits. John 5:17 - But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still, and I am working." Back to this "step"; knowledge of him... I think, knowledge of him is something we need to develop. It's a close and loving relationship to him. Not as a child desires knowledge of their parent, but as a spouse desires knowledge of their soulmate. We simply cannot and do not know everything about our other half, everyday we learn new things about them. We develop, we change, we adapt, and we thirst for knowledge. I concede that I do not know everything about God, my husband, my children, my parents. The only ones that I will ever get close to having full knowledge of is  my husband (because I have a lifetime to get to know him, and my God(because I have a lifetime and more to get to know him.) The difference is my husband grows and changes daily. My God is unchanging, but infinite. Maybe this is the reason the bible references the bridegroom, because our love is neverending and unquenchable for our soulmate and it is easier to equate a passionate desire for God this way. Don't get me wrong, I love my children, my friends, my family, but my husband is a constant in my life for as long as we both shall live.
And to this knowledge I will practice self-control, and cut this post short so that I may achieve some domestic goals. Until next time.