DrDeClutterBlog.com

Summer is such a great time to get out and play, but also to learn about new activities. Kids can take a long time to find out if they like the variety of sports and activities available to them unless you help them jump in and risk trying something new and challenging.

The above two activities were just a few that kids could try for free at our local Rhythm on the River Festival this year. Rock or wall climbing from Avid4Adventure and kayaking aren’t activities all children will be able to try if parents don’t have the equipment, time or ability and interest to do it with them or for themselves. But here they can try it out and see if their interest flickers enough to seek it out later in life. Check your local events listings throughout the year to find out where you can take your children and share experiences that could truly change their lives.

Some families and neighborhoods buy their own climbing walls! Here’s one for the smallest of children to practice on.

I like animals, but just don’t have it in me to walk them, feed and take care of them, deal with Vet bills and fur all over and figure out what to do with them if I’m on the road for a while. And, no, no cats thanks!

So, I bought a dog for $2 at a garage sale. Yup, that’s it’s picture above. Cuuuute!

Actually, I bought it for my mom who’s dog died last year. She accidentally got into cat-camp now, but I thought she’d enjoy this one while she decides if she’ll get a dog again or not. But, after only a day with this furry friend my mom won’t be getting to keep him even if I take it home for her to see later this year. Why? Because even though I’ve never been a stuffed animal fan, it’s a nice big dog and kind of cute sitting in my livingroom! Easy keeper and no hassle.

You might notice I keep saying “it.” I haven’t decided on a name so I don’t know if it’s a girl or boy dog. The garage sale couple said it was a girl. I’ll see if a name shows up someday and then I’ll know for sure! Until the, Such a Goodoooog will due.

On the reminder side, enjoy life and happy animals, but own them only if you really have the time, energy, money, committment and moments to take care of them well. Otherwise, there are plenty of big and small stuffed ones just waiting for a good home!

PS My brother asked me if I feed it “Stovetop Stuffing!” Har, har, har!

I just what you to get ahead of something cool!

It’s of no earthly practical use, but it’s interesting!!!

At five minutes and six seconds after 4 AM on the 8th of July this year, the time and date will be –

04:05:06 07/08/09

This will not happen again for a thousand years.

I think the ritual associated with this is getting naked and dancing on your lawn at this designated time. See you there!

This magnificent horse of many recycled parts can be seen at the Leanin’ Tree Museum, Boulder, CO. I just love it!

What crafy, creative things can you do with your left over parts?

Make sure to get out and see your local treasures this summer!

Let’s wash, rinse and reuse our Ziplock and other baggies – save the environment!

There are all kinds of plastic bag dryer gadgets, I have one with tulips on the ends that I love! but . . . the paint does wear off after a while, so I’d recommend plain wood like these.

This one has the bio-green bags with it. I use these too and they work!

My clients Sandy and Joe really love their kids.

This climbing rope is attached to the vaulted ceiling in their livingroom with a massive hook. Why? Because their young and active daughter likes to climb. How cool is this!

You probably won’t be putting a climbing rope in your living room! But, what can you do to support your kid’s creativity, athleticism, joy and wonder! They’re only young once, and Spackle and paint will cover many a great idea of good parenting!

See Part 5 

Turn unused, odd and old pieces of jewelry into new jewelry and art!

You may find pieces that you’ll never wear, or one part is missing, a strand of beads has broken — but you can make art pieces out of them, or use them in your craft supplies. Put them in a separate container and label it. If you’re not the crafty one, give them to someone who is!

Restring beads, add a few new ones, glue to a broach back, etc.

Example: The above photos are pieces of new jewelry my friend Donlyn has made from disassembled old jewelry.

You can visit Donlyn’s beautiful Mercantile anytime to see what else she’s created, and buy it too!

Plus, this is a great way to recycle. Why head gems to the landfill when you someone can enjoy them one more time!

Turn your  not-often-used jewelry, or those pieces from old boyfriends!  into a big statement and wear all at once!

The photo above is my fun with this.

Sometimes we have jewelry that is laced with good memories, but just don’t wear it anymore or enough. I’m not a big jewelry wearer in the first place, so one day I have this great idea — get beads and put these pieces on one necklace and wear them all at once! Ta-dah!

I had a silver saddle ring from my parents when they used to go to Thermopolis, WY to buy cattle, a blue star saphire/silver band ring from my older brother for my high school graduation, a very eclectic crucifix from Mexico when I was 15, two necklace pieces – a blue star saphire with diamonds and a diamond in a circular silver pattern from two past boyfriends and pierced earrings.

NECKLACE BASE: I bought a 4 ft. long strand of beautiful beads while in Sadona, NM, I have another I’ve left as is, just beautiful beads.

SILVER EMBELLISHMENTS: Then, I bought some extra pierced earrings with moons and suns on them to embellish it a bit more. Plus, a few cool silver charms: a cowboy hat and spurs, on the bottom of the short strand is a silver Pueblo story teller

BEADS: In Sedona I also bought clay beads: Coral heart, turquoise fetish bear, buffalo, corn, cups and more.

HOW THEY’RE ALL ATTACHED: I took the necklace apart and restrung it as I wanted so that I could show off all the pretty gems and art. The pierced earrings are great as you can just bend the earring loop around and secure it to itself. The rest of the charms were attached with silver jewelry loops found at most any craft store.

I looped the necklace around and secured it at the top where it rests on the back of my neck, this way keeping the two loops layered the way I want.

It’s been a fun piece to wear to talk about!

Enjoy your jewelry in new ways too!n Tell your stories with only good memories.

See Parts 1-4 and learn how to sort, clean, organizing, store and make art from your piles and mounds of gems, bobbles, bangles and jewels!

Prices up, income down – or gone - an increasing number of people are taking their “customer” status into a new frontier (or back into the way people used to do things years ago!), they’re side-stepping the financial craziness for a more personal approach to buying and selling that does not involve money.

I didn’t have sisters to share and swap clothes and things with, so when I was a kid I got “hand-me-downs” from my older cousins, Jan and Pat. I often got two of the same shirt as even though they weren’t twins, they wore matching outfits once in a while! (I’ll never forget the black and white striped ones!) Now, we can be and have new great big sisters and generous cousins too — all at your Shwapping Party!

Look in your closet, how many of those clothes have you not worn in forever, and aren’t going to wear again – too small, too big, not the right length or color, just tired of looking at it!

Shwapping Parties are a new way of recreating your wardrobe closet without spending a dime!

Get together with friends and have one of your own!

1. Contact your friends and have them contact theirs for the most variety and choices — and fun!

2. Decide who has the most room for the clothes to hang and be displayed.

3. Gather up all your unused and still good enough for someone to wear clothing, shoes and accessories.

4. Decide on a date and time for your Shwapping Party.

5. Invite all the schwappers to meet, bring their items – and bring some friends too! 

At the end of the day, you’ll have gotten rid of your unappreciated clothes, and gotten some new ones to appreciate, all for free! And, you have told lots of stories about those clothes, laughted, had fun with your friends, maybe met a few more, and deepened your relationship with them too.

All good!

Have fun shwapping!

Free is good! Whoohoo!

Need something? And maybe somebody “out there” has one and you can just go pick it up, for free?

Got something? And maybe somebody “out there” needs one and you can let them come pick it up, for free?

Yea! Win/win is good!

Freecycle.org is a wonderful place to visit and utilize as often as you want.

You go there, type in the city where you live, sign into your city group, put in what you need to get rid of — then, sit back and take the responses! It’ll be gone in a blink.

Don’t even think of taking something to the landfill or put in the garbage until you see if someone else can come get it and enjoy it one more time!

Things like: 

• baby clothes
• golf shoes
• an aquarium, or even the fish!
• bikes and other sport equipment
• tools
• clothes
• toys
• pictures
• furniture
• etc, etc, etc!

Go check it out now and start clearing out your garage, basement and closets!

And, of course, see what others may have for you that you can scoop up for free! All good!! Have fun!