Toilet Paper: Dispensing from the top or the bottom?

August 19, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flicker (Masayoshi Sekimura)

From squeezing the toothpaste to placing toilet paper on the roll, many individuals have strong opinions about these topics – myself included. Though Paul and I have separate tubes of toothpaste and are on the same page when it comes to dispensing the toilet paper, we have not always seen eye to eye.

I used to just “fix” the issue myself until I realized that if I just told Paul (aka Mr. Laid Back) it bothered me, then he might “fix” it himself which is a better use of my time.

Since he did not care either way and I prefer our toilet paper to dispense from the top, we both put the roll on “correctly.” It has worked for years in the apartment, the townhouse, and now our house. Until . . . we had little helpers. 😉

With three bathrooms in our home and in the midst of Miss 3’s potty training, our family goes through rolls of toilet paper often. As Paul and I replace most of the rolls, we “correctly” put the roll to dispense from the top.

Our children just stick the toilet paper on the roll. Sometimes they get it right, but I tend to find the backwards roll when they are not present.

Poor Miss 3 was going potty and the roll had been put on “backwards.” She called saying she needed help. So, I checked on her to find her in tears because she could not find or reach the end of the toilet paper. Upon switching the roll to dispense from the top, I immediately got a big smile, a “thank you,” and a giggle which made my day.

Though dispensing from the top or the bottom is a preference, Ann Landers claims this topic as one of her most controversial subjects. Some of her readers keep the toilet paper dispensing from the top in one bathroom and from the bottom in another. I’m not sure I would go that far, but does it really matter?

Yes! Just ask Miss 3 because hanging the toilet paper “correctly” allows her to use time wisely. Though I can use a bottom dispensing roll without “fixing” it, I do prefer reaching for the toilet paper in front rather than trying to find it from behind.

Of course, if I went with a vertical holder, then this orientation issue would be moot and not as fun to discuss. If you have a conflict over which way the paper rolls in your household, then discuss it. Getting on the same page will save you from “correcting” the roll each time which saves you time and energy. Happy dispensing!

Question: Which way do you prefer your toilet paper to roll – from the top or bottom?

Letting Go of Perfection

February 11, 2013 by Tracy

In a desire to have a clean and organized home, I tend to forget that our home is a haven for my family. My husband and children need space to create and play. So, when the train tracks and Lego pieces emerge from their designated area and remain on the living room floor for days, I can joy in that space when I let go of perfection.

Honestly, I like the house completely picked up at bedtime. But the reality is that clean laundry is folded but all over the couch, the train track must stay another day or two, and the vacuum cleaner remains out because I’m just not done yet.

From allowing my children to help decorate to cleaning to playing, I can relax a bit while letting go of perfection for those moments.

Realizing that this post is mostly for myself as I get uptight about clutter, I know I’m not the only mom who gets tired of tripping over Squinkies and Lego parts.

Noting that these times are vanishing as my children grow older, I am letting go of perfection more and more resulting in a relaxed, creative space for play. Happy relaxing!

Question: Do you find it difficult to let go of perfection?

2012 Third Quick Tip Week: Removing Ink Stains

October 15, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Darren Sacks)

Quick Tip Week continues! Hope this week of shorter posts highlighting one tip in each category helps you in using time wisely. For series already in progress, I will continue with the next segment following our Quick Tip Week. Embrace this week, add your tips in the comments, and continue using time wisely!

Quick Tip #2: Removing Ink Stains

As my 2-year-old waved around an uncapped ink pen, my shirt met the blue ink resulting in a stain. Thinking I would just soak the shirt, Paul suggested drawing out the ink using hairspray.

With the hairspray bottle in hand, I sprayed the soiled section, waited a few moments to activate, and then I pressed down paper towels on the spot. With each treatment, the stain became less visible until it disappeared after the fourth round.

Though I’m sure the OxiClean would have worked, I liked the immediate result of using hairspray when removing ink stains. Upon laundering, I found my shirt without ink or any residue from the hairspray. 🙂

In using time wisely, I spent less than 5 minutes removing ink stains from my shirt. If you find a stray ink mark on your clothing from a 2-year-old, test out the hairspray trick to save you money, energy, and time. Happy stain lifting!

Question: How do you remove ink stains?

Rejoicing in a Messy House

May 14, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Steven Depolo)

All the work completed to declutter and clean my home has come full circle. Moving among soccer cleats, end-of-school projects, and totes of clothes make up my days at home.

In keeping my priorities, I have chosen to spend time with my family while my housework continues to grow.

The piles of laundry met my washing machine this past weekend. After 6 loads of clean clothes, I finally relaxed. Though the clothes are clean and folded, they have not moved from the basket. Yes, I need to hang up and place them in dressers, but the clothes are clean and available. 🙂

Between now and the end of the school year, I will be home here and there. We have yearbook distribution, one last field trip, field day, class party, and an awards ceremony. Whew! That’s just during school hours. We also spend lots of time on the soccer field throughout the week. May is a very taxing month, but June’s summer is just around the corner. 🙂

If you are finding this month exhausting, then relax. Keep your priorities straight. There will be other opportunities to clean the house. In using time wisely, I’m rejoicing in a messy house. Happy prioritizing!

Question: How do you handle an overly busy schedule?

10 Minutes to an Organized Dresser Drawer

February 27, 2012 by Tracy

How was your 60-minute challenge? My house needs more than 60-minutes of decluttering.

With lots of help from my family, I tackled the alcove of our bonus room ridding lots of unused toys and freeing up 2 shelves of a bookshelf. Though I had great plans to return to the project, I chose to focus on other priorities.

If 60-minutes cannot be found in your schedule, try spending 10 minutes to an organized dresser drawer. For this challenge, I refrained from my unmentionables and chose my sock and hosiery drawer. 🙂

Remove all items

To organize the space, dump out the entire drawer. When the drawer is empty, keep it empty while you sort.

Sort all the items

Place all the items removed from the drawer into one of three piles.

Keep
Donate/Sell
Trash

Organize the “keep” items

Look over all the items you plan to keep, and group similar items together. For my drawer, I grouped all my white socks together, then the dark socks, and finally, the hosiery.

Designate a Space

With your empty drawer, plan where to place the groups of items.

Return “keep” items

Place the items into their designated space. If your first plan does not work, experiment until you find an arrangement that works for you. Then return your drawer to the dresser.

Toss the trash

Deposit your pile of trash into the garbage.

Remove the items to donate/sell

Add these items to your donate/sell stash and rid them from your home. Our family’s stash is in the garage, and I failed to get the items out of the house quickly. A few days later I found my toddler playing with a hat formerly placed in the donate/sell pile. Guess I’ll just have to swipe it later. 🙂

Enjoy your results

Before After

Congratulations! One organized dresser drawer complete. If the momentum takes you, organize another. Take it one drawer at a time, and happy organizing!

Question: Which dresser drawer needs your attention this week?