Powered by Tofu » organizing http://www.poweredbytofu.com Travel blog + foodie adventures + Portland living + listomania Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:00:52 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 #91: Clean up my old computer, backup, and get rid of http://www.poweredbytofu.com/91-clean-up-my-old-computer-backup-and-get-rid-of-2/ http://www.poweredbytofu.com/91-clean-up-my-old-computer-backup-and-get-rid-of-2/#comments Fri, 09 Nov 2007 14:47:01 +0000 poweredbytofu http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/11/09/91-clean-up-my-old-computer-backup-and-get-rid-of-2/ external-harddrive.jpgI don’t use my desktop computer. And it shall sit and collect dust no more! This goal was a lot more involved than just posting an old computer on Craigslist. First, I went through all the files: archived, organized, or deleted. Next, I bought a cheap small external hard drive to store all the files on. After that, I transferred all of it to my laptop to eliminate duplicates. And then did a final backup to the external hard drive. I’d been advised not to buy a cheap external hard drive, because they die a lot. However, I’m just using as a backup system, so I think it should be fine. Next, I posted my monitor on Craigslist. I will end up donating it if it doesn’t sell. It’s nice to have more space in my apartment, now that the mammoth desktop is off my desk.

]]> http://www.poweredbytofu.com/91-clean-up-my-old-computer-backup-and-get-rid-of-2/feed/ 1 Apartment Therapy – Week 6 Recap http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-6-recap/ http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-6-recap/#comments Sat, 20 Oct 2007 19:09:40 +0000 poweredbytofu http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/10/20/apartment-therapy-week-6-recap/ Week 6 - BathroomThankfully, this week wasn’t too much work. After cleaning the bathroom and organizing a couple of drawers, I just need to pick up a few bathroom organizing containers at IKEA. I’m also still looking for a small vase for the bathroom.

Still to pick up on my Apartment Therapy Shopping List:
laundry hamper liner
drawer organizing containers
something to cover the breaker box
media shelf to set inside the TV bench
vase for bathroom

On to week 7!

]]> http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-6-recap/feed/ 0 Apartment Therapy – Week 6 http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-6/ http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-6/#comments Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:30:22 +0000 poweredbytofu http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/10/16/apartment-therapy-week-6/ Bathroom Picture - Apartment TherapyThis week, it’s all about the bathroom.

Week 6 – Light Therapy
Clean bathroom
Declutter bathroom cabinet
Arrange bathroom efficiently
Upgrade razor and shaving supplies
Purchase bath salts and nice soap
Place a candle in the bathroom
Consider scents for your home
Plan for the week ahead on Sunday
Wake early and take a bath before work
Straighten desk at work

]]> http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-6/feed/ 0 Apartment Therapy – Week 5 Recap http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-5-recap/ http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-5-recap/#comments Sun, 14 Oct 2007 17:27:33 +0000 poweredbytofu http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/10/14/apartment-therapy-week-5-recap/ It’s good to know that Week 5 is the typical week to fall off the “Apartment Therapy Cure” wagon. Maxwell (Apartment Therapy author) posted that we should focus on what we’ve accomplished so far in the cure to try and motivate ourselves (and each other). So here’s what I have –and haven’t– done.

DONE:

Bones:

  • The AT Self Style Questionnaire
  • Repairs list
  • Vacuum
  • Fix 1 thing – kitchen shelf
  • Clean kitchen from top to bottom
  • Water filter
  • Dust
  • Clean entry
  • Clean living room
  • Clean office

Breath:

  • Remove 1 item (bathroom storage shelf)
  • Run hands over walls
  • Clear space for outbox (hall closet)
  • Clear kitchen into outbox
  • Declutter entry/closet
  • Recycle old catalogs
  • Research landing strip
  • Cancel unused subscriptions
  • Declutter books/media
  • Cancel catalogs
  • Empty outbox
  • Declutter files (goodbye receipts from 1999!)
  • Tackle the cord octopus

Heart:

  • Buy fresh flowers (every week)
  • Determine style: eclectic organic modern
  • Identify cool/warm rooms
  • Apply 80/20 rule
  • Confirm increase/decrease for color in each room
  • Identify what will+/- softness in each room

Head:

  • Sit for 10 minutes in a part of your home.
  • Earth-friendly cleaning products
  • Find a new recipe and cook
  • Choose date of housewarming
  • Cook 2 meals at home
  • Design invitation (Evite)
  • Cook 3 meals at home (several week)
  • Send out invitations
  • Read before sleep
  • Wireless technology

NEED TO DO STILL:

Bones:

  • Mop kitchen/bathroom
  • Buy paper shredder
  • Get rid of old computer

Breath:

  • 1 day media fast

Heart:

  • Choose hard/soft items to add/subtract

Head:

  • Eat at home Sunday through Monday (excuses, excuses: this is hard to schedule!)
  • Get to bed early

Yes, this does make me feel like I’ve accomplished a lot more!

]]> http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-5-recap/feed/ 1 Apartment Therapy – Week 5 http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-5/ http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-5/#comments Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:05:04 +0000 poweredbytofu http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/10/09/apartment-therapy-week-5/ Focusing on the past (Week 4)I have been warned about week 5… looks like I’ll be spending some time organizing my files.

Week 5 – Getting Into the Thick of It
Clean office area
Vacuum, dust, mop
Declutter files
Tackle the cord octopus
Try a one-day media fast
Buy fresh flowers
Choose at least 1 soft/hard thing to add or subtract
Cook 3 meals at home this week (3 of 3)
Eat at home Sunday through Thursday (4 of 5)
Get to bed early and read before sleep (define ‘early’)
Wireless technology

]]> http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-5/feed/ 0 Apartment Therapy – Week 4 Recap http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-4-recap/ http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-4-recap/#comments Mon, 08 Oct 2007 06:03:41 +0000 poweredbytofu http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/10/07/apartment-therapy-week-4-recap/ I’ve crossed the 1/2 way mark! Only 4 more weeks to go! This week was one of the more inspiring weeks of Apartment Therapy, because you start to see whole rooms coming together with just a few little changes – framed wall art, color, etc. I went to IKEA and picked up 3 frames for my living room. Since I already have 3 old calendars with the Library of Congress vintage travel posters (they’re by Cavallini and co), the “prints” were free! And I can switch out the pictures if I get tired of them. I also bought a cheap fluffy throw at IKEA, for the living room, but the color is just a little bit off, since I have a blue chair in the living , so I’ll probably be returning it. Along the cooking front, I’ve been doing a really good job, probably because that’s not a challenge it’s just routine! :) I do need to finish some purchases from my shopping list still, but I don’t want to rush it and buy things that I don’t like, so I’m giving myself more time to finish that part.

On to Week 5!

]]> http://www.poweredbytofu.com/apartment-therapy-week-4-recap/feed/ 1 #92: Load the rest of my CDs on to iTunes http://www.poweredbytofu.com/92-load-the-rest-of-my-cds-on-to-itunes/ http://www.poweredbytofu.com/92-load-the-rest-of-my-cds-on-to-itunes/#comments Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:22:45 +0000 poweredbytofu http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/10/03/92-load-the-rest-of-my-cds-on-to-itunes/ Is it cheating if items on my ’101 Things in 1001 Days’ list overlap? Anyhow, as part of #72- Apartment Therapy Home Cure, I finished #92- Load the rest of my CDs on to iTunes. I needed to clear out media items in my living room (books, CDs, DVDs etc) so it had to get done! :) I now have 2922 songs, 7.4 days, 11.89 GB, which doesn’t seem like that many, but I also tried to apply the “Outbox Rules” to CDs, so I didn’t waste time importing.

  • Use It?
  • Love It?
  • Need It?

AAAAND, bonus points: I made sure every album in my iTunes actually has an album image associated with it.

Speaking of iTunes, last weeks’
Manu Chao - La Radiolina - Rainin In Paradize
 Single of the Week was a free Manu Chao song. It’s not available anymore, but the good news is this weeks’ single is pretty good too: The Last Goodnight – Pictures of You.
The Last Goodnight - Pictures of You - Single - Pictures of You

]]> http://www.poweredbytofu.com/92-load-the-rest-of-my-cds-on-to-itunes/feed/ 0 #72: Apartment Therapy | Week 4 http://www.poweredbytofu.com/72-apartment-therapy-week-4/ http://www.poweredbytofu.com/72-apartment-therapy-week-4/#comments Mon, 01 Oct 2007 02:57:33 +0000 poweredbytofu http://www.poweredbytofu.com/2007/09/30/72-apartment-therapy-week-4/ Now the real work starts… week 4 is the declutter deep treatment, so it looks like I’ll be spending some time sorting through my books/media. I think the hardest part of this week will be deciding what colors and items to +/- in each room. It’s so ambiguous.

Week 4 – Retail Therapy (& Declutter)
Clean up living room and hall closet
Declutter books/media
Cancel 75% of catalogs
Empty Outbox
Decide on what I need to increase/decrease color in each room
Get those items
Identify what I need to increase/decrease softness in each room
Cook 3 meals at home this week (3 of 3 done)
 Send out invitations

]]> http://www.poweredbytofu.com/72-apartment-therapy-week-4/feed/ 0