. Wow, I spent over $200 at BJs today. I got some very nice sturdy metal shelves ($25) that were a snap to put together (literally). And you can buy additional sets to snap onto these, in various configurations. I may buy another set.
I want to use them for excess food storage. I hoped to fit the shelves in a little nook halfway down the stairs leading to the basement, where I now store my cooler, but alas, the shelves were too high to fit there, and they were bumping into the underneath of the stairs that go to my 2nd level.
So for now, I stuck the shelves in the only closet I have on the 1st floor, the coat closet.
Probably not ideal, but the basement itself is, well, pretty dusty and dirty, and the cats' litter boxes are down there.
(Some day, I would LOVE to clean that basement from top to bottom, but with the dusty litter boxes, it's sort of a lost cause. I know they sell those litter boxes with the cover on it, which does contain a lot of the dust, but it also concentrates the odor. Maybe I can investigate better litter boxes with higher sides to contain the mess.
If I had a separate table to put the shelves on, it could work, and my dehumidifier does a good job of keeping the basement dry all summer. But right now all I've got is the old workbench which is filled with old paints and work tools.
I do like to keep my onions, garlic and potatoes down there as it is cooler and dark, and you're not supposed to refrigerate those.
I also bought a set of pretty dishes dirt cheap at BJs for $23 (on sale). It's a 20-piece set that serves 4. What I like about the set is that it has 2 different sized plates, and 2 different sized bowls. And NO mugs, which I don't need.
They are white with a nice ribbed pattern reminiscent of the Jadeite I and my grandmother had years ago.
I noticed a few new organic things while I was there, including organic ketchup and some hard-to-find organic apple cider, which I scooped up.
So, the cupboards are full. Always a comforting feeling. I filled up the gas tank too, while I was down that way, although it only took $5 or so, and dropped off another bags of odds and ends at Good Will.
I TRIED to go for a walk afterwards, but even with my mittens, scarf and hat, I was freezing and turned around to come back home. It's in the high 20s, some of the coldest weather we've had this season.
In place of walking outside, I will go up and down the stairs inside my home as many times as I can. (I've done this before.) I will go and do it now.
I did 18 trips up and down (counting each way as 1). There are 12 steps. I was winded after 12. I should keep doing this and build up my stamina. How many can you do, fellow dieters? Establish your baseline and then see if you can do better incrementally.
January 1
January 1st, 2015 at 09:34 pm
January 1st, 2015 at 10:02 pm 1420149750
January 1st, 2015 at 10:35 pm 1420151753
January 1st, 2015 at 10:59 pm 1420153194
January 2nd, 2015 at 12:10 am 1420157400
In fact, I will be doing that in about ten minutes or so.
BTW - in regards to the cat boxes. I saw this idea somewhere -- take a plastic container (like what people use to replace boxes, in other words a large one) and cut out a hole in the side of it. Use electrical tape to cover any jagged edges. Then you have a large cat litter box with really high sides.
January 2nd, 2015 at 12:20 am 1420158007
I already ordered 2 perfect cat boxes on amazon, just $8 each. They have high sides (11 inches high) but no cover. But your idea is an even cheaper way to go.
Oz girl, i will probably be doing my own stairs again tomorrow!
January 2nd, 2015 at 06:50 pm 1420224648
I always love that feeling of food in the pantry and gas in the tank, too!