She obviously doesn't buy these Self Help programs! I find online when I'm in full internet surfing zone.

It's been a year since I reorganized my kitchen using a how-to book to figure out a system.  I was a little skeptical if the organization would stick but it has!  Everything has a place and it is so much easier to cook now.  I don't spend tons of time looking for everything.  Much more efficient and being a family with four children time is very valuable! 

Aesthics count a alot towards things working too. Since organizing the kitchen I've noticed that the spice area seemed way too busy in comparison to the rest of the cupboards.  My aunt had given me a gift card for crate n barrel for xmas.  I went online a couple weeks ago and got on the crate n barrel outlet site and bought these cute little spice jars. With a label maker in hand I boxed up all my spices and began transferring them to the new plain glass spice jars.  (some of the spices were old so they got thrown out in the process...good spring cleaning).  The results are awesome.  I feel so much better when everything looks neat and is easy to find. 

When I was growing up in the 80's my brother and I were not allowed to watch T.V. before 6 pm (if at all) everyday and then it was only til 8 pm and then we went to bed.  So when we did have spare time instead of plopping in front of the TV we had to entertain ourselves.  I remember playing spy games in the woods behind our house.  I would play outside for hours and hours by myself in my own little world. It really connected me to my creative side. So the no TV thing I actually appreciate now.  I realized the other day that my imagination has never really gone away its just changed from playing house  to people watching here in Portland, OR because we have such an eclectic culture.  So many unique and different souls for me to observe and imagine what their life is like.  I make up stories about them sometimes and then other times poetry just comes to mind.  Since I've been doing that since I can remember I really wonder if I had been allowed to sit in front of the TV for hours every day if I would have lost that?   Also since I am a mom of four and they watch TV a lot more than I did am I inhibiting thier creativity? I run a much more democratic household than the one I was raised in but if TV is going to kill thier creativity I don't know if I can excuse myself for allowing that.  Hmmm,  looks like I will be needing to research this. I'll post any interesting links I get as comments. Also any feedback is greatly appreciated!