The down and dirty, nasty pre-holidays 21 Day Organizing Challenge.. (long title you say?)

Yes it is, it's a long title.
We're heading into three weeks of getting things in order, tidied up and at my fingertips all before the craziness begins. You know? The most wonderful time of the yaerrrreeer... (she says with a cheesy grin) and all that?
Would you like to join this 3 week down and dirty, nasty pre-holiday organizing blitz?
Oh yeah, October is going to be marvelous.

Today it begins. Let's get this challenge rolling, ok?
I spent just 40 minutes prior to lunch today on this project and am thrilled with the results. 
I'll  tell you why; this junk drawer was been silently annoying us for years.



The reasons are both obvious and not obvious, the basket doesn't fit in the drawer. It's too big and scrapes every time the drawer opens. 
How could a person even know what's in there without digging around? So we dig around.
(I must be nuts to show you this)  



Behold the gathering.
Half of these things belong in the basement or a toolbox. Please note the chunky black 'cell' phone in the center right. That is the phone I was using until June 2011.
I didn't trash it today and I don't know why.  

Now for the fun!

The drawer needed compartments, or storage containers and I couldn't find anything around the house to fit.

Hmmm...think Sideline. Think.

Several years ago I asked our wonderful family owned hardware store for these free yardsticks intending to make a growth chart for the grandchildren. That didn't happen and now we've gone from 6 to 8 grandchildren.





I cleaned the drawer.

Measured the drawer. 





Using my cutting board I cut the yardstick with a basic utility knife, and look, a handy measurement right there.



And look how they fit.
I cut the lengths a smidgen too long so they would be tight. Then measured and cut the cross pieces.  They're nicely tight and sturdy. In fact I sure wish I would have turned them right side up as I can't get them out to flip them over! 



It worked! And I love the results.

Free yardsticks and 40 minutes of time.
Tomorrow we venture into the bathroom.. eek..

Thanks for stopping,  
Sideline Grandma