Cat Nipping Our Litter Box Aversion Problem In The Bud

I bought this expensive bottle of herbal cat litter attractant online. When I took my first whiff I knew the first ingredient was cat nip. Which I already had on hand. Which is much cheaper to buy as plain old cat nip.
But, guess what? It seems to be working.

I Went Through Some Stuff. Literally

Last week I loaded up the back of my car and dropped off a load at the charity shop. On Friday, I took two totes to the consignment store to sell. I ended up bringing most of that back but I made $25. I'm still nowhere close to the $1000. In truth I probably won't even come close to breaking $500. But, I'm still going to send the check for whatever I make to our mortgage company.

Our visitors left yesterday and my house is in that sweet spot between getting cleaner and getting messier. And I feel fairly motivated to keep going with the decluttering and deep cleaning.

My dog is back at home with me again. So glad to have her happy furry butt back. But, I can already see how much easier it is to keep the house clean without her bringing in bits of dirt and shed shed shedding her sheddy hairs all over. The price of dog love is a good vacuum, many lint rollers and frequent sweeping.

I wish I had something more exciting to write about but at this juncture right now I'm about cleaning and decluttering. And that's not particularly exciting to anyone except maybe my Husband.

Big Girl stayed home sick today and I must go. The kids are waiting on breakfast.

Be Gone Foul Specks (and cat urine)

Oh how I wax and I wane over the internal garage sale or donate debate. I had planned on doing a garage sale yesterday. Which is crazy because we are very busy right now. But, I could have fit it in between soccer games, seeing old friends, and cleaning for visitors. I could have.

Do you know what I did instead? I took my daughter to garage sales. I was prudent(ish) in my shopping. I let her buy a few things with her money with the caveat that she would get rid of stuff when we got home. (She did) I bought a few items of clothing her that she needed. (Brand new, tags still on Arizona jeans for 50 cents apiece!) I bought a Spam cookbook for a quarter that's going to be a Christmas gag (and barf) gift for Christmas. I bought a brand new Yankee candle for $2 (and threw out my Yankee store coupons when I got home). Do you know what? I realized by paying so little for that stuff that having a garage sales is a waste of my time. People want your stuff for nothing. It's much easier to donate and a take the tax deduction.

Today I am filling totes for consignment and filling bags for donation (including the toys Big Girl gave up). I want it all gone. And I want to keep getting rid of stuff until there is nothing left. I want moving from this house to be an actual possibility and not a complete dream because we have so much stuff to deal with.

On a completely different and way more frustrating note- my cat keeps peeing. And not in her litter box. I have taken to scooping the litter daily. I signed an agreement with the rescue group that I would return her if I didn't want her anymore and that I also would never make her an outside cat. It's just not conscionable for me to give her back knowing that this behavior will continue for another person. I'm almost positive that this is the reason she was given away in the first place. I don't really want an outside cat anyway. And other than the urine capers, I adore this cat. What am I to do????
I'm so not getting another cat. My beloved Fusty is 15 this year. He will leave a giant hole when he's gone. But, I cannot let myself fill it with another orange fluff ball. I think. My history has proven me wrong.

I'm Going Through Some Stuff.

I've got a running tally in my head of all the stuff I need to get done before we have company. I've been preoccupied.
Also, I've been addicted to catching up with the tv series Bones. I just started the 6th season. I don't know why I find it so refreshing. Probably because it's not a fluffy show and it's also not completely dark and depressing. It rides that line. And also I enjoy the quirky characters.

I have been practicing the exact opposite of frugality lately. I splurged on a new fall wardrobe and bought two new pairs of jeans, some accessories, and a few shirts. Even with coupons, I spent over $200. I also splurged on new make up, cat litter stuff for our behavioral peeing problem and some Christmas presents for the kids. No worries though. My credit card bill has been paid.

This past weekend was my 2oth high school reunion. I chose not to go and doing so has left me both relieved and sad. Almost everyone that I would actually care to see did not attend so I don't think I missed much. But, having grown up in a fairly small town with the same people and having the burden of my memories, I feel like I missed out. I can vividly recall what a lot of those people looked like with missing front teeth and Rainbow Brite and Hulk t-shirts. In a way I feel like I should have paid homage to that. So, in spite of the new infuriating changes Facebook has made I will keep my profile. It's a small way of keeping them a part of me.

Tomorrow is my 39th birthday. I don't know how I got here so fast. I still feel like a teenager so much. And yet I can totally see myself as a grumpy old lady on the front porch yelling at the whipper snappers. I have one more year before I know I will be a total old lady. My apologies to anyone over 40. I'm sure I'll feel differently once I pass that hurdle. Right now I'm fighting it tooth and nail.

And now onto that pile in the hallway that I've been ignoring for months. Yes, months.