Liz, Start by getting rid of EVERYTHING that doesn't fit, without any exceptions that it might fit "some day". Make it your goal to know that you can pull out any item of clothing and not have to put it back because it's the wrong size. I am familiar with that "finding a good home" idea and I kept things way longer than I should have because of it. Send your clothes to the thrift store and just picture in your mind someone finding your outfit and exclaiming, "This is PERFECT!". About 2 years ago I discovered the joy of thrift store shopping. LOL It takes time to go through the racks, but I like the thrill of the hunt. Never again will I pay $100 for a wool blazer (bought a like-new one yesterday for $1.60) or $50 for a pair of my favorite jeans (bought 2 pairs yesterday for $2.40 each that looked brand new) etc. I ended up with a new blazer, 2 pairs of jeans, one wool sweater with tags from the Gap, 3 long sleeved tops nice enough to wear to work, a half-dozen scented Yankee votive candles, a brand new big heavy weight fleece blanket to take to my sons football games (for $1.40!), 7 paperback books, and a pair of mens snow pants, all for about $23. Now I find it MUCH easier to get rid of clothes that aren't "me" because now I know that someone out there will find them and be happy. All the clothes in my closet are the right size except one turtleneck I pulled out yesterday that is a size too big. It went directly in a bag to be given away later. Bud--funny story: We work in a conservative midwestern office where we often get those "trendy" dressing, young, transfers from California coming in. They call it "trendy" but we call it "inappropriate". LOL Julie

Kathi, I don't plan to fill the iron with water, as I've always used a spray bottle. Serious ironers will probably gnash their teeth when they read this. :-) Flamey, exactly! And I was thinking of you today when I read an article about a man who spoke with WWII vets in an effort to learn more about his father's experience. One man told how he'd had "shell shock" and was sent away to recover. He said all they did was quilt. Quilting all the time. He said if it wasn't for the quilting he would have lost his mind. It was very moving. I wouldn't have seen it except I received a free issue of Reader's Digest in the mail. Several interesting articles inside. Sandy, maybe check the wattages on various irons? Some go up to 1700 watts--possibly more. My new one is 1500.

bpathome, I never used the Aux input before. But that's a good idea. I have a cable for it. I usually leave an audiobook on CD in the car for long drives. I find I like certain kinds as "car" books and others as "working around the house books". Lately it's been non-fiction in the car, or a really good author that needs more attention from a certain part of my brain. The earbuds while walking around are great. No wondering if you've missed something. The ones from my library come with neckcords. But I don't like the unit swinging. I wear something with a pocket, or put it in my phone holster at my waist. I wrap the middle of the wire of my earbuds around as much as needed, and clip it to my shirt with a binder clip, so I don't snag my wire on anything. That way I can bend over as needed, dig in the garden, etc. Check out your library. Mine is always getting new ones, and I can borrow from nearby libraries in the same system as well.

With ironing you really need both sides accessible to stand up to while ironing. or allowing the clothing to drape off the far side of the board while progressing. I have a small board that pulls out from a drawer. Rev-a-shelf and Hafela makes these. But I have a wall next to one side and I can only stand on the other. Its small. Its mounted for a left hander; I'm right handed (but I new this was going to be the case and installed it anyway). It comes out perpendicular from the wall. These small ironing boards are not as handy as a full sized board. There are drawer and support mechanisms under and to the side of the board that can catch clothing. If you used something like this, but had is mounted on the side wall, perpendicular to your window, and enough away, down from the window wall, it would pull out parallel to the window.