I'm a single person and I have 4 compost bins. And if I had more space, I'd have more! I stack my biostack layers until I've filled 5 layers, which takes a month or two in the summer. By then, another one has shrunk down by half (less than 3 layers). I eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and get usually a whole grocery bagful of kitchen waste from another person in my neighborhood each week, plus another half a bag to full bag from some neighbors. I also generate lots of garden waste. My garden plot isn't huge, but I find a use for all the compost, including using it as potting soil when I give away plants. alisande, with all that space, you can either have a compost pile, or just dig your kitchen waste into your soil as you produce it, each day or each week. If you dig it in, you won't have to shovel it around later. I know of one household in my town that has a community composting operation. They're the dropoff/pickup point for a CSA (where you pay in advance and get a boxful of random produce each week from the farm), so when someone comes to pick up their weekly box they can also drop off their week's kitchen waste in a 5-gallon bucket, and pick up an empty bucket.

One of the best things I've ever done was to see a Registered Dietitian (found in the yellow pages, or through a diabetes treatment center) and get an eating plan designed just for me. In my case, I am prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if I don't eat often enough, or if I eat too many high-glycemic carbs. I also have diabetes in both sides of my family. At the time I saw her (5-6 years ago), I was about 30 lbs. overweight as well, not sleeping well, sluggish, and at high risk of diabetes in the future. She gave me a 1600 cal/day eating plan consisting of 3 meals + 3 snacks. It incorporates the diabetic exchange eating plan and exchange lists but tailored for hypoglycemia. Following this way of eating (I don't like to call it a "diet", since "diets" are typically a temporary way of eating with the single goal of losing weight) teaches proper portion sizes, meal planning, and a good balance of all the nutrients. What's more, anyone can do it; it's not just for diabetics or those like me prone to hypoglycemia, but for anyone who wants to learn to eat healthier to control their weight, whether to lose, gain, or maintain. Therefore, it can be followed for the rest of one's life. It incorporates wholesome, healthy foods including nuts, potatoes, grains, rice, and other foods that people think they need to avoid like the plague just to lose weight. But again, it's not a silly, crazy, fad diet. It's just the way we should eat. Eventually, it becomes second-nature, and it is now "just what I do" without giving it too much thought. It is also important to eat often enough that the body doesn't get too hungry, at least 3 hours apart, and to make healthy food choices, nutrient-dense foods packed with vitamins and minerals. In addition, I've made regular exercise a part of my life. I ALWAYS take stairs (unless I'm with someone who won't), and we ride bikes and walk most days of the week. I've lost 45 lbs., and I feel stronger and better than I have in years. I have more energy than I did 15 years ago, and I'm over 50. My hormones don't bother me anymore. I sleep very well (prior to this I woke up every night and didn't get back to sleep). I'm no longer overweight so I just continue the same way of eating, but adding some foods to maintain my weight, or adjust based on increase/decrease in exercise. Again, it's not a diet... it's a way of life. I do it one day at a time... I make healthy choices today, and pass up temptations (like fries) by saying "maybe next time". Next time, I do it again. I do eat those foods but only on rare occasions. And, I don't view them as "fattening" or evil foods... just not healthy ones, and I make a healthier choice instead. It's all about health and nutrition, not weight or clothing size. The weight will come off and the clothes will fit better over time, but the individual daily choices should be made with the goal of better health. And another good thing about regular exercise, especially vigorous exercise such as cycling, is that it requires high-glycemic carbs for energy. That's when I eat those goodies, just before, during, and after a ride. Otherwise I limit them to just occasionally, and just one. Like gibby3000, after years of eating this way this is now my preferred way of eating. I automatically reach for healthy choices, not junk. I eat what I should, then stop. It's not a diet -- it's just the way I eat now.

I have a great website you can visit. Hugswithlove.com This is a new website and it has wonderful blankets to send. I have a friend who has been in and out of the hospital and I sent a blanket, and then the tote. She loved the gift at home and for hospital visits. When she was out of bed she used the blanket to keep warm, she said it was just enough. Her husband said it washed up beautifully. The tote held the blanket and a few magazines. She is doing well now and still talks about the blanket. I have even given a few to my friends who are becoming first time grandparents. I love the site. Maybe because I am chilly often but I bought a blanket to keep on the couch at my house as well. Here is a link that might be useful: Hugs with love

Great idea about the foamcore Kippy, that would be fabulous and so much easier than painting. I'll give that some thought. I need to get bold, there are so many amazing paints out there. Everytime I go to Home Depot, there is a new line of metalic spray paints. jlc712, I think that the bookcase is where I can make the next biggest impact in the room. I hate to get rid of our beloved Little House on the Prairie set, but if I find a niece to send it too, that will make the parting a little sweeter. Maybe if I thin out some movies I can store books below in the cupboard. My audiophile husband loves his sound equipment, however. To think, I can't turn half of it on! Great idea about the calendars. Clever and budget-savvy. So hard to throw away those beautiful calendar pictures. I've got to put 9 frames of something above the fireplace. That wreath comes down this weekend, its the Feast of the Presentation so the time has come. Maybe I'll find 9 pictures of the Blessed Mother to frame. There is an endless number of painting of her, and I could gaze at those forever. Of course, my husband would want pictures of National Parks, so I guess I've got a lot of thinking to do. Tibbrix, you are right, this big room needs big furniture. The coffee table is 48" and the sofas are 72" so it gives a foot on each side to sit. Remember, we walk behind the sofas, in front of them, beside them AND we chase Captain around the room! It's really a dog run, I guess. I would have loved to buy large English-arm three cushion sofas and lovely accent chairs, but it's the fact that we move the loveseats (sometimes daily) to watch television or play video games. I know this seems crazy. We only have one functional TV. With seven kids on board (well one is gone but we still have her bedroom that she shares with a sister), all of our rooms are full of kids. I figure that when the time comes to change the furniture once again, I have seven people who would love free sofas. ; ) Need to work on paint, don't have a budget for that now. Thank you so much for your thoughtful replies. It means so much to hear your opinions. -Cupofkindness