Book Review - Sting- Ray Afternoons

Sting- Ray Afternoons by Steve Rushin

If you grew up in the 60’s and 70’s Sting-Ray Afternoons is a must read. If you are a millennial, it is a glimpse into the influences your parents had growing up. You will find yourself laughing out loud at the references to family life, and the daily routines. The book is a memoir set in Bloomington, Minnesota.  At a time where many moms stayed home and raised the family, Rushin remembers his mom being a clean freak. Always with a can of Lemon Pledge in hand and tossing empty bottles as soon as the last sip was taken. The title refers to the Sting-Ray bicycle. Desirable by children of that generation, you certainly were a “cool” kid if you owned one. The bike had a seat that resembled a banana shape and chopper handlebars. Get ready for references to a by-gone time. Kool-Aid was the drink all kids craved. Back then we didn’t know the downfall of eating too much sugar, and kids loved Chunky, Chuckles, Chiclets and Charlston Chew candy.  Many homes had a Zenith TV with just a few channels. “When mom snapped off the TV, the image would shrink toward the center, as if also disappearing down a drain. I would pass my hand across the warm surface of the screen. It would crackle with an electromagnetic force field, literally drawing me to it, the find hairs on my arm bending toward its bottle green glass,” writes the author.  Romper room was the show all kids watched. When Rushin receives a pair of “Romper Stompers” as a birthday present, he screams “just what I didn’t want!”  This phrase is throughput out the entire book, and brings a smile to your face when Mom opens her presents and repeats it.  Food references are true to the times. Who doesn’t remember eating Hamburger Helper, Rice-a-Roni, Lucky Charms and Wonder bread just to name a few. A perfect sandwich was 2 slices of Wonder bread with bologna and a slice of cheese. Once the bread bag was empty, the bag was used to cover your feet in the winter from snow and ice. Dessert was served every night and Rushin describes the top of chocolate pudding with perfect amusement. “we skeptically tap our spoons on its trampoline surface before rolling the skin back like the lid of a sardine can.”

You will smile as the author talks about the popularity of simulated wood paneling. From side panels on automobiles, wood-paneled furniture, wood panels on the walls in the basement, wood aluminum siding, and steak knife handles made to look like rotted logs, it was everywhere!

Kids collecting things were as popular then as they are now.  Some of the authors friends collected beer cans, some soda pop cans. Topps baseball cards were kept in Rushin’s Velveeta box in his closet. At the end of the book, the author thanks his mom for not throwing away his beloved Velveeta box which contained the keepsakes necessary to write the memoir.

Records were also the rage to collect. Most kids and teenagers had extensive collections. Maybe some of you have them still? As Professional Organizers we try to encourage people to reduce clutter and help them learn new systems to stay organized. At House to Home Organizing we help clients organize items that are meaningful, and to keep them stored in a safe place. Never do we encourage a client to toss anything sentimental that would lead to regret.

Clearly the book is about growing up in a time when technology was young and life was simpler. It is a trip down memory lane and laugh out loud funny throughout.  Rushin states that the heroes of the story are his parents, and what a wonderful tribute to them he has created.

The book contains little violence and is strong on love. A truly enjoyable read that transports you back in time!

Sting-Ray Afternoons: A Memoir

By Steve Rushin

Buy on Amazon

Please note: If you choose to purchase the book using our Amazon link, H2H receives a small commission designed to help keep our rates affordable. 

Book Review - The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning

Well that’s an interesting title for a book. What could it possibly be about?

Why would someone write a book about Swedish house cleaning? Is it a book about scrubbing everything in one’s home until you are so exhausted you are near death? Well move aside Marie Kondo, and welcome Margareta Magnusson. The focus is not on keeping what “sparks joy,” but finding the right homes for your sentimental items so they can be loved by someone else. Magnusson who says she is between 80-100 years old, writes with humor, honesty and practicality.

The Swedish word for death cleaning is “döstädning” which means to declutter earlier in life as opposed to leaving it for family to do once you pass away.

“To get rid of things to make life easier and less crowded.”  Magnusson explains that döstädning doesn't have to happen later in life, but often that is when people realize they need to reduce clutter. Death cleaning is not sad, in fact it is not the story of death but the story of your life. When one death cleans, you steam-line your life, downsize your possessions and leave your home less messy and more organized.

Magnusson says to start in the basement or attic. Things in storage may have been there for years and one may have forgotten what they own. As professional organizers we encourage clients to start in basement or garage as these areas can be excellent areas for items either leaving your home or storage for items you don't use very often. Another tip is not to start with photographs, letters and papers. These items can take quite a long time to review so best to start with subjects that are less time consuming. Magnusson likes to start with clothing. Clothing is easy to sort. Maybe there are items which you have been saving thinking you will wear the again, but reality is it has been 5 years and you probably will not?  These items can be donated and you will find you will be helping someone else out while creating more space in your closet/drawers to find clothes that you prefer to wear.  

An important tip in the book is that everything needs a place to live. The author says she knows families who live in a complete mess. We are sure you do to.

Living in a mess is exhausting. Family members can’t find items such as keys, phones, homework, and glasses. “Give everything a place and you won’t feel angry, irritated, or desperate, when leaving the house. You will not as often stand by the front door yelling… and for a change – as an added bonus-you may also arrive on time,” writes the author.

At House to Home Organizing we frequently deal with multi-generational families, and many possessions have been passed down over the years. It is common for adult children to worry about their parents as they age as well as what will happen to all the possessions once their parents are gone. Magnusson suggests the following wording when talking to an aging parents. “You have many nice things, have you thought about what you want to do with all later on? Could life be easier and less tiring if we got rid of some of this stuff that you have collected over the years? Is there a way we can do together in a slow way so that there won’t be too many things to handle later?”

The author points out that we live in a very wasteful society. As technology brings advances in every area in our life, sometimes we have a combination of items in our homes acquired over the years. Take for example the kitchen. Percolator coffee pots were replaced by drip coffee pots, and now Keurigs are the rage. In many homes you will find all 3 of these items. People tend to get new products even if the old ones are not yet broken or worn out. “This cycle of consumption we are all part of will eventually destroy our planet-but it doesn’t have to destroy the relationship you have with whomever you leave behind.” This is another benefit of death cleaning, thinking more about recycling, donating, and gifting. By doing so you make your life simpler and less complicated. What a relief!

A suggestion in the book is to try to give your items to family, friends, co-workers and neighbors who may be happy to receive your possessions. If not, Magnusson says to sell them or make a donation to charity. This will make you feel good about your decision. Remember there are always young adults starting out who can’t afford to purchase all the wonderful items you may have. They may be so happy to have the possessions you may not want anymore. When they can afford to purchase they will pass your items on to others. “You cannot know the places your objects may go after you are gone, and that could be wonderful to contemplate,” says Magnusson.

If you death clean regularly, you will be able to focus on your personal and professional life without obstacles. Without obstacles you will have more time to enjoy your family and friends. So what are you waiting for? Start döstädning! 

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter Buy on Amazon

Please note: If you choose to purchase the book using our Amazon link, H2H receives a small commission designed to help keep our rates affordable. 

Book Review - The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down Part II

As professional organizers we try to read and educate ourselves continually on new ways and techniques to organize, as well as new trends in the industry. The book, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down is continually mentioned by our clients and fellow organizers. In that regard, we thought it was worth a second look. The book written by Haemin Sunim discusses mindfulness and “how to be calm and mindful in a fast paced world.” You may ask how this applies to organizing, and we can assure you it has EVERYTHING to do with organizing.

Mindfulness is about being in the present moment. It is important to not worry about the past or dwell on the future. In our fast paced lives, that is a skill that is hard to do. Think of all the times you said “wish I could get more organized, but every time I try I just feel so overwhelmed.” Or, “this project is hopeless,” or, “I’ll try again tomorrow”. You are not alone. Mindfulness brings patience, therefore we are more kind to ourselves. We realize that things take time and do not happen overnight. We learn to treat ourselves and others with compassion.  Mindfulness teaches us to be open-minded. When we are open-minded we explore options we did not consider before.

The book is written in 8 chapters; Rest, Mindfulness, Passion, Relationships, Love, Life,

The Future, and Spirituality. Each chapter opens with an essay, then short messages, then a shorter essay, followed by another series of short prompts for meditation. The book is interesting and easy to read with many outstanding tips on how to improve one’s daily life.

Some of Sunim’s insights are as follows:

p.41 “On a piece of paper, write down everything that stresses you out. List everything you ought to do including minor things-watering plants, replying to emails. The stresses are now contained on a piece of paper, away from your mind. So relax tonight, tell yourself you will go through the list tomorrow, item by item, starting with the easiest. When you open your eyes the next morning, your mind and body will be ready.”

p. 68 “Do not lament that the world has changed. Do not resent that people have changed. Evaluating the present through the memoires of the past can cause sadness. Whether you like it or not, change is inevitable. Embrace and welcome it.”

p. 212 “ Dream big but start small. A small adjustment can have a big effect on your life. For example, if you want to be healthier, then start by going to bed a half hour earlier. If you want to lose weight then start by drinking more water instead of soda. If you have an important project to complete, then start by getting your desk organized”.

The majority of the concepts in the book are simple such as slowing down, maintaining good relationships and having self-compassion. Mindfulness has shown to increase self-control, objectivity and improve concentration, which are all important organizing skills.  Truly if we all could practice mindfulness, our stresses would be less and our lives would be more productive, calm, compassionate and full.

Haemin Sunim was born in South Korea. Educated UC Berkeley, Harvard and Princeton. He is a Zen Buddhist teacher a former professor of Buddhism at Hampshire College. His books have sold over 3 million copies.

Book Review - The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down

Now more than ever

As I write this it is my son’s eighth birthday and while we are celebrating I can’t help but think time is flying. In that regard, slowing down is something we can all strive to achieve in this modern 24-hour world. Haemin Sunim new book is extremely popular in his native South Korea and has now made its way to the States. The full title is The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm and Mindful in a Fast-Paced World and ask us “Is it the world that’s busy, or is it my mind?”

Haemin Sunim is prominent Buddhist meditation teacher who was born in Korea, but educated in America and deals with a subject most people only talk about but never seem to achieve, a balance in their lives. Additionally, the book features amazing nature illustrations by Youngcheol Lee to remind us to even slow down when we are reading the book.  The central narrative deals with actually seeing what the author calls ‘lovely moments’ including the smile of a child.

Another of the book’s themes urges us to form meaningful connections with people. This is a topic that we try and re-enforce with our clients. It is better to connect with people than it is with stuff. While the book deals with ancient teachings it never feels like fortune cookie wisdom rather a turning of Buddhist philosophy into relatable concepts.