A look at my counter...

I know, I know. It's not exactly the most thrilling topic ever, but hey. It's random and it's what came to mind as I sat here in front of the computer trying to come up with a random topic to write about. So, let me take you on a tour of the counter space closest to me.

To the far left (next to the stove), there is a folded in half Kohl's ad that we got in the mail today. Jenny asked me if there was any mail for her when I came in from the mail box, so I ripped off my 30% off coupon and gave the rest of the ad to her to play with. The ad is laying on the edge of the counter since that's where Jenny left it.

On the far left, next to the wall, is the toaster. It's white. It has a sticker on it that I think was intended by the manufacturer to be taken off before use, but we were only ever able to get part of it off, so the top right corner of it is still on the toaster. It says: "Auto safety ...off". The toaster probably needs to be cleaned.

Next to the toaster is my coupon box. It's piled up with randomness - a loose crayon that I confiscated from Jenny after she decided to color on the fridge, counters, and floor on Saturday; coupons I've gotten over the past couple of days that need to be cataloged and filed; and a journal entry that I wrote on a loose piece of paper that needs to find it's way to my journal.

In front of the coupon box (closest to the edge) is my "Everything Binder", my calendar, a postcard for Kids Market, my lesson planning file folder, a few blog post printouts, and Jenny's juice cup - all in a pile. Most of those things are pretty self explanatory, I would imagine. The "Everything Binder" is where I normally keep: my calendar, my coupon database printout, my rebate submissions, my CVS and WAGS spending records (I keep track of every transaction: amt spent, amt saved, Qs used, ECB back, etc), a scratch pad, a daily schedule (that I don't actually follow), my Bible memory verses (although this is currently in my journal, to help remind me to look at it every day), and some other odds and ends. I think I will eventually fashion a bag that will allow me to have this binder with me whenever I leave the house... right now, my current bag/purse is too small.

Next to the pile is the phone from the living room, a pile of tampons I got in the mail today (free sample), along with the lotion sample I also got in the mail today, and a coaster. The coaster came from Japan.

Behind those items (closest to the wall) are my stapler, three-hole punch, and a random binder with filler paper. I'm not quite sure why I have that binder there. It's been awhile since it found a home there, and it probably should find a different home with the rest of our empty binders.

Next on the counter is my computer stand. The obvious things on it are: the monitor, speakers, and CPU. The keyboard and mouse are under it on the computer. I also have a pile of receipts on the front/left corner of the stand under a candle holder - these are receipts for transactions I'm waiting to clear my bank account and/or ones I need to hold on to in case I need to return something. There is a random doll's bow sitting behind that pile, along with a note with the totals from my last OCP contribution. To the right of the monitor, I have a USB hub (4 ports), another small candle (Hazelnut), an envelope with my expired Qs sorted by food/non-food, and a bunch of random file folders that I've brought out of the den over the past couple of months (a scrap paper folder with paper for Jenny to color on, a stack of scrap paper to print Qs on, Jenny's reading list for the library, a folder with magazine articles I've saved, a folder with our IRA information that needs to go back in the den files, a random notebook, an ad for Grace College's GOAL program, my cleaning list that hasn't surfaced in a good six months, my Vindale research folder which also hasn't been touched in months, a wedding invitation, and a few other random sheets of paper). Under the computer stand is a myriad of cords and a power strip.

On the far right, next to the CPU's side of the computer stand, is my Brother laser printer. It's a beauty. I got it for "free" and it will save me SO much money over the next several years (especially since we're homeschooling).

Our phone charger is running along the top of the printer and is hanging down in front of it, where my cell phone and the living room TV remote are sitting.

And that, my friends, is a look at my counter - at least the one closest to me and the one I sit at the most.

Q4U: What's on your counter? Do you spend much time at your kitchen counter? Where do you spend most of your computer time? I'd love to take a tour of your counter space!