Feisty Cherry Diet Coke - Review

In an effort to capture the Millennial market, Diet Coke came out in January with 4 new fruity flavors and a taller, slimmer, 12 ounce can and available for sale in 8-packs instead of 12 packs. they have Fiesty Cherry, Zesty Blood Orange, Twisted Mango and Ginger Lime.  As they already have a Diet Cherry Coke and a Diet Lime Coke, right off the bat is it not something totally new and different, but maybe other fruit combinations they tried didn't work with the carmely Diet Coke.

When they first came on the market the 8-packs were priced at $3.99 and individual cans for $1.19 at Kroger so it was pricer than Diet Coke cans that were currently on the market.

This past weekend, a little over a month since its release, I picked up an 8-pack of the Feisty Cherry 

on sale at Target 2 packed for $5, so I am guessing it did not take off as their marketing department had hoped.

Another drawback from the additional price is while the tall slim cans do look sleek and modern they do not travel well to at all in a vehicle with a standard cup holder and they tend to tip out and/or over when you turn a corner.

It tasted similar Diet Cherry Coke that is already on the market and same dark color, but it did have a little bit of heat sensation like the oil of a hot pepper might have been added to the batch.  

I am not into mixed drinks, but I can see where this might be a good mixer for something sweet, like a Schnapps drink to balance it out, but it is not a product I would purchase on a regular basis,even if priced the same as other Diet Coke currently on the market.

Article from March 2018 Woman's Day - Project Declutter - Get Organized,

I spotted this article in the May issue of "Womans Day" as I am a subscriber (except I didn't renew any subscriptions this year to any magazine as part of my declutter).

The article is by a professional organizer Lorie Marrero and it does have some useful tips but some that will just not work for me personally, such as:

• Use office supplies like plastic letter trays.  While the tip to use a plastic letter trays to stack meat and bags of vegetable might work for my freezer, I don't have enough space in my fridge. 

I rarely buy packaged meats and when I do have a plastic bins from the Dollar Tree.  I keep bags of vegetables in the crisper drawer and have flat plastic baskets that I would put a few steaks or other meats into.

• Use bright colored bins for items near spoiling or close to their "best" date.  This might be useful for some people but I just try to move it to the front. 

• Sort mail once a week.  Practice a method she calls "ART" to manage incoming mail by picking a day, such as Saturday and sort by Action (need to do something), Reference (to file) T (trash).  In concept I think this is genius, but from past experience I find the best way to handle it is to sort it immediately or it ends up in a shopping bag and becomes clutter.

• Customizable inserts for junk drawer.   Great in theory, but I tried something similar using small boxes as everything has a place and know how to find it and how much you have of something; however, I found there can be a lot of "dead" space and  stuff that I am not sure how to classify, so ended up pulling the small boxes out so I can cram more stuff in the drawer, but try to keep in an order that makes sense to me, like pens in the front, scissors on the right side.  Part of the appeal of the junk drawer is that it is a catchall; I think the key is to not have more than one in your house.

• Keep nail polish in a zippered bag.  I counted 19 bottles of nail polish that I keep on a small ledge alone.   I am trying to find someone who will want ones that are still good that I am not wearing and pitch anything outdated, but it does not take up a lot of space and wearing nail polish cured me of biting my nails.

I guess part of my problem with clutter is that I am set in my ways, but still plan on pursuing and trying to embrace new ideas; like:

Useful tips I am planning on adopting:

• Tuck away twist ties or other frequently used items in mint tins.  I love Newman's Own Organics Mints and this is a great way to repurpose them, but will need to label them.

• Before stashing, think if there is a better "home" for it, like a different drawer (or in my case, a different home that is not my house).

• Add purchase dates to beauty/personal care items.with a permanent marker.   Will be a great way to keep track of how long I have had something.

• Keep daily beauty products in sight and keep ones that aren't under the sink (after I declutter that area). 

• Plan a menu.  With working full time and it just being me now at home since my son moved out, I eat out a lot and rarely.cook.  This is probably going to be a different 100 day challenge to start cooking more and eating more healthy after I finish this challenge.

Lorie Marrero does have a channel on Youtube channel on declutter (although it sounds like she closed down her website in 2017 to pursue other thing so no new content will be added).  I subscribed to her channel after finding this article.  She has also written a book on the subject, which I might check to see if our local library carries it. 

What tips from the article did you find useful? Do you have any declutter tips, books or videos to share?  If so, please feel free to leave the information in the Comments.

100 Day Declutter - DAY 20 - 2 Blankets

Items:          2 blankets

Owned for:    3-10 years

Why I kept it:    

• The red fleece blanket a friend had given me so it was for sentimental reasons.
• The  comforter was almost new.  I had purchased for my son's bed in hopes he would let go of his old blankets I had patched to death already.  He didn't like it as it was "stiff" and not "broken in"  like the ones he had and he didn't like the print; it was wadded up at the foot of the bed.  

Why letting go:   

• My ex said it was cold in his room and was going to purchase additional bedding.  I loved the red blanket my friend had given me but it was used often and getting worn but otherwise good condition.  
• Son moved out nearly 2 years ago and had only spend the night once.  There is still one of his old blankets.

Destination: Gave to my Ex

Overall Status of Declutter:

It is discouraging that I am only on Day 20 and over a month behind chronologically, but the 100 days will be 100 days total.

One thing that has been curtailed is a lot of impulse spending because if I bring something in, I something else has to go out.  I am sure Amazon misses me, as does Ebay, J.C. Penney, Dollar Tree and the resale and thrift stores in town.

100 Day Declutter - DAY 19 - Tote Bag Declutter

Items:          Old Receipts, books, an a plastic spork

Owed for:    6-9 month

Why I kept it:    

• Thought I might need the receipts for some reason

Why letting go:   

• Tote bag was getting too heavy so cleaned out tote bag over my lunch period at work.

Destination: 
Old receipts went in the trash, books will go to a Little Free Library and spork going in my desk at work

100 Day Challenge - Declutter - DAY 18 - Reorganizing Closet by Colors

Above:   Clothing that needs organized in closet

This post is a little different than prior posts as in order to figure out I want to keep and decided since I have part of my son's old closet empty to organize clothing that I have worn in the past few months and love and all clothing I have laundered by color.  What will remain is probably all going to be purged.

When I have more time I will go through and try on more items, but so far I decided to pass on hot pink cardigan on the far right because although I like to color and style, I don't like the fabric and it has been added to a thrift store bag.

Below:  Reorganizing clothing by color by color

100 Day Challenge - Declutter - DAY 17 - 3 Pairs of Jeans & 3 Pairs of Men's Work Pants

Items:          3 Pairs of Jeans & 3 Pairs of Men's Work Pants 

Owed for:    My son has owned for 2-5 years

Why I kept it:    

• My son left them when he moved out around 2 years ago.  Kept in case he stopped over and might need a change of clothes as he sometimes works on vehicles dirty
• All are in good shape

Why letting go:   

• .Son rarely stops over and had never needed to change clothing.
• Texted my son the sizes and asked if he wanted and he said yes.

Destination:

Giving to my Son 

Update:

My son's father, my ex-husband, has been in the hospital the last week so most everything else has been put on hold for the most part.

I am working on declutter of his closet first and plan on putting items I use all of the time in there is some sort of order to help me see what I am not using and what to get rid of.

Donation to ASPCA

Today I finally had the opportunity to drop off the items picked for donation from my 100 Day Declutter so far to my local ASPCA.

I got there at around noon when they were open and the parking lot was full and it warmed my heart to see all of those people standing in line on a cold winter day were going to to check out pets for adoption.  

The woman behind the counter got a big smile on her face at the large shopping bag full of towels, rugs and a small blanket for donation.  I also felt better knowing my son's favorite childhood blanket will now be put to good use.

If you have item like towel, small rugs and blankets or may be other other dog or cat items, the APSCA has a link to find a shelter near where you live.

100 Day Challenge - Declutter - DAY 16 - 4 Video Tapes and a DVD

Items:           4 Video tapes and a DVD

Owed for:    1-10+ years

Why I kept it:    

• The Black Stallion Returns - bought as part of lot on Ebay -never got around to watching
• White Oleander - friend gave it to me and I watched; good movie but a little but a bit gut-wrenching
• Dream for an Insomniac - bought a year ago and watched - movie was more like watching a stage play and only so-so.  Had a young Jennifer Aniston and thought I would pass on to fan with a VHS player but haven't ran across one.
• Eraser - was another Arnold Schwarzenegger action flick; this one with Vanessa Williams as the love interest.  Son watched a time or two
• Bridget Jones Diary - Age of Reason - gift from a friend around 10 years ago.  Decent chick-flick.

Why letting go:   

• No sense in keeping around something I am not going to watch or plan on watching again.  

Destination:    Local Thrift store

A little discourage only on Day 16 of Declutter while now into the 2nd Day of February, but has been a crazy time with Marv in the hospital twice, two birthdays, vehicle problems etc., but hopefully this month will be more productive.