24 inches of computer bliss

You'll soon see, it takes very little to make me happy. As in swoon-worthy happy. Here's what got my motor running last week:

 Ta da! 28-inches of computer blissdom. I've struggled for 8 years (as in, since we moved in) with computer space. I knew where I wanted my computer...I just couldn't find what I wanted to put it here...as in where it is now...effectively.

I started with a computer in my bedroom...which was ok, until the kids multiplied and aged. I believe in the logic of having your computer in a public family space when you have kids. 'Cause when I work from home, I need to be able to see them...and when they are on the computer (which even my 3 year old is on a semi-regular basis), I need to see them and what they are doing to keep them monitored. Of course, if I was monitoring more closely, I may not have ended up with a $20 bill from iTunes for The Backyardigans. But I digress..

From the bedroom, I moved it to what I'm sure the designers of our house envisioned as the dining room. Sometimes it's the dining room. Right now it's a play/game area for the kids. The space is really not big enough for my dining room table, so it's in the living room right now...but that's another story for another day...

It's had a couple of homes in it's current room, but it eventually settled in the nook next to my kitchen and the sliding glass door. But my computer desk was way to big for the 28" of space I wanted it to fit into...so it overlapped like halfway across the patio door (thankfully it overlapped into the part that doesn't slide).

Whenever I get a nice-sized freelance job finished, I like to treat myself to something I want that's business-related. Last year it was an iPad. This month it's my desk. We just put up new Elfa shelving from The Container Store in my "real job" office and I loved it, so I decided to go with the Elfa at home, too. Of course, it helped with the decision that The Container Store had all Elfa products on sale for 30% off when I ordered, too..

 What I love about the Elfa system is that it's totally customizable to your individual space and needs. They offer a free design service (which I used for my "real job" office) as well as popular configurations all packaged together. I looked around and thought the Study Zone package was pretty close to my needs. But I definitely did not want white. Ick. So I looked at the design and ordered my own package using platinum hardware and driftwood shelving...

 Basically I've got 4 shelves all 24 inches wide but different depths. My much abused iMac (seriously nearing the end of it's life expectancy for my needs at age 4) sits on an 8" deep shelf. Underneath, the keyboard, mouse and modem sit on a 20" shelf that serves as my desktop. The modem stays tucked back under the monitor's shelf and when the kids are watching movies on the computer, the keyboard sits us on the base of the monitor in a vain attempt to keep it safe from the kids. Did you notice I said in vain? Have kids? Relate?

 My pens sit up there with my monitor, too. See? I told you I'm pretty low maintenance. A pretty green Ball canning jar is all I need.

 My external hard drive lives on the other side. I've learned the hard way: you  definitely need one of these babies. The prices continue to drop and they are pretty reasonably prices. Seriously, if you don't have one, get one. Don't lose your lifeblood, folks. My tip to save on one? Hoard your ink cartridges...you'll need 20. Take them to Staples (10 at a time) 2 months in a row. That will yield you 2 $20 reward certificates with overlapping dates, so you'll have $40 to put toward your hard drive.

 Above the monitor is my all-in-one printer/scanner/copier on a 16" deep shelf. See? Plenty of clearance for it to open it's big mouth and literally eat printer cartridges. It's apparently very hungry.

 Next door lives my cute little caddy from Thirty-One Gifts. Remember my party? Score! The outside pocket holds Sissy's extra Bella Sara cards to be entered? Have little girls? Check Bella Sara out. It's cute, cheap, fun, and Sissy is addicted.

 

Inside live my general office supplies: clips, post-its, my labels, etc. 

Oh, yeah...and my extra print cartridges while they are waiting on their time to be sacrificed to the printer gods...

 The top 2 shelves are 12" deep. Here lives my basket of papers to be dealt with.

I'm a stuff-it-into-a-box-and-deal-with-it-later kind of girl. The minimal clearance above the basket is carefully designed to keep it from overflowing and vomiting papers everywhere.

 Next door to the basket (which was just $4.99!!) Lives my cute little box...

Inside I keep little journal boxes for my scrapbooks tucked away so I can quickly record all the cute things my kidders say and do without scrounging through the scrapbook bags.

 I love these little bags, also from Thirty-One Gifts (another party score!) The little pockets in the outside are quite handy-handy. This one keeps the kids' iPod shuffles (Gal in the Middle will probably cry when she sees the white stick one. His name is Shuffleupagus and he started his life with her before running away from home and moving in with Sissy when he felt sad and replaced my her new-at-the-time Nano.).

Inside, my extra printer paper, labels and note pads fits perfectly.

 The middle mini organizer bag stores all my "extra" cords that I "might" need along with my removable drives, etc. Also from Thirty-One Gifts.

 The third bag holds my envelopes, CDs and DVDs. If I ever actually make it to the post office to get stamps, those will go in the outside pocket.

 And finally, there's room for my camera and it's bag.

Underneath, there's still plenty of room for my Thirty-One Gifts utility tote, which holds my geneology "stuff" in the big black box and my current files. Obviously, I still need to gain control of the cord situation, but Wal Mart was out of the little Command adhesive cord keepers, which it what I think I want to wrangle them all into place. I'm thinking of adding some pictures, too. But for now, I'm thrilled.