Other half to go.
I can feel my anxiety level go down and can breathe a little better!
Still more to go - will post pics when I'm done.
***UPDATE***
Here are a few sneak peeks :)
Showing posts with label organization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label organization. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
31 Days to a Happier Life - Day 23
One half of the room is organized and pretty!
Other half to go.
I can feel my anxiety level go down and can breathe a little better!
Still more to go - will post pics when I'm done.
***UPDATE***
Here are a few sneak peeks :)
Other half to go.
I can feel my anxiety level go down and can breathe a little better!
Still more to go - will post pics when I'm done.
***UPDATE***
Here are a few sneak peeks :)
31 Days to a Happier Life - Day 22
Having a hard time catching up. Trying to work on implementing some of my post items in our life.
Today, I'm tackling this!! UGGHHHH......
I have realized that this mess is taking a lot of time away from my family, especially from the girls. It has become my excuse each day NOT to do other activities:
"No, we can't go to the Pumpkin Patch today because I need to clean my office."
"No, we can't make the craft today, because I need to clean up my desk."
Well, enough is enough! It is going to be hard, but I HAVE TO DO IT!
So, today and tomorrow, this mess will be conquered!!
And that will make us all happy!
Today, I'm tackling this!! UGGHHHH......
I have realized that this mess is taking a lot of time away from my family, especially from the girls. It has become my excuse each day NOT to do other activities:
"No, we can't go to the Pumpkin Patch today because I need to clean my office."
"No, we can't make the craft today, because I need to clean up my desk."
Well, enough is enough! It is going to be hard, but I HAVE TO DO IT!
So, today and tomorrow, this mess will be conquered!!
And that will make us all happy!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
The New Year
It has taken me some time to get motivated this year. Currently I am inundated with business tax crap! YUCK! I really need to work on it more consistently throughout the year, so it is totally my own fault.
Tried to get myself motivated and start exercising again, you know, eating healthy, getting super fit and gorgeous. All that stuff. But, alas, it is not working either.
TOTAL.LACK.OF.MOTIVATION!
I did manage one little thing- I cut back on the chocolate intake. I had some days where chocolate was my main intake! Not good!!! By mid afternoon I would be feeling SO tired and shaky, and hungry, so I would eat more chocolate! Not good! But now I have cut it back to a MAX of 3 (doves dark chocolate - that's the only chocolate I like) per day. And I am feeling much better. Maybe not motivated, but feeling much better.
There is also the small/BIG issue of this house. It is a TOTAL mess. I'm cleaning everyday, all day...well, maybe not really, but it really seems like it. Oh, and the appliances here are revolting (as in mutiny) - first it was one of the deep freezers (we lost a heap of husband's prized venison - he was as mad as hell!! The freezer was only a month old). Next up, the vacuum cleaner - the brush stopped working. When the brush stops working on a vacuum cleaner it's pretty much useless - thankfully it is still under warranty and so I took it to the crankiest women in town to get fixed. LOL! Then it was the dryer - may as well buy a new one 'cause it is about $270 to fix two problems it has!! AGGGHHH!
Then there's the new puppy. The new puppy who is proving to be impossible to potty train. The puppy who goes potty one-foot from the training pad, even though you have just placed her on it one-million times and still she won't go. The puppy who loves to chew all my pretty baskets. The puppy who loves to chew my kids. And the puppy who just chewed up the rug in the playroom, CHEWED.IT.UP! But she is also the puppy who is so soft and cuddly, and we just cannot resist putting her in our bed at night (I know, so naughty!). But she is like a baby, she snuggles up to you and it just melts your heart. And, anyway, it is all my husband's fault - he started it!!
Anyway, this has to be my year to declutter, refine, and save. So I need to get motivated. My husband started it (again) - he cleaned, decluttered and sorted the garage. Now it it the shinning star of beauty and we all want to move in there and live. Forget about the rest of the house? Ok, maybe not. But it is beautiful thing. He is defending it with all his manly authority, and so far I have not failed him :) So we need to move this train along its track!
The other day I was on Pinterest (SHOCK!! I know!)..anyhoo, I found this great site with a list (LOVE lists) on how and what to declutter and to get it all done in 40 days. 40 days. Good number, right?? The blog is Keeper of the Home and the post is 8 Weeks to a Less Cluttered Home. So I printed out the list and started working on it today. It really seems doable - just 30 minutes each day on a small area of the home. Work through the list and make it out the other side with a less cluttered home! Sounds perfect.
Day 1 - Kitchen Drawers - Cutlery and cooking utensils.
Cleaned out the cutlery drawer and pulled out the contact paper I had put in there when we first moved it. I think it looks better with just the wood. Also, the cutlery is all in a cutlery sorter/container thing, so it is not actually on the wood (stays nice and clean - at least in my head it does). That was easy :)
So then I tackled the cooking utensil drawer. It was OVERLOADED. You know, one of those drawers you hate opening because it gives you anxieties just thinking about it. You don't want to open it. You don't want to use anything out of it, because you don't want to open it. And you don't want to cook, because you will need something from THE drawer, the one you don't want to open! Yes, that drawer! So I cleaned it, and sorted it, and pulled 60% of the crap out of it, and now it is pretty! (Disclaimer: there will be no or very few before pics because they are just pointless, and too embarrassing...understand?)
The 60% of crap out of the cooking utensil drawer will now go to a new section called the baking section. Don't you love that!? Highly influenced by Edie from Life in Grace and her baking center and the wonderful hospitality series she did - check it out here. Just life changing!
So there it is...a start. A slow start, but a start nonetheless!
I must keep it going...tomorrow will be kitchen cupboards!
Tried to get myself motivated and start exercising again, you know, eating healthy, getting super fit and gorgeous. All that stuff. But, alas, it is not working either.
TOTAL.LACK.OF.MOTIVATION!
I did manage one little thing- I cut back on the chocolate intake. I had some days where chocolate was my main intake! Not good!!! By mid afternoon I would be feeling SO tired and shaky, and hungry, so I would eat more chocolate! Not good! But now I have cut it back to a MAX of 3 (doves dark chocolate - that's the only chocolate I like) per day. And I am feeling much better. Maybe not motivated, but feeling much better.
There is also the small/BIG issue of this house. It is a TOTAL mess. I'm cleaning everyday, all day...well, maybe not really, but it really seems like it. Oh, and the appliances here are revolting (as in mutiny) - first it was one of the deep freezers (we lost a heap of husband's prized venison - he was as mad as hell!! The freezer was only a month old). Next up, the vacuum cleaner - the brush stopped working. When the brush stops working on a vacuum cleaner it's pretty much useless - thankfully it is still under warranty and so I took it to the crankiest women in town to get fixed. LOL! Then it was the dryer - may as well buy a new one 'cause it is about $270 to fix two problems it has!! AGGGHHH!
Then there's the new puppy. The new puppy who is proving to be impossible to potty train. The puppy who goes potty one-foot from the training pad, even though you have just placed her on it one-million times and still she won't go. The puppy who loves to chew all my pretty baskets. The puppy who loves to chew my kids. And the puppy who just chewed up the rug in the playroom, CHEWED.IT.UP! But she is also the puppy who is so soft and cuddly, and we just cannot resist putting her in our bed at night (I know, so naughty!). But she is like a baby, she snuggles up to you and it just melts your heart. And, anyway, it is all my husband's fault - he started it!!
Anyway, this has to be my year to declutter, refine, and save. So I need to get motivated. My husband started it (again) - he cleaned, decluttered and sorted the garage. Now it it the shinning star of beauty and we all want to move in there and live. Forget about the rest of the house? Ok, maybe not. But it is beautiful thing. He is defending it with all his manly authority, and so far I have not failed him :) So we need to move this train along its track!
The other day I was on Pinterest (SHOCK!! I know!)..anyhoo, I found this great site with a list (LOVE lists) on how and what to declutter and to get it all done in 40 days. 40 days. Good number, right?? The blog is Keeper of the Home and the post is 8 Weeks to a Less Cluttered Home. So I printed out the list and started working on it today. It really seems doable - just 30 minutes each day on a small area of the home. Work through the list and make it out the other side with a less cluttered home! Sounds perfect.
Day 1 - Kitchen Drawers - Cutlery and cooking utensils.
Cleaned out the cutlery drawer and pulled out the contact paper I had put in there when we first moved it. I think it looks better with just the wood. Also, the cutlery is all in a cutlery sorter/container thing, so it is not actually on the wood (stays nice and clean - at least in my head it does). That was easy :)
So then I tackled the cooking utensil drawer. It was OVERLOADED. You know, one of those drawers you hate opening because it gives you anxieties just thinking about it. You don't want to open it. You don't want to use anything out of it, because you don't want to open it. And you don't want to cook, because you will need something from THE drawer, the one you don't want to open! Yes, that drawer! So I cleaned it, and sorted it, and pulled 60% of the crap out of it, and now it is pretty! (Disclaimer: there will be no or very few before pics because they are just pointless, and too embarrassing...understand?)
The 60% of crap out of the cooking utensil drawer will now go to a new section called the baking section. Don't you love that!? Highly influenced by Edie from Life in Grace and her baking center and the wonderful hospitality series she did - check it out here. Just life changing!
New Baking Drawer
Kids' Lunch Container Drawer
Cooking Utensil Drawer
So there it is...a start. A slow start, but a start nonetheless!
I must keep it going...tomorrow will be kitchen cupboards!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
New Daily Schedule
I took all last week "off" to sort out my house, and get to some of those nagging things that always seem to just want to hang around, all in preparation for my new daily/weekly schedule. I'm pretty excited with it so far. It is achievable, manageable and has some great things to look forward to do each day.
I must remind myself that I am just one of those people that needs a daily schedule - I forget things so easily, and I need a schedule to stay focused. Achieving something in my day, especially as a stay-at-home-mom, is so important to my mental well-being. At work, I was always able to set goals, achieve them, and feel good; but at home it is so easy to lose that with all this craziness of having kids involves.
This new schedule took a while to get set up, thought out, organized, revised, categorized, typed-up, printed out, edited, and, finally, approved and ready-to-go!
Basically, I have an excel spreadsheet for each day, printed out and stored in a folder. Each day consists of:
Top 5 to dos
For School
Appointments
Kids' Extra Activites
Kids Daily Lesson
Daily Routine (from 5:30am to 10:30pm)
Today's Chores
Blog
Exercise
Me
To Wear
I have a weekly spreadsheet for all meals - I print out 4 and schedule out a whole month at a time.
And I also have a spreadsheet that lists at the kids' lesson plan (have two month's worth).
On my daily sheets:
- the top 5 to do are the top 5 things I want to achieve today.
- For School - I list anything we need to remember for school that day (like change for the lemonade stand, hand in homework, etc)
- Appointments - must write these down as I make them - so forgetful!!!
- Kids' Extra Activities - gymnastics, ballet, playdates, etc
- Kids' Daily Lesson - these are short little things I put together to do with the kids - can be a craft, reading a book together, etc
- Daily Routine - list it all out so I know when to leave to get somewhere on time
- Today's Chores - I do a room each day - 1/2hr to 1hr max - this is in addition to general pick-up/tidy-up
- Blog - trying to plan :)
- Exercise - list it out, tick it off = feels good = more motivation to keep going
- Me - yep! ME! reading, do nails, put on face mask and listen to music, etc - this is my time and I'm scheduling it in!
- To Wear - this is to try to break free of the exercise pants/t-shirt/sweatshirt outfit that I love to wear around the house and thought looked great out of the house too. But alas, it does not!! So I need to make an effort and Pinterest is providing tons of inspiration :)
The Monthly Meal Planner
- has breakfast for the girls listed (I'm a cereal girl, husband eats a banana)
- lunch to pack for girls for school
- dinner
- and one dessert for the week
Most of my recipes come from the internet - I print them out and categorize them into Vegetarian, Meat, Chicken, Fish, Dessert/Other. My weekly plan is:
Monday - Vegetarian
Tuesday - Meat
Wednesday - Chicken
Thursday - Fish
Friday - leftovers/ take out
Saturday - Casserole
Sunday - Casserole leftovers
I know it probably sounds confusing but once it is all set up it really works well. I have not included my spreadsheets on purpose, because every time I see someone else's example it does not work for me. So I think it is important to sit down and work through what will work for you. This is just a brief outline of what works for me. And I hope it helps me work through some of my issues, and maybe helps you get started on your own path to an organized schedule :)
I must remind myself that I am just one of those people that needs a daily schedule - I forget things so easily, and I need a schedule to stay focused. Achieving something in my day, especially as a stay-at-home-mom, is so important to my mental well-being. At work, I was always able to set goals, achieve them, and feel good; but at home it is so easy to lose that with all this craziness of having kids involves.
This new schedule took a while to get set up, thought out, organized, revised, categorized, typed-up, printed out, edited, and, finally, approved and ready-to-go!
Basically, I have an excel spreadsheet for each day, printed out and stored in a folder. Each day consists of:
Top 5 to dos
For School
Appointments
Kids' Extra Activites
Kids Daily Lesson
Daily Routine (from 5:30am to 10:30pm)
Today's Chores
Blog
Exercise
Me
To Wear
I have a weekly spreadsheet for all meals - I print out 4 and schedule out a whole month at a time.
And I also have a spreadsheet that lists at the kids' lesson plan (have two month's worth).
On my daily sheets:
- the top 5 to do are the top 5 things I want to achieve today.
- For School - I list anything we need to remember for school that day (like change for the lemonade stand, hand in homework, etc)
- Appointments - must write these down as I make them - so forgetful!!!
- Kids' Extra Activities - gymnastics, ballet, playdates, etc
- Kids' Daily Lesson - these are short little things I put together to do with the kids - can be a craft, reading a book together, etc
- Daily Routine - list it all out so I know when to leave to get somewhere on time
- Today's Chores - I do a room each day - 1/2hr to 1hr max - this is in addition to general pick-up/tidy-up
- Blog - trying to plan :)
- Exercise - list it out, tick it off = feels good = more motivation to keep going
- Me - yep! ME! reading, do nails, put on face mask and listen to music, etc - this is my time and I'm scheduling it in!
- To Wear - this is to try to break free of the exercise pants/t-shirt/sweatshirt outfit that I love to wear around the house and thought looked great out of the house too. But alas, it does not!! So I need to make an effort and Pinterest is providing tons of inspiration :)
The Monthly Meal Planner
- has breakfast for the girls listed (I'm a cereal girl, husband eats a banana)
- lunch to pack for girls for school
- dinner
- and one dessert for the week
Most of my recipes come from the internet - I print them out and categorize them into Vegetarian, Meat, Chicken, Fish, Dessert/Other. My weekly plan is:
Monday - Vegetarian
Tuesday - Meat
Wednesday - Chicken
Thursday - Fish
Friday - leftovers/ take out
Saturday - Casserole
Sunday - Casserole leftovers
I know it probably sounds confusing but once it is all set up it really works well. I have not included my spreadsheets on purpose, because every time I see someone else's example it does not work for me. So I think it is important to sit down and work through what will work for you. This is just a brief outline of what works for me. And I hope it helps me work through some of my issues, and maybe helps you get started on your own path to an organized schedule :)
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Getting Organized / School Clipboards
We are in full school madness here at my house now. It has been a number of weeks since the kiddos started school...wow, this is their 4th week! Time flies! And so does the paperwork. Good grief - it's almost a full time job trying to keep up with all of the paperwork they send home - the forms, the "homework", the websites to register at (for reading/ school website/ school on-line store, etc), box tops, teachers' monthly lunch sign-ups, and all the beautiful artwork and assignments. Plus, we also have emails during the week from the teacher, the Principal, and sometimes the Pastor. So how do we keep it all under control/make sure the kiddo does her homework/ take show-and-tell on the right day/ file away those precious art pieces? Well this is my system:
Art is stored in an under-the-bed box - it is sorted each day and plonked in there together with any creations they do after school (they both love to draw, and it is the perfect activity while I try to get dinner ready).
Important Forms/ Homework/ Anything that needs immediate attention - now gets "hung-up" on special clipboards that I decorated and hung up on the wall. They are now front and center (right over my desk) where I can see them and be constantly reminded of what needs to be done for the next day, or that week. Once completed it gets filed in their school folder.
I just made them today - love them :) Very easy to do - I purchased clipboards (from Target - about $2.50 each??) and covered them in scrapbook paper I already had on-hand (Michaels, Joann or Hobby Lobby). I attached the paper onto the board with spray adhesive, but you could also modge podge it too. I then added a few finishing touches - ribbon on the top and bottom (attached with hot glue on the back, and a little spray adhesive on the front) and printed out their names onto green paper and glued onto the bottom ribbon. Done!
School Papers to file - once I have reviewed/ completed an item it gets filed in their respective folder and placed into the file drawer of my desk. If I need to re-check something, it is easily accessible.
Emails - I print them out if there is something more than a line or two that I need to remember, and it then gets hung up on the clipboard. Anything less than a couple of lines just gets written down on my calendar (in general on the wall calendar, and in more detail on my desk/handbag calendar).
Once my system was in place it really helped things run more smoothly - homework gets done on time, kiddo gets extra "dollar" for the week (reward system/math learning tool at school), teacher is happy, Mom not as stressed out :)
I try to do things the same day I get them - it is fresh in my mind, and gets it out of the way. We also do homework as soon as we get home (even though we are in kindergarten, I think this is a good time to start this routine). The longer you leave it the more tired they get, everyone starts getting cranky, someone starts nagging, and before you know it someone is crying in the corner, oh, I mean putting their foot done and demanding order in this house! It can get ugly...
Box Tops - I collect these throughout the year and keep them in a baggy on the fridge - once the Box Top collection begins I can just grab the baggy, and stick them on the paper and hand it in - so easy, stress free.
I also put up a corkboard in the breakfast/eating area so we can pin up the "best work of the week" for each kid. They really like this!
So now I think I'm organized...OK, semi-organized, hahaha - good grief, the world would stop turning (out of shock) if I was organized!
Oh, so then what do I go and do? Sign up to be Room Parent, of course, just 'cause I don't already have enough on my crazy plate as it is! Aggghhh, just can't help myself!
If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do. - by Lucille Ball.
(love her!!)
Art is stored in an under-the-bed box - it is sorted each day and plonked in there together with any creations they do after school (they both love to draw, and it is the perfect activity while I try to get dinner ready).
Important Forms/ Homework/ Anything that needs immediate attention - now gets "hung-up" on special clipboards that I decorated and hung up on the wall. They are now front and center (right over my desk) where I can see them and be constantly reminded of what needs to be done for the next day, or that week. Once completed it gets filed in their school folder.
I just made them today - love them :) Very easy to do - I purchased clipboards (from Target - about $2.50 each??) and covered them in scrapbook paper I already had on-hand (Michaels, Joann or Hobby Lobby). I attached the paper onto the board with spray adhesive, but you could also modge podge it too. I then added a few finishing touches - ribbon on the top and bottom (attached with hot glue on the back, and a little spray adhesive on the front) and printed out their names onto green paper and glued onto the bottom ribbon. Done!
(don't worry, it is not your eyes - I blurred out their names)
School Papers to file - once I have reviewed/ completed an item it gets filed in their respective folder and placed into the file drawer of my desk. If I need to re-check something, it is easily accessible.
Emails - I print them out if there is something more than a line or two that I need to remember, and it then gets hung up on the clipboard. Anything less than a couple of lines just gets written down on my calendar (in general on the wall calendar, and in more detail on my desk/handbag calendar).
Once my system was in place it really helped things run more smoothly - homework gets done on time, kiddo gets extra "dollar" for the week (reward system/math learning tool at school), teacher is happy, Mom not as stressed out :)
I try to do things the same day I get them - it is fresh in my mind, and gets it out of the way. We also do homework as soon as we get home (even though we are in kindergarten, I think this is a good time to start this routine). The longer you leave it the more tired they get, everyone starts getting cranky, someone starts nagging, and before you know it someone is crying in the corner, oh, I mean putting their foot done and demanding order in this house! It can get ugly...
Box Tops - I collect these throughout the year and keep them in a baggy on the fridge - once the Box Top collection begins I can just grab the baggy, and stick them on the paper and hand it in - so easy, stress free.
I also put up a corkboard in the breakfast/eating area so we can pin up the "best work of the week" for each kid. They really like this!
So now I think I'm organized...OK, semi-organized, hahaha - good grief, the world would stop turning (out of shock) if I was organized!
Oh, so then what do I go and do? Sign up to be Room Parent, of course, just 'cause I don't already have enough on my crazy plate as it is! Aggghhh, just can't help myself!
If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do. - by Lucille Ball.
(love her!!)
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Satisfying Organization - Little Annoying Piles
Do you have little piles of stuff hanging around your house? I do, and they drive me CRAZY! Like here:
And here:
And here!
UGGHHH! So this week my main goal is to get rid of them - move them to where they are supposed to be, sort them out, find them a home! It's one thing to just tidy a room - I can handle to everyday chores, but clutter really bothers me. It just sits at the back of your sub-consciousness and whistles - and you know how annoying it is when someone else is whistling. Right?
So I'm going to start with the annoying-whistling piles of clutter and get this house organized!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Behind closed doors
The Closet.
The forgotten room.
Big or small you can decorate your closet space so it inspires you. An organized closet will make you happy. A beautiful organized closet will make you want to get up in the morning, get dressed, ready to take on the world!!
I am really looking forward to dressing up my tiny little closet. Here is my inspiration, and some more ideas to get you inspired.
I LOVE LOVE this dressing area SO MUCH. I have been on the hunt for vintage fashion illustrations for over two months! I love the wallpaper too.
In lieu of illustrations I stumbled upon a very small black & white photo poster with the name Henry Clarke on it, so I went and googled him. First image I found has been an image I have been carrying around for EVER! I love love love this image so much. So classy, so beautiful. So I changed my direction a little and think I will go for framed black & white fashion photographs.
Henry Clarke images:
Other images:
My space is just big enough for a tiny little stool to sit on and contemplate what to wear.
I also need a pretty mirror on the wall - love the detail here.
Colors will include the blue I'm using in my bedroom, the soft gold from the bathroom and a deep chocolate brown. So wouldn't this rug be perfect!
Oh, and a little chandelier (love this closet too - so pretty).
Here are some more beautiful examples - some modest, some to dream the day away with! Enjoy :)
Eva Longoria's closet.
Mariah Carey's shoe closet - now that is an organized woman! I'm having some serious shoe envy too!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Mess Issue
This is our playroom/my office - the room we spend most of our time in. It is also the messiest room in our house and I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!
What do you do with all your mess? Trying to come up with storage solutions that work for a two year old and four year old, plus a 30+ year old (OK nearly 40 but don't go there!!) is tough! My desk drives me crazy. It is huge, which I love because I can spread my stuff around. But then that is also what drives me crazy about it - it is huge and I can accumulate all my stuff on there, then eventually there is just a tiny little alley way to my keyboard, with huge mountains of paperwork on either side. I also despise filing! Ugghh. Can never find anything, etc, etc...
So conclusion is I must do something with this room - NOW!
Ice (and a little snow) day here today. The kids are bundled up on the couch watching Noddy. Husband shut up in his office working. So what a perfect chance...I guess I had better go :)
What do you do with all your mess? Trying to come up with storage solutions that work for a two year old and four year old, plus a 30+ year old (OK nearly 40 but don't go there!!) is tough! My desk drives me crazy. It is huge, which I love because I can spread my stuff around. But then that is also what drives me crazy about it - it is huge and I can accumulate all my stuff on there, then eventually there is just a tiny little alley way to my keyboard, with huge mountains of paperwork on either side. I also despise filing! Ugghh. Can never find anything, etc, etc...
So conclusion is I must do something with this room - NOW!
Ice (and a little snow) day here today. The kids are bundled up on the couch watching Noddy. Husband shut up in his office working. So what a perfect chance...I guess I had better go :)
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