Don't give up already!

OK, I didn't forget about you, I have just been my usual self in the fact that I look around, get overwhelmed by the amount of STUFF I have to do and then just sit and sulk. Do you know the feeling? So, what is the solution?

For me...I ate chocolate! I did, and it definitely helped me to get in a better mood. I was able to proceed to doing some CHORES. Ugh! That word in itself is enough to give anyone a headache. Right? I know my kids would definitely agree.

So, today I thought I would try to get back to getting things in order. No more sulking, no more excuses!!! Since I haven't posted in a few days, I do have to say that I have been trying to get myself on some type of schedule which is very difficult when everyone's schedules keep changing! But, I have been able to get some things accomplished in spite of it all.

Yesterday I ended up waking up at 2 am. Yup you read that right. 2 am which normally wouldn't be so bad if I went to bed at a decent hour in the first place. Unfortunately for me, that was not the case. I was running the day on about 3-4 hours of sleep. Surprisingly though, I got pretty much accomplished. I went through my bookshelf and decided to get rid of all the books that I had more than one copy of. Some went to a friend, the others are posted on www.paperbackswap.com. If you've never heard of it, check it out. (Although, as my husband pointed out, this doesn't really help us to thin out our collection as it just allows us to "swap" books). But hey, it's a start to at least letting them go.  Over 20 books! That's pretty good right? Wrong, when you consider we have over 2000 books in our home. Sigh! One step at a time.

This morning I decided to go through my closet. I found a few items for Winter that I no longer wear. They will be given away. It is my goal to take all the Spring and Summer items and pack them away so I have more space in my closet to see what I actually have. Come Spring, I'll get them back out and go through them too.

Have you wanted to give up? DON'T! Eat some chocolate if you have to and jump back in!

Sorting It All Out

So, today is kind of a step in the right direction. Yesterday I stopped at our local Dollar Tree and purchased a few small wash baskets, a timer, and a 14 pocket folder. Huh? How does that add up you might ask?

The Wash Baskets - It is my intention to make self sufficient, responsible adults out of my kids. In essence, I am going to have them take over the task of washing and folding their own laundry. They have helped with the family laundry in the past, but I believe this will help them be more responsible for their own items. Laundry Pile is nearly done and then onto the new regime!

The Timer -  According to my favorite organizational lady, The Fly Lady, (see a link to her website at the bottom of my page) ANYTHING can be accomplished in just 5 minutes. So the timer is set and we'll see how much I can accomplish.

The 14 Pocket Folder - Once upon a time, in a land far away, BC (Before Children) I used to be organized, honest I was! So, this new little gadget is my way of trying to simplify getting my bills together and keeping them all in one place. I used to have a system of paying it and filing it immediately. Since children have come along, nothing seems to be where it should!  Bills are all in one place for now. OK, OK so it's the first day. I'll let you know how I keep up with it.

So, if you have a Dollar Tree near you (Everything there is $1) check out some of the great "tools" that you can use to help you get organized. Please share with me any suggestions that you might have as well.

When It's NOT Yours

Isn't it SO easy to get over things when it's NOT your problem? When someone else is going through something we can easily laugh it off or go it's NOT that bad.  But I have to remember that I need to take a step back and look at things through their eyes. Not always easy.

Over the past few days I have been "torturing my girls" (Their words NOT mine) by making them go through their bedroom and crawl space to get rid of things.  I never knew a kid could have so much STUFF! I have been trying to do things with them in small bits rather than have them do it all by themselves. I know how overwhelming it all can get. This is my strategy:

Three piles...

1. Trash - For anything that is missing pieces, torn, stained or just plain junk.
2. Yard Sale - I know some would argue with me about this one (just get it out of the house!) But the way I look at it, if I can make any money back, it's better than nothing. Besides I do have a space for all of my yard sale items and I'm located at an excellent place and have made out very well at previous sales. (NOTE: I had three yard sales last year with new items at each sale and have used 6-10 tables at each one. I also invite friends to join in the activity to make the day all the more interesting.) Once the sale is over, anything that is left is IMMEDIATELY taken to a donation center.
3. Find Me a Home - Easier than it sounds since my youngest had a whole drawer (27" X 17" X 7") full of trinkety junk! Dressers were heaped with who knows what.  So the goal is now if it doesn't find a home, then it's home is elsewhere and not in ours!

I could easily throw the girls stuff away, or give it away, etc. But then I remember how all of my things used to "disappear". I didn't want to be the one that they place a guilt trip on later when they say, "Mom, why did you ever get rid of my...?" This way it is their decision, not mine.

My hope in helping them in this endeavor is for them to learn a few things...

1. It's all just STUFF! Most of the items are luxuries, not necessities. Less is More. Less clutter allows you more space and time to do things that make you happy.
2. It's OK to let things go. As my oldest daughter said to me, "But...Grandma gave me that shirt. I CAN'T get rid of it." My response? "Grandma didn't expect you to wear it forever. It's time to let it go." This was the beginning of my realization that perhaps I had a problem. Perhaps I needed to get over my attachment to MY stuff! (NOTE: If you have the same issue, let me suggest that you take a picture of it and let it go.I would hold on to things because of the memories it held. But now I can easily see a picture of it and still recall those memories. Bonus? Takes almost no room at all.)
3. Perhaps we need to think before we buy. Do I really NEED this or do I WANT it? In essence this should help us all with money management as well.

Well, off to do a load of laundry!

Happy New Year!

Alright, I realize that I'm only a few days late. But after reading a friends blog on his 2011 Project, I decided this would be the time to do a project of my own.  I've been known to be somewhat of an Idealist and never actually getting around to accomplishing all the things that I have set out to do (Even though I spend all the money and by all the materials to do them). So, this year is going to be one of those years....that I will actually achieve at least one of my goals. I just know it!

So, you might be asking yourself exactly what are some of my goals??? I'm sure they are much like your own:

• Designing and sticking to a working budget for a family vacation and to become debt free.
• Exercising and eating healthier to achieve at least a 20 pound weight loss.
• Spending time journaling on my life experiences (do I get credit for actually beginning this blog?)
• De-cluttering my home from all the things that I have accumulated over my short life thus far.
• Scrapbooking at least the first year of my children's life as well as our wedding.

There are many more things on my list as well, but I thought it is best to keep it simple as this is enough to give anyone a headache! If you are on any one of these journeys, please join me in mine and feel free to comment on what seems to be working for you. I will try to post each day to let you know what's "Happening", but hey it's a goal not a habit. No guarantees at this time.

I do like my friends idea to take it one thing at a time. De-clutter one item a day and you will have cleared out 365 items by the time the year is through.  See you tomorrow! (Hopefully)