Organizing

Jan
11

sick of sick

Alright. I really don't like to complain (sort of), but I've been sick since a couple days before Christmas. It began as a cold, started to go away, came back as something much worse, almost went away again, and now is hanging around just enough to annoy me.

Most mornings I feel almost normal, but by the afternoons my ears are plugged up, my head is foggy, and I don't seem to have much sense of taste. Is that bad?

Anyway, this lingering fog is making me feel even more behind than I normally do. There are a few things that I really NEED to get done, but I just can't seem to find the time and energy in the same instant. Those tasks are like heavy weights on my shoulders. They call to me when I'm trying to rest and condemn me if I dare to relax. They make me feel stressed and tired. They rob me of the peace I crave.

These overdue tasks must be done. This week. No excuses.

I'm ready to attack. I may need to get up early or work late. I might have to order take-out for dinner or let the regular housecleaning duties slide. Whatever I need to do, it's time to get back to that ordinary month I was so excited about.

Sick or not, today is the day!

Do you have any unfinished tasks hanging over your head? Have you been fighting off the ick (or plague) around your house? Share in the comments.

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Jan
04

an ordinary month: good-bye holidays

The holidays are officially over. The gifts have been opened. The ball has dropped. School has started back. It's time to work on creating some ordinary. And now it is suddenly abnormal to have a tree sitting in the corner of the living room.

I know that some people take their decorations down the day after Christmas.
I'm not one of those people.

I try to get them down shortly after the new year begins. Sometimes that goal gets stretched out a bit, but I hate when that happens. So, a couple days ago I packed away the random Christmas decorations that were scattered here and there, and yesterday I took down the tree.

Now the house looks empty. I guess that's a good thing.

Today, I'll put away anything else that needs squeezed into my storage bins, vacuum up the fake pine needles that are littering the floor, and move the furniture back into place. Easy.

If you're still trying to get your house back to normal, here are a few suggestions:

Just do it. I know this sounds an awful lot like a shoe commercial, but you know it's true. You just have to make yourself do it. There's nothing worse than having a big 'ol tree calling your name every time you try to relax on the sofa. It's hard to ignore.

Put on a movie, listen to a sermon, or turn up some music. I took our tree down while watching a new movie with the kids. I hardly even noticed that I was working. It was (almost) fun.

Enjoy the "winter" decor. I didn't put out a lot of decorations this year. If you, on the other hand, made your home a holiday wonderland, try to prioritize what needs put away first. The Santa stockings scream, "Christmas!" The snowmen and pinecones whisper, "Winter." Let yourself enjoy the season just a little bit longer where you can.

So, have your Christmas decorations left the building or are they still hanging around? I'd love to know...leave a comment!

This post is linked to Raising Homemakers.

Jan
02

an ordinary month

Happy New Year!

I love new beginnings. There's just something freeing about a fresh start. I am suddenly motivated to be better. I'm on the lookout for areas to improve. I feel a new resolve.....for at least a minute or two. And though I know this shiny new feeling will fade away all too soon, I figure that I might as well use it to my advantage while it lasts.

Back in October, I spent the entire month working to create a better ordinary. It was life changing for me. I put into place many new habits that have revolutionized the way I manage my home and my life.

Remember?

But as time has passed, I've lost a little of that early momentum
and have let some things slide. I've also come to realize a few more issues that I need to address around here.

So, I've decided to dedicate this new month to pursuing a better ordinary once again. I won't be writing about it every day like I did a few months ago (hey, I'm motivated, not crazy), but I'll be doing tasks that will, hopefully, make lasting improvements in our lives.

I want to start by reviewing the 31 days to a {better} ordinary series. I'll look for things I've forgotten and areas that I need to tweak.

I'll also be thinking about the spots in my home and systems in my life that cause frustration. I'll work to knock things off my To Do List and figure out why I let the same things sit there for months. I'll organize everything that doesn't move out of my way first, and I'll get rid of as much junk as I possibly can.

I hope you'll come along with me on the New Year's journey.
I'm ready to create a wonderfully ordinary year!

Nov
04

I’m in like: magnetic clips

I am in absolute like with these little magnetic bulldog clips.
They're both cute and practical.
(Isn't it great when those two words can be used in the same sentence?)

I use them to hang my calendar, menu, and grocery list in easy sight. They're great for holding up card stock so my printouts don't slip down the side of the fridge.

They keep everything looking nice and neat instead of like a chaotic mess.
I got mine on sale at an office supply store, but these ones look pretty much the same.
Happy hanging!

Nov
01

31 days to {a better} ordinary :: day 31 ~ an ordinary purpose

I can't believe this 31 days series is coming to a close. Has it really been a month already? I feel like I've gotten a great jump start toward a better ordinary....but I also feel like I have a long way to go.

I'm not a particularly patient person. I want my problems and difficulties solved and taken care of immediately. Like yesterday. Unfortunately, that's just not how life works for me. Change is a process, not an event.

I'm still working to achieve the changes I desire, but at least I'm working on them. Many of the topics I wrote about take constant effort on my part. I have to be intentional with making my calendar and weekly lists. I have to force myself to do my weekly cleaning (one of my greatest weaknesses). I must continually think about keeping up with the laundry or cleaning out the refrigerator.

And there are several things that I still need to implement, such as making a better master grocery list, writing my meal list, and starting my monthly menu plan. Hmmm......I guess I know what I'm doing with the rest of the week.

But the biggest change over the past few weeks has taken place in my attitude. I look at things differently. Instead of thinking about short-term cleaning or organizing, I find myself figuring out long-term solutions. I'm learning that changes that are backed up with routines become lasting improvements.

Suddenly, there's a greater purpose in tasks like organizing the kids' clothes or cleaning out my purse (two things that desperately need my attention). They are worth doing because I'm going to fix the problems rather than simply straighten them. That ordinary purpose will, hopefully, continue to make a better ordinary for me and my family.

Click to learn more about 31 days to {a better} ordinary and to find links to all the posts in this series.

Oct
29

31 days to {a better} ordinary :: day 28 ~ organized pantry

Last weekend I cleaned out and organized the kitchen pantry. It's one cleaning task I actually enjoy. What I do not enjoy, however, is the state of chaos and confusion that takes over the shelves for weeks before I finally do a proper job of straightening up. So this time, instead of just sorting and rearranging, I did a complete pantry makeover. I'm hoping that I created the kind of clean that will last.

I started by tossing the cereal boxes with only a bowlful of crumbs in the bottom, the baggies of stale pretzels, and the taco shells from two months ago. I threw away empty cracker boxes and expired jello (do you know how long I must have had those boxes of jello for them to reach their expiration date?!?).

Then I filled rubber-sealed canisters with things like snack crackers, Chex Mix, nuts, and dried cranberries. Pre-packaged items like cereal bars and granola bars were put into cute lidded jars (containers picked up at Target, IKEA, and The Container Store).

Dried beans were poured into rigid, see-through containers from IKEA.

Teavana teas (my favorite in the whole world) were properly stored and organized in tins and rubber-sealed jars (also from IKEA).

I even made it easier to grab a plastic fork when I'm packing my son's lunch or a straw for a certain child in my home who thinks everything tastes better when consumed through a straw.

This new organization has had some lovely benefits:

- Everyone can see exactly what snacks are available and can fix them for themselves.

- The kids tend to open the canisters and grab what they need without pulling the entire container all the way out onto the counter, leaving less mess to be cleaned up.

- I smile (at least a little bit) every time I open the pantry door.

Click to learn more about 31 days to {a better} ordinary and to find links to all the posts in this series.