This weekend started our Advent calendar. I gathered 24 books and wrapped them... now, before you think me superbly organized, I should note that I received an email at work about a local bookstore that was having financial issues and needed people to stop and shop! Our small town really needs a bookstore - there aren't any within a hour's drive. However, we're also a community that has been hard hit by economic difficulties. After receiving the email, I ran down before picking up the kids and purchased the books. They were all used bargains, so it was a win-win on both sides.

It took me over an hour to wrap them all... eesh. But it was well worth it! The kids both love to read stories and are very excited by the idea that they each get to open a present every other day. Book number 23 was even one that Lala had heard at school, so she was able to "read" it to us with almost no prompting! She is going to be a voracious reader, I can tell.

With the tree, the advent presents and the stockings hung on the mantel it's looking pretty Christmasy. And that's probably all we'll get done during the week. On the weekends, we may get around to making some ornaments or cookies. Then again, we may not. We have what we need to do it (yay organization and planning ahead!), but I didn't purchase anything special or that won't be used if we don't use it.

After reading "The Secret to Staying Organized and Sane During the Busy Holiday Season", I've decided that most of those lovely ideas I've found on Pinterest, can stay on Pinterest. I'd rather enjoy our holiday time. 

Ten for Tuesday

Ten Things I'm Thankful For:

1. My kids. I know they drive me nuts on a regular basis, but every time I think of what I would be doing if they weren’t part of my life, I’m sad.
2. My house. Sure we’ve already out-grown it and at times I feel very cramped, but the fact remains that it’s ours. At least, it is as long as I pay the mortgage.
3. My health, current cold notwithstanding. I really don’t know what I would do if I was struck with some catastrophic illness or serious accident. I know it wouldn’t be good.
4. My job. Even the days that I hate it, I’m still glad I have one that it pays me enough to live, eat and have medical insurance. Plus, I get to work with some super awesome people.
5. My country. As I watch the nightly news, I am struck at how lucky I am to have been born in the US and how lucky my daughter is to have been born here as well. Despite our problems, I am still free to live my life without fear of violence in my own home.
6. Coffee. While I’m not really supposed to drink it, I really just can’t imagine my life without it.
7. Friends. They are what makes life fun!
8. Chocolate. Bless who ever invented it. Seriously.
9. A working washing machine and dryer, in my house. I didn’t always have that as child and I can tell you it makes such a difference in how you live your life and in how you view your life.
10. Technology. Good googly-moogely, I would just hate life without it. Honestly, I may dream of the simple homesteader life… but if it came without running water, heaters and internet, I would be gone in less than an hour.

Why I Love Being Organized

 

I have a "love, but lazy" relationship with organization. On the one hand, I love seeing everything neatly organized, all in their places of place, looking like something out of a magazine. I am endless fascinated by the process or placing things in order and how people do it. Now, you may be saying to yourself one of two things - either "wow! Is this chick boring or what?! She reads organization books for fun?" or if you know in real life "wow! Is this chick full of crap or what?! I should post a photo of the piles on her desk!" (which I am famous for, FWIW)  OR you may be saying "wow! A kindred soul!"

 

The secret I hold in my heart of hearts is that the reason I find in all so fascinating is two part. One, I have NO idea how to be organized. None. Have a plan? That you repeat? But what about things that have to be done immediately? What about something that catches your eye that you forgot to finish yesterday? Because something else caught your eye... How do you organize a kitchen so that space is usable for what you need to do? Or a linen closet? Or a child's room? And for Pete's sake, how do you all get your kids to put everything back into it's appropriate labeled box? This is something that I cannot seem to figure out and I am envious of those who do seem to have it figured out.

The second reason is anxiety. If something is out of whack, missing or not working on time, my mind goes a little running to the worst possible outcome. Can't find an important piece of paper? Homelessness. Can't find my car keys? Fired, never to be gainfully employed again. If it sounds crazy, it's because it is! However, if the keys are where they should be and paperwork is filed, life continues on at a happy little clip. Is that what everyone wants? A happy little clip?

To me, the organization of my house reflects my life. The more smooth it appears in the arrangement of things, the more smooth it is in the arrangement of activities and relationships. As I go along in this process, I'm learning a lot about myself and about life. Who knew the mysteries of life could be found in an organized spice rack.

 

 



The Dreaded Plauge



Now that fall has really arrived, you know it's going to happen... like the dreaded plague sweeping through Europe, some icky virus will sweep through the schools, after school activities or work. Mowing everyone in your family down, like a blade of grass in July.  Of course, we've just finished our first round. The Cuddler got it first, then Lala and finally to me. Guess who took 48 hours to fully recover?

When you are huddled on the couch, or cleaning up after a sick child, you do not want to be thinking about what is for dinner or whether you've got some more medication in the cabinet. Luckily, this summer I snagged some medical bargains for yours truly and was prepared for my own demise.

Today, I also found this article on I'm an Organization Junkie, all about preparing the family for cold and flu season. Although, I currently have almost everything on the list, there are a couple items missing and it's not all organized in one area. The last thing I will want to be doing with a sick child crying in bed, is searching the house for the last place I remember putting the thermometer.

There's also a couple of things a single parent should add to their list organizing for the ickies.

1. Back up person. When you get that dreaded guess who just vomited in class call from your child's teacher, it is always at the most inopportune time. I'm pretty sure it's an incontrovertible law of the universe. They will also fall ill the of the day you most need to be at work. Having a back up person can save your life or possibly your job. You may never need this person - I have only ever had to use mine once in four years - but knowing that option is available just makes your life a little less stressful. Pick someone who is a stay at home and offer to bring them dinner when picking the child up... who can resist a stress free dinner?
2. Always have peanut butter, jelly and bread in your house. Even a four year old can make themselves a PB&J sammy (and think they are pretty darn cool for doing so), thus saving super sick mom from having to make a dinner. One somewhat crappy dinner is not going to kill them. And it is probably healthier that the Ha**y Meal I bought last Sunday.
3. Be germ phobic. Lead kids by example and wash your hands constantly for longer than you think is necessary. Exaggerate holding up your elbow to cover coughs and really, really enjoy those healthy foods. Back in the dinosaur days, someone told me that if you want someone to copy what you do, you have to perform that action twice as much as you want the copier to do. Exaggerate what you do and your little germ factory children will follow that example enough to keep you healthy. And maybe them.



48 Days to Organization

I have been busy getting organized. Really, I have.

The first weekend, I tackled my junk cupboard. Some people have junk drawers (which I also have), but I have a junk cupboard. It's the junk cupboard, because my plan for several years has been to take it down. Remove it from my kitchen. However, this is a task I find extremely daunting for some reason. Otherwise, it would be gone after seven years, right? But having that space empty proved to be too tempting... for the stuff that didn't really have a permanent home, that needed to be put out of the reach of children, and that I didn't have time to put back into the far reaches of some other storage place.

In case you're wondering, yes... those are insta-bibs in the corner. Not that anyone has actually worn a bib in over a year and half.  Suffice it to say that the cupboard hadn't been organized in a long time.

I pulled everything out, tossed what I didn't need. I gave away the bibs and the kids place mats. Returned the lawn fertilizer, paint and lighter fluid to the garage and basically got ride of everything wasn't needed in the kitchen. It was night time by the time I finished - between feed kids, refereeing fights and laundry, it took all day.



And that is why I'm working so hard to get organized. All day for two shelves? Crazy!

Meanwhile, I've been trying to work through piles of paper, mountains of laundry and the explosion of toys before the holiday season arrives to bring in all new stuff. So far, I've given away two garbage bags full of clothing and plan to drop off another four today. I wish I could be organized enough to sell everything online, but at this point, I just need to get rid of it. Plus, there is a little good feeling in knowing that those unwanted items are going to help someone else.

Next on the list is the 'toy-splosion'. I feel a little sick about posting photos of the kids rooms online... but I've seen other kid rooms, so I know that I'm not the only one who runs to shut doors when company comes over unannounced.

Spring Break

Last week we were on Spring Break :)  Here's a few highlights:

• our town once again has a place to purchase craft/sewing supplies beyond quilting! It's been so long since I haven't had to hire a babysitter and drive over an hour to shop that I haven't really done anything in a while... that may change soon!
• both children learned how to use the camera on my cell phone. I now have 10 billion photos of the couch and various arms or legs.
• I also have multiple kid games on my phone.
  
• I finished the pantry!!! I now have space to store the extra blankets in an actual linen closet (woot!) instead of Lala's room and see that I went a little overboard buying powdered sugar last Christmas when it was on sale. Also, I don't need pasta for a while.
  

• Two days later, the Cuddler nearly impaled himself when he pulled a bracket out and dropped a shelf on himself.
• Work is still crazy, but in a much more positive way.
• We were gifted with a new-to-us swing set during break and the weather was actually nice enough so the kids could use it! Everyone is so grateful!