Late Again, But Determined Anyway!

I really wish that I would find these things earlier.

Here I am, just discovering this, and starting 2/3 of the way through. 

Sigh.......

Ah well.  That's just how the cookie crumbles 'round my house!

So, I'm starting late (again), but I am not to be dissuaded! 

I am determined- 2011 is the YEAR.

The year in which I WILL finally get our home whipped into shape!

This is the year that our house becomes a home- and a home that not only feels and looks "homey" (at the very least, by December this year, there will be much improvement in the "homey"ness department!) but that is organized (at least to the extent that organization is possible in this stage of our parenthood life).

Wanna join me?  :D

I may be late, but I'm stickin' to it!

So, here goes: Day 1- Organizing the Junk Drawer.

Stay tuned.

(But only if you want to see pictures of a horribly messy drawer turned neat.  Heh heh!)

The Purging of The Stuff- Day One (and a super-fast update)

Well, we're back from MN, the sister is all better (mostly), and life is getting back to normal!

The baby (sigh...a toddler really, who am I kidding?!) is beginning to transition into sleeping through the night (at least, that's the parent-plan...) thanks to help from miss Elizabeth Pantley's book.  Wow- love it!

And, the Purging of The Stuff has officially begun!

For about 3 years now I've been making the same New Year's resolution- get organized!

After reading another great book, Simplicity Parenting (best. parenting. book. ever!), I finally decided, "This is ridiculous!  I know we have too much stuff.  And I know I'm not succeeding at getting, or keeping, it all organized!  So, it's time to get rid of it.  A LOT of it!"

Thus, The Purging of The Stuff.

Today was Day One.  

It went slower than I'd like.  But, then again, I do have two little un-doers that follow me around all day!  ;)

I've currently got a box going for adult clothes, baby clothes, and household misc.  I'm going to try selling what I can (we're also working on the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University right now, so any extra $$ we can scrape together is going towards getting our "debt snowball" rolling), then donating the rest to Goodwill or giving it away to someone who needs it.

Next on the list is to pare down the following:

*cloth diaper stash

*dishes & utensils

*pots & pans

*continue going through the clothes

*kitchen "stuff"

*books

*blankets & misc. bedding

*do a second go-through of the toys

...and so on and so forth.

It's hard though- I'm so used to hanging onto stuff for a "rainy day" or "someday".

But, I keep trying to focus on how much easier it's going to be to keep my house a home once all the extra is gone.

Then the task will be to keep it gone.

We'll see how that goes...

:D

Manifesto

Doesn't THAT sound "grand"!  ;)

I found this:

from this site.  

It says "june 2010", but I'm just plain adopting it in general.  

A lot of these have been my "goals" to make happen/ make habit this summer and carry on into the rest of the year.

I'm progressing slowly- but progress is still progress.  ;)

Resolutions

Well, I'm a week late in sharing my New Year's Resolutions for 2010, but that's because I've been thinking long and hard about them. About what I want this year- about what I want out of life in general. I've discovered that I'm inspired by the blogs/lives/pictures of others- other women (mostly here on the web) who are working at home, being with their families, raising their children, making it by hand, baking it, making it from scratch. Reading their words and looking at their pictures makes me feel more....centered. Gives me a clearer vision of what I want our life to be.

And so, here goes:
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.
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.
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In 2010 I Want:

-To begin to truly learn what it is to live simply.


That's it.
But, to me, it's a biggie. And, I think it entails smaller resolutions like the following:

-To pare down our belongings.
(Do I really need three great big cooking pots? Or 10 flower vases, when I rarely put out fresh flowers? Hmmmm.)

-To live by the "Less Is More" mentality.

-To create things by hand.

-To start recycling again.

-To find a way to work ourselves into a daily rhythm- one that involves a regular housework schedule.
(Ahem! That's something that's rather spotty around here!)

-To stay home more.

-To grow (and tend to!) a food garden.

-To (successfully) can or freeze our extra garden produce.

-To cook and bake more.

-To spend less.
(On everything. Food, clothes, entertainment- all of it.)

-To stay on our (very strict) budget.

-To remember that "it" won't be this way forever.
(I have many "it"s- feeling frazzled and overwhelmed from running a daycare and caring for a small baby of my own, keeping up with the house, the budget, the schedule, etc., etc.)

-To knit more.

-To sew more.

-To make sure it's not an option to NOT do something I LOVE everyday.
(It makes me a happier person and, by extension, a better wife & mommy.)

So, what about you?
What are you resolving to do in 2010?