The last two weeks in One Year To An Organized Life

Week Three of December is a good time to volunteer with local organizations and charities. Volunteering / giving back is a great way to bless others and in so doing you will also feel blessed. I am very pleased to see this included in Regina Leeds book! We were richly blessed by our community and our church this Christmas season. Next year our church is in charge of organizing the Christmas Baskets given to families in need in the community. We will be volunteering with our church members next year. This year we went through our cupboards and put things we were never going to use in the food bank box at the local grocery store.

Week Four is the big celebration! And dealing with the "aftermath". Regina Leeds reminds us to take care of ourselves so that we don't end up in bed with a cold or flu. The week after Christmas is a great time to start thinking about the New Year as well.

Do you have resolutions? Will this be the year you stick to them? Or do you simply want to strive to do better this coming year than you did in the last? That's one of my goals. A couple of friends of mine are going to be joining me in FlyLady's Babysteps. We've already started by trying to get our sinks shiny each night before we go to bed. I've had some success.

Thank you so very much, Regina, for a wonderfully put together book. I am amazed with myself, that I stuck to this the whole year through. I started a little late (in February, I believe) but since then I think I only missed a month! For me, that's an accomplishment in itself. Now, is my house perfect? Far from it! Is it better than it was in February 2009? You bet! I still have a long way to go, but I'm well on my way! And with a new baby coming, I have even more incentive to get my family and me organized and in a routine.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

December Weeks One and Two in One Year To An Organized Life

December is a wonderful month in this house. We love Christmas and we don't get to stressed over things around her. That being said, this is still a busy month for us too.

The new habit for the month of December is to practice all the habits from the rest of the year. There is enough stuff going on that we don't need to add another item to our to do lists.

Week one in the book is all about the plan - budgeting, journalling, creating and maintaining a calendar, planning a party, sending out cards, making a gift list. Once we have all these things in place, the purchasing and executing are so much easier. I especially appreciated the directions and pointers for making a pretty and useful gift list.

Week two is getting the home ready (decorated) and getting items purchased. If we get this done in week two, we can better enjoy the rest of the season.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

PS. I received word that One Year To An Organized Financial Life is on its way to me, for my review!!! I can't wait!!!! Watch for posts each month on this new book by Regina Leeds.

One Year to an Organized Life - November

Entertaining is a lot of fun! I love having people come into our home and feel comfortable interacting with us. I love to serve others and allow them to relax for even just a few minutes in our busy lives. I have toyed with the idea of having an adult only party - a more formal affair - after my children are in bed. I think that would be fun. Not this year, maybe next year. With Christmas coming up ( and Thanksgiving in the US) entertaining is even more on my mind. It was no surprise to me that Regina Leeds has entertaining as the topic for the month of November.

Regina Leeds suggests writing about something we are thankful for each day, for the whole month. I think that this is a great habit to get into; I think I will try it with what is remaining of this month and carry on into December.

In the first week of November, Leeds asks us to think about Thanksgivings past to analyze why we feel the way we do about the holiday. She then moves on to the present and asks us to dream about our perfect Thanksgiving. The questions she asks are a great guidle for digging into those sometimes painful memories.

Weeks two, three and four of November are final preparation and organization for Turkey Day. (I'm going to have to remember this chapter for October next year!) Week two is the clean sweep - getting the whole house ready for company. I have company in week three, so this information came at just the right time! Week three is nailing down the menu including the budget. ( I don't think I've ever budgeted for Thanksgiving, but it just might be a good idea!) Week four is a day by day plan including cleanup after the big meal. What a great resource! Thank you, Regina Leeds.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Habit for the Month - November's Focus

Well, it's already the middle of the month and I'm just getting to post this month's habit, but it's a good one. Following along with Regina Leed's One Year to an Organized Life has given me a great focus for each month. This month the United States has their Thanksgiving Day, so Regina encourages us to be thankful each and every day! I thought this was such a good idea that I'm going to try, for the next 39 or so days (until Christmas, maybe longer), to post a brief thankful post, each day.



Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Books and Coffee

Here I am, late again. But it's been quite a day; you can read about my day here. I am so tired; mentally, emotionally and physically tired.



I am participating in the Fall Into Reading Challenge from Callapidder Days. My list of books is here and I'm not doing very well. I'm on my second book but I've only read the first 10 pages or so. I wanted to finish it by the weekend. I don't think that is going to happen. The book that I chose is called The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia. Although I may set this one aside and move on to another, I will be coming back to this book. She has me intrigued in the first few pages. Another person's journey through a series of books that I enjoyed as a young person as well. I love different perspectives.

Regina Leeds book, One Year to an Organized Life, has been an enjoyable read to this point. Honestly, I did not make time to read September's material. I plan to go back to it though. I need what she discusses - routines for back to school. Even though we don't go back to school, we still try to get back into the swing of more sitdown work in the fall. But this chaper (September) fits better for me in October when the weather is getting too cool to be outside. I can't wait to read and implement the tips I know are there. I feel as if I am floundering a little at getting us back into the books.

Thanks for stopping by, Company Girls, and regular visitors.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Oh my the busy-ness of fall!

My blogs (SSDR and this one) have been neglected! I have most of September in One Year to an Organized Life to read and discuss. I have my 101/1001 to update. I have another book review coming for here as well. I have to discuss my monthly focus for September and decide on one for October. Over at SSDR I have a number of Breast Cancer Awareness posts to take care of as well as working on some other reviews for there.

We are working into a new normal in our house. With regular scheduled activities regularly happening things are falling into place. And with DH gone for most of the day every day we are changing the routine here at home too. Trying to find what's going to work for us to get everything done - activities, homeschooling, groceries, chores, visits with friends.

One of my focuses here this month is going to be planning the birthday party for the end of the month. I'm still planning on going with the Dr. Seuss theme and have some ideas brewing. I'll share them as I get to them! We have three birthday girls; I want to make each feel special so even though it's a group party there needs to be some individualization as well.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

One Year To An Organized Life - Last Week of August

This week is titled MOVING DAY. If you follow these tips, the day of your move will be so smooth. Some of the tips include:

• remember - last on, FIRST off
• have a couple of boxes marked as ESSENTIALS, so they are easy to find; some ESSENTIALS boxes include "family", "pet", "kitchen", "emergency household"
• play music while you unpack
• tip movers if tip is deserved

Although we are not moving now, I know that this chapter will become handy one day, either for us personally or as we help others move.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Don't forget to check out the great giveaways at Simply Sensational Divas Review.

One Year To An Organized Life - August: Moving Week Three

This week deals specifically with hiring and directing and planning with and for the movers. So much great information. I've never had the luxury of movers, but I guess they could be a hassle all their own. The tips Regina Leeds gives in this section would be really helpful in working with these professionals.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Don't forget to check out the great giveaways at Simply Sensational Divas Review.

One Year To An Organized Life - August: Moving Week Two

Packing Time!

You know, we've moved a lot since we were married and growing up, we moved a lot then too! I've had lots of experience with moving. My dad was a good packer. We never hired movers that I remember. And J and I haven't ever done that. Over the years we've gotten good at packing and thinking the move through before moving day.

Even though I'm not packing up to move this month, I think I might start slowly sorting through things asking myself some pointed questions and get some of the clutter out of my house.

1. Do I love it?
2. Do I need it?
3. Do I have more than one? Do I need more than one?
4. Does it have a home?
5. Would I cart it across the country or move it to a new home?
6. Do I know someone who can use it?
7. Is it just trash?

For example, we are given clothes all the time. I love hand-me-downs, but I have so many that I've kept that we are missing out on using them because I am overwhelmed by the quantity. I would never haul this many items to a new home. I don't love it; I have more than one, more than what's needed even for my 4 girls. So, some of those things will go.

Regina Leeds offers many great suggestions for packing your belongings including when to hire professionals and when to just do it yourself.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Don't forget to check out the great giveaways at Simply Sensational Divas Review.

One Year To An Organized Life - August: Moving Week One

Well, we are not moving, so I won't be doing the work and journaling suggested in this book but I'll cover briefly what Regina Leeds talks about in this chapter. I can't imagine moving from this home. We love it here. I would have a lot of emotional and intellectual work to do if we moved! I'm so glad this chapter is here.

(We're over halfway through the year!)

Leeds suggests writing about why we are moving, what our feelings are about this move (fears, joys, etc) and ways to be more comfortable with some of those feelings and issues. By making a plan, these things are easier to work with.

The second part of the journaling is to answer four questions: 1. How much time before the move? And what needs to be done in that time. 2. What's the budget? If there isn't one, make one. 3. Is the new residence bigger or smaller? Make concrete goals for moving in. 4. Are you moving all your possessions? Downsize everything possible! (Question 4 is a short section but really helpful; I'm not going to spill what's there, but wow, I'm not moving and I learned a lot!)

Lastly, Regina suggests creating a Moving Binder. Put everything relavant to the move in the binder. Some sections she suggests are: children, new home, new neighborhood, pets, moving preparation, travel information.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Don't forget to check out the great giveaways at Simply Sensational Divas Review.

Lots of Little Posts Today

I found this blog; not sure how, but this post caught my attention. I don't wanna get wrapped up in comments but comments are so nice to get. So I gobbled up Stephanie's post called 7 Reasons I DIDN'T Leave A Comment. Stephanie is the author of Metropolitan Mama. I plan on reading more of her posts as well as some of her favorite blogs (you can find the list here).




Another week gone in One Year to an Organized Life

This week and next in Regina Leeds book are about collecting, sorting and storing (in albums or otherwise) our photographs, both digital and "hard copy". She is right in saying that this process is actually an emotional one, more so (or as much as) a physical one. I'm not ready to tackle this at this point. I do know where all my photos are - on my computer, in a couple boxes, in a drawer here at my desk. And they are somewhat organized; mostly in albums. I have no where to display the albums and so they stay in the boxes.



Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

One Year To An Organized Life - My Address Book

Well, it had been a few years since I went through my address binder. I got rid of 85 pieces of paper. I had three different addresses for one friend. I got rid of a lot of names and addresses because I realized that if I needed them, most of them are on Facebook or online in other ways as well. My pages fit better in the binder now too! I still have some work to do: tidying it up, adding some missing information, and adding a pretty picture to the front.

Strolling down memory lane
Some types of memorabilia

• letters and cards
• children's artwork
• textbooks and yearbooks
• receipts from trips
• old photos - digital or other
• "dust collectors" (figurines)
• caps and tshirts
• any other collections

three sections of collections

• stored
• displayed
• general

Through a series of question Regina Leeds asks us to think about and determine why we have these collections. One big reason people keep this "stuff" is because we feel we peaked at some point in the past and keep these things to prove it or remind ourselves of it. I would say that I am not one of those people. I have slowly gotten rid of our (my) high school and college memos. Our main collections and memos are boxes of photos and boxes of Harvey's things. I think that the amount of times we have moved has helped keep the collections down. We just don't have them.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Fun In The Sun with Regina Leeds

One Year to An Organized Life is a great tool. I am really enjoying using it to keep my large family on the right track. I did get off track last month but I'm jumpin' back on the wagon so to speak and the next area Regina Leeds deals with in her book are things like scrapbooks, card collections and our address book. This could be a month to get some other projects done, as (hopefully) the work will be a little less intense.

This chapter is not dealing 100% with what I thought she was going to deal with but it does make sense. These things that we collect - pictures, addresses, cards, memos of the past - need to be dealt with along with the emotions connected to them.

This month's habit is something that I do quite regularly. I hate little slips of paper all over, so when I get a new number or a phone number I try to enter it into a cellphone list of contacts, or on my phone number sheet by my desk or at the very least on my calendar. That being said, I have a very large pile of addresses and phone numbers (mostly addresses) in my "mailing drawer" in my desk. I have a binder that I've made into an address book, but it does need some TLC and an update. I think I'd like to add a picture to the front to make it more "pretty".

This coming week has three objectives in the book, the biggest one is understanding that "(a) lot of pain is hiding in those pages". Sometimes we may have to let go of some old acquaintances to make room for those who are in our lives now. It could mean that those people have died or that the relationship has done something similar.

This week I will be scheduling time to work on my address books -electronic and paper. And in my control journal I have a day scheduled for desk work that includes writing letters and cards. I want to start adding that activity to my weekly activities. I am already buying cards a month at a time and sending them out in one mailing. However, those at the beginning of the month get theirs late and those at the end of the month get them really early. In my mind, at least they are getting them, because prior to this year, they weren't!


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

One Year To An Organized Life: June

Well, I don't know where the month went, but I guess I do. Life happened. Disorganization. Oh well. That's the way things go.

The chapter in Regina Leeds book - One Year To An Organized Life - for the month of June is on traveling light. I really would have enjoyed reading it, but to be honest I didn't. :( Sorry. I have no plans to travel far in the next few months and so it did not become a priority. I can't comment on it's usefulness; however, if it is anything like the rest of the chapters I've read so far, I bet it is great!

And so, here comes the month of July. Keep an eye out for weekly posts starting again this week (usually posted on Sundays).

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Habit for the Month - June

Oh My! I found this post, dated June 1, in my drafts! I forgot to post it. Remember what I was doing during that time?? Preparing for Mom's party. I've felt disorganized (blog-wise) since. So, here goes:

****************************************************************************

June. June. June. Summer!!! I'm so glad. I love summer.

I have been doing very well at keeping the dishes and laundry caught up; I'm glad that this has become a habit! Getting up earlier has been key to that; I always seem to get more done when I get up at a decent time.

Reading together has always been something I've tried to do and we'll keep on trying. I've been reading more on my own and the older girls are getting the hang of it; especially CJ.

And last month I focused on all those things and did well, as you know from reading my May Review.

Moving on.

June. June. June. What am I going to focus on in June???? I don't know what to focus on! I'm lost!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Thinking thinking thinking. While a movie plays in the background, dh snores in the loft, and little M sings Christmas carols on my knee and Baby R keeps reaching for anything in her grasp. No wonder I can't think sometimes!! My house is so busy.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

{insert Jeopardy theme here}

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Regina Leeds (in One Year To An Organized Life) doesn't deal with the common spaces - living room and such - until October; my living room needs attention now. This is partly because the school room and office and toys and . . . well, it's just our common room; we do everything in this room. And the dining room is just off this room too. This living room / common room collects everything! I have piles everywhere. I am tired of living in the clutter and mess and piles. So for June's focus I am going to putter away at this room - sorting, organizing, decluttering, re-piling. I am going to make space for a new piece of furniture. (I'll show pictures and tell when it gets here.) I want the kids to have a space to play in this room, but right now that space is full of mess!

I am going to try to work all this in between going to the park, working in the garden and other typical summer activities!

Have a great first month of summer!

******************************************************************

And in light of Mom's birthday party you know why I chose to focus on the main living space. I did not to bad. I'll get back to posting a month focus as well as Regina Leeds book posts soon.

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

One Year To An Organized Life - June Week One

Regina Leeds speaks about travel in the chapters for the month of June. We are not planning on doing any traveling any time soon, but I am not going to skip this month. My reading and implementing will be more relaxed, but there are many principles to be applied and thought through.

Growing up in a family with 3 brothers, and living on the road for up to 6 weeks each summer, Mom taught me a lot about packing light. (I was just reading Week One for June in Leeds' book and it talks about packing light.) Everyone got one small suitcase. We had camping gear and activities for in the van. We had display items and videos. The minivan was always packed to the ceiling, under the seats and between kids. We washed clothes once a week while away (she washed once a week at home too; not sure how she managed it!) She would put one day's worth of clothing in a one gallon zip closed bag, suck all the air out of it and pack it into the bag. She'd follow that with 6 more little bags. And then the extras - jammies, swimming suits, cosemetics. With 6 people living out of a minivan for a month and a half, she found every trick in the book.

Now DH and I have just worked around that idea and always had a vehicle that has too much room! I pack way way way too much stuff for our family (or at least I have until this point). I pack strollers and baby carriers. I pack clothes for 2 weeks, easy. I pack toys and more diapers than we'll need. More meds than we could use, just in case. Our suburban has always been over full.

Time to start thinking and packing like my mom and like Regina Leeds suggests. I think my family and I will be happier. I'll have less laundry and less stress trying to keep track of everything. Now, granted, there are 7 of us and even small amounts of everything is going to add up, but I think I can learn to curt tail it a little.

Leeds asks us to make 3 (I think) lists in this chapter to get us thinking about what we pack and why. I'll have to go back through and read what those entail again.

I especially enjoyed the section of the chapter where Regina tells of her parents allowing her to plan a trip overseas. She had to do it all; all the planning, requests for information, scheduling flights, booking hotels and transportation, getting the needed ID and shots and other paperwork. As a "life is learning" mom, I love love love this idea! What a great learning experience. One trip (my Dad's idea since he was young!)that has been discussed in our home (both mine growing up and since J and I have been married) is a cross country trip on horse back. (We live in Canada.) We may just have to do it yet! Our kids are so little yet that expecting them to plan it right now would be out of the question, but in a few years. Planning is one of the steps toward doing!

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

The Month of May is Coming to an End

My hidden spaces are being cleared of their clutter. I am getting quite organized. However, the focus seems to be more outside now that the weather is really nice again. So I would say that except for a day here or there, most of our time will be spent in the garden and raised beds. I do need to do some work in the laundry room because I got some more shelving!!! And I'd like to do a little in the guest room. And the bathroom is going to get some work in the next couple weeks too. My parents are coming to visit and they've been here before when we didn't have a door on the bathroom. However, this time, DH would really like to have a door on that room. We need a new shower curtain too. So those things that I wanted to do in April will now (hopefully) get done!

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Making a Plan for the Hidden Spaces

Earlier this week I posted some pictures (here and here) of my hidden spaces that I've been working on already. These were projects that we had started and just needed finishing. I still have some decluttering to do. I did not take the time this week to go through each room and make a detailed to do list. But because I'm not traveling this summer (June's focus) and we aren't moving (as far as I know; August's focus) then I can focus on these hidden areas more then. I'm just going to putter away at things and keep reading through the next two weeks chapters.

Regina Leeds suggests a few things to help us on our mission: yard sales (not my cup of tea), donating our things and using consignment shops, dumpsters and getting the whole family on board. Well, our unwanted items will either go to a second hand store (we have a great one in our little town) and the back of a pick up truck to go to the dump. We don't have the funds to rent a dumpster, but I can make a meal for one of the single fire fighters that has a pick up! We sent a load with him yesterday. The truck was over full! Thanks so much, FF Martin.

This week was actually very productive for us as a family!

Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Getting The Laundry Caught Up With Some New Tools

Only part of Mt. Washmore! And the new tools. Tools purchased Tuesday afternoon.


We're getting Mt. Washmore sorted into Three Hills. The sorting was completed late Tuesday evening.













Three Hills in a cluster beside the washer. Let's get to it!!! By washing three to five loads a day, we were able to tackle these Hills of Laundry-land.


As of the posting of these photos, there are 2 partial loads (lights and darks), and 2 full loads of towels. Everything else has been washed and hung to dry. Friday afternoon saw me folding three very much overfull baskets. These folded items have yet to be put away and the lines are heavy with clothes still drying. But in three days, J and I defeated Mt. Washmore!! Now to maintain this success by continuing to wash, hang and fold three loads a day, as needed.


In addition to working on the laundry, I got the dishes caught up and the boxes and storage shelves organized; J got the shed cleaned out and our antique buffet moved in as storage for things being moved in from the shed. J moved his automotive repair tools and workbench out of my porch area and into the shed. He moved all the gardening items to the greenhouse attached to the house. I am gaining more "real estate" in my house!!! I'm taking back my home from the clutter and S. T. U. F. F.** And we ran around the house and yard about 6 times (on Friday) to get a cardio workout.

**S.T.U.F.F. = Something that undermines family fun; a Flylady acronym.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,

Some Work On Our Hidden Places

blankets that needed to be sorted and put away.


more blankets that needed to be dealt with.




The blankets are now all in place!







In the bottom dresser we are storing the sheets and pillow cases that we currently use. In the top piece we store cleaning supplies. This is a new to us set. Tammy-Lee's dh found these pieces and came by wondering if we needed them. They work great and really helped to clean up my bedding.






Striving to learn and live God's purposes,