Happy Friday!

Oh my gosh, it’s Friday again. Already. Did this week fly by for you, too?

At any rate, it’s Friday so it’s time for some weekend planning. I’m up for finishing some more stuff today and this weekend. Here’s my list:

• Laundry — finish today so I don’t have to worry about it this weekend. Always better this way.
• Paint the hallway — this is a maybe as it assumes that I can find a suitable paint color today.
• List those two items on Craig’s list that are left over from last weekend.
• Finalize Halloween costumes.
• Make ghosts.

 

Okay…there’s my list.  What’s on your list this weekend?

 

this is progress? a.k.a. 12 week challenge update

I'm dying to know how you're doing on your 12 week challenge. It's oh-so hard to believe, yet oh-so true that on this Saturday, we will have just 4 weeks left in our 12 week challenge. Holy cow! Is that hard to believe or is it just me? So do share ... how are you coming along with your 12 week goal? I hope it's going great.

I'm still wondering why on earth I thought *now* would be the time to tackle my magazines. Of all things my magazines! But I did and so ... here's the progress report.

But ... before you see the picture, I must once again ask: this is progress?

Actually those somewhat messy stacks are clippings sorted by category. So ... oddly enough it *is* progress. (I should have taken a photo of the now empty picnic basket! That is tremendous success.)

But here's another photo ... sorted magazines in magazine sorters ... obviously still a work in process by the haphazard post-it note labels ... but it's progress, yes?

I have recycled oodles and oodles of magazines and even recycled a magazine on the same day I got it in the mail. Now that is beyond progress. That is unheard of!

How about you ... how is your project coming along? I can't wait to hear from you.

Oh ... and thanks to everyone for all the great goodie bag ideas! What fun. I'm actually excited to come up with something for my daughter's birthday ... which is just around the corner! Who knew we were all so passionate about the goodie bag? ;)  (And isn't it so nice we're not alone on this one?)

what's that?

I have a blog? Oh yes, I vaguely remember something about that ... hmmm ... I seem to have abandoned you. I've been pondering what to do for a pre-holiday challenge and amid all the indecision (plus sending out my newsletter this week and some other exciting diversions like my lab puppy munching on a battery) I seem to have just avoided blogging. I feel like I need to decide what I'm going to do about the pre-holiday challenge before I can post again ... so perhaps now's the time. I'll just write and see what I come up with. This should be interesting ... but first ... I have to share a few things.

I'm sitting here with the world's worst headache --- the kind you wake up with and hope will somehow just magically go away. The kind that hurts so bad you can't even fall asleep when trying to take a nap. The kind that goes down into your neck and circles your entire head. And yet ... I have been awake for approximately 8 hours and 43 painful minutes and it just now occurred to me "Take an aspirin! Take two! Make the pain go away!" And so I did ... perhaps by the end of the post I'll have 1) a plan for the pre-holiday challenge, and 2) a pain-free head.

Do you know what that's all about? Why are there some things we feel we should just be able to bear? Be able to handle on our own? Be able to tough it out and just take it? Or just figure out all by our lonesome? For some reason I'm like that with headaches. How about you ---- is there anything you have like that in your life --- or am I all alone in this insanity?

I have a feeling this post is going to be one of those that my husband won't get ... the "random girl-talk" type of post. Do you ever do that? My best friend from high school, Liz, and I will do this ... we'll have about three to four conversations going simultaneously and they can extend over an entire weekend. We'll seamlessly jump from one topic to another and back again without missing a beat ... and if Jay overhears any of it he's completely lost. I miss that. I miss Liz. I should pick up the phone and call her as soon as I'm done with this mish-mash of a post ...

Hmmm ... maybe I don't need to create anything new! That's it ... we'll just do the same drill as last time. (I'm back to the post-holiday challenge again, Jay.) I'll pick one thing that I'm going to do by the end of twelve weeks and post about where I am each week. And you do the same. I'm feeling braver this time ... I'm going to tackle my PILE of magazines! It's true ... I have too many. There isn't much I overindulge in, magazines seem to be one exception. The other used to be plastic food storage containers, but I've got that one under control. This is scaring me ... am I really *that* boring???????

Alright ... here's what we did last time. So let's just do it again! Here's a recap:
1) Decide on a goal and describe the benefits of accomplishing your goal. For example, how you will feel, or your space will look, etc.
2) Make sure your goal is measurable (three times a week, four hours a day, eight pages a month, fits on a bookshelf, etc.)
3) Set a deadline.
4) Post your goal here and then, check in from time to time and let me know how you're doing. It's a simple way to create change in your life ... and just in time for the holidays, in this case. Yeah!!

So here's my goal:

1) Reduce my collection of magazines and magazine clippings so the collection will fit in my magazine bookcase, metal basket by my desk and one other small "in-process" basket (to be designated.) Also, set up a system for storing magazine clippings so they're useful and accessible. Doing this will help me to feel more in control. I will be able to easily find all the beautiful and inspiring photos I've been saving. And my space will be more organized by containing the magazines in a single location. (OK ... maybe it's two.) 

2) The magazines will fit in the spaces designated above --- and as new magazines come into my life, old ones will go bye-bye. (Ouch!)

3) My magazine collection will be organized and in control by December 23rd. What has not been gone through or put into a system will be pitched if it doesn't fit in the spaces designated above. And I need to add a space ... the clippings will probably go in binders ... and those can be on my other bookcases that I use for reference. And I have to decide if it's OK to keep the large picnic basket full of clippings ... OK ... I'll decide soon.

4) I'll check in with you --- if you'll check in with me. Deal?

Oh before I sign off, update on the headache: gone ... yeah! And, do you want to see my "collection?" These are some old photos --- I thought about doing this before but I wasn't ready ... now I am ... or at least I'm making myself be ready. Here we go:

aren't they lovely? here's more ...

and last but not least ... the picnic basket. Again, this is an old photo ... currently the very large picnic basket is loaded full of clippings!

I think this is the world's largest picnic basket ... roughly 2 cubic feet of storage. (A TON of clippings!)

Better go get busy! Have a great weekend :)

creative organizing project: create a fun craft + homework cabinet!

In keeping with the back to school theme, here's a great project for all of you with kiddos in school. It's a fun way to keep art, craft and homework supplies organized and in easy access of the little ones. No kids in school? No problem. Use a similar approach for organizing *your* craft or scrapbook supplies.

Here's the cabinet before creative organizing intervention:

And ... drum roll please ;) ... here's the cabinet after creative organizing intervention:

Here are some of the details. Small plastic drawers hold the basics: glue, stickers, pencils, colored pencils, crayons and markers. They drawers are labeled using rub-on letters and die cut monograms adhered with rubber cement.

The glass jars hold assorted goodies like wooden stencils, erasers, rubber stamps and small fabric scraps and other fun stuff for gluing (like foam letters and wooden shapes.) These are labeled using ribbon, metal rimmed tags and rubber stamps for the lettering.

A paper sorter holds plain white paper and colored construction paper. And that rounds out shelf one.

On the second shelf each child has their own supply basket ... with their personal supply of favorite pencils, glue sticks, markers, erasers, scissors and so on. (The drawers serve as central supply for sharing and restocking their own basket.) These are labeled with each child's initial.

The bottom shelf holds workbooks and coloring books in a dish-washing bin. And next to that are magazine sorters that hold notebooks and magazines (for cutting and gluing.) And then we have little metal buckets full of stamp pads and markers! And play doh and play doh tools are in the toolbox and shoebox below.

 

So ... all in all, this makes me happy. It's simple for the kids to find their stuff and put everything away. (Love that.) And if they forget or don't do it? I really don't even mind ... the cabinet makes me so happy ... I'll gladly do it myself!

It's late ... so I bet I forgot some details ... let me know if you have any Q's!

Happy Labor Day to you. Hope you spend the day doing something fun and creative!

challenge update

I promised I'd share my progress on the 12 week goals ... so here we go!

Goal #1: purge my college text books and notebooks by August 22nd.
Progress: mission accomplished!

Goal #2: implement a workable chore system for my kids by August 21st, and consistently follow through. The system will be easy to follow, even for my daughter who isn't reading yet. I will consistently follow through on making sure it gets done and reward them appropriately. Also, need to decide on an allowance system.

Progress: mission almost accomplished! Yep ... I'd say I'm almost there. We've defined what the kids will be responsible for and we've set up a checklist system and created clip boards for each of the kids to use. We've also decided basically on payment. Chores are top of mind for me on a daily basis --- so I'd say I'm pretty close to consistently following through. We need to add some things to the system. There are a few chores they don't fully understand yet and we have to work through this. But all in all ... we're well underway. And I must say ... much farther along than I would have been were it not for "going public" here. But ... like most ongoing things ... my chores system is a work-in-progress. So all in all I'd say I'm happy with our progress.

So what's the system all about ... well, they each have daily chores which include things like making their beds (which come to think of it they didn't do three weeks ago --- yea, a total victory!), clearing the dishes, setting the table, getting themselves dressed, helping to make lunch, picking up their things each day before bed, doing homework and so on. Basic things. We took away the dog responsibilities after one too many incident of the puppy eating the older dog's food. The consequences were just too stinky. So it was a very beneficial tweak in the system.

We also have weekly chores. I think I'm going to update their chore charts so they can do one extra chore per day --- things like sweeping the floor, sorting laundry, putting laundry away, and so on --- instead of leaving all of this for the weekends.

One part of the system was to make it easy to understand for my non-reader (the little girl on the yellow bus from yesterday). So I created this:

It has a picture of each chore along with the words. It's hot off the press --- so I'll let you know how it goes.

All in all, it was a successful 12 weeks. I know these two things would have fallen off my radar screen were it not for all of you --- so I thank you. Thank you for all of you who joined in, commented or just read along silently. Because of you, I have a bit less clutter in the form of college text books and a few less chores on *my* daily to-do list. And ... my daughter is learning to spell the days-of-the-week and various chores because of this little challenge. Yep. I'd call it a win. :)

update: My husband took the photos I used in the little book. And I laminated the photos using wallet size lamination pouches.

time's up!

That's right ... the 12 week challenge is officially over! How did you do? Here's what I'd love to know:

1. Where were you when you started? In other words, how did you feel and why did you decide to join in the challenge?
2. Where are you now? In other words, it's time to toot your own horn loud and proud! Tell me about your progress and more importantly, let me know how you feel about it.
3. Do something today to celebrate your progress. Even if you aren't as far along as you'd like to be (or as far along as you thought you'd be) do something today just for you! Take a walk. Take a bubble bath. Go get a pedicure. Spend some time scrapbooking. No matter where you are in the pursuit of your 12 week challenge, I bet this is true for each of you: you're farther along than you would have been if you hadn't participated. Right? And that, my friends, deserves celebration! Congratulations! I'm so excited for you!!

I have a full day of appointments today ... so I'll post about my progress in the 12 week challenge tonight ... OK? Can't wait to hear from you!

two weeks ...

that's right ... just two weeks left in the twelve week challenge. How's everyone doing?

We're good on the chore front ... still have the last bit to finish up with the non-daily chores and making it friendly for my little non-reader. Thanks all for your great ideas and tips on this ... my wheels are turning! I'll post here as soon as it's "done." The kids are doing well with the daily lists ... and we're getting in the habit of remembering to do everything on the list. Less nagging. More getting done. That's what it's all about, isn't it?

I'd love to hear how you're doing ...

aren't surprises fun?

I think they are ... so I thought I'd surprise my kids tonight. My son LOVES surprises and I should surprise him more often --- nurture his little self a bit, you know?

So since I'm in back-to-school mode, I picked up these today at Target.

Cute, aren't they? So it's a little surprise... something to get them just bit more excited for school and get all of us a bit more organized for school.

I packed them up like this,

using a few little scrapbook supplies for some simple tags. I tucked a note inside inviting each of them to go shopping for school supplies with me on their own special day --- just mom and one kid --- alone time --- I love that.

Simple little surprises. One of life's little pleasures.

So here's your challenge. Who can you surprise this week? You don't have to go out and spend money ... just a hide a note under a loved one's pillow or a put a post-it note on the bathroom mirror with a little love message. Or maybe make a card with some "aging" scrapbook supplies and send it to a long distance friend. That'd be fun, wouldn't it? Keep it simple and have fun surprising someone you love.

Can't wait until my little ones see their surprise. I have my bets on which one will find them first! And ... I'd love to hear who you decide to surprise! Let me know ;)

making progress ...

... on my 12 week challenge. The good thing about this heatwave, (maybe the only good thing about this heatwave) is having a great excuse to stay inside and do some creative organizing projects, don't you think?

Are you making progress, too? I know some of you are (yeah!) thanks to your emails and blog comments. Thanks for updating me! It's exciting to see what you're all accomplishing in just twelve short weeks. Exciting stuff, isn't it?

Juel asked if I'll be doing an organizing challenge before the holidays. Thanks for the great idea Juel. What do you think ... should I do it? Let me know what you think ... would you join in?

Alright ... so here's where I am on the chore system for my kids:

1) Both children now have a clipboard to use to keep track of their daily chores. That was yesterday's project --- lots of fun.

2) We've decided on their weekly responsibilities --- for before school, after school and bedtime --- and have a daily checklist to use.

3) There's enthusiasm in the air for this new chore system. The kids are actually excited about it! Yippee! Now my job is to keep the enthusiasm going.

We have three weeks until school starts ... just enough time to get into the habit of doing these chores every day. So that's good.

What's left to do? Well ... I have to decide a strategy for weekend chores. This is when we do the serious house cleaning and laundry and I'd love some help from the kids on that. Who wouldn't, right? But I also want this to be less structured than the weekdays ... for all of us. So I have to figure out a system for the weekend chores, as well as how to make these chore lists "readable" for my daughter who can't read quite yet. I have some ideas percolating ...

More soon! Have a happy Monday!

4 weeks ... but who's counting?

I am. Are you?

4 weeks left in our twelve week challenge. I've still got work to do on my remaining goal: get a chore system implemented for my two kids. It's number one on my to-do list for this weekend.

How about you? Are you making progress? Are you on track to be where you want to be at the end of the 12 weeks? Let me know! I can't wait to hear from you!

More soon. Have a great day! :)