With the Christmas Season over I am sad to take down the decorations. It means we have another 11 months till we get all that festive stuff again. I am also taking this opportunity to clear out what didn't get used and not pack it again for another 12 months! Some items you buy on sale after the holiday at deep discount, but never use. I think if I haven't used them for two years it is time to pass on to someone who will use it. so I am trying to keep the holiday decor down to a dull roar.

Giving away the unwanted Christmas Decorations! Check!

I do love Christmas! But, boy it takes room I don't have to store the stuff! I think I need to really look at all the gift wrap stuff and organize it better. Boy does that take up some room! Maybe some better packing will condense down the 6 or 7 big containers of Christmas I have right now.

If you have suggestions on how to store Christmas decorations and wrapping please let me know!

I see carpet!

I think back to the movie some time ago where the boy said, "I see dead people".  Seeing carpet in my home has been about as rare as that the last few years! I even vacuumed!

What was so nice after having over three wonderful friends is that I could tidy up and sit in a comfortable chair with my feet on the ottoman! I was actually proud of how my humble home looked. And I was tickled that the piles wer gone. Although many have moved to off-site storage.

I hesitated to get off-site storage, but they had a 3 month deal. I paid upfront for all three months. The next deadline is Februrary 11th when my 3 month deal is up.

Wish me luck!

Christine

Work Work Work!

What is it about work? You need a paycheck! What about a career? That sense of purpose. What I don't like is when work takes over your life! Mine does every September it seems. If you know about the TX OU Game on October 13th at the Cotton Bowl and how many people attend it, you know I am very busy.

No excuses though.

I have been working crazy hours but haven't slipped on my progress that has been made. The kitchen is still in a state of "pretty good". The powder room is organized now that I have designated where it all goes. I have been chipping away a the trash.

The last week or so however I have not made much FORWARD progress. I am looking at many hours at my job this week and come home exhausted....even 15 minutes to clean seems like a monumental task.

Next week church events start again and I am looking forward to having some much needed NOT WORK time.

Another interesting tidbit is that with my clothes more organized, my mornings are not as bad. I get ready faster because the powder room is clean. I am taking the bus to the train and leaving the car at home most days. Saves me a lot of money and I have to leave work on time. Now that is smart thinking! An excuse NOT to work late.

Powder Up!

Discovery and Hope!

I discovered the floor and vanity in my powder room. This is where I get ready every morning. I placed a couple of organizers under the sink in the cabinet. I added a basket for the things that get used every day and placed it on the back of the toilet tank. Eventually I would like a cabinet for storage above the toilet, but for now this will have to do the job.

I can see what is in there, so for a visual person that works. It is tidy and out of the way.  I also have gotten the sink and mirror clean too! If I cannot see it then I get a little crazy finding it and putting it away takes too much effort. The stuff I don't use everyday is under the sink in the organizers there. 

Yes, I found another found sink!

So we are on our way! Getting there. Update to come on the kitchen. For those of you wanting proof that we made progress this weekend. 

Kitchen is almost there!

Thanks Karen!

Amazing how wonderful it is to have someone keep you on task! On Friday I spent a couple of hours on the kitchen taking out trash and finding the counters (see previous post). Then on Saturday a friend, Karen, came over and we really did a bang up job on the kitchen.  We worked from 9:30 a.m. to Noon on Saturday. I know I would not have stuck to my cleaning that long had she not been there. I always get distracted. Now the kitchen is much better. Not 100% done, but well on the way to being a clean kitchen.

AMAZING is all I can say!  

Cooking in the Kitchen!

Counters? Haven't seen them in weeks, no months!  

Found the sink this week, but filled it back up tonight! But, this is a good thing (I think?). I find it concerning at how much packaging there is with food these days. In most cases there is more packaging than food! What happened? I know. It is because of  marketing and processed foods. Chime in here. Doesn't it make you mad when you open a big box only to find there is a bag inside that fills up half of the box height? Drives me crazy!

Trash Update. . .

Today I am on my third bag of trash (lawn bags, not the kitchen size) and still throwing away trash. Have not even scratched the surface of the trash even with the many trips to the dumpster this week. But, I do see some counter now. And that feels good. Now to get to finding out if there is a floor in my kitchen. I might need a rake. Drat!

I really want to break the habit of just throwing the stuff on the counter. Why does it not make it to the trash can? Oh yeah, I remember...the trash backs up and doesn't get taken out on a regular basis. So no room in the trash, the trash ends up on the counter. Then the counter gets big piles and it begins to drift to the floor as it piles high.

Help Cometh!

Now I have committed to a friend that we will work on my house together for two full hours! Wow! I just am so taken back that she would help when it is this bad! I will let you know how it goes with that tomorrow. My help in the past has always been great. And the house does function better for awhile. I really want it to stay better for good. Not just a few weeks, but from now on out.

Suggestions on how I can keep up the progress my friend and I will make tomorrow?

Scattered Progress

Scattered Progress

Keeping up the trash disposal (daily dumpster dash) and started full-tilt on the laundry. Plan to really hit that hard tonight.

Doing the laundry made a mess of the kitchen. Well, to be quite honest the kitchen was already a mess. Now I have hampers all over the kitchen with various loads to be folded, washed, ironed, etc...

I went to Flylady.com and worked on the sink. Yes, the kitchen sink to be exact. I must take a picture and post it! You have to start somewhere.

Top goals...

1. Find my elliptical trainer. It is currently buried and cannot be used easily. 
2. Start gathering my paperwork for my 2011 taxes. I have not even started!
3. Finish laundry (or at least what is in hampers and on floors. 
4. Keep working on sinks. Find the Powder Room sink tonight! Clean it! Move on to the sinks in the upstairs master bath.

The push continues....

I have not seen overall sweeping change yet. And that can be frustrating. In fact, in some ways the mess seems worse because it has moved.  I have to get this done!