Let's Make Habits: Week 3

Week 2 is done, here's what went down:

Week 2 (August 25-31):

Dining Room

* organze table

*clean up and organize "bar cart"

*dust

*mop

Thanks to the most amazing husband ever, I was able to get everything done! And we were able to mop and dust in the kitchen as well! Now, the trick is to keep it up and looking nice. I still need to move Bug's baby swing out of the room, but I'm trying to hold off. I might get too emotional putting it up. She's started crawling, which means she's one more step away from moving out and going to college! *cue elephant size tears* Okay, I know that might be a little bit of an exaggeration, but time is flying by!

Speaking of Bug's crawling, that has been the biggest motivation for me. She's starting to get into everything. And I mean everything. The first day we were home and she was crawling, she crawled right over to an ottoman and pulled off the book that was sitting there right on top of her. Luckily it didn't hurt her, but I've got to g=make sure all the table tops are clear so that she can't get her hands onto anything that could be dangerous.

So now we're on to the third week. Let's see if I can accomplish what I need to while chasing around a busy 7 (almost 8) month old!

Week 3 (September 1-7):

Living room/Entryway

*clean up toys

*organize tv cabinet

*clean out fireplace

*dust

*vacuum

Let's Make Habits: Week 2

Week 1 is down...Here is what I got done:

Week 1 (August 18-24):

Kitchen

* clean out fridge

* organize cabinets

*organize pantry

* baby proof cabinets with cleaning supplies and knives

*dust

*mop

To say that life got in the way seems like it's just an excuse, but it's really what happened. With a little one life is completely unpredictable. In order to really get things done, I have to wait on her nap time or when she goes to bed at night. But there are other things that have to get done. I have to cook meals for the hubs, Bug, and myself; attempt to keep up with laundry; work; keep up other rooms; etc. It's a lot. But I'm working. I'm not going to stop. It feels so good to have things beginning to get organized in the kitchen. I read somewhere that being organized leads to a happier life. I agree. We've been living in a sort of chaos for weeks and it's been stressing me out. I'm looking forward to being relieved of the chaos.

Week 2 (August 25-31):

Dining Room

* organze table

*clean up and organize "bar cart"

*dust

*mop

This week is all about the dining room and I can't wait to get my hands on it! Our dining room table has been a catch all for random junk, and right now it houses my sewing machine because there isn't another working place for it. I'm looking forward to using our table for what it's meant to be used for: eating and family time. With Bug now eating solids, we've made it a point to eat every meal at the table with her. I believe it's important to spend meal time together sitting at the table without any distractions. Here's hoping for a smoother week where I can get my list completed! And maybe if I get all of this done, I can treat myself to some pretty table decorations for fall.

source; "let's make habits" watermark added by me

Let's Make Habits: Week 1

source//words mine

I'm joining Jenny again this week in her series about making habits. Last week we talked about what our goal for this two month challenge. I decided my goal was to get organized, and you can read all about why here. This week we are to come up with a schedule.

Let it be known, that one of my on repeat New Years resolutions is to get organized, but somehow I always get intimidated by the overwhelming job it is to get organized. I seem to want to tackle it all in one go, get discouraged, and then I end up taking a break that lasts until the new year rolls around again. This time I'm coming up with a schedule to hopefully urge me on in my conquest to organize this house of mine.

Week 1 (August 18-24):

Kitchen

* clean out fridge

* organize cabinets

*organize pantry

* baby proof cabinets with cleaning supplies and knives

*dust

*mop

Week 2 (August 25-31):

Dining Room

* organze table

*clean up and organize "bar cart"

*dust

*mop

Week 3 (September 1-7):

Living room/Entryway

*clean up toys

*organize tv cabinet

*clean out fireplace

*dust

*vacuum

Week 4 (September 8-14):

Bug's Bedroom

*clean out drawers

*organize drawers

*change out clothes sizes

*put clothes that don't fit in storage

*dust

*vacuum

Week 5 (September 15-21):

Bug's bathroom/Master bath

*deep clean toilet

*deep clean tub

*scrub floors

*organize under the sink

*organize medicine cabinet

Week 6 (September 22-28):

Master Bedroom

*organize dressers

*organize closet

*go through clothes to donate old ones

*dust

*vacuum

Week 7 (September 29-October 5):

Guest Bedroom

*gut and start all over

Week 8 (October 6-12):

Hall Closets

*gut and start all over

My plan is to tackle things room by room in order for them not to get too overwhelming. Of course, the guest room is totally terrifying. It's been our "catch all" room and I'm ready for it to be better. I want to be able to walk in there without cringing. I also want to be able to find things in there. 

I think the end result will be the satisfaction of having a nice clean house where everything has a place and there's a place for everything. I also, just maybe, might splurge on some awesome new things for our house. We'll just see what ends up happening.

Let's Make Habits: Choosing a Goal

I have been following Jenny over at her blog for a while now. Both Jenny and I graduated the same year from Berry College. I found her blog and just got pulled in. She has such a creative spirit and is incredibly talented. 

She has created a new series called "Let's Make Habits" where we come up with different goals and over a 2 month period we work toward making those goals a habit. 

So now I have to think of what do I want to make a habit. Immediately my brain starts spinning. I want to work out, I want to get outside more, I want to start eating clean. But I think the one that stands out most in my mind is: I want to get organized. 

With a 7 month new baby and an almost crawler, anything out of place and on the floor has a flashing light that seems to attract her. She's at the curious stage where she just wants to explore and if she can put it in her mouth, she most certainly will. Hence my new goal of getting organized. I know it's impossible to keep her out of everything, but I would be happy with at least attempting to get things neater and find a place for things that as of now don't have a place. 

Also, there are toys that come along with a baby getting older and older. These toys need a place to go. So not only do I need to organize, but I need to find a new home for all of these toys and things. 

See what I mean? We've been over run with toys. 

So here it goes...Two months to get organized. Check back next week to see my progress and my plan of attack!

Wednesdays are for dreaming

It's raining cats and dogs outside as I sit here in my closet at work. Perfect weather for staying at home in bed all day. But work calls, so I must answer. Nevertheless, I'm dreaming of being at home with a nice hot cup of tea steaming in one hand and a good book in the other with the window open listening to the rain beating on a tin roof and feeling the cool wind.

Of course, if I were to spend an entire day reading and relaxing in bed, I'd want to change some things up. So inevitably I would be dreaming of how to "better" our room and spruce it up. I've seen so many cute things online that I've caught the "nesting" bug once again [darn you Pinterest]. Really I've caught the "organizing and spring cleaning" bug. If only I could find catch the "energy" and "money" bugs as well. Hopefully I'll get something accomplished today. It's the hubs "long day" for work so I'll have more time to keep myself occupied. I just hope the energy will come. With this rain though, there are no guarantees.

So I'll just dream, and maybe eventually my dreams will become reality.

Basically I am wanting to add color and texture to my room. Right now it is BO.ring and leaning slightly toward depressing. I'm ready to jazz it up with some fun color and texture [especially that bright floral print pillow. I'm in love!]

A busy life is a good life.

Well. I guess that could be true. 

At least right now I'm busy right now and life is good. 

That's proof enough for me.

I'm on spring break at the moment, but the week leading up to spring break is what I like to have called my "hell week." It was a crazy week at school. I had a major event to prepare for and set up. It was crazy. But in the end it was a success. Parents and students alike had a wonderful time and that's all that matters in the end.

On the up side it's spring break. Thank goodness for spring break. I've spent the past two days organizing and cleaning our master bedroom. It's been left as is since we moved in over a year ago and it's been driving me absolutely bonkers. This spring break I've dedicated my time to fixing the mess that was created. So far I've cleaned out all my drawers, set aside a bag of clothes and things to go to Goodwill, put all my winter stuff away, reorganized my closet, and cleaned off all the unnecessary junk off the dressers and nightstands. And it's only Tuesday! I'm pumped with the progress. I'm just waiting on the hubs to clean out his drawers as well and we'll call it a day.

In other news, I have embarked on a new business venture! Ever heard of Proactiv Acne Solutions? Well, the doctors who created Proactiv have opened up a new anti-aging skin care line and I've partnered with them in selling their skin care line! So you're looking at the new independent consultant for Rodan + Fields! Let me tell you how excited I am about this new venture! It's going to be an awesome ride and I'm so happy to have jumped on the ride! Skin is always in style and these products are amazing! I say check these products out if you want to keep those pesky wrinkles at bay, if you are tired of those acne breakouts, or if you have sensitive skin! These products are amazing! I recommend checking it out yourself ;) Click on the picture to find out more!

This week.

After this week, I can honestly say that I have earned my spring break. It has been a whirlwind of a week, and it's only Tuesday! I feel like I've been working at least ten days in a row now. Spring break is just around the corner. This is the thought that is getting me through the rest of the week. Only 3 more mornings until freedom.

The plan for this spring break is cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning. How much will I really get done? That's a good question and I'm probably extremely unrealistic, but I plan on cleaning out our closet and chest of drawers and reorganizing everything. {Don't tell the hubs any of these plans in case they don't happen. ;) What he doesn't know won't hurt him and if they do end up happening he'll be pleased.}

source

We have a very small closet so organization is a must. Currently, we have none.

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Simple Organized Living has a great tutorial posted  about how to make do with an "average size master closet." I guarantee you ours is definitely "average size." Or maybe even smaller. 

I'll be doing this on a budget so I'm looking for cheap and easy ways to improve our storage. Any tips or ideas? Our biggest ordeal is our shoes. We have no idea what to do with any of them! And there are lots (I'm planning on getting rid of a ton).

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I like the idea of storing things under the bed on rolling drawers. The hubs's boots would work nicely under there.

I don't know. I'm at a loss. We also don't have doors on our closet, so everything is out in the open for all eyes to see (not that anyone actually goes into our bedroom but us, but that's not the point). So I might look to adding doors cheaply. Remember I'm on a budget!