still here…still alive

Welcome May!

How in the world do “those” bloggers out there blog every single day? It’s baffling to me. Amazing, really. They must have help. Please tell me they have help in some form or another.

By now you’ve probably guessed that I’m not one of those.

I didn’t write a single thing the entire month of April. I think that’s a first since starting my blog.

But guess what? Does that matter? Nope.

I’m still here. I’m still organizing, I’m still trying to clean, declutter and just make it through each day with all of the stuff that life is made up of.

Just like you.

This week alone, among many, many other things, I’m trying to get my son ready for his first ever prom. So fun. So cute. So exciting.

And that’s on top of all the normal stuff that comes with running a household of 8 people with children ranging from 2 to 16 years old. And a husband, ranging from 15 to 42 years old.

Did I just say that out loud?! Oops. I meant it in the most loving way possible, just so you know.

Ahem.

So what have you been spending your time on this past month? Did you accept the challenge to take some before and after pictures of an organizing project? If so, please send them to me and I’ll feature you in your own little post! Before and afters are one of my favorite things!

I did a before and after project. It wasn’t a huge one, but it made a huge difference. Pictures and story later (and I promise I won’t wait a month to blog about it).

Now on with your day. Spend 15 minutes decluttering something and I know you’ll feel great!

I’ll leave you with a few pictures of some flowers from my garden. I planted tulips and daffodils for the first time last fall and I’m loving them. Especially since it’s cold here today and snowing 45 minutes north of me in Salt Lake!

decluttering is good for your health

I stumbled across this article today and wanted to share it with you. Read it.

The Health Benefits of Decluttering

After you read it, keep reading this post.

Hmmm….do any of the suggestions the “experts” mention sound like stuff I’ve been talking about for awhile?

Funny how that works. I guess I might be on to something here.

There’s no downside to decluttering. At least not one I’ve come across. So if you haven’t spent your 15 minutes decluttering something yet, get to it! You’ll feel so much better.

Read this post if you need more motivation:

Clutter Can Kill You

Now get off your bum and get to work!

And I’m saying that in the most loving way, of course.

the perfect weather

So for the next few days around here we’re supposed to have the perfect weather for staying inside and getting some things organized. We’re supposed to have cold temperatures, rain and yes – even some snow.

I know you’re ready for spring. I am, too. And so are some of my flowers.

This is my first bloom of the season. It’s a crocus. I planted them for the first time last fall. So happy.

But since this is what Mother Nature is throwing our way let’s make the best of it and get something done inside the house.

Have you given some thought to THIS post? Have you been thinking about the following statement?

“Have nothing in your house you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” William Morris

I still find that statement so divine. Love it.

Are you ready to make William Morris proud?

Then let’s get to it!

What room or part of a room did you pick? I would love to see your before and after shots. I’d even just love for you to tell me what you’re going to declutter, so leave a comment below.

For this assignment, I want you to look at everything you pick up and ask yourself if it’s useful or beautiful. If it’s not, then out it goes, either to the trash or to the donation box.

Can you do that?

Yes you can! Set your timer and only do 15 minutes worth. Then stop and share with me what you accomplished and how you felt.

Remember to take baby steps. Now go get busy!

shop is open for business

It’s March.

Hello March.

And miraculously, the weather has been warmer around here. I don’t quite know what to do about that because I’ve been huddled in my house for longer than normal (it seems), practically hiding away from the world. If it weren’t for my children needing to go places and the fact that I’ve had to go to the store to buy food so we can eat, I probably wouldn’t have left the house.

Yes, it’s been that cold. Biting.

And my poor neighbors (hi neighbors) – It’s as if I forgot they existed, although I didn’t. I haven’t talked to them in person for ages because it’s been so cold I haven’t wanted to hang out outside. So I haven’t been a very good neighbor (sorry neighbors). In fact, note to my neighbors: I’ve had many good intentions of bringing you homemade bread but my kids eat it too fast! I’ll try again soon.

So I was saying…it’s actually warmer outside. Plants are thawing; ice is melting; grass is showing; the temperatures aren’t as frigid…

And it means my shop is now open!

Aren’t you all so stinking excited?

I knew you would be.

If you’re wondering what kind of things I make in my shop, click HERE.

And if you’re wondering why I came up with this idea, click HERE.

And if you’re wondering how much they cost, how to order and how big they are, click HERE and HERE.

And if you’re wondering about my calendar wall, (3rd picture down) those three wooden things on the bottom of my calendar wall are what I make. That’s what’s in my shop.

And if you’re wondering when I’m going to stop asking you if you’re wondering, the answer is NOW.

So start placing those orders and I’ll start making them. And you’ll get your papers organized and out of your hair.

And the world will be beautiful again.

declutter your mind

Think about your home. How does it make you feel?

Peaceful? Happy? Calm? Restful?

Or stressed out? Frustrated? Depressed?

Why is that?

For me, I have rooms and walls in my house that make me smile and feel calm every time I enter them or look at them. I call them my Happy Places and Happy Walls.

Here’s one such place – my livingroom.

And another place – my calendar wall.

More about how I created this calendar wall later.

Why do they invoke these feelings of calm and happiness?

I have other rooms in my house that make me feel crazy just thinking about them. And I mean crazy in a not so good way. They make me want to throw my hands up in the air and give up. They really stress me out.

Here’s one of the downstairs bedrooms:

And another bedroom:

Why do they invoke these feelings of frustration and stress?

My friends, the answer is simple.

Clutter. (crazy)

Or the lack of it. (calm)

My happy places and walls in my house are because they are places that are clutter-free. They are spaces where I’ve gotten rid of the excess clutter and things that I didn’t care about. They are clean and simple. They’re not fancy or expensive – just simple.

My stressful places are because they aren’t clean or organized. They’re filled with clutter – too much stuff. They totally stress me out and make me feel unhappy.

And you know what? It stressed out the entire family.

I’m on a mission to make my entire house a happy place. I know it won’t be easy because sometimes getting rid of clutter isn’t easy.

Why is that? I think I may have some answers.

How much of the clutter in our homes is because we’re not willing to part with it?

Think about that for a minute. Or two. Or a day or two.

In fact, I want you to think about that for even longer.

And I don’t care to hear the reasons/excuses why we keep the clutter. “But my aunt gave me that” or “it’s a family heirloom” or “I paid a lot of money for that” or “it’s because I have kids, or a husband, or a roommate, etc” or whatever. Those excuses are just that – excuses.

Our clutter doesn’t grab us when we want to throw it away or get rid of it. It doesn’t scream at us as we toss it into the garbage or the recycle bin. It can’t physically make us keep it in our lives.

No, our mind does all of that for us. And we buy into it.

“Have nothing in your house you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” William Morris

How does that statement make you feel?

It sounds absolutely divine to me. Just divine. It sounds like a haven, a place of rest, a calm place. A happy place.

Let’s take the next few days or a week or so to look at our homes differently. And I’m only talking about our stuff here, folks. I’m not talking about big home remodel or makeovers.

As you walk around your home doing your normal daily stuff, notice what makes you happy and what doesn’t. Make mental notes. If you want to throw something away immediately, go for it. But it’s not necessary yet.

Friends, let’s unclutter our minds. Let’s prepare to let this stuff go. Let’s make our homes places of happiness, only filled with those things that William Morris mentions.

It’s entirely possible.

Think about it.

Waterproof mattress pad

We have a waterproof mattress pad on our king-sized bed.

No, it’s not because Curtis and I have a bedwetting problem. Although if we did, that would be a little too much information anyway.

Ahem.

It’s because we have children!

You see, some of our children some of the time like to sleep in our bed. And some of the time, some of those children who wear diapers fill those diapers to overflowing. And so some of the time those diapers leak.

So therefore our bed gets wet.

And one of our children still likes his bottle. And some of our other children like water bottles in bed with them, even if they’re not planning on sleeping. They just like to drink water.

And sometimes those water bottles leak. Just like diapers.

So therefore our bed gets wet.

And sometimes people get sick and then they throw up and it gets all over our bed because when you’re sick you want to sleep with mommy and daddy.

So therefore our bed gets wet.

That’s why we have a waterproof mattress pad on our bed. Because somebody needs to protect our mattress. And that somebody is me.

If you don’t have a waterproof mattress pad, get one. I promise I won’t think you have a bedwetting problem.

Because when your bed gets wet, you just take off the waterproof mattress pad, throw it in the washer and dryer and then put it back on your bed.

No harm done to your mattress. One less thing to worry about.

And that’s a beautiful thing.

the snow is talking

If you live anywhere near where I live, you’ll hear the groans of men, women and children everywhere wishing the winter would end and spring would begin.

You see, it’s snowing again.

While that’s completely normal for us, add in the fact that our temperatures, until quite recently, have been abnormally low (yes, even negative) and the fact that we live in a valley which means the air gets trapped by our beautiful mountains and turns dangerously yucky, it’s not unexpected that people want the snow and cold to go away.

Snow, snow, go away, come again another day. Or season.

But I’m going to look at it differently. Don’t hate me because of it, or just hate me quietly because I don’t do well with people who hate me. I cry. So if you want to make me cry, hate me publicly. Just know that it’s not a nice thing to do.

I love the snow. In fact I love all kinds of stormy weather as long as it’s not life-threatening (so that would mean I don’t love hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc.) Yes, I also love spring, summer and fall. Fall is my favorite season, actually.

But this weather is keeping me focused on getting the inside of my house in order. And that’s a good thing because once the weather turns warm then I’ll want to be outside and the inside of my house won’t get attention. I have so many projects waiting to be done when the weather turns warm. Yes, the inside of my house will get neglected indeed.

And maybe, just maybe, Mother Nature knows that we need to get the insides cleaned out before we can get the outsides cleaned out. (If that means something deeper to you than just cleaning your house, run with it.) And maybe that’s why it’s snowing more.

Indulge me here folks, I know that’s not why it’s snowing. I’m just trying to help you feel better about it.

So take the opportunity, if I dare use that word, of being sort of house-bound and tackle that pile of papers or messy closet or just one shelf or one folder or one room.

I mean, if you’re going to be in your house anyway, you might as well get something done. And I don’t mean getting caught up on all your favorite shows. Improve your situation by getting rid of junk, trash and clutter. Surround the inside of your house with only the things you love and use.

Yesterday Dana and Noah spent some time cleaning the boys’ bedroom downstairs instead of playing. No, I did not bribe or threaten them with certain death if they didn’t. And you know what? They felt so good about themselves at what they had accomplished. They improved their situation and their mother gushed with adoration.

And gratitude. Because I’d been putting off that room.

Win win.

Thank you, snow. For helping me tackle my inside clutter just a little bit more.