December Update

December is proving to be a challenging month as far as "staying on schedule." My daily schedule keeps getting interrupted with Christmas events, illness, or other spur of the moment stumbling blocks. Sometimes I have to talk myself down from the ledge.
In reality though, I'm better able to "roll with the punches" because of all the groundwork I've laid before December.  It's not perfect. Is anything ever perfect? 

Here are some tips for staying on track.

1. Don't make your list TOO long. A daily to do list that's unmanageable is frustrating and ends up being counterproductive.

2. Squeeze in small tasks when time allows. Wipe the sink and countertops. Sort mail. Clean one shelf of the fridge. None of these take a lot of time. Grab a wash cloth and do one quickly first thing in the morning.

3. STOP thinking about big tasks like cleaning out the closet or cleaning under the bed, Those have been messy for quite some time so waiting until after Christmas isn't going to rock the world and it might save your sanity.

4. Create a STOP time. Yes your day should "end". Try to get the priorities out of the way earlier in the day/evening and set a time for when you are done. You want to enjoy the holiday season not just work frantically through it.

 

 

This month should be a time of celebration.  No one will remember a few dirty dishes in the sink but they will remember playing Christmas games.

To All Mothers....

The Power of Three

Haven't blogged in a while.... :) Life is like that.....always through things at you until time is sucked up into the black hole of what the heck!

I bought the best little planner/to do list from Current. Each page has a space to fill in the weekly calendar down the side and then a generous To Do List section and a Notes and Reminders section. It is about 51/2 by 71/2 and it has been working great for me.

I secretly call each daily section the "power of three" because under each of the days listed down the side are three spaces. Those are my three priorities or must dos for the day! Sometimes at least one is an appointment or phone call but everyday also includes a household item to do. I'll be honest...sometimes they get done and sometimes not....but if they are in the "power of three" slot its much more likely that they will get marked off.

I use the bigger "to do section" for other things that I'd like to accomplish that week....and the Notes and Reminders for just that...reminders....across the bottom... I pencil in Mon, Tues. etc under the title of Exercise and then if I manage to exercise that day...I use my highlighter to highlight the day's abbreviation.

It'a great size because I can slip it into my purse but it still has plenty of room for planning. In some ways it has taken the place of my Home notebook....it's so much simplier to use! And I don;t have the tendency to include everything under the sun in it.

I went back to buy another one and they didn't have the same cover design but I did manager to find one that has the same inside set up and a different cover....it could even be personalized so it says Ginger's Life. I like them so much that I'm going to keep an eye of Current and buy a few extra when I get a chance. They have pages for a little over a year....so I know I'm set though Novmeber of this year with my current one and then I have the new one for 2012. Since they are blank and you write the dates in you can start them at any time. :)

Meal Planning

I'm struggling with getting meals organized and on the table now that school has started and most evenings find me exhausted. So I need some advance prep and planning...

• Today I am going to preview the pantry and freezer before heading out for some grocery shopping. This last week found me picking the bottom of the barrel for lunches. I don't want to continue doing that because healthy living takes some planning!!!
• I am needing to be VERY budget minded too so I need to make some good choices!
• I am planning to brown some hamburger and freeze it so it's ready for some quick and easy meals. Also chopping onions and peppers etc so they are ready for the week!
• Last but certainly not least...I need to clean the pantry and fridge...I SWEAR how do these two places get soooo messy!!!

Christmas Cupboard

Well a disaster in the garage (our freezer went out and before we realized it everything was horribly spoiled) led to the creation of the Christmas Cupboard.

I had an old amoire in the garage storing some stuff. Since I was cleaning, decluttering, and organizing out there I decided to create a Christmas Cupboard out of it for my Christmas dishes. I still have one more set of dishes and some misc. pieces that I need to move out there but all in all I think it will be quite handy. They are so much easier to get to then being in a box and a high high cabinet that I had them in before.

My next goal is to organize fall and Halloween pieces in another dry sink like cabinet I have. I don't have actual "fall or Halloween dishes" but I do have assorted pieces and bowls and serving trays. After that it will be Spring and Easter's turn. Only a few there but it would be nice to actually KNOW where they are and be able to get to them!

Along with all this organizing....I hope to finish cleaning that horrid garage once and for all.....I need to get rid of a bunch of STUFF out there and this is the TIME to do it!!

Decluttering: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

I have talked about decluttering a lot....I have promised it, I have been overwhelmed by it, I've decribed it, set up schedules for it, been inspired by it and been undone by it. Decluttering is probably the single biggest thing that could make my life easier...so WHY isn't it happening the way I want it to?

• Time: with everything time is a big factor, hard to squeeze in declutter time when so many other obligations and distractions call to me. And no matter how you look at it decluttering takes time...its not JUST about throwing away things...its about making choices about things, sorting things, rehousing things, and then donating or disposing of things.
• Stuff: I have too much stuff...and well that is what decluttering is all about....the amount of stuff to look through and work through is sort of overwhleming. The stuff comes in all sorts of categories...some is stuff that is important and just not organized and stored correctly, some is stuff that might have some value but do I really need it?, some is just pretty stuff, some is fun stuff, some is simply JUNK that needs to go....
• Storage: Lots of questions about storage....the rule of thumb is not to buy storage containers or items UNTIL after you declutter and see just what you need....good advice becuase I tend to stuff things into containers and well...maybe it was stuff that should have just GONE away...but at the same time...what exactly do I do with the stuff I know I'm keeping. Where do I put it, how do I remember where I put it, what makes sense where? So questions like that just STOP me in my track and I have yet to find good answers for some of them.
• Motivation: It's hard to be motivated...first of all there's a lot to do and second of all its hard enough to keep up with the regular chores...add a decluttering project to it and well....one would rather just write a blog post about decluttering than really do it. Yes, I know baby steps BUT it's hard to get motivated when you declutter a few square feet which are sure to start collecting something even before you get moticated enough for the next round...uuuugggghhh!!!

So those are the main areas and how they seem to impact my decluttering efforts...suffice to say things go slow, then hit a complete stop, then I get annoyed for lack of accomplishment, then I charge forward with energy for a bit, then things come up, and then so on and so on...BUT time to get off the computer for now and get busy....cleaning...with some decluttering along the way.

Wednesday Morning Musings

Posted below is a recipe for soup that I think you'll enjoy. The weather has turned a bit cold here so perfect soup weather. I hope you enjoy this spicy flavor of the Corn and Chicken Soup Mexican Style.

I am quickly realizing that Christmas will be here before I know it....so a lot of my time and energy will be devoted for preparing for the holidays. I am intending to work on home and Christmas every day from now until the big event. I am a tad nervous about gifts and such because I am a little behind schedule with those. As always with the house...just keep plugging away.

I am working on the basement and decluttering and putting it in order...since most of my Christmas decor/gifts/etc are stored down there ...it is a MUST...I only made a tiny dent in what needs to be done but it is a start...

This year I am taking a simple approach to Christmas with less decor and such...I currently have up just a small amount of my fall decor and I am like the bright touches here and there and I think it gives the house just the right touch of autumn. Hopefully packing it away will be easier also! :) I have many lovely things but honestly had stopped appreciating them because of the amount of time and effort it took to get them out, clean, store, and display them etc... My goal is to work slowly toward getting the things I have organized FULLY...and then not adding anymore or if I add one or two items...then disposing of one or two items.

I am finding that "things" while lovely....are just that....things...and unless they bring joy and beauty into our lives than they are just too much trouble to fool with...LOL....that's how the basement ended up like it is now...TOO MUCH STUFF....time to unload it and feel FREE!!! In letting go of "things"....I open up time and energy for other things!

Well....time to get to work....see you again soon! Enjoy the recipe!

Fall Tour of Homes

Check out Magical Holiday Homes Fall Tour of Homes hosted by cathymac over the Haunted Hamlet. You can see Cathy's wonderful ideas and pcitures and then travel to the other blogs participating in the tour via the links in this post: Fall Tour of Homes.

There's talk in the air of a similar tour at Christmas!!! Great job ladies!

Tuesday Morning Tidbits

Keeping in the routine and following through on my "to do" list is a challenge recently. I had made a list of yard chores planning to do some every morning while it is cool. This morning I woke up and felt so tired I almost didn't follow through...BUT I made myself get up and go mulch the Rock Garden which is also a Fairy Garden....I am so glad I did. It looks great. I want to get some photos later for my Fairy blog.! I suppose the key is to feel so good about it afterwards that you want to keep on track!! Ditto the kitchen...that is first on my list as soon as I finish up here on the computer which is VERY soon now!

When I start to feel overwhelmed with everything there is to do and even to buy and repair around here....I just write it on my master list...might not get to it for a LONG time but at least it is there and I feel like I have it listed at least. So right now I have a Master List divided into three parts: Things To Do (not my routine stuff) Things To Repair and Things to Buy....

I am also amazed at how much easier things are to do once you get stuff decluttered, organized, and follow a good routine!! It was so easy to whip up supper last night in the kitchen and now I am working on the linen closet...it is small and a mess...I am moving some of the items stored in there either to the TRASH...or to another area...maybe a box and then if they are not used in a certain amount of time...into the TRASH. It was becoming a real hassle to put away and get out towels...now I have space for them so the chore will be so much easier!

Well...back to work...haven't heard from anyone lately...hope your "to dos", master list and grocery lists are working well for you...And DON"T neglect your Month by Month notebook...keep pluggin away!!!

Tuesday Morning Tidbits

First an update from yesterday....Move It Out....yes I did get a whole bag of stuff to get rid of and today the focus is the basement and the craft area so I anticipate a little more leaving the house as a result. At 4:00 i will be doing the virtual crop over at MHH boards so I want to get the scrap studio (area) picked up so maybe I can actually do crafty stuff from 4-8.

Other Tuesday news...well I have been giving my month by month notebook a little TLC...it's so easy to get off track or to let things slide...and then BOOM...those habits you worked so hard to establish are gone...Summer does that to me sometimes...But the notebook is straightened and ready to assist me...my daily to dos are there and I am getting back on track...with all these special projects and things to do...I must make myself do the dailies first and then I am free to move onto whatever else!!!

Other news: We are doing a Christmas in July Giveaway over at the Magical Boards of MHH...so check it out if you haven't already!

Grocery Budget Notes: I am actually doing pretty well with the challenge...I still need to give you a step by step report...but the next thing I need to do is an inventory. I am trying to make this "group" of groceries bought at the discount place last until around the 23rd of August. So that is over a month...I actually think I can do it...now just to stick to the weekly list and stay on budget there...or everything will be for nothing!!

Monday Morning Mentions

It's MOVE IT OUT MONDAY....do you have your trash bag ready?

Other items around the house on the agenda for today:

• Paperwork and billing so I can close out my private practice and actually get paid for June.
• Budget and pay bills...this is a must today!
• Focus: Living room and Kitchen (not too much to do but I want to get beyond the daily stuff and get in a few bigger items)
• Yard: plant one bed of flowers...that's actually next as soon as I finish this post!
• Make out some invitations for the summer bash...just reminder cards...people already know the date.
• Christmas in July stuff

Well if I breeze through all of this I will be feeling pretty smug later today...I am limiting computer time until I GET it done...or at least a large chunk of it....so hopefully it won't be DAYS before you see me...LOL...back later (I hope).

Let me know how your projects are coming along and how you are motivating yourself!!

Saturday Morning Somethings

Had a great Fourth and now back to the drawing board. Here are some things to consider on this Saturday Morning...

• How's your Month by Month notebook coming along???....mine was getting a bit lonely because with Christmas in July I have been playing around with my Christmas Notebook quite a bit...so today I have made a promise to give my household notebook a bit of loving attention. I must tell you though...I have a love hate relationship with page protectors and I might just have to do away with all of them in the Month by Month notebook...might just punch holes in the divider pages and go from there....LOL
• I am making some progress on the whole Grocery Budget challenge/plan and I am anxious to share that with you but today I MUST DO some household stuff...I got a bit behind with getting called into work Thursday and then Friday being a holiday...my goal is to get something up late tonight about it and I do mean LATE...so don't give up on me...I think you will find some of the stuff interesting.
• The next project we are going to have to examine here at Month by Month is the Budget/Bill Paying notebook....I am forever challenged with that one...but for now we just have too much on our plates so that will have to hold for a lter date!!
• Do you ever get the feeling that you will never get caught up? That's the mode I'm in now...so I have to say BYE for now and actually get something done or I will scream!!!

Thursday Morning Thoughts

You know that saying best laid plans go astray....well mine are wandering off....LOL...I have to go in to work today to help interview as one of the assistant principals resigned yesterday and we are interviewing six people today....so my whole day is GONE....BooHoo.

• I made very little progress on the office yesterday but I did manage to get a start on the scrap studio.
• 30 minute Thursday: I will work on this after work this evening!!! don't forget...DVDs, VHS tapes, or CDS...lets cut the clutter if possible!
• I am having a blast with Christmas in July...working on recipes is FUN and I have found several good gones to try in the next couple fo weeks.
• Don't let LIFE throw you for a loop...set some small goals and work toward them everyday...slow and steady and we will make progress.
• My summer notebook is increasing because I decided to add some pages from Summer magazines that I tore out to keep. Then I can actually declutter the mags without worrying about missing something I wanted to keep.

Well...hopefully I can check back in this evening...but it is Margarita Thursday...which during the summer is the day we gather at the local Mexican place for Happy Hour and a good visit with friends. Last time we had quite a turnout about 9 people and the phone has been ringing to see if we are on for this week...missed last week since I was on vacation. DUH...it's Thursday so that means it's Margarita Thursday!!! More later have a great and productive day!!!

Wednesday Morning Whimsey

Here's why I am having trouble getting things accomplished...distractions...LOL...I got up bright and early this morning....walked out to water the flowers in front of the house...then realized there was a large amount of weeds in the bed...so I pulled them...transplanted a plant...and then proceeded to take a gander at the beds in the back of the house. GOOD GRIEF...the weeds have over taken. As I have mentioned before this year has been VERY rainy here and therefore I just never got my beds in shape and planted the way I wanted to.

So I weeded one ...empty bed and laid down cardboard to kill whatever I missed with the intentions of planting something in it this weekend. Planting? You say that should all be done...but alas it is not and I just noticed yesterday that one of the local places has their plants 70% off and some nice ones left. I sprayed some weed killer on another bed of weeds...LOL...I try not to use it very often but it just seemed quicker than pulling. AND I still have a lot of weeding left to do...but that's it until this evening...perhaps I can get 30-40 minutes in then!!

Oh sorry....I'm rambling....

• This is office day today which should be interesting as I have 20 month old Evan here to spend the day with me...perhaps he will help...LOL
• When Evan naps (in the office by the way)...I plan on continuing with the downstairs office/computer/scrap studio area. It is a TOTAL wreak!!!
• Along with that when I get a minute here or there I am looking through some Christmas cookbooks I checked out from the library and I'm writing down any recipes that I might want to try. I am actually planning to try a couple this wekend for the barbeques and just to sample!! I'll let you know how they turn out...a couple appetizers and a salad one!

So not much whimsey today huh? Well that's okay...if I accomplish nothing else today...I did destroy some weeds..LOL

Tuesday Morning Tidbits

Oh dear with all the Christmas in July stuff I forgot to get up the July Monthly Magic....I'll get it up later today!!!

• Thirty Minute Thursday: Okay for 30 minutes we are going tow rok on either DVDs, VHS, tapes, or CDs....something in your entertainment center...I don't know about you but somehow mine NEVER seem to get back in the right box and put away properly...so that's our 30 minute goal this week!!! Don't forget...even if its a HUGE job...its okay to just do the 30 and then you have accomplished something!!
• If you are not a huge blog reader I still suggest for this month...read all the great Rudolph Day blogs...lots of fun stuff up for July!!
• I picked up some awesome Christmas Cookbooks at the library and many of the recipes will be equally good throughout the year...so I'll be adding some recipes...okay I know I have been saying that...but I'm actually gonna do it!!
• Kitchen focus today...I'll update later.
• Remember the GOAL for JULY is to move away from PLANNING and into DOING

Monday Morning Mentions

Okay girls...and guys if there's any out there reading my blog. It is Monday of a brand NEW week and we are going to be getting a lot accomplished this week...are you with me?

• First for me this is going to be LAUNDRY DAY...here's the plan. Go to the library and movie store....gotta order my book A Christmas Guest, which is what our book group will be reading over at Magical Holiday Home in July. Then I need to pick up Scrogged at the movie place...since that is our movie for this week...and then laundry, laundry, laundry...until about 4:00 when I have to get ready for the Muny. We will be seeing High School Musical.....ummm...not my pick but my daughter wanted to see it!!
• Tuesday the focus will be on the Kitchen....its time to rearrange the dish cabinet and the pantry. My dishes are a mess and I need to get them in some working order. I am working toward collecting a large assortment of WHITE plates so that at parties I can use white and not worry too much...about "matching". I also have an assortment of solid colored dishes too...but right now everything is jumbled and needs organization and decluttering too!! The pantry will be sorted and I will make my monthly list for next week's shopping as I do so.
• Wednesday the focus will be on the OFFICE and craft kits. I have so many things that I am in the process of making that I really need to get some order here or nothing is going to come together as planned!
• Thursday will be a GENERAL cleaning day. A quick tour of the house to put things in place and dust etc!! Don't forget it's 30 minute Thursday...I'll put up our little 30 minute challenge for the week on Tuesday!!!
• Friday: HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!! Barbeque and Fireworks at my in-laws house!! BUT it is 15 minute Friday...so I'll just get my 15 in early...not sure yet of the "mini project"...more about that later or perhaps someone at MHH will have a brillant idea!!

Saturday Somethings

Well I planned on getting this post up earlier but as we did not roll back into homebase until after 1:00 I just couldn't call it Saturday Morning Somethings...LOL

This week I am planning to share several things with you.

• First I will be compiling and sharing with you ALL the info for our Backyard Bash: Pirate Fest. I am hoping this will motviate me to get some stuff off the "to do" list.
• Second I still need to get up some of those light and breezy recipes I mentioned earlier.
• Summer Notebook: is well under way and I am discovering more and more things to include...lol....of course!
• I will also talk about putting together "craft kits" in case you want to get stuff together and make it easier to "grab and go".

It's good to be home....and I have a busy and productive July planned!!

Friday Morning Frolics

Happy Friday! Let's make this a day for some fun but first are we doing Fifteen Minute Friday this week? If so....ummm let's see someone may already have a challenge for 15 minutes up over at MHH...but if not ....here goes.

Fifteen Minute Friday: Clean out your purse...okay technically I know that is not part of the house...but my purse accumulates so much stuff...so let's spend 15 getting it cleaned and sorted. Get rid of that purse clutter and make things tidy...then you can find what you want when you want.

Fun Friday: Today is the day to put in a good movie....grab a craft kit (wait you do not have craft kits? we will have to talk about those later then)...well...grab something fun...photos to crop, your art journal, card stock to cut and fold for cards...something crafty and fun...and do it while you watch the movie.

Future Fun: One of the things I like best about entertaining is working on themes ...and July 19th is our annual Backyard Bash...Pirate Fest....so RRRRRRR you ready to hear about our menu, decor, invitations and stuff....I'll be sharing with you during the next week as I push to get myself in gear and ready to have a rip roaring time...let's hope rain does not dampen the festivities!!

Thursday Morning Thoughts

Remember: It's Thirty Minute Thursday and today's assignment is to spend thirty minutes clean some paperwork area....it can be the incoming mail, a file drawer or the top of the kitchen table...wherever paper accumulates....so sort it, file it, pitch it....just work 30 little ole minutes on it!!!

Other Thursday Thoughts:

• Are you ready for the 4th of July ....are you hosting a barbeque or going to a carry in? Now is the time to be thinking about menus and recipes...don't wait till the last minute!
• Have you set up a budget notebook? Now is the time to consider it. The economy doesn't appear to be getting any better so counting pennies will make a difference!
• I will update the monthly shopping list saga when I get back from vacation. i believe i have the list for the discount grocery store ready and I am now working on the non food once a month list.

Hope you have a Thoughtful Thursday...Take Care!

Wednesday Morning Whimsey

It's Wednesday....I'm somewhere in vacation land...LOL.

As soon as I'm back from our little trip...I have to dive into my BIG bedroom project...I am both dreading it AND looking forward to getting it done. Do you have any BIG summer projects? I decided I have way to many whcih brings me to discuss another type of home notebook which I call...my Home Style Notebook...this notebook is more archive like....unless I am in the middle of a BIG project. I like to make note of dates, prices, color names etc when creating a new project. That way if anything needs replaced etc...I have a good idea of what's what! The home style notebook is also the place for the BIG list of projects...things I dream of doing but can't get all done at once.

The yard is another area to be addressed when we get back. I planned on cutting down on plants this year...and WOW...I sure did...other than the fairy gardens I have neglected everything else...well actually...everything else is just the corner bed by the patio and the narrow bed that runs around about half of the patio....they are covered in weeds...I'll manage that when I get home...maybe even pick up some plants on clearance that I can stick in the ground and nurse back to beauty!!

Okay where's the whimsey today....it's this...think of a book from your younger years that you loved...and go to the library...find it...check it out and read it!! Pretend you are that 12 year old again with your nose buried in a book dreaming what life will be like when you're all grown up!!