Small Successes :: August 13, 2009

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

~ 1 ~

I began organizing and de-cluttering some of my kitchen cupboards and drawers. Here are a few before and after pictures:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

~ 2 ~

We hosted a "little" family get-together this past Saturday since some of our relatives from out-of-state were in town. I made WAY too much food, but we were able to enjoy the leftovers for days! My favorite was the Sundried Tomato Pasta Salad (I'll try and post the recipe soon), though the Blueberry-Strawberry Cobbler I made from the leftover berries was delicious too!

~ 3 ~

After starting to read "It's So You! Fitting Fashion to Your Life" this past weekend, I went through all my clothing and have a few stacks of stuff that is "So Not Me!" lol!! (I actually took the following picture before I was finished, and there is another stack next to those pictured!)

I found it interesting that most of the clothes in the stacks are things I hardly ever wear, even though I "like" them...

I must admit that I was disappointed to read that green is not in my "color palette" and I am really hoping that I am one of the rare women with "cool undertones" that can get away with wearing chocolate brown. It's another one of my favorites!! On the other hand, yesterday I was wearing a shirt that I picked up at Motherhood on Monday (following the guidelines for my body type and color palette from the book) and hubby kept saying "You look really nice today!" You know, there just might be something to it all!  (Or perhaps his anesthesia hadn't completely worn off!)  ;)

~ BONUS ~

I guessed correctly!! I just knew she was a little girl! Now, I need to start thinking about pulling out all those darling little outfits which have been packed away for over 4 years. Yay!!!

What are your Small Successes this week?

Stop by Faith and Family Live to read more of this week's Small Successes.

Making progress...

After almost a month of rearranging rooms in our home, it is finally starting to come together!  I thought I would try and start posting a few pictures of our progress.

The hard thing is deciding WHERE to start... Normally I would have been blogging while I went, but I just didn't have the time.  I am really wishing that I would have taken some "before" photos since I don't seem to have as many as I thought I did, particularly of the boy's old bedroom.

I guess I will start with the school room closet.  It  has been one of the most challenging projects so far.  I can't believe HOW MUCH STUFF I was able to cram in that little space.   It all needed to be cleared out so we could install closet organizers for the boys clothing, since they are now using the old school room as their bedroom.

Here are a couple pictures I posted last year:

 

If it was that FULL last May, I am sure you can image what it looked like after a busy year of school, crafts, etc...

Since the new school room does not have a closet, everything needed to be temporarily moved to my bedroom floor to get it "out of the way" till I could figure out where to put it all! (Sometimes I think a attached garage would come in VERY handy!)

Here is a glimpse at what has been sitting in my room for the past couple weeks:

This ridiculous pile did get MUCH worse this last week, while we were moving the girls to the boy's old bedroom, and it is much better now, though I do still have quite a bit to sort.  I have come to the realization that we just have too much stuff (for the amount of space we have) and I did drop off 6 more bags of donations today on the way home from swimming!   Anyway, more on this progress later...

Back to the closet -- which by now is empty:

Once everything was out of the closet, hubby painted. The next day  (last Thursday) a friend of mine came over to help me. (Had I mentioned how overwhelmed I had been feeling??)  We installed the closet organizers and I moved all the boy's clothes to their new room!!  It was SO NICE to FINALLY have one room FINISHED!!

Well, almost finished... The right side still needs a couple more shelves which I picked up last week.  We'll install them soon. 

I was also very excited that the baskets from my old changing table fit in their closet so well!  They are working perfectly for holding some of their toys and sports gear.

 

I'll be back to post a few pictures of the rest of their room.  ☺

On Scheduling and Organization

Jen at Wildflowers and Marbles is AMAZING!!!

If you by any chance are feeling like me, completely overwhelmed with trying to figure out a schedule for this coming school year and just how to fit everything in, don't miss Jen's post from today:

Organization of the Day - A Mother's Rule of LOVE seeking HARMONY

It was just what I needed to read today. Now, back to my own decluttering, organizing, and working on that schedule... ☺

40 Bags of Stuff ~ Update

Speaking of weight, I wonder just how many pounds my home has shed this past week?! Here's the breakdown so far:

12 Bags of Stuff to St. Vincents
1 Bag of Stuff to a friend
5 Bags of Stuff thrown away
Large Items (which count as 1 bag each):
1 Doll Cradle
1 Television Set
1 Microwave (Do you think I can live without one?!)

Only 19 "Bags of Stuff" left to go to accomplish the 40 Bags of Stuff Challenge!!

This has really been a nice addition to my Lenten Cleaning schedule. I have found it quite helpful to have a preset goal for the quantity of stuff I need to get out of our home, especially since I have a tendency to hang on to things that we really don't need, and definitely *don't* have the room for! As I tackle each daily project, I am trying to set a goal of how many bags to fill, and it has been working. I'm going to have a little catch up to do next week, but that's ok... We're making progress!

So, how is your Lenten (or Spring) Cleaning going?

40 Bags of Stuff

I just ran across this idea, and it sounds great!!! Here are the details:

Every day during Lent this year, empty one bag of 'stuff' that is no longer needed from your house, totaling a loss of forty bags of stuff!

1.) Taking a look at the size of your family and household, with an acknowledgement of how much 'stuff' is present, make a prudential choice on the size of bag to be employed during this challenge. Bag size should be small enough that the goal of 40 bags during the season of Lent is able to be accomplished, while not being too big that you are left with nothing. We must still live in the world, after all!

2.) If smaller children are a part of your family, a 'gauge' may be helpful to keep them engaged and help them keep track of progress. As part of your preparations, make a 'paper chain' of forty numbered links. As each new bag is started, place a new link in the bottom of the bag. This way, as the chain gets smaller, there is a greater sense of accomplishment.

3.) This challenge necessarily involves sacrifice. Each member of the family should be encouraged to give something to each bag, or there could be designated bags for each member of the family.

4.) Instead of just throwing things away, recycling is a great way to encourage good stewardship of the gifts we have been given, as it symbolizes that we are passing along our gifts to others. Families with children are encouraged to pass along clothes that no longer fit or toys that sit dormant in a closet to families in need instead of just throwing them away.

5.) Units of count need not necessarily be trash bags, either; however they should be equivalent. For example, a box of gently used toys or clothes could equate one bag off the chain. A stack of books donated to the parish library is another easy equivalent.

As the family accepts this challenge together, bonds will be created that will last a lifetime. Lessons are also learned not just by saying, but by putting it into practice. Here, the simple lesson will last throughout life that having fewer things can lead to a greater contentment in life.

(Credit due to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for this handout on vocations and family faith formation)

For more inspiration visit Simply Catholic, who did the challenge last year, and is doing it again this year.

I've decided for our home, I am going to use brown grocery bags. Not too big, not too small... Since we are already a couple weeks into lent, I am not going to aim for a bag a day, rather a total of 40 by Holy Week. I should have a good start with what I've decluttered this past week, since I wasn't able to get to St. Vincent's today. I am no where near done with what I had planned to accomplish this week, but I have made quite a bit of progress... Hopefully I will be able to "catch up" this coming week.

Lenten Cleaning

Last year I tried deep cleaning our home in less than a week. This year I am giving myself a month! This should give me the time I need to really work on decluttering and not just deep cleaning! ;)

Below you will find the schedule I am going to attempt to follow... I am also planning on using last year's list as a check sheet, to make sure I don't miss any little details, since it worked out so well last year...

~ Week One ~

Monday, March 9th: The Girl's Bedroom ~ Sort and Organize Clothing and Toys. Make a list of the clothing needed for spring and summer.

Tuesday, March 10th: The Boy's Bedroom ~ Sort and Organize Toys and Clothing. Sort and Organize Clothing and Toys. Make a list of the clothing needed for spring and summer.

Wednesday, March 11th: The Nursery ~ Sort and Organize Toys and Clothing. Make list of clothing needed for Spring and Summer (if any?).

Thursday, March 12th: Master Bedroom ~ Sort and Organize Bookshelves and Clothing.

Friday, March 13th: Learning Room ~ Clean and Organize Closet and Bookshelves.

Saturday, March 14th: Learning Room ~ Organize and Declutter Craft Bins and Desk. Make a list of any supplies that are needed. Drop off all items to be donated at St. Vincent's.

~ Week Two ~

Monday, March 16th: Sort and Organize Hall Closets and Coat Closet
Tuesday, March 17th: Sort and Organize DVD/Video Cabinet and Living Room Bookshelves
Wednesday, March 18th: Sort and Organize Kitchen Pantry and Hutch
Thursday, March 19th: Sort and Organize Kitchen Drawers, Cabinets and Countertop
Friday, March 20th: Clean Laundry Room, and Declutter Cabinet
Saturday, March 21st: Sort and Organize Bathroom Drawers and Cabinets. Drop off all items to be donated at St. Vincent's.

~ Week Three ~

Monday, March 23rd: Clean Mini Blinds
Tuesday, March 24th: Clean all Windows and Doors
Wednesday, March 25th: Clean Oven and Range/Hood
Thursday, March 26th: Clean Refrigerator/Freezer, Microwave, and Coffee Pot (Run Clean Cycle)
Friday, March 27th: Clean China Cabinet and Wash all of the Wine Glasses
Saturday, March 28th: Front Porch and Back Patio

~ Week Four ~

Monday, March 30th: Clean Ceilings and Light Fixtures
Tuesday, March 31st: Clean Inside Doors, Handles, and Switch Plates
Wednesday, April 1st: Dust and Vacuum (including under beds and couch, etc.)
Thursday, April 2nd: Wash Baseboards and Cabinet Fronts
Friday, April 3rd: Mop Hallway and Bathroom Floors and Remove Water Spots from Shower Doors
Saturday, April 4th: Clean Cars, Inside and Out

~ Week Five ~

Monday, April 6th: Assemble Easter Baskets
Tuesday, April 7th: Prepare Easter Clothing
Wednesday, April 8th: Begin Easter Baking
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 9th - 11th: Observe the Easter Triduum (I still need to write out our plans for this year.)
Sunday, April 12th: Celebrate Easter Sunday!

Clothing Clutter

I have been noticing that clothing is probably the number one thing that overwhelms me and robs me of sooooo much time... (Paperwork is right up there too...) After reading this post, and making this commitment, I have been sorting through TONS of clothing determined to pass some of our abundance on to others who may need it...

Last night I grabbed all the various piles that have been sitting around the house (or had to be moved out of the laundry room) and sorted them into piles. I then began with my own clothes, determined to give away another 25% of it all. (Back in April I gave away 50% of my clothing, and I still had/have way too much!) It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!

This morning I began sorting through the girls clothing. I took everything out of their drawers and closets and laid it out on my bed. I couldn't believe how much they have! (Although most of it is too small for Twinkle Toes and fits or will fit Chiquita...) No wonder they can never find "something to wear," I even had a hard time figuring out what was whose and who fit what!

Isn't that ridiculous? No wonder they had so many shoes...

Even though they have so much I am having a much harder time deciding what to keep and what to pass on. Everything is "just soooo cute!!" At first I was going to try and get rid of 50% of it all, but instead settled on 33.33%. For every two items I return to their closet or drawers I have been adding one item to the donation pile. It has been hard, but it is so freeing at the same time!!

I am really looking forward to living (a hopefully more organized life) with less!


"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life?

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil or spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?

Therefore do not be anxious saying, 'what shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day."

~ Matthew 6:25-34

I hope you all have a very blessed and restful Sunday!

A Summertime Plan

After coming home from a 3 week vacation, and diving right into 2 weeks of swimming lessons, our summer got off to a rather crazy start.

Now that we can settle into a more normal routine, it is high time for me to get organized and motivated. And not only me... MY KIDS NEED MOTIVATION TOO! I am so tired of them asking to "watch a movie," or hearing that they are "bored."

Inspired by my cousin Margaret, I decided to implement a summertime plan called "The Ticket to Summer!"

All summer long the children can earn tickets for doing any of the items on the list that I have given them. These items are all things I would like them to do this summer, but which they are not always motivated to do on their own.

Basically, you can earn one ticket by:

• Getting up and dressed for morning prayers by 7:30 am (Mon-Fri) without being woken by mom or dad.
• Doing all the chores on your chart by 9:00 am(Mon-Sat)
• Read a book for 30 minutes
• Practice on the Piano for 30 minutes
• Write a 10 line letter to a friend or family member
• Play nicely with the baby for 30 minutes
• Read to the girls for 20 minutes
• Do 2 pages in Handwriting workbook
• Do 2 Math worksheets
• Do 1 lesson of geography
• Spend time exploring outside and then add a page to your nature journal
  
• Do an extra job for Mom

You can earn two tickets if you:

• Memorize one poem or song
• Memorize a new prayer or bible verse
• Memorize 25 States and Capitals
• Ask for, and receive training on, a new chore from mom
• Fix a meal (with the approval of mom)

The children can redeem their tickets for a number of different things:

• 20 minute turn on an Educational Computer Game – 2 Tickets
• 20 minutes on EWTN Kids – 2 Tickets
• Stay up for an extra 30 minutes – 2 Tickets
• Watch a video/movie for 30 minutes – 2 Tickets
• Go to the Library for Story time (July only) – 4 Tickets
• Go to the local Bookstore and choose a new book – 6 Tickets
• Go to the Kid Zone – 10 Tickets
• Go out for Ice Cream – 10 Tickets
• $5.00 to do something fun (lunch, ice skating, bowling) – 15 Tickets

I also love my cousins idea of having a biweekly
"Good Behavior Drawing."

In addition to the above, the children can also earn tickets for good behavior that go into a jar. Twice a week, I will draw a ticket from the jar for a prize. They can not ask for these tickets, but, if I catch them being exceptionally good, I will give them a ticket. The better they are the more chances they will have of winning a prize. They can choose there prize themselves, from the prize basket. The prizes include a $5.00 gift card to Target, a couple Activity Books, some art supplies, water balloons and a few toys.

So far, this morning, it is off to a WONDERFUL start! The children are dressed, chores are done, and the boys have both been reading for the past 30 minutes. Hopefully, this enthusiasm will stick!

Speaking of Setting Goals...

...of rather, unrealistic ones...

I did it AGAIN!!

Last month ;) my hubby and I purchased some furniture from my parents neighbors who are moving. Well, the rest of it arrived Thursday night! I was very excited, but not quite ready.

You should have seen the look on hubby's face when my dad arrived with that trailer full of furniture! Where was it--3 more sections of bookshelves, a new table for the kitchen(we have outgrown ours), 6 chairs, a matching hutch, and a corner hutch--all going to go???

The kitchen was fairly easy... It is actually too much furniture for the size of our kitchen, but we hope to add on that dining room someday... Maybe this will be more incentive! :)

Before Pictures:

After Pictures:

So, what do you think?? Someday we hope to have the same flooring in both the kitchen and living room... But for now, we need to put something under one end of the hutch to level it out. I am excited that I will have more cabinet space now!!! It does make for a rather cramped kitchen though, and we don't even have the extra leaves in the table!

Anyways, that was the easy part... The hard part was fitting the new book cases into our, already overfull, school room. It was going to be necessary to move, or remove, the wood bookshelves--that I recently convinced hubby to bring in from the garage just before Easter. He was not really willing, to say the least.

So -- we added the bookshelves along the far wall where you see those desks, along with the computer desk (which you can see here) that had already taken those desks place. The room was packed to say the least.

Well, Friday I ended up staying home with the girls and Snuggles (since he has been sick) while hubby took the boys to Mass and to work with him for a few hours. I thought "I can surprise hubby and do it myself before he gets home!!!!!" ummm... yeah right!!!! That was a totally unrealistic goal!

I began by taking everything off the bookshelves and placing it all on the table in the middle of the room, as well as on the boys new desks. Then I thought -- it sure would be nice to keep these book shelves in this room... I wonder if they would fit in the closet??? I measured them, and sure enough, they would just clear the ceiling. So, I then took everything out of the closet and added it to the middle of the room. At this point, the room was filled with stuff!

OK. At this point I had about 3 hours till hubby was due to arrive home. :)

I then called my dad, and he walked me through how to operate a power drill so I could unscrew the bookshelves from the wall. Yes, I am pathetic when it comes to tools. I actually used a fire poke thingamajig to pry the closet shelf loose. It worked!!

I inched the huge, heavy, solid wood, bookshelf towards the closet, and tipped it to try and get it in:

Here is where I got stuck:

Argh! I couldn't for the life of me get it to stand up. It was too darn heavy! And time was ticking!!! I had a total panic attack! was starting to get stressed!

Well, one of the benefits of coming from a large family, is that there is usually someone that you can call if you are really in a bind! My dear sweet brother Scott came to my rescue! THANK YOU SCOTTIE!!! Not only did he help me move all the bookshelves, he helped me move all the old furniture into the garage, took pictures of it all for craigslist, and organized it too! All before my hubby got home. Hubby had to agree that it looked much better, even though everything in the middle of the room needed to be put away!!!

Well, that was yesterday... Here are some pictures from today:


The School Room Closet:

With the extra shelves, I was able to add almost all the board games from the hall closet!! This will make them so much easier to get to!

Our School Room:

These were both taken from the doorway - New Table, Chairs and Desk.

The far wall. I'm thinking of hanging my world map there, but I'm not sure. Eventually I would like to get a white computer desk/armoire to finish off the room.

Here you can see the new bookcases. I LOVE THEM!!! Does any one have a good suggestion for making the most use out of a corner bookshelf, to where it still looks nice/organized?


And, here is a closer view of the boys new desks.

My Aunt Roxanne, who is also my godmother, gave me some of her art while I was visiting!! The boys wanted theirs above their desks, rather than in their room, so I hung the "Train" above Rascal's desk and the "Boat" near the door. She is mailing me the "Airplane" for above Capitan's desk! Aren't they cute?!?!?!

(She also gave me this one for the girls room, and the Monkey, Giraffe, and Lion for Snuggles room. I love them all! Thank you Aunt Roxanne!)

Well, the school room has sure come a long way this past year. Once again, I am glad that tomorrow is Sunday. I better hurry up and get the groceries put away, make a cake, and then get some sleep. I'm exhausted!

I hope you all have a very Blessed and relaxing Pentecost Sunday!!