hump day

I did not take out the trash.

Today I did two small projects to make up for my apathetic day yesterday.

Bought some pretty document boxes from The Container Store to use as keepsake boxes for the girls.  The previously mentioned "Day You Were Born' books will now have a home amongst ultrasound pictures, hospital bracelets, and the like.  Still haven't figured out how I want to document their milestones.  In the moment I just jotted things down on a calendar but probably will end up doing something a little more formal . . .

Also tackled my baking cabinet.  Organized sprinkles, food coloring, and birthday candles.  Realized I had two full size rolling pins and a cake pop pan.  I've never made cake pops.  Today I accepted the fact that I will never make cake pops.  So one rolling pin and a never used cake pop pan went into the ever-growing donation pile.  Cannot bear to part with my Star Wars pancake molds however and so back they went into the folds. 

losing interest

Sunday I went through our DVD/BlueRay collection and did some purging.  Had forgotten that I had done this not so long ago.  Was surprisingly still very attached to anything starring John Cusack.  Will obviously need to revisit this task!

Monday I organized my purse.  That is all.

Today is Tuesday and I have no idea what I'll end up doing.  Wondering if taking out the trash would count . . .

four for four

Four days and four organization projects down.

Project one: complete overhaul of the miscellaneous drawer in the kitchen.  This drawer holds every random kitchen utensil you can possibly imagine.  Realized as I was doing it that this effort was the first such effort applied to this space since we moved in 5 and half years ago.  Oops?  I may have had 6 extra corkscrews that I got rid of . . . and that wasn't including the bar stash.  It was a proud moment.

Project two: purge and organize the coffee/tea drawer.  A couple of questions.  How many coffee cups does one family need?  And does tea ever expire?

Project three: containing the container drawer.  We don't do Tupperware or plastic containers anymore.  Use these great glass containers we initially bought for baby food making.  We love them, they are awesome.  They take up ridiculous amounts of space.  This is a monthly project that honestly should probably be done weekly.  You may see this one again as a repeater.

Project four: investigation and subsequent relocation of family snacks/treats.  Bit the bullet and threw out the last of the Halloween candy.  Don't tell Emma!  Also got rid of some very suspect raisins.  Had to make room for all the chocolate that somehow finds it's way into my house after the holidays.

And I actually did some minor bonus organization in other areas of the kitchen while I was at it.  Go me!  Remember this when I start slacking towards the end of the month;)

my babies

Yesterday I finally filled out 'On The Day You Were Born' books for both of the girls.  A sweet patient of mine gave them to me when I was pregnant with Annabelle.  She apparently had a business in the early 80s with a friend designing and publishing these memory books.  It was so nice of her to have her children dig them out of storage for me.  She actually gave me three - thought it might come in handy down the road;)

Today I rearranged our mantle to make room for updated pictures of our littles - it's a happy view:)

the busy life

A little behind in the documentation BUT actually did do a project for each day since my last post.

On Tuesday I cleaned out my car.  Full disclosure: I actually cashed in on a detail package that Clayton gave me last year for Christmas.  So the actual cleaning was outsourced.  But the organizing and purging to get ready for such a gift was handled by me!  Even did a bonus cleaning of the girls' car seats.  And, yeah, first time around on that one . . .

Wednesday I reorganized the dining room record collection.  Took a photo because it looked so pretty.  But it is currently lost in the internets.  Will update if found!

Thursday was sock drawer day.  That is all.

Saved Friday for the bras and other unmentionables.

Yesterday was a wash because Family Gates went to a lovely day wedding.  PS: we all clean up really nicely:)

Today I made up for yesterday with two projects:

trying out thin felt hangers to reorganize my closet (but REALLY wanting to do all wooden hangers so we'll see how long this lasts . . . )

fixed ER's penguin (because I'm a doctor) with real (meaning visible) stiches per owners request;)

day 4

Another fairly easy one today.  Emptied out my bedside table and set aside most of the contents for either trash or donation.  Only things that made the cut were my new - stocking stuffer! - hand cream from L'Occitane and a collection of Hurraw lip balms.  Oh how I LOVE seeing 'stuff' leave our home!

a new year

So I'm challenging myself this month by tackling at least one organization or home project daily. May be big.  May be small.  Day one's took some time: reorganizing our holiday closet as I packed away all out Christmas décor.  The closet had taken a beating over the last few months but I forgot to take a before picture to prove it.  Post project pics below!

I was exhausted after all that New Year's Day effort so yesterday's project was kind of a phone in.  BUT.  Needed to be done and was way over due . . .

Today's efforts were very rewarding and again LONG over due!

filing cabinet drawer before . . .

 

and then an ENTIRE trash bag full of paper later . . .

 

the after!