Getting Settled

We are in a new home in St. Clair Shores, Michigan!! We are very excited, but overwhelmed! We closed and started moving in on November 18th...yes, all the same day because my husband was crazed about getting out of our neighborhood!! He was in charge of getting all the furniture over and I was in charge of putting the entire house together...not the easiest thing with a very active 2 1/2 year old and a one year old who I babysit 3 days a week. Then I also had to decorate for Christmas, because I'm insane!!! Needless to say, I am still getting a few things put together around here, including 1 1/2 rooms to paint.

In the next weeks I will be revamping my life schedule, since this house is a bit different than our previous home, and I am adding preschool activities into our day now. Aliyah is a little sponge, so we are diving in. I actually get to put my Master's degree to use:)

So much to do, but I am so thankful for everything!!!

Directions

For the giveaway, all you need to do is leave a comment. I will be able to get your screen name from that or the beginning of your e-mail. I will then post the winners' screen names and you can e-mail me the address you'd like me to send it to:) that's it. Easy!!!

First Giveaway!!!

I've got two very helpful, beautiful hardcover books to giveaway!! The first is called A Place for Everything. It has tons of great organizational ideas and lots of pictures. The second giveaway is Organizing Made Easy with over 300 ideas! The following tips are from Organizing Made Easy:

1. Clear the Clutter
A. If you don't need it, don't keep it
B. Weigh the cost of replacing an item against the amount of space it takes up
C. Two years is too long in the fashion world
2. Splurge on storage products
3. Organize everything!

Now, if you want to be in the drawing for these giveaways, you have to do something for me!! All you need to do is leave a comment including a great organization idea. It could be to help organize STUFF or TIME. The more ideas you leave, the more times your name goes in the drawing:)

Time will be up at 8:00pm on Saturday, October 29th Eastern Standard Time. That is only about 4 days away!!!

Sheet Sets

Okay, this is the only bit of useful info I have today, and it isn't even my idea. I stole it. You know your clean sheets and pillowcases that topple over in the closet because they are all awkward and different sizes? Well, no more!!! Put each matching set folded in one of the pillow cases! Brilliant, right? So simple, right?? Also, if you don't have a lot of linen closet space, you can put the sheet sets in their corresponding bedroom closet or drawer:)

Now for an update of excuses as to why I haven't posted or added the reviews of the 3 Newbery books I've read...one, I feel discombobulated because I never know the hours I am working at my part time job. I haven't found out my schedule a few days before since I was like 15. It's rather humiliating and annoying. Two, I haven't felt like I had much to impart lately. Three, Shannon and I have been looking for a new house. Though we have tried to make our humble abode a cozy home, we have come to the point where we need to get out of our neighborhood. It has become unsafe to live here. So we are busy searching!!!

I hope all is well out there! I will be having a drawing soon for a free give-away. I just have to come up with an intriguing topic to have you respond to:)

Death

I know sometimes death is a morbid topic, especially when you aren't focusing on an eternity of praising the Lord. Well, recently my husband and I when on a trip to New York City (which happens to be an amusing story for another time), and since we were both going and leaving Aliyah with my parents, we had to think about what to do in the event that we both die in a car accident or something.

Once we had Aliyah's well-being decided, which was SO hard to think about, we were on our way! And maybe because I had just been thinking about death, (not a topic that is usually on my mind...) I started to think about the things I would miss out on if I was called away from this Earth! It may have been the rolling hills and beautiful forests of Pennsylvania that started me thinking of my list.

1. I would miss out on growing old with my beautiful husband.
2. I would miss out on all of the amazing events, and little happenings in my daughter's life:(
3. There are soooo many books I've never read!
4. There are so many amazing places I've never been!!!

I know that once I have entered eternity, these are things I won't even think about, but why does it make me so sad to think about them now??

What earthly desires would YOU miss??

Pages and Poop

I've been working on my Children's Book pages a little bit, during the time I can squeeze in my schedule.  I tried to make the Newbery Award page easier to view, so the list is right here in my blog and not on a google doc page.  Transfering it over was a little dicey and it doesn't look the way I want it to yet...I will conquer...just give me some time:)  I also made a separate Favorite Read Aloud page.  I got rid of my recipe page for now, because it just isn't my priority right now.  I can only do so much with my crazy schedule. Besides, there are about 5 million recipe sites to go to, so what's the point???

Now, a completely different topic...Last night, a little after 11:00, while I'm trying to keep cool in this 90+ heat wave, I hear myself being called upon.  I walk into Aliyah's room, where my nose is immediately accosted.  Flipping on the light, I see she is sitting up, with yuckies smeared all over her sheet.  On closer inspection I see it is all down her leg and all over her hand...Oh, gross!!!! I spent the next half hour cleaning sheets and blankets, and bathing my poor daughter, after scrubbing poop out of her nails...Why do all the crazy things happen while my husband is out of town on business? ALWAYS!!! I'm so thankful I have the Lord to call upon when Shannon isn't around:)

Libraries

The library and I have a love-hate relationship. I love it because I love books. I hate the library because I always get late fines, and when they are over $5 I can't get any books! (because I never carry cash or checkbooks...) You can see my issue. My excuse is that I am organizationally challenged.

I imagine the library LOVES me, since I am personally funding their existence! I'd probably be better off just buying every book I read, but since my husband doesn't have a love affair with books, I'd better not!

By the way, I have gotten farther on my Children's Book page! I'm having a ton of fun with the Newbery Award Winners!! I was thinking of recruiting my nieces to help read and review them, since there are about 4-6 per year since 1922!!

Changes

I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It's been a little crazy over here! Last week my husband was out of town for work, and of course AJ got sick and had to go to urgent care, then her doctor the next day. I had a sick kiddo on my hands and I was wrapping up my last week of the school year ...and I also could not stop reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett during any spare moment...it is soooooo good, but I'm only half way through because who has time to read?!?!

Some big changes are happening over here. Summer vacation, though not really because this is the first summer in 12 years that I don't have teacher pay all summer...so I had to pick up a couple part time jobs. But the big one is that my wonderful hubby said I could stay home with AJ (Aliyah) next year and also watch some other babies at home!! I've got one baby I'm watching for sure...now I just need to find a couple more! Yikes!!!

Now I have to make more new schedules. Maybe put some time in there to write my children's book and plan a preschool. Lots to do! Wowzers...

The school year is ending, and it makes me procrastinate on my house work for some reason! Maybe because I think I will have more time in a week to do these things. In the meantime, I have 3 loads of folded laundry just gathering dust, waiting to be put away. The dishes get done in slow motion it seems, cooking is not on the top of my list. Dust, floors, sheets...can you wait a week? No??? Ugh...I guess I know what I'm doing this weekend. At least it's going to be rainy and chilly here in southeast Michigan!! I won't feel like galavanting around outside.

I may even get to my children's book page, maybe add a few recipes! Check back in a couple days, and I may have accomplished something on here:)

Confession

Yesterday was hard.  I was just winding down from AJ's 2nd birthday party the day before, heading to church, when it hit me.  Our baby was due this month, but we lost the precious one back in September.  I had a really hard time holding it together during worship, but with my nieces on either side of me, I had to.  Back in September, I was sad, but I really trusted the Lord through everything.  My husband seemed to take it a lot harder.  However, until yesterday, what I struggled with the most since the miscarriage, trying everything we could for months on end, was that maybe that was my last chance, that maybe the Lord just doesn't see fit to bless us with another child.

I realize that I am definately not the only one who battles every day, trying to be faithful to the God of creation and trust completely in Him in this situation, knowing that I have an absolutely beautiful, sweet little girl! God didn't have to give me AJ, but He did, and I am so very thankful...But then I despair.  I am a wretched sinner!

Here is my worst confession...And I know with all of my heart that I am wrong, that God does NOT work this way: Like I mentioned about a week ago, I had broken down with SDK about my inability to keep my life organized.  I knew this shouldn't be such a big crazy deal!! Well, after many tears, I realized that deep inside, I thought if I could just prove to God that I could be a good, organized wife and mother, that maybe He would give me another child.

I know...So wrong, but this is very honest.  It is okay that I was sad to lose our baby, it was okay for me to be sad yesterday, but it is not okay for me to think my Lord can be bargained with! It is not okay to dwell on those around me who conceive just by thinking about it, and wonder why not me? Godly sorrow produces repentance without regret, but worldly sorrow produces death (2 Corinthians 7:10) And those thoughts were definately killing me! I'm sure I was grieving the Lord.

I will definately struggle...I know those days are not over, but hopefuly I will trust the Lord's will, no matter what it is, more and more every day!  And I will continue to better my home, not to barter with God, but out of love for my beautiful husband and daughter.

I'll Scratch your Back if you Scratch Mine!

OR...I'll help organize your closet if you help organize mine!  I just recently bought Real Simple magazine, an organizing edition (of course!), and it had this really cool idea!  Basically, they said to have a friend help you and you help them, then you go out and celebrate together!  It sounded great to me, but a closet is not what I need help with...more like my attic or my basement.  Who's coming over??

My Kitchen!

I found a website that has a plan to organize your kitchen in 5 hours. (See Organize Your Life page for the link) The basic plan is...

Hour 1: get rid of old unused food and stuff,
Hour 2: Clean out cupboards,
Hour 3: Put things where you need them,
Hour 4: Use counter space wisely,
Hour 5: Label the inside of your cupboards.

I definately spent 5 hours in my kitchen, but I did all that stuff to one cupboard at a time, except I haven't labeled anything...Overkill???

Before I show you my before and after pictures, I have some disclaimers. First, my kitchen is small and hard to work with.  Second, we have a crazy corner cupboard that no human being could reach the back of. Third, a lot of our space is wide open with no doors. Fourth, we have these crazy shallow cupboards that the first owners added in. Fifth, I added more food to some cupboards once I made space so it looks even worse to me! Here we go!

Corner Cupboards Before:

Corner Cupboards Cleaned out...Step 2:

Corner Cupboards After (added food)

Cupboards in Entry Before:

Cupboards in Entry After (what's the differrence???)

Fridge Area Before:

Fridge Area After (Mostly the top is like heaven!!):

Wall Space Before:

Wall Space After:

Our Bitsy Counter Space as Cleared as it Can Get!:

There it is...5 hours later. Now, do I need labels? Maybe for the hubby.  Do I need more containers? Maybe for my sanity...I just like them! What room next? Not sure...











My Home

Well, I spent about five hours yesterday sorting, cleaning, and organizing my kitchen.  I did this because I nearly broke down with my mom (I had already broke down a couple times with my poor husband).  I was telling her that I just can't do it!  I'm horrible at this!!!  But my dear mom says, "No you are not horrible at organizing, it's just that you don't have very much storage space!" This is very true.  We live in a two bedroom bungalow with tiny closets, tiny rooms, and a tiny kitchen.  We try our best to keep things organized.  I thought I'd show you some pics of the space we are dealing with, and then I'm going to show you before and after pictures of my kitchen! Aren't you all so lucky...:) Be kind!

Sorry some of them are sideways!  The blog page turned them on me and wouldn't let me fix it!

Dining Room:

A bit off our tinsy Bedroom on Valentines Day:

The Hallway: Sideways :(

AJ's Bedroom:

Family Room:

We try to disguise AJ's toys in baskets! Any suggestions??

Kitchen Table:

Bathroom:

So there it is! Next post I will show you the work I did in the kitchen.  





Working our Way Back

My best girlfriend was the first to view my blog, and she said something like, "I need to get organized first." Like, BEFORE she could organize her life.  I know exactly what she means.  I'm beginning to realize that my entire house needs to be revamped and labeled before the schedules I've made can make a difference.  I think this is why I still feel like I can't rest, and that my weekends are just as busy cleaning and working as my weekdays are!  I've been searching organization tips, and I see that I have to start at the bottom.  I'm going to start in the kitchen, since I spend a lot of time there!  While I am testing out a technique I found for the kitchen, I found a really great checklist for doing a very quick daily clean-up for your home that I will share!

Quick Daily Clean-Up

Rain Day!

I so wanted to take AJ to the Detroit Zoo today, but the weather is mucho gross!  I was prepared for a few showers, but it's a bit worse...Obviously the Lord knew my plans would be altered, so now I need to see how I can honor Him best with this extra time inside! Right now AJ is busy coloring with markers while she watches Blue's Clues. What can mama do??? 

Everything is pretty much under control on the main floor, so I think I will make my husband happy and focus on the basement today.  About a month ago he finished building me some storage shelves that, at this point, remain covered in saw dust!  Shot Vac, here I come!!! Some may think this is horrible, but I plan to set my beautiful little girl next to me in her Pack n' Play along with some books and toys.  We do not have one of those wonderful finished basements.  We have a basement basement, and it's not safe for toddlers to roam around in.

I sure hope it is nice later on, so we can go for a walk, or maybe the park.  By the way, if you live in Macomb County, MI, please check out George George Memorial Park.  It is so beautiful!  AJ and I have been there twice this week already! The park it so clean, with a perfect blend of play areas and nature.  They have some very nice bathrooms and a beautiful area to eat. 

What?!?! It is already clearing up...I better get busy.  That's Michigan for you!

Specific Weekend Schedule

I'm fairly certain I didn't get to any of my cook ahead stuff on Saturday because I haven't been planning my weekends. I mean, I write them on our calendar, but that has never seemed to help one such as myself! Of course it didn't help that I couldn't go anywhere, like the grocery store, as we only had one car...my husband narrowly escaped death when his brakes went out on I-75. Yikes!!! But I blame myself that I planned to cook ahead the same day we had a birthday party to attend, and a baptism and BBQ! What...Was...I...Thinking??? Apparently I thought I was super woman now that I have all these lovely schedules, but I guess I need one more! The Weekend Schedule! I realized last weekend that there was something wrong. Why was I still having to work so hard on the weekends, when my chore calendar CLEARLY was blank on Saturday and Sunday?

Well, don't ask me...I'm still trying to figure it out...

Cook Ahead

Well, tomorrow I am planning on cooking ahead a bit for next month!  Cook and freeze!  I am going to make a huge pot of my spaghetti sauce and freeze in 4-cup containers.  I'm going to bake a whole bag of chicken breasts and freeze some bags of cubed chicken, and some bags of strips of chicken for various recipes.  I have about 8 lbs. of ground beef.  Half I will season with taco seasoning, since we do mexican about once a week, and half I will just season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder for other recipes.  I should be set for the month...sigh...

Is there anything else good for cook and freeze? 

Organizing SDK and the Royal Wedding

My husband must be pretty impressed with my new organized life, because he called me from work today to request that I make him a detailed, weekly schedule! Wow! I wonder how much I should charge? :) I made him a lovely excell spreadsheet, and decided to make one for myself to correspond to his. I'll post it soon on my Organize your Life page.

Changing the subject...I am planning to get up around 5:00 am to watch the royal wedding! My mom is coming over loaded with Starbucks oatmeal and coffee! I am so obsessed... I cannot wait!!!! Of course before the crack of dawn I may be feeling a little different! I wonder what chores I could get done while watching TV??

Need to Tweak

Yes, yesterday I ate the bread of idleness and took a nap, but it was date night! I needed my energy!!! AJ spent the night at Auntie and Uncle's, and we had the night to ourselves:) today I made up for yesterday's chore and we enjoyed a beautiful family day at the Detroit Zoo!!

However, before we went I was looking around my house...the house that is supposed to be all neat and organized now that I have a schedule, but it isn't! Ugh!! Of course, this may be the perfectionist side of me, since my husband says it looks great. I'm not satisfied. There is visible dust on the TV when I just dusted Tuesday. There are clean shirts over the chair in the living room, there are some dishes in the sink and 2 loads of wash to do when I do a load every day!!!! What is going on here? Can I not sit down?

I'm sure I will figure it out. There are always ways to improve. If anyone has any time-saver ideas, like "clean the bathroom while AJ is taking her bath," please share!

Procrastination Queen

Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow...oh, wait, that's not right! But I don't care!!! It is rainy and cold and yucky today. I am taking a nap at nap time instead of dusting the ceiling fans and molding,and I'm not going to feel bad about it...well, maybe a little, but when I'm done with it tomorrow, what will the difference be??

What was I doing before?

She looks well to ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27

My mom has told me my entire life to, "make lists of what you need to do. Then you can check it off as you do it and it feels good!". Because I will start on one thing and get distracted and never go back to it!! Or, "why don't you write yourself a note to remind you?" Because I will put it somewhere and never look at it!!! My excuse was that I was too disorganized to be organized...

I'm not so much messy-disorganized as time-management-disorganized, so when I finally decided to make some schedules for my life, it was a much needed improvement. (see my Organize Your Life page to view schedules) At first, when I saw my monthly chore calendar, I was like, what??? That's it?!?! No work on the weekends, and only one chore per day the other 5 days. I can handle that:). Within the first week I noticed some positives and negatives to my daily schedule. Positives: I wasn't buried in 7 loads of laundry every weekend, I had a good, quality chunk of time with my sweet, beautiful 2 year old, and I wasn't going to bed after midnight. Negatives: I am still very tired, as I am basically working from 6am to 9pm Monday thru Thursday, I noticed there are a couple more chores I had to add to my list, and I still don't feel like I have enough time with my hubby:(

At the end of the day, I know I just need to get used to it, tweak it as I go, and it will just become my life.

Getting Started

About a month ago I was about to lose my mind.  I have never been organized, yet I am a perfectionist.  As you can imagine, not a very good combination.  I was having a battle between what I wanted to accomplish in my life and what I actually WAS accomplishing.  There were so many things I wanted.  I wanted to be an awesome wife, mother, friend, daughter, teacher, and Christian.  But how could I, when I was barely staying above water...and by water, I mean, laundry, dishes, lunches, dinners, diapers, dusting, vacuuming, dogs, working, and everything else expected of me!

After so long feeling like a failure in every area, feeling like I was the only woman out there who couldn't manage her life, I decided to reach out and ask for help!  Two things happened: first, I realized I was definitely NOT the only woman feeling this way, and second, a friend stepped up and offered to make me lunch and talk it out.  She also happened to have majored in Organizational Management!!

After that blessed lunch, I knew what I had to do: Time Management.  I spent the next 2 days making a daily schedule, a chore calendar, and a monthly menu.  I have tried it for a week, and have already benefited from many improvements. 

I thought since I am not the only wife and mother out there who wants so badly to be a God-honoring woman in every aspect of her life, and is not a natural at it, I would start a blog.  I will share my struggles and failures, any good ideas I come across!