My New Information System

I bought a new cell phone! I hate spending that extra money every month but it’s nice to be able to keep in touch with Chris with all the time we spend away from home and away from each other. I should have gotten one a year ago when we started this house but I can’t say that I’ll really need one when it’s all finished. It’s definitely a luxury item for me.

It’s the little things that give me a thrill! I also bought a new purse. I don’t know why I have resisted for so long. I guess I never thought I was a purse kind of gal but it’s really been working great for me. I bought a small $3 paperback planner that fits inside. I got tired of the old notebook thing. It was too big to take along every where I went. I cleaned it out today and from now on I’ll keep papers in it that I only need at home. This new system won’t last forever, just until my life changes and I move on to something new.

Organize Your Car

I’m trying to think of an organizing tip for you. I know I’ve mentioned this before but have you tried keeping a shop-vac, plugged in and ready to go, right next to your car when you pull in? That way it’s easy to keep your car vacuumed out. I vacuum my van out every week and some times more. It gets so dirty with our trips to the farm. Living and eating out of the van doesn’t help either. Don’t forget to keep a garbage can in there. Your kids are guaranteed not to use it but at least you can!

Our new home isn’t finished yet. We’re still house sitting but the owners are coming home in exactly two weeks so we’re moving into our new house whether it’s finished or not! The workers finished the sheet rock this week and they’ll start mudding next week. Our kitchen cabinets are just now being built so we’ll see how long it takes for them to get finished. We still don’t have a shingled roof or any siding and I haven’t ordered my lighting! I have it all picked out but I’m so indecisive that I keep putting it off. I’m going to break down and do it on Monday.

I can’t believe how much I hate our lives right now. We leave the house in the morning and after running errands for the house all day and then going to the gym, we don’t get home most nights until after 9:00. Chris was out of town today so I took the opportunity to stay home all day. I never even changed out of my pajamas! I didn’t do much relaxing but I got a lot of cleaning, laundry and cooking done along with getting the van vacuumed out. I’m looking forward to going to Church tomorrow, doing some reading and playing games with the kids.

Get Started!

(This was a response I wrote to someone inquiring how to begin getting organized. It seems like beginning is the hardest part of most difficult things. You might be thinking, "Where do I start? How do I start. Do I even want to start?" Don't think about it too long. Just get going and don't look back!)

First of all, what area is bugging you the very most? That's where you're going to start. You can't do it all in one day or weekend or even year so don't be hard on yourself. Just start with some easy projects and that will give you the courage to move on to the more difficult ones.
I always ask people, "What is more important, the people in your life or your things?" It's not difficult to answer so don't make it difficult to chose. All this clutter is probably getting in the way of the relationships with the people you love most so it's time to get rid of it. I say this because it sounds like you just need some help letting go so don't forget through all of this, things don't matter.

Starting now, spend 15 minutes a day going through the piles. Don't worry about getting rid of something you'll need someday. You obviously had the money to buy all that stuff so when you stop over spending then you will definitely be able to afford something you really need.

Which leads me to my next point. It took a lot of time and money to purchase everything in your home. That's time and money better spent elsewhere or better yet, SAVED! Are you teaching your kids to be spenders or savers? Are you teaching them that what they have is more important that who they are? What do you want to be teaching them? It's not just clutter you know. It's a symptom of your lifestyle.

I can't answer to all your questions in the few moments I have but you sound very motivated to get your life turned around in the right direction. The answers are out there. I started my organizing journey by reading one organizing book. From there I read every book I could get my hands on. You can do it. Just a little bit every day!