Put One Foot In Front of The Other...

OK, so a few days ago, I posted my blog about cleaning out our spare bedroom/office. My plan was to do this cleaning project in four stages. However I failed to inform you, that this plan only works in my house during the week days. If I even tried to accomplish a large cleaning project on the weekend, my entire family knows that means I have to be in or be put in a bad mood. What’s that old saying, oh yes I remember, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." I think that is why my family opts for the happy mom and lets me slack a bit on my progress on the weekend.  Well I am proud to announce that I have started, what I promised, working on this cleaning chaos  that I thought was going to be well planned, easy, simple, never feeling overwhelmed, want to scream, project - not, not, not, not, not, and NOT. As you know, I am easily side tracked. Here is a perfect example; Radio on, washing floors, Cindy Lauper "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" comes on the radio, mop gets put in the bucking, phone gets picked up and two hours later, I am hanging up from a very winded conversation on big hair bands of the 80's. Then I pick up the mop, reheat the water with new floor clean, and attempt it again. Well unfortunately it's been one of those weeks, but I did however, manage to get part of the project done. Many of my distraction were edits needing to be done on my soon to be release book "Deemed Crazy", which is a fictional story...really it is. (Smile). Then our kids needed to be taken here and there for school. (Can't wait to share that blog. An event that was so crazy that I recorded it on my phone so I won't forget any details when I start writing it). I am also getting paper work together to file our newest in VA Claims - I'll be bald soon as it is a hair pulling experience. (Smile). I know, sounds like more excuses, but seriously, being a stay at home mom, means you do all the jobs and then some.

My hope was to get the room clean and get some of the new accessories up. Before I started I went to Home Depot to pick up some new switch plates and outlet covers, Yes a form of self-motivation that I believed would work, and it did a little - A very little. While I was there something bad happened, something I feared - The garden section was screaming and begging for me to wander through. OK, I didn't fear it because I am not afraid of plants; my fear is that I can't say to no to pretty flowers. My youngest son warned me of my lack of will power to say no to the pretty flowers. He was so right. We are now the owners two new plans, one of which is a hibiscus plant. (I'll get back to the bedroom/office progress in a second; see I am side tracked already).

I also got a Boston Fern which I have the ability to get those things to grown to ginormous sizes, so before it gets any bigger, let me provide you with a before photo and then at the end of the summer, I'll provide you with the after photo. All the plant items were 50%, 60%, and 70% off. Normally to buy both of these plants would have sent me back $53.00 + 6% sales tax (Thank you Maryland, please learn to budget better and stop taxing everything). But I got them both for only $15.00. I so love a bargain! OK, so by now you can see, I get distracted pretty easy, unless I am watching the movie Highlander, A Knights Tale, Hunt for Red October, Pretty Woman, or enjoying private time with the honey...OK, OK, TMI! Enough of my ramblings. So You want to know the answer to the the burning question of the day..."Stacey did you get your clutter crap cleaned up yet?" Yes and No.  Below is a picture of my progress on my newest clutter clean up.

I can finally open the closed door. The book shelf is better; it's holding a few books and music binders. As you can see by the next picture, I cleaned my desk off. I got the things off the floor. The stuff on the bed is what was in the closet. I didn't have the kahunas to show you that monstrosity. So, I can say, I got two parts of the four step plan complete. I am hoping that by Monday, I will be able to present you with a room so clean you'll wonder whose house it is. (Smile).  So day by day I am kicked my addiction. What addiction you ask? My addiction to keep things because for some reason years ago, I honestly believed that my things were the only way I could keep my memories. Dumb hua? I seriously thought that.

But after a while, my things were now only keeping bad memories in my mind, as the things made my house look bad, made my family feel bad, and kept our friends away. With the house now in a rapid decluttering state, I feel like a million dollars, but don't have any urge to shop. I also don't feel any connection to the things like I once did. Well unless it is photographs and those types of mementos. But a magazine dated 2007, seriously needs to go. I can clean and say to myself - Do you really want that? Do you really need that? If you keep it, where will it go? Most of the time I don't have to ask myself all three questions as the first one is more than enough. My garbage guys used to hate us, but I can safely say we now have a normal trash pickup. No more mounds of garbage bags pilled in our driveway. We use only two trash cans and that is it. I've come a long way baby. (Smile).  So, again to all my loyal readers and those with your kind words of inspiration, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  Who says you need therapy when I have the whole world to answer too. Thanks everyone for your support and the storage ideas are awesome. When I get enough of those, I am going to put a blog together on everyones suggestions. Well until next time - Blog you later.

 I love this quote and I wanted to share it with you. Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing. ~Phyllis Diller, Phyllis Diller's Housekeeping Hints, 1966

P.S. As you may now know, I have started in a new endeavor to raise money for Gulf War Veterans - One book at a time.  I am asking that you go to the webpage on facebook entitled; "Through the Barracks Window: A Time of Waves", There is no cost to anyone, just the click of the "Like" button is all that I am asking of you and then send the information on to all of your friends and have them do the same, and so on and so on. This will help us advertise our cause without the high costs of advertising companies out there. Again many thanks for your continued support. Until next time, blog ya later.

"Getting Back on Task - Can I really do it?"

Hello to all in blogger land. Today is a quest to complete the newest in organizational projects - finally organizing our home office/spare bedroom. As ashamed as I am, I am posting a before picture to show you what I am up against. Lately I have been a bit side tracked as you probably have noticed with my other blog site. I found that the last week was both challenging and rewarding. The most challenging part was trying to teach my children about personal boundaries and why they should practice this all of their lives. A topic that I try not to harp on, but there is a few out there who just put themselves right smack dab into the middle of my soapbox, which I vented about enough the other day, but I know the lady in question read it, or was told about it, as she and the other lady was on their best behavior at the barber shop when we went in again for my other son. "See I knew you could be nice, ladies!" But ya know what. This isn't about them today so I'm moving on to an even better topic in addition to my getting back on track with this clutter chaos in our home. So what is better than seeing my clutter chaos unfold for all to see...?

20 Years Ago May 6th, 1992

 My husband and I celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary on May 6th, WAA WHOO! WE MADE IT! I will say it was a wonderful day/weekend that was spent with dear friends that we have adopted as family. My husband and I spent most of that weekend hanging out at an event called "BayBBQ", that was hosted by the Annapolis Rotary Club to raise money for youth community programs. Food was delicious, over 32 bands played for two days. It was a great time. It also gave us time to sit and do something we haven't done in a while. Sit and just talk and remember the great times we have had over the last 20 years together. What I found to be the best part, neither of us has any regrets as to our choice to marry and we are hoping that the next 20 are less eventful, meaning medical issues, family drama, and extreme life challenges. However with all that we have endured in our marriage one thing stands true, and believe you me, we have had people and things really try to push us to the brink of separating, our love just gets stronger and stronger. Won't they ever learn....they are only making our bond stronger than ever the more they try to pit us against each other?

20 Years Later - May 6th, 2012

With my husband going through testing for Gulf War Syndrome, I see a new focus on our lives together and he knows that, just like he did for me when I fell ill, I will stand by him, whatever the outcome brings. I feel like I have my best friend back. He calls during the day just to say hello and believe it or not, that means more to me than flowers, cards, or candy. Now as I have said before, the power of positive thinking can move mountains and with the card that he gave me for our Anniversary. His written words, and our special conversations about us and our future, was all this lady, meaning me, needed to get in the complete mindset that I can accomplish anything. My goal this week get the projects finished that I started and got so distracted, that they never got done. So my project for the rest of this week, not two hours or in a day as this project will be tedious, I am going to completely organize our home office/spare bedroom. I will keep you posted on my progress.  What I have planned is to cut the room into four quarters and do a quarter a day. Less overwhelming, more progress...ok, that's my mind set, give me a chance. (Smile). So I must begin my newest quest now, as my previous plan to get the bathroom redone, did not work with our budget at this time. Have a fantastic Thursday and remember....depending on where you live in the world, It's either almost the weekend or is the weekend. WAA WHOO!  Until next time - Blog you later.

TOTAL CLUTTER CHAOS!
MY NEWEST PROJECT IN TAMING THE CLUTTER MADNESS!

YOU WANNA KNOW? YOU GOT IT!

Join me on Monday April 16, 2012 and find out exactly how I'm doing with my question to be clutter free. We are eight months away to my big reveal. Will I meet my goal? What troubles, if any, have I conquered along the way. Find out how the last four months have been and why lies ahead in my clutter monstrosity.

While you have a free weekend, can I suggest an outstanding and inspirational book to read. "Through the Barracks Window" A True Story.

Now on Amazon and Barnesandnoble.com

You'll be glad you got it and it helps raise money for our wounded soldiers in our Armed Forces.

Have a great weekend and we'll blog you Monday.

DANGER CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE!

THAR SHE BLOWS!

It was such a wonderful day yesterday! After what felt like hours and hours of trying to make my way through the rough and treacherous terrain, I had finally seen the most wonderful sight as I stood holding myself up to keep from falling down with overwhelming amounts of joy and sheer happiness that I finally finished one of six feared projects - I had emptied the closet and had cleared the mound on our bed that came from the closet. Who in their right mind would have ever guessed that this deal would have me pondering the biggest math question of the day? You'll love this, but don't try to solve this...It is physically impossible without a five subject notebook and a box of pens from Office Depot. How many hangers, pairs of shoes, a vast array of various sizes of clothing items, men's girly magazines, ball caps with various designs, belts, old and new jackets and other extreme odds and ends, can you fit in a closet that is 2ft deep, 3.5 feet wide and 8 feet high? Ok, I was never really the greatest at word problems, but I know how I should have answered this question before it got cleaned out – there should have been a huge yellow caution sticker with the word danger in red lettering and the rest of the sticker that said:

Before

    " DANGER "

CONTENTS UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE

DO NOT OPEN!

The best part of my day, was when this mess that you see to your left, was completely transformed. I decompress the amount of crap that had found its way into this extremely small space, that maybe about 60 years ago, was called a closet, but compare it to the closets of today, this is now considered a locker. Now, not only did I decompress it, I downsized it's contents and then went on to color code it too. Below is the after picture. It feels great to know that I have completed another one of many tasks that I have on my to-do list.



After

I am also very excited to learn that today my sweetheart is helping me with my declutting and cleaning today, so that we can enjoy the Pro-bowl game this evening. It's another opportunity for me to learn the game and spend quality time with my husband and sons. So, for now - I thank you for keeping up my with progress and the words of encouragement. I can see the light at the end of this year long quest. I can't wait to be able to say - I finally did it! My remaining project of the day – I’m FINALLY GOING TO CLEAN THE COAT AND LINEN CLOSET. How many weeks have I've been saying I was going to do that?  Well folks, today is the day...Wish me luck! Enjoy the game.

I SMELL A FISH?

Refrigerator Before

I am completely speechless as to how long it has actually been since I have updated my, Clutter Blog, as it is known for short in my house. I am proud to say that with illness and doctors’ appointments to keep my younger son comfortable, I still found time to complete a project that is usually one that goes for years...yes I said years, undone unless there is a massive spill that usually goes undiscovered until an odd mystery smell finds its way throughout our home. Obviously by the picture to your left, you knew I was talking about our refrigerator. Now come on, how many of you clean your's on a weekly basis?...Yeah I know there will be some of you out there who do, and are completely disgusted with my lax-a-daisy method. In my home, as I looked around each room, I noticed a theme present. Items were never put back in the place where they belong in our home. This is the same for our refrigerator/freezer. Put it where it fits, seems to be the thing to do when putting things back.  So, my plan was to complete the refrigerator side this week and the freezer side next week. Again, my plan was to have the one side done in an afternoon. Not no...But Hell NO! I wish you could have seen the things I found. Jell-O or jam that had fallen over and slowly oozed down the sides and back of my fridge. Then the worst part, the mystery meat and green cheeses, that were not green when I purchased them. The most revolting part of this clean was the piece of Cod, which I had planned on making fish chowder with, that was somehow pushed to the back bottom shelf.  I figured my husband or kids had thrown it out days ago, as they are not fish eaters and probably feared I would make a dish with fish in it, without telling them.  Now come one, would I do that? Not after what happen to my husband when I opened a can of tuna one day for my lunch...he made himself sick. Anyway the smell of this hidden fish, found its way through out our home, and oddly enough, my husband and boys started looking at me. Hey now!...I have no hygiene issues. I'm not getting blamed for the odor in the house. But the green cheese, now that rancid smell, wow, it was close to the bad case of boot foot that my three guys have. I keep telling them to wear sneakers once in a great while and they wouldn't have halitosis of the foot so much, but do they ever listen to me? Nope.

Refrigerator After

So battling the bulge of food and items that kept falling from our fridge each time we would open the door, I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands and get the job done and done right. The trash guys hated me. Nothing worse than a ton of bad meat, cheese and items that are sold in glass. It makes the trash bags extra heavy. Glad I don't get charged by weight or volume. I'd be broke. So as you can see with the picture to the right, things are organized, but not in places where I would like them to be, usually I have milk on the door and vegetables in the veggie bin, but one of the bids were so filled with stuck on things that had made their way from the top of the fridge to the drawers, that it wouldn't open and so the track is still soaking and I need a very small tool to get into those tiny crevasses. UGH. But for the most part you can see that the less is more approach, is a nice way to go. You can see what you’re looking for and there is no funky meaty, cheesy, fishy, smell. Be glad that the internet doesn’t have a smell button. You would have never kept reading. All in all, I am getting there at a snail’s pace that is on its way to Florida from Maine. Slowly but surely, I am getting a hold of the constant clutter and will be able to brag about my victory in another 11 months, 1 week and 4 days. Thanks for stopping by to check on my clutter progress. My next attempt will be going back downstairs to clean out the linen and coat closet. If that gets done, then I will be able to go back to my bedroom closet and liquidate it for sure. I'll keep you posted on my progress and will always post before and after pictures. Just so you know I'm not making any of this up. I'm also excited about a blog update on my weight loss, talk about shockers, can't wait to share the before and after pictures of this milestone, but that story, I will have to share sometime in the future. Right now I'm focused on clutter. Have a great Friday, I know I'm going to enjoy it...its date night with my sweetheart.