"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!

CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT

Have you ever been so close to a dream that you can see it, almost touch it, that you want it so bad you could even be your own worst nightmare and kill what chances you have to make that dream a reality? For me, I've been this route before, but this is bigger than I could have ever imagined. I can only hope that what I see for my family’s future becomes the reality that I have dreamed of for the past 11 years.

I pray each night that my book will see the light of day and become a movie for the big screen or even LMN. I am 22 days away from this possible reality and I am a bag of endless mixed emotions. However in all of this inner turmoil, there is one thing that I am finding easy - the words to write and the music to inspire me.  I'd like to share a story with you that I have linked from my other blog. It is a story that has been in my heart for the last two years, and has finally been born into words. I do hope you enjoy it. As for my update on my cleaning, my office is not organized, but I am keeping the house tidy and laundry, believe it or not, has remained caught up.

But with all the thoughts racing in my mind, I looked at my desk and have no clue where to being. All I can think of is that if my dream of becoming a screenwriter comes true, I will have kept my promise to my family that I would see they would have some kind of financial future to survive. I only hope this is a promise that I can follow through with.  So until next blog, may you all have a wonderful day and all the days that follow. Oh and one other thing, before you close your eyes to sleep tonight, be sure you tell those who mean the most to you, how much you care about them and who happy you are that they are in your life.

Here is the link to my story for today.
http://bu3-ret-staceybolin.blogspot.com/2012/02/your-never-to-old-for-surprises.html

YOU'RE KIDDING...RIGHT?

Merry Christmas? Ha-ha? No I guess you're right, it isn't funny. Honestly it is actually rather sad when you read on about what this mess is and how long it's been there. OK, so I am all about doing what I say I am going to do, but I still get side tracked extremely easy lately with other motherly duties, but I am moving ahead, at a turtles pace. So OK, the first two pictures are the beginning stages of my coat and linen closet Sunday clean.  What? You thought they were bigger? Nope. Oh I'm hearing you now - Then why in the hell can't I get them cleaned, it's not like it’s a whole room or a garage or something...its two puny fiberboard closets. OK, you’re right. Shhhh, do not tell anyone I said that. Ha-ha. For the longest time I was using the excuse that I needed packing boxes so that I could store all of these glass Christmas ornaments overhead in the attic and I would start painting them for next year’s craft shows later in the spring so my inventory would be all caught up. To me, my thinking was all well in good, the problem is that I have been saying this for the last TEN years. This next closet is a bit more chaotic, however again, is just as easy to take care of as the ornament closet.

My reasoning about this cluttered mess is that it seems to be a catch all. Yes it is for sheets, extra blankets and tablecloths. But I see no organization to this fiber madness. Now we have only four beds in this house. Two are twin, one is full and the other is a queen. So, realistically, how many sets of sheets does one house really need? Two, three tops. Well I counted out our sheets and I was devastated as to what I had. 7 Sets of queen size sheets, 4 sets of full size and 8 sets of twin size. NOW COME ON SELF! Who needs all that? So, I have set limits on everything here as well. 2 sets for each bed and that is that. My husband and I got spoiled when I accidentally on purpose splurged on a set of Egyptian cotton 600 thread count Tommy Hilfiger sheets. I got them for $50.00, but it wasn't until I had taken them out of the package, that I noticed that their original price was $312.00, but were marked down because of the color. For us, the color just happens to match the paint chip/room idea card I got from Lowe's. I would never have paid the full price of the sheets even if I was the richest person on earth, and $50.00 was pushing it too. But the outcome...my honey and I hate getting up in the morning and worse, neither one of us want any other type of sheet on the bed. We'd even go as far as staying up late until they are out of the dryer. So now I plan accordingly and wash them first thing in the morning. So we definitely don't need 8 sets of queen sized sheets when we only like the one.

OK, I'm getting side tracked, moving on. I have this project half done. Both closets are empty. I am in the process of cleaning all the linens, and what doesn't get chosen to stay, goes. Now if my phone would stop ringing and my motherly duties could hold off just about three more hours, this project will also be complete. So for now, I'll let you go and I'm off to make dinner for my three growing men in my life. (Smile).  I can say if you thought this was bad, what until I tell you about my pantry adventure, you'll never believe it, that's why I have pictures.  Have a great night everyone.  Blog you tomorrow.

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.

A Tedious First Task - But Now Complete

Day Three

Well, I guess better planning has got to be included into my quest for organization.  My hopes were to finish all the Christmas decoration sorting and liquidating, yesterday afternoon, of the items that have been stored in a total of 12 bins for years.  What a huge reality check it was for me.  Here it was, I've been storing 12 bins of Christmas items. Yes, it was finally sinking in. I get them all down every year, but only use 1/4 of the items. It just didn't make any sense and I wasn't sure as to why I kept many of these things in the first place . Sure many of the items I kept were beautiful, or they were the perfect shiny colored red, green and gold that was hypnotic to me. Yet my biggest reason - I honestly think that many things reminded me of Christmas as a little girl. Life seemed so simple then.  

I could feel the attachment to each of the items, but when I asked myself when was the last time I had ever really used it, or would I, it was very easy to put things into the donation box. Now don't get me wrong, other items, there was no question, as soon as I picked it up I knew immediately I was keeping it, and that was that. But knowing I gave myself a set limit of how much I was going to keep made this task easier even if it did take longer than I wanted. All in all, I kept what was important to me and the rest is going to someone else's home to enjoy. I reached my goal and now have only 5 bins of decorations to put back into the attic. My husband will be so proud. So, yes I feel bad for not getting done when I projected, but on the flip, I met my goal of 5 bins and the rest of the unwanted items are boxed, loaded in my truck and ready for a trip to the donation center here in town. I can say, it feels like some of the weight has been lifted from my shoulders. What a difference in our family room after the mass amount of clutter that I had yesterday. (see yesterday's blog for before pictures). I am feeling motivated to keep moving forward.  I forget in this grand plan of mine, I still have wifely and motherly duties to complete as well.  Then to add to my test, I have a cold, but that's not stopping me. My next task is to organize my laundry room coat and linen closet. Until tomorrow. Have a great day.

"Paper Whore"

Day One

Greetings one and all to another New Year and a new blog. One that I think will be full of accomplished goals. Keeping my fingers crossed. This blog will differ from my usual norm of family issues, personal funnies, and life in general. This blog is a quest to change myself with the hopes that you the readers will set me straight on facing my personal issues as I deal with trying to become organized and learning to part with materialistic clutter than has taken up residency in our home. As many of you frequent readers, of my other blog, http://bu3-ret-staceybolin.blogspot.com, have read, you all know that I can't organize myself out of a wet paper bag, but can organize anyone else to the point of perfection - Explain that one. To start, I call myself a paper whore. Yes, you read it correctly. Rather than file something away, it gets stacked up on the corner of my hutch, office desk, in a box and thrown out in the garage, you name it, but it doesn't stop with paper, there is so much more you'll learn about my clutter and myself as we take this journey together.

What I need to do is to get back to the simplistic ways in which we once lived when we first bought our home. We had nothing. I want a less is more look in  my home. I want to know that when I am looking for a document, I know just where it is, what drawer it is in, and what folder I will find it in. Right now, I can tell you what room it's in, but it will take me about an hour of moving this and that and then I can't guarantee I'll find it. Yes, I know, very sad. I won't make excuses anymore. Here it is, MY FLAW for the public to know about. The first step in dealing with a problem is knowing you have one. "My name is Stacey Bolin, and I am unorganized."

So this blog is my personal daily journey as I try to make a grand transformation once and for all. I know that most people need professionals to help them get organized and trust me, If I had the money or somebody willing to deal with me, they'd be here. So today is the first day in making the change against my clutter addiction. My vow is to create an environment that is organized and maintained on a daily basis to make life better for me and my family.  I know I will need to ask for support and understanding as I make these changes, but clearing my home from clutter will clear my mind from clutter and will create a calm environment for all. Any tips, guidance, words of wisdom, or motivation to keep me on task is greatly incouraged and most appreciated.  Ok, here we go folks. Until tomorrow.