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.

Clutter, Clutter, Everywhere - CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!

Day Two

OMG! The morning started as any back to school, back to work day would. Up at the crack of dawn. Made the hubby breakfast, got his lunch packed, and by 6:05am he was out the door. At 6:10am the kids were moving at the speed of snail, but they got up and were fed and to help them with their first day back, I took them to school. OK, not really to help them back, but for me to get my things done around town. Taking them to school, on days I need to get out and get things done, is a huge motivator for myself to get my day started. Our commissary opens early so I was in the parking lot waiting by 7:25am.  Got only the things that I put on my preprinted shopping list organizer, that I bought at Target months ago. Shocking...I didn't buy anything that wasn't checked on the list and it still cost me over $100.00. UHGHGH!!! Honestly...the list kept me focused. I wasn't distracted this time, by the Little Debbie Chocolate Snack Cakes and Doritos Nacho Cheese Chips, begging me to put them in my cart. No Sir, not gonna do it, I kept my mind on the list.

I got home at 9:47am, put the groceries away and was ready to being my first official day of organization. I looked around the house and was immediately overwhelmed. Remembering a tip that I read in a book I just bought called "What's A DISORGANIZED PERSON To Do? 317 Ideas, Tips, Projects, and Lists to unclutter your home and streamline your life. Author: Stacey Platt." Hummm, same first name with the same spelling...could this be a sign of a clutter free life to come?  Hope so. She suggested never to take on a large task. Work in small stages, rather than try to tackle everything at once. So I said to myself those very words over and over - small stages, little here, little there. So below is some before pictures of what I am tackling today - Reorganizing the 12 huge bins of Christmas, OOHH, that sounds like a new song "The 12 Bins of Christmas."  I have years of decorations that I bought and what people have given me over the years. These bins have been taking up precious garage attic space for years, and so I'm giving myself a limit. I'm keeping only 5. Ouch, I love Christmas, but it needs to be done and I'm determined to do it - I have to start somewhere. My thinking, what doesn't make it in the 5 bins will be donated. Progress pictures to be post soon.

This is just some of the bins,
the rest are upstairs for all the decorations in my dining room.

Progess updates to come later today.