037: welcome to sing

This afternoon I decided that I needed to find an area in my house that I could simplify, and fast! So, I chose the top half of our bookshelf/display shelf type thing (I am certain there is a better name but can't think of one). The shelves needed dusting anyway so I removed all the stuff off them and just put the things I really wanted back on them. I am awaiting a little something from Katherine to display on one shelf so have put in some wedding photos and a little owl she made me for my birthday. With the things I have left off the shelves, I am yet to find homes for some photos in frames, a decorative bowl which was a wedding present and I am getting rid of a candle holder and a stand for a plaque. The plaque which used to sit on the stand (funny wording when you think of it) now has a new home at our front door.

This morning I managed a complete grocery shop with Asher without too much stress, thanks to the shopping list I made weeks ago. I let Asher hold it and read what we needed off it (well he thought he was reading - saying words whilst pointing at them and looking at them up close - very cute). Then this afternoon he had his cousin Tia come to play for the afternoon and on the menu for afternoon tea was apples! They just loved having a whole apple each (although of course neither finished them).
Today I am grateful for - 1. a complete stress free grocery shop, 2. answers to prayer for K & B, 3. Tia to play with Asher and 4. a clear bill of health for Jules and Hendrix to come home tonight!

015: lazy weekend

As it is a Saturday, I figured I would just not work at cleaning or getting rid of stuff today, or even thinking up new things for Asher to try. However, as I look back over my day I did all this without know it.

I got a few new clothes today and decided to clean out a draw in my bedroom, so I got rid of clothes that no longer fit (unfortunately). So goes the continued decluttering of my bedroom!

Also, as we spent most of the morning out at the shops buying new clothes (a well over due task) and then having massages and morning tea and lunch there, I figured Asher didn't really do any exciting activity or something new. But this is just not true! For lunch I had sushi and just happened to pick up some chopstick which Asher decided he wanted to eat his chips with!

Also, this afternoon whilst he was rummaging in our recycling bin he came across 2 empty tissue boxes - which I soon showed him a use for!

Today I am grateful for a husband who every once in a while likes to spoil me with a professional massage! Love you babe!

365 days to do...

On a recent outing with Katherine (minus children- the best kind of outings), we were in Borders having coffee and getting lost in amongst the books. Whilst wistfully browsing the cookbooks we came across a book called "Julie and Julia". I had never even heard of this book let alone know there was a movie about to be released about it. (Katherine kindly informed me excitedly.) Rather than tell you too much about it you can check it out at the Julie and Julia website, but its about food, blogging and from what I can tell 365 days to do something. Well anyway, if you aren't into blogging, cooking or projects in general - watch it and you will!

Anyway, along with all that I have heard about the 365 project a few months back and gave that a go but forgot to take photos every day but still I do like the concept of both blogging and doing something for 365 days. After much searching on the web for things I can do each day I also discovered a site where someone named Julie is getting rid of something each day in a way to declutter - so that really grabbed me to.

So with a bit more thought I have decided that I will try it! I may have bitten off more than I can chew, but I will also write what I do in a journal each day and the days I don't blog I can catch up by looking back in the journal. Ok, this is how it works... each day I am going to do and blog about not 1, not 2, but 3 different things.

Each day I will...
~ get rid of something in my life I don't need {mostly house things}
~ think up an activity for Asher to do {this will be the hardest of all I think}
~ write about something I appreciate in my life
{I may even get a photo or two in there}

Ok, so here goes!!!

Time to Start! (Again)

After a bad or down time in your life it is easy to just lay down and sleep and never get up or just wallow in self pity and lick your wounds. But, at some point you know you have to get up again - which sometimes makes getting up that bit harder.

Well after a dark time in my life recently I felt alot like that, I just wanted to do nothing. But with a toddler and a gorgeous hubby around staying down just wasn't an option in my view. Asher just lights up my life and darling Brad makes it shine even more! Of course my wonderful God keeps it this way!

So, after licking my wounds I am getting back up and going!!! Where? How? When? I have no idea about that either. However, I am starting with the project I started months ago of simplifying my life! I have discovered some wonderful gems and pearls in my good friends who are willing to help me get rid of the excess things in my house and getting rid of things in my house is making way for the clearer vision of the important things in life!

So continue to watch this space ... still.

Update on Clean Up

It has been a month since I last let you know what is going on, and contrary to popular belief that I got lost in the mess of the clean up - I have simply just been busy. Ok, for all you out there who know me - busy means I have been doing stuff but probably stuff to fill in the time I should be cleaning. Which is partly true. BUT, I have actually made progress, suprise, suprise.

I have gone through and turfed junk and given away stuff (although there is more up for grabs) and have organised as I have gone. We now have a fully functioning bookshelf, a space for a small office and drum set (which seems to be working ok if we are using these at different times). I also have a rather organised and functional pantry and kitchen, and an uncluttered shelf with photos. Yes, well it is a bit random to say the least, but I am slowly gaining clarity and peace of mind. Praise God!

I have discovered that I am not a naturally tidy and organised person (I'm sure this is a real shock to most of you - NOT), but I have also discovered that I do have tendancies to be an organised and tidy person. I have been reading a great book called "Living Organised" which has helped and led me to a great website called "Messies Anonymous" http://www.messies.com/.

So, those of you who are not living the graceful life of pristine housekeeping you might want to check this site out. The peace of mind that comes from being even slightly organised is just awesome. It's an ongoing battle but I know I can do it (with a little help from my friends).

Today is THE day! - Actually, tomorrow is.

Do you have a constant "To Do" List? Do you keep putting it off, hoping that one day it will all be done/fixed? Well, I do. But tomorrow is a new day and I plan on starting - my "To Do" list can be summed up in one word "SIMPLIFY". Sounds easy right? Well I am a procrastinator of the worst kind and so my quest for a simple life over the years has gotten put of and basicly - cluttered!

But no more. In the past 2 weeks I have had 3 seperate offers to help me to SIMPLIFY (some may call it clean, de-clutter or cull - but I like Simplify) Tomorrow I have the first of my helpers coming to help me make a start. So over the next few weeks watch this space as I go from my state of craziness to a place of calm.

When I talk about all this I am mostly meaning my home. It is not super messy or dirty or unclean in general - but I just have WAY too much "stuff" and I need to let go of a stack of it.

So tomorrow we start on the first assignment - the Rumpus Room - this room is a study, home office, music room and storage room. I plan to make it a 3-in-1 room will about a 1/3 given to home office and music and 2/3 given to an actual playroom. Which will help in the simplifying of other rooms that have toys or play areas.

Check back soon!

PS If you have any tips leave me a comment!