update on my big plan - a.k.a. PURGE.ORGANIZE.CLEAN. {2010}

i started out with gusto in the purging of our extra "stuff".  the kitchen was my starting point, and i actually haven't completed it yet.  i have, however, gone through all of our appliances, gadgets, and glassware, evaluating along the way what we actually use and need, and what was just collecting dust.  i reorganized a few cabinets so that things are stored closer to where they are used.  i culled the number of coffee cups we own to a reasonable number, considering the number of coffee/tea drinkers in our home.   next up was our ridiculously excessive amount of Christmas decor, since we were putting away Christmas stuff anyway.  we had seriously scaled back on decorating this year, and it was such a relief!  i strongly encourage anybody who feels bogged down by the holidays to re-evaluate how much decorating they do, and whether or not that detracts from the season for them.  i packed several boxes of useful but non-essential things to give to Valley Rescue Mission.  and then i called them.  and they picked up our excess stuff that was making me feel crazy from our front porch.  how cool is that? 

then, one lovely day when eli had gone to play with his best friend, i tackled his room.  wow.  i really tackled it.  there are now 7 crates in his room, one for each day of the week.  the six that aren't being used are stored in his hugmongous toy box that my dad made for him.  in theory, i will swap out the crates each day, giving him a few fresh toys to play with everyday.  my goal is to fill the crate with:  an activity to do together, a puzzle, a creative something, a "boy" toy, and something educational.   there are a few things that stay out all of the time - blocks, trains (of course!), a few trucks, his Leapster, and some arts and crafts items.   he has gotten so much better about cleaning up his room.  probably because it isn't the world's most daunting task!  even better?  he enjoys playing in his room for longer periods of time.  it's awesome. 

this is eli's room, "before"

and the, "after" {!}

we are currently in the process of converting our dining room into a family room/baby jail : )  baby gates are up, but there is still lots to do.  more to come!

my big plan

i'm way behind - on laundry, on housework, on photography work. but, i have a plan! i am purging our home of unnecessary belongings. then, everything will be given an assigned place. and everyone who lives here will eagerly put things back where they belong immediately after using them (i'm so kidding). just like with weight loss, i know that the hardest part will be the maintenance. but once there is a system in place, i know life will be easier. i've had it before and i miss it! i feel ahead because not only have i decided to this is, i have actually started (and it's only december 29- i'm ahead of new year's resolutions)! i have completed 7 kitchen cabinets and 4 drawers. i washed the glassware we are giving away and have packed it in boxes. i've reorganized our coffee cups and glasses so that the coffee cups, filters, and coffee are in the cabinet above the coffee pot. all of this tidiness makes me giddy. i am not so sure ritchie gets this about me, which is okay. once i get the whole job done & maintain the orderliness for a few weeks, he'll remember that we once lived in such a manner. he'll see the muscles in my shoulders relax, and the glow of contentment on my face, and he will see that i really am a bit ocd. my tendency towards neatness and order have simply been thwarted by multiple big life events. i'm getting back on track :- )