Friday, March 7, 2008

WIP

I reconnected with an old friend at our shiny, new church and when I told her I homeschooled my five kids, she said, "You must be the most organized person in the world!". Well, if I had gotten my Buxton Bag, this might be true. But, after 8 weeks of waiting, I cancelled my order. That's all I'm going to say for now because I'm just not ready to talk about it. And I'm exactly the opposite of "the most organized person in the world". I am a "planner", not a "finish-the-jobber". I'm a "run-around-the-house-and-cry-because-I-wasted-yet-another-day-procrastinating-so-I'll-take-it-out-on-my kids-er". OK, I'll stop.


In other news, my new BFF, Diana came yesterday and cleaned my house. It took her 6 hours. When she finished, I asked her if she was mad at me and she said, "No." In anticipation of her visit, I decluttered the boys' room so she could really get in there and "git 'er done". Here are the results:

Before


After




Before


After


Here's the aftermath. If I can get it down the stairs, it will be going to some poor sucker's bless someone else's home.


Next project? Da da dum dum...The girls' room. *shudder*

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Wordless Wednesday

picture by Olan Mills




Friday, February 29, 2008

Friday Feast

Feast One Hundred & Eighty One

Appetizer
Who was the last person you hugged?

Chelsey

Soup
Share a beauty or grooming trick or tip with us.


No control top panty hose with mini-skirts

Salad
What does the color yellow make you think of?

Snow

Main Course
If you were to make your living as a photographer, what subject would your pictures revolve around?

The Sun


Dessert
What was the longest book you ever read?



Thursday, February 28, 2008

Thesaurus Thursday

In keeping with my decluttering theme, I'd like to pull out and dust off Thesaurus Thursday. I find it is an opportunity to reflect on my inner dialogue and also an excellent way to procrastinate put into perspective these issues I have that hold me back from being the organized, content wife/mother/teacher I visualize while I am drinking whiskey meditating. So instead of purging my 9 yr. old daughter's closet of Littlest Pet Ship figures, Build-a-Bear clothing and her ice skates from when she was 5, I'll be ruminating on what I'm learning from the journey I like to call "De-crapping".

The words that most pop in my head whilst I toil and sweat from trip after trip to the garage with swollen trash bags full of flap doodle (it is in the Thesaurus under crap) is elbow grease. How many times have I started and stopped this project because it was just too much. Too much stuff. Too many piles. The sheer volume of crap clothes that are too small, broken and incomplete toys, shoes without a mate...it is overwhelming. So, I found another "project" to undertake that was less emotionally and physically afflicting. Like shoppoing for curriculum...locating the perfect purse that will make my life complete (curse you, Buxton Bag. Will you ever get here?) I now know that you have to carry on. Even if it means a little scrubbing and chiseling. (yes...chiseling. Those of you with boys will understand)

But, lo, there is a light. Here, my friends, I have discovered that through perseverance and a little elbow grease...heh-heh...you can find hope and satisfaction. It was indeed a light I saw this day. A light patch of carpet in the distance that holds no clutter nor trash. One pristine, glowing corner of a room otherwise filled with mountains of dirty towels and valleys of crevices betwixt bed and wall...dresser and window. There lies a chasm waiting to devour odd socks and Star Wars action figures. But that one glimmer of hope...that light. Oh, yes...it brings me hope. Hope for a future devoid of stepping on Battleship game pieces. By chipping away at the petrified miscellany of ...well...crap, I see a better tomorrow. I see my clean, well-behaved children obeying when I say, "Children, go forth and clean your rooms. Father will be home shortly to have a warm, family dinner and smoke his pipe." *see note Because of my brilliant housekeeping abilities, I have provided them with a clutter-free environment that is easy to clean and pleasant to dwell. *gag*

OK...I can't even stand it anymore. It does help if you read it in your best Kelsey Grammar "Frasier" voice. But, in more of a June Cleaver...never mind.


*get Darren a pipe

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

My kids are messy and other thoughts

OK. I'm back on the decluttering kick. Dh gave me the go-ahead to get some outside help with the house. So, now I have to clean my house before she comes on Friday.


Because I live for public ridicule, I'm posting some before pictures.




I'm baring it all here, folks. That's how much I trust you.


So let's all take a moment here and pray for organization and retribution. And a quick tip: Say you smell something offensive that might be in a pile of clothes, don't bury your face in it to check the smell. I'm just sayin'...