Saturday, April 9, 2011

Making Progress: 52 Weeks of Organizing... My Life

Hello, all you shabbychicks out there!
I'm writing from oneshabbychick central over here...
to give you an update on what I've been up to with my big project...

52 Weeks of Organizing à la Laura, the Organizing Junkie.

It's all about choosing 52 organizing projects or habits that need to be done or 
developed around your home…
and working on a different one each week.

I haven't found the time or energy to throw myself into a larger project right now
...much more fun to throw myself into Spring Tablescaping instead...

so I have been focusing on developing some new habits around here...
and have slowly made some changes in my routine that are making my life better...
and more organized!



Change # 1

The first thing that I realized needed to change around here was my morning routine...
or lack thereof.

I really do love to get up early in the morning...
before the monkeys are up...
and have some quiet time to myself before the craziness ensues.

But when late-night rehearsal schedules take over, 
I often have to choose sleep over that morning time...
...I 've learned the hard way that Mama needs sleep in order to survive when life gets 
a little crazy...
But I have a tendency to get into a sleeping-in rut and stay there even after life slows down again.

So I have reinstated my early wake-up time...
and it's been great.

I get my feet under me before the day really begins...
and I feel like I've spent some time on myself before I start taking care of everybody else...
which sets up my whole day to be better. Yay.


Change # 2

On the recommendation of Bearded Iris
{who inspired me, in her fabulous irreverent fashion, to take on the 52 Weeks challenge}
I got Laura the Organizing Junkie's book, Clutter Rehab... 
and have been inspired to use some of her great tips, like...

#27. Set a grocery shopping day and stick to it.

I have never been able to make this work before...
and I have to admit that the only reason it is really working for me now is that 
Tuesday is consignment day at the Op Shop... 
which happens to be across the street from my Trader Joe's...
so now, without fail, I am over there on Tuesday morning.

Voilà. Grocery day.

Which led me so conveniently to...
#26. Start every week with a menu plan.

I have realized that my life is so much easier when I know what's for dinner...
and even more so when the ingredients are actually in the house... ya know?

But it's hard to make a menu plan 
when you don't really know when you're going to the grocery store...
and it's hard to know what to buy when you're there if have no idea what's for dinner...
so I've basically been flying by the seat of my chef's pants for a while.

Not anymore.
Monday is now Menu Plan Monday.
Now this is not an elaborate plan... 
I've also learned that that doesn't work for me.

This is more like...
 spend 10 minutes considering what's in the pantry and freezer
and what I've got a hankering for...
and come up with three or four meal ideas for the week.

I don't plan what days we're going to eat each meal...
I need a little bit of mystery in my life...
Plus I just never know which day Sloppy Joes are going to be calling my name...

I don't plan more days because we always have a few nights a week 
that don't really work for a family dinner because of work schedules...
so we have easy, fall-back recipes those nights... 
{when in doubt, have breakfast-for-dinner}

This fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants version of menu planning is just my style.
And it's really working for me. Yay.


Change # 3

OK, this one has definitely been the most fun...
and has to do with what I've been doing with all that early morning time...

Once I had this block of time to myself again...
I had to decide how I was going to spend it.

Here's what I came up with... 

 ~ I want to relax and enjoy my first cup of coffee...
(not slurp it down in between fits of throwing things into lunchboxes and wrangling monkeys for breakfast, inevitably forgetting half of it and finding it later when it's stone cold)

~ I want time to enjoy the stacks of books and mags I love 
that pile up around here and never seem to get read...

~ I want to spend a few minutes planning my day...
{see #47. Utilize notebooks and lists and #48. Set your daily top-three to-dos!}

~ I want to be ready for the day when it's time to wrangle those kids so that when bus stop time arrives I'm not holding things up because I'm still in my bathrobe... duh...


So as my morning routine evolved, I had to decide where I would be when I was... 
 drinking my coffee... reading my mags... planning my day.

I knew where I wanted to be...
in my cozy white chair in the living room.

But I realized it wasn't really set up for that... 
and that what I really needed was... 
an office in my living room.
Oh yeah.

Bring on #55...
Store stuff where you use it.


Conveniently, I had just hit the PB clearance section again...
and had a fresh bargain basket looking for a job.


I loaded it up with magazines, decorating books, my iPad and charger, post-its, pens...
and there's lots more room for anything else I might need in "my office".

So this is where you can find me during my office time...


Yay!


and that's what this oneshabbychick has been up to...
anybody else out there having some fun with organizing?


productively yours, 
osc

16 comments:

  1. Oh, that little morning nook looks so peaceful and pretty! I would give anything to have a WHITE chair, but alas, a big black dog, and a hairy Italian husband, and the fact that I'm a spiller... you get the picture.

    So glad you're enjoying the book! Knew you would... what's not to love. xoxo!

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  2. Love, love, love, your white slip covered chairs. And that coffee table...rustic next to white...mmmm!

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  3. I think you have made a breakthrough!! I menu plan like you, except in our case with just the two of us, we eat things twice. I usually plan about 3-4 days too and decide each morning depending on what needs to be used up, etc. Iris is inspiring isn't she....in a very entertaining way! Is that really your mantle. It is beautiful!

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  4. Continuing to take those steps which create more happiness in one's spirit! Thank you for sharing and inspiring, Marta!

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  5. Oh, I needed this post for sure! I like to be up early before the craziness of the day starts too but also got into the habit of waiting until the kids were up and that just doesn't work. It makes me feel so grumpy and I definitely DON'T like slurping my coffee either...or having to reheat it a million times! :-) I do have a grocery day but have gotten off track with my meal planning so you are really helping to encourage me to get right back on. All of these ideas were just perfect to share with us at Inspiration Friday and we always love having you party there with us!
    Vanessa

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  6. Funny you should write about organizing. I spent THE WHOLE DAY on Saturday cleaning out my closet. I have lost quite a bit of weight but still had my fat clothes hanging in my closet. Secretly I am really scared of gaining it all back. But I went ahead and packed them all up in bins. What a relief...I have a question about your side bar. When I have tried to add the popular post gadget my titles run into the little thumbnails. How did you get your post titles to look so good? Hope you have a great week...oh and great idea for your office! ~Ann

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  7. Some great ideas here! I always say I'm going to get up earlier, but I never do. Mornings are just the WORST for me!

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  8. Great tips here! I enjoyed the progress report. You have a beautiful blog. I could just eat up your header! I'm visiting from Sarah's place!

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  9. I found this through abeachcottage and I think you are really right that when it comes to planning, one has to figure out a way that works for oneself. We are all so different there.

    Those white flowers in the beginning are just amazing. Are they tulips? If so, wonderful picture!

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  10. i should do it too!
    gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!
    love the photos!
    take care,
    Rosa

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  11. Love where you spend your office time! Thanks so much for stopping by at Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesdays and joining the party!

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  12. This is lovely! Hope to see u at My Dream Canvas.

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  13. Hi,
    Just popping over from Sarah's Good Life Wednesday. It is lovely to meet you.

    Fondly,
    Glenda

    Gg - Notes on the Journey
    Good Life Wednesday #46


    ps. Such practical and fun changes - you inspire me.

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  14. You have no idea how happy this post made me, so awesome!!! Love all the changes you are putting into place and I hope you find them to be making a huge difference to your day. Way to go!!

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  15. I have enjoyed browsing your blog...love your decorating techniques....I am your newest follower. Please visit me and enter the Mother's Day Giveaway at The Cranky Queen. Tiffanu

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  16. Hey Baby Cakes! Just checking in... really missing you and hope to hear from you soon! xoxo

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