On the Road to Organizing My Life, Pt.2

I really should have thought of a shorter title for my little series here. Oh well.

I managed to clean out my pantry and rearranged my kitchen to work a little better for me. I forgot to take before pictures because I was so excited to get started! But here are some after pictures just because.

My "After" Pantry

Cookbooks were a new addition. Freed up a really big cabinet where these were previously.

My most exciting move was for my pots and pans and plasticware. P&P are now above my stove! They may be slightly too high (or more like I am slightly too short) but we think it's going to work out a lot better than where they were before. Yay for problem solving! (Please ignore my almond colored stove hood. Grotty.)

So that all went down last Thursday. Shout out to my super organized friend Jamie for supplying an extra set of eyes to see outside of my box, and bringing me Starbucks. 

Saturday I tackled Kynnedy's room. We've had a big pink rug in there since before she was born. It would always get bunched up and easily tripped on. I was done with that mess so I rolled it up and put it away. Well I'm still looking for a place to store it. Then I rehung the curtains in her room because they have been bugging me for over a year. Now they don't touch the floor and her window looks a lot bigger than it really is, as does the room without the pink carpet! I win!

After that I dived into our office / dog room. I hate this room. I'm sitting in it right now and my skin is crawling. I like my dogs sometimes, but they...they're....they're just gross. They shed and they fart and they're just gross. Needless to say I avoid this room as much as possible. However my amazing iMac is in this office / dog room and I hate when it sets neglected day after day. And I'm sure my husband does too. And I have these two amazing printers, one of which isn't usable because it's covered in papers to be filed. The other is usable but usually has to be cleared off before retrieving something. It's a sad, pathetic room, I tell you. And the walls are white...not a room I want to be in for long. When the next baby comes around I want to paint it green. Another day...

I was storing Kynnedy's bassinet in here, along with an elliptical from 1996 and some other big toy parts that are just awkward. I finally broke down the bassinet and placed the pieces in big trash bags to store in the shed. I'm sure I'll regret that decision when the next kid comes around. The clutter is at least less tall than it was which makes it look somewhat manageable. This one's gonna take awhile. I'm too ashamed for photos right now. But in the midst of writing this I've cleared off a good portion of the desk area. I win again!

My aunt gave me one of her books on organizing (her and my mom could probably start a library of organizational books). It's called Organizing Magic by Sandra Felton (www.messies.com). Apparently she's been around awhile, so I apologize if I sound like newbie to all this....so what if I am. If the rules can still apply today then we've got a classic here.

I've read thru day 2 (including the intro and how to use sections!) in like less than 30m, so that's saying something...EASY PEASY.

Now this is for my own reference, so don't judge me. This organizer lady says to write down 3 habits to stop doing, 3 to start and 3 to continue. Here are mine for my own reference and reminder.

STOP
1. Wasting time watching tv on Thursday's (my working from home day each week).
2. Stuffing things where they don't belong.
3. Putting off cleaning dishes.

START
1. Run dishwasher every night (been attempting this for the last few weeks, but not consciously).
2. Fold clothes as soon as they're done.
3. Do one load of laundry a day.
4. Take out trash when it's full.

CONTINUE
1. Crafting for therapy.
2. Cooking dinner.
3. Weeding out old clothes. 

Rereading these makes me think two things: 1. These are really simple, maybe even silly no brainers to someone else. 2. I can do these things. Organizing my life doesn't have to be hard. I don't have to invest a ton of money in the fancy organizational tools that may or may not help (and more likely add to the clutter). Baby steps, as with any task or goal. I'll take some cues from my almost 16 month old on how to train (or retrain) my thinking and habits by analyzing what I've been doing to see if it's as beneficial as it could be. And changing when I need to. 

Heaven forbid I don't want to end up on Hoarders! 

On the Road to Organizing My Life, Pt.1

It started with my laundry closet. The top of my dryer hasn't seen the light of day since we moved in 2 years ago.

I had been storing big appliances in their original boxes on the top shelf. But we weren't using them and they were taking up space. So I took them out and conserved a lot of space! That basket on the middle shelf holds my dish towels (I have 2 mini drawers in my kitchen). It sat on my dryer for 2 years. But no more! My crock pot is more easily accessible which is great because I've finally found the joy in using one! Notice my drip catcher hanging from my detergent dispenser. I'm pretty proud of that. And then hanging the grill tools was an a-ha moment. Wow...2 years it took me to do this. TWO YEARS. And my life changed on boring Sunday night. I'm sick of clutter!

Then came my desk at work. My coworkers were overjoyed at the sight.

My goal in organizing and decluttering is to create a space that is a safe haven, a sanctuary after a rough day, a refuge for my family and anyone who enters our home. I want to be able to find things, use things I have more easily, and make my home more efficient. I'm not fighting my home and it's messes...I'm fighting MYSELF and the messes I MAKE! How backward is that? So here's to no more angry rants at the cabinets, no more wondering what to make for dinner because I can't see anything in my pantry, no more giving up. My empty dryer top will be my inspiration and motivation. Because I can't tell you how excited I am to see that again.

14 months

Kynnedy, in just two months time, you've gone from baby to TODDLER! You look SO different! You're not a baby, that's for sure. You're definitely a toddler now! And sass to prove it. You love to jabber and talk and squeal. Love to give kisses and hugs. You even like to sing! You are a beautiful girl and I can't wait to find out what your special words mean!

2 weeks before her first birthday

Almost 14 months

Almost 14 months

from 11 months onto 12!

Kyn, you started walking around June 20th! Right before Mommy went on a trip to Haiti, you decided to try out your legs. You were wobbly for a while, but you had fun. Daddy made everyone who saw you walking swear to secrecy until I got home to see it myself. The night before your first birthday, it clicked. You were walking confidently all over the house!

You decided veggie baby food was gross. But fruit was okay.

Dr. Bowen said you are a proportional, healthy one year old! You can eat whatever you want and you can have real milk too!

We celebrated your birthday at home with your grandparents. You got a cool Dora couch bed, first pair of Toms shoes, and lots of clothes and books. We're celebrating with all your friends on Saturday, July 23rd.

You enjoyed your birthday cake. You were pretty clean with it!

Your top two teeth came in at 11 months, and the next top two are beginning to peek through.

You love to feed yourself the big kid foods.

When you were a little baby, you used to shape your mouth into an "O" and it was so funny. You started doing that again, this time making the "ohhhh" noise when you do it. It is even more funny now! You normally do it when you see something new or exciting, or when you see someone you know.

You love giving kisses to everyone!

Kynnedy, you are a beautiful child. We love you more and more every day. You've loved us and tested us, and all of us are stronger because of you. You are our gift from God and we cherish every moment with you. You are the art I could never create and the picture I could never take.

Kynnedy at 11 months

First zoo trip

Kynnedy at 1 year

Moving along to 9 and 10...

Kynnedy, month nine flew by right into month ten! You are growing so fast!

You decided you like baby food, yay! You eat 1-2 jars at lunch and usually 2 for dinner. I guess you wanted to wait til your friend Selby was eating food before you were interested in it. At first you would only eat food with a silver spoon, but you gave up on that pretty quick.

You started pulling up on the tables, bed, toys, chairs, anything. Sometimes when you weren't paying attention, you would let go and not realize you were standing all by yourself. But it didn't last long. Gravity got the best of you.

We were finally able to tie up your hair into a pony tail! It was so cute!

You went on an overnight road trip with Mommy and friends. We went shopping and you did great! Somehow you caught a virus and were sick for a few days. We had to take to you to the after hours clinic because you sounded so sad. But you got better by your 10 month birthday.

10 months! Wow, 2 months away from being ONE YEAR OLD!

You've done great sleeping through the night. And you don't need much convincing to go to bed either.

Your attitude has definitely started showing. You've gotten in trouble when you do stuff you're not supposed to. And by the look on your face, you know you're not supposed to be doing that.

You love to give licking kisses, and they are the best. You bite Daddy's nose for a kiss. And your sharp little tooth HURTS! Your second tooth is making its debut right next to the other one.

You are enjoying stage 2 foods and trying stage 3 foods. You love ice cream, when someone secretly gives you a bite.

You're pretty loud when we take you to a restaurant. You want to be in the middle of the conversation and you want to eat what everyone else is eating.

You went swimming for the first time on Memorial Day weekend. You loved it! You splashed and swam around and played with the water animals. You would try to climb out to catch the dogs. And you even stood up on your own a couple times, before falling down.

You have the cheesiest smiles and faces you like to make. They are so funny.

We love you, Kynny! You are so precious and so loved.

8 months down

Growing so fast! Hard to keep up with too.

Kynnedy, you are crawling all over the place, faster than we can catch you. There is nothing you won't try to get into, but you are learning quick that cables are off limits.

You got your first tooth in March.

You stayed with your grandparents for a week while Mommy and Daddy went to Seattle.

Then Daddy went on another trip. That week you started crawling and got RSV. It was a fun week.

You talk a lot, but tend to get shy at church and around a bunch of people.

You and Mommy were in your first commercial together, and you might even get to be on TV!

Kynnedy's Debut Commercial

If you like my kid, watch her commercial. She's cute and so are the husky puppies, which are free to a good home.

Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your neighbors. We need as many views as possible!