ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS FOR THE WEEK

NEW ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS FOR THE WEEK

I am taking my example from Jitterbug over at Destination 1940. She has used, for the past year plus, a routine from a 1940’s housekeeping book to get her house organized. This book was intended for a woman who didn’t work outside the home, so Jitterbug, who does work outside, has tailored the plan to fit her schedule. I in turn will be tailoring it to fit mine.

I am quite excited about this and feel that it will aide me greatly in my goal of home organization. I am taking small bites, however, as I am the quarter horse…Great and fast at short-distances, but those long ones are the challenging ones…Of course, I DO love a good challenge!



So, before I layout the every-day routine, I am setting some one-chunk goals just for this week. I am in such a heap of disorganization that without breaking it down into smaller chunks, I will just continue to feel despair.

So…This is what I have decided…Just for this week…

IN-THE-HOUSE GOAL…There are SO many areas to organize in my house…The one that bothers me the most (and that is how I have prioritized my goal to pick for this week)…is The Bedroom. It’s not that it is horrendously dirty, it’s rather that this is the room I come home to relax in each evening, so I want a nice calming room to walk in to.

I will…

Dust
Tidy
Clear out any un-necessary items
Sweep and Vacuum

OUTSIDE GOAL…My car! It needs a detailing, really, and has bothered me for some time. You know how there are those things that affect how your day goes? Well, this is one of them.

I will…

Throw out any garbage
Vacuum
Clean and polish interior
Wash outside

Note: The author of the 1940s housekeeping book, it appears, divided her day into Morning, Early Forenoon, Noon, Afternoon, Evening, and Late Evening. Because I am not generally home all day as she was, I am combining chores as I need to. Jitterbug may have added the exercise walking of 30 minutes. I will continue with my walking routine.

Jitterbug has had such success with her schedule...

"What a morning! Just a sample of the chaos my household used to run on - and had for ages. My kitchen, my wardrobe, my pocketbook... There's no way I'm going back to that place. Ever. My new routine may be a bit more work everyday, but it also brings a kind of serenity along with it that I've become accustomed to in a very short time." Destination 1940s

Here is what I will be starting with...

THE ROUTINE

DAILY

Morning

Drink one big glass of water (Here is where I substitute my health tea. I drink 32 ounces at a time)

Wash face gently but thoroughly with a clean washcloth, cleansing cream, and plenty of warm water. Splash on cold to tone the skin - and open the eyes!

Brush teeth carefully.

Brush all the nighttime tangles from hair, and comb carefully into place, pinning securely.

Pat on a bit of powder to take away that soap-and-water shine (Here I will substitute my own make-up routine).

Put on some bright, pretty lipstick, making the edges neat and blotting away the excess.

Take a last look in the mirror, to be sure you’re impeccable from top to toe.

Carry soiled clothing to the hamper. Hang up other clothing. Put away any personal possessions out of place in the bedroom.

Make bed.

Late Evening

Put living room in order.

Out of your clothes and into the tub - coat yourself thoroughly with a sudsy lather, and don't spare the elbow grease. Rinse well, doing face separately with water from the faucet.

Rub yourself dry, so that you tingle all over and chest and back turn a healthy pink.

Brush and floss teeth carefully.

Down with a nice, long glass of water - and so to bed.

WEDNESDAY

Early Morning (Nothing listed so available spot if needed)

Noon

Walk 30 minutes

Early Evening

Light marketing

Evening

Weekly cleaning of bedroom

Open windows top and bottom for free circulation of air.

Remove all bed covers; stretch over end of bed, or over chairs, off the floor. Remove soiled bed linen; place near door to be taken out. Place mattress pad over chair near window to air.

Collect bric-a-brac that need polishing or washing.

Bring in cleaning equipment: carpet sweeper or vacuum cleaner (according to need), dust mop, dust cloth. Bring in fresh bed linens.

Turn mattress top to bottom one week, and end to end the next week. Make bed.

Dust high objects if necessary (mantels, high shelves, window frames and sills, tops of bookcases, etc.).

Dust radiators covers if necessary.

Brush upholstery if necessary. Straighten covers. Plump up pillows.

Dust furniture and low objects if necessary.

Dust exposed wood flooring with dust mop if necessary. Use carpet sweeper or vacuum cleaner on rugs or carpets.

Polish or wash accessories and return to place with other objects removed during cleaning.

Final touches: Straighten draperies, shades, curtains, etc. Take out cleaning equipment and waste basket. Bring back clean ash trays, flowers and waste basket. Close windows if desired.

How interesting that I am starting on Wednesday, and the Wednesday task just happens to be my inside goal for the week…The Bedroom!

A SHORT-TERM GOAL…And I guess one that is actually part of my long-term Organizational goal…Is to finish putting my Serengeti room back together.

BE MORE ORGANIZED

Two or three years ago, DD #1 and I…as a surprise for DD #2…Redid her bedroom while she was out of state. We thrifted, we self-made, we used discounts…And…We came up with a pretty awesome room. I wish that I had taken before pictures but didn’t. At any rate, the room had been painted an ugly light turquoise, by the previous owners, which I am sure was decades old and just gross.

We decided upon an African theme, as DD #2 is very much into wild cats and animals and the out-reaches of the continent. We pulled together National Geographic’s pictures from thrift stores and other assortments, which we thought to be appropriate for our/her room.

It was so much fun! The little people played and amazingly stayed out of the wet paint!

The irony of the whole thing was that the paint that I picked out, simply because I thought that it represented Africa, was coincidentally named Serengeti! How apropos!





DD liked her room and stayed there until she moved away again. Back yet a third time, this time with her boyfriend, they moved in and stayed with us for over a year, and while here, it was her boyfriend’s room. When they left, I let her take her daybed and a few other things that she needed. So with the room sort of changing and losing some its original elements, I have wanted to put it back into the Serengeti room that it once was.

This is a Hindu picture that, although not African, just seemed to fit...



So…Slowly…And as I have had time…I have been dusting and organizing. Tonight, while I talked to Mom for 45 minutes, I dusted and washed off shelves, statues, masks, and candle holders. I smoothed the tall candles by rubbing the outsides with a soft cloth. I usually do something while I’m on the phone. Gramma was always that way, and I guess it just rubbed off on me. This way, I can kill two birds with one stone…Have a nice conversation with someone I love and also get to accomplish something worthwhile.



Are these inspiring or what...? Wow, I am simply amazed at this wonderful Earth...





In not too long, my room will be finished and ready once again…For relaxation with a nice hot cup of herbal tea…Ahhhh

CONTINUE TO IMPROVE MY HEALTH WITH...BODILY
NOURISHMENT

This doesn’t fall into bodily nourishment in the form of sustenance but rather exercise. My exercise is two-fold…

First fold…I turn many normal activities into exercise. In other words, I attempt to incorporate exercise into each day.

I almost ALWAYS take the stairs regardless of the number of flights it is. The times I don’t are if I am on a tight schedule and didn’t leave enough time for myself or if I have too much of a load to carry up or am with one of my grandbabies (they love those elevators you know).



I park a distance from the store when shopping, giving me extra healthy steps to take.

I tighten various muscles when doing regular activities…This helps to tone them.

Second fold…I try to walk at least four times a week. My excuse is that my pup REALLY needs exercise…He’s a devil to deal with if he doesn’t get it! So, if I have just a short break while working, or if time doesn’t allow for a long walk, we’ll do a 15-minute brisk walk. I try to shoot for at least 20, as this way your metabolism has actually had time to get pumped up. Other days, I get a good half-hour walk in, and still others, we are able to do 45 minutes. Regardless, some is better than none!



I’ll have some new organizational goals for this week…Hopefully to be posted soon!

Have a great Monday All!

RATING MY WEEK

THIS WEEK…

Over all, it had a hold of me…



One a scale of 1-5…One day was a 5, one day was a 1, and three days were 2.5s. I’m a bit disappointed with myself, as rather than being MORE organized than I normally am, this week was all too average.

My husband is such a great example to me…The man is VERY organized…Almost annoyingly so. He is one of those people who does well on a schedule…In fact, if he doesn’t have a schedule, he is lost.

I, on the other hand, can’t stand schedules…Isn’t that crazy…They drive me insane. I am quite impromptu, love spur-of-the-moment things, and go a hundred miles an hour most all the time. Both of our personality traits have special features that are great. Because DH is the way he is, he is very middle-of-the-road, and every-day’s-the-same…This is good…He’s the tortoise…in The Tortoise and the Hare…In the end, he wins the race.

My traits lend themselves to accomplishing some pretty awesome things. I have a fun spontaneity, and I have done a lot out-of-the-norm things in my life. I am not normal, and I love it.

But…Back to this year’s challenges…I am working on that arduous task of organization, which involves, I think, scheduling…Uggg.

Today, I didn’t utilize my time well at all, which led to that all-too-familiar feeling of self defeat.



One of the biggest challenges within the challenge is to become less of a night person. I thrive in the night! I am very motivated at night and can get a whole SCORE of things done. The problem…Well, I live in a day world. The world runs for the day people, and I am that night owl living in a day world. It has always been this way. In fact, I got in trouble I don’t know how many times in my high school years. I always slept in and was always up late. My son is the same way…Our circadian rhythms are opposite from most. Oooo, how I wish it were different, but it’s not, and I must learn…After all these years…To finally deal with it.

It’s o.k. though…That just gives me a better challenge for next week, and in the long run, I will be a much more satisfied person!

THE BUG…

The bug has been going around…DS had a lot of congestion, coughing, and sore throat…DH had the same, but it has held on longer…Dad’s turned to pneumonia…The grandbabies all had it, as well as DD.

Thank the good Lord, I have been doing fine save for a sore throat, which I am trying to ignore.



Have a wonderful weekend All!

BITS AND PIECES

HOMEMADE…KID-MADE…RECYCLED SNOWMAN



I love homemade things…especially the little people homemade things…

And, the best part…He made it out things that were going to be thrown away…Mama’s teachin’ him well!

And...recycled paper-towel people...Gramma and Julian are on the left. Oh, how so adorable!



BABIES...ALWAYS BABIES...WOULDN'T THE WORLD SIMPLY STOP WITHOUT THEM? I AM QUITE SURE THAT IT WOULD...



UNCLES AND NEPHEWS...A NEVER-ENDING-GENERTION-TO-GENERATION FUN TIME...









SOME GOOD CLEAN AND WHOLESOME MUSIC TO SING WITH THE LITTLE ONES



BABY CHRISTIAN LIKES TO HELP WHENEVER HE CAN



AND FOR GAMES...WELL, WE HAVE THE EVER FAMOUS NOAH'S ARK!



AND THEN...ON A BIT MORE SECULAR LEVEL...DON'T EAT SPIDEY!



RECIPES...

HOMEMADE FOOT SCRUB



A couple of years back, I was pulled in by a Christmas-time kiosk at the mall…They had Dead Sea foot scrub…In Lemon, nonetheless! It was really nummy-smelling and was nice to use in the shower…

Well, I ran out recently…It lasts a long time…So, I decided to make my own…It’s much cheaper that way…

Vegetable Glycerin (Or a carrier oil such as sweet almond)
Scented oil of your choice…I happened to have Lemon on hand…I love the refreshing smell!
Sea salt…I got this at the health food store…This particular salt is Celtic sea salt

That’s it…Just mix it up, and you have your own homemade foot scrub! As sea salt isn’t white, this has a bit of a gray color to it. One could put in food coloring, but I chose to leave mine au naturel.

CROCK-POT DINNER...LEMON DILL CHICKEN



This chicken is oh so juicy!

4 Skinless boneless chicken breasts
Chicken bouillon to taste
Lemon juice to taste
Dill leaves
Green onions

I don’t measure…Just put in the amount of each ingredient that you think you will like. I love dill and lemon both so was generous with them. I had green onions that needed to be used up, but you can use yellow if that’s what you have.

Fry cut-up green onions (I use the stalks as well…They’re like chives) in real butter
Layer chicken breasts in crock-pot
Add onions, bouillon, dill, and water to cover

Let simmer on Low all day long, and you will have Mmmm…Mmmm goodness for dinner time!

Take out the chicken breasts with slotted spoon and serve with cottage cheese and fresh carrots. The stock can be saved in the freezer for soup.





AFTER-WORK ACHIEVEMENTS

Insurance claims processed
Dinner checked on
Cats—watered, litter cleaned
Bills
Emptied shredder and swept
RXs ordered
Washed dog’s bedding
Cleaned vanity, sink, and mirror in bedroom
Took a load up to the attic and one load down
Ordered health tea

Many small achievements make for one large feeling of accomplishment!

HAPPY DAY

Well, indeed, today was very organized and ran very well...It really felt as if I had just twinkled my nose, and it ran magically smooth…



Whew! One down...Seven to go...

By then, it should be a decently ingrained habit, as I really don’t enjoy feeling like Aunt Clara…

A dear soul…

But so very off the mark in most everything she does…



In reality, of course, the day went smoothly because I made myself be more organized before the day even started, and that made the difference…

So, onward I go…Into the world of greater organization…

I think that one of the greatest detriments to ourselves is…well…ourselves. If we want to better ourselves, we may do so for an hour or two, and then the little voice creeps in…”You aren’t really that good, you know. There are a whole lot of other people better than you…In fact, the whole world is better than you!” Before you know it, we have crawled back into our cave out of shame for even living.

If you want to get a lot accomplished, the same can and will happen if you aren’t quick to push it out. We may start the day out with a list of ten items to accomplish. By the end of the day, we may have only achieved five out of the ten. “Well, that wasn’t a very good day now, was it? You’re a loser!” says the little devil on our shoulder.

You all know what I’m talking about…We all fight the same fight…So never think that it’s only you. You are the only one who can see you, so that’s how it feels…BUT…

Have you ever thought of dogs? Dogs generally act the same…Chihuahuas may bark more than Basenjis…Golden Retrievers may wag more that Chows…But, in general, they all act the same…They all like to bury bones…They all love to see their master…They all chase cats…And speaking of cats…

What about cats? They generally all act alike…They all lie around all day…They all lick themselves clean…They all chase mice.

People are no different. Some may yell louder than others…Some may be friendlier than others, but we are all generally the same…If you have a problem, the chances are pretty good that someone else…Probably hundreds or thousands of someone-elses have the very same problem. So…lick your wounds for a minute and move on!

One thing that I find that really helps me after work is to make of list…Not of what I want to do, though I do that too sometimes at the beginning of the day…But a list of what I have gotten done. It’s amazing how that can make a person feel. If I don’t do this, all of sudden two hours will have gone by, and I know that I’ve gotten a few things done, but I can’t figure out where the time went and what it was that I actually did.

So…I make a list…

I unloaded the car (I always have a lot of stuff, so that’s an accomplishment to me)…

I took the recycling out…Fed the dog…Cleaned the litter…Brought some beans in to soak…Finished dinner…Took a load out of the dryer.

None of those are significant in an of themselves, but, wow…I actually got some things done!



And, isn’t relaxing so much nicer when you know you’ve accomplished something first?

ORGANIZED DAYS--TUESDAY

My very busy weeks...Especially Tuesdays, are starting again. In the past, Tuesdays have always been high chaos, and I have greatly dreaded them. On this particular day of the week, I have three classes in two different buildings, with a drive to get from one to the other, and prep in between. Inevitably, I end up waiting for the train to pass, which leads to more anxiety and stress.



Well, tomorrow is different…

No more chaotic running from here to there…

No more of my-day-running-me scenarios on Tuesdays…

It will now be ME running my day,...

Which will of course, will lead to much less stress…

Much more organization...



And a much happier me!



Clothing will be laid out…



Lunch will be packed…



And…Since I won’t be home until 8:30 or 9:00…



Dinner will be in the crockpot…



May you all have a happy and ORGANIZED Tuesday!

HAPPY SATURDAY

One of my goals this year is to Quit whining and just do. Well, a couple of days ago, I received an email from a co-worker, which was a blessing to me that day.

"May today there be peace within you. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."

As I have so desired a certain profession and due to different reasons have not been able to pursue it, I have, instead, gone down a different path. I did not go looking for this path; it came to me. Indeed, the Lord put it in front of me; he offered it to me. It was very strange how it all came about. Being human, though, I have still wanted—in conjunction with what I am currently doing—to pursue that occupational goal that I have. I just keep ruminating on it and not giving up. Well, I AM exactly where I need to be at this point in time. There ARE possibilities in what I am doing that are born of faith and prayer. The Lord has given me gifts, for which I am ever grateful, that I am passing on. I am getting paid to do this as well; what a benefit! So, thank you Michelle for this awesome quote sent to me today! It served me well.

SOME OF THE THINGS I LOVE…

GRAMMA...She is the most organized person I have ever met in my life--Another great example to me for my get-more-organized goal...She is fast, efficient, ever-hard-working, extremely clean (as well as her house, of course), and she LOVES to have company. If something gets messed up...like the time my daughter spilled grape juice on her cream-colored living room carpeting!), she says, “It’s o.k. we’ll clean it up”, and it’s over! Or, one of the times (there have been more than one) that someone broke her window by playing catch outside, it’s no big deal…”That’s o.k., we’ll fix it.” Every Easter…Every Christmas, everyone gathers at Gramma’s…This Christmas, there were 32 of us. “I LOVE it!”, Gramma said. Ahhh, yes, I am going to be like her when I grow up.



POTPOURRI...

Fresh potpourri is the very best! A friend gave to me a lovely package containing a large grapefruit, a tangerine, fresh cranberries, a cheese cloth bundle of cloves, and a cinnamon stick. Boil in one quart of water and enjoy the sweet cinnamony aroma!



BABIES…

Babies and puppies are the best things in the world! I just love them, ESPECIALLY if they’re mine (well, my grandbaby at least :0)…



WINTER TIME…

A time to snuggle…A time to play…



A time for a big pot of homemade soup…



A time to cozy up with a good book like “The Long Winter” by Laura Ingalls Wilder…



A time to close out the world, as soon as it gets dark, and just be…

So, let us for today be content with ourselves…And may today there be peace with you.