There's a counter under there?

The 6:ooam thing is working great! I have been getting up, getting some "me" time and it seems to have really energized me for the rest of the day. Our main living area has stayed clean, which is wonderful! Laundry is caught up and I have gotten myself back on a laundry schedule. Monday - kids laundry, Wednesday-adult laundry, Friday-towels and sheets. Just the fact that I have gotten back on this is a HUGE step to cleanliness bliss! Steve has stated several times how proud he is of me and us for keeping things up. We have a counter area in the kitchen that is where the phone is and I keep my "brain", our calendar. This counter has always been notoriously messy. It was a catchall for the kids papers, keys, cell phones, everything. We cleaned it up on December 18 in preparation for our holiday party and it is still clean! Almost one month!! Now, to many of you in blogville, me boasting about a counter being clean for a month might seem silly. But to me, who has always struggled with keeping this area clean and clutter free, this is a huge deal! I have really been trying to throw out what I don't need right away. When the kids come home from school, I go through their folders and throw out right away what is not needed. However, I still have not figured out where to put and what to do with those that I want to save or look at later. I want a place/area to keep everything, organized, not messy. Still working on that.

Wake up call

The past two mornings I have set my alarm for 6:00. One hour before my kids wake up. It has done wonders! I read a website that suggested this and more. One thing it also said was to take a shower when you get up. No more excuses. When I turned off the alarm, I sat on my bed, looking longengly at my spot, wanting so badly to get back in that warm place, cover myself with the blankets and drift back into dreamland. But then I thought about Steve, who at that moment was somewhere in the cold, driving a truck or out in the snow, pulling pallets and boxes out of his truck. I thought of the wind whipping around him, the snow covering his head and how cold his hands must be, even with gloves on. I remembered that he had been up since 3am, all for his family, because this is what he must do. And I got up and got in the shower.

After I was dressed, makeup'ed and ready, I went downstairs. Made coffee, put the clean dishes away, watched the news and went online. When I got the kids up at 7, I was awake, refreshed, had some "me" time and was ready to go. Got lunches made, even made french toast for breakfast. The kids were happy, I was happy, it was almost inspirational! This morning was the same. It is 10:46am and I have already done the dishes AND...5 loads of laundry!!!!!!! AMAZING! Two more loads are in the washer and dryer and it's gonna keep going! Yes, of course, this admission does show just how far behind I was! But that is ok!

I am 34 now. I am an adult. And I truly love my life. My husband, my children, everything around me. I have not fully gotten back to being true to myself. There are things and people that intimidate me. How can I expect people to accept me for who I am when I am still trying to get there. The best part is this...I am TRYING. I am working hard every minute of every day to improve myself and accept what I can't or am not ready to change. It all just starts with putting my best foot forward when getting up in the morning.

Better Homes and Gardens

I was just talking to a friend who reads my blog (although she has not officially made herself a follower, you know who you are) and she made a comment to me regarding my quest to clean and clutter free bliss. She said "Chris, your house doesn't have to be perfect. You have 3 kids, you can't live in a Better Homes and Gardens magazine."

This gave me pause. I had to think about this one. Is that what I am trying to achieve? My two favorite magazines are Southern Living and Traditional Home. Am I flipping through the pages, subconsciously dreaming of my home to look perfect?

NO

I am not striving for perfection. I have faults (many of them) and if I was going for perfection, I would be one of those freaky women on Wife Swap who spends HOURS each day cleaning. The Bree Van de Kamp that has replaced Donna Reed for the 21st century. Not at all. I have just realized how being more organized is so good for my mental health. And my families. When chaos ensues in the clutter, my family and myself are off balance. Everything is cluttered in our home and lives and I truly believe we are not as happy and well functioning.

Steve told me once that he is in a better mood when he comes home from work and the house is clean. He is even in a good mood coming home from work knowing that the house is clean and clutter free.

When our home is picked up, the whole vibe of the family is different, better, a bit more relaxed. It just happens. THIS is what I am striving for. Do I think that all the planets will now align and there will be peaceful harmony in my universe always? Of course not. But it seems to me that making that extra effort to keep up with things does make a big difference.

So...this is my goal. A better functioning family that has a little less chaos.

*These pics are how my main living area looks as I was writing this. Not perfect, but good.

Sleeping Beauty

The kids went back to school yesterday. This morning was the second morning on my quest to peaceful organized bliss. Yesterday I woke up at 5:30. My alarm was set for 7, but just woke up on my own. Came downstairs a little before 6, started my coffee and basked in the quiet morning me time. I had gone to bed a little after 11 the night before. Not the 2 am thing. I need to try to get a better nights sleep so I can be more rejuvenated in the morning. This morning I did wake up with my alarm at 7 after having gone to bed about 9:30 last night. I felt so good this morning! I know the benefits of a good nights sleep and how much better it is for me to go to bed at a reasonable time. Not only does it improve my mood for the following day, but I also don't snack late, which helps my weight since I am trying to lose that. I also don't smoke as much and supposedly I get a youthful glow from a good nights rest! It's all there!

Now, I know myself well enough that a 9:30 regime is not going to happen every night. Monday was convenient b/c no good shows were on. Even if I can try for 11 or 11:30, I think that would be a big improvement. Anything before midnight. Need to remember that I turn into a pumpkin at midnight! and the way I have been gaining weight, that's not that far off...

Steve and I rearranged the living room over the weekend and cleaned up the kitchen. Almost every room on the first floor looks great! Still have not faced my laundry yet. The new semester starts on January 19 and I really want to have a laundry regimen by then. It's getting over the bump. I know once I get the laundry tackled, the bedrooms will look so much better. It's just doing it. Yet, I still have not. Gonna have to ponder this one...