Tackling My Elephant - one bite at a time!

I have completed my 15 minutes for today. I actually filled a whole rubbermaid container! In the process I found some treasures. a box with all the hospital bands from when my children were born, Mothers Day presents, and Anniversary Cards. All these items are evidence to me of how truly blessed I am! I love that my job is to take care of my family! I am so grateful that I can do this without having to take on a money job. I thank my hubby for that.

I cleared a spot in the living-room that was an out of control hot spot for clutter. Adopting the &quo;Just do it! &quo; mantra has really helped. It is funny how the task is never has bad as you think it is going to be. I am learning a lot of neat things like this as I slowly pull things together. It is amazing what you can do when you just worry about the step before you.

She`s Crafty....Now organise her!

Knitting, arts and crafts with the kids, Water colours, scrap-booking, sewing! Activities I love but I really need help with organising them. This is my project for late November/December and will likely take me through January (I have a lot of craft stuff) I have a plan to get there. I will divide the job into many steps so I do not get overwhelmed. I think once I do this my crafting experience will be so much better and be more productive. There are so many things that I could have made for Yule/Christmas this year but I didn't get anything done because of the chaos that is my art supplies, This is really sad!

Here is my plan:

1. Gather supplies from all parts of the house.

   I will start at the top and work my way down. I will collect everything in rubber bins. I have chosen to sort everything in the basement so when I fill a bin I will put it there. I will set my timer and do this 15 minutes each day until everything is gathered.

2. Declutter and Sort all supplies
   

I will sort one bin at a time. I will use a garbage bag a give away box and put what I am keeping in each craft specified bin example: Arts and craft supplies in one bin, knitting in another, sewing stuff in another etc.

3. Design the set up

I have an idea in my head of how I want it to look but I want to look for other ideas for how to best set up the space (suggestions are more than welcome)

4. Put it together

The next 2 steps will be the most fun because they will just be amatter of putting things in their place.

5. Put supplies in their place.

   See step 4.

   Now that it is written out the job doesnt see so big, especially broken into smaller jobs. I can do this! I am actually excited about it too! Anyone else want to join me setting up their craft area?

Taking Time for Me

I am going out with some girlfriends tomorrow night. There will be wine and cheese and laughter. I am very excited! This is my favourite kind of pamper mission. I cherish my friends.

I make time for me each week. I have to schedule it like any other task. If I don`t it doesn't happen. I am not alone in this am I ladies? Why don't you plan something special just for you? Do it now!

Dear Santa

It is that time of year again when we have the children reflect on their year and see which goals they accomplished and set new ones. They could be for school behavior or a new skill they want to acquire. Oh.! They also make make a request of the fat jolly man in the red suit. This year I decided to find some stationary to make the task more fun. I printed stationary from here: http://multimediadesignbysandy.com/christmas/xmas_home.htm. We will do this after we watch the Toronto Santa Clause Parade while we dig in to a mug of hot chocolate and a sample of the first of the holiday cookies. I like this tradition for the Obvious reasons but also because I think it is good for to set goals and to be striving for self enhancement. It always turns into a really good family moment.

Kitchen Declutter

I am purging my kitchen. When I am done I hope to have a kitchen inventory similar to the one below. I also have a wish list. on it is a Microwave and a Kitchen Aid. One I should have no problem acquiring in the near future, the other may have to wait until a milestone anniversary or we win the lottery! lol

1 spice rack 
1 colander
1 coffee maker
1 grater
1 toaster
1 food processor
1 hand mixer
3 plastic mixing bowls
1 crock pot
1 measuring cup set
1 blender
1 ice cream scoop
10 piece cookware
1 measuring spoon set
5 pieces of bake ware
1 cooling wrack
1 set of tongs
2 cookie sheets
2 ladles
broiler pan
3 mixing spoons
2 muffin tins
2 serving spoons
loaf pan
1 serving fork
13 piece knife set
3 rubber spatulas
4 piece dish set for 8
4 plastic spatulas
5 piece flatware service for 8
1 spaghetti server
8 ea. wine, rock, tall, & beverage glasses
8 placemats
2 serving bowls
1 garlic press
1 ea. sugar bowl and creamer dish
1 cheese slice cutter
1 serving plate
5 speed mixer
1 tea kettle
1 wire whisk
2 glass measuring cup
1 can opener
1 food storage set 
1 bottle opener 
1 nut cracker
1 potato peeler
1 potato masher
1 corkscrew
1 water pitcher
3 cutting boards
1 pair of scissors
4 hot pads
1 fire extinguisher
12 dish towels
1 garbage can
1 silverware tray
1 broom and dustpan

Absent With An Excuse!

I have been working on my Christmas Plan. You may view it here. I have also been coping as a work widow these last few weeks. My hubby has been super busy at work. Alas! There is light at the end of the tunnel - so he tells me. lol

This is my favourite time of year. I will be blogging about my holiday preparations. I hope to get some comments about what folks do to prepare for theirs. I will share some of my family’s favourite recipes and traditions and I hope people will comment about this too. Todays mission on Flylady.net is a Fling so I will be doing this in the kitchen gadget drawer of my kitchen.

An now for your viewing pleasure. Our Halloween Costumes this year.