desperately seeking sanity
Good Monday to you. It's quiet here this morning. I just finished eating an egg while listening to the cold rain fall.
So we had a terrific weekend. There was a birthday (ahem. yes, mine.) and it was fine. Very fine in fact. My good friends came and we ate pizza and salad and laughed and they gave me gifts! Heeee! The rest of the weekend was filled staying inside between cold and wet soccer games and filling our tummies with grilled cheese and tomato soup and a homemade chicken pot pie.
Things are finally slowing down for us. It has been holiday family photo season for me, and of course I love it, but the photo shoots on weekends and then the subsequent hours of editing combined with the slurry of events this time of year have made me want to streamline things around here. Thus, Great Clean-Out Day 2009.
Have I mentioned before how the accumulation of stuff makes me crazy? And crabby? Well it does. A couple of times a year, I feel the need to purge. BIG TIME. And oh boy does it feel good.
Here's what we did:
We made long lists.
We assigned ourselves rooms, areas, closets beforehand.
We filled the crock pot with chili in the morning so we wouldn't have to worry about dinner.
Brian took a vacation day, and although both kids were home doing their best at coughing up a lung, we set to it.
We were brutal, people. If we don't love it or use it, out it went.
Bri took a truck load of stuff to the ReStore.
We took 2 truck loads of stuff to Goodwill. (Did you know they don't take toys anymore?! We didn't. It took a little research to find a place that does.)
As we finished a room, we dusted and vacuumed.
The results are great. The toy cabinets are clean and organized. All of our clothes are sorted and fit. I can actually find things in the linen closet. There are still a few things to do- my assignment for today is the studio/office, which really isn't too bad anyway. Things are running more smoothly. Keeping up with the clutter has been easier. It's simpler for the kids to clean up their own stuff too, now that everything has a place.
Shall we start taking bets on how long it will last? You know what? Let's not. Let's just be optimistic.
Have a great week!
Comments
this is an inspiration to me, alicia. i keep saying i'll do it, but it is slow in getting actually, you know, done.
it must feel good in that house, now. it sure looks good in this quiet, calm photo.
have a good week!
Posted by: tara thayer | November 16, 2009 11:00 AM
I'm glad you had a good birthday!
No toys at Goodwill?? Where did you end up taking them? Thanks for the head's up -- I was going to take some there.
Posted by: amy h | November 16, 2009 11:33 AM
I really need to do this before Christmas, not after, like I usually do. Thanks for the early inspiration!
Posted by: Jennifer@sissyandsassy | November 16, 2009 11:39 AM
Sounds like a wonderful weekend! I love to purge as well.
Happy Belated Birthday.
Posted by: Andrea | November 16, 2009 11:45 AM
Your Clean-Out Day sounds wonderful... something I really need to do here!
Posted by: julie | November 16, 2009 12:30 PM
inspiring.
Posted by: martha | November 16, 2009 12:44 PM
happy birthday!
Posted by: Kelly | November 16, 2009 1:27 PM
I did some organizing this morning and it felt great to have everything in it's place. I hope your stuff stays that way for a while.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | November 16, 2009 2:04 PM
happy birthday!
sounds like the clean out day was refreshing. I just need an "Organize Day" and a keep it that way promise!hee hee.
Posted by: Vanessa | November 16, 2009 3:12 PM
I'm in the same boat right now. I've been going through boxes and boxes and it's time to let things go. I hate being tied to all this stuff. Good for you for getting it done!
And happy birthday!
Posted by: AJ | November 16, 2009 3:23 PM
I need a clean-out day.
But more importantly: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I just turned the big three-oh a little over a week ago, and I'm enjoying this 30th year of life.
xoxoxo
Posted by: Molly | November 16, 2009 4:29 PM
would you come here and help me do the same thing? i need someone to motivate me.
and happy birthday, friend. i hope this year is the best yet!
Posted by: erin | November 17, 2009 7:07 AM
This is so inspirational, I think I'm going to tackle my own "stuff" today.
Posted by: Phoe | November 17, 2009 7:20 AM
oh alicia. i have never been so inspired. thank you. xo
Posted by: heather | November 17, 2009 8:18 AM
1. Wow, I admire your complete purge. That sounds extremely overwhelming but also extremely freeing.
2. Where did you end up taking the toys? Because I had no idea that Goodwill wasn't taking them anymore!!!
Posted by: Grace | November 17, 2009 8:50 AM
Sounds wonderful, I so wish someone like you would come and do my place.
I always think a organised house makes for a calm mind.
Posted by: hanna | November 17, 2009 8:51 PM
You have to post this right when I'm bringing all the Christmas boxes up and are attacking me every time I turn a corner, don't you?? I won't go seeking my sanity until January, I think.
I'm so jealous though.
(And, *really* Goodwill?? Really? )
Posted by: misschris | November 18, 2009 8:40 AM