I think I just like lists.
Somehow by writing down a list makes me realize that it is doable. It also takes it out of my mind and allows me to not obsess over having to do something RIGHT NOW. I can put it on my list when I know that we will have at least a week of downtime without homework, rushing to school, and watching the clock every day.
So, I made myself a list of the things that just need to be done but are either overwhelming to try and accomplish normally in a regular ole week or because it is time consuming and/or downright dreadful...and since there will be plenty of time at home during the next two weeks (give or take)...I plan to tackle them now. They aren't all overwhelming, however, some on the list are there because I want a reason to sit down and do it.
1. Jennifer's Room. Oh my goodness her room gets out of control the fastest. There is something about the jewelry, the Barbie's, the stuffed animals, the pencils, the lip gloss...it all goes crazy fast. My goal is to really get in there and get rid of the things that she no longer plays with, throw out the stuff that is truly trash (like pieces of paper), and put away things that I'd like to save for her but she really isn't playing with anymore. (Side note: since Josh isn't playing with his HUGE tub of Lego's anymore either I told him to pull out some to put in a bin that we can keep downstairs in one of the family room built-in cabinets so when little kids come over they can play with the Lego's. The remaining tub we are going to permanently store in the shed for him to have one day when he has his own kids, etc.)
2. Craft Cabinets in the laundry room. I'm not sure what happened but for awhile now these cabinets have been a piled up, crammed in, overflowing mess. My goal is to make it where they can go in there and do something if they want to. I may even try and, sadly, consolidate the crafty stuff into one cabinet since really only Jennifer goes in there to do stuff these days.
3. File Folder Filing. I have two things on this list that have to do with filing and if you remember a past post about the subject: I HATE FILING. But, the file folders which have TOTALLY curbed the issue of making piles (man, this really works for us) but it also requires some filing at some point, preferably every month but hey, don't judge. The files are bulging and the time has come.
4. Recipe Filing. Another controlled mess. The recipes I have recently used are in a basket in the drawer in the nook desk. The "sorted" recipes are in labeled file folders on top of the desk in the nook. All of those need to actually make its way INTO the labeled three-ring binders. Sigh. I just need to sit down, grab a glass of wine, and a box or two of sheet protectors and file away.
5. Read at least a couple of books. I have put my reading totally on the back burner beginning around October when I was knee deep in embroidering fifty+ tea towels for some holiday bazaars. I have one book that I am finally into right now (first time in about two months) as I type this and I ordered a fun book through Amazon I can hardly wait to read while on vacation, "The Kitchen Daughter" by Jael McHenry. I am also thinking I may order myself Stephen King's new book about time travel and the assassination of JFK.
6. Scrapbook. I recently took advantage of Snapfish's awesome deal of a penny per print and ordered almost all the photos of 2010. I am about halfway through scrapbooking 2009 and I'd like to maybe work on a few pages everyday (after Christmas, obviously) and then sketch the 2010 pages which I am embarrassingly out of practice but really love to do. I also have one project that I don't want to put back into the box of no return and just finish what I started. (It is a project that I have re-done twice before...don't ask...I'm fucking nuts sometimes...hey! Anyway, it is a mini book on our life at the turn of the century with photos depicting our life in 1999.)
7. Christmas Planner. I have had these notes for years. I managed to make some file folders to hold the different pieces of information and I typed up a table of contents and began a list or two but that is all I managed to do before November hit and I dedicated all my hours writing my book. While the holidays are fresh, I thought this would be a good time to at least get it all typed up and the ideas organized and labeled and ready for next year.
8. Embroider for myself. Another one of those silly excuses to just sit and do something while we watch countless movies. Plus, I need some fresh tea towels, yo. I have SO MANY patterns that I want to stitch and a cold, winter day is the perfect excuse to sit and happily stitch away. I also have some fun images I want to stitch so I can frame for winter along with pillowcases with snowflakes I thought would be cute to display in the guest bedroom through January, at least.
9. Upstairs Hall Closet. This one was leftover from the summer to-do list and the problem is that it isn't a really large nor super packed closet but it is the closet that houses all the kids sheets and towels. Do I really need to say more? I had the fitted, flat, and pillowcases all in separate piles and then towels below. Yeah, that has been shot to hell faster than a bat fleeing from the burning flames.
10. Butler's Pantry. Not sure why this cabinet continues to be just a messy spot, but it is and every time I go in there to grab something I am frustrated. The drawer in there is overstuffed with cloth napkins and needs a little tidying too.
I will be back in early January to report how I did.
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