{i like}

a lot.

{photo:  real simple}

I'm thinking that something similar to the above would

finish out my entry closet {aka: the gift closet}

I even love the color but do not have much of that color

in my home.  I may have to run that one by my

interior decorator {aka:  HG}. :)  Even if I just painted it

I think it would do wonders. 

Everything deserves a happy color

don't ya think?  Even the closet.

{a quick one}

the above is from BH&G. 

I am either thinking up or doing quick little projects since I've been

away from home much more than I ever planned.  This is suppose to be

my down time of the year to revamp for the upcoming shooting year.  BUT...

that little plan got nixed.

ANYWAY....I have the above appliance {or something similiar} to

FINALLY, once.and.for.all. get and more importantly KEEP that

horribly-out-of-control gift closet in my foyer tackled.  Once it's

put together {this project will likely take a full day} I may just have

to put a lock on it. ;)  No Entry {especially by my mom, lol! long story!}

Now, I just want a day off! ;)

{this n' that}

i have been working so much my to do list of organizing is 

having to wait.  so, i'm making small changes when i can. 

the new and impoved junk drawer for the boys.

it has actually stayed like this for well over a week.

                                                                             
                                                

the above was actually a Christmas gift.

but, it serves the purpose of getting rid of that

ugly yellow bag that the dogs are constantly

getting into.  they'll be on a diet soon!

and, it's super-cute!

{2012: THE year of change}

for me.

I don't make New Year's resolutions.

But, like so many, LOVE that clean calendar

{okay, so maybe I like the idea of the clean

calendar as mine is a two year and is already

scribbled on tremendously for 2012}.  But,

you get the idea.  A fresh start!  

Personally, something in my soul craves simplicity. 

Always has, and maybe it does for everyone, I

just don't know.  I'm a definite Mayberry gal.  I know

I've had that discussion here a time or two.  Okay, maybe

three. But, I am DROWNING in chaos and have been for

so long. The vast majority of it at my own doing, sadly. 

I've also broached this topic here several times.  I 

always have the very best intentions, but then I fall

short in a huge way of getting to the prize.  Well,

a few months ago, I started having health issues as

a result of this chaos.  I was not {and still am not

doing a great job at it} sleeping, my hiatal hernia

issues from college began rearing their ugly head,

my attention span was that of a knat and the list

could really go on and on.  But, the things that I hold

the most dear to me...my family, friends and health were

suffering in a huge way.  The only positive I can truly say

was occurring during the peak of all of this was that I clung

to my relationship with God.  No matter what was swirling 

around me....exhaustion from lack of sleep, stomach pain,

chasing myself in circles and getting nothing accomplished.......

I still carved out my quiet time with God.  I craved it actually.

{thank you RAE DEAL}.  I type all of this with tears in my 

eyes because I was spinning too many plates and they

were crashing around me.  There was no time for breathing.

And, I know that different seasons of our life are simply

a juggling act, but this was different. It was taking it's toll and

I was crashing.  So, I began seeking changes through Him. 

It started off small.  First, I was determined to clear out the

physical clutter of my home.  If I spend 15 minutes in the morning

looking for shoes or keys with a child crying because he just knows

we're going to be late......well, that breaks my heart and sets the 

start of the day not in the sunrise kind of morning way.   And, 

my house wasn't all that bad to the eye, but I knew what was

lurking in cabinets, closet, on my desk {now, that was bad!}

Basically, I had lost all organization.  Something that I was once

known for.  Crazy.  But, I am wired in a way I cannot function

with things being out of order.  So, basically, I simply wasn't functioning. 

I was determined to get rid of everything that wasn't necessary, 

treasured, and valued in my home.  I started with my closet. And,

to be honest, although it looks much better.....there is still so much excess.

I am still working on the excess.  Because the excess of anything is

what was eating up my time.   I have almost made my first "quick

round" throughout the house, every nook and cranny.  Then, I will

go back and do a true purge over every item.  I have thrown or

given away bags and bags of "stuff."   When you get to the point

you cannot sit down and balance your checkbook and because of that

you have A LOT of money zapped from that account and because

you did not notify the bank timely, it was money well-spent by someone else.  

I am already feeling a difference, but have so, so far to go.  The garage. Gasp.

The attic. Oh, my.  But, things are slowly coming together and I have

to remind myself, my life did not spin out of control overnight, so 

all of my pieces will not get back into place that quickly as well. 

But, I'll post some pictures about my little journey or since I'm into

labeling now..."project: simplify" may visit here occasionally.

On my kitchen counter sits the supplies for a new coupon binder.

I am tackling finances as well.  So, I will keep you posted!

{purge fest}

I have been chomping at the bits to PURGE in a big way!

I had worked and worked and planned on the time after Christmas

to REALLY get after it.  That was my target time frame to begin.

So, I held off with anticipation and finished up my photography work

and then........a HUGE project hit the law firm and they asked for my

help.  I said yes before I realized exactly what all it would entail. 

Stupid, stupid me!

I am a grumpy bear because I gave up so much time with the boys

over break and as much as I wanted to purge and clean....it was

the last on my list compared to the boys.   As mentioned,

tomorrow we head out to Houston and should be back home either

late Tuesday night or Wednesday.  Then, I am suppose to report back to duty

on Thursday morning.  I have some serious pondering to do.  I want to help out

and above all do not want to leave my sweet friend in a lurch.  But, I 

think based on everything else going on.......I am going to have to draw

some boundaries for certain.  No more working until 8:45 pm when the boys

are in school.  I cannot keep up like I used to. 

But, over the weekend, when I should have been billing and wrapping up

a report and final edits and orders.....I squeezed  a little purging in to get a

fix! I had a fiasco in the pantry a couple weeks ago and to solve that from

every happening again {I hope!!}  I have invested {truly, an investment}

in different containers.  I've been buying some here and there.  I also

got some cute tags from etsy, but  need a chalk pen as I don't like

using the true blue chalk.   I've also completes various other

small tasks around the house and am literally going to hit

every, single nook and cranny, every drawer, every closet eventually

moving on the over the top garage and ending with the attic.  Then,

it will likely be time to start over again! ha! 

But, I need some space in this house and in the effort to decorate

something went horribly wrong.......clutter invaded in huge way.  In an

eventual overwhelming way.  I do not function well at all {if AT all,

with clutter}.  I have already collected bags of things and there will

be many, many more to come I'm afraid.  It's a disgrace really.  

But, a lesson learned for certain.  I'm ready to breathe in every

area of my life!! 

I got a new camera for my purse recently and wouldn't you know

I can't work the stinkin' thing.  Give me a crazy, complicated one and

it's a breeze, but a point and shoot is a disaster for me.  For example,

I had gone through some terribly mismatched photo boxes and  gave them away

and replaced them with very standard, but matching black photo boxes.

The change was dramatic.  BUT, when I took the pictures, I failed

to have a card in the camera.  My big camera would not have allowed

that. ;)  And, since all of those old boxes are long gone,  I can't reshoot

that one, so you will have to take my word for it, or come over and see. ;)

But, here is a quick peek at an area on the kitchen.  We are all loving

the new containers and once I finish up the labels, they will be

functional and cute.  Cute is always important.  ;)

{christmas in july}

Well, since Hobby Lobby is doing it, maybe I should too.

But, I think I need to skip right past that to New Years.

As in resolutions. 

I'm not the resolution-making type, but I am in the midst

of some major reorganization.  VERY  likely due to the

upcoming start of school.  If I can start off on a good foot,

hopefully their trek will be easier as well.

I've been editing like a mad woman, still determined to take

some time off before the start of school.  And, my window is closing

rapidly.  While pictures load and resize, I am diving into drawers

and cabinets.  Countless trash bags are in the garage.

So, although I may not have a Christmas tree up.

I am definitely  having a manic purge fest.