Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Cleaning Your Scraproom Challenge

In my blog reading this morning, I came across a post that led me to another blog, this one about a rather comprehensive scraproom cleaning challenge. You can find the blog here. I know with the new year, a lot of crafters are working on organizing their creative spaces and I thought this was too good to pass up. I've added it to my reader so that I can refer back to it when I'm ready to really tackle purging in my creative space. Hope it helps someone!

I was pretty proud of myself this morning as I was able to get a lot of my daily "chores" done without referring to my list for each item on the list. When I looked at the list, I was able to check off several items all at once. Go me! LOL

I also have to share that I sat down to get my Christmas Card List cleaned up today. It's something I tell myself I will do every year and every year I "forget" after the holidays are over or I'm too burned out to deal with even one more holiday type item. I went through my list and crossed off names that we no longer send to, or noted an address change, or added some new families to the list. For those addresses that changed, if I didn't have the current address, I am emailing someone who would know the information so I can update my list. I also spent the time alphabetizing the list! In years past, I would just add the names at the end. I should say, I print off labels for mailing and to create the list, I use Microsoft Office's label document. So now, my list is ready to go pretty much for next year (once I hear back from those I contacted for new mailing information). It feels pretty darn good to actually have DONE it, rather than think I SHOULD do it. LOL

I've read comments from readers who share that they think I'm pretty organized. Oh if that were true! I'm truly NOT that organized, but I'm working diligently toward becoming more organized. To that end, I have to share another book I've checked out of the library, Confessions of an Organized Homemaker by Deniece Schofield. I don't know what it is about her writing, but I really, really like how she describes things in this book. For instance, I know that I should be using my to do list and a planner. I always say I am going to do it, and it falls by the wayside (and I end up trying to rely on my shaky memory). Well, she explains how to set these up and utilize them and the reasoning behind her suggestions and it seems so logical and doable! Even though the book was revised in the early 90s, it's definitely still applicable (minus the part where she says to write down your social security numbers in the planner....um so NOT going to happen...LOL) for the most part. You might want to see if your library carries it. It's not available at Barnes and Noble or Borders (unless you buy it from one of their used booksellers). I'm going to keep my eye out at the thrift stores for it, or just keep renewing it until I have all the information I want from it!

After some grumbling, the girls worked in their room for 10 minutes and it looks better. Amy even cleared off the top of the bookshelf! They took the timer into their room and worked hard to beat the timer. Hey, whatever works, huh? Let's hope we can keep this up! (I'm including myself because I don't want to let this fall by the wayside).

Thanks for stopping by! I sure appreciate the visit. And I hope you don't mind my musings about my adventures in organizing...


Photobucket

6 comments:

Sparkplug17 said...

Likes a fun site...might have to go through it from the beginning.

Sarah said...

Yeahh for girls cleaning their rooms!
Great links again Jeanne.
Hope you and the girlies are doing good!

Sharli Schaitberger said...

Yea for You and for the girls!!! I must admit, I have been very faithful about keeping the Christmas card list updated for about the past 5 years. It works for me because a) I put it in a word table b) I print the list out on cheap cardstock and carry it around with me c) I write which card I sent this year and update addresses on the printed out list d) I sit down and update the computer file sometime in January. It sure does help come next Christmas!!! You'll be so glad you did it this year!

Kim Burmeister said...

You are on a mission! YAY! Congrats to you for starting out the new year cleaning and getting organized for what is to come. I hope some of your tips and organization rub off on me.....soon.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Carolyn said...

Sounds like you have it all together with organizing! I love the idea that your xmas list is updated and ready for next year. I need to set more goals. TFS

I love the timer idea too. hehehe
I use to use one when my boys were 2-4. I would set it 10 minutes before bedtime and told them play time was almost over, than it was bed time. UNTLL... I had to take my van in for a recall repair. My boys were playing in the waiting room so happy.{new toys to play with} Than in walks the man and says... "Your van is ready". I said... come on boys it's time to go... Sam pipes up and says.."Where's the timmer?? And through the biggest fit, I had to drag him out. LOL
Kids you gotta love em!