Monday, December 31, 2007

I'm an Organizing Maniac!

An amazing thing happens when my depression is under control (thanks to my magic pills) and I'm no longer feeling the need to take a nap every chance I get (thanks to my other magic pills): I'm motivated and excited about doing things around the house. This has been a great week for my house. I've been an organizing madwoman! Here's what I've managed to get accomplished so far - all while helping (i.e. bringing them more juice boxes and putting on new movies for them to watch) my sick children who were all diagnosed with pneumonia this week (yes, it's no longer just J):
  • Cleaned out the refrigerator and freezer
  • Created two different snack boxes for the kids to take snacks independently
  • Reorganized my pots and pans to make them more accessible
  • Reorganized my laundry room shelves so they only held cleaning supplies and soaps
  • Cleaned out the pantry to create more space on top and put like items in containers
  • Cleaned out the food cabinet in the kitchen to also put like items together in containers
  • Reorganized the kids' arts and crafts supplies and projects into baskets
  • Cleaned out J's drawers and moved the clothes into her new "official" bedroom with the boys
  • Moved the furniture around in the boys' room to utilize the remaining toddler bed that was still there for J (DH helped me)
  • Cleared off the boys' shelves on their hutch and bookshelves
  • Reorganized the large white cubbies in the dining room to show off some theater mementos and contain our games, a box for towels and washcloths, our laptop, a box for drawing paper and mini-notebooks, a box for fun worksheets and papers from school, a box of coloring books, a box with crayons, markers, colored and regular pencils (all in their own boxes), a place for the kids' school bags, a box for the kids to put their papers each day, a box for my papers, a box for DH's papers, a box for all our library books, and a box of things that need to be returned or given to other people
  • Made room in our bedroom for the glider rocker that had been in J's room and moved it in (okay, DH did this, but it was my idea)
  • Went through all of J's hanging clothes and pulled out the stuff that is too small for her
  • Went through the boys' pajamas and pulled out the stuff that is too small for them
  • Cleaned out the boxes in our linen closet that contain medicines, soaps, etc.
  • Created a rag box out of all the towels that have outlived their usefulness
  • Cleared off two shelves in the kitchen to show off some pretty candles
  • Cleared off the top of the fridge
  • Cleaned out and reorganized the "junk drawer" in the kitchen
  • Climbed Mt. Washmore and declared myself victorious (A.K.A. washed, dried, and put away ALL the laundry in the house)
  • Cleaned out and reorganized the medicine cabinet and other cabinet (alright, it's not QUITE like the one I linked, but that's the idea) in the bathroom
  • AND, last but definitely not least, I cleaned out and repurposed the shelves along the basement steps. I also got DH to bring up a total (so far) of SIX different boxes that were down there and reorganized them, getting rid of LOTS of stuff along the way.

The basement is the one big phobia I have. I don't know why, possibly because I don't really like creepy crawly things and am worried (for good reason) that they're hanging out down there. I actually begin to hyperventilate when I go down there. It drives me CRAZY because it's a big disorganized mess, and while I know it's not truly impossible for me to go down there and clean it up, it's really, really, really tough. HOWEVER, this week I was able to offer DH enough incentive to bring me up a few boxes at a time for me to work through, and fill up two trash bags with trash. It's not much, but it's a start. I was even able to go down there myself and get a stack of dirty clear shoebox containers. Woohoo!

I discovered yesterday that J is definitely my daughter. When I started working in her old room (the new Upstairs Playroom) she was just as excited as I was. She kicked me out for a little so she could clean it up herself, and then had a great time with me as we found new places to put the toys. At one point, I said to her, "This is fun!" J gave me big smile as she agreed. I love having a little girl!

Tonight we're having a few families over to help us ring in the new year (WAY early, but who can stay up til midnight anymore, especially when my guys wake up at 7 no matter what time they go to bed). I can't wait to show off all my organization projects (I already warned them that they would have to ooo and aaahh). My plan for the rest of the day is to actually finish cleaning up around the house (dusting, vacuuming, mopping), something I'd be doing even if we weren't having company, but it makes it easier to have that incentive, and then if I have more time, try to do a few more projects around the house. The best part for me is that I feel no sense of urgency, no need for perfection - I'm just loving getting these things accomplished! I keep opening my basement door just to look at my beautiful shelves!

I know I'm a dork, but I'm an insanely happy dork.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

something led me to your blog at Organize junkie and I am so glad....I am seriously looking into your meds as I have OSA and would be a far better person with more energy...thanks for that info...and you have the right to be an insane dork...you did a ton of stuff and deserve to call yourself whatever you please...good for you...keep up the great work into the new year...

Marcia Francois said...

Rachel, I'm also excited by all you've done. Well done and happy new year :)

Domestic Goddess said...

WoW! That is so impressive. It must FEEL GREAT! I am proud of you!

Unknown said...

You rock, my friend! What a great way to bring in the New Year!

Laura said...

Wow, how fantastic is that! I'm so proud of you for all you've accomplished and suspect you found that once you got going on it it was hard to stop. I love the organizing "zone" and that feeling you get from it!

I loved reading how your daughter got involved and how much fun you were having too.

Well done! I enjoyed that :)

Laura

Anonymous said...

Go, Rachel!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow Rachel! Way to go!! You deserve to be proud of yourself...you got tons done!!!!! Glad that things are going well..you are inspiring me to go organize!!!!! Thanks!!! Tish

Oonie said...

DUDE. I need to look in to your magic pills too! Or just get to bed at a reasonable hour. That might help too.
Hooray for you and I can't wait to see and share the excitement!

Happy said...

You go girl!! Glad the meds are working out for you :-)

the mystic said...

Rachel NOTHING makes me happier than a day of organizing! I know that's probably nothing to brag about but there it is! Sadly, the other people who live in this house don't share my fondness for organized living...

Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Holy crapballs Batman!!! I got tired just reading that! I'm so inspired, but I know that will dwindle in about 20 min....wanna come over and do my house? :o)