Time Management

I have just purchased a book called: 

"Simplify your Time: Stop Running and Start Living!"

by Marcia Ramsland.  

Here are the 3 books she has written. 

I want all 3 of them!

 I haven't even finished reading her book, but have already put into practice some things that I've read.

Here is a tip Marcia gives:

Try and see what you can accomplish in 2 minutes!

Seriously!  So, I put on a pot of water to boil for supper.

...and decided to tackle my utensil holder.

 

There are a LOT of items that are never used in here.  It may not look bad to you, but it's overflowing!

After dumping everything out, here is what I saw:



All I can say is..."yuck"!  And, no...they're not bugs!  LOL!  Looked like Ramen Noodles to me.

Here is what I have kept, and now everything is handy and easy to get at.  Looks much nicer!

 And, all this before the water boiled!!

So, I decided to keep going and see what else I could accomplish in just a few minutes, or more than a few.

This small area is between our pantry and refrigerator. 

BEFORE:



AFTER:

We moved our toaster to this area...it was cluttering up another counter top (but I forgot to take pics of where it had been).  We put the peanut butter containers and cinnamon/sugar mixture in the cupboard above.  The small crock on top of the sugar container is where we keep the butter.

This is the counter where the toaster was kept...between the small crocks.  It always looked so cluttered (for 9 years!).  Oh, and did you see the crockpot?  Yep!  Supper is ready!  (I'm working on better menu planning)

This had been hanging above the sink...what in the world was I thinking?  I have no idea what I was going to do with these things.  So, I took them down.

I thought I had taken a 'before' pic of my island, but couldn't find it.  This is the first pic I took of it cleared off.  Then, I decided I didn't like it.

AFTER

Anybody ready for SPRING!!
I changed switched out the candy to this green Longaberger crock.  Who doesn't like candy?  Just wish it was chocolate!  The toothpicks had been in a gingerbread votive candleholder.  It was time to change that!  And, I love this little pitcher!

My next areas to tackle this weekend are:

How do you think we eat at this table?  We don't.  And, that is something else I am working at changing!  Bad habits are hard to break.

Oooohh...do you see the countertop on the left side of the picture?  I knew I had taken a BEFORE picture!  At least you can get a glimpse of it.

Here is the area I had decluttered a few weeks ago.  It so easily becomes a "hot spot".  I just need to add this area to my daily routine.

So, the next time I feel that I don't have 'time' to clean/organize/declutter, I will remind myself: 

I can do ANYTHING in 2 minutes, or any small amount of time!    

• Swish and swipe toilet
• wipe down toilet, sink and bathroom countertop
• put dishes in dishwasher
• throw a load of wash in washer
• change clothes from washer to dryer
• make bed (this takes LESS than 2 minutes!)
• spot wash the kitchen floor
• fill ice cube trays
• read my Bible
• Pray
• so many more things!

So, what can YOU accomplish in just a few minutes?  Feel free to share your pictures and ideas.

Organizing bit-by-bit,

Shari

The Simpler Life

Tonight, I am not home.  No...I am relaxing in my very own room at The Lamp Post Inn and Gallery Bed & Breakfast!  It is located in a quaint town along the Mississippi River in McGregor, IA.  My hosts are Ramona and Dorrance.  This is my 2nd year staying with them, as they have graciously opened their home to me while I am here in town to perform for a Chamber of Commerce event.

I am soooo enjoying the peace and tranquility here.  There is no TV...although they do have wireless internet access, obviously! 

Here is a picture of the room I am staying in:

This is the 'Butler's Quarters'.

As I look around the room, I am thinking about the simplicity it has to offer.  No clutter...PEACE!!  There is a simple order in this room.  Everything I need is at my fingertips.  This shows me that I can certainly survive without all the 'things' I think I must have.

I am asking myself, "Why...why do I seem to feel more secure with all the 'stuff' I have and cannot seem to let it go?"  And, yet, I know I do not feel security.  I feel overwhelmed helplessness, disorder, discontent, and the list goes on!  Now, I realize I have quite a bit more of the unusual things...such as PUPPETS!!!  Puppets, props and more puppets do seem to take over my house at times!  More on that later...

Back to 'stuff'...and the 'why'.  I don't know the answer, but I am praying about it.  I truly believe that when I discover the 'why' of hanging onto the 'stuff', I will discover the freedom in letting go of the 'stuff'!  I am also praying that I will continue to work on discipline...discipline to create peace, just as I'm feeling here at this Bed & Breakfast! 

And, speaking of 'breakfast'...I am going to go to sleep, now!  Breakfast is fantastic at this place!  I'll let you know what we have...I do know we're having some type of breakfast bread, because Ramona was baking it when I arrived this afternoon...mmmm...the smells in the air were wonderful!

Until breakfast....I mean, later...

Shari

 

Spiritual Clutter vs. Balance

I haven't posted for the past few days for a number of reasons.

1)  I am trying to be more disciplined in different areas and found I was spending way too much time on the computer.

2)  Remember Good Morning Girls I wrote about in an earlier post?  I am re-committing myself to being disciplined to have my daily time with the Lord. 

We are studying the book of James right now...verse by verse.  This week was the beginning of James chapter 3, which covers the topic of our 'tongue'.  It's such a small, untamed part of our body...but it can be oh, so destructive!  We are expected to tame our tongue, or it will be like fire kindling that can set a whole forest afire!  Just a spark is all it takes to set something on fire.

I have been challenged to look at how I am using my tongue!  How do my words affect my husband?  Are they uplifting, encouraging, motivating, loving?  Or am I tearing down my husband?  Are my words 'biting'?  Are they judgemental?  I am asking myself the same questions regarding my children.

Proverbs 18:21 says "death and life are in the power of the tongue".  Is my tongue bringing LIFE to people I am around?  Or is it bringing DEATH?

Another thought that has been brought to my attention is this:

How do I speak or act when I'm away from my home?  In other words, do I act the same outside my home as I am when I'm at home with my family? 

The enemy, the devil, would like nothing better than to have us tear one another down, especially those we love the most!  Getting caught up in the spirit of gossipping, backbiting...all with the excuse of "this way I will know how to pray"...or maybe we share what doesn't need to be shared because, if we're honest with ourselves, it makes us feel good to 'know' something someone else doesn't know!  Maybe we've been hurt by someone...we may feel that we 'deserve' to talk to others...it's going to help us to feel better!  Not true!  I've been there!  I KNOW the lies the devil tries to get us to believe!  Talking about the one who hurt you, what happened, etc., only 'feeds' the spirits of unforgiveness and bitterness.  What happens is that the root of bitterness begins to grow and to take hold, which will ultimately lead to a spiritual death if not pulled out!  Our tongue can be sooo deadly!

Oh, I so want to create a Women's Ministry Program where I can share this message with ladies all across the nation!  I am praying about this...I have so many ideas of how I can use my ventriloquism to reach ladies with this message!

Maybe you're wondering what in the world this has to do with organizing?  Well, to me, it has everything to do with it!  You see, having a  personal spiritual life that is cluttered with ungodly attitudes, words, and thoughts, is as wrong as having a cluttered, dis-organized home.  We must have our spiritual life in order! 

Let's take all of the spiritual clutter to God in prayer, asking Him to help us to discipline and tame our tongue...and move onto the next level in our walk with Him!

Do you have anything to share on this topic?  I'd love to hear from you!

Organizing bit-by-bit!

Shari



Master Bedroom Closet

Over the Holidays, my Master bedroom closet got way out of control!  We have a really nice walk-in closet, but it got to where we couldn't even...um...walk in!  So...here are the 'before' pictures...

This is looking at the upper part of MY side!



This view is looking at my husband's 'side'.



See all the clutter on the floor?

Did I say a 'walk-in' closet?



Upper shelving above Joel's side...I'm not blaming HIM, of course!

So...I got at it!  Late Saturday night, I started pulling everything out that I could.  I was talking on the phone to a dear friend from out of town, so I only had one hand...but, I really accomplished a lot!

I finally finished my closet today!  Yeah!  I do wish I could do more matching organizating containers, but I am really doing this on a no-money budget.  Using only what I have around the house!

So...here are my 'after photos:

I moved hung Joel's clothing together with like items.  His jeans and heavier shirts are on the top shelf within his reach.  Joel has MS and lung cancer, so keeping things easier to get at is important.

Just had to put up another shot of this side of the closet!  LOL!

I am so happy with MY side of the closet!  You can't see it here, but there is actually an empty spot on the middle shelf!!  Yeah!  I cleared out 3 garbage bags of clothing...gave some to a friend and will take 2 to the thrift store!

 It's hard to take a picture in a small area, so you can't see my hanging clothing very well.  I did hang like-items together, similar to Joel's side.  Long sleeved, everyday shirts, vests, jean skirts, dress skirts, performing tops (I'm a ventriloquist), etc.

What did you think?  It feels so freeing to get rid of the clutter in that closet!

But...I'm not done showing you all the pictures! 
Remember that I told you this was a 'walk-in' closet?  Well, now we can WALK-IN our closet!  See for yourself!

See?  We can actually walk in, turn around and find what we're looking for!

That's it!  Thanks for looking!

Organizing bit-by-bit,

Shari



Declutter WAR has begun!

We have been putting clutter in a specific area between the kitchen and living room.  So...my kids and I loaded it into the van and I just returned home from delivering it to the Thrift Store!  And, guess what?  I didn't even go in to do some shopping!  Yeah!  

There were 3 bags of clothing, mostly from Kayli's drawers...it's amazing how clothing can take over a room.  4 boxes of junk, 1 shelf, a sign that said "Dream", a body pillow (bought from a garage sale), an ugly wooden crate that I just HAD to have for Christmas (what was I thinking?), and a purple suitcase that was done serving it's purpose.

On my way home, I was thinking about what I had taken, and it dawned on me that most of that stuff probably came from that very same Thrift Store.  How sad...I realized that none of that made me happy...and to think I still have more!  But...I'm counting it all joy as I work on this trial!  

I wish I had a picture of all the 'stuff'...I will take a picture of the next load!

Organizing bit-by-bit,

Shari

Declaring WAR on Clutter!

Okay, so I've never linked up on another blog before, so if you've found this through goodmorninggirls.org, I do apologize for the 3 different link-ups!  I'm very new to blogging and couldn't remember my web address!  (I'm so embarrassed!)  I'm so sorry!  And, to make matters worse, I can't figure out how to delete my first 2 link-ups...

We are going through the book of James, reading a few verses each day for 12 weeks.  And writing the verses out! 

Here is what God is speaking to me about James 1:1-6:  My faith!  My doubting, my lack of wisdom...just ask, and He'll give it to me!  I am to have JOY during my trials!  Oh, boy...that's a hard one to follow through on!  Right now, I am in the midst of the trial of Clutter...but today, I have 'declared WAR on clutter'!! 

I'm also reading a book called "From Clutter to Clarity", by Nancy Twigg.  Through her book, I am realizing that my struggle is because of some internal problem.  I am trying to look at why I have clutter...not just physical clutter, but the emotional and spiritual clutter, too.  If you haven't read this book, yet, I would highly recommend it.  Awesome!  I may share more later...right now, I'm declaring WAR...on CLUTTER!!

Organizing bit-by-bit,

Shari