I lost the debate. The tree came down last Tuesday. I took some pics and they actually turned out pretty well for a spur of the moment photo shoot. That made it much easier to part. I really loved every moment of having our "gorg" tree up all shimmering and glowy this season!
On the up side I was oddly ready to see it go.
... ready for the space it took up to be given back to our family's most used living space (living room).
... ready to put things back and be able to finish getting some things in order in the living room. Finish the new scrapbook nook by installing the desk. Unload the PC desk so we can start finally using it.
... ready to fully live in our living room. That seems like it's been such a very long time coming. We really have been living to the fullest in 2/3rds of the space for quite some time.

So here's a glimpse of our 2009 Christmas decor:

Just realized I forgot to take some shots of our nativity scene and the stockings while they were still up. Oh well, there's always next Christmas. I already have some new plans brewing for then anyway. We still have some fun winter decor sprinkled about. They'll do for now!

I've thought long and hard... though I'm sure I could take longer and maybe should take longer. But I'm constantly feeling like I'm running on fumes when it comes to available time as my resource. Warning: there may be some FlyLady-isms thrown around here from time to time... for those not already in the know, here's a link to help y'all out- FlyLady
So here goes:

January- Daily Routines
I've not gotten back in the true throws of my routines for months. I'll start and then a backslide occurs every time we get busy with other things (called life). The first week I'm cementing new ones for  myself. Keeping It Simple and Smart- KISS. This'll help pave the way for everything that this coming year (new baby, house ventures, kid issues, personal finances and overall health and nutrition). I need to evict "Franny" and CHAOS from our household permanently. With routines, our lives resemble the swan gracefully gliding along the glassy waters.


February- Mommy Time
Back to the basics with this one. January will help roll this one into place. I have a feeling. This is adding to the basics of taking time to take care of me. My routines will help prime me to start scheduling myself a little extra time for me. Daily, weekly, monthly and maybe even seasonally. I need to get back to that one. I know I'll need it even more once the new Lil' One arrives.


March- Hydration
Another babystep on the march to progress this year. I haven't been too bad about this one, however it'll be doubly important with a nursing relationship to establish. I'll also need the extra energy that comes with staying hydrated. We'll be revisiting zombie parenting soon. After two blissful years of finally returning to pre-parenting sleep mode days. I know we're in for a real shock!

Anyone else feel like the teachers have left the kids untrained in such ventures these days? My third grader came home with research project and report to compile and be ready to present on the day after winter break. I know the teachers mean well and want to give the kids (maybe parents too) incentive to stay busy and retain some of the school discipline over the holiday break. But seriously, did they stop to think how busy parents are during this time? We're busier with kids home than when they're in school. I know many of these teachers are parents too, so what gives?! I remember as a kid learning all the steps before having to put it together ourselves.

That's obviously not the case this time around. The directions stated for the parents to assist their child with the project since it's their first. Really?! Are they kidding? I know I shouldn't complain. They have a lot more to contend with these days than I think they ever have. But am I the only one that recalls "those" days? I know over half of my kids' teachers are older than I am. So I can't possibly be alone with these thoughts.

Sometimes it really makes me wonder about our school systems and the process with which decisions are made. The big decisions that affect our kiddos daily in the classrooms like: teaching methods, discipline practices, appropriate times to accomplish tasks and learn new ones, etc. These are the times I rethink the homeschooling option. If I'm going to be teaching routinely myself, maybe  I should just commit to doing it full time. Realistically, I realize it's more than I could take on, at least at this time. But it doesn't stop me from revisiting the thought process from time to time and sometimes wishing some things for our family were very different.

We're really striving for something unique, yet classic. Brimming with personality, easy to move into from the start and grow with for years to come.

Remember her space is truly tiny. So some of this will always remain inspiration. But much of it will be used or translated somehow in her new little space.

on the Decluttering Challenge



I did this last year and we've all been reaping the benefits in our little home. It's taken a good while, but it's finally started catching on with our kiddos. Having a 1400 sq ft cape cod home with minimal storage and a growing family household of 5 (soon to be 6), has taught us a thing or two about the value of square footage and what makes for prime real estate in a home. Breathing room is finally starting to take shape.


We still have a ways to go to get where we'd or maybe rather where I'd like us to be. But we'll get there bit by bit, one bite at a time, as some would say. I haven't always been good about sharing my decluttering process or noting all the things we've purged from our home. But I'm reissuing the challenge to myself and adding it to my family this year.  


With the addition of another little one, we have even more urgent reasons to free up some much needed space. Babies seem to always inherit so much stuff! Even when their parents have whittled down the list to the must-haves and really loved items only. What will help this time around, is we know this one is our last. So we won't be holding onto things after they've proven to have outlived their usefulness to our little one. 


First step: Decluttering

Second step: Organizing
Third step: Fully Living




Yup, that's what it's all about!

Chez Larsson is a bloggy fav of mine.

Do you have one of these?
It's one of those To Do lists; Mile long lists; Some things get done and some just get juggled around lists.
I have one and I finally decided to stop rewriting it weekly, monthly or daily as it sometimes gets done.
I finally realized that mine will never be a short and sweet, less than 12 items list. (That only took me several years of being a mom to come to grips with.)
Yup, I finally wised up and realized that I needed to formalize my list in order to simplify it.
This simplification actually freed up my process of getting things accomplished more readily.  
So what did I do to formalize and simplify all at once?
Why I typed it up on my trusty laptop in Word.
Now I have my "Never-Ending List" always at the ready. Yes, that really is what I titled it. That helped me get over the mental block I had of thinking I'd always get it completed. Plus I've stopped beating myself up over the fact my list grows at times faster than it shrinks.
I can modify it to suit my current schedule or future schedule as needed and in only moments instead of a complete rewrite taking several minutes as I once would have done.
I also like to date my accomplishments and use a different font color (much like crossing something off a physical list on paper).
That's really a great motivational tool too. That being able to look back at what all I accomplished in a week or a month. Oh it really does a mother good!!!