Positive Steps

Thank you for all your comments regarding my job loss. As they say at Tesco, every little helps. I know that I'm not always sure what to say when someone is facing a crisis, I'm always worried it will be the wrong thing, and too often I default to saying nothing. I'm seeing now that it all helps. Every bit of it. Just that someone took the time to write a note is what matters. And believe it or not, I'm seeing some silver linings today. So thank you.


How's 2011 treating you so far? I've never been so motivated by a date on a calendar! January 1st usually comes and goes with nary a resolution or second thought, but this year I am really treating it like a new start. It's time to dig in and tackle that to-do list and stop putting off 'til tomorrow what I can do today!

What you see above is my husband's new closet. Oh, I wish I'd thought to take a BEFORE picture! It was already partly done, but it wasn't quite right. Yesterday we added those bottom two shelves, replacing a unit with pull out drawers that not only fit the space awkwardly but also created a dead zone to the side. Picture all the clothes on those two bottom shelves squashed onto the shelves above, and you can imagine what a mess it was! We also added the striped bins to corral all the small bits like handkerchiefs, ankle braces, belts, etc. Some items were culled for the thrift shop, others were relocated, and this is the result. I love it. I actually got out of my warm bed the other night to go in there and look at the closet one last time before we went to sleep!

In other organizing news, this is the second pile to leave the house. Even Isabella got into the decluttering act and gave up an old bed and several toys that didn't meet her stringent criteria (must have extra strong catnip and require nothing more than licking). But the bulk of this pile is shredded paper. I've started to go through our filing cabinet, which has to be the most tedious, boring, and just plain awful job in the world. To help, I found this guide to conquering the piles of paper. Five bags of stuff--yikes--and I'm nowhere near finished.

So anyway, I just wanted to check in and share some progress, both emotional and organizational. I hope your new years are progressing nicely!