Monday, March 07, 2005

A Cleaner, Gentler Me...

So after my sister casually asked me if I thought I was a hoarder, I decided that maybe I should de-junk my house a little.

Home Sweet Home

This, in culmination with the poop incident , gave me pause: “Am I grooming myself to be the cat lady? That lady in the neighborhood with all the animals and poop and junk?” While I don’t think so (we don’t own a cat, but a two dog start might make some people wonder…), I thought it wouldn’t hurt do exercise a little tough love on the shelves and closets of my home.

The reason of the visit from the friend on the day of the poop incident, ironically, was to share with me a book about organization and cleaning. So I have been reading this book and trying to implement its ideas.

First, I have started making my bed. A total waste of time, in my way of thinking, but BOY does it make a difference! Suddenly, my room looks clean each morning.

Second, I have divided my home into 5 zones to correspond with the 5 days of the week. For the next couple of weeks, all I have to do is light maintenance and the rest of the time I just de-junk one zone a day.

Today is day one and I am SO excited. I already swept my front porch and killed a spider in the process. (I though the spider touched my foot at first and I did a MAJOR freak out dance in my PJ’s in full view of the construction workers…Note to self: get dressed in the AM…)

So as soon as my jeans dry, I will continue on the war path to rid my life of junk. I wish that I could at least sell the junk. Donating memories is not as fun as exploiting them for cash.

16 comments:

Suzie Petunia said...

Good for you! A clean house is my only true and living form of happiness. (I say this as I sit typing in my cluttered house with dirty bathrooms and piles of dirty laundry...)

Why does Henry keep asking me to tie a pair of pants around his head so he can be Batman? How does that make him Batman?

Moragh said...

I have not forgotten the power of a Duvet from mish times, and continue to practice the art of bed making with one full shake of the duvet...long live the duvet, the lazy mans way of ensuring a made bed in the am.

Melissa said...

What book was it? I have become the queen of organizing, etc lately myself. Last weekend I spent $45 at the container store on various organizing items for my room. My junk drawer looks great!

I agree on the bed making thing. I read that it gives you a sense of satisfaction to at least have your bed made, even if nothing else goes right during the day.

Anonymous said...

You wear your pajamas to sweep off the front porch?

Christian F said...

I've seen your house. You're not on your way to being the neighborhood cat lady -- too much competition. And since when did the cat lady have such a nicely decorated home?

mo said...

Good for you! I need to do the same with my house. My Bug spray guy told me one time that my closets are really full! Remember the scene in the movie Labyrinth where the protagonist meets up with a lady who has everything she owns strapped to her back and she is laboring under this humonguous burden the size of a room? I feel like that sometimes just thinking about the junk I have accumulated over the course of 35 years. Lend me the book when you are done?

Anonymous said...

i am completely in the cleaning mode lately too~glad to know that spring cleaning is hitting someone else early! (it began to snow violently outside just now where i am) is it spring there in provo?

sugarbritches said...

You are a kindred spirit. The only difference is you will actually answer the door. 90% of the time I can't answer the door because someone will see my shame. Mostly my volcano of laundry on the dining room table that is a living breathing creature, it gets bigger, gets smaller but never goes away. Every day begins new resolve to be the queen of clean and not the queen of pigs. I'm not lazy just utterly and completely disorganized.

mo said...

I'll bet your spider dance looks suspiciously like my fire ant dance....I am always trying to sneak out my front door in my pajamas to get the newspaper which is always at least 20 feet from the door! I get caught by a passing car about 25% of the time--dang!

Suzie Petunia said...

I've thought of you every time I've walked past my unmade bed to get to the computer in the last 24 hours. However, I DID sweep the porch, dust off the spider webs and sanitize the front door (all while "teaching" preschool :) this morning.

Just to show you that your blog is changing the world to make it a better place (for you and for me and the entire human race...) I will now stand up, walk over to the bed and make it. I won't post this comment until it is done.

...I found a quarter under the sheets! I'm rich!

Empowerqueen said...

Teenagers with spending money causes the clutter in our home.Then they go to college leaving behind memory filled rubbermaid buckets,that they tear through each time they return home.The pile seems to get larger and larger. They are so lucky we like them(our children)!
Grace be with you all...

Kelly said...

Please do share the name of the book I would like to read it. I love your blog! Thanks.

Carrie Ann said...

The name of the "book" is "An Organized Life" by Christy Youd. I say "book" because it is a spiral bound book used by the author to teach a community class through the local state college.

For any locals who are interested, she teaches the course through the UVSC continuing adult education system. A friend of mine took the 4 hour course and loved it. Look for it this spring.

Another fun organizing wealth of info is the fly lady . I have used this site many times. The stuff I have actually implimented has worked out great!

Good luck spring cleaners.

lemoniepants said...

do you know where to get a copy of the book? also, do you know how to make your husband read it?

Carly said...

I LOVE the five zones idea. I also love the bed-making idea. I'm gonna implement that ASAP. If I ever actually get OUT of my bed, that is. I'm in a memory foam honeymoon period. PS I am crushed that I couldn't make it to your lunch today. Note to self: cancel class next time Carrie Ann invites you to lunch....

JP said...

I LOVE FlyLady! It just makes so much sense!

Also...ditto to what Christian said: You have WAY to much class and style to be labeled as cat woman, or whatever. It just couldn't happen...