The Daily Fuss

Out of Hand

I am aggressively attacking my to do list on several fronts.

It's slow-going.

For example, I cleaned and organized the storage/unfinished portion of the basement yesterday and I am completely sore today from the bending, lifting and twisting (essentially cardio-yoga) involved in dealing with my small, but jam-packed space.

In the interest of otherwise showing progress this week, I offer status on the following items:

2) Tend my garden = COMING ALONG BEAUTIFULLY

3) Can and otherwise preserve the fruits of said garden = PROCURED NEW WECK JARS AND FAITHFULLY TEND CROPS

8) Thoughtfully display the girls' artwork = HUNG NEW FRAMES, ONE OF FOUR WAS BROKEN, ORDERED REPLACEMENT

9) Free up kitchen counter space = ORDERED SOLUTION FOR VEGGIE/SNACK BOWLS/COFFEE CLUTTER

12) Clean/organize basement = DONE

13) Clean/organize my closet = PARTIALLY DONE PER DONATIONS/BASEMENT REORGANIZE

15) Donate everything I don't need = IN PROGRESS

16) Spend time with family = ONGOING: WE HAD AN EXCELLENT WEEKEND

I likely won't have everything done by the end of summer, so why not add a few more time consuming and seemingly impossible items to the list?

My neighbor and I have been running lately and sticking right around 3 miles per outing. Today, we decided we need more of a commitment and vowed to run 100 miles in July. That's basically a 5k a day for a 31 month. 

Also after posting about how Muller uses tilapia to keep its Fruit Up "fruit mousse" fluffy, I learned from my Aunt (Paleo advocate) that there exists a challenge NOT to eat anything with a nutrition label for a month. So, as long as I am running my ass off, I might as well be munching nuts and berries. 

In sum, I'm adding:

17) Run 100 miles in July; and

18) Eat ONLY whole foods for a month (also July?)

to my list.

Details to come.

Who's with me? 

Runners and healthy eaters, tips, suggestions, recipes and encouragement are welcome! Please post a comment and share your fuss with us!

The War on Stuff

Our house is bursting at the seams with "stuff" and I just don't know where it all comes from.

Well ... that's a lie.

I am head of procurement for the Freeman family and I do love to shop. We have more packages delivered than any local business and free shipping is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. Where I strive to be green in so many other ways ... shopping is not exactly one of them.

The term "stuff" is comprised of a few distinct categories.

Let's start with the girls.

Apparel: At ages two and four, they grow out of things daily. Hand-me-downs are few because either the season is wrong for the size or the article just doesn't look quite right on little sis. Clothing is an arch enemy in my war on stuff. Let's add the ridiculous number of tennis shoes, boots, Crocs, sandals and slippers and call the whole lot "Apparel".

Accessories: I'll put sunglasses, costumes, barrettes, purses, dress up shoes, jewelry, wands and wings here.

Toys: The small plastic things (that once belonged to a set and now are in a random bowl somewhere with the choke-ables I initially pulled out) are of major concern. The rest of the toys find homes in their respective bins with little consequence.

Ryan (by his own account) is not responsible for any part of our mess, as he doesn't lay claim to any part of the house except for his closet (which is an absolute disaster) and his dresser (which is empty with freshly folded laundry sitting atop).

As for me, I have my own areas of mayhem. I will just bullet this for you and let your imagination run wild.

• My closet
• My home office
• My art/craft and otherwise DIY items
• My tools
• My basement (unfinished area)
• My built in cabinets

I love projects. "Project Stuff" should literally be one of my categories because once I set my sights on a project (i.e. soap-making, canning, jewelry making, party planning) I need to acquire all the "stuff" that goes with it.

"Project Stuff" and "Work Stuff" pretty much covers me.

I catch myself daydreaming of a paralell universe where all the flat surfaces in my home are devoid of clutter, unopened mail, chargers, random Barbie shoes and clean dishes that need to be put away but are an odd shape so that extra energy must be expended to put them away and it just isn't going to happen right his minute.

What a lovely home that would be.

I can achieve this. I know I can. I just don't want to give up my project-oriented way of being to do it.

So I won't.

I am dedicating this summer to accomplishing an aggressive "to do" list while decluttering and optimizing this house into the utopian vision in my head.

Items (both projects and optimization efforts) include:

1) Build yard waste composter from old cedar playset

2) Tend my garden

3) Can and otherwise preserve the fruits of said garden

4) Learn how to make cheese (yes I'm serious)

5) Turn existing jewelry supplies into jewelry

6) Turn existing soap-making supplies into soap

7) Organize photos, make books and fill frames

8) Thoughtfully display the girls' artwork

9) Free up kitchen counter space

10) Organize home office

11) Organize playroom/craft space (including finding an alternative for the creepy looking sheers)

12) Clean/organize basement

13) Clean/organize my closet

14) Complete all of the unfinished renovation projects around the house, room by room

15) Donate everything I don't need

16) Spend time with family

Notice that "Relax" "Read" "Enjoy Myself" "Save Money" and "Lose 20 Pounds" is not on this list. Those are all on a list, just not this list.

Let this serve as my official declaration of my war on stuff.

It's going to be a busy summer. 

How about you? Do you have a  perpetual organizational "to do" list hanging over your head? Post a comment and share your fuss with us.