uncharted territory

other titles considered for this post:
if you need anything, check the office
The Office: The Point of No Return
the place that makes me cry every time I see it
company is here. quick! shut the door!
mom! I can't find my...   okay, I'll quit now ;)

where to begin. where to begin! I feel as though I've done this post before. Oh yes, I have... my office was clean in 2011 and then again 6 months later, still 2011. I'm quite convinced it hasn't been clean SINCE. don't judge.

side note: I'm reading this book currently, and I'm happy to report I'm sorta kinda almost thinking about cleaning the.entire.house. 

back to the point. my office. I dread going in there. what was supposed to be the 'organization of our home' has quickly turned into the place we put everything that doesn't have a place. in this home, that's about everything you can imagine. beads. scissors. old folders. old bills. broken anything that I thought I'd fix but never will. you name it, it's in there. the worst part about it, I have a beautiful desk that I absolutely love and never use. some would question how much I actually love it then if I don't actually use it. I know, I know. I'm working on it. okay, I'm not really working on it. I'm living and thinking about working on it.

again. back to the point. my dream office space. I'm SO indecisive. I like so many things. I guess you could say I like the vintage look. I like color. I would love to be organized. and lastly, I'd love to have.less.crap.

someday when we build, I would *love* this room in our home. absolutely the best!

Traditional Kids by Dallas Home Builders Ellen Grasso & Sons, LLC

these vintage storage thingies are unique and colorful and everything I want but have no idea how to make work :|

this seems like a no brainer for our home. I might actually need to do this in the kitchen. keep the kids busy while I'm cooking. or any time really! 

bright. clean! those chairs. sold! I currently have a desk similar to the one in this photo. you can't see it. it's buried. but I know it's there ;)

our office space has a huge closet with no doors. I think something like this would be perfect for this spot!

mostly, I want my office space to be inviting. and relaxing. and clean! that'd be really cool. we're fortunate enough to have an office space solely for that purpose. we really should be taking advantage of it. and by we, I mean me. 

someday office goodies (click on photo to take you source):

I could browse all things office supplies forever. Pens. Notebooks. Journals. Pencils. Paper clips. Neat, old chairs. Neat, new chairs. Shelving. You name it. It's my beef...as my teenagers would say ;)

for those few of you not fortunate enough to have a designated space just for working, I was informed of these really neat shared office spaces via wework! let us go to Portland. bee-E-you-tee-full!!! Sarah, we're comin for ya!

intentional

well, hello 2015! jumped right out of nowhere, didn'tcha. and now it's almost a week in and I'm still thinking about what to blog about. yes, with 8 children, we have a lot I could be blogging about. but a lot of it that I don't.

I'm rather disappointed to read my resolutions from 2014 and have the same feelings. I'm taking that as a "pull it together, Courtney!"  :|

moving right along...

my sister, Casey, has a great post on her blog currently regarding being the 8% this 2015 year. she has seriously inspired me when it comes to blogging and doing better overall. while watching the video she posted, I came to the conclusion that I need to 1) have less 'goals' and 2) have an ongoing list of these goals so I can move from one goal to the next once one is complete. SSSOOO here goes:

ONE
live intentional:
I want more than anything to be present in my daily life with the kids. More often than not I'm distracted by blogging, Instagramming, people I have no control over, situations I have no control over, why I'm not getting enough done around the house, why I'm so unorganized, why why why, why not why not why not, blah blah blahhhh... 

I'm not sure how to clear these distractions, but I'm going to give it my all. Less worrying aimlessly. Less for others, more for my family. I realize that sounds completely selfish as I also want to be able to serve and help others more because I think we're all called to help others in some way, BUT I think in order to serve others, you need to have your faith and family in check first. SO... I need to be much more intentional about all time and energy used.

TWO
read:
part 1: I ran across this Bible reading plan, printed it, and I'm diving right in. I don't like to put it out there that I'm attempting to read the Bible (again actually... only made er half way last year), but I feel as though if I don't put it out there, I'll never finish it.  so attempt two, in full swing.

part 2: "book club!" This was probably a coffee morning idea with the sisters, but we just recently picked a second book. Mallory picked and finished the first pick... first... but she's a cheater so we're not really counting it ;) 

book club: the idea is to pick a book, read it in a month, and who ever finishes first gets Starbucks or a meal out (to be determined)... on the others...  again, Mal is a cheater ;) you need to do laundry and dishes in addddddition to reading, not instead of... Meow! ;)

feel free to join along with us:
month 1) Mal's pick: Dave Ramsey's, The Total Money Makeover
month 2) Renee's pick: R.J. Palacio's, Wonder
(picking order is youngest to oldest)

This goal didn't go so well last year. I read 2 and almost a half books. :| that's progress, right? ;) I'm half way through the book club pick. I'm a slacker, but I have good intentions. I'd like to read more and nap less, because in all honesty... naps are rare for me these days because coordinating naps for the little 3 is rare :(

anddd
three
organize:
(there will probably be a million parts to this, but I'll start with only a couple... baby steps people!) :)
part 1: counters
I'm continuing with the "organize" again this year. This is usually an epic fail for me. Almost daily. In an attempt to take this baby steps at a time as well, part one of this 'journey' is going to be the counter. Decluttering. Tossing papers. Wiping it down daily. You know, all the things I should be doing daily regardless of everything else going on around here. Der.

part 2: office
My office was intended to be the organizational hub of our house/household. It most certainly is not that currently. This one is going to take some time, and I realize that. But I'd like for this to be an entire year long goal. Anything in this house that we don't know what to do with... goes in the office. I may have come to the realization that it may mean we don't necessarily neeeeeeed any of the things in that blasted office. The entirety of that office hasn't been seen in a year so why have it? I can't remember where I read it, but it really struck a chord... and it went something like this: if you lost your home tomorrow, what would you pay to replace. I came to the quick realization there isn't much I would want to replace.

so I'll end this post with this line from last years post because this sums up my 'resolutions' almost perfectly ;)

There are some things I want to continue working on, some things I want to start working on, and some things I maybe want to quit working on.

here's to a wonderful 2015!

a fresh start: 2014

a new year. a fresh start. but where to start. I was in an extremely foul mood the first few days of the new year so I haven't put much thought into new resolutions, goals, or otherwise. There are some things I want to continue working on, some things I want to start working on, and some things I maybe want to quit working on.

Continuing to work on myself is first and foremost. Typical critical self, there are endless amounts of self-ish things I'd like to concentrate on: reading, better care of myself, organization, etc, etc, etc…

One of my biggest, ongoing personal battles is forgiveness and moving on. Lots of things in life are out of my control. Lots of things in life I don't agree with. In an effort to simply let go and just focus on making myself better, the only thing I can think to do is participate in this. I'm *very* excited to do this. Ten days in and I'm creating a habit I love. I've read in numerous places that starting your day early to get a head start by reading and reflecting is the best thing ever. But I have a hard time waking way earlier than the kids. So I've been reading my daily reading before bed at night and following that up with some extra reading. The last couple years I've attempted to make the promise to myself that I would read more, and while I have done "more" reading, I wouldn't necessarily call myself someone who reads. SO this year, I'm determined. Determined I tell ya! ;) In case you're interested, I'm currently reading this book, which is now over 3 weeks overdue from the library… let my determination deflate now… BUT I'm nearing the end. I promise! ;)

Secondly, and possibly 'finally,' I want to continue to do better for our family. More quality time. Work harder at our finances (contribute more to that…somehow). Continue to simplify. Slow down. Organize more in hopes everything above will fall into place… so little time, so much to do. Yet all I want to do is simplify, slow down, and remember to appreciate everything we're blessed with every day.

so here's to an even better year than the last! wishing you all a healthy, happy new year :)

toy room simplification [aka...termination]

photo c/o pinterest (before that, couldn't find)

I struggle daily with the way my house looks. I always say it's a mess, but by no means is it dirty. Yes, the many, many phrases I read on Pinterest and previously on Facebook eased my pain a little. But this is something I struggle with d.a.i.l.y! I also feel like I come up with a new idea daily as to what can go, how I can change something, how I can make this or that room better. Mostly, it means something has to go. Last week, Dave burned a couch for me. He sure knows the way to my heart! This week, I've become ill at the sight of the toy room. Rather than clean it for about the millionth time, I'm saying good-bye. Possibly forever. My plan is to sort and clean and go through every piece of garbage whatever is in that room. Next goal after that, convince grandmas and auntieeeees the children don't need toys. EVER. AGAIN.

Now... the idea(s). The toy room is currently the only bedroom on the main level of the house. Because Peyton is growing up (I know, who woulda thought it!), I thought he'd like his room away from everyone else. This poses a couple risks: 1) His messy room upstairs will now be moved to the main floor... for all to see. 2) His tendencies to stay up past bedtime will only be intensified. 3) Removal of his thumbs because I caught him playing Xbox past midnight more than once.

Because this project is only in the beginning stages, all you get is a before photo and some of my ideas. For now. I fully intend to finish this. And by golly, this pregnant woman *will* get her way. (okay, who am I kidding... I get my way about 97% of the time... I love you Dave!) ;)

before

First, gut this room. Second, move Peyton's belongings... downsizing as we go... to this room. Third, or maybe second if I can get my dad to do a project, create new storage for a very tiny portion of toys we keep. Everything else will be donated. No worries. I'm not going to just trash everything. I'm not that mean.

I have a slight obsession with storage and organization and office products so this not-so-small project really makes me excited. Dave? Not so excited. "Whatever wife." His response to almost anything I ask his input for. He's not picky. He just wants me to be happy. Sooo... I'm doing it ;)

Here are a few ideas of small but necessary storage furniture pieces I have in mind. One of these will find a new home in the living room, and hopefully stay cleaner than the toy room ever did.

Also note, my dad is amazing with building just about anything so I'm going to sweet talk him in to making me something like one of these or a combination of all of them... somehow ;)

I may be in love with everything about this!

storagepalooza via land of nod

bulk bins via pottery barn kids

And these are a few ideas I am really liking off Pinterest:

even add a couple covers to these and they'd be just as adorable!

this within Nash's reach... love!

sorry this photo (below) got a little blurry, but now I may need to go antiquing or to an estate sale and find me some sort of vintage looking storage containers! even better, maybe I'll snoop in the shed out back and see if they're hiding some goodies on me ;)

last one!

wooden peach crates via etsy

I wrote most of this post last night. Scratch everything I said about Peyton getting his room moved... I made the executive decision in a moment of fury (I know, best time to make decisions...not): Peyton is not ready for his own room away from the rest of the bedrooms. Apparently, he has a hard time sleeping alone. So the toy room will be an empty room (empty when I clean it) for a bit until I decide if it should be a room for the homeschooling I'm not doing with Nash or just storage or a spare room. I'm still pondering this. A storage room is not ideal. I know what would happen, it would turn into another room of crap.

Excuse 'our living space.' I have absolutely no sense of interior design/decorating, and this is as far as our room has come in the almost 3 years we've lived here. I know some of you would go wild in my entire house :)

and now to begin this project!!!

(all help is welcomed) ;)

social media farewell

Social media... where to start. where to stop. I could be involved in every new, up and coming thing and probably give myself a headache. In an effort to keep things simple and less stressful and ... whatever else this could do for me, I'm letting go of one very large social media outlet. 

Now, the reasoning:   wellllll, one day (or over a couple days or weeks really) I thought...you know, this is just so dang negative all the time. and I don't know half these 'friends.' and really, I don't do anything on here but occasionally share social events and sometimes funny 'words of wisdom' and of course the liking of random baby and friend photos. But that was about the extent of my participation. I can't even remember the last time I updated one of my photo albums. I change my profile pic for special occasions. But in all honesty, this said media outlet was just consuming too much of my time for people I don't really know or need to know or care to know. Then after talking with one of my rad (and very wise) cousins and little sister, the decision was made final. 

All that being said, I guess it could be considered rude or inconsiderate for those who want to know more about us or whatever else someone could think but I'm done. So long. Good bye. Adios. Sayonara. Farewell.

Those I keep in contact with know where to find me and follow along on this not-so-well-kept blog. And then there is always Instagram. I rather enjoy that social media outlet. I think quitting one will not necessarily keep me on another more often, but give me one less app to check before I go to bed at night ;)

SOOO all that to say... Good Bye, Facebook. You've been... interesting. ;) 

If you're worried about missing me, follow along with this blog, Twitter, Instagram, AND Pinterest. Seeeee, that's wayyy more than I need to be doing daily. EEK!

belated resolutions 2012

Seems as though I'm a little ahead of my usual self in 2012. Posting my New Year's resolutions 3 days earlier than last year. Who am I? ;)

After a whole year 9 days of serious pondering, I *think* I've come up with some reasonable goals/resolutions yet again for this year. Again... I'm not sure any of these will be "accomplished," but I'm sure going to try... again.

First... I'm rereading last year's goals... this may or may not be the first time I've looked at them since actually writing them... mayyyy not...

1.  Be a better me.
This probably didn't happen...
2.  Organize and schedule. Everything.
Being honest... this has only gotten mildly better.
3.  Read.
Okay... who wrote these goals. Is this a joke? TWO books a month. I'll admit... that was a lofty goal. No books to TWO books a month. That was a joke... rewriting *that* one! BUT... just for the record, I read 5 or 6 books last year... and I say 5 or 6 because there's a certain 5 year old in this house who learned to delete notes on my phone and wiped clean all my notes. and then I cried. a lot. sore subject. ANY way... these are the books I remember/wrote down... 1) It Sucked and then I Cried by Heather Armstrong; 2) Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey (this is my next read yet again this year... determined... again); 3) Dare to Discipline by Dr. James Dobson; 4) Population: 485 - Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time by Michael Perry; and 5) I can't remember...
4.  Exercise.
Well... this didn't happen. I lost almost 40 lbs in the last year. Okay, okay... that may not count since it was all baby weight but come on! I tried. Fine... I didn't try. I nursed. Cheater. Yes, I know! :) We're done nursing. and this is reallllllly hard on me. I'll not go there. *sigh* anywayyyyy, I can't promise exercise will be on 2012 goals/resolutions list.

MOVING ON....

As with everything I want to do, I have tons and TONS of ideas running through my head. So many things I want to do. So many things I feel I need to do. What gets done is usually only what I like to do. I think that in and of itself should be a goal. Do things that not only need to get done, but that I do not want to do. If I did that and only that, my frig would be clean. Nevermind. I take that back. Here are my REAL goals/resolutions for 2012 ;)

side note... while listening to podcast Episode 11 - Decision Making, I learned a few things about setting goals... definitely worth a listen when you have an extra 46 minutes but in short, goals need to be 1) specific, 2) measurable, 3) yours, 4) have a time limit, and 5) in writing.

* learn to use my camera
* organize my home and life MORE
* read daily
* be more involved in the kids' school(s), church, and community
* stop picking, cussing, and yelling

I'm not going into tooooo much detail on all of these because I have to sit down and set some "measurements" and be more specific regarding each of them.

OH... the best one of all, forgot...

* learn football

completely inspired necessary while in this house. and something Dave is *really* going to appreciate. who doesn't want to talk football with their wife!?! yeah... I laughed here too... ha!

All in all, I'm feeling very motivated. Casey, we may no longer be friends. Watchyermouth! ;)  At the moment, my house is clean, laundry is waiting to be folded, supper is on the counter waiting to be prepared, Nash is hopefully somewhere in clean/dry BIG BOY UNDERWEAR, Drew is sleeping in her crib... peacefully... and I'm going to think of something else to get ahead on... this may all sound too good to be true, indeed... keeping my fingers crossed and praying 2012 is more productive than 2011 :)

whoa, lazy

Okay, okay... this time I have no excuse. It's been...oops, 10 days. I honestly cannot claim that we're crazy busy here. Somehow, it's December. Somehow, my baby is *gulp* walking. Somehow, my morning routine before starting work at noon has excluded computer time for the past couple weeks. Somehowwww... okay, that's all I got. So... my house is being kept clean. Something may be changing around here and I think I like it. It may have a little bit to do with this nice notepad my cousin made for me... it's so pertee...

I have been pretty regular with my Twitter and Instagram. Pat on the back.

Hmm... what else... I'm rather bummed that we don't have our Christmas tree up yet. There are absolutely NO decorations in this house and that, folks, is a tragedy. And I'll add holiday decorations to the "to do" list for tomorrow morning. Yay!

Oooh, oooh... I know. The last 2 weeks my sister, Megan, has been coming over so Dave and I can clean the house. Not daily cleaning stuff, but REAL nitty gritty cleaning. She's all... what exactly are you going to be doing!? And I'm all... you shut you're mouth when you're talking to me... kidding Pigg! We have a habit of being dirty piggs around here so we wanted one night a week to be about deep cleaning something. anythingggg! I shouldn't say dirty because we're not "dirty"... we just have a home that is lived in ;) very lived in... We've been here a year and there are still things in boxes and piles of things we don't quite know what to do with... so last week Dave cleaned the garage to fit the suburban and I cleaned the dresser in our bedroom. Now, I know what you're thinking. That's it! Well... you didn't see that garage or dresser. Ridiculous! Below are some before/after shots of our bedroom dresser. Embarrassing how this junk collects!

(photos taken with my phone so not as good quality wise)

before

dusting is overrated ;)

after



Moving on to this week. This week we worked together, completed only one "project," but I'm SO happy we chose this room next. My office...

These are all photos from after but trust me... this is a HUGE improvement. There were papers on top of everything, 2 boxes where that orange chair is sitting, and the closet... oh the closet... now you can actually walk IN to the office. The kids have been playing on the floor in here. It's a Christmas miracle ;) We'll see how long we can keep it this way.

Thanks for being patient with the blog as of late. I promise to be more interesting... or maybe not... free entertainment at the very least :)

revamped play room

Below is only one shot of the play/toy room before I went a little crazy and told the kids they were now considered children from 1920 and were only playing with wooden blocks and Matchbox cars... if they were lucky! This makes my stomach a queasy... be warned.

And then 3 days later when I finally got to finishing, this was the end product... donated an entire box and some bigger toys, junked a very full LARGE plastic bag, and swept up a rabbit.

...and here's where I got carried away with my new lightscoop and Drew was just tooooo adorable!

must have polka dots

Another addition I've been meaning to make to this blog was the before and after photos of the old new house. I've "featured" before/after photos of the toy room previously but honestly completely forgot to move on to the rest of the house... mainly because there are still things in boxes and some of the rooms don't feel completely done to me, but... terrible, I know... and I hate it! So... here it is, the cleanest room in the house... but maybe not on this day :)

before

after

This is Tayt and Nash's room. While neither of those children were sleeping in this room 6 months ago when we moved in, they are both sleeping in there now. Every other day. Sometimes. I tease! Almost every night they sleep in there ;)

Of note, we are still in the process of thinking about curtains for all rooms.

productive 2+ hours... so there!

Okay... since some of you doubt my cleaning and organizing capabilities, I'm adding this as further proof that I did get something done the other night while cleaning my office ... besides all the Internet blog browsing and shopping... so there!  na na na na boo boo!

before

Okay, so the floor isn't clean yet... shut it! ;) concentrate on the counterrrrrr...and also take notice that my wonderful husband put up my cork board for me. He loves me! (even after I made him move it half an inch to the left... I tease! I made sure to draw lines EXACTLY where I wanted it before he started. You know... just in case he was confused on how I wanted it CENTERED!) ;)

after

like a new woman!

Let this be a warning to all you readers... all 4 or sometimes 5 of you... my 2011 resolution to be more organized may be failing miserably before I've even begun... ugh! The following is only a representation of ONE day when I was SO tired of my beautiful desk that I actually did something about it... many other days these sorts of things do not happen...

before

A few of you may feel for me here, but there are not nearly enough Post It notes on that desk. *sigh*

after

And oddly... after the cleaning, I felt like I could have conquered the world!   ;)