I have always been a very organized person – maybe even a bit compulsive. I really thought everyone was like that. But, then I realized I’m a little more organized than others and it isn't exactly normal.

The light bulb clicked when I was tucking my son into bed and without criticism I inquired how could he find anything in here? (because it’s such an utter dump – THAT I didn’t say). He was completely dumbfounded. I explained to him that when I was a child I would organize and then reorganize my room. I could be in there for hours. Once I even switched bedrooms with our guest bedroom when my parents were’t home (yes, I moved all the bulky furniture by myself). Oh, and I did not tell him this either.

chest of drawers by droog studio

Can you imagine the look on their faces? While I wouldn’t advocate my ten year old attempting the same, I would not be upset if he could at least get the books 
in near his bookcase. After tucking him in that night, I brainstormed how in the world I could motivate him to just be a smidge more organized. I have tried organizing the kids’ rooms myself, pleading, bribing, helping… all with no success. So I began to look for organization tips on Pinterest. OK, so I was really just killing time (shhhh... don't tell anyone) and stumbled upon this...

Kapow! Hit me with an iron pan. Don’t just organize the stuff – reduce the stuff. I did a ginormous purge of our house when we moved, but it was time to do a even bigger than ginormous purge. With pen and paper in hand, I compiled a list of questions to use as a purging guideline (did I mention I also love lists?)

• Do we even use it?
• Do we love it?
• Can it be easily replaced?
• Would it really be missed if it was gone?

I started in the kitchen, where there aren’t a lot of emotional ties – usually. I halved the amount of potholders I had. Threw away the fast food straws we (the kids) had been saving. Removed all my place mats (I’m not really a place mat person anyhow– always reminding myself to use them). Once I was done, I felt oddly… relieved. Like I had let go of something I had been dragging. I have since moved onto my children’s clothes, coat closet, my clothes, & my makeup. Mornings are now so much less stressful. Getting everyone up and out the door is easier.

Then yesterday I decided to finally spend one of my Christmas gift cards. And there were lots of bargains to be had and I wasn’t even paying. But I stopped dead in my tracks…. Whoa… These were great shirts at great prices but…what would this go with in my closet? Would I wear it a lot? Do I love it? Would putting any of these shirts on make me smile in the morning? The answer was no to many of the items. I left that store with a lot less than I originally would have. I realized right then that saying that goes…

don’t let your stuff own you,

you own your stuff..

Read it again.

And again…

Now let it fester for another minute (or two)…. I mean how many hours do we do laundry, wash dishes, put away toys?

If you had less clothes, dishes, toys, etc., there’d be less stuff controlling your time.

Once I reduce my “stuff” controlling me I’m going to read this on this.

brush with celebrity...

see that silhouette above there? that's me. well, that's me as a toddler. wasn't I just the cutest thing ever?
my parents used to have this framed on their dresser when I was young. not sure when they took it off the dresser. maybe when we moved? or they got divorced? anyhow, my mom gave it to me several years back and it resurfaced when we were purging our house getting ready to move. I fell in love with it. (insert narcissistic jokes here) I mean, I just loved the artistry of it. so it went back in a box to Virginia.

once in Virginia I scanned it and started using it as my twitter picture and now on my blog.
one day I was wondering... well, it is signed I wonder if it's ok to be using someone else's work? although, I'm in no way claiming I did it. so I googled "Wallie Spatz" and I found this article by Don Moore.

Wallie grew up in Iowa and discovered her silhouette talent as a teenager after watching it done in a movie. during World War II her family moved to Los Angeles. one day she received a call from the Hollywood canteen requesting she volunteer to cut out silhouettes of the servicemen. this job blossomed into others at the Los Angeles USO, camp parties, hospital wards and Hollywood parties. She meet lots of stars and her husband, Hugo Spatz, in Hollywood. After his Army service, they were married and moved to Cleveland. Hugo was not thrilled to have a "working" wife. so,Wallie would ask his permission  to do the silhouettes in front of customers in their optical shop. Eventually, her silhouettes became more than just pocket change and she had a booking agent. In the sixties she was requested by President Johnson to a political fundraiser where she made silhouettes of the president, first lady, senators and congressmen. Wallie has also done silhouettes of Bette Davis, Sammy Davis Jr, Pope John Paul II, and me...

how cool is that?

i dream of india....

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the hubs being there on a business trip.

to deepen my green hue of jealousy

 he requested ideas of what to bring home? 

I wanted to ask for these, but can't imagine running through safeway in them..

 so after sending the kiddies off to dream I began to surf.

 I googled traditional girl's clothing first. 

even though my daughter stated there was no way she was wearing that. 

well, yeah, probably not they are beautiful, but she wouldn't be able to control all the wrappings while chasing her brother at top speed. 

but she did request this.

and I would gladly take this red arm candy below.

but we really wish he have a good time and hurry home.

mama bear vs mean people...

i am normally a very reasonable person buttttt.... 

mess with my kids & all bets are off.

yesterday, was like most normal days except for the fact i had to take my son to the dentist for a sealant procedure. he was remarkably calm about the procedure until i informed him that he may have to have soft foods at lunch. he went nuts. started telling me he'd get in trouble if he didn't eat his whole school lunch. i told him no way would any reasonable adult be upset that he not eat his whole lunch if he had just come from the dentist. adults would understand i told him. still ten year old panic ensuing...

and then it hit me why is my kid NOT upset regrading the dentist, but the cafeteria lady has sent him into a fit of anxiety? he has told me before that this lady is not very nice and yells alot. and one day when my daughter and i joined him for lunch at school she honestly wasn't very nice to us either. we have tried to tell him you know some people are just never happy and they aren't ever going to be happy either.

but really... it's not ok. 

so i did what i punish my children for at home..

i tattled

now i suspect that my tattling will not miraculously make that cafeteria lady change her behavior...

but i feel so much better. well, ok i would have felt much better if i coulda walked right up to that lady and really gave her a piece of my mind, but that'll do for now. 

and i'm pretty sure i'm probably not the only only tattling on this lady... 

so tell me how do the rest of you handle mean people messing with your kids?