organizational efforts…a made bed

Yesterday, on my thankfulness post, I had two books that I just bought. Organized Simplicity, is one of them that sounded so perfect when I saw it for the first time. It sounded like what I am not. See, I’ve never been organized, to say the least. I’ve had habits and little systems here and there to help me get through, and with age I think comes a little organization, but I don’t have that natural organized personality. As Cami and Noah are growing and as we’ve moved and now we are about to have a third child, by default life is more complicated, simplicity doesn’t come as easy and yet I see the need for it. About the beginning of October I determined to make a change in our home. With two little ones and a disorganized mama, we had yet to find our rhythm after being here for four months. I made the first “little” big decision. Making beds. Probably something that everyone else does, but I had let it slide. We have a small group of friends here every Wednesday night that I cook and clean for. I realized, I don’t want to have to clean all day to get ready for these people, I just want it to be already complete (for the most part).
 My goal: WARMTH. I want our house to be always *presentable* for anybody to drop by and I won’t be embarrassed and they will want to stay for hours. (ie. clean hand towels in a clean bathroom, a clean kitchen & a couch without laundry on it)
I’m pleased to say, its been a month and we all make our beds everyday. Cami often does it without even needing reminding. We are starting with the small steps and building habits.
I’m reading Organized Simplicity, and finding it really helpful. We have started to purge the unnecessary.
Two other sites that I find helpful in the organizational and simplicity planning area are: The Frugal Girl and The Fly Lady.  I’ve linked to their getting started pages, which I find very helpful.
Also, for that warmth and rhythm with the kids, I love Nicole’s weekly Rhythm in Our Home posts.
 Anyways, I’ll be writing more about how I’m growing in this area I’m not so good at. Its stretching, but in a really exciting way. I feel encouraged when I’m able to purge a stack of papers that has been moving with us for 3 years, or actually put the laundry away instead of letting it pile on the couch with six other loads, or polish the oven and dishwasher to give the kitchen an extra clean look.
 So we are organizing, but still soaking in our days little bits at a time. Today, Noah and I jumped on the trampoline and played with water balloons (since it was 70 here the middle of November!) and  I also got to hang out with my little sister while she taught me the basics of knitting. Happy Autumn Days.
 In keeping with my thankfulness posts this month I want to say how much I appreciate having my guy who is super organized and understanding! He’s definitely the one that has helped me when I need that extra insight on how to order something, when to say no and can clean the house in about half the time I can. I just love his completely opposite from me personality! I also love that he gets my completely opposite from him personality (for the most part;)).