The PROCESS

Why am I showing you my cluttered counter?



Just keeping it real, people.

I hate clutter. But I have it. The mail area in our kitchen is the worst for clutter. THE.WORST. Many times I've cleaned it but never really found what the problem was to begin with. So, I decided to use the PROCESS to deal with this area once and for all.

My Plan: Ask myself, "What do I want this area to be?" I found coupons (expired!), bills, tax forms, instructions to various things, vitamins, magazines, and a sudoku cube. None of these things belonged here! I wanted this area to be the bill paying area and that was all. Not a drop place for random coupons, mail, toys, etc. The plan also meant that I just didn't move things to a new location. They had to have a home. Old bills down to the shredder or filing cabinet, games to the game closet, vitamins with all the other meds, etc.

I Removed everything from the space including cleaning out the container and put like with like.

I Organized into piles. The garbage and recycling bin were close by so whatever I didn't have a home for were tossed/recycled. I was ruthless with the purging too. While I might like to have used a coupon, the reality of it was I probably wouldn't, so I tossed it. Once the space was cleaned and piles were made, I found homes for everything that wasn't tossed/recycled.

My Container works when it's just bills. Anything else and it's just a mess. I keep pens (that work), a notepad, checkbook, calculator, checks that need to be deposited, stamps and anything else that relates to bills and bill paying. My container also has a small section that's perfect for gift cards. I like to keep all gift cards in one area and this makes sense for us.

After a week of this new organized system, I've Evaluated to see if 1) the area was still organized and 2) being used as its real intention. It was a relief knowing that it was still organized and nothing else was being thrown in there that isn't a bill, check or gift card. It works for me!

Right now, I don't need to Solve or simplify anything that I see.

Wanna see what it looks like now?

Come back tonight and I'll show you!

Update! Shazaam! Here's the finished space! Now, I can Sit back and enjoy the clean, organized space.



ETA...again: I'm entering this in the 28-day Organizing Challenge. Here are my 5 answers:

1. What was the hardest part of the challenge for you and were you able to overcome it? Seriously, just doing it. I would look at that pile after the rest of my kitchen was clean and just feel defeated. Turn off the lights, walk out of the room.

Sorting and purging, that's the easy part! Also, who wants to give up a snuggle moment with their little one to do something like this? So, I did it when he went to bed and I didn't have anything on tap for the night. Starting was the hardest part.

2. Tell us what kind of changes/habits you have put into place in order for your area/room to maintain its new order? The rule is deal with the mail as it comes into the house, not weeks (and piles) later. So simple, but it's working.

3. What did you do with the “stuff” you were able to purge out of your newly organized space? If it was a paid bill, I took it to the office to either shred it or file it. Games went to the game closet, etc. I didn't just move it to another space. That was the rule I made with myself. Everything had a home and needed to be there, not moved to another pile.

4. What creative storage solutions were you able to introduce in order to create additional space as well as establish some limits and boundaries? I already had the little storage container (yes, from Ikea Tony!) and it really is perfect for the mail role. And I thought if I put a cute photo of my little one and my pup, I'd be more inclined to keep it organized.

5. Why do you think you should win this challenge? Oh boy, doesn't everyone have this problem with the mail? While this was a small area, I could definitely use help with bigger areas, including simple organizational tools for my life. I want to be that organized spouse/mom/employee!

Dull Jules

All shopping at Menards and no play, makes Jules a dull boy.



(crappy quality courtesy of my camera phone. You're welcome.)

8 Months

This is babyhood as people know it.

At eight months, Jules rolls to get places, but also stretches super hard to reach something. He's doing the rocking thing but doesn't get up on all fours yet. He sits very, very well and has gone from sitting to tummy trying to reach something. It looks deliberate so he must really want the toy.

Not only do we think he's the cutest, but he's hilarious too! If his shade is down and we're changing him, he'll reach for it to see outside. He smiles and laughs at the light that comes in. Or maybe he's just laughing because I'm telling him "no". He's already ripped off the "warning" label. Speaking of labels, he loves tags on toys. He studies them and shoves them in his mouth. He gets all screamy when I come home from work, we show him a favorite toy, or when he just gets excited - which seems to be all the time!



He's between sizes right now. But really, some of his clothes are 3-6 month and they still fit, so who knows. It seems like every 2 weeks I have to pack up more of his clothes. So I've just kept the storage bucket in his room since I have to fill it all the time.

He's eating more and more, but still likes to nurse. He eats sweet potatoes, cereal, peas, carrots, bananas, and we just started prunes. We also started giving him a sippy cup for him to hold. Hes interested in it, but not enough yet. He's been so spoiled with bottles during the day so I might be a hard transition. We'll keep working on it.

He's got a little nubbin of a tooth coming in. It seems to be taking its time. But Jules doesn't seem too phased by it.

We're also teaching him to clap and wave and we'll start a few baby signs soon.

He reaches for people when he wants to be held. And his stranger anxiety (the little bit that was there) is almost gone.



There have been some major changes with sleep. Last month, not sure if it was because I was home for two weeks, growth spurt or what, but his sleep habits were crappy. He's gotten back on track but now sleeps a bit more. He's put in bed around 7pm, he talks for about 20 minutes and then falls asleep. Wakes up between 5:30 and 6:30 then will either doze for another hour or will be up for about 2 hours. Then Justin takes over. He takes about two 1 1/2 naps then a quick one late in the day. Which can make or break bedtime. So we drop it sometimes which helps his naps and sleep at night.

I know people stop swaddling their little ones around 4 or 5 months, but we were still swaddling him until about a week ago. While it did seem pointless every time we did it (he would bust out the second we walked away), he somehow knew that being swaddled meant it was time to go to sleep. The times we didn't swaddle him, he'd talk and play in bed for over an hour, but the second we'd swaddle him, he'd be out.

So now he's in a sleep sac. He's used it before but now we're trying to use it all the time. And he's cut down on the length of time he talks before falling asleep. It's usually about 20 minutes now.



When I get home from work, he wants me to hold him until he goes to bed. While I would love to do this, I do have a few things that I need to get done. So I decided he's big enough to carry on my back leaving me with my hands free. And he loves this!



We're still using cloth diapers. No rashes, no blow-outs, no leaks (unless he's left in it too long). It was a great investment. But now we've got the stinkies! It happens. And really, the only way I can get rid of them is to line dry. Ha! Can't do that until about April, maybe May. So until then, I have to just keep cleaning them in small amounts, altering the water hardness with the softener, try different detergents - basically a science experiment. But I still highly recommend cloth diapers!



Happy 8 month birthday baby Jules!

Passive Aggressive

After Jules was born, I decided to drive to work. Taking the bus would be about an hour commute and driving was about 15-20 minutes less. I want all the time I can get with him, so I drive now. And since I was giving up my super cheap bus pass for a parking pass, I wanted to park in my building. Which happens to be the most expensive in downtown St. Paul (lame, Lowertown!) In my mind, this situation is temporary and I'll start taking the bus again - so I could splurge on the parking fee.

The garage is nice with lots of spaces if you get here early enough. Lately, I haven't and I just go straight for the lower levels where there is always plenty of spots.

One day, I got to work late and had to park on the bottom level. While waiting for the one working elevator (the other was out), the number of people waiting grew - this never happens, the elevators are FAST. Just when we all started to look at each other, it arrived. Phew! I didn't want to walk up SIX flights of stairs!

We filed in and hit Skyway (P7) and away we went. P1 lit up, P2 lit up, P...and the one working elevator stopped. STOPPED between floors! Someone hit the closest floor to get it going and it went up, then dropped some and got stuck again. Another person pushed all the buttons - like that was gonna help - while on the other side of the elevator, a woman used the "call help" phone (or really, the "get me the HELL outta here" phone). She started talking to the operator and the elevator dropped again and the doors opened at P2. Everyone fled and started walking towards the stairs.

Crap. 6 flights of stairs at 8am. Too early. For reals. I'm so outta shape. I'm carrying 2 bags because that's what people who work in either downtown St. Paul or Minneapolis carry. Heavy winter coat. This sucks!

I made it. Barely. (This coming from a former casual runner. Yes, I know, I suck.)

I had hopped that was just a fluke and I wouldn't have to do it again. But I was also glad to know where the stairs were just in case.

Good thing I now know where the stairs are because later that day, an email went out to all employees. "Elevators are out for undetermined amount of time."

Nothing to do now but use the stairs. And you know what? When I get here early, I still park at P1 and walk up the six flights of stairs. I like a challenge. Apparently, others do not.

Minnesotans are notoriously passive aggressive. My husband said he learned from the best, his mother. (btw, I think he enjoys this trait especially now that he's amongst his own people.)

And since the elevators have been out for about three weeks now, people aren't happy anymore and it's showing:



Maybe they have to order a part? Maybe it's being shipped and nothing can be done until it gets here? Maybe they need to replace something and only one person in town can do it and he's on vacation? I'm not passive aggressive; I look for other explanations or assume something.

So I'm assuming this person only has to walk up three levels. What a bitch.

You Are NOT Entertaining!

While I tend to get the daily news in "scouring the web" format, last night I watched the local news, that led directly into Entertainment Tonight. Not news at all. But here's what I saw and now, want to know why it's even a story.

Sarah Palin's grandson spends the day with his dad.

Only ET has the first video of new father Levi Johnston at home in Alaska with Sarah Palin's grandson, baby Tripp, doing everything from changing his clothes and playing to diaper duty!

Did anyone else see this? The crew followed Levi from picking up the baby (but no footage of baby mama), driving him home, changing a diaper, playing with the sound guy's boom, and I gave up and walked out by then. (I was waiting to hear how fat Kirstie Alley is.)

Ok, lets break this down. A Governor who quits (btw, the people of Alaska should be PISSED that she quit. They voted her in and she turns around and say's "see ya" - she knows she's got leverage after the failed Vice Presidential run to make money selling her image, and being Governor of Alaska isn't glamorous. But look!

(photo courtesy Awkward Family Photos)

How can she not get anymore glamorous than this?!

Ok, back to breaking it down. Governor, Alaska, quit. Ok, who's daughter has a baby at the tender age of whatever.WAY.too.young.and.not.married (possibly ruining super conservative Governor's image), and now the baby and baby daddy are in the spotlight wasting their one and only day away during the week to host Entertainment Tonight. Yes, it's sad that they both only get one day a week to spend with each other, but why is this the "entertainment" part of Entertainment Tonight?

This isn't the pairs first visit. This happens every Saturday. Just a dad spending time with his kid. What I want to see is (if I HAVE to see something regarding this ridiculous family) Levi, Baby Mama and Sarah on Maury. Levi, if you're gonna exploit yourself and, sadly, your son, do it where the rest of America does it.



Now that's entertainment!

(disclaimer: Stuff like this happens all the time. And I do find Maury entertaining, but honestly, I'm sad for the little ones who are caught in the middle of custody battles, being exploited on t.v., not knowing who their dads are, moms that sleep around. It's really, REALLY sad. And for that, I wouldn't wish on any kid and I can only hope they are loved and feel loved no matter what.)

Well, That Was January

January, you came and went, and for most people, it sucked. Why is that? You shouldn't be any different than any other month, right? (Ok, I give you weather. Weather in the frozen tundra pretty much sucks this time of year. Meh, I'm over it.)

- The holiday's are over and there isn't anything to celebrate - except birthdays!
- My niece turned 1(!) (who's parents requested no gifts, not sure why, but I think it's because she just received a pile of toys and clothes for Christmas, but still! BIRTH DAY, Hello!)
- I turned 32 on a Monday (which blows because I got crap sleep the night before. I forgot my pump so I ended up going home early anyway to work. And I had to hide from a baby who wanted me to hold him, but NOOOO, I had to work.). Surprisingly it's a good age, but for some reason, I never really remembered I was 31 to begin with so I feel like I lost a year.
- Jules helped me celebrate my birthday with a quick trip to Cheesecake Factory where he immediately started screaming. We ate half our meals and got cheesecake to go. It's the new norm now.
- But natural disasters like crappy snow storms and an earthquake that has killed hundreds of THOUSANDS of people is a big downer, January
- Apparently, January 24th is the most depressing day of the year. Another downer.
- The Vikings lost. Poor Justin.

Ok, so, ya. I guess you did suck again this year. Oh January, I've long given up on you. My birthday month has never been anything special. But don't you think the birth of someone is something to celebrate, no matter what time of year or what age? Why is a birthday in January any less important than a birthday in July, August or September? Holiday's are just holiday's. But birthdays... I get it now. I gave someone a birthday and it should be celebrated! Every year! So while I've given up on my own birthday, I've got someone else to focus on. In June - a sweet little boy who made me a mom (and basically a new person) so I'm moving my "mom" birthday to June! Suck on that January!