2.02.2015

February 12x30 Challenge: Get Organized


This month the 12×30 Challenge is all about organization. This could mean organizing your closet, your computer documents, your entire house, your priorities, or all of the above! Of course it is completely up to you how much or how little you would like to organize. Being organized has a plethora of benefits such as saving you time when you need to locate something, it helps you stay on top of bills, and it helps cut the clutter.

I'm a very cluttered individual-yet I'm OBSESSED with things that make organization possible.  Totes, labels, shelves, you name it.  I think it's because deep down I want to be organized-even though (or especially because of) I'm not an organized individual.  One day I will get this stuff figured out. ONE DAY.

Here are some ways to work on your organization this month:
  • Quit procrastinating.  I swear I'm the worlds biggest procrastinator-but I'm going to work on fighting back each time I get that urge to put something off.  Get stuff done first = stress-free relaxation instead of anxiety-laced laziness.
  • Create a life notebook that holds all of your important papers. Things like yearly to do lists, emergency contact information, insurance documents, gift idea list, important birthdays and anniversaries, website log ins and passwords, employment history, vehicle information, school records, veterinary documents, contracts, mortgage documents, etc.
  • Dejunk your closets.  Go through your closets and pick out what you no longer wear or use anymore and put it in a donation bag/pile.  Take that bag immediately to a donation center (Goodwill, Boys & Girls Club, etc.) so you're not tempted to take things back out of it. Let it help someone less fortunate than you instead of just laying around not being used.
  • Keep your junk drawers in order with with bins for specific types of items. Bins for things like pens, random nuts and bolts, batteries, papers, etc. Minimizing the size of your junk drawer also helps keep the clutter to a minimum.
  • Create a recipe and meal-planning binder.
  • Schedule your cleaning/organizing. Spending a little time each day on something is less stressful than trying to clean everything in one day.  Make yourself a grown-up chore chart!
  • Make daily to-do lists.  Just make sure you don't overwhelm yourself-be realistic.
  • Store sheet sets in their corresponding pillow cases. This keeps everything together and in one place.
  • Take advantage of vertical space.  Add vertical shelving to walls to hold decor, books, etc.
  • Keep items such as nail polishes, spices, medicines, etc. on a lazy Susan.
  • Hang kitchen utensils such as measuring cups or spoons on the inside of a kitchen cabinet door. You can even add a measurement converter above or below the utensils!
  • Don’t set your mail down. Sort through it as soon as you bring it into the house and recycle what you do not need.
  • Use velcro, tape, or zip ties to keep wires together.
  • Sort the blogs you follow on Bloglovin’ or your RSS reader. Sort them into categories such as: fashion, beauty, do-it-yourself, etc.  I even have categories like A, B, C, etc. for which blogs I want to read most and which ones I get to when I can.  Also, it's OK to unfollow the ones you don't read-it'll make your life easier! 
Blogging Prompts:
  • Before and After-show us how you've organized your life this month and how you did it.
  • Post an Organizational DIY Project.
  • Share your favorite Organizational/Cleaning pins and posts.
  • Share your favorite organizational apps/tips, etc.
How to participate:
  1. Link up your organizational posts and progress throughout the month.
  2. Include the button (code above) so others can join along.
  3. Visit others in the linky and show some love!
Link it Up:
As with last month (which I still need to do and I promise I will) Kenzie and I will both be showcasing our favorite post that was linked up during the month.  So you'll get some extra attention! I'm also going to offer a free ad space to whoever's post I choose-so make your posts good quality so your blog/shop gets more attention.


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Musical Mondays: I Wanna Get Better


When it comes to making changes, sometimes, you can really only make lasting ones if you actually want it.  I mean really want it.  You have to want it with every fiber of your being-and that want has to drive you.  That want has to push you harder than you've ever allowed yourself to be pushed, and it has to keep pushing you even when you get discouraged or start to lose faith.

Sometimes it's hard though.  What you want can seriously clash with what you're willing to do, and you really have to evaluate and weigh out whether you're willing to do the things you don't want to in order to get the things you want most.  That's hard.  Sometimes, it's even harder when you're battling inner demons... The voices in your head.  Those things hold you back and sometimes convince you that what you want isn't worth it.

There are things I think I want more than anything.  Things like a relationship with a nice guy or to finally lose all this weight and get healthy.  I know what I have to do for both, but year in and year out I somehow find myself in the same place battling those same demons.  Have I lost the weight?  No.  Have I found a lasting relationship?  No.  Have I put in the work?  For a little while, then I get discouraged and lose the battle.  So, no.  

Let's break it down, shall we?  If I want a relationship I have to put myself out there. I have to actively date, meet new people, and give them a chance further than the first date before giving up on them or on myself.  I can't hide from it.  I can't chicken out.  I just need to bury the fear that I'm not good enough, or my fear of losing my independence, or my fear of getting my heart broken and TRY.

If I want to lose the weight I need to eat right and work out.  I need to continue to do this even when I get discouraged because I've gained or not lost as much as I wanted, and I need to continue to do it even after I'm feeling better and have lost the first 20lbs.  For some reason I always give up at that point-I'm feeling great, it's working, and then poof-I quit.  Why?  I'm not sure.  Maybe it's the unknown... Having self-identified as the funny fat girl my entire life, I'm not sure of who I'll be when I'm no longer what I identify as, and that is scary as hell.  It's a stupid fear, but there none-the-less.

I want to get better.  I want to be better.  I want to stop getting discouraged and push myself in spite of the fear and the doubt.  This year everything changes.  No more giving up on myself.  So this is me-"standing on the overpass screaming at myself hey-I WANNA GET BETTER!"

This week's song:
I Wanna Get Better
by Bleachers

2.01.2015

The Weekly Round-Up

♥ Kimi Who shared her Stumbleupon knowledge with us.  This is a great post sharing the do's and do not's of rising it to help improve the way your blog interacts with Stumbleupon.  It's great information!

♥ Luchessa over at Beauty Expression by Luchessa wrote a great post about the things she's changing about her body. But it's not just that-it's also practical ways she can follow through on those changes-I like that look at it!

♥ Sarah at Oh So Kawaii went to a party-can you guess the theme?  Internet memes!  Isn't that funny? Head on over to look at more of the costumes-there are some really clever ones.

♥ Can you believe that Ashley and I recently picked up the exact same rugs?  Look at this pretty, then go see the rest of her favorites.

♥ Kerry from For My Love of Style shared what's in her makeup bag and why.  It's great for everyday makeup!

♥ Llinos at The Lilac Linnet shared a great post about what feminism means to her-and it was really useful!

The Weekly Round-Up

How this works:
  1. Follow your hosts Miss Angie at My So-Called Chaos and Aubrey at High-Heeled Love.
  2. Write up a blog post sharing some of your favorite posts this week from other bloggers.
  3. Add the Weekly Round-Up Button (code above) and/or a link back to your blog post.
  4. Link-up with our weekly linky party on Sundays.
  5. Visit other party-people to see what posts they liked this week!
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