First 21 Days

I guess since its March its time to start my 21 day part of my New Year's Resolutions (see 2010 resolutions in archive). My first 21 Day program is to make a to-do list every day. "What at list?" you ask. No these aren't regular lists, these are Prioritized Daily Task Lists (I don't care for that name either, sounds complicated) as described by Hyrum W. Smith, the Franklin Planner guy. (I'm reading his book: 10 Natural Laws of Successful Time and Life Management--I love it!) So the idea is that your list reflects the things that you really value. If you value your family higher than you do projects, then your priorities on your list should be family type stuff.

So the last 2 days I've made a list and actually spent some quality time with Grant AND gotten the regular life stuff done. You know what? I feel happier than usual because I'm doing the stuff that really matters (playing with the kids) even though its really not as urgent. Makes me feel content. Plus, usually I do the easiest stuff first--send emails, make phone calls etc. just because they are the easiest thing to do but they are usually the very least important and least urgent. I'm also really quick to do things that are sitting around--cleaning the dishes, mailing that letter, putting things away, returning things to the library. These are all important things to do but when I make my list they are probably things that can wait 'til tomorrow or next week (okay maybe not the dishes) while the more urgent and more important matters are sometimes forgotten because I have no visual aids to remember them by.

Here's a sample of one of my lists (not that you care, but in case I need some refreshing in the future).

C-1 make enchiladas (freeze them)
B-4 Next weeks dinner menu
A-4 Laminate that YW poster
C-4 Work on Jordan's quilt
C-2 Read
B-3 Blog 30 minutes
C-3 Make list of women to help with Lasagna Dinner (at church)
B-1 Call Stevie (new neighbor)
B-2 Call Melissa about boys playing
A-3 Laundry
A-1 Read to Grant
A-2 Play play dough with Grant
C-6 Print stuff for meeting on Sunday
C-5 Call Jerry about table question
A-5 Store-milk, butter

The idea is to write a list in the order it comes to your mind (its easier to think that way). Assign A B or C to it according to what is most important and then what is most urgent. Then order by number. So you do all the A's then B's then C's. I always want to let Grant play as long as possible by himself so I can get stuff done but I find that if I put him first, then we're both happier and he watches less TV. Plus the laundry never gets crossed off the list until its done, folded and put in drawers. Looking at the list several times a day reminds me that I need to change it.

I heard about this program when Carl read the book 10 years ago and I tried to practice it without really understanding it. I thought it was dumb. It really is designed to make life easier and it keeps me (for two days at least) from wandering around the house trying to figure out what to do first.

birthdays

We've had a couple of birthdays recently.


Alexander the Great has turned 7. This cute little guy shows his generous side every once in a while, like last week when he paid for his older brother at the Movie Theatre and on the same day gave me 4 quarters and said, "this is for all you do for me." Pretty cute!


Alex always picks Pumpkin Pie for his birthday dessert. Since this is Alex's off year for birthdays, he and Carl went to the local Nicklecade for a few hours.

His handsome father also had a birthday--a whopping 35 years old. I had big plans for his birthday but since it was a hectic week and things weren't working out AND I knew he wouldn't be as surprised and grateful as I would like him to be, I bought him a cheesecake instead, which he ate for the next 10 days since he's the only lover of cheesecake around here.

I guess we used all the candles for Alex's birthday

Grant giving Carl his box of band aids (the ones he got in in stocking) to Carl as a gift.

Katie's gift was a page of stickers.

Not pictured, Jordan and Alex both gave partially painted pictures to Carl.

Happy Birthday EM

2007



Emily is one of the best friends I've ever had. She has remembered my birthday and probably sent me a homemade card for the last 15 years. She has gone out of her way to see me when I've been either near Seattle or visiting our hometown. She's great! One of those people that you can easily talk to even though you haven't seen them for a few years. I love that girl!

Happy Birthday Em!

Spring Decluttering

Last month I read a book called Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui. It wasn't my favorite decluttering book (which is still Lose 200 Lbs. this Weekend by the funny Don Aslett) but it WAS motivating. Just as a side note, the author of the Feng Shui book talked about clearing your colon, which was kind of surprising and funny. She was totally serious but I thought it was funny. Anyway, here are the basic questions the book suggests to ask yourself while dejunking:


1. Does it (the stuff) lift my energy when I think about it or look at it?
2. Do I absolutely love it?
3. Is it genuinely useful?

So I got rid of several things that were once useful and no longer are, including 10 year old college textbooks that I loved once but have not cracked open since I graduated from college 10 years ago. Plus I can easily find the information elsewhere when I need it. I got rid of enough books and magazines that I ended up selling a 6 foot bookshelf. YAY! I made $85 selling the bookshelf and other once useful but now dust collecting items. It feels good--real good (think Nacho Libre). I'm planning on hitting every closet and room during the month of March. Anybody with me?


I wish I had a before and after picture for you but this is my beautiful sewing room/piano studio, the area I've decluttered so far. I feel so happy every time I walk into it. Now if I can just keep it this clean.

I'm going to have to do something about that cluttery look under the table.