I might have some "after" pictures of the bookshelf and piano soon...

I worked on one shelf of the bookshelf and the piano today.  I guess I did enough to be noticed!  My husband came home for lunch and said, "WOW! Look at this room!" and then told my 5 year old that he needed to make sure to keep his stuff put away nice and neat.  That was so nice of him.  I appreciated him noticing.  There's still LOTS of piles but it's better.  You can actually SEE the dust that was under all the papers on the piano. Now I need to dust!  Ha ha!  I'll keep plugging away!  :)  I need to find some creative ways to store my junk.  I know some ways but it requires making them and that's where the problem comes in.  Then I make more messes to clean up.  But its all for a good cause...GETTING EVERYTHING PUT IN IT'S PLACE right?  :)

Now that I'm over my emotional stuff (for the moment)...

I HAVE TO SAY THIS FIRST:  I do CLEAN my house of germs!  I hate germs and icky stuff.  It freaks me out.  This is about disorganization and piles, not disgusting filth.  Here's a peak into a few areas of my house...and yes I did "clean" a few areas before I had taken these.  But I didn't do much other than the dishes.  I'm seriously ready to just rent a dumpster and trash it all and start over!  It would be so much easier!  But I can't so I'm going to get through my trial of learning how to organize.  I want this to hold me accountable.  I HOPE I have some "after" pictures to show one day (soon)...

My messy book shelf with one shelf missing in my front room (office?)

This is my "office"

Part of my family room on a VERY GOOD DAY!

My kitchen on a VERY GOOD DAY!  And yes...THIS IS ALL OF MY KITCHEN!  No more to be seen.  It is SMALL!  I live in a house with a condo sized kitchen.  Believe me...I'm ready to pull my hair out with it.  It's extremely dysfunctional.  :(

My bedroom...I actually pulled the sheets and blanket up today

From my bed looking toward my bathroom...yep that's my bedspread folded up hanging over that pile of laundry!  I really don't love it so it doesn't go on my bed much.  Do you like my 1985 TV?  It barely works but it works!

The other side of the T.V. and dresser.  It's where I hide my sewing machine and projects to get done, plus the "decorative" pillows that are supposed to go on top of the bedspread that I rarely put on my bed.

My nice master closet

Next pictures to adorn the site are my basement...it's unfinished which is part of the problem that we hope to start finishing this next year.  Every time we think we can start another medical disaster pops up.  But I count my blessings that all the medical disasters have turned out OK and I have my entire family with me.  Phew!  Long post...sorry!

Today is my first day admitting...

I knew this day was coming.  I've decided that my life of chaos has to BEGIN to END!  I cannot change it completely overnight and it probably will be a life-long process but I have to start somewhere.  So here is my admitting part:

I am disorganized and looking at my piles gives me anxiety and I am overwhelmed.

I have a couple of friends who know how to organize and their homes (even with young children at home) are immaculate whenever you come to call.  Even when their kids toys are spread over the entire room their homes are still organized.  Part of that is because they have nicer furniture and so their messes don't "look so bad".  I'm working on the furniture part but when money is tight and the medical bills pile up along with car repairs, house repairs, school stuff...you know what I mean...furniture is the LAST thing I'm going to spend money on.  I will make my hand-me-downs with splits and rips last a little while longer and I'll make my carpet and torn linoleum last another few months (or years).

But there MUST be something I can do to make my home better right?  I've always said I would go back to school to get a Master's in SOMETHING one day.  So I've decided to go to "organizational" school.  It is going to be self-taught because I can't afford to pay anyone to teach me.  I am determined to learn to organize the paper, laundry, bathrooms, bedrooms, closets, EVERYTHING!  I will take my house and turn it into my home.  My family deserves better from me.  I will conquer the chaos.

I had the chance to listen to Julie B. Beck last week and she said, "You are doing better than you think you are but I feel compelled to tell you that you can do better."  That statement made an impression in my life.

I want to do better but I will start giving myself credit for the good things I do.  So this will be my start.  This blog will be my secret way of recording what I am doing.  It will be my way of showing what I'm doing to organize something every day.

I do have 3 young children so it's going to take a while...but I will do it!