It is official

I did something scary.  I gave my notice to my landlord.  It was exhilarating and scary wrapped up into one.  Telling him wasn't that hard as I took the easy way out and text him.  Yep, I am weird like that, but we often communicate via text, so it really wasn't that weird.  I didn't figure he'd love the idea of me moving since I've only been here six months, but he is the one that offered a lease with the option to get out at any time with a 30 day notice.   He said he was sorry to see me and my daughter go, as we were great tenants.  :)

It was exhilarating because it means this is really happening.  The sellers signed the addendum to agree to all repairs required from the home inspection and everything seems good to go. 

It was scary because now, if something happens we are homeless :(

Well, not really. I am sure someone will take us in.  But this isn't a good feeling.  It was a good feeling not paying my rent today as my lease terms were deposit plus "last month rent" so I didn't have to pay it today.  Good thing, as scraping that money up with be harder right now than usual.  I am not sure why.  Oh yeah, I bought a new car a couple weeks ago.  Scared myself for a moment, wondering why my mental accounting made rent difficult this month.  Yep, now I am just writing (instead of thinking) out loud.

So...onto the challenge.  Yesterday I didn't get too much done, though in my defense (yes, I seem to have to defend myself a lot) I did work all afternoon and evening so I only had the morning.  I did get a couple large boxes of stuff from my bedroom packed and a couple small boxes.  Not much, but it did work towards my goal.

I didn't want to buy too many groceries before moving, but I did break down and buy a few items today but they should all be gone and not have to be moved.  From now on, besides milk or bread, I am not buying anything so we can use up what we have. Maybe some creative dinners are in order. 

I am determined to get some more packing done today so I best get to it.  I have half hour to spare before picking up my daughter and running a few errands and then back home to do some more packing. 

Umm, so I wrote this yesterday and apparently never posted.  Too busy organizing I guess :)

I am into this one week...today is day 8

So, what have I accomplished in the first 7 days...with two of them being completely gone and not at home.

Quite a bit, though when my boyfriend walked in last night he said it has that "look".  You know, the one that says "I am moving".  Bummer.  I don't like that look, but I like what it leads up to.  Half of the trick is to stay organized during all of this and not get that look too bad.  He said it "just" has that look, but we are 17 days out so I don't want it to get worse until about 5 days before. 

So what has been done?  The (ugh!) shed has been started - about 7% done.  That deserves a second Ugh!  China cabinet, bathrooms, closets, kitchen pantry items, bedroom dresser drawers, entertainment center and freezer has been purged.  Two full loads of items from house and shed have been donated to Goodwill. 

And yesterday, I thought I would start on packing the china cabinet.  Well, that didn't happen.  What I did do was purge and clean the refrigerator.  I do this about every 4-6 weeks anyhow, but it had not been done since the holidays and was really full of stuff that needed to be tossed. Also, I cleaned the shelves really well and basically got it ready to move the items and be done with it.  I am sure I will have to wipe it down one more time upon moving, but the scubbing is done and baring a mishap, it will be a easy and quick thing to do.

Also, I did one of my first things I got off the internet (I think this was on Pinterest).  I bought duct tape in different colors and started a board so I can put a piece of bright duct tape (I keep wanting to call it duck) on the side (not tops, so we can see them when stacked) of each box that color coordinates to what room it goes in.  It is supposed to be easier to identify than finding writing on boxes that are usually full of writing since I generally use recycled boxes.  I will not know the success or failure of this till the actual move is completed.  I started my poster board to be displayed which tells the corresponding duct tape to room.  I can say now though, that do NOT use the glitter duct tape.  It is really pretty, however, you will have bits of glitter everywhere.  I will change out the dining room and keep the duct tape for some other project as I don't want glitter on everything as I move.

What day challenge is this?

I've lost count!  And I haven't wrote down anything for a couple days as I decided I had to be home to actually do this challenge since it centers around the house and I have not been here since Friday.

It is now Monday morning.  Friday morning I did manage to get to (that) shed and work on sorting items for a bit.  Just a bit :(  I was cold and couldn't stay out there long.  Saturday the weather was a nice 51 degrees and would have been perfect to spend a couple hours out there, but I was not home at all.  Like not even to sleep, so there was no chance of doing any work.

Cold weather today will not let me be out there long (if at all) today and it should get at least a few degrees warmer in the next few days so I think I will try to get out there more then.  I do have some boxes stored out there and will start packing.  Where to start?  China hutch.  It takes a while, as everything is breakable, and I am very unlikely to need anything from there before I move. 

So that is my challenge to myself for the day.  Wait, I probably need smaller boxes as that stuff is heavy and I think my boxes are larger sized.  Oh no.  And it rained yesterday, so any boxes outside will be wet (I can get nice boxes from the local store that put them in the storage area for recycling - but not good when it is wet).

I just set up countdown for noon (not sure of exact time) on Feb. 13 for closing.  18 days 4 hour 32 minutes till closing.  Yep, I am excited. Please God, don't let it get delayed.




Well,  I will get done what I can. 

It is working...

As I hoped it would.  Had it not been for writing things down and making myself accountable, I would have not got any work done toward this 30 day challenge.

My day started with a haircut and color, which takes all morning.  My daughter had half day at school so she was done for over an hour before I got done.  Then we went to Chinese food for lunch.  Yum.  I wasn't in a hurry and was enjoying my time spent with her.  We then drove into town as I had an idea to go to the one place that sells Annie Sloan Chalk Paint for a project on her dressing table that I was itching to start.

By the time we got home later in the afternoon, I just couldn't wait and just had to start painting on her chair at least that she uses with the vanity.  I have been waiting to try out this paint.  The vanity has been with me for many years now, so starting on it was a bit scary.  The chair I picked up at Goodwill a couple weeks about for about $10.00, so if I hated it I was only out that...well, and the paint which was considerably more than the $10.00.

This is the inspiration piece for her vanity, though we are using a light color teal and maybe not distressing quite as much.


It took longer than expected, but I think I was being too cautious applying the paint.  In order to "make" myself wait till it dried fully I thought about how I had NOT got anything done for the move (painting the chair didn't count in this thirty day challenge) so I grabbed my daughter, loaded the Jeep with items I had gathered from the house and the smaller pile I had made in the (ugh!) shed and headed to drop them off at Goodwill. 

The challenge is working because I actually thought I would have to sit down this morning as write out the words that I got nothing down towards this goal.  Now, that might happen in these thirty days, but not yet.  The thought of having to write that made me get up and just do it.

It wasn't a full load, but you know what?  It isn't at my house/shed anymore!  And I consider that progress.  After we dropped items off, I decided to go through the car wash, even though it had just turned dark.  I just bought my new (used) Jeep last week and the dark color was looking pretty dirty.  Let's just say I didn't realize the sunroof wasn't fully closed when I went though.   What a nightmare!  We got kind of  pretty wet and I just pray I didn't mess up anything in the electrical system.  I am not too pleased with myself about that little fiasco.

Today I will move on to painting her dressing table, and I plan to tackle at bit more in that (ugh!) shed.  Trash pick up is today and I have more than usual at the curb due to the purging.  I hope they take it. :)

Ugh, The Shed

I was moving right along feeling pretty proud of myself for getting so much accomplished in the house and yesterday I went to the shed.

My euphoria over getting so much accomplished in the house vanished instantly.   The "shed" is not just a typical shed full of stuff.  It is the bane of my existence...  And about 1200 sq. feet.

Mind you, I have only been at this house for six months, so it isn't completely full.  Give me a few years here and it would be stuffed I am sure.  The shed is what sent me over the edge on the last move.

See it started as a one car garage.  A one car garage that I at one time happily parked in.  Then it happened.  I found a really cool fooze ball (no idea how to even spell that or if that is what is  pronounced) and I thought what fun it would be to have that in the garage to play.  And it would just barely fit and I could still fit my car.  Then "it" happened.  Getting the car in and out wasn't very easy so it was summer and I parked outside most of the time.  Which left a big hole...for a very short time.

My son decided to get married and join the army.  So they were getting a house together, without actually moving into it for a few months.  As every good mom does, I said "sure, you can store stuff here".  So an entertainment center moved in, and a weight bench, some mattresses, a large couch and a slew of wedding presents.  Then he was stationed several states away and his wife couldn't wait to get out to him so she left without taking any of it.  I waited, thinking they would be back in a couple months to pick it up.  Nope, they bought new only coming back for the smaller wedding present variety items.  Really?

So then I had all these extra things in a garage that I couldn't park in, so what did I do?  Fill it up with more "stuff".  When it came time to move, I had the thing so full I couldn't even walk through it.  And I didn't sort a thing because of that.  Which means it all came here.  While I did purge the house a bit (I do not have to get rid of any shoes since we'd not brought over any extras) the garage was not touched. 

I moved in the fall, and by the time I got the house together it was too cold so all that stuff is still sitting there!  At least I can walk around it now since it is such a big shed. 

So yesterday, I went to the shed.  I didn't spend long as it was overwhelming.  Now, I have to do this in the middle of winter...how I am longing for fall temperatures  when I "thought" it was too cold then.  Now I have no choice.  I managed to sort through several things and make a Goodwill pile, and three large boxes of trash so I am counting that as a little success at least for the day.  And that fooze ball table?  It is going to be sold on Craigslist as soon as I clear all the boxes off it :)

This feels good...

Taking unwanted or unnecessary things out of my house and my life.  Yesterday morning I made myself of list of fifteen places I wanted to organize and purge out of my life before the move.  I got 14 or those 15 done, so I count that as a success.  I have a pile to go to Goodwill and another extra large trash bag full of stuff.

I started with the bathrooms and threw out old medicines and make-up and such.  When I was done with that I was on such a roll I made my list and breezed through it.  It is easier to get rid of things when you think you may have to box it up and move it and then unbox it and then find a place for it in your new home.

Some items were easy to donate/throw away, like that old belt I don't think I ever wore and am likely never to wear again.  Other were harder, like the dress that still fits and I wore it on a cruise with my kids and a wedding of a dear friend.  It held some memories.  Truth is though, I have very few occasions to wear it, and I have several others waiting to wear and make memories in so why hang on to it.  I have pictures to remember it by.  I couldn't give up the little jacket I am saving that was my daughters and she wore in front of the Christmas tree the year both her front teeth were missing.  I am hoping to put it on her daughter some day and take a photo in front of a Christmas tree.  Some things are a bit too precious.  Besides, it is small and doesn't take up much room :)

So where to start today?  I am a little lost.  Since I was so successful yesterday, I want to build off the momentum.  Maybe it is time to start actual packing?  Online guides say four weeks before is when you should start, but I am afraid of "jinxing" it.  Like I will be all packed up and ready to go and then, blam, something will happen to delay or it will fall through completely.

Maybe I will talk to my realtor today, and get comfortable that everything is going well on seller's end and then start packing. 

Speaking of guidelines, I read through a couple dozen "moving tips and tricks" on internet and pinterest. (while listening in on The State of the Union address). Nothing new and exciting there really...so bummer about that.  I guess I was looking for a miracle.  Like blink once, spin eight times and say this particular prayer five days in a row at 1:31p.m. exactly, and God will send his angels down and magically move you (hey, if He can part the Red Sea, moving should be a breeze).  However, since I don't think my moving is part of humanity's greater plan, I think I am going to have to do the work myself.  And it is hard.  And it is stressful.  And that is life.

Day One Complete!

I feel empowered.

So where did I start on this journey of organizing and purging and moving (and generally getting my life in order).  Food.  Yes, that is right.  Food.

You see, I am a bit of a food hoarder.  I have come to realize this in the past few months and have serviously changed how I buy food and have been cutting back.  For some reason, I always feel like I  need thirty or more days of food readily available at all times.  Sure, the preppers will say that isn't nearly enough, but honestly, I am not sure I want to go there yet.  Especially with a move coming.

Why start at food, other than the fact that I realized I am a bit of a hoarder?  Two things last week prompted the food to go first.  One was I was making supper for a family in church that recently had surgery.  I went to make my (famous) cherry cobbler and realized I was out of milk.  No problem, I would just use a can of evaporated milk as substitute.  I opened the can and, wow, it just didn't look like evaparated milk.  It looked more like sweetened condensed milk that smelled funny.  I check the can to make sure I picked up the right one and it was, so then I checked the can again.  It expired in 2009!  That means I have drug that can from my apartment to my house and then to this house.  Seriously, what is wrong with me.  So no cherry cobbler :(

Then, over the weekend, I was having a couple people for dinner and since it was a last minute thing had not really plannned for it.  No problem, and I went to pulled some chicken from freezer.  The date - 2011.  Icky.  Now, I am not one who pours out the milk the date after it expires and I view "best by" dates as just that - "best" and as only suggestions.  But 4 year old meat and 8 year old milk.  No thank you!

So I went thorough the cabinets and the small freezer (leaving the deep freezer for another day) and took out quite a haul.  It half filled up my large trash container and I am wishing trash pick up was today.  Luckily, it is cold enough outside that it won't be rotted by the time they come on Friday.

While I feel guilty for throwing food away, and hating that I wasted money on it, I feel liberated that I will not be taking approximately two large box loads of food to my new house that we will never eat.
Now, to eat what we do have over the next 24 days so there is even less to move :)

These pictures don't really show well just how much there was.  The jello box had got kind of gross so I threw it in even though it wasn't expired and the loaf of bread is pretty typical of normal food waste, but the other things were all pretty much stored in my cabinets and freezer.

Today, I plan to tackle the bathrooms.  I noticed some face cream that I know I got in a gift basket when my daughter was in 2nd grade.  She is in 10th grade now.  Surely it too is expired, and even it not, obviously, I am not using it.  So...onto the bathroom and another successful purging day I hope.

A New Challenge to Myself

(I am rewriting this on old blog id...its a long story, not worth repeating so this is my actual thoughts from yesterday Jan 19, 2015)

So, I have been mulling this idea around for a month, thinking instead of having some New Year's resolutions that I know I will never keep but also knowing that resolutions are a good thing because they mean you are working on bettering yourself....but making some grand list of things you want to change for  your entire life, or even for a whole year is unrealistic.  At least to me...

So I had a different idea.  What is this you might ask?  I thought about changing things for thirty days. A thirty day challenge of sorts.  And blogging about it is a way to reflect on what I am doing and not simply just "doing" it for the sake of saying I did.

To be quite honest, I have been fascinated with the idea of doing a challenge and reflecting about it in a blog since watching the movie Julie and Julia several years ago.  I love to cook as much as the next person, but honestly cannot see myself cooking my way through an entire cookbook - especially that one!

I thought I would do twelve 30 day challenges for the year 2015, however, as you can see I didn't get started on it like I would have like to on January 1st.  Really, who has the gumption to do much on the 1st?  With out of town guest and general craziness of the holidays still in full swing, it seemed like a way to just set myself up for failure.  So this morning, I expanded it to thirty 30 day challenges which would allow me some easier and fun challenges in between the hard stuff.

I am sure this has been done before, and I do not have some new and cleaver idea.  In fact, wasn't there a show like that at some point by that guy who only ate McDonalds for a month?  Point is, I am not blessed with some wonderful idea that nobody has attempted before.  I know this, and I am okay with this.  In my two minutes of research, I even cam upon some list that give you 0 day challenges.  I have several in mind already, but may pull from the list too (though honestly, some seem a little lame)

So where to start today on Day 1:  Drumroll please...organization/packing/moving.  Where should I be starting?  With some kind of diet thing since I have a weight goal before going to the doctor for a check up in March, but seriously, how boring is that?  I know I would be setting myself up for failure if I started blogging about my food and weight for 30 days. Blah

So why organization/moving ect...(Let's throw in purging as that is a big part)?  Because I found a new home to buy and will be moving in about 25 days (or less) and the last time I moved it was so stressful, I ended up in the hospital!  Seriously...

I hate moving.  But this time I resolve to be completely organized and efficient!  Ha!!  At least I can try.  So this this my first 30 day challenge.  Since I just moved 6 months ago (I am sure I will expand on this topic later) some things are still in boxes (see I told you I was unorganized) which maybe means I should get rid of the items since I have not used them.  Maybe...

To motivate myself, I tell myself that this time is different.  When I moved six months ago (after being in a house for 3 plus years) I knew it would not be permanent.  That, ultimately, renting this house was a temporary solution and the whole process was stressful.  But now I am buying a house that I can imagine living in for many years - it is not too small, not too large, and is the perfect location.

T-25 days and I best get with it if I want a stress free (or less stressful) move.  I am going to look up tips and tricks and try them all (that seem reasonable) and give reviews.  I am going to sell items I no longer need, and donate what I cannot sell.  I am NOT moving anything I do not need this time.