Being Sorted

Well, it's now the 1st of November and I haven't posted anything since September... I didn't even end up posting my 'Sort It' success. I am super pleased to tell you that I managed to tick off all but one item on my list! And no, the item I missed was not the item I was avoiding the most (giving the shower a good scrub), although I did avoid that one right up until the night before October when my husband said "Are you going to scrub the shower, or are you just going to fail on your list?"

The only item not completed was a Skype catch up with a dear friend in Canada. I tried, but life & the time difference just kept getting in the way - we did at least manage to write a few messages to each other instead.

I did feel very accomplished come October and I found it to be a good way to tick off all those niggly little bits & pieces around the house that became too easy to ignore. I'm almost looking forward to sorting myself out next September - but I think I'll leave the shower scrubbing off my list and delegate that job to someone else.

September Sort It - I'm Almost There!

It's officially the last week of September and I'm nearly sorted! I have 6 days to do the last 7 things on my list, and other than #19: Give the shower a good scrub, the remaining items aren't all that bad.

Here are a few photos documenting my progress...

#21 Baskets for the little miss' room.

#5 Tidy the hair accessories shelf - yowsers!
(before)

           

#13 Get a new passport
Just waiting to get my photos witnessed before I can tick it off the list!!!

#5 Tidy the hair accessories shelf
(after - phew!)

#3 Clean out the baking shelf (before)

#3 Clean out the baking shelf (after)
Clearly I now have to tidy the shelf below...

 And here is my list as it stands right now:

1. Clean all unnecessary items off of the kitchen bench. (This may need to be done a few times throughout the month based on how quickly stuff accumulates there!)
2. Go through the Little Miss' closet & remove everything that is too small or that no longer gets worn.
3. Clean out the 'baking' shelf in the pantry.
4. Look for a new set of dishes to replace our old set.
5. Tidy & organize the hair accessories (& other random stuff) shelf.
6. Make space under my bed to store the Little Miss' Christmas present (she's getting a new bed - shhh it's a surprise!)
7. List the kids' art easel on Trade Me (they NEVER use it & it takes up way too much space).
8. Sort through my clothes & get rid of all the things I no longer wear.
9. Update photos of the kids on Picasa.
10. See the Living Cloaks exhibition at Te Papa. 
11. Sew baskets for the pantry.
12. Re-stock the freezer with baking for lunches.
13. Get a new passport! (Not that I'm planning on going anywhere, but with most of my family overseas I figure it's best to always have a valid one in case of emergency.)
14. Mend everything in the pile of clothes to be mended.
15. Investigate class times for Yoga-Pilates classes and book in.
16. Sort through the cloth nappies & get rid of the ones that are no longer any good.
17. Decide what to do for the Little Guy's 3rd birthday party. :)
18. Sort through all the stuff being stored in the Little Guy's closet.
19. Give the shower a really good scrub.
20. Try to revive the sad, wilted potted flowers from the kitchen & re-plant out in the garden.
21. Make more large storage baskets for the Little Miss' room.
22. Make a list of who we're giving Christmas presents to this year.
23. Plan out the Little Miss' Irish dancing dress (the real competition one - she's been practicing what to do at competition in class, so it won't be long now!)
24. Choose new photos of the kids to replace the old ones in the lounge.
25. Go shopping for clothes - for me, not the kids!!!
26. Make a time to have a good catch up on Skype with my bestie in Canada.
27. Weed the garden.
28. Start weaning the Little Guy from using his soother during the day.
29. Find more Thomas socks for the Little Guy.
30. Actually take all of the excess clothes etc to the goodwill bins (or throw out those that are no longer good).

Wow! Check out all that pink!!!!!
It feels so satisfying to see how much I've done so far and to know that I will be able to complete my list by the end of the month. I hope that everyone else who's been sorting out their September feels as great as I do. :)

September Sort It - Progress Report

I've been reminded that it might be about time to check in and see how my September Sort It list is going... I'm pretty happy that I've done 12 things so far (as it's the 12th here today), but not so happy to see that I've done all the easy/fun things first and most of the things I'm not so keen on are still left. I guess I shouldn't be surprised by that though. Oh well, it's pretty cold here today so a good day to stay inside and cross a few more off!

I love that a few of the other blogs that are sorting themselves out this month have posted before and after photos - I haven't got any before photos of the ones I've already crossed off, but I think I'll run around and take some before photos now - it might motivate me a little to get them done!

I have been updating the list in my original September Sort It post as I go, but as of this morning this is what my list looks like - the pink entries are the ones that have been done. :)

1. Clean all unnecessary items off of the kitchen bench. (This may need to be done a few times throughout the month based on how quickly stuff accumulates there!)
2. Go through the Little Miss' closet & remove everything that is too small or that no longer gets worn.
3. Clean out the 'baking' shelf in the pantry.
4. Look for a new set of dishes to replace our old set.
5. Tidy & organize the hair accessories (& other random stuff) shelf.
6. Make space under my bed to store the Little Miss' Christmas present (she's getting a new bed - shhh it's a surprise!)
7. List the kids' art easel on Trade Me (they NEVER use it & it takes up way too much space).
8. Sort through my clothes & get rid of all the things I no longer wear.
9. Update photos of the kids on Picasa.
10. See the Living Cloaks exhibition at Te Papa. 
11. Sew baskets for the pantry.
12. Re-stock the freezer with baking for lunches.
13. Get a new passport! (Not that I'm planning on going anywhere, but with most of my family overseas I figure it's best to always have a valid one in case of emergency.)
14. Mend everything in the pile of clothes to be mended.
15. Investigate class times for Yoga-Pilates classes and book in. 
16. Sort through the cloth nappies & get rid of the ones that are no longer any good.
17. Decide what to do for the Little Guy's 3rd birthday party. :)
18. Sort through all the stuff being stored in the Little Guy's closet.
19. Give the shower a really good scrub.
20. Try to revive the sad, wilted potted flowers from the kitchen & re-plant out in the garden.
21. Make more large storage baskets for the Little Miss' room.
22. Make a list of who we're giving Christmas presents to this year.
23. Plan out the Little Miss' Irish dancing dress (the real competition one - she's been practicing what to do at competition in class, so it won't be long now!)
24. Choose new photos of the kids to replace the old ones in the lounge.
25. Go shopping for clothes - for me, not the kids!!!
26. Make a time to have a good catch up on Skype with my bestie in Canada.
27. Weed the garden.
28. Start weaning the Little Guy from using his soother during the day.
29. Find more Thomas socks for the Little Guy.
30. Actually take all of the excess clothes etc to the goodwill bins (or throw out those that are no longer good).

September Sort It

Oh that's right, I have a blog! Oops.
It's just as well that this post is all about September Sort It...

A couple of blogs that I follow (One Crafty Mumma & A Collection of Thoughts) are embarking on a mission to use September to sort stuff out! The idea is to make a list of 30 things that you plan to sort out during the month. For me it's stuff that I've been meaning to do (or that the husband has been at me to do) that I just haven't gotten around to yet. I made sure that my whole list wasn't made up of cleaning jobs - I've also included things that I've been wanting to do just for me. So if you're one of those people like me that have an ever growing to do list, why not try and conquer it during September? There's still a few days left to get going on your list. :)

It took me a while, but I finally got my list completed. For those who are curious here it is...

1. Clean all unnecessary items off of the kitchen bench. (This may need to be done a few times throughout the month based on how quickly stuff accumulates there!)
2. Go through the Little Miss' closet & remove everything that is too small or that no longer gets worn.
3. Clean out the 'baking' shelf in the pantry.
4. Look for a new set of dishes to replace our old set.
5. Tidy & organize the hair accessories (& other random stuff) shelf.
6. Make space under my bed to store the Little Miss' Christmas present (she's getting a new bed - shhh it's a surprise!)
7. List the kids' art easel on Trade Me (they NEVER use it & it takes up way too much space).
8. Sort through my clothes & get rid of all the things I no longer wear.
9. Update photos of the kids on Picasa.
10. See the Living Cloaks exhibition at Te Papa. 
11. Sew baskets for the pantry.
12. Re-stock the freezer with baking for lunches.
13. Get a new passport! (Not that I'm planning on going anywhere, but with most of my family overseas I figure it's best to always have a valid one in case of emergency.)
14. Mend everything in the pile of clothes to be mended.
15. Investigate class times for Yoga-Pilates classes and book in.
16. Sort through the cloth nappies & get rid of the ones that are no longer any good.
17. Decide what to do for the Little Guy's 3rd birthday party. :)
18. Sort through all the stuff being stored in the Little Guy's closet.
19. Give the shower a really good scrub.
20. Try to revive the sad, wilted potted flowers from the kitchen & re-plant out in the garden.
21. Make more large storage baskets for the Little Miss' room.
22. Make a list of who we're giving Christmas presents to this year.
23. Plan out the Little Miss' Irish dancing dress (the real competition one - she's been practicing what to do at competition in class, so it won't be long now!)
24. Choose new photos of the kids to replace the old ones in the lounge.
25. Go shopping for clothes - for me, not the kids!!!
26. Make a time to have a good catch up on Skype with my bestie in Canada.
27. Weed the garden.
28. Start weaning the Little Guy from using his soother during the day.
29. Find more Thomas socks for the Little Guy.
30. Actually take all of the excess clothes etc to the goodwill bins (or throw out those that are no longer good).

Wish me luck & happy sorting everyone!

(Update: as suggested by the husband, I will italicize and colour each line as I complete it. I'm pretty sure he thinks I'll get more done if I have people to answer to if I don't!)