BulgingButtons

Not bad for a fat girl

Tag Archives: clean up


by Leave a comment

Time to Take Back Spring Break

I’m on spring break. School is closed for the week, and I’m free to do whatever I please. These weeks always go so quickly. Here we are, Tuesday already, and I feel as though I haven’t accomplished much. That’s not entirely my fault, though. Between fighting off some bug and having a medical procedure yesterday, I feel like I’ve been a little out of commission.

The procedure went well, I’m feeling better, and now it’s my time. Time to use as I see fit. My gut reaction? Time to read books and take naps. My realistic reaction? Time to clean up and get some schoolwork done. So, here I sit, at the computer, about to do my schoolwork. I’m taking a course to finish my gifted teaching endorsement, and I have homework. It’s a fascinating topic, and I’m enjoying learning more about these types of individuals. Still, I’ve put off my work, because I’m a terrible procrastinator. Why else would I be blogging instead of doing homework?

I’m also unhappy with the state of the room around me. I’m in my studio, and it’s a mess. There’s way too much stuff in here, and it’s housed in a variety of shelves, bins, bags, and boxes. At some point it all became too much, and I don’t even like to come in here. I need to get this sorted out. worklife-nansi-blog.jpg

It’s like the old joke. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Of course I would never actually eat an elephant, but you get the idea.

So, here’s my goal: each day for the rest of the week I will work on my homework, and I will work on this room. I won’t let either one overpower me. I will take breaks when needed, but I won’t quit. This is my pledge. I think I can do it. Wish me luck.


by 3 Comments

June Resolutions

i-love-summer.jpgWho says resolutions have to be made solely in January? I think June is as good a time as any, and for a teacher it’s an excellent time to make resolutions. At least if you’re a teacher in an area where school is out for summer.

Here are my June resolutions, in a nutshell:

  1. Read a little
  2. Write a little
  3. Work a little
  4. Move a little
  5. Clean up a little
  6. Create a little

Those sound pretty good, don’t they? And not too difficult to follow. At least I don’t think so. I’ve been working toward these resolutions for a while now, and oddly I’m finding the last one the most challenging. By using the term “create” I’m allowing myself a great deal of flexibility.

What does it really mean to create? I suppose it means to make something where there was previously nothing. I can create a meal or a menu. I can create a lesson or a teaching unit. I can create a doodle or a painting. I can create a quilt design or a whole quilt. I can create Pinterest boards and newsletters and reading comprehension exercises. I can create systems for checking out books and tracking homework assignments. Maybe creating isn’t as hard as I thought. I just need to allow myself the space in which to do it.

My goal is to do each of those items every day in June, with the exception of “work a little.” That one is for Monday through Friday. In fact, it’s more of a challenge NOT to “work a little” sometimes.

So where do I stand today, June first?

1.Read a little – check

I’ve been Reading Anne Tyler’s A Spool of Blue Thread strictly for pleasure. She is masterful at painting the picture of old Baltimore, and she’s very skilled at character development. I spent quite a bit of time reading this morning, and I’m looking forward to going back to this book.

2. Write a little – check

Well, here I am. I also recently entered a writing contest, and I’m presenting to my writing group next Monday. I have some work to do, but it’s getting done.

3. Work a little – check

I’ve been working on preparations for the summer writing program I’m teaching. I’m excited about working with these young writers and learning with them and from them.

4. Move a little – check

A morning walk in the park across the street with the dog was just what we both needed to get our day off to a good start.

5. Clean up a little – check

The kitchen is tidy, most of the laundry is done, and overall the house is not a mess. The recycling has been taken out and I hosed out the container that lives in the kitchen. Over time little drips of this and that get in there and it gets sticky, but today I tackled it, and it’s clean as a whistle.

6. Create a little – maybe

Ok, I created a gmail account for the summer writing program and two of the five mailing lists that I need for the newsletters. Does that count? Does a blog post? I don’t think so. I think that’s double-dipping. I feel like I have to create something else! Oh, I’ve got it! I’m creating a delicious dinner tonight. We’re having tortellini with spinach and artichokes in a light cream sauce. Yum!

Yes! I can officially say that day one is a success. Only 29 more to go. What are your June resolutions?

 


by Leave a comment

Feeling the Need to Purge

So yesterday I started a new quilt project, which felt awesome. Until I looked around.

Every flat surface in my house has stuff on it. Every. Single. One. And I’m not just talking about the normal stuff, either. Oh sure, the kitchen table has place-mats and salt and pepper shakers, but it also has magazines and pencils.

Mine isn't quite this bad.

Mine isn’t quite this bad.

The dining room table has gifts from students, the coffee table has magazines, notebooks, pencils, and gift cards. The bathroom counter has movie ticket stubs and receipts. And my desk-slash-sewing table? I don’t even want to talk about it. Frankly, it’s just TOO MUCH.

So today I’ve started cleaning up, in earnest. I decided that I would tackle one surface at a time, starting with the kitchen counters. So far, so good.

Last year when my former house was on the market, it was immaculate. There was not one thing out of place, ever. I loved it. Truthfully it wasn’t even all that difficult to maintain, but getting it that way wasn’t easy.

We’ve been in this house since the end of last summer. By the end of this summer I want it to be immaculate too. That means finding permanent homes for things that have been just sort of hanging around, or letting them go. It also means a serious closet clean-out, since I have piles of clothes that I don’t wear and probably never will again. Sigh.

Still, I’m making progress. It feels good to fill up the recycle bin with junk mail and magazines, and seeing the shiny granite that was hiding under all the clutter makes me smile. I feel calmer, happier, and more creative when I’m not surrounded by too much stuff. Next mission: the coffee table. Wish me luck.