As hard as I try, I can’t seem to work on one thing at a time. Over the last few days, I started to de-sticker Emma’s toy kitchen so I can sell it, along with a metric half ton of felt food and little Ikea kitchenware, and I started another half-hearted book purge. I know I mentioned that I don’t think I can purge any more books, but I’m going to try anyway. Currently I’m in a good mood which is a good time to set oneself up for disappointment. I think.

I’m also resolving some issues related to our very long DIY kitchen remodeling project. A recent analysis led me to believe that the kitchen is fully decluttered but I did some rearranging that revealed that I was very, very wrong. So the kitchen is back on the list, not just for the DIY stuff, but for reorganizing. The kitchen story is a very long saga which I will share in the coming weeks. Finally, when I go to sleep I dream of chalk paint (seriously, and Panera coming to my town) so when I get some of the purging tasks done I’m going to start painting.

I feel good about the last few days, even if my approach has been haphazard, even though I’d probably be happier if I had one complete task as opposed to three balls in the air. My recent slump took a definite toll on me and my project. When I was teaching, the summer was always the time to deal with house projects because it was the only time of year I had a solid block to devote to the things I couldn’t always deal with during the school year. And as much as I’ve been happy to be working again, it feels odd to go off each morning and leave Emma at home with Bob.

Here’s a belated photo of my last July donation pickup. It was a big one.

Lately I’ve come across a few good reads which I thought I’d share:

• If you haven’t had your fill of Marie Kondo, this was an interesting article. Ironically it comes from an online store which scatters suggestions of things to buy throughout the article, but I wasn’t bothered by them (and I’m easily annoyed about things like that). I decided to share it because I like the author’s ideas for using shoe boxes for assorted tasks. And there were some great comments too.
• Recently I stumbled across this blog, Lisa Moves. I found it when searching online for fabric because I was thinking about making new living room curtains. She writes about simplifying but I also love that she writes about decorating too. Trying to reconcile my need to declutter with my fixation on decorating has been a challenge, so reading about her approach has been interesting and helpful.
• Another blog I read sometimes is Organizing Made Fun. I found it when I was searching Pinterest for curtains used in place of closet doors. There is a lot of information so I find it’s better to go when I have a specific need, but I always find good ideas.
• Here’s a good list of organizing books. There are some I’ve heard of and some that are new.

And now for some housekeeping items, no pun intended.

This month’s 30 day challenge: I laughed when I read last month’s 30 day challenge because I did squat. I was supposed to focus on getting back to my chore routine, which I did sporadically, but it didn’t stick. So the August focus is to embrace slackerdom and have fun. I realized today that we have two free weeks left, then Emma goes to camp, then she goes back to school the following week. Summer is flying by. Last Saturday we spent the day at our town lake with a bunch of friends, and it was the first time I’d really seen them since school ended. The next day I had brunch with another great group of friends and I think having those two days of social activity also helped get me back on track. And last night Emma and I went to see a play with our neighbors. I need to make more of an effort to do things like that. Tomorrow I’m going to look at the calendar and see where we can fit in a few more activities before school starts. This pertains to my often-overlooked fourth objective.

This month’s big project: To get the kitchen in shape. While decluttering is needed, we also have several small half-finished items to complete. This pertains to my first objective.

This month’s book: I don’t know if I ever really confessed to my Peter Walsh love. I looove him. I have never read this book but I decided it would be a good choice.

Published in 2007

He recently put out a new book, Lose the Clutter, Lose the Weight, which may have inspired interest in his other books, so I’m hoping people who want to borrow it will be able to. Lose the Clutter, Lose the Weight is on my Kindle. I started to read it and enjoyed it, then got into the section where you have to start an exercise program. I am not feeling that part. But I will go back to it.

Since I’m supposed to plan every day in advance, as per Brian Tracy, I’m planning to do nothing tomorrow because it’s Saturday. I hope everyone has a great weekend.