yesterday, weekend. today, checklist

well, i have had quite a weekend...but i won't bore you with it :)

i hope you're having a wonderful monday, starting with a latte or tea and a good read.

this is what is on my agenda today:

• donate unwanted objects and clothing to thrift shop or local charity.
• designate one shelf for items you plan on regifting, and label so you don't make a boo boo!
• split up your to-do list into do-able factors and group, group, group!
• clean the worst room first
• spend 10 minutes each day for a week going through paper piles. it will lessen the load considerably
• stop buying so much stuff, you materialistic nut, you :)
• bloggers: organize your blog topics into ONE PLACE!

i will be back later on for more tips. aside from working on my own books, stories and household chores today- i have been assigned to many more projects this week that i will not expose...yet.

all in due time, my lovelies :)

much love,
the*globetrotting*gamine

i love life

good morning, bloggie friends :)

please don't be mad at me for not blogging yesterday. i had so much to do and i have so much information to share that i am afraid of an onslaught of what i have to post will make you bananas.

Monday was a wonderful day, spent with my family and a dear bestie, talking about life and (what else?) food!

I was about to finish my manuscript when I realized that i had to go over it again (and thank God I did!) and at this very moment I am placing it on a different format.

Since my January list includes cleaning up house/shop and moving out clutter, Tuesday and Wednesday had me do just that...until 4 am yesterday morning, when I felt something protruding from my neck. Crying hysterically, LML woke up and cuddled with me and tried to assure me that it was from me being sick. I felt bad and tried to be very quiet and still so he could go back to sleep.

By 11:30 the next day, I had done laundry, hung out with my sister, and finished a visit to the store for the necessary items. AND I had gone to the doctor, who solidified what LML had told me. So now I have to change up my vitamin regime and take my anti biotics until I am better. And keep my neck warm. I am parading around the house in a sweat suit and scarf, drinking lots of tea. It's quite fun today really because...
I am cleaning out EVERYTHING! This began on Tuesday, when I moved my printer from my office to my dining room table where I get the most sunlight. From that point, I cleaned out every internet file and moved every box of binders and papers that had not been filed yet and started downsizing.

(that's where the information I've gathered comes from...)

Binders FILLED with stuff that I was gathering before we got married. Tips on how to organize, clean up clutter, and general happinness.

It makes me uber-happy.

I will not be in contact with anyone today until some things are completed. I need structure! I need schedules- AND I'm addicted to them. I have also been preparing a lot of vegan meals, vegetarian meals and general yumminess.

How have you been spending the week?
Did you hear about the pending snow storm in New York?

Ew ew ew

Let me know- I love hearing from you all :)

love me,
the globetrotting gamine

my january list- part one

if you go back to this post, you will read my list of goals for the month of january.
here's what i've done so far in respects to:

• clean out the house of negative stuff
• clean it out of un-necessary clutter 
•  add all articles to blog i thought were interesting (and hopefully you will, too)
• add to blog list of items i wanted to blog about

i think i accomplished SO MUCH so far this week. here's what happened monday and tuesday, aside from writing and research...

i took down the christmas tree, and put all ornaments in the ornament organizer.

i cleaned out and purged things from this spot in my kitchen

(sorry, i don't have photos of the before )

i cleaned out my closet and drawers...i didn't organize it yet

the picture above my closet shot are the items going to donations at the church.

cleaned and cleaned out

the freezer and refrigerator

do you see my tofu, cider, greens in a bag and beer?

i cleaned out this cabinet that's in the corner of my kitchen.

i didn't shoot the before picture on purpose.

you did not want to see the before.

i cleaned out LML's closet, and will

bring stuff shown to my office.

i HAD to clean out this part of my pantry. it was making me crazy.

whew- it looks a little better now.

my family likes to fatten me up by giving me chips and cookies.

thanks, family. it's my just in case stash :)

i also cleaned the ceiling fan, and cleaned out a box from the boiler room.

and cooked.

and as for those last 2 items...

my blog is going to explode with information from now until february.

do you have a january to do list?

enhance your life: shedding

this year, i am shedding my old skin.
this month, i am completing projects.
today, it begins.

i am going to completely restore my creativity by feb. 1st.
but first, i have to shed.
it's time to organize bills, important paperwork.
it's time to get rid of knick knacks, pictures you don't want or need.

i will put away pictures that mean something to me in photo albums i already have.
i will not give in to the mental clutter-
your home reflects your life, and you can't make progress in your life if your house is a mess.

you'll feel so good!

i can't wait <3

spring cleaning- P-SHAW!

it figures :)

amazing, how things can go so well and then someone tries to bring me down.
get over it!

i am ~:)
monday and today have been exceptionally busy for me.
i am kicking ass getting things done- and have discovered there is still not enough time for everything.

for you- i have been photo-cataloguing what's been going on in the day-to-day life of me, though i have realized that i don't blog a lot about myself or things going on in my life.

the less than mundane things i mean (which i don't find mundane)...the reason for this is wandering minds want to know. these are the wandering minds i'd rather have NOT know- but what is one to do?

ah, ding ding! move on.

so here's my deal-
january is going to be interesting because i have a goal.
it's a big one. are you ready?

my goal this month is to finish ALL projects!
yes.

the list goes as follows:

1. edit and complete all stories and novels
2. illustrate children's stories (for my nephew)
3. clean out the house of negative stuff
4. clean it out of un-necessary clutter
5. take all loose photos and put them in album
6. complete all scrapbooks, unfinished or untouched
7. print out what needs to get printed out on this computer
8. delete un-needed files from computer
9. upload all photos into usb disc AND photo programs
10. select photos to be printed
11. get them printed (and repeat above)
12. finish reading all books left before i buy or pick up a new one
13. call church to pick up clothes for donation
14. go through and complete everything on my to-do list, which has come down considerably in the last two days. I am VERY excited about this.
15. send out those packages!
16. make those appointments (snow keeps stopping me from doing this)
17. start book club
18. organize all files/bills
19. make a list of places from here to long island i'd like to see
20. make my new years resolutions

is that enough? i can do that in a little over 2 weeks...right?
of course i can...
so follow along and let's see how this first month of my new year goes!
i hope you'll be with me every step of the way :)
in the meantime- do you have a similar month-to do list? i'd love to hear it!

much much love,
the globetrotting gamine

edited to add:
21. add all articles to blog i thought were interesting (and hopefully you will, too)
22. add to blog list of items i wanted to blog about

i'll go again before i start making even less sense...

a room of my own!

before the marriage, the travelling, the drama...

reeeeewwwiiiiiiinddd...

picture it...

new york, 2004.

• engaged.
• graduated with masters.
• homeowner.
• homerenovator.
• helping family move.
• organizing and moving my own stuff.
• returning 15 toasters and blenders.
• planning the kitchen...
• planning a wedding
• lists, lists, lists
• paperwork!
• appointments!

who said i ever did anything the right way?
the write way maybe...



love,
me

may scrapbooking-part two

don't forget: all comments on any/all posts is encouraged! also, i love me some e-mails and thank you so much for them :)

my scrapbooking adventures led me to make one for my mom. initially, i thought it would be a mother's day thing. it is, but i realized i could help her clear some photo and stuff clutter in the process. this is what my mom's scrapbook looks like...also a work in progress <3

i shrank all the pictures so that you wouldn't have any difficulty looking at them!

what would you have added to your scrapbooks?

love,

mg

enhance your life

about a week and a half ago..

i cleaned out the house of unnecessary objects.

i do this every so often, and find

that the experience is quite rewarding :)

i feel as if the whole atmosphere of our home

changes, becomes lighter,

as i purge.

there could be another reason for this purging.

hoarders, anyone?

the television show freaks me out...

and that fear makes me clean.

i know a hoarder...but so-called hoarder

will never admit

that she has a problem.

i posted about this way back in the fall, i think.

but i digress...this is what i cleaned out...

i moved all my cd's...since my car radio doesn't work...(great, i know) to...well, away...

that's them in that huge curves bag.

that was everything i got rid of!! unbelievable...and my house is *really* organized, so it shocked me.

see how beautiful the organization looks? awwww...

that huge empty space there is where that purple box used to be...don't mind my shoe-mess.

i mean to get a shoe stand for that area :) so exciting...

ok, do you see that? this closet is hugeeee- lengthwise. i need a shelf where

that red travel bag and box is sitting so i can store things more efficiently. any ideas as to how?

point of the story is...

cleaning is good!

:)

it makes you feel good...

:)

and then you know where everything is!

:)

so if you're stuck indoors today...

rent some movies, read some magazines..and

find the mojo

to get organized!!

love,

your crazy mg

Cluttered

Please behold what this morning looks like for me. I have to finish 3 craft projects...send out letters to publishers and magazines...find out about patenting for the brand I am trying to have out before February 2010...run to the bookstore...
Well, I won't bore you with details, but that's just the frosting on the cake :)
My little house is cluttered with my to do lists! I have 7 pages worth of 12 items each (which is the way this notepad is- how it came to me I have no idea. I DO know, however, that I have had it in my possession for about 4 years, and I am still using it. Go, me.)
So, before I fill out my agenda book of the goings on of last week and this week...I'll fill the cyberworld in :) Thursday, LML and I took off for the city, where I tried to pursue my harassment case, but it was too late. This week, I'm going to file for a hearing between me, the perp, and the department we all work for. I still don't have results from a year ago, and the only thing that came out of me visiting a government agency last week is to pursue, pursue, pursue. It should be a life tip.

Another good thing that came out of us trekking down there was visiting Wall Street! LML always thought he would work there, but life throws us around to different ventures. He thought it would be fun if I would see it and it was! We had a great day...we purchased smoothies and falafels from street vendors, ran up and down Canal Street and Broadway, had fun watching the tourists, and saw Mischa Barton. Her little dog ran right up to me as she kept walking. He also took me to see the FireHouse from Ghostbusters (squee!) and I had to force him to take a picture of me in front of it...he's such a camera-phobe. So funny.

Friday night, we ordered in, slept early. Saturday, we went to Pizzeria Uno's and pretty much came home right after that. Then, YESTERDAY...was our adventure to some outlets, a steakhouse (my first time ever in a steakhouse!), and we went to a farm out in Long Island to play with some pumpkins and take a hay ride :) LML loves hayrides. A giant bug had landed on his collar, which no one was happy about...because as I flicked it off of him, it landed on a small boy across the wagon. I warned the family of the boy, who flicked the bug off of him and then it landed by our feet. No time to react before LML made a satisfying crunch with his shoe. Ick.

It was not a normal bug. The size of my thumb, brown and crunchy? Ew.
Have a wonderful, toasty week!

More soon- it's going to be another long day!
MG

Excessive-List Maker

You wouldn't be the first one to tell me that I have issues.

This past summer, when my best friend went on vacation for a month, I offered to clean up her house. *Note: I always knew that she was messy. I always had helped her clean her room when we were little, and it was never anything that I couldn't handle.

This time, I really couldn't handle it. I actually wrote 16 pages of the heart wrenching- ew ew experience that was my summer. There was so much. SO MUCH STUFF. In my journal, I wrote this:

Day 1, 3:30 to 7 pm with $60 cash
Horrible Mess. Used two bottles of windex because there is nothing else to clean with in this house. Stuff everywhere. Everywhere. Needs paint job, as to there are unmentionable species growing on the wall. New oven, since I can't even see what color it USED to be. New couch. Matching chairs that aren't lawn furniture. Bedframes. Need to throw EVERYTHING AWAY.

Note: When she comes back, teach her how to clean. Give her list of phone numbers for cleaning lady services.

Wanted to go home to take a bath immediately. Held my pee pee in until I drove 5 minutes to my parents house to do just that.

Need for tomorrow: clorox, bounty, red bull (or i'll die), air freshner, air deodorizers, dish soap, baking soda (10 of them!) brillo, comet, toilet bowl scrubber, gloves, contractor bags, mop, folders for organizing.

Then need to: paint the house, clean the floors, jewelry boxes to fill, put frames on walls, draw living room layout, coffee table, 4 matching chairs, place rugs, curtains for living room, vases, kitchen list, bed frame, twin sheets, wash clothing, throw garbage out, towels, sheets, to buy and then put in linen closet.

This has to be compulsive hoarding. Interesting that there is a show starting on compulsive hoarding.

The experience is still traumatizing to me. Sometimes I think about how before she left to go on vacation, she told me to let it all rot. So basically...20 garbage trucks later, one visit to IKEA, multiple visits to Target and Dollar stores later, she had this: