Off To A Good Start!

I think that tomorrow I am actually starting a new day, a new week, and a new month off great! Which is really motivating for me. I'll elaborate. This also (again) coincides with all the improvements I've been trying to make this summer.

First, with my mom having moved out after her wedding in April, leaving an extra bedroom, and school starting in just a couple weeks, I decided to take advantage of the space and make a school room. After more consideration I decided to move my bed and stuff in to the empty room, and turn my room in to a school room. I decided this for a couple of reasons, 1) my room is much larger and we need more space for school stuff, and 2) my computer desk and sewing stuff is already in there, so it will all be convenient to use together. My mom and I made the switch last night, and I'm still getting used to it.

The next thing I have done to make me feel that I am off to a good start is following FlyLady! I actually first heard of her a couple years ago, and actually did Day 1 of shining my sink (which I have continued to do occaisionally) but never went any further, and ended up forgetting all about it. Until recently. I can't remember what made me think of her, but I decided that if I'm serious about getting my house in order, than I should try following her and see if it helps. I can't afford professional help, and I've heard good things about her, so, why not try? Well, I have printed up some of her routines and things, read a bit of her website, started followng her on Facebook and Twitter, and so far, it's helping a little! I just got serious about doing this the last couple days, so I'm just in the beginning stages and don't have a lot to show, but that's okay. But, here's a quick list of some progress I have made, both due to FlyLady and the room switching (and also working on decluttering and cleaning through everything).

*My mom took the last of her things last night

*My "new" bedroom is pretty much a comfortable place with 

  minimal "clutter" and I plan to continue improvements & keep it

  that way

*Per FlyLady's Morning Routine my bed is beautifully made

*Per FlyLady my kitchen sink is shiny (I took it a step further and

  also made my kitchen shiny)

*My dishes are done (a load in the dish washer)

*A load of laundry is in the dryer (FlyLady says for this month to

  do 1 load every day)

*I had Faith spend 15 solid (& additional) minutes working on her

  room (which motivated her to stay in there & actually work), and

  then 15 solid minutes on the living room

*The girls have also made their beds yesterday & today

I'm going to be combining the FlyLady's methods with my serious cleaning/decluttering I have to do (with special attention to the school room, which has to be ready, even if it's not finished, by Aug 17th). But, if nothing else, FlyLady's methods, routines and reminders have got me feeling like I have more of a plan, more organization to my attack plan, along with motivation and much needed encouragement.

So, this is a start to the house I'm trying to obtain. I will continue to post updates and maybe some pics (I'll consider "before & after" pics when it's all said and done, but I won't promise).