Wow. A fresh, new year. I love a New Year. A fresh start filled with possibility. Ahh … so fun.
So what are your plans for the new year? Are you making resolutions? Yes? Oh please, do share! I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to and what you have planned … it’s been a while!
One resolution I’m setting this year … be a better blogger in December! Ha ha! Where in the world was Aby Garvey in the month of December, anyway? Well … I won’t bore you with ALL the gory details, but the big news is that we did a spontaneous office / scrapbook studio move. As you know, my hubby Jay joined simplify 101 in October. We were sharing an office and enjoyed each other’s company very much. But … we just didn’t have enough room and … well … disorganization ensued. Crisis, right? So in the midst of the holiday clutter we did what any (in)sane couple would do and decided to turn our guest room into a second office.
The madness that followed included a spontaneous trip by me to IKEA in Chicago. This, after a sleepless night where I literally tossed and turned worrying endlessly that someone else would buy up my precious XPEDIT bookcases before I arrived at the store. (Insane. Remember?) Yep. I woke up at 5:00 AM and made the trek to Chicago … arriving before the store opened at 10 AM. I snagged my bookcases and a desk for Jay … leaving just enough space in my little CRV for me and the rest of my IKEA loot. (Like about a million glass jars and candles.) I was back home in time for dinner.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the saint also known as Jay was painting my new space. This, after the patient man didn’t even get upset when I bought an entire gallon of paint and decided I didn’t like the color. So … back to the store I went but this time I visited a store that carried samples. Brilliant! Those little samples are absolutely brilliant. I picked up a couple of these little gems.
The big decision? Do I go with Dill Pickle or Pale Sea Mist? Pale Sea Mist was the hands-down winner. The dill pickle was just a touch too pickley for me. So now … things are still in disarray but I’m functional (as is he) and we’re making much progress.
The magazines? Well … I didn’t forget about the 12 week challenge … I just re-prioritized. Oddly enough … the magazines are not yet in my new space. What does this mean? I haven’t found a home for them yet … interesting, isn’t it? I’ll keep you posted on their fate. So, how about you? Did you wrap up your 12 week challenge during my blogging hiatus?
Happy New Year Aby!
I am happy to report many cupboards, closets and counters were organized by the end of 2006 AND thanks to my new Command Central Binder my family of 5 will be on time and prepared for our many activities in 2007.
Thanks for your inspiration!
My resolution was to get organized in our new home. I got your binder and am loving it! I have everything I need right there and it is making things run very smoothly. Happy 2007!
Happy New Year! Here are my resolutions.
For scrapbooking I plan to:
Complete Stacy Julian’s Library of Memories class to refocus my overall scrapbooking efforts.
Create a spending plan for scrapbooking and stick with the plan. This is a scary one indeed.
Finish moving and settling into my studio (Yes! ) and share photos of my space.
Sell, donate, or otherwise remove excess scrapbooking materials; keep this in check throughout the year. Does anyone out there have any needs? I’d love to share this wonderful, relaxing, worthwhile way to spend one’s time with my friends and family.
Go to at least one all day crop per month, if there are some scheduled during the month.
For everything non-scrapbooking:
Rethinking and updating my life priorities. This is a really big one which is the basis for all of the other ones below.
Return to adhering to my Weight Watcher’s plan.
Increase my daily activity (I hate the word exercise).
Communicate more with family and friends. I have several elderly family members who I’m afraid may join the ancestors soon.
Create a household spending plan and stick with it.
Increase streamlining and simplifying my commitments and obligations. This includes dropping as many as possible.
Hi Aby: Happy New Year!
I was not able to complete my 12 week challenge due to the surgery on my hand…my right hand and yes I am right handed! I got the chore schedule made out, but implementing was not possible. That will be a challenge for the New Year. I did get a couple of shelves of the walk-in pantry cleaned but not the whole thing. The food pantry was not touched nor was the coat closet. Sounds like the next challenge is already taken care of.
On the bright side of surgery, it has afforded me some great scrapbooking material. I kept a list of things you can not do with one hand. The list itself is a hoot because of writing with my left hand.
I am working on my New Year’s Resolution List and will share when it is done.
Sounds like your December was really busy. I think we all want to see before, during and after pictures.
When is the next challenge? My hand is ready now!
Happy New Year!
I am getting my craft room re-organized – a little hard because it is also our home office! I’ve got this “I need to get the house organized now!” feeling – hence the being up at 2AM. LOL
I need to be a better blogger too! Great resolution. 🙂
I completed everything I wanted to do for the 12 week challenge. There are some areas where I need to tweek it a bit. Like the bathroom drawer where I keep my girls hair accessories. I have 3 little girls which equals TONS of little hair things. I need a way to keep them from becoming a big mess. I have a box that has 3 compartments, but its just not working. Any suggestions on what I could use to make it easier for us to put away and find those little barrettes when we are in a hurry? Maybe something that I could seperate by color. Resolutions? Dont know yet maybe I need another challenge to get me going on that!
Happy New Year to you, too! Oh, how I love to paint. Seriously – it is one of my most favorite things. And, color samples, oh what a great thing!!! Hoping to see you around more often in 2007! 🙂
Happy New Year Aby!
Here are a couple of my New Year’s resolutions and goals for 2007:
– Consistently follow my weekly schedule for my family and our home. (This includes getting everything done so that I can scrapbook on Fridays.)
– Stay caught up on our 2007 Family Memory Album and also get caught up on my 2 sons baby albums.
– Stay consistent with backing up and printing my photos.
– Train and run my 1st 5k this year. (It is set for end of April.)
– Study more of God’s word and grow in my relationship with Him.
Well, those are just a few of them.
Take care and we would love to hear about some of yours.
Jamie ~ Alabama
Aby — thanks for the inspiration and motivation. I got ‘partly’ organized in ’06 and am determined to finish the job in the early days of ’07. I have a quick question – are you familiar with the JOYS (just organize your stuff) system? Can you give me any feedback? Thanks again, Kathi