Organize.

I realize that this is very late in coming, but I've finally decided on my New Year's resolution. I've always thought that resolutions are funny things. People make such a big deal about deciding what their resolutions will be, then they forget about them so quickly. Honestly, I've never really made resolutions before. Ever. Maybe I wrote down a few token things in my journal, but that's it. I never thought about it really.

This year, I want to actually do something. But I think if I made a list of things, I'd forget about them too quickly. So, instead of a resolution, I'm going to call it this year's theme, the ongoing goal. It's one word: organize!

I want this to be the year of organization. I'll organize...

...my time. Get enough sleep and wake up before Dorothy and before Simon gets here. Do yoga and read my scriptures. Feel prepared for the day and have that time to myself. It really does things to my day when I immediately face the day unshowered, unfocused, unprepared and having to meet other people's needs before my own (diaper changes, baby food...).
I also want to have a little bit more structure for Dorothy, like a designated reading time, and a playtime where I set aside everything else and just play with her. It seems like she's always wanting me to read her books or come to her play kitchen so she can make me "meals" ("Mommy! Eat your garlic, cookies, and water!" That is an actual concoction she came up with playing with her pretend food the other day.) I do read and play with her a lot, but it seems like I squeeze it in between taking care of Simon, making meals, cleaning, etc. I want to make her more of a priority rather than squeezing in play when convenient.

...my home. One of my favorite things to do is look at decorating blogs and magazines. Most of all, pictures of organized closets, pantries, and shelves make my heart go pitter-pat. Obviously I want the visible things well organized, but I really love it when things that most people don't see are well organized. Sock drawers. Pantries. Tool chests. I especially love it when all the containers are pretty and match. I'm not kidding. I know it's a lofty (and maybe sometimes unreasonable) goal, but I want every closet door, every cupboard, and every bin to be pretty. I want to open every door and cupboard and sigh because it's so lovely. I have a long way to go, but luckily I live in a small apartment. : )
Also, I want to minimize. I want everything in my house to either be useful, beautiful or loved. No stockpiling of "stuff".

I have a game plan. I think I can do it!





images via RealSimple and Ohdeedoh.