Creating a work space that works for you

Back in December I moved in with my Father to help with expenses of the house and putting my Mom in a ALZ facility. It was a win-win situation for both of us as I was able to get away from the mold infested house and also help Dad.

With that in mind, I went from a 3 bedroom/2 bath home to a single bedroom and a converted room/closet in the garage for my crafts.  I also went from a Queen size bed to a single size.  So some major adjustments.

The first thing I had to accomplish besides putting my personal things, clothes, makeup, etc away was to set up my desk area. 

I needed it to be functional, easy access to what I need and also a happy place since it would be in the corner of my bedroom.  Here is the result and I will explain as I post the pictures:

 The above picture is my actual work area - I have an "L" shaped desk and above my desk I have pictures of my grandchildren and a old-timey one of my daughter and I.  I was going to put a cork board for notes, etc but this is a happier thing to look at.  I am still looking for a nice picture of my son and I to add to the collection.  I have an adjustable lamp in the corner if I need additional lighting.  I also have my Cardinal Scent thingy that currently has Pina Colada scent in it.  It is a relaxing smell to me.

 I use a planner daily - sometime hourly as this goes with me whereever I go.  It looks really blue in this picture but it is actually a Teal Malibu from Day-Timers.  I belong to several Planner groups on Facebook and have learned so much from these ladies on how to be efficient with my planner. 

My neighbor made me this stand so that I can glance over at my planner and see it, jot a note on a particular day or just to keep it visible.  I love it and plan on asking him to make me another for my office outside the house.  As my schedule gets busiers - I will need it. 

I also color code in my Planner.   I don't have to keep track of multiple bosses, kids or grand-kids schedules any more but old habits die hard.  I love looking at my planner and knowing that a certain color is for a certain activity/chore.

Finally this is my storage area.  On top is the electronics (kind of messing in this picture), the box is a wine box I got from Sam's Club many years ago.  I have many of these and love that they work for so many different things.  I have my DVD's, VHS Movies in some as well as my Bible and study books.  In these planners/binders I have my information for RAKS/Swaps that I am in, extra day on 2 pages for my planner (I only keep 2-3 months in my planner) and a binder with misc papers in it.

The second shelf holds my washi tape for decorating my planner and decorative shaped clips.  The next shelf is my in basket - need to do some filing (LOL) and the bottom shelf is my clipboard with my to-do for the day/week and another box of extra planner inserts.

This set-up works for me and I seem to get more done now that I have it finally set for me.  I love it when something works for me and not me working for it.

Happy "NEW" Year

Firstly a huge thank you goes out to Diann and Linda for helping all of us grow our blogs.

I am looking forward to a new year, a new me and definite new friends.

Since my last post, I packed the mold filled house I was living in, moved, had 2 separate Christmas Celebrations with the family and slept in the New Year.  (Not as young as I used to be).

Stay tuned for some new and exciting posts on making your Days E-Z!

Wow - I can't believe it has been over 2 months since I last posted.  Tons of things have happened -

The family was reunited to my Great Nephew who we last saw when he was 6ish and he is now 20 and grown up.

My mom was placed in a Private Nursing Home for ALZ patients.  She has adjusted better that we expected.  Still miss her terribly but she is only a few blocks away and I can go see her whenever I want.

My life is far from settled down - I am back on the med's thank God.  I have decided to move out of the house that is causing me so many health issues and move in with dear ole Dad and try to help him out both financially and to have company.  I may not always be the best company - but the dogs will keep him going too!

So with that being said - I wanted to share a decision with all of you.  Several people including my neighbor who I adore as a good friend - have told me in the last few weeks that I am way to patient and giving to my family and friends and that I need to take some time for me.  Do things that I want to do - like get back to my crafting, go walking to build up my lungs and lose weight, etc.

I have always chosen a word for the year to work on - so this year I am choosing the word:

                                                              ME

I am going to do things for me and work on rebuilding me. I am making an appointment for a mani/pedi/eyebrow waxing the last week of the month,  then I am going to go to one of the local stores for a cosmetic make over and get my hair styled/colored or whatever.  I am also starting a new healthy eating and fitness program.  I also would like to get my dental work finished and new dentures that fit/

I plan on making changes to the blog as well - no more pity party posts - more organizing, balancing life, budgeting (which I stink at and need to do badly), planner addictions, crafting, etc. Topic ideas are welcome.

Thanks for hanging with me and here is to a New Year of Blessings and Happiness - Welcome 2014 you can't get here fast enough for me.

Just Breathe - Part 2

While I am still not 100% I want to share the steps that I am taking in order to get control again.  Please keep in mind that these are not necessarily in the order of importance.

I found a clinic that only accepts donations and have been able to get back on my medications.  That was the first and most important step.  My thyroid and hormones levels were so out of whack and now we have managed to get them under control again.  Back in the late 90's I had a radical hysterectomy due to late stage 1 - early stage 2 cancer and afterwards found out I was allergic to Hormone Replacement Therapy so they put my on Prozac.  Believe it or not with my backwards system - it does control the mood swings and most importantly the hot flashes or power surges and mini tropical vacations as I like to call them. Living in Florida with the heat and humidity - sometimes I wish it was a long arctic vacation!

1) I have studied to be a professional organizer and seeing my life in shambles was not acceptable.  I had frazzled energy as the medications starting working (Small doses until we could get back to the level I was on without throwing me in an different tizzy.)  I started working first on small projects - under the bathroom sinks, on one to the closets in the master area - it is where I keep my slacks and some extra supplies, towels and sheets for my area, etc.  By working on smaller projects I was able to refocus my thoughts and energy while decluttering and organizing my house. Until I could get myself sorted out and my home - I didn't feel like I could offer help to anyone else.

2)  It is important to have a role model.  My Mom has always been mine - when things went awry as they do - I could always depend on Mom for assistance, guidance and a back up plan.  Now with her being put in a home for ALZ - that was not the case.  So I had to take a step back - hitch up the britches again and ask "If Mom was here - what would she do?"  The first thing I realized that I have to focus on something besides my negative pity pot attitude but more importantly I remember her always asking "Have you given this to God to handle?" That should always be our first choice

3)  Sleep - although this was something I didn't think I was having a problem with because I was sleeping a lot just not relaxed and restful.  Setting a bedtime and sticking to it has helped.  I normally go to bed at 9PM and then I either read or watch a movie (remember due to financial obligations - I shut off my cable).  I normally fall asleep or get drowsy and turn off the TV and then the movie continues until it rewinds and then shuts off.  I also have a wake up time between 6-7AM depending on the dogs and granddaughters (I keep the 2 youngest of a morning before school).

4) Daily and Nightly Routines - this is important!  By going back to my daily morning and evening routines I managed to get a sense of normality back in my life.  Yes I may have been working through them without putting thought or my heart into it in the beginning, but as I got back to my normal habits - soing my routines and doing what I always go - kept things in perspective and help me get my home and life back on the organized track that it was both in my thinking, actions and planning.  There were days in the beginning (and even now) that I felt like a robot and worked through the chore but it gave me time to re-group and get into another project. 

Having lists and routines allows for adjustments if I am  having a bad day or an emergency comes up.  It give me a plan of how to deal with things and makes me feel more peaceful and more in control versus frazzled and chaotic.  Being able to chose what I can eliminate off my routine to handle the current situation and knowing that it will get moved to the next day makes it less stressful.  That is one reason I stick to 3 MIT's (Most important tasks) for my daily planning.  Some days just don't go the way we plan!!  God has shown me that many times over the last 18 months and continues to do so daily.

5) I make time for myself, my bible/prrayer time and my crafting.  These are my relaxors or as I call them my escape from reality.  I have a chair in my living room (currently occupied by my fur babies) that has a basket with my various books I read - Guidepost, Praying through the Lord's Prayer, etc.  I can choose to read just my bible and the daily lesson from Our Daily Bread or I can do some crafting or all of the above.  That is what is good about "ME" time - I do what I want.

I am in no way over the depression totally but this has given me a better handle on getting my life back. Please feel free to comment - I would love to hear how you are working your way out of depression and sorrow.

" Just Breathe"

I love that song by Faith Hill and the title has so applied to me over the last 18 months.  Let me share somethings with you and maybe you can understand and give me some insights and tips.

Turn back time to June 2011 - My dear Uncle Don who was instrumental in bringing me up - passed away.  I was at my son's home in South Florida when dad called to tell me. It hit me like a ton of bricks.  You see - my mom was in the early stages of ALZ and my dad for various reasons move to Spring Hill so that he could be closer to mom's family.  (My dad is an only child.)  So not only did we lose my Uncle, but Dad lost a close friend and Brother that he never had.

I had lost my job with Walmart and my benefits as well and I was living on a part time income which was not (and still isn't) making the bills. Bwecause of that I still do no have insurance and have to resort to going either to the emergency room or to a free (donations accepted) clinic.  I was not able to get my medications refilled for several months.  That being said I slipped into a depressed state where the slightest comment could set me off in a flood of tears.  I had even thought of ending things.

Fast forward to October 21, where I received another phone call from my dad to tell me that my niece-in-law had been shot (freak accident) and did not make it.  I fell apart again and with my dad and my Son and Daughter-in-Law we took the 1 1/2 hour trip to their home to be there for my nephew and his 3 boys.  Now I didn't have the best relationship with either my nephew or niece-in-law, but I still cared for her and she was the mother to those precious boys.  I had no idea what was going on in the house.  Beth was a neat freak - germ phobic who made you take your shoes off and use hand sanitizer before you touched the boys.  I can see where in her mind her life went to hell in a hangbag too - she did a complete 180 and was not focused on her home and raising the boys properly.  Enough said there.

Because I was still in a state of depression and shock over the losses and now watching my mother go downhill fast - I only did what it took to get by - feed and walk my dogs, go to work, come home, sleep (if possible).  I did not housework, no outside activities, no crafts, no computer or Facebook, Pinterest, etc.  Any little comment or picture or anything for that manner - would send me in a flood of tears and sobs.  I couldn't handle the day to day stuff other than showering, taking care of myself and the dogs.

I knew that this was not a healthy choice I had made and always being able to snap back to reality  My BFF told me I was like one of those punching clowns - you hit me hard and I bounce right back up - I knew that this time I wasn't coming back up.  I felt like I was suffocating in my own depression and needed to take a step back. Being a country girl - I hitched up my britches, tightened the belt and figured out what the dickens was wrong with me and made a plan to get it right.  My bad day that I had back in June has lasted a little over a year now.

Self evaluation is the hardest thing to do - especially when you are depressed - you can make all kinds of excuses as to why you are the way you are.  I think it is harder to accept than constructive criticism from others.  Anyway I needed to figure out the root of the problem and a way to fix it.  One of my main problems is lack of patience and although I knew in my heart there was a way to fix these problems, I needed to find it and fast,  I was fighting so many battles and not only was I losing them but I was dog tired as well.

I found out that trying to figure out and then fix the problem on a challenging day only made the matters worse.  I needed to wait until I was emotionally stronger to fix some things.  If at the time I felt better about myself and the problem - I could work though it.  Most of the time the problem would work itself out, become less of an issue for me or become non-existant.  If it remained an issue then in a different frame of mind I was able to see the trees for the forest and work through the issues.

I will share later what I did to get out of this depression and start slowing re-living for me and my family. More to come.......

Planner Addicts

I have joined the FB group - Planner Addicts and I am happy to report I am not the ONLY one who is addicted to planners, paper and pens!  OH MY

Thanks to Toni from a Bowl Full of Lemons - we have a wonderful group of women (mostly I think) that are sharing photos, planner ideas and pages with us.

Please feel free to join us over there as we get organized and all planned out for the day, week, month or remainder of the year.

Here's a link if you want to join - we are a closed group.  https://www.facebook.com/groups/planneraddicts

Oh Happy Day

I have been trying since before Memorial Day to get pictures of my tablescape in the main dining area.  Camera battery is dead and I cannot find a replacement in any of the stores - finally found a rechargeable one on-line.

Anyway - got the cell phone and took some pictures - downloaded them to the computer and couldn't find them anywhere.  After several minutes of frustration, I walked away from the computer. 

Fast forward 12 hours and here they are.

Tabalecloth was purchased at WalMart - plates and cups which look like paper plates are actually plastic and I bought them at the Target $ Spot.  I totally love the look:

The red charger plates I bought at a yard sale for $1.00 and I made a little arrangement from some Red, White and Blue flowers I had.  I will keep this table scape until after the 4th of July.  Maybe all summer as I totally love it.