Simplify.  It’s the name of the game here.  And to do that, we have to organize, organize, organize.

Not that we work better under pressure, but this is my sister’s last week here for the summer.  We’re in the midst of one hundred and twenty seven projects or so.  She’s dusting my books (the kind of dusting where she takes the books off the bookshelves, you know).  I’m working on a project for next month at YLCF.  She’s making granola and cookies and zucchini bread.  I’m paying bills and hoping to see the wood that is my desk before she leaves.

I went through my entire closet and most of my dresser yesterday.  She lent her fashion advice.  Why is it that half the things I’m thinking of getting rid of she decides to say are “so cute!”?  Of course, the other half she declines when I offer them to her and I know that probably is my cue to get rid of them.  In sorting my clothes, it became obvious that I have a thing for tank tops and skirts.  I own a lot of jeans, too, but they don’t all fit me at once—they are for each of the different stages of pre, post, and maternity wear.  But my tank tops and skirts?  Yes.  An addiction.  At least the tank tops wear out and can be disposed of (and replaced!) as they do.  But my skirts?  I’m attached to the cuteness.  New resolution: wear skirts more often for everyday.  (Especially since I only have very few one pair of capris and one pair of jeans that fit me right now.  Maybe I need to buy more jeans?)

When my mom was here a few weeks ago, we delved into the girls’ toys and clothes.  My girls also own enough dresses for several more little girls.  And my son?  He could have been twins and still have plenty of clothes!  People have been so generous with gifts and hand-me-downs.

So I have a huge box for the children’s consignment shop.  And I gave a big box to my mother-in-law last night (she was excited to have new clothes—and I was excited to get rid of them!).

But of course, each project seems to lead to opening yet another can of worms.  Like when Aunt Katie came over yesterday with all the hair thingies that don’t work on her hair now that she cut it short.  After the girls had emptied them all over the table and floor and was wearing them as necklaces, rings, and bracelets (rather than the headbands and rubber bands they were!), I decided I might as well go through all my hair things as well.  (Same thing—I cut my hair short and don’t wear most of them anymore!)  That mess spent half the day on the kitchen table.  And of course when I got under my bathroom sink to dig out all my bobby pins I discovered that a some hand manicure cream had leaked all over one drawer which led to washing the drawer and everything in it and reorganizing everything in the bathroom cupboard!  Like I said, a can of worms.

And then there were my adorable little flower pots.  Ones that I’ve collected because they were too cute.  But they’ve sat in my closet un-used because they are too small to be practical, for roots or for watering purposes.  They are now all washed and on their way to be consigned.

I’m in the mood to simplify.  I got Tsh Oxenreider’s (of the Simple Mom website) book Organized Simplicity from the library but was so behind in everything I only finally opened it when it was about due back!  But the first few chapters I did read were very inspiring.  It’s back on hold.  And I’m going to read the whole thing this time.  (The whole family mission statement idea could make for some great date night conversation this fall, methinks.)

But meanwhile?  It’s back to simplifying and organizing and finishing those one hundred and five projects before I don’t have my sister’s help any more!