Decluttering closets....again

 Our home is neat and tidy most of the time-except for the closets. I will declutter and organize, and a couple months later they are overrun with stuff again. I just spent the last 3 days going through everything we own-every closet, drawer and cupboard in the house.  I was shocked that I found about 8  bags of stuff to give away or throw away! This time I labeled the drawers and bins in the kitchen and bathroom closets so my kids know where to put things.

Kitchen closet:

Before                                                                         After

                                                           Bathroom closet

My upstairs hall closet:

 Here are some of the things I found while organizing that we have needed recently:

• glue gun
• gift bags
• a necklace
• missing game cards
• nail clippers
• post-it notes
• trash bags
• an overdue library book

My Bullet Journal 2017

 I started a Bullet Journal back in April.  It's been a great way to keep track of the different areas of my life.  In it I keep to-do lists, grocery lists, menu plans, books to read, quotes, homeschooling ideas, thoughts, my calendar and more.  It's been fun to decorate a page at the beginning of each month.  When I started it I wanted it to be artistic, neat and beautiful like many I had seen online, but I learned early on that I'm going to make mistakes and that's ok. I don't have the best handwriting anymore, and there are many pages where I have things crossed out, but I'm fine with it.   I've decorated throughout my journal with  washi-tape, stickers and stamps. I've used some fancy lettering and banners.  It's been great to look back and see the different things I've been interested in this year.  I will definitely continue to use my Bullet Journal into this new year!

December Daybook 2017

For Today:

Looking out my window... is a snowstorm! It's been snowing all day. 

I am thinking... about how over this past year I became interested in environmentalism, tiny houses, and minimalism. I started using my own bags, jars, water bottles, and coffee cups instead of disposable.  I tried composting for the first time, which felt so good; it really cut down on our trash. This year I want to start shopping at thrift shops. 

I am thankful... for life, love, our home, nice clothes, homeschooling, good health, family, and friends!

One of my favorite things... is having all of my kids sleep over on Christmas Eve. Only two more days!

I am creating... Christmas cards with Sophie.

I am wearing... a stripped hoodie, rose colored pants, and warm, gray winter socks.

I am reading... Wonder by R.J. Palacio.  It's one of Sophie's favorite books. After seeing the movie, I decided to read it. Sophie and I are listening to Christy by Catherine Marshall.

I am watching... Wonder and The Last Jedi.  I went to the theater twice this month-very unusual for me. Wonder was awesome-I cried!  Watching Star Wars with my family is always fun!

I am listening to... Christmas music of course! And Lindsey Sterling.

I am hoping... to do even better with my budget this new year.   I'm planning a 90 day no spending challenge starting in January. 

I am learning... new work skills. Last month I finished the WorkReady class, and in a few weeks I'll be starting a 15 week Office Occupations class. 

In my kitchen... We've stopped eating out. This month I've followed my meal plans pretty well. This week we had mushroom and zucchini enchiladas. They were so yummy! And I made enchilada sauce for the first time!

In the school room...the kids have been working hard, and I am very proud of them! Christian is in his senior year of homeschooling and is getting A's in all of his classes.  Sophie has been asking for more school books, so I will be ordering more.  This last week we found a cool online history game called Mission US.

A moment from my day:

Sophie and her friend making Christmas cookies last week.

Reading Log Sept/Oct/Nov

Christian 
The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
The Magician's Nephew  by C.S. Lewis
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Star Wars Aftermath
Life Debt by Chuck Wending
The History of Sonic the Hedgehog
Star Wars Episode 1 Darth Maul
Star Wars Bloodline by Claudia Gray
Pokemon Adventures Ruby & Sapphire by Hidenori Kusakal

Sophie
Short by Holly Goldburg Sloan
Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements
The Thing About Leftovers by C.C. Payne
Drive Me Crazy by Terra Elan McVoy
About Average by Andrew Clements
Sign Language by Amy Ackley
The Penderwicks on Gardem Street by Jeanne Birdsall
The Importance of Wings by Robyn Friedman
The Mother Daughter Book Club by Heather Vogal Frederick
The Mother Daughter Book Club: Much Ado About Anne by Heather Vogal Frederick
The Mother Daughter Book Club: Pies and Prejudice by Heather Vogal Frederick
All The Things You Are by Courtney Sheinmal
Small Acts of Amazing Courage by Gloria Whellan
Perfect by Natasha Freind
The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time Series by Akria Himekawa
The Report Card by Andrew Clements
Holes by Lewis

Tracey
The Omnivore's Dilemma: a natural history of four meals by Michael Pollan
The town that food saved: how one community found vitality in local food by Ben Hewitt
Modified: GMOs and the threat to our food, our land, our future by Caitlin Shetterly
Made from scratch: discovering the pleasures of a handmade life by Jenna Woginrich
Wolly: the true story of the quest to revive one of history's most iconic creatures by Ben Mezrich
Between breaths: a memoir of panic and addiction by Elizabeth Vargas
Not buying it: my year without shopping by Judith Levine