Where'd Last Week Go? and a To-Do List for Today

Those of you long time readers know that last week was much more typical of my usual blogging style....and honestly will probably be more typical until this summer again. How I wrote so many posts in January floors me---except obviously my brain is back to constantly going again and I have a lot on my mind. My mental check-out/hiatus time in Louisiana is apparently over. Well, and I'm sure the fact that I'm trying to be more authentic in my writing has to help also! 

So what have we been up to? Oh you know, the usual busy busy. 

--Did I mention that hub is volunteering in the vet office on his campus and he's still been acing his exams? 

-- Mondays are now an extra catch-up day (read: everything I can't do in the actual office gets done & any leftover grading/prepping). Plus house work and errands.

--Week 6 of the term---which means students are stressed. Love my jobs but Tues-Thurs is usually very draining. Last week had many more meetings and lots of isolated issues to solve. 

--Thursday evenings have continued to be his and my catch-up nights...and we're living for our weekends of downtime. We're trying to continue to be engaged with others, but I'm not going to lie, for the most part I've been feeling purposely anti-social lately.

Extra busy: 

--Friday was the Northwest Environmental Health conference. Most the information I'd already read..but networking within the environmental health scene was great. A current colleague is a friend who I don't get to see enough, and she and I were able to grab (many) drinks after the conference.

--Saturday the health dept I teach in had a volunteer afternoon at Oregon Food Bank. We were part of a larger group, and together we sorted & bagged over 9,000lbs of frozen green beans! Afterward we had a casual dept meeting.

The weather has had a few bright moments so we've started thinking of all the yard projects to tackle this spring/summer. Also need to start thinking about the garden...and hub is looking at used food dehydrators. Obviously the good weather gets us back out running/hiking too! We've been letting the chickens wander around outside more during the days we're home. Pretty funny to see them at the backdoor with the dogs, as if they think they want in too:

Hub is seriously cracking me up with this whole "one-green-change-a-month" thing, which apparently has changed into a challenge between us at being "greener." Um, hub, I hate to tell ya but I was queen of the green & simple living scene before we got together...ahem, ahem. I'm not going to lie---it's been AWESOME because he's doing many of the little things I didn't want to nag about, except on his own accord. Our Feb challenge items (biking and green cleaning) are so-so, but bigger picture wise, I'm really proud of where we're moving toward...together. Just for your entertainment,  here's a recent convo in our house:

Hub: Did I see that you've finally started following my smart green trick of using the quick wash cycle in order to save water?

Me: Yes, weirdo, for most things I am....AND I almost always use cold water to save energy....beyond the green detergent we use.

Hub: Hmmm....(wearing an expression of "damn, she's got one on me....), well I just might have to start trying that.

As mentioned we focused much weekend energy on organizing and cleaning the house. Got word this morning that the new coworker will arrive Wednesday night---his room is ready! Hub and I have been joking that it feels like we just moved in with each other honestly: first time we've shared a closet and a bathroom in two years. With how much we like change, this house overhaul has been great so far. Hub rearranged the kitchen, we moved the desk into the living room, and the entry way shelf will be used as a bar in the dining area. Much cleaning and rearranging of pictures has occurred. And I'm not going to lie, I'm actually liking being in the back bedroom:

Which leaves me to today's docket. The system delete/recovery just completed on my old laptop, so it and two bags of stuff will be taken to Goodwill for donation/recycling. Need to make a return to Freddies and get groceries. Need to buy a bale of hay for bedding for the chickens. Need to grade the online assignments. Need to finish two picture collages and finalize cleaning the guest bathroom.  There's a bag of random recycling to be donated, and about 15 items I should take care of for my other job. Plus a few other things: but we'll see what all gets done!

Hope you all have a great week ahead of you! More than likely, I'll catch ya next weekend :)

So Much Stuff

So I have to start by saying two things. One, I've known that I had a few unattended to-do items around the house that I've been wanting to get to since we moved in. Two, I seriously think that I try to be mindful about not having too much stuff around and I try to either not bring too much in or I continuously weed out stuff.

BUT let me tell all y'all, we have SO much stuff! I seriously don't even know how we've accumulated so much. I recognize the furniture came in bits and pieces til we had a full house....but I don't know how we've filled SO many nooks and crannies in the process also.

All this realization came into being today as hub and I have been tackling rearranging and reorganizing the house. Why are we doing this you might be wondering? Well because starting this coming week and then by the beginning of March, our two "extra" rooms will be used by other people. Our first housemate is to arrive sometime this coming week and then our friend will move in by March 1st.

Over the holidays hub and I had moved our couches around, so we started out today by moving back to the old lay-out which is more space conscience. Then hub and I decided to move our bedroom to the one that has a bathroom adjacent to it. This way once we're all in the house, there will be two people per bathroom rather than 3 using one and 1 using the other. Our spare bedrooms were being used as a guest room/my closet central and as hub's man cave/office/closet. So with the new lay-out, hub lost his man cave and the desk moved out to the living room, and the guest room is becoming less personalized with our things and will be used as a furnished room for my new coworker.

This has also meant that we've had to consolidate closets....and move into our own bedroom....and honestly that might be the hardest part for us. I know we've been spoiled with the extra space and honestly even in Louisiana we had separate rooms/closets at times. Since we've been in Oregon, we've created a unified master but we've really grown to enjoy being able to get dressed in other separate rooms. We're able to have more space for our stuff and also don't disturb whoever is still trying to sleep. Somehow we were able to cram all our stuff into the one closet in our new bedroom space, but there's no longer space for any of the other things we'd have in our closets now either. So the hall closets are also getting re-organized and we're going to have to tap into some new storage options (ie using one of the two closets in the room that our buddy will have and moving some stuff into the garage).

But honestly, what all this reorganization is showing me is just how much stuff we have accumulated. Honestly when it comes to the clothes and shoes, hub and I actually wear almost all of what we have throughout the year (we're both big on layering) so I don't feel like much of it is unjustified in those areas. Where I am noticing extras is with books, paper, electronics, hiking boots....and all those little things that add up and take up space overall. I'm also realizing that I really need to suck it up and find myself a two drawer file cabinet, so I can have my teaching stuff, etc all organized and easily accessible.

This evening I collected one garbage bag to take to Goodwill and a bag of paper recycling. I also have another smaller bag of cell phone cords/parts, used CDs, etc to take to the recycling center. There is still so much stuff to get rid of and I seriously just keep looking around in our closets and in cupboards asking myself over and over "Do we actually use this stuff?!"

Hub was amazing today and did a ton while I was gone for a work/volunteer session and meeting. Even the chickies have a new housing lay-out out in the shed that hub researched and created for them today. By the end of this evening, all the furniture has been moved inside. So tomorrow will be my job to keep organizing and getting the final touches in place. The catch is getting rid of enough....but ensuring I don't pass on or recycle any of the items that hub is wanting me to hold on to---always a tough one!

Woo---here's to a day of organization and cleaning tomorrow! But hopefully it'll end with a lot less STUFF and a bit more piece of mind, while creating space for two others in our home. :)

Re-Organization is Totally Fulfilling

If there's one thing you should know about hub and I, it's that we both like change. A second thing is that we both tend to let little side projects stack up.

Now I don't know if it's that we're supposed to have house guests this weekend, the fact that we just spent two weekends with our somewhat pack-rat-like parents, or the reality that we've been living in this house for nine months now, but today was a day of rearranging and some project finishing. We'd already somewhat moved the furniture around so we could have the tree in the house, but today we swapped it around further and into a more cohesive arrangement. Our large red sectional is now in our front room (which I originally didn't want because our carpeting is a light blue.....however once you live with blue for months it starts to feel like a neutral), and our other couch and chair moved to the TV den area. Art work got moved around the rooms and walls and some new picture configurations were created. The area rugs also got swapped around to better match the new furniture arrangements. And for now we're both happy with the new lay-outs......well until after the next six months when we're again ready for something new ;)

I also finally took the time to print out a variety of pictures of our closest friends (thanks Facebook for granting me some great pictures!) and got them arranged in the collage-like frame I'd bought for that purpose months ago. It's nice to see the faces of some of our dearest hanging in the hallway and it's great to have the large frame finally off of the guest room floor!

We re-organized our entry area and cleaned up the shelf that sits there too. In addition, the rest of the Christmas presents were put away, books were shelved, the carpets were vacuumed, the house was dusted, the bathroom and guest room were given the once over, and baby cousin's wedding gift was readied.

Sometimes it's great to spend a day just plain re-organizing and ordering one's surroundings. Although there are still things to weed through (some of which I've been wanting to do even before we moved back). I finally took a bunch of my old financial papers to shred at work, but we've both still got stacks of magazines to go through and then recycle. I've got a bag of old batteries to recycle, a box or two of CDs and other junk taking up room in the garage, stacks of old papers on environmental topics I've been toting around with me for the last three years (including countless similar emails), we've got two old laptops to clean off and pass on, and I'm sure my closet could use another weeding through. Unfortunately all those items will have to continue to wait til "another day" however.

But for now I'm glad for what we did accomplish today and the house is just about back to feeling cozy again!

Needing an Organized Routine

The days seem to be out of whack lately with late nights leading to sleeping-in mornings. I haven't slept this much nor this long since college, but somehow I feel like it must be good for me?! I'm sure it's a by-product of a) time changes b) stress (both from pre- and post- move) c) the reality that I'm using my brain power a bit more and in new ways d) travel and e) a change or lack of any real routine....

SO a couple of my newest goals should be: to develop a new routine and to get a bit more organized. An established routine should probably reflect on my health background and include set sleep schedules, consistent exercise, and proper nutrition---as it's dawned on me that recently I have not been focusing on balanced nutrition either. On a positive note, I've gotten in four 3-4 mile runs since being in Oregon so far though.

In the course of 10 days that we have been in Oregon, I feel like we have done much, but scattered--ly. ;) Hub took a weekend trip to our hometown this last weekend to see many of his friends and family that he hadn't seen in over two years, and I held down the fort while completing three social/family outings of my own and taking a day trip to meet family at the beach house. We've had a couple afternoons working in the yard, several trips to Home Depot, and a great recent visit from my brother. I had a meeting at my new job and hub met a friend for lunch while checking out the commute to downtown via public transport. We've set up all utilities, installed a new thermostat, researched the kiwi tree out back, ordered a replacement dishwasher for the rental, and run numerous errands.  Somewhere in the midst of all the other daily details and social visits, we're also attempting to relax....I think.

Today itself was a pretty productive day all around, even if it took until about noon to actually get motivated. The hub finally found a decent wood source on craigslist and bought/hauled/stacked half-cord that he can use to heat the living room. I got tired of having little odds and ends and half un-packed items lingering all over the house, so I finished unpacking 3 more boxes, hung the rest of the pictures on the walls, rearranged and updated a few picture collages, organized our living spaces, and did three loads of laundry. The hub organized his office area while I set up my syllabus for my class, introduced myself to the online system, and took care of some other needed online details of life. This evening we went on our first Oregon run together and then hub made dinner while I vacuumed the house. And I'm pretty sure tonight was our first real meal eaten at the table together in the new house---finally. In fact, it finally feels like our house is a home...and that in a sense we have settled.

We still have much to do--people to see, work to get started, and the entire yard to start on....but I'm pretty sure I need to be starting my days off with a check list of things to get done and an earlier start time that includes a better balanced breakfast. :)

Hope each of you has been well and blessed!

Flexibility is King

"The best made plans are those made in pencil."

This is similar to a quote that was posted on an old friend's fridge for years and it's one that has stuck with me ever since I first noticed it. It's one that I consistently tell my clients as I attempt to help them de-stress and successfully plan their own transitions out of the military.

And it's one of the first thoughts that came to mind today when the hub let me know that a slight miscalculation on the military's part has pushed back the day we'll be leaving Louisiana by a few days. So we're doing what every good military family does.....we're being flexible. Maybe the new "plan" brainstormed today will follow through and maybe it won't, but we're rearranging what we'd started out planning and changing up reservations. We'll also be spending a few days with our pals down the road.....but regardless, this weekend, we've got to start packing!

So we're hauling out the boxes I've used, flattened, and reused for the last 10 years of moves. We've collected extra boxes from shipments to my office and the local GNC store. We'll haul out the old packing paper I've used throughout the last ten years and we'll pull down extra towels and bedding for packing filler. We'll pack what we can now from the kitchen and spare bedroom. We'll start to clean up parts of the house. And then we'll just enjoy what we can until we can get to the next stage of the moving process. But better to start now on what we can than leave it all to the end.

Hope you each enjoy a wonderful weekend! 

Cleaning the Way to Free and Easy

Last night was a fabulous evening....and it all was because of cleaning. I know, what a way for a 28 year old to want to spend an evening, but I have to say the only way I don't clean the house on Friday evening and/or Saturday morning is if the hub begs me otherwise or we already have other scheduled plans. To me a clean house just sets the relaxing tone for the rest of the weekend and the ready status for the coming week. When I come home on a Friday and whip through the house organizing, dusting, clearing the junk away from the week before, and spic spanning most everything in sight then the rest of the weekend just feels free and easy. When there's no more cleaning to do, then I'm free to enjoy the restful nature and spontaneity of moments of two days ahead....and I'm still prepared for the work week to come.

Now if you're a germ-a-phob then you probably wouldn't be super thrilled at my approach to cleaning. I'm much more into the appearance of my home and leaving the house looking spic and span. I've learned how to easily get it done in about two hours but I don't focus on killing every bacteria and germ. I believe in the ol' adage that God made dirt so dirt can't hurt--I just don't want to see it!. So we spray the counters and wipe them down, I dust the shelves and chairs, we vacuum up canister after canister of dog hair, we scrub the toilet and the bathtub surfaces, and we throw the clothes and towels through the wash. If hub's work clothes are particularly grungy from the field then we'll use a bit hotter water, if we've had guests I always change the sheets, and every other week we use a bit harsher of chemicals to scrub mineral build up off the tub.....but for the most part we try to use "green" and easy cleaning methods. We don't stress out about 100% germ free nor about deep cleaning most anything.

Nightly I wipe down kitchen counters, pick up around the house, water outdoor plants, and we wash larger dishes by hand. Twice a week we pick up the yard from the animals and clean out the litter box (they use it about once a week right now since they're outside 50%). About once a week we dust, launder clothes and kitchen/bath towels, vacuum, organize, take inventory of the fridge, clean the bathroom, run the dishwasher, and take out the recycling and trash. Every other week I wash our sheets and sweep the patios. About once a month I wash the rest of the blankets on our bed and used as throws, vacuum out the car, wash the dogs (if we haven't taken them somewhere to swim). Once a season the hub mops the kitchen floor (a job I loathe, it gets vacuumed weekly), we clean up the garage, I wipe down the baseboards, and we vacuum the corners and under things.

So while I'm sure we wouldn't win any "most clean" prize, it never fails to look and be comfortable and presentable regardless of unannounced visitors. I quite enjoy the mad dash of the Friday evening cleaning spree as it makes great closure for the last week and leaves us prepared for the week to come. Free and easy for two days of enjoyment just focusing on each other, the dogs, and fun.

Photo Project Day 19: Orderly

I once hung out with a guy who mentioned that cops judge vehicles based on their level of care by their owners, as sometimes an unkept vehicle/home/etc can be a sign of an unkept person.  Those words of wisdom have been some I have reflected upon many times.  I've always been an orderly person but ever since then I've definitely made more of an effort to keep my surroundings presentable.  One of the hardest adjustments for me has been sharing what was my car with my husband.  He's been working a lot in the field this last week so I had the chance to give the car a good wipe down and vacuuming--somehow the opposite is true at times---organizing one's surroundings can organize the mind. I always found that statement to be true when I had a big assignment to do---organizing my surroundings allowed me to focus more squarely on my work.

Hope everyone's been having a good week!  It's FRIDAY!