Five Weekly Goals: More Decluttering and Organizing

One of these days I will get my act together and post on a weekly basis. Posting is actually helping me with accountability. I am participating in the Five Weekly Goals linky hosted at Our Heart and Home. Let's start off with seeing what I accomplished last week.

What I Accomplished:

1.) The coupon system is completely set-up and organized. I actually accomplished this goal a long time ago, but I am just now getting to post about it. You can read my review for Christi the Coupon Coach's book titled Couponing Made Simple if interested. 

Card Box
Sorting Coupons by Goods

Accordion File
Favorite Stores
Use and File Tabs

Coupon Printer Installed
Printed Extra Coupons

2.) The towels are finally placed on dusted shelves, but I can honestly say I do not like how it looks. This is in our master closet. I will have to decide how I will eventually organize them. Where are all my towels? I guess I have more laundry to do.

3.) Our poor Calendar Math and Spanish Learning Area was neglected yet again. I keep getting distracted by the number of boxes crowding the school room. Even though the learning area is not yet organized (partly because items are still in storage), I did manage to unpack several of our math boxes. I realized that I am missing several math manipulative tubs. I still have a lot more to organize in this area! UGH!

4.) Now . . . for the tough topic. Working out! I am not going to lie - I haven't started working out at all. Nope - nothing! We found out that our television died during the move. We were given one from Jeff's parents, but he can't life anything yet and I can't lift it either so we are waiting until after his recovery. I am getting more motivated, especially since I can no longer fit in ANY of my clothes including the larger sized jeans I stored after losing 22 pounds (which is ALL back). YIKES! I am patiently waiting on the television for the workout room so that I can use my aerobic DVD's and VHS workout videos again. Yes, I am a little old school! However, the workout programs I use are not all old school. I miss working out! I need to do it soon! Before I can even attempt this task, I must break down the empty boxes that are stored in that room and move some large workout equipment. Do you see the machine hiding behind the boxes? It is in the way. The large ladder in the right corner of the photo must also be removed from the room.

5.) We did hang up several pictures in the house. All three pictures have been hung in Alyssa's room. We still have a couple boxes containing family photos to unpack. We also hung a picture by the entrance and in our bathroom.

Alyssa's Room

Dining Room

Five New Weekly Goals

1.) I have way too many passwords to track. I can't remember them all. I need to get this pile organized. I started out writing them on post-its sticking them on the computer. Then, I decided to stick them inside a mini spiral notebook. The sticky adhesive is wearing off and I need a new system. The spiral has doodled notes everywhere. I don't trust online password systems (at least not at this point in my life). I found a Rolodex password organizer idea on Pinterest. I didn't want to pay the price for the Rolodex so I grabbed a 3x5 card file box on sale during back-to-school sales. Don't forget to use those coupons! If I only accomplish one goal this week, then it needs to be this one! I wanted to share the photo but I didn't want to reveal my passwords. It's a mess! 

2.) I need to start organizing the spelling and writing area of the schoolroom. I noticed that I have many junk boxes that were thrown together at the last minute in that area. I hope to go through and purge items from at least three boxes. We did get the spelling board and word work storage containers on the shelf. I am trying not to get overwhelmed. We are slowly seeing the floor. We were able to mop the library or reading area, but this side obviously needs a good mopping soon. 

3.) The storage shed is still stuffed. After Jeffry's surgery, moving and unpacking boxes stopped. I need to figure out exactly what I have left in the shed that needs to be moved immediately to the house or schoolroom. I hope to make a list of what I can see in the front and work my way to the back eventually. I tried to photograph the inside of the 30x30 shed, but I realized we never put in lights. It is too dark to photograph. It'll be fun sorting things out. 

4.) I will finish my Bible Study Guide For All Ages review either tonight or tomorrow tonight so that I can edit and work on the other reviews due soon. I will also start typing curriculum choices by subject on my blog. This always helps me start on time, keeps my thoughts organized, and helps me remember resources I want to use during the year. I love reading about other people's curriculum choices as well so I hope to have a little time to explore the blogs linked up at The Fifth Annual Not-Back-To-School Blog Hop at iHomeschool Network. We probably won't start the new year until the end of August or beginning of September with new fall curriculum. We school year-round, but the curricula and schedule is different. The summer curriculum and pace is more relaxed. We have a lot of organizing to do before I feel ready to start full force.

5.) I need to have a mother-daughter date with Alyssa this week. My husband has spent a lot of time with her lately especially since he is home recovering. My time with her has been limited to mainly school time. I plan to carve out a day (hopefully Wednesday) to spend a little one-on-one quality time together. No School! She wants to go book shopping and to the pet store. I would like to also take her to lunch and for a movie if possible. We'll see.

My five weekly goals for this week have been posted. Hopefully, I get something done besides reviews and blog posts. Good luck with all of your goals!

What goals did you accomplish this week? What are your new goals?

Be sure to visit Our Heart and Home to add your Five Weekly Goals or to provide encouragement to others. I will also link up at Money Saving Mom.

Five Weekly Goals: Slowly Making Progress

Howdy everyone! This is my second week participating in the Five Weekly Goals hosted at Our Heart and Home. I did manage to accomplish some of my goals this week. I am making progress and that's really what matters.

What I Accomplished
1.) The bookshelves are finally filling up. I started sorting a few leftover boxes on the floor based on subjects, topics, and authors. However, I do have MORE boxes in storage. I was thrilled to find my collection of Tomie dePaola books when unpacking boxes. I am currently reviewing a Strega Nona Project Pack and Alyssa is reading the author's books in the chair by the window during her free time.

2.) Calendar time is not completely organized yet. Ha! Who am I kidding? It's nowhere near ready! I started hanging pocket charts but was distracted when unpacking math materials. Then, I looked around - saw the clutter in the center of the room and let it get to me. I can't decide how I want to arrange the room. I have a lot more open space here but very little hidden storage. I have been very indecisive lately. Spending too much time moving items around the room. This will be harder than I thought it would be. I can't decide what to get rid of and what to keep.

 

3.) I mainly worked on writing and editing my Couponing Made Simple review this week. I did start writing my poetry blog hop posts for August, but unfortunately I had to back out at the last minute. I really need to focus on taking care of my husband during his recovery time. I spent some free time yesterday working on reviews that are due at the end of July or the beginning of August including Brainfood Learning, Bible Study Guide For All Ages, Reading Kingdom, and In the Hands of a Child (Strega Nona).

4.) Well, I jotted down a temporary homeschool schedule, but nothing is set in stone yet. I have a lot of fine tuning to do before August is here. I am trying to decide on a starting date. We go on vacation at the beginning of September, so I would like to start new routines and curriculum before we leave (if possible). My hubby recommended waiting until after we got home from the trip since we homeschool year round. She is still working through summer school curriculum.

I did set-up Alyssa's workbox system. She has twelve boxes that are arranged in numerical order. I am looking for the other parts of the system which are still in storage. I started putting particular subjects inside the boxes. This is a first step for me. I still need to decide the "real" order I want to complete subjects and remove items she won't need in the box. I haven't yet dedicated a shelf for teacher manuals. I have in the past kept light teacher manuals inside the box for subjects that we do together or for ones that require a lot of parent supervision or support.

5.) I ordered Alyssa's math curriculum. It should hopefully be here in 2-9 business days. Shipping was expensive! I also extended her online math curriculum subscription another year and purchased her music curriculum. I finally made a decision on which writing curriculum I want to use this year, but I still need to order it. I am looking for back-to-school discounts first. I still haven't ordered her cursive book. We recently reviewed an awesome cursive writing program called PreScripts Words and Drawing. I want to get the first book for this year and take it slow.

Bonus Goals: I unpacked, organized, and cleaned Alyssa's room. She organized her play room which was supposed to be a guest room, but we never have overnight guests. She is in dire need of storage containers. I also did regular chores in addition to my hubby's chores since he is recovering from surgery. Jeffry's work tools are almost all out of the house. They have been stored inside since the day we moved in.

My Five Weekly Goals This Week
1.) Set-up Coupon System
I recently reviewed Couponing Made Simple written by Christi the Coupon Coach. I already have the hanging file system ready to go, but I need to spend time this week labeling my coupon box and accordion file. I also want to be more strategic when shopping so I need to plan better this week. I will print several coupons online using coupon matching websites. We are definitely motivated to save money on groceries. I did notice that this week's paper had a shortage of coupons.

2.) I need to organize the bathroom towels. Right now they are folded in a laundry basket. The cabinets need to be dusted first and towels need to be neatly placed on shelves.

3.) I will hopefully set-up the calendar and spanish learning area this week. I am aiming for progress on this project.

4.) Start working out???? Okay . . . so this year has been a tough one for me. I put on A LOT of weight (30 pounds the last two years - most from this year). I struggle with simple tasks that never used to cause me problems. My ankles and legs hurt. I need to start some kind of work out routine ASAP. Funny thing . . . one of my biggest hobbies used to be working out. My motivation is lacking and my self-esteem is in the dumps. I hope to start out really slow and workout at least twice this week. We'll see. I could use some encouraging words!!!

5.) We need to make our house feel like a home. This week I will focus on hanging family pictures and photos.

Well friends . . . that is my list of five weekly goals for this week. I pray that I have the energy and motivation to complete several of them if not all of the five listed above. Wishing you the best of luck as well.

What goals did you accomplish this week? What are your new goals?

Be sure to visit Our Heart and Home to add your Five Weekly Goals or to provide encouragement to others. The Five Weekly Goals link is not currently updated yet. I will try to remember to update it later. 

God bless, 

Tracey M.

Five Weekly Goals: Will We Ever Get Organized?

I NEED to get my life organized again. Everyone keeps telling me to take it slow - unpack one box at a time, but when I look around the classroom the overwhelming number of boxes makes me feel completely disorganized and the mess add a little more stress to my life. I need this phase of my life to be over soon hopefully by the end of summer (wishful thinking). My husband invited my in-laws over on Wednesday for dinner and the house is nowhere ready for visitors. UGH!

This is my first week participating in the 5 Weekly Goals hosted at Our Heart and Home. I am hoping that if I set a few simple goals to target, that maybe . . .  just maybe I will accomplish my goals this week. So without further ado here are my five weekly homeschool and classroom goals for this week.

1.) Unpack several book boxes and organize them on the shelves. This will free up more space in the classroom and give Alyssa a clutter-free area to read near the window.

2.) Set up our math calendar time and spanish wall learning area. Alyssa and I are having withdraws and miss completing these activities.

3.) Try to find some free time to work on reviews in advance and start my posts for The Schoolhouse Review Crew's awesome blog hop in August. I have some ideas on paper but have transferred them to the computer. Time online has been limited lately since my husband's surgery.

4.) Create a working homeschool schedule for Alyssa. Start organizing her work boxes which is a huge part of our schedule.

5.) Order my daughter's math and writing curriculum for this year. I guess that means I need to finally decide on which writing curriculum I will use with my daughter before I can actually purchase it. Any suggestions? I am torn between Essentials in Writing and Writeshop.

What are your weekly goals?

Well, that's all folks! Have a wonderful week and I hope you all accomplish at least one or more of your goals this week. I am posting this a day late so I am already behind - wish me luck! Be sure to visit Our Heart and Home to add your Five Weekly Goals or to provide encouragement to others.

God bless, 
Tracey M.