To- Do Lists

Anyone who knows me can attest to my love for lists. Ed insists on making "mental to-do lists" (rather, he gives himself a reason to conveniently forget the tasks he doesn't want to do). I, on the other hand have to make a list. I have lists that coincide with other lists. I'm a little type-A.

Anyway, I always find that before some big life-changing event I want to do a million different things that really aren't that important. This happens most often when I am pregnant or we are getting ready to move. As luck would have it....we are in the midst of both. Now, we aren't moving for another 5 months (and lets be honest...not at all if I get my way, which I won't, because the Navy is in charge), but thats just enough time for me to do all kinds of random things that are seemingly unnecessary to anyone but me.

Here are just a few of the projects that I have in mind --

1.)) Preston's Baby Book

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You read that right...the kid is going to be two and doesnt even have a completed baby book. Not for a lack of trying, though. In all actuality, he has probably 3 half created baby books. I did make a super cute Memory Keeper for him from Paper Coterie that has his hospital hat and bracelet and other memorabilia in it, but I'd like an actual book. Thus, I am working on a digital book, because that seems like the only way it will get done! Where else am I going to put all of those cute cards that people wrote when his name was going to be Parker?!?

2.)) Office Organization 

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Never in a million years will my office look like this. Mainly because Ed would have nowhere to put his submarine memorabilia if I went with a pink and green color scheme. Right now our office tends to be a couple of things: a) a Navy diggit room and b) a hot mess. As I look around, there are stacks everywhere I look. We are talking unopened (and opened) mail,  things that are broken, a stack of stuff for goodwill, and upward of 3 cameras. I. Want. To. Scream. For all I know this picture above has the exact same stuff just shoved into color coordinated boxes. I am good with that. Just get it off my freaking desk.


3.)) Re-Covering Folding Chairs and Table

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I realize that this falls under the category of completely unnecessary. I get it. A couple of months ago I saw this idea on pinterest and fell in love. Our card table and chairs have been sitting in the garage and are all banged up. We use them often, though, so I hate that they look crappy. All I need is an afternoon, a couple of cans of spray paint, and a few yards of fabric and we will be totally fancy again. I also realize that it probably wont be that easy, but I dont really care. 

My list could continue on...I have a bench outside that was made out of my old bunk beds that I want to repaint, a ton of projects for the nursery, and...oh yeah, a toddler to chase. Eh, whatever. 

Start Where You Are

I have decided, recently, that I need to implement a new mantra in my life. The Hollywood Houswife, whom I love, made her 2012 mantra "Start Where You Are". Initially, I thought, "well, of course you would start where you are? Where else would you start?". Lately, though, I have seen the importance of remembering such a thing.

Whether its my organization, my weekly planner, meal planning, blogging, etc I tend to focus on what I haven't done. I found myself looking at my weekly organization planner today and reading over all the tasks I should have done Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday that never got accomplished. Do you know what I was doing those days instead of sweeping, dusting, and restocking the toilet paper? I was working and snuggling my sweet boy, who I missed all weekend while we were in Colorado.

So, I've realized that I need to focus on the present and what is immediately in front of me. I need to start where I am. Not in the past where I tend to dwell or in the future that I so optimistically look forward to but right where I am. Okay, maybe not right where I am because this folding chair isn't doing much for me, but I digress.

Moving forward with my mantra I must say (to all 3 people who read this) that I will not be doing my back posts for my 30 day challenge. I know. You were totally looking forward to reading the letter to someone who hurt me. I realized that I couldn't commit myself to sitting down and blogging because all I could think about was how many days I was behind and how long it would take me to write a blog post with 7,835 things I have forgotten to write about.

I am starting from where I am and you should too :-)