Inspirational Wednesday

"So many people along the way, whatever you aspire to do,

will tell you it can't be done. 

But all it takes is imagination. 

You dream.  You plan. You reach. 

There will be obstacles. 

There will be doubters. 

There will be mistakes. 

But with hard work,

with belief,

with confidence and trust in yourself and those around you

there are no limits."

Michael Phelps, 8 Gold Medal Winner, 2008 Summer Olympics.

Image courtesy Sun Mountain Farm.

Me. me, wonderful Me!

I don't think I realized how long I had been away from the blog until I signed on just now!  Well, I'm not quite back yet...but I will be! Still thinking of what I want the blog to be and how to get it there...elegant, authentic, and simple...just like ME!

Image courtesy Grover's Thoughts.

On Hiatus

You may have noticed a lack of posts on the blog lately.  I have recently started a side business which is absorbing all of my attention.  NeatnessCounts will definitely be back and posting in the new year!

MommySpirit - Light a Candle

This evening, take a few moments to pamper yourself and restore your spirit from the demands of the day.  After the kids have gone to bed, light a candle.  Turn off all artificial lights, sit back and put your feet up.  Relax and watch the flickering flame, enjoy the subtle soothing scent. Perhaps, treat yourself to a glass of wine, alone or with your husband. 

Don't save anything for "best".  Today is your best day. Enjoy today.

Inspirational Wednesday

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours...If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them."

-- Henry David Thoreau

Image courtesy ONeal's Imports.

NeatnessCounts...The Remix!

I have always said that to see the state of my life, just look in my purse.

I have a thousand things going on in my life right  now.  This past Saturday, I finally had a moment to sit down and try to make sense of a few things, starting with my purse.  Some evidence of everything I am into was in there.  Information and receipts for my new home business, my kids, home bills, dates from my work calendar to be transferred to the home calendar, notes from my 9-5 job, blog ideas. 

As I sorted through it, I thought to myself, "How can I be the author of a home organizational blog, of all things when my purse looks like THIS!!!!"  That's when I realized that I had to do a remix on this blog. 

Many of my girlfriends and sister-friends in my life often say to me: "You're so organized.  You are always so well groomed.  Your house must look perfect every day."  While I am very flattered that anyone would think so highly of me, the truth is, I am FAR from perfect, FAR from perfectly disciplined.  The truth is, parts of my house (and sometimes even the whole house!) looks like someone tried to rob us.  Sometimes the systems I try don't work, and sometimes I look around this home I love so much and all I see is unfinished projects and I feel very overwhelmed.  But then I take a breath, break everything down into baby steps to be accomplished, and eventually I get it all done.   Nothing makes me feel better than making a mess into a success.  But it takes time, and nowadays I don't have much of it to do everything that needs to be done. 

We are having a party this weekend.  Tonight and tomorrow we will rush around straightening up for the cleaning lady on Wednesday, the house will be beautiful for the party, and then our family will dismantle the order we have created over the next two weeks, until it's time for the cleaning lady to come again.

So I hope that anyone who is reading this understands where I am coming from.  As this blog goes along, I will "show" you, literally and figuratively, parts of my life and home -  believe me, I could show you some before and afters that will make you shake your head in disbelief!  But it will all be done with the hope that someone who feels overwhelmed will get a little burst of inspiration.

Top image courtesy http://wiseacre-gardens.com/.

Bottom image - purse, mid-cleanout, courtesy me!

The Dizzy Duck

While trying (unsuccessfully!) last Saturday to persuade E. to lie down for an afternoon nap, I came across this old favorite in his stack of books - The Dizzy Duck by Chris Tougas.  It  seems to be out of print now (I think I picked up the worn copy we own from my mother in law's house!) but used copies are available at Amazon.  It's one duck's story of procrastination and overwhelm over the course of a day.  Though it's best when you can see the adorable illustrations, it's such an apropos teaching tool for kids, as well as being just a really cute story, that I had to bring it to the blog! 

The Dizzy Duck

The rooster crows good morning,

and the Dizzy Duck awakes.

He looks around his messy room. 

It's more than he can take.

He sits right down and plans out how

he'll put his toys away.

Which makes him feel so dizzy

that he runs outside to play.

He comes inside to try again

but cannot find his bed.

Which makes him feel so dizzy

that he takes a bath instead.

And once he's dry he plans to try

to stay up late and sweep.

Which makes him feel so dizzy...

Oops! He falls right back to sleep.

What a mess!