Day 38 - { you }

aka "New Leaf, day 10" :)

Yippee! I worked all day, and I met my goal! (Well, mostly. I'll 'splain in a little bit. . . )

The biggest success is that the System is now in place, and now when I get a paper that needs to be saved, it will have a home to go to!

So now the Paper Monster is conquered, and I can maintain it by just spending a little time each day or each week. That feels SO GOOD.

 

 

 

I never would have done it without YOU, though!

It's true.

This paper problem had been steadily getting worse and not better for years. I spent time regularly maintaining spots that were in the open, so that it wouldn't be too embarrassing, but I was running out of space to stash.

I needed Accountability in order to make myself go through those huge stashes. And YOU provided that! Not to mention that you provided it so sweetly and graciously. Thank you, each of you, so much! Every comment you made helped me and encouraged me.

THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

 

There was so much room left in that top drawer that I was able to use the space for extra office supplies that had been sitting { ahem } in a Target bag on the garage floor. Yay! Much better!

Today after school. . . .

Fire just seemed easier (and more fun) than the shredder. :)

So the things that weren't QUITE finished, like organizing the totes and also some of the memorabilia stuff in our bottom file cabinet drawer, will be done with the person it concerns (for example, Exacto and I will organize his tote during one of his Super Kid dates). I think it will be really fun to do it together. So many fun memories come back when you're going through things like that. And that way I won't end up throwing away something that's really precious to someone else.

 

Some more great tips from your comments this week. . . .

“New Leaf, day 6”

Becky - Also, we have a file system idea (unfortunately not quite in practice yet, but we have only been here for a year and a half) to keep things together in our filing cabinet, then keep individual files (monthly utility bills, receipts, medical claims :(, etc.) by year in a banker's box. It will really help if we're ever audited. This probably doesn't make much sense, so call me if it strikes a note (esp. if it's in a major key).

Yes, this is a great idea! We actually do this for tax records, bank statements, and medical insurance stuff. There is a very helpful website  through the Univeristy of Illinois Extension that helped me decide what to keep and for how long. (Here's the link.) Someday I hope to burn our box. :)

"The Great Paper Purge of '09 - New Leaf, day 8"

terry burchfield - hey michelle, i keep a big binder that holds all my important mother info. i keep it close by and always know where it is. i use dividers and either hole punch or use sheet protectors for my papers. i have it divided into sections such as school, where i keep class schedules, contact info, etc. i have a section for each child where i keep sports schedules, schoo info pertinant to just that child, even their clothes & shoe sizes (i do this for hubby too). i have a section marked important at the very front where i keep contact numbers (anything i don't want to have to hunt the phone book down for). i have one for church where i keep lesson schedules and visiting teaching info. i love it b/c i don't have to think about where i put some paper when i need it!

This is brilliant, I tell you! Brilliant!

“New Leaf – day {gulp } 9”

Cindy - You can do it! Having a plan helps so much. My kids try to race sometimes when they have a dreary job that seems to go on and on. Maybe you can set a timer for each task and see if you can do it in time, that way it seems more manageable. I would love to hear you all play together...I miss that! Maybe you can post a video sometime for those of us who don't get to hear you and Chris play anymore :-(
I also definitely recommend a little chocolate to reward yourself for your hard work ;-) I'll be thinking of you!

Becky - Wake up and have a full breakfast, then line up some chocolate treats (that you hopefully have onhand, if I know you well enough :) to enjoy at each hour/couple of hours. Take a break when you need to, but remember to get back to things, too.
Call me if you feel lazy. You can do it!!

Chocolate makes everything easier (well, except losing weight, I suppose). And speaking of chocolate:

**Comments for the Great Chocolate Giveaway will close at midnight tonight! I'll have the boys help me draw the winner(s) tomorrow.**

 

When I told DC that I really wanted to post this tonight because I didn't want to keep you waiting, he said, "Oh, yes. I am amazed at how many nice comments you have gotten!"

I am amazed, too.

And grateful. :)