Tips and Tricks to Organizing Crazy- "Get it out, Put it away!"

Welcome to the first addition of "Tips and Tricks to Organize Crazy!"  In my quest to organize the crazy that is my house, I have tried to talk to those around me that have an organized life.  I just know I can do this better but I don't know where I go wrong!  So I decided to call up, talk to, interview those around me that do it well!

The first person I interviewed (and really, I spent 2 hours on the phone with her talking about her routines and such) was my sister-in-law, Tammy.  This woman has a handle on clean!!  In the 20 some years that we have been family I have NEVER seen her house in a mess.  She has 5 kids and my oldest brother as her hubster.

I learned so much from her in my 2 hour conversation- but for this first edition of Tips and Tricks I will share the one thing that stuck out the most. "If you get it out, put it away- always."  Doesn't that seem like a duh?! But shockingly, I rarley do it!    I make lunch for the kids, I put it away at nap time (maybe).  The kids play with toys all day and we wait to put them away before bed (and that is no fun).  I have finished up a paint project, and leave it on the counter for a day or two before getting it put away.  I come in from church and set the whole wad of kid's papers and bulitins on the table and it stays until company comes and we need the extra spot at the table, I could go on- but why embarrass myself further?

I started applying this new mantra to the highchair tray.  Babes always makes a mess of it...and I used to wipe him off and take the tray to the sink and get back to it later (usually before I needed it again).
But now I:
1.take the tray to the sink and hose it off- use the soapy brush if needed.
2. Grab a washcloth and wipe it dry.
3. Stick tray behind highchair
4. Take the same wash cloth and wipe up the babe
5. Set Babe free.

What a no-brainer this is! :) But I don't doubt there is also the mom out there like myself-- where you are good at many things, but keeping a tidy house isn't one of them and need the tips and tricks to figure it all out!

This concept, as simple as it is, is a major work in progress.  But it is a start!

A little less crazy,
Beth

Journey to Oils

I have heard so much about how fantastic oils can be.  Seems there is an oil for everything...  seems too good to be true but there are some things that I am desperate to fix, so I am giving it a try.

There are parts to this oil thing that seems, well...  pretty fruity.  I'm not sure if it is the oil working or simply the power of your brain to say "this is going to make me better, therefore I am better."

A couple of the issues this house is dealing with are these:

• 6 year old got a concussion over Christmas.  Symptoms he is still struggling with are major anxiety, night-terrors, not being able to fall asleep until 12:00 AM and sometimes as late as 2:00AM, and very intense emotional reactions.
• I am pregnant with boy #5 and have had way to many infections over the course of this pregnancy requiring 9 rounds of antibiotics, my the joints are very painful in my hands, and the nausea that has accompanied all 5 pregnancies. 
• My 1 year old has the worst eczema. Ever.
• My husband, while playing 'Keep Away', hyper-extended his thumb in December and is still having swelling and joint pain

For mostly my benefit, I plan on journaling when I start an oil and what results I see or don't see.  I really want to get to the bottom of this.  And since I will be going to the work of writing it all out- thought I might as well add it to my blog.  :)

The oils I have purchased to use are made by Young Living. And resources that I will be using to educate my self with be my oodles of friends who use these  oils, the Young Living Pocket Reference book, online bloggers sharing their experiences.

Also, my husband who is currently a medical student, will be in on my findings and contributing his thoughts on how oils interact with the bodies systems.

All of this effort, in hopes that life becomes a little less crazy,
Beth