Taking stock of things...

This is the time of year where everyone is evaluating what new goals they want to set, what things they can change, organizing their home & lives, etc. etc... I love the fresh slate, the idea that there is a clean canvas in which I can create new ideas & memories.

I love how Ali Edwards promotes the idea of "intentions" vs. "resolutions." For some reason, resolutions tend to intimidate me a bit more... I have that fear of failure and all, ya know? ;)

I made a little list of general "intentions" for 2009 with the December Scripts Kit. I have some other more detailed things that I'd like to add... I'll probably do that in an art journal entry.

(That picture of me in the layout was taken by the great Katie B!)

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I kind of get in a funk this time of year, so I've been trying to focus & do things that I know lift my spirits, like re-organizing and decorating.

Our playroom is the first room you come into when you enter our house, so it always bugs me for it to be cluttered... but the nature of the beast is that it IS a play room, so it's gotta be lived in, ya know?

I try my best to keep the decor and the arrangement in there as streamlined and organized looking as possible, so once it is time to clean up, it looks halfway decent. I've also found that I still kind of feel like I am learning what the best way is to arrange things in this house... it's been around 2 1/2 years since we moved in, but I finally feel like I've found a "place for everything," or at least, am getting there.

Here are a few shots of our new cleaned up playroom. No, it doesn't usually look this picked up. ;)
(See Em's new dollhouse down there in the pic? That was mine when I was a girl, and it was a long time dream to finally seen to fruition to be able to pass it down. It is MUCH enjoyed by all three kiddos so far.)
This picture really makes me happy, because there used to be a really big basket down there next to the bookcase that would get piled up with bags, shoes, jackets, and anything & everything else. I moved my Nancy Drew books that were on the bottom shelf of the bookcase to another spot in the house and now have this nice little spot to stick our shoes and backpacks. Love it.

(If you click on the pic, you can see the cool canvas my brother painted for me for my birthday present earlier this year.)

Ok, so I'm sure you're bored at my rambling... I just basically was so excited about these little accomplishments that I wanted to share with someone! :)

In my cleaning out, I came across a few older idea books that I want to give away. Leave your favorite little organization tip (or better yet, a link to your blog post where you've done some New Year's organizing!) and I'll put your name in the hat to win! I'll draw two winners and they will win either this pair of books:
Or this pair of books:
(They are older, but they all still have some really good content & ideas!)