Save Me From Myself....

Yup.  I am having THAT kind of week.  For some reason, I decided to move things. This is sorta how it went.

Doesn't make sense?  

It really doesn't make sense to me either.  All I DO know is that while the boys took over my studio for school projects on Saturday (4 projects that took SEVERAL hours), I hung out in case they needed me and became over involved with moving my things around.

It started with the first stage: DISTRUST. I really wanted to figure out a better scrapbook storage system. I had trays and the plastic things you see below.  I gave the trays to a scrappin friend and bought more of the other ones to hold all of my paper.

 I then was able to consolidate a bulk my scrapbooking into the tall cabinet.

It freed up a lower cabinet in the island.   I left it empty for two days. It mocked me.

Enter second stage: INADEQUACY.  

I hunted around the evil empire, better known as Pinterest. 

 Ideas abounded.

I decided to just move the the items from the bottom right corner cabinet into it because I didn't feel like painting, redoing window treatments just to look like a "Made for IKEA" catalog spread.   I refocused on organization!

The empty space made room for my printer and Cricut (from an upper cabinet).

I used to have my old printer under here and am not sure why I moved it in the first place?

I'm tired of Mr. Grubby hands turning it off and on, not to mention he loves to mess with the paper! 

Moving it also allowed me to chuck the old falling apart table that was holding the printer and paper to the curb.

It allowed me to add my favorite new addition.  Pre-cut storage!

Yumminess right at my fingertips and the top one empty for the WIP I need to quickly clean up to get out of the way for laundry and homework time.

Oh.  When I moved the cricut? It freed up space for the paper, labels, and my binders so it could be more accessible to my fingertips.

Here is the big joke.  I basically ended up moving a bunch of things around which left two free shelves for what?

  Nothing.  

  Stage 3: FRUSTRATION

I had a plan, but it all it seemed to create was the need to move MORE things around.

  Which caused me to attack my closet.

   ENTER Stage 4 and 5: VICIOUSNESS.  Fabric was gathered that I will NEVER use.  Yearbooks were moved to the boys rooms.  I'm not even clear why I had them in my room?  Empty bins and baskets are piled up in my garage.  Things are nightmarish at this point, to be honest and REALITY quickly set in.  

It all has to be dealt with.

 I vowed I will not work on a project until I get this done and reach Stage 7: HAPPINESS

 In the meantime, I'm stuck at stage six: 
OVERWHELMED!!!

My room is my definitely my WIP this week!!!

I Need Me.

The other day, Mr. Boss said, "I think I need you more than you need me".

 Silence.

Are you surprised?  Were you expecting me to say "No, honey...I totally need you more" or something really profound or something completely funny?

Yeah.  Me too!

But I didn't.  I was silent.  The words stumbling in my head.  The wheels and gears rapidly turning as quickly as they could in my normally efficient brain.  The only thing that came out was.

"I need me too."

Everyone wants me in this house.  My attention.  My advice.  My labor.  My skills.  My time.

  I have been driving more this summer than I do when the boys are all in school!  I am not even going to list all the things I do in one day, because if you are a normal human being?  I know you are busy, too!

Not to mention that I have more WIPs and UFOs than I ever have had in my entire life!  Normally, I have about one or two projects actually in progress.  I would always have a list of "to dos", but only on paper or in my head.  Now? I have baskets and bins of projects, and projects just laying around..

My newest WIP that is just sitting on my cutting/design island.

...and frankly?  

It is getting overwhelming and frustrating. 

I make calendars and lists and try to organize myself.  

Endless possibilites...until I start filling it up.

 

And then I get bamboozled by my boys, my husband, my "real" life and the plans become pointless.  

July's Calendar was crumpled by me in frustration.....

Just when I get a handle on laundry or housecleaning, it is time to do it again.

An endless circle of running like a chicken with my head cut off!

And the root of my problem?  I have touched my machines only twice since June 30th.  Vacation, family in town, and the general craziness of summer has prevented it.  And, lately, by the time I lay Button down to bed for the night, I am too tired and exhausted to go in my studio and sew.  Instead, I sit and stare at the tv...not even reading all the blogs that I normally enjoy.  

Okay...I have been doodling.

But really.  I think I have been feeling guilty. 

 Of what, you ask?  

Of taking "me" time.  I ALWAYS feel guilty.

It ends today.

My official announcement?  I will now take Button's naptime as mine.  If the chores aren't done when I lay him down?  Oh well.  I will commence them when he wakes up.  He already likes to load the washer and dryer, and is always taking over my vacuuming.  So why not do the chores when I have a little helper?  We can sing our ABCs while we do it.  We can talk colors.  Or I can just enjoy my free child labor.

And I am taking back some of my nights.

 I won't go in my studio, every single night....the boys and Mr. Boss need me...

but they are going to have to start sharing me with me.

But first.....

I need to take the one of the boys to tennis camp. 

*blush*