Organizing: Radvent Journal Dec. 2
Posted on 02. Dec, 2010 by Princess Lasertron in home, inspiration, radvent
the datebook I rely on to organize my entire life
Radvent day two!! Today’s theme, “organizing,” is not about making your life perfect or forcing yourself into new habits, because that’s a sure way to feel like a failure (which you are not at all!). The point of organization is to clear out all of the things that make you feel bad, that let crappy feelings bubble up to the surface, and making room for good feelings, for better things, for family, friends, hobbies, health.
I don’t know many people who feel organized, but I know a lot of people who have a beast in their life that they want to tame. Without the burden of the clutter and disorganization, we create openings in our lives. And as you become more organized and are filling your new-found space and new-found time with things that bring you joy, things that are beautiful and useful and matter, some of those old not-so-great habits may no longer seem to have a place in your life. This allows yet more time for creating the life you desire – without trying too hard.
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Focus on one drawer, table, or surface today and spend 15 minutes making it pretty! (And take a pretty picture afterward to motivate yourself!)
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I decided to clean up my bathroom cabinet because it had been bumming me out ever since we moved into our house last year and I shoved all of my jewelry, perfume, makeup, bottles, EVERYTHING inside there. I would shove things in, shut the door, and hope nothing fell in the toilet.
I threw away empty bottles, moved a brooch I’ve always hated to my “giveaway” box, and put all of my pregnancy stuff in the hall closet. I put some nails in the side of the cabinet to hang my favorite necklaces. I decided to organize the shelves by who can reach them–Dave’s on top, my stuff down low–and used pieces from one of my tea sets to store cotton balls and jewelry. We also have blackboards in our bathroom so I arranged a pretty jar of fresh chalk.
It just really makes me happy to see all of my favorite nail polish (it’s matte from Urban Outfitters!), perfume bottles (Flowerbomb, Lolita Lempicka, and Demeter’s Wet Garden), and favorite vintage brooches arranged so everything is in view.
I put my makeup and hair stuff in this vintage box and my watches, rings, and chunky necklaces in the teapot! I put bracelets around the spout.
I actually spent about 25 minutes on this because I got motivated and ended up cleaning the bathroom!
if you don’t know what to do,
do the next thing. water
the plants. cut the crusts of old bread
for the birds and feed the fruit
rinds to the garden. empty
the grounds from this morning’s
coffee and tuck them in
with the hydrangeas, prepare
them for winter. let their black sleep
give way to blooms of springtime blue.
open the windows. unsettle
the dust on the sills and in the corners
so there will be space for new air.
let the rooms have room
to breathe, to be filled again
to the brim. there is much we can do
when we don’t know what to do.
remember there is strength
even in standing still. let the world
do what it will all around you.
let the history of what was –
the old molecules of skin, hair and bone –
fill you up. let them become you.
you will carry them with you,
wherever you go, whenever
you are ready.-fall cleaning by laura burhenn
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closets * schedules * junk drawers * ideas
“the key to successful organizing is to pay attention to your personality, then come up with a plan that conforms to it, rather than trying to work within someone else’s system.” -melissa picheny, declutter and design
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Click on the thumbnail below to download a printable .pdf of today’s radvent journaling prompt! Or check out the graphic on Flickr.
Are you writing your own radvent responses in your journal or blog? Feel free to share the link–they are awesome sources of inspiration for everyone!
1. Wendy Townley – Radvent 2010: Finding Peace in Organization
2. Aimee – Radvent 02
3. Amanda – Radvent Day 2
4. Rachael – Radvent 2010 Organizing
5. Cherith – Radvent 2010 – Day 2
6. Lenore – Radvent Day Two
7. Georgia – Radvent: Dec 2nd – Organising
xo
meg
31 Responses to “Organizing: Radvent Journal Dec. 2”
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Jessica E. Larocca
17. Dec, 2010
3:03 am
My fiance bought me this ring…..It is absolutely gorgeous!!!!!! It looks like the picture and that includes the detail that’s shown on the sides. Thank you so much. P.S. The delivery was excellent!!!!
Rebecca
09. Dec, 2010
1:59 pm
Day two (if a little late!)
http://therebeccaproject.net/2010/12/09/radvent-2010-day-2-organising/
Organizing: Radvent Journal Dec. 2 ›› Princess Lasertron | Declutter My House
06. Dec, 2010
8:11 pm
[...] Full reference (Copyright acknowledge) This entry was posted in Declutter my Life on the Web and tagged entry, life. Bookmark the permalink. ← Declutter Fast Review – Organization For Your Home, Office … [...]
Jenny Mick!
06. Dec, 2010
2:02 pm
http://jennymickeliunas.blogspot.com/2010/12/radvent-organizing.html
Kelly
03. Dec, 2010
5:26 pm
A day late, but here is my post!
http://ourlincolnlog.blogspot.com/2010/12/organizing-radvent-day-2.html
Jen
03. Dec, 2010
11:37 am
almost caught up! http://jenniferbenne.blogspot.com/2010/12/radvent-day-2-organizing.html
Sexy Videos & Lingerie » Dating Website Profile
02. Dec, 2010
11:57 pm
[...] Organizing the details [...]
Ariel
02. Dec, 2010
11:25 pm
Ooh, I left a link, but I think it got eaten as spam. I shall try again. electrolicious.com/2010/12/radvent-organizing
(Also, Andreas is cleaning his desk as we speak — I’m sorta stunned that he’s doing radvent too!)
Amanda Hinrichs
02. Dec, 2010
11:24 pm
Improvement from day one: got day two posted by 12:00
http://amandertising.tumblr.com/post/2078895805/radvent-12-2-organizing
Ariel
02. Dec, 2010
11:24 pm
http://electrolicious.com/2010/12/radvent-organizing
Natalie
02. Dec, 2010
10:43 pm
Day two is up!
http://nataliesnotebook.com/?p=104
Also, I haven’t blogged two days in a row in months, so woo hoo to that!
Heather
02. Dec, 2010
10:13 pm
I gave this one a shot today. Thanks for inspiring me. My linky is here http://myviewofthehoneypot.blogspot.com/2010/12/readvent-day-2-organizing.html
kash
02. Dec, 2010
10:11 pm
i had mine up at 9am! i take radvent very seriously.
http://www.teamalbin.com
Pamela
02. Dec, 2010
10:09 pm
Squeezing in 15 minutes at the end of the day!
http://pamelajoyce.blogspot.com
Erin
02. Dec, 2010
9:49 pm
I love this!! I just finished doing Nanowrimo and my nightstand became a dumping ground for books, notebooks, dishes… It got pretty bad. This was a nice kick in the butt to get it cleaned up!
My day two can be found here: http://erindrought.posterous.com/radvent-december-2-organizing
Liz
02. Dec, 2010
9:39 pm
One of the things I thought about a lot while doing today’s exercise was about how processes around my house have to change for us to really get anywhere. So, here’s my day 2
http://localcommunitymanagement.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/radvent-2-electric-boogaloo/
Sara
02. Dec, 2010
9:35 pm
pictures aren’t great but in real life it looks much nicer. I also finally hung a picture my sister painted for me!
http://englandgrown.blogspot.com/2010/12/organizing.html
lauren
02. Dec, 2010
9:01 pm
radvent – day 2: http://iprefertousemyrightbrain.blogspot.com/2010/12/organizing.html
having a blast with this!
because you are a ‘night poster’, i wake up each morning so excited to see what your next prompt is going to be!! then i have all day to think about it b/c i never get to post until nighttime!
thank you!!
*
megan v
02. Dec, 2010
8:01 pm
Thank you for this!! As I sat in my studio today and looked around the room thinking “which surface should I organize??” I felt a little overwhelmed. Every one of them looked SO cluttered! So I just chose the one that got the least use only BECAUSE of the clutter, my sewing desk. It looks so fantastic now and it’s sooo usable!
All your fault 
EmilyM
02. Dec, 2010
4:09 pm
I organized my office today. Un-cluttered. Created file folders. Cleaned my coffee cups. AND found a happy little mouse corner…with half eaten tootsie rolls! The trap has been set…I feel more organized and motiviated.
Princess Lasertron
02. Dec, 2010
4:11 pm
that is so funny! happy little mouse.
we had one of those at camp…cleaning can feel good. xo
georgia
02. Dec, 2010
3:50 pm
day 2 here – http://ramblingsofgeo.blogspot.com/
Haley
02. Dec, 2010
3:37 pm
Meg, thank you for this post. The opening line really hit home for me. Clearly the trying to force myself into new habits thing doesn’t work, but I know I can conquer the (seemingly) small things that make my life easier and make me happier. I just wanted you to know that you’re making lives brighter, even those of use who don’t usually comment!
Lenore
02. Dec, 2010
2:16 pm
Day two is here!
http://asmallbird.tumblr.com/post/2073456920/radvent-day-two-todays-radvent-prompt-was-to
I have been meaning to do this for a while now.
sarah
02. Dec, 2010
2:14 pm
Thanks for this post, it is really what I needed. What started off as a quick re-jig of the girls bedroom turned into a whole day of moving furniture that Ive been meaning to move since we moved into the house( almost 3yrs ago). The whole up stairs of the house is looking great. I think radvent is a wonderful idea, look forward to the rest of your posts, thanks again, sarah x
Elizabeth
02. Dec, 2010
1:58 pm
My Day two is here.
Rachael
02. Dec, 2010
12:43 pm
My post today! This was a great one to motivate me to work on my perpetually messy room- thanks for the inspiration.
http://rachaeldickson.wordpress.com/2010/12/02/radvent-2010-organizing/
Amanda @geekdetails
02. Dec, 2010
10:48 am
This one made me laugh since I just started demoing a half wall last night because it meant I’d have a more organized kitchen afterward.
http://geekdetails.com/blog/?p=4050
Geek Details - handmade items from a geek at heart
02. Dec, 2010
10:37 am
[...] on with Princess Lasertron’s Radvent journaling thing. Today was about organizing and it made me giggle reading it. I don’t know many people who feel organized, but I know a lot [...]
aimee
02. Dec, 2010
6:44 am
Hello
I am joining in and all my posts will be here when I do them:
http://greenpicklesblog.blogspot.com/p/radvent_02.html
Thanks so much,
Love
Aimee
x
Organizing: Radvent Journal Dec. 2 | Declutter My Life Fast
02. Dec, 2010
3:38 am
[...] Full reference (Copyright acknowledge) This entry was posted in Declutter my Life on the Web and tagged clear-out, datebook, day-two, entire, entire-life, forcing-yourself, life, life-perfect, perfect-or-forcing, radvent, sure-way. Bookmark the permalink. ← Declutter Toys Declutter an open-plan room | Home Bedroom Furniture Depot → [...]