My WackyWednesday Writer today is Lisa Nolan from the blog of the same name: www.lisanolan.com. She describes herself as a "Supermom with a second-hand cape and an empty glass of wine." Sounds like my kind of gal! Lisa is not only an entertaining humor writer but also a social media guru when it comes to Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Google +. She hosts numerous social media events and posts informative articles on her blog site the have been very helpful to me, especially those concerning the publishing industry. Lisa has interviewed many authors and generously promoted their books with excellent reviews that have also helped to boost sales. She is the creator of several blogs and websites in addition to being an indie publisher at Monkey Star Press. Lisa is currently working on the humor anthology, "Motherhood: May Cause Drowsiness," which is a collaboration of comedic stories from sleep-deprived women learning to function on minimal amounts of shut-eye. You won't want to miss her book once it's released! I'm honored to be a part of this anthology, which is chock full of talented female writers.Please welcome Lisa Nolan to Meno Mama's site today with lots of comment love and be sure to check out her blog site as well!
A MOM'S DATE WITH HER CLUTTER
Let's
just agree that the new normal for moms of the 21st Century is that
we are imperfect and PROUD of it!
OK,
we are guilt-ridden, sleep-deprived, short-changed LITERALLY, and
constantly second-guessing ourselves. But let's not dwell on it
because that chilled-bottle of wine sitting in the fridge is calling
to some of us, so we are going to ignore it. Mostly...
My
real life confession today is MY CLOSET. My husband and I share a
large closet but not a walk-in closet. He has more clothes than I do,
but non-the-less, I keep his stuff away from my half. And for the
past two years, my dog's bed has been in there because that is where
she likes to sleep at night.
Well,
recently something happened. I don't know how, but her bed is now
covered with storage boxes from the garage that I have yet to put
away. To be fair, I need access to these boxes on a regular basis and
there is nowhere else to store them (except our garage).
But
now there is second pile of boxes growing next to my side of the bed.
I can't hide them in the closet, it's full! So I just step over and
around them.
Believe
me when I tell you I'm not a clutter bug like my depression-era
parents were, or my husband currently is... I'm a mom and I just
don't have the time to deal with my ever-bigger and bigger piles of
stuff!
And
therein lies the problem. If you DON'T take of the crap (OK, stuff
but I already used that word too many times) it weighs on you, like a
suitcase (make that several suitcases) that never gets unpacked after
a trip--and then you wonder why you can't find your favorite pair of
earrings or comfy slippers.
I
ask myself, I ask you dear reader, am I a closet clutter bug mom in
denial?
I
never had this problem when I was single! Or when I attended college!
(Plus I could not afford that much stuff.)
Maybe
clutter it is like married sex: You have to make a date for it. Then
do it. And you are so much happier after you've done it.
So
take note: I'm going to pencil in a date with my crap.
Maybe
I'll buy myself a bottle of wine. (But no pictures!)
BIO:
My
bio: Who me? I'm craft challenged, a lousy housekeeper, a
great cook, and a dedicated locavore. I blog about
Montessori and write mom lit and
parent humor. I'm also a book publisher, mom
to a DS child, a 3-6 and 6-9 Montessori trained teacher.
LINKS:
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lnmontessori
I've found that a bottle of wine or two helps in easing the decision of what to get rid of when I'm trying to declutter. And...most of the time I don't miss any of it when it's finally gone. Although, I have spent some time, on occasion, searching for things I don't remember getting rid of. Quick, do it now before the stuff multiples and takes over the house!
ReplyDeleteWine-induced de cluttering! I'm very tempted! But then I might throw everything out!
DeleteWhat a great analogy, you have to make a date for it. And stick to it (my problem right there.)
ReplyDeleteThis is a never-ending problem for me. My sisters hand down so many bags of crap, our husbands call us the "bags of crap family." I'm always all too happy to take anything, we're struggling w/mostly one income, but I barely get time to go through what we'll actually use! I should just enter something on my calendar right now, as your advice!
Bags of crap family, now that's a first! LOL. I need to make MANY dates! Sorry hubby, not with you; )
DeleteI find if I start putting things off they NEVER get done, just forgotten about. So I usually try to hunker down get it done then think how good that bottle of wine will taste. Or maybe drink the wine and forget about the clutter.
ReplyDeleteHa, I like your way of thinking Rena! Maybe I need a date with hubby and some wine!
DeleteEither sober or very drunk. A glass or two and one gets sentimental. That's never good. Or watch that George Clooney movie where his whole life is in his backpack. I definitely was able to downsize after that. .
ReplyDeleteI'm going to use your George Clooney method! It just might work!
DeleteI often wonder if we are secret hoarders. Our closets are stuffed, even though the floors in the house are clean. Mostly. Gotta figure out the secret!
ReplyDeleteClean-ed out closets are supposed to bring prosperity! Right??!! LOL. Thanks for commenting Melissa!
DeleteI say, get that bottle of wine and clean that closet!! Once you get started you won't believe how additive it is just getting rid of things.
ReplyDeleteI miss my college days when I moved at least once a year and got rid of stuff I couldn't fit into my car or my tiny apartment!
DeleteIt's such a great thing purging the closet of piles of things. Liberating even. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteIt makes you breathe easier! De clutters your soul!
DeleteIt's not so much my clutter as it is the kids in my house. Clutter is just part of having kids. I can't ever get through mine. As soon as I think I've conquered it my kids bring home more! :-D
ReplyDeleteI got a good start with my one and only child, he was raised in a Montessori home so HIS stuff is organized and neat! So where does all the other STUFF come from! I blame my hubby, he's the pack rat!
DeleteI started by cleaning a closet and didn't stop until the house was so clean we put it on the market.
ReplyDeleteNow that's motivation Stephan! Moving is an awesome excuse to get rid of stuff!
DeleteI have been trying to sort through and get rid of stuff for a year now. We have down-sized to the extreme and I am having a very difficult time dealing with it. We moved into my mother's house, which is full, and really have only a bedroom there. And our tiny cabin, which is so tiny there are no closets. But I can not part with all my books. And one needs clothes for all the different seasons. Where to store them? And the bedding and towels. This is driving me nuts! We have gotten rid of a lot of stuff and will be getting rid of more. But where is that mandolin I wanted to use today....
ReplyDeleteThat's the other side of the coin, downsizing but not to the point you get rid of essentials! I wish you luck, and lots of creative ideas for storage!
DeleteWow sounds so damn interesting...looking forward to read more of your work Lisa! Nice to know you. I will also make sure to visit your blog:)
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Epsita
http://epsita.blogspot.com
I have to make lists sometimes to check off during the day if I'm doing something else I know will take up all the time I allow it. Then I have to schedule a time that I'm going to just get up no matter what and do the list. Seems silly to have to pencil in my 'to do' list into my own schedule, but it works for me. :) Nice to meet you! :)
ReplyDeleteI think the only solution is to throw out your husband's stuff.
ReplyDeleteI Also Think it. Thanks for Sharing your Thinking.
DeleteOMG. Tell me about it! My clutter tends to be books. Sometimes, I find that I've bought the same book twice AND still have that very book on my kindle too. It's something to do with the fact that some books end up being re-issued with different covers. I'm British you see but live in Germany, so I buy the original book in England and then it gets sold in Germany with a different cover and in many cases, a different title! Oh, and I have an only child who's 12 and he loves books too.....
ReplyDeleteThrow it all out. And then go shopping. ;-) Seriously, my husband and I have to make a "date" to do the de-cluttering as well. We help each make decisions on what to keep vs. throw out. Alcohol is involved.
ReplyDeleteSpring cleaning is a nightmare to those of us who are borderline hoarders!
ReplyDeleteThis was very good.I'm a bit paranoid about becoming a hoarder do occasionally I have to throw stuff out just so I know I can...and alcohol is usually involved.
ReplyDelete