Friday, January 7, 2011

My 2011 Word of the Year: ORGANIZE

This was taken by Ana from her bedroom window through a screen at sunset the other night. She took it with her videocam that has a 5 megapixel camera.
Glorious, wouldn't you say?

My word of the year this year is ORGANIZE! I really thought long and hard about this one and it kept coming back to me that the more organized I am, the more free time I will have to spend with my family & friends. I first wrote down (with a pen & paper!) all of the things I felt I did well in 2010. I was surprised that the list was so long!! Then my husband suggested a few things that I had not remembered, so I had to add a few more. I really liked the process of looking back on 2010. I think part of the reason I had many things on my list was because of blogging. I love the interactive part of blogging & the immediate feedback. Here are posts of a few accomplishments:

summer laundry room ( i will have to do this again, after ski season!)


If you tend to be a procrastinator ( I am, too much thinking going on here!) then you need to join up with Amy at New Nostalgia who hosts a linky party on Tuesdays call Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays. Amy is an incredible blogger & is fighting breast cancer and has recently undergone a double mastectomy.  She will be hosting Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays again on January 11, 2011. So go get your post ready & send some love to Amy!

One project that I never fully blogged is my shutter project. Remember I agonized over whether to paint the existing or buy new? It was #3 on my list here. I promise to give you photos & a full post in the near future.

I did post my first video, held my first giveaway, my first interview with blogger Suzanne of beachouseetc, held my first linky party and made my first blog header in Picasa in 2010.

Last night I spent a few hours on a new blog header & it didn't work. It appeared to be perfect & then when I clicked on "collage" it wrapped my words, so that you could only see half of them! Does that ever happen to you? So, to all of you that have new blog headers for 2011, I am not lazy just technologically challenged, at the moment! And yes, I am envious of you!

Here are a few things I have already done in the first week of this year:
  • cut down on coffee ( I am down to 3 x 8 ounce cups and heading down to 2x8 ounce cups)
  • figured out how to get Ana's videos on the computer from her new Kodak Playsport videocam~it is waterproof & so much fun! Had to return her Flip because I could not get it to charge. Love Kodak & think they should sponsor me since I have always loved their products. It is the only brand of point & shoot that I will own!
  • put kids on a new schedule for tennis, which is working out really well!
  • moved all of my 2010 papers to storage
  • did my ballet workout, it is a good stretch & great for the lower body without being too hard on the knees
  • a clean house~woot, woot!

Some of the things I want to accomplish in 2011:

  • make a blog book~if you have done this, I would love to know how you did it
  • streamline my time in making new blog headers
  • clean my junk drawers
  • clean my sock drawer
  • come up with a plan for all of my photos, both digital & printed
  • print photo books for each of the kids
  • transfer more video to dvd
  • organize a prayer group~any ideas for non denominational?
  • get in shape for slalom skiing~see my post on slalom skiing
  • post about women business owners & The Steeple Project
  • learn how to use my new camera (after I buy one, maybe in a few months!)
  • make decision on computer which is having memory problems & is soon to be outdated
  • continue to learn how to relax
  • and many decorating projects, so you will have to follow along on my adventures!

Are YOU trying to get more organized in 2011? Maybe one of these posts will help you:


2 of my  favorite skiers. Love those smiles & the dimple! Photo credit: Ana.

Here is my Anti Procrastination list for this week:
  1. ski (that's what we do here in Ohio in January!)
  2. clean sock drawer (stop laughing Rich!)
  3. reconcile October,  November & December checking statements (wish I could do it every month!)


It is a short list, but realistic!

I am hoping that you are off to a great start in 2011. Looking forward to sharing with you my long lists & hopefully some pretty photos!

I am finding it difficult to post, as I am without my SLR camera. But don't worry, I am finding ways to get around it. You may even see a video on here. I know, crazy things are happening here at checkitoff. I mean holy cow, only 3 cups of coffee. It's going to be a great year! 
hugs,

6 comments:

  1. I'm totally doing the re-organization right now and it SO makes a difference in how much time I actually have to spend with my family!

    And I made a blog book as a christmas gift for grandparents this year (as well as one for myself) which I adore. It's a coffee table book and my kids have nearly worn it out already. I used Blurb which has a free download called Booksmart. It loaded all of the posts and pictures right in and I edited each. The only catch is, whatever book size you choose is unchangable in the end if you suddenly find yourself priced out of your budget with more pages than $$. Downsizing your book means starting over and that's not fun so look carefully at the pricing guide first.

    Happy skiing! I love the idea for a ski bedroom, by the way. So cute and fun -- i'm off to the store to check out that conditioner bottle :)

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  2. Great post! I need to organize too!!! Have fun with all that skiing. We went to Az. over Christmas and were able to go to Northern Az. and ski one day. They had just got some new snow. It was a great family day!!

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  3. good for you Cathy! this week i have droppe doff 7 bags of clothes/toys/stuff to be donated and have a lot to do around here, but i am determined to do it! thanks for the inspiration!

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  4. Hi Cathy - I've loved getting caught up over here, I was away and instead of catching up in what I should be here at home, I'm procrastinating by catching up on blogs ... much more fun - but I guess it sounds like I should link up with New Nostalgia?!

    I love your new paddleboard - what a great gift! and the steeple project sounds wonderful too ... can't wait to see what you do with that one! btw, if you're still looking for camera info, mine's a Canon - but to me, the power is more in the lens that you choose ...

    Definitely gonna be following your resolutions b/c boy could I ever use the motivation!! Happy New Year!!

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  5. Hmm, I really should do some organizing too, I just can't get myself to it.
    Have a happy Monday, Cathy. I love love the picture of that amazing sky! xxxx

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  6. I've got to do a blog book too...and get organized for that matter. I'll have to check back to see how you do!
    Love, Shawni

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