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Saving for Company

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I just became aware of a website that had a very interesting article on it called “No Company Cheese!”. It is about how we save things for company and treat the residents of the home (including ourselves) as second class citizens. Check out the article at http://planethomeandgarden.com/.

The website owner had seen how my post from last June on “Mindfulness in the Home” was about learning to enjoy our homes by paying attention to what is going on in the current moment of our lives.

I have posted a copy of the original blog post below for you to read again or read for the first time if you are new to my blog. My post and the one above can really get you thinking.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

 

Mindfulness in the Home

Posted on June 18th, 2008 by Janice

I was thinking about mindfulness and how it can apply to home organization. So I decided to look up the meaning to see if was a good word choice. There are several definitions depending on if it is used in reference to Buddhism or psychology.

The more general meaning of mindfulness is paying attention to what is going on at the current moment of our life. In other words, paying attention on purpose in the present moment without being judgmental. Hard to say, even harder to apply.

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Mindfulness is usually referring to our thoughts and learning to control them. When chaos is all around us in the form of clutter then our thoughts are not usually nonjudgmental. They are more about; who made the mess, how did it get this bad, why am I the one who always has to clean it up, how did so many things accumulate so fast, why can’t anyone let go of these things including me, etc. On and on the negative thoughts swirl around in your head.

Learning to pay attention on purpose to these thoughts can help us learn not to be so negative or judgmental. When we are aware that our surroundings are causing these negative thoughts then we have greater freedom to respond instead of react.

Many times we are on auto-pilot as we go through the day. If we do this while cleaning a bathroom or washing the dishes then it is okay because we have created good habits to take care of these necessary jobs. But if we put the mail on the counter to “deal with later”, or leave the snack dishes and games, etc. out in the family room to “deal with in the morning” then we are on auto-pilot in a bad way.

These are the times we need to practice mindfulness. We need to learn to pay attention on purpose in the present moment so we can take care of our environment.

So next time you start building or adding to a hot spot, stop and take a deep breath. Get off auto-pilot for a moment and become aware of your current thoughts. Do you dread dealing with the mail? Are you too tired to clean up the family room before bed? When you become aware of the thoughts that are causing the bad habit then you can take the steps needed to change it.

Janice

P.S. Be sure to check my website often. I will be adding articles on different topics periodically. If you have a suggestion or topic you would like to find out more about then either leave me a comment or email me at janice@cutclutterwithscissors.com.

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Decluttering Receipts

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Each year I put my receipts in a file folder I keep in my file cabinet. If I need the receipt for anything that is broken or I’m just curious how old something is I can look for it in the file.

By the end of the year all these receipts can take up way too much drawer space so it becomes necessary to declutter them. January is a good time to sit down and go through the file and clear it out. It’s easy to do while watching TV in the evenings. It feels so good to throw away all those small pieces of paper I don’t need anymore.

The question comes in as to which ones to keep and which can be thrown away or shredded. Last night as I went through the file I kept only the receipts of items that may be under warranty or I may need for business or tax purposes. Usually I file the business or tax receipts in their respective files but occasionally they get in the general receipt file. All those receipts for clothes, shoes, or misc. items that were put on the charge cards will be shredded unless they fit the categories above. I will keep the receipts for the items that are only a couple of months old. I can declutter them later in the year.

I have a few receipts that ended up in the general file that should be stapled or tape to the warranty or instruction sheet. I will need to take care of those. I have separate file folders for different types of items such as kitchen appliances, small electronics, computers, household appliances, etc. Keeping the receipts with corresponding papers makes it easy to know if it is still under warranty when something goes wrong.

I found this site that handles receipts a little differently than I do. Her way requires more discipline to handle the files monthly. I would probably not remember or find the time to do it that way. Everyone needs to find out what works best for them. So check out the site to see other ways of how to handle those multiplying receipts.

http://jdorganizer.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-to-handle-receipts-one-persons.html

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

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Renewed Dreams

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As 2008 comes to a close I’m looking back on the past year to see what has been accomplished and what hasn’t. My tendency, like most people, is to focus on the negative or what wasn’t done as opposed to the positive. We all look for excuses for our so called “failings”. Then get mad at ourselves for using them. Life is always throwing curve balls so many of these excuses are legitimate. I know I am too hard on myself. Are you?

The end of the year is a good time to absorb the meaning of the words in the serenity payer.

“God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.”

~ Reinhold Niebuhr

There are many times where we don’t have control over our lives. There are also many times we do.

At the beginning of 2008 I made the decision to pursue my dream of writing by combining it with a long running interest in home organization. I set up this blog and started a website. I write a weekly and monthly newsletter. My goal was to write e-books with more in-depth information and sell them. Things were going according to plan until June when I was diagnosis with breast cancer. A big curve ball!

So my plans and goals for 2008 were force to be changed. A legitimate excuse. I have tried to keep up the newsletters but the e-books have not been completed.

I have finished the chemotherapy and currently am in the middle of radiation treatments. I will have a ninety minute IV drip of a targeted drug (Herceptin) every three weeks till next July. So 2009 will continue to be somewhat controlled by health issues. At least there is an end in sight.

So my plans and goals for 2009 will have to adjust to what did and did not happen the past year. I’m sure many of you have had to deal with curve balls in your life this past year. Whether it is health issues, economic issues, or any other problems you didn’t expect, remember that a new year is upon us. It’s time to renew our dreams and have the courage to change what we can to make them happen.

Happy New Year.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

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Holiday Baking/Cooking Supplies

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The holidays are upon us. Ovens are heating up and luscious smells are coming from them. Do you have all your baking supplies ready to go? Have you checked your recipes for ingredients needed? If not, now is the time to make that grocery list.

Make sure your ingredients are fresh. Most have “best used by” dates on the packages. If you put some of your ingredients into canisters, do you remember when you bought that last bag of flour? Flour gets rancid over time. Baking soda and baking powder get old and will not leaven your baked goods as well. Spices and herbs lose their punch.

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If there isn’t a date on the package to go by you might be better off buying new. After all, you put your time and love into baking those cookies and cakes so you want the freshest ingredients to make them taste their best.

If you get all those supplies in the house now you will be able to bake up a storm when the weather outside is frightful.

When you start making that holiday meal (all or part of it) you’ll want everything ready to go. Plan ahead now so you won’t be heading to the grocery store for last minute items with all those unorganized people.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

http://cutoutthebreastcancer.wordpress.com

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Actions Speak Louder Than Words

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Yesterday millions of Americans took action and exercised their right to vote. That one action let us determine who will be our next president and the direction we hope he will lead us in.

The old saying, “Actions speak louder than words” is so true. Whether the action is casting a vote that can help change the course of history or it is finally getting rid of a beloved dress that no longer fits, the action moves us forward.

Will Rogers said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you sit there.” So take an action today, however small it may be, to declutter your home or life.

Recycle that pile of old magazines or newspapers. Your time is too precious to waste reading old news. Put that dress that never fit right into the charity bag. You’re not going to wear it, maybe someone else can. What about your stockpile of food on the pantry shelf? If it is expired then throw it away. If it is good then either plan on using it soon or if you don’t like anymore donate it to a food pantry.

Take an action today and another one tomorrow and another one the next day. You’ll be moving forward and virtually eliminate the chance of getting run over.

Janice

https://cutclutterwithscissors.com

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