getting organized

This week has found me in full manic form, bouncing from room to room, purging and piling, recycling and shredding and in all senses of the word : ORGANIZING.
I remember the days of my early adulthood, when I was quite the organizer. Files got filed, boxes got labeled. A place for everything and everything in it's place. What the eff happened to that girl? Now I'm in constant "pile search" mode. I can't keep track of anything, and clutter is having it's way with me. I would like to say that the good housekeeper in me has decided to crack the whip and get her house in order because it's her job, but...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Sorry... what was I saying? I just lost track of my thoughts laughing hysterically at that last statement... oh yeah, getting organized. It isn't pride, it's the looming PCS. DUN DUN DUN For any of you non mil - peeps who might read this blog, a PCS is a Permanent Change of Station, or Army speak for moving. We will most likely be PCS-ing this summer, and after being stationed here at Ft. Lewis for an unheard of 5 years, we have accumulated a shit ton of unnecessary items. On top of the military gear, (three deployments worth), my dad invading my garage and filling every nook and cranny, and three kids worth of stuff, my immediate household has taken to unorganized chaos from the hours put in at PTA, Roller Derby, activities for the kids and shear laziness. But I am reclaiming my once tidy home, one trash bag and Ebay pile at a time.
But why freak out about a PCS that's nearly 6 months away, you ask? Well, for one, it's never too soon to start preparing for the Army to send you somewhere. Ever.
Secondly, and the most important reason , really, is that our little darling Patience will be graduating from High School in June and we will be so busy with her shenanigans that I don't want to be pressed for time or a slave to getting a house organized and ready for a move.
Thirdly, we are doing a partial move. Our move is only for 6 months, and from there Derek will get his next assignment and duty station, so we don't think it would be smart to move all of our stuff when we know we won't be able to fit it and /or use it and /or need it. Better to sort through what we don't need at all now, then step on over to what we won't need for the move and let the Army store it for us.
In all honesty, lastly, I think it's also about control. I have lost a bit of control over my household in general, but I am also losing control over major life events. My baby is moving out of OUR house, spreading her wings and becoming an adult and on top of that the rest of us are also leaving behind what is comfortable (we've been here a long time) for the unknown.
Both of these things make me nervous, but the former has me losing sleep.
So I guess my best way of coping with both situations is to organize the hell out of my house, get back to pile-free living, try to earn a few bucks on the backside from all my unwanted "treasures" and free up the time to enjoy the last months here in Washington and also as the Foster-party-of-5.
Soooo... In the true Heather tradition, I'd like to give you a few links to help you get organized, sell your crap and get s jump start on Spring cleaning!

AS you know, Goodwill and Thrift on Post are great places to DONATE
but did you know our JBLM Thrift takes consignments? Heck yes! Check them out T, W, TH 9:30 - 2 for details. Earn some money on your gently used items.
Also a great place to find items to organize your life for a fraction of the retail cost.

HALF PRICE BOOKS
I can't say enough awesome things about this chain. We have one here, in Tacoma, by the mall. They BUY books/cds/dvds/video games/bluray/games/ etc.
http://www.hpb.com

Ebay and Craiglsist are great, but have you bookoo'd?
Bookoo - it's like an online yardsale. Look for one in your area
http://www.lewisyardsales.com/

Check out some organizing Blogs for FREE tips
http://orgjunkie.com/

Involved in a moms group (MOPS, PWOC, co-op daycare)? Box up your reusable "treasures" and have a swap.
A few years ago I went through all my cleaners and pared down to a few basics, but I had hundreds of dollars worth of still nearly full bottles of cleaners, solutions, even mops and brushes.I didn't want to just toss 'em, so I took a box in to a PTA meeting and those items lasted about 10 seconds. I also do this when I have all the leftover food/supplies when a friend clears housing.

Things I love

With Valentines Day looming (don't act like you forgot)I thought I would do a bit of a bloggy homage. We all know Valentines day isn't a real holiday, but, rather, an excuse for corporate America to put their business into the red by hawking schwag, dispensing guilt and laying on the pressure for relationships old and new. Men resent having to go overboard to "show" their lady friend how much they "love" them. Women try to outdo each other in the " who has the better man" category. And if your single... well this day just reaffirms that nobody will ever want you. No amount of cards, chocolates or roses will ever live up to the hype brought about by jewelers, Hallmark and our own insecurities. Love should always start from within. You can't really love another until you love yourself.
So I'm turning Valentines Day into a day of reflection. Here are a few of the things I love, not in any specific order except how they came to mind:

1. I love my husband. He's my best friend and he cracks me up.
2. I love the little butterfly magnet Erica left on my bed when she moved 2 years ago. It's still in the same spot.
3. I love the ocean.I love warm sand between my toes and I don't get enough of it here.
4. I love FaceBook and reconnecting with friends, and keeping connected to family.
5. I love my phone. I take it with me everywhere, a silly side effect from constant deployments.
6. I love the Pacific Northwest and all there is to do here. Mountains, forests, ocean; its beautiful.
7. I love being a mom. It's the hardest job I'll ever do, but I hear, the most rewarding. Fingers crossed!
8. I love how music can take you back in time, fill you with emotion, and change your mood.
9. I LOVE ROLLER DERBY
10. I love sitting on my couch in my sweats with a bowl of popcorn,snuggled in between the kids, or cozied up to Derek.
11. I love a good night out with friends! A good group of friends is always the answer.
12. I love shave ice. In Hawaii. Matsumoto or Aokis is fine by me.
13. I love sleep. Naps are heavenly.
14. I love all the good times had on Adams St. I miss them.
15. I love this blog and my sweat readers who encourage me :)
16. I love a good sunset.
17. I love my moms photography
18. I love comic book movies. I love any movie that has action and makes me laugh.
19. I love to laugh. I think most of the worlds problems could be solved with laughter.
20. I love the feeling I get when I accomplish something I thought was beyond me.
21. I love hanging out with my family in Clovis and reliving our youth!
22. I love the life my husband provides for us.
23. I love a clean, organized house.
24. I love Pennys mac and cheese
25. I love the sound of Derek's bike when he pulls into the drive
26. I love not knowing what the future brings. Life is about change.

This Valentine's Day I'm going to celebrate the love I have around me, and expect only the same in return. Take THAT Hallmark.

Birthdays

We are on the cusp of what we call the "birthday season" here in the Foster house. It starts with me on February 7th, followed by Gracie. (Valentines Day buffers us), then we head into March, were we have Aunt Shea, then Ruby. It's like every week has a celebration attached. It's overwhelming. Especially since we kinda go overboard for birthdays. As a family of 5, with three kiddos, it's tough to find time for everyone, so we make birthdays all about that special someone. It usually involves a lot of dollar store decorating and balloons,dinner of your choice (either prepared or out on the town) and it all begins with breakfast in bed. And that's just the day of the birthday. Parties are another story all together. It's ridiculous, really. I blame myself, of course. I am an only child, and my parents divorced when I was very young, so my birthday was really the only time both parents came together and celebrated. And on the years they didn't spend it together with me, I had two celebrations.
Pretty awesome for a little girl.
When Derek and I were first married, I made a big deal out of birthdays, and he didn't. I guess they weren't a big deal in his family. Through the years, though, he has really gotten into it. Even while deployed, he makes an effort to make it special for each of us. Often rearranging his schedule to stay up to video chat with the kids and see them have their breakfast in bed, or open gifts. It's sweet really.
But then you turn 36, and all of a sudden all that attention for you isn't as fun, or needed... or even wanted. Man, birthdays begin to suck. It's like this day that reminds you of all you left behind; the time, opportunities, the youth wasted, and the aging that lies ahead. I have wasted my fair share of time being miserable. Unhappiness, in any capacity, is just unfortunate. You let so much slip through your hands that you don't even realize the waste.I remember so many regrets vividly, but find that the happy things are harder and harder to bring to the surface of my memory. That, to me, is just scary. And i can't imagine living the next forever like that.
I decided I need to let go of that person I was when I was younger. The thin one, the insecure one, the happy one, the sad one, the one who always made bad decisions, and even the one who made the right ones. I can't ever get any of those Heathers back. I'll never wear a mini skirt again, I'll never drive through Del Taco drunk wearing only my bra and I'll never make googly eyes at the cover band at the club. Those were my 20's and they were fun, but they're gone.
I'm not the unsure ARMY wife I once was. I'm no longer co-dependent I'm not the person who lets people take advantage of her because I'm too nice to say no. My cape has been retired. My early 30's are gone and I'm wiser for them.
Today, I'm going to be the Heather that got married in Vegas, loves nerd movies, would rather hang out with the kids on the couch on a Friday night and goes by Smutt Peddler on the derby rink. I'm the Heather that wants to write erotica and short stories and get paid for it. While I mourn that lost youthful Heather with her grey-less hair and firm skin, it's time to embrace wiser, confident, and much more clever an witty Heather. Grey can be covered and creases can be plumped. Plus, Derek finds my "cougar chest" sexy!
So for all you sweet readers who are heading towards 40 (or have coasted past) embrace this life, make changes that are meaningful and stop looking backwards in regret.
And if you happen to be a sweat reader where 30 looms in the distance, remember to HAVE FUN,fall in love ,make mistakes and wear sunscreen <3 you'll thank me later.