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Monday, March 14, 2011

Pretty Neat book review and giveaway***CLOSED

Perfection, Control, Organization, these are things that go through my head all the time. Call it an OCD of some sort. (I color coordinate my clothes. I have all clothes in drawers like a department store, and yes I worked at one for 6 + years. My pantry is organized like a grocery store as well. I can keep going on and on) I am a creature that has to have everything my way. (I keep schedules, and calendars, have done so since I was in school. I schedule activities ahead of time, and plan out my days, weeks, months, and year.) I have to have control or else I feel helpless. Many of my friends always seem to think I am so organized. The more they think it, the more I have to keep it up. With a full time job, sometimes two, being a single parent, and now married, life is taking a toll on me. Lately, I just cannot seem to get organized or keep that control I need to have. It try to catch up on the weekends but my weekends do not seem long enough. And during the week, work, and everything else comes to play. I use to have everything under control, and now I just do not. I think trying to get it back into control has been so hard. And now I am learning to understand that I do not have to be perfect. I do not have to please everyone. I can only do what is in my control.
I was giving the opportunity to read and review, Pretty Neat by Alicia Rockmore & Sarah Welch. This book had me at the first quote, "The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself."--Anna Quindlen
This brought me to tears. Sorry but I have been at a very emotional state lately trying to figure out what has been wrong with me. And this line hit a chord with me. I think I had all my thinking all wrong. I lost my priorities. Letting go of control is so very hard. But I am learning to delegate some and let go. At my job, we have had several receptionist/my assistants over the last 3 years. Every time I have taken personal, like it is my fault. But I am understanding now that there are things that are out of my control. All I can do is teach them their job to the best of my ability. I have no control over their choices that they make or do not make. The same goes with friends. Losing a friend can really turn my world upside down. Someone told me I love too much, and this can really become a problem. I am the type of person who cannot say NO to people. And if asked to do something, I always say yes. My mom always told me my friends take advantage of me. But I am tired of making excuses for what I do and do not do. As in the book, I can no longer be a control freak. I am learning to use tools like Microsoft Outlook to help me with my organizational skills. I was so set in my ways that suggestions like this would have sent me up the coop. Just this past week, I learned how to organize a meeting for everyone at work. I felt great. Now, I have to say that I was very resistant when reading chapter 8, Clearing the Clutter. My husband would love this chapter. I have been known by him to be s small hoarder. Just before reading this book, him and I had a conversation of all the stuff I have in the garage and why the car does not fit. Yeah, issues of letting go again. I have been using my extra bedroom as my misc room. When we have guest over and I have not had time to clean, everything gets thrown in there. And now I have 2 rooms but I am putting a stop to this. I am taking a room at a time to declutter now.
This book has helped me so much with all the little things I was not understanding of my perfect imperfections. These little lessons go from my home to my work. I could not have read this book at a better time. You know, Spring cleaning is going to take a new meaning for me. I have a whole lot of cleansing to do. This book is for everyone. It is great. It has suggestions, workouts, other women's stories, and much, much more.

Do you suffer from Cluttertosis? Is your life out of control? Do you need to do a little Spring cleansing? Win a copy of Pretty Neat, enter here...

1)Share the area of your home or life that has become the biggest source of organizational stress. (1 entry)

2)Share one tip for how to delegate an organizational task inside your home. (1 entry)

3)Confess a funny story about either an area that has become out of control inside your home or a way in which you have given up organizing and covered up instead (i.e. shoving items under the bed, designating one room or closet as the catch-all, etc.). (1 entry)

This giveaway ends March 21, 2011 at 8 am. 1 winner will be randomly selected and will have 24 hrs to claim their prize. Good luck.


***Disclosure-I received this book to review. This book has been Independentmami read, and is Independentmami recommended as a good tool. Again, these are my honest opinions.

4 comments:

IT Tips said...
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Giant Sis said...

Definitely my desk is out of control! Papers are reproducing themselves and starting colonies there! I haven't seen my stapler in months, and even if I found it - I wouldn't know where the staples are! At least I don't need to dust it - because you can't see the desk anyway!
wilburnnewsome atyahoodotcom

Giant Sis said...

I delegate some organizational things to my husband. He is GREAT at finding new homes for things - like in the laundry room. Especially if it is hanging hooks or nailing something, he likes being involved. And I don't go behind him and second-guess him.
wilburnnewsome atyahoodotcom

Giant Sis said...

I've given up on the coupon box. You know how popular couponing is right now? Well, I WANTED to try it - but the coupons end up all over. I do have a box for them - but it's a lost cause. Some are taped to the fridge, some are piled on the counter. My husband just threw some out because he thought it was trash. I guess I'll just get a BIGGER coupon box!!??
wilburnnewsome atyahoodotcom