I'm a Card Counter...

...and a domino counter...puzzle piece counter...game pieces counter...

You get the idea.

I am obsessed with maintaining the actual number of pieces that accompany any game, puzzle, or activity that my children receive.

This drives my husband (and me!) nuts.

He doesn't understand how I can walk by a pile of breakfast dishes in the sink...all day...only to obsess over finding that one missing puzzle piece.

Me neither.

It's a sickness I tell ya!  And it's been with me all my life.  Obsessing over finding little things.

So what does this have to do with the holidays...everything!

First off, my kiddos are fortunate enough to be the recipients of many creative activities from generous aunties, uncles, and grandparents who shower them with gifts for both holidays and birthdays.  And second...it's almost New Year's Day.

And that means getting my clean on!

So, since I/we have still been recovering from this nasty bout with the flu (I think we got Influenza, not stomach) I have been going stir crazy and decided to start my New Year cleaning/organizing/decluttering early.

This, of course, is what lead to today's all-day project of tackling the linen/game closet.

Let me tell you...I did not take a before pic because, after all, a girl's gotta have some pride!  You could not even open the door without tons of games, puzzles, bath towels, bed sheets, etc. flying out at you.  It was beyond ridiculous and made me look like we belonged on that TLC program Hoarders.

Really, it was just a disorganized mess.  And maybe a bit of hoarding.  :)

I threw out tons of trash...including board games with missing pieces...and I am donating a stack of old bath towels to our local animal shelter.

Here's a pic of what's left...

Can I just say that the light bulb stash on the top shelf is driving me insane?  I hate that messy cluttered look...I'm thinking of purchasing a large wicker basket (on sale at Michaels!) to hide those in.

Where/how do you store light bulbs?

And I'm so ready to reclaim the linen closet for...well... linens!  I only put the most recent additions of family and toddler games on the bottom shelf, but they're taking up valuable space.

I removed all of my table linens and will have to find room for them in the shelving in our dining room hutch.

And don't even look at our nasty bathroom towels!  Doesn't matter how nicely one folds ugly towels...they're still ugly.  Most of those sets are 18-years old.  Seriously.  Hubby and I decided it was time to invest in some new ones.  We've added a couple new sets here and there, but everything is mismatched and it's driving both of us nuts.  While I would love to have all white bath towels...this doesn't seem very practical for our family.  Jury's still out on what color to invest in.

Any suggestions?

Anyway, that's what I've been up to this week.  I've already tackled all of my drawers in our triple dresser that hold my, ahem, delicates (no photos of those!) and our master bathroom linen closet.

Loving the feel of organized closets!

Kitchen cabinets are next on my to-do list.

How about you?  Do you declutter/go into organization overdrive for the New Year?

Just one example of a game that had to "go away".

Sorry Dora and Boots.  It wasn't personal.  Mama just felt like we were missing too many colorful playing cards, as well as Backpack, and it was driving her nuts.  Perhaps we will replace you...but with the original model?!!!


And you, Baa Baa Black Sheep...

How dare you hide your bag of wool from me!

But I found you.  Yes I did.  Hiding among our towels for boating...and Snuggies that were the "it" item for Christmas last year.

And what were my kids doing while all of this "cleaning" was going on?

Well, the older two were making huge messes on the first floor (for me to clean up) and the baby...well he was figuring out how to do this:

Apparently, Luke's now mastered the art of climbing on stairs...time to get the gate!...and how to remove an ink pen cap.  Here's our little Picasso in all his glory!

Wishing you a fabulous Friday night!  I'm going to reclaim our first floor living spaces from child Christmas clutter and enjoy the sounds of Seasonal Music that are still being played on channel 933 on digital cable.  I can't even tell you how much I appreciate still being able to find Christmas music since we just couldn't get into the Christmas spirit last week!

Holiday Blessings to All!

Valerie