Wednesday Project Get Organized/Clean

"The stuff is like an anchor—you have to hold on to those memories because they are what has made you who you are—but you have to start putting those things in perspective so you can move into life as an adult."




— Peter Walsh

This is so true! Ironically, it came with my 'Daily Thought' courtesy of Oprah! It is exactly what I needed to hear re: Project Clean/Organization (still on-going!)

I have a million reviews, and posts/recipes I need to post, but I NEED TO GET ORGANIZED FIRST!
Wishing you guys a great Wednesday!

Confessions of a S.S.U.F

Confessions of a Stressed Single Urban Female:




Good morning beautiful bloggy friends!
If you've read my last post, you know that I am NOT doing so well. I need to clear my head and just have some quiet. I had what was the worst anxiety attack of my life Thursday night, and truly have felt 'in a fog' since. I think something broke in me. Friday felt truly surreal. In a daze. I thought I was having a heart attack, and the event that caused it has damaged my heart on so many levels. Let's just say that technology isn't always great, and sometimes NOT knowing really is better. I may write about that later, but for today I will write a more practical/humorous note on Multitasking! Thank you so much to APRIL and KRISTINA for the comments. I teared up reading them and THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH! You warmed my heart! You are both so beautiful! THANK YOU!



I thought I'd share with you my 'latest' coping methods and musings on life.



1. Multitasking- Admit it- we've ALL done it: Doing multiple things at once in order to cut time/cost and get as much done. Specifically: Cleaning your bathtub during showering-also know as the '2 in 1 wash method'.

I, no long being an amatuer, have perfected this art and have raised the bar of effiency/multitasking to a more advanced level: I call it the 'Doing my laundry while washing' or alternately " I'm too lazy to do my laundry and shower" or 'Too lazy to take my clothes off and shower' "all in one wash' or 'time cutters bathtub/body/clothing wash'. This not only saves energy, and time; but water usage as well! Also, it saves money as I do not need to pay $2 a load in my apartment (thus freeing up the washing machines for other ppl- making me a very good Samaritan/generous tenant and do gooder).



HOWEVER, since I am rarely home, I have recently taken this 'art form' to a whole new level in MICROMANAGEMENT . I have cut out 2 entire steps from the 3 step process, thus utilizing maximum multitasking efficiency and minimizing time/effort ( energy exerted). I feel I need to create a mathematical equation for this to show my brilliance. This is the ULTIMATE TIME SOLVER:

I shower at the gym. This causes me to NOT use water at home, not need to wash my bathtub as it is NEVER used. Recently (by way of tshirt accidentally falling into the shower with me) I have circumvented all effort needed. On weekends (or some days after work), I wash my yoga pants and tshirts while I am showering! To review: This saves me 1.time 2. energy/effort 3. water usage 4.money (I don't pay for the washing machine OR SOAP) 5.environment as i am NOT using the washer or dryer

6. It makes me 'green' because I AIR dry! 7. No need to use my bathtub/shower thus not making washing it neccessary which circles back to #1-TIME! YES, I AM GENIUS.

Yesterday I washed my spring jacket. It looks nice and black and new now! I am feeling a little smug and slightly pleased with myself. Is this wrong?? It's not like I intend to bring loads or anything- just the grimy sweaty t-shirts of the day. Yes, I am smug... lol

Please do not think less of me....

I vacuumed! Go me!

I write this update again from Good Earth cafe- sipping my Starbucks PASSION TAZO tea- I know, I'm bad...

Today's been a weird day. After my workout I headed home, emailed my dad and decided to get off my ass and continue with "Operation De-Clutter/Get Organized". I have been falling behind, and starting to save (hoard-cough cough) things again for 'tomorrow, future use' etc. I just got up and VACUUMED. It felt good! One problem that arose was the moving of the punching bag- not happening. It is a standing one that is filled to the top with water and sand-i couldn't even move it an inch.

I am also having a hard time designating what to use my storage bins for?! ANY IDEAS?? Samples, mail, pay stubs... I am lost.

I had 4 Holy Basil's right when I finished my workout, so it did help with my anxiety. I also had Holy Basil tea when I got home. I snacked all morning- 2 460g bags of Yours Truly Radishes, 2 red peppers (all dipped into copious amounts of homemade mustard dipping sauce) and tooled around on the internet looking for Windowns Vista sidebar gadgets, blogger widgets etc and reading blogs. I kept making a mess by moving piles to other piles etc.
I decided to break for lunch @ 2:30pm while watching such gems as MTV's 'Parental Control' , Gossip Girl, and the end of Dr Oz, Chris and Steve and the beginning of Oprah (Pillsbury Bake off), The Doctors, Bonny Hunt Show and America's Best Recipe's.

I had 29g of premeasured (Shout out to my amazing MINI SALTER SCALE- my best friend EVER- seriously, GET ONE NOW) 4Fiber and Chocolate Protilife which I made into a shake using Davinci sf Toasted Marshmallow, coconut, and Walden Farms Pancake syrup, PGX, sweet and low, cinnamon and ice.

Below is my 4FIBER pudding/cookie dough (mixed with sweet and low, Walden Farms Pancake, and the aforementioned Davinci Sugar Free Syrups):

The above picture is the 4Fiber drizzled with my protein Ice Cream! YUM

This was had with lunch which consisted of:

• 
  
  340g bag of fresh Cauliflower
• 
  
  340g bag of Mann's Broccolislaw
• 
  
  2 huge zucchini's ( 19oz)
• 
  
  100g mushrooms
• 
  
  mustard, soy sauce, more grain mustard, and sweetener
• 
  
  (unpictured 300g celery, and another 200g mushrooms with French's Yellow Mustard, cayenne and Sweet and Low):

The celery/mushrooms I had later and then FINALLY knowing that I would just binge, I turned Oprah off, grabbed my laptop and ran here (Good Earth). I wanted to get out by 1pm and ended up leaving at 345pm!

Spring cleaning emotional mania....

So Wednesday I had a MINI breakdown at work because I was so stressed, scared due to my non stop migraine and just emotionally drained from worrying about my manager. He sent me home and gave me a hug. I wasn't going to say anything to him, but I couldn't hold back. He told me to stay home Thursday if I'm still feeling 'crummy'. Thursday morning I texted him and said 'I will take your advice and stay home today. Thank u so much for the support, it meant a lot to me. I got about 3hrs of sleep so that's better, hopefully I'll make it out of my bathroom this weekend!" The bathroom reference is in regards to it being THE ONLY dark place in my apartment.
I was waiting for a response but NOTHING! Not 'ok' or his usually 'k'..so now I'm worried again.

I have been a cleaning machine since Tuesday. I mean SERIOUS overhaul. Garbaging everything. I think it's more like therapy or a way of coping. I am a notorious pack rat and keep things (good or bad) for sentimental value. Things give me the feeling that I exist/matter. That I have some weight/value. Yes, therapy is needed lol.

I literally cleaned from 11am Wednesday when I got home from work to 7pm that night. Thursday I did about 5hrs worth. I don't even know where to start because I have SO MUCH STUFF and yet feel so empty. I still have magazines from 2000! I stopped counting at 560 magazines (I keep wanting to save the 'good ones' for later or feel that having a collection means something/represents me in some way). I dumped literally over 500 magazines and put some in the gym. Reorganized stuff, moved my Davinci Sugar Free Syrup 12count boxes into a different corner ( I have 12 FULL), vacuumed a bit and mostly just PURGED.

I feel so burdened by the past that I just snapped. I channeled all my unhappiness into feeling so lost and cluttered. I threw my back out from trying to carry a garbage bag full of HEAVY magazines (300). I live in a HIGH apartment so I had to take about 45000 trips down and up! I will take a picture of the boxes because I literally have so much 'canned' non perishable food, I could survive Armageddon just fine. I like to have 'back up' or tons of something, because then I feel that I will be okay. I had a hard time parting with somethings (cards etc) because again- 'STUFF' MAKES ME FEEL I MATTER! I told myself that it is okay if I cannot part with some stuff now. Obviously, I am not throwing EVERYTHING away.
My rule is this- if I haven't read/looked at it for about 4 months or if I didn't even know I had it- GARBAGE (this is mostly in regards to all the newspaper/magazine articles I rip out, info sheets on supplements I keep for 'reference', new supplement product info sheets (I'm in the industry) etc. You guys have NO idea how many pieces of paper I had ripped out. GARBAGE. I have about 6months worth of UNOPENED unread magazines (Oxygen, ELLE, Clean Eating, Self, Prevention and Shape).

Yesterday I got picked up by my friend and got a cute storage bin, 10 vacuum bags for my Kenmore 12AMP seldom used Canister Vac, PGX granules, a 6pack of v8 juice in mini 30cal cans, more mustard and a CROCK POT! I haven't opened it yet because I am not sure if I am keeping it. It was $18 from Walmart! Hamilton Beach. I don't like that it is white/cream with silver. I wanted chrome/brushed steel or black.

ANY SUGGESTIONS ON A SLOW COOKER???? This one is 4Qts which is perfect. I have a 3QT on hold at Sears. They had fancier programmable ones, but I just want a sturdy good one.

I also have been taking 1/2tabs of Ativan again and they make me really sick and weird.
B
ps- I just realized that it is spring and ironically I am doing 'Spring Cleaning'. I think I am doing emotional cleaning and hopefully I will finally feel at home. I hope that I don't just burn out and stop doing it. I have about another 2weeks worth or work that I need in order to get it presentable. I just hope I finish and MAINTAIN