Vicki Norris' Restoring Order Blog

Eight Weeks Under

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Talk about a blog break...this has been more a like a blog break-up!

If anyone is wondering where I've been these last few weeks; I've been dealing with more than my share of LIFE CHANGE!

In the last eight weeks, my husband and I have closed on (and moved into) our dream home on five acres. My folks bought the adjoining five acres, so now my sons will get to grow up next door to "Nana and Papa." We are calling it Dream Acres, and I can't wait to tell you all about it...we're living our priorities every day.
As a result, we moved our household and my business Restoring Order. I had lived in my home for 12 years and Restoring Order is about to celebrate its tenth year in business, so this was no small feat. It was an organized move, but it was peppered with visits to the hospital....read on...
Concurrent with this move has been a family medical crisis. My mother had back surgery, which resulted in complications, a second surgery, and over a month in the hospital. She remains in the hospital. Hers is a case for Dr. House because no one can figure out what is going on with her blood pressure.
In addition, I became violently ill myself over the last three weeks and have since given this epic cold to both my sons. I am just now surfacing.
Lastly, in order to move my business into its new building, a total remodel was required. One wall was torn down, another erected...flooring was torn up and new flooring put down. Sheetrock, paint, electrical, you name it. Thankfully, I'm married to the world's handiest man.

Some people just ask for it, eh?

I'm back in the saddle and wanted to break the blog silence with an update. I have learned so much in this time, and I have much to share with you. Stay tuned!

Weathering life's changes alongside you,

Vicki Norris

Socially Under-Networked

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

In 2007, my friend invited me to join Facebook. He posted some pictures of his adorable family and asked me to write on his "wall." I followed the link and did my best to fill out a rudimentary profile. Up until today, I had never updated that ancient profile. Today, I sorted through 14 invitations to be a "friend." Kind of pathetic that I only had 14 people offer to be my friend in over a year, but that's another story. (Maybe people don't realize how fun I really am. Ha.) Now, I have an odd assortment of friends, some of whom are acquaintances and others who are near and dear. Not sure it's very representative of my inner circle....My husband Trevor doesn't even know what Facebook is, and he is my best friend.

I feel stressed by the hundreds of others I should be extending and accepting invitations to and from to be friends. What if they see me on there and think that I'm not their friend? I spent more than half my day doing all of this. I had to complete my basic information including personal information (oh, dear, what shall I share?), contact information (what about all the weirdos out there in cyberspace?) and my education and work information (what for? So my alumni association can track me down and ask me for money? So that people can send me resumes?) Wow, this is taking a lot of commitment.

I felt sort-of stupid for being SO behind-the-times and slow to "catch on" to this not-so-new, apparently essential form of community. Yet, conversely, there seemed to be something kind of ego-centric about the whole thing, as well. Some people post several times a day, I learned, and a lot of it is just random musings that they think others want to hear....their up-to-the-moment state-of-being. I can think of a lot of other things I can and should be doing with my time. As my dad would say, I think I have "bigger fish to fry."

I also belong to Linked In. True confessions, though: my web designer updates my invites and groups. I simply don't have time to explore this virtual world. I'm busy living in the physical world of being a mom of two boys, a wife, and a small business owner.

An old sorority sister friend just invited me to join her in Linked In, and her invite is sitting in my Inbox and it's making me feel guilty because I really do want to re-connect with her. Another good friend asked me to make him a referral on Linked In, which I am happy to do after I get my Inbox below 100. He's a very good corporate attorney. If you want his name just call me. :-)

My question is: what about my database? That's what I use when I want to ask someone smarter than me a question or get connected to a person or an opportunity. Am I boorish and old-fashioned to just pick up the phone and call them or should I be poking, inviting, and writing grafitti on their "walls"? And do we simply phone those in our database, or network, or sphere of influence, or friends, or contact list, or whatever you want to call it, and just catch up anymore?

While we're on the subject, does anyone walk across the street anymore and talk to their neighbors? Here we are, citizens of the world, with hundreds of friends on Facebook, but do we even know our next-door neighbors? How do we have time to hang out in the cul-de-sac if we are glued to the screen?

It's really no wonder that our time management is out-of-control these days, we're getting carpal tunnel and eye strain from being on the computer with our virtual network.

It's kind of overwhelming to think of dedicating a part of each day -which is already full - to posting pictures, issuing invitations, and searching for friends. If so, I better create a time management seminar especially dedicated to scheduling these activities and I should be the first to take my own seminar!

I have a little theory here: my "friends" will be the ones who show up on Moving Day, which is in two and a half weeks and counting. Our family is moving to our dream house, and I plan to feed, thank, and spend time with those friends. Hopefully they won't hold it against me that they didn't get a formal e-vite.

I may be socially under-networked and woefully e-literate, but I'm thankful that I'm blessed with friends in the world I in live in day-to-day. Perhaps there's still hope for me in the virtual world, too.

~Vicki Norris

Whoa-ses

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

"Mommy, whoa-ses..." Nash said to me with imploring eyes.

"You want to go cut the roses?" I asked.

"Uh-heh."

"Ok, let's go cut the roses."

I have been teaching my toddler how to prune back the rose bushes almost every night. We go outside into the front yard with the clippers and the bucket and stand in the warm fading sunlight and trim back three beautiful rose bushes that frame my front window. He carries the bucket. I clip the dead roses and we talk about cutting out the ones that have died to make more room for the ones that are budding. Meanwhile he plays on the stump nearby, runs in the grass, and helps me weed.

I had just finished cutting out the deadwood and I stood back and looked at the roses that remained. I wondered why I don't bring more of the GOOD ones inside. Perhaps because I know they will wilt very soon after. But they wilt pretty fast on the bush as well....I began to realize. I guess I just get out there and "get the job done" on auto-pilot. It would be trite to say I don't "take the time to smell the roses," because I AM out there enjoying the evening sun and experience with my son. But, what I'm NOT doing--that I WANT to start doing more of--is ENJOYING the fruits of my work. I want to bring the GOOD ones inside.

Are there other areas of my life that I am doing this to myself? Where I am depriving myself of the beauty in life because I'm moving to fast?

The night I realized all this, there weren't very many good blooms left. So I brought Nash over to the hydrangea bushes and asked him which ones he liked best. He pointed them out and I cut them. We loaded them in our metal bucket, brought them inside and arranged them in vases. Every time I look at them (ironically) I am thinking of my "whoa-ses" and how glad I am that I'm bringing the outdoors indoors and enjoying the blooms life has to offer, no matter how fleeting.

May you bring some blooms into your life today!

~Vicki

Motherhood Times Two

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

If you're wondering why I haven't blogged for 8 weeks, there's a very good reason! I worked up till June 30th and then bailed out of this speeding train known as "running your own business" and drove to the hospital the next day and had a baby!

On July 1, 2008, Trevor and I welcomed our second son into our lives. Meet Brock Patrik Norris.

And now, after an 8 week hiatus (sorry, I should have mentioned that I'd be gone for a while!) I am back!

Baby Brock and big brother Nash are doing well. Colic and concern are fading, being replaced with more grins all around. I am so blessed and thankful to be a mother to my boys. I am trying to savor every moment. The time is going so fast!

I am sharing a picture of us in the hospital (now you know what I look like with no makeup!). Soon I will share more photos of our growing boys and family since we are ever changing! I am excited to share with you as time goes by how I'm adjusting and working hard to keep my priorities in focus.

For those of you who want to know, my home is crazy during the day, but by nightfall I sweep through and pick it up so I don't get depressed by morning! I'm enjoying our changing home and trying to keep things in perspective.

~Proud Mom Vicki Norris

Live Like You're Moving

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

I may be moving. My home is up for sale right now, and if we move, it will be close by....

I have to say that getting my home ready for sale has been a treat. Now, that may sound disgusting to those of you who live in FEAR of ever having to move...with all the organization and staging you'd have to do...you'd rather jump out the window. But, read on and learn WHY I am going to try to live in this state of transition for the rest of my life!

Here are some of the benefits I've received from having my home on the market:

I'm living in my home the way I've always wanted to...

I'm cutting fresh roses and bringing them inside each day and arranging them in my vintage jars
We're actually watering our annual flowers daily and maintaining two beautiful hanging baskets...things are looking better than just plain bark dust!
I'm making my bed EVERY day
I've purposely tried to keep the laundry below the tops of the hampers by doing a load every evening
I'm opening the windows to the summer breeze and turning on the jazz music, so that it is wafting through my house along with the sweet smell of summer
I'm viewing my home as a welcoming place of hospitality-in-a-hurry...I've always enjoyed having guests at any time, but now I'm proud to have people stop in at any time with no preparation

Best of all....my husband has found new inspiration....

He is CLEANING UP AFTER HIMSELF EVERY DAY, including socks in the laundry, dishes washed and PUT AWAY, and even scrubbing the counters!
I am finally getting my husband through his "honey-do" list...at least a third of it is done...and supplies have been purchased for the remaining projects!!!

And here's a testimonial: yesterday, a Realtor called and wanted to preview the home and I was ready for her visit in 5 minutes (other than my own appearance!)

Friends, please hear my heart on this topic...I'm not advocating living in sanitized perfection. Nor am I suggesting that you should really put your home on the market unless there's a very good reason...especially in this economy. What I AM noticing, though, is the delightful state of mind and home (and yes, some habit changes) that are taking place with our home up for sale.

I think that after my home sells (or not), I will picture the "for sale" sign in my yard and try to remind myself of fresh roses on the nightstand.

Greeting Card-Worthy

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Whenever I need a good laugh, I like standing in the greeting card aisle and reading the funny cards. I have no problem breaking out in hysteria in public...and somehow it's even cathartic for me.

Recently I've had a lot of opportunities to buy greeting cards...Mother's Day, Father's Day, birthdays, sympathy, engagement, new baby...you name it and I've been in the market for the perfect card.

Like everyone else, I've noticed the skyrocketing price of cards (which makes me briefly and insanely consider making my own cards, but then quickly snap out of this Martha-moment in deference to reality). Yet, something else has also been laid on my heart as I stand there and read the heartfelt messages...

Have you ever tried to buy a card for someone, only to reject every one you pick up because the message didn't fit? Frankly, that person wasn't "always there for you," and they didn't always "show their support," or "make you feel special." Let's face it, sometimes it's hard to choose a card for someone (without feeling like a fake) because they haven't really lived up to your expectations.

I recently decided that I want to be a person that the really good greeting cards are about...Not that I want to live a sugary-sweet existence (anyone who knows me is having a good laugh right now) or that I expect people to say contrived things about me...but I want to live up to all that I'm capable of as a wife, as a mother, as a daughter, as a friend, and even as an employer/businesswoman. Let me be clear: I'm not saying I want to live for others' expectations of me (because heaven knows that would be exhausting and mis-directed). However, I do want to be a woman of heart, character, passion, intelligence, and diligence who is worthy of a heartfelt card.

When searching for a card for me, I don't want people to go through card after card, putting each one down, l ooking for another that says less so they don't have to feel dishonest.

As I aspire to live my true priorities and be worthy of the GOOD cards, will you aspire alongside me?

~Vicki

Giving Well

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

You know, this "going green" buzz phrase has gone a little far. People are using it to sell everything from clothes to homes these days. Sadly, for some it has become about adjusting our consumerism to products marked in a certain way rather than limiting it and being savvier about the choices we make.

Last weekend, I received the "new" crib from my girlfriend Jen. You would think it was right off the shelf. It had practically everything but the box it came in...there was a ziploc bag filled with spare parts and even the manual. Leave it to Jen to have filed away the manual and then reunite the manual with the item when giving it away...you can see why she's "my girl"! While assembling it, my husband said, "I love getting all these great things from Jen, they are always in "like-new" condition!"

I was thrilled I didn't have to buy something new and she was happy to let it go to a good home. Plus, I didn't have to deal with all the packaging, boxing, and superfluous stuff that comes with store-bought items. Best of all, when I'm done with the crib, I will try to find another friend I can bless with this furniture. Now, that's giving well, practicing good stewardship, AND green living!

GIVING

Next time you have something you'd like to part with, ask around before tossing, recycling, or dropping it off at a donation center.
Send around an email to friends and family or your network and see if anyone is interested in your cast-offs.
Give well. Ensure that the item is clean and, if possible, re-unite it with its instructions and spare parts.

RECEIVING

Next time you need something for yourself, family, home, or business, clarify between "need, want, and desire." Do you really need to acquire something else that you will have to pay for, store, dust, insure, etc.?
When you are begin your search, check with your network first and then with Freecycle and Craig's List and any other re-purposing communitites in your area.
Receive well. Express your thanks. Resolve to be a good steward of your own belongings so you can bless others when you're ready to let go.

Here's to giving well!

~ Vicki

Tackle Your Tangle

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Friends, I thought I'd share my recent household organizational challenge with you in the hopes it will inspire YOU to tackle your own projects.

With a baby coming soon, I'm in the midst of purposefully revising my household. Actually, the baby's nursery is ready, my main challenge is relocating the contents of my guest room and creating a "big boy" room for my toddler son.

Items that were stored in the guest room were: photos/memorabilia; sewing; gift wrap; and books. Here's my progress so far:

I bought some fabulous book shelves and created a "library" in my dining room. In our small home, I had to examine every square inch of wall space to determine where it would be best to carve out space for this library because it was important to me that all our books lived together rather than helter-skelter throughout the house.
I "pruned" the contents of one of my bedroom dressers (mostly serving as a valet for my husband's pocket contents!) and created a "gift wrap center" in it. In my ideal world (and ideal-sized home) I'd have a gift wrap center in a public space (like a spacious laundry room or mudroom or bonus room) rather than a private space (ie: my master bedroom) but in the real world, I made my space (and furniture!) work for me.
Cleaning supplies in my laundry room were re-located to pedestal drawers under the washer and dryer, creating space in the upper cabinets for my "sewing supplies." I like having my material, buttons, sewing kit, and sewing machine all together, and it makes sense to me to live in my laundromat!

Now my final challenge continuing to prune my photos and memorabilia and finding a destination for them. (Note that I'm using ongoing verbs like "continuing to" and "finding"....because I recognize this will be a process, not a one-time activity!) I saved the biggest challenge for last (following my own principle of "Do What You Know First") and there are a LOT of boxes associated with this category. I'm sentimental and I've kept a lot of photos and keepsakes over the years. The good news is: it's organized by year and now I just have to streamline the contents and figure out a place to store them.

Fortunately, my key priorities have been tackled, and I cannot describe the emotional and physical impact these changes have made. I feel lighter and like things are right again. I've made enormous progress from my torn-apart household to where I am now....and the "big boy" toddler room is looking good!

What is YOUR household tangle that you need to resolve? I encourage you to get after it so that you can experience the same RELIEF I've experienced in the last few days now that my home has begun to sync again!

~Vicki Norris

Trickle-Down Effect

Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Recently my husband installed new tile into our bathrooms and laundry room upstairs. The project took much longer than we thought and by the time he was done, we had grout on the carpet, tools laying everywhere, and a fine layer of dust covering every surface. The good news is: we were finally "done" and he even installed a warming pad under the tile in our master bath...so nice on the toes on cold mornings! Just when we thought the project was complete and he was nailing the last finish nail into the molding to re-attach it to the wall, he inadvertently hit a water line. Except we didn't know it. Thankfully, three hours later he heard a hissing sound and hunted it down. He pried the molding off the wall and we were both instantly doused with a jet of water.

The water leaked into our walls and ceiling over our dining room. Fortunately, I'm married to the handiest man on earth so he was able to tear everything apart (in the middle of the night), replace and soder the damaged copper pipe, and get water running again in our home. Yet, a week and a half later our wood floors still had sheetrock shmear, buckets, and paint drips on them. You can probably imagine the emotional crisis I experienced with my home ripped apart, first by the tile project, and then by the leak.

I--like many of you--experienced "situational disorganization." That's when a life event (move, divorce, remodel, illness, new baby, or any life transition) causes turmoil in your space. The good news is: with a little effort (and deep breathing), situational disorganization is entirely recoverable. The key is to tackle the problem before a new one is added. In my case, our tile project clean up was not quite finished before the leak incident. This meant that I had TWO problems causing disarray in my home before I knew it. Add to that the headache of a toddler running around screaming "SAW!" and "WATER!" as he sped around our bedroom "exploring" the sharp tools and buckets of standing water. Luckily we all survived, there was no blood shed, and my house is back together again (save a few pieces of molding!)

So, if you have some disorganization in your home you need to deal with, chances are some of it was caused by a life event that imposed itself upon you. After you've traced it to its root, resolve to unwind that mess before new ones have the chance to assault your space (as those unexpected situations often do!). Going forward, commit to eliminating this "trickle-down effect" of situational disorganization by tackling those unpleasant circumstances QUICKLY so they don't take over your space and life.

~Vicki

Too Much Going On?

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700

It's the Friday before Memorial Day 2008 and my blog has officially launched!

I don't know about you, but I have too many things going on today. My husband and I are trying to get out of town tomorrow morning for the holiday weekend, we're moving furniture for the new carpet that's going to be installed, and I'm shuttling out-of-town family around for a last-minute visit to my grandma in the hospital...how did life get so busy? Oh, and did I mention the four loads of laundry in queue in my laundry room? Moreover, I'm juggling my career and an 18 month old who has just discovered "dumping" (from his tool box to puzzles to emptying drawers, he loves to get to "the bottom of things"...literally :-). One other minor detail: I've also got a baby on the way, due in 6 weeks, which means that the "waddle" has arrived.

So how can ORDER exist in my crazy busy life? I bet you're waiting to hear my "insider secrets from a professional organizer mom"...and I truly wish there were a quick tip or silver bullet I could share, like: "I only require four hours sleep," or "My morning energy drink helps me get infinitely more done in 24 hours!" but I think we all know deep down that living a life of order is more about a COMMITMENT than a series of tips and tricks. In my view, organizing your life is really about self-management and the choices we make to honor our priorities on a daily basis.

So, today I stayed in my pink robe a little longer so my son could snuggle into it as he had is morning bottle as I stroked his bed-head curls. I ran a load of laundry while I problem-solved with one of my employees. I ate my breakfast with the plastic dog from my son's toy fire engine as I checked my email. I surveyed the scene of my busy day and remembered to count my blessings. I have a beautiful life. My husband is caretaking for my son, my business is buzzing along, and so what if I have a lot on my plate? As my husband (my complete opposite) always reminds me, "It'll get done, babe." And he's usually right.

For me, living a life of order is NOT about having all the latest bins and baskets or being "neat and tidy," it's about investing myself in things of far greater consequence...it's about putting first things first: quality time with family, striving to live to my full potential, taking care of my business and all those who work with me . It's about loving the life you have and taking care of it, realizing that our days are short. It's also about forcing myself to slow down when my Type A instincts are to speed up. I don't want to miss the way my son is learning to count as I help him down the stairs "tree, for, f-eyeve, SiX!" or forget to kiss my husband as they head out the door. I don't want to build a business and forget to build a life or get so stressed about personal conditions that I neglect the mission at work that I feel I've been entrusted with...

As your Memorial Day weekend arrives, I hope you can take a deep breath and ENJOY it. In addition to remembering those who serve, let's remember to slow down and reclaim the things that really matter.

-Vicki

Get Inspired!

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Knock Down Fences

Our new acreage came with several pastures and we've just torn the fences down (since we have no cows - thank heaven). New possibilities immediately began to emerge. I am sketching the fruit stand I want to open next spring. We're deciding where to locate the garden, how to make more parking, and where to build an outdoor fire pit and benches. What can YOU eliminate in your life to see things in a new way and open up new possibilities??

Recent Articles

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Publication: Woman's Day Special Interest Publication: Decorating with Style

Article: Pantry Perfect