I have been reminiscing lots about my life lately after being reunited with some old friends on facebook… it has been interesting and fun, and has made me realize how much stuff i’ve actually FORGOTTEN! I feel stumped and worried, wondering if there’s a way to sort out a time line of my life and try to piece together some of my stories and memories and help bring some back. I wish I could “google” my life and find out what happened and when. There’s just no way to do it! It would be up to me to write it all, somehow in a database or calendar format. I did a little research on software to find something simple to use to organize all of the junk and bits and pieces of memory.

I figured I could try to remember things by googling the facts I know about the timeframe — for example, I knew I went to camp and we did some dance performances to Michael Jackson’s Thriller album. I just couldn’t remember what year it was. Well that should be easy right? Google the music and piece together the year, what summer it was, at least… I thought, OK i can do that, but where to put this info? How to “jot it down?” fearing i’ll forget it again… I also felt compelled to write some notes about that summer at camp — I’d dislocated my knee, and we’d had a food fight in the cafeteria… hmmm what other memories might come up as I write? I am thinking this might be fun to do!

As i researched i came across a bunch of software packages that were detailed, and looked very comprehensive, but I have a problem with things not looking “clean” and if it is too cluttered it won’t make me feel like I’m getting organized. It’s all about user-interface. I don’t want to get stressed out as I clean up and organize my life memories…

I found a site that I am going to try out and see if it will work. I have probably 1000s of fragments of memories, and am not sure how the “timeline” they create out of these bits will work. But I’m going to try it and see if it will help me get it going. I think it is still in beta though, but it looks clean and simple and easy to use: xtimeline.com

I can hardly believe it is the day after Thanksgiving already. I am doing a little browsing/shopping online to maybe buy a few gifts. I have seen some good stuff, and have put things into “shopping carts” but haven’t checked out yet.

Every year I try to keep it simple… I’ve got a list of people to shop for, I think I’ve got everything under control… but there are always things that pop up — like a hostess gift, or I see something for someone that isn’t really on my list but I just want to get them something :). The toughest is the kids… This year they are emailing me wish lists to choose from which will help tremendously. I’ve warned them that money is a bit tighter this year. It’s not easy for me because I really do just want to splurge on them. 

One of the toughest things of all is not buying stuff for myself when i see it. Am I nuts? I can’t be doing that! This year I made my own email wish list for my Birthday gift back in October. It is awkward to say the least… to put a list together of things I want. It feels so princess-y to do it. I feel self-conscious like “am I asking too much?” But seriously, awkward as it is, it is a good idea to let people close to you know what you like, it helps everyone to find a gift that will be “just right”. I always get so happy when I KNOW i am giving something they will like instead of HOPING they will like it. It is so fun to get them something they love.

So make a list, and get lists from your peeps!

at re-nest, they’ve got a million fantastic ideas of how to reuse everyday things. I haven’t spent much time reading over there, but came across this, in contrast to some of the maybe-not-so-great ideas at martha’s site (mentioned below)… on top of that, the reader comments add more ideas to the list. Bonus tips.

ideas included: use for water, bring coffee to work, store grains, coins, soup, bring food for lunch, use as a drink shaker… flavored oils, the list goes on because of the great reader comments. I am now inspired to de-label and re-use my tomato sauce jars. 

I have a box of mason jars in the garage that i bought to put leftover bits of paint into. The paint cans always seem to rust or gunk up and the jars are supposed to prevent that… reading the re-nest blog reminds me that there are things around us that can be used and you don’t need to go buy something every time you need a container.

i just love to hate martha stewart. I can really appreciate her ability to make everything super-perfect and bright and shiny happy good etc. It’s the same thing with real simple magazine. I’d love to have the time and patience to get everything just “so”… I barely have time to sit and read a magazine. I’m always on the computer! Well I thought i’d take a look at over at my nemesis’ site  and see what’s new over at marthastewart.com.

I’m not feelin’ the thanksgiving decorating or holiday decorating stuff. I’m not much of a chef or gardener, but I love love love interior design and organizational type stuff. Her “organizing tip of the day” page is gorgeous, and i love how she’s got a month’s worth of tips lined up, each with the clickable glamour shot. I’m not really sure any of these tips are that good. They LOOK good but are they good organizing tips?

thinking about goals, dreams, how I want my life to be… I’ve been thinking about this so much lately. I have been working hard, and having some success but I’ve always had a bit of trouble visualizing things in my mind. As a kid i’d clip out things from magazines and paste them into my datebook or journal. I’d draw and doodle and make lists… This is something I haven’t done in years. I wonder if there’s a way to do this in my computer? I suppose I could use photoshop to do it, but that sounds cumbersome. Funny though, as soon as i start thinking “what would I choose, what kind of pictures should i find, what do I want?” i get stuck. It would be fun to make a big collage of photos and words and drawings and inspirational quotes, etc. but it’s not something you can just throw together in a few minutes. I am going to start clipping or bookmarking things and maybe it will get things rolling and I can start to really visualize my goals!

It’s like an empty corkboard. A blank sheet of paper! But that is how each day begins, as a fresh start (most of the time)…

Looking in Apple’s Downloads I came across Corkboard which might work as an on-screen collage maker. It would be cool to make a slide show of the inspirational images and words, quotes, etc. and use them as a screen saver or something… hmm!