I sure hope that my entry gets counted - for some reason I thought we were supposed to post our results on December 1, and today I realized it was supposed to get posted today, but I was at work and didn’t get home until after 1AM EST . . . so I’m hoping that this goes through by the deadline of 11:59PM PST!

This post is very picture heavy, so read on at your own peril !

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I have ALWAYS been obsessed with the Nutcracker. When I was younger, I danced in the Nutcracker every year with my dance studio. When I learned to dance on pointe, my first performance in toe shoes was as an angel in the Nutcracker.

When we moved to Florida, my new studio didn’t put on a production of the Nutcracker, and this devastated me as I had fallen hopelessly in love at this point. I had to stay involved somehow, so I started a collection. Today my nutcracker collection is quite extensive, and I am so thrilled that I have my Christmas decorations in North Carolina now because I will be able to put some of them up in my apartment! No worries, I’ll post pictures when that happens

I was thrilled when my senior year in high school, the women’s chorus that I was the president of at my school was offered the opportunity to sing the vocals at the end of the first act. I was thrilled to be involved again with my favorite ballet and a now required part of my Christmas. It was fantastic to be able to participate in this show in a new way, and I still sing along when I hear the soundtrack!

And now, it’s all coming full circle. Today, here in graduate school, I am in my box office rotation. And every five minutes or so the phone rings and I sell a few Nutcracker tickets to children and their grandparents . . . does it sound cheesy for me to say this makes me feel all warm and fuzzy?

I love the Nutcracker . . .

Last year I participated in Laura’s 30 Day Organizational Challenge and got my closet whipped into shape. I wasn’t one of the competition winners, but the amount of time and stress I’ve saved by having things organized has made me FEEL like a winner (OK, that was a little cheesy). Seriously, the challenge was in November, but that closet stayed in that EXACT condition until I moved in July, and when I moved I carried over the organization to my new apartment. And it’s still organized the same way (which is the REAL shocker). So this year, my project is even greater than last year’s - it’s a massive undertaking!

For this year’s 30 Day Organizational Challenge, I’m tackling my storage situation. A little background: I moved to a new apartment in July. For the first time I am living in an apartment all by myself, but it is a two bedroom apartment. I feel like I’ve got my own little house - this place TRULY feels like it’s mine! When I moved in, I got the kitchen all set up, the living room is all nice and homey, and my bedroom has everything just where I want it. The only problem? All that stuff that didn’t really have a place to go, so it got tossed into the spare bedroom/office (with a little overflow into the outside storage closet). And I just kind of . . . left it all there. 5 months ago. And about a month ago I went to my parents’ house and brought back all my Christmas decorations (Christmas at my place!!!) . . . and I just stuck them in the living room because there was no other place to put them.

So for my challenge, I am getting my storage situation all figured out! I’ve got a massive closet in the spare bedroom as well as a great storage closet outside by my little patio area. I’ve also got my desk which, once I get my computer actually set up, will provide great storage. And since I’ve already sorted through the rest of the apartment as I was putting things away from moving in, all the stuff in my apartment that could be purged is in that room - so not only am I anticipating using my storage space, but I’m also sensing a trip to Goodwill.

Here are a few before pics - I have more, but you’ll just have to wait until November 30 to see the whole process!

Patio Closet Before

Guest Room Closet Before

Guest Room Before

It’s time to get organizing!

Personally, I work well at the last minute. Working to make the deadline keeps me motivated on tasks that I might not ever get around to otherwise. This works to my detriment when it comes to housework, because unless someone is coming over there is no deadline for housework.

Until now. Last year, Laura “The Organizing Junkie” (check out her new digs on WordPress!) gave us an awesome deadline - the “30 Day Organizational Challenge.” And I totally participated (read all about my great closet adventures from last year - it’s a doozy of a post, lots of crazy pictures). And since I took the time to truly sort through things and get my closet under control, it stuck. Like, really stuck . . . the closet truly stayed that organized until I moved in July, and when I moved I carried over the organization to my new apartment. And it’s still organized the same way!!! I am in total shock people, and if you knew me at all in real life you would be too.

So, since this CLEARLY worked for me last year, I’m taking it a step further with this year’s 30 day Organizational Challenge. How am I doing that? You’ll have to come back tomorrow, cause that’s when the challenge begins! Plus side - since the challenge runs the entirety of November, I’ll have my big organizational nightmare taken care of by the time December rolls around . . . I may actually try to get done in time for Thanksgiving, but I do reserve the right to use up my entire November !

You should participate too! The first day is tomorrow, so post up your goal and make sure to visit I’m an Organizing Junkie to link to your post!

The awesomeness of the 30 Day Organizational Challenge? Works for me!