Happy 2012!  I hope you ushered in the New Year doing something that made you happy.

I am writing this post on New Year’s Eve and, for the first time ever, WRITING DOWN my resolutions.  In prior years, I always thought about them, but for some reason never wrote them down as a list.  I am going even a step further by publicizing them for, as some say, when you make your resolutions public, you are more likely to accomplish them.

I love the feelings of hope and renewal that come with each new year.  As I turn over a new leaf, I hope to continue to do my best and, in many ways, to become even better as a mother, wife, professional, friend, and with the so many other hats that I wear.  I look forward to a year of new opportunities, chances, experiences, lessons, and revelations.  I am optimistic about succeeding with my resolutions.

Images: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

Tell me about your resolutions!  What do you commit to accomplishing this year or doing differently or better?  Is getting organized one of them?  If so, stay tuned for Order Matters Organizing Boot Camp starting this Wednesday.

It was love, well almost, at first sight.  And I don’t want to keep it to myself.  I am totally in love with a little app called Teux Deux.

Teux Deux is a free browser-based to-do list making program.  It is great for making daily to-do lists that you can take with you wherever you go with the help of their new iPhone app.  Although the iPhone version costs $2.99, it is worth every penny. It is simple to use, pleasing to the eye, and super clever.  What I love most about it is the roll-over of unfinished tasks from one day to the next and the automatic syncing between the work you do in the browser version and your iPhone.

If you are not yet familiar with this app, you need to check out Teux Deux.  Who knows, you might fall in love too.

Do you make to-do lists of projects you must or hope to tackle in the month ahead?  I like to.  It helps me to hone in on what I have prioritized as important.  Here are a few things on my list for October:

I am looking forward to sharing a little bit about how I will accomplish some of these tasks in the weeks ahead. What is on your list for this month?

Super productive weekend.  I am SOOOOO happy about everything that I have accomplished.  The secret to it all is that I was ALONE, totally alone.  I did not have to take care of anyone or anything except my long to-do list.  My husband is away for work, my daughter is at camp, and my in-laws were kind enough to take my two other children for a few days. Since becoming a mother some 13 years ago,  this has never happened to me before and it feels remarkable.

1 whole house cleaned

1 coat closet decluttered

1 coat closet repainted

1 bookcase decluttered

1 storage room tidied up and vacuumed

1 bag of clothes for donation packed

2 huge bags of clothes sorted (my girls receive clothes from their cousins; I am so grateful)

2 bags of clothes to pass on to a friend packed

5 pairs of shoes polished

5 rain jackets washed

5 bills paid

3 grab’n-go-kits made

3 blog posts written

3 loads of laundry done

2 suitcases packed

2 lawns watered

2 to-do lists made

1 pile of filing complete

1 wallet organized

3 episodes of “Modern Family” watched

1 bath taken

1 (much needed pre-vacation) pedicure with a friend enjoyed

0 children entertained, fed, or disciplined

Being alone allowed me to concentrate fully on taking care of things that needed to be done and those that have been on my mind.  I actually have a hard time relaxing if things that are occupying my brain space are not done or are not getting taken care of fast enough. I am so grateful to have had this free weekend.

The reason I am sharing this with you is that you must try this! If you have kids, pets, elderly parents, or other commitments to take care of, make arrangements ASAP to have a weekend to yourself to tackle organizing, cleaning, caring for yourself, and other projects. Once you make the arrangements, create a realistic to-do list and make sure to treat yourself in some way at the end of it all.

From my homeland of Uzbekistan: Folk dancers in national costume perform during the spring festivities. Photograph: Anvar Ilyasov/AP

Looking forward to a nice long weekend.

Lots on the to-do list.

Can’t wait for some exciting posts next week.

Enjoy your weekend.