Before Pictures of My Classroom

The Clutter-Free Classroom Project Week 1 Challenge  is officially underway!  I'm a little late getting my pictures added to the linky party, but that's because I'm COMPLETELY new to this whole blogging thing.  :)  I wanted to link up yesterday, but I couldn't figure out how to add a link back to the party.  I have the link, above, but I never did figure out how to grab the cute button that Littlest Learners has on her blog that goes straight to the linky party posts/challenge.

Anyway, I thought I would edit this post and add the link so I could be part of the madness project.  :)

My room doesn't actually look this bad usually.  We had to remove all of our stuff from the walls and move all of our furniture to the center of the room before we left on the holiday break because painters were coming in to repaint the walls and put up new (?) bulletin boards, which were in SHORT supply.

As you can see, I have my work cut out for me when I can go back in the building on Monday!  It's a professional development day, and the kids come back on Tuesday....I'm seeing some serious overtime in my near future!  I'm not sure right now where the furniture stops and the clutter begins, but I'm probably going to re-arrange my entire room tomorrow, knowing me.  We don't have much storage in the classroom, so my clutter is contained to my desk and a couple (okay, 3) filing cabinets.  However, I never got around to labeling supplies, manipulatives, OR my library, so I know that will be something to work on, as well as taming the filing cabinets and my desk.

Oy vey, Monday is nigh!

Mise en place(s) and pile(s)

Mise en place is a french phrase used in the chef's kitchen to describe a state of readiness - everything is in it's place and ready to be assembled into something delectable.

That's what I'm striving to do, not just in my kitchen, but in many places in my life:  my home, my classroom, my practice as a mother, wife, and woman.  (I say practice, because I'm never "right" in how I do things as a mom or a wife - I just keep trying to do better and practicing at being the kind of mom/wife/woman I want to be.)

Not only do I have multiple facets of my life that I want to organize, ready, and assemble into something delicious, I have many many PILES within those PLACES - hence the name of the blog.  I frequently have many wonderful things compiled, but they are scattered into the piles and places of my home and classroom.

I'm going to use this blog as a place to record my journey toward Mise en Place in my home and in my classroom.  I don't hope to change the world or even anyone else's life, just my little PLACE in it.  :)