Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The moment I read the description for this book, I knew I had to have it. I usually buy used books, but I pre-ordered this one. It couldn't get here fast enough. For me, the heart of this book is the calendar. The calendar breaks down many of Martha's wonderful ideas into manageable daily tasks and activities. It lets the reader look over Martha's shoulder and follow along day by day. It's a condensed glimpse of how she accomplishes so many things in her life. What excites me most about the calendar is that she remembers to include leisure activities. I have often had a hard time balancing chores and leisure. I also often have a hard time choosing what to work on each day, and lately that indecision has been making me pretty miserable. As soon as the preview for the book was available, I started following along with the calendar and immediately started feeling better. This past week I: – did some yoga (using the Ring Fit game on our Nintendo Switch) – organized a list of upcoming medical appointments for myself, my husband & our two sons – bought some citrus fruit (found some excellent pink grapefruit) – shopped at a white sale (found a much-needed big warm comforter) Tonight we’re planning to have a movie night with the kids (sans the suggested fireplace; if I continue following Martha’s suggestions, we should have our fireplace ready to use next winter for the first time in over a decade of living in our house). In short, it’s a relief to follow a simple list of tasks and get positive results. As one lady put it on Twitter, “Martha take the wheel.” The checklists and schedules are the other helpful parts of the book. I have posted a couple of photos from those other sections that aren’t included in the Amazon preview. (Pro tip: Search for this book on Google Books for some additional glimpses of what’s inside.) The book is a little short. I see it as a companion for The Martha Manual. I pounced on that book too, but then it sat on my shelf getting dusty because I had a hard time getting organized enough to apply her ideas to my life. Martha Stewart’s Organizing adds that missing piece. It’s a little early to say, but I have a feeling that this book will finally get me on track. If you’re struggling, it might help you, too.