February 34 Weeks of Clean Schedule

Welcome!  So how are you doing on your 34 Weeks of Clean journey?

Whether you are new here, skipped a few weeks along the way, or are a 34 Week pro ( I know there are a few of you out there!), we are glad you are back.  With one month under our belts, the next four assignments await us.

Remember- ONE WEEK AT A TIME!  No matter how tempting it is, do not work ahead.   Take one assignment at a time, do your best, and then reward yourself (and your helpers) with something fun to celebrate your hard work.  If you get behind, don't fret.  Just pick up where we are and plan to go back on one of our weeks off.  

Here is a quote I ran into this past month and just may have uttered a loud AMEN as I read it-  From Francine Jay, author of The Joy of Less-

Your home is a living space, not a storage space

• Do not fill up what you have emptied!  Live with the space for a while.  You may be surprised how good it feels once you adjust your mindset.

• If you need to buy more "storage solutions" as your work your way through this plan, you are not de-cluttering!  You are just rearranging!  Do not be fooled into thinking it is the same thing.

• This is not a journey about living with nothing!  It is about taking back our homes and our lives and living with only the things that we love and bring us joy! 

• A less cluttered house equals a less cluttered heart and mind.  

Remember our goals-

We are deep cleaning, de-cluttering AND THEN re-organizing.

Week 6- The Stove and Dreaded Loose Ends

Week 7- The Dining Room

Week 8- The Living Room

Week 9- Books

Blessings,

34 Weeks of Clean: Rinse and Repeat Week 34

When we started 34 Weeks of Clean- Rinse and Repeat 34 weeks ago, it was truly not a challenge just for you.  It was was for me as well.  I knew that the timing was perfect for cleaning and organizing after just being in our house a year.  It also gave me a chance to connect with new friends along the way, locally and on the web.  And while the clean and organized house makes me want to cheer, it is the community of friends I have made along the way that have blessed me the most!  You all have made this journey fun and have encouraged me along the way and I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!

In addition to the simple art of cleaning and organizing, I hope these are some takeaways you also got from this journey-

• Our stuff does not make us who we are!
• Memories are best held in our hearts, not in our things!
• Everything has a home!  If not, get rid of it!
• Before you buy something, ask yourself, is it useful and do I really need it?
• If you love it, use it, and would buy it again, keep it.  If not, out it goes!
• One person's trash is another person's treasure!  Be willing to share!
• Five minutes of pick up a day will keep your house cleaner than you think!
• The less you have, the easier it is to be organized.  Declutter!
• Buying more containers does not amount to less stuff!

So where do we go from here?  Now that you should have a relatively clean and organized house, I am going to let you in on a little secret.

 It will not stay that way without a little effort!

So what's a girl to do?  Rinse and repeat!


Maybe you do not need to start again tomorrow, but you will probably need to start again at some point, sooner than later.  I already know several areas in my own home that need some attention!

A clean and organized house does not just happen.  It takes commitment and a little effort.  You can do!

A BIG thank you to all who participated!  It has been so much fun to interact with you and to see your successes.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

A BIG thank you also to my friends at 62 Gifts and Redeemed for their generous prize donations!

And speaking of prizes- our GRAND PRIZE winner is....

Kelly J   

Despite some pretty serious health struggles and even a surgery, along the way, Kelly submitted a picture every week of our challenge!  Way to hang in there, my friend.  Be checking your mail for your goodies!

Thank you again, friends.  I hope you will stick with us here at Family, Faith and Fridays!  We would love to have you!

Blessings,

34 Weeks of Clean- Rinse and Repeat: Week 33- Address Books

After spending three weeks in the office area, we are almost done!  Today is for those of you that are actually blessed with a physical room for an office and have not cleaned them yet.  Go on, admit you still have some things to do!  If you are not one of those people, you can use this time to finish up your paperwork and filing systems!  ;)  We are also using this week to get our address books in order.  Yes, we ARE going there.

You know the drill, though this time you do not have to take everything out, so here we go-

First the deep cleaning of the office-

•    Clear off all flat surfaces and dust and wax furniture.  Remember this is not your weekly cleaning- really hit the tough spots.

•     Add back 1/2 of what you cleared off.  Yes, that IS a challenge! ;)

                   Remember: Is it needed, does it bring you joy, would you buy it again?

•     Clean off windows and blinds and ceiling fans,  and wash any curtains.

•     Wipe off baseboards and door frames- don't forget the light switches!

•     Vacuum- moving furniture where needed!

Now on to the address book-

 

This may seem like a small project to some of you but for us, not so much!
We have moved over 15 times in the last 25 years.  Unfortunately, so have many of our friends.

I learned very quickly to not write in pen in our address book.  Well, after I had to throw several away because they were a mess.  Now, I write in pencil.

Well, when I get around to actually writing in it.  My go to plan of action is just to stuff the address book with return address labels and emails with new addresses on them.  And no, not even under the right tab.

Hence this look-

Yep, I know it is not pretty!

I need help- I hope you do too!

So this week your second assignment is to pull out those address books, clean them up, get rid of all the scraps of paper (oh, please tell me it is not just me!) and then put it neatly away!  I did buy a smaller, more portable version this year.

This one is a pretty simple no-brainer, friends, so I do not have a step by step guide for you this week. You can do it, I am sure!  I can't wait to see the pictures!

We are wrapping things up next week, so now is your chance to go back and complete a project or two you may have put off.  It is also your last week to submit pictures to be eligible for our prize drawing!  Can't wait to see what you have done!

Blessings,

34 Weeks of Clean: Rinse and Repeat: Week 32- The Computer

Technology- ugh!  I am just going to go on and admit to you that I am not a techie queen.  Cleaning queen, maybe, but NOT a techie queen.  That is one of the reasons I still pay my 19 year old to maintain my blog.  It is a little more challenging now that she is away at college, but hey, we make it work.

And computers?  Well, they fall under the techie thing and therefore are not my friends.  In addition, with my hero husband pretty busy these days, I am at an even bigger disadvantage. I tease him that if ever something happens to him I am going to throw away all things techie, with the computers going first.  I. Am. Serious!

This week though, despite my hang ups, we are continuing with the office theme and hitting the computer, or computers in some cases!  Don't worry, this involves a lot of deleting (which I am good at) and some file rearranging, which my daughter is good at! Plus some general cleaning that I am sure we can all manage.

If this is an easy week for you, I do NOT want to know.  I prefer to think that everyone else is suffering right along side of me, thank you very much!

So here is the plan for cleaning up your computer!

• First of all, wipe it down. This includes the screen, tower, mouse, and keyboard.  Dust settles in cracks and crevices quickly and can really mess things up.  I know some people that use the cans of pressurized air or a vacuum cleaner with brush attachments.  I also use a Norwex cloth meant for mirrors that I love!  No need for harsh chemicals.

• Next, on to the techie stuff.  Ugh!  Your goal is to go through and cleanup or delete old, unused files, pictures, and downloads.  I was AMAZED at how much was stored on my computer that had been there for years and that we did not need.  Apparently I download a lot of files I forget about and never use.  Who knew?  And pictures- well, let's just say I am not as organized in that area as I wish I was.  Luckily my 19 year old IT girl is better at it and is on a mission to rescue me.  Remember, folders are your friends.  Even if you have a ton of them, at least if they are clearly labeled you can retrieve things you need quickly.  Follow the same rule that we talked about from last week- EVERYTHING HAS A HOME!

Simple!  OK, not really, but at least it is concentrated in one area.

And next week- well, it will be your last assignment!  I can hardly believe it.  Thank you to all who have been hanging with us- you rock.  And thanks to all who have sent me sweet notes.  I got permission from Tonya to share this one with you-


I have almost finished my first 34 weeks! I don't know that I would have actually thought I would. I am always looking for ways to make it "easier" around here. So this has been wonderful!

I love it!  So many of you have worked hard and should be so proud of yourselves!  Wish I could give each of you a hug and a high five!  You deserve it!

See 'ya next week- get to those computers and start cleaning and organizing!

Blessings,
 

34 Weeks of Clean: Rinse and Repeat: Week 31- The Office

Welcome back to 34 Weeks of Clean!  We are nearing the end of our series and by now you should be feeling really good about your homes.  One week at a time, we have been on a mission to take back our homes!  If you are just finding us, it is still not too late to get started.  Just pick a room, set a timer for 15 minutes if that is all you have, and go!  If you do that each day, you WILL see results.

Slow and steady wins the race, promise!

It is not by coincidence that I saved the "Office" for the end.  Or that I will be breaking it down for you in three week assignments. This is a hard place for me.   Obviously!

The sad thing is that this is not even in a room by itself where I can shut the doors and pretend it doesn't exist.  Our current home does not have a separate office room and so this desk sits right in the corner of our living room.  Nice, huh?  In my defense it starts out relatively clean on Monday, but by the end of the week, between two boys using it for school, me using it for work and blogging as well as our personal family desk needs (bills and such) and all of us being lazy, it usually looks pretty rough by Friday.

See, right in the open for the world to see.

It has been brought to my attention that we are fighting three problems really-

LAZINESS

TOO MUCH STUFF

NOT HAVING HOMES FOR EVERYTHING

Here is how we are currently dealing with those issues.

Laziness.  We have, all of us, got to commit to finishing what we start.  That includes if you take something out, you put it up.  Sadly, the kids are not the only ones guilty of this.  We are working on it, I promise.

Too much stuff.  Well, by now you know that I like to throw things away! Each year I sort through desk things and get rid of extras.  Notice I said extras, not just what we did not need. I think there is a difference.  Yes, we need pens,  No we do not need 200 of them.  I seriously went through this whole house on a war path against pens and threw every last one of them away that did not fit my fancy.  The reality is I have never had to throw a pen away because it actually ran out of ink.  Do they even do that?  The other reality is that when I go to use a pen I seek out one of two kinds, ignoring the rest.  So those two kinds stayed and the rest went out, with the exception of highlighters and pencils that we use for homeschooling.  Bye bye motel and business pens!  If I need your number I will look you up in the phone book.

Sharpie pens are my favorite in case you were wondering!

Not having homes for everything.  I read in my Kathi Lipp book (Clutter Free) that one of the problems with organizing is that if something does not have a home, it just gets rearranged daily.  Yep!  Guilty! And paperwork seems to be one of those areas for me.  I am working to change that.  My new war cry is EVERYTHING. HAS. A. HOME!  The kids are loving it.  NOT!  If something does not have a home, a place that it goes every single time, then we either find it a home or it goes out the door.  It is amazing what that simple little task will do for you.  Try it- go around your house one room at a time and anything that is sitting out, ask yourself, where does this belong?  If you do not have a home for it- find one.  Now! Or move it out.


We are going to divide the "office" into several weeks for sanity's sake. It will look a little different for everyone, but I KNOW that somewhere in your home is a secret stash of files, bills, and random paperwork.

This week then is dedicated to all of that paperwork and the bills/filing system, since for me, that is where my clutter typically comes from.

For this job, go on and get a large trash bag out.  I am guessing you will probably need it.

I will also introduce you to one of my favorite office supplies- the paper shredder.  A wonderful invention!  Go get or borrow one- you are going to need it!

Here we go!

• FIRST- Go through the stacks of papers you have sitting out!  This is everything from bills to receipts to flyers.  Whatever paper you have just sitting around.  Make three piles-

 

          Throw away
          File
          Move somewhere else (the paper, not you!)

Your goal is to organize now, we will put it where it belongs later.

• NEXT- do the same thing with any paperwork or files you may have hidden in the recesses of your desk.  Or sitting anywhere else they do not belong. (Kitchen counter, anyone?)

Stacks always look better with a candle! ;)

• Once you have left only what you need to keep (do not skip the first two steps, friends!)- establish a system for filing and stick to it!  Here is where I made some changes, since my current system was obviously not working for me. 

Again using Kathi Lipp's idea from her amazing book Clutter Free, I established a daily file box to keep things in.  You can read all about it in her book, but the premise is that you have a specific place to house paperwork and such until you can address it.  You see, Clarke's office is downstairs. (In the storage room, honest!) Our kitchen counter is upstairs.  Hence the problem.  When the mail comes in, (bills, coupons, flyers, magazines, correspondence) it all gets stuck on my kitchen counter top, which drives me crazy.  Now, I sort it into my filing system, which also holds my calendar, so daily I can take a quick glance at the days file and handle any pressing needs, and then weekly, I can do any paperwork I need to.  There is a tab for each day of the month, as well as a file for each month of the year.  There are also extra tabs for coupons, recipes and more. You personalize it to make it work for you!  Love it!

Too much for you?  That is fine.  The goal is to find a system that works for you and use it.  Everyone does things a little differently.  The key is to find a simple solution you love and then stick to it.

A key point.  Papers WILL pile up if you allow them to.  Make your life easy and have the 1 touch rule.  Touch it for the first time and take care of it, whether that means the trash or a file.  If you just lay it down somewhere random, you will simply move it from place to place.  That is not one touch!  It is a time waster, and a counter cluttering habit.  Ask me how I know!

Yes, I realize there is still much work to be done in the office, trust me we will get there!  But for this week your goal is to move through all the paperwork, get rid of the old you no longer need to keep, and organize what you need to.  I KNOW it is a monumental task for some, it was for me, but we can do this.  Once again, if you need to- set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes a day, work until the buzzer rings and then repeat the next day.  You might be surprised at how far you get in 7 days!



Speaking of how far you got- how did you do last week?  You only have a few more weeks to leave pictures!

Blessings,

34 Weeks of Clean- Rinse and Repeat: Week 30- The Cars

 

OK, OK, I know your cars are not technically a part of your house, but let's face it, many of us spend enough time there to count them as such, right?  Between groceries and appointments, children and friends, we spend a lot of time in our cars.

And like anything else, time and lots of kids takes its toll on our vehicles.  Honestly, it is not usually a big deal to me.  But, it is a big deal to my sweet husband, so I do try to keep a handle on the chaos. We used to keep a car organizer on the back of the seat for my youngest's books and such, but that went out recently.  We do tend to have a plastic bag hanging for trash.  But past that, well, life happens!

Since our kids are getting older (10 and up) we do not usually have too big of a mess to deal with.  AND, because our kids are getting older, we can bribe pay them to do detailed car duty occasionally. Yay me!


So, here we go- CLEAN OUT THOSE CARS!

A quick checklist for you-

•   Empty all trash bags or just get rid of all the trash you have on the floor and everywhere else!

 

 

•  Take out all car mats and wash down.

•  Vacuum the floorboards.

•  Wipe down all surfaces.

•  Wipe down all windows inside.

 

•  Wash outside of car, including tires!

• Check tire pressure while you are there! ;)

One of the things we always keep in our cars is an emergency car kit.  It hold simple things like a first aid kit, extra clothes, blankets, jumper cables, and such.  You just never know when you will be stranded and our motto is better safe than sorry! 

That's it!  Pretty simple, huh?  And it will make the men in your life smile for some reason, go figure!

Well my friends, we have almost come to the end of the road with 34 Weeks of Clean!  I cannot even believe that the time is almost done.  Next week we are heading back inside to finish up for our last few weeks.  I hope you are starting to look around and see a difference.

You only have a few more weeks to share your pictures with us for the big prize drawing!


Blessings,

34 Weeks of Clean: Rinse and Repeat: Week 29-The Garage

Maybe I should have just named this week the Man Cave Edition.  Seriously, what is it with men and their garages?

If I was in charge of our garage this is what it would like like, I am sure of it! ;)

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AeEgwMzl6Ci_KOPgLxN7CbcYLX2S12AdoEQ1vdKXAoT7cDgsr53XPZs/

Or this...

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AXmw4cTZyltbHWfyxQNurNc7ZKfIFo2Q4dKSXpwDYYYsB2Y8OEO_bIs/

I am not in charge of our garage so this is what it looks like-

Just keeping it real, folks!


In my husband's defense, this is the first time he has been involved with this particular assignment.  He was deployed for a year when I started this madness series and I promised not to toss out all of  his stuff without him.  Not that that was not very tempting, mind you.  But, hey, I can shut the door and, ta-da! out of sight, out of mind!


The garage is not an area that I feel all that comfortable cleaning out by myself.  If it were up to me, I would simply dump it all in the trash with the exception of about five things.  Really, I would.  But my sweet hubby might have a heart attack.  Luckily for him, I conveniently ended up sick in bed all day for this assignment so he and Ashton, our oldest who happens to be a minimalist, had the whole place to themselves.  I think God smiled down on me. :)

So roll up your sleeves and let's get to work on those GARAGES!

• Empty it all out! Yes,  because we had recently done all of the Christmas buns, those did stay in place.

• Sweep and then hose down the concrete.  After a LONG winter of snow or just plain weather, dirt and grime are bound to build up.  I hate to even think about how much junk we track into our home.  Another reason we leave shoes at the door!
 

•  Now is a great time to wash out your trash can and recycling cans!  Those things can get smelly! 

• Throw out any trash that has accumulated over the last year and sort out anything that is broken and not being used. 

Before de-cluttering, but you can see the bike storage

Now is the time to start putting back the things you are keeping-

• Put like things together and organize.  Think outside the box here!  Can you hang bikes from the rafters?  Can you hang tools on a wall?  We use an old trashcan to store rakes and shovels and such!

• If you have storage containers, now is the time to clean them out.  Throw away things that have not been used in years.  Most of the stuff we hang on to "just in case" never gets used.  It is just taking up space, I promise!  You CAN be prepared without being a pack-rat!

When you are done, pat yourself on the back!  Or treat your hubby to a night out on the town!  Whatever works! ;)  Don't worry, we are headed back inside soon.

Blessings,

34 Weeks of Clean, Rinse and Repeat: Week 28- The School Room

Welcome back to 34 Weeks of Clean, Rinse and Repeat!  This week is for all you homeschoolers out there.  If you are not a homeschooler, I invite you to stick around anyway- you can always just laugh at the mania. Trust me, there is plenty of it!

You can also use this week to catch up, just saying! ;)

For background in case you are new here- we have been homeschooling our four kiddos for the past 19 years.  The oldest has since graduated from college and the next is a junior in college.  I am down to two boys in case you are counting.  I began teaching my oldest when she turned four, giving myself some breathing room in case it did not go well.  I decided if it was a failure of a year, I could still put her right into public kindergarten and not bat an eye.  The year was not one of our best but we decided to stick it out and have not looked back once.  Well, we did question our sanity a time or two, and I have threatened to send them to the worst public school I could find, but that was mainly in our first few years.  I have since asked for forgiveness. ;)

So, what does all this have to do with cleaning and organizing?

Have you SEEN the curriculum that is involved with homeschooling?  Not to mention the supplies!

Yes, I have a tote for every year, and one for foreign languages and art.  There used to be a rolling cart full of manipulatives, flash cards, and games, but I have since taken that down to one small basket.  I know, can you believe it?!  Since I am schooling our last and my daughters have assured me they will buy their own stuff eventually to school future grandchildren, I am not hanging on to tons of curriculum! (be looking for a quick post later this week with a list for sale!)

Then there is this mess-

The first picture is what happens to the inside of the school cabinet after months of doing school with two not-so-neat boys.  The second picture is a bookcase in my basement that is stuffed with "extras," review products we have used, reference books, and various supplies. 
 
Now, keep in mind, I have homeschooled four kids, have done so for 19 years, and own a lot of curriculum.  Ok, probably too much!  Also, keep in mind that I am not currently operating out of a dedicated school room- just a living room, basement storage, and one cabinet in our living room with our current books on it.  Since I do not have tons of extra space to display all the wonderful books, I finally gave in, divided them into grades, and gave them each a tote.  This was done over a period of time, hence the non-matching crates. Each crate was then labeled and put in the basement.

But I knew there was still work to be done.  As always, at the end of the year things begin to collect in stacks and don't make it to their intended spots.  New curriculum also comes in and I need to weed out old things that are not being used.  I am schooling my last child in 5th grade this year and like I said, I am paring down and only keeping what I know my girls would really want to use.  I am also blessed to get new things occasionally and am able to move out some older things that way. 

We are currently operating on a summer school schedule, but it is just a matter of time before we get back to full time schooling, as I assume many of you are doing as well.  In preparation, here we go!

This week's assignment is to clean up and clear out the school room!

That is going to look differently for many of us but here are some things to think about-

•     If you have a dedicated school room, now is a good time to do a deep clean.  Pull as much as you can out and CLEAN!

               Windows, blinds, and curtains
               Baseboards
               Furniture
               Ceiling Fans
               Rugs
               Vacuum

•     Now's your chance to try out a fresh furniture arrangement and maybe some new decorations!  Have your kids write their goals for the school year on poster paper and hang it up for a visual reminder.

The glory of this cabinet is when it is closed, no one can see the stuff in it!

 

• Regardless of where you school- go through the books!  If you are going to use it, put it back on the shelf.  If not, sell it, donate it, or trash it.  Do not hang on to things you do not need!

•  Go through all of the random papers!  If you like to keep children's work, I would encourage you to limit to it one file per child.  If there are things you just can't move out, take a picture of it first and then toss it.  I promise you, you are more sentimental than most of your kids and they will not miss it.  A few prized things from each grade are enough!

•  Keep extra school supplies in one place.  This will help you know what you already have when the back-to-school sales start soon.  Yes, it is great to pick up supplies at rock bottom prices, but no, no one needs 100 spiral notebooks. 

You can do this.  Trust me, when the start of your school year rolls around you will be glad that this task is already done!


How'd you do with your clothes storage last week?  Come on - show us how you did!  We would love to celebrate your progress.  Don't forget, if you are leaving a picture on the Facebook page for us each week, your name gets put into the drawing for our 34 Weeks of Clean Prize Basket which includes goodies from our amazing friends at 621 Gifts and Redeemed.



Blessings,

34 Weeks of Clean: Rinse and Repeat: Week 27- Clothes Storage

I know last week was kind of overwhelming, so let me encourage you for a moment.  You CAN do this!  I promise, if I can, you can!  Really - have you looked at my before pictures?  And this is the THIRD time I have done this!!  This is a family that moves every two years or so.  We carry a lot of "just in case" items with us from place to place.  I understand about storage rooms.  But know this- there IS such a thing as too much and we are working towards breaking the cycle and clearing things out.  So if you have not started or just haven't quite finished- KEEP GOING!  I am cheering you on and still working too.


In the meantime- this week we are conquering the clothes storage areas in your house.  That may look a little different for everyone, but in our home, it is back to the storage room we go.  Hiding in 8 of those bins are either off season clothes or clothes for our youngest child to grow into. 
Because we do not have huge closets in our house, we keep the kids' off season clothes in bins (with Ashton's off season capsules in there as well).  I also have kept a few clothes from my 15 year old to pass on to his younger brother. Since I went to more of a capsule wardrobe concept, all of my clothes are in my closet.

 

I also tend to buy off season sales, so anything I find I put into the bin for the upcoming season.  If you have things you know a particular child is going to need, make an inventory list of what the needed items are and attach it to the bin.  That way, when sales come up, you can easily reference your needs.  Not wants!
 

Because my two boys have a slightly larger age gap, some of those bins had not been gone through lately, so I opened each one and took everything out.   We decided that it is better to just bless others with the hand me downs they can use now.  By the time our youngest can use them we will have either hauled them around for years or they will no longer even be worth wearing. Anything that was worn or terribly outdated went into the trash.  Things I thought just wouldn't get worn by the youngest (different styles, tastes, or body types) went into a Goodwill pile.  Quite frankly, I was surprised at how much I was able to pare down.  We are now two totes less!

Another load headed to Goodwill

So this week is pretty simple.

•     Pick your favorite method of storing clothes- by gender or size or specific child, and get organized!

•     Go through the clothes storage you have, purge and re-sort if necessary.

•     Make a list of any items you know you need so you can take advantage of off season sales.

A quick note about clothes.  Please keep in mind that one of our goals in this series is to declutter our homes and lives.  This includes clothes.  Just as we did with our own closets, we must evaluate what we need and what we don't. 

Do not confuse needs with wants.  There is a difference.

Face facts, we can only wear one outfit at a time.  Having closets and storage bins with clothes popping out of them is not needed.  Be honest with yourself and evaluate if you are not only being good steward of your space but also your money.


So how did you do with last week's assignment?  We can't wait to see your progress!

And homeschooling moms- next week is just for you! ;)



Until then, blessings!!

34 Weeks of Clean Rinse and Repeat: Week 26- Storage Areas and Attics

 

 Confession time! Here is what happens when you are hosting a 34 Weeks of Clean series!  Each time you clean a room, stuff gets shoved to the storage area.  Whoops!

Before-

The totes hold school books.  There will be a separate week for that!

Behind the desk are the college kid's things she will take back!

And....No after pictures. It still looks like that. I had my gallbladder taken out last week so this week's assignment didn't happen. Have surgery and you too probably won't get your assignment done! I promise I will do it as soon as I am well enough to boss my helpers around get to work on it. ;)


I share this with you to say, things happen.  Life happens.  Not even the Queen of Clean, whomever she may be (not me!), leads a perfectly clean and organized life.  I know, can you believe it?  So while we are doing our best to take back our homes, we must also give ourselves the grace to just do the best we can.

BUT, no excuses.  Let's do our best!

On that note- today we are tackling those pesky storage areas and attics.  Well, today and maybe a few more days this week! ;)

So storage rooms and attics, here we come!

•     If at all possible, take everything out.  This won't be possible for us, so we will concentrate on sections at a time.

•    Sweep out the area!  Don't forget the cobwebs in the rafters.  Boo hiss on spiders!  Have I ever told you I am afraid of spiders?

•     Go through everything BEFORE you put it back.  Get rid of things you do not need (no hoarding), do not use, or is no longer useful.  Remember the "Do I use it? Would I buy it again?" rule!

•     Make a plan!  Please don't skip this step.  Think about where you want to put things BEFORE you do so.  It will save you time and energy.  Ask me how I know this.

•     Be creative in storage!  You may have noticed the little desk in our storage room.  My husband actually works in there sometimes since we currently do not have a separate office space.  Hey, you do what you can!

Unless you are in transition, I would honestly have to tell you that if you do not have enough room to store your "stuff," you may have too much "stuff."  It is my dream to not have anything in storage areas with the exception of seasonal things like clothes and Christmas decorations, but until we stop moving that is not reality.  One day soon, maybe!  The only thing we can do in the meantime is keep the stuff to a minimum and remember that our joy does not come from things, but in God alone. 

And maybe a newly cleaned room! ;)

Blessings,