Cleaning out the Clutter

Saturday, April 23, 2011

I'm a Mess!

My life is so filled with stuff....and more keeps coming in each day!

My current issue stems from a step at organization...I started creating a Home Management Binder. It had divided sections for important areas in my life that I need to get organized...Tastefully Simple, Landmark, Cornerstone, Finances, Contacts, Calendar, etc.

Well, due to my lack of organization and life of chaos, I have LOST my binder. Along with a few bills that needed to be paid last week! :-( I've been looking for it for about 3 weeks now...I am about to give up and begin a new binder. It'll probably show up as soon as I get a better one made!

Monday, January 24, 2011

Bathroom Linen Closet Organization

BEFORE AFTER

I pulled everything out and only put back in what I want in there! Now, what to do with the rest of the stuff?! Hmmm....

The Family Closet

I heard about an idea from http://www.michiganmomma.blogspot.com/ about a "family closet". When I can building my own house or expand this one, I am going to create one of these. Basically, it would be a laundry room/closet in one room. Wouldn't that be a dream...no carting clothes from the washer/dryer to the living room or bedroom to fold/hang, and then from room to room to get all the clothes put away in each person's closet/dresser. One room with everyone's clothes, clean and dirty...organized, of course (a girl can dream, right?)

Well, since I couldn't do that, I came up with the next best solution for us! My husband bought me a rolling closet that we can have in our bedroom.

Jenna's school clothes are on the top rack & shelf, and all of Aren's clothes are on the bottom. It has been so nice to only have to put away Jenna's non-school clothes in her room. Really saves a lot of time! And when we don't want to see their clothes...just zip it closed, as you can see below!

A thing of beauty! :-)

Weekend Projects

So here are a few of the projects I have accomplished this weekend:

I've been wanting to clean this medicine cabinet out, and to make labels so it can stay organized. So glad I finally got around to doing it!

The bathroom counter was so cluttered with stuff you could hardly tell there were sinks there. Now, if only I could get rid of that rust stain from our well water!! yuck!

I had cleaned off my dresser a few weeks ago, but it sure doesn't take long to get stuff on it again. Most of the time it's piles of clean clothes that I don't want to hang up or take to the Jenna's room right then. I need to work on that procrastinating problem!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Uncluttered and it feels so good!

Last night several miracles happened. First, the children were very well behaved...not one fight all evening! Second, I had been doing some de-cluttering at work and the motivation was still moving me! So, I spent some time working on the living room and dining room, since these are the rooms that we spend the most time in. After getting all of the stuff moved out (put away, packed away, or just plain out of sight), I was able to sit down in my recliner to enjoy some conversation with my husband and some quiet reading time. It was just such a great experience that I rarely experience, but would sure like to keep having!! But, since I have been raising 2 clutterbugs, that will probably not happen (tonight, the living room floor is covered in Hot Wheels & tracks, DVDs, blocks, puzzles, and more. *sigh*

Friday, January 21, 2011

Clutter Costs Cash

Every driver knows that the joy of your birthday is annually derailed by the required trip to the Secretary of State. I know, thanks to the internet, it is now a much simpler process...unless you are covered in clutter as I am. Last October when I received my renewal notice, I wrote out a check for the amount desired, sealed the envelope, and just needed to wait until I had the money in the bank.

Days before my birthday, I kept thinking about that envelope that I had not yet mailed...too late now, guess I will need to do it online...oops, my birthday came and went. The day after my birthday I went online to the Secretary of State, knowing that I would need to pay the $10 late fee...no biggie. What?! I can't renew online cause it's late?! Great, now I need to find that envelope...got it (miracle). Put in a new check that includes the late fee...oops, not enough money in the checking account...already late, no need to hurry...I have til the end of the month!

October turned to November, turned to December, turned to January...I kept thinking about it. Wondered where the envelope had gotten to, and kept moving the amount in my Quicken checking register.

So, other than the $10 late fee, how has this clutter cost anything?? Well, a couple of days ago, I was pulled over for having expired plates...$105! :-( Not my best day, but when you live in clutter, it's a risk you take!

Monday, January 17, 2011