Well, Thanksgiving is over. Yesterday I went Black Friday shopping and picked up a few things. Today I am getting the house deep cleaned (again), so I can start decorating/baking for Christmas. Today's list is probably (most likely) so long that it won't get finished today, but here it is:
Saturday 11/29/08:
o Burn tarts
o Pick up changing table & high chair
o Put away ALL fall decorations
o Put away ALL Thanksgiving decorations
o Put away ALL year round decorations
o Wash ALL dishes
o Deep Clean Kitchen
o Deep Clean Entrance
o Deep Clean Living Room
o Straighten Bathroom
o Straighten Laundry Room
o Straighten Master Bedroom
o Straighten Kids’ room
o Rearrange Kitchen
o Move out all boxes
o Move J’s bed to MBR
o Move Chey’s bed & dresser to girls’ room
o Move nursing chair
o Set up DR table
o Set up gift wrap center
o Set up tree (24 hours)
o Decorate Entrance
o Decorate Kitchen
o Decorate Buffets
o Wrap gifts
o Daily chores
o Weekly chores
o Monthly chores
o November chores
o Bake/Make:
o Cookies
o Sausage balls
o Pumpkin squares
o Thanksgiving Casserole
o Candies
o Teacher gifts
o Cool & package cookies, candies, teacher gifts
Showing posts with label Organization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Organization. Show all posts
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Living Room Tips
CLEANING TIPS
Create a list of things you need to do. Start with the big things & work your way to the smaller things (you get a sense of accomplishment every time you check off a big thing).
Dust before you wash windows & vacuum or sweep.
Clean your TV screen with vinegar. Cuts dust more than Windex.
Clean crayon marks off walls with WD-40. No elbow grease required Then wipe with damp sponge & dish detergent to get rid of greasy stain.
Remove stains from carpet with club soda or ginger ale. If it is a grease stain, use WD-40 like the crayon marks.
Use your vacuum attachments to remove dust/dirt from ceiling fan, curtains, blinds, cushions, knick-knacks, etc.
Get rid of excess clutter (ex. Knick-knacks you don’t truly love). It will be less to clean next time. Those that you do keep spray with pledge to repel dust. (Don’t due this to porcelain dolls & other things that might get ruined by it).
USE COASTERS.
DECORATING TIPS
Put up pictures of your kids & other family members. Buy decorative frames to put them in, buy wall & shelf frames.
Put pretty, scented candles out.
Wrap a swag of silk ivy around the top of your curtain rod.
Rearrange your furniture to have living areas. Ex. Figure out what activities the living room is mainly used for. Ex. Listening to music, watching TV, reading, office. Make a corner for listening to music--cd player, cd’s in cd tower, headphones, room to “shake your tail feathers”. Watching TV--corner for entertainment center, tv, DVD, vicar, videos/DVDs, remotes, etc. & likewise for the reading & office areas.
Have a focal point.
Put furniture closer to the center of the room & utilize the space behind it.
Decorate with soft, soothing colors.
Use mirrors to look like your room is more spacious.
Place magazines/books, etc. in whicker baskets to look less cluttered.
Use a theme for your decorating. Ex. Country, floral, birdhouses, oriental, lodge, deco, etc.
Use quilts, decorative lamps, rugs to decorate.
Create a list of things you need to do. Start with the big things & work your way to the smaller things (you get a sense of accomplishment every time you check off a big thing).
Dust before you wash windows & vacuum or sweep.
Clean your TV screen with vinegar. Cuts dust more than Windex.
Clean crayon marks off walls with WD-40. No elbow grease required Then wipe with damp sponge & dish detergent to get rid of greasy stain.
Remove stains from carpet with club soda or ginger ale. If it is a grease stain, use WD-40 like the crayon marks.
Use your vacuum attachments to remove dust/dirt from ceiling fan, curtains, blinds, cushions, knick-knacks, etc.
Get rid of excess clutter (ex. Knick-knacks you don’t truly love). It will be less to clean next time. Those that you do keep spray with pledge to repel dust. (Don’t due this to porcelain dolls & other things that might get ruined by it).
USE COASTERS.
DECORATING TIPS
Put up pictures of your kids & other family members. Buy decorative frames to put them in, buy wall & shelf frames.
Put pretty, scented candles out.
Wrap a swag of silk ivy around the top of your curtain rod.
Rearrange your furniture to have living areas. Ex. Figure out what activities the living room is mainly used for. Ex. Listening to music, watching TV, reading, office. Make a corner for listening to music--cd player, cd’s in cd tower, headphones, room to “shake your tail feathers”. Watching TV--corner for entertainment center, tv, DVD, vicar, videos/DVDs, remotes, etc. & likewise for the reading & office areas.
Have a focal point.
Put furniture closer to the center of the room & utilize the space behind it.
Decorate with soft, soothing colors.
Use mirrors to look like your room is more spacious.
Place magazines/books, etc. in whicker baskets to look less cluttered.
Use a theme for your decorating. Ex. Country, floral, birdhouses, oriental, lodge, deco, etc.
Use quilts, decorative lamps, rugs to decorate.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Decluttering tips 6/26
Once you've decided to get rid of items, get rid of them right away. Go ahead and post on freecycle or go ahead and take to the goodwill or whatever, just get them out of your house.......less likely you will take something back out of the box.
Don't put away your box of keeps until you've cleaned up any mess remaining from your declutter and sorting.
Don't put away your box of keeps until you've cleaned up any mess remaining from your declutter and sorting.
3rd round decluttering 6/26
got a "hit" off freecycle, so went around trying to find more stuff to go
got rid of several plant pots, toys, gift bags and a pack of unopened sponges
lady came and got the stuff from freecycle, so now I need to get another load to list tomorrow.
got rid of several plant pots, toys, gift bags and a pack of unopened sponges
lady came and got the stuff from freecycle, so now I need to get another load to list tomorrow.
Decluttering 6/26, 2nd round:
went through 2 bins, and went around house to find things laying around
tossed:
1/2 trash bag
1 bin
freecycled:
1 1/2 bins full of stuff
big black trash bag full of stuff
2 more pr. kids' shoes
tossed:
1/2 trash bag
1 bin
freecycled:
1 1/2 bins full of stuff
big black trash bag full of stuff
2 more pr. kids' shoes
6/26 Today's Decluttering, So Far...
went through 3 bins.........
tossed 2 trash bags, tossed the 2 bins (so they won't get filled back up, lol)
freecycled 2 bins of books & other stuff and 1/2 a trash bag of kids' shoes
kept 1/2 bin of important documents/office supplies/notebooks
tossed 2 trash bags, tossed the 2 bins (so they won't get filled back up, lol)
freecycled 2 bins of books & other stuff and 1/2 a trash bag of kids' shoes
kept 1/2 bin of important documents/office supplies/notebooks
Yesterday's decluttering
Tossed a whole bin of shoes (bin and all).
Also, tossed 3 trash bags.
freecycled 3 trash bags of kids' clothes
It's a start, hopefully I will do more today:)
Also, tossed 3 trash bags.
freecycled 3 trash bags of kids' clothes
It's a start, hopefully I will do more today:)
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Today's Decluttering Tips 6/25
Start with a clean working space. You can't get rid of clutter if you are doing it admist clutter. If your work space is cluttered, make that your 1st project. Put things you need to keep away, toss trash, put still usable things to giveaway in your donate box.
Have all your supplies handy. If you have to keep going back and forth, you may get sidetracked and not accomplish anything.
Do not stop to clean while you are decluttering. Make sure you have time to devote just to decluttering.
Don't take out more than you can do in a half an hour. Some people say an hour, but with 5 little ones, I don't get more than 30 minutes at a time to work on anything, even if they are helping. If I pull out more than that, it usually ends up creating more mess than was originally there.
Have your kids help you, even if all they can do is run from here to there putting things away for you.......hey, that's less running that you have to do and you may have energy to do more decluttering:)
Let your kids go with you if you are donating things to a shelter or other non-profit, especially if they can actually see the people they will be helping. Let them see that their unused stuff will make some other little girl or boy very happy.
Have all your supplies handy. If you have to keep going back and forth, you may get sidetracked and not accomplish anything.
Do not stop to clean while you are decluttering. Make sure you have time to devote just to decluttering.
Don't take out more than you can do in a half an hour. Some people say an hour, but with 5 little ones, I don't get more than 30 minutes at a time to work on anything, even if they are helping. If I pull out more than that, it usually ends up creating more mess than was originally there.
Have your kids help you, even if all they can do is run from here to there putting things away for you.......hey, that's less running that you have to do and you may have energy to do more decluttering:)
Let your kids go with you if you are donating things to a shelter or other non-profit, especially if they can actually see the people they will be helping. Let them see that their unused stuff will make some other little girl or boy very happy.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Decluttering tips 6/24
Have the following items handy when decluttering:
1. Trash can.........key to getting rid of trash right away
2. to put away bin
3. give away bin
In my case, of possibly moving within the next 6 months, I will also need:
1. storage bins (hopefully not too many, want to get rid of as much as possible)
2. permanent marker (to label bins)
3. spiral notebook and pen(to inventory bins)
I will also keep a list of these bins on my computer for quick searches.
I will label my storage bins by room & #. Ex. MBR-1; MBR-2 Or MBA-1; MBA-2
Anything not used within the past 6 months can most likely go.
1. Trash can.........key to getting rid of trash right away
2. to put away bin
3. give away bin
In my case, of possibly moving within the next 6 months, I will also need:
1. storage bins (hopefully not too many, want to get rid of as much as possible)
2. permanent marker (to label bins)
3. spiral notebook and pen(to inventory bins)
I will also keep a list of these bins on my computer for quick searches.
I will label my storage bins by room & #. Ex. MBR-1; MBR-2 Or MBA-1; MBA-2
Anything not used within the past 6 months can most likely go.
Time to Get Rid of the Clutter
We are working hard to start looking at a house to buy by the end of the year. So, I do not want to be moving anything that I don't have to.
I have already got a box and 3 black trash bags of stuff from the kitchen ready to freecycle. That's just the beginning. I want to get rid of tons of stuff. Plus, the shed is loaded with bins that need to be gone through. I really need to be tough with that stuff, most of it can go.
My goal (starting tomorrow...too wet outside right now), is to go through at least one bin a day until they are all done. I want to get rid of at least 3/4 of the stuff in there.
Does anyone want to join me? I will try to post some decluttering tips along the way. Let the decluttering begin..................
I have already got a box and 3 black trash bags of stuff from the kitchen ready to freecycle. That's just the beginning. I want to get rid of tons of stuff. Plus, the shed is loaded with bins that need to be gone through. I really need to be tough with that stuff, most of it can go.
My goal (starting tomorrow...too wet outside right now), is to go through at least one bin a day until they are all done. I want to get rid of at least 3/4 of the stuff in there.
Does anyone want to join me? I will try to post some decluttering tips along the way. Let the decluttering begin..................
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Entryway Organization
Right inside our back door (which used to be our entrance until the lock got hard to get your key in/out) is our furnace & laundry room. Our washer space is full with our stackable washer/dryer, our dryer space is full with our upright freezer. Since there's no "room" per se, it's just out in what should be a small hallway, there is no extra space for a bench/table, etc.
When bil replaced our furnace 3 years ago, he had to cut a hole in the wall, which he never re-covered. So, I had bought a sheet of pegboard at Home Depot (it fit perfectly), and made a "door" (so it can still be serviced) with the pegboard, hinges and a hook/eye latch. I bought pegboard hooks. Each child has a hook for their coats and one for their bookbags. They also hang any seasonally needed items there (hats, gloves, scarves, etc) and their umbrellas, it works perfectly, and takes up no more space than just a piece of sheetrock would have:)
When bil replaced our furnace 3 years ago, he had to cut a hole in the wall, which he never re-covered. So, I had bought a sheet of pegboard at Home Depot (it fit perfectly), and made a "door" (so it can still be serviced) with the pegboard, hinges and a hook/eye latch. I bought pegboard hooks. Each child has a hook for their coats and one for their bookbags. They also hang any seasonally needed items there (hats, gloves, scarves, etc) and their umbrellas, it works perfectly, and takes up no more space than just a piece of sheetrock would have:)
Monday, April 21, 2008
Pantry Dilemma/Organization
I didn't have a pantry or any cabinet space in my kitchen, so I bought one of those 9 cube organizers that have the fabric drawers you can buy.
Each drawer has a theme, larger groups may have more than one drawer......ex: baking drawer, pasta drawer, etc.
On top of the pantry are all my staples (flour, splenda, sugar, etc) in labelled clear lock & lock containers.
If you do have a pantry, you could still use the drawer system by getting clear plastic bins to use as drawers & sort by category. For my refrigerator and large upright freezer, I use this clear bin system.
For my small (over the fridge freezer), I only keep one weeks worth of OAMC meals, ice cream and ice.
I also keep an inventory of my pantry, small freezr, large freezer, fridge, spices, cleaners and bath products. I mark off things as I use them.
I use a master grocery list to mark things I need, and I can use my inventories to make sure I don't buy duplicates. Also, with this system, I am not running back and forth to the kitchen to see what I already have.
I update my inventories as I put the groceries away.
Each drawer has a theme, larger groups may have more than one drawer......ex: baking drawer, pasta drawer, etc.
On top of the pantry are all my staples (flour, splenda, sugar, etc) in labelled clear lock & lock containers.
If you do have a pantry, you could still use the drawer system by getting clear plastic bins to use as drawers & sort by category. For my refrigerator and large upright freezer, I use this clear bin system.
For my small (over the fridge freezer), I only keep one weeks worth of OAMC meals, ice cream and ice.
I also keep an inventory of my pantry, small freezr, large freezer, fridge, spices, cleaners and bath products. I mark off things as I use them.
I use a master grocery list to mark things I need, and I can use my inventories to make sure I don't buy duplicates. Also, with this system, I am not running back and forth to the kitchen to see what I already have.
I update my inventories as I put the groceries away.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Decluttering My Desk
Well, everyone kept piling anything they didn't know what to do with (or didn't want to deal with on my desk). It was getting to the point, I had to move things to see the monitor.
Also, if I am sitting there, my kids love to write/draw and they'll bring me their finished products. Sometimes, I can convince them to go hang them on the freezer, but not always.
Well, I couldn't take it anymore, so I worked for 2 hours decluttering just the desk top & 4 shelves (the cabinet & 2 of the shelves were already done:)
I tossed a 13 gal bag worth of papers that didn't need to be shredded (school announcements, school papers, etc) and shredded one can's worth. I still have to re-tackle 2 of my 3 drawers again (the file drawer has stayed neat, b/c I can't shove stuff in there, lol). I also have to declutter the bottom cabinet (ugggh).
I will be working on this for this week, until it dries up some outside (raining since Saturday)so I can try to tackle some of the shed:)
It's 59 right now and partly cloudy, but hopefully it will stay dry today. I also want to get the old van cleaned out & sell it; get my van cleaned out, so it can be fixed and get the truck cleaned out. But first things first.....
Also, if I am sitting there, my kids love to write/draw and they'll bring me their finished products. Sometimes, I can convince them to go hang them on the freezer, but not always.
Well, I couldn't take it anymore, so I worked for 2 hours decluttering just the desk top & 4 shelves (the cabinet & 2 of the shelves were already done:)
I tossed a 13 gal bag worth of papers that didn't need to be shredded (school announcements, school papers, etc) and shredded one can's worth. I still have to re-tackle 2 of my 3 drawers again (the file drawer has stayed neat, b/c I can't shove stuff in there, lol). I also have to declutter the bottom cabinet (ugggh).
I will be working on this for this week, until it dries up some outside (raining since Saturday)so I can try to tackle some of the shed:)
It's 59 right now and partly cloudy, but hopefully it will stay dry today. I also want to get the old van cleaned out & sell it; get my van cleaned out, so it can be fixed and get the truck cleaned out. But first things first.....
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Decluttering the Pantry
I'd worked on it Thursday night, but just gave it a quick once over. Today is a deep clean:)
My pantry is a 9-cube organizer with the cloth drawers (Target).
With dh's help, I took everything off the pantry, & took out the baskets. I even took off our small microwave (we also have a full-sized one). I wiped down the top & all the shelves. I even took out everything in between the pantry & the fridge that was keeping me from opening most of the drawers.
So far, I have tossed a trash bag of expired foods. I have also put aside the microwave to send to dh's work. They already have 2, but with 15 or so men all trying to heat their meals at the same time, and only an hour lunch break (they all break at the same time), it gets backlogged. So, maybe one more will help them out a bit....just need to clean it up a bit.
I am going back in there to write down my categories of what I have (the shelves were labeled, but everything has gotten a bit jumbled up in there since labeling. So, I've already typed up a diagram to fill in the blanks, to make it easy on me to see what can go where. (I just did a 3X3 table & enlarged the squares).
I will probably be tossing more food as I go. There's lots of opened stuff that I don't know how long it's been in there:) I have already reserved the top for my "canisters" not really canisters, they are those leak-proof containers that have 4little "pop" tops to open (when I think of the name, I'll give you the website). They are great....they are square or rectangular, so they fit nicely together, rather than the round ones, that don't get close to one another.
I can't tell you how many duplicates I have of things, so the extras, plus any food we will not use will go to our local food pantry. All damaged, expired and opened foods will go to the trash.
I will also inventory what we have:)
I will report back later to let you know how I did:)
My pantry is a 9-cube organizer with the cloth drawers (Target).
With dh's help, I took everything off the pantry, & took out the baskets. I even took off our small microwave (we also have a full-sized one). I wiped down the top & all the shelves. I even took out everything in between the pantry & the fridge that was keeping me from opening most of the drawers.
So far, I have tossed a trash bag of expired foods. I have also put aside the microwave to send to dh's work. They already have 2, but with 15 or so men all trying to heat their meals at the same time, and only an hour lunch break (they all break at the same time), it gets backlogged. So, maybe one more will help them out a bit....just need to clean it up a bit.
I am going back in there to write down my categories of what I have (the shelves were labeled, but everything has gotten a bit jumbled up in there since labeling. So, I've already typed up a diagram to fill in the blanks, to make it easy on me to see what can go where. (I just did a 3X3 table & enlarged the squares).
I will probably be tossing more food as I go. There's lots of opened stuff that I don't know how long it's been in there:) I have already reserved the top for my "canisters" not really canisters, they are those leak-proof containers that have 4little "pop" tops to open (when I think of the name, I'll give you the website). They are great....they are square or rectangular, so they fit nicely together, rather than the round ones, that don't get close to one another.
I can't tell you how many duplicates I have of things, so the extras, plus any food we will not use will go to our local food pantry. All damaged, expired and opened foods will go to the trash.
I will also inventory what we have:)
I will report back later to let you know how I did:)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
kids' chores
As you may or may not know, I've had a hard time with getting my kids to do any chores, or even keep their rooms clean...I've tried allowances, chore charts, taking things away, grounding them, time out, fussing at them, chuck e cheese, taking their toys, etc, etc, etc...all to no avail. I have found out that my kids are "instant gratification" kids. If they have to wait for it & can't see something concrete right now, they don't care. Ex. don't tell them next month they'll go to the zoo, or this weekend, you miss your turn to stay at grammy's...that's in the future and doesn't effect the here & now.
Well, I was cleaning out my tupperware shelf and found 4 mason quart jars....so you know, me the re-purposer, the wheels got to moving...
I've started giving each child a quarter in the morning if their room is clean before we leave for school. If they do extra jobs, other than keep their rooms clean, they may get a little bonus...but no promises. So, if I ask you to help me put away laundry, you might earn an extra quarter, or even a nickel, then again you might not...you just have to wait and see. That's been getting things done without whining, nagging, crying or stress.
And, they have learned once they get 4-quarters, they can trade it in for a dollar bill. They’ll be really excited when they learn five dollar bills can trade for a five dollar bill, etc.
I have the jars right on the top of the buffet, where they can see them, and I labeled them, so they can't cheat and switch the jars around, lol...not sure they're old enough to try that yet or not.
There are a few stipulations....
1. you CAN lose money for not doing something you've been asked
2. you WILL lose money for hitting your sibling or being disrespectful
3. you can NOT spend your money until the jar is full:)
4. Daddy is NOT allowed to borrow...lol:)
So far they love seeing their money add up and do NOT like losing any (Jacob hit Caity this morning and had to pay her a nickel).
They've all earned over a dollar so far, so they all got to trade in this morning, and now they all have a dollar bill in the jar, plus whatever change they've earned.
I've not heard one complaint about doing a chore or keeping their rooms clean since I started this. Now they are volunteering, lol.
Well, I was cleaning out my tupperware shelf and found 4 mason quart jars....so you know, me the re-purposer, the wheels got to moving...
I've started giving each child a quarter in the morning if their room is clean before we leave for school. If they do extra jobs, other than keep their rooms clean, they may get a little bonus...but no promises. So, if I ask you to help me put away laundry, you might earn an extra quarter, or even a nickel, then again you might not...you just have to wait and see. That's been getting things done without whining, nagging, crying or stress.
And, they have learned once they get 4-quarters, they can trade it in for a dollar bill. They’ll be really excited when they learn five dollar bills can trade for a five dollar bill, etc.
I have the jars right on the top of the buffet, where they can see them, and I labeled them, so they can't cheat and switch the jars around, lol...not sure they're old enough to try that yet or not.
There are a few stipulations....
1. you CAN lose money for not doing something you've been asked
2. you WILL lose money for hitting your sibling or being disrespectful
3. you can NOT spend your money until the jar is full:)
4. Daddy is NOT allowed to borrow...lol:)
So far they love seeing their money add up and do NOT like losing any (Jacob hit Caity this morning and had to pay her a nickel).
They've all earned over a dollar so far, so they all got to trade in this morning, and now they all have a dollar bill in the jar, plus whatever change they've earned.
I've not heard one complaint about doing a chore or keeping their rooms clean since I started this. Now they are volunteering, lol.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Girls' Bedrooms...
Ok, let me give you a little background on this topic...
My girls' (all 3 of them) all share a bedroom. Each day I deep clean their room, usually it takes 1-3 hours, depending on how industrious (ie messy) they were the day before. In the morning, after I drop my older 3 kids (Caity, Jacob & Brea) at school, I clean the room. When they get home, they destroy it again.
I got really tired of spending so much time in there each day. I have things to do in the other rooms too, so I really don't have up to 3 hours to devote in one room each day.
Now, keep in mind, they are able to pick up after themselves AND they know where everything goes. If my 2yo, Rory, can pick up after herself, the older 2 girls can, too.
Rory is actually my biggest helper, if she sees someone cleaning, she is right there to help.
And, I have tried everything I know to help Caity and Brea clean up, organize, declutter and to motivate them, without just doing it myself. That is teaching them nothing. They need to learn responsibility and also how to take care of and have respect for their things, or how will they ever keep house when they get older? I've tried chore cards (letting them pick or draw), reward charts, assigning chores and having races to get them done, etc, etc...you name it, if I've heard of it, I've tried it:)
Anyways, this week, I told them, I will nicely ask them 3 times, and even offer to help them. If they won't clean their rooms, then the next day instead of me putting everything back where it belongs, I will bag it up in trash bags. They absolutely did not care...so after 3 times, I would just go lay a few black trash bags on the shelf for the next day. They saw me do this, and still did not make a move to clean.
So, the first day, I think I gathered 3 bags full...of everything that was in the floor. Clothes, shoes, books, papers, toys, etc. If it was on the floor, I gathered it...didn't even take time to sort it.
They were livid when they came home, but once again destroyed. After several days of this they were down to almost nothing as far as toys (they still had their toy that they slept with, it's always on their bed). Well, here's an update from an email I sent my friend a couple of days ago...
Girls Bedroom: ...was nothing really to do other than make the beds, sweep/mop....they don't have much to make a mess with. I'd boxed up the collectibles from their shelves, and Caity put everything back (I was tired of them playing with their porcelain items and getting them broke, but she seemed to really take care putting everything back, so I'll leave them for now).
I also am gonna give them back 1 thing each of their choice today, I think they've earned it. Their attitudes are changing (for now) and they've been helping out more. This weekend will be all about earning some of their stuff back. There are plenty of things they can do.
Also, since they've been grounded (no tv/dvds), and had lost their toys, they've been spending more time reading/writing/drawing. And, I don't really think they've missed the actual toys, just the idea of them. They don't really play with most of it, just strow it all out, and then don't want to put it back. So, we are gonna limit what they can earn back, and keep the rest put up. When they tire of what they have, we can rotate them. But, we will also be making some serious decisions about getting rid of things. They don't need so much that it overwhelms them to have to put it all away.
So, we have been doing more fun things together, since I am not constantly spending most of my time in their room. Today, we will be going to the circus. I am much more calm and they are not so stressed and overwhelmed about having to clean their room....I know if I am overwhelmed to walk in there and having to clean it all up, they must be too.
I will update you to let you know how this goes
My girls' (all 3 of them) all share a bedroom. Each day I deep clean their room, usually it takes 1-3 hours, depending on how industrious (ie messy) they were the day before. In the morning, after I drop my older 3 kids (Caity, Jacob & Brea) at school, I clean the room. When they get home, they destroy it again.
I got really tired of spending so much time in there each day. I have things to do in the other rooms too, so I really don't have up to 3 hours to devote in one room each day.
Now, keep in mind, they are able to pick up after themselves AND they know where everything goes. If my 2yo, Rory, can pick up after herself, the older 2 girls can, too.
Rory is actually my biggest helper, if she sees someone cleaning, she is right there to help.
And, I have tried everything I know to help Caity and Brea clean up, organize, declutter and to motivate them, without just doing it myself. That is teaching them nothing. They need to learn responsibility and also how to take care of and have respect for their things, or how will they ever keep house when they get older? I've tried chore cards (letting them pick or draw), reward charts, assigning chores and having races to get them done, etc, etc...you name it, if I've heard of it, I've tried it:)
Anyways, this week, I told them, I will nicely ask them 3 times, and even offer to help them. If they won't clean their rooms, then the next day instead of me putting everything back where it belongs, I will bag it up in trash bags. They absolutely did not care...so after 3 times, I would just go lay a few black trash bags on the shelf for the next day. They saw me do this, and still did not make a move to clean.
So, the first day, I think I gathered 3 bags full...of everything that was in the floor. Clothes, shoes, books, papers, toys, etc. If it was on the floor, I gathered it...didn't even take time to sort it.
They were livid when they came home, but once again destroyed. After several days of this they were down to almost nothing as far as toys (they still had their toy that they slept with, it's always on their bed). Well, here's an update from an email I sent my friend a couple of days ago...
Girls Bedroom: ...was nothing really to do other than make the beds, sweep/mop....they don't have much to make a mess with. I'd boxed up the collectibles from their shelves, and Caity put everything back (I was tired of them playing with their porcelain items and getting them broke, but she seemed to really take care putting everything back, so I'll leave them for now).
I also am gonna give them back 1 thing each of their choice today, I think they've earned it. Their attitudes are changing (for now) and they've been helping out more. This weekend will be all about earning some of their stuff back. There are plenty of things they can do.
Also, since they've been grounded (no tv/dvds), and had lost their toys, they've been spending more time reading/writing/drawing. And, I don't really think they've missed the actual toys, just the idea of them. They don't really play with most of it, just strow it all out, and then don't want to put it back. So, we are gonna limit what they can earn back, and keep the rest put up. When they tire of what they have, we can rotate them. But, we will also be making some serious decisions about getting rid of things. They don't need so much that it overwhelms them to have to put it all away.
So, we have been doing more fun things together, since I am not constantly spending most of my time in their room. Today, we will be going to the circus. I am much more calm and they are not so stressed and overwhelmed about having to clean their room....I know if I am overwhelmed to walk in there and having to clean it all up, they must be too.
I will update you to let you know how this goes
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Time to get serious...
Ok ladies, there are only 49 days until Christmas!!!!!!!!!! Now I don't want to hear any moaning later about where did the time go??? How is it Christmas already??? I am giving you fair warning!!!!!!
Get those homes in gear, clean them up & declutter!!! Once a week I've been making my kids get rid of at least 2 toys each (=8!!!). Now, I know eventually, after a while, they shouldn't have any toys left...right??? Wrong!!! We should have done this long ago. We should've been doing it since Caity was born (she's 6 1/2 now).
I told the kids that they have to make room for new toys for Christmas (although in my ideal world, the grandparents will discover the value of savings bonds or some other college savings. We put money in to each of our kids' savings accounts at bdays & Christmas). Now, don't get me wrong, every child needs some toys at Christmas, just not a zoo of them (x4 kids...you get the pic).
We have been giving our used, good condition, no longer played with toys to a woman who cleans them up and gives them out to girls & boys who might not otherwise get Christmas gifts. This is a win-win situation. We get rid of excess toys, other children get toys, and perfectly good toys don't just get thrown out.
Another thing (even though toys is probably the MAIN thing)...how many duplicates of things do you have. You know what I am talking about...you keep buying the same thing over & over because you can't find it??? Ok, I'll give you an example...I was cleaning out my junk drawers (yes plural) in my scrapbook chest. I found 4 full-size pairs of scissors, 8 small pairs (+ we already had 2 small pairs in my desk and 2 that my mom had just bought).
Ok, that's 4 full size, and 12!!! small pairs. I kept 2 full-size (desk, scrapbooking) and 4 small size (one for each of the kids...I know Rory is too young yet, but she'll need her own pair eventually and they're with the others, so they aren't taking any extra space).
OK, now for the golden rule...Assign things a designated spot!!! If you always put things away where they belong, you will never lose them (unless as in my case, you always have people "borrowing" things)!!! If you have frequent "borrowers" make the offenders use the item where you store it. If it's scissors, make them bring the paper to your desk (or wherever it makes sense for you to keep them). When they are done cutting, they go back in their spot.
If you don't have an assigned spot, make one!!! My desk scissors are now in a little caddy that sits on my desk (it's chrome w/daisies that's actually made to hold the big kitchen utensils...whisk, tongs, etc), but since I have a Pampered Chef utensil caddy I don't need this one in the kitchen. So, I repurposed it, and it's working perfectly.
Anyways, I also found 3 extra staplers and over 100 pens. I put the pens I have room for in my pen caddy (one of those single drawer dividers that you find by the plastic silverware trays). The extra pens, staplers and scissors, I took to my kids' school. The teachers are having to spend their own $$ on items that we have laying around by the gross in our homes and aren't using.
Now, that's just my office supplies :) Anyways, apply it to whatever you are having trouble with. I replaced most of my kitchen utensils with Pampered Chef tools, so all my extras went either to my church's kitchen or my brother's (who just got his first apartment). Get rid of duplicates or what you don't use!!! It's the only way!!! Otherwise you will always be looking for stuff because you have so much to sort through that you can't readily see what you are looking for.
Ok, since I have so totally gone off on a tangent away from my original train of thought, I will now veer back to it....getting ready for Christmas.
Now is the time to start buying gifts. We always buy most of our kids' gifts on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) because you can get great deals. However, I shop for them all year long (clearance aisles...aren't they great?). Santa got Caity a pink leapster a few months ago for only $20!!! They are normally $85. I've picked up 2 fuzzy pink purse notebooks for just a few dollars for Caity and Brea. I bought Jacob a bunch of stocking stuffers (bathtub crayon sets, other small toys) for only 25c in last year's after Christmas sales.
Other than my kids and dh, I am almost done buying. I still have 8 other gifts (not including small teacher gifts) to buy. I will probably do most of that shopping in my Pampered Chef catalog, since 7 of them are adults (ok all 8, but my baby cousin is 21 and living w/mom & dad, so he'll probably get fast food gift certificates since he's always on-the-go).
So, basically I am done shopping except for my immediate family. Everything I've already bought is wrapped and being stored in 2 plastic bins I just bought (so they don't get messed up...or opened by the kids:) ).
I have made my Christmas cards and gift tags. The only thing really left for me to do right now is decorate (day after Thanksgiving), get ready for Thanksgiving (will start this on 11/15), and bake cookies for Christmas (will start weekend after Thanksgiving). There are other things to do, but for right now, I'm good. I kind of don't know what to do with myself, I've never had it this together this early before. I am one of those last minute, grab what ya can, Christmas Eve shoppers. This year, I may just go out on Christmas Eve to watch everyone else hustle and bustle...or maybe not!
Please ladies, get it going.....you don't know how good nothing to do can actually feel!!!
Get those homes in gear, clean them up & declutter!!! Once a week I've been making my kids get rid of at least 2 toys each (=8!!!). Now, I know eventually, after a while, they shouldn't have any toys left...right??? Wrong!!! We should have done this long ago. We should've been doing it since Caity was born (she's 6 1/2 now).
I told the kids that they have to make room for new toys for Christmas (although in my ideal world, the grandparents will discover the value of savings bonds or some other college savings. We put money in to each of our kids' savings accounts at bdays & Christmas). Now, don't get me wrong, every child needs some toys at Christmas, just not a zoo of them (x4 kids...you get the pic).
We have been giving our used, good condition, no longer played with toys to a woman who cleans them up and gives them out to girls & boys who might not otherwise get Christmas gifts. This is a win-win situation. We get rid of excess toys, other children get toys, and perfectly good toys don't just get thrown out.
Another thing (even though toys is probably the MAIN thing)...how many duplicates of things do you have. You know what I am talking about...you keep buying the same thing over & over because you can't find it??? Ok, I'll give you an example...I was cleaning out my junk drawers (yes plural) in my scrapbook chest. I found 4 full-size pairs of scissors, 8 small pairs (+ we already had 2 small pairs in my desk and 2 that my mom had just bought).
Ok, that's 4 full size, and 12!!! small pairs. I kept 2 full-size (desk, scrapbooking) and 4 small size (one for each of the kids...I know Rory is too young yet, but she'll need her own pair eventually and they're with the others, so they aren't taking any extra space).
OK, now for the golden rule...Assign things a designated spot!!! If you always put things away where they belong, you will never lose them (unless as in my case, you always have people "borrowing" things)!!! If you have frequent "borrowers" make the offenders use the item where you store it. If it's scissors, make them bring the paper to your desk (or wherever it makes sense for you to keep them). When they are done cutting, they go back in their spot.
If you don't have an assigned spot, make one!!! My desk scissors are now in a little caddy that sits on my desk (it's chrome w/daisies that's actually made to hold the big kitchen utensils...whisk, tongs, etc), but since I have a Pampered Chef utensil caddy I don't need this one in the kitchen. So, I repurposed it, and it's working perfectly.
Anyways, I also found 3 extra staplers and over 100 pens. I put the pens I have room for in my pen caddy (one of those single drawer dividers that you find by the plastic silverware trays). The extra pens, staplers and scissors, I took to my kids' school. The teachers are having to spend their own $$ on items that we have laying around by the gross in our homes and aren't using.
Now, that's just my office supplies :) Anyways, apply it to whatever you are having trouble with. I replaced most of my kitchen utensils with Pampered Chef tools, so all my extras went either to my church's kitchen or my brother's (who just got his first apartment). Get rid of duplicates or what you don't use!!! It's the only way!!! Otherwise you will always be looking for stuff because you have so much to sort through that you can't readily see what you are looking for.
Ok, since I have so totally gone off on a tangent away from my original train of thought, I will now veer back to it....getting ready for Christmas.
Now is the time to start buying gifts. We always buy most of our kids' gifts on Black Friday (day after Thanksgiving) because you can get great deals. However, I shop for them all year long (clearance aisles...aren't they great?). Santa got Caity a pink leapster a few months ago for only $20!!! They are normally $85. I've picked up 2 fuzzy pink purse notebooks for just a few dollars for Caity and Brea. I bought Jacob a bunch of stocking stuffers (bathtub crayon sets, other small toys) for only 25c in last year's after Christmas sales.
Other than my kids and dh, I am almost done buying. I still have 8 other gifts (not including small teacher gifts) to buy. I will probably do most of that shopping in my Pampered Chef catalog, since 7 of them are adults (ok all 8, but my baby cousin is 21 and living w/mom & dad, so he'll probably get fast food gift certificates since he's always on-the-go).
So, basically I am done shopping except for my immediate family. Everything I've already bought is wrapped and being stored in 2 plastic bins I just bought (so they don't get messed up...or opened by the kids:) ).
I have made my Christmas cards and gift tags. The only thing really left for me to do right now is decorate (day after Thanksgiving), get ready for Thanksgiving (will start this on 11/15), and bake cookies for Christmas (will start weekend after Thanksgiving). There are other things to do, but for right now, I'm good. I kind of don't know what to do with myself, I've never had it this together this early before. I am one of those last minute, grab what ya can, Christmas Eve shoppers. This year, I may just go out on Christmas Eve to watch everyone else hustle and bustle...or maybe not!
Please ladies, get it going.....you don't know how good nothing to do can actually feel!!!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
7 Common Household Problems...Easy 5-Minute Fixes (Reader's Digest)
15 Common Household Problems: Easy 5-Minute Fixes
Want streak-free windows?
Large house party left a mess?
Living room seem cramped?
Find expert solutions -- all in 5 minutes or less!
Problem #1: Cleaning windows leaves streaks.
Five-Minute Fix: Here's how the pros avoid streaking when they wipe off their windows:
* Use a window-washing squeegee with a smooth, soft rubber edge. (Or use crumpled-up black-and-white newspaper -- avoid the color sections.)
* Dry a 1-inch (2.5-centimeter) strip at the top or side of each window and always start your squeegee there -- starting on dry glass is one key to avoiding streaks.
* Don't wash windows in direct sunlight, because quickly dried glass is more susceptible to streaking. Evenings or cloudy days are the times for window washing.
Problem #2: Chewing gum stuck to your carpet.Five-Minute Fix: Grab some ice, put it in a plastic bag (to prevent leaking), and rub the ice on the gum until the gum freezes and hardens. Scrape away the hardened gum with a dull knife. If residue remains, remove it by blotting with a dry-cleaning solvent, such as Carbona. Be sure to test the solvent first, however, in an inconspicuous spot to make sure that it won't damage the carpet. This procedure also works with upholstery.
Problem #3: Clothes dryer isn't drying.Five-Minute Fix: If your clothes dryer feels really hot, but your clothes take forever to dry, the vent may be clogged. A clogged vent traps the excess hot air inside the dryer's drum. But the low circulation of air keeps clothes from getting dry. This is a big problem -- the extra heat can damage fabrics and can start a fire -- but it's nothing you can't fix yourself.
1. Start by checking the vent flap or hood on the outside of the house. Make sure that you feel a strong flow of air coming out when the dryer is running. If not, try cleaning out the vent with a straightened clothes hanger.
2. If the vent flap is not the problem, check for a kink or sag in the duct and straighten the hose if necessary.
3. If a kinked or sagging duct is not the problem, disconnect the duct from the dryer and look for blockage inside with a flashlight. To remove the blockage, shake it out or run a wadded cloth through the duct. If the duct is damaged, replace it.
Problem #4: Room was painted too dark a color.Five-Minute Fix: Temper dark colors with light counterpoints. Navy blue, hunter green, and chocolate brown walls can make a dramatic statement in a room. But they need tempering with light-colored, or even white, trim and upholstery fabrics, as well as window treatments. For example, a light-colored painting or tapestry against a dark wall can create a beautiful focal point in a room. Make sure a room with dark walls also has plenty of light fixtures and lamps.
Problem #5: Living room seems cramped.Five-Minute Fix: You can make your living room seem airier through the artful choice of furniture and accessories. Decorators recommend these techniques:
* Choose just a few pieces of furniture -- declutter!
* Choose light colors for the furniture and your wall paint, and match some of the furniture to the walls. Avoid busy prints in upholstery.
* Choose low-slung, unobtrusive furniture and don't block windows or doors.
* Choose tables with glass or mirror tops.
* Choose sheer fabrics for window treatments and tablecloths.
Problem #6: Herbs are taking over your garden.
Five-Minute Fix: Whether the herbs are in the garden or on your plate, the same holds true: A few are nice, but you don't want them on everything. Gardeners soon discover that herbs like to take over their surroundings. Oregano, thyme, and mints are particularly bad about busting out all over and spreading by underground runners. To keep them in their place, cut the bottoms out of 5-gallon (19-liter) buckets or use chimney tiles. (A chimney tile looks like a square clay box with no top or bottom.) Sink your buckets or tiles 18 inches (45 centimeters) into the ground and plant your herbs in them. That's deep enough to curb their underground spread.
Problem #7: Large house party left a mess.
Five-Minute Fix: There's no need to wear yourself out by tackling the entire mess immediately. Spend just a few minutes whipping the aftermath into shape, and then do the detail work in the morning. Assuming you have already put perishable foods away, here are the steps to follow:
1. Collect bottles, cups, and glasses. Look for spills and deal with them right away.
2. Empty half-filled glasses and cups in the kitchen sink. Toss out plastic and paper. Set the glasses on the counter. Do the same with plates and utensils.
3. Fill the dishwasher with as many dishes as you can fit in and start it when it's fully loaded.
4. Gather up the garbage in plastic bags, starting in outer rooms and working your way toward the kitchen, so that you centralize the clutter there. Take garbage out as soon as bags are filled and tied, to prevent accidental leaks and odors.
5. In the morning, after a good night's sleep, finish up by dusting and vacuuming, again working your way toward the kitchen. Clean the kitchen last.
Want streak-free windows?
Large house party left a mess?
Living room seem cramped?
Find expert solutions -- all in 5 minutes or less!
Problem #1: Cleaning windows leaves streaks.
Five-Minute Fix: Here's how the pros avoid streaking when they wipe off their windows:
* Use a window-washing squeegee with a smooth, soft rubber edge. (Or use crumpled-up black-and-white newspaper -- avoid the color sections.)
* Dry a 1-inch (2.5-centimeter) strip at the top or side of each window and always start your squeegee there -- starting on dry glass is one key to avoiding streaks.
* Don't wash windows in direct sunlight, because quickly dried glass is more susceptible to streaking. Evenings or cloudy days are the times for window washing.
Problem #2: Chewing gum stuck to your carpet.Five-Minute Fix: Grab some ice, put it in a plastic bag (to prevent leaking), and rub the ice on the gum until the gum freezes and hardens. Scrape away the hardened gum with a dull knife. If residue remains, remove it by blotting with a dry-cleaning solvent, such as Carbona. Be sure to test the solvent first, however, in an inconspicuous spot to make sure that it won't damage the carpet. This procedure also works with upholstery.
Problem #3: Clothes dryer isn't drying.Five-Minute Fix: If your clothes dryer feels really hot, but your clothes take forever to dry, the vent may be clogged. A clogged vent traps the excess hot air inside the dryer's drum. But the low circulation of air keeps clothes from getting dry. This is a big problem -- the extra heat can damage fabrics and can start a fire -- but it's nothing you can't fix yourself.
1. Start by checking the vent flap or hood on the outside of the house. Make sure that you feel a strong flow of air coming out when the dryer is running. If not, try cleaning out the vent with a straightened clothes hanger.
2. If the vent flap is not the problem, check for a kink or sag in the duct and straighten the hose if necessary.
3. If a kinked or sagging duct is not the problem, disconnect the duct from the dryer and look for blockage inside with a flashlight. To remove the blockage, shake it out or run a wadded cloth through the duct. If the duct is damaged, replace it.
Problem #4: Room was painted too dark a color.Five-Minute Fix: Temper dark colors with light counterpoints. Navy blue, hunter green, and chocolate brown walls can make a dramatic statement in a room. But they need tempering with light-colored, or even white, trim and upholstery fabrics, as well as window treatments. For example, a light-colored painting or tapestry against a dark wall can create a beautiful focal point in a room. Make sure a room with dark walls also has plenty of light fixtures and lamps.
Problem #5: Living room seems cramped.Five-Minute Fix: You can make your living room seem airier through the artful choice of furniture and accessories. Decorators recommend these techniques:
* Choose just a few pieces of furniture -- declutter!
* Choose light colors for the furniture and your wall paint, and match some of the furniture to the walls. Avoid busy prints in upholstery.
* Choose low-slung, unobtrusive furniture and don't block windows or doors.
* Choose tables with glass or mirror tops.
* Choose sheer fabrics for window treatments and tablecloths.
Problem #6: Herbs are taking over your garden.
Five-Minute Fix: Whether the herbs are in the garden or on your plate, the same holds true: A few are nice, but you don't want them on everything. Gardeners soon discover that herbs like to take over their surroundings. Oregano, thyme, and mints are particularly bad about busting out all over and spreading by underground runners. To keep them in their place, cut the bottoms out of 5-gallon (19-liter) buckets or use chimney tiles. (A chimney tile looks like a square clay box with no top or bottom.) Sink your buckets or tiles 18 inches (45 centimeters) into the ground and plant your herbs in them. That's deep enough to curb their underground spread.
Problem #7: Large house party left a mess.
Five-Minute Fix: There's no need to wear yourself out by tackling the entire mess immediately. Spend just a few minutes whipping the aftermath into shape, and then do the detail work in the morning. Assuming you have already put perishable foods away, here are the steps to follow:
1. Collect bottles, cups, and glasses. Look for spills and deal with them right away.
2. Empty half-filled glasses and cups in the kitchen sink. Toss out plastic and paper. Set the glasses on the counter. Do the same with plates and utensils.
3. Fill the dishwasher with as many dishes as you can fit in and start it when it's fully loaded.
4. Gather up the garbage in plastic bags, starting in outer rooms and working your way toward the kitchen, so that you centralize the clutter there. Take garbage out as soon as bags are filled and tied, to prevent accidental leaks and odors.
5. In the morning, after a good night's sleep, finish up by dusting and vacuuming, again working your way toward the kitchen. Clean the kitchen last.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Buddy Support System for the Organized Challenged...Like Me
I have had a Loving Home Yahoo Group for a while. For the past 4-5 months it's been inactive due to no members.
I've changed it a bit and have invited a few girls from a group I am on Christmas Clutter Countdown (I joined after Christmas last year). They were all interested in joining a small buddy group to encourage each other & help each other out. If anyone else is interested, please stop by and check us out.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LovingHome/
Blessings~Cherylann
I've changed it a bit and have invited a few girls from a group I am on Christmas Clutter Countdown (I joined after Christmas last year). They were all interested in joining a small buddy group to encourage each other & help each other out. If anyone else is interested, please stop by and check us out.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LovingHome/
Blessings~Cherylann
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