Simplify: Week 7

I have been wanting to do this time consuming project, that would hugely simplify my life, for a long time! I should have taken a picture of the pile of old address books, envelopes, sticky notes, ripped off corners of papers and outdated lists with addresses and phone numbers that used to reside in my secretary. Sometimes the pile wasn't so much a pile, but instead a cascading mass that would fall all over the place when I would open my desk. So frustrating! Finally, finally, I sat down with a spreadsheet at the computer and entered all the information into one long spreadsheet. I even added email addresses. So it's ALL there, at my fingertips. The minute I was done, I threw my pile into the fire and burned it. It felt good! Really, really good. You should see my desk now...Ahhhh.

My goal was to get this done before I sent out my New Year's cards. I'm not quite through my mailing yet but maybe after the kids go to bed tonight I will finish. Instead of a letter, I just included the address of our blog on the photo card. I didn't want to bore everyone who reads this blog with all the details of our life when you already know them. And anyone who doesn't read our blog probably doesn't care to read a letter either. lol!

And if you don't get a card from me it either means that I lost your address one day when I opened my desk and it didn't make it onto my spreadsheet, or I have an old address from 15 years ago, or I don't have your address at all. I have plenty of cards so drop me your address at hugsfromus(at)yahoo(dot)com.

I wanted to do a quick update on all my other Simplify posts (click on the blue links below to read the posts)...

Simplify: Week 1 - Sandwich and snack organizing containers. This still works great! I'm pretty sure I'll keep doing this as long as I'm making lunches.

Simplify: Week 2 - The ten cents pick-up bin. This is amazing! It works! At first I used the big rubbermaid with the big sign on it saying "Ten Cents per Item Please, Thank you" to keep the kids aware of it. Now they have the idea, so I use a decorative basket that slides away in the bookshelf. I seriously don't have a pick-up problem anymore in the main area of the house.

Simplify: Week 3 - Workout routine. Well, with a teething and sick baby at the end of the year and the holiday happenings, this workout routine mostly fell by the way. I have, however, severely changed my diet since the new year and I am working back into my workouts.

Simplify: Week 4 - Organization boards, chore charts, and daily household routine. Some days work and some days don't work. It's been great to have the boards and to check the charts and lists. Definitely a good step in simplifying my life.

Simplify: Week 5 - Getting rid of stuff. You know what? I don't miss any of it.

Simplify: Week 6 - Bookshelves and organizing playroom. On Saturday, Randy and Colter ripped apart another room downstairs so they could make it into a bedroom for Colter. Guess where all the stuff in that room had to go... into the playroom. So now I need to go through all that stuff. Ah life, it's an ongoing project...

So this will be my last "Simplify" post for now. That doesn't mean I'm done off line... only just beginning. Some of my future projects include my sewing/craft/guest room, my laundry area, meal planning and getting my digital pictures organized. From now on, every month, I'm going to go through my picture file for the month and erase bad pictures and then save them onto our remote drive.

With just one project at a time, I will conquer my world!

All for now,
Alison

Simplify: Week 6

This week I wanted to share our library/playroom in the basement. Besides having fun this holiday season, Randy and I were busy working in the basement finishing window casements, organizing and cleaning. The bookcases above are a new addition and the kids like to call this area our library. It sure is nice to have a place to put all those books that used to lay in piles in various corners throughout the house. Much simpler to find the book we're looking for now too! Yay!

Below is the playroom part of the room. Randy made the bookshelf/toybox on the left when the kids were toddling around. It stores all the picture books and Highlights. The rest of the playroom is organized on the shelves-games, puzzles, toys, stuffies, etc...
In the middle of this room sits our old dining room table. It's a great place for overflow when we have company, or doing projects with the kids or laying out sewing projects. Kyla's currently working on the quilt below for her new room...
And I've been working on my sewing/craft room. It also doubles as a guest room. I can't wait to get it done. It'll be nothing too fancy but it will be a place that I can work easily. The goal is organized and simple! :)

Have a great weekend,
Alison

P.S. I'm working on my next Simplify project as we speak. I'll share it next week. It's making me REALLY happy!!!

Simplify: Week 5

* I meant this post for a week ago but never got in completed until today. Have lots more to share coming up. Happy Weekend! *

Time to get rid of stuff again. A never ending process around here.

I took the time to go through Randy's stuff this time. I got rid of a lot of his clothes including an old green Levi shirt he used to wear when we were dating. (above) I've always had a hard time getting rid of that shirt because... well, I'm just sentimental like that...

Anyway, I thought it was time to get rid of it and realized it was just wasn't worth keeping because he doesn't wear it anymore and it's out of style. Just as I was thinking that I looked at the tag on the shirt and it said "Quality never goes out of style." Well sorry Mr. Levi shirt, this organizing mama is sending you on down the road and maybe someone else will appreciate your style. I gotta be tough with myself sometimes like that...

This project was partly inspired by Joellyn's Organize Your Hand-Me-Downs Post a couple weeks ago. Even though I go through the kids clothes a couple times a year, I found there was plenty of things to get rid of.

So, this stuff is staying...
And this stuff is going... (it's already gone!!! Yippee!!!)

It was sad to see most of my girl baby clothes get stuffed into the bag. :( But I did save a few things out... I'm just sentimental like that ya know...
These special little outfits went right into their keep sake bins. Also, all the homemade things I got for the kids go into their bins too. There is just no toughing it out for me when it comes to this stuff.

And let the fun continue,
Alison

Simplify: Week 4

Recently I bought these 2 boards for the hallway. They were a little more $$$ than I wanted to spend but they have been well worth the $$$ so far! I really had no other big wall space to put them so I decided on the hall. We quickly found out it's the perfect place to put them! We are constantly walking up and down the hall throughout the day so it is a continual reminder.

The calander makes it easy to write down what we need to remember throughout the month...
The bulletin board holds a combination of lists, reading records, lunch menu's and chore lists. This was all stuff that used to clutter up the front of the fridge or the kitchen counter. Then we could never find what we really needed when we needed it.

I made up these chore lists for the kids. Just 6 simple chores before school and 6 simple chores after school. I put pictures with them and the kids have thanked me for it because it makes it easier for them to look at it and see what they are supposed to do...
I saw this 'picture chore list' idea somewhere on a blog. There are so many cute kids chore charts out there that I would love to put together but for now... I decided to keep it simple!
And then there is my chore list. I saw this list idea somewhere on a blog too!...
And in case you can't read that this is what it says...


15 Minutes a Day Cleaning Schedule

Mondays: Clean back bathroom including toilet, counter, mirror, tub, shower, floor. {Total time: 15 to 20 minutes}

Tuesdays: Dust house {Total time: 15 minutes depending on knick knack amount} Occasionally wipe down nice furniture with polish.

Wednesdays: Vacuum house thoroughly - vacuum each room, occasionally do vents and curtains and window crevices. {Total time: 25 to 30 minutes depending on house size}

Thursdays: Clean front bathroom including toilet, counters, mirror, tub, shower, floor. {Total time: 15 to 20 minutes}

Fridays: Clean kitchen-mop floor and clean counter tops with anti-bacterial product. {Total time: 15 to 20 minutes}

Saturdays: Other small projects or NOTHING at all!!

Maintain house daily by picking up things and immediately putting items away or in a basket to take downstairs or to other rooms. Throw junk mail away immediately and sort out incoming mail for hubby. Have kids pick up toys before leaving house, or changing to doing something new.

Other Weekly Routine Items

Sunday Evenings: Get organized for the week

Mondays: Laundry

Tuesdays: Groceries, Errands

Wednesdays: Ironing

Thursdays: Bake Bread

Fridays: Clutter Buster Day

Saturdays: Free/Whatever needs doing


There is something about seeing the "15 minutes a day Cleaning Schedule" that really makes me excited about doing my cleaning for that day. Some days go good, others not so good. Yeah, I'm still working on the dusting for this week...

But, with each new day, I just like seeing the "little bit" that I need to do for that day. Even though I'm not really into a 'rhythm' quite yet with this, I can already say it's really helping me. Seeing it helps me do it! I think that's the way it is for the kids too!

Happy weekend far and near!
Alison

P.S. Don't forget to stop by Joellyn's Blog for some great tips on handling hand-me-downs. I'm gonna have to go throw a few more items in my thrift store boxes!!!

Simplify: Week 3

I have been part of a Health Club for awhile now and have really benefited from it. It was good to get up and out of the house and exercising early in the morning. It helped me in my pregnancy and it has helped my back so much.

But as Lita gets older, it's harder to leave her at the childcare provided by the Club for various reasons. So the last couple weeks I've been doing my exercising at home to some great videos. When I do them 3 to 4 times a week, I feel great and I don't feel at all like I'm loosing ground! My goal is also to get back down to my pre-baby weight! So this is just another step to simplify my life and keep things running smoothly. I know that if I stay healthy and feel good, I can better manage my household, wifely, mothering duties. I'm also getting some great motivation and support from here! Join up if you want too!

Have a great weekend!
Alison

Simplify: Week 2

It's the age old question....

How do I get my kids to pick up after themselves?!?!?!

I've more than pulled my hair out over this at times. I've tried many things over my 11-year parent pilgrimage.

My latest effort has been "the ten cents bin" and so far it's working great! After the kids leave for school in the morning and then after bedtime in the evenings, I go around the main part of the house and anything that has been left "out of place" gets thrown in the bin. That way, I'm not nagging but they are held responsible for anything that's left out. Oh, and I make a little money for my pick-up efforts around the house.

I made a little over three dollars this last time we went through it; from accumulated stuff over the weeks before. Hmmmm.... I'm not gonna get rich but maybe in the long run it'll pay off! Often my kids will come to me, holding out a dime, and say something like... "I had to get my sweatshirt out of the ten cents bin".

Now that my kids are older, I feel like more than ever they should be responsible about picking up after themselves. It makes all of our lives a little easier. But on the other side of the dime, I don't want to be bugging them all the time. I don't like myself when I become a nagging, obsessed fanatic. So, this just seems like a win-win situation to me no matter how you flip the coin. And a few of Randy's and my things have ended up in the bin too. It's a good reminder for all of us!

Do you have any good tips on helping children learn and remember to pick up?

Have a great weekend everyone!
Alison

P.S. Lest you think I am robbing my kids blind, I must point out that each week they get paid for doing the neighbors dog chores, well over what they have had to pay for their misplaced items. Plus, they have the opportunity to earn back their money by doing chores. Chores like making their bed, helping with meals, clearing their plates and... picking up after themselves. You know... money speaks louder than all my words. Nough said!

Simplify

For the last few weeks, I've been in the declutter, throw away, get rid of, organize, simplify mode. I have found so many helpful blogs and I've loved gaining new ideas to keep things looking neater and keep life running smoother. So, I've made a couple trips to the Goodwill and I've listed several items on Craig's List and some of them are going out the door this weekend. The kids have been helping me by going through their things and giving up stuff they don't really use/need anymore. I'm in the process of putting some make-ahead meals in the freezer and I've been working on several other projects that I will share in the future.

My friend Joellen over at Montana Prairie Tales has been doing a Friday organization assignment and one of those assignments was to... Organize Your Fridge. I love the idea of putting all the sandwich stuff together on a tray or in a container, to easily slip it out when you need it and then put it all back away when done (picture above). I pack my kids lunches every morning and already I am seeing the benefits the this easy, quick organizing tip. Thanks Joellen!

I took it one step further and made up a snack container that will help me in packing lunches too. After school, the kids can pull it out, have a snack and easily put it back away...
With all this "organizing" going on you would think that my house would look much better than it really does. But Randy's been gone all week and Melita has been sick and the kids have been having fun! So, I aspire to be a little more organized than I was last week and that makes me happy!

Have a HAPPY and safe weekend everyone!
Alison.org