Spring cleaning on a snow day

We had a snow day not too long ago and I decided to spend it doing a little spring cleaning. Yeah, I know spring cleaning a snowday? I sound insane. But it's Iowa, deal with it.

 

Icky things like plungers and trash cans got a scrub with bleach water.

 

Cute new rubber gloves and a sticky clip from Walmart (from the same section as the 3M hooks) found a new home on the back of the cabinet door below the sink.

 

My running supplies (inhaler, Polar, "fanny pack"- it's for runners - similar to a flip belt, but let's call it what it is, earphones, headbands) all found a home in a cute gray basket from the Target dollar spot.

 

And finally everything came out of the fridge so it could all be sanitized and wiped down and everything went back in, nice and neat. I give it a week before it looks like a disaster again. 

How do you spend your snow days? 

 

Finishing My Corner cubbies

I'm back to finish up my new cubbies in the corner that I used to replace my desk. After putting it together and popping it into place I started filling it up. Actually first I started sorting out all the stuff that needed to find a new home in each of the cubbies.

I grabbed these cubes at Target in the dollar spot. They were $3 each, which was awesome compared to the $6-12 price tag on all the others!

This little tray made the move from the desk to the new area. I love how it displays all of the cheery colored office supplies.

And here it is all filled up!  I like this soooo much better than that silly glass corner desk. It looks like it actually belongs there and isn't just a desk stuck randomly in the corner of the dining area!

Here's a closer peek at each space, left to right.

I also snagged these clear file boxes at Target for less than $3 each.

Operation Get It Together continues...

Move That Desk!! (clearly that was yelled Ty Pennington style) Next up in my mission to declutter my life, both mentally and physically is the desk area. It's this little disaster in the corner of my kitchen. Awhile ago we basically switched the desk and the dart board. And by we, I mean me. Yep moved that full sized dart board all by myself. But then it left the desk looking all weird in the corner.

So I decided the desk had to go. I don't think I have sat at it more than 5 times to actually use it as a desk. So there was no great loss as far as desk surfaces go. The obvious lack of storage was probably what lead to its demise. 

Which leads us to step 1.

Wait three days for boyfriend to move the desk to the garage. We live in an apartment so its not like just moving it out the door, it has to go quite a ways.

While you are waiting for said boyfriend to move the afore mentioned desk. Go to target and buy a cute little cube-y deal. Bonus points if you score it on sale like I did! Mine is made by Closet Maid, but I don't think the brand really matters for these friends.

Step 3. After the waiting period has passed and desk has been successfully removed, you put that baby together!! More bonus points if you can do it hillbilly style without a hammer! More points for most creative non-hammer tool used.

Then we wait, because here at our little blog we are realists and we don't have time to spend 4 hours creating a wonderful new corner area like we would like to. So this is a multi-day, multi-step process. But I am giddy about it already and I haven't even started filling it up yet!! I'm also glad to finally be doing a "real, hands on" project for Operation: Get It Together!

Operation: Get It Together {episode three}

Operation: Get it together continues. Today we are on "pretend Wednesday" but I am including Thursday too, for the sake of not dragging this out too much.
 Wednesday and Thursday tasks: 

sweep and vacuum floors

check counters

laundry

clear clutter

water plants

check floors

I also added in dishes, because obviously those need to be done everyday. 

We don't always have to run the dishwasher everyday. But there are dishes used everyday and that means they need to be rinsed and put in the dishwasher. Sitting in the sink being all nasty is not acceptable. Occasionally a few rinsed dishes will sit in the sink until the next day and I'm okay with that if they are rinsed and not getting crusty. Nothing makes a girl crankier than trying to scrub nasty crusty dishes, right?

The floors got swept and vacuumed today. We don't have much area to sweep, just a small kitchen and bathroom. But since our kitchen is right inside our door and people are usually still wearing shoes when they walk though, that needs to be swept pretty often. The bathroom usually goes until scheduled days without much needed in between.

I use a carpet freshener powder before I vacuum. I don't know that it actually does anything beneficial besides making it smell nice, but that's enough for me. The one I use is made by Glade, but I'm sure there are other brands out there.

Counters and clutter are about the same. I am still working on putting away or finding a new (better) home for at least 3 things each day. It's gonna take me a while at this pace, but I'm hoping once I'm out of school for the summer I can kick some serious clutter tuckus. (read: find something without needing an entire search team)

Basically the same story for Thursday, I just added in

I also whipped up another chore chart. I felt like I needed a handy way to track the things that don't need to be done on a certain day, but do need to be done somewhat frequently.

This allows me to track the chores that need to be done weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly but not necessarily in any particular order or on certain days. I just check off what I do and clean the list off at the appropriate intervals.

Also on the docket for the week. ATTACK LAUNDRY MONSTER!! It got a little scary for a while, but in the end I won. That empty spot in the middle is where I sat, through two episodes of Law & Order SVU. uhthankyouverymuch, it took forever!! Now I will just stay ahead of it.

Another project in the kitchen. My freezer got another clean out and reorganization. Actually I was using small trash cans before, but they didn't end up working out as brilliantly as I thought. So I popped in these baskets. The bottom one has meat, the top has potatoes, vegetables and snacks. So far it is working out pretty well.

 

 How is Operation: Get it Together coming along in your lives? What are you working? What new systems are helping your family have a smooth transition into summer??

Summer Goals

I only have a week if school left. My brain is already in summer vacation mode. It's time for the calendar to catch up.

However, summer vacation means its time to complete all those organizing projects that I put on the back burner because we were too busy. And because I am an over sharer I thought you all should know what my plans were. Maybe you can keep me accountable. 

• organize and purge coat closet

• organize and purge toy closet

• organize and purge my closet 

• paint CT's room 

• paint JT's room

• organize and purge kitchen cupboards 

There are only 6 things. So I need to tackle about 2-4 a month to get them all done before going back to school in August. And you know I will be back to blog about what I do, my inspiration and what didn't work. 

Do you have big organizing plans for this summer? Share your to do list for a little accountability.

This post brought to you by Operation: Get it Together. Join us on Instagram and twitter #getittogether.

Operation: Get it Together

My motto for Operation: Get it Together is Contain the Chaos! The last couple weeks have been crazy between concerts, recitals, practices, my sister-in-law visiting, and just general end of the school year business.
When Shannon started Operation: Get it Together, I knew I had to jump onboard. I talk a good game, and start out strong, but soon my ADHD/Perfectionism take over and if it takes more than 30 seconds and I can't do it perfectly, I'm not going to do it at all. That is no good.
I already shared my May goals, but I also have some everyday things I need to accomplish.

• Start dishwasher every night, empty it every morning
• One load of laundry a day. Complete. Washed, dried, folded, put away. 

That's all for now. Too often I start out with a crazy list and I get burnt out after just a few days.

One other really important thing Tim and I are working on (again) is making our children accountable for their own stuff. I have started making the big kids daily to-do lists. I am also in the process of creating a rotating chore chart.
So often it is easier to do a task yourself then teach someone else to do it. And inevitably they will do it wrong (at least in your mind). I am taking the approach that if I don't have to do it, it is done right. I am also teaching my kids valuable life skills. Yes, it might take longer, and yes it might not be done perfectly, but they are slowly taking ownership of our home.

What are you doing for Operation: Get it Together?

April Accomplishments and May Aspirations

Niki posted about how she was doing on her April goals so I figured I should share what I got accomplished in April. 
Time management and obligations:
 1. survive prom-- check. I only forgot to have the pastor say the prayer before I sent the first table, so only a minor glitch, but otherwise it went great and the food was Amazing!
2. Get bridesmaid dress altered- check. I am currently awaiting it's return. Wedding weekend is coming fast! 
3. register for summer classes- half check. I haven't registered yet because none of the classes I need are available until fall, but I am able to take them in the town I live in through a local university, so that's a bonus. And since I have to wait to take those, I'm looking in to a sped endorsement to start too. Might as well pile on the debt right? 

Home and Organizing.
1. get all labels printed, laminated, and put up. check.  
2. finish up spring cleaning. mostly check. I'm still coming up with a few more random things to purge, or reorganize, or sort through. But as far as my actual cleaning, I've made it through the whole apartment.
3. purge, declutter, and organize coat closet- well since we still had snow in May, I put a halt on this one. But I think we might finally be clear of the snow...so we'll put this back on the list for May.
4. store seasonal winter clothes- see above.
5. new desk area-  whomp, whomp. still failing at this one. I may have just started avoiding it. 

Blog and Etsy.
1. Update items in the shop-check. I've even finally listed our planners!
2. Get my posts written before the day they go live-  half check- this usually happens.
3. do some projects- mostly fail. moving this to May's list.

So I did eh, sort of okay in April. Not a complete success, but hey things come up and we have lives and {multiple} jobs, it happens.
So for May, when I in theory have a bit more free time. I'm hoping to kick some mega butt. And my biggest goal for May is...

1. Operation: Get It Together. This is kind of a big project that isn't really a project at all. I already started posting about it actually and then decided to keep it going until things truly become a habit for me and I really do feel like I have it together. This started with a simple cleaning plan from clean mama and I'm hoping that by the end of summer I will have the whole apartment de-cluttered and cleaned and rolling in my new habits and systems. This is going to be the biggest goal to complete for me.

2. Make a weekly meal and plan and stick to it. No pizza rolls and other kid foods because I didn't plan anything and have no brilliant ideas!! (also, excellent excuse to try pinterest recipes??)

3.  Make our little brother's planner. His runs out at the end of May.  He has ADHD and uses the same planner at I do and he says it really helps him to manage his time and schedule. (here's a peek at mine)

4. Finish April's not completed items---coat closet and packing winter clothes. I bought ziplock space bags to stash winter bedding and coats in. I"m thinking of just swapping around some hanging and tub things in the closet and only actually packing up the super warm things.

5. Go through closet. Find massive amounts of clothes to give to Niki??? Seriously that thing is so stuffed you can't even find anything.

6. Complete Jillian Michael's 30 day shred....I already started, just have to commit to finishing it! (even if she kicks my butt!!!)

What are you aspiring to do in May??

April Recap and May Goals

It's already a week into May. I'm sure you are all dying to know how I did with my April challenge. Here's a hint: not well.

Home & Organizing Goals:

• Print, laminate & hang laundry labels
• Clean & organize kitchen junk drawer
• Declutter and organize coat closet (Started, had to break out boots and snowpants again)
• Clean/Dirty labels for dishwasher
• Bind blog planner and blog about it

Lifestyle Goals:

• Complete the Bikini Body challenge (Made it about half way through the month)
• Print Planner (Made it through June)
• Be more present with my family (This is ongoing, so it doesn't get crossed out)

So..... Will I do better in May? Some of the goals will move forward to May, some will get put on the back burner. It's not looking promising, but here it goes:

Home & Organizing Goals:

• Clean & Organize kitchen junk drawer
• Declutter and organize coat closet
• Create chore chart & implement it
• Tame the laundry monster 
• Drop off Goodwill stuff

Lifestyle Goals:

• Be more present with my family
• Run 3 miles straight
• Work on core strength

Because every post needs some pictures, here are some of my #challengespringcolors outfits from the last couple weeks!

 

How did your April goals turn out? Share your recap with us!

Operation: Get It Together

The last couple of weeks I have been feeling a bit crazy, swamped, and out of control. I have been getting behind in my housework and chores and have gotten into a nasty habit of just dropping off my bags when I come in the door and then digging out what I need for the next day. Its a vicious cycle.  So one of the last times I did printables for myself I made this little friend and figured it as about time to put it to use to help me "get it together", hence the post title.

Now I didn't come up with these tasks randomly or on my own. I got a little help from one of our favorite bloggers, clean mama. She gives great tips and plans on getting your home clean and maintaining it. Pop over and check out her cleaning routine tab for lots of great stuff! She tells you all her favorite products and her cleaning schedules. She even provides a free printable each month to help you keep on track! She also offers other great freebies!  I wrote all about my new cleaning schedule here, and all of the great things that clean mama suggests.

So here's what my printable looks like. I just used a theme template I have used for a lot of printables lately. I'm still loving brights, chevron, and arrows. Isn't it cute???

Now I have been trying to follow this schedule for a couple months now, but just haven't been doing so great. I'm hoping a fresh new list on the fridge will keep me motivated and on track.  I added in dishes, just until it becomes a habit and I don't have to really check the list. And as far as the "clear the clutter" item goes, for now my goal is to put away 3 to 5 things that are not in their correct homes. Hopefully this will eventually become put away 1 or 2 things. Or maybe even put away just the things from that day??And since I was dryer-less and am playing catch up on laundry....I have a few extra loads to put away, but I'm working on it.

Today's special area was the bathroom. Everything listed with bathrooms got a good cleaning tonight. I just use a throw away antibacterial wipe for the sink, counters and toilet. {obviously a different wipe for the toilet!} For the tub I use a scrub brush that stays in there all the time, it is filled with vinegar and dawn. I also wiped down the caulking around the base of the tub and gave the toilet brush a good soak in bleach water. Always good to sanitize that thing.

I also just started selling thirty-one and got this baby for myself and decided that for now it's home was going to be in the bathroom collecting dirty laundry. It's a super cute just to waste on laundry collection, but it keeps it from piling up on the floor and it makes me smile to look at it. It doesn't technically help me get things done better, but it does decrease the disaster in-between so I call it a win.

What kind of cleaning schedule do you follow? How do you keep on top of your housework? Do you use a chore chart? The whole family helps out? checklists?