Page created in last Spring's DYL class and going in the Brag book!

17 layouts in 21 days.
Do-able?

Why not?

My Mother-in-law's 80th Birthday is coming up on August 9th.

For some reason, many years ago, I decided to make a "Grandparent's Brag Book" for my in-laws. I decided it would feature several layouts per year showing the children during a holiday or season (or both.)

The problem with such a gift is that you have to keep updating it.

The last set of pages she has features us on vacation in 2006.

Nope, you didn't read that wrong. Yep, I'm exactly 4 years behind.

Yesterday I made up spreadsheets and flow charts and checklists--everything I need to get it all done in time to photocopy the pages (for my Mom and me) and send it off for her birthday.

Cross your fingers for me.

15 Minute De-clutter, Saturday Edition

Sweet and short, today. I'd been thinking of clearing off and cleaning up these shelves for a while now. (ewwww, the dust!).

15 Minute De-clutter, Friday Edition

You know you're into being domestic when the first thing you do in the morning is google "aprons."

Isn't this lovely?
I'm strongly considering it.It's from apronsandmore at etsy

The first time I took QSCC, the concept of clearing until I was in my "clutter comfort" zone was revolutionary to me. This morning, I reviewed our class notes and was reminded of it again. What a freeing notion. I don't have to clear and clean until things are "company-ready" (and then "pretend" to inoculate them against future "contamination" (and use) as some suggest). No, I need only clean and clear up until the "noise" of the space is calmed. I need only lower the volume. That was today's goal. I took pictures of all the places which are too loud for me. They're all shouting, "Help! Do something, we're drowning."

So, I resolved today would be a 15 minute day. I would set the timer and work on an area until the timer went. If the timer didn't go off before I was finished, I'd just move on to the next spot.

Here's how it went.

1st 15 minute session:


Well, to be honest, when the first 15 minutes ran out, I wasn't quite through, so I worked at it until it was done. It only took another ten minutes.



2nd session:
This is always a hotspot. It's the place I put things on their way either into or out of the bathroom and the closet. It's also the place for my daughter's stuff on it's way up the stairs. That basket was a recent addition--I love that basket! It's for my daughter's thousand things.





I didn't get a before shot of this area.


3rd Session: This area has been begging to be cleared off for more than a month, now. But as the kids had their Conservatory Exams only a few days before we left, I didn't want to disturb anything until we got back. But, as you can see, clutter creep had already started to happen.




I think I want to put something decorative here.
Hmmm.

That was my morning. I didn't get nearly as much done as I'd wanted.

After lunch, it took a full 15 minutes to get the table in the dining room cleared off:

From catastrophe:

To calm:


I set the timer again immediately and kept going and started in on the desk (and a bit of shelf)

From cacophany:



To symphony:



I didn't time clearing up these areas: but I doubt they took 15 minutes even taken together.




and


Undeniably gratifying, though.

And then, the Frog. I really ought to have done this first, since it is the chore I hate the most (yes, even more than dishes). I loathe filing. In fact, I haven't even done it, yet. I'm just preparing my pictures and writing this post as a break.

What I started with (a backlog from before we left plus everything I hadn't even looked at which arrived while we were gone):



and what's still left, even after 25 minutes:




Quite the day, really.

Morning: 55 minutes.
Afternoon: 70 minutes (Yes, I know it's not divisible by 15. I was interrupted and had to run to make it to the chiropractor!)

I am pleased.

The deck are swabbed: let the sailing begin!

15 Minute Daily De-clutter, The Thursday Edition

One of the most wonderful features of Aby's course, Quick and Simple Clutter Control, is the daily challenge to de-clutter for 15 minutes. While the course is running, Aby encourages us to post our accomplishment for the day--and there's a place to post pictures, too.

Even though the course will be starting soon, (July 15, in fact), I didn't want to wait to begin: especially as my drawers are starting to look like this:



In addition to dish cloths and towels (essential to a kitchen where the dishwasher is human) I stored paper bags and old bread bags in here. The drawer above is where those two items ought to be stored, so they were easy to remove.



I wanted to find a home for two additional kinds of cloths: the micro-fibre cloths and some old bar towels we purchased to wipe up spills from the floor. The former had no home. I've only recently discovered how wonderful they are. Until today, what we had was kept by my husband with the car cleaning supplies. As for the towels, I kept them in the cleaning/utility closet which is chocker block full (and will feature in the daily de-clutter shelf by shelf).

I was pleasently surprised to find I had room for all of it.



Crazy.
Why didn't I do this a long time ago?

Organizing the Camping Trip

Every year we go camping.

Every year I am more or less organized. This year, I plan to be as organized as I can possibly be.

I thought it would be a good idea to make up a traveling binder/notebook with the following forms:

1) Before we leave checklist (from www.organizedhome.com OH)
2) Itinerary (self generated)
3) First Aid Checklist (OH)
4) Camping Supplies checklist (self generated) (OH has some as well)
5) Camping clothing checklist (self-generated) (again, OH is an excellent resource.)
6) Menu plans for 10 days (last page of Motivated Moms housekeeping checklist: there's lots available on the web)
7) Pantry List (the list of groceries to pack according to the menu plan)
8) Pockets and page protectors with tourism information.

So where are we going?

Here, mostly:
photo coutesty of msnbc.

The last two weeks of June cannot come soon enough.

Organizing Project: Linen closet

Martha's people are geniuses.

Excluding the bedroom closets, this house has three. Three. A Coat closet (which also holds tote bags, the picnic basket, games and the mop, broom, dusters and vaccuum. The cleaning closet which holds cleaning supplies, household stuff, and serves as bathroom storage. It's a nightmare.

The third closet is upstairs.

This closet has to store a fair bit. We've two bedrooms and a powder room up here: the bedrooms have closets, but the powder room does not (it is 5 1/2 feet x 5 1/2 feet). So, this closet has to hold three categories of items: linens for the bedrooms (there's a third on the main floor), bathroom stuff and cleaning supplies.

We have two twin beds and a queen. I like to have three sets for each. Somehow, with the twin sheets (there should have been a total of four bottom sheets and four top sheets in the closet as all the laundry is done) I've lost control--there were six fitted bottom sheets and seven top sheets in the closet! So., I will weed out a few!

Also in that closet I like to keep

* cleaning supplies for the upstairs (we've a powder room up there with zero storage),
* light bulbs for the fixtures upstairs,
* a humidifier, (cool for summer, warm for winter, I keep the other in the basement and switch them out when I do clothing),
* travel totes,
* hair dryer,
* scatter rugs,
* pillow cases (two sizes, standard and Queen)
* pillow protectors (standard and queen. I haven't yet set a limit on the number of standard pillow cases and protectors I should have: any ideas?)



I have spent a total of 45 minutes on the closet so far.

Before: (Wednesday)



After 45 Minutes: (Friday)


I'd like to find room for

* towels and washcloths for the bathroom,
* toilet paper
* overflow supplies like soap and toothpaste
* blankets (though they're probably too bulky!)

Here's an idea, from Aby:




Of course, Apartment therapy featured it in an article, "The Many Uses of...". There were a lot of interesting ideas in the comments.

And here it is interpreted into a home sewn version by the folks at MSL, again.



And so, I shall have to see what I can do, now that I've some ideas!

The Power of Fifteen Minutes

Once again, I am involved in a Simplify 101 course. This one is called, Organizing 101. The instructor, Aby Garvey, has challenged us to find something to de-clutter or organize every day for at least 15 minutes during the six weeks of the course. Yesterday, I finished my first project, which I did with my 12 year old son.

Before: (Sunday)



After: (Wednesday)



Note the dishpans on the bottom! Perfectly good storage containers (and at the right price point for us, too!). Note, too, how although I have different storage containers: they are grouped like with like. The whole thing is much more pleasing to the eye that way. It's one of Aby's great little tips.

Today, I went into his room and said, "Dude, your choice. We can spend 15 minutes on your desk top, or your dresser top," and then I wandered away to find the camera. When I got back, his desk top was neat and orderly.



I'm thrilled.

We have to clean off the bulletin board and the wall yet, obviously.

For the next few days, I will be working on the upstairs linen closet. More on that tomorrow.