Heart of the Home Tuesday / Clutter Busters Part 2

The Clutter Personality Test (click here if you missed it) last week revealed that most of you have the same issue as me...perfectionism...that paralyzes us because we don't want to take on anything unless we KNOW we have the time to do it properly and finish it.

How do you climb a mountain? One step at a time...

Just beginning is the hardest part...once we get started, gratification will take over, and we will get a deep sense of pleasure in how much more smoothly our days will unfold.

Here are some multi-tasking ideas that help us take small steps toward managing clutter and achieving the organized home we desire!!

(excerpts One Minute Organizer/Donna Smallin)



While cookies are baking---12 minutes in the kitchen :
~~Plan dinners for the week and write a grocery shopping list.

~~Organize your junk drawer. Toss the stuff that's really garbage, like toys from fast-food restaurants, dusty plastic silverware and wrappers from used packs of batteries. Then use a compartmentalized plastic tray to separate loose stamps, paper clips, coins and things that aren't really junk.

Here are pics of one of my utensil drawers I organized:

before (bleh!)

after: (Ahhh!)

(white tray from WalMart)

~~Organize your pantry: throw out expired cans, stale bread and cereal boxes with only crumbs left.

~~Spruce up your spice drawer or cabinet: put the spices you use most toward the front, and throw out "mystery" spices without labels.

~~Chop up some fruit and make a fruit salad for tomorrow.

During TV commercials---4 minutes in the family room

~~Organize a DVD shelf or book shelf, and make a donation pile of movies your kids have outgrown and books you won't read again.

~~Venture under the couch to hunt dust bunnies.

~~Put all toys (including the dog's) in a toy box or basket in the corner of the room.

~~Recycle old magazines, and put those you intend to read in the magazine rack.

While the kids are brushing their teeth---5 minutes in their bedroom

***You may want to wait to do these things with your kids***

~~Organize the sock and underwear drawer, tossing anything that no longer fits or just doesn't look wearable anymore.

~~Put all stray stuffed animals into baskets.

~~Turn down the bed, pull down the shade and turn on a lamp. You're all ready for bedtime stories.

~~Put all stray tapes and CDs into their cases. To get your child involved, buy a colorful plastic carrying case for him to store his lullaby and playtime music in.

~~Lay out an outfit for the next day.

I'll be sharing more personal pics in the next few weeks...junk drawers, video/dvd storage, closets, bedrooms etc...

I have always had the "bones" of organization, but it can get easily out of hand with our busy lives!!

I am actively implementing these strategies, so join me each Tuesday for the next few weeks as my home becomes an "Oasis of Organization"!!

Joyful blessings,

Becky

Heart of the Home Tuesday / GOT CLUTTER??

CLUTTER! ACK!!! Did you feel the earth move?? The very mention of the word makes me shudder!! I abhor clutter, yet it still sneaks up on me!! How about you?

In this article by Cynthia Ewer, (excerpted http://www.organizedhome.com/) she says that the battle against clutter begins in our minds...that we have a clutter personality!!! OH NO!!!

~~Well, I certainly found mine...take a guess at which one is me!! The one who comments and guesses correctly first will be sent a sweet little gifty of some sort!~~

WHAT'S YOUR CLUTTER PERSONALITY?? Which of these internal voices strikes a chord?

The Hoarder: "This might come in hand someday!"

If cabinets and closets are crammed with egg cartons, cracked margarine containers, and old magazines, there's likely Hoarding behavior underlying the clutter.
Hoarders need to be remind themselves that resources will always be available.
Reassure yourself! Stuff will be with us always, and start to unload!!

The Deferrer: "I'll think about that tomorrow!"
Those of the deferral mindset are guilty of the great set-aside. Bills, notices, old newspapers, items that need cleaning or repair, and household projects are all set aside to be dealt with another day.

Deferrers need to be reminded that tomorrow has no more time or energy than today--and that deferring decisions drags down each new day with yesterday's unfinished business.

The Deferrer's answer...take action...momentum will follow.

The Rebel: "I don't wanna and you can't make me!"
Rebels were forced to pick up after themselves as children; as adults, they're still rebelling, as they did in their youth.
Rebel clutter can be anything, but often centers on household activities. No, the Rebel won't put his or her clothes in the hamper, cereal bowl in the dishwasher etc...
Rebels need to remind themselves that the war is over.

Tell that inner Rebel, "It's okay--I'm the parent now, and I want a house that's nice to live in.

The Perfectionist: "Next week, I'll organize everything--perfectly!"
Perfectionists are wonderful people, but they live in an all-or-nothing world. They do wonderful things--when they do them!

The Perfectionist can't abide doing a less-than-perfect job. Without the time to give 110% to the project, the Perfectionist Clutterer prefers to let matters--and the piles of stuff--slide.

Perfectionists need to remember the 20/80 rule. Doing 20% of every job will take care of 80% of the problem!! Make peace with doing 20% and they'll get moving!!

Well, which one are you... c'mon...'fess up!! Almost every home has a little clutter lurking somewhere!!

Next Tuesday we will get to some serious decluttering methods!!

Remember an organized home is...well...just way easier!!! (usually happier, too!)

Blessings,

Becky

Mr. Linky will be up at 10:00 EST for We Did It! Wednesday!! Hope you'll join in the fun!!

HEART OF THE HOME

GIRLS...Can we talk??




Let's face it...it's no secret that the woman of the house is the one who sets the tone for the home. In other words, we as women are the "Heart of the Home". So, when you think of your home, what pops into your head first? Joy, peace, ease and comfort, OR chaos, clutter, irritation and frustration?? Is the heart of your home beating rhythemically, or is emergency CPR needed??


Honestly, more often than I'd like I find myself in the second category, although most who know me view me as someone who "has her act together". Believe me, there are still cracks in this pot...but God is good and cracked pots are His specialty!! :o)


I am diligently working on simplifying our home, and organizing everything! My Tuesday posts are going to be dedicated helping us make our homes the havens and sanctuaries they should be for our families.


I will be sharing tips, ideas, timesavers, photos, my befores and afters, dreams and schemes, and anything else I can get my hands on from where ever I can get it!! There are already some wonderful women out there with great ideas and I will be sharing them as I find them, too.


Here's an HGTV pic of my dream homeschool room!! We school at the breakfast nook table!




Isn't this a delightful space? Just looking at this craft storage area gets my creative juices flowing!! (HGTV pic, too)



Donna Smallin of the "One Minute Organizer" makes these suggestions for multi-tasking and time management:

While popcorn is popping-3 minutes (mmm!)

In the kitchen:
~Organize the day's mail — toss the outer envelopes and inserts in bill statements along with junk mail.

~Organize a drawer; if there's not a lid for a container, toss it.

~Be brave as you open the fridge to play "leftover roulette," popping open mystery containers to see what's still edible, suggests Donna. Also, check out the expiration dates on condiments and half-full jars of spaghetti sauce.

~Rifle through that overflowing coupon box and toss the expired ones. Then file new ones by category and date.

~Take out the trash, and make sure the recyclables are in order.

~Empty or load the dishwasher; wipe down a shelf while you're at it.


So, ladies, if the heart of your home is in need of CPR or just a little tweaking, come back next week for HOTHT~~~Heart of the Home Tuesday!

Have a sunny day!!
Becky