I Went Crazy...

Not literally, thank goodness but, crazy nonetheless. Crazy organizing. I will be the first to admit that I am not an organized person by nature. I have to work hard at it...really hard. I have to be extremely diligent and intentional at being organized. I tend to be one of those people that throws stuff in closets and cabinets to keep it at bay but, open them up and....watch out! I can only live with that for so long. I'm not really messy or cluttered, I usually just don't take the time to put things away in the proper order as much as I should. Yesterday, I happened to turn on the Oprah show because it was about organization and let me tell you, I was glued to the screen. They were doing ambushes in NYC apartments to help people de-clutter their homes. Now, the people that they ambushed had clutter out in the open, mine is hidden. But, now that I think about it, I don't think either is good. So, I was ready. I could instantly think of several areas that needed hauling out. One of the suggestions was, take 10 minutes a day and see what you can get done. I decided to go for the length of Sesame Street, which is about an hour. Here's what I did....

• Cleaned out my pantry, condensed like items and got rid of old one and ordered canned goods, bottles, etc...


• Sorted through the kids toys and threw out broken items and junk and made a pile for stuff to give away.


• Organized my closet and hung my clothes in like-color groups. Took out anything I haven't worn in a year.


• Cleaned out the junk drawer in my room. (yes, I have one in my room) Got rid of random papers and junk I never use.


• Mopped my kitchen floor.

I'm not exaggerating. I got all of this done in an hour and man, I feel great. I really do. Now, hopefully I won't have to do it again in a while. I hope to tackle my spice cabinet and coffee cabinet next! Maybe, if I'm feeling extra ambitious, I'll take some pictures of my work and let you see it!

*UPDATE: A couple of people have asked how I did this in an hour. Well, I don't want anyone thinking that I'm like superwoman or I'm trying to boast in my amazing accomplishments or anything, because I'm totally not, and I don't do these types of things on a daily basis because frankly, I do have other things to do. :) Anyway, I just worked as fast as I could. I knew what needed tossing and what didn't. And as for mopping my floor, It wasn't the most thorough mopping I've ever done but, I did use a mop! Just thought I'd clear that up.

Spring Cleaning...The Finale.

This will be my last blog on spring cleaning. I know, don't cry. But, I do have some more great tips to offer you from Sarah. Here's what she had to say...


"I am naturally a "weeks-between-moppings" girl too, but I've found some help in FlyLady - she has the same idea you do - break it up over the week and keep it manageable. I have been using a bottle of 1/2 white vinegar, 1/2 water as my all-purpose cleaner. It works great on kitchen surfaces and bathrooms (even the toilet!) It's a natural disinfectant and the vinegar smell goes away quickly. A few other things I've liked lately: put a whole lemon rind down the garbage disposal and it cleans and freshens everything. The baking soda thing is great - better than soft scrub! Also, I went to Target and bought 2 bins. Then I split all Juli's toys and books and stuffed animals in to 3 piles. I packed up two of them and left the other in the room. For anyone who doesn't already do this, it's a lifesaver. The room stays so much more organized, and somehow the toys I left out seem so much more interesting to Juli. And then, in a month or two, I'll bring out one of the bins and switch it with the toys that are out: Voila! New toys!"

Thank you Sarah for your great tips. I'm all about sorting and swapping toys, we do that quite often. Somtimes I give A some of her brothers toys and vice versa. She loves to play with his cars and he enjoys some of her "little people" figures. I also like the lemon in the disposal idea. I do not currently have a disposal but, I did when we had an apartment. Great ideas!!

Well folks, hope some of the tips helped you out. This weekend we are celebrating A's 2nd birthday so by next week I should have some pics to show you. Have a lovely weekend!

Spring Cleaning Part 3.

For those of you who haven't been reading the past couple of days....go back and read. :) Just joking. Well, you can if you want but, I've been posting about Spring Cleaning and yesterday I asked the readers for some tips and advice they would have on cleaning. Well, I only received one piece of advice. But, it is from a highly reputable and professional source, I might add....my mother. My mother is an expert on cleaning (and cooking, too) so, she had some great advice to offer and I'm happy to share it with you.

" How to organize one's closet/cabinets and drawers.I am a firm believer, if you don't use it or wear it within a year, then it's time to GET RID OF IT!!! you don't have to throw it away, you know what they say: "One man's trash is another man's treasure. You might be blessing someone in the process. Mom"

Thanks mom. Great advice. Sometimes I hold onto things thinking I will wear them eventually but, they just end up sitting in my drawer or closet unworn and taking up space. The one year rule is a good one, indeed.

If anyone still wants to leave some tips or advice, go right ahead. I'd love to hear anything you'd have to offer.

Spring Cleaning Part 2.

This morning I was thinking, "why on earth am I posting on spring cleaning?" It's such a boring topic but, hopefully someone may find interest in it.
I am not, by nature, an organized person. I have to work at it. I force myself to make lists and keep track of things or else I find myself in a frenzy. Spring Cleaning is not something I look forward to but, for me is necessary to maintain some sort of sanity. Now, the question is...how do we do it with the kids? That's a good question. Usually, I do most of my cleaning during the kids naptimes but, in this case it takes a little longer so, you need a good chunk of time. Here's something we do. If you have grandparents or close friends or family around you, have one of them watch your kids for a couple of hours while you get a few things done.
There is absolutely no "right" or "wrong" to any type of cleaning you do. You can do as much or as little as you want. Here's what works for me...
I have a little schedule that I try to keep to. I try to avoid cleaning the whole house in one day because it absolutely stresses me out and there's just not time for that. After all, the kids are my top priority, even though sometimes it is tempting to work instead of taking time with the kids. So, for instance I clean the kitchen on Mondays and that's it. I don't try to clean everything else because I know that in a day or two it will all be done. Now, I will vaccuum if I need to and do a few other little things but, I try to stick to what's on the list for that day. So, as far as spring cleaning, I would follow my regular cleaning schedule but do a deeper, more "advanced" cleaning, if you will. :) In the kitchen, I would clean as usual but, add cleaning the baseboards, cleaning out the cupboards and wiping them down, cleaning the pantry, windows, etc...
You don't have to bust out cleaning your whole home in one day, it's tough for me to do it that way. I've tried and failed because that is when I find my kids saying "mommy, play with me" and that's when I realize I'm doing too much. One thing I do sometimes, is give the kids a dust rag or feather duster and let them help dust their rooms. My son has used a wet rag to help me clean baseboards. Getting them involved can be fun and productive.
In the bedrooms, you can clean out closets and drawers, wash walls, organize toys, etc...remember you can do as little or as much as you want and have time and energy for. It's just about freshening your home....NOT PERFECTION. :)
Let me just tell you that I have literally gone for weeks without mopping my floor or dusting so, just know that I in no way keep a perfect home. And In no way am I expecting you to do what I do I'm just giving help and suggestions.
Anyway, I thought it might be fun to give you some recipes for some homemade cleaners that I've actually made and tried...and they work. The plus to making homemade cleaners is that they are economical and safe for the environment and most of the ingredients are right in your cupboard. Here are a couple of my favorites

Glass Cleaner

Mix in a sprayer bottle:
1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol

1 cup water

1 tablespoon white vinegar

Baking Soda

you can make a paste of water and baking soda

and use for tough sink stains and scrubbing.

You can also sprinkle some on a damp sponge and

scrub with it as well.

This next cleaner I have not tried but want to. It uses tea tree oil which is an antisceptic. I have used tea tree oil before but not like this. You fill a 16 oz. spray bottle with distilled water. Add a couple of Tbsp. of castile soap and 20-30 drops of tea tree oil. Apparently this can be used on hands, toys, anything that needs disinfecting. I'm gonna give it a try.

So...now, what I'd like to do, is pick your brain for some cleaning/organizing ideas. Give me your best ones and I'll post my faves tomorrow. And if only a few of you comment...I'll post them all!

Spring Cleaning Part One.

Before I start, I just thought I would tell you that I woke up this morning in a horrible,grouchy mood. I would like to publicly apologize to my family for having a stinky attitude....there. I feel better having told you that. :)
Yes, this is going to be a small series on spring cleaning. Don't ask me why. I can just hear all of you shouting for joy!!( *sarcasm*)
Cleaning is not one of my favorite things to do but, I enjoy a clean home so, I do what it takes without being obsessive about it. I'm not really a "neat freak" but, I like to have a somewhat orderly and clean home without sacrificing joy and fun for the rest of my family. I like the home to be "livable. I'm the type of person that says "go ahead and make a mess but, we'll clean up when you're done." It's a lot less stressful for me and the kids. Alright, I have a few cleaning products that I really love and get the job done so, I thought I'd share them with you just for fun. Unfortunately these companies are not paying me anything to promote their products. But, if they wanted to...I'd be game! :)


1. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser aka. "mom's best friend." (I had a picture but, accidentally erased it and didn't feel like doing it again, sorry). This little gem works on anything...crayons or paint on the wall, scuff marks, food stains, floors, sinks, tubs, you name it...it cleans it. I've got a little secret...WalMart makes a similar product and it works just as well and is much cheaper. They come in a pack of 4 and are $2 and some change. You can't beat that!


2. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. I'm not huge on chemical cleaners but, disinfecting is VERY important and these work great. One wipe and you're good to go. I use these alot in the kitchen and on toys and stuff. These came in handy when we all had the flu!
3. Green Works All purpose cleaner. All natural cleaner, great smell. You can use it on anything. Is not antibacterial so, refer to above when cleaning chicken juice (yuck!) Great for countertops, stoves, refrigerators, etc...
4. Green Works Dilutable Cleaner. I use this on my floors. You mix 1/2 cup of this in a half a bucket of cool water and go to town. A lovely non-chemical clean smell.

5. Green Works Bathroom Cleaner. Again, not antibacterial but, great on sinks and the tops of toilets, not bad in the tub, either.

Green works also makes a great window cleaner.


I'd love to hear some of your favorite cleaning products so...share away!
Tomorrow, I'm going to share some tips I've learned over the years of spring cleaning and share some recipes for some homemade cleaning products so....stay tuned! I'll also be giving you opportunites to share some of your favorite cleaning tips and I'll pick a few of my favorites to post!