Ok, just maybe.....

I've always loved this time of the year. Finally, after months of blustery, cold, short days we get breezy, warm, longer days. What's not to like? It makes me so happy that I wind up getting this weird decluttering urge. It's time to throw open the windows, clear the cobwebs and make some space in your house!! I generally don't hold onto too many things and my mantra is "You can't organize CHAOS." I'll admit that wasn't always in my vocabulary, but years ago I discovered Flylady and she changed my way of thinking. It's incredibly freeing once you get her easy baby steps down pat.

Somehow, while it took me years to discover and embrace Flylady's concepts, I gave birth to a baby "Flygirl". Before she even knew how to read, she would grab something, hold it up to my face and say, "Do you NEED this, USE this, REALLY LOVE this?" If the answer was no, then the next action was simple....toss it or donate it. My little girl is tough.

K started getting on my case a few months ago about something she considers a

"problem" of mine.

I mean REALLY? A ten year old is going to uncover and counsel me through a

"PROBLEM" area?

Just who does she think she is?

Geesh...

I just have a little lotion for dry patches.

Everyone has a bottle....

...or two.

Hmm, well maybe I have a few more...

I know most of you have at least this amount. There is a need for different types of lotion ....right?

So, then you all understand that......

....this is NOT a problem. We have stuff for faces, body and even our feet.
All is well, right? There is no need for K to shake her head anymore. You all agree with me.
I can feel it.

Oh...you think that perhaps I'm holding out a little on you.

Would I do that?


Sigh....

Ok, just maybe I have a little bitty problem in this area.
(this doesn't count the purse size bottles I just remembered...)

You would think my skin would be SOFTER than a baby's bottom by now, but that would mean actually following through and USING the lotion. I never, ever finish a bottle!! (except for my Mary Kay stuff...I love my Mary Kay stuff!)

So, this does go against my mantra and the sweet K is right. I need to get a grip and use it or lose it. My plan is to start using it up and actually empty a bottle or two or six. No new bottles, not even the good smelling stuff, until I discard a few of these. I think two for one is a good goal. If I get a new one, two have to go. Since I'm also a frugal nut, that means I have to actually USE the stuff up first!! During this process if I uncover a miracle lotion, I'll report back. Promise!

I know that not everyone is blessed with their very own "flygirl", but take this week to really look around and see if you might have an area or two that needs to get under control. It's the perfect time of the year to take charge!!

If you do, don't forget to share your story. I'd love to hear about it.
(makes me feel better....)

beautiful day for...

Today is a great day to throw open the doors

and windows and start some Spring Cleaning!!

That is if I don't get sidetracked watching the shadows dance around on my kitchen floor!! :)

Homeschool Memoirs #17: Chores

Oh, how often we either say it or hear it … “Too much to do, not enough time!”? I hear it and say it quite often. How do you manage all the tasks you have to complete in just 24hours? There are a lot of different methods on how to get chores and organizing done. Some have a strict schedule others just kinda wing it.

THEME:
This week I would you to share how chores are done in your home. How you order your day with school and getting housework done. How do you decide which chores should be done by which child, of which age? I’m looking forward to hearing them!

Chores are pretty easy around here now. It's Mike, me, K and son #2 living here. Son #2 does his laundry when he needs it....if I haven't already thrown it in the washer. He also helps when he is asked to do something. Mike does just about all the outdoor stuff and washes the dishes most nights. That leaves K and me to do the rest.

Years ago I subscribed to Flylady and got our chaos under control. In other words, I decluttered the house and haven't looked back. I have one junk drawer and when it gets full, I clean it out. We regularly clean closets and go through cabinets....esp. if something is starting to look a little out of control. I don't follow her schedule anymore, but many of the basic philosophy is ingrained in my brain. :) I have been known to spur myself on with a timer set for 15 minutes!! It works!!hehe

We usually pick up a little before we work on school. I have a hard time concentrating on school work if the house is upside down! While K is working independently, I will make my bed, throw in a load of clothes or some other quick chore. Then when school is over, we work together to fix up the house. She is 9 and is capable of pretty much all the chores. I don't have her cooking or doing laundry, yet....although she has learned the basics of those chores already.

I am fortunate that she loves to clean and organize. Yep....she has been like this since she was around 3. In fact...I have a great post with pictures dedicated to my best cleaning weapon. Please check it out.....we'd love to read your comments. :) Check it out here.

Cleaning Ninja....

That's right, a cleaning ninja. I am convinced every family needs one. It's a "must have" in my book. I have had one for several years now and am amazed at how much this cleaning ninja can handle. It seems no job is too small or too big. What a load has been lifted from this tired momma's shoulders.



Housework could take hours before and it seemed that as I was working on one thing there would be several little mysterious invisible people behind me working on taking it apart. Ever experience that?? Sure you have!!! Those little "not me's" that live in everyone's house can be so destructive. They come out often and on some days they seem to be just a bit more hyper then other days. Regardless...they make messes, (lots of messes) and leave things strewn about the room. They can take apart anything organized in seconds flat. In fact, I think they smell organization and it makes them crazy!! Amazing creatures....but nothing compared to a cleaning ninja.



No siree, Bob....(who's Bob?).... a cleaning ninja is priceless. Dirt on the floor? Not a problem! Dirty clothes thrown across the room? Not a problem! Dust piled thick on all horizontal surfaces...down low and up high? Not a problem! Stale, stinky dog air? Not a problem! Need a closet organized? Not a problem!



Oh, I betcha wanna see mine by now!! You are probably wondering just where you can go get yourself one of these babies. Mine happens to be a 1999 model and yes, I have pictures. :o) Ready?? You are going to be so jealous. You are going to put one on your Christmas Wish List!!

A cleaning ninja is also......CUTE!!!

let the cleaning begin....

So, what happens after a big remodel project. Yep, unpacking and organizing. It was moving along and things were beginning to shape up, but I could not bring myself to go into the school room to tackle the mess stuffed in there. The poor school room had mess from a couple of closets, mess from the kitchen, mess from the china cabinet, mess from the living room...and well, mess mess. It was just overwhelming and I wanted desperately to find that magic "room cleaning" wand. I put it off for days...hmm, maybe weeks...but I really longed to get the room back. It had been so nice to have our school room and kid #4 and I both enjoyed working in there. (it is also a craft room and is stocked with goodies) The problem was we hadn't been able to go in there for over a month and it was just getting too depressing.


So, on Friday I put on my big girl pants and forgot about the wand. (I haven't actually ever seen a magic clean room wand and I am wondering if it even exists!) If you have seen them...pick up one for me and let me know how much I owe!! Anyway...back to the room. I remembered what Flylady taught me years ago. http://www.flylady.com/ You can tackle anything in just 15 minute increments. Set a timer and get to work. When the timer goes off leave the room and do something else. Kid #4 is a great helper and we decided to do a 15 minute session, move onto picking up the house for 15 minutes and then come back to the school room for one more 15 minute session. That was close to what actually happened. We worked about 10 minutes more at the end to finish up some stuff. It was AMAZING at how little the mess really was. I took pictures to share. It's not finished....but it is so much closer. And since I am showing the good, the bad and the ugly I decided to share them with you. :)

These speak for themselves. It sure ain't pretty, but this is what a room looks like when you shove all kinds of things in it and then neglect it for weeks.

Here we are after just 15 minutes!!!!

Ok...so it isn't clean, yet! However, you can see more floor and more bare spots in the mess. ;o)

Now...here are the pictures taken after we spent 25 more minutes in the room.

Now, we're talking. This is a manageable mess. I am happy to report, that kid #4 spent some time in there today going through all her desk drawers and craft drawers and cleaned out a whole garbage bag full. Also, Mike went in there and took out his things, piano bench, card table and ottoman. Tomorrow, I will vacuum and dust and it will look good as new. Now, I see that I put if off for nothing!! Don't let seemingly big projects overwhelm you to the point that you don't take any action. Go grab that timer and set it for 15 minutes!! You'll be surprised at what you can accomplish with 15 focused minutes. Try it!!