Organizing Your Children’s Clothes

Thanks to Small Notebook for a Simple Home for this fantastic article on Organizing Your Children’s Clothes. Like the Small Notebook experience, I have found that the children’s clothing is quite a time and space consuming ordeal. I dread it when the kids grow and I have to reorganize closets and drawers yet again. Some of the clothes still fit but they are clearly ready for the next size. Do I just haul out the whole current sized wardrobe and move to the next? We also have been blessed with hand-me-downs in very good condition up to size 6 for

7 September 2009 No Comments

Daycare Planning & Basement Renovations

I am planning weekly themes and craft ideas for my home daycare. I feel good for having structure and lots of ideas. If only the kids appreciated the work that goes into the activities we do. Perhaps they do but when I pull it out and get them all running into the opposite direction that doesn’t help my ego or my patience. We are also planning to finish the basement. Problem is, hubby and I do not agree on how it should be finished so I am stalling. I have ideas, he has ideas, I have to live in the

26 August 2009 No Comments

New Carpets

We *finally* got new carpets in the three bedrooms and the main stairways. They are beautiful and soft and plush and they smell new – not the stinky smell but the lovely new home scent. I love it. Although then I noticed that the walls were dirty from small hands. So I walked around and scrubbed the hallways (up to my chest for good measure) and door frames, handles and baseboards. Now THAT makes it look new again ;)

29 June 2009 No Comments

The Trash Challenge

Darn it to all of these smart people out there who are coming up with projects and theories and world-changing movements for me to read and get inspired by *sigh*. So now I have another daily living consideration – my trash and what do I throw out? Thanks to Mandy at Organizing Your Way, here is my latest home initiative. In her introduction of the Trash Challenge, Mandy writes, “I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few weeks wondering what exactly fills our trash bags each week …(we) fill up 4-6 bags of trash a week. …With that

27 May 2009 2 Comments

The Underappreciated Gardener

I was very excited to surprise my husband with some gardening. He has been complaining that the children have been picking his flowers (he is the gardener in the house … or was …). So I thought I would spend time today making distinct rock garden areas versus “paths” that I put cedar mulch on to encourage the children to stay on. Throughout the day I pulled weeds, “fluffed” the soil (yes, my official gardener lingo) and moved the rocks out of the garden and to the edges. All the children and I were proud (they got to choose which

19 May 2009 No Comments

Spring Cleaning Party 2009 ~ Day 6

Today’s focus is the bathrooms and linen closets. These tiny rooms can easily wreak a lot of havoc in an otherwise organized home, because they serve as storage for a wide range of products. From half-used toiletries, to hotel freebies, to medicine, to extra sheets, bathrooms can be filled to the brim with clutter.

11 May 2009 No Comments

Spring Cleaning Party 2009 ~ Day 5

Today’s the last day on the kitchen! It feels really good to have the hub of the home cleared and ready to use, and to know where all the cooking tools are. Since the food is inventoried and ordered, it’s much easier to organize everything else. I did this a few weeks ago in the kitchen and for some reason cannot find my before and after photos. But where is the food inventory list? Anyone know of a good one?

9 May 2009 No Comments

Spring Cleaning Party 2009 ~ Day 4

Day four is part one of the kitchen. Spring cleaning the kitchen can be a doozy, but thankfully, it’s so much easier each year you keep at it. The key here, as in all rooms, is to truly have only what you need and love.

9 May 2009 No Comments

Spring Cleaning Party 2009 ~ Day 3

Today is day three, which is part two of the living areas. Remember to declutter, clean and organize. I am feeling SO great about myself. I even pulled out the furniture and vacuumed behind them and the baseboards! Let me know if you can see more of a difference from today’s part two in the room versus part one and what you think of it! I moved the television up high to stop little hands from pressing all the buttons ~ although dear hubby tells me that it is too wobbly and it might topple and kill a child. Well

7 May 2009 No Comments

Happy Earth Day!

Thank you to Simple Mom for her post on 40 Tips to Go Green at Home. Here are her 40 tips: 40 Easy Ways to Go Greener at Home – Besides Recycling1. Plant an herb garden. It’s good to have a reminder around of where our food originates.2. Switch all your light bulbs to CFLs (or at least switch a few).3. Create a homemade compost bin for $15.4. Switch one appliance to an energy efficient model (look for the “energy star” label). 5. Stop using disposable bags – order some reusable bags, or make your own. My favorites are Envirosax

22 April 2009 No Comments

Category: household management