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10 or 15 Minute Sessions of Cleaning--Please join in! - Page 11

post #201 of 1254
10/12/10 at 3:29pm
Thread Starter 
I haven't done the dishes yet, but I have swept and mopped the kitchen, pantry, bathroom and utility room and vacuumed the living room and bedroom.

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post #202 of 1254
10/12/10 at 4:28pm
I've done a little laundry and picked up the kitchen... nothing terribly involved. It's too nice out to want to do much inside!
post #203 of 1254
10/12/10 at 4:40pm
Couldn't sleep last night so I finished up the monkey's vest and apron then took pictures of the projects I finished.
DD2's dress with apron
Dress without apron
All 3 blankets
Monkey in vest sitting on top of his blanket
I also did the dishes, wiped down the sinks, wiped down the washer/dryer, started a load in the wash and swept/mopped the kitchen. Now Im going to try to get a couple of hours of sleep until the girls wake up.
post #204 of 1254
10/12/10 at 5:30pm
Thread Starter 
confustication, it's a lovely day here, as well. I actually have the windows open. :-)

okimom! You are so very talented! Congrats on finishing your projects!
post #205 of 1254
10/12/10 at 8:27pm
Thanks Poetry! Im grateful my DH encouraged me to teach myself how to sew. I always wanted to learn but never had anyone to teach me, DH just bought me a machine, fabric, patterns and books and told me I could figure it out if I put my mind to it. I love sewing, its a definite stress relief for me.

I rotated the laundry, made breakfest, cleaned up from breakfest, picked up the living room and now Im going to go clean the playroom. When Im done with the playroom (thats if the girls coorperate, they seem to be in a fighting mood today, they keep arguing over every little thing) Im going to start working on the cupboard in the hall bath. I had a bottle hit me in the head when I opened it last so I figure its about time to clean it out!
post #206 of 1254
10/12/10 at 9:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by OkiMom View Post
(thats if the girls coorperate, they seem to be in a fighting mood today, they keep arguing over every little thing)
Oh dear! I know those moods. Sounds like maybe it's time for them to have a play at the park to get it out of their system!

I am off to drop off a zillion bags of decluttered stuff, then do the food shopping, then back home to do my MM chores.
post #207 of 1254
10/13/10 at 1:06am
Hi ladies, this is from zenhabits.net

Nine Quick Tips to Identify Clutter

Posted: 12 Oct 2010 01:17 PM PDT

‘How many things are there which I do not want.’ ~Socrates

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project.
Lately, I’ve been on a clutter-clearing frenzy. For me, as for most people, outer order contributes to inner calm, and sweeping away a bunch of unloved, unused stuff has given me a huge happiness boost.

As I sifted through our possessions, I identified nine questions to ask myself when I was confronted with a questionable object. This list helped me decide what to keep and what to toss, recycle, or give away.
1.Does this thing work? I was surprised by how hard it was to admit that something was broken and couldn’t be fixed—say, our dud toaster or my daughter’s frog clock. Why was I hanging on to these things?
2.Would I replace it if it were broken or lost? If not, I must not really need it.
3.Does it seem potentially useful—but never actually gets used? Something like an oversized water-bottle, a corkscrew with an exotic mechanism, or a tiny vase. Or duplicates. How many spare glass jars did I need to keep on hand?
4.Was I “saving” it? Leaving bath gel in the tube, or hoarding my favorite stationery in a desk drawer, was as wasteful as never using these things. Spend out!
5.Does it serve its purpose well? For example, we have a lot of “cute” kitchen objects that don’t really work.
6.Has it been replaced by a better model? Inexplicably, I’m in the habit of keeping a broken or outmoded version of tech gadgets, even after they’ve been replaced. Pointless.
7.Is it nicely put away in an out-of-the-way place? One of my Secrets of Adulthood is: Just because things are nicely organized doesn’t mean they’re not clutter. No matter how tidily a thing is stored, if I never use it, why keep it?
8.Does this memento actually prompt any memories? Sometimes I automatically keep things that fall into the category of “mementos,” assuming that they’d set off some sort of response, but they don’t. The attendance trophy from my daughter’s pre-school sports class—out.
9.Have I ever used this thing? I was absolutely shocked to find, when I started looking, how many things we owned that we had never once used. Many were gifts, true, but I promised myself we’d either put these things into use within a few weeks or give them away.
How about you? Have you identified any questions that help you decide whether or not to keep a particular possession?

Read more from Gretchen at her blog, The Happiness Project, or read more about her #1 New York Times bestselling book, The Happiness Project.
post #208 of 1254
10/13/10 at 1:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by clutterwarrior View Post
Oh dear! I know those moods. Sounds like maybe it's time for them to have a play at the park to get it out of their system!

I am off to drop off a zillion bags of decluttered stuff, then do the food shopping, then back home to do my MM chores.
I wish! I had them all dressed to go out, looked out the window and it was pouring. Hopefully it gets sunny soon and Ill take them out to get muddy. Luckily DD2 took a nap and woke up in a better mood than she was in before.

I got the purse and headband done while DD2 was napping (excuse the crabby face, she just woke up and didn't want her picture taken). Also DD1 helped me clean the playroom and inventory the baby 0-3 month boy and neutral clothing.
Now its off to fingerpainting and praying the rain has stopped and it has dryed up enough we can go to the park this afternoon! Only thing left on my to do list for today is making a meal plan for the rest of the week and e-mailing the list of what I need to my DH so he can pick it up on the way home from work.
post #209 of 1254
10/13/10 at 4:42am
We actually made it to the park! Now the girls are playing with playdough..
Cleaning wise I:
made meal plan, e-mailed list to DH
cleaned the cupboard/medicine chest in the bathroom
quick cleaned the master bedroom
helped the girls clean up their playroom
finished up the 3rd load of laundry for the day. Only 2 more.. Those will probably be done tomorrow. I don't like leaving clothes overnight in the wash.
Now Im going to go make dinner, then its bath, night clean up and family time. Oh I will end up having to get the laundry from the dryer, fold it and put the laundry from the wash into the dryer as well. But DH will be home to help so it shouldn't take to long.
post #210 of 1254
10/13/10 at 10:29am
Thread Starter 
clutterwarrior, How I long to get back to doing Motivated Moms chores! Lately I've been addicted to decluttering, though. I've nearly cleared out my utility room (except for baby clothes and equipment we know we'll use again) and only 6 boxes remain in the big closet I am clearing. Then I plan to declutter the entire apartment! It's a small apartment, so it's not such a daunting task. DSD is moving in with us in just over a month, and within 6-8 months we'll likely move to a bigger place, at which time I may be pregnant. I want to do everything I can to make such a move as easy as possible, plus make room for DSD in our current home. I told DH that in preparing for DSD's arrival, I feel kind of like I'm nesting. I think once I get everything decluttered, MM will be much easier to follow.

*bejeweled*, thanks for that article! I really love this point: "Lately, I’ve been on a clutter-clearing frenzy. For me, as for most people, outer order contributes to inner calm, and sweeping away a bunch of unloved, unused stuff has given me a huge happiness boost." Thanks so much for sharing that! I'll be sure to ask myself those questions as I continue to declutter.

Okimom, you've inspired me! I think I'm asking for a sewing machine for Christmas this year. We're doing the Victorian 4 Gift Christmas. It can satisfy either the "something I want" or "something I need."

Today, though, I am going to start by reheating the laundry in the dryer to get the wrinkles out, making my bed and washing a few dishes.
post #211 of 1254
10/13/10 at 12:37pm
I am beginning to love Wednesdays when my son's EI visitor comes- I I get everything done before she arrives at 8am- now I have a lazy day for the rest of the day. Of course, I could be good and get ahead on stuff, but that's just not happening.

I need to do diaper laundry, but that's about it.

I'll add more as I come across it throughout the day.
post #212 of 1254
10/13/10 at 1:55pm
Ok, diaper laundry in for the last wash (my washer broke a while ago, I'm using an old CHEAP replacement, and it means I need to prewash, wash, wash, and a wash cycle to rinse. I hate diaper laundry these days.)

I need a good toy storage solution for my living room- I may do a small purge this afternoon.

Also, I need to clean my front porch.
post #213 of 1254
10/13/10 at 3:22pm
Thread Starter 
confustication, that's too bad about your washer.

I did a tiny amount of decluttering, washed and put away dishes and made the bed. That's the extent of what I've gotten done with a fussy, teething, overtired babe in tow. Poor thing. He needs to nap and he's fighting it.

I need to fold and put away 2 loads of clothes, plus get the third load in the dryer. I do have diapers soaking. Also, I need to think about dinner. I'd love to get back to decluttering the closet in the kitchen, but I don't think it's going to happen today.
post #214 of 1254
10/13/10 at 3:32pm
Oh gosh- I really shouldn't complain as we paid a whopping $25 for the replacement. :P It works fine for regular laundry, but my little guys are so sensitive that any trace of anything sets off a terrible rash.

I've managed to clear the porch off and am contemplating tackling the cupboards in the bathroom/ laundry area.
post #215 of 1254
10/13/10 at 5:17pm
Poetry- If you really want to learn you should. Its been a real blessing over here, especially since I learned how to mend so instead of rebuying clothes with ripped seams (it happens a LOT, my girls are hard on clothing) I can mend it. Ive saved us from many a meltdown from being able to mend my girls favorite dresses.

Confustication- Im not a fan of diaper laundry either. Both my girls have super sensitive skin as well so even though our washer isn't that bad it takes 3 washes at least to make sure there is nothing left behind that would irritate them. Ive started using disposibles with DD2 because with morning sickness I just couldn't handle another thing. Shes starting to ask to use the potty so Im going to work with potty training soon, she wants to use the potty like Mommy and sister does.

So far this morning Ive: folded and put away a load of laundry(ended up doing other things last night instead of doing laundry), put another one through and put away the dishes from the dishwasher. Breakfest is sitting in the fridge waiting for the girls to wake up to be baked, which should be soon, they usually wake between 530-630. Im finishing up the holiday helper stuff I needed to do then Im going to go work on the bathroom until the girls wake up.
post #216 of 1254
10/13/10 at 5:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OkiMom View Post
Poetry- If you really want to learn you should. Its been a real blessing over here, especially since I learned how to mend so instead of rebuying clothes with ripped seams (it happens a LOT, my girls are hard on clothing) I can mend it. Ive saved us from many a meltdown from being able to mend my girls favorite dresses.

Confustication- Im not a fan of diaper laundry either. Both my girls have super sensitive skin as well so even though our washer isn't that bad it takes 3 washes at least to make sure there is nothing left behind that would irritate them. Ive started using disposibles with DD2 because with morning sickness I just couldn't handle another thing. Shes starting to ask to use the potty so Im going to work with potty training soon, she wants to use the potty like Mommy and sister does.

So far this morning Ive: folded and put away a load of laundry(ended up doing other things last night instead of doing laundry), put another one through and put away the dishes from the dishwasher. Breakfest is sitting in the fridge waiting for the girls to wake up to be baked, which should be soon, they usually wake between 530-630. Im finishing up the holiday helper stuff I needed to do then Im going to go work on the bathroom until the girls wake up.
Okimom, I also heard it's easy to convert normal shirts to nursing shirts. I know nursing shirts aren't in my budget! I'd also love to make myself simple skirts and such. I'm really going to ask for a machine for Christmas!

Right now I'm starting dinner (babe willing).
post #217 of 1254
10/13/10 at 7:49pm
It is pretty easy. I can't afford nursing shirts either unless I pick them up from the thrift store (last 2 times I went I found nursing shirts for a quarter each) so I either convert my shirt or hope no one is staring (Im a very modest person and I don't care to be stared at no matter what Im doing..

I got the next load of laundry folded and put away, I took the clean sheets and made the bed then started up the blanket so it can get washed/dryed before tonight. Made breakfest and then cleaned up after my girls. I also organized the bathroom cupboard/medicine chest. Now its on to dressing and I think Im going to go to the park before it gets rainy. If it starts to rain Im going to work on organizing the baby clothes.
post #218 of 1254
10/13/10 at 7:53pm
Thread Starter 
Babe was willing! I'm about to put the shepherd's pie in the oven. I was also able to exercise during his earlier nap. Yay! I would like to declutter 1 box tonight if I can and take care of the laundry.
post #219 of 1254
10/13/10 at 10:12pm
Today was a good day.

I:
*made breakfast
*got DD off to school
*cleaned the kitchen
*took out the trash
*made the bed
*washed 2 loads of clothes
*studied

We had takeout for dinner.
post #220 of 1254
10/13/10 at 10:52pm
Thread Starter 
I washed supper dishes and folded 3 loads of laundry. I actually made filling for 2 shepherd's pies and froze one.

I didn't get around to anymore decluttering, but I will try to continue on that path tomorrow. I'm about to go to bed now.

Happy productivity everyone~~

You may also like:

Sitting or Squatting: What's Really Best in the Bathroom?
There Is Not Always a "Fix" For the Difficult Child
10 Things You Don't Need For a New Baby
Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Decluttering, Organizing, & Simplifying › 10 or 15 Minute Sessions of Cleaning--Please join in!