One month organization challenge - Page 3

[Ragana]

Wow, great tips here. I am bookmarking that photo keeper, since I just took advantage of a deal & ordered 100 prints of my kids from old photos.

No physical decluttering or organizing yesterday, but I did arrange for an IT person to come this week to discuss my computer/network for my business (I am a WAHM, and our third bedroom is my office), so hopefully she will help me get my IT organized properly (back-ups etc.)
 

PS sunnysandiegan - What do you do with your infusions?

[nyssaneala]

I'll join!

I am really, really bad at organizing. I procrastinate all the time, so hopefully this thread will help! I know DH would appreciate it.

My priorities:

- Downstairs desk

- Home Office - we are trying to go paperless. I constantly put this off, I'm not a fan of scanning and shredding!

- DD's books

- DD's closet

- my car

I was going to post soon asking for suggestions on how to organize our desk space, so keep an eye out for that!

[anj_rn]

I did the Laundry room and the top of the refrigerator today.  Neither were on my list, but they both should have been.  I am actually enjoying this process, I am doing a good clean along with organization, so it is taking me a little longer, but it will be nice to have everything neat & clean.  Now I just have to get better at keeping it that way.

[sunnysandiegan]

Ragana - I do all sorts of things with my oil infusions! :) A friend of mine is a doula and childbirth educator. She asked me to make her clients perineal oil. I made the first batch in the winter and she bought them all from me and resold them to her students and clients. She asked for another batch last month, so that's what I bottled last night. She's coming by Thursday morning to pick those up. I need to label them between now and then. Meanwhile, I am also trying out a fun new product/class to teach. I infused arnica and coffee (separately), the coffee is the last one straining and is taking forever, and I am planning to make an anti-cellulite oil or stick or lotion....haven't decided exactly what form just yet. I didn't think the arnica infusion was quite strong enough, so I am double infusing it for another week or two. I am also double infusing a rose oil that I add to my face serum and just about anything I make. The list goes on....

Meanwhile, I finally stepped into the office today. I grabbed all the paperwork and tossed it and some folders into a couple canvas bags and went to the car mechanic. I spent three hours in the waiting area while our car got a thorough check-up (LOL) and I got through every scrap of paper, including catching up on all my reading. DH said I threw the stone quite well today (two birds, one stone...LOL). The car work included a fuel induction service and he told me to go fill up my tank with gas. While I was out and about anyway, I also got a return made (been sitting on the passenger seat since mid-June) and the inside of the car cleaned out. Plus, the mechanic washed the outside for me!

While I am listing my accomplishments, LOL, I am happy to say I also finished basting my DD's dress (converted to a skirt just for a specific purpose tomorrow, then it will be unstitched and given away as a dress) and I am about to hand-stitch one of her shoes for a temporary fix to get her through a special event a week from Friday (then those will be given away, too). Woo hoo!!!

Edited by sunnysandiegan - 7/10/12 at 4:01pm

[sunnysandiegan]

I finished the shoe, which actually worked with button thread and a super thick needle!

I also made a slightly bigger mess in the office tonight, in the tradition of making a mess while cleaning up... LOL My plan is to work from the door into the room... oh boy.

[BabyMae09]

I'll join too.

My areas for organization ~

1. Clothes!! Take some to goodwill, wash/hang the rest.

2. Kitchen. Ugh.

3. Boxes. Finish unpacking.

4. Desk

5. Table

Yeah... all that'll take me the rest of the month for sure.

[Siouxsie]

Originally Posted by sunnysandiegan 

Overall, our entire house is in MUCH better shape after this weekend! :)  There are three of us and we did what I call 10-minute cleaning. This time (we take turns in all categories), I was in charge of the timer, DD (age 11) was in charge of the music, and DH got first choice in rooms/tasks in most rounds. I'd start the timer for 10 minutes and we'd each pick-up/straighten/put away, dust, vacuum, clean, whatever needed to be done in the room we were in until the timer went off. I'd call "time's up" and we'd choose new rooms for the next round. Repeat.

Brilliant idea! I am definitely going to try this with my 12 year old! 

[Hopefulmama]

Well, I got the homeschool area organized for the most part. Still have to find a home for the things I moved to make it work. I have a plan, but have to declutter and sort papers before I implement it! DD and I also got her room done. She learned to dust and swiffer it herself. She now has that for a weekly job. So I am making progress this week. This thread was a good motivator.

[Ragana]

I have a work deadline tomorrow, so not much decluttering/organizing has been done by me, but DH had the kids clean their room yesterday. I will go now and sign up for another charity curb pick-up so that when I declutter some more stuff, there will be a place for it to go. Also, Saturday is electronics recycling in town, so that will get rid of a large, old TV plus probably some other random small stuff.
 

[anj_rn]

I kind of stalled out, DH is out of town all week, DD is sick, DS is going stir crazy from the rain and flooding, so my new goal for the weekend is to survive, keep everyone fed, and not lose my temper (or my mind).  If I get some decluttering done, fantastic, if not I will pick it up next week.

[dbsam]

Originally Posted by anj_rn 

I kind of stalled out, DH is out of town all week, DD is sick, DS is going stir crazy from the rain and flooding, so my new goal for the weekend is to survive, keep everyone fed, and not lose my temper (or my mind).  If I get some decluttering done, fantastic, if not I will pick it up next week.

It sounds like you have your hands full!

I did no organizing the past week either - and I didn't really have a good reason.

Today I am catching up on the rountine stuff like picking up, vaccuming, laundry, etc.  I also have to make two cold dishes and bake something for a picnic tomorrow.  I am hoping to do some organizing tomorrow night or Sunday.

[sunnysandiegan]

Originally Posted by anj_rn 

I kind of stalled out, DH is out of town all week, DD is sick, DS is going stir crazy from the rain and flooding, so my new goal for the weekend is to survive, keep everyone fed, and not lose my temper (or my mind).  If I get some decluttering done, fantastic, if not I will pick it up next week.

Sounds like a great new goal, mama!

[nyssaneala]

Originally Posted by nyssaneala 

I'll join!

I am really, really bad at organizing. I procrastinate all the time, so hopefully this thread will help! I know DH would appreciate it.

My priorities:

- Downstairs desk

- Home Office - we are trying to go paperless. I constantly put this off, I'm not a fan of scanning and shredding!

- DD's books

- DD's closet

- my car

I was going to post soon asking for suggestions on how to organize our desk space, so keep an eye out for that!

I came across a great little article in my mom's All You magazine that is aligned with where I'm at now organizing wise, so I've changed my plan for the month. I did organize DD's books before we left for the beach, and I will *hopefully* clean my car when we return home on Sunday. Then I'm going to try a once-a-day small clean-up, using the list from April's All You, starting mid-July and finishing mid-August. There are a few I know I can not do in one day (shredding unneccessary papers!!), but most of them actually seem doable.

My 30-day plan to banish clutter:

1. Create a central drop zone (we've lived in our new house for a year and I still haven't done this)

2. Weed out overstuffed coat closet

3. Stop shoe pile-up (I tackled this last month, so I think I'm just going to add a spot to store slippers by the door)

4. Purge your pantry

5. Establish food zones (I need to do this every few months, does anyone else's pantry go downhill quickly?)

6. Streamline spices.

7. Freshen the fridge

8. Tidy under the sink

9. Unify utensils

10. De-junk a drawer

11. Gather manualas and warranties into a single binder (this is already done, but I have a few that need to be added to it)

12. Create a command center (in one day, yeah right! But I'll at least start it and find a home to stash it!)

13. Get shredding (for me, this means working on scanning and paperless goal)

14. Put a label on it - files (since we are going paperless, this will be my day off from banishing clutter)

15. Tackle the magazine pile

16. Give electronic odds and ends a home

17. Wrangle your wires (we're good on this front...another day off!)

18. Rank your products - organize cleaning supplies.

19. Sort out linens (not needed - day off!)

20. Attack the bedroom closet (this will be DD's closet)

21. Prioritize footwear

22. Address dresser top (our dresser is fine, so I will target downstairs desk instead...our biggest problem spot)

23. Untangle jewelry

24. Organize kid's books (Done! But will probably have to address this by the time the 24th day rolls around!)

25. Corral stuffed animals (Will do a general tidy up of playroom)

26. Clean out medicine cabinet

27. Organize toiletries

28. Clear out the garage (we're okay on this front)

29. Go vertical - hang gear on wall (we do this to an extent, could probably do a little more)

30. Relax and enjoy clutter free home!

[Hopefulmama]

Great list! Thanks so much for sharing it!

[Ragana]

Very good list!

This morning we got the big, old TV loaded in the car along with a broken bread machine. I need to gather up docs for shredding and expired lightbulbs and batteries & will head over to electronics recycling today. Yesterday DH switched out the old laundry and porch tables for 2 tables we had sitting in the basement, so the basement is starting to look better. I also arranged for another charity pick-up soon and hope to fill up some bags and bins with basement stuff for that.
 

[willfulmama]

Time for a check-in! So far, I've managed to finish the following from my list:

Quote:

-file/paperwork organization (apparently waaaay behind since I just found paperwork from 2010...)

-DS's drawers (take out out-of-season clothing, reorganize)

-organize pantry

-organizing media console drawers

Looks like I'll be spending some time organizing the closets in the next few weeks. I think there's probably a reason all those are still on the list... :)

[sunnysandiegan]

Great list! I might tackle that list in September. We actually do well with a good portion of it, but some items on the list might take me a few days if I were to extend them to every similar spot in the house. For example, 20. Attack the bedroom closet. We have four closets in addition to the coat closet and linen closet. That's three days + the master closet is an entire 14-foot wall, so it could take 2-3 days alone! Geez, what am I even saying??? I could spend an entire month JUST cleaning out and reorganizing our closets. LOL They aren't even a mess, it just simply hasn't been done in a couple years.

And, yes, our pantry seems to go downhill fast. I believe we have isolated the issue, but it isn't likely to improve a whole lot until a certain child (ahem) moves out in 7-11 years... LOL

[sunnysandiegan]

Meanwhile, I really got started hardcore in the office today. I had tackled the paperwork earlier in the week. Thank goodness we have a "tray" where all papers live until handled. I put away a stack of books first today. I even took the extra time to go through the binders and recycle some unneeded papers and freshen them up. Two such items will be useful in a meeting on Monday morning, so I am extra happy! :)

Then, I waded on into the fray of craft supplies. I cleared my desk and started using it for like items. Likewise, I cleared the top of our office supplies cabinet and started using it for like items. Same with various sections of the floor. At this point, I have gone through everything that was on the floor and sorted them. Then, I started on my half of the closet. I decided to work my way from the BOTTOM of the closet, which is highly unusual for me. LOL I finished the floor of the closet and am about 2/3 of the way through the bottom shelf of our customized Ikea shelving unit. My side has a lot of shelves! Although the office is more organized with like items grouped together, the room as a whole looks like a tornado went through right now! I'll get two big chunks of time to work on it tomorrow, so hopefully I can get through my side of the closet.

[sunnysandiegan]

Well, I underestimated how long it would take to get through my half of the closet. Whew! I have made slow and steady progress, but it feels like the room as a whole is a l.o.n.g way off... sigh. On the bright side, I am farther along now than I was before... ;) I finished several tedious, time-consuming shelves yesterday and have the top shelf of the Ikea unit left and then the built-in shelf above the rod and two more shelves we added with a shoe organizer (LOL). Then, of course, the rest of the room... ;)

[dbsam]

Sunnysandiegan...You are accomplishing so much...very motivating!

I seem to be creating more of a mess than organizing.  I am hopping around from project to project and not devoting enough time to any of them. 

Well...tomorrow is another day.