Full of it….
My closets were that is!
Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Did Benjamin Franklin say that too? Goodness that man coined a ton of terms that we use all the time. My Parents-in-law arrived late Thursday for the long weekend. Every time they come, I get a heap of work done in our home. Granddaddy takes the boys to play and Chloe, Grandmama and myself get to work on all things that need arranging and organizing and general de-cluttering in our home.
All told I cleaned out and rearranged:
- the pantry
- the upstairs bathroom cabinets (2 sets)
- both kids closets ( 2 whole closets)
- the linen closet
- organized the upstairs children’s library
- and last but not least cleaned out our closet
I trashed 5 bags of junk, donated 8 bags of toys and clothes that we have grown out of and one box of books that were hand me downs and not a good fit for our family.
It feels good to have it done. In a busy homeschooling family of 5, you need to schedule this type of weed out every 4-5 months or so. It was embarrassing to say the least, to show my mother in law my horrifying hidden closets. People always come over and say, your house is so clean. I laugh and say, you haven’t opened any closet doors.
So, now closets are clean, laundry is done and put away, book shelves are organized and I am ready for a great week.
Peace to all those who need to weed out this week. Just do it you will feel soooo gooooood!~
P.S. - photo taken in Arequipa Peru. Props to all our South American People. We love you guys.
Amber, mom was over this weekend and I finally tackled Lilly’s room and sent a garbage bag home with her to donate and then was so inspired that I finally organized the office! It feels soooo good:) Isn’t it amazing how much we accumulate?!?! And Carl wonders why I hate the “toys” from fast food joints!!
Comment by Betsy — February 15, 2009 @ 11:03 pm
Congrats on the cleanup. I don’t know if I would welcome the help or find it a hindrance. I think I like to work by myself on those types of things. Since late Dec (my last Goodwill run for 08) my mudroom has been collecting the next Goodwill run. I just found out while doing my taxes that It’s Deductible is available year round for entries, so no more of my scribbled notes shoved in a folder. Yay! In a few weeks I’m going to do a minor kitchen makeover & a semi-major 2nd bathroom makeover. Maybe I’ll blog my triumph.
Comment by Anne-Marie — February 15, 2009 @ 11:23 pm
It’s so great when grandparents come and allow some much needed cleaning to take place. I’m hoping my mom is coming today to play so that I too can de-clutter our house!
Comment by Melissa — February 16, 2009 @ 8:58 am
Granted I don’t have children or anyone else to declutter but me, but I do it about every 3 months. When I’m not doing it at home, I’m finding another one of those mystery cupboards at work to go through. I do love the feeling of clean and organized
Comment by Jenn — February 16, 2009 @ 2:44 pm
WOW! Isn’t that so liberating?! I’m still weeding a little at a time, when the little man lays down for his afternoon naps. And I’m taking Stacy Julian’s Library of Memories class right now, so those PILES and FILES of photos will be organized in roughly six months, if all goes well!
Glad you’re off to a good start to the week!
Comment by Kyla — February 16, 2009 @ 2:55 pm
I just cannot even tell you how impressed I am! My biggest obstacle right now is not being sure of if we’ll have any more kids or not so not knowing what to keep and what is easily replaceable…right now, I just want to put my whole house in my front yard, put a big sign out that says “free - just take it!” and be on my way. AHHH! (*deep breath*) I feel a little better now
Comment by Emily C — February 16, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
Thanks for the love you all! Yes, it is liberating and freeing to clean out and de-junk. It is funny that each step didn’t really take that long (except the kids closets…those took a long time). It was more of just having the time and mind to do it.
If I have someone working with the kids, and I am not interrupted.I am unstoppable. Yes hear me roar!
Em - based on all the hand me down stuff I get and continue to get, odds are that if you got rid of it all and still had another, you would end up with all of it again for free!
Jenn keep it up even when you have kids, you will be glad.
Kyla, that is why all of my images are digital…..I can store them easily;-)
Melissa, hope the troops arrive soon. “Many hands make light work.” and I know that is a Chinese proverb:-)
Ann-Marie, I really want to see those pics so don’t forget to let me know when you do.
and Bets- keep it up. Now that I have it done, I wanted to go through the whole house.
xoxoxo~
a
Comment by Amber(Homeschool Diva) — February 16, 2009 @ 6:17 pm
Quick question, if you don’t mind . . . what photo program do you use to sort all your digi stuff?
Thanks so much!
Comment by Kyla — February 16, 2009 @ 8:05 pm
Kyla,
I store them in an external hard drive in folders, by month and year. Within each folder I have a sub folder of specific events. All paid photoshoots are filed under last name and date and year.
Hope that helps.
Comment by Amber(Homeschool Diva) — February 17, 2009 @ 5:57 pm