Quarantined!

No - I'm not sick! And nor is anyone else in our home. Everything is fine! Well, everything except for the fact that our home is trashed and I don't seem to be getting anywhere!!

One thing no one tells you about having a school age child is just how much the running around interupts your day!
Just yesterday we had drop off, pick up, helping with school swimming and then ballet after school! And amongst all that it is SO hard to get things done!

I work best first thing in the morning. Problem is, first thing I am not at home.

So today I have quarantined myself. I have asked Paul to drop Miss E to school so I can get into the housework and get some order back! And it is working great! Without those interuptions I have gotten the kitchen, bathroom, lounge, toilet and spare room tidy. And am onto my third loud of laundry.

So I'm about to break for a coffee before starting the rest of the house.

I seriously should do this more often. As in every week! I feel so much better and more in control! And it isn't even 10am yet!

A clear cut sign the girl has far too many clothes

Before (and that is just one drawer!)




After

Most of her clothes are hanging (and we know she will mainly wear dresses in summer)





We've cut her other clothes down to three skirts, some tshirts, leggings and a couple of pairs of pants.




And we do not need jammies! Some how she has 7 pairs of new or almost new jammies for summer!

Even though we have packed away two bags of too small clothes, and two bags for charity, I still feel these are too many clothes for a girl who is at school 7 days a week. I guess there are 8 weeks of school holidays in December/January ... she might need a few more then...

Getting rid of so much stuff should make it much easier for her to handle tho!

Making progress! The office

I've done a lot of 10 minute blocks today. But I am so pleased with the progress.

I still have quite the pile of stuff in the corner to sell, I can't avoid that.

But my floor is clear! And so is my desk!

I'm still not game to shwo you the complete before pic ... but to explain what it was like ... this is our old computer desk that was in a corner in the room ...

(and this wasn't the worst of it!)




And here it is after - I've used it as a space for Miss E (aged 5) to create.


The boxes below the desk hold her pens, pencils etc. I still have a few things to change here but I love the concept.

And here is my real desk!



I still need to sort out the cables ... but that will happen later. I celebrated by buying these great bright noticeboards in pink and purple - $5 each from the "Reject Shop"

Just 10 minutes ...

What's the worst room in your home?

Without a doubt mine is the office which is in the garage.

My plan way back when was for it to be a space for the computer with room for me to sew, create, scrap.

And room for Miss E to work beside me.

Well - it became the place to house the garage sale stuff. And then it became the place to be the dumping zone for pretty much everything. And then it became such a disaster I don't let anyone know it IS a room so they don't go in there. I would padlock it if I could.

Well - I want my space back. I want to sew and I need a place to do it. And I am going to get it.

I find this room so overwhelming so I am going to do it 10min at a time.

The rules are clean for 10min. No more no less. If I want to keep going - just another 10.

Until it is done.

I'll keep tabs on how long it takes me. Right now it feels like it will take a month or two ... but I bet I can suprise myself.

Oh - and a before pic? Well I have taken one. Not sure I can bring myself to post it. Maybe with the after. Maybe.

It so better be sunny on Saturday ...

It's election day ... but more importantly for us ... YARD SALE DAY!

I have spent all day with my husband in the shed. It is gross. I don't have pics because it was too gross to even think about remembering my camera.

And it reminded me of something I had forgotten ... men don't like women throwing things from in their shed!

But Saturday is garage sale day. All proceeds are going towards my new bathroom to be ...

It better not be raining.

I feel like I've been down this path before ....

Here's the thing about clutter and house work ... you will never be finished.

Now I must admit maintance mode around here has not been that productive the last few months. We have been practising survival parenting while things like exams and assignments and working weekends took priority over our home.

But we are back onto it again.

Remember this post? This one? The one when I was so proud to find a solution to that "just inside the door" clutter?

Well, many months on, it kindof looks like THIS!




So it was time to strip it clear, stop, and think again.

Now we have THIS!


Closeup here...


We are big on labels in our home now we have a 5 year old who is reading!



A basket for library books right by the door where I won't forget them!

Go vertical!

Clutter loves a flat surface. Give it a flat surface, and chances are, stuff will find its way there and fill it up. Vertical storage is a much better use of space than horizontal storage. And less likely to be a dumping zone.

Case in point, my cookbooks.

Now the thing is, I am married to a dietitian. And we both love food. And I love to cook. Especially bake. So between us, we have a LOT of cookbooks.

We have cookbooks in the office. Cookbooks in the cupboard above the stove. Cookbooks in the spare bedroom.

Oh ....

and cookbooks (the ones we are using) here.... (among other things ... and can I say - I can't believe I am showing this!)






See - flat spaces are designed for clutter. Put something in a flat space and watch it BREED.

So I did some shuffling ... moved a table, and found an unused bookshelf (Billy - from Ikea)...

and decluttered numbers. A lot.

And now we have this.

Much better. By the time I am finished they will be all in one place - and in the RIGHT room.

Makes me smile!

It doesn't need to cost a cent to organise. Just some time. Reducing clutter. And rethinking how you do things.

(and watch this blog - later this week I will do a post on where I have put that table. And how I have created another space to make me smile!)

Creating a family room (playroom)

I could never really justify a playroom. With just one child it seemed so excessive.

But then more playdates started happening, and I hated it when they locked themselves away in the bedroom.

And the bedroom was SUCH a disaster!

Then she would want to play NEAR us so during the course of the day every toy would end up in the lounge room and THAT would become a disaster zone.

And then the family room just annoyed me every day - it was the layout I hated. It was a room with a heap of stuff in it and no real function.

So we decided to make a change. It is not a "playroom" as such, it is more a family room. A space to play, watch tv and movies, for the playstation and board game storage.

Besides the fact that Miss E actually plays in this room instead of all over the house, it has the benefit that I can re-sort and tidy at night while I watch tv.

No before pics - I just didn't think of it. But here are a few of our work in progresses.


Board game storage



These are stored in a large timber chest that my dad and I picked up from a garage sale, and my mum restored. I love it. It keeps them all hidden, but there is room for our huge collection of games





Our calendar, and learning to tell the time clock.

(This is a great clock! It has the "to's" and the "pasts" the hours marked on it.) (and it is coming up in this weeks Aldi catalogue for anyone interested)






Our books (these are still getting sorted so could be a little tidier yet!)


The books are in an ikea Expedit unit that was in Miss E's room housing toys. We have repurposed it as a bookshelf and each "section" houses a specific type of book(eg readers, chapter books, information books, stories, books about fairies!)




Our toys - this is the larger ikea Expedit unit.

I love these units for organising toys, and they aren't childish so we will be able to use them as Miss E grows.
There will be labels made for all these sections soon, to help my little reader learn more words, but also find things.




The pink and green baskets were a fantastic target bargain. They were over $12 each. I got them for $2.87. *must go see if they have more!*






The large boxes down the back were previously in use in Miss E's bedroom. They are from Ikea as well.





Our Rosie cottage and doll corner






Doll houses on top of the bookshelf where Miss E can reach them. (this will swap around at times - it might be lego, the farm set, ... who knows!)




So that's about it. There is a tv corner but I need to do a makeover there. Will post before and afters when I work out what I am doing!

Anyone want to come play??

Back to my regular blogging

OK - things have been SLOW on the blogging/organising front.

I think my excuse is a good one. The last month has been full of school holidays, the end of my nursing course and a lot of doctors visits (nothing wrong - don't worry!)

But I can feel myself coming up for air!

This weekend has been spent rearranging three rooms in our home. We have created a playroom, removed all toys and books from the bedroom/hallway, and are pretty happy with the results.

Miss E seems to love it and I do too.

Pics will come as soon as I've had a chance to vacuum - but for now we are off on a family adventure!

Wardrobe revamp.

Today I was meant to shop with my mum. But it is so wet I don't feel safe on the roads.

Well - my Gran always said "everything happens for a reason" and today she was right! Again.

Because I hadn't driven to mum's I ducked down at lunch to the little country shopping centre. And there - at the shop I love to shop in - but can't justify the prices I saw a tiny little sign. 50% off everything. Two hours only.

(I actually missed the huge bright bigger than me signs. It was the tiny photocopy that caught my eye!)

Let's say I bought a few things. Things that make me feel great. And smart. And tidy. And maybe even well dressed and attractive.

I think I've been needing this boost. I actually have been thinking about this for several days - taht maybe the first step in loosing weight and exercising is feeling good about myself -so I want to look after me. Well - today the opportunity was there and I am so happy.

So now step two in the wardrobe revamp. To spend this rainy rainy day trying on my whole wardrobe and getting rid of what doesn't suit me, fit or feel good.

I love a rainy day ...

Nothing better than staying home while it pours outside and pottering in my home.



First job today -to tackle Miss E's overwhelmingly full drawers! In my defence- they were done a few months ago - but changes in seasons brings a whole new wardrobe ... + hand me downs are wonderful but they increase the clutter too!

BEFORE




AFTER




and the smaller sizes to put away *just in case*


Plus a whole garbage bag for lifeline.

What I hadn't realised was how many of her clothes are too short for her. Thank goodness she is in uniform 5 days a week! But I do think I need to get her a couple of tracksuits and a few skivvies to get us through winter!

Goodbye todo list ... hello AHA List!

I'm going to blame work. OK - work, and assignments. Oh plus a sick girl. A sick mama and daddy. And um - coffee too - just a little socialising in there. Plus scrapping. Finally - after almost 18mths I am scrapping just a little again!

Anyway - excuses galore - my house is in a scene of complete disarray. Total disaster area.

Tomorrow my inlaws are coming. Plus we have a 5year old birthday party to attend. And I am on nights Saturday and Sunday.

Right now a to do list seems overwhelming to me. But inspired by another friend I am going to get in, get the work done, and do an AHA list. A list of everything I actually GET done today!

Miss E is at school today - I will have 5 hours without her.

Will report back tonight to share how we went!

How to organise ... colouring supplies

The question was asked of me yesterday - how do I organise colouring supplies?

The bulk of our supplies are in my craft cupboard away from busy hands. Miss 5 is allowed to access them, but by being packed away I find she tends to only look when she needs something - and I don't end up with supplies from one side of the house to the other!

Until recently I had a basket of supplies in the kitchen. But now Miss E is at school and a BIG girl she loves to do colouring and practise her handwriting skills independantly.

I have set up a small ikea table in our lounge room. Under this is a basket which contains all our current colouring books. On top she has a metal bucket (which is divided into sections) that houses all her pens, pencils, scissors etc. (this was from Spotlight) There is also a small plastic basket with the craft supply of the moment - right now she is into stamping to decorate her work.

None of this cost money - it was all about the house already and has been repurposed.

We have found since she has had her own space, her supplies are tidier and her work much more contained.

Saturday ... brings me peace

I work shift work and I almost always work weekends.
Today is the first time in a long time that I have an afternoon shift, and no plans to go anywhere during the day.

I have enjoyed today so much! It wasn't till today that I realised how much I missed those first couple of hours on a Saturday morning when we normally got those jobs done and the house tidied up from the week that was.

Today Paul and I have pottered all morning. And I almost have the house in shape, and he almost has the yard under control.

It's amazing the peace this catch up has brought me. It's just so much easier to maintain the house when you have a good baseline to start the week.

Here's our other joy for the day. Miss E chose an egg for breakfast! Imagine her delight with what she found inside! Our first double yolker!

Big breath! Tackling the big one!

Our office/sewing room/crafting room/study is the bane of my life. too many purposes - too much stuff - too hard to keep clean.

BUT I have the inspiration of a certain little girls birthday here soon ... and a party ... and guests - lots of them. So my whole house is being tackled hard this weekend.

May as well start with the tough area first.

One thing I really hate is the carpet tiles in this room. They are hand me downs. Served there purpose. But are SO hard to keep clean.

The flooring is concrete (it is our garage) and I am so tempted to pull up the tiles, and paint the concrete. Then get some great rugs that I can hang out to air for warmth/coziness. Would make sweeping after sewing easier too.

Any ideas?

Clutter free birthdays

In the past Miss E has been spoilt. Not just by us, but by friends, family ... pretty much everyone. We have been blessed with a lot of gifts and we are so thankful for them. But every birthday brings the dilemma of more and more things.

This year we are buying Miss E one quality gift, and we hope it is one she treasures. We are buying her one of the Australian Girl Doll collection. The Australian girl dolls were invented by a Grandma who was sick of only having bratz and barbie dolls to choose from in the stores. So she went out to make a doll that looks like a little girl, not a baby or a grown up. I really hope Miss E adores Matilda. She loves her dolls and I hope this becomes a new special friend.

Birthdays also mean the traditional (in our home) pre birthday party bedroom declutter. The weekend before Christmas and birthdays we attack Miss E's room, put away the classic toys she has grown out of, relabel and sort the one's she uses ... and donate all the rest to charity. She has actually learnt to accept that is the way it is and helps with the decision making process.

Saturday morning is the planned date. I'll post an update (and photos) then!

The office - the dream ...

My office is in my garage.
As are some of Eliana's larger toys (eg playhouse)
And my craft stuff. And sewing stuff.

Our office is a mishmash of inherited furniture and clutter.
It contains things left over from the kitchen reno.
There is no space to work. Or spread out.

I have a dream.
An office where my family can work in peace.
Where we can learn and play together. Side by side.
A place where we can be inspired. Where we can think big thoughts. And dream big dreams.

Here it is. The beginning. Part one of our journey - the family desk.

Later in the year we will be joined by the sewing space, and the craft table ... but every journey begins with a single step - right?

Today's decluttering challenge - the front entry area

Today's challenge for me was our front outdoor entrance to our home.

Weeks of demolishing and building had taken it's toll. That - and cleaning it up seemed just so overwhelming.

Most of the big stuff had gone - but there were still plenty of piles to remind me of the renos ...

like this one here ...




Today is stinking hot and muggy - so maybe not the best time to do it, but I was sick of all the muck being tracked into our home.

So - like everything ... 15 min at a time ...

And things are not perfect - but they sure are a lot more peaceful now!

15 minute house rescue - UPDATE!

What I achieved

Family Room
- rubbish gone
- folding done
- toys, glasses etc all returned to right rooms
- one load washing put away
- tv cabinet tidied
- vaccuuming done
- magazines thrown away
- load laundry put on

*still to do - ironing*

Main Bedroom
-Bed tidied (was made - just tidied)
-bedside table cleared of books
-dirty laundry taken to clothes basket
-clean laundry put away
-Miss E's books returned to her room
-beads put away
-space made for my project life kit to live
-dusted
-vacuumed
*still to do - Paul to tidy his bedside table, old chest of drawers to be taken to shed*

Miss E's Room

Before



After!
-bed made
-toys picked up
-library books out to return
-toy unit tidied
-toys in cupboard tidied
-3 toys removed for donation
-washing put away
-winter clothes sorted and clothes removed for donation
-vacuuming done



Bathroom
* clean back of door storage pockets and reorganise (pics to come)
* clear basin of clutter
* new towels
* wipe and clean basin and mirror
* empty bath of toys - declutter bath toys

also
* change sheets on spare bed
* load of laundry
*** to do - clean shower and bathtub**

More to come later!

Today my house is out of control ...

Today I am doing a 15 minute house rescue!

15 minutes in each room. Goal is to recover each room as best I can in that time.

Anyone want to join me? I'll report how I went in two and a bit hours!