Decluttering Binders and Christmas Preparations

I continue to decorate. Yesterday I put all my Christmas books in a basket to set out and put out old Christmas cards that I particularly liked. I was going to do my tree but was very dizzy all day, so hopefully I'll be able to do that today.

I also have decluttered my housekeeping binders. I have a couple of blogs that I've printed a lot of that I keep for inspiration and ideas on housekeeping and I have a binder of recipes for making your own cleaning products. I made a new binder for budget and filing ideas. I also have a binder with bath and body product recipes. So the next 2 shelves I want to declutter is all my health info, mostly diabetes and diet related.

This week I'm sending out a few cards and doing what little Christmas shopping I have to do. That is the plan anyway.

Linda

Thanksgiving Reading and Decluttering Books

I thought I'd share my Thanksgiving books that I'm reading before Thanksgiving is over. I've decluttered most of my books and I've told myself that anything I keep I have to have the intention of using unless it is a very special item I just want to keep, but even those I can't just keep them in a box or a drawer, I have to put them out and enjoy them or pass them on.









So I have a lot of reading to do. I pulled out 2 books to read, one is called "Drug Store Days" by Richard Armour about growing up as the son of a drug store owner. The store was founded by his grandfather, Armour Drug Store in Pomona, California in 1890. So far it's delightful. The other one is "Transfer Point" by Kathryn Forbes. She also wrote "Mama's Bank Account" which is a charming book. It inspired "I Remember Mama", so this one should be good too. It's published in 1947. I love old books.

I still have sewing/craft books and cookbooks to go through. I hope to do those in the next week or two and then it the Christmas decorations. I have way too many and hope to just keep the special ones.

I love children's books and like to set them out to add color and whimsy.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. 

Linda

Decluttering: Needs Change

I'm decluttering my gift wrap supplies. I've been trying to use up the paper and ribbon I had stock piled for several years now, but I still have paper, gift bags and tissue that is old and I really don't like or has been reused several times, so I decided to choose a container for each and only keep what I like and what fits in the container. I'm recycling all the rest. I have a big pile of used tissue.

So I still have plenty of paper for Christmas. I realized that we have cut back so much on gifts now that I don't really need that much. Ribbon is the one thing I have had to buy.

I've decluttered 2 more closets now. I'm letting go of things I've hung on to because I didn't know where to take them like an old stereo system. My dd convinced me that the old tapes probably aren't any good now, which is one of the things they talk about, if you keep it too long no one can use it. I'm beginning to see the wisdom in the idea that if you haven't used it for a year pass it on.

Linda

Clutter Free By Christmas

I'm doing well on my decluttering. I've cleaned out 2 walk in closets and I'm working on my craft area. I'm hoping this year to get rid of a lot of Christmas stuff. I just have too much.

 Here is another link for you Gospel Homemaking is doing Count Down to Clutter Free

Also Clean Mama is doing How To Stop The Paper Trail

I'm thinking Thanksgiving dinner. I'm suppose to bring a dessert and a side dish so I'm thinking of something with apples and maybe a sweet potato dish. I may do an up side down apple cake. My dd does the turkey.  As usual it feels like the year is rushing by.

Linda

Aw Space and Responsible Shopping

I'm making good progress on my decluttering. I'm trying to do a little each week so that getting rid of it is not such a big project. For some reason this time I'm ready to let go of the past, all those things that I'm not really using but just storing. I'm starting to notice that I like the feeling of space. I'm beginning to feel like I can breath again. I don't want you to think I had a house stuff with stuff, I didn't, but it was still getting to be too much.

I wanted to share this post from ourfrontporchview on Why Do We Buy Stuff? What really was interesting to me was the popout at the bottom a video The Story of Stuff. After watching this I'm looking at the stuff I'm decluttering and thinking can it be upcycled, is it worth it and will try and keep as much as I can out of the trash, but there is no reason to pass on or keep products that were trash to begin with toxic plastic and so on. I'm also really seeing the value of those homemade items. This may get me moving on making stuff I need instead of buying. It was very motivating video for me. I learned things I didn't know and it helped me connect the dots on our whole production system in this country and how important it is to be a responsible shopper.

Linda

Priorities When My Energy is Low

I've been kind of low energy lately and I decided it was time to look at my priorities again, they keep changing. My idea was to make a list, for when I'm not up to my regular schedule, of what is most important.

I decided after my Quiet Time eating properly was my most important priority and that means cooking and grocery shopping and keeping the kitchen tidy.

So I've given myself permission to put those things first and other housework second.

I did list all my chores in order of priority daily and weekly so that I know their order of importance. There are some things that have to be done and there are things that should be done but it's not the end of the world if they wait until I'm having a better day. I realize why I don't dust very often because without realizing it I've already decided it's low on my priority list.

 Clarifying my priorities helps me to not feel guilty about choosing to let some chores go and at the same time it shows me where I need to put my energies.

After writing this list I felt more energized. Just knowing what I needed to do helped me to direct my energy towards cooking and working on  eating healthy.

It takes time and energy to cook from scratch and when you aren't feeling very energetic getting something easy and probably not as healthy is often what we do. So I've told myself not only that some chores can wait, but also that eating healthy is at the top of my priority list and that I need to make the effort to cook healthy foods and not go for the premade less healthy choice.

Now if I could come up with some healthy choices to have in my freezer or pantry that are ready to go that would be even better, something to work on.

Linda

31 Days of Homemaking

I wanted to share some more homemaking 31 days blogs

Live Renewed is doing 31 Days to Green Clean

Organizing Made Fun is doing 31 Days of Organizing Fun

Orginizing and Decorating Fun is doing 31 Days of
 Loving Where You Live

The Frugal Homemaker is doing 31 Days of
 Pinterest Pinned to Done

The Story of Home is doing 31 Days of Color

Pretty Organized is doing 31 Days
Towards Becoming Pretty Organized

The Happy Tulip is doing 31 Days of Fall Nesting

Linda

4 More 31 Day Blogs of Inspiration

Gospel Homemaking 31 Days to a Routine Ordinary Day I like this one so far, this is her first post and the following ones are at the bottom of the post. She talks about having a quiet time.

I've already given you the link for Living Well and Spending Less, but I thought todays post was brilliant,
 Learn something new without spending a dime.

Clean Mama is doing 31 Days To a Clean House I like this one because she shows you how to do each chore and so far they are things that I don't often do, the first one was cleaning edges and corners.

Townsend House 31 Days of Intentional Living- Last time I gave you another link on this subject. I'm fascinated by the term. I've been trying to work out what I think it means. It seems to me to intend to do something is a little iffy, but I know they are using the term in the same way you would say goals or plans. I think I do lived pretty intentional but one area I was thinking I could be more intentional is in my Christian walk.

So these are some of the 31 Day blogs that are inspiring me this week and there are lots more too. Enjoy your weekend.

Linda

Continue Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge

I'm continuing the Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge from Heavenly Homemaker. I found some more sugar-free products yesterday, International Coffee. I use to like the Mocha, but I definitely can make that from scratch. Today I threw out some old Teflon coated frying pans. I had already bought a cast iron pan to replace them, but for some reason hung on to the old ones.

Here is a post from One Is Silver, with some good ideas for making healthier choices.

Linda

More of Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge

My find today for the Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge was Taco Shells. I had 2 boxes. I'm replacing them with homemade coconut flour taco shells and here . I made gluten-free pizza dough last week and froze part of it, so maybe I can do the same thing with this dough.

Linda

Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge

Time to get organised again. Here is a Funky Fresh Kitchen Challenge From Heavenly Homemaker #1 Toss it out.

Are you up for a challenge? Does your kitchen need some help? I'm going to try and do this challenge. As soon as I read the first challenge to throw out something, I went into my kitchen and got 2 bottles of sugar-free syrups for coffe and dumped them. They have splenda in them and I was already thinking I should get rid of them. It was still hard to do it, but I was motivated. She suggests replacing what you throw out with a healthier choice. I think my healthier choice is flavored stevia.

Linda

Zone Cleaning ala FlyLady

I got some pillows for the bench, looks a lot better. Both porches are looking presentable now. I also straightened up the garage and swept the floor. I was going to move everything but I just didn't have the energy, maybe next time.

When I talked about my schedule one area I left out is those deep cleaning and annual jobs. Those are the ones I hate to do the most because they tend to be the most labor intensive. I've pretty much tackled every room now. I just finished my upstairs extra rooms, craft room, guest room and library. But I did more rearranging than cleaning. These room don't really get used much and so it's mostly dust. Someone mentioned FlyLady and I was thinking about her zone cleaning (deep cleaning) and I have never gotten that to work for me, but I'd like to give it another try. So I'm going to add that to my schedule. Doing it in little bits may make it easier for me to do it.

If there is anyone out there that doesn't know about FlyLady she has a yahoo group now and sends reminder to do chores. She also has a book out Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley. To do her zones you divide your home into 5 sections. I have to look at the book but I believe it's one section per week. The 1/2 week either at the beginning or end of the month is the fifth week. You only spend a small amount of time each time you clean in each section but the idea is that eventually you get it all done.

So I'll let you know how it's working for me.

Linda

How My Schedule Works Pt 2

Just as the Morning Schedule keeps me on track for the day. The Weekly Schedule keeps on track for the week. It's nice to sit here on Saturday morning and know that my house is clean and my chores are done. The hard part for me was deciding when to do things and that is where learning the natural flow of my week helped. This is how my Weekly Schedule turned out.

Weekly Chores-(part of morning schedule)

Monday is Kitchen Day- I do my weekly kitchen cleaning jobs and I want this to become a day where I set up my kitchen for the week. I check the pantry and frig and freezer and make a shopping list and a use list. Hopefully I've made a menu or picked out some recipes on Sunday. I also do most of my laundry.

Tuesday is Bathroom Day- I change my sheets, do more laundry and clean the powder room and guest bath. (I think of this as Bathrooms Day because I use to clean all my bathrooms on this day, but I started doing my master bath on a daily basis.) I also usually do some baking.

Wednesday is Errand Day- I do my major shopping and I try to plan apts. and errands for this day. I still go to groc. st. and run quick local errands on other days as needed.

Thursday is Desk Day- I do bills, filing, mail, budget. Also Baking Day- (Baking Day-started out as a day to do my baking for the week, I have found that I usually need two days for baking but I still bake something on this day.) I also wash floors.

Friday is Cleaning Day- I do the rest of the housework, vac and dust mainly.
 
Saturdays is Catch Up Day- Do everything that didn't get done, to do list, special projects.

Sundays is Day of Rest- church when I go. I'm trying to get myself to plan the next week on Sundays.
 

Afternoons-

The afternoons are more loose but I've always seen that as my time to do whatever I want, but I often get a second wind in the afternoon and that's when I'll work in the garden or on a special project, right now I'm cleaning up the garage. Tea time is at 3 and dinner is by 6. I'm thinking of adding another hour of work to my schedule right after lunch to do those things that aren't on the weekly and daily lists.

 You make think it's obsessive to schedule my meals, but I started doing this as a way of cutting out grazing (constantly eating) and it also helps give a framework for my day. The times are approximate, not hard and fast. I may get hungry earlier or not be hungry, but they pretty much work.


Evenings-

So my evening routine starts with making dinner and cleaning up afterwards. I'm trying to train myself to leave the kitchen clean for the morning. I like to go up before tv time starts and take my bath and do some journaling and think about the next day. If I'm not watching anything on tv I read.

I realize because of my age and health issues I live a quiet life and am not as busy as many, but I have found that having some structure to my day makes me feel happier and I'm free to forgo it if I want to or need to.

I struggled all my life to find a schedule that worked for me and I think I've finally got there.


Linda

How My Schedule Works Pt 1

I've been working out the flow of my daily schedule. I've found that one hour segments work well for me. Having a routine especially in the morning really helps my day from getting away from me.


Morning Schedule-

The first hour I get dressed, make my bed, tidy the bathroom, start laundry if needed, I water my container garden if needed and have breakfast. It's leisurely, there is plenty of time.

 The second hour I do my quiet time and enjoy my tea, then I have a little computer time. The timer is my best friend here. Both these activities are things that I can get lost in so I do make myself stop when it's time to move on to starting my work. The afternoons are the time I can spend more time on a bible study or on the computer.

 The third hour I tidy the kitchen and start my weekly chores for the day and check my to do list. I have my priorities in my head or on a schedule for the day.

The forth hour starts with my break at 11 and then continues as needed to finish chores. I've also started taking a short walk before lunch. That is pretty much the end of my morning routine. Lunch is 12:30 or 1.


 If I have an early morning appointment or something else comes up it's easy to shift things to later in the day, but my day goes much better if I can stick to the program. Tomorrow in Pt 2 I'll talk about what my weekly schedule is and my afternoon and evenings.



Linda

New Bedroom Arrangement

I rearranged another room, my bedroom this time. I wanted to show you a photo because I put the bed in an unusual place. It is at an angle in a corner but partially in front of the window. I like it. I've thought of doing this before but didn't think it would look right, but I decided to just go for it. I enjoy rearranging a room because it makes it feel all new to me. I get bored leaving it the same all the time, even if I like the arrangement.

 I also changed the configuration of my bookcases. They were starting to lean forward and so I'm hoping by turning the ends they will stay upright and I think it makes it look like a little library. I know I really should bracket those bookcases to the wall.

  I'm able to put the love seat near the books now and a lamp. So we will see how it lives. Don't be afraid to do something different with your room arrangements. I couldn't believe the dust on the books so this week I'm going to be cleaning books on all my bookcases.

Linda

Spring Cleaning Drawers and My Den

Well I did all the degreasing in the kitchen a few weeks ago and rearranged my cupboards a bit, but I didn't tackle the drawers, so I'm back in the kitchen. What reminded me of it is that I couldn't fine the thermometer for the yogurt making, I found it. I was surprised how many crumbs there were.  I read in a book I got from the library the idea of thinking about decluttering as choosing those things that you really love or need and finding the proper homes for them, easy access and then with the stuff and the room that's left over you decide what to keep. So I'm trying to do that. I reluctantly eliminated a few things from this draw but not much. As you can see I have 2 meat pounders and I really should let go of the old one. Why am I so reluctant to let go of stuff?

I rearranged my den, it is my favorite way to clean a room. I take everything I can out and start from scratch. I'm happy with the results and I got rid of a lot of dust.

Linda

Garlic Herb Crackers and Books I'm Reading

I tried another cracker recipe. It taste like ranch dressing. It has dried herbs and garlic granules in it. It's not my favorite. I still think the 2 precious recipes were the best, but here's the link if you like ranch dressing.

I'm reading like crazy. I just read a book yesterday about housekeeping and am motivated to do some more decluttering. My dd has given me a couple of books by Michael Pollan about our food and I've got C.S.Lewis's "Silent Planet".

I used the Vegamix yesterday, that thing is amazing. You have a smoothie in 2 seconds and it holds a lot of greens. I need to start saving my dollars.

Linda

Spring Cleaning with a Twist

I finished decluttering my bathroom and now plan to do the linens, but I saw this intriguing idea
 Spring Cleaning the Toxins from Keeper of the Home, did you know candles can be toxic. She also had a great post of ideas for using your canning jars for a lot of different purposes. I got rid of my plastics for the most part but not 100%. I still use plastic wrap.

 Just what I need another project, but I might include some of her ideas in my deep cleaning. I threw out a lot of out of date stuff from my bathroom and realized I have to keep better track and also go back to using natural homemade products. I'm also going to start buying smaller bottles of things like Advil so that I use it before it expires. I bought several large bottle of it at Costco once and I think I ended up throwing out most of them because they expired before I used them. I think I also need to start writing a date on things just like I do in my freezer, so I know just how old they are.

 I started using a homemade shampoo that my dd made and so far I like it, may hair feels softer. I made all this stuff a couple of years ago and have drifted back to buying it instead. I'm basically lazy sometimes, but also it takes some trial and error to find homemade recipes that you like. Does anyone make their own?

Cleaning the linens is probably going to be more about just reorganizing them. I have a hard time letting go of that kind of stuff.

Linda

Monthly Cleaning

See link below for a list of cleaning projects by the calendar. I'm still using my rotating project list and one of the categories is deep cleaning. So far I've cleaned the top of the kitchen cabinets and the fronts, spot cleaned the carpets, decluttered my freezers and pantries. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do next and I remembered seeing monthly to do lists on about.com so I check out April and it was bathrooms. So I'm going to declutter my master bathroom as my next deep cleaning project.

 Here is a link to all the monthly projects starting with January. I guess this is one of my favorite sites right now I keep going back to it. This also might be a good month to try some of those homemade bath and beauty products again.

Linda

Homemaking

I've been cleaning out my freezers and extra frig. When I'm done I will start on my pantry

. I just reread Brenda's pantry posts. She has a lot to say about pantries and stocking up. Well I'm not really doing much stocking up now but she talks about that too.

 I decided to make standard shopping lists for the different stores I shop at with the idea that they will jog my memory of what I like to buy at that store. I shop at about 5 different stores, not every week, but on and off.

So I want to think about this as I go through my pantries. I have a new way of eating no dairy and no gluten so I will also be checking for offenders, gluten likes to hide itself.

I did a search on pantry organization and about.com came up. They have a whole list of steps to get it organized and keep it that way.

I started a new homemaking list on my side bar and so far I have Brenda's Coffee Tea Books and Me, Manuela's A Cultivated Nest and Kitchen Stewardship. Manuela has a beautiful home and garden and lots of ideas. Kitchen Stewardship has these wonderful lists of baby stepping your way to living green. Brenda's pantry posts are listed on her side bar.

 I just added another about clutter control. I guess I'm getting into an organizational mood. I wanted to add a cooking blog or two and looked around and decided on Comfy Belly  . It is one that I have gone over and over for healthy alternative flour recipes.  The Rogue Cookie is another that is good for low carb, Paleo, allergies. Here is another one Small Notebook I like some of her categories housekeeping, organizing and so on. I decided to add some sewing blogs too, that is part of homemaking and Purl Bee is very inspiring, my favorite crochet blog is Attic 24. I may change these and will probably add to the list as time goes on.


Linda