Tag Archive for 'de-cluttering'

Weekly Challenge: Clean out the crisper

Published by Annika Barranti on June 30, 2008 in Weekly Challenge. 4 Comments

One of the features I loved when Sarah was running this website were the daily challenges. But I have to confess, I never got around to doing most of them! I think daily was just a bit too much for me. So I am going to try doing these weekly and see how it works out.

This week we didn’t visit the farmer’s market because our crisper bins were still full from last week. We did pick up some green beans at Trader Joe’s, but besides those we are going to try to use up what we already have.

So often I find soft or even rotten vegetables at the bottom of the bin, and it makes me feel awful! One of my goals for this year is to figure out a composting system that will work for us, but until then I just want to minimize food waste and not spend any money on food we don’t eat.

Today I am going to look at our crisper and get a real idea for what we have. I think it is mostly greens for salads, which is great because there is no meal planning required! I know there are also some portabellas and those green beans but other than that I have no idea. So I am going to find out, and discard anything that I’ve let sit for too long (hopefully nothing). And my secondary goal for the week will be to eat everything that’s in there. Plus the potatoes in the hanging basket. They have eyes! I’ll be peeling those for mashers, I think.

What did you find in your crisper?

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling Day Seven: Organization, Part II

Published by Sarah Bray on May 21, 2008 in Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling and Cleaning and Organization. 10 Comments

Here we go with some more great entries!

Home management notebooks work for Toblerone over at Simple Mom. Will they work for you, too? Follow this excellent series to find out.

 

 

 

 

Being a stalker of good books, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to purge my collection in a way that pleases the Organization Gurus. But Debbie from Virtually Organized has some great ideas if you’re ready to part with the duds (and admit it, I’m sure you have some.)

 

 

 

If you are a penny-less organization junkie like myself, it is going to take all of your will power to resist lobotoME, a planner-lovers dreamboat. You might as well just throw in the towel when you see their adorable planner filler pages and list-makers.

 

 

 

You never want to think about disaster-related things happening to you or your family, but it’s still good to be prepared. Vera from BeSafeInsure brings us an article that will help you prepare…just in case.

 

 

 

Songbirdtiff has an eye for re-purposing things. She’s got some great tips so you can do it, too.

 

 

 

 

Tip Diva reminds us that if we want to be prepared for a fabulous summer, we need to do a bit of planning beforehand. Luckily, she’s done it for us!

 

We Are Not Our Children’s Slaves. Laura from Organizing Junkie reminds us that even though it might be “easier” to do everything around the house ourselves, taking the time to teach our kids will give them (and us!) long-term benefits. Preach it, sister!

Natural Carpet Disinfectant & Deodorizer — The Power of Baking Soda. Eco-mama from Ecopolitan Living gives us a useful recipe for a carpet disinfectant. So useful, in fact, I think I’ll make some up today, as I’ve just run out of my favorite stuff.

Okay, with all of that lovely stuff, I’m having a terribly hard time deciding upon a winner. But I must, mustn’t I? The award goes to…

Crystal for her DIY Crafts Center Tutorial! Congratulations, Crystal! Please send me an email with your address (sarahjoy AT todayshomemaker DOT com).

One more day, guys…and tomorrow we’ll be focusing on Outdoor Living — a great way to kick off the summer. See you then!

Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling Day Seven: Organization, Part I

Published by Sarah Bray on May 21, 2008 in Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling and Cleaning and Organization. 5 Comments

Toblerone over at Simple Mom has a fantastic post today on taking your shoes off before entering the house — her blog is quickly becoming one of my very favorites. If you’re looking for more good reading, check out our lovely sponsors!

Today’s topic is quite exciting for me. I am always on a mission to “get organized” — whatever that means. When will I have arrived? Well, when I can find everything I need quickly without rummaging through a bunch of stuff. When I feel calm and serene in my home. When I have everything I need and love and nothing else. It’s an ongoing process, but some people definitely are farther along than others. Perhaps you will be inspired after reading today’s incredible entries (we’re also including “cleaning” in this category, so you’ll find some good stuff about that, too.)

What I love the most about Crystal’s DIY craft center tutorial is the darling sewing table that is built right in. LOVE. IT.

 

 

 

 

Michelle from North of the 49 has created an extremely thorough post outlining essential moving tips based on her extensive experience. It’s a long post, but an excellent one!

 

 

 

 

Stephanie from Stop the Ride gives us a great post on mopping the old-fashioned way (aka: scrubbing). Ironically, I did this last week, and people came into my kitchen saying that it looked bigger. That had to be the reason — my floors were really clean, grout and all.

 

 

 

Tip Diva has tips for organizing your mail that will help you assassinate your paper clutter for once and always.

 

 

 

 

Have a lot of containers but don’t know what to do with them? Laura from Organizing Junkie has some practical solutions.

 

 

 

 

Amy Clark from Mom Advice gives us some tips on how to throw a retro housewife party. Love her apron collection!

 

 

 

 

Given up on ever getting organized and STAYING that way? No need to fret…Debbie from Virtually Organized thinks you might just have a system problem.

 

 

 

 

Have you run out of stain solution? Or maybe you’re just DIY-ish that way? Organized Everyday has a recipe for Spray and Wash that will keep you from running to the store.

 

 

 

 

Tip Diva has graced us with another great article. This time she outlines how to organize your medicine cabinet — no easy feat in our house!

 

 

Well, it looks like our cup is runneth-ing over. Stay tuned later this afternoon for the next part and to find out who won!

Wednesday’s challenge: De-clutter a drawer (or a closet!)

Published by Sarah Bray on April 2, 2008 in Cleaning and Organization. 1 Comment

I have been in the mood to de-clutter lately. My daughter’s clothes have been my obsession. I told John yesterday that I am envious of her wardrobe (all given to us by a mother with VERY good taste). She has no idea how stylish she is!

Or maybe she does. I got a few new beaded bracelets that are extremely cute and stretchy, and as soon as she saw them, she took them off my wrists and put them on her own. She’s 14 months old, and already she’s acting like a little prima donna. I know I’m in trouble.

Anyway, I have seen lots of tutorials for turning an entertainment center into an armoire, and I did that yesterday. So now she has this adorable little wardrobe for her…wardrobe. (It’s about time! I’ve been meaning to do this for a year and a half!) I’m extremely proud of myself. All of those tiny shoes are lined up neatly under her pretty dresses that hang just-so. Her little tights and teeny tiny socks are in their proper basket. All nightgowns and blankets are folded up in the drawers underneath.

Sigh. Maybe just one more baby…maybe.