4 Weeks to a More Organized Home: Day 1

Organizing!!!

One of my most favorite blogs (I read daily) is Money Saving Mom. Currently, she is posting a series on organization titled 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home. I have contemplated participating in this challenge but I am the world's worst procrastinator. And organization is not my forte. I despise it really. I wish I could be a more organized person. It has really been bothering me though the past few days how bad my house needs my attention. It is CHAOTIC and OUT OF CONTROL to say the least. I am thinking it's not too late to start this challenge. So here goes: in order to try to catch up I may have to do more than one day's worth. Continue reading for Daily Assignments.

Here is her assignment. You can read more about her progress here.

Day 1 Assignment

::Get dressed in something that makes you feel great {there’s something about dressing in clothes that make you feel great that just gives you more energy and zest for life! Get your free copy of SarahMae’s ebook, Frumps to Pumps, if you need more motivation in this.}
::Sit down with a cup of coffee or tea and make a list of 5-10 goals for this week.
::Complete your morning routine {if you don’t have a morning routine, take some time to create one today! Read my How to Develop a Routine That Works–And Stick With It series for step-by-step help.}
::Set the timer for 15 minutes and quickly pick up the main living areas of your home.
::Clean out your purse and/or diaper bag.
::Find 7 items to get rid of today. Throw them out, stick them in a donate or garage sale box, give them to a friend who can use them, or list them on Craigslist or eBay.


MY DAY:

Well....today didn't start off quite as planned. I had really wanted to get up and get started on this but ended up dragging behind. This is where I need to develop a morning routine- I drag in the morning and that snooze button gets hit several times before I crawl out of bed to get my older two up and on the school bus. Since I didn't get off to a good start this am, I am working on my Day 1 after lunch. After spending a few minutes online, I found a great printable to - do list.
                                     WEEKLY GOALS:

1. Develop a morning routine.
2. Drop off old newspapers to recycling (they have been sitting in my dining room, bagged and ready to go, for over a week now. 
3. Take old books to bookstore.
4. Organize my coupons.
5. Pick a room to clean.
6. Plan meals/shopping list for week.
7. Do something fun with the kids.
8. Catch up on LAUNDRY.
9. Blog each day.

                                      DAILY GOALS:Day 1

1. Follow morning routine.
2. Clean kitchen.
3. Vacuum.
4. Take kids outside to play.
5. 15 minute pick-up
6. Clean out pocketbook.

Morning Routine: Got up at 6:30 am and got my 5 yr old and 13 yr old ready for school. They got on the bus at 7 am. Took a shower, got dressed, and took my youngest to preschool at 9 am. I had a parent/teacher conference at my 13 year old's school at 10 am. Dropped off a load of items to our local charity. (I have had a pile of things to go to Goodwill sitting by my front door. Hubby was beginning to wonder if they were becoming a permanent fixture to the house. I always seem to have good intentions but fail to get things off to where I am taking them in a timely manner). Did a little shopping to pass time and found my daughter some clothes for next school year. Picked up my son from preschool and got home about 1pm.


My 7 things I got rid of:

Old vacuum, coffee pot, package of coffee filters, 2 pairs of shoes, and 2 boxes of clothes.

(The crate of books in the right hand corner need to be dropped off at the bookstore. They take books on trade which is great because I then only have to pay 50% of any book that I buy for the amounts that they give me for my trades.)

NEXT:  Pocketbook clean out- WOW!!! I had way too many receipts. And I found ketchup and honey mustard packets along with a book that I had finished reading about a month ago.

BEFORE

ALL THIS IN ONE PURSE???? AMAZING!! Check out the ketchup and honey mustard! LOL!!

AFTER

Much more organized!! For now anyways!! I think I need to clean my pocketbook out weekly!!!

To finish off my day, I am working on some laundry now (on my Weekly Goal sheet). Hopefully by the weekend, I can get caught up and scratch that off my list. I didn't get the kitchen completely cleaned. Dishwasher unloaded and re-loaded. Now waiting on those to finish so I can unload it again. Cooked a great dinner.

Chicken Penne Primavera   I altered the recipe a bit and used bowtie pasta instead of the penne pasta.

TO CONCLUDE:

I am going to do my best to rise and shine earlier in the am. Zumba tomorrow at 10:30. So, I want to be well rested. I want to strive to complete all of tomorrow's daily goals. Nite everyone!!!