My Organizing Plan for 2013

I am determined this year to make some progress toward having a clean and organized home.  Now before you roll your eyes and think I'm a super neat freak, you got that wrong.  I desire to have a home where I can find things and not have PILES of papers everywhere.  I want to know where things are and not have so much clutter.  I have two small children and their mess does not bother me at all, it's MY mess that bothers me.

I remember when I was single I would clean my house once a week all in ONE evening.  I also decluttered a few times a year.  Now that I am a home manager, I have to upgrade that simple system because life is much more complicated!

I just finished reading The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized by Karen Ehman and one of the first statements she makes is "being organized means being prepared."  I keep that in my mind often.  Everytime I am rushing out the door trying to grab all the stuff I need I think, I should have been prepared.  That is my focus this year.

I have tried various "systems" of housecleaning and decluttering and I haven't yet found the perfect one, but I'm am going to combine a few different ones to hopefully get me where I want to be.

This year I will be using the Weekly Household Planner from The Confident Mom.  I discovered this planner in August and I am very impressed how I have been able to keep up with the daily chores and also have time for myself as well as play with my kids.  Here is a quick video of why I love this planner.

For more information click: 2013 Weekly Household Planner.

Another book that I really like is 31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way.  Although I have never been able to clean my house for 31 days straight I like how Sarah Mae has broken down different areas of the home.  I will be reading this book slowly and focus on ONE area of the home each month. And not only that I want to develop more of a Mary heart as I bless my home in cleaning.

And I'm really excited about Jennifer Tankersley's new ebook 100 Days to a New Year. Sometimes I get overwhelmed and want to organize it ALL in one day, one week or one month.  Jennifer walks you through 100 days and at the end you will have a lot organized!  See my review and giveaway that is happening right now.

Another book that I have used to organize my cleaning schedule is Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule by Christine Satterfield.  I love Christine's blog I Dream of Clean where she always has fun and easy ways to making cleaning efficient and effective.

Other websites that I use and find helpful:

*The Flylady- Weekly zones and cleaning ideas
*Clean Mama- Monthly organizing checklists and more!  New ebook- Pulling Yourself Together: Implementing a Cleaning Routine that Sticks
*Household Management 101- House Cleaning Lists (free ebook)
*The Good Wife's Guide by Darlene Schacht- get it free right now by subscribing to her blog
*My Simpler Life- free Declutter Calendar
*Home Storage Solutions 101- Monthly missions
*Spring Cleaning 365- one task. each day. all year.

For January I am going to start cleaning the Master Bedroom.  I might even do the kitchen too.  I will be updating you monthly on my progress.  Stay tuned!

What has been helpful to you for cleaning and organizing?  Do you have any plans for cleaning this year?  Let me know!!

31 Days to Clean Ebook SALE!!

Sarah Mae's wildly popular book 31 Days to Clean is on sale for 50% off!  I have used this book to jumpstart me to make some healthy changes in my attitude about cleaning and also I have made great progress in cleaning my home.


Give life to your home! Focus on the heart for cleaning!

31 Days to Clean

50% off

Coupon code: ILOVEFALL 

Get your copy today!!

Deep Cleaning: Kitchen

This year I vowed to myself to clean my home and PURGE!  I'm so tired of stuff and clutter.  I know you've heard me say that before.  I started cleaning last year, but I was pregnant and didn't have much energy.  Then I had my baby and had to put this on hold.  Now that she is 9 months and sleeping for naps well, I'm trying to take advantage of that time to get this house in order.  I feel so much better when my home is clean!  Don't you?

I was inspired by Clean Mama and 31 Days to Clean as I marched through my kitchen to clean most every nook and cranny.  I wasn't completely thorough, but enough to give me an edge to keep it maintained and so I can easily find things to use for cooking.

BEFORE

AFTER

I hope this has inspired you somewhat to do some cleaning of your own!  I encourage you to check out my links and see what will help you.  Left to myself, I just can't do it.  I love the lists and ideas of what to clean.  My next big project is my bedroom which I showed you last week. 

31 Days to Clean Ebook- start the New Year right!

Have you thought about what gift you want to give to yourself for the New Year?  How about a clean home?  I sure do.  I have a few different books and blogs that have helped me to achieve this goal.  Ever since I had my second child, I've wanted to get this house in better order.  Is that a desire of yours too?  Well, 31 Days to Clean seems to cover more than just cleaning, but there is a great dose of cleaning motivation for you.  When I started my 31 Days to Clean journey in August I was delighted to find these wonderful videos by Jennifer Ross who takes you through the Martha Challenges.  All of these videos are available at the Readers Only Downloads section on 31 Days to Clean after you buy the book.  Here is a in Introduction video from Jennifer.  She is a mother of 11 children and has a very calm and easy going way to show you how to clean.



If you are reading this in an email, click the title of this post to watch the video.

So, are you ready to embark on a cleaning journey for your heart and home?  First, get the 31 Days to Clean ebook.  Then you can also join a group that will be going through the book on Facebook:  31 Days to Clean on Facebook goes from Monday, January 2 to Friday, March 2.

Buy 31 Days to Clean and I'll see you soon!

And just a heads up, Jennifer Ross has a great ebook for after you complete 31 Days to Clean called Encouraging Challenges 

31 Days to Clean Ebook Sale! 50% off ends today (Friday)

31 Days to Clean Ebook for only $2.50 ends today (Friday)

Enter code: HOMEMAKER

I would recommend this book if you want to learn more about how to be homemaker with a heart for God.

There are also some great cleaning tips as well.

I've been working through this book and it has really helped put things in perspective!

HOMEmaker's Challenge (31 Days to Clean) Week #2

This week I started using The Six List from ListPlanIt.com.  What a difference it makes for me to list things that I need to get done.  I love making lists and checking things off, don't you?  If you are like me, maybe you should check out ListPlanIt.com.  They offer tons of great ways to get organized.

I was faithful to make my lists, but some days I couldn't get everything done.  But that's OK!  I did get most things done and I felt very accomplished. And it's amazing to look at my list and see all that I really did.

I was really motivated this week when I saw cleaning up clutter making a big difference in my spirit.  When I was a teacher I always cleaned the classroom and set everything out for the next day so that when I came in the morning it was all ready to go.  I hope to incorporate some of that in my own home.  Making lists keeps me accountable to myself and I love it!  Now, I'm inspired to do more to bless my home!

HOMEmaker's Challenge (31 Days to Clean) Week #1

I started this challenge in the middle the August, but got overwhelmed with the amount of work I needed to do in a day.  So, now that September has started I wanted to "start over."  Then I had my nieces and nephew come one day and my mother in law came overnight and I just haven't had the time to do the deep cleaning I desired until today.  So I'm picking up where I left off in August and continuing my work in the kitchen.  One thing I find very helpful in working to clean in my kitchen is to clean the countertops off of all the clutter.  This releases my mind to actually work on the inside of my cupboards.  Cleaning is psychological to me!  That's my mission statement- "When my house is clean- I smile!"  I smile anyway, but I really smile big when I walk into a room and it is CLEAN!  I know that I can bless my family by cleaning my home and that is my mission.  Some days I have to let things go, but I keep plugging on.

HOMEmakers's Challenge with 31 Days to Clean starts Sep 1

Are you ready to CLEAN?!  As you have seen in my many posts this is an area where I want to be accomplished, but I never seem to get there.  I guess with 2 little ones I shouldn't be too hard on myself, but I just can't seem to do the important things I want to do if my house is in utter disarray.  I can't find anything and life just feels chaotic.  I know that when my world is clean I can do a much better job of doing those activities that I really want to do well: meal planning, playing with my kids, budgeting, lesson planning, relaxing, etc.  do you feel the same way?

Well, HOMEmaker's Challenge is doing a 31 Days to Clean Challenge starting September 1.  Read this POST for further details and sign up.  Get your 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way today and get ready for the challenge!

31 Days to Clean- Having a Martha House the Mary Way by Sarah Mae

I have been so overwhelmed with my life lately and I just can't seem to get it together.  I discovered the book 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way by Sarah Mae.  I truly need a makeover in my home and I couldn't figure out where to start.  This book is a perfect blend of both inner and outer cleaning.  The first 8 days I am cleaning my kitchen. But the first thing I had to do was make a mission statement.  So here it is:

I put this up on my kitchen to remind me of my goal- to smile!  When my outside world is in order, my insides feel so relaxed.  I'm not there yet, but that is my goal.  If there is one place in my house that is clean and neat I will smile.  Eventually I hope to smile in every room and develop a maintenance plan.  But in the meantime, I'm working day by day.

So grab your copy of 31 Days to Clean - Having a Martha House the Mary Way.  On Sarah Mae's blog there are also video clips (need to have the book for the access code)  for the Martha challenges done by Jennifer Ross who also has a book that I want to check out called Encouraging Challenges: The Month After 31 Days to Clean.  There is no greater joy to me than to have a clean home where I can enjoy my family!