What I've Been Up To...

I really love cut flowers in the house! My husband and son sometimes bless me by

buying me some (my husband brought me some yesterday as a matter of fact!)

But, I also love to cut them from my yard--one of my fav things to do!

I recently had these lovely pink peonies and sage that I cut and brought in.

Alongside them you see the blessing of a bumper-crop of strawberries!

I held one so you could see how huge they are!

Don't these look pretty in the vase below?

Also, I am still on the Gaps diet...and here is my typical lunch...

salad, fruit, and kefir. It's so nice to have lettuce from the garden,

and the strawberries too--makes life easier!

When we went to visit our friends in Ohio last year, one of them made "Garden Tea" for us to drink.

I have an abundance of mint as you can see below, so I made some...

Basically, I just took filtered water and put it in my Vitamix--then I took washed mint (mine is apple mint)

and put it stems and all in the vitamix and blended it.

I strained it into the pitcher--and drank it.

It is really good!

Here's another batch of strawberries, and some snow peas too.

I really enjoy these fresh garden blessings!

If you read my previous post here, you know that I've been cleaning and decluttering for over a month.

It culminated today with our yardsale (our community had one) and since our son Brad is the president

of our civic assoc., we wanted to participate.

Everything that was left was loaded in the back of Brad's truck and the guys took it

all to Goodwill.

Phil and I also worked hard last night (it was pouring outside-so a great time to do it) cleaning out our attic.

We spent less than 1 1/2 hours, but we got alot done! And, I feel so much better now!

And, we made a little extra money to boot! :)

June is always a busy month for us, and ours is getting cranked up already!

Still Plugging Away!

Yep, I'm still cleaning and decluttering!

Above is a pic of my bedroom when I finished it.

I even cleaned out all the drawers and closets.

As I've gone along, I've made little notes of things I need to replace.

Above is a new throw rug for the entryway.

(I really like the colors!)

I also found this sweet little lamp for the top of the bookshelf in my bedroom.

To the left of it is a picture that I found a frame for (took me forever to find the right size!)

The picture is special because my dear Mom painted it. :)

This week, I am tackling the family room.

I am happy it worked out this way--it's hot outside,

an my family room is in the basement...nice and COOL!

I'm Still At It!

Yep, I'm still cleaning up a storm in my home these days!

I am sort of Spring Cleaning...yet not. Click here to read the

explanation and previous post on this.

So far I have decluttered and cleaned our:

• Foyer
• Dining Room
• Kitchen
• Office
• Downstairs Bath

And I'm about 2/3 done the Master Bedroom.

I am doing all the drawer, cabinets, etc...

Plus, washing throw rugs, curtains, dust ruffles, and windows...

I also touched up the paint.

It's a lot of work, but I am so happy with what I've gotten done so far!

Lord willing, I will be finishing the Bedroom on Monday.

(this will including "switching the summer/winter clothes as we do not have big enough

closets to keep both seasons in them at the same time-thus they are stored in the attic)

Then I will do the Upstairs Bath, the Living Room, Family Room, and Play Room.

After that, I will have to do the dreaded workshop and garage...I am hoping for help

with those! :)

Once I am finished, I will continue doing my Zones monthly, and

only have to spend 15 min/daily to do that.

Much easier than letting it all go and having to "play catch up"!

Hope you are enjoying this lovely Spring weather

-I have gotten out some during my breaks and really love this time of year!

Blessings!

Spring Cleaning....

Spring Cleaning...yet not!

Ever since I was sick in 2011--things in my home have gotten away from me!

So, I decided to make a plan and try to stick to it to get things under control!

I got the book out of the library written by the Fly Lady-made a plan, and got started!

I divided my house up into five zones--the first one being the foyer, front porch, and dining room.

Above was my first project.

The dreaded hall closet...I decluttered by getting rid of many items, then decobwebed,

reorganized, cleaned and viola!

Then I tackled the Dining Room...

Took out these Precious Moments--all of them have been given to me by dear friends and family...

My Tea Cup from Prince Edward Island...

A gift from my dear friend Wilma--this is her and I hugging :)

Cleaned out the curio--and all the stuff that went in it

Then on to the China Closet/Hutch

Got rid of some things, cleaned it all, reorganized too

Then I did the bookshelf, the woodwork, and floor and I was done!

This week I am doing the kitchen--but forgot to take pics! :/

It's going well, I'm almost done and it's only Wed.

Yesterday I did the frig, washed and rehung the curtains, did the floor and windows.

Today I did the freezer, & reorganized several cabinets.

It's coming along nicely!

The goal of doing this is to repeat the zones every month-& never have to Spring Clean again--because you're always "caught up".

You're only supposed to spend 15 min. per day--but I am doing lots more than that so

I can get caught up!

If you are doing this method, I'd love to have your input!

Almost Spring....

Well ladies, I did indeed start my Spring Housecleaning!

It kind of happened by accident :)

My son went on a road trip to visit a friend, so I took the opportunity to tear his room apart and

clean and organize it!

That led to more cleaning of other rooms, and before I knew it, I had officially begun my

Spring Housecleaning!

My focus while cleaning this year is to remember to be thankful for my home.

I think of the ones in NJ who have been out of their homes for so long because of Hurricane Sandy and

my heart goes out to them.

I am very thankful to have a home to clean--and family members to clean for!

I'm also thankful to God that He has allowed me to get well enough to clean!

Oh, and  I'm so thankful for being able to stay at home to clean!

I am blessed!

Is anyone else going crazy besides me? LOL

With the advent of Spring...

Comes projects around our house.... Above is the "front door project". Bri and I had our work cut out for us as we don't just have 2 front doors to sand down, wash, prime and paint, we have FOUR! Count them...FOUR! LOL

These were some of our supplies. The palm sander, the blue tape for taping off for cutting in, the bucket for washing after we sanded, drop cloths, and paint.

Usually I have to do this by myself...but I had the wonderful blessing of having Bri slug it out with me! Cuts the job in 1/2!

But, I was so happy when they were finished! It makes them look brand new!

One down...many more to go!

A Few Household Cleaning Tips

If you have several jobs to do...and you feel overwhelmed--start with the worst, biggest job first. Get it out of the way, and the rest will speed by!
If you keep putting something you need to do off because you're overwhelmed--*set a timer for 15 minutes, and just work on it for 15 minutes each day until it's done.*

(You'll be surprised what you can get accomplished in 15 minutes! I do this alot)

**************************************************************
Got an unexpected phone call? Don't stop working!

While chatting you can:

• put in a load of wash (or fold one, or iron some pieces)


• clean the kitchen table and counters (or stove)


• work on cleaning out a shelf of the frig, or the outside of the frig door


• wipe down the kitchen cabinet fronts


• clean a mirror, or glass in the door


• set the table for your next meal


• wipe off a door jamb that has finger prints


• dust

************************************************************

When I clean my frig I:

• Turn off the power so it's not running while being cleaned


• Start at the top shelf and work my way down


• I use warm water and baking soda to clean with (it also deodorizes at the same time)


• I keep the trashcan nearby to throw away any old food (I also try to time this with running the dishwasher too--so I can put any containers I empty out in the dishwasher and run it asap)


• Don't forget to wipe down the door gasket


• Also, Clean the condenser coils and condenser fan twice a year.
  
  

I made another Step!

Well, today I spent a good portion of my day in the attic! Yes, in the attic! I want to get it really thinned out (as in pared down) to almost nothing! I have a few things I'd like to store up there, but we want to get RID of stuff!

So, we loaded up a full pickup truck load for Goodwill. And, another load of stuff (close to the same amount) for the trashman!

I feel much better already!