Motivated Monday

Wow!  I actually have a busy week month!  April is going to be packed with blog hops and blog updates and cleaning and organizing and getting things lined up for Women of Faith and finishing up school and the list  goes on.

This week:

• I will keep up with the Motivated Moms schedule while doing 31 day to clean.    Link to keep up on Charli's progress.
• I will have school this week.  Even if I do have plans for a couple days.
• I will serve good meals.
• 31 days schedule goes like this:
• Mission Statement/Get supplies ready
• Clean out fridge and freezer/add life to my home
• Clean tops of fridge and cabinets/love my family
• Clean oven and microwave/have a friend over
• Wash kitchen window and window treatments/family priorities (I don't have a window in my kitchen so I can take the day off...right?)
• Clean and organize cabinets and pantry/make 6 list, read Romans 8:21
• What's for dinner?
• Grilled Ranch Chicken
• Beef and Cheese Chimichangas
• Roasted Pork Loin
• BBQ Chicken Pizza
• Camp Stew
• If this menu looks familiar, it's because I didn't fix any of them in the past.  Sometimes you just want to wing it.

I'll let you know Friday how things went.

Also, tune in Tuesday and Thursday to learn from other women about homeschooling.

I'll put the links up tomorrow.

Until next time, stay blessed.

Get Your Aprons On

It's that time of year again.  I know I said I wasn't spring cleaning and technically this isn't.  I am just hitting those spots that don't get touched very often.

If you want to join me in this, here is link to the facebook group GetYourApronsOn.  Like that page and you are in.  It is fun to clean together.  It makes the task so much easier knowing that a group of you are doing the same thing on the same day.

We are using this book but you don't have to have it to join us.  We will be posting things daily for you to follow but you will get more out of the process if you have the book.

Hope to see ya there.

P.S.  This all starts April 1.

Until next time, stay blessed.

March Cleaning Schedule

I know, it's almost the middle of March and I am just getting to this.  Sorry, I've already had a very busy month and it is only getting busier.

So, because of all my running and busyness I am not really going to focus on any particular cleaning project.  I just want to keep my head above water.  It seems like I do that a lot lately.

Next month, hold on because I am going to make sure that I get things done.  (I know, I've said that before).

For the rest of March I am going to spring clean the boys bathroom and my den/office.  Yes, this should've already been done but it's my schedule and I can do whatever I want.

Until next time, stay blessed.

February's Organization/Cleaning Schedule

There are 28 days in the month of February.  I didn't have to tell you that but just in case you were wondering, we have a short month to get things done.  So I thought maybe if I put up a schedule it would be easier for me to follow.

So here it goes:

Week 1 (February 4-9):  Kitchen.  Wipe down cabinets, walls, trim and organize cabinets.  Clean fridge and oven and all small appliances.  Clean light fixtures. "Hands and knees" scrub the floor.

Week 2 (February 11-16):  Bathroom and Dining Room.  I know, what a weird combo but they are both small and don't really require a lot of work.  Wipe down and dust out China Hutch.  Wipe down walls, trim and clean windows.  Organize school stuff that isn't being used.  Clean the bathroom vanity out and wipe down walls and trim.  Wash shower curtain.  And of course, clean the toilet and shower.  Clean light fixtures.    "Hands and knees" scrub the floor.

Week 3 (February 18-23):  Office.  What a mess this gets every day!  It is the first room we walk into which means it is the room that "catches" everything.  Make better use of closet space.  File, file, file!  Make sure everything is where it is supposed to be.  Wipe down walls and trim, clean window and door.  Clean light fixtures.  "Hands and knees" scrub the floor.

Week 4  (February 25-28):  Living Room.  Clean out buffet.  Wipe down walls and trim.  Have boys clean out their baskets and put stuff away.  Clean windows.  Vacuum furniture and spot clean it.  Wash throw blankets.  Shampoo carpet.

Hopefully I'll be done by the end of the month.  It seems like a lot to do when I write it down.  The thing is this, whatever doesn't get deep cleaned this month will get it again in a few months since I am on a rotating deep clean schedule this year.  The goal is, once you get one area clean, keep it that way, always leave the room in "ready" position.

Until next time, stay blessed.

January 2013 Goal--Basement

I did it!  I finished the basement and I have a couple of days to spare.

Here are some before and after pics.

Yes, I can finally use the treadmill and bowflex.  You can't really see the treadmill but it is back there by the wall.  I guess I have no excuses now.  And now the shelf has all my Christmas decor on it so I don't have to sort through big plastic boxes to find stuff.  This is my workout section of the basement.

This the boys work out side of the basement.  They still have the weight bench and now all the weights are under the stairs (you can"t see them in this pic).  My laundry folding table is still there but now cleaned up so I can actually fold clothes on it.

.  

I already cleaned these two areas before I took pictures.  Sorry.  But they typically look pretty good because they are used every day and get cleaned up.  Seth is in the "family room" and the other pic is the dogs room.  The upright freezer will be leaving soon.  It goes to my dad.

There are 5 boxes of books to sell at the homeschool conference.  There are 2 boxes of stuff to go back to my grandmother.  There are 2 boxes of stuff for a friend.  There is 1 box of trash.  And 2 boxes of goodwill stuff.  I think I am going to get rid of most of this before I start on the first floor.

The basement won't get another deep cleaning until April.  Hopefully it won't really need much but the carpet shampooed.  

Hope you are enjoying your cleaning and organizing.  Get ready for February.  My deep cleaning goal is my kitchen, dining room, office, living room and boys bathroom.  I may post before and after pics because I didn't post pics after I painted.  One step closer to not spring cleaning this year.  Love it.

Until next time, stay blessed.

Fall Cleaning

I'm not sure if it's the weather or just in my blood, but I really have this strange nesting feeling.  No, I'm not pregnant or depressed or any other issue that might cause this.  I think it's because my mom used to it, my grandmother used to do it and who knows how far back it goes, you spring clean after the winter and you fall clean after the summer.  I usually don't want to do it but for some reason this year I am very motivated.

I am putting the list on here, mainly because I like to check things off and also the list won't get lost, so I guess you guys can follow me and see my progress.  It won't get it done in a week or maybe even a month but it will get done before the snow starts flying.  Here it goes, I am even putting the things I've already done, so I can mark them off.

Kitchen:
pantry cabinet
snack cabinet
pots/pans cabinet
tall top cabinet
sink cabinet

Basement:
canning/camping shelves
cleaning cabinet
weights/exercise equipment
under steps/cabinets
freezer--defrost/organize
dog cages
family room/stands
family room carpet

1st floor:
bathroom
living room cabinets
living room carpet
living room windows
dining room windows
office cabinets
office window
office closet
shoes
office rug
file
coats
gloves/hats

2nd floor:
my bedroom carpet
my bedroom windows
my bedroom closet
my bedroom dressers
my bedroom night stands/entertainment center
bathroom
bathroom window
Tyler and Seth's window
Tyler and Seth's carpet
Tyler and Seth's closet
Tyler and Seth's dressers
Tyler and Seth's shelves

Attic room:
Brody's carpet
Brody's closet
Brody's windows
Brody's dressers
Brody's shelves

Here are some goals for the fall and really forever:

start sticking to my schedule, maybe one day I'll share it
start weight watchers, lose 30 pounds
be more committed to bible reading

make Christmas gifts for:
my mom
my mother-in-law
my step mother
my grandparents

make a pinterest list and do the things I've pinned

31 Days to Clean...before and after.

As promised here are some of the before and after shots.  I don't really have any before pictures unless noted because we had the carpet restretched in the middle of the cleaning process but I thought I would show some of the after.

I may be doing this again in February so I will take pics of all the rooms before I start, just in case.

My bathroom...

The office/den...

 My living room...

 My bedroom...

My dining room...

 My kitchen...

Boys bathroom...

Get Your Aprons On Part 8

This is the final week of 31 Days to Clean.  Hope you are hanging in there.

Here is this weeks plan:
Day 1:  Utility Room--Clean out and organize closet and/or shelves.
Day 2:  Utility Room--Throw away any expired cleaning products or bottles.  Sweep and mop floors.
Day 3:  Rest.  You've done a great job!

Mary Challenges:
Spend time thanking God for all the you have and write down 10 things you are thankful for today.
Kiss your husband, giggle with your kids and soak in the Word of the God.

I will do a wrap up and post pictures of my journey next week.

Until next time, stay blessed.

Get Your Aprons On Part 7

Here is 31 Days to Clean schedule for the week:

Day 1--Home Office:  Clean off and organize shelves.  Shine wood furniture.
Day 2--Home Office:  Carefully clean computer, electronics, keyboard crevices and screens.
Day 3--Utility Room:  Wash inside of windows and clean window treatments.  Wash walls and dust ceiling.
Day 4--Utility Room:  Scrub sink.  Clean drains with Drano or some other drain cleaner.

Mary Challenges are finding what time of the month you have more energy and feel more productive, find a laundry routine that works for your family, get those boxes ready for a goodwill run and here a biggie:  Are there areas in your life where you are experiencing a burden of guilt?  Ask your husband what he thinks about what you are feeling guilty about.

Check out Charli and see how she is doing.

Until next time, stay blessed.

Get Your Aprons On Part 6

Here is 31 Days to Clean schedule for this week.  Sorry I'm a little late posting it, I was out of town all weekend and didn't get a chance to even look at it until today.

Day 1--Bathroom:  Clean toilet.  Scrub shower and tub.  Clean floors.
Day 2--Home Office:  Wash inside of windows.  Wash window treatments and walls.  Dust ceiling.
Day 3--Home Office:  Steam clean carpet or clean rugs, wash hardwood floors.
Day 4--Home Office:  Clean out desk.  Clean out and update files.  Organize office supplies and drawers.

The Mary challenges are:
Take some time to prepare a plan for managing your home.  Envision the goal.  Formulate a plan.  Do the necessary work.

Write out a realistic routine for your family-something basic-and put it in a place where everyone can see it.

What distracts you on most days?  What can you do to lessen the distraction?

Pick one hot-spot in your house and do something to bring about order.

I am going to be posting some pictures soon on my progress.  Check out Charli and see how she is progressing.

Until next time, stay blessed.

Get Your Aprons On Part 5

We are almost done spring cleaning!  Just a few more weeks to go.

Here is this weeks schedule:
Day 1--Bedrooms:  Clean and organize shelves.  Shine wood furniture.
Day 2--Bedrooms:  Clean out and organize closets.
Day 3--Bathrooms:  Clean out, purge, and organize medicine cabinet/closet.  Update first aid kit.
Day 4--Bathrooms:  Wash mirrors and insides of windows.  Wash window treatments and walls.  Dust ceilings.

1.  We will be working on finding our cleaning style, but you have to have the book to find that out.
2.  Do a study on the words "self-discipline" and "joy" in the bible.
3.  Take an honest appraisal of your time.
I really like these Mary challenges.  I've discovered that my problem, most of the time, with just about everything,  is laziness and lack of self-discipline, so these lessons are right up my alley.

Don't get discouraged in your cleaning.  Right now I know things might be looking worse than when you started but trust me, they will get better.  Soon, everything will put back where it belongs and you can sit down and enjoy your beautiful, clean home.

Check in with Charli at wvurbanhippie and see how she is doing.

Until next time, stay blessed.

Get Your Aprons On Part 4

This weeks schedule for 31 Days to Clean is as follows:
Day 1--Living Room: Steam-clean carpets or area rugs and wash hardwood floors.
Day 2--Bedrooms: Clean and store winter bedding.  Bring out summer bedding.  Flip mattress.  Wash pillows.
Day 3--Bedrooms: Wash mirrors, walls, and insides of windows.  Wash window treatments.  Dust ceiling.
Day 4--Bedrooms: Steam-clean carpets or area rugs.  Wash hardwood floors.

Some of you may be wondering how on earth do I keep the rooms clean that I have already cleaned while I am spring cleaning the rest.  I look over the weeks agenda on my motivated moms stuff and only do the chores that pertain to the rooms that I have already done.  That way I can keep up on them and still have time to work on the spring cleaning "to do" list.

Here are some of the Mary Challenges to consider this week:

Figure out your "jazzy", what makes you come alive, and then see if you can find a way to incorporate it into your week.

What's your block?  What's holding you back from allowing your ideals to guide you in the day to day?  What can you do about it?

Until next time stay blessed.

Mary Challenges: 31 Days to Clean

Here is an update on some of the Mary challenges for this study.

Create a six list.  Basically you are to put the top six things that you want to accomplish in one day on a list and put them in order of priority and finish them in order.  If you don't get done with your list then what's left over goes to the top of tomorrows list.  I keep forgetting to make my six list so tomorrow the first thing will be to make my six list for the day.

We needed to recognize and confront our laziness and ask God for forgiveness.  We can't say "I will do that later" because later usually doesn't come.

Envision our homes the way we want them to look/be and memorize that vision.  Ask God to help us create that space as He wills.

Day 11's challenge made me think of the Serenity Prayer:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.
Courage to change the things I can.
And wisdom to know the difference.

We have to realize that we may have limitations caused by illness or other things and there is only so much that we can do in those situations.  But we can't let our limitations define us.  God's grace is sufficient and He meets us where we are.

I have only read up to day 11 so I don't have any insight on the rest yet so you'll have to stay tuned.

Check out Charli's blog at wvurbanhippie to see her updates.

Until next time stay blessed.

Get Your Aprons On Part 3

I haven't been following the schedule to task during my 31 Days to Clean but I have been cleaning.  Here's what I've done so far:

I finished my kitchen during week one.
I finished my bedroom already.  Not by choice but because we had some carpet guys come and stretch the carpet and since all of the furniture was out of my bedroom I thought that would be a good time to spring clean it.
I finished our study/den.
I am almost finished with my living room.
Yay me!

It has been a hard job.  I don't know when I deep cleaned last but it must have been a few years ago.

Anyway, here is this week's schedule for the 31 Days to Clean if you are relying on me to keep you on task:

Day 1:  Kitchen-Sweep, vacuum and mop floors.  Add some fresh flowers to brighten your day.
Day 2:  Living Room-Clean window treatments.  Wash insides of windows.
Day 3:  Living Room-Dust ceilings and wash walls.
Day 4:  Living Room-Clean and organize shelves and electronics.  Shine wood furniture.

Check out one of my peeps, Charli at WV Urban Hippies to see how she is doing.

Hope everyone is enjoying the cleaning, I am and I'm not just saying that.  It feels really good to have a clean organized space.

Until next time, have a blessed day.

Get Your Aprons On Part 2

It's time for week two of 31 Days to Clean.  On this weeks schedule is:

Day 1:  Kitchen- Wash window treatments and/or blinds. Wash inside of windows.
Day 2:  Kitchen- Clean out and organize all cabinets.
Day 3:  Kitchen- Clean out and organize pantry.
Day 4:  Kitchen-  Clean out and organize drawers.

If you have the book you will know what I am talking about next.  The above are called Martha challenges, below I will talk about some of the Mary challenges from last week.

I would really recommend that you buy the book so you can get the most of the Mary challenges.

We were to write a mission statement as to why we want a clean home.


My Mission Statement:

I want my home to be clean to serve God, by being a good steward of what He has blessed me with, to serve my family, by having everything in its place so there is more time for fun and hobbies, and to serve others, by having a place for visitors to come and enjoy themselves and feel refreshed and inspired. I want my home to be lived in though and not to be featured in Better Homes and Gardens.

We were encouraged to make our domain come alive.  I decided that I should use the gifts and talents that God has given me to make my domain come alive.  I could make pretty throw pillows that are fluffy and soft so people feel really comfortable when they are relaxing.  I could cook healthy yummy meals for my family and add some really good desserts here and there.  I could bless my friends and family with small gifts of the things that I make.  We learned that our domain was really our area of influence.  So speaking kind uplifting words to those around me bring life.  Yes, even the cashier at Walmart is in my area of influence because every where you go you influence people.

So anyway, stay focused and keep busy.  Before to long it will be finished and you can sit back and enjoy.

Again, I will be posting before and after pictures later.

Have a very blessed week.

Get Your Aprons On!

And your socks and shoes.  Arm yourself with a cup pot of coffee and a bottle of water.  Make sure all your cleaning supplies are at arms length and get busy.  That's right, it's that time of year again, Spring Cleaning.  This year I am following a plan with my friend Charli at wvurbanhippie and a new group of friends at Treasures from a Shoebox for 31 Days to Clean. Having a Martha House the Mary Way by Sarah Mae .  


So here is what is in store for this week:
Day 1:  (yesterday)  Look over the book and get all the supplies needed.
Day 2:  (today)  Kitchen:  Clean out the fridge and freezer and wipe the outside.
Day 3:  Kitchen:  Dust the tops of the fridge, cabinets, shelves and whatever else has a top and clean the outsides of the cabinets.
Day 4:  Kitchen:  Clean the dreaded oven and microwave.


I will post some before and after shots later.  


You can download the book here if you want to join.



Well, I need to get off of here and get busy or nothing will get done.


Get busy and stay blessed!