Laundry, Loads of Fun!

Can you sense the sarcasm????? I will be linking up with Crystal and Co. this week!


Well about a year ago a friend and I jokingly decided to start an Organization Accountability Partnership.   We decided to start with our laundry rooms and you can check it all out here and here and here.

Are you noticing that there were no final results?????  Yeah, I know.  Don't start something you can't finish.

Well shortly after the completion, I found out I was pregnant and I just had bigger fish to fry, or larger loads to wash.  (har-har)  Sometimes I just can't resist.


I found the "after" pictures on my computer, but I decided to take new ones.  I can honestly say that I have kept up with the organization, and since No. 2 was born, I have found a laundry system that works for me.

Here are some current pics.  They are in "real" life, no airbrushing.

I love the mail organizer...it also holds thank you notes you should have mailed months ago.

baskets starting to overflow...time to purge them.

The dryer basket holds detergent and stain removers...and the occasional misplaced item.

 I have made it my life's mission to keep this from being a Dumping Ground.  Now we dump everything in the kitchen, but that is a whole 'nother Oprah!




Now my secrets to laundry success...

Wait for it.....

Wash one load of laundry EVERY day.
(ok I know there are some days that a load doesn't get done)

Dry said load of laundry the same day.
(This seems simple but for me I was doing a lot of rewashing because I would a forget a load about a load and it would sour)

Fold said load of laundry the same day.
(Can you say wrinkled EVERYTHING???)

Put away said laundry the same day. 
(We have been known to use the baskets as a closet, wearing straight from the basket until it was empty.  I am not kidding.  Please tell me I am not the only one!)

I know it sounds so simple for most folks, but this was an AH HA moment for me.  Seriously, this is what has kept me from having a terrible attitude about laundry.  Yes, it never ends, but it has to be done.  Doing a little a day takes the crazy away. (for me)

It also helps if your kids stay out of the baskets and don't dump out the freshly folded clothes.  Freshly folded...who am I kidding??

WFMW: This is How I Clean...Or Don't

I am in a special Season of life right now.  You can read all about it here.  I used to have it somewhat under control.  I didn't realize this in my previous Season.  The one with only one child, who was potty trained and communicated with words, not various cries.

Not that I can distinguish between them.  I just go down the list.

hungry? wet? poopy? spit up all over yourself? want to be held? don't want to be held? too tired? not tired enough? brother's being too loud? tired of your swing, bouncy seat, cradle, bed????????  YIKES!

My house is a disaster zone.  Things are everywhere.  I go to bed at night and they are in their place and then twelve seconds after I wake up, they are not.  But, I can say, my house it sanitary.

Before having Scut, my precious, cuddle-bug...I worked out a system for myself.  It wasn't what I had always done, but I stuck with it long enough to find that it worked.  It worked when I was WAY too pregnant, and it has worked for me for the past 5 weeks.   My strategy, keeping my home clean all along so it never gets to that "What is growing in my bathroom???" stage.

Sounds too easy?  Well, it may not work for you, and it may not work for me in a couple months :)

The first two weeks I did this system required much deeper cleaning.  Then after that, it was just upkeep.

Monday: Clean my KITCHEN.  This includes whatever needs to be done on top of the daily stuff, such as the dishwasher, counter wipe down, and sweeping the floors.  
Honestly, after the first two weeks, I got to where I could do this in 30 minutes, when uninterrupted.  Like I get 30 min uninterrupted now.  Hey I still get it done at some point.

Tuesday:  Clean my BATHROOMS.  I have a secret weapon for these!  They are called Clorox Wipes.  I keep a container in each bathroom, on the counter.  I splurged on these before having the baby but have been finding them either FREE or dirt cheap.  Keeping these clean has eliminated my past habit of ignoring the bathrooms because they were sooo bad.  Denial is unhealthy, I know!

Wednesday: Clean my FLOORS.  This includes mopping the kitchen if it was left undone, bathroom floors, hardwoods, and vacuuming.

Thursday: DUSTING is disgusting, but it has to be done.  This includes our bedroom and living area.  I don't dust the kiddos rooms every week.  I also change and wash our bed linens.


Friday: De-clutter the house and do any something on my never ending To Do List. (example: change out pictures in frames so that we have some pictures of our second child in the house)

Here's what I love about this method.  If I don't get to clean the kitchen on Monday because of a doctor's appointment, last minute play date, or its just a crazy kind of day, I simply get it done the next Monday.  It is not going to kill me or any of us for the kitchen to only get cleaned every two weeks.  

Also, if I only have a few minutes to squeeze in some cleaning, this method gives me a focus.  Usually, once I go five minutes, I find that I really have more time than that.

WFMW...Returning Items to Friends.

Here's my WFMW tip....and thanks to We Are That Family for the Linky Party!

We have a very handy set of hooks hanging on the wall next to our garage door.  When I have an item (book, toy, etc.) I need to pass on to a friend or return to the store, I place it in a grocery sack and hang it on a hook.  There is one little problem-o with this system.  I can't see what's in the bag to know where it needs to go.

So I grabbed one of my new little organizers from Ikea and threw in a stapler, some note cards, and a sharpie.  Now when I put the item to be returned in the bag, I label the outside using the cards.

Now I know exactly what needs to go where and the cards are a reminder that something needs to be taken with me.  Problem-o solved!

WFMW...Bathroom Cleaning Kit

Currently I am cleaning two houses every two weeks.  Neither of them are mine.  It helps us make ends meet. 
My favorite part of this is that I get to walk away from a clean house, and I am not there to see it get all dirtied up!!!!

I love to clean bathrooms.  Again, not my own...because of the whole watching it get dirty thing.  But I do.  They shine.

In my own home, I am not very diligent about cleaning the bathrooms on a certain day or every so often.

I just get in there to do my hair...its gross, and I clean it.

Because I keep a Bathroom Cleaning Kit under my sink, I do not have to cross the house to round up the supplies I need.  This also works when someone is coming over and I need to clean it ASAP.

Here is what my Bathroom Cleaning Kit includes:

 

1 roll of paper towels

1 bottle of window cleaner

1 bottle of all purpose cleaner

1 bottle of toilet bowl cleaner

1 sponge

1 old toothbrush

I double heart this cleaning kit under each bathroom sink because:

1.  It keeps my bathroom cabinets relatively organized and clean.

2.  I am more likely to clean the whole bathroom (rather than just parts of it) if I have all my supplies in one     place. 

3.  I do not get distracted by 1,000 other things that need to be cleaned on my way from one bathroom to the other. 

I encourage you to give this a try!  What items would you need in your Bathroom Cleaning Kit????? Please leave a comment and let me know!!!

WFMW...My Little Multi-Purpose Space

One day, down the road, I would love double love to have a multi-purpose room, bonus room, whatever you want to call it.  My hubby has an office/man room, and he has generously offered it up to me any time I need the space, but its just not the same.

I love our home.  But it does not have a space for me to:
-organize and clip coupons
-sew
-get crafty
-write out bills (correction: my hubby does this, maybe I would do it if I had the space :)
-bible study
-anything else my little heart desires.

I gave it up and decided to turn my dining room into my multi-purpose space.  We don't eat in there often anyway so why not?

The dining room hutch has always been used for decoration.  I needed space.  The table is completely cleared off and we rarely eat on it.  I needed a flat surface.


Dining room with carpet + 18 month old = I am not willing to go there (often).

I used the empty space on the top of the hutch to house cookbooks, bible study materials, and a basket that holds pens, notepads, coupon books, and other random needed materials.

I used the drawers for crafty stuff.  I also keep my sewing machine and craft baskets in our master closet, so The Wookster isn't tempted to get crafty himself.
  

I have a 3 drawer organizer on the bottom shelf of the hutch (not shown), along with a basket of cars to keep Wookie busy if I am working here while he is awake.

Its not the bonus/multi-purpose room of my dreams, but it WORKS FOR ME!

Works for Me Wednesday...REAL SIMPLE

Its that time again, thanks Kristen, at We Are THAT Family, for always inspiring me to find something that Works for Me!!!

I love love love me some Real Simple.
I just received my latest Real Simple Email Newsletter. Check out their website above to start getting yours, too!

Their latest fabulous ideas were new uses for old things!

Several of the ideas are goodies that I have already tried out like...


Using my flat iron to iron Wookies small shirts and between buttons and collars.


This worked really well in my first grade classroom to keep cords safe and out of reach. It allowed me to pull out just the length that was needed!


A toothbrush works great to silk a few ears of corn. When we put up large quantities, I like to use a bigger brush.


I used to use The Wook's baby socks as a cell phone case when I had that horrid "Chocolate" phone.

Here are a few that I can't wait to try!!!!!


I am definitely going to have to try this with my boy. I think The Wookster will love it, and small eggs would fit very well in his cute little hands. I am thinking Baby Goldfish.


So, I love the idea of using shower curtain hooks...but not for purses. I am seeing these hanging on a towel bar in the bathroom when we have a house full of kids who can't keep their towels off the floor. Ya with me???


Can you say Mint Juleps?


These would be fun at a child's birthday party or baby shower!



This is just too creative. The newsletter said that the Lifesavers that come in the rolls work best. The bagged version have larger holes. Good to know.


This would be perfect to keep in our van. Dirty diapers, old juice boxes, just general trashiness that the hubby always ends up cleaning up.


How fun would these be next year for the 4th of July???


Very creative use for paint chip samples! We don't host that many parties where place settings are needed but creative!


What a cool idea for a cookout...and easy cleanup. This would also be great for the lake or beach!!!


And my all time favorite new use for something old......
I love to paint anything if it says still long enough, but I HATE the cleanup, especially when I am in the middle of a project. I can't wait to try putting an old grocery sack on my brush when I am in the middle of a project. According to Real Simple this can save your brush for a day or two. This will come in handy when we get around to finishing our laundry room.

Do you have a creative new use for something old? Please share it in the comments!!!!

WWFW....Cock-a-Doodle-Doo Decor, and More

This has been a whole week of Works for Me, more like Workin' Me Tail Off.

We finished painting our dining room. You can check it out here.

After all that painting, I decided I would hire an interior designer next time. He is really smart and oh so handsome...
He thinks we should go with Rye in the living room.

Maybe I should take his advice so that I don't have to re-tint and re-paint?

I am still working on the Baby Spoon Art. I am up in the air about the frame and yada yada. You can check that out here.

I guess the only "finished" project I have to share is This Cock a Doodle Do Decor!
So what can you do with one unused dinner napkin from Aunt "C"'s cookout...
that your hubby held onto because he doesn't like to throw anything away...
but you are glad he didn't toss it because it inspired you...





I love roosters, the decor variety, not the one's that wake you up way too early in the morning!

And what do you do with that same napkin and an old chippy, crackly fiesta ware platter that is just screamin' "deco me too while you're at it"...



And scoring this next baby at the local antique mall really Works for Me. Thanks to the Mama for purchasing it so that I can get my craft on!!!!!!!!!


I will be working on it for the next few days and hopefully have an update on the makeover in time for Frugal Friday Finds.

Spray paint cabinet here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!