Photograph Credit: Simple Mom

With the beautiful weather outside, our family spent many hours outdoors this week. After lunch each day, my older daughter and I spend time tending our garden and keeping the tomatoes, basil, and strawberries well-watered.

Since I have not begun switching my children’s clothes from winter to spring, I have no pictures to share on that front. But to present results from Project Simplify, I will share my before and after pictures of my bedroom transformation.

When I switched my children’s clothing from summer to winter, my room housed all the piles of clothing. In a phrase, it was a mess! However, after packing, labeling, and cleaning, Paul and I got our room back. Are you ready for the pictures? I’m warning you, it is a little scary. 🙂

Before

After

Now that our bedroom remains clean and organized, I’m about to switch the children’s clothing again. So, I might have a mess for a week, but I will get my room back . . . eventually. 😉 Happy organizing!

Question: Did you take part in your own Project Simplify? If so, what did you tackle?

Photograph Credit: Simple Mom

After a busy spring break, we partially returned to a normal schedule.

Between shopping, field trips, and bouts of allergies, we managed to keep our home picked up and relatively clean.

For Week #3’s Project Simplify task, I maintained our home this week. However, I found one area on which to concentrate.

Week #3: Closets, Countertops, and Drawers (oh my)

With most of my closets and drawers clutter-free, clean, and organized, I decided to tackle my kitchen countertops. During busy days, our kitchen counters become the dumping ground. The piles multiply at an alarming rate until the counters are full.

The amazing part is how quickly the transformation takes place. The counter will be neat and clean when I leave the kitchen, and then loaded with stuff on my next visit. As meal time approaches, the counter’s clutter must go. I have learned to schedule a few extra minutes before making dinner to tidy the kitchen.

Before                                                               After

Working within a clean and clutter-free environment keeps me using time wisely. Though I prefer that every item that enters our house gets put away immediately, I know that’s not going to happen. The toddler needs her diaper changed, my preschooler wants to play a Wii game, and my son requires a drink refill to quench his thirst. These events take precedence over putting the mail on my desk or the purchases away.

Though the organizing results of my week will not set off fireworks, the daily maintenance keeps my home in order without distracting me from my top priorities. If you participated in this Project Simplify task, then please leave a link to your results or post your pictures in the comments.

Week #4: Choose your own adventure—you pick your most-needed hot spot

With Weeks #1 – 3 complete, Project Simplify officially concludes with Week #4 – Choose your own adventure—you pick your most-needed hot spot.  Find the worst area in your home and tackle it this week.

Though I may not finish, I need to organize our storage closet. If I finish switching my children’s clothing from winter to spring, then I will work on the closet. If I don’t succeed during this week, then I will continue in the week(s) that follow. Just making progress is moving forward. Happy organizing!

Question: What area will you address this week? 

Last week was a great week spent playing with my kids. We participated in lots of activities, most away from home, and had a great time. Though I did not make much progress at home, I would not trade the time spent with my family. Priceless!

In sharing Week #2’s Project Simplify task, I could not decide which area to tackle: my pantry or my freezer. Well, I decided . . . with the beautiful weather and my children outside, I chose to defrost, clean, and reorganize our chest freezer.

Week #2: Kitchen and/or Pantry

Though not housed in my kitchen, our chest freezer is definitely at the heart of our kitchen. With items placed, removed, and shifted to find other items, I no longer knew what food I had available in the freezer. In addition, the inside had accumulated about ½” thick of ice. So, it was time to tackle the ice and the clutter while organizing our freezer space.

• Remove all items out of the freezer. Yep! I used boxes and placed similar items together.

• Scrap and de-ice the freezer.

• Organize the items

1. Breakfast Items
2. Breads
3. Desserts
4. Meats
5. Vegetables
6. Dinner entrées

• Place the items into designated space

• Close the freezer before the food defrosts. 🙂

Before                                                           After

Now I know what foods I have which allowed me to pass on a sausage deal this week because I had 4 packages in the freezer. Prior to organizing the freezer, I would have purchased more sausage because I did not know how many I had in my stockpile. By organizing and reorganizing, I am saving money, energy, and time, and that is using time wisely.

If you participated in this Project Simplify task, then please leave a link to your results or post your pictures in the comments.

Week #3: Closets, Countertops, and Drawers (oh my)

With Week #1 and #2 complete, Project Simplify is moving to Week #3 – Closets, Countertops, and Drawers. As I return to our normal routine, I hope to make some good progress on our home this week. Next week, I’ll report back on my progress. Enjoy the process, and happy organizing!

Question: How often do you declutter a space in your home?

In between catching up from our family’s trip to my Grandma’s funeral and daily life, I squeezed in time for organizing.

Participating in Tsh’s Project Simplify, I determined to get my toddler’s nursery decluttered of baby items, cleaned, and organized. Though it wasn’t easy, I finished the task on Saturday afternoon and added lots of baby items to our donation pile.

Week #1: Kids’s Stuff

The main project in my daughter’s nursery was the closet. I had pillows, diaper bags, infant toys, slings, carriers, and coats taking up valuable space in her closet. To best use the available space, I followed this system of organization:

• Remove all items out of each shelf

• Sort items into 3 piles

1. Keep
2. Give  (donate)
3. Sell

• Organize keep items

• Place keep items into designated space

• Put give and sell items in their designated spaces

Before                         After

The result turned out better than I envisioned. I love to see empty spaces! My daughter’s closet now holds items she uses, and the extra stuff is not cluttering our home.

This Project Simplify task – organizing Kids’ Stuff is complete. If you simplified your kids’ stuff this week, then please link or post your pictures in the comments.

Week #2: Kitchen and/or Pantry

With Week #1 complete, Project Simplify is moving to Week #2 – Kitchen and/or pantry. Hmm . . . my freezer and my pantry need some attention. Oh, which one do I choose?

Well, come back next week to see my before and after pictures of my progress. Happy organizing!

Question: Which area needs more attention in your home – pantry, freezer, or kitchen?