Jennifer Cardwell

You work on a post and it doesn't want to post. Very frustrating. No, time to fix it now, so hopefully this works. Today we are working on clearing off our desks, or whatever we use as one. Let's get them cleared off, cleaned up and organized. Please let me know how you did!

Jump In January - 13 Jan 14

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!  I hope you got to spend some time with your families.  Did you get over zealous and work on any challenges you didn't quite finish?  I know I did.  I didn't complete all of them, but I did work on some of them some more, and I made sure to spend plenty of time with my family.  We spent a lot of time playing games (like Life, etc).

I got so busy this morning.  I have had very little sleep again (I know I need to work on that), and so I went straight into what I needed to do.  I got to working on our challenge today and realized that I hadn't posted our challenge, so that you can play along.  In fact, I didn't get any blog posts or crafting done this weekend.  I spent too much time playing with the kids.  Oh well!  I was in a ton of pain and didn't feel up to doing much else, plus I know that there will be a time where my kids won't want to spend any time with me.  So, it all worked out.

Anyway, back to today's challenge, we are cleaning off end tables.  End tables, are another one of those catchalls in the house.  People sitting by them set things down, people walking by them sets things down, and no one hardly ever remembers to move it to where it belongs unless of course they are looking for it. 

One end table, in my house in particular, got so bad that finally I just put a bowl there.  Things get placed in it all the time and I try to get it cleaned out and put away regularly.  That doesn't help all the papers that gets tossed on it, or books, or anything else, but all the little things are kind of contained.  Well it has been a couple months since I cleaned that bowl out, and all of my end tables look to be buried under a mountain of junk mail, graded school papers, books, and little trinkets.  So, it is time to get those cleaned off and resituated. 

If you are one of those people, like me, who need to have lotion on hand at all times, as well as tissues (always need those with little people), get yourself a cute little basket or container to place those items in so they don't get lost and buried everytime someone places something else on the end table.  Plus, you don't have to spend any money.  You can shop your house.  The bowl I leave on one of the end tables is just a regular breakfast bowl in a solid color.  It doesn't have to be fancy, but it does need to be practical and functional. 

I can't wait to hear how you did with this challenge today!

Jennifer

Jump In January - 11 Jan 14

Wow am I behind the ball curve again!  I had to take some meds to sleep last night.  It has me still very groggy and it is noon.  Hopefully, I can get everything done today!

So, yesterday we were working on straightening up our laundry room/area.  It took me about 20 minutes to get it finished.  I was so clost to having it cleaned up and straightened when my 15 minute alarm went off that I just went ahead and finished it.  It sure is refreshing to walk into that space again!

Today, we are focusing on our floors and general clean.  We are going to spot clean any areas that need it in our rugs/carpets.  If you have the time and feel like it, feel free to take a carpet cleaner and clean the whole floor, but that isn't required today.  Scrub up anything that may have gotten stuck to the floors in the kitchen.  Basically, a general clean of things today. 

Today, we like to spend time with our family do things fun, so I don't want to over work you.  You can feel free to work on anything that you may not have finished this week, if you so choose.  I hope you have managed to do well this week!  I want to hear how you did!

Jennifer

Jump In January - 10 Jan 14

Well this week has gone by quickly!  It feels like it is only Tuesday!  Hope you got some work done with those cookbooks, yesterday!  Did you clear out a bunch of space?  Do you have a bunch of new recipes on your calender for this next month?

I got mine straightened up.  I decided against tossing some, probably should have though.  I also have 2 new recipes on my menu calender to try.  Maybe I will share them with you when we try them?  Anyway, the area looks better, and I can find them.  So, I count that as a win.

Today's focus is on the laundry room, not the laundry (though you are welcome to work on that as well), but the actual room itself.  Depending on the layout of your space this may be more involved.  Get all the soap consolidated.  My kids seem to think they need to open a new one everyother time we run laundry.  Sweep up or vacuum any dryer bits and spilled powder soap.  Clean out the dryer vent really well, use the vacuum to get it a little more than normal.  Organize your supplies.  Straighten up anything else that may be in the space, if your space is shared with something else (ie other storage, etc). 

This shouldn't be an overwhelming task.  I wanted a task that would help the home today but not keep you overwhelmed, as I know Fridays can be a very hectic day in itself.  I hope you get this challenge done and still enjoy your day!  Let me know how you do!

Jennifer

P.S.  I have updates coming later on my BPC classes and a few other challenges for you coming your way!  Keep an eye out!

Jump In January - 9 Jan 14

How did everyone do yesterday?  To be totally honest, I only managed to locate and toss the broken dishes after I had done my post.  I ended up dealing with sick children.  But, I am happy to have that much less to do later.

Today, we are focusing on our cookbooks.  If you are like me, you have a couple hundred cookbooks.  You have some that you cook from regularly, some you may touch from time to time, and some that you have barely even skimmed through.  Let's set that timer for 15 minutes and go through them as quickly as possible. 

With these, you have a couple options.  You can toss the ones you use regularly, if you want to make a digital copy elsewhere.  You can quickly skim through the cookbooks and see if there are any new recipes you are dying to try and mark them and make sure they get on your menu calender within this next month.  Get rid of any that has one or two recipes that you will or do use.  You can always copy those recipes down and use them. 

I am sure there are other options here, but the biggest thing is to get them straightened up.  Make sure they fit in the space you have.  Make it so you can read all the spines.  If you need to (because some people do), put them in some kind of order.  Consolidate and combine where you can.  You don't need cookbooks in 6 areas of the house, though my kids seem to think otherwise. 

This task could take very little time, to an hour or two depending on just how involved you want to get with them.  Just remember it is harder to get rid of things if you sit there with them to long, so do try to be as quick as possible. 

Let me know how you do and if you have any fun creative ways you use to get it done!

Jennifer

Jump In January - 8 Jan 14

I am running behind today!  Hopefully, you will all be able to work on things with me today. 

How did we do yesterday?  I got about half of my fridge cleaned out before my energy waned.  I am telling you it is no fun being sick!  I managed to toss everything needing to be tossed, and scrubbed the first couple of shelves really well.  I am hoping to get back to it today.  My dear husband said he would help me finish this weekend, if I don't get it done by then.  That is really sweet, but I really hate to leave everything to the weekend.  At the same time, I may have to in order to get enough rest to feel better. 

Anyway, you are probably wondering what today's project is.  Well, today we are working on the dishes and dining linens.  What do I mean by that?  Do you have dishes that are either not being used for various reasons, or just plain need to be replaced?  If so, toss or donate them.  Do you have a child that when it is their turn to do dishes (like one of mine) likes to just toss the dishes into the first cabinet they come to without putting it away properly.  If so, let's get those cleaned up and organized properly so we can find them. 

How about your wash rags?  Are any in need of replacing because you have worn them out?  Let's do that today.  How about any table cloths or cloth napkins?  Are they stored in a way that is functional?  Do they need to be replaced?  Are you tired of them?  Let's go through these, get them stored properly, set our table all nice, toss or donate any unwanted ones.  Doesn't that look so much better?!  And just for fun, see if you can find a nice flower arrangement or candle set to place on the table. 

I bet you can have the linens and table taken care of in 5 minutes.  I know I did this morning.  I wanted to be able to start the day feeling like I accomplished something, and it sure looks nice.  Wish I had a way to develop film at home so I could scan in a picure. 

Now I just need to tackle the dishes organization, and contact a Tupperware person about replacing some broken ones (got to love lifetime warranty).   Hope you can join me in getting things done today!  Can't wait to hear what you've accomplished so far!

Jennifer

Forgive me if I don't get any of the themed posts out this week. I will do my best to have them out by Saturday, but with being sick I am finding it very difficult to think through my thought and none of the sentences sound right. I look forward to getting on here and sharing all the fun I have going on!

Jump In January - 7 Jan 14

What a day!  How far did you get on the pantry?  Did you get to the counters?  Did you complete both? 

I didn't get as far as I wanted.  With being sick, I stuck to the 15 minute intervals.  I don't think I could have mustered any more energy.  It isn't perfect, but it is better.  You can close the door to the pantry without having to force it, can open it without things falling out, and the counters are reasonable.  I will come back to them as the week progresses and I continue to feel better (which will hopefully be in the next day or two-really hate being sick).

So, what do we have planned for today?  Any guesses?

Today, we are going to clean out the fridge from top to bottom.  The fridge easily gets filthy as things get moved, shoved, spilled, etc.  So, we are going to get it cleaned up and ready for restocking after the next grocery run.  Pull everything out, starting from the top shelf, and work your way down.  Dump anything expired, or just don't like, and scrub everything with mild soap and water. 

Before putting anything back, I want you to do something.  I saw this idea somewhere (maybe Pinterest as I can live there some days), but I want you to get some Press N' Seal wrap and place it on every shelf.  That way, next time you need to clean out the fridge you can just tear out the filthy press n' seal, wipe up any messes, and place more down.  It will be a much faster clean up.  Yay!

Once you get everything cleaned out from the inside and everything going back in placed in its proper place, now tackle the outside of the fridge.  That can be a catch all as well.  We love the artwork, and the photos, and magnets, and what ever else you keep on it, but it needs to get cleaned off every now and again as well.  You don't have to toss any artwork, but give the artist an opportunity to put it away or you find a place to store it.  Make sure you wipe down the outside and that includes the handles. 

Now don't forget to tackle that freezer, while you are at it.  It is up to you if you wish to tackle any separate freezers, but anything attached to the fridge, we are counting as part of the fridge. 

Let's see how far we get today!  Can't wait to hear from you!

Jennifer

Jump In January - 6 Jan 14

I was really hoping when I woke up this morning that I would find that I had dreamed having this nasty cold.  Unfortunately, I woke up to find I was still sick.  (sigh)  I am still going to be working along with you on our goals.  Are you ready?

Hopefully, you had a chance to get things gathered up and ready to begin our organizing and purging.  I got some of it done, but hey, this isn't a race.  If you are like me, you have a hard enough time keeping up on things with people under feet, let alone if you feel sick on top of that too.  The point is that we are working on it.  We are making improvements in our lives and our homes. 

So what are we focusing on today? 

We are going to be working on our Pantry.  I know that at least in my home, kids don't always help in getting things put away after grocery shopping.  The also don't help keep it straightened up when they go to find a snack.  I have a tiny pantry (sorry didn't get a picture developed).  It really isn't much more than the size of a broom closet.  But, we use it to store food, and it needs to be straightened regularly.

So, I decided that today I would begin there.  Let's sort through that food.  Organize the shelves in a way that works best for you, whether that is like food items together or organized like a store aisle.  Pull things out, wipe off the shelves if needed.  I covered mine in contact paper, so it is easier to wipe off.  Also check to make sure you don't have any expired items.  If you do, toss them.  If you have food items that you determined you won't use, and are not expired, see if you have a local donation area that you can take them too. 

Of course, once you are done cleaning it out, get everything back in and organized with labels facing forward (why go to all that trouble if you still can't read what you have where), and be prepared to be surprised with how much better your kitchen area will feel.  It will feel so much more relaxing to have one less thing spilling out all over the place. 

Now, because it is Organization Monday, I also have a bonus for you.  Let's tackle the counters.  Counters tend to be home for a lot of over flow in our house.  They catch the dishes someone doesn't want to put away.  They catch school supplies that someone just wants to dump out of their back pack.  They also house all those odd and large shaped appliances that you don't know where else to put. 

Let's take everything off and give the counters a good scrub down.  Put any items that don't belong in the kitchen to where they belong (don't just pile them else where-you aren't as likely to go back and take care of that pile), and toss trash.  Also, put away any dishes and or appliances that you may have homes for inside the cupboards or a seperate location.

That is a lot to do for Monday, I agree, but I think we can totally get this done.  Don't forget that you don't have to have it perfect.  Spend 15 minutes at a time on it if you need to break it up.  Don't beat yourself up if you don't get it done, either.  Do what you can.  Make improvements.  Those improvements will be less that you have to do later.  I will be doing this with you.  So let's get started!

Let me know how you do, and I will see you tomorrow with our new challenge!

Jennifer

Apparently, my post for Sunday did not post. Just goes to show that you can easily miss doing the simplest steps when you are sick. I can't even find it under drafts, so I must have completely deleted it by accident. I hope that everyone had a restful Sunday! Let me know how it went.