Keeping Things Functioning Around Here-Part 3

Organizing our Clutter

I haven't posted lately because my card reader broke! I know "No pictures" doesn't make a post very exciting but I figured I'd keep it going anyway.

The words in my title do not go together because the words "Organize" and "Clutter" DO NOT go together. When I begin to organize a space in my home or help someone else organize their home, the first thing I do is get three boxes out. I mark them "Throw away", "Put away" and "Donate". The "Put away" box is for items that do not belong in that room. If we leave the room every time we have something to put away it takes longer, and we get distracted so, when the box is full, I go put the things away in each room they belong in. If we do not have a place for donations we tend to not donate them and we shove them somewhere in our space. I tell my kids all the time, "If it doesn't have a place, then it doesn't belong in our space". I read in a magazine today that the average American only uses about 20% of what they have! We are spoiled. So, if you haven't used it in 6 months to a year, it is cluttering up your home and making MORE work for you. Work=Time, and I don't know about you but time is not something I can spare. I also read today that each family member should only be spending about 30 min. per day on housework. If this is true, then spending more time either means we have TOO much stuff, or the other members of our family are not doing their share which brings me to my next tip.

The Chore Box:
Another thing my children constantly hear me say is "Don't put it down, put it away". So, if I find it out, it goes in the chore box. On Fridays, we dump it out and you owe me a chore for each item in there. If your items exceed 5, you don't participate in "Kid night". A movie and dessert that night. This is after my children have decluttered their stuff because I realized one day they had way more then they could appreciate. Now that they have eliminated the things they don't use, they care for the things that their Daddy works very hard to provide.

Laundry:
We've found that when we dread putting our clothes away it's because our drawers are too full. A great tip for decluttering drawers, and this especially applies to junk drawers, is pour everything into a box. If you use it, then put it away in the drawer. After a month or so, get rid of the rest. In your closet, turn all of your hangers with the hooks facing you. After wearing and washing an item, hang it back up with the hook facing in. Everything left on hangers facing you needs to go. (This works great for the people in your family that have a hard time letting go of un-used items.)

Zones:
My house is divided into 4 zones.
Zone 1-Kitchen and office (Because the office is just off the kitchen)
Zone 2-Dining room and craft area
Zone 3-Bedrooms and bathrooms
Zone 4-Living room and entryway

I spend one week a month in each zone. First decluttering a little bit at a time. The best method I've read is this. Ask yourself 3 questions.

1. What already goes on in this area? It's easier to make a place for your husband to dump his stuff where he already does then to try and nag him into dumping it somewhere else. If the shoes are left at the door, don't expect a pretty shoe basket in a bedroom closet to become their new home. If your family plays games in the living room, store them in the living room.
2. What supplies are needed for this activity? Once you've decided what goes on in the zone, throw away trash or items you are unable to donate, donate things that are not being used, or put away what does not belong. Categorize the rest into piles. Maybe by size or type. An example would be toys. Don't make it too complicated for the kids. I have blocks, mega legos, and a wooden train set all in one tub because they were always doing these things together. They would end up pulling out the blocks to make the train set bigger, etc. This is a very easy clean up for toddlers and preschoolers and they are learning to do their share!
3. What type/size container do I need? We tend to get this one backwards. Don't buy them first because they could end up too big or too small and you don't want them creating future clutter problems. The goal is to de-clutter and stay that way so you have more time for more important things like playing with your kids. So, look at the piles of everything you are keeping and then decide what will hold them neatly. I prefer containers you can't see through. You can find neat ways to label them when you're done.


Like I said earlier, I was not born organized. I don't think anyone is. It can be learned and I'm still learning everyday. Whenever I go to an appointment I search for the magazines with organizing tips. Woman's Day, Better Homes and Gardens, etc. I take notes in my planner when I read something good. My kids always search the free magazine rack at the library for me too! Some other great resources are Flylady and HannahKeeley. I would love to hear how you stay organized and contain your clutter.

Keeping Things Functioning Around Here-Part 2

Organizing Our Homeschool

I've been homeschooling for 6 years now. It was not typically in style where I was when I started but I just knew when my oldest turned 5 that I couldn't send him away and so I began.

I was not born organized. I've come by it out of desperation. I've read everything I can get my hands on when it comes to organizing your home school and come across many different ways of doing things. I've gone back and forth with curriculum's and teaching styles yet there are a few things that have worked very well for us for a few years now no matter what curriculum we are using.

I'm going to focus on where to keep everything. I've heard many different suggestions on this. As homeschoolers we tend to collect everything we can find. I've seen free boxes at church and even picked up things at yard sales. If it's a good deal and we might use it sometime in our homeschooling career we bring it home. So, we have to find places to put the stuff.

I've heard it suggested that you box up and store the books you are not currently using and only keep out what you are. I tried this method however when I wanted to see if I had something, switched curriculum half way through because something wasn't working, or wanted to bless someone else in need, it was a real pain.

I like to keep everything I have out. I group it by subject and can see it easily. When I am given a box of books someone is no longer using, I keep what I "Know" I will use and pass on the rest. "You can't organize clutter!"


A great friend picked this up at an estate sale and then decided they didn't need it so I scored! I think it's an old china cabinet.

Here it is all closed up! NO Clutter and the best part, no flat surfaces to collect clutter. Flylady calls those "Hot spots".

Also in there is things like playdough, coloring supplies, stamps, learning toys for preschoolers only played with at school time, etc.

I keep my homeschooling stuff in my dining room which also dubs as a game room...

All of my games and puzzles are tucked neatly in there...

A scrap booking room...

Remember, keep things where you use them. My girls love to scrapbook. I enjoy it too but did not enjoy the mess we had to clean up and lug out when we were done. Now it's all right there!

There is one part of my dining room that does not function very well so I thought I'd include it.

I would love some suggestions here. This is above the sink in the kitchen. It just collects stuff. How can I make it useful? Help!

Anyway, back to where to keep stuff. My next favorite are my children's personal school supplies. I read of a lady whose husband built her a cabinet on wheels with dividers. She would move it around wherever they did school or wherever she felt like grading. I like the idea of "Mobile" so I came up with these a few years ago and have really benefited from it.


These are for my preschool age children. They keep all of their personal books and supplies in there. They also keep a pencil box with all of their utensils labeled with colored tape so I know who it belongs to when it is left out. Also notice the map under there. This is my dining table with a clear table cloth. This map came with a very expensive geography curriculum and they have learned more from sitting around this map then they did with the curriculum. My five year old will give you a pop quiz if you come over.

About first grade or so they graduate to these binders.

They hold everything!

They have according files that hold the books their reading and misc. workbooks and things. It holds their pencils and supplies. Even their rulers that they could never seem to find when the Math book would call for it.

And that is a flexible ruler, so they can't come to me with them broken anymore either!
I hole punch the bigger workbooks and keep everything in there filed by subject. These are great if we decide to do school snuggled up on the couch or go to the park which I've done a few times. They even brought them in to me in my bed when I had my surgery and we did a little. The older children also have desks in their rooms if they need some quiet and they can easily take them upstairs, supplies and all.

If you are looking to de-clutter some of your curriculum or are looking for new or used curriculum I've just discovered this great store by the Portland airport. It's called Exodus Books and they will buy your old curriculum and sell new and used curriculum for very great prices. They have everything organized by subject in the store and online!

Coming up next...Children's bedrooms!