You'd think that I would have an empty house

It seems like every year - heck, every other month, I get rid of a bunch of stuff. As in multiple bags of stuff.  Most of it I either give or sell, but some of it (especially some from a certain couple of girls' room) is just actual trash.  Well, maybe some of it is recycling.  But not anything that I can actually sell or give away.  I've had several garage sales. 

But yet, it never seems to ever really end.  We just did some a lot of rearranging of furniture around here - a bed from Super's room went down to the girls' room and was turned into a funky tween couch.  The art shelf was taken out of the dining room and put in the family room.  The old kitchen table was moved out of the girls room (we put it there for them to use as a desk, but it mostly just became a place to put stuff that they didn't want to put away LOL) and brought into the family room, and the old card table was put in the garage.  The second TV from the family was moved to the studio because we are going to use the bed, etc. in the studio as a guest room instead of my room.  We bought a new to us dresser for the girls, and moved one of their old dressers into the studio.  We bought a new tall bookcase for the girls' room and moved the two small ones to Super's room. 

And so by doing all that rearranging, we got rid of a lot of stuff.

And then, I'm finally selling the rest of the things that I still had from when I was still running Montgomery Academy.  So things that I had put in one of the storage closet had to be gone through, taken pictures of, post pictures, etc. and then mailed. 

And by doing all that, I got rid of a lot of stuff. 

Oh, and a couple months ago, I went through all my papers and books that I accumulated in college and got rid of most of it. 

You would seriously think that I should live in an empty house by now.  I'm not sentimental.  I don't hold on to things unless they are functional.  I am much more brutal about things than the rest of my family, but yet, it isn't like the rest of them should be on Hoarders or anything. 

But yet, I'm sure that come this time next month, I'll have a trunk full of things to take to Goodwill and a full recycling container and a full trash container. I'm starting to think that maybe someone sneaks into my house and drops off stuff so that I never actually get to the end of it.

I'm kidding.  Mostly :)

I mean, I really do like reorganizing stuff, but

It is about to get to a RIDICULOUS amount here at the Simply House.  And the worst part, for someone like me, is that it is also going to involve having to have some rooms be a little bit undone while we get some money together from jobs/tax return/selling stuff, etc. But it IS almost spring, and so I guess I'll reorganize instead of clean this year.
 
But anyway, here is what is going to be happening in the Simple House, room by room:

Living Room - a major reorg.  I'm selling almost everything that is currently in that room since it was the former home of Montgomery Academy preschool/daycare.  I'm keeping the rocker (although it may/may not stay in the room) and the electric fireplace.  We might use some existing furniture in here, but more likely, it will mostly be new, but I don't know what we have in there yet.  But some seating for sure.  And new cubbies for sure. 

Dining Room - a major reorg.  The art cabinet is going downstairs to the family room.  The curio cabinet will probably go to the living room.  The table will go downstairs to the family room for the new art/game table.  Hopefully sometime soon, I will get an island like this one and put that in the corner of the dining room so that I can do my mixing in my larger dining room instead trying to do it on the counter in my very small kitchen.  Room needs to be painted and I need new curtains for this room. 

Kitchen - well, not a reorg exactly, but we are getting new appliances soon.  I've decided against the refrigerator for right now.  So new range, dishwasher, and microwave. 

Upstairs Bathroom - minor reorg.  I need new towels and I'd like to put some drawer pulls and cabinet knobs on the vanity.  It would be GREAT to get a new toilet, but that probably won't happen.  Room desperately needs to be painted. 

Master Bedroom - very minor reorg.  lower down on the priority list, but it would be nice to replace the mattress in that bedroom.  Definitely need a new roller shade.  Would be nice to get new bedding. 

Laundry "Room" (it is actually in a large closet in the upstairs hallway) - undecided, and lower down on the priority list, but I'd like to unstack the washer and dryer and put them side by side and put a counter over them for folding, etc. and getting a shelf or a cabinet for laundry/cleaning supplies. 

Super's Bedroom - major reorg.  Maybe.  Or if I get too tired, there may be no reorganizing in his room at all.  But if I do, moving both of his beds downstairs - one to the girls' room and one to my studio and moving the girls' bunkbed from downstairs to his room.  And since his main bed is a captain's bed, I would also have to buy/find, etc. a dresser for him.  He needs some new kind of window treatment.  Right now, he has aluminum blinds that have seen way better days.

Stairwell - I desperately need to hang some pictures or something in the stairwell.  I've planned to forever and haven't got to it, and I figure that now is as good of a time as any.

Family Room - I already did a reorg here, but this room will get some furniture moved here.  The art cabinet from the dining room is coming down here, as well as the eating table from the dining room (which will become the game/art table.)  The card table is going to the trash, and I'm selling/throwing out a couple extra end tables that are currently in the family room. I also would love to get a new recliner for down here, but it isn't in the budget right now.  The rocker from the living room may end up down here.  This room needs to be painted. 

Two big storage closets in the Family Room - major reorg.  Both need a major overhaul and I need to get rid of a bunch of stuff that is in each of them. 

Downstairs Bathroom - minor reorg.  This room needs to have the towel bar replaced and maybe the light fixture and it also needs pulls and knobs.  And probably a new shower curtain.  One of the girls got hot pink nail polish on the WHITE shower curtain.  It also has froggy rugs and other frog accessories, and I'm feeling like that moment has passed, so I need to replace those when I get new towels for this bathroom. The room should be painted too, but it isn't terrible. 

Girls' Room - Well, if I decide to move Super's beds downstairs, their bunkbed (twin over full) will come up to his room, and they will get one of his beds (twin with trundle) and then the bed from the studio (twin) will go in their room.  The girls also have our former dining/eating table in their room, and that will be coming back upstairs to the dining room.  Mr. Simple is going to refinish the top.  The girls would like to have their room painted.  From periwinkle to BRIGHT GREEN.  We are still talking about it. The girls currently are using plastic drawers for dressers and it is working o.k., but I'd like to get them a dresser too.

Studio - Ugh. Slightly major reorg.  Right now, it is sort of the holding area for preschool/homeschool supplies that I'm going to be selling online.  So there are piles, and boxes, etc.  But I really need to get those listed and sold and reclaim my studio again.  Also, if I decide to move beds around, the bed from the studio(twin) would go in the girls room, and the studio would get Super's (twin) captain bed. Paint and window coverings are fine. 

Oh, and Outside? Minor reorg but we need to get/replace several things.  The front porch needs a good wood chair.  And a good sweeping.  I'll be planting more things in the front beds this spring too.  The back - I need outdoor furniture.  At least 6 outdoor chairs.  We are getting a new grill.  A new outdoor table would be great.  And loads of gardening stuff, but that is a post for a different day.  The garage needs a good sweep.  Jelly Bean needs a new bike.  My freezer will be stored out in the garage. 

Phew. I, of course, will take pictures when I get done.  Of course, it may be 2013 by that time, so don't hold your breath or anything.

Housecleaning

Having a clean home is important. A well-organized home makes it so that it is easier to find things and it is a more soothing environment for your family.

But having a clean home shouldn't be our MAIN goal. If we spend too much time cleaning and organizing, then we are sacrificing time that we could be spending with our time with our families, developing talents, or helping others.

I wouldn't say that I'm someone that spends LOTS of time on cleaning. (I know a couple readers who definitely have me beat in that department!) But one thing that I tend to do is that I don't clean as well as I could during the day and then I have a bunch of stuff to do before bed or I also have a tendency to let the house go over the weekends, and then I have to stay up really late on Sunday night/Monday morning to get the house ready for the coming week. And that is NOT a joyful way to start my week, especially since I wake up at 5:45 am during the week.

If I cleaned on a more regular schedule, it would help. If I enlisted my children more in housecleaning, it would help. If I did smaller chunks of housecleaning more often, it would help. And if I did those things, then I could help others more. Oh, and probably be less grumpy in the morning. Well, maybe. It's a theory anyway . . .

OK, if I want things to run well around the house

I simply need to get my children to help around the house every day. My children are 9, almost 7, and 4. They are all old enough to help around the house, even Super, although he needs closer supervision usually and sometimes a little assistance, and LOTS of positive encouragement.

Here are our DAILIES:

Everyone

• Make Beds
• Tidy bedroom

Mom

• Wipe bathroom sinks/counters/toilet
• Wipe Kitchen sink/counters
• Plan/Cook Dinner
• Tidy learning room
• Vacuum a main room (either the Family Room or Living Room)

Flower

• Vacuum a main room (whatever room Mom isn't doing)
• Tidy a main room (alternate between Family Room/Living Room)
• Kitchen Job (either set/clear the table, unload the dishwater, or sweep the floor)

Jelly Bean

• Dust a main room
• Tidy a main room (whichever one Flower isn't doing)
• Kitchen Job

Super

• Tidy shoes
• Sweep the entry way or Clean windows
• Kitchen Job

We tend to stay with the same daily jobs for awhile, but I know that many families change it weekly or monthly. We tend to change every other month or when it seems time.

More about my binder system - Household Managment Binders

I posted about my binder system in this post. In this post, I will go into more detail about my Household Management System binders. I, of course, have to credit Dawn for getting me started on this idea. I use a file crate system in a similar way to her system, but my household management system is somewhat different. As always, it is important to tweak anybody's system to fit your family's needs.

I'll try and get some pictures up soon, but until then, here is my household management binder system.

Suggested Binders for a Household Management System

In addition to my Household Management Binders, I also have a file crate. The crate contains 52 weekly folders, and 4 seasonal folders and some of the household binders. I use one file folder upstairs to store the activities and invitations for the following week, and I also put things in it that need to be filed downstairs. Then on my planning day (Wednesday), I transfer the things for the next week and I file the things from the past week. I store my Household Management binders in a variety of places and I listed here where I store them.. In my binders, I have lots of page protectors and I place the information in them usually instead of printing and three-hold punching the things for each binder.

Planning Binder (stored in tote bag)
To start your Household Notebook, begin with the basics: planning and time management. I put in my monthly calendars, any additional schedules, seasonal activity lists, my file folder, journal, etc.

Faith Binder (stored in church bag)
This binder contains church magazines, proclamations, brochures, handouts, talks, etc.

Phone Binder (stored in phone book drawer)
The Phone Binder is a place to put class rosters, take-out phone numbers, club directories, emergency phone numbers, etc.

Family & School Binder (stored in file crate)
Family is where the heart is--and deserves its own binder. This binder tracks information needs of family members and family life:

• personal information page for each family member
• clothing sizes tracker
• master occasions list (birthdays, anniversaries)
• gift suggestion list
• birthday party ideas
• recommended Web sites
• list of DVD/videos to rent
• list of books to read
• library information

Families with school-aged children will want to add a school divider to hold:

• school schedules and holiday list
• lunch menus
• carpool schedule
• school information page
• school reading lists
• summer programs information

Housekeeping Binder (Stored in file crate except for chore checklists)
The Housekeeping holds information central to house and home. Cleaning, entertaining, decorating and household storage information are stored here. Consider these ideas for the Home Management divider:

• household cleaning schedule
• seasonal chore checklists
• children's chore checklists
• home inventory
• home decorating ideas
• party planners
• car maintenance schedule
• stain removal guide
• recycling locations
• home storage inventory
• yard sale checklist

Food Management Binder (Kept in the kitchen)
In the kitchen, this binder helps plan meals, create menus, and track inventory in pantry and freezer. Use this section to hold grocery shopping lists and price lists, weekly menus, etc.

Money and Finance Binder (Kept in file crate with the exception of the bills/purchases list)
Use this binder for information to help keep track of household finances with budget pages, inventory sheets and household information. Here are some examples of the kinds of information that can be included behind this binder:

• budget/spending record
• bills to pay
• credit card list
• online service/online account information
• home inventory
• insurance information
• utilities/services directory
• warranty information
• vehicle records

Health and Fitness Binder (Kept in file crate with the exception of food journal)
Organize family health care with a Health and Fitness divider. Have a medical emergency? Grab the Health and Fitness Binder on the way to the Emergency Room. Visit to the pediatrician? Use this section to record illnesses, medication and medical history. Types of information to file in the Health and Fitness binder include:

• food journal
• first aid kit checklist
• medical information sheet for each family member
• emergency directory
• medical authorization form
• prescription drug record
• insurance information
• pet health records

Travel and Activities Binder (Kept in file crate)
Time for fun! The Travel and Activities binder covers the extra-curricular activities that make life worthwhile. Hobby, church, club, sports, volunteer, vacation and travel ideas are included here. These sections will vary from family to family, but here are some ideas:

• picnic planner
• travel packing checklist
• before-we-leave checklist
• camping checklist
• vacation idea list
• house-sitter information sheet
• PTA newsletters and rosters
• Scouting or PTA materials