Weekly Challenge: August 30 - September 3, 2010

Set a basic Fall Schedule.

For almost everyone, fall brings schedule changes.  Whether you have children in school, are going to school yourself or it is just the changing length of days, some changes are required.  Think about those now, if you haven't already, and plan accordingly. 

With school starting this week, I need to get my children to bed earlier and have supper on the table earlier. The cooler weather means I need to have heartier food for my husband's lunches and make him a thermos of tea in the morning. 

I have written the food items on my basic grocery list and penciled in the other items on my calendar.

Weekly Challenge: August 23-28, 2010

Find 75 personal possessions to get rid of. 

If you don't have much, this could be challenging.  If it is too much for you, choose a number that suits you, but, I have a feeling that if you are reading this, then you have plenty to get rid of.

The idea for this challenge came from this article, on the subject of only owning 75 personal possessions.  Now, I am really wondering, do these minimalists count necessary hygiene items, like tooth paste and toilet paper in this equation?  Or do those fall into necessities, not possessions?  I suppose a bit of research on my part could quickly answer that question...

I know that when I begin decluttering I often run into the road block of, "This could be useful."  Or, "Good money was paid for that, wouldn't it be wasteful to to eliminate it from my life?"  As I was contemplating these questions, I came across this article.  It was encouraging to see that I am not alone, but that keeping things that are unwanted is just as, if not even more so, wasteful.

For me, the rules of this little challenge are going to be simple:  If I don't like it, if I don't need it or want it, it is going out.  If it something that I would rather sell than give away, then I will list it in our local paper this week.  I am going to be keeping a list here, and you can too, or share a link to your list on your blog.

• 2 magazines
• 23 old, used up, school books
• 14 pieces of clothing

Motivational Tip #5

Choose one room of your home and go on a treasure hunt.  Find the most valuable/useful things in that room.  Now look at the other things in that room.  How many of them can you get rid of?

If the thought of going on a treasure hunt does not motivate you, read this article:

STUFF AND THINGS - The 75 Things Movement, Minimalism and Freedom

Now, I should confess upfront that I am not a minimalist, and probably never will be.  For one thing, I like my books too much.  Real books -- not computerised ones!  Never the less, I found this article motivations.  Imagine living with only 75 possessions.  What would you keep? 

Sorry to have been gone for so long.

It does appear that I fell off the face of the planet for a few weeks.

Oh well.

They were good weeks.

My husband went to some extra schooling, so that he could obtain his Masters Lisence, and I went to a cousin's wedding!  It was good to see much of my extended family, some of whom had never met my two youngest children.

Motivational Tip #4

Find some music that really gets you moving, in an organized mannor, and start cleaning with it.  If the first thing you try does not motivate you, try something else.  Pick CDs or play lists that are a good length for the amount of cleaning you want to get done, then work until the music stops.

I have about five CDs that I enjoy listening to while I clean, and there is one in particular that really gets me moving.  I can't identify what it is that I really like about the CD, except that I find it easy to focus on the why of my cleaning while it is playing.  I have used this one CD so much while cleaning, that I almost *have* to clean while I listen to it--which is very distracting in the vehicle!  (Don't try to clean and drive.)

Motivitional Tip #3

Here is an article for you, written by SliverOfData.

How to Keep your House Looking Clean

There are a number of tips for quickly making your home look decent, especially if you are expecting company shortly.  For me, the best tip was:

"Once you've finished your quick cleaning, and your guests arrive, don't apologize for the state of your home. Guests come to see the host/hostess, not the house. Unexpected company, especially, will understand if everything isn't perfect."

Weekly Challenge: July 19-23, 2010

Deal with 3-10 things that would improve the way your home functions and how you live.

Just do what you know.  Deal with the emotions as they come.

We all know things that would make a difference in the way we feel about our home.  Some of those things are big, like insulating the attic.  Some are small, like getting rid of that appliance your aunt gave you, that you never use, but it takes up gobs of space.

This week, I have several big projects to complete, such as grouting the tile and redesigning my kitchen.  I know, I have had the grouting on my list for three weeks, but baring a catastrophe, it will be done today!  I also want to take care of several other things.  As I look around my house, I see several things that are not too hard to do, but are going to take a bit of emotional stamina.

The projects I am am facing are ones of dealing with things that were once very needed, but whose purpose in my home is no more.  Things like emptying the diaper bag and taking down the crib.  Last week a friend told me to embrace change and view it as a good thing.  I'm taking his advice to heart, knowing that it comes from some of the hardest changes he has ever faced in his life. 

My challenge to you, is to find at least three things you can deal with this week, and why dealing with them is a positive change.  Feel free to leave your list in the comment section, and I will list mine here, as they are complete.

1.  Emptied the Diaper Bag and cleaned it up, so that it can be given away. 

• My youngest is full potty trained, and we no longer have to be prepared for accidents. 
• Some new momma will get to use my bag for her little one, as she travels with him/her.

2.  The laundry room is grouted!

• In three days, it will be ready for things to be put back in place.  That means we get our bathroom back, unless my husband decides we are going to get the drywall taken care of first. 

3.  Designed how I want the kitchen laid out, and began researching surfaces and counters.

• This may be my only chance to redesign my kitchen.  If the plumber can easily move the sink where I want it, then then there is no reason not to cease this opportunity.