Computer Crashed!

Well, Monday night our computer crashed!  Thankfully, I have my laptop, so I can keep blogging!  LOL!!

So, I thought I'd take a little time to clear and de-clutter the computer desk area.

We have taken out the computer tower and this is what we're left with.  See the mess of cords?  Yikes!  I will be researching ways to keep cords organized...

But, after just a matter of minutes, I was left with this:

I started a book (to the left of the screen) to keep our passwords, popular websites/blogs, etc.  Usually, I just write these on a piece of paper, which only causes clutter!  I placed my Amish file tray on the top shelf by my "Believe" sign.  Now, I have a place for all those papers I print off because "I really need them!"

I'm proving it over and over to myself that I CAN organize and clean an area in just a few minutes!

Organizing bit-by-bit,

Shari

Time Management

I have just purchased a book called: 

"Simplify your Time: Stop Running and Start Living!"

by Marcia Ramsland.  

Here are the 3 books she has written. 

I want all 3 of them!

 I haven't even finished reading her book, but have already put into practice some things that I've read.

Here is a tip Marcia gives:

Try and see what you can accomplish in 2 minutes!

Seriously!  So, I put on a pot of water to boil for supper.

...and decided to tackle my utensil holder.

 

There are a LOT of items that are never used in here.  It may not look bad to you, but it's overflowing!

After dumping everything out, here is what I saw:



All I can say is..."yuck"!  And, no...they're not bugs!  LOL!  Looked like Ramen Noodles to me.

Here is what I have kept, and now everything is handy and easy to get at.  Looks much nicer!

 And, all this before the water boiled!!

So, I decided to keep going and see what else I could accomplish in just a few minutes, or more than a few.

This small area is between our pantry and refrigerator. 

BEFORE:



AFTER:

We moved our toaster to this area...it was cluttering up another counter top (but I forgot to take pics of where it had been).  We put the peanut butter containers and cinnamon/sugar mixture in the cupboard above.  The small crock on top of the sugar container is where we keep the butter.

This is the counter where the toaster was kept...between the small crocks.  It always looked so cluttered (for 9 years!).  Oh, and did you see the crockpot?  Yep!  Supper is ready!  (I'm working on better menu planning)

This had been hanging above the sink...what in the world was I thinking?  I have no idea what I was going to do with these things.  So, I took them down.

I thought I had taken a 'before' pic of my island, but couldn't find it.  This is the first pic I took of it cleared off.  Then, I decided I didn't like it.

AFTER

Anybody ready for SPRING!!
I changed switched out the candy to this green Longaberger crock.  Who doesn't like candy?  Just wish it was chocolate!  The toothpicks had been in a gingerbread votive candleholder.  It was time to change that!  And, I love this little pitcher!

My next areas to tackle this weekend are:

How do you think we eat at this table?  We don't.  And, that is something else I am working at changing!  Bad habits are hard to break.

Oooohh...do you see the countertop on the left side of the picture?  I knew I had taken a BEFORE picture!  At least you can get a glimpse of it.

Here is the area I had decluttered a few weeks ago.  It so easily becomes a "hot spot".  I just need to add this area to my daily routine.

So, the next time I feel that I don't have 'time' to clean/organize/declutter, I will remind myself: 

I can do ANYTHING in 2 minutes, or any small amount of time!    

• Swish and swipe toilet
• wipe down toilet, sink and bathroom countertop
• put dishes in dishwasher
• throw a load of wash in washer
• change clothes from washer to dryer
• make bed (this takes LESS than 2 minutes!)
• spot wash the kitchen floor
• fill ice cube trays
• read my Bible
• Pray
• so many more things!

So, what can YOU accomplish in just a few minutes?  Feel free to share your pictures and ideas.

Organizing bit-by-bit,

Shari

Laundry and Entry Way

Another project has been completed today!  Living in a mobile home, we don't have a great option for our laundry area.  It is right as we walk in our back door.  I really don't like it, but sometimes you just gotta live with it!  So, I do.  Last year, (I think...) I painted the laundry/entry way and put up a fun border that I picked up at a Thrift Store.

This area also has a closet.  The closet is now a 'coat' closet.  When we first bought the home, it had 3 large shelves with no hanging option.  I took care of that!  This closet also has no door...I took it off and have hung a curtain up.  Obviously, this picture doesn't show the curtain.  I wanted you to see what my closet looks like first.  We use the little basket on the door to hold dryer lint.  A fun way to use my little Longaberger baskets!

 For these pics, I am actually leaning my against our back door!  That's how small the space is!  Originally, there was just a plain 'ol shelf above the w/d.  I took that down and put up this wonderful cupboard and clothing bar!

The basket on the shelf holds my fabric sheets.  The old bobbins on top are just a few in my collection!  I don't know how well you can see them, but the old "boric acid" and "Palmolive" jar are from my aunt who passed away many years ago. 

Here's what I have in my cupboard.  I just wish I could get my laundry soap

in here, too.  It's just a little too big!  I'm trying to think of another creative way to store my liquid soap...any ideas out there?

Here is our shoe storage.  I wish I had taken a 'before' pic so you could see the wonderful improvement.  This was Joel's idea...and I didn't like it.  But, today, while he was gone, I decided to try it!  And...thanks, honey...I like it!

Well, there you have it...again!  The finished product.  You can see the curtain hanging in the doorway now.  This view is taken from the doorway of my kitchen.  I love how it looks...so nice and peaceful!

I added one more thing...do you notice what it is?  You guessed it!
A candle greeted my hubby tonight as he came home.  Just another way to have peace in our home.

Organizing bit-by-bit,

Shari

Master Bedroom Closet

Over the Holidays, my Master bedroom closet got way out of control!  We have a really nice walk-in closet, but it got to where we couldn't even...um...walk in!  So...here are the 'before' pictures...

This is looking at the upper part of MY side!



This view is looking at my husband's 'side'.



See all the clutter on the floor?

Did I say a 'walk-in' closet?



Upper shelving above Joel's side...I'm not blaming HIM, of course!

So...I got at it!  Late Saturday night, I started pulling everything out that I could.  I was talking on the phone to a dear friend from out of town, so I only had one hand...but, I really accomplished a lot!

I finally finished my closet today!  Yeah!  I do wish I could do more matching organizating containers, but I am really doing this on a no-money budget.  Using only what I have around the house!

So...here are my 'after photos:

I moved hung Joel's clothing together with like items.  His jeans and heavier shirts are on the top shelf within his reach.  Joel has MS and lung cancer, so keeping things easier to get at is important.

Just had to put up another shot of this side of the closet!  LOL!

I am so happy with MY side of the closet!  You can't see it here, but there is actually an empty spot on the middle shelf!!  Yeah!  I cleared out 3 garbage bags of clothing...gave some to a friend and will take 2 to the thrift store!

 It's hard to take a picture in a small area, so you can't see my hanging clothing very well.  I did hang like-items together, similar to Joel's side.  Long sleeved, everyday shirts, vests, jean skirts, dress skirts, performing tops (I'm a ventriloquist), etc.

What did you think?  It feels so freeing to get rid of the clutter in that closet!

But...I'm not done showing you all the pictures! 
Remember that I told you this was a 'walk-in' closet?  Well, now we can WALK-IN our closet!  See for yourself!

See?  We can actually walk in, turn around and find what we're looking for!

That's it!  Thanks for looking!

Organizing bit-by-bit,

Shari