I love spring cleaning. I really do. I actually look forward to it. And much to my delight, my favorite organzing pro, Marcia Ramsland, sent thru an e mail with tons of valuable spring cleaning tips. I hope she inspires you as much as she does me. Enjoy!
What is Spring Cleaning?
Spring Cleaning is all about moving out the dust and cobwebs of winter to welcome sunshine and spring breezes to freshen your home inside. It is the process of transforming the dinginess of winter into the springtime feeling of a clean house. Whether you spend one day or one month at it, you can make an impact by jumping into spring cleaning purposefully.
Where Do I Begin?
The best way to begin is to work by “Priority Rooms,” those rooms that will make a positive visual and emotional impact on you. Pick a specific area and schedule one to three hours there. Post a large sign of declaration to stay on track. “Today I am Spring Cleaning the Family Room 9-11:30 a.m.!”
Follow these simple spring cleaning steps to maximize your effort. Pick one project a day (or weekend) such as:
#1. Bedroom – Create an “Oasis of Calm” to come home to each night.
· Wash sheets, blankets, and bedspread. Vacuum the mattress and under the bed. The room is now half clean.
· Complete the other half by working in sections: one dresser and nightstand at a time from top to bottom. Empty, wipe out, and reorganize the contents in each drawer.
· Arrange the dresser top with visually pleasing items.
#2. Closet – Picture waking up to an organized clothes closet!
· Empty, vacuum, and neatly return the floor items.
· Group hanging items by category and put unused items in a donation bag.
· Clear the shelves and put back only what you like and use. Hurrah – you’re finished again!
#3. Family Room and Living Room – Invite company for next weekend to motivate yourself into action!
· Begin clockwise by clearing off, dusting, and repositioning attractive items on flat surfaces such as countertops, coffee tables, and end tables. Keep your sights on getting all the way around the room. You’re one third finished.
· Put away piles of “stuff” stacked on the floor and then vacuum. Now you’re two-thirds of the way there.
· Focus on one shelf at a time. Again, clear everything off, dust, and lineup the videos, CD’s, and books. Give several away until they fit neatly. Whew – you’re finished!
#4. Garage or Basement – Visualize garage sale income and beautiful, uncluttered space.
· Begin in the center and move items into sections along the wall such as household tools, sports equipment, and recycle bins. Then vacuum or sweep the floor.
· Go back and fine-tune each section, donating and tossing as much as you can. Begin at the doorway and work clockwise around the walls.
· Place remaining storage items behind closed cabinets and labeled boxes. End with a trip to a charitable donation with bags full of giveaway items.
“Two Step” Spring Cleaning
If your time is limited and you can’t do all of the above, just do the two most important things. First, vacuum more thoroughly than usual, from the ceiling cobwebs down to the floor corners and behind the furniture. Second, wash the windows inside and out to capture the sunlight streaming into your home.
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
The Famous To-Do List
I am a list maker through and through. I often say...if it's not on list, then it doesn't get done.
Sometimes I have several going at once...a daily one and a weekly or even a monthly one. And nothing gives me greater pleasure than being able to cross things off my list and eventually toss the daily one in the garbage. :) I am not too hard on myself tho if I do not cross everything off, I just move it to the next day.
I recently received this e mail on to-do lists from the organizing guru herself, Marcia Ramsland that I thought I'd share with you. It is jam-packed with great to-do list pointers.
Enjoy!
A written to-do list is the secret to clearing your mind of mental clutter and accomplishing more each day. When the list is more than a day’s worth of actions, it is actually considered a “Master List.”
Marcia’s Time Slotted To-Do List:
When you start listing items on your to-do list, you have three choices: you can put to-dos in the order they occur to you, in the time order in which you will complete them, or in priority order. I use a combination of all three. Here are the 3 steps I use each day.
1) In the morning I list what’s on my mind and desk in a running list before opening email. Listing it allows me to get the big picture and start to sort. On a good day I walk into a clear desk with the list already written the night before. :)
2) List the morning’s 3 Priority items in the upper right of my Planner and on a digital Post-It note on my computer screen desktop. (In iGoogle dashboard I found it in “Gadgets.” I also have their clock, calendar, and yellow stickie note.) I like doing the handwritten first. It’s a double insurance that I will get done what I set out to do.
3) The big secret: THEN I list the time I will begin and end each of the 3 big Priorities. Adding the time slot for a priority early in the day makes all the difference in getting it done. Time slots keep me on track.
One last thing: Set yourself up for success tomorrow by clearing your email In-box at the end of each day (or down as low as you possibly can). THE N write yourself an email of with your Priority tasks just in the Subject Line. That way you’ll spot it right away and your mind will focus on your Priorities and not other people’s email priorities for you.
Sometimes I have several going at once...a daily one and a weekly or even a monthly one. And nothing gives me greater pleasure than being able to cross things off my list and eventually toss the daily one in the garbage. :) I am not too hard on myself tho if I do not cross everything off, I just move it to the next day.
I recently received this e mail on to-do lists from the organizing guru herself, Marcia Ramsland that I thought I'd share with you. It is jam-packed with great to-do list pointers.
Enjoy!
A written to-do list is the secret to clearing your mind of mental clutter and accomplishing more each day. When the list is more than a day’s worth of actions, it is actually considered a “Master List.”
Marcia’s Time Slotted To-Do List:
When you start listing items on your to-do list, you have three choices: you can put to-dos in the order they occur to you, in the time order in which you will complete them, or in priority order. I use a combination of all three. Here are the 3 steps I use each day.
1) In the morning I list what’s on my mind and desk in a running list before opening email. Listing it allows me to get the big picture and start to sort. On a good day I walk into a clear desk with the list already written the night before. :)
2) List the morning’s 3 Priority items in the upper right of my Planner and on a digital Post-It note on my computer screen desktop. (In iGoogle dashboard I found it in “Gadgets.” I also have their clock, calendar, and yellow stickie note.) I like doing the handwritten first. It’s a double insurance that I will get done what I set out to do.
3) The big secret: THEN I list the time I will begin and end each of the 3 big Priorities. Adding the time slot for a priority early in the day makes all the difference in getting it done. Time slots keep me on track.
One last thing: Set yourself up for success tomorrow by clearing your email In-box at the end of each day (or down as low as you possibly can). THE N write yourself an email of with your Priority tasks just in the Subject Line. That way you’ll spot it right away and your mind will focus on your Priorities and not other people’s email priorities for you.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Blueberry Picking
Every year we like to go to u pick farms in our area. Even though we have our favorites, we still like to find new ones to try.
This year we tried Evergreen Farms in Watertown, CT for the very first time. They had blueberries and black raspberries. YUM!
Here are some scenes from the day. :)
Enjoy! I know we will be enjoying blueberry muffins and pie and pancakes for the next week. :)
The neck pails they give you to store your bounty in. :)
The happy pickers. ;)
The berries:
This year we tried Evergreen Farms in Watertown, CT for the very first time. They had blueberries and black raspberries. YUM!
Here are some scenes from the day. :)
Enjoy! I know we will be enjoying blueberry muffins and pie and pancakes for the next week. :)
The neck pails they give you to store your bounty in. :)
The happy pickers. ;)
The berries:
Monday, July 11, 2011
Summer Kitchen Table
Here is what my kitchen table looks like this summer. The table runner is from Target and I absolutely love love love the vibrant happy colors. The candle & candle holder which holds my current favorite scent, carribean salsa, are from Bath & Body Works. And all the rest hails from HomeGoods. :)
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
My First Spray Painting Adventure
I have always wanted a Lazy Susan for my kitchen table but the problem was finding the right size and color. After much searching, I broke down and bought a cheap one from Target for $7.99 and decided to spray paint it. I went for Heirloom White to match the chairs. I think it turned out pretty good. WDYT?
Before:
After:
Next up...the stuff that goes on top. :)
Before:
After:
Next up...the stuff that goes on top. :)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Puffs Primavera
If you are looking for a really delicious and easy recipe to take to parties this summer, then this is the one for you. I made these yesterday to take to a pool party and they were yummy! My hubby actually asked me if I made them or just heated them up!? LOL!
Tray is from Ikea. It's my new fave. It's long enough to hold lots of goodies. :)
Recipe:
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
1 small zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 3-inch matchstick-thin strips
1 small red pepper, cut into 3-inch matchstick-thin strips
Directions:
Heat the oven to 400°F. Stir the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice and black pepper in a medium bowl.
Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 10x12-inch rectangle. Cut off a 2-inch strip crosswise to make a 10-inch square, reserving the strip. Cut the pastry square into 25 (2-inch) squares. Cut the reserved pastry strip crosswise into 25 strips.
Place about 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese mixture in the center of each pastry square. Arrange the vegetables diagonally on the pastry squares on top of the cheese mixture. Fold 2 opposite corners to the center over the filling and press to seal. Place the pastry strips crosswise across the center of the filled pastries. Wrap the ends of the strips around the pastries to meet in the back and press to seal. Place the pastries, vegetable-side up, onto 2 baking sheets.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown.
Tray is from Ikea. It's my new fave. It's long enough to hold lots of goodies. :)
Recipe:
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 of a 17.3-ounce package Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet), thawed
1 small zucchini or yellow squash, cut into 3-inch matchstick-thin strips
1 small red pepper, cut into 3-inch matchstick-thin strips
Directions:
Heat the oven to 400°F. Stir the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice and black pepper in a medium bowl.
Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll the pastry sheet into a 10x12-inch rectangle. Cut off a 2-inch strip crosswise to make a 10-inch square, reserving the strip. Cut the pastry square into 25 (2-inch) squares. Cut the reserved pastry strip crosswise into 25 strips.
Place about 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese mixture in the center of each pastry square. Arrange the vegetables diagonally on the pastry squares on top of the cheese mixture. Fold 2 opposite corners to the center over the filling and press to seal. Place the pastry strips crosswise across the center of the filled pastries. Wrap the ends of the strips around the pastries to meet in the back and press to seal. Place the pastries, vegetable-side up, onto 2 baking sheets.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Yarn Stash Re-Do
I am a part-time knitter for sure. And I have the attention span of a gnat when it comes to my knitting projects. If it's not a gift and I don't have a deadline, it can linger on for months. But that doesn't stop me from buying more yarn. :O
So, as you can imagine, I have a yarn stash that has gotten out of control over the last few months. The little basket that I bought to house my yarn is beyond overflowing. It is littered with bags and bags of unfinished projects and new yarn.
I have been on the hunt for a lidded basket that doesn't look like a laundry basket. It is has been harder than I thought. Then today while I was perusing the aisles of AC Moore for wooden letters, I saw a big but not too big basket that would work and it was 50% off.
Well, when I got to the register, it ended up being $5.00! The original price was $14.99. I was stoked over the bargain even though I had to climb the shelves myself to get it. Everytime I go in there, I swear I will never go there again. :O I am glad I went this time. :)
Look at the transformation...
New Basket:
Messy Stash:
New and Improved Look:
What do you think? Pretty nice for $5.00 and 5 minutes of my time. :)
So, as you can imagine, I have a yarn stash that has gotten out of control over the last few months. The little basket that I bought to house my yarn is beyond overflowing. It is littered with bags and bags of unfinished projects and new yarn.
I have been on the hunt for a lidded basket that doesn't look like a laundry basket. It is has been harder than I thought. Then today while I was perusing the aisles of AC Moore for wooden letters, I saw a big but not too big basket that would work and it was 50% off.
Well, when I got to the register, it ended up being $5.00! The original price was $14.99. I was stoked over the bargain even though I had to climb the shelves myself to get it. Everytime I go in there, I swear I will never go there again. :O I am glad I went this time. :)
Look at the transformation...
New Basket:
Messy Stash:
New and Improved Look:
What do you think? Pretty nice for $5.00 and 5 minutes of my time. :)
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