Step 1 - Calendar: The Moms' Guide to Getting Your House Organized and Clutter Free

Last week I told you that I am going to get you ready for the new year and coach you to get organized and clutter free. I've got everything a mom could want to know to get your house and life organized. This week we're going to start working on just life in general. You have to decide what kind of calendar person/family you are going to be. For me, I'm all digital {paperless} but I have a large family calendar, too. For you, it might be that you've tried several different ways and you've been unsuccessful, but until you make it a habit EVERY SINGLE NIGHT to sit down and work through what your day will need to basically look like the following day, or weekly sit down and plan out meals and family business, you aren't going to be able to even attempt to keep your house clutter free or organized. 

August 2016 Wrap Up

Our house has been busy with our kitchen remodel this month and each day we get a little closer to being done.  In addition to kitchen updates, I've shared some tips about staying organized and having a stress free morning along with dorm room organization and back to school readiness.  Don't you just love getting organized at the start of the school year?  

5 Tips for Back to School Organizing and Cleaning

When you think of back to school - do you think of cleaning? I don't, honestly! But, it's actually a perfect time to start perfecting your cleaning and organizing routine - again! Yep, every year you are probably having to tweak and fix that schedule and your routine for cleaning and everything else. I know that I have to every year when school starts. I now have a high school junior and a seventh grader so things are so different now than just a few years ago when my kids were little. Whether you public school, private school, or homeschool it's a perfect time to sit down and work out your routine and schedule. Here are my FIVE tips for getting back to school and getting updated in your routine:

The Best Way to Spend the First and Last Part of Your Day

This post is in partnership with IKEA. 

About three blocks away from our home is Ikea. Yes, Ikea! We live three blocks away! City living has its perks! And, our Ikea is MOVING about 1/2 a mile down to make room for the LARGEST Ikea in the United States that is being built SO close to us!!! You can probably guess that I'm a BIG fan of Ikea and I shop there often - sometime I'm going to have to give you my best tips for getting the most out of an IKEA trip. 

Some would even argue that I love lKEA so much that I painted my house the same colors....but enough about my crazy obsession with IKEA!

Today I am SO excited to share with you that I am partnering with IKEA! Can you believe it? One of my all-time favorite places to shop and find ways to get organized, and IKEA wants to work with me! 

The Importance of Having a Morning Routine

About four years ago, I had about 50 pounds to lose! It wasn't a pretty site, but having had two babies where I gained 70 and 80 pounds each - then losing, gaining, losing, gaining - I had enough of it and wanted to get that weight off for good! My excuse, to myself, was that I didn't have time to really exercise. I thought that I would have to wait until both my kids were in school before I could actually lose weight, so I could work out once they went to school -- procrastinator!

New Year and New Chance to get organized!

Happy New Year!!

I know that many of you are looking to get organized this year and many of you who are overwhelmed. My sponsor, Becky of Clean Mama, has this wonderful new Ebook that can help you get started. This ebook is fantastic and I highly recommend you getting this if you are needing some help getting started with schedules and routines.

Pulling Yourself Together: Implementing a Cleaning Routine that Sticks

Schedule, schedule, routine, routine - how to have a {fake} immaculate house (part 9)

The very last day of our series "How to have a {fake} immaculate house" is here!  This is the very last way you can fake keeping your house tidy and clean!  How have you done so far?  Well, the very last way you can do this is another very important thing.  It's having a schedule and routine to your life!

Getting Ready for School - part 4 (Homework time)

Part of getting ready for school is setting up an area for your kids to do their homework and making the supplies available.  Here is a great picture that one of my readers sent me of how she organized her boys' homework and school supplies.  Isn't that great?

Getting Ready for School - part 2 (School supplies and clothes)

Checking your lists....check them twice!

Well, school supplies - uggh!  I'm sure that this is an area you love or hate about school!  

Schedules: Starting with your kids...

My kids have been on schedules since they were born - literally!  I had each of my kids on a feeding schedule, play schedule, sleep schedule...well, it helped a lot.  My days were more predictable and they both slept through the night early - eight weeks, by the grace of God!  I'm going to show you some of the kids' schedules that I have made through the years.  By the time they are walking, they should be able to help around the house.  My son, who's nearly eleven years old and has autism, thrives on schedules.  They actually free you up to be more spontaneous when you keep things organized, scheduled and in order.  My husband...he is the spontaneous one - surprised?  Although, after nearly 16 years of marriage I'm a lot more spontaneous than I used to be, and he is a lot more scheduled then he used to be!  So, here is the sampling of my kids schedules that have been changed and updated through the years: