Great Closet Clean Out – Closet One

During my latest round of marathon cleaning, I’m tackling everything, including the closets.  I’ve started cleaning in the worst room in the house, my bedroom.  That’s where everything that doesn’t have a home gets shoved.  The rest of the house isn’t bad at all, but this room is horrid.

I tackled the “big” closet yesterday, going through all my clothes that were in there, cleaning off the top shelf of all random junk (half of which wasn’t even mine to begin with), removing hangers that I just won’t use (I despise those wire ones) and cleaning the floor.  What a project that was! 

Ignore the date in the corner of these photos, Kidlet messed with my camera settings again, and I didn’t notice until this morning.  Look at that mess!  Though I’m sure there are folks with even worse closets.  I ended up filling a giveaway bag with a lot of the clothes from this closet, and have started hanging up the clothes that were stuffed into bureau drawers.  What I didn’t get rid of at any rate. :)  For now I think I’m going to use the bureau as storage space, until I can get it out of here altogether.  Its a huge six drawer bureau, and I don’t need that.  Just a three or four small one would do.

I also went through my shoes.  And got rid of several pairs.  Seriously, why was I keeping three pairs of shoes (all the same type, make etc, just different colors) that were proven to be uncomfortable again and again?  Didn’t make sense to me either, so out they go!  Also tossed a pair of shoes that whenever I wear them I slide all around in…and they’re open toed sandals.  Goodbye!

The semi-finished product (I might change some things around as I continue to clean) -

Tada!

Daily Routine (M-F)

My internet has been rather crabby lately, so not posting as much as I would like.  Hard to hit the right spot so that it goes through!

Morning Routine (7:30 - 9)

Get Up

Make Bed

Brush Teeth

Get Kidlet Ready For School

Bring Kidlet Down To The Bus

Reboot Dryer

Load Of Laundry

Exercise

Shower

Writing Time (9-11)

Blog Post
(Two Written And Posted)

Rewrites

Book Reviews
(One Written And Posted)

Article Writing

WIP

MidMorning Routine (11-12)

Switch Load

Fold Laundry

Put Away Laundry

Lunch

Swish And Swipe

Writing Time (12-2)

Email

Article Writing

Rewrites

Book Reviews

WIP

To Do List/Knowledge Time (2-4)

Afternoon Routine (4-5)

Pick Kidlet Up At Bus Stop

Go Through Book Bag

Have After School Snack Ready

To Do List (5-6)

Dinner (6-7)

Evening Routine (7-8)

Dishes

Kidlet's Bath

5 Minute Room Rescues

Kidlet's Before Bed Routine (8-8:30)

Pick Out Clothes

5 Minute Pick Up In Room

Brush Teeth

Story Time

Me Time (8:30-10)

Before Bed Routine (10-11)

Bubble Bath/Muscle Soak

Journal

Take Vitamins

Brush Teeth

Sunday Clean Up

Today is my usual marathon clean day, where I get ready for the new week.  Hopefully one day this will no longer be necessary.  I will say this, I do not go overboard and try to kill myself on Sunday.  I just take far more time to hopefully get a bit caught up on the mess.  I'll be updating this with before/after pictures, as well as what I've gotten done, and how long it took.  Though I will say this, I'm really NOT in the mood to clean...but if I don't, I'm starting my week on the wrong foot, and that's not very good.  Throws off the whole week!

So far I've managed two 15 minute sessions.  I'm using my timer, and stopping before moving on to the next part, so I can get an accurate count of each task.  As you can see already, some of these tasks that I avoid take almost no time at all!

Have Done:


Load Of Dishes (Time Started: 15:00 Time Ended: 5:04) 9:56 Elapsed
Dried And Put Away Dishes (Started: 5:04 Ended: 0:00) 5:04 Elapsed
Started Load Of Laundry (Started: 15:00 Ended: 12:22) 2:38 Elapsed
Folded Laundry (Started: 12:22 Ended: 7:38) 4:44 Elapsed
Put Away Kidlet's Clothes (Started: 7:38 Ended: 5:46) 1:52 Elapsed
Put Away My Clothes (Started: 5:46 Ended: 5:02) 0:44 Elapsed
Sorted Socks And Put Them Away (Started: 5:02 Ended: 3:42) 1:20 Elapsed
Switched Load (Started: 3:42 Ended: 2:33) 1:09 Elapsed
Swish And Swipe (Started 2:33 Ended: 0:00) 2:33 Elapsed

My Crazy Mess ~ Slideshow

I found some before pictures for everyone...and for myself of course.  These were taken at the beginning of the month before my marathon clean, but let me tell you the house hasn't changed much.  Sure I cleaned my tail off New Year's Eve weekend, but as is often the case, before I know it, its completely trashed again.  I'm a bit of the absent minded professor type (as are a lot of creative people) and sadly I'm teaching my daughter that method of living.  Which just won't do!  I don't want her falling into the same traps that I have, although its not my task to dictate what her life is going to be.  But I can instill habits into her that will aid her no matter what she might face in life.  Or at least I hope to. :)

Daily Routine (M-F)

For my own records, since its hard to keep track of my routines and the changes I've made, I will be posting them daily.  Of course I'll be crossing things off as they are done, just because its fun that way!

Morning Routine (7:30 - 9)

Get Up

Make Bed

Brush Teeth

Get Kidlet Ready For School

Bring Kidlet Down To The Bus

Reboot Dryer

Load Of Laundry

Exercise

Shower

Writing Time (9-11)

Blog Post

(Three Posted, Two Written)

Rewrites

Book Reviews

Article Writing

WIP

MidMorning Routine (11-12)

Switch Load

Fold Laundry

Put Away Laundry

Lunch

Swish And Swipe

Writing Time (12-2)

Email

Article Writing

(One Written And Submitted)

Rewrites

Book Reviews

WIP

To Do List/Knowledge Time (2-4)

Afternoon Routine (4-5)

Pick Kidlet Up At Bus Stop

Go Through Book Bag

Have After School Snack Ready

To Do List (5-6)

Dinner (6-7)

Evening Routine (7-8)

Dishes

Kidlet's Bath

5 Minute Room Rescues

Kidlet's Before Bed Routine (8-8:30)

Pick Out Clothes

5 Minute Pick Up In Room

Brush Teeth

Story Time

Me Time (8:30-10)

Before Bed Routine (10-11)

Bubble Bath/Muscle Soak

Journal

Take Vitamins

Brush Teeth

Climbing Out Of The Pit

I'm not the best housekeeper in the world.  Surprise surprise.  Being a single Mom, running a business, taking care of older parents and lots of other craziness keep me from having the clean home of my dreams.  A fact I'm sure many women can relate to!  Hence this blog.



Having a family and a career shouldn't impede me from taking care of my family the way I want.  Granted, I do have to do it all myself, as I am without a husband to pitch in.  But honestly, in many ways that's a blessing!  All too often the partner ends up being more like a child then a helper.  But the extra income and extra set of hands would be nice!

Like many women out there, I'm a perfectionist.  Full on OCD at times.  I want it all, and I deserve it all!  But where to find the balance of work, childrearing, keeping my mind active, helping others, taking care of me, and still doing the baking, cooking and housework necessary to keep my sanity?

I quite hope everyone out there enjoys the blog, and that it helps them have it all.  But this is mainly for me, so that I can live the life of my dreams!  Are you with me, yay or nay? ;)