Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ It's getting there!

Slowly my home is becoming less cluttered and easier to manage. I finally got the hub of my tech support taken care of.Being able to get to my day planner is much easier now.

 Please disregard the countdown, I forgot it was there till I took this picture, it now has the correct date.

Now it's on to the rest of the organization of the office. I've already started on my Posh shelf and the printer area. Mr. Mechanic plans on building me a wall to wall desk and tv center as soon as we buy a new flat screen for the office. Right now we have an old RCA that weighs about as much as I do. When that goes in the new floor to ceiling book shelves won't be far behind and a false wall that will seal the office in it's self so it can be used as a spare bedroom not just the hallway to our room.

Out elf didn't do too many crazy things this last week and over the weekend didn't move since the kids were gone but here are a couple of pictures we took of the interesting things she's done so far.

Day 2 found Jingle Bell at the start of a snowless snowball fight. Good thing no one joined in.

Day 3 caught her hanging upside down from the Halloween lights we forgot to take down. OOOPS! That's ok because she got a front row seat to Tydan not doing his chores for the day.

Day 4 Jingle was very naughty and decided to open one of her Christmas presents. We cought her before she could see what it was.

Day 5 Jingle reenacted a scene from Brave Heart it seems.

Days 6 & 7 she hung out with the dogs in the bathroom while everyone was gone for the weekend.

 Day 8 she made an appearance to welcome the kids back

 This is where she stayed for Day 9 as the kids ignored her.

Day 10 dawned bright and early with Jingle and Barbie in the office, having a lengthy talk about cakes and cookies.

I can't imagine where Jingle will be later but with the Ugly Sweater Party coming up I'm pretty sure I'll find her doing naughty things.

Ready to have a Scrooge moment.

My weekend was wonderful, Mr. Mechanic and I went antiquing, ate out every day, had a wonderful night at a very cute B&B, even did a bit of Christmas shopping. But now it's back to reality and I'm ready to strike.
I had to work Sunday afternoon and it was slow and boring. Not one person came into the classroom for the event. Only to ask me where things were since it looked like I worked there. It wouldn't have been bad but I forgot a book, my phone, and my brain. Apparently it was my job to sell the cookie kits... Wait last I check this event was a Micheal's store event not a Wilton event therefore I didn't need to be there. It was ok, I got out an hour early and got to wait around for the hubby. He picks me up late because he had to once again bunny rangle thanks to a broken cage or two. UGH!!! We then did our Costco shopping and headed out to get the kids. I missed them but of course they hadn't miss me, I got more reactions out of my dogs then my children. So on the trip home my glorious quiet weekend was shattered by all the fighting in the back seat. It was enough to make me want to cry. We got home and Mr. Mechanic made breakfast burritos to get some of the leftovers from Thanksgiving used up. Our elf didn't move all weekend, neither did the advent calendars so that was taken care of. I quickly boxed up Daytona's gift to wrap later. After dinner and some TV we called it a night and I slept like a rock. Now it's time to start my day and get the house tip top party ready.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Weeks 6-8 - Do what works for you

Did you barely make it through Black Friday? I did great as long as I didn't go for big items. I hit up Kohl's for some pans and glasses. Got Daytona a doll she'd been asking for (wishing I bought more of them of course) Then I spent Friday shopping with the monsters and lunch with the in-laws. It was surprisingly nice. Only 2 stores crowed and not worth the time in line for what little I bought. I was able to get some new movies for the family. The monsters picked out a new Swap Force Skylander, and a few gifts for each other. I'm not going to lie, my house didn't get cleaned till late Sunday night. I had no excuse I just spent time with the family instead. And since I didn't do my 15 minute pick up each day my home started sliding back. I'll be spending time in each room to clean as I decorate for Christmas. Maybe I'll be able to find a space to put my tree this year.
We did start our Advent Calendars as well as our Elf on a Shelf. Today we will make our Christmas lists thanks to the folks over at made by Memilyrae. We love using their Christmas wish list print out. 

(right click and save as)

And we have our newest friend Jingle Bell.

 I'm thinking this Year's Christmas Card with how creepy she is LOL. Well that's it for now. I'm off to glamorously clean my house and decorate. Till tomorrow ;)

Bring on the holidays!

As I take time to prepare my home and menu for tomorrow, I take a moment to say am so happy and grateful for all the things that I have in my life. While I don't always take time out to publicly announce them and most days I'm lamenting about all the bad things that happen in it. I really do love my life and all who share it with me. I love the fact that in one week I will be celebrating 10 glorious up and down filled years with my best friend, the love of my life Mr. Mechanic. Followed by his birthday, Christmas, and a major milestone in my children's lives, the big 13th birthday for my oldest.

I have come a long way in my life, a large part of that is my husband who has been my rock when others say I can't he has helped me prove them wrong. Even when I doubt myself he has been my loudest cheerleader. My children have been the driving force in my life to be better than my parents and to take time out to smell the roses.

This year we are bringing in some new traditions and trying new things.
- I bought our first Elf on a Shelf and hope the kids love it even though they don't really believe in Santa anymore. I will try to keep up with pictures of all the stuff she's does.
- We're going to take time to enjoy a few Christmas light shows and tree ceremonies we haven't before.
- Mr. Mechanic and I are finally having our 'honeymoon'. A weekend with no kids or work antiquing and spending time at a local B&B.
- Cutting our own tree (hopefully)
- I was even given the green light to decorate the yard this year with large light up statues. I found R2D2 so of course he said yes LOL.

Now it's time for me to make some pies and watch some movies with the kids.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 5 Extra Rooms or Extra care.

This post is going to encompass the whole week. Week 5 is all about the extras that you may need. Extra rooms to get ready, office, your yard, extra time in a room already covered.

What do you need extra help with? I need extra time in my bedroom and office. I am so proud of my kids trying hard to keep the house in tip top shape. Even then we have a long way to go. I'm not proud to say it but some rooms in my house looks like an episode or hoarders light LOL.

I will also be getting my decorating on. I didn't get my Thanksgiving decor up this year since we hadn't planned on having people over for Thanksgiving, first year in my entire life. I wasn't planning on having or making dinner, and then Mr Mechanic said "Honey, I want to make a big dinner even if it's just us." While he's making dinner I will be taking stock of the Christmas decorations and possibly putting some up. Biggest decoration I can't wait to find, our tree. We're crossing our fingers to cut our own in a few weeks.

So I'm off to finish up my cupcakes for tomorrow and get a good nights sleep. Because tomorrow the cooking countdown begins.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 4, Day 4 - 7 - Coming along nicely

Though I posted the cleaning in one day you do not need to clean all day long. For me I'm spreading it out over the week, along with my other room routines. Each room gets 15 minutes to clean during school from me and 15 minutes from the kids after school. It's slow going but pretty soon my home will be ready for the holiday parties that always take over my life starting Thanksgiving. Now I know your home won't be fully caught up by then unless you speed through and clean a room a day, which by then you will totally burned out. I suggest the fake it till you make it.  It's not a great way to get things done but in a pinch it will do if guests are coming to your home for dinner. Clear off the main surfaces and spot clean the high traffic areas.
If you are lucky enough not to have people over for Thanksgiving just continue to follow your routine as normal and don't try to complete everything. It's great advise for both scenarios anyways. Remember your home didn't get dirty in a day it won't be cleaned in a day.

Try doing something fun between cleaning. Play a board game and add a prize, say winner gets the next day off from chores or gets to pick dinner. Put your favorite boogie music on and dance as you clean, burn extra cookie calories. Decorate rooms as you go. Do anything that can break up cleaning time. I like things that keep me active or spending family time away from the electronics. Especially now that I've been house bound all day long due to snow and icy roads. Well I'm off to do my routine and then to brave the streets for some much needed shopping.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 4, Day 2 & 3 - Bedrooms

Are your bedrooms ready for company? Are they black holes that stuff gets thrown in and never to be found again? Or are you one of the lucky ones that just have a messy room? Our goal for the next two days is to work on bedrooms. You may be asking yourself why all bedrooms? I don't plan on having people hanging out there. I have found over the years though you have no thought that someone will be in your room at some point they will. Times include, kids playing a game, playing with your children's toys, coat area, a place to wrap last minute gifts, taking care of a baby, or just to get away from the party. I am lucky to have friends and family who don't care how clean my house is but I wince every time someone needs to go in to rooms we don't use often. The goal here is to set up an easy to do routine over the rest of the week to start you on a better path.

1. Laundry 

- I know there are cute baskets out there, and we all buy them with the best of intentions. We all start out using them and for a bit it's great, then we forget about using them, they get buried under piles of clothes, or tossed in the back of the closet. Find those hampers/baskets again and fill them up. I know everyone has a secret dirty clothes pile in a room somewhere. Keep them up close and prominent in your bedroom or bathroom. Make it a point every morning to grab all the dirty laundry and place it in the washer. 

- Do you suffer from an abundance of clothes you never really wear but think one day you may need them/want them again? Grab out your trusty donation box and start filling it up with items that are too small or too large. They really aren't doing you a favor taking up space. "But what if I gain weight or lose weight? I'll need those clothes again." Toss them in anyways! You're not donating your clothes right away so you have a just in case set up in place. Now that you have all your old clothes out of the way it's time to pack up none seasonal items. Where I live we generally don't bring out the winter gear till the temps hit the teens and even then it's a toss up as long as we have layers. I pack away anything 100% summer; swim suits, sandals, shorts, and most of my tank tops. I leave out some tank tops to wear under t- shirts and sweaters since the temps here tend to fluctuate a lot.

2. Organize
- Nothing in my room is where it should be and my children's rooms are worse.  I started organizing our closets but it fizzled off last year because the system was HUGE! Just in my daughter's room alone she had 15 baskets of toys and clothes. This time I'm starting small, shoes area  big thing for me so instead of my hanging shoe holder I'm spending the money to buy more plastic shoe boxes. For toys I'm thinking large see thru totes with lids attached. That gets part of the clutter down and I can go from there.

- I'll be going through all of our stuff to see what needs to be tossed, donated, or saved for hope chests.

3. Bed
- Take off all your sheets and wash them. Pillows too if you can, if you can't throw them in your dryer at the hottest temp with a dryer sheet. It will help kill germs, fluff them, and make them smell pretty again. Replace your pillows if the no longer hold a shape or support your head and neck.

- Febreeze your mattress and flip over. Mattress should be flipped every 6 months and replaced every eight years. Things like dust mites and dead skin collect inside your mattress causing it to weigh more and not give you the best nights sleep.

- Remember to wash your sheets weekly and your pillows as needed.

4. Surfaces - including but not limited to; head boards, shelves, tables, and dressers
- Night stands seem to be some of the most cluttered areas in a bed room. Time to declutter it, do you need a space to have items such as jewelery, phones, eye glasses, or books? That's fine. I'm talking about all the other items that pile up, old dishes, papers, books you've read but never put back. Get them off! Put everything in it's place. Add a decorative bowl or plate for your daily needed clutter. If your table has drawers get them cleaned out as well.

- Dressers collect a lot of clutter as well. Clothes being pulled out in a hurry, lotions set down, movies and games if you have a tv and consoles in your room. 

- Every other surface needs a good cleaning off as well.

-Dust everything at least weekly. This cuts down on allergens and helps for a cleaner room.

Now you have a start to a clean and organized bedroom in your home. I suggest for the first cleaning in a child's room you involve them with any task they can help.If you are unsure what chores are age appropriate take a look at my chore post here. Routine is the key to keeping everything neat and tidy. A good routine for bedrooms and bathroom is to do your swish and swipe, grab the dirty clothes, and start your day.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 4, Day 1 - Guest Bathroom

This bathroom may be your main bathroom or it may be a separate bathroom just for guests, either way it's the focus of today's goals. I have broken this room down to daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning routines.

Daily
1. The swish and swipe
Swish- take your toilet bowl brush and swish it around doing a preemptive cleaning. Helps stop dirty germ build up and keeps any normal bathroom smells down.
Swipe - take a moment to swipe a cleaning cloth over your counter and sink.

2. Put away - anything that is used daily. Toothbrushes should be in the medicine chest for sanitary reasons, but rags and towels (unless hung), toiletry items, should be placed away as well. Keep clutter to a minimal. This means less to move and clean plus less to make a mess.

3. Spot sweep and spot mop - This says it all, normally I do this every few days but during high traffic times I do this job almost hourly some days. Find what works best for your home and stick with the routine,

4. Clean - This for me isn't a daily item but usually done every few days to weekly. Every household gets dirty differently. Play to your home's needs.

5. Check - Check that your bathroom is stocked with items you need. Bath towels, wash cloths, toiletries, and hand soap.




Weekly
1. Clean -This is done if you haven't seen to it already in your daily goals now is the time to do this.
- Remove and wash all bath mats, toilet covers and tub mats.
- Scrub the inside and outside of the toilet
- Scrub your tub/shower.
- Wash mirrors
- Scrub walls and doorways.
- Mop floors


Monthly
1. Clean - Monthly cleaning is simple and can be done on the same day as a weekly cleaning.
- Wash shower curtain
- Wash windows and window coverings
- Flush pipes
- Check for leaks


And there you have it, a routine for your bathroom to help you keep on top of your routine.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 3, Day 5-7 - Find your grove and shake it.

Yesterday was an 'Oh MY POSH' day for me. We've had snow none stop over here in Idaho and I spent the day curled up with puppies, pillows, Vampire Diaries and pampered myself. I had completed my Dining room tasks and felt the need to reward myself. And so Dear Reader I want you to Pamper yourselves as well. take time to take care of yourselves and enjoy whatever weather you have in your area. Keep up your routine and stay tuned for next week's posts. I'm off to enjoy the snow day my monsters have.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 3, Day 3 & 4 - Crock Pot Meals

Yesterday was horrible for m, I barely got off the couch all day. I had to deal with a debilitating tension headache, but I did think long and hard about my post. And since they both deal with meals I decided to combine for ease of use.
  

      Day 3 is all about using your Crock Pot to make meals that work for your family as well as guests that take minimal prep so you can join in all the fun.I have several websites as well as books I love to use for this purpose.

My #1 go to for crockpot meals is non other than the Crock Pot Queen Phyllis Pellman Good from Fix it and Forget it. Though I only have 2 of her wonderful cook books I tend to over use when I need a meal plan with less prep work.

This book gets the least use for me. But even so, one my favorite dip recipe comes from here.  

                                                          Big hit over nachos in my house.

Next up is the one cook book I look to regularly, So much so that halfway though putting page tabs on recipes to try I gave up and just said the whole book. 

With this cook book there are so many variations for just one recipe you are bound to find one that uses your on hand stock. Soup and chili are our main staples doing the colder months and I can say their are enough recipes you never truly have the same meal twice. 

My # 2 go to is Pinterest. you can find so many websites and blogs all at your finger tips. I like to utilize most Crock Pot meals by turning them into freezer meals either as pre cooked or pre prepped and just throw them in the pot or oven.

My #3 Go to is the good ol internet. A quick search and I've found 100's of recipes faster than my Mom can answer the phone.

      Day 4 came to me after Mr Mechanic said he wanted soup for dinner Wednesday night and with how cold it is outside right now I don't blame him. This morning was in the teens with the wind chill making the temp feel like 7 degrees. Where did Fall go? So for today I will share my Crock Pot chicken soup recipe. it's not anything special, just a base recipe I use when I don't have all of a recipe ingredients.

• Chicken - Bone in is best for a good stock base if you will be home all day to check your progress. Boneless if you plan on not being around.  I use whatever I have in the freezer so tonight is bone-in thigh pieces.
• Water - cover your chicken in your crock pot to 1-2 inches above.
• Soup base or bouillon - I use a little to start so that the stock isn't overly salted
• Spices - use what sounds good to you. Salt and Pepper are a must but the rest is up to you.
• Vegetables - What every you have on hand to toss in and cook. Tonight I have onions and frozen mixed veggies. 
• Noodles - Homemade, store bought it doesn't matter.

• Place chicken and raw veggies in your Crock Pot (bone-in don't worry for now). Add your seasonings and cover with water. 
• Cook low heat for a few hours. 
• When you can smell the meat cooking it's time to take the bones out. Carefully remove just the chicken and set down to cool. Once cooled enough to your liking pull the meat off the bone and place back in your pot. If you are using boneless skip this step.
• Continue to cook on low for a total of 6 hours. Or until meat is cooked through.
• Add pasta directly to crock pot and cook till noodles are tender. Adding more soup base if taste isn't to your liking. 
• Serve with warm bread and crackers.

There you have it. Crock Pot Meals that will last you months to come. 

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 3, Day 2 - Making your home smell good

One of the quickest ways to make your guests feel welcome and your home inviting is to have something that smells yummy cooking. There are many ways to do this but I'm only going to focus on chemical free or multi use recipes.

1. Essential Oil diffuser and oils - This way is one of the best and it has many uses. You can buy all you need online or at your local holistic shop. Some great oils to diffuse are clove, vanilla, lavender, peppermint, pine, fir, and orange. Mix and match scents to create your own blends or buy blends from companies that make oils. I buy mine through Butterfly Express. They are locally owned in Idaho and I have had the chance to meet the owner, LaRee Westover in a oil class she teaches.

2. Essential Oils and a Tart warmer - If you don't have a diffuser or time to buy one you can run down to your local holistic store and buy your oils and place a few drops in the warmer with water. The oil scent diffuses faster but still works to scent your home.

3. Stove top potpourri -  There are many recipes on the internet but I have found my favorite one on Spend with Pennies. Before finding this blog I used the a form of the Cranberry Bliss recipe every Thanksgiving and loved how my home smelled. Now I have many others to choose from and they don't take much to use.

Cranberry Bliss
• 1 orange
• 1/2 lemon
• 1 cup cranberries
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon cloves
• 2-3 cups of water in a sauce pan or crock pot
  Cook on low and don't let the water cook out.

4. Cook or Bake - This one is by far the easiest. Make cookies, applesauce, cake, or any other yummy food right before your guests arrive. Not only will your home smell good but your guests will get a treat straight from the heart. 

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 3, Day 1 - Dining room

Now I don't know what your dining room looks like, for all I know you all have dine in kitchens or don't have a dining room area at all. But in my home we have a smallish dining room between the kitchen and living room. It's home to a very large table and chair set, an over hanging bar window to the kitchen, and numerous shelves, cabinets, and drawers that house the general population of my cake tools.

For me cleaning the dining room is simple, keep stuff off the table, the floor cleaned, and my cake tools organized. Sounds simple right... Not in this lifetime. The dining room happens to be craft central for me, the kids, and the one place the family doesn't use for it's intended purpose any more.
I plan to change that starting today. First order of business was to clear the floor and table. Everything in the room was put back in it's normal place in the correct room of the house. All my cake tools are getting reorganized later in the week when I have time to take inventory of everything I have again.

And there you have it, clean it up and keep a routine going. Since this room is fairly small and simple the rest of the week will be ideas for gatherings and meals. Stay tuned readers.

Cleaning up the holiday's ~ Week 2, day 6 & 7 - Planning and putting it all together.

Now that your kitchen is in order you can start planning a routine that keeps your house running smoothly even if you are not at home.

Meal planning weekly or monthly is a great way to use up what you have in your pantry and fridge, while stopping the dreaded "what's for dinner?" By meal planning you know what you have and what needs to be bought in the future not right that second. Need a few quick ideas for dinner? Stock your freezer with some prepared meals you made in advance. Stock your pantry with meals to go, create a basket with everything you need and a list of items that are frozen or refrigerated so you can grab and cook with no hunting.

Create a calendar center. Set up your routines where you can see them daily. Place your meal plan, your shopping list, school calendars, and phone notes here. One stop for the whole family to see.

Week 3 of the Cleaning series is short with just the dining room so I will be adding posts of meal planning and make ahead meals for my readers to use. Now take a bow and enjoy your smooth running kitchen.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 2, Day 4 & 5 - General cleaning routine

The last few days have been hectic for me, trying to get the house in order, making gifts, planning parties, and general life I have forgotten to update and post for the last week and I am sorry.

Day 4 & 5 are all about creating a cleaning routine and sticking to it. Keep it short and easy to use, plan monthly, weekly, and daily tasks to complete in tune with  your large appliance routine. For my routine it goes as such

Daily

Stove area - I wash off the top, wipe down the walls (my stove is in a tiny cove), clean up the jar of cooking utensils, brush off the spice rack.

Sink area - Shine the sink in the evening, wipe down water spots from dishes, stack dishes if needed, load dishwasher and wash sink full of dishes, wash counters.

General cleaning - sweep floor, spot mop, wipe down any small appliances that have been used.


Weekly

General Cleaning - Wipe down door jambs, cabinets, move small appliances and clean under, mop full floor,


Monthly

General cleaning - Wash walls and ceiling, dust cupboards and cabinets.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 2, Day 3 - Large appliances

Today is all about cleaning up your appliances, both in and behind them. With Holiday parties and meals comes an extra work load for your appliances. If they are going to fail they will at this time and right when you need them most. One way to keep them in tip top shape is to keep them clean at all times. I have posted just a few that need a scheduled cleaning that you should start right now.

Refrigerator 
Daily - Spot wash outside and inside.
Weekly - Clear out left overs
Bi -Weekly - Check expiration date on containers, clean off all paper clutter.
Monthly - pull out and dust back, sweep/vacuum floor, scrub outside and inside.

Stove
Daily - Wash down spills and outside
Weekly - Scrub stove top. Follow your stove's manual on proper cleaning procedures.
Monthly - Scrub inside of stove if not self cleaning. Pull out and clean behind, pull out drawer and clean under.
6 months - Self clean setting. (I like to do mine in October and March. If your oven is going to go it's going to go in self clean mode or under the pressure of cooking a Thanksgiving feast.)

Dishwasher
Daily - Clean out drain catch, sweep under as far as your broom will go.
Weekly - Run a cleaning load (no dishes, just vinegar/dishwasher cleaner)
Monthly - Check hoses, drains, and door seals.

Freezer
Weekly - Sweep around outside.
Monthly - Rotate your frozen food stock, check seals, and expiration dates as well. (Freezer Food Chart)
Bi - Monthly - Defrost

Kitchen Sink
Daily - Shine your sink
Weekly - Scrub out your garbage disposal,
Monthly - Clean out under the sink, check for leaks,

For today I want you to stick with the big 3, fridge, stove, and freezer. This may take the whole day but after you can set up a proper cleaning schedule to suit your needs. If you have time work on the other large appliances.

*Dear readers a note from me. As I take the time to clean my home in the way I ask you to clean yours I sometimes forget to submit my posts in a timely manner. I have taken to using Mr. Mechanic's work laptop since my desktop is old and flighty lately, so sometimes it takes a day for me to post. I will try to pre-post for the next day but please bare with me as I do this.

Cleaning up the holiday's ~ Week 2, Day 2 - Dishes

Do you have an abundance of dishes? Maybe more of one kind than others? What about utensils? It seems in my house we never have enough bowls, spoons, butter knives, or cups. My children take them and leave them somewhere and then throw them out because they get broken or furry. I have 4 different sets of dishes; one for every day use, 2 china for dinner parties, and 1 vintage. None of them are truly a full set anymore and today's goal is to put an end to that.

Today I want to to take stock in dishes, all your dishes. Take the time to tally what you have, what you need, and what you can live without. remember your donation box? Now is a good time to use it, pull it out and load it up with all your extra baking pans, dishes, and cooking utensils that never seem to be used but you needed them for something. Don't take too long to do this 30 - 60 minutes is more than enough time to go through everything.

After you have cleared up your dishes, organize them. If your cupboards and drawers look bare that's fine. You are downsizing the clutter for things you really need. If you find yourself needing that item you placed in the donation box down the road, go and get it and it only.

A few questions to answer.

1. Do you have dishes that are used only when guest come over? Place them where they can be used more often, Life is too short to save the good china for guests only. You deserve to have the best to eat off every day.

2. What if I don't have enough dishes to run a load in the dishwasher? Hand wash dishes as you use them. If it's just you at home all day but you know you'll need your bowl/plate/pan for dinner wash them before you have need of them.

Now that the organizing has commenced it;s time to get down to the heavy cleaning. But that is for another day.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 2, Day 1, Kitchen and Pantry

Congratulations on surviving week 1, now we're ready for week 2 and it's about to get very tough. Today will be somewhat simple to complete, just a few minutes out of your day to get a good list going.

Task 1 - Take 10 minutes in your kitchen and take stock in what you like to use, what you need to use, and what can go. This is a good time to have handy your donation box from the living room, if you come across something you are wishy-washy about throw it in and see just how well you need it when it's out of sight. if you have time figure out a better flow pattern to your kitchen, do you use counter top appliances a lot or are you more of a traditionalist and like working without hands and simple tools? How many of your counter appliance do you use every day? Are they sitting there gathering dust? Make a list that includes these as well.



Task 2 - Take 10 minutes on each step in your pantry/food cupboards. For this job you'll need a new list for shopping/items to keep, a garbage can, and a separate donation box.

- First step is to toss out all the expired foods. Make a note of what you are throwing out, was it something you got on sale and forgot about but now want to use? An items you use regularly but didn't realize it had expired? Many an item in my pantry was bought for a specific reason and then I never used it. Now that it's expired I find myself having a need for it again. By making this list I can narrow down what I need to buy for a recipe when I want the recipe made.

- Second step is to donate all foods you don't need/want/have too much to possibly eat. In this economy that sounds easier said than done right. There is no way you can have too much food for your family! Let me tell you a little story about my kids. For the last 3 years every Friday during the school year my kids would bring home a weekend food bag, now it wasn't something we needed but every student in their school got one no matter what. For the first and second year it was 3 a week, third year 2 a week. each of those bags had breakfast, lunch, dinners, drinks, and snacks for 2 days. We chose to stock them for days when Mom was too tired to cook, or quick meals when we were in a hurry. I had so many of those bags that they took over 3 shelves in my pantry, I did the rough math, it came out to being 624 of just one item in 3 years. 3,120 items that were stored in intervals in my pantry. The kids and hubby ate them all summer long for 3 years, eating so much in fact that my children refuse to eat oatmeal or single serve bowls of cereal, can't stand food that goes from a can to a pan, and if they hear the words chicken and rice together they run. Amazingly they love the drink boxes and snacks. Now we're on to year four, where thankfully it's only one a week. But instead of stocking up we donate it to the local shelters where it's needed more. Stocking up is great when needed but remember it can quickly get out of hand. Sometimes your family needs less than someone else.


- third step is to take stock of what is left. Do you need special items for holiday cooking? Have you created your weekly grocery list yet? If you had to menu plan your whole month just with what you have on hand no shopping could you do it? I shop weekly for things like cereal, milk, and snacks while saving my major shopping for great sales. As such my pantry and freezer had been stocked for over 8 months. My areas are now bare and it's time to stock up on things we like and pass on things that are still sitting around unused. Right now I couldn't make a menu plan for a week without having to run to the store for something. Most of which are convenience items like pancake mix or cream of chicken soup. My goal for this overhaul is to stop relying on them so much and find plenty of D.I.Y recipes out there.

Once you've given your kitchen and pantry a thorough look through you can start planning your routine in these areas to suit your needs.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 1, Day 6 & 7 - Routine, Routine, Routine

Our first week has come to it's end. By staying on top of this one room it has stayed clean but as you know it can't take a week every time to clean a room. Now that your living room and entry are back to square one it's time to employ your cleaning routine. 15 minutes a day to clear away clutter, quick dust, and organize.

How is that possible you say? I can barely dust one room in 15 minutes. It's simple, you keep up on your routine and whatever is not done in 15 minutes is done later. You can choose to finish your dusting/organizing/whatever you need till later in the day or save it for the next day. Don't let this become part of your routine, this is used only with the idea that today was a messier day than normal.

How to keep your cleaning to less than 15 minutes? Clean as you walk through your home and go about your day. Did you watch a movie last nigh and want to watch a new one today? Put away the movies when you are done with them. Can't ever find the remote? Buy a basket or caddy to place them in and set on a table or by the couch, when done put it away. Putting things away right away will become habit and keep your day clutter free.

Are you a list maker? Let Flylady help you build a Control Journal. What is a Control Journal? It's like a Home Binder and if you have one of those like I do, then all you need is a few areas for cleaning and planning. However you plan your day make sure it's in a prominent place in your home. Find the first place in your home that you officially start your day and make that Task Central. (Bathrooms don't count)
You can go over everything for the day and since your get up morning routine never changes much. For me task central is my couch, I wake up my boys for school then go sit down, but that's about to change, each morning I walk past my vintage desk that is cluttered and full of my children's things that I plan on taking it back to make it Task Central #1. I'll be able to get a general idea of what my day is to be like before I've had my cup of coffee.

There you have it dear readers, you've taken back your living room and have a solid foundation on which to keep on top of things.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 1, Day 5 - Entry way

If your home is anything like mine dear readers you have kids and with the holiday's comes even more items cluttering up your entry way/front door/ coat closets. Bulky coats, left over party candy from school, over due home work, wet boots, and don't forget the many hats, scarves, and gloves that are thrown in and lost. To get a jump start on that your first order of business today is to get out with the old and in with the new!

I have started limiting my children one winter coat and one sweater hanging in the entry. All other winter coats are to be placed in the spare coat cabinet for now or in their rooms. Summer coats are packed away for next year unless they are noticeably too small in which they go in the donate box.

Shoes are no longer stored next to the door unless wet. My kids have a bad habit of taking their shoes off anywhere in the house and losing them, oddly enough in separate rooms on opposite ends of the house.  From now on all shoes are to be placed on the snow mat to dry then moved to the appropriate bin, if they are not placed in one of those 2 spots they will be removed on a permanent basis because I'm tired of tripping over them.

Backpacks and purses are another huge problem for us. While I generally throw my purse on the floor next to my computer and it never strays the children do the same with their backpacks, books, and papers but all over the entry. In that area they will now come home clean out bags of everything not needed for the next day; old school work, letters to Mom, homework to be done, etc, and then place the cleared out bag into the coat cabinet. Thus getting the clutter off the floor.

Now guests can hang up their own coats when coming over instead of holding them or draping them across the couch.

Winter gear is a bit trickier for us. You see my entry has a coat rack and nothing else. It has been my goal since buying my home to put in some small shelves for storage and this winter it's happening. Mr Mechanic picked up part of the supplies already and will finish up the rest next month, just in time for the first snow fall. I have already bought cubby bins for everyone in the family as well as guests to use.
If you aren't one of the lucky ones to be builder friendly here is a great starting idea for your own cubby shelves.

There you have it readers, your living room and now entry are done. But Wonder Woman, what will we do now? Why routine, routine, routine. Are you ready to fly solo?

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 1, Day 4 - Furniture

Day 4 for me dawned bright and early like normal with just a hint of lingering cold. And while it didn't stop me from getting my routine, sans getting dressed done.  I didn't manage to get post written.
 

So without further ado I bring you day 4.

Drum roll please... 

ALL FURNITURE!

Pull out your couches, chairs, entertainment centers, even if it's just far enough to get a vacuum attachment behind and clean out the dust bunnies that have reproduced by the millions. How long has it been since your couches have been refreshed? Take this time to vacuum the cushions, under the cushions, and under the bottom. Take some dryer sheets and tuck in the folds for a fresh smell when your guests sit down, febreeze your living room if your furniture is a bit stale smelling. Do you have slip covers, throw pillows or rugs? Take them out and give a nice refresh as well. Place what you can in the wash, hang  others outside to air out (weather permitting). Did you know that sunshine actually kills germs lingering in your home, as well as naturally bleaches simple stains when left out long enough. I love it. For the first 2 years after we bought our home I'd hang out clothes out to dry during the summer. This year however the line snapped and Mr Mechanic hasn't had the time to build me a nice drying line, but I just loved the way things smell when we'd bring them in. Now during the winter I almost never hang the clothes out to dry and I wind up using Febreeze. Every so often I make my own to get away from so many chemicals there are in today's cleaning products and let me tell you the scents you can make are amazing. Are you ready for my totally great recipe? Well here it is, I have 2 of them that I love to use.

DIY Homemade Febreze is such a cinch to make, and you’ll save SO much $$ with this simple little trick!

• Add 3 tbsp. Fabric Softener {like your favorite scent of Downy} to empty spray bottle
• Fill spray bottle with approx. 2 – 3 cups hot water. {depending on size of bottle}
• Add in 1 tbsp. Baking Soda
• Mix, and enjoy!!
• Portions can be adjusted slightly, depending on the size of your spray bottle.

This is a good recipe since everyone always has fabric softener on hand. I can give rave reviews as to it's effectiveness even with my homemade fabric softener recipe.As will all household items please test a small inconspicuous section of your furniture to spray to make sure there are no problems with using the spray.

My next recipe is on I make the most as it doubles as a quick counter cleaner and air deodorizer. 

Essential Oil Febreeze

• Add spray bottle with approx. 2 – 3 cups hot water. {depending on size of bottle}
• Add in 1 tbsp. Baking Soda
• Add in 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil
• Mix, and enjoy!!
• Portions can be adjusted slightly, depending on the size of your spray bottle.

Now my dear readers pat your self on the back... your living room is now back to square one and is drop by friendly.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 1, Day 2 - Paper clutter

Yesterday we took 5 minutes and made a list of things that had to go. 
I found that most of my items was general clutter. Books that aren't mine, kids items that should be in a bedroom, extra newspapers and mail. I knew right away the paper clutter had to go!

So today's goal is to take 15 minutes and clear out the extra paper clutter you may have. Nothing says mess like last week's newspaper sitting on the coffee table.

How are your routines going? I know it's just the second day but a great start is to always shine your sinks at night, never have a load of laundry sitting in your washer or dryer over night, and always dress to your shoes. Just those 2 items can help set the mood tremendously. Today I didn't get dressed to the shoes and I didn't shine my sink. I woke up feeling sick and spent my day half heartily cleaning up. That mistake will not happen for me tomorrow. So tonight I am making my list, setting my goals, and making my plan on how to get there.
 
Evening
1. Make dinner
2. Go over morning plans with family
3. Make sure dishes are off counters
4. Laundry for the evening is wash, dried, folded, and put away
5. Blog post for tomorrow planned out
6. Bed at a good time

Morning
1. Get kids up, showered, and dressed
2. 15 minute chore time
3. Lunch money given before boarding the bus
4. breakfast and coffee for me
5. Laundry going
6. Blog post typed and posted
7. Community Cake dropped off
8. Check in at work for more class students
9. Laundry
10. 15 minute hot spot clean up

Afternoon
1. Lunch
2. T.V. time
3. Laundry
4. Start dinner 
5. Go over meal plan for the next day
6. Kids come home
7. 15 minute weekly clean up

 Repeat evening goals again.

now if all goes as planned tomorrow morning I can happily report that the evening and partial morning goals were met in my next blog post.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 1, Day 3 - Surfaces

Today we're taking 15 minutes and clearing all living room surfaces of knick knacks, books, and other items to dust and organize. You may not get is all done in 15 minutes and that's ok, start with the worst area for you and move outwards.

For my home the main book cases are horrible, we hardly ever dust them and they get coated so quickly. When I do take the time to dust all the books come down and a deep dusting begins. It's hard since there are over 100 books between 3 shelves and I really have no order to the titles. I start with my shelf in the corner, it has the most knick knacks that I don't want the kids touching. Other shelves like the movies and entertainment center get a light dusting about every few days or week. When I dust them only the knick knacks are moved, but if I have time everything comes off and is deep dusted as well. Our gaming cabinet is the hardest to clean, I can't take everything out and it collects dust bunnies the size of a T-rex some months. This is a time I like to make sure I have plenty of canned air handy as well as dusting rags with spray. I use the canned air to force dust out of corners and from behind wires, then use the rags lightly sprayed with Pledge to clean out the dust I just blew around.

As many of my readers know I try to be green whenever I can so I do have a DIY Dusting Spray that does work on the wood, but I mostly buy Pledge Multi Surface because Mr. Mechanic likes it and it makes my cleaning a bit faster. Here is the recipe I use

D.I.Y Dusting Spray 

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 cup white vinegar

1 cup warm water

Stir/shake well. Store in a squirt bottle for optimal usage. 

This recipe will be good for about a week and then it's time to start another batch. If you don't think you'll use that much you can half the recipe.

I have another recipe for D.I.Y dusting cloths that I plan on trying out this weekend. I'll post the results after I test them in another post.

I am happy to report that my routine posted yesterday is going as planned
 
Evening
1. Make dinner
2. Go over morning plans with family
3. Make sure dishes are off counters
4. Laundry for the evening is wash, dried, folded, and put away
5. Blog post for tomorrow planned out
6. Bed at a good time

Morning
1. Get kids up, showered, and dressed
2. 15 minute chore time
3. Lunch money given before boarding the bus
4. breakfast and coffee for me
5. Laundry going
6. Blog post typed and posted
7. Community Cake dropped off
8. Check in at work for more class students
9. Laundry
10. 15 minute hot spot clean up

Afternoon
1. Lunch
2. T.V. time
3. Laundry
4. Start dinner 
5. Go over meal plan for the next day
6. Kids come home
7. 15 minute weekly clean up

  I feel good about myself this morning, I know it can be done and I have the goal in sight.

Cleaning up the Holiday's ~ Week 1, Day 1 - Living room

The living room is the hub of activity for your holiday guests whether it be coming for a dinner party, a day of chatting, or staying awhile. Your guests will be spending a good amount of time in this area, so it should reflex you and place them at ease.

First step of the day is to take 5 minutes and list everything that doesn't need to be in the room, things that are better used other places, or things you need to get rid of. Once you have that list put it in a prominent place to look at in the days to come.

Second step of the day map out your 15 minutes per room. This is to clear out your daily grunge. Dishes, laundry, trash. your home didn't get dirty in a day it won't get cleaned in a day. Start working on your routine. FlyLady suggests a wonderful routine that can be adapted to fit your needs.

 Before Bed Routine: Start as soon as dinner is finished don’t wait till 10:00pm.

1. Shine your sink; go to bed with a clean kitchen.

2. Put things away from your Hot Spots.

3. Lay out your clothes for tomorrow; check your calendar for appointments.

4. Take some time to relax; bubble bath, good book or magazine.

5. Go to bed at a decent hour.

Morning Routine: Start as soon as your feet hit the floor.

1. Make your bed.

2. Get dressed to lace up shoes.

3. Put a load of laundry in the washer.

4. Empty dishwasher.

5. Eat breakfast, drink your water, take your vitamins.

6. Check your calendar for appointments.

7. Think about what’s for dinner.

8. Police your Hot Spots and put things away.

9. Set a timer and declutter one little area for 15 minutes.

10. Where is your laundry? Put it in the dryer.

11. Take a break and rest while you check your Holiday Control Journal.

Afternoon Routine: Start as soon as you get home from work.

1. Start dinner, put hot soapy water in your sink, and clean up as you cook.

2. Fold and put laundry away.

3. Set the table.

4. Enjoy dinner.

Remember to take it slow and steady or you will crash and burn. Take lots of notes and don't be afraid to try something new.

Cleaning up the Holiday's

The holiday's are fast approaching and I don't know about everyone but my house suffers from CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) With some tweaked help from the FlyLady.net and her wonderful Holiday Control Journal I have slowly started taking back my home just in time for the holiday parties and hub-bub of activities that never seem to happen for my family. Christmas cards... never sent because i missed placed the cards or address book. Hand made gifts... poorly done because I've used all counter space for dishes or projects. Not this year! This year I may not get everything done but I will feel better about having people over.

I have adapted the Holiday Control Journal to fit my needs for the next 2 months. I have thoroughly planned to spend the next 8 weeks in preparation for getting my home in order. I will be spending the next 5 weeks getting my whole home ready for the holidays and the 3 weeks after prefecting my routine while enjoying the activities I have planned. Please join me for each week for Cleaning the Holiday's by working on one area at a time.

Week 1- Living room and Entry. The first places your guest will see when coming to your home.
Week 2 - Kitchen and Pantry. A well planned meal or party starts with these two rooms.
Week 3 - Dining Room. Be able to sit down to your meal with flare and not exhaustion.
Week 4 -  Bathrooms and Bedrooms. This is mostly for your piece of mind.
Week 5 - Extra rooms or Extra care. If you have an office, your yard, or just need more time on another   room now is a great time to do it.
Weeks 6-8 - Work on a routine that works for you. While Fly Lady has a great starting point it doesn't work for everyone.  Take the time to get to know what works and why. Take notes for future use.

Now I'm a bit late in posting this so Day 1 & 2 will be posted right after this. I look forward to your comments and helpful tips.

Teaching our children valuble life skills

I'll be the first to admit I want my kids to be kids. There were times growing up that I hated my parents for giving me chores and I swore if I ever had kids I'd never make them do chores. Well it's been many moons later and I can say "Yep my kids have chores". Now their chores aren't big or strenuous for them, I believe that even at a very young age your child can pick up after themselves. I didn't start having my kids even pick up their rooms till they were about 6 and that was a big mistake, I'd still be cleaning their rooms if they had their way.  This chart has floated around the web for sometime now and while my Monsters now have a firm grasp on their chores, it has helped to make sure they are not doing more than they really can handle.

My kids do just about everything on this list and it's nice to know I can count on them to help around the house. 

Cadence is 12 and does most of what is on the list. He likes to shop with me and run up to the gas station if I run out of milk. He makes dinner and some weeks he cooks more than I do because he loves it. Now he can't sew but if it needs hammered, screwed, or stapled he's on it. If it's his normal daily chore... he's no where to be found but he'll help any other time.

Tydan is 11,  he'll do his chores if I'm watching but anything more is like pulling teeth some days. He'd rather be sitting on the couch in front of the tv or playing outside. He does a pretty good job when he puts his mind to it and even comes up with some great short cuts.

Daytona is 9 and Daddy has babied her a bit too much. I finally put my foot down with her chores so for now she's a chore floater. Since the boy's have set chores everyday she is to help them both. I even went and got her her very own pet to take care of. (Oreo the guinea pig)

While you may think my that list is super long we break our chores and even the house cleaning into days of the week.

Monday - Kitchen and Laundry Room. Everything scrubbed, organized, and a weekly fridge cleaning. Monthly we pull out the appliances and clean behind them.

Tuesday - Office and Pantry. This is a organize take stock type of area. Monthly we defrost the freezers.

Wednesday - Living Room and Entry - Big purge areas! You would not believe what my kids can pack into the entry way bins in a week. Dusting and monthly couch moving is a must.

Thursday - Bedrooms, Bathrooms, and Hallway. Now if all goes as planned during the morning and evening getting ready for bed these  areas are already clean. If not now is the time to deep clean.


Friday - Dining Room - Another room that if cleaned daily is not a problem, but we tend to use this area as a catch all for projects.

Weekend - Yard work when needed.

The Monsters have a chore binder in case they 'forget' what they are suppose to really do in an area. Their binder even has a place to keep track of books they've checked out, T.V time, how much they have in allowance, and because I'm a cool Mom a place to ask a sibling to change chores with them. And just in case the binder goes missing, they have charts set up in the dining room that tells them what is to be done, when, and even for how long. We are big fans of the 15 minute pick up.

Chores are always red while fun things happening are green. This month's board is all about prepping for a Halloween party.

Chores, Cakes, and Coupons

Life has been hectic at the Lowry Household. Mr Mechanic is working long hours in preparation for winter layoff, the Monsters are driving me batty, and to top it off we got new pets...
                                  Meet Morwen the bunny 

                                                     and Oreo the guinea pig

Tink thoroughly hates both of them when they sit on my lap. With Oreo she actually growls, with Morwen she runs away. It's amazing that my 6 and a half pound Chihuahua is scared of a 3 pound bunny. Oreo happens to be Daytona's new chore, she really doesn't do much other than clean her room and help her brothers with their chores. Now to get the hubby to make me a feed/bedding bin for all the animal stuff. It has taken over my pantry, which is part of our 'homesteading' make over in the years to come. (self sufficient in 5 years)

Community Cakes is going great for me so far. Here's today's main cake. A bit of a problem with the top scroll work but a good job over all. Lot's of fun making it. It's chocolate cream cheese, with a caramel pudding center, cream cheese flavored buttercream. The piped rosettes on the side is 4 different colors and the daisies are made from hardened fondant.

That's not just my latest cake, I made this one for my friend's little boy's first birthday. Vanilla with Chery pie filling, covered in fondant. First time making boots, hat, and rope words but I loved it.

And of course his smash cake. Vanilla with buttercream and removable fondant decorations.

I heard both cakes were a big hit, even with the minor flaws that Only I can apparently see.


I'm getting back into couponing, it's been great knowing I can pay full price for something and not have it break the bank but winter is coming and the log isn't as stocked as it normally is this time of year.  Hopefully Mr. Mechanic and sons can bag us a deer next week to help offset some of our meat lackage. (yes I know lackage isn't a word but I like it)
 
Sometimes I feel I am all alone in the world when I'm doing my dailies, but then I find a group of women who feel the same way and slowly we begin to click. We have a coupon club, meet ups, coffee dates, and just like that I begin to new friends and get new ideas. Coupon apps and cash back apps are AWESOME! Really! it can be a pain to remember to grab each receipt plus enter it in to multiple apps and scan each product you bought but I promise it's worth it. Start slow and quickly gain speed. I'll periodically post items of interest here but for now I'm signing off to clean house.

When one door closes...

Some great windows let in fresh air.

I've been given some great opportunities this summer, I've had some downsides as well.

Good news
1. Our house purge ended with a clean garage and office area. However stuff from my Aunt as been piled in there for her second yard sale which isn't a problem for now but after this month it all must be gone. I got stock to build up and I need the shelf space LOL.

2. As of last month I am a Perfectly Posh consultant and I love my job. I get to use as well as share all natural beauty care. Making the family be my guinea pigs on every product I can get my hands on and it is great LOL

3. My trip to my Dad's was just the vacation we needed. Fell in love with some perfect spots for our vow renewal, and got to take our first ever huckleberry picking adventure. Got to see lots of wild life momma and baby White tail on the way up, baby bear while berry picking, and another baby deer coming home so close I could have touched it.

4. One brother got married and another one is having a baby.

5. School starts soon so major break time.

6. I've been asked to host monthly cake decorating meetings in my Homemakers group.

Bad news

1. We had to put Lily down. I was very sad, for days I walked around the house in a daze. My best friend had a wonderful poster collage made up of pictures to remember her by. It was a wonderful gift to come home to.

2. After only 3 short days I had to once again say goodbye to my Dad and come home. We had a nice long talk and I learned many things about me and him.

3. I have had to cut back on taking cake orders. Just too much happening and too many people taking advantage of me.

4. My house is a mess. I mean totally trashed.

5. It's official, my oldest has to repeat 6th grade.

Even with all this going on I'm trying hard to get out, live life, and of course just keep swimming LOL.
All and all life has been very good to me. I'm happy with things as they happen, and I see big things in the future for the Lowry household.

Challenges, Changes, and Finding Happiness.

Mr. Mechanic and I have started changing our habits for healthier, happier ones lately. We sit down to go over the budget together, which is a pretty big thing. He's always said he just makes the money so I can spend it but now he knows how the money is spent as well.

I started a mile challenge, at first I tried to beat my time but now I'm just working to actually walk my mile everyday. It's hard and some days I just can't do it but I try and that's what matters the most for me.

We're working harder at purging stuff from the house. We cleaned the garage out over the Fourth and started the office this week. So far I'm keeping more than I've purged but that's just the start. Getting used to purging daily or even weekly is one step closer to having a warm and inviting home for our guests. I'm so excited to show off my office later, it has come a long way from the catch all personal episode of Hoarders to a room I can be proud to use for business or parties.

I was approached with a wonderful job opportunity this week. I hope to hear back on it soon so I can officially announce it. I may mean opening my own bakery takes longer but it'll be worth the wait for me. In the mean time I'm making cakes and organizing all my tools. I find that I have so many I need to start making a shopping list of everything I have. I found I bought 2 of quite a few things because I thought I didn't have them.

In an effort to make getting on track fun I joined a site called HabitRPG. List making has never been so much fun. Just clearing out old emails and drinking water, I've gone from level 5 to level 20. It's a great way from me to actually stay on top of what I plan for the day.

All and all this Wonder Woman is on a roll and loving the life that is unfolding around her.

The not so glamourous day

Today is just one of those days where try as I might I can't bring myself to get dressed. it's not that I'm being lazy, I just have so much to do before I can even take a shower and I keep thinking how getting dressed to deep clean the house sounds ridiculous. Especially when it is so hard to scrub the floor on your hands and knees in a dress. But I did it, I got up, put on a pair of jeans, my Babe with the Power tee, my ballet flats, put on some earrings, threw a scarf around my hair, and added a bit of makeup. I am now ready to go tackle the top of the fridge for my 40 bags in 40 days challenge.

You can read all about it here.

Day 1 brings me to the top of my fridge. While I started clearing it off a few weeks ago it was never completed and honestly the last time it was fully cleared off  was when we got it 2 years ago.  

 Yup gross right, the closed cupboard was all our bar ware but I needed more shelf space for my vintage dishes as well as all my cake stands. The first thing I really need to do for the top of the fridge is to put all the meds away somewhere else. I have a cute little chicken drawer that I started putting the cold and pain meds in. It wasn't the real purpose I bought it for but it'll work for now.

 

Don't mind the colors, my dining room is yellow wall with a red table cloth.

Now I just need to find out where to put all the vitamins, for now they are in a small tote bin and out of the way. Next stop in the shelving area... more shelves in the master bathroom. Till then I will place this out of the way of the cleaning progress. and get back up to the fridge. I am so short I had to make sure it was ok with the hubby that I climbed on top of the fridge to get the cupboard and back of the fridge washed. He totally freaked at my last major cupboard cleaning when I hung off the shelves in order to clean the ceiling.

 

Yup that's me dangling 2 feet off my counter while my oldest takes a pic to send to Hubby. We thought it was funny he did not. Could also be because I had asked him to do it the night before and he forgot. 

So a few hours and a brief cleaning hiatus, later I can proudly say the fridge is cleared and the shelves have space. The hubby can decide if he wants to keep the oddball glasses or toss them. 

But there you have it, I did it. While most everything went into the trash not a donate pile some stuff only the hubby can say if it goes or not. I was also able to go through a few of the office boxes thanks to the kids and their awesome help. Tomorrow's task... the main dish cabinet. FUN FUN!!!