Fresh

With the new year here I've been looking at our home and thinking of ways that we can simplify our life and home. I try to go room by room thinking of things I can purge from our life(clothes we aren't in love with, vases I'm no longer fond of, sheet sets that make me sweat). I don't know why doing this at the beginning of the year works, but there's something about not being worried about throwing stuff out come January 1.
I have a ton of stuff to sell or get rid of. When I'm working in a room I usually make 4 stacks:sell, give away, and throw away, then I have a stack that either needs a new home or is misplaced and needs to be moved to another room. Once I'm done with a room I take my stacks and put them away before starting on another room. This keeps things organized and easy to stop and pick back up later if needed(which happens a lot if you're working while the kids are awake.
Speaking of kids, get them in on the action! Tell them to ask themselves 1. Do I LOVE this? 2.Would someone else be blessed by this more than I am? 3. Could I sell this old thing to get something that would work better for me? I know my kids are prone to have emotional attachments to things, so I have to be careful about what I say about their personal things. Giving them the responsibility to make choices seems to make it work better for all of us and they end up getting rid of more than I would have in the first place.
I'll also be taking a look at my spending and try to think if there are ways to get rid of any unnecessary spending(other than my one guilty pleasure-Netflix). It's really good to think through your daily schedule and try to also purge any activities that aren't BEST for your family. There are a lot of GOOD things you can be part of, but shedding a few from your list might be a good thing as you face the new year. Is there something extra that you do that really drains the life out of you and isn't BEST for your whole family? Think through your roles and see if there is anything you might need to put aside for now and maybe pick back up later.
Manly and I really like to take a moment and try to plan out our year as far as big purchases, family vacations, and home improvements that need to be done. Once we have our list we are able to set financial goals for saving money. It's sort of like a layaway plan. We "make payments" to each area until we are ready to pay. Since we don't do credit cards we pay cash for everything. The payment system lets us do that easily(well, at least easier.).
Anyway, all of that to say the new year is a great time to start fresh! Take the challenge to freshen up your life.

Friday Ideas

So, I thought I'd include a few ideas that I use in our house from time to time. Take em or leave em.=)

1. Set the table for breakfast before you go to bed. This will save time the next morning and give you a little smile when you walk into the kitchen still sleepy and out of it the next morning.
2. Put clothes in the closet in color order. We use ROY G BIV Pink, white, brown, black. When I put the clothes in it takes a little more time, but in the long run it saves so much time when looking for something to wear. It's a big hit for my color blind husband that needs help picking out clothes for the girls. It ALSO helps Olivia pick out things that are at least the same color. We let her pick out most of her own clothes...=)
3. Always have everyone grab everything they've brought INTO the car when they get OUT. This keeps your car looking nice and clean all the time.
4. When cleaning your house always go in the same order. For instance work in clockwise direction beginning in the same room each time. This will help things run smoothly and quickly.
5. When cleaning a room always work from top to bottom.
6. When cleaning a room make piles that need to go into other rooms, but don't take them until the room is finished. This will save LOTS of time and keep you from getting side-tracked.
7. Spray air freshener before your husband comes home from work. He'll think you've been cleaning all day!=)
8. Always make your bed before you leave your bedroom in the morning. You'll be so glad you did. I promise.
9. Pick a day to run errands and make notes throughout the week so that you have a plan on errand day. Figure out the best rout and the best time to get things done fastest. Try to stay away from lunch time if possible. There is always so much traffic at that time of the day.
10. Make your own invitations. You can make the cutest things by looking online at ideas then using the computer and a printer to make them. You'll love them and so will other people.=)

Have a good weekend!