January 18th "TO DO" List

How can these six little faces create such havoc on my home? (ok, our home)

Seriously, I have never felt so behind, so underwater, or so disorganized in all my life.

It isn't that almost everything doesn't have a place, because most things do. It is just that all those things just aren't in the right places.

No lie, piles and piles have taken over my home.

Yesterday, my best friend came over. Fortunately, she is not a judgemental person, because seriously the house was scary. Downright scary! She almost had Valentine candy (that was trying to stay hidden) almost hit her in the face when she put away the paper cups. Or that she found licorice in the drawer for pot holders. We were out of dish detergent so the dishes filled the dishwasher, the sink and some of the counters. The ice maker wasn't even working to give her a glass of water with lunch, because it needs a new filter!!

Instead of spending the extra time on the holiday break cleaning out closets and bringing in new clothes and going through the old. Instead of taking a day, to clean and organize all the kitchen cabinets (which we skipped doing during Fall break, because we were having too much fun,) and putting away all decorations, we just played.

I know that most of us will look at that and say "Great!" Isn't that the more important thing to do? Of course, but to me, today, I am underwater.

So, I have done what I always do when I am done living in survival mode...I made a LIST!

I was going to take a picture and post it, but I haven't figured out the new computer and its' companionship with my blog, so I am just going to type it. If writing it was therapeutic, typing it again for everyone to see, should be even more motivating.

So today is MAIN FLOOR day! I realize that this should be posted on my organization blog over at www.heapsorhappiness.blogspot.com, but one cannot preach what one is not currently practicing! So maybe here first...then over there with successful before and after photos.

If anyone wants to play along, here we go!

LAURA'S GUIDE TO MAIN FLOOR HAPPINESS:

Front Porch

sweep porch

spray down porch

wash door

hang valentine wreaths (so exciting, and very ambitious)

clean glass on lights

fix and hang flag

Front Entry

wash windows

dust chandelier (seriously, it would be perfect if it were October...now that I say that it was perfect for Halloween, but now it is January!)

shampoo rug

dust all items

set candles to timers

wipe down inside door panels

Front Closet

organize electronic bins

organize bags

hang all coats on wood hangers

wipe down all trim and door

detail vacuum

Dining Room

set table for display

iron tablecloth

decorate table with centerpiece

clean mirror

wipe down all trim

org corner homework table

org beverage bin

Living Room

organize cabinets

dust

vacuum under couch and table

wipe down and polish all woodwork

Piano Room ("Conservatory" to everyone in on the inside joke of 2009)

dust and polish all wood

org piano books and supplies

org all instruments

all extra items out of room

all glasswork

straighten all curtains

vacuum vents

Family Room

org all videos

org all DVDs

dust all wood

vacuum couch

vacuum under all furniture

wipe down all trim, tables, and windowsills

all glasswork

org all games

org end tables

wipe down couch

Picture Shelves

dust shelves

straighten albums

add new albums

Craft Closet

empty

wipe down all shelves

vacuum floor and trim

org all learning books

org all bins

silver out

dog food put in new bins with lids

label all bins and containers

org door unit

Kids' Coat Closet

org all scriptures

org all gloves, hats and scarves

org all bags

vacuum floor and trim'

wipe down shelves and trim

all coats on matching hangers

Downstairs Bathroom

org under sink

stock all supplies

scrub tile, doors and trim

paint back of door

all glasswork

wipe down small table

org all magazines

Laundry Room

clear and wipe down all shelves

org all baskets

label baskets

clear and wipe down folding counter

check and org all cabinets

put extra tools in garage

clean under sink

vacuum floor and trim

wipe down all woodwork

put away all laundry

org craft drawers

pair all socks and put away

wipe down washer and dryer

hang extra chore chart

Office

org all paperwork (to file, to do, bills, memory, shred, etc)

dust and polish all wood

set up bookcases by subject (church, school, reading, etc)

wipe down trim and door

vacuum and edge entire room

org all CDs

org all filing cabinets

Kitchen

TOMORROW!!!

Ok, there it is! Big plans for what looks like a very LONG, but exciting day. I am going to try and prove to myself that I can have fun on breaks, and recover with dignity.

Return and report tomorrow.

What are you doing today? Inspire us!

~Laura