As we are entering into the official start of spring this week, it is time to think of our annual cleaning ritual, Spring Cleaning. It's a time to go through all that stuff you have lying around, really get down with your bad cleaning self and whip your home into shape for those summer BBQ's. Go ahead, take a minute to really think about those summer BBQs. We are all more than ready for it.

I know I will be starting my spring cleaning very shortly in anticipation of a move. And here is exactly how I get my cleaning self into proper spring cleaning mode.

Prepare Grab a glass of your favorite vino or adult beverage. You make the decision whether to enjoy it before, during or after. Have all your favorite cleaning products on hand. My go tos are the Swiffer Duster, Lysol or Clorox wipes, pink cleaning gloves and a lot of paper towels.

Toss-Donate-Keep- Designate a donate pile before you even start clearing out the closets. Have the trash bags ready to just toss. Really evaluate if the items are worth taking up your closet and room space. Worth stressing you out over the clutter they might causing.

Unsure if you can? Try the 12-12-12 rule. Find 12 items you want keep, 12 items you want to donate and 12 items you want to trash. Right there, you have 36 items already taken care of. Your closets will breathe a little better.

Organize Now it's time to tackle all the stuff that is left in your keep pile and see where it belongs with all the rest of your stuff. Closets, under the bed, drawers, desk. You name it, organize it. Start the new season with a fresh, organized view from your desk or closet. Baskets are always a great idea to really start the organizing. Label away.

Deep Clean Get those cleaning gloves out. Pink ones optional. You will dusting, scrubbing and vacuuming like you haven't in the past 8 months. This includes moving furniture, washing windows and flipping the mattress. You can't forget to clean the pantry, fridge and toilet. All of the favorite spots. And just in case you need a checklist like me.

Reintroduce spring Switch out the winter bed linens, winter clothes and bathroom linens. Introduce the bright back into your life with spring sheets and towels. Pep up your wardrobe.It's time to kiss winter goodbye. And I can say for anyone on the east coast, we are ready!

Any tips you have for spring cleaning? How much are you looking forward to spring?

Memories Aren't Kept in Material Things

After my mom passed away in 2009, my sister and I had the task of cleaning up the house and putting it up for sale. This meant going through all her things and deciding what was what. We trashed a lot. We kept a lot more.

I moved out of the house and brought more than half of it with me in storage boxes and shoved it into my spacious size 1300 square foot townhouse. It wasn't comfortable but it fit. Then, I downsized to a modest 900 sq. foot apartment with the husband and half of the went into storage and the other half is clogging up our closests and floors.

We have stuff EVERYWHERE. And I mean everywhere. Our apartment is bursting at the seams along with our extra storage unit where we keep everything else. ok, by "we" and "our", I actually mean, "me" and "mine."

This is one area where the, "What's mine is yours," concept of marriage does not apply. It's my junk and my husband is in now way responsible for it explosion. And quite frankly, he might just be ready to ship me and my junk overseas. I have heard, "Why do we have all this stuff?" more times than I would like to count. I never got it. Never really understood.

I mean, I might need that sparkly shirt I haven't worn in 2 years if I'm invited to a 16 year olds birthday party. Or i I am ever out of hobbies, that clarinet could come in handy. My favorite one is the fact that I should save that for our future home/future kids/future life.

But something else also hit me, most likely that fell out of a closet. Or I fell over something one too many times. It could also be me struggling to get our storage unit open because it's stuffed like a turkey at Thanksgiving. Enough is enough.

I found I held on to a lot of stuff that was my mom's or in our old house, just to keep the memories and the joy. But lately, these items I held onto to keep the happiness from my mom's life are actually causing me more stress. Every time I open another full closet. Every time I have to take a drive to the storage unit. Every time I think of the boxes at my in-laws.

It's time for these material things to move on from me. Let them move to a house where they will make new memories with a shelf my mom had my grandma's bells on or playing my mom's old records. My mom's smile will not leave my memory just because these "things" are. The memory of her dancing in a Disney store won't mysteriously disappear when I ship off a carton of holiday decorations.  And I will still remember the shopping trips that were made for the shirts I can't seem to say good-bye to.

Four piles of trash have made their way out the door in the past month. Another full pile has made it's way to donations. (Hello, tax deduction.) And I am finally feeling a little lighter.

The emotional weight is starting to lift and my closets are starting to look a little more roomy. Those material things don't make me. My family, friends and who I am as a person make me. It wasn't hard letting those "things" go. That's because they are just" thing." Not memories.

Have you ever held onto sentimental items? Do you live a minimalist life  and would like to share some tips?

Saw it. Pinned it. Did it! ..Tension Rod for Cleaning Supplies

Back for another Saw it. Pinned it. Did it!

Here is the pin that started it all. Pinned this way back when.

Source: pin4fun9508.blogspot.com via Krista on Pinterest

 Even before I moved...had about 3 extra curtain/tension rods that have been around for awhile and knew I could find something for them. (curse of Pinterest I tell ya)

But not everyone understands the need to keep senseless things...my dad as he was helping me move, "These are garbage right?" "No!" "What are you going to do with these?" Not sure yet. But I don't want to throw them away."

Well, low and behold. I did do something with at least one! Go me!

Now, the rods I had were too big for under the sink. But I knew there was someway I could still make it work. And also a way to not have to separate the hanging cleaning supplies and the non-hanging cleaning supplies. 

First, was location. We have a walk in closet...meant for coats, scarves, etc.etc. We use it as the cleaning/Lily business room.

I got the idea to add the curtain rod under the shelf. Added a few dollar store bins to hang the non-hanging cleaning supplies. Gets them out from under the sink and all are in the same convenient place. 

Each bin has it's own 'theme' so we know where things should be and can find them quickly.

This is the 'Lily' bin. 

Has her bathroom things...shampoo (because you know how easy she is to bathe) , fur trapper from Pledge (genius invention if I do say so myself) And her freshen wipes.

This is the 'laundry' bin. 

Our detergent packets, Shout color catcher (helps save money when each load of laundry cost you $3.50 #apartmentwoes) Dryer sheets and currently my free sample of Downy

And this is the 'cleaning' bin. 

The stuff that doesn't hang. Has our Lysol wipes, Pledge wipes and carpet cleaner.

And then added all the hanging cleaning supplies at the end.

So if you happen to have a cleaning closet...and can utilize this system...I definitely recommend it. Especially useful in an apartment where you have limited space. 

I can now use under the bathroom counter for extra supplies we have and other bathroom odds and ends. They can then stay out of the nice linen closet. 

And there you have it folks! Until, next week!

Truth or Dare: Scary bedroom edition

So I stumbled upon ANOTHER link up or blog hop! What can I say, I love them. This one is Truth or Dare Tuesday. Here we go...

There are two options....Truth: IF you had 24 hours left to live what would you do...OR Dare: Show a picture of your bedroom and explain.

Since I'm such a daring person...I will show you a picture of the current state of my bedroom. And it will explain this tweet. Yes, wine is getting me through.

You see this also kind of explains my absence from this blog. This is what I am dealing with during this unpacking. Too much stuff and no where to go! Especially with closet space.

I have a lot of clothes. And I get this small closet. No walk in. (I know I was spoiled for a year) But how am I supposed to fit all my clothes PLUS his clothes in that closet. Let's be serious. And don't even get me started on those sheets. One of my very near purchases.

So yes. This mess. And you know I make more of a mess when I'm trying to organize. So these clothes didn't make it much farther. Well, except to the vanity. Then back on the bed in the morning. A couple more might have made it into the closet. But I will tell that I am still in a pickle how to fit everything. Let me know any helpful hints or ideas because I am seriously going crazy!!

Don't forget to link up with Jade from An Organized Mess for Truth or Dare!

back in action!

So I have been MIA from here for almost a month (!) and there is really no excuse for it. I mean I was working a lot actually. And then having somewhat of a social life. I will update you bit by bit.

Today I will tell you how the packing and organizing has been going. No place found to live yet. But so much stuff piling up. case in point....

Yup. All mine, And that's only one room where my stuff is piled. More to follow...

Which begs the question, how am I going to fit in a tiny one bedroom apartment? But that looks like the only place I can afford being as Target does not pay for the townhouse I really want to live in haha

Doesn't hurt to dream though I guess. 

There's a tid bit for now. More to come.

-If you think you're free, there's no escape possible. ~Ram Dass

Planner

What got me through 4 years of college filled with sorority activities, jobs, an internship and many, many homework assignments and projects?

That's right. A handy dandy planner. Without a planner I can honestly say I'm not sure I would have gotten half my work done or been at numerous activities. But upon graduation it seemed I had hardly anywhere to be or anything to do. Well with no full time job and all. And when I got a part time job it still didn't call for the work of a planner.

However, since I have started my freelance and my social schedule seems to be picking up I found myself standing in the planner aisle. It was one of those "ahhhh" moments. Serene and at peace. As if the world was back in its place.

It took me about a half hour just to figure out which planner would suit my needs for the rest of the year. Did I want the simple day by day one? Or the day planner that has hours all lined out? Then there were the more expensive binder planners that would allow me to just refill paper.

As tempting as it was I decided on the simple day planner with hours. I figure maybe next year I will make the jump to the heavy duty planner.

Having activities and deadlines to put in my planner and in my life just makes me feel like I finally have a purpose. My life is focused on something and there are tasks to be done and someone is counting on me again. I realized that no part time job could ever do this for me. I am finally doing something I went to school for and what I know.

That planner that sits on my desk signifies I'm on my way somewhere. It might start out a few hours here and there are occupied. But I hope it makes its way to having every hour planned out because if I don't I might not know which way to turn. That's what I love. That's what I crave.

So thank you planner for bringing me back. You are so much more than a planner.

-One pointed focus turns dreams into reality-