tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75836252291967763222024-02-07T06:07:09.389-06:00Month by MonthOrganizing for life every month of the yearGingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.comBlogger524125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-27969718108186662222016-07-25T09:16:00.004-05:002016-07-25T09:16:56.135-05:00Dollar FindsI'm starting this post out with an item that is not a dollar. Boo. But ever since Target changed there Dollar spot to include items that are 3.00 and 5.00 I keep finding cute things there! Cute but not a dollar, yet still pretty frugal! <br />
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These little journals came from <strong>Target</strong> and they are super cute. They cost three bucks! The blue one has graph paper inside and the orange one has dotted paper. I love them for bullet journaling or just any type of little lists or notes. <br />
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Here's a peek inside...some weeks I write a little note everyday and others I just jot down little thoughts or inspirations. I've never been very good at keeping a more lengthy journal but this is working pretty well. <br />
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One of my favorite things to find for a dollar! Washi....I use this in my planners and journals all of time to add a little spark of color! These rolls I found at <strong>Dollar Tree</strong>. Dollar Tree has a great Washi selection but it is pretty hit and miss. I looked for weeks for the new rolls everyone was talking about and the FINALLY were at my local store. <br />
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These are two different sets both found at<strong> Target</strong> and they both really were a dollar! Yeah! The binder clips on the top would be perfect for school....but I have to laugh at the Ignore one...I mean if you are going to ignore it why clip it? The second set is a little min days of the week set that includes one that says every day. (Earlier I bought a full sized set) I was thinking that you could add magnets to the back and put it on the fridge to clip a menu card up each day of the week. The larger set would probably work better for that idea. They are super dainty and cute and for a dollar...they found their way into my cart! <br />
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That's it for my Dollar Finds but now I'm itching to make a trip to Dollar Tree to see what new stuff they might have haunting their aisles. Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-23213177137267757372016-07-04T05:06:00.000-05:002016-07-04T05:06:00.150-05:00Celebrate!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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From Month by Month,,,,,,Enjoy your day! Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-5962798054148355662016-06-13T09:11:00.001-05:002016-06-13T11:41:15.930-05:00Organize It: On My DeskNo other place in the house can get into such a jumbled mess as a desk top. Mail, bills, notes, and other items clog the working surface.<br />
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Let's take a peek....on my desk this morning....unaltered photos of the "hidden truth" about desk tops!<br />
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Here's the right side of my computer "office" desk. On the right side is my printer, a coaster for my coffee or tea, a basket and a little ceramic pot. You also see a set of little measuring bowls that are from Mexico....they aren't suppose to be there....BUT I said unaltered! That basket looks a mess but it really helps me stay organized and not have little random notes etc flying all over the place. I try to clean it out every few months.<br />
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This is the left side of the computer desk. That notebook is my budget/savings/bill paying notebook and it stays open there most of the time. I've tried tucking it away in a drawer or on a shelf but I find that I really need that daily reminder of a "budget" and it's so handy to update it if it is open and ready! Yep that's a stack of mail....not all bills thank goodness but things I don't want to lose because I will need them in the immediate future. The little pots are clearance items from Walgreens and they make cute and functional pen, pencils, and marker holders!<br />
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Now you might wonder why I called my desk, the computer desk, and that is because I have two in my tiny tiny office....and the other one is the craft desk, which can get just as jumbled and cluttered!<br />
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Here's the left side of the desk. Those little white buckets are from the wedding section at Dollar Tree and hold paper clips, push pins and other tiny items.<br />
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This is the right side of the craft desk and again I'm using some Dollar Tree pots to hold all sorts of items. You also see my "over flow" and lesser used washi in the plastic organizer. Notice the blue sentence strip holder (another Dollar Tree find) that I use to store some stickers, notepads and other planner goodies for easy view and selection.<br />
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The middle section is where I keep my most often used washi tape. There are currently two holders, the white one is from Michael's and the left one is a DIY one that basically cost me less than a dollar...guess which one I like the best! You can also just catch a glimpse of a jar that holds all my super skinny washi.<br />
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So that's it..."on my desk" this morning...I am so thankful they were not their usual jumbled pile of stuff so I can share them and actually feel "good" about it!<br />
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<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-29693071345326043002016-06-06T09:01:00.001-05:002016-06-06T09:01:43.515-05:00Spaghetti Squash Alfredo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Today's feature here at Month by Month is Spaghetti Squash Alfredo. I tried baking some last year with simple butter and seasoning and while it was good, it just wasn't as yummy as I wanted it to be. So when visiting a friend the other evening, she served Spaghetti Squash Alfredo which was exceptionally creamy and good.<br />
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Cut the squash in half, remove seeds, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic, bake for 45 minutes, add the sauce toward the end of the baking period and allow it to heat through.<br />
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She baked her squash after brushing it with some olive oil and garlic but here's a recipe that calls for boiling it. <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/spaghetti-squash-alfredo-recipe.html">Spaghetti Squash Alfredo (boiling method)</a><br />
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It was a creamy lovely experience. Not exactly like noodles but close enough to curb the urge for some high carb pasta. I would definitely suggest giving it a try!<br />
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<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-83648525625281258372016-05-30T12:36:00.000-05:002016-05-31T12:38:30.196-05:00Monday Planners, Posts, and Life RevampI thought it was about time I checked in here at Month by Month and gave you an update on life.<br />
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(I printed this free cover just to mix it up for summer)<br />
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There's so much that's been happening that its really hard to get back on track so we will start small today as I share my planner and how I am using it as a home notebook. Actually this is the last month I will be using this size planner for my home as next month I'll upgrade to the larger 8 1/2 by 11 size for my home needs but I have been using this size for the last year and a half.<br />
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Here's my June monthly view....the planner itself is pretty blank but there are so many free printables and fun things out there to decorate it with. I am using this monthly cover and I'm sad to say I forgot who I printed it from....if anyone knows or if the creator sees this please let me know so I can give credit. It is super cute! Of course all of June is not filled in because things will "hop" into my life and I'll need to update it accordingly.<br />
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Here's the weekly view and I hesitated to show it because my handwriting is so sloppy...when I wrote in it I didn't realize I'd be sharing it....and i usually have better printing. (ugh). The blank spaces up at the top are to be filled in with appointments and errands and such but I'm a bit behind because we are coming into the week off a holiday weekend! Let me tell you what the planner typically looks like.<br />
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1. Space for appointments<br />
2. Space for Errands and other Must Dos<br />
3. Meds reminder<br />
4. Email reminder (since I'm recently been elected to the school board I need to check it more)<br />
5. Exercise reminder (which isn't on here yet)<br />
6. Water Tracker (again isn't on there yet.)<br />
7. Menu<br />
8. Daily tasks (middle portion)<br />
9. Room of the Day cleaning schedule (bottom)<br />
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Just for fun let me show you a couple other weekly versions from earlier. Each week I mix it up a bit on how I layout the week but it keeps me on my toes!<br />
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And another.........<br />
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So that's a little peek into my life lately. FYI. This is the Happy Planner (MAMBI) and it is available at Michaels and Hobby Lobby. There are several different versions with different covers and layouts so choose carefully! There is also the larger version available...it starts with July 2016 so I'll be sharing that set up next month. Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-854892155941056842015-10-26T08:37:00.000-05:002015-10-26T08:37:10.997-05:00Move It Out MondayI'm retired...I should have all the time I need...right? Well, it doesn't seem to be working out that way. Life and overbooking has produced a stressed out me...so last week...I made a plan...I'm reclaiming my LIFE.....I want to focus more on the things I want to do and do more of the things I love....It might seem selfish but its essential. Plus many of those things are home, family and friends related. So its' time to TAKE CHARGE....and RECLAIM MY LIFE.... <br />
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With that rant over we can get to the task at hand...It's <strong><em>Move It Out Monday</em></strong>...I have stuff lingering in the van that needs to go to Agape (our hometown version of Goodwill) so that is one of my Move It Out Monday goals. The other is to work on decluttering the laundry room as I do some laundry today.<br />
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Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-10144693808308178742015-06-08T07:30:00.000-05:002015-06-08T07:30:36.497-05:00Updating When I'm Going NowhereSo I'm off track...big time...there are more projects getting added every day and "things" are piling up. I decided to try to get back on my blogging schedule this week and so here I am blogging on Month by Month.....but what do you say when you are "stuck"? I decided to take a look at the list I put up last month! P stands for a partially met goal and the X is accomplished. <br />
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[ P] Meet the 1000 words a day challenge for writing my book, The Birthing Tree.<br /><br /> [P ] Add weekly posts to the Soul Musings-52 Weeks book<br /><br /> [ ] Stick to the blogging schedule each week<br /><br /><strong>Home Projects:</strong> <br /><br /> [ ] Tear up carpet in hallway and lay tile<br /><br /> [ ] Office Makeover project (this is a huge one)<br /><br /> [ ] Laundry room redo (another biggie)<br /><br /> [X] Finish patio project behind garage (Met except for pea gravel)<br /><br /> [ P] Finish corner garden<br /><br /> [X] Do the garden table(s)<br /><br /> [P] Finish fairy gardens in front beds and pot on front porch<br /><br /><strong>Other</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>[P] </strong>Get creative again....do anything!<br />
<br /> [ ] Write and keep to monthly life goals<br />
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Things that weren't on the list that I did....<br />
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1. Cleaned linen closet<br />
2. Sorted my jewelry<br />
3. Cleaned front porch<br />
4. Started taking down wallpaper border in kitchen<br />
5. Sort three bins of toys in basement and took to Agape (like Goodwill)<br />
6. Cleaned my closet and dresser drawers (purged stuff)<br />
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When I actually look at the list I start to realize that I have made progress. It's not perfect...its sort of messy...but hey I am getting there! Obviously I am keeping the list for June. Now back to work! <br />
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<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-87867738907086710462015-05-18T08:05:00.001-05:002015-05-18T08:05:40.961-05:00Projects & PlanningIt's been a busy few months but hopefully I'm about to get back on track. I decided to sub some days in the elementary schools after my recent retirement and those snowballed into many more days than I should have taken on. I had just settled into a nice retirement schedule, blogging, house projects and writing and then BOOM...I messed it all up! Such is life, we all live through periods of time where we feel like we are in a holding pattern and not making progress. <br />
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I just am using this post to clear me head of all the projects I have either in the works or on the list. Hopefully I will be blogging about some progress on them in the coming weeks. <br />
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<strong>Writing Projects:</strong> <br />
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[ ] Meet the 1000 words a day challenge for writing my book, The Birthing Tree.<br />
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[ ] Add weekly posts to the Soul Musings-52 Weeks book<br />
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[ ] Stick to the blogging schedule each week<br />
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<strong>Home Projects:</strong> <br />
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[ ] Tear up carpet in hallway and lay tile<br />
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[ ] Office Makeover project (this is a huge one)<br />
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[ ] Laundry room redo (another biggie)<br />
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[ ] Finish patio project behind garage<br />
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[ ] Finish corner garden<br />
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[ ] Do the garden table(s)<br />
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[ ] Finish fairy gardens in front beds and pot on front porch<br />
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<strong>Other</strong><br />
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<strong>[ ] </strong>Get creative again....do anything! <br />
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[ ] Write and keep to monthly life goals<br />
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As you can see this is a HUGE list....and the truth is there's even more...so here's to a great Monday, getting back on track and all the other good things in life! <br />
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Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-77185607494393950722015-02-16T11:12:00.002-06:002015-02-16T11:12:59.966-06:00Skinny EatingI'm adding a new label here at Month by Month, called <strong><em>Skinny Eating</em></strong>. It will be tips and recipes about eating healthier. <br />
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I've been trying what I called "skinny eating" since the first of the year and have lost over 17 pounds so far. I am mostly following the Weight Watchers Points Plus program which I would recommend to anyone. I know there are other programs out there but many of them are based on buying their special foods, which after all aren't really special at all. They are just prepackaged meals that help you take the guess work out of cooking, measuring etc. However along with my "skinny eating" pledge I also wanted more organic, whole fresh foods therefore eating frozen or prepackaged meals just doesn't appeal to me. <br />
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There are several websites that have helped me immensely in finding flavorful and lower calorie/points recipes. Mostly it's all about rethinking what you use in your cooking. There are often lower fat/calorie options that you can substitute in for the higher calorie ingredients. Here are some of my favorite recipes so far..... <br />
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<a href="http://www.skinnykitchen.com/recipes/super-easy-low-calorie-breakfast-quiche/">Breakfast Quiche</a> (3 Points Plus)<br />
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<a href="http://www.everydaymaven.com/2012/chocolate-and-peanut-butter-baked-banana-boats/">Chocolate Bananas Boat</a> (2 Points Plus) <br />
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<a href="http://www.skinnykitchen.com/recipes/skinny-lasagna-ole/">Skinny Lasagna Ole</a> (6 Points Plus) <br />
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<a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=111131">Fold It Pizza</a> (9 Points Plus) (Can make it slightly lower points with "lite" fold it bread)<br />
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I'll share some additional recipes after I try them out! <br />
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<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-75394128598633948562015-02-09T09:59:00.000-06:002015-02-09T09:59:13.151-06:00On Track for a Great Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I keep kicking myself because I had just gotten into my home routine and everything was going smoothly...then Christmas and I told myself it would take a while to recover from the holidays.....and then I decided to work a couple of days a week and now I feel like I am struggling to get back on track! Everyone keeps saying well how did you do it when you worked full time...Let's face it....I didn't!! </div>
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I decided I am WHAT makes the week work...and so therefore....This week I pledge to make it a GREAT one....not a perfect one. To mark things off my list and move forward in my daily routines. One of which is doing my daily blogs on different blogs each day! It's Monday and I'm marking it off the list...blog at Month by Month!</div>
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It's <strong><em>Clean Week</em></strong>....I'll be focusing on the Master bedroom. </div>
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Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-61291906212562659162015-01-19T10:24:00.003-06:002015-01-19T10:24:37.058-06:00Week Three: Organize WeekThis week starts off our Organize Week....it's pretty simple...find one thing to organize this week. Maybe it will be some files, the junk drawer, the utensil drawer, the fridge....it doesn't matter. Big or small! Let's get one thing organized. <br />
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I know I know...it feels like this (at least to me)<br />
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When things get "out of whack" like they are at my house right now it seems like there is no end in sight and you don't even know where to begin. The key is <b>TO BEGIN</b>. Small areas cleaned and organized add up. In the process of rotating through our weeks this year we will be decluttering, cleaning, and organizing, as well as beautifying our homes. I'd like to add another concept to this and this one plays out in each of the weeks. That is to <b>SIMPLIFY</b>. It's so much easier to clean and organize when things are simplified. Now of course, decluttering plays a big role in this BUT there are other areas that can be simplified as well. For example meal planning and grocery shopping, wardrobe choices, cleaning products, etc. I'll write more about this a bit later but be thinking.... "Do I need 50 t-shirts or could I manage with ten?" That is the kind of thinking that will make our lives so much simpler! </div>
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<span id="goog_1653167372"></span><span id="goog_1653167373"><br /></span>Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-80822204698188172302015-01-12T15:11:00.001-06:002015-01-12T15:11:29.066-06:00Week Two: Clean Forgotten Places<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, let's hope you don't have any forgotten places that look this bad! This week's challenge is to clean some forgotten places. You can choose to clean three "smaller" places like ceiling fans, under the bed, under the sink etc. OR you can choose a bigger forgotten place cleaning area. (like my laundry room)</div>
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While we don't really "forget" about them we often avoid certain cleaning tasks for any number of reasons. What have you been "forgetting" to clean? This is the week to tackle it! You might be surprised that it will only take a short time and will make a big difference!</div>
Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-79913982556140062762015-01-05T08:40:00.002-06:002015-01-05T08:40:58.665-06:00Week One Declutter: Ghosts of Christmas Past<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay ladies (and gentlemen) it's time to clean out the ghosts. You know those cookies molding in the cupboard because you don't want to eat them on your new diet, the dips pushed to the back of the shelf in the fridge, the scraps of paper, tape and bows, even the lovely ornaments that are still lingering. </div>
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Our week one challenge: Ghost of Christmas Past is a declutter challenge. You pick the clutter but your goal is to declutter for <strong>15 minutes 5 times this week</strong>. I didn't make the challenge everyday because I wanted to give you a little breathing room....life gets hectic after all. </div>
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Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!! </div>
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<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-36995719355481060832014-12-29T07:25:00.000-06:002014-12-29T07:26:26.402-06:002015 Weekly ChallengesOver at our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/48598431052/">Facebook group</a> we will be doing weekly challenges. Each month breaks down like this:<br />
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Week One: Declutter Challenge<br />
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Week Two: Clean Challenge<br />
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Week Three: Organize Challenge<br />
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Week Four: Beautify Challenge<br />
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I'll announce the challenge on Sundays on Facebook and then post here on Mondays with more details and additional ideas. If you would like to join the group on Facebook just click join and I'll approve you asap.<br />
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Why challenges? Challenges are simply a way to give a focus to our week.....if we accomplish nothing else other than the challenge we can consider it a success!! These aren't about being over achievers! These are about getting a little something done each week! Over time these little accomplishments will add up and start to make a difference in our homes! <br />
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The <strong>declutter challenge</strong> will give you a focus for that week. I encourage you to start small so if the challenge is to clean a drawer....clean 1 drawer or maybe 2 and do not attempt to clean all the drawers in your home! These little accomplishments will spur further action on other days and other weeks and you will be more motivated to get things done! <br />
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The <strong>clean challenge</strong> will focus on cleaning some area/item/place that gets overlooked as it's not part of our "regular" cleaning. Perhaps under the bed or cleaning the ceiling fan. <br />
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The <strong>organize challenge</strong> will focus on organizing something....your spices? your sock drawer? your closet....each month this week will be different so we will hit some areas of our homes that we use frequently and when they are disorganized it sets the tone for our day! <br />
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The <strong>beautify challenge</strong> might just be my favorite. Its focus will be picking a small area of your home to beautify in some way. A pretty little shelf or mantle that you change up each month or perhaps a different area each month, that's up to you! <br />
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So in total in 2015 we will do 12 of each of the challenges. By the end of the year our homes should look and feel different just with these small changes! <br />
<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-75617320304534545102014-12-15T08:14:00.001-06:002014-12-15T08:17:21.272-06:00December UpdateDecember is proving to be a challenging month as far as "staying on schedule." My daily schedule keeps getting interrupted with Christmas events, illness, or other spur of the moment stumbling blocks. Sometimes I have to talk myself down from the ledge. <br />
In reality though, I'm better able to "roll with the punches" because of all the groundwork I've laid before December. It's not perfect. Is anything ever perfect? <br />
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Here are some tips for staying on track.<br />
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<strong>1.</strong> Don't make your list TOO long. A daily to do list that's unmanageable is frustrating and ends up being counterproductive.<br />
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<strong>2.</strong> Squeeze in small tasks when time allows. Wipe the sink and countertops. Sort mail. Clean one shelf of the fridge. None of these take a lot of time. Grab a wash cloth and do one quickly first thing in the morning.<br />
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<strong>3.</strong> STOP thinking about big tasks like cleaning out the closet or cleaning under the bed, Those have been messy for quite some time so waiting until after Christmas isn't going to rock the world and it might save your sanity. <br />
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<strong>4.</strong> Create a STOP time. Yes your day should "end". Try to get the priorities out of the way earlier in the day/evening and set a time for when you are done. You want to enjoy the holiday season not just work frantically through it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvrPWKAeN8Rygz3_IGhitcQ00fnCIjCK2uXtjELw3MpXMqBspDd_wjQhyphenhyphenW8HHfqq0XXp-KvOjzCFRFqHSXYdJGyEqNe5oIzu03lhc_1Vtvo4b3hmlCwh_r8byY8qZDv1z0u1Ek78aGJv2/s1600/December.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvrPWKAeN8Rygz3_IGhitcQ00fnCIjCK2uXtjELw3MpXMqBspDd_wjQhyphenhyphenW8HHfqq0XXp-KvOjzCFRFqHSXYdJGyEqNe5oIzu03lhc_1Vtvo4b3hmlCwh_r8byY8qZDv1z0u1Ek78aGJv2/s1600/December.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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This month should be a time of celebration. No one will remember a few dirty dishes in the sink but they will remember playing Christmas games.Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-76416329658307540932014-12-08T08:46:00.000-06:002014-12-08T08:46:22.135-06:00Slow and Steady<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHv7Wav8oYQ6PU4AhEW9d6-UMXogDZCpD3cNljt4m7lttlE8KSD0NbfLagfXVY6eq-od_CmiYzvDnBEhCE-rGe-hQ0FXaRWoYlo3K14V8CdwXf8nm9MQGmFeoNtO1N3w4s06X7NJV7cMI/s1600/Merry+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHv7Wav8oYQ6PU4AhEW9d6-UMXogDZCpD3cNljt4m7lttlE8KSD0NbfLagfXVY6eq-od_CmiYzvDnBEhCE-rGe-hQ0FXaRWoYlo3K14V8CdwXf8nm9MQGmFeoNtO1N3w4s06X7NJV7cMI/s1600/Merry+Christmas.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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First of all Merry Christmas! It's December both a joyous and exhausting month. So I thought with that in mind I'd give you a bit of an update on how my "working the plan" is going. Today on my plan it's clean the living room and clean the bedroom. They are already done and it's not even nine o'clock. What I am noticing is that by working the plan consistently, things just do not get as crazy and therefore a quick clean is so easy. Now if only I could conquer the kitchen! That's a room that I feel like I can clean constantly and still have something messed up! </div>
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I've settled into a routine and it's pretty basic but some days it's still overwhelming. I'll give you the current version because sometimes I adjust it based on needs.</div>
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1. <strong>Blog:</strong> (this is whichever blog I plan to write on this day) I have several blogs so I assigned them each a day of the week. Then I can keep a steady flow of new posts without being overwhelmed. I can almost "guarantee" that there will be a new post on every blog at least once a week. For December I am blogging twice a week at Magical Holiday Home and North Pole Notes. </div>
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2. <strong>Clean:</strong> Each day has a room or rooms. I actually combined rooms because I wanted one day for BIG project cleaning like the basement and garage, plus I wanted to take Sunday off. I tried putting two rooms together that are pretty much under control so that it is manageable to do two! </div>
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3. <strong>Zone:</strong> This is an adaption of the FlyLady program. I like her daily reminders and tasks and they remind me to do things that I might otherwise not do. Sometimes I don't do the task that she suggests if something else fits better. This week is the Kitchen zone. I normally clean the kitchen on Wednesdays but this week I will do one task daily as well as the regular cleaning on Wednesday. I try to slot in a "monthly task" if the one she suggests doesn't need it or seem to fit my needs. </div>
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4. <strong>Declutter 15:</strong> I pick something to declutter just for 15 minutes. Currently I am alternating between the garage and the basement for my 15 minutes...one day basement, one day garage and so on. </div>
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5. <strong>Laundry:</strong> At least one load every day plus I have assigned a day for each family member so they know when they can use the laundry room without messing up someone else's schedule.</div>
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That's pretty much the basic approach I have been following for about 5-6 months and it is really starting to make a difference! I am hosting several events this month and getting ready for them has been so much easier. Now adding in the Christmas shopping, wrapping etc is a bit of a challenge but I do feel like I am making progress. </div>
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Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-17905852292780909182014-12-01T19:10:00.000-06:002014-12-01T19:10:11.505-06:00Hello December<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uw62M43q8oi8PfIQxM5IfUOtSgGiDG0mkp3WMdvbSFyDO2NSQFO1twgaA6aG188LHg7gHrSiIKrEQpmwvZAuukwanI6TFoTSCskqln7S3C1HQ8q92rTYdVqpPH5bdMFs8f-639fHmgD3/s1600/hello+december.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4uw62M43q8oi8PfIQxM5IfUOtSgGiDG0mkp3WMdvbSFyDO2NSQFO1twgaA6aG188LHg7gHrSiIKrEQpmwvZAuukwanI6TFoTSCskqln7S3C1HQ8q92rTYdVqpPH5bdMFs8f-639fHmgD3/s1600/hello+december.png" height="299" width="400" /></a></div>
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"Hello December." What those words remind me of is panic. December is here, that adds a whole other list of things that need to get accomplished and quickly...Christmas is coming.<br />
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Now is not the time to be fretting about big de-clutter projects and home improvements. If you haven't managed to complete them in the last 11 months, you need to put them on hold for December. You are never going to survive this month without keeping up with daily chores and holiday prep. You can't have it ALL....not now...not this December. However if you keep working your plan, developing habits and routines, by next December, everything will be better (and easier). <br />
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I had to remind myself of just this yesterday. Take one day at a time and work toward your goal....a peaceful, joyful celebration of Christmas. I'll keep working the daily plans, add in some fun elf-ventures (adventures), some parties, some outings, and lots of special memories. I might hope no one opens the door to the linen closet (didn't get to it yet) That's ok....January is coming with snow and ice and time to regroup.<br />
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I've actually accomplished a lot in the last few months. It's not perfect and there's still plenty of things on my to do list for December...but I'll get there...one day at a time! Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-39641352736953244902014-11-24T07:59:00.002-06:002014-11-24T07:59:57.083-06:00Cleaning Routines <div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://happymoneysaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/myweeklycleaningroutine-edit-1.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="pib-hover-img" data-pin-url="http://happymoneysaver.com/free-editable-pdf-printable-for-my-ultimate-happy-home-cleaning-routine/" height="466" src="http://happymoneysaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/myweeklycleaningroutine.gif" width="360" /></a></div>
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Last week I wrote about using Cozi on your computer or phone to help you stay on track but if there are some of you that prefer a paper and pencil worksheet, this is a good one from <a href="http://happymoneysaver.com/free-editable-pdf-printable-for-my-ultimate-happy-home-cleaning-routine/">Happy Money Saver.</a> I really like it because it is editable so you can personalize it for your own use. The "days" are already set though so if you have other rooms or don't like the daily room then this might not work for you. I mean I've just memorized the daily rooms I set up so changing them would really throw me off. </div>
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<img alt="Clean-House-Printable-Pinterest-Image-_-Zoo-Cutie-Printables" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2752" height="400" src="http://zoocutieprintables.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Clean-House-Printable-Pinterest-Image-_-Zoo-Cutie-Printables.png" width="260" /></div>
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Here's another version from <a href="http://zoocutieprintables.com/freebie-friday-operation-clean-house-printable/">Zoo Cutie Printables.</a> </div>
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I've struggled a lot over the years with which printable or even which schedule to use. I've set up notebooks, cleaning schedules and card files. NOTHING seemed to work or at least I didn't stick with it for very long. Now that I'm retired I realize that <strong>time </strong>really is a big factor. Working full time and expecting to complete these daily lists of chores is just too much. But really the biggest deterrent is <strong>lack of routine</strong>. Develop a routine (make it realistic, even just two things each day) then stick with it. Over a period of time it will make a big difference and your house will be easier to keep clean.</div>
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By the way....today is Move It Out Monday.....so move out some clutter today and make it even easier to clean your home! </div>
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Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-238757837022472672014-11-17T10:45:00.000-06:002014-11-17T10:47:16.810-06:00Family Organizer for Computer and Cell Phone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wanted to share with you this app I have started using. It's really an awesome resource. I currently have the free version and of course you get a few more bells and whistles with the paid one but even the free version is great. </div>
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Your same calendar is displayed on both your computer and phone so you can check whichever is the easiest for you. Another plus is that if you do the <a href="http://www.flylady.net/">Fly Lady</a> approach to cleaning, you can install the calendar from her site and it will have all the zones and missions listed for the week on your calendar. :) If you don't want those on yours then register for it on the Cozi site or the app store on your phone. It will look like the version above without the zones. </div>
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<a href="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10173543_10204246899665850_7357216152522163794_n.jpg?oh=c275aefc53c1a3d537d25a7c50d3e3fa&oe=54E8DFDB" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10173543_10204246899665850_7357216152522163794_n.jpg?oh=c275aefc53c1a3d537d25a7c50d3e3fa&oe=54E8DFDB" width="225" /></a></div>
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This is a screen shot of my phone showing the daily calendar. I just use the Groceries section for my list of things I want to purchase (soon). You could use it for your grocery list I just don't. When you click on the zones you can see the detailed version of the zone and the daily mission. You can also add appointments and reminders also. </div>
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10441501_10204246912826179_5259083807055819382_n.jpg?oh=25d1179138d95f561bb44bcc2461c013&oe=55154A5E&__gda__=1428117025_5ccf791f246a19ce46179f525c73f218" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/10441501_10204246912826179_5259083807055819382_n.jpg?oh=25d1179138d95f561bb44bcc2461c013&oe=55154A5E&__gda__=1428117025_5ccf791f246a19ce46179f525c73f218" width="225" /></a></div>
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Here's the weekly view and you can scroll down for the rest of the week.</div>
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The computer version has a section for menu planning that I don't see on the phone version and that's a pretty nice section too if you want to get away from paper and pencil menu planning. You can share the calendar with family members so they can access it also. Not sure if that is only on the paid version as I just wanted the calendar for myself not everyone in my family! </div>
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Anyway it's called Cozi and you should check it out at <a href="http://cozi.com/">Cozi.com</a> </div>
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<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-60819652733775612882014-11-10T09:28:00.000-06:002014-11-10T09:32:34.521-06:00Zones, Rooms, Weeks, and MonthsSo I'm sitting here blogging this morning and watching the clock, realizing that I'm a little behind schedule with what I want to accomplish today because I did an extra post instead of just the two I had planned. I usually try to be done blogging by 8:00 and it's almost 9:00. So I'll keep this short and sweet this morning. Today's post is about of all things, sticking to a schedule. Yep on the one day I planned to write about keeping to a schedule...I'm off schedule. Life you like to play cruel jokes! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02w3NA9cSjf8TSnC6K04AHfNm_zZk9Bopux5Q2Gxd7Hskjsd7NA3dTF2p0_tODdrbW1NQfCDqhZh8dSlBJ_kanYxdvEdN5FqtUnWwzLaql46-Lrlq2-aJIDvdUJzqY3t4MBRFJy5UzKaF/s1600/confessions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02w3NA9cSjf8TSnC6K04AHfNm_zZk9Bopux5Q2Gxd7Hskjsd7NA3dTF2p0_tODdrbW1NQfCDqhZh8dSlBJ_kanYxdvEdN5FqtUnWwzLaql46-Lrlq2-aJIDvdUJzqY3t4MBRFJy5UzKaF/s1600/confessions.jpg" height="103" width="400" /></a></div>
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Let's be honest, I'm not very good at sticking to schedules and that's why I have a ton of declutter hot spots and other half finished endeavors. Now that I'm retired the schedule is a self imposed one but it's still important. Important to me anyway. I need to feel the victory of overcoming a messy house and the freedom of getting rid of clutter. I've been working my self created schedule now for about two months and it has worked wonders for my home. It's no where near spotless yet but the difference is amazing. I can find things, I actually end up with some extra time to be creative, and I feel lighter in spirit. <br />
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It doesn't matter if you choose a weekly schedule or a monthly one. It's not important if you work zones, areas, rooms or hotspots. Just set up a schedule and work it every day. Now I've always struggled with how to keep up with my daily tasks and take on a more complex project like cleaning the basement. I've played around for years with plans and schedules and checklists. Through the blessing of retirement I now have the time to implement the hodge podge one I've put together from several sources plus my own needs. If you work full time, let's face it....you will need to make a simple schedule or it's just not going to happen. If you have small children your schedule will need to look different also. No one schedule fits everyone. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyV43q-PHJJ72jy5zc9Fg32mxsQZz4jRWVwSISurCfvI_QS9hOithh3GtopSIj2rmhzqzvLJH3WXWG02QdQpgcQeMYKH7rTwBlARQn0RjPdvAuJEo6mGEGIxnhoCoztjgzVkHGbZcsqEl/s1600/schedules.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyV43q-PHJJ72jy5zc9Fg32mxsQZz4jRWVwSISurCfvI_QS9hOithh3GtopSIj2rmhzqzvLJH3WXWG02QdQpgcQeMYKH7rTwBlARQn0RjPdvAuJEo6mGEGIxnhoCoztjgzVkHGbZcsqEl/s1600/schedules.png" /></a></div>
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It has taken me TWO full months to even start to think I'm getting somewhere. My main focus has been the living areas of the house, places we use every day. Now I can quick clean them in less than an hour a day so I can add in some time to start chipping away at some major projects. </div>
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Here's a quick look at how my plan works but it's also flexible in case something needs more attention etc. </div>
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<strong>Monday</strong> is quick pick up the house. Living room, bedroom, bath and kitchen. Office also if time allows. It is also clean the living room day so that room gets extra attention. In addition to that I try to work in whatever FlyLady zone it is. (This week it is the baths and one extra room) So each day I pencil in a Zone chore to do. I don't really follow hers but sometimes I do. So today I am working in the extra room (the office) and I am organizing and putting my albums into a pretty basket. Two loads of laundry also get done today. </div>
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<strong>Tuesday</strong> another quick pick up and the room that gets extra attention (a deeper cleaning) is the bathrooms. Two loads of laundry and time in the Zone. This day I'll clean under one of the bathroom sinks. </div>
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<strong>Wednesday </strong>is another quick pick and the room of the day is the kitchen. I'll work in the Zone for 15-30 minutes. I've picked some shelves in the office that need cleaning and decluttered. Laundry as needed. </div>
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<strong>Thursday</strong> is a quick pick and then grocery shopping day. I don't put a room on this day as I know grocery shopping will be enough to accomplish. I'll still do 15-30 minute Zone chore though. </div>
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<strong>Friday </strong>starts with a quick pick then the Master bedroom is the room of the day. Laundry if needed and work in the zone 15-30.</div>
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Now I am adding declutter projects for 15-30 minutes each day for some major hotspots in my home. No more than 15-30 or it becomes overwhelming. So my focus this week is the family room in our basement. It tends to get ignored and accumulates all manner of odds and ends. </div>
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So to keep it simple: </div>
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Always do a quick pick each day</div>
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Always do a deeper cleaning of the room of the day</div>
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Always work in the weekly zone 15-30 minutes (pick a task for each day)</div>
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Laundry (take care of the monster)</div>
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Declutter tasks in a major hotspot 15-30 minutes. </div>
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It is taking time but I am at the point where the quick pick up goes pretty fast and the deeper cleaning of one room isn't so overwhelming. That is why I am now adding in some of the more overwhelming areas that I need to deal with. </div>
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I'm sharing this with you in the hopes that you will develop your own schedule to fit your needs. I've struggled for years doing one method or another but not really sticking to them. It doesn't matter whether you do FlyLady, Holiday Grand Plan, Organized Home's plans or your own hybrid plan. The truth is....stick to it and you will see a difference. Start small. <br />
<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-68000235110547479622014-11-03T07:55:00.000-06:002014-11-03T07:57:13.763-06:00Days, Decor, and Enjoying Your HomeIt's Move It Out Monday, one of my favorite days here at Month by Month. I've come to appreciate decluttering because it allows me to create a home that is calm and "cute". It's not just a house filled with junk but a home filled with love and loving touches. <br />
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I decluttered the bedroom in October and then created a fun little space to share just a few fun things each month, It makes me smile every morning when I get up and it also helps not being surrounded by mounds of clothes! It's not elaborate but it makes me smile and our homes should make us smile! <br />
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And when November 1st rolled around it was so simple to take down the October and put up a little November display. It makes the bedroom feel fresh and new!<br />
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I have created a few places throughout my home for little seasonal displays. The one below had Halloween stuff and then when November rolled around I just took out the Halloween related items and put in the turkeys and Thanksgiving. Presto change-o a new look. <br />
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Halloween 2014</div>
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Thanksgiving 2014<br />
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I'm already thinking ahead to December, January, February. December I have tons of Christmas stuff so that should not be a problem. I'm think it should be my Santa display! <br />
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This is the kitchen Thanksgiving display. <br />
I also changed up the shadow box display in the living room by replacing the Halloween with turkeys and Thanksgiving. I still have a couple empty spots that I'll add a few more items to.<br />
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You might be thinking CLUTTER...but the truth is, it's cute, it's me and it's what makes a home feel special. The only way I was able to do it though was to get rid of a lot of clutter. To let go of things I've been hanging on to. Decluttering is not about getting rid of everything and having bare space. It's about making room in your home for love and décor that makes you smile! </div>
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Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-14812610692373099002014-08-25T15:54:00.001-05:002014-08-25T15:55:03.770-05:00Getting Ready for September: The Plan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's almost September and with the heat wave we have going on here, I'm hoping September brings some cooler weather. I'm going to mix up the September plan a little. First though let's look at how the August plan went overall. <br />
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The Good:<br />
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<li>Grocery challenge went well every week!</li>
<li>Move It Out Monday: I managed to move out a lot of unwanted/unneeded clutter</li>
<li>Bon Appetit: We tried a lot of new recipes and cooking techniques.</li>
<li>Exercise goals: great the last half of the month</li>
<li>Room of the Day: has worked pretty well, none are actually spotless but as long as I keep cycling through they should get in place! </li>
<li>Tomatoes and Peppers weren't on the list but I've spent a lot of time this month preparing things for the freezer! </li>
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The Bad:<br />
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<li>Basement (Room of the Month): let's face it I only REALLY did a good cleaning session ONE time this month. I did manage a couple of minis but not anywhere near where I need to be. </li>
<li>Seasonal Chore: flowerbeds, overrun with weeds, the heat wave is partly to blame.</li>
<li>15 Minute Daily: I had such high hopes for this one as I did great with it in July (fun to mark off the list each day) but the problem is the office/craft room is a disaster and I was not even sure where to begin. I need to put the craft room on the major overhaul list and pick something more manageable for the daily 15</li>
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<strong>The September Plan:</strong><br />
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<strong>Daily Rooms:</strong> This will stay the same with the addition of the basement. I am making the basement the Friday Room of the day and moving my bedroom to Thursdays. I typically don't "do" a room on Thursday because that's grocery shopping and menu planning BUT I have to be realistic. If I am "taking weekends off" which is how I've been working the plan then I need to slot the basement somewhere. Realistically once I get the bedroom decluttered and in shape it will be a "quick" room of the day. <br />
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<strong>Room of the Month:</strong> The Garage I sure hope the weather let's up or I mean to rethink this one. The garage is a big part of my declutter and storage plan so I need to get to it. I also need to clean out the fridge that is out there in prep for parties etc that will be coming up. <br />
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<strong>Special Project Room:</strong> Office/Craft Room Work on this at least three hours once a week. <br />
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<strong>Seasonal Chore:</strong> I am keeping this the flower beds.<br />
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<strong>Move It Out Monday:</strong> This is a MUST as I have lots to move out. <br />
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<strong>15 Minute Daily:</strong> Drawers, these can be anywhere in the house. <br />
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<strong>Exercise:</strong> Bike ride Tuesday and Thursday Gym Monday, Wednesday, Friday. <br />
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<strong>Halloween Countdown Plan:</strong> This starts officially September 21st but I plan to set aside time each week to update my Halloween Notebook and party plan. <br />
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<strong>Holiday Grand Plan:</strong> This start August 31st! It's a house cleaning and holiday prep plan so I'll be working bits of it into my weekly routine. <br />
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<strong>Notebooks:</strong> <br />
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<li>My goal this month is to get into checking my home planner/notebook EVERY morning and every evening. To update the to do lists etc on a regular basis as this really is the only thing that helped me accomplish anything in August at all! </li>
<li>Update Halloween Notebook (weekly)</li>
<li>Update Christmas planner (weekly)</li>
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That's the September plan along with blogging and posting at the Magical Holiday Home forums! It's going to stack up to be a busy month! Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-51661948112910694042014-08-19T09:58:00.001-05:002014-08-19T10:02:22.154-05:00Chaos, Clutter and Working the PlanMy house is STILL in disarray. How can this be after devising such an awesome plan? Here's how. <br />
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In my kitchen I decided to clean out the pantry and really ORGANIZE it. The way it was set up was just not working at all. It is a very deep half closet and is really difficult to work with. The back of the shelves had become a hodgepodge of items without homes. I recently bought a food processor and a kitchen aide stand mixer which I wanted to store somewhere easy to reach. So I took EVERYTHING out of the pantry. (the first two shelves not the very top one as I organized it a couple weeks back) You can imagine this created quite a mess. I purged many items but the kitchen table is still full of things (mostly storage jars) that I am wondering what to do with! <br />
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I know you are thinking, "this doesn't look too organized" but believe me it is so much better than it was that I am delighted! </div>
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Now add to that the fact that I moved an old wash stand that had three drawers full of "stuff" out of the living room and into my bedroom. Thus requiring that I move a dresser with three drawers worth of stuff out of my bedroom and you can see how I have a bunch of "stuff" to do something with. Also add to this the fact that I in my ultimate wisdom stopped everything for two days to work with a box of tomatoes from the garden and make freezer spaghetti sauce and salsa. Well.....the tomatoes were going to be wasted if I didn't!! </div>
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Now it would be easy to just stuff things back here, there, and anywhere that I can find space BUT that's how it got so crazy to begin with. So I have been slowly sorting, purging and finding homes for the "keepers". It's a slow process and I feel like in the meantime I am living in chaos. I just keep telling myself that once I get through it all everything will be so much easier to keep clean and organized! </div>
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I'll be back with an update soon and hope I'll have more success to report! </div>
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Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-66074677637245643922014-08-11T12:02:00.001-05:002014-08-11T12:04:54.165-05:00August, School, and Plans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know we are well into August but you know what they say...better late than never. I've actually had the plan on paper I just forgot to blog it. This is a bit of a weird day for me as it is the first "official" day of teacher work days and I'm not there! It doesn't really feel happy or sad...just different. <br />
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Anyway before I share my August Plan I wanted to give a brief update on July. Things that went well and things that sort of fell through the cracks. <strong>Fifteen Daily</strong> worked pretty well. July was paper control so every weekday I worked on it for 15 minutes. I think there might be 2-3 days that I missed doing it. <strong>Seasonal Chore</strong> worked out fairly well. It was weeding flowerbeds and I worked on it about 3-4 times during the month. I really needed more! <strong>The Grocery Challenge</strong> was a great success but the <strong>Room of the Month</strong> the basement only got minimal attention! I managed <strong>Move It Out Monday</strong> for the month but I don't think there will ever be an end to clutter control here. So that brings us to August. I decided to keep a lot of the same format. <br />
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Move It Out Monday: Every Monday<br />
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Seasonal Chore: Flowerbed work<br />
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Grocery Challenge: Continue<br />
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Fifteen Daily: Creative Stuff Control (so need this one)<br />
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Room of the Month: Still the basement (I already had this down for both July and August) <br />
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Blog It: Blog at least four times a month<br />
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I'm going to continue the Spiritual, Bon Appetit, Read, See, Watch and Create Goals but I do not really have them clearly defined. <br />
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Happy August everyone....make a plan and work it! <br />
<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7583625229196776322.post-36290958803694548992014-08-01T10:08:00.002-05:002014-08-01T10:09:57.929-05:00The Great Grocery Challenge Week Three <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's time for another grocery challenge update! This week has been super busy with happy and sad news so my mind has been occupied with things besides blogging. Such is life!<br />
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Employee Discount amount= $9.72<br />
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Paper Coupons= $18.92<br />
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Ibotta Credit: $8.25 plus 1.50 in bonus for a total of $9.75 that I transferred to my PayPal. I'm going to use this towards my Christmas shopping. I just started so I won't accumulate a ton by the end of the year but every little bit helps. So far I have a total of $21.00 and that's just in two weeks! <br />
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<strong>TOTAL= $38.39</strong> Now that's a nice amount for really very little work. I also stocked up on some items that I won't be needing now for awhile. Sometimes people find it hard to stock up during good deals because they look only at the weekly budget but you really have to take a longer range approach. Now I don't stock up TONS....like you see some people doing where they have to rotate their stock, watch expiration dates etc. However if there's a good deal and it will "keep me" in something for 3-6 months (or even weeks) I go for it, <br />
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I'll give you an example. It's not even the most profitable one I've ever done but its one from this week.<br />
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Excedrin is a product we use on a fairly regular basis. I know some of you don't and that's fine, I'm simply using it as an example (insert whatever product you use regularly). <br />
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This is $ 9.74 at Walmart for the 100 count bottle but they happened to have some bonus bottles where you get 25 extra tablets PLUS I had $2.50 cents off coupons that were good for this week only. Now who really wants to spend $7.24 on a bottle of Excedrin? No one really BUT if you know it is something you are going to use you might as well "fork over" the money when you can get a good deal (25% more in each bottle plus the $2.50 coupon). I had two....I bought two....quite a hefty investment but guess what? I don't have to worry about buying it again for a LONG time. <br />
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You have to invest money to make money or in couponing you have to invest money to SAVE money. It's a mind set that I've had to work on. You also have to balance it. I don't need to buy four or six or ten bottles of Excedrin....even if they don't expire....you know WHY? Because by the time I run out of these two bottles there will be another good deal. I don't have to take up valuable shelf space. I just have to be aware of my families needs and buy accordingly. <br />
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Here are a couple smaller and more short term items.<br />
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Clorox Bleach Spray. I use it a lot in my kitchen/counter tops etc. I had a 75 cents off coupon that was going to expire. That made it a good enough deal to buy even though currently I am not "out" of it. Same with Resolve stain spray for laundry. I had a dollar off that was going to expire. I still have a half full bottle but I used the coupon and bought another. This isn't a great stock up deal but still worth it. Let me also say there were coupons getting ready to expire that I decided not to use on some other items. I left them on the shelves for others to snag if they needed them. <br />
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Overall I think my grocery challenge is going very well. I'm saving between $30-40 dollars a week. That adds up!! <br />
<br />Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16338824525339714588noreply@blogger.com0