Operation Clean & Organize: Master Bedroom (Part 1) Meets {p, h, f, r} – vol 51

By bobbi
November 9, 2012
No Comments

**Taming the procrastinating, ADD, mess cat within me.**

MEETS

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Before I get into any photos, let me give you a little background…

Why the Bedroom? – For a long time the “master bedroom” has been on my list of organizing projects to tackle but it has been low on the list of cleaning priorities because no one really spends time in there during the day or when company is over. However, this week Leila at Like Mother, like Daughter gave us a challenge for this week’s {pretty, happy, funny, real}. I went back and read her original post about cleaning the master bedroom entitled The Reasonably Clean House: Did you guess that we’d start in your bedroom? She beautifully explains why we should start in the bedroom:

The reason is simple, but profound. Your home has many areas that express family life, but your bedroom expresses the foundational relationship between you and your spouse — the inner sanctum where the sacrament of your marriage is consecrated and continually renewed with the conjugal gift.

If it weren’t for the intimate aspect of your commitment, your family would not be. God has ordained it so. It was that way from the very start. It has always been that way. It always will be that way.

That reality should be expressed in your respect for this physical place, for your body, for the body of your husband. Your first steps should be to make the room — the bed and the places for your clothes — truly orderly. (Read the rest here.)

A Little Sanctuary – As I was reading this I thought about Brian and all he does for me and for the family. He works so hard and puts up with all our craziness and although he never shows it, I know there are times when he just longs to be able to sit and read or write or pray in quiet. I wanted to make an area in our bedroom where he could do that. So with that in mind, I started my quest.

Déjà vu – Back in June when I wrote a post about NFP and Hallie’s challenge to make a Rockin’ Love Nest, I worked on clearing our bedroom up. The corner of my room holding the baby’s unused crib was my biggest problem. It looked like this in June.

{real}

Then I put everything away and it looked like this.

Fast forward a few months, and we had all the carpets in our house cleaned except the master bedroom. (The carpet was still new in this room so didn’t need cleaning yet.) That meant that everything from the other rooms went into our bedroom. That was a month ago yet the corner of the room still looked like this as of yesterday morning.

I figured that the only way to stop my habit of using the empty crib as storage/dumping ground was to get rid of the crib. Matthew didn’t sleep in it anymore and I didn’t see any babies coming in the near future (did I just tempt Murphy’s Law?) so I put everything away and took the crib down.

I then moved Brian’s small desk in front of the window where there is a view of our tree and the mountains surrounding our little valley. I added to the corner the small shelves (that used to hold video cassettes…remember those?) and the extra chair that sat at the opposite end of the room.
Here is the result.

{pretty}

{happy}

I love all the little details that helped add to the corner.

I placed on the wall two picture frames I bought at Target ages ago. They have been waiting in my closet for me to get my butt in gear. In the first one I placed family photos.

In the second one I put a couple of my Instagram photos. (Unfortunately, I made note cards with my favorites and this is all I had left.)

I also added Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I put some of Brian’s books on one shelf and mine on the other. (We have a ridiculous amount of books in our house but that’s another project.)

On top of Brian’s shelf I made him a little prayer corner with his favorite icon of St. Joseph, our icon of Our Lady that has accompanied us to the hospital at the birth of each of our children, the little rosary holders we received at our wedding and a fragrant candle that smells like autumn.

I am so happy with the results, but nothing could have given me greater pleasure than to hear Brian gush over the room. Anyone that knows Brian, knows he is not a gusher. I usually get a “that’s really nice” and that’s it. But he was really surprised and so pleased. He went on and on. Later that evening I heard him telling Bella, “Did you see how Mom fixed up our room? Doesn’t it look nice??” I couldn’t help but smile. It made it all worth the blood, sweat and tears to get there.

{funny}

I admit, it wasn’t an easy project. The worse part was at the half way point. I needed to leave and attend John-Paul’s parent teacher conference at school and I knew if I broke the momentum it would be hard to get back into it. (It’s like cleaning out your closet and once you move everything to the top of your bed you wish you never started the project in the first place. LOL.)

Plus, it was hard to clean when I had to stop every five minutes to check on the kids. JP kept himself relatively busy but Matthew was in rare form – he scribbled on a wall, dumped out cabinets, danced on the table, climbed into the dishwasher and broke a glass on the sink, spilled milk all over the floor, wrote on the tv with a crayon…just to name a few.

I also heard JP say, “No, no Matty!” which is my cue to see what mischief he is into. As it turned out he also found a new place to play. He was brushing his teeth IN the sink.

I could not figure out how he got in there! We have a low step stool for the boys to step on to wash their hands but it is too low for him to get that high. I put him down and watched him as he climbed up again. He was able place his toes on the small borders of the cabinet and hoist his chubby little body up onto the sink. I’ve got a future rock climber.
So that is this weeks’ edition of OC&O and {p, h, f, r}. I still have more to do in the bedroom but I’ll save it for next week. In the meantime, I’ll be heading to confession tomorrow. I chalked up a fair amount of cussing, anger and impatience in the last 24 hours. 😉

PS – (11/10/12) This morning I received an email from Leila that said in part:

“Great job on your bedroom! You really transformed it, and I LOVE the prayer shelf on the bookcase. What a thoughtful touch!

I wanted to let you know that I would comment on your post, but I just can’t sign in to do it. There are so many posts, and so many of those ANNOYING verification things (that keep not working), and having to SIGN IN is the last straw. Just. Can’t. Do. It….”

LOL, a big thanks to Leila for her kind words. But I wanted to let you know, particularly the others who have emailed me about not being able to comment, that I am in the process of moving the blog over to WordPress. I hope to have the new blog up in a couple weeks, depending on how much free time I can squeeze out of my day… yeah, you better make that a few weeks. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by! xoxo!

PPS -You can follow RoL on Bloglovin, Feedly or another news feed. If you are a social media fan like me, we can stay in touch through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, GoodReads, Letterboxd or Instagram. 😉

Operation Clean and Organize: Vol 16 – The School File

By bobbi
November 6, 2012
1 Comment

**Taming the procrastinating, ADD, mess cat within me.**

With three kids in school, every weekday afternoon we have a barrage of school papers coming through the door – homework, project assignments, permission slips and completed schoolwork. I would find them scattered all over – on my desk, on the dining room table, on the prayer altar, or worse, in Matthew’s hands. I decided I needed a file to keep everything in one spot.
I went to my home away from home, Target, and found just what I needed. I purchased a Greenroom Eco hanging file folder and folders.

I already had a bunch of green hanging files I could use.

I then labeled the folders and placed them in the file.

Now when the kids come home, they empty out their backpacks and each paper goes into its proper file. Completed homework that we don’t need for future reference/studying goes in the recycling bin. (A few select art projects go in a larger scrapbook/file that they can keep.)
I also love that the file it portable so whether Brian takes it to the dining room table to work with the boys or I take it to the family room to fill out paperwork, it can easily be moved. I also clipped a sheet of notepaper to the front and jot down any projects we need to be working on and when they are due.
This was a simple project but it has already made a huge difference!

Now I just need a way to organize all the backpacks, lunchboxes, school jackets etc in the front door entryway. I am seriously considering buying one of those preschool locker sets that the boys have at their schools. It may not be the usual house decor but it would make things so much neater! If you have any other suggestions to keep it in order, PLEASE let me know! Thanks!

Operation Clean and Organize: Vol 15 – Bulletin Boards & Wall Photos (Part 1)

By bobbi
October 9, 2012
4 Comments

Taming the procrastinating, ADD, mess cat within me.

It has been quite some time since I have worked on Operation Clean & Organize. Now that the kids are back in school I have been able to snag a free ½ hour here and there to work on a project. Seriously, my biggest obstacle is the upkeep. I’ve been trying to take a few moments each day to clear problem areas but my whole house could be considered a problem. However, I must admit the areas I’ve already organized are sooo much easier to keep clean on a daily basis.

I finished a small project and I especially love when I can get rid of a mess and add a touch of simple beauty instead. As you may remember, I organized the “school” bookshelf in the family room. Beside it we have a shorter shelf of kids’ books as well as a section for baby supplies like diapers, wipes, tissues etc. We recently moved the kids’ two fish tanks to the family room on top of that shelf. Originally, above the shelf, I had a large cork board with our family calendar, Brian’s schedule, church bulletins and various other information. Unfortunately, to make room for Rocky and Spike’s tanks I had to raise the cork board and it became impossible to use. Besides, since putting together our Home Management Binders, I really didn’t need all that info displayed on the wall since I had it in a central location in the binders. I didn’t take a before photo but you can get a little glimpse of the cork board on the wall before I added the fish tanks. It looks so cluttered and messy. (Photo courtesy of John-Paul, who likes to go around the house and take countless random photos with my iPhone.)

I removed the board off the wall and found a smaller unused cork board I had stored in my closet. I hung it up in the kitchen behind the swing door that leads to the family room. Below it I added the family calendar. It’s nothing fancy but it serves its purpose.

Next I had to decide what to do with the blank spot where the old cork board used to be. I loved the ideas Postal Pix had on their Pinterest board where customers hung up their Instagram photos on what looked like a garland clothes line such as this:

Source:

http://pinterest.com/pin/155514993353528263/

Source: http://pinterest.com/pin/155514993353421510/

A couple weeks ago I was browsing Target (a favorite pastime) and found this cute photo display with two birds holding up a line for your photos. (There were three more birds but I’m debating whether to add those or not.) Then I saw an unframed canvas with a picture that had the same theme. I loved the work “HOME” and thought they would look perfect together. Here is the result.

So now instead of that ugly, unsightly corkboard I have this cute reminder of the people that make our house a true HOME.

PS – If you want to know where I prefer to print my Instagrams, see this post.

Operation Clean and Organize: Vol 14 – Home Management Binder Part 3: Meal Planning & Finances

By bobbi
July 10, 2012
4 Comments

Taming the procrastinating, ADD, mess cat within me.

I have been working on putting together a Home Management Binder(s). Previous posts include:

Part 1 – Daily Planner

Part 2 – Main Household Binder

This is Part 3 – Meal Planning Binder & Finance Binder

I found two binders that had the same design but in slightly different colors. They still matched well with my main green binder.

My Meal Planning/Shopping/Pantry Binder

I think this is my favorite binder since I use it so often. I like that it is separate because all these various things in one big binder would be too bulky.

As with my main binder, I purchased Avery Plastic Dividers with Slash Pockets (11903).

I forgot to mention in my other post, that I also liked these dividers because they were wide enough to accommodate clear sheet protectors. Your divider titles aren’t covered up by wide sheet protectors.

I divided up my main binder into eight categories.

Also, like my main binder, many of these sheets came from iheartorganizing.blogspot.com’s etsy shop.
Here are my headings.
1. Brian’s Work Schedule

(I like to keep track of the days Brian works the late shift because I’ll need a dinner I can serve in two shifts – earlier for the kids and later for Brian and myself. )

2. Weekly Menu Planner
Originally this worksheet (that I purchased separately) had the categories of Breakfast, Lunch, Snack and Dinner.

I requested that my categories be changed to Appointments, Lunch, Dinner and Notes. On less busy days I can plan meals that take more prep time. During the school year, I keep track of the school lunch menu and which days I pack lunches and which days they are allowed to have hot lunch. In the notes section I make note of days I have to defrost or marinade or if a food needs to be eaten before it expires.

Once I have the week’s meals planned out, Bella likes to update the Magnetic Weekly Menu Board on our fridge so the family knows what we are eating that week.

3. Monthly Menu Calendar

At the end of the week I jot down what dinner meals we ate on a master monthly calendar. I like to look over it to note how we’ve been eating – Too much red meat? Not enough fish? Too much Mexican? Overkill on chicken? Haven’t had a breakfast dinner in awhile? Ate out too much? It helps me plan meals for the next week, especially when we are in a meal slump.

4. Shopping Lists (With a pocket for coupons.)

I don’t use coupons very often but for the times I do, I use the divider pocket to hold them.

I printed out the shopping lists I normally use and added them to the binder.

5. Fridge Inventory

This is especially helpful since I have a second fridge in the garage.

6. Freezer Inventory

This is especially helpful since I have a second freezer in the garage.

Sample Inventory

7. Pantry Inventory

This is especially helpful since I have a second pantry in the garage.

8. Recipe Log

This has been really useful for me. The other day I was looking through one of my favorite healthy cookbooks – The Food You Crave: Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life by Ellie Krieger.

I wrote down the recipes I wanted to try. I also listed any ingredients that I needed to buy fresh or that were not always in my pantry. When I need a meal idea I can look over the list or if I have an item that needs to be used up, whether chicken or cilantro, I can pick a recipe using those ingredients. Just another way to make my meal planning a little easier. (Note to self – Update the ingredients for the french toast. Jalapenos and cilantro not required. 😉 )

Finance Binder

It took me awhile to get my finance binder organized in a manner that works for me but here it is.

I used the same dividers as above and made eight categories.

1. Check Register

I wanted to be able to keep my check register in my binder so I used an Excel template to make one that fit on standard size paper. It works a lot better for me.

2. Accounts/ Funds

I keep track of how much money I have in our bank accounts.

I also keep track of the money in my “little funds” that I save for during the year. For example, each month I set aside a certain amount for my “Christmas fund” and my “one-day-i’m-going-to-visit-my-sis-on-the-east-coast fund.”

3. Monthly Budget

I keep track of my monthly and yearly budget.

Sample page 1 of 3 available from the iheartorganizing shop.

4. Bills to Pay

I keep track of the bills that are due.

When a bill comes in the mail I slip it into the pocket divider and add the amount to my monthly bill list.

I am terrible at remembering to pay bills on their various due dates so for any bill that I don’t have automatic payment, I have one payment date. On the 15th of the month I pay everything that will be due in the next 30 days.

Sample Finance Checklist from iheartorganizing.

5. Medical

I keep track of medical expenses, speech therapy etc.

6. Tithing

In a clear sheet protector I keep the solicitation envelopes of charities we’ll be donating to that month.

In a clear sheet protector I keep any donation thank you letters we receive that we may need at tax time.

(Before I got married I worked for Phil Lenahan and he had a ministry helping families to not only get out of debt but the importance of linking your faith and your finances together. He taught me the importance of tithing in the spiritual life and it has stuck with me over a decade later.)

7. Tuition

For the kid’s schooling.

8. Receipts

I have a clear sheet protector for temporary receipts that I may need for returns. Once a month I throw out any expired receipts.

I have another sheet protector for receipts of big ticket items that I need to keep.

Organizing Inspiration

Well, that’s it! I hope you enjoyed taking a look. If you are making your own Household Binder(s) and you need more ideas of what to include, I found a lot of ideas and inspiration from Dawn over at By Sun and Candlelight. If you click on the Organization category you’ll see her awesome files and binders and homemaking fun. (Although, I originally fell in love with her Downton Abbey discussions.) This post is particularly great for figuring out which subjects to add to your binder.
Do you have a favorite organizing blog? Share it with me! I need to be constantly inspired so I’ll continue this quest of organizing and de-hoarding my home!

Free Printables

Although, I purchased most of my forms, there are also a number of free forms you can download from iheartorganizing blog, including the Recipe Reference Sheet pictured above.

You can also find a load of Organizing printables at ishareprintables.com/category/organization.

“Mom Tracked” Printables are at mommytracked.com/downloads.

There are nice free printables in various categories at theorganisedhousewife.com.au/printables/.

Dee has some really cute monthly printables at creativideeworkshop.com/share.html but I especially love her “honey do” list.

That’s it for now. Next week I’ll post about my Blogging/Project Binder. Please feel free to leave your comments and tips!

PS – This post may contain affiliate links.

Operation Clean and Organize: Vol 13 – Home Management Binder Part 2

By bobbi
July 5, 2012
4 Comments

Taming the procrastinating, ADD, mess cat within me.

This is Part 2 of my Home Management Binder post. (You can read the Part 1 post about my daily planner here.) As I said, I divided my information into five categories/binders:

My Daily Planner
Main Household Management Binder
Meal Planning/Shopping/Pantry Binder
Finance Binder
Blogging Binder

Main Household Binder

For my household binder, instead of starting my own sheets from scratch, I turned to one of my favorite organizing gurus – Jennifer at iheartorganizing.blogspot.com and ordered her Family Household Binder Kit. I have already used a number of her worksheets in the past and have been very happy with them. I received the personalize cover and spine as well as numerous household worksheets and lists. (I blocked out our family name to privacy. ;-))

I purchased Avery Plastic Dividers with Slash Pockets (11903) and divided up my main binder into eight categories.

1. Important Info

Financial, Medical, Insurance info

Contact List of Important Numbers

Important Dates (Birthdays, Anniversaries, Baptismal Dates etc.)

Babysitting Notes (Info for our babysitter, when we finally get one!)

2. Cleaning

Cleaning Checklist

Home Maintenance List

Master Home Project List

3. Auto

Maintenance Log

Warranty Info, etc

4. Travel & Outings

Travel Checklist

I already had a travel list made on my computer, although I haven’t updated it in awhile. (It’s been a long time since I’ve carried a separate video camera.) Here is a sample.

Outing Ideas

Favorite Places to Visit

For the places we like to visit often, in a plastic sheet protector I keep the place’s map, info and notes on things like our favorite spot to picnic or trails that are stroller friendly.

5. Books & Entertainment

Media Inventory

Library Log

I keep our library receipt in the divider’s pocket and in the log I keep track of how many books, dvd’s or mags we’ve checked out and when they are due back.

Book/DVD Check-out Log (Items we’ve loaned out.)

6. Holiday & Party Planning

Party Plan List

Holiday Gift Giving Worksheet

Gift Ideas & Notes

7. Pet Log

Fish Tank Cleaning Log

8. Blank Monthly Calendars
Okay, that’s all I have time for at the moment. I’ll post about my Meal Planning Binder next.
Feel free to leave your comments and tips!

UPDATE: Here is Part 3 – Meal Planning & Finance Binders.

PS – This post may contain affiliate links.

Revolution of Love

Do small things with great love.

Tag Archives: operation clean & organize

Operation Clean & Organize: Master Bedroom (Part 1) Meets {p, h, f, r} – vol 51

Operation Clean and Organize: Vol 16 – The School File

Operation Clean and Organize: Vol 15 – Bulletin Boards & Wall Photos (Part 1)

Operation Clean and Organize: Vol 14 – Home Management Binder Part 3: Meal Planning & Finances

Operation Clean and Organize: Vol 13 – Home Management Binder Part 2