Spring Sports Life Prep

 It's Baseball/Softball/T-Ball Season!

And things are already crazy! This year we added an additional insane element to our spring schedule. I'm coaching one of the teams, yikes!  And we also just added running club 2 days a week, because I don't know how not be overly busy I guess.

What this all means for me as a mama and wife is that I need to have my act together. Bad news?  I don't, not even close! 

I need to have some better dinner options that are easy and filling and also get my schedule for 3 teams down. Our gear better organized in the cars. I need a Spring Sports Survival Guide! 

Where is that?!

This Mama knows what I am talking about!

 I'm going to need some ideas! I see some late night Pinterest browsing in my future!  Follow me and send me your favorites! https://www.pinterest.com/brittanieg/

 I am hoping to have a meal plan in place for next week, when our games start and maybe my car will have everything I need in it too!

Fall Sports had me doing the same thing. HERE
But since then it has fallen out of organization BIG TIME!

Any favorite organizing tips for the car?

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Organizing Friday {Week 7}

I somehow skipped week 6, so I am adding it here too!

Finished organizing our homework cabinet last week

It's not perfect but for now, with the containers I have it's going to work.

I picked up the magazine boxes at IKEA, each kiddo has one. This is so much easier than trying to decide who didn't clean up what.  The bigger chicken wire basket is crayons, and we are using this milk jar to keep colored pencils in. I drastically reduced the amount of colored pencils and crayons we had. It seemed overwhelming to the kids to have soooo many to dig through for the one they were looking for. So for now, less is more and less is less for me to clean up.

Then it was under the sink! It ended up a little dirty and with little helpers, kind of a mess. 

Going to catch up on that this weekend since it's a quick one.

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Spring Cleaning Family Room

How is your Spring Cleaning Coming along?

 The sunshine we had for a couple days made it much easier!

Next to the kitchen, the family room gets the most use, there are always a few stray toys under the couch, dvd's out of order and fingerprints on nearly everything!

Here is the list of supplies I use to get ours done

~Apron, with pockets for all those little things I know I will find!

~Swiffer Dusters with the long handle (and a couple short handles for my helpers)

~microfiber cloths 1 for polish, 1 for glass

~Glass cleaner (I prefer Sprayway Brand, but will use vinegar in a pinch)

~Magic Eraser and vinegar in a spray bottle

~Vacuum

~Baby Wipes

The family room doesn't take nearly as long as the kitchen does once the purging is done. 

~Start some laundry! Curtains and throw blankets and pillows all need it

~Move the rug to another room and put some baking soda on it, let the kids jump and dance around on it to get it rubbed in. I move it because I don't want all the dust settling on it.

~Dust the ceiling fan and bulbs

~Wipe down or dust walls

~Dust all the frames, don't forget the tops!

~Dust electronics, especially behind them.

~Dust all the knickknacks and fluff

~Polish furniture

~Wash windows and mirrors

~I give our oldest the job of organizing the DVD's

~I get hubby to turn off the pilot light on the fireplace, but we are going to wait a while on that, we have been using it far too much lately for it to be turned off!

~Clean couch cushions. I use baby wipes for this after they are vacuumed off

~And while the wipes are out I make sure all the light switches and remotes get a quick cleaning too

~Then I go around the room and wipe down the baseboards with the magic eraser and vinegar

~Finally to the vacuuming, I vacuum all over, move the furniture and vacuum under it too

~Steam mop the hardwoods 

~Then move the rug back in once all the baking soda has been vacuumed up, 

hoping it takes all the dirt with it!

~Put the curtains back up and the lighter throw blankets come out, heavier ones get stored.

That's it! I think we will reward all the helpers with a movie!

Should be able to get this done in the next couple days, then I will be starting on the bathrooms!

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Spring Cleaning Kitchen

Now that the cleaning out is done I can get started on the real cleaning!

I start with the kitchen, it takes the longest usually and it takes the most abuse!

I can usually get most of this done in 1-2 days depending on what else we have going on that week.

And I like to have a good reward planned for when it's over. I will have to think about what it should be! Usually something for that room, something use full or pretty! 

And I HAVE to have good music! I doubt I would get anything done without it!

I listen to everything! I like a good mix but it has to be ok for the kids too. The Civil Wars are my very fave! I saw them last year when they were here the band that opened for them has grown on me SO much!

Milo Greene! They only had a 3 song CD at the show but youtube has so many live songs, love them all!

This is my fave though!

ok now that I got just slightly off track, here is my list. It's not much different than last year, just a couple things added I noticed needed attention.

~Start the oven on self clean

~Vacuum on top of cabinets and ceiling corners

~Take everything out of cabinets and wipe down (I do 1 at a time)

~Polish the outside of the cabinets

~Clean the microwave and put fan filters in dishwasher

~Clean out the fridge/freezer (if you don't do that more often)

~Clean the top of the fridge

~Pull fridge out and vacuum sides and coils

~wash silverware tray (in dishwasher)

~Clean the inside of the dishwasher 

~Replace felt pads on all the chairs

~Tidy the pantry

~Clean under the sink

~make vinegar ice cubes (for weekly disposal cleaning)

~Clean Toaster and Mixer really good

~Clean oven sides and underneath once it's cooled

~wash windows

~wipe down moldings and doors

And the other stuff I need to do this year is

~Clean party cabinet

~Clean craft cabinet

~Clean the junk drawer (again!)

Check out all the past Spring Cleaning

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Spring Cleaning Prep

I said a couple weeks ago I was going around each room and making a list of things that needed to be done in there besides the usual cleaning. Things like touching up the paint, or working on a spot in the carpet, replacing light switch covers, just the little things that don't come up too often but still need to be handled.

So now that I have the lists done for each room I am starting the purging portion of Spring Cleaning. I actually started a few days ago, I was itchin' to get it done!

First I go through every ones clothes! I don't know how it happens (well ok I do, I LOVE clothes) but we always end up with more than we need, and there are usually a few that have seen better days. I get those out of the way, make room for Spring/Summer clothes in the dressers and closets. 

In the bathrooms I make sure nothing is expired, and if I haven't used it in 6 months I probably don't need it, lots of tossing and making a list of things we are out of. I just go through every room and do this.

So I will spend a few days this week purging and making my lists. Then I will start on the real cleaning, hopefully by the end of the week!

I always start with the kitchen!

Here are my kitchen lists from years past

Here

Here

Here

I still need to make my plan for this year, hopefully by Wednesday!

Have a good Monday!

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Kid Storage

I am sure I cannot be the only one who doesn't like to toys all over, or an unattractive storage solution! 

Sometimes it seems impossible to find something to hold all the toys and books that is actually nice to look at. Plastic and particle board just are not cutting it for me, not that we don't use those, we do, but they are in the closet where I don't have to see them unless I look. We have a few of these

They are great for all the little things and books! 

We have a LOT of books. But they just aren't that attractive to me!

We have been looking for something to hold all of the Legos Ramsey has.

We thought about a couple of these, but they are also less than attractive.

So we were just keeping them in 2 of the canvas cubes but they were already overfull and too heavy to really be good for him to play with. Then my fave girls at Real Deals in Salem posted a picture on facebook, and I KNEW we needed it for his room, as long as it would fit.

This is what they posted

Cute right?! So I went and measured to see if it would fit, and it DID!! So it has a home in his bedroom now, holds his baseball light and all of his Legos are organized by color in the bins. My pictures are not great but it still looks perfect in his room and it wasn't too deep so he still has plenty of room to drag his Lego table over and enjoy playing with them!

This little treasure sure put me in the mood to get started on our Spring Cleaning!

So this week I will try and get my planning all done, so we can get started and done and enjoy Spring!

Hubby is already outside working on cleaning stuff up while it's not raining. I am hoping I can add "build chicken coop" to his honey do! We'll see how well that goes over :)

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Organizing Friday!

I don't have any 1 major project I am working on today, well none I can show before and afters of anyway!

But I am already starting our Spring Cleaning lists!

Today I am just going through each room and making a list of things I need to prep or supplies we need, items that need replaced and stuff like that. It's not exactly fun but knowing that everything will be back in order when it's over is worth it!

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Monthly Cleaning Schedule!

HOW did I not ever think of this?!

Such a clever idea and soo much better than my haphazard way of doing things!

I saw a couple examples on pinterest (of course), like this one

I had to alter mine, I usually have to deep clean a little more often than once a year for some of our things.. but I do like the idea of having a designated month to do the big rooms!  So although I do some stuff that people consider "deep" cleaning every week, some stuff can be done just 1 or 2 times a year. Here is what I came up with, going to add it to my HMB and make my Fall/Spring Cleaning a lot easier, they will probably need an overhaul too!

How do you all organize your deep cleaning?

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Spring Cleaning week 4 {Bedrooms}

I was supposed to be doing Spring Cleaning the bathrooms last week... but I didn't, not even a little bit. Instead, Hubby had a few days off and we painted our formal living room.

So I am behind a week but Hubby is out of town this week so I am hoping I can get it all done and start on the bedrooms! And we are out of trim paint so none of that will be done either.. doesn't look like I will be all done before Spring..darn!

Well here is my list for bedrooms, in case I get to it this week!

• Go Through Clothes and move winter stuff to the back!

• Go Through Toys

• Go Through Books (and post on paperbackswap.com)

• Clean out Nightstands

• Clean ceiling fans and light fixtures

• Flip Mattresses

• Steam Mattresses

• Go Through Underneath Bed (always purging)

• Windows

• Window Tracks

• Wash Curtains

• Polish Furniture

• Clean Baseboards

• Take off Bed Warmers

So hoping the kids want to help and we get this done before Spring Break (next week) and hopefully by the time we get back it will be nice enough to work outside!

Hope Everyone is enjoying the last week of Winter (finally!)

And I am sure I will spend a little time tonight looking for some fun April Fools stuff for the kiddies!



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Spring Cleaning week 3~ Bathrooms & Update on Play Room

Just planted some of these! Hope I don't kill em!

And I didn't finish ALL the family room yet because I think I want to move the furniture around and I need some help for that, but all the major stuff is done!

And I got the kids to "help" clean the rug, I just covered it lightly with some baking soda and had them dance and wiggle until you couldn't see it anymore, then I waited a while and vacuumed it up!

And I worked on the play closet a little more! I shared the before HERE, and now it's like this

Where the storage used to be

Where seasonal stuff used to be

shoe cabinet from ikea! Only sticks out 6"!!

Little spot for art work, just at their level, and a little too high for little brother!

And still not done! That blank wall straight back (where the storage used to be) is waiting for a great deal on a big frame so I can frame out some chalkboard paint!

And this is my list for this week (and least favorite Spring cleaning week!)

• Purge, Purge, Purge (I am kind of a product hoarder!)

• Scrub Shower Doors

• Wash Rugs

• Scrub all Round Toilet

• Drain O Shower and Sinks

• Polish Cabinets

• Scrub Bathtub

• Wash Windows

• Clean Under Sinks

• Clean Baseboards

• Clean Doors

• Vacuum and Steam Floors

• Touch up Baseboard Paint

• Touch up Wall Paint

• Check on Supplies Stock

• Replace Candles

And I have some projects I want to work on in the kids bathroom this week too.

Today was pretty nice here, makes me want to get ALL this stuff done so we

 can get out there and do some yard work!

Who else is working on Spring Cleaning?!

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Spring Cleaning { Family Room} and Some Sweet Little Treats

I finished the kitchen already (we had a snow day and a mellow week) I am hoping to get started on the Family Room (and play area). I will be hunting for some supplies this weekend! The play area is just not working, the older the littlest gets the more stuff there is! 

This is how we started, it was alright but the shoes are too much and all over! And the kids need somewhere for papers that little brother can't get to as easily (he likes to throw them away)!

 I've got a couple projects I am working on for that little area!

Looking for some art options and shoe storage!!

There are lots of other things I need to do too for Spring Cleaning!

My Family Room list is just a little shorter than the kitchen!

~Wash Curtains, throws and swap pillows

~Clean off the ceiling fan

~Clean Glass on Frames

~Swap Pictures in Frames

~Clean Windows and tracks

~Turn off pilot on fireplace (might wait on this since it snowed this morning!)

~Clean Fireplace

~Dust the Electronics (especially the back)

~Clean out the couch cushions (can hardly wait to see what's in there!)

~Clean the couch cushion covers

~Clean Walls

~Vacuum Floor Vents

~Clean Baseboards

~Touch Up Wall Paint

~Clean Rug

Play Area

~Go through toys

~Go through books

~Sort toys

I love this, but I have a Target budget :)

 So that is what I have going on next week!

And I want to make these from Feels Like Home!!

I think I might change the recipe a little though and skip the coconut and use a different nut!

How cute are those?!

Anyone else starting their Spring Cleaning?!

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Spring Cleaning Week 1 {Kitchen}

I can't believe it is time to start already!

 But this week is a good week for me to start and not feel bad about missing anything, it is supposed to be cold and wet here anyway, and no school 1 day (I am sure our oldest would rather skip nap and help).

This is my list for the week (mostly during naptimes)

• Start Oven Cleaning

• Start Stove Top Cleaning

• Wash Curtains

• Dust/Vacuum Top of Cabinets

• Re-organize/Purge Cabinets and Clean shelves

• Polish Cabinets

• Clean Bottom of Microwave and Wash Filters

• Clean Out Fridge and Freezer

• Pull Oven Out and Clean Sides

• Clean Out Under the Sink

• Clean Inside of Dishwasher

• Make Vinegar Cubes

• Clean Toaster (finally gave in and got one) and Mixer

• Replace Furniture Felt

• Tidy Pantry

• Clean Pantry Door

• Vacuum and Steam Floors

WHEW! Lots to do this week but I have some fun stuff planned for the weekend if I get it all done!
And I am pretty sure there will be a few craft breaks too!

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1 Month Until Spring!

Coastal Living

That is just 1 tiny month, 28 days, 4 little weeks to get Spring cleaning done, for me anyway! I like to have it all done by Spring or shortly after so we can spend time outside when it is nice, and get a early start on projects! I've talked about my Spring Cleaning plan the last couple years but it changes EVERY year!

Ive been trying to do small projects every Friday, usually just organizing, I actually like organizing but the actual cleaning part I am not a fan of so I like to just get it over and done with so we can move onto the fun stuff!

I like to start with the kitchen, it seems to be the most work so once it's done everything else seems easy! This has been my plan/list the last 2 years. I will probably spend part of nap time tomorrow going over it and seeing if there are other things I need to add to the list! And I think I might order some Shaklee products so parts of the kitchen might have to wait (like the oven!)

I hope to get started Tuesday and be done with the kitchen before the weekend!

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Happy Groundhog Day!

Today has been wonderful here! Our big guy turns 6 today, Phil did NOT see his shadow (yay Spring), we have NO snow! It is sunshiney and cold and I think I might finally be on track to be done with birthday stuff in time, without stressing!

Then all this talk about Spring made me think about Spring cleaning.. ick!

I am sure my cleaning list will change again this year, but I saw these and KNOW they would help out with our pantry!

No more shuffling around to find the soonest to expire!!

But I think I might try to make some out of wood before I spend the crazy asking price on these!

And I need to finish off another shelf with the oil cloth in our pantry and pick up some more canisters on our next Ikea trip. None of this has to happen now, but if I don't start my list now it will be time to start working on stuff and I won't know what all I need to do!

And I NEED to get back into organizing every Friday, haven't done it in a few weeks, this Friday I am sure I won't get to it since I have a huge to-do list for birthday stuff... our kitchen is SO messy with Birthday stuff right now.. seriously about 60% of our counters are covered, when usually we have clutter free counters! It's been making things a little difficult here and I am ready for it to happen and get out kitchen back!

 

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First Day of Spring

Do you have all your Spring cleaning projects started, finished even? I sure hoped to, but I don’t. Instead I got my wisdom teeth out, THAT is a whole other kind of spring cleaning I was NOT prepared for! So with the first day of Spring quickly approaching (tomorrow!) I am trying to recover and get it all done. I am also pretty sure I will need to reward my littles and hubby for all their help cleaning, AND taking care of me, with some sugar cookies!! Ikea had THE cutest cookie cutters, perfect for spring.. Just had to share!  I think I will make the snails and I maybe hedgehogs.. the others aren't as "Springy" to me.. and maybe some mini mushrooms!

I am slowly working on getting my Spring/Easter decorations out.. I will post some pictures soon!  If I feel up to it and can stop watching New Moon.. comes out tonight/tomorrow depending on how crazy you are.. Redplum.com has a coupon for it also!

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Spring Cleaning Bathrooms

It's my least favorite of them all, and we have 3!! Most times I am thankful we have 3.. When it comes to cleaning them, not so much!

~I start with the purging again! Towels that are past their prime, way past get sent to the rag bin. Makeup that is past the expiration date or that I haven’t used gets dumped too.
~After that I start with the shower.. We have glass shower doors and they get dirty no matter how often I scrub them! So I am starting the spray on them so they can soak. I heard some people put rain-X, like for windshields on their glass shower doors and it helps.. Not sure if I will try it yet. Something has to make it easier though!
~Start the rugs in the washer
~Scrub scrub scrub around the toilet.. I use a toothbrush (that looks NOTHING like anyone’s just to be safe) they are cheap at the Dollar Store I think it’s either a 5 or 6 pack. Vinegar and water help break down the grime.
~Once I have it pretty scrubbed I do a good once over with the portable steamer.
~After I scrub the shower with the magic eraser and get it as sparkling as it’s going to get I rinse and then use drain-o or liquid plumber to help keep the drain working well.
~Polish the cabinets
~Vacuum and steam mop before the rugs go back down!
~Check your supplies.. Q-tips, band-aids all that other first aid stuff.. You all stocked up? If not try to catch them on sale.
~I also try to avoid having to buy shampoo and all that stuff every other month. I wait until it is on sale or I have a good coupon (preferably both) and stock up so it’s a once a year or every 6 month thing.
~Now is a good time to replace toothbrushes also!
~If you keep your Towels in a stack, move the ones on the bottom to the top to make sure they are getting equal use.
~The mirrors aren’t on my spring cleaning list because I do them every week.. I think it’s easier if it doesn’t get too dirty.
~It’s not really cleaning but I usually try to get some new candles.. Something that smells fresh and springy but not too strong!


The bathroom doesn’t take that long but it sure isn’t fun.. Up next for me is bedrooms.. I don’t think my routine will change much from this one last year.

Just 9 days until Spring!!  I am hoping to be all done in the next 2 weeks so we can ENJOY Spring!

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More Spring Cleaning!

If I make it through the kitchen I think a good reward is a few new song downloads on itunes.. A new CD always makes cleaning a little easier!


Spring Cleaning the Living Room takes even more time than the kitchen but it sure is a little easier. A big part of Spring Cleaning for us is Purging… we collect so much stuff over the year, sometimes we end up with 2 of the same board game or movie. The closet where we keep all that stuff isn’t in the living room but it is where we use it all.. I started a couple weeks ago and went through most of it (so we could claim the donation on our taxes!) I think one extra step I might take this year is cutting down on how much SPACE the DVD’S and CD’S take up, there are a lot of option for storing them now, some are expensive and some are not. I need to find a solution that will take up less space AND not put a huge dent in the budget.. I found THESE called Disc Sox, they seem like a pretty good idea.. Hoping to find something similar with a lower price tag! I actually took some of our DVD’s we weren’t going to be watching again and got just over $40 for them! I was amazed that the TV on DVD still gets a pretty good price. I used that money to buy some disc holders.. They are plain and each hold 80!


~Once I get done purging and am ready to move on to the real cleaning I start by throwing the toss pillows and throw blankets in the washer. When they are done most of the throws get put away until fall.

~Move the rug into another area and cover it lightly with baking soda, then rub it in, if you have kids I bet they can do a good job of rubbing it in with their feet and socks on! I will vacuum it later. If that’s not how you clean your rug you can do the old fashioned beating… also probably ok for kids to help with! I like to take it out first since dust will just settle on it once I start dusting!

~Dust top to bottom, behind and under. Behind our TV gets HORRIBLE.. The TV is a dust magnet and it gets so hot with all the dust back there. I have heard some people rub dryer sheets on them to help repel the dust, we don’t use dryer sheets so I haven’t tried it. Don’t forget to dust the books too!

~Is it time to update those pictures in the frames? If you are taking them down might as well clean them too! I try to change out our pictures every couple months.. The kids notice and enjoy talking about the new pictures!

~Take the cushions off the couches and collect all that change you didn’t know you had.. And at our house it comes with 3 Barbie shoes and a dozen random ponyville pieces. Vacuum underneath and all the cracks. While I have the cushions off I spray the homemade freshener spray under the cushions.

~Clean the furniture. We have micro fiber that shows EVERYTHING, but luckily I have had good luck getting all the spots off with baby wipes, when the wipes don’t work I get the portable steamer out!

~I use the portable steamer on all the furniture anyway.. Steam sanitizes and hopefully any stinky smells go away with it! After they are dried I use the freshener spray on them as well.

~Mirrors if you have them do they deserve a good cleaning? Mine do! I do mine the same time as the windows and fireplace glass.

~I tend to move the furniture around this time of year also.. Just so something is different (for a little while at least)



I feel like I am missing some major things this time… Any ideas?!

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Spring Cleaning The Kitchen!!

Well I am back sooner than expected and ready to get on with the spring cleaning!!  A recent trip to Ikea has also made me want to organize like crazy, they have such neat stuff now!

The kitchen takes the most time here... It's a big list but worth it to take care of those spendy appliances and the area where most of us spend a big portion of our day!

I list them from top to bottom even if I can't get to them in that order.

~Vacuum/dust above the cabinets (our cabinets don't go to the ceiling) and the corners.
~For the oven I am going to try the portable shark steam mop FIRST this time, if it doesn't work I will Spray oven cleaner (I am afraid to use the self cleaning part.. with the kids here I think it will get too smoky!) and let that sit a while and work on other stuff, come back to it when it's done it's job
~Take everything out of the cabinets (I wouldn’t do ALL of them at the same time). I do a couple at a time if stuff is chipped, broken or hasn't been used since last Spring I probably don't need it! Don't forget to empty out the silverware tray.. I just run ours through the dishwasher. Once the stuff is out I use the vinegar/water mix and a clean rag and wipe all the inside cabinet surfaces.
~Polish the outside.. I used to use Method brand but have switched to olive oil and a little lemon juice.
~I take the filter or screen things off the microwave bottom and toss em in the dishwasher.
~I run the dishwasher with a few bowls of vinegar in the top rack and baking soda in the soap dispenser.
~Clean out under the sink.. extra sponges and who knows what else has collected and needs to be dealt with!
~I replace the felt pads on the chairs and tables, after 6 months they look pretty bad!
~If it's been a while since I've done a pantry check.. I do that and make sure that there isn't anything expired.
~If cleaning the inside of your fridge isn't something you do often, now is a good time. How many pen bottles of ketchup are there? I toss anything that is expired or will expire soon that I don’t think will get used. Then using the vinegar and water mix wipe down each shelf, I take the door shelves out, and the fruit and veggie drawers out and run those in the dishwasher also.
~My least favorite things to do are moving the stove and fridge out, cleaning the sides, vacuum the fridge coils, clean the top of the fridge. I put those off the longest, because I can't do it by myself, but it is important, they will last longer if they are taken care of, and the fridge especially needs the coils cleaned or it can really waste energy and money!
~If you have countertops that needed treated don't forget to do that!
~when it's all done I Vacuum again and then use the steam cleaner on the floors!


After that the kitchen should be about ready for a new mess.. I got some super cute cookie cutters at Ikea and cannot wait to make some spring sugar cookies with the kids!


I should have another post soon for the Family Room!!

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Easter pretties

I wish it was sunny here.. all these pastel things don't look nearly as cute in overcast!

I got the cute SPRING blocks at a little place in Redmond when they were closing I got a total deal on them, $6 for all of em! Been storing them since Halloween though. I hadn't put the curtains up yet when I took pictures.. oops!

The mantel has a really light pink boa on it and only a couple little things on it, I don't have much Easter or spring stuff yet. The Leaf looking place mats I have had forever and am finally getting some use out of them!

I never use these floating candle holders for candles anymore.. Just some jelly beans and a little feather pick.

The basket really doesn't have anything to do with Easter other than I used one of the leaf place mats in the bottom, the basket is just full of old pics ( I didn't want to use our real family ones yet, due to little grubby hands ) I got 150+ pics on ebay and they are all 1910-1950 I LOVE the clothes they are all wearing.. Something fun to look at once in a while. Now that I look at this picture I really don't like how close in color our walls are to our furniture.. hmmm.. maybe I can figure out a new paint color.

I am still working on Spring Cleaning. Been trying to do 1 room every other day and not on the weekends. Hope every ones first week of Spring has been sunnier than it has been here!

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Spring Cleaning Those Bedrooms

We spend so much time in our rooms, even if it's just sleeping, so it needs to be clean and peacefull!

Alrighy with the kitchen just about done, I am ready
to move on to Bedrooms.. Yikes!

The first thing I do in ALL the bedrooms is go
through the clothes in the closets (we don't have dressers).
Anything that won't fit the wee ones anymore or has holes or rips that I wont fix goes in the donate or sell bags. For my clothes if it is from winter or fall and I didnt wear it I probably won't and it goes too. I think it is so much easier to get things organized and cleaned up if you know there is not stuff in the way you won't be using.

If any of the winter or fall stuff needs cleaning or repairs I take them to the cleaners.
With much more space available in my closet I move all the sweaters and stuff to the back and the tank tops to the front.

Then I get to actual cleaning!

Starting with the highest stuff, I dust, cealing fans, bookshleves, all the way down to baseboards.
I take everything off the bookshelves and make sure there are not any books I can donate to the library (there usually is) and clean all the shelves with the method wood cleaner and polish.
There is always of ton of stuff that needs laundered when I do the bedrooms. Curtains, all the pillows and winter bedding that is to be stored. We use electric bed warmers and they NEED to come off now, doesn't get that cold at night anymore.

With all the beds stripped I vacuum the box springs, mattresses, flip em and vacuum again.
I empty our nightstands of the hundreds of pennies, hairties, pens and notebooks that have collected along with who knows how many candy land cards and barbie shoes. Usually I keep only a couple things in the nightstands and by this time they are FULL!

While the curtians are off I wash the windows and the sliding part.. I get serious with that! Q tips and all! Still just vinegar and water though, and usually a toothbrush (which I buy in the 5 packs for $1 at Dollar Tree and look nothing like any we would
actually use)!

I vacuum the area rugs and carpet and by then everything is clean.. just not put back together
because of all the laundry. So I also change things a bit, Change the pictures in the frames, replace any candles for a more summery/spring smell, and the bedding that goes back on the bed is usually much lighterweight.

The kids rooms usually need a bit more attention though, we sort through toys, tons of them, and help them make good choices about what to keep and what to donate.
I do the same bedding and curtain washing, dusting, window cleaning, mattress vacuuming and flipping in their rooms as ours.
I try to keep the kids toys organized.. a lot of work! But it's worth it, so we make sure everything is in it's designated bin, box or drawer.
I like to move the kids furniture around so it is a little new for them also!

With today being the first day of spring we will be done before spring really gets into full swing! Hope everyone is having a lovley Friday.. Yay for weekends with our families!

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