Thursday, January 4, 2018

Friday Faves...Let's talk cleaning, decluttering and organizing


The day after Christmas I woke up at 5a.m. eager to take down all of the Christmas decorations that had been up since the day after Thanksgiving.  The busyness of the holiday season with its many gatherings of family and friends, the shopping, the baking, all of the decorations, (all things that I love!), resulted in a feeling of overstimulation. I craved some literal and physical quiet.  So, I spent three hours putting away the Christmas decor, then packed a small suitcase and enjoyed three restful, quiet, peaceful days at the beach with my husband.
When we got home from the beach, I picked up where I left off when I "undecorated" before our trip. I did some decluttering which resulted in a car trunk full of stuff to donate to the Goodwill. And I rearranged some decor, trying to keep things simple and peaceful feeling.

Over the past nine years of blogging I've had many people ask how I keep my house so clean and other similar comments.  I always want to be mindful to be honest and tell you that, obviously, I post the best parts of my home.  I choose not to feature photos of our bathrooms that are due for updating sometime this year.  They are still stuck in 1992.  I also don't often feature my "weak spots"-my messy desk, our all too often untidy nightstands that seem to collect random stuff, my messy closet. Our home is definitely imperfect and lived in!

However, my natural tendency is to be a bit of a clean freak.  I've actually eased up from the way I was back when I was a young bride, believe it or not!  My poor husband couldn't walk across the shag carpet, (yes, I am that old), without me wanting to vacuum up his footprints!  

Years of parsonage living probably contributed to my habit of always keeping the main living areas ready for pop-in visitors.  We haven't lived in a parsonage for decades, but I still like my main living area and main bathroom to be tidy and welcoming. 
The new year is often a time when people are inspired to declutter and organize.  I thought it might be fun and helpful to do a blog series on cleaning, decluttering and organizing. I could write about my daily cleaning habits, deep cleaning and decluttering and organization-all while writing honestly about the areas I struggle in.  How does that sound to you?  If this is something that would interest you, I'd love for you to leave me a comment telling me so.





It's almost Friday, friends!
Have a happy Friday
and
a safe and blessed weekend!

 


         1aaadoveladygfairy006    

15 comments:

  1. Yes, please! This is something I've often wanted to ask you to share. I'm decluttering and organizing on a HUGE scale. Just started and - for the first time in a long time - my Christmas decorations have been downsized, repacked and in a spot I've often wished they could be. I'm ready to learn more and share some of your secrets and struggles. I love seeing your home!
    ~Adrienne~

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  2. Some people just seem to have the "knack" of simplifying/organizing. Though I try, I'm never quite successful... Your home is beautiful - and those 3 days at the beach sound quite heavenly ♥

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    1. Rebecca, I think we have to give ourselves grace. I have had friends and family members who make me feel unorganized...one friend's bedroom always had cleared off and stylized nightstands, where as my hubs and I collect book, magazines and other miscellaneous things on them!

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  3. Wow, you're good to take down Christmas stuff the day after Christmas. We only did that today! I have a lot of de-cluttering over the next weeks. It'll be easier when the kids are back in school and not underfoot.

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    1. Well, I don't have kiddos at home anymore, so of course life is different than when I had a house full of little ones!

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  4. You're so gracious, Elizabeth! The pictures you share of your home always convey your hospitality. Reading your tips and tricks would be a sweet icing on the cake!

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  5. Your home is so beautiful. I would love for you to share.

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  6. I am very much interested in a series of how you do your cleaning, organizing and decluttering.

    I used to be a clean freak but as I have gotten older I would rather do other things besides deep clean once a week.

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  7. P.S. By the way, I read where you took your decluttered items to the Goodwill. Open House Ministries downtown Vancouver can use any good household items you have. It is just a suggestion but that I where I donate all my things.

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