operation home declutter

Who else is on the home decluttering/organizing/throw all the things away bandwagon? I always feel energized at the beginning of the New Year to organize. I think, for me, after putting all the Christmas decorations away and receiving many new gifts, I just want to get rid of everything. All the clutter makes my mind cluttered.

I've been working my way through my house and no room, closet, tupperware container, or under bed space is safe. Here are a few tips that work well for me. Cue 'The Final Countdown' theme music.

1. Start early in the morning.

I usually have more energy in the morning to get stuff done. I grab a cup of coffee, turn on a podcast or a good tv show, and start going through.

2. Give yourself a little treat/snack halfway through.

Everyone likes a little reward, right? Just don't sit down to eat your snack! That is my downfall. I'll sit down to grab a small snack, and then I keep sitting there. Take a bowl of popcorn (or your preferred snack) and bring it with you.

3. Get in the mood.

Get your mind out of the gutter. I only clean out closets when I'm in the mood for it. That specific day, I need to feel motivated, to not feel attached to anything, not feel sentimental, and be in a slightly crabby mood. No kidding. When I'm in a bad mood, I feel like cleaning and getting rid of stuff. I'm usually in a bad mood when there is too much stuff around the house, especially if they don't have a home spot. Don't push yourself. If you really don't feel like cleaning/organizing that particular day...don't do it.

4. Keep moving.

I tell myself over and over...the faster I do this, the sooner it'll get done. I know, I know. We say this to our kids over and over. But I find thinking this is motivating. Some people love organizing. I know I do. But...I don't want to organize all day long. Just keep at it and get it done!

5. Tackle every space.

Don't skip a single spot. For example, we had a trunk full of dress up accessories that our girls used to play with. This trunk was hidden in the closet under our stairs. It was out of sight, out of mind. But once we went through this, we got rid of 99% of everything in that trunk. So freeing! Find all those baskets, trunks, under bed spaces, backs of closets, nooks and crannies.

6. Do it while you're kids are out of the house.

This is the most important step. My kids want to keep every.single.scrap.of.paper. Ugh. I go through their rooms and toy areas while they are at school. I check every hiding space and you wouldn't believe the things I find! However, I'm not ruthless. If I know something is important to them (even if I think it's junk), I don't throw it. I set it out so they can find a better location for it (rather than under their bed). And 99% of the time, they never notice what I've thrown out. Once and a while, we will work on this together and explain that they are helping other children enjoy these toys. Sometimes they are generous, sometimes not. That's when you implement step 6.


Now, what to do with everything you aren't keeping? I do three things. First, I ask my friends with small children if they want/need anything. Second, I sell my kids' clothes and toys to a used children's boutique. Third, I donate. Whatever the children's boutique doesn't want, all other adult clothing, and home goods go to the local donation center.

Don't you just love clean and open spaces?! Clearing out the clutter really makes your house seem bigger, function better, and feel fresher. But the new goal for the year...don't fill your house back up with more stuff! Otherwise you have to do this over again!

tried and true recipes

I don't know about you, but when it comes to dinnertime around our house, I need to search out ideas for dinner. Otherwise, I tend to stick to the boring standards that my family is sick of. My favorite source is Pinterest (for basically everything, if I'm being honest). Usually, I have an idea what I already have on hand or what meat or veggies I want to serve that night and do a search based on that. And usually I end up with a decent dinner!

My requirements are that they are easy, no crazy ingredients my kids won't eat, are quick, and one that doesn't require me to do a last minute grocery store run. I love a good crockpot meal - especially with our busy evenings with kids' activities, and I love a good hotdish - because I'm a good Midwestern girl.

Here are some recipes I've found on Pinterest that have been big hits in our family. Most of them require a bit of preplanning as I don't usually buy some of the ingredients on my regular grocery runs. But if I know that I plan on making any of these recipes that week, the ingredients are easy enough to pick up.

Parmesan crusted pork chops from Lil' Luna. These are so stinking good. Pork chops can dry out really easily, but this recipe keeps them moist and chewable (i.e. not tough)! I can do at regular dinnertime, and then keep them warm in the oven until the rest of the family is home. I'll usually roast some broccoli that can stay in the warm oven as well.

Crock Pot sausage & cheese tortellini soup from Recipe. Oh my gosh. This is a new favorite. Super easy and super yummy. It also reheats well for lunch the next day. The noodles get a little softer, but we don't mind.

French Dip from Stockpiling Moms. This one was a surprise. I'm not a french dip person. I'd never actually had it before cooking this recipe. Also, I didn't think my kids would like it. But the loved it! Really loved it! I had made this into a freezer meal and then transferred into the crockpot. Delicious.

Skinny tomato soup with cheesy orzo from Picky Palate. Doesn't the word 'skinny' sound unappetizing? Not so for this recipe! It has so much flavor and a little spice! I used an immersion blender just to make things easier on myself. I usually make some grilled cheese sandwiches to go along with this.

Granola from Crumbs & Chaos. This is a really easy granola recipe. Plus, it makes lots. Meaning - I don't have to make it very often. We usually eat it on our yogurt, but my husband likes it plain with milk.

These are my latest favorites. I hope you give them a try! Let me know if you've tried them, or if you have any favorites that I should try! Happy cooking!