How to Clean a Stroller (plus a giveaway)

posted on: May 1, 2013 93 Comments
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Not only is it time for spring cleaning, but garage sale season is also here. I'm scoring deals but also buying a lot of used items, which means cleaning stains and doing more laundry.  We buy most of our kids' clothes at garage sales or get them as hand-me-downs, and sometimes I'll even buy clothes with stains on them knowing that I can get them out! My secret weapon? Shaklee's Nature Bright. We've been using Shaklee products in our home since Doug and I got married, almost 5 years … [Read more...]

Filed Under: cleaning, simple tips


40 BAGS in 40 DAYS 2013 Wrap Up

posted on: March 30, 2013 Leave a Comment
great words to live by! via @whbsblog

Today is the Saturday before Easter and technically the last day in the 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS challenge. If you made it this far, congratulations! If you feel like this was just the beginning, then congratulations to you too. :) Sometimes starting is the hardest part and if this challenge helped you to get in a decluttering mindset, than I think you're on the right path.   This year was my third year taking the 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS challenge and while some people might be embarrassed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 40 BAGS 40 DAYS 2013, 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS


40 BAGS 40 DAYS Progress

posted on: March 23, 2013 Leave a Comment
40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS, declutter your home one small spot at at time

I bet you thought that I gave up in the war against clutter. Not so my friend, not so. I tackled most of my small areas in the beginning, so all that remains are the big ones: the tool and paint section of the basement, basement toy storage, the garage, the attic (dun dun dun). and like it sometimes does, life gets in the way! It is freezing out and the attic and garage have had to wait. I got accepted to Creating with the Stars and stuck around for two rounds (reclaimed wood breakfast bar … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 40 BAGS 40 DAYS 2013, 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS


40 BAGS 40 DAYS Week Three Progress

posted on: March 2, 2013 3 Comments
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This week I focused on two spaces that needed a large burst of energy rather than a quick clean up: the kids’ room and clothing and craft storage. I also cleaned up my purse and a nightstand, and focused on keeping the laundry going and keeping things put away. Shortly after I wrote last week’s progress post, I got to work cleaning out the kids’ room: their closet, drawers, room, and bins in the attic. Sure the room was clean, but drawers and closet were far from it. To avoid getting … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 40 BAGS 40 DAYS 2013, 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS, basement, cleaning, closets, hallway, ORGANIZATION


Non-Stuff Things to Organize

posted on: February 26, 2013 9 Comments
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With our 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS decluttering challenge this year, I’ve been thinking a lot about decluttering the areas of life that aren’t stuff-ish. The stuff that nags on you like emails or your cleaning schedule that NEED to be organized and worked out.   For me, having a flexible schedule and check off lists helps me stay in check. Once I get away from that, I get overwhelmed and unmotivated. Short-term “baby steps” goals are better than looking at the big picture, and rewards … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 40 BAGS 40 DAYS 2013, 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS, life with kids, ORGANIZATION, talking to you


40 BAGS 40 DAYS Week Two Progress

posted on: February 23, 2013 7 Comments
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Earlier this month we kicked off our third annual 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS decluttering challenge. Want to join in? It’s not too late! Check out this post, get our printable calendar, and join the closed facebook group for support. Are you already joining us or want to see blogs who are? Link up at the bottom of this post! Saturday (3 BAGS): started the kids room. I brought bins down from the attic and started going through them. I got together a bag for Goodwill, a small bag of boy stuff for a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 40 BAGS 40 DAYS 2013, 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS, cleaning, ORGANIZATION


40 BAGS 40 DAYS Week One Progress

posted on: February 16, 2013 8 Comments
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This past Wednesday, we kicked off our third annual 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS decluttering challenge. Want to join in? It’s not too late! Check out this post, get our printable calendar, and join the closed facebook group for support. Are you already joining us or want to see blogs who are? Link up at the bottom of this post!   This week, I wanted to start small and tackle the places that were out in the open and had collected clutter. Papers, junk, stuff that was staring me in the face and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 40 BAGS 40 DAYS 2013, 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS, cleaning, family room, foyer, ORGANIZATION


40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS 2013 Declutter Challenge

posted on: February 12, 2013 40 Comments
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My goals for a clean, happy home are simple: decorate only with what you love, keep only the stuff you need, get rid of the rest. But year after year I fall into the same trap and the stuff starts to pile up! The last two years I did something called “40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS,” and over the course of the 40 days of Lent, as a sacrifice I challenge myself to declutter and get rid of 40 bags of stuff. See both years here. You don’t have to celebrate Lent, and you can start it whenever you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: 40 BAGS 40 DAYS 2013, 40 BAGS IN 40 DAYS


How I Clean My Hardwood Floors (with Oreck Grab-It and Steam-It)

posted on: December 22, 2012 86 Comments
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With three young kids in an old home with all hardwood floors, I feel like I am constantly cleaning up the floor. We have dust bunnies, the occasional crumb, toddler messes,and a crawling baby who tries to eat any speck of mess that he finds. (yuck) A few of you have asked how I clean our hardwood floors. I’ll tell you how I used to clean them, and then how I clean them now. Here’s how I used to clean: Sweep or vacuum multiple times daily. Feel like I’m on a game show and go as … [Read more...]

Filed Under: cleaning, favorite things, giveaways, SPONSORED


My Small, Calming Bedroom

posted on: September 5, 2012 12 Comments
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In case you were wondering, I haven’t finished our upholstered headboard. Maybe you don’t even remember the headboard I started back in December. You might not even have known this blog then. I’ve done some major cleaning in here and it looks NOTHING like the room I last showed ya. You know what, I owe you guys a view. These are the “before the after” pictures. The only thing that I bought in an actual store was one pair of the curtains (Target), everything else was from Goodwill, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: cleaning, closets, garage saling, our bedroom


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