Happy House Process: SAHM Cleaning Schedule

I wanted to create a SAHM cleaning schedule, mostly for myself, because I'm finding no two weeks are the same.  Rather than saying "Oh it's bathroom day on Monday" I'm seeing it works better to just have a list of "tasks" and choose where each one goes for each week.  The other issue I run into is nap time, because I have a light sleeper on my hands :/

{Daily}

• Do the Daily 10

{Weekly}

I've broken larger chores down into grouped tasks.  Two tasks can easily be done each day if necessary.  I babysit outside of my home a couple days a month and like to schedule 1-2 play dates each week, so I need to factor that in and work around it.  I also like to leave the weekend for relaxation, family time or larger projects.


Task 1: Bedrooms &Vacuum
Task 2: Bathrooms
Task 3: Living Spaces &Vacuum
Task 4: Errands
Task 5: Laundry

{Process}

• Decide which task(s) will be done on which days at the beginning of each week
• Space out Task 1 and Task 3 with at least one day in between so that vacuuming happens twice a week, but not back to back. 
• Start laundry in the morning during breakfast to get a jump start on the day. 
• Sweep during breakfast (contained baby means good sweeping time!)
• Wipe down the bathroom after you shower
  
• Dishes and kitchen clean up after dinner while Daddy gets in some QT- otherwise done after bed time
• Notice that kitchen isn't on the task list.  Consider that a daily task and just spend an extra 5-10 minutes after the dinner mess is cleaned. 
• Laundry can either be scheduled over two days, or one load a day
• The Bedroom task consists of stripping all bedding, washing it, dusting and making the beds.

{My Example}

Week of February 13th:

Monday: Babysit
Tuesday: Bedrooms and Bathrooms
Wednesday: Playdate day and Laundry
Thursday: Living Spaces & Vacuum
Friday: Playdate day and Errands

I've saved a quick view version of this on the Cleaning Schedules page.

Of course this doesn't only have to be for SAHMs, nor will it work for every SAHM!  But it's certainly a jumping point for anyone who has cleaning duties :) 

Get in the habit....

...of changing your sheets weekly.  My process is to throw the sheets in the wash in the morning (usually on Monday).  Before I put the sheets back on, I start by dusting.  Work your way from top to bottom.  I do the fan and then all the furniture.  Bring in the vacuum and clean the mattress and carpet or rug.  Lastly, put your sheets back on and your done!  You'll keep your room dust free and clean and have refreshing sheets all the time!

Is this something you already do?  If not, are you going to implement it?  It definitely works wonders for our bedroom!  We finished up a big DIY project yesterday, now I just need to gather all my info and create the post.  I can't wait to share it with you!

The Kitchen Switch Process: New Appliances

I told you I wanted to really focus on the kitchen this week. Who knows, it could last until next week. I already showed you how I tackled our super huge cupboard but now I will focus on how we handled the appliance switch.



We had the delivery scheduled for Saturday morning, that way we could both focus our time on that, you know, while Cam was napping, jumping, etc. Before they arrived, we prepped for the shiny new toys appliances, and we made a shocking, disturbing, gross discovery. I've asked Carl multiple times to pull the stove out so I could clean behind it, but he wouldn't humor me. Well, we spotted this:


Ack! Rodents! Rats! Mice! No. No no. No no nope. That is just an untidy husband. That's easily enough coffee beans to make me a cup of coffee that had slipped between the counter and stove. So while that part isn't as gross as it first appeared, the dust and dirt was. I deep cleaned behind each appliance so that the new stuff would have a suitable home. It also made the haul away process quick and easy.



I also emptied out the spice cupboard over the microwave since we needed to be able to work in that area as well. It needed some cleaning/organizing anyway!

This was how the kitchen was looking shortly before the delivery guys arrived.

And then yikes, this is how it looked after they left.


But I knew it would have to get worse before it got better. And it did, although I don't have photographic proof. So, Carl finished the installation, I put the spice cupboard back together and then I think we simultaneously crashed.

But this...

and this...

made it all worth it!

So just a quick recap with my little tips if you have a big switch in your near future:

1. Empty any necessary cupboards- place contents in a tote or box so they are easily moved out of the way.
2. Empty the refrigerator- we used two coolers to house all the necessary items. Make sure you have enough ice on hand- we moved all our freezer items to the chest freezer, dumped the ice in a bowl and left it in the freezer overnight so the ice maker would make more ice as well.
3. Clean behind all the old appliances. Magic Erasers are your best friend here. Just ask my rodent problem. They witnessed it.
4. Install new appliances. Leave this to the pros if you aren't sure what you are doing. But if you are confident- you can save a good portion if you DIY!
5. Clean out the fridge before you load it up, preferably before you even turn it on since it will be open for awhile.
6. Replace refrigerator and cupboard items. The fridge will take a bit to cool down, so don't rush those items in there right away.

Weekend Planning

It's here. The holiday season. We are seriously busy this year, so much so that I have to move my formal dinner to January. But that's ok. I have PLENTY of events in the coming days, weeks, months that I'm sure this blog will be hopping! For now, I need to focus on the here and now, and that is this weekend.

Cleaning:

• Master Bath
• Dust living, dining, family, bedroom
• Clean leather furniture
  

Organizing:

• Gather all my cookie supplies
• Finish menu planning for the Cookie Bake and Decorate Party
• Work on Cookie Party layout and logistics

Holiday:

• More Christmas Shopping!
• Wrap more presents (some twice due to a pesky beagle)
• Attend a Christmas Party :)
• Put together hostess gift for said party
• Start putting together gift baskets

And somewhere in there I should probably breathe! How about you? Are your holiday festivities starting now? Are you shopping or are you a last minute mall warrior? Eek, if you are, good luck! You are braver than I! Ok, time to get this party started. Have a great weekend!

Happy House Process: Weekly Outfit Prepping

Do me a quick favor. I promise it's a quick one, however, it does require movement. Go take a look at your closet, dresser, drawers, etc. (I'll just wait here.....)

How do they look? If it looks like they maybe got sick with some bad shellfish and spewed forth all over the place, I might know how to help. The closet is a chronic issue because, well, hopefully you wear clothes every day....then they need to be washed (ugh) and then they need to be folded (double ugh) and lastly...they need to be put away (quadruple ugh (yes, I skipped right over triple)).

But even with all those ughs, that's not even the worst part for me. What I dread the most are the weekday mornings when it comes time to pick out my clothes. Yup. The thought of choosing what I'm going to wear annoys me, because I know what I am going to pull out; the items that need the least amount of prep work. I despise ironing in the morning as it makes me feel rushed. So I made a deal with myself. Pick out my clothes the night prior. This will surely help, right? Well it does! But there were still nights where I was so exhausted that I would just want to climb in bed and not look in my closet. However, in the morning I would immediately regret that decision.

This Happy House Process avoids that issue though! For me, the week begins on Monday. And Sunday nights are meant for good TV and relaxing, so I have some extra time to play with for my organizing self. My new Sunday night routine (hey I haven't thrown that word at you in awhile!) includes about 20 minutes of prep to avoid any annoying workday mornings of playing the dress up game and making a mess of your closet! Simply choose all your outfits for the week on Sunday (or whatever day of the week you feel you might be able to spare the time), iron the necessary items, and hang according to outfit.



I use an over the door double hook, and hang the pants on the bottom hook with coordinating shirt on the top hook, repeat bottom, top until the whole week is lined up. The morning couldn't be any more simple when it's time to get dressed- just grab the the first two items! The coordinating is already done and wrinkles are already pressed. You aren't forced to drag out the ironing board and wait for ol smokey to heat up.



Do you find this to be an issue for you too? Are you with me? Are you willing to give it a try? Try it out for a couple weeks. I promise- your mornings will be easier, your weekday evenings will be relaxing, your closet will stay organized and you'll actually be saving time!

Tackle It Tuesday

We spent a good portion of the weekend cleaning,which means I get to have somewhat of a relaxing week- cleaning wise. However, one thing I didn't do that I would normally do on the weekend is menu plan. So tonight, my Tackle It Tuesday was to organize my coupons (especially since it was the end of the month and some had expired at the end of October), menu plan, and write my grocery list. In tonight's post I will go over my planning process.

1. Sort through sale ads taking mental note of the products I use that are on sale.
2. Browse my pantry to see what items I currently have, and if there are things that need to be used up quickly (I REALLY hate throwing away food so this step is key).
3. Go through recipes I have saved on the right side of my food blog (Things I'd Like to Try) to find new recipes (bonus if I have the items or if the necessary ingredients are on sale).
4. Go through stand-by recipes throughout my food blog to decide what else will go on the menu.
5. Finalize the menu- which meals on which days. I typically like to get leftovers from at least one meal so I'm not cooking every night.
6. Go through each recipe and write down the ingredients I need
7. Sort through my coupons- again taking note of things that are on sale (making it a good price in general) and coupons of items that I need for my menu. The coupons I need go in the front pocket of my accordion file folder where my coupons are stored.
8. Grocery shop with list, coupons and sale ad (if necessary) in tow.

Here is my menu for this week:
Monday: Baked Macaroni & Cheese (oh such a comfort food!)
Tuesday: Leftovers
Wednesday: Sweet & Sour Chicken over Rice
Thursday: Leftovers/Subway
Friday: Classic Beef Chili & Rolls
Saturday: Mediterranean Chicken & Baked Potato
Sunday: Our Godson's Baptism (I'm bringing a crudite platter)

A few important notes:
*I know what things I typically buy. Any time I see a coupon for one of those items, I clip it. If it's on sale, I buy it for sure with the coupon, because I know I will use it soon. Otherwise, I might wait a few weeks to see if it does go on sale.

*I RARELY buy things that aren't on the shopping list. That doesn't mean I don't buy snacks and such, but I try to put even those things on the list. Sticking to the list, I've found, saves money, and helps reduce food waste.

*Don't forget to account for breakfast and lunch when making your list! I typically buy fresh fruit and cereal for breakfast and we eat leftovers or sandwiches for lunch.

*If you are trying to eat healthier- stick to the perimeter of the store. The processed foods are in the inner aisles. You'll be surprised at how little you really NEED down those aisles if you focus on eating fresh, healthy foods.

*I always buy frozen veggies over canned if I can. They are better for you and usually cheaper anyway!

* The best way to organize recipes, I think, is through a blog. If you look through mine, you see I have a place to save links for recipes I want to try as well as my favorite food blogs. Then, obviously, I document each of the recipes I try with my notes and how much we liked it. Even if you don't want to share your blog with anyone, its a VERY helpful tool to use with menu planning. Oh and it's free! :) I also like it because I can access it anywhere I have the Internet, just another bonus!

Are you a menu planner? Link me to your favorite recipe in the comments! I'd love to try it! If you aren't a menu planner, I highly suggest giving it a try. You'll be surprised how much less you will spend at the grocery store. And you won't have that problem of trying to figure out what's for dinner at 6pm. It's been a life saver for me!

Happy House Process: Storing Halloween Decorations

Due to the request for more organizational posts, I will try to fit more in on a weekly basis. This week's post is coming to you the day after Halloween, and for a good reason. Today, I put away all the Halloween decor. I have some things that are generic fall items that I leave out until Thanksgiving (rather impatiently as I get really anxious for the Christmas stuff!), and then there are other items that are clearly Halloween items. So away they went!

I'll walk you through my decor/dismantle process one step at a time.

1. All decor is stored in totes in the basement
2. At the first sign of fall, the totes come upstairs ;) I have one tote for strictly Halloween, and one tote for Fall.
3. I get everything out, decide where it's going, and decide what every day items will need to be put away for the holidays (for me this is just a few candles that are the "wrong" color and a few other decor pieces).
4. The packing materials (i.e. boxes, grocery bags, etc.) all stay in their respective tote. The everyday items go in the Fall totes (as those will be empty longer- then I just transfer the everyday items to the Christmas totes when that time comes). The totes go back in the basement in storage.
5. Enjoy your lovely decor!
6. Now we are up to today- the day after Halloween. Halloween tote comes back upstairs, Halloween items are put away.
7. As I put the items away, I take inventory in a document on my computer. This is for 2 reasons. 1. I keep it on my computer so I know what things I actually have in case I see things on clearance and want to pick up additional items throughout the year. 2. I print off a copy and place it on the top of the tote. This way, a simple lift of the lid will tell me what is in there- in case I forget, am organizing in the basement, etc.

8. Repeat when Christmas rolls around (however, I'll go into more detail of my Christmas storage when we get there)

I hope this helps in your seasonal organization! Have any more tips on how you store your Halloween goods? Share them in the comments.

Happy House Process: The Mail

One task that can be a real issue for some is the mail. We are both pretty good about going through it right when we bring it in, but that's in part to do with our process. We have a system for any piece of mail that comes in the house. And even if the individual mail is not handled immediately, it is put in the correct location be it the fridge, the desk or the recycling bin. Here is how we handle our mail:

1. Mail comes in the house.

2. Sort out the junk immediately- recyclable portion goes right in the bin- the rest is shredded and throw in the garbage. This is done as soon as I bring the mail in!

3. Bills: opened, and placed on desk for when I pay bills. Once they are paid, they get filed.

4. Statements: I either file immediately or put in my graduated file holder in the “to file” section

5. Thanks yous: read and throw away

6. Invitations: on the fridge- RSVP as soon as we decide. No- it gets thrown away after sending a gift. Yes, stays on the fridge until after the event

7. Reward cards, gift cards, checks, etc.: front portion of graduated file holder to take to the bank or for when we go shopping

8. Ads, coupons, newspaper: I set aside to look at, at my earliest convenience. Usually that evening. I’ll flip through the ads to see if my normal products are on sale and make a note of it on my grocery list. We only get a free local newspaper- so I don’t really read it. I’ll save it for Carl though, then it goes in recycling. Coupons get clipped and filed in my coupon organizer.

9. Greeting cards: go on fridge or mantle for a week or so, then filed or thrown away

10. Magazines: if I want to look at it that evening, it will go on my side table in the family room, otherwise, it goes in our magazine holder as I typically read magazines on Saturday mornings. Once I have read through it, it can go back in the holder.

That's about all we get in the mail. The key is just to handle it right away, rather than letting it pile up! Do you receive anything else in the mail that is causing a problem?

*Don't think I forgot it's Cleaning Challenge Wednesday. Did you think you were off the hook today? Stop back later for your added challenge!