Clutter Counselor

Under Construction

2010-08-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

I love irony...and I've got an extra dose of it in my life right now. We have officially been moved for two weeks now and life is still, well, under construction. The road that leads to our new home is being completely resurfaced so traffic is backed up while construction takes place. Our new house is still about three to four weeks away from being completed as construction continues. And just this week, I had planned to go to my new office and set up shop before the school year begins a week from now. I was all set to at least get one space in my life organized and put together. But, you guessed it, the school is doing some major remodeling and I couldn't get into the building due to construction.

As you may know from reading my blog, I prefer the organized life. In the past, the details of the past few weeks may have sent me over the edge! Instead, I now see this time as organized chaos that is serving a purpose. Instead of organizing my surroundings, I have spent the past few weeks organizing my thoughts and priorities. I know that this time of 'rebuilding' is just for a season. So instead of clearing out closets, I'm clearing out negative thinking. Instead of scheduling tasks, I'm sleeping in and swimming with my kids. Instead of being stressed, I'm feeling so very blessed.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

The Perfect Message

2010-07-27T06:53:00.000-07:00

I received a card from someone very dear to my heart that spoke volumes to me during this season of my life. Maybe it will inspire you as well:

"God is writing a book about you.
The pages tell of your life
and the lives you were created to touch.
No one else will take exactly
the same path as you, meet the same people,
or have a chance to show
the love of God in the same way.
You are unique and so is your story...
and it's one of the Author's favorite reads.
I hope the next chapter
holds more good things
than you can imagine."
(Dayspring Cards)

Have a wonderful day!

Packing Procrastination

2010-07-20T22:59:00.000-07:00

I am so over packing for the big move. In fact, I have given serious thought to either selling it all or having one giant bonfire...I'll invite you over either way:)

So what is a girl to do when packing one more box will send you over the edge? Entertain, of course!

Today I am having some sweet friends over for lunch and then planning a bbq for family that begins arriving tomorrow to help load the trucks. Apparently cooking is a stress reliever for me...who knew?

For lunch, I am making turkey and honey mustard on croissants and BLT bites, which is a wonderful recipe I got from my friend Mary.

Roma Tomatoes

Mayo

Parmesan Cheese

Green Onion

Bacon

Cut off both ends of the tomato, one end to hollow out and one end so the tomato stands up. Mix remaining ingredients (I don't even measure anymore, just eyeball it until it looks right) and stuff. Super easy and so delicious! Dessert will be Tastefully Simple Chocolate Pound Cake with fresh raspberries or Tastefully Simple Almond Pound Cake with fresh strawberries. Yum!

What's your favorite summer recipe?

Back to School Deals....Wait, What?!

2010-07-18T05:39:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job as a school counselor, but the Back to School headlines always catch me off guard in July :)

Either way, the back to school deals are beginning and it is a great time to stock up on school supplies without breaking the bank. Check out two of my favorite money saving blogs, Money Saving Mom and The Krazy Coupon Lady to get your supply list started.

How in the world am I staying organized for back to school on top of my move? I have a tradition of taking each boy for a "back to school" shopping day where we buy new shoes, any items on their lists that they can pick out like folders, etc., and a new backpack. We then go out to lunch at a restaurant of their choice. They love the alone time with me and it builds the anticipation for a new school year. When we get home, the backpack gets hung up by the back door (where it lives during the school year) and I simply drop other supplies in as I bring them home (at discounted prices, of course)! We then go through and label everything closer to school time.

What do you do to prepare for back to school?

Shortcuts

2010-07-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

Shortcut (noun): A method or means of doing something more directly and quickly than and often not so thoroughly as by ordinary procedure. ~Webster's Dictionary

Near our current home, there is an alternate route to get to our house from the highway. My boys have always referred to this as the "shortcut". I'm not convinced it is actually a faster way to get home, but the turn comes before the exit we normally take from the highway, so to them it seems closer. When we have been gone for awhile at games or a weekend trip, they chant "shortcut, shortcut" so that I will take the first turn.

How many times in life do we wish we had a shortcut to get through a hard time or a task? Right now, I wish someone would show me a shortcut to moving and I sure would have taken any shortcut that would have moved me through the season of divorce more quickly. There are times when you are just ready to be HOME.

When we want a shortcut and none is available what do we end up doing? One of two things: we give up or we get to work. Giving up is not an option if we desire change. Getting to work, even one small task at a time, guarantees some sort of change will occur.

So whether we are tackling a messy room, a messy financial situation or a messy season of life, let's stop looking for a shortcut and get to work. Make a plan and move forward, one step at a time. Some of the most daunting roads in our lives often lead to the greatest destinations.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." ~James 1:2-4

Garage Sale Find!

2010-07-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

I am not a huge garage sale person, but I had a few hours on Saturday and came upon this little beauty! It is a cottage style table top mirror with two drawers. I have a few old desks that I have painted and plan to add this to the top of one to make a vanity. The best part? It still had the Eddie Bauer Home Store tag on it for $79.00 and I paid $10. Brand new! Love it! I'll let you know when the vanity is complete, but I must get moved first! Come to think of it, I probably shouldn't be bringing anything else into my house at this point :)

I'm joining the fun over at Southern Hospitality today and seeing everyone else's fun finds!

Define Home

2010-07-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

This is our current home (which is still for sale if you are interested :)....

And this is the garage view of the carriage house that we are building a state away...

Why the move? Here is the long story short:

After years of hard work and prayer, I ended up a single mama of two boys one year ago. We had been in our current state/city for six years, but all of our family (both sides) lived a state away and we missed them terribly during this trying time. Moving was not an option, however, because I was going to try to keep life as stable as possible for my two little blessings, who were 9 and 6 at the time of our separation and 10 and 7 at the time of our divorce.

God had different plans, though. In January of this year, a job opened up near my hometown, fifteen minutes from all of our family. Mind you, I was NOT looking for a job and the way this came about was through a series of events that were more than coincidental and worthy of their own post. I was one of ten people interviewed out of many applicants and I was offered the job. I was still hesitant to uproot my kids and had a lot of doubts that this would be for the best. God kept nudging me, though, and showed me that this was not only the best financial decision, but best for us to be surrounded with family. I was honestly so happy with our current life and my job that I continued to question how smart this was. After many prayers, God made it clear that this was the direction we were to go and the blessings continued to come forth. My boys and I are able to build on family land about 500 feet behind the house I grew up in and will be less that a mile away from both sets of their grandparents. I love this for them and think it is a suitable second choice option to the family I had hoped for them to have growing up.

So that leads us to today...two weeks before our moving day. I am now learning lessons in patience while I wait for our current house to sell and our future house to be built. I have always seen my home as an expression of our family; a place to grow, laugh, cry, entertain and just live life. I love to decorate, organize and gather people around my table. And while my houses have never been castles, they are home just the same.

More than anything, the past few years have made it very clear to me that home is wherever we are surrounded by those we love and those that love us back. I pray that our new home is a blessing to our family and to everyone who enters its doors. With that as my definition of home, square footage matters very little.

How do you define home?

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ~Joshua 24:15

Drowning in Boxes...

2010-07-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

I am calm. The boxes and chaos do not bother me. Right...

In my lifetime, I have moved seven times, soon to be eight. Every time I try to do it right. Labeling, organizing, purging; you get the picture. And once again, here I am two weeks before the big day and I'm ready to just shove it in the moving truck and get it over with already! Can anyone relate?

One difference with this move is our new 'house' isn't finished yet, so we are going to be living with my mom and dad temporarily. The boys are so excited about that, but it does make moving more difficult. Not only am I packing up the entire house to send to a storage facility, I'm also packing for at least a month long 'vacation' at our temporary home, which will include the start of school. Yikes.

Even though it doesn't look like it by the state of my garage, so far I have done a great job of editing what I do own, boxing everything by room and labeling it effectively. I wanted to share this picture with you to show you that even those of us who are obsessed with organizing have times of BIG mess!

When I really stop to think about it, I think the fact that I will not have my own home for awhile is what is bothering me the most. I am a house enthusiast and I love to decorate, organize and create comfortable spaces for my boys and I. I believe this season of our lives is going to teach me a lesson or two...like remembering to count my many blessings! I'll do that while I pack a few more boxes :)

Have a great day!

15 Things to do in 15 Minutes

2010-07-01T05:33:00.000-07:00

Guess what I love more than crossing something off of my 'to do' list? Crossing lots of somethings off my list, of course! Sometimes, our 'to do' list needs to include a few things for our well being along with our required tasks.
I recently saw an interview about a new book called 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think I cannot wait to get my hands on this magical book! :) Basically, the author is encouraging people to take inventory or their time in order to become more efficient, much like a food or money journal for losing weight or reducing debt. Have any of you read this book? I believe it is written by a fellow blogger.

In the meantime, here are fifteen things you can do in fifteen minutes that just might help you begin decluttering your home, body and mind!
HOME
1. Clean out the junk drawer in your kitchen
2. Throw out those ~~science experiments~~ leftovers and wipe down the inside of the fridge
3. Go through your magazine pile and recycle the ones you are done with. Better yet, share them with a neighbor who would enjoy reading them.
4. Clean your kitchen sink.
5. Update your family calendar to keep everyone on track.
BODY
6. Go for a walk
7. Wash and cut up the fresh produce in your fridge. Place it in individual containers for quick snacks.
8. Stretch or do a few yoga poses.
9. Turn on your favorite playlist and dance! Kids and pets also enjoy this activity :)
10. Take a pampering bubble bath. (This one fits in the MIND category, too! And if you wiped down the tub when you're done, also the HOME category...but let's not get carried away!)
MIND
11. Close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Breathe deeply and feel yourself relax.
12. Write a note to someone who is on your mind. Send it snail mail.
13. Read a book 'just for fun'.
14. Make a list of things you are thankful for.
15. Pray

However you spend your time today, enjoy the journey!

Super Simple Dessert

2010-06-22T19:38:00.000-07:00

It has been so HOT in my corner of the world lately that I am pulling out all my COOL summertime recipes. This dessert is a crowd pleaser and can be thrown together in a snap.

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

1 box ice cream sandwiches

1 large tub cool whip

Hershey's chocolate

caramel sauce

2-3 crushed candy bars (our faves are Butterfinger and Heath) or Heath topping from the baking isle

Line a 9x13 pan with ice cream sandwiches cut to fit at edges (you will have one left over). Spread Cool Whip on top of sandwiches until covered. Drizzle chocolate and caramel sauce on top of Cool Whip. Top with crushed candy of choice. Freeze leftovers.

Summertime Scrumptious

2010-06-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

Nothing beats the heat like a great summer salad. This one is my go to for summer get togethers. I combined the ingredients on a whim a few years ago and it turned out great. Try it at home and let me know what you think!

Summertime Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

1 bag spinach salad leaves

1 cucumber (diced)

1 small container feta cheese

sliced strawberries

Poppyseed Salad Dressing (I like Brianna's brand)

Combine all ingredients and enjoy!

Decluttering Ideas for Moving...Even if You're Not!

2010-06-15T04:23:00.000-07:00

Have you noticed the lack of posts lately? I know some of you have! Thanks for encouraging me to get back at it :)

Life is changing here at the Clutter Counselors' house as my boys and I prepare to move to a different state, house, school and job. My life is full of clutter and loose ends right now, so what better time to practice what I preach and share it with you!

In the process of listing my home for sale, I've had several insights about organization. Even the sickly organized among us can improve!

1. Practice "Tough Love"
As I make my way through my house with box after box, I'm finding that I don't really like all the stuff that takes up the 1600 square feet in my current house. So in the interest of valuable box space, I'm practicing "tough love". During the process of packing, if I question an object's usefulness or aesthetic value, I find a new home for it. That new home is either the garbage, Goodwill, or someone who can make use of the item. Deciding whether or not an item is 'move worthy' is a great way to decide how devoted you are to it! P.S. I am super motivated to engage in the process given that I am building a 1000 square foot carriage house for my two boys and me to live in when we move. More on that later!

2. Stage it!
One of the best ways to sell a home or to simply make it feel like a new space is to stage it. For me, this has meant Editing my living spaces, repositioning the items that are left and brightening up my space. Even if you are not moving, staging your house inspires you to use your old items in a new way and breathes new life into a room. One thing I have done since having my house on the market is displaying fresh flowers on the table. This simple step makes a huge difference in the look of the space and also for my spirits!

3. Be a Stranger in Your Own House
As I put my house on the market, I began looking at my house from the perspective of potential buyers. This resulted in fixing little annoyances such as a squeeky door and touching up paint. While these projects were literally completed in minutes, I had to wonder what kept me from getting to them before. The truth is, we get very accustomed to our surroundings, so seeing your space through someone else's eyes encourages you to make your home even more inviting.

Have you had moving experiences that helped you view your space differently? I'd love to hear your ideas!

Oprah Magazine On Sale!

2010-03-07T05:35:00.001-08:00

Designing the Best 10 Years of Your Life

2010-01-05T17:38:00.000-08:00

What a great way to kick start 2010 and work on reducing your "life clutter"!

I am participating in the blog class "Designing the Best 10 Years of Your Life" taught by Darren Hardy. Darren is the editor of one of my absolutey favorite magazines, Success Magazine. This magazine constantly inspires me with stories of others' success and practical tools to be successful myself. Although it is a little pricey, I do subscribe to this magazine because it is so well written and each issue comes with an audio success CD. I love a bonus and anything that is positive and encourages me to make the most of this life God has given me!

Even if you are not a subscriber, I would love for you to join the "10 Years" online seminar. All you have to do is go here and sign up for the e-mail updates and all of the articles and materials are sent to you on Tuesdays. It is FREE, so you have nothing to lose. Sign up now and let me know that you did!

In tonight's article Darren writes, "Most people are more diligent about making their grocery list and spend more time planning their summer vacation than they do designing their life. That is why it is so easy to get ahead in life, stand out and move ahead. Most people—97 percent of them—can’t be bothered."

How true! I am excited to begin this journey and hope that you will join me.

Frugal Reading Winner!

2010-01-05T17:22:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Phyllis who won a copy of The Cheapest Family in America Gets You Right on the Money! Keep us posted on how this book inspired you and thanks for reading :)

My First Shopping Trip of 2010...

2010-01-02T22:17:00.000-08:00

...and boy was it a good one! Remember, I vowed to only make 3 trips to the grocery store this month and only spend $150 total (half my usual grocery budget). I am off to a great start. I didn't need anything from the store so I just focused on bargains. Pictured above is my Gerbes loot...$84.80 worth of food. I paid $45.12, for a savings of 48%. I was especially excited about the organic milk and eggs that I found on manager special.

My next stop was Walgreens to grab the Honey Nut Cheerios and Milk deal. I spent $6.19 OOP and got $2 in Register Rewards. So $4.19 for two boxes of cereal and a gallon of milk!

Next stop...the dreaded (in my opinion) Wal-Mart. The deal was too good to pass up, though, so I made an exception! I used two of the $5 off 5 Healthy Choice Coupon and got 10 frozen meals for 88 cents each. I also could not pass up the 20 cent oranges on the way in. Total spent...$10.28.

That leaves me with $88.41 in my January grocery/household budget and I already have all of my meals planned. Yes!

My final stop of the night was the Victoria's Secret sale at the mall. I had some Christmas cash and a $10 coupon burning a hole in my pocket and I scored some great deals! I did not take a picture of that, though, so you'll just have to take my word for it! Nothing like organizing your house and getting good deals while wearing great underwear :)

I love the tag line on the bag...too bad I didn't think of that for my blog! What deals did you find this week?

Clutter-Free Meal Planning

2010-01-02T21:52:00.000-08:00

Stop the presses...my freezer and cabinets are organized! I spent a few hours today coming up with my January menu plan for my participation in the Eat from the Pantry Challenge and making some meals in advance. I can't wait to try the spaghetti pie pictured above. More than that, I can't wait to come home from work that day and simply pop it in the oven! I love planning ahead!

Because of our crazy schedules, I determined that I will need 19 meals for January. Here is what we will be eating:

Soup/Salad/Baked Potato Bar

Fish and Chips with Okra

Spaghetti Pie and Salad

Frozen (T.V.) Dinner Night

Meatloaf/Potatoes/Butter Beans

Tacos/Spanish Rice and Beans

Tuna Casserole/Green Beans

Chicken -n- Noodles

Veggie Plate and Buscuits (Cracker Barrel style...my kids love this!)

BBQ Chicken/corn

Breakfast for Dinner/fruit

Hot dogs and beans

Roast

Chili-Mac

Lil' Smokies/Green Beans

Lasagna

Factor in three nights of leftovers and that's a great plan!

With this plan, it should not be difficult for me to stick to my original Eat from the Pantry goals. It also won't be difficult to make dinner on Lasagna night, either! Yum!

If you need a great way to display your weekly meal plan, go here to see my menu board!

Frugal Reading~Book Giveaway!

2009-12-30T22:05:00.000-08:00

If, like me, you are looking for ways to kick-start your financial goals for 2010, I have a good book to get you started. America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money. This book is full of frugal advice and will inspire even the most frugal people to continue to declutter their finances. I have one book to send to a lucky reader. To enter the giveaway, begin following my blog and leave a comment with your e-mail address. That's it! Happy reading...good luck!

2010~Pure Potential

2009-12-30T21:58:00.000-08:00

As I was planning to post my 2010 goals, I found this quote in a newsletter I subscribe to:

“We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives – not looking for flaws, but for potential."~Ellen Goodman

I couldn't have said it better myself! 2009 was my first year as a single mom...a title I never planned to have. However, throughout the changes and adjustments that 2009 brought my way, by the continued grace of God, I realize that I have so much to be thankful for. Hope has returned and "potential" is the theme I am choosing for this new year.

In this blog I post about all kinds of life clutter. Underneath clutter of any kind is potential. Potential to start again, potential to receive new blessings, and potential to go farther than you ever dreamed possible. Join me in reaching full potential in 2010!

January Challenge~Declutter Your Pantry!

2009-12-30T05:34:00.000-08:00

Long time no blog! Seriously, it's on my list of goals for 2010 to post more often. Thanks for sticking with me!

I have been creating my goal list for 2010 and will be sharing more about that in posts to come. In the meantime, I am kicking off the new year by joining the Eat From the Pantry Challenge that Money Saving Mom is co-hosting. Not only is this a great way to kick-start the new year with a little extra cash in the budget, but it will also allow me to declutter my Grocery Game stockpile...and you know there is nothing I like better than a reason to organize! Join the fun and keep me posted on how you do. Here are my goals for the challenge:

1. Create a menu plan for the month. I am on vacation this week, so I will inventory the freezer and cabinets and set this up by the weekend.

2. Shop for food a maximum of 3 times in January. (I will post pics and totals after each trip) Exceptions: anything that is free or a money maker...I can't pass up those great deals :)

3. Spend no more than $150 on groceries in January. This is half my usual allotment for myself and my two growing boys!

4. Take the extra $150 and make an extra debt payment.

There you have it! Let me know how you do!

$5 Magazine Subscriptions on Amazon!! Today Only!

2009-12-01T06:33:00.000-08:00

$5 Magazine Subscriptions! Click Here!

Walgreens Nov.29-Dec.5

2009-11-29T09:01:00.000-08:00

Click here for the best deals at Walgreens this week. I have $39 in Register Rewards from my Black Friday purchases (lukily my mom was with me so I was able to do double transactions!) This week I'm stocking up on contact solution and on the hunt for the new December coupon booklet. Thanks to Heidi from Little People Wealth for posting the list for us!

Free Millstone Coffee Sample

2009-11-22T05:08:00.000-08:00

Go here to request a free sample of Millstone Coffee. Did you miss my earlier post for a free sample of Dunkin' Donuts Coffee? Get your coffee fix...free!

Deals of the Week 11/22

2009-11-22T04:47:00.000-08:00

Check out the great deals and coupon match-ups here for Target and here or here for Walgreens. I am definitely going to cash in on the Register Rewards at Walgreens. Let me know how you do!

Free Christmas Presents...How did I do that?!

2009-11-19T08:16:00.000-08:00

I just ordered $67.00 worth of Christmas presents for my boys on Amazon and paid only $7.00! How did I do that? I use Swagbucks as my search engine whenever I am on the computer (just like you would use Google) and for every 45 Swagbucks I win, I receive $5 in Amazon Gift Cards. This deal is just too good not to share! Join now and get in on the fun! Make sure to stop back by and share with me all the fun stuff you got free by using Swagbucks. Click below to get started.

Olay Coupon Giveaway Update

2009-11-19T06:40:00.000-08:00

I had four readers comment for the Olay Coupon Giveaway. I was able to get a fourth coupon and give all four lovely readers a $10 beauty break! Thanks to Christin, Melissa, Michelle and Phyllis for commenting and winning! Enjoy!

HyVee Deals Nov. 18-24

2009-11-19T06:34:00.000-08:00

Time to stock up on those Thanksgiving bargains. Go here to see this week's list. I know I'll be stopping by the new HyVee in my area to get the cream cheese (.84) and the sweet potatoes (.49 lb.). Thanks to Heidi for compiling this for us!

What's Better Than Cheap Groceries?

2009-11-17T16:17:00.000-08:00

Free groceries, of course! Get your free sample of Dunkin' Donuts Coffee now!

Deals of the Week

2009-11-01T05:50:00.000-08:00

Click Here for Target and Here for Walgreens this week for great deals for your stockpile! Thanks to My Frugal Adventures and Money Saving Mom for compiling these lists.

Organizing Your Stockpile

2009-10-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love to buy food and toiletry items at rock-bottom prices and stockpile. I do get many questions on how to keep such an abundance of items organized. One trick that I've learned is to limit yourself to the space you have for stockpiling. For example, my linen closet has plastic bins that are labeled "Shampoo/Conditioner", "Dental", "Deoderant", etc. When the containers are full, I cannot bring any more of those items into the house...no matter how good the deal! This keeps my cabinets organized and lets me know when I am running low on an item and need to be watching for deals. How do you keep your stockpiles in check?

Clutter Counselor Family Calendar

2009-10-26T16:45:00.000-07:00

Keeping myself and two busy little boys going in the right direction is no easy task. Although I use my iPhone calendar, I could not do without my old-fasioned wipe-off calendar that hangs at the backdoor. Each month, I compile the "to do's" for each of us utilizing a different color for each family member. General information (birthdays, family outings, etc.) is recorded in black. My boys know which color they are and can check their own schedule for practices and such. I also use a star magnet to identify which day of the month it is. Easy organizaiton that keeps everyone on track!

Clutter Free Christmas Gift Idea~$2!!

2009-10-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of restaurant.com for dining out gift certificates. Last year, I stocked up on these for neighbor and teacher gifts. They were a hit. Right now, $25 gift certificates are $2 by entering the code TREATS at checkout. Visit the Krazy Coupon Lady for all the details on this steal!

Olay Coupon Giveaway!

2009-10-26T16:31:00.000-07:00

I joined Vocalpoint last month and have been able to test a great new product; Oaly Professional PROx Night Cream. It is fantastic! It is a little pricey, so I would have been hesitant to buy it at the store. However, I have found it to be well worth the cost and I want to share a special deal with three lucky readers. Simply leave a comment on this post and I will randomly choose three people to receive a $10 off coupon for any Olay Professional PROx product! The coupon does not expire until 2/28/10. Good luck!

My Grocery Game Day 10/18/09

2009-10-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

What a great day at the grocery store! Armed with my Grocery Game List, I hit the local Gerbes and saved the most yet...70%!! I got $53.07 worth of groceries for $16.08. Think shopping with coupons means eating only processed food? Check out my picture with apples, celery, carrots and salad. What deals did you find this week?

Coupons in Your Mailbox

2009-10-17T14:13:00.001-07:00

Click HERE to sign up for a coupon book that includes many high dollar coupons for Febreeze, Mr. Clean and Swiffer. It will be mailed to you in 6-8 weeks. I have gotten a few of these and they are great! I love this combo...save money and get great products that inspire you to organize and clean :)

The EDIT Method for Organizing

2009-10-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

Organizing things makes me feel good. Call me crazy, but if I can bring order to a previously disorderly area of my life, I feel like I am in control and can tackle whatever comes my way.

Whether it is physical clutter, financial clutter, relationship clutter or any other form of disorder, I tend to tackle them all with a similar approach. I like to call it the EDIT Method.

With any organizational task, the first step is to Evaluate the situation. What function is this messy closet, cupboard, or room supposed to be serving? How do I make it more functional?

Second, review the options from the evaluation step and Decide your plan of attack. Where will the shoes be located? Are there items I can eliminate?

The third step, then is to Inventory. Just like a store manager would do, you must take inventory of your belongings or situation, and categorize items for easy removal or placement. Only inventory items that have use or that you cannot live without. Once inventory is taken, you have the items you need to complete the organizational task.

Finally, Toss whatever does not belong in the physical space or does not serve its original purpose anymore. If it did not make it through the inventory step, it must be tossed. Tossing means actually throwing an item away or finding someone else who might find it useful.

The EDIT Method can be used for many organizational tasks, and gets faster with practice. I have been in the process of EDIT ing many areas of my life this year. This week, I will be posting on my financial EDIT and using the EDIT method on my sons' closets! I'll keep you posted, complete with pictures! Even the Clutter Counselor has messy areas of her house!

What will you EDIT this week?

Deals, Deals, Deals!!

2009-10-04T06:31:00.000-07:00

There are some great deals to be had this week at Walgreens and Target. Thanks to Money Saving Mom and My Frugal Adventures for posting these for us. After you pick up these deals, remember to organize a cabinet or two so you have more space to store all of your stockpiling goodies!

Coupon Class

2009-09-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks to those lovely ladies who attended my first Clutter Counselor Coupon Class! I hope you learned a thing or two and are motivated to redirect some of that grocery money. Let me know what yummy recipes you come up with using the prizes you won :)
Remember to activate the link I sent to your e-mail account to get started with The Grocery Game (TM), subscribe to "All You" magazine on the right hand side of this blog, and sign up for Swagbucks, also on the right hand side of this blog, labeled "Earn Free Prizes". Saving money has never been so fun. Thanks for the laughs!
If you weren't able to make the class but want in on the action, just send me an e-mail at mycluttercounselor (at) gmail (dot) com.
I can't wait to hear about all the good deals you score in the weeks to come!

Clutter Counselor Commandments

2009-09-27T16:00:00.000-07:00

The following are the twelve principals on which this blog, and my life, are based. I plan to write a post about each one in the future. I try to incorporate each of these into my life and look at it as a life mission: God first, then people, then things. That is the ultimate organization strategy! There are days, though, that I don't even come close to being the woman/mom/counselor/friend(fill-in-the-blank) that I know I am capable of being. My Wonder Woman cape is a little torn and tattered, but I thank God each day for another chance to get it right!

1. Ownership: Possess only things that are useful, beautiful or bring you joy.

2. Frugality: Be thrifty but never cheap.

3. Presentation: Whether it's food or fashion, looking good is half the battle!

4. Stewardship: Share what you have, even if it is only a little.

5. Hospitality: Make your home a place where others want to be.

6. Priority: Put people and experiences before things.

7. Awareness: Live in the moment (but stockpile for the future :)

8. Gratitude: Be thankful for everything in your life.

9. Persistence: Persist but do not strive.

10. Wellness: Aim for balance in your life.

11. Reflection: Make time for the quiet moments.

12. Legacy: What are you leaving behind?

Financial Clutter: Clutter Counselor Clips!

2009-09-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

Although I despise all types of clutter, one of my least favorite is financial clutter. What is financial clutter? So glad you asked!

Any time you overspend, you are creating financial clutter. Anytime you have unsecured debt you have a financial mess. And, like most physical clutter, financial clutter is usually hidden away and never talked about...much like the garage, basement, or closet you would never want anyone to see. And, like physical clutter, financial clutter always has a deeper meaning and is blocking the good stuff from entering your life.

As part of this blog's mission, I will be exploring ways to eliminate financial clutter. Hopefully you will find inspiration in some of my methods. One of my favorite ways is to clip coupons and spend less on groceries. Some people view coupons as a waste of time, but I view it as a second job...one that pays very well! I began clipping coupons about a year ago when I became a single mom. I did it because I had to stretch my income to provide for myself and my two boys. Saving money on groceries was the least painful way to begin to cut costs. I spend, on average, 6-8 hours a month clipping coupons, planning my attack, and shopping for groceries. According to my records, I have cut my grocery costs from $700 per month to $300 or less. Do the math and my "part-time job" is earning me $50+ an hour!

You do not have to be a super organized person to begin working with coupons. Pick a plan of attack and an organizational method that works for you. For a complete starter guide on coupon clipping including how to organize them, visit this post at Little People Wealth. Start small and save big. Let me know how you do!

I Love Games~Especially This One!

2009-08-04T17:48:00.000-07:00

Want to know how I went from spending $700 per month in groceries/toiletries and household items to $300 or less? E-mail me at mycluttercounselor (at) gmail (dot) com and put Game in the subject line. I'll send you a link that will change your grocery shopping ways forever...and save you cash as well!

What's on the Menu?

2009-08-04T17:23:00.000-07:00

Check out my creative menu board...my very own kitchen cabinet! Even when I did not shop with coupons and stockpile, I always went to the grocery store with a list after generating a menu of meals for the week. I used to do my menu planning on paper, but wanted something more visual for the kids (and, truth be told, I hate anything other than pictures hanging on my refrigerator!)

Where did I get this idea? A few years ago, the glass broke in one of my favorite frames and I really wanted to keep the frame. So, I decided to paint a space of chalkboard paint behind the frame in my hallway and use the space to write notes to my kids as well as their church bible verses they were memorizing. This is what that looks like.

While working in my kitchen one day, I had the inspiration to use the chalkboard paint again...this time on my kitchen cabinet by the stove. Ta Da! Instant menu, instant organization. And pretty cute too, don't you think ;)

The Journey Begins

2009-05-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." ~Confucius

I'm starting this blog as a way to explore the process of "decluttering". By "decluttering", I mean deciding what is essential and eliminating everything that is not. 2009 has proven to be a life-changing year for me personally (and it's only May!) I'm hoping my experiences and ideas for a life well-lived will inspire and encourage others. Join me on my journey...

Some days that first step can feel like the entire thousand miles. Therefore, visit my blog regularly for ideas, inspiration and motivation that will keep you on the right track in your life.

Blessings!