Declutter, Plan & Prepare: March 2011

oops! Sorry about February totally forgot, actually not sure anything much got done in the delcuttering department during Feb anyway. Even this month I was only able to tackle a few small areas of decluttering, but every bit helps.

Third draw down in the kitchen, does everyone have one of these lol! A mess of kitchen odds and ends and way too many birthday cake candles.

Much better. Containers are from Howards Storage World, love that store.

Our games cupboard is a bugbear. It simply never stays tidy. Every six or so months I find myself having to reorganise this space. I keep seeing bloggers that have ditched the boxes from the games and are now storing them in ziplock bags, placed inside a container of some description.

The end result is always a clean, clutter free space. This makes me panicky, ridiculous I know, but cutting and throwing away the boxes of the games does; even though I have considered doing this for a couple of years now I have never been able to take the plunge.

This month I bit the bullet and headed out to KMart to pick up some baskets and large ziplock bags. I have a loooong way to go on this project.

Our top draw in the ensuite, another embarrassment, but one that was quickly remedied.

Yet again containers from Howards Storage World. These ones clip together but they don't stay together and often come apart, however they were alot less expensive than the ones I used in the kitchen draw.

That's it for this month of decluttering around the home. I've been working hard on upcoming units for the kids, finding resources etc.

I personally am just finishing off a seven day internal cleanse/juice fast and definitely feel a whole lot better for it.

What about you? Done any decluttering this past month?

Past decluttering posts:

The Impetus

January

Declutter, Plan & Prepare 2011: January

You might remember me mentioning my plans to declutter, not only the areas in our home that need it but also in my life in general.Well I thought I'd show you what I accomplished this past month.

The Christmas Fare is an obvious one! Supplies in this department really grow very easily for some reason. I generally purchase 1 - 3 new items/decorations each season and it's amazing to see how those small purchases grow into a mountain of goodies.

Now if I was being realistic, these boxes of Christmas Decorations and Craft Supplies really should have been sorted and culled BEFORE I stored them but they weren't........I'll add that to my November/December decluttering project for this year ;-)

I sorted through both B's and K's wardrobes (sorry no photo's I forgot) and gave away 3 garbage bags of hand me downs to their cousins.

The pile in the photo is baby clothes sorted and ready to giveaway....there's loads more baby stuff to come yet, but that was a good chunk of it.

I spent a large portion of my time on our Home Office/Home Library/School Room, it was in a bad way!! Here are some before and after shots, for those of you that get a kick out of looking at others people's mess LOL!!

Before - Computer Desk Area

After - Computer Desk Area

Before - 2nd Desk at other end of room

After - 2nd Desk at other end of room 

(Cupboards and shelves above still need organising)

Before - Current Curriculum/Unity Study Supplies

After - Current Curriculum/Unity Study Supplies

In the decluttering our life, I prepared the Morning Routine Chart , spent a great deal more time simply playing and being with the kids and assessed each week before making too many committments.

In the planning department I am all sorted for the year with our learning plans. I'm pretty flexible with those and don't feel any strong need or desire at having to complete and stick to the plans though, much less stress that way (especially with a toddler in the house).

Our Homeschooling Support Network (Logan Home Education Network) Committee planned our entire term. This was a huge feat, for awhile there we weren't going to go ahead with the term at all. We really out did ourselves to put it altogether so quickly. This term we are offering a six week block of Drama, Art, Spanish, Japanese, Physikids, Swimming, Tennis and Golf. This will provide extra curricular activities to somewhere around 60/70 homeschooled children in the area.

In the preparing deapartment I have printed, cut out and laminated all of the fabulous resources for Valentines Day over at Musings of Me.

What about you? What did you Prepare, Plan or Declutter this past month?