Welcome to March and a new series! Even though it’s only 8º outside as I type this, the beginning of March always signifies spring to me! I am not a fan of winter. It’s cold and dreary and it seems like we all go through a lot of sickness.
I love spring! I’ve always thought spring was a renewal and a cleansing process. On the farm there will be tulips blooming, baby animals being born, warmer temperatures, buds on the trees, and new crops being put into the ground. As I posted on my Facebook page on Wednesday, we have already welcomed our first baby calf so at least as far as the farm is concerned, spring is here…regardless of what the calendar says! (Isn’t she cute?)
This challenge is the result of the upcoming arrival of spring. It’s time for renewal in our homes by organizing, decluttering, and cleaning them! It’s time to prepare now so I can truly enjoy spring and not be stuck cleaning the house on the nice days. I’m ready to give our home a renewal…out with the winter blahs and in with the fresh, windows open, tulips blooming renewal that spring gives. I love the idea of spring cleaning, but actually getting it done is another story. As much as I love this upcoming season, it is also the busiest time of year at our house. Jason is gone most of the day and into the evening with crops and animals. The kids are still in many activities and the days are longer.
In order for me to get our home ready for spring, I’m incorporating some cleaning into our organizing and decluttering challenges this month. This series is different than any I’ve done before. Each day I will be posting a decluttering challenge. There will also be an organizing challenge. Somewhere incorporated into the two challenges will also be some cleaning! What you choose to work on each day is up to you! You may want to declutter but not worry about organizing or vice versa. Some days there just isn’t enough time to get things done, but if you can, I really think you will be blessed with a beautiful organized and decluttered home. (And if you miss a day, go back later and do that challenge!) I hope you are as excited about this challenge as I am! Are you ready?
We are beginning our challenge (Day 1) in the Master Bedroom. Even though it may still be a little early to swap out the winter bedding for the spring, there are still drawers that need gone through, clothes that need purged, and organization to be done.
Our bedrooms are supposed to be a calm, relaxing place for us to sleep. Many of us also use our bedrooms as storage areas, as a place to do office work, or if you have small kids like we do, it seems to be a place for them to want to play, bring in all their blankets (and leave them) when they have a bad dream, and it is always the dumping area for laundry that didn’t get completed !
Today’s organizing challenge is to clean off the top of your dresser, put items away where they belong (anything that isn’t useful or helpful needs to be thrown away, sold, or given away to someone else), dust, and for those of you with decorating skills, put something on it to make it pretty and inviting! It may be a vase with flowers, a picture frame filled with a favorite memory, or something your child gave to you that is a treasure that you love.
Your decluttering challenge is to go through 2 drawers and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit, is stained, has holes, or hasn’t been worn in 6 months (unless it’s seasonal and you’ll be using it soon like capri’s and shorts when it warms up). You can choose to donate the items that don’t fit and are still in good condition or sell it. Do not put it in your closet or in another drawer! Put everything away in an organized fashion (like clothing with like clothing) and you’re done!
If you are a blogger, please link up so others can see your progress! If you don’t blog, let me know how you did with this! Did you find many items to purge? Remember, decluttering is a process! We’ll be taking small bites in effort to get our homes done this month! You can do it! I will update on my progress tonight at 9 P.M.
My day 1 has been a bit of a worlwind! I managed to get my entire craft area (though small) neatly put back together!
I was able to re-stack our holidays bins and to get items together for donation to our local pregnancy resource center, a friend who suffered a total loss in a recent home fire and clothing items for 4 people and the rest will go to the homeless shelter ( Monday)
I think I went a bit “crazy” so now I am going to rest!
I will put photos up on my instgram account! (SimplyDavia)
Congrats on a great day 1
Davia
Awesome!! Way to go!
My day one has been overwhelming, to say the least! I didn’t think that there was that much JUNK stuffed into the junk hiding closet! I’m taking a lunch break 😉 On the plus side, I’ve managed to sort through everything and now am just reorganizing it into totes so that it stays organized.
Your blog is inspirational and I’m so glad I found it on the blog hop, am now tagging along, and can’t wait to read more. Hoping you stop by to say hi sometime. http://wanderlust-wishlist.blogspot.com
Thank you! I will be sure to check out your blog as well! 🙂
So here I am again! lOL, the two links I am most drawn to at Kathy’s place! Am decluttering the office and craft stuff today but I will be watching you…and joining in possiby! Nice meeting you today, Jenny!
Hi Dawn! I’m glad you came to visit me! Maybe we are kindred spirits! I will be checking out your blog as well! Hope to see you again soon! I put each day’s decluttering challenge on the Facebook page if that is easier for you! 🙂
I’m an organizer myself. Once you get there, it’s nice to find tricks to help you stay there. I always take a moment to put the clean clothes on the bottom of the dresser drawer. That way the things you’re not wearing make their way up. If they’re on the top and you’re still not wearing them, it’s time for them to go! With closets I turn all the hangers around so the hangers are coming from the back of the closet rather than the front. As I wash things I return them to the closet in the normal way. Then you can see what you’re not wearing by the backwards hangers!
Ahh, I can’t believe I didn’t list the hanger idea…I do that one, myself! The drawer idea is superb! Thank you for adding them! 🙂
Just saw your post today tomorrow will be day 7 but I’m just gonna jump right in! Thanks for the encouragement!
We’re glad to have you! 🙂
Aw spring I’m right there with you! If it would only show up… And I am also in agreement to start spring cleaning a little before spring so that when spring does show up it can truly soaked in.
I can’t wait to see what other tips you give out!
Thanks for sharing with Salt & Light
Marissa
Think that decluttering as part of a community is a great to way to be encouraged and keep going. Thanks for sharing at Essential Fridays.
Blessings
Mel from Essential Thing Devotions
Hi, do you have a list or chart of what to do each day for the month? I came in on this late (through Raising Arrows blog) but would like to start. Seems like you provide easy, doable tactics!
I don’t have a printable yet, but I do post each morning on Facebook what the project is. If it’s a job like organizing recipes, I have given everyone advanced notice. 🙂 I’d love for you to join us with this challenge, you can start right where you are (and if you want to, finish the others later)! Today is March 12, so we are on Day 12. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!