This has got to be my absolute favourite time of year:

• I get to start a new daily planner – is there anything better than the smell of clean notepaper?!
• I personalise it with all my lists and forms and make it completely user-friendly for me
• I start new notebooks for my coaching notes, household and business to-do lists
• and I go wild with decluttering

It just so happens that January is Get Organised Month so there really is no better time to get and stay organised.



If you’re thinking of getting organised this month, here’s how you can help orphans in Mozambique at the same time.

I’m donating 25% of all January sales of the Organise your Home e-course to this orphanage. Click and read how grateful these boys are for things we (me!) take for granted, like stationery and school surplies.

It is humbling!

I really want to send them a nice chunk of change  so if you’ve ever thought about getting the Organise your Home e-course, let me encourage you to get it this month so you can help them out.

To sweeten the deal, I’m giving you all 10% off the current purchase price. Simply use the coupon code MOZAMBIQUE at the checkout.

Happy New Year, everybody. Help me make those boys happy.

Yes, it’s true. I really hate doing the laundry. I think it’s because it’s never DONE! And I like things DONE and ticked off the list.

I actually have a friend who told me once that she finds doing laundry therapeutic. I can’t fathom this at all but maybe you also love doing the laundry and can relate.

Before the babies arrived I did 2 – 3 loads once a week, usually on a Friday, depending on whether it was hot or cold around these parts. In winter the laundry seems to pile up quicker because we’re wearing thicker clothes and layers, lots of layers

Of course, now that the babies are here, we have to do 3 – 4 loads of baby laundry every week, in addition to our 2 – 3 loads. They also spit on me all the time despite using burp cloths so that’s increased our laundry too!

Fun times!

So here’s what I now do:

Preparation

1. I have two big laundry baskets in my laundry, a tiny room just off my kitchen. One is for colours and one for whites. One of these baskets equals a full load in the machine so when the basket is full, I do a load, no matter what day of the week it is
2. We have a laundry basket in our bedroom which I empty every 1 – 2 days.
3. When I empty the bedroom laundry basket, I separate into the colours and whites piles there and then.
4. I keep stain remover, washing powder and fabric softener, right where I use it – next to the washing machine – so that it’s not a big schlep actually doing the laundry.
5. Most times, I get the machine ready before the time by filling the washing powder and fabric softener drawers, and setting the dial ready to start. We also have a leaking tap and I hate wasting water so I put a bucket underneath the leak.

Actual doing

1. When one of those baskets is full, all I have to do is toss the laundry into the machine and turn on the tap.
2. If I’m feeling extra clever, I load the machine in the evenings and leave a note for Dion to turn on the machine in the mornings when he wakes.

Drying

1. If the weather’s good, which it is 90% of the time in Johannesburg, I like to hang the laundry outside to dry because the air does the job quicker and it saves me money by not having to use the tumble dryer.
2. I hang shirts and tops straight onto hangers and hang the hangers on the washing line. It’s quicker than using clothes pegs and easier to bring in quickly if rain threatens as it does during summer time afternoons.

Ironing

1. I think if there’s anything worse than doing laundry in the machine, it must be the ironing. I absolutely can’t stand it. I’ve been known to wear every single thing in my wardrobe rather than get out the iron and iron something.
2. We have a cleaning lady, Precious, who cleans the house and does our ironing once a week. Heaven! I would do without eating out but I will not do without Precious

Babies

The babies have a nanny to look after them and part of her responsibilities is to do their laundry while they nap. Aren’t I clever?

Do you love or hate doing the laundry?

If you’re one of those people who love doing the laundry, please share your tips with the rest of us

P.S. This is in response to Michelle from British Columbia who wanted to know how to keep the laundry monster at bay

Get your home organised in 12 weeks

I’ll be posting the winner in about 24 hours’ time. It’s so difficult because everybody wrote such compelling entries *sigh*

It’s been 6 months since I held this type of contest and I think it’s about time we did one again. Don’t you agree?

So who has a disorganised home?

I’m looking for someone who would like and could use my Organise your Home e-course.

If you’re chosen, I’ll give you one for free and in turn, I’ll need you to be my guest blogger and do at least 6 posts – one post before, at least 4 room posts, and 1 post after to say how you’ve changed, etc… – which I will use for the 4 weeks in August and 2 in September when the babies are born.

See? Win-win

I did the same thing at the beginnning of the year and chose Anne as my guest blogger for the Office Organising Makeover which worked out really well because then I was in the throes of extreme pregnancy fatigue!

Let me tell you a little bit about the e-course… in case you don’t feel like clicking the picture to go read about the great results others have and are getting.

• It’s set out in 12 parts with a 13th bonus one thrown in for free
• covers every section of your home. You work through it section by section in manageable bits so you don’t get overwhelmed.
• you also get the Household Organising File and instructions on how to set yours up
• free email support for the 12 weeks
• and much more

This is how you enter

Send an email to marcia AT takechargesolutions.org or leave a comment telling me

• a little bit about yourself – married/not, children, what you do (SAHM/ WAHM/ works full-time), etc. (just because I’m nosy )
• which areas of your house need the most help
• if you have your own blog (this is not a requirement)
• why you want to do this

Entries close at midnight EST on Saturday 4th July.

Let the games begin!

Hi guys

• access to a special webpage with a whole load of organising forms to help you plan your projects (wor.th $37)
• a special call with me on Thursday 25 June where you get to ask me all your organising questions for 75 whole minutes (if you can’t make the call live for whatever reason, you’re very welcome to email your questions and I’ll answer them on the call) (wo.rth $127)

Everything is broken down for you in about 15 – 30 minute segments four times a week. That’s it.

So you don’t have to give up your summer – you can get organised AND enjoy your summer.

Until Wednesday’s post, thanks for reading and stay organised!

Today we’re decluttering and organising our pants and jeans.

Don’t get cross with me when I say this to you… but if you’ve been saving a pair of jeans hoping that you’ll fit into them one day, don’t.

Release them and reward yourself when you get to your goal weight.

It’s much nicer to buy a sassy pair of jeans when you’re lighter than having to wear older, less fashionable jeans.

Over to you! Let me know how you do in the comments.

The Organise your Home ecourse is a step-by-step system delivered in bite-sized pieces so you will NEVER feel overwhelmed. You even get an audio of me teaching you how to organise your space.

Tons of people have been through this system; are you next?

Since I was about 6 – 7 weeks’ pregnant, I have had NO energy whatsoever.

Which is bad because I’m used to being really productive but it’s also good because I know that when I do have a sudden burst of energy, I need to focus and get whatever done.

I decided to sort out the fridge on one of those occasions and thought I’d time myself to see exactly how long it took, so you’d see it’s not that overwhelming.

Main section – after

– grotty carrots were thrown away
- everything was put back in its section
- I also moved some things to smaller containers
- I moved food that we have to eat so that it’s clearly visible

- threw away expired medicine
- moved all the spreads to the correct shelf
- moved bigger bottles of water to the door

By the way, the whole organising project took me just 8 minutes.

How often do you have to organise your fridge?

We’ve been decluttering and organising in our KITCHENS this entire month and this week, we’re decluttering our baking pans and cooking stuff.

If you missed out, here are the posts.

1. Tupperware and plastics
2. Mugs and glasses
3. Plates and bowls
4. Cutlery and utensils

(if you don’t want to post on the theme, go right ahead and post on whatever you felt like decluttering, or other wise, just show us how you store your baking and cooking things

I’ve posted before about how I learned this tip from one of my organising clients. I worked with her nearly two years ago and my stuff is still neatly organised.

And this is how I store the rest – rolling pin on the side, mixing bowls at the back (I have one I use 90% of the time with my other plastic bowls), measuring cups and spoons in the left basket and the hand beater in the yellow basket on the right.

The more observant among you will see that the usual beater attachments are currently in the wash because I made these pumpkin muffins

Now tell me, did you declutter anything today?

Have a look at the Organise your Home e-course and get your entire home organised in just 12 weeks.

Now for this week’s challenge

Please link to the post on your blog where you show off your pictures and talk about what you decluttered. If you don’t have a blog, tell me in the comments about ANYTHING you decluttered this week.

It can be anything – physical, electronic, mental clutter or even the need to be a certain way. Like perfectionism!

What did you declutter this week?

This is the third week of decluttering and organising in our KITCHENS and this week, we’re decluttering cutlery and utensils.

(Remember if you don’t want to post on the theme, go right ahead and post on whatever you felt like decluttering, or otherwise, just show us how you store your cutlery

The last time I decluttered this drawer was about two years ago and it’s still working for me, so I thought I’d point out a few things.

See the elastic bands on the top right? Very useful for closing bags in the freezer (those freezer tags drive me nuts because they’re too fiddly).

Then, at the bottom, I keep my scissors and the box on the left has a calculator (for when I’m doubling recipes, etc.), a post-it pad, a permanent marker and masking tape.

This is my second drawer. The closed container on the left has extra serving spoons, etc. that I use when entertaining and on the right you’ll see all my everyday utensils, also neatly containerised.

On the right there are drinking straws and some markers for our calendar. In the front I have all my sandwich bags that I actually don’t use for sandwiches. I use them like this and this. And to the left of the sandwich bags are Ziplocs I want to re-use.

Did you declutter any cutlery or utensils this week?

Have a look at the Organise your Home e-course and get your entire home organised in just 12 weeks.
Remember you can win an Organise your home e-course right here!

Now for this week’s challenge

Please link to your Friday Declutter Challenge post on your own blog and post a link back here. If you don’t have a blog, tell me in the comments about ANYTHING you decluttered this week.

It can be anything – physical, electronic, mental clutter or even the need to be a certain way. Like perfectionism!

What did you declutter this week?

If you’ve come by from the Bloggy Giveaways carnival, a BIG WELCOME to you.

This giveaway is now closed – thanks for playing along

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Is your goal for 2009 to get your home organised, once and for all?

You are not alone!

This is one of the top 3 things on most people’s wish lists Every Single Year.

What would you say if I told you you could have your home completely organised in just 12 weeks?

Yes, you can!!! I couldn’t resist

I’ve taken your entire house and broken it down into itsy-bitsy sections so even the most overwhelmed person won’t get distracted!

Have a look at the Organise your Home e-course and get your entire home organised in just 12 weeks.

Remember we’re decluttering and organising in our KITCHENS this month and this week, we’re decluttering plates and bowls.

One of our challengers last week donated her surplus mugs and glasses to charity – what an excellent idea!

(if you don’t want to post on the theme, go right ahead and post on whatever you felt like decluttering, or other wise, just show us how you store your plates and bowls

There are some bowls I’d dearly love to declutter because I think they’re ugly. In fact, I’ve been trying to get rid of them for years.

The problem is my husband loves them. Apparently they’re just the right size for his 2 1/2 Weetbix!

As a side note, there’s not much he cares about in the kitchen so I let him have his ugly bowls and a purple mug I also don’t care for but is again “the perfect size for coffee”

So I haven’t decluttered anything but before you get cross, here are some pictures of how I store my plates and bowls.

Now tell me, did you declutter any mugs or glasses?

Have a look at the Organise your Home e-course and get your entire home organised in just 12 weeks.

Now for this week’s challenge

Please link to the post on your blog where you show off your pictures and talk about what you decluttered. If you don’t have a blog, tell me in the comments about ANYTHING you decluttered this week.

It can be anything – physical, electronic, mental clutter or even the need to be a certain way. Like perfectionism!

What did you declutter this week?