#Cleanin30 - 30 Day Housecleaning Challenge: Project #4

I am doing the 30 Day Housecleaning Challenge with MoneySavingMom.com. While I didn't do Project #2 and #3 because we implemented chores for the kids, and the kids took over those items, today was about tackling a spare room.

I chose to do the laundry room because, well, I walked in there and was dumb founded by the mess I neglected.  It was a small room, so I know it would be quick and one that I would able to do while I'm pregnant.

I went ahead and did it and took pictures for you to make fun of, admire.

BEFORE

AFTER

 BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

 AFTER

Whew!!! I guess it's a morning nap for me!

Chore Chart Success!

A couple of days ago I started the MoneySavingMom.com 30 Day Cleaning Challenge to get the house in tip top shape. This is something I struggle with immensely. Mainly because 1) I'm pregnant, 2) I have a little army I created that tears up the house and 3) I really don't like cleaning.

So as I started this journey and clicking links on the wonderful Pinterest, I came across a gaggle of different chore charts that I thought were so adorable! These links then led me to more links (don't you hate when you just get distracted!) and got me to a couple of blogs where they were talking about their children's chores.

We never had "chores" growing up mainly because my grandmother lived with us our entire lives, so everything we did, we had grandma right behind us cleaning up. We knew how to be neat, but we never really had to.

I've had a ton of trouble implementing chores. Mainly because I feel like the kids are at school all day, I just want them to come home and relax, and I feel like since I am able to stay at home, I should be able to handle the housework too.

I will admit though that I had been feeling the stress lately with being pregnant and having to do everything in the house has been taking it's toll on me. What really got to me though was that yesterday, I noticed something. As I went back and forth in the house, making dinner, folding clothes, picking up toys, vacuuming, and continuing to clear toys in this endless rotation, I looked at my kids and it hit me. One was on the iPad for hours, watching silly YouTube videos about nothing, and the other two were just in constant bicker about Monster High dolls. Rarely in the day did I ever get to spend time with them, and at the end of the day I was exhausted and they looked, well, lazy. I felt embarrassed that my children wasted their time, and guilty for not teaching them responsibility.

I set out to Pinterest to fix it. And I came out with this:

*There's been a couple of more items added to their chores list ;)

I bought a pack of clipboards from Staples, tie tags, Velcro dots, and a poster board, and created the ultimate chore chart for the kids. I explained to them how it worked, what was expected, and how with them doing chores, it will give us more time together as we cover the whole house in less than half the time, and also work in their favor as if there Dad sees progress with the chores, will work with giving them allowances once a week. 

I also know that giving each child a chore chart is vital to do before we welcome child #4 to our household in August.

I also bought a ton more clipboards to hang in the children's rooms to display their favorite art works of the moments.

The kids really enjoyed doing their chores today and it made a HUGE difference in the house! We had plenty of time to spend with each other, and there was no confusion as to what needed to be done and when.

I will admit though that it was strange seeing my 5 year old wipe down the bathtub, but the smile on her face knowing that I was trusting her to do a job, but letting her mess up as well, melted my heart.

I really hope we are able to keep it up and will keep you posted on the progress!

How Evernote Became My Best Friend, For Home and Blogging

A couple of weeks ago I was at Blissdom and found myself at a session laptopless and notebookless. As I looked around at the other people frantically typing notes on their keyboards and pens, I thought for a second what to do. I had used Evernote several times in the past, but never really embraced the whole 'digital and paperless' thing. I usually ended up just deleting the app and moving onto something else.

I quickly downloaded the app for the billioneth time, and got to work. What I started to do, was amazing. I created a notebook in the app for "Conferences." I then opened up a new note and start taking notes. Every now and then I would snap a picture of the people around me, the screen, or the speaker, just so I could have a reference to look back to. Occasionally, I got tired of writing, and just hit the record button to record what the speaker was saying so that I can sit and enjoy it as well.

At the end, I had this amazing, organized notebook that was searchable, tag-able, and was jam packed with information. As soon as I got back home, I downloaded the app on my laptop and BAM, all of my information was there.

Since then, I've found new ways to integrate Evernote into my daily life and become more organized at home, and with blogging

1. Clipping Websites

Whenever I am on my laptop, I find great sites and articles that I want to read, but just don't have time for. To keep me from getting sidetracked, I use the Evernote Web Clipper Extension on Google Chrome, to clip websites to my Evernote account. This way, whether I have Internet Access or not, I can go back and go through whatever it is I found most interesting. I usually end up doing this while waiting in the carpool, or whenever the kids are reading.

2. Capturing Ideas

Another thing I learned at Blissdom from Jon Acuff is that we need to be capturing ideas, and using them later to work. For instance, I have a notebook on Evernote for Ideas. Whenever I see something neat in a magazine at a doctors office, I snap a picture of it and file it away. I also use it to write down phrases, blog post titles I like, or even to remember a feeling. That way, when I come to write a blog post, there isn't a question of what I should write about. I just pull up that notebook on Evernote and pick an idea.

3. Grocery Lists

Evernote has the options of creating lists. I've been using them for Grocery Lists, updating them with recipes I find online, and crossing them off at the grocery store. With the checkbox option, it makes making a simple list perfect.

4. Organizing Blog Posts

In my Blogging Folder, I have several different notebooks. One is for Guest Posts, I have several for other blogs I write for, and another one for the Social Online Conference. This way, I can easily write a draft and keep them all for reference. Not to mention, tagging everything makes all of my posts searchable so I can find them easily.

So far, I think I've found a way to organize my digital life and merge my home life into it as well. It makes it easy to handle work on the go, and keep everything together in one central place.

Who knows how long I'll stick with it, but for now, it's pretty awesome!

What do you use to organize your digital life and home life?

#Cleanin30 - 30 Day Housecleaning Challenge

I love all of the challenges set up by MoneySavingMom.com, and this time, I actually want to give one a try! This month, they are doing a 30 Day Housecleaning Challenge. Everyday there will be a new task to help get your home perfect and in tip top shape!

I struggle with keeping the home perfect, working from home, and dealing with the kids. I always get a litte bit flustered going from task to task in the house, that when I look up, everything is a wreck and I've made no progress whatsoever.

While there is a new task everyday, I will try my best to do a new post everyday, if not every other day. Be sure to follow me on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with my progress using the hashtag #Cleanin30.