2020 Home Reset- Kitchen

The kitchen is the most used room in our home.  I generally have to 'reset' it several times a year.  I tackled my pantry, cupboards and fridge.  Everything is much more organized.

Before:

After:

Checklist:

• Remove all food from pantry.  Check dates and remove anything that has expired.  Wipe shelves and put food back in pantry.  Group like items together.
• Go through cupboards one by one.  Remove every item from the cupboard.  Wipe the shelves.  Only replace items that you actually use.  (I got rid of a small box of dishes!)  Try to place your most used items where they are easily accessed.  Clear away clutter and anything that doesn't belong.
• Remove all items from the fridge.  Wipe shelves, drawers and door.  Remove items that have expired and replace your items.
• Clean your oven.  I like to make a paste with dish soap, baking soda and a little vinegar.  It helps messes wipe clean and it doesn't have a terrible odour.

Winter Capsule Wardrobe- 5.2.2020

I have been really trying to use all of the pieces in my capsule wardrobe lately.  I tend to stick to the same three things and that is boring.  I managed to wear my leather leggings in two different ways, which was great.  I don't wear them enough and they can be dressed down so easily.  I also took my pink leather jacket out for a stroll.  I like the way I feel when I put more effort into my outfits and I hope to keep using different pieces of my wardrobe for the rest of this capsule.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

2020 Home Reset- Hallway Closet

Our hallway closet is quite small.  It stores towels, toilet paper, tissues, pharmacy items and extra soap/toiletries.  I went through it to make sure we only had what we needed/would use.  I pitched a few items that were out of date and gave away a few products that we don't use. 

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Check List:

• Take everything out of the closet
• Check the dates on everything, especially medications
• Throw away any outdated items
• Donate/give away anything that you will not use
• Wipe shelves
• Replace the items that you use or will use

January- New Year's Resolutions Update

My New Year's resolutions have been going very well!  I have managed to meet them every single week this January.  I like the way my resolutions are set up this year.  They are relatively easy to achieve and easy to track.

1. Movement  I have exceeded my goal of moving for 20 minutes, 3 times a week this month.  I have walked, done a few HIIT workouts (woo!) and done some yoga.  I feel so much better when I move my body and I have enjoyed my workouts this month.

2. Writing  I have achieved my goal of writing for 20 minutes, 3 times a week.  This goal has encouraged me to make time for something I really enjoy.  I have worked on some goal setting, written in my journal and done a much better job posting here on the blog.

3.  Home Projects  I have exceeded this goal this month and it has been so beneficial for my home.  I have been working through my 2020 Home Reset and my house is in a much more organized state.  I have also started tackling my photos.  I haven't made a photo book since April 2015!  I have attempted this goal a few times over the years, to no avail.  This month I managed to organize every single photo on my computer.  I took a long time but everything is easy to find.  I completed a photo book for 2016.  Next month I plan to tackle the remainder of 2015.

My word of the year is BOLD and I have had some successful moments being bold and I have also had moments where I regretted not being totally myself.  My most positive outcome from trying to be bold this month was that  I was able to have a tough conversation. That conversation improved the relationship immensely.  I am thankful for that.

How are your goals going? 

Tracking Time

I came across the book Off The Clock by Laura Vanderkam a few months ago and became intrigued with the idea of tracking time.  The author tracks her time regularly and has reaped many benefits from doing so.

I followed a prompt off her podcast Before Breakfast and tracked my time for a week.  I kept track of my time in 30 minute increments and I learned a lot. 

I spend most of my time doing direct childcare and housework.  This didn't shock me.  I am a stay-at-home mom and it goes with the territory.

Here is what did surprise me: I have a lot of 'free' time that I don't use well.  When I have a few minutes to myself, I often whip out my phone and scroll Instagram or watch Instastories.  While these habits aren't detrimental to my life, I really could be using my time better.  I enjoy Instagram, but it doesn't make me feel relaxed or rejuvenated.  I have been actively trying to pick up a book during my free time and it has been beneficial for me. 

I also learned that I am much more productive when I get out of bed early.  I get a lot more done in a day when I can roll out of bed by 6:00 a.m.  I don't particularly like getting up early, but my day feels much more organized and is more productive.  I have been trying to harness this time by getting up early and working on school work.  This doesn't happen every day.  When I am up with my children a lot during the night, I let myself sleep so that I can be rested.

I encourage you to check out Laura's work.  It has been interesting to me and has shone a light on how I spend my time.  You may be surprised at what you discover.

Winter Capsule Wardrobe- 22.01.2020

Jeans with stretch are the unsung heroes of my wardrobe.  While I do love leggings, I find my jeans with stretch to be just as comfortable while looking put together.  If you do purchase jeans with stretch, it can be wise to size down so that they don't become baggy and fall down later in the day.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

2020 Home Reset- Bathroom

Our family of four shares a bathroom.  It gets out of hand now and then.  Between hair product, hair accessories and all of the other products in the cabinet, the bathroom was definitely in need of a reset.  This is what I did:

• emptied the drawers and cupboards
• vacuumed out the drawers and wiped shelves down
• pitched any products that were out of date
• removed any items not being used
• put everything back neatly
• wiped baseboards
• washed walls

Before:

After:

It felt so good to clean out the cupboards and drawers.  Everything is much easier to find now that we only have the items that we use in the bathroom.