NOVEMBER 2008
Welcome!
I think I would have made a pretty good pioneer woman. As winter approaches, I know how to get my home and car ready for chilly times. I like the feeling that I'll be snug, warm, and safe during the long, cold months ahead.
Unfortunately, it's really hard to find time to fit in all those demanding outside and inside projects. Outside, there's raking leaves, trimming shrubs, and hosing down and hauling in lawn furniture. Inside, there's washing windows, sealing up doors and windows to prevent drafts, and switching from your summer to your winter wardrobe. On top of all that, we're moving into the busy holiday season. So,let's break it down into some manageable projects and concentrate on just a couple of things each week.
This month's Pickup Projects include yard work, checking for drafts inside the house, stocking up on essential supplies, and cleaning the house to get ready for Thanksgiving. Make it a point to have plenty of emergency supplies on hand in case a snowstorm keeps you stuck inside for a few days or even just to avoid having to risk white-knuckle driving down slippery roads in order to pick up diapers or TP. For more emergency details, check the "Health and Safety" chapter in my book, Help, I'm knee-deep in clutter!
Also, Thanksgiving week can be pretty busy if your whole family will be showing up for dinner or even if you've lucked out this year and just have to take a casserole or dessert to your mom and dad's house. Either way, don't neglect your regular housecleaning.
This month's Quickie Cleanups include 15-minute projects for gathering together holiday paperwork, checking emergency supplies in your vehicle, stacking holiday decorations, and doing a little extra KP duty in the kitchen.
If you could use some help to survive the upcoming holidays, click on the Past Articles page on this website. Scroll down to Past Solutions until you reach HOLIDAYS. There are three separate holiday checklists that offer tips for To Do Lists, Gifts, Greeting Cards, Decorating, Holiday Treats, Wrapping Gifts, and Holiday Storage - all those fun things to look forward to.
As always, if any of these tasks don't appeal to you,look around and tackle a different project. If ye seek, ye shall find.
Good luck with your clutter culprits! Have a nice Thanksgiving weekend.
Joyce
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONQUER SOME CLUTTER?
Are you overwhelmed with monster messes or could you just use a little help fixing up your home? You're not alone. When it comes to clutter and housecleaning, we're all struggling. Fortunately, we can do something about it.
If you're pressed for time or not realy ready to jump into a huge project, why not just fix up a few small problem areas each month? Does this mean that your home will suddenly be perfect? Nope. But if you systematically work your way through your house one step at a time then each month you'll notice that you aren't tripping over quite as much clutter and that things will seem to be more organized and running smoothly.
- 52 PICKUP offers suggestions for following one new Daily Anticlutter Routine each month, a weekly Pickup Project, and a 15-minute Quickie Cleanup. At the end of the year you will have fixed up 52 problem areas and will have a lot less clutter and chaos. If you're just clicking in for the first time then consider this the start of your New Year or catch up with the rest of us by checking out some previous 52 PICKUP cards and doing a few extra each week.
- BUY THE BOOK provides links to online bookstores where you can order Help, I'm
knee-deep in clutter! and find information about how to contact me and how to access my author's blog on Amazon.com/Amazon Connect.
- PAST ARTICLES lists each month's 52 PICKUP card as well as past CLUTTER CULPRIT articles and ASK JOYCE questions in case you're a new visitor to my website, you missed some, or you unexpectedly find yourself in the mood to do a little organizing and could use a few tips to get started.
- Decide what's driving you the craziest, such as your basement, then flip to the basement chapters for step-by-step assistance.
- Break big cleanup jobs (like the garage, paperwork, and closets) into smaller, more manageable tasks.
- Set up easy daily and weekly routines to keep the mess at bay.
WEBSITE
This website will change on the first of each month. You might like to print out the
52 PICKUP card and post it on the refrigerator as a handy clutter checklst.
Click on the following pages for organizing tips:
BOOK INFORMATION
So what is my book about? Help, I’m knee-deep in clutter! suggests simple solutions for getting things under control immediately. For example, you can:
AUTHOR INFO
Since retiring from my position as a public school librarian/media specialist, I've honed my organizational skills by teaching adult education organizing classes and by helping local families and small businesses organize their homes and work spaces.
If you have a question, contact me at Joyceanderson@kneedeepinclutter.com. Also, check out my author's blog on Amazon.com/Amazon Connect.
HOPE TO SEE YOU EACH MONTH!