Wake up, Get Up, It’s Tidy Tuesday!

Hey, if you have not started decorating for Fall ……

It’s definitely calling …… 🧡

Pumpkins and ghords of all shapes and sizes. Fall stuff, love love love it!

So down that cup of joe, finish up breakfast and let’s get going!

I love sweeping outside of my front and back patio areas, it kinda gets me going!

And it does not matter how small or large, sweep away, see how good it looks!

A couple weeks ago we looked at some tips for refreshing your bathroom and bedroom. I kinda went light on you, it’s time to get serious!

Let’s start with the kitchen after you finish up sweeping ……

I love love love my kitchen. I have an open concept living/kitchen which is perfect for me. I know many people are not fans of them, because they are messy and do not keep up with tidiness, yikes …… it’s just a habit for me, but I love that you are not separated from the living area where all the action usually is.

So, it’s important to keep the kitchen counters organize and clutter free. Clutter-free can mean so much. Of course I still have the important things such as my coffee maker and k-cups …… and yes, decor items that make my home – well, my home, displayed on the kitchen counters. The main rule to remember is to ask yourself,  do I really need everything I use on the counters …… I say no. You gotta do what works for you but sometimes the best way to get started is to remove everything …… yep, even your coffee maker.

Wipe down all counters, appliances and start with a fresh clean slate. Now start to arrange your items back to the counters. Do you really need it on the counter or would it work to have it in a drawer or pantry …… or trash?

Do I need to display my spatula that is 10 years old …… yikes.

It might take you several tries to get it just the way you like it, but keep working it. And you know me, I love decorating for the seasons so I tend to have very little of my kitchen gadgets on display so I can work the colorful seasonal decor in and out easily. I really do not need to see my toaster and blender on the counter, so they are easily tucked away. I understand for some it just might be easier to have some of your working items and gadgets on the counter for easy access, so try corralling your utensil jar, most used spices, etc in a round tray or on a cutting board next to the stove. Cute and functional in one!

(And see, still room to display pumpkins)

Another biggie is the refrigerator. Now I don’t know about you but these little puppies are pretty expensive. And pretty too. Why make them an art gallery. I mean, I understand the cuteness of magnets and children’s drawings, but maybe a tasteful bulletin board would be more fun for the kiddos to decorate. Some people have so much stuff hangin off their refrigerator it feels like it should be in the garage. Try removing all of them, yep every picture, magnet and bottle opener and see how your kitchen will immediately look neater and more organized. And no I am not a hater of magnets, I have a couple, like my Dallas Cowboys magnet that has recently been put out on display. Yeah, it’s fun to display a few items but not all at once.

Okay, now open the refrigerator, does it remind you of what the outside looks like …… teehee.

Now if this is just too much for you to do today, take these notes. A cleaner more organized refrigerator is a must.

• Buy some removable shelf liner. Even the dollar stores have cute rolls you can cut to size. No excuses.
• Some people like to buy shelf racks, holders to corral certain items. Nice touch!
• Take everything out, yep everything.
• Wipe down the shelves before laying shelf liners.
• You may find moving some of the shelves up or down is helpful too.
• Check the expiration date on all items before putting them back.
• Before I go grocery shopping, I check my refrigerator and if I have double items,  I move the older in front. Most refrigerators come with instructions on setting up the humidity levels for the drawers, etc. Google also is helpful.
• Don’t forget the freezer, if you have something that is over 3-4 months, in most cases it’s time to trash it. All food has a shelf life, yep even in the freezer.

 

Tidiness is not about knee-deep in cleaning chores every day. It’s a life style. A little cleaning and putting things away every day makes your home …… well, your home and it should be your happy place and deserves to be treated as such.

If you have open-shelving, it’s good to display items, just don’t go overboard. Some items look great on display but piles of pot lids and trash bags not so much.

Now, take a look into those kitchen cabinets …… is it scarry, teehee. Well, I have to admit, we can all become hoarders …… real quick. I am fortunate that when Riley and I moved into our new for-ever home earlier this year, I made a  decision to get rid of old cookware, etc. And no that was not always the case. But part of getting older is gaining wisdom …… heed my advice. If it’s broken, it must go, c’mon people.

Of course there are items that may only be used for special occasions or holidays and those we don’t want to part with. They should be put away until they are needed. But do you know a person, a relative, or maybe it’s you who has a collection of coffee mugs. Oh my, that was me, many many years ago. Some were gifts, some from work, holiday mugs, pretty mugs, ugly mugs  some with chips …… you name it, I probably had one.  For the most part, they have been donated and are long gone.

Yep, you know the theme here.

It’s a blessing that I have coffee maker and pretty cups to drink from, but I don’t need 20 different cups. Donate – so someone else will get joy from it.

I would not say I am a minimalist or a maximalist ….. some of you might be laughing at me at that thought. I do have things in my home and I will take care of them. Yes, I am a happy person living in my happy home and it matters to me that I keep it tidy. If my home could talk, it would say thank you. It would say, I will cover you each day and night and we will fill me with laughter and love and give thanks to our Father who makes all things possible.

Now see what starting a Tidy routine does for you. Turn the music up, sing, dance and show your love.

You can do it!

Have a blessed Tidy Tuesday!

Namasté