Pinning It Down

A few months ago, my niece introduced me to Pinterest.  "Aunt Melissa,

I think you'll like this", she said.  I was skeptical.  "Another thing to take up

time on the internet...I don't think I need it."  I reluctantly told her to send

me an invitation (you have to be invited to join the site).  Once I figured 

out what the heck I was supposed to be doing, I kinda liked it.  I started

pinning all kinds of ideas to my virtual bulletin boards.  Then I started 

"following" others who had the same interests as I do and pinning their

ideas.  My boards were starting to fill up with wonderful recipes,

decorating, and craft ideas, farm and garden tips, things I love and 

places I'd like to go.  Ok, I admit, it's fun.  But what would be more fun is

if I actually did some of those things.  I thought I might be the only one 

who had pinning fever with no follow through, and then I came across

this idea on one of the blogs I like to read.  Sarah, of Amongst Lovely

Things has started devoting Tuesdays to blogging about things she's

been doing from her Pinterest boards as a way to stay motivated to do 

new projects. I liked that idea...I like any idea that get's me motivated, 

so I decided I would start posting some of my Pinterest  projects on 

Tuesdays as well.  Probably not every Tuesday, but when I have

something to share, I will. 

The first project I chose will be ongoing throughout the year, that is, if I

stick with it.  I think I can, because it seems so doable.  An organizing

calendar that gives you one small task to do each day and then over 

a year's time you've organized your home.  I'm a big fan of the "baby

steps" method of getting things done, so I was super interested in this 

project.  I downloaded the calendar here.  Then I printed off the calendar

pages and put them in my homemaking notebook, so I could refer to 

them each week.

Week 1 had me in the bathroom cleaning out cabinets and drawers.

One shelf or drawer a day only added ten or fifteen minutes to the time

I've allotted for my everyday cleaning.  The main reason I don't dig into

organizing projects more often,  is because I never feel like I have the

time.  Cleaning out closets and cabinets, organizing the basement or

garage...these things can take up a chunk of time.  So, I keep waiting 

for the time, and well, you know, the time is never there.  But...ten or

fifteen minutes a day...I can do that!  So in the past week and a half,

here's what I've accomplished.

In the bathroom: clean out hair doo dads,

toss expired skin care products, get rid of expired medications, clean 

out one drawer or shelf (three days of that).

Before

After

I threw all these expired things away.

And check out this nice clean shelf and

these nicely organized drawers...

Ten minutes a day, folks.

I can so do this!

 This week, I'm in the basement cleaning off

one storage shelf a day.  I'm attacking this section.

Today I took all the cookie baking things upstairs, 

cleaned out the boxes and repacked them.

Why do I have so many boxes of decorating bags, 

you might ask? Because everything was such a mess, I

 didn't know what I had and kept buying more.  I think 

I have about a five year supply of decorating bags!

I have oodles of cookie cutters and I only use the metal

ones. Why do I keep all those plastic cutters? I have 

to dig through them, to find the ones I want and 

they take up valuable space.  Get rid of them!

 I packed them up and plan to take them to the church

 nursery for the kids to use with the playdough. 

Now when I bake cookies, I can easily find the 

cutters I really want to use. These were my 

grandmothers and they're the best.

Cutters, decorating tips and bags are now

separated and in clean ziplock bags,

ready to be stored on the basement shelf until I need them.

I'm loving this pinterest project.  I might actually get my house organized

with the help of this calendar.  So it appears I'm off and running with

Pinterest now.

Thanks Jessica, for introducing me and for the invitation. You were right.

I do like it!  

*MYOF Goal #36   - Organize every room in my house.