October 1, 2011

{31 days to an organized home} Day One: Organizing with Purpose


I organize my home because I believe that when we clear out the things that don't matter, we make room for the things that do.


Because our hearts and minds can only take so much chaos. And life has enough chaos of its own.


Because we need a daily refuge from the clutter and the noise and the blaring messages that wait on our doorstep.


Because an uncluttered space creates an environment where we can learn and explore.


And because when we clear out stuff, we make room for people

 
What are your reasons for wanting to organize and declutter?


This is the first post in a month long series, 31 Days to an Organized Home. Over the next 31 days we are going to be talking a lot about how to organize our homes.  But I don't want us to miss the why.  Organizing is so much more than just stashing things in pretty baskets.  It's creating a space that nurtures and welcomes and sets us free to invite people into our homes and our lives.


I would love it if you'd join me for these 31 days of tips and inspiration to organize our homes.  There will even be a linky party as an opportunity for you to share your own organizing projects (I'll offer more details on that in the days to come).

"Like" me on facebook or follow me on twitter to make sure that you don't miss any of the organize-y goodness. And leave a comment to let me know you were here.  I'm honored that you stopped by.


Posts published in this series so far: 
Day 1: You're here!
Day 2: An Organized Coat Closet
Day 3: The Three Baskets Tip
Day 4: How to Apply Contact Paper to Drawers 
Day 5: Fabulous Pantries 
Day 6: A Peek Inside My Kitchen 
Day 7: DIY Pocket Organizer
Day 8: Defining Clutter 
Day 9:  Permission to Let Go, and to Keep
Day 10: Sometimes you Just Have to Live With It
Day 11: Kids' Socks
Day 12: Kid's Clothes (The Rule of Three)
Day 13: Kids' Closet Inspiration
Day 14: Sock Drawer 101 
Day 15: Master Closet
Day 16: A Place for Everything
Day 17: Command Centers
Day 18: Create an Action File 
Day 19: DIY File Basket
Day 20: Manuals and Warranties
Day 21: DIY Magazine Files
Day 22: Electronic Odds and Ends
Day 23: Pretty Tidy Desks
Day 24: How to Make Labels using Picnik
Day 25: Bathroom Storage
Day 26: Linen Closets
Day 27: It's Linky Party Day!
Day 28: Laundry Room Organization
Day 29: Sentimental Items
Day 30: My craft Closet
Day 31: Staying Organized

167 comments:

  1. My husband always jokingly gives me a hard time about being too organized but the reality is, he loves it. I've been happily married for 14 years and I think my organizing has a lot to do with the happy part.

    We don't waste time or get frustrated dealing with small things that could avalanche into something bigger (I'm thinking of misplaced car keys that could potentially make us late for x,y,z as an example).

    Looking forward to the next 31 days. No matter how organized I may feel I am, there's always something new to learn!

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  2. I need this! I'm doing 31 days also- 31 days of free printables & the last week will be organizational printables :)
    I will be following along your 31 days!
    -Kristi
    @ Creative Kristi

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  3. Looking forward to all of your organizational ideas!!!

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  4. So glad you are joining in with this series!! Sounds super helpful!

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  5. Great idea. Looking forward to it.

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  6. I love your description of why you organize. I feel the same...but I've never been able to put into words quite as well as you did! I'm looking forward to this series!

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  7. With all I've got going on in my life, my home gets disorganized quickly. I'm looking forward to this series.

    I too am participating in 31 Days, with my series on 31 Days to Slash Your Budget Painlessly.

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    1. I'm planning on having a baby, I made a "Pregnancy" section for ideas on the room, shower, and clothes. So helpful to have one place for it all.

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  8. Glad to find your blog!! Can't wait for all the tips! :)

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  9. I love the idea of clearing out stuff to make room for people.

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  10. This should be fun! Can't wait to see what you share with us!

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  11. Looking forward to reading along!

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  12. hmm...seems you and Beth are posting from 2 ends od the spectrum.

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  13. Look forward to reading your series! I too am linking up to 31 Days - mine is of cutting cost at home, and a big way to do that is through being organized!

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  14. Organizing in Canada!!! I'm with Sarah on the idea of "clearing out stuff to make room for people!"

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  15. I saw this on Pinterest and am excited I will be able to follow from the begining!

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  16. Oh I love your reasons -- I wish I could convince my husband. I think he's coming around. =) I'll have to print out all 31 of your posts for him to read at work. lol

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  17. Love your gorgeous (and peaceful) pictures!

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  18. I love your introduction and couldn't agree more. . .how do I get the other 5 people I live with agree with this philosophy??? Ha! I will be back. . .going to "like" you on FB right now. Glad I found your post :)

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  19. Hi! I'm also doing 31 Days...31 Days to a Clutter Free Home. I'm going to add you to my reader so I can follow along. I love how you said "I organize my home because I believe that when we clear out the things that don't matter, we make room for the things that do." That is SO true. When our homes are a mess, we have to stop everything and deal with the mess rather than tending to those things/ people that really matter.

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  20. Oh, this is just so wonderful! I am excited to see another blogger doing this on organizing! My main objective is to motivate others ladies to get their house, schedule, and lives in order and organized! Great "meeting" you!

    Becky B.
    www.organizingmadefun.com
    Organizing Made Fun

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  21. i'm such a nerd. someone pinned this on pinterest and i was so excited to see all 31 days that i started poking around and couldn't figure out why i couldn't find all the tips. then i realized you are doing it THIS october. duh! i guess i'm in denial that it's already october. i'll be sure to follow you on reader now. thanks for doing this!!
    Kari
    karikards.blogspot.com

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  22. I love to be organized and am working towards getting our home back in order! I'm new to staying at home, so it's a little chaotic around here. I really love the way you summed up the goal of organization and I have to say that's exactly how I feel- only you said it so much better. "It's creating a space that nurtures and welcomes and sets us free to invite people into our homes and our lives" Looking forward to reading along with you!

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  23. I'm an organizing freak, and I love learning new and different ways to handle the craziness! And I extra LOVE those flashcards! Did you make them? They'd be great to use with The Boy.

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  24. This will be a fun, not so heart heavy, series to follow! Thanks for offering it!

    Blessings,
    Lisa

    www.moretobe.com

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  25. I love the way your introduction makes me NOT feel guilty for not being more organized. Looking forward to the next 30 days. =)

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  26. I love it- I'm in the middle of major overhaul in our home- this is perfect! I'm doing #31 days of Exploring God's Creation! hope you come visit- I may need to know more about that dish towel wreath!!!

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  27. Great post. I will look forward to being back for more this week to see what you are doing. Please come by for a visit too. This is so much fun isn't it? I just love all of this 31 day goodness!
    Blessings,
    Debbie

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  28. I'm really looking forward to reading all of your posts on this topic. Glad I found you!

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  29. I want to organize because we NEED to! Our apartment is just a tad too tiny for the three of us. I started last week. Def reading!

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  30. Your posts make me smile! I'm so glad that others value organization and tidiness as much as I do! I'm a busy undergraduate right now, and so many of my friends don't understand why an 18 year old is so concerned about keeping her dorm room impeccable at all times. I can't wait to share this series with them! Thank you so much for doing this! I hope that we can be in more contact in the future!

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  31. I loved all your reasons for getting organised, they are so true. Something I am working towards is only having the things around me that I love. Another very important reason for me to get more organised is living in a compact home! It becomes cluttered so easily, and I spend way too much time sorting it back out again. Totally unproductive! I'm looking forward to your posts!

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  32. I'm moving this weekend to a new home and have vowed to be organized once we settle in... I'll be reading this every day and apply what I learn! Thanks!

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  33. We are packing up our things and moving to our first house at the end of this month. I'm excited to clear out a lot of the things we don't need/use while we pack and have a fresh (organized) start in our new home!

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  34. Great idea! We all need help in this area! :)

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  35. I like your reasons for organizing. I need to codify my approach as well.

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  36. I love how you said, "When we clear stuff out, we make room for people." It will be in my head each day as I round up the clutter and put it back in its home! I'm following for more insightful thoughts!

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  37. Just want you to know that i added you to my bookmark bar. you're right next to Anthropologie.

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  38. Wow this is exciting! I would love to take part, I'm a late-comer but I definately feel like I have no idea how to organize and I feel very distracted. I'd like to free up space to enjoy my young kids before they grow up.

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  39. LOL, we have the EXACT same comment message..."your comments make me smile"!

    I grew up in a fairly unorganized home, and i always thought I would completely defy that and be the complete opposite. But, the habits followed me, and now I struggle every day with "stuffing" or "tossing" because I don't feel like putting things away properly.

    I am totally doing this challenge.
    Thank YOU!!!!
    -Jade
    www.constant-chatter.com

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  40. Love this idea! I'm can't wait to read all of your ideas and follow your progress. When we move into our new home (hopefully next week) I will be starting this process. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  41. Coming in a little late but count me in!

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  42. Yay! I am so excited about this! I love to declutter and organize and any suggestions are always helpful!

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  43. I see Tsh's Organized Simplicity on your table. I LOVE that book:) Your photos are lovely. I'll be following along.

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  44. I was so happy when I saw several devoted to kids, but mine are grown, so I guess that gives me extra days to try and catch up!!

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  45. I am here!! I just found you last week and am making today DAY ONE!!! I have sooo much to clear out!:)

    I have put your button on my blog and am off to like you on FB and Twitter!!

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  46. Hi! I just found you via Sometimes Sweet. I am really excited to start this big organization project. I can't wait to get started. This is going to be a lifesaver during the holidays and I need a serious overhaul. Yay!

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  47. Am looking forward to this challenge although I think it will take more than 31 days for me to accomplish! Here goes.

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  48. My reason for organizing? All the above mentioned reasons! I definitely need a refuge!!!! Thanks for this! I am also looking forward to this challenge!!!

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  49. Oh my, I just realized that I haven't visited your site for some time and missed this great series! I will start right away!
    I've been trying to get organized over the last 2 years now and it's been going up and down. Lately rather down than up! I really need this kind of motivation, because I know that the whole family feels so much better when the house is clean and free of clutter! I'm in!

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  50. Hi! I followed a link from Pinterest and found you. Definitely needing some organization. We recently moved, and I need to get this under control. I look forward to reading all your posts!

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  51. Can't wait for the next posts! I organize because it makes me feel less stressed. Also because my mom always says that your house is the reflection of how you deal with your life, and if your house is chaos, so will be your life!

    New follower! :)

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  52. I love your dishtowel wreath! Made or purchased? Could you tell us how to make or where to find it. I wanna copy it!

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  53. I posted about the dishtowel wreath here: http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2011/10/my-fall-wreaths.html

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  54. I need to get organized, found this link on Pinterest. Can't wait to have a more organized decluttered home in 31 days.

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  55. I will try my best to organize more! Found you at Pinterest. I am a new follower.

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  56. I am willing to give it a try. It seems like every room is an avalanche waiting to happen.
    I found you on Pinterest.

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  57. I just had to stop and tell you that I sat down and read all 31 at once and then got up and did TONS of work on my house. Husband came home and said, "Wow, you did SO MUCH work today!" He never notices if I accomplish something, so your blog inspired me and it shows!! On to more organizing tomorrow. Thanks :)

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    1. Me too! I got up after reading a few posts and cleaned out my kitchen cupboard full of cups and glasses, lol. Then I went into our linen closet and dumped a bunch of stuff and straightened up. Can't wait to read more!

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  58. I just found this on Pintrest, and it is just what I need! I am drowning in clutter. I'm not a hoarder, my house is livable, there is is just too much stuff. It's just enough to get stressful. I desire for a house that is peaceful and light. So even though this series is over, I'm starting on day one. Thank you for this series!

    Ivy
    @unscriptedlife

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  59. Here and willing.... somethings gotta budge!

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  60. learning from you. thanks.

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  61. Glad to see I haven't gotten to late of a start. I am looking forward to doing this, and will be done just before Christmas, which is becoming my least stressed time of the year, because I have started teaching myself and my family that it is just not about what you get or give but why.

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  62. I really need your help! I waste so much time looking for things! Thanks for your suggestions. When do I start Day 2?

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  63. Thank you so much for posting this, I have read through it all! I can't wait to get more organized. I have always been pretty good at purging but get 'mom guilt' when it comes to getting rid of too many of my kids toys. I do have a question and may have missed the post somewhere but how do you organize/clean your kids rooms? I have 3 --9, 6, and 2. My girls share for now and my 9 yr. old has 4 tubs that go under her bed (books, art supplies, dolls/barbies, little pets) and they have a lg doll house...she does ok as long as she puts things back. But my younger 2 have tubs of toys and my son has some shelves but it still gets out of control. Do you let yours have toys in their rooms (our house is too small so no playroom) and do you let them clean their own rooms and then just go in once in a while to help? I would love your suggestions.

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  64. Is it a cop-out to make this a new year's resolution? I'm so refreshed to find this challenge, and I am eager to embark for a touch of sanity with my 2.5yr old and 6 month old. Perhaps it wall also relieve some strain on my marriage as one of you commented.

    Am I crazy to try this early? We are in our first home, a real fix-er-upper and we are still figuring out the space and organization as a whole. Heck, we just need closet doors back up after finishing painting last summer.

    Additionally, the title of your site is intriguing. Are you a perfectionist learning to be an imperfectionist? Perhaps that's too personal, but I'm unlearning all the time!

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  65. Thanks! I need this!

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  66. I wanna jumpstart! I need this SO bad! Thank You! :)

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  67. Looking forward to your ideas!

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  68. I am gonna try this! Thanks for the blog!

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  69. I really need help with organizing, looking forward to the info, Thanks!

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  70. I have such poor organization skills as a result its a stressed home environment , on days that I get even just 70% in order its amazingly great but I don't get that more than once a week ... will be taking on board as much as I can from you
    Just the simple phrase u used about making space for people ... inspires me like never before.
    P.s found u on pintrest

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  71. I'm ready for company....I have a huge home and lots of family. Im looking forward to having AND KEEPING a cleaner, more organized home that someday I can be proud of...thanks for the encouragement! !! Found u on a friend's Pinterest page. :)

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  72. I'm making this my New Years Resolution and following through for the month of January and everyday after. I want my house to be cleaner and more organized for my growing family.
    Thank you Pinterest for finding this for me!

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  73. So happy I found you just in time for a New Year of being organized.

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  74. linamum's is ditto for me. I'm here, and grateful to learn from you and be inspired. Thank you for doing this.
    (P.S. Likewise Pinterest!)

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  75. I loved what you said about why you organize! I needed to hear that! I will be following these posts!

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  76. I love this post...and I love your sentiment: make room for things that really matter...and painting things teal!

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  77. Looking forward to learning some good things

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  78. Your opening line is my mantra for the next month! Love it!

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  79. Thank you so much for this. I live in a shared house, so tidying up and finding homes for things is probably as easy as if I had kids.

    One housemate and I have gone through all 31 days (not one a day, I'm afraid) and found it inspirational as a concept, but incredibly practical as well.

    Thank you!!

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  80. Oy, I now live with my elderly parents, who once were very tidy and organized. Not so much any more. Now it's my job, and I use it as a meditation. And I try not to be hard on myself when I don't keep up. That's an important part of being mindful in your quest for organization.

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  81. Oh my! I'm happy that I stumbled upon your blog! I need to organize my room!!!

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  82. I'm here! ok, I'm committed...Let's go! Thank you!!

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  83. I'm totally addicted to your blog.. You have such great ideas. Keep up the great work and thank you sharing.

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  84. Dear Kelly,
    I want to let you know I will be stalking you from here on out, your blog that is. I only stumbled onto your blog late Monday and now here it is in the wee hours on Tuesday and I'm still reading.
    I am a Mom of four sons, ages 26-13. I was 10 when I had my first son. Eww, that is creepy scratch that, I was 21. :) The oldest has blessed me with two incredibly wonderful grandchildren. Our two younger boys are obviously still home. My point is, I wish I would have had your wisdom earlier in my life. You seem to be a gal with a good head on your shoulders.

    When we had all four of our boys home it was organized chaos. My husband worked long hours and I tried to manage a cleaning business along with being the "Yes Gal" at church for anything that needed done. It didn't take me long to recognize that sometimes it was OK to say NO to doing what others deemed as "God's work". This revelation, if you will, came to me when I was teaching my youngest two boys, then ages 2 and 3 about the birth of Jesus. I asked them (Zach 3 and Luke 2), what kind of animals they thought might have been at the manger. Zach said sheep and lambs. Luke said Mommy I think there were cows and chicken nuggets. Yes, sadly my child had consumed many chicken nuggets to the point he thought all chickens were just that way. I hung my head in shame ( after I peed a little laughing so hard), and declared that day to be as organized and as focused on my children as possible. I have not for one moment regretted doing so, even though I fail daily. :)

    Anyway, sorry for telling you my life story. I just want to encourage your creativity. May God bless you and your family in ways you never imagined.
    Sincerely,
    Vickie

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  85. Kell, will you be my personal coach, encourager and cheerleader as I take on these 31 days of organizing????

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  86. Kelly:

    My son-in-love is always teasing me because I am a teal (blue teal, actually) lover and ensured my granddaughters received the color with their birth gifts (teal onesies were my idea of genius). I am thinking of starting a teals-anonymous group... wanna join?

    to great love, faith, and friendships
    faithful

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  87. I found you on Pinterest and I am SO HAPPY I did! Pure Awesomeness! Thanks Kelly

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  88. Thanks for posting this. Found on a friends pinterest. Always looking for looking for a way to organize better and to live with less. Less is more is my motto and I am always striving to get better with this.

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  89. Thanks for the wonderful tips! I've got lots of contact paper added to my shopping list this week lol! Very inspiring! I LOVE to organize and keep things neat, but like you said, it is so easy to get caught up in life's everyday business that the clutter and disorganization gets out of control very easily. I am so glad I came across this on Pinterest!

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  90. You are one pretty amazing lady! Thanks for all the ideas!

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  91. This is awesome!! love it !! Passing this idea along to my daughterm for her kids!!!

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  92. WOW!! My best friend (for many years) found you on Pinterest and helped me by phone (she lives in another state) to locate your blog. We are both SO EXCITED by all your ideas and thoughts. I look forward to learning how to "de-chaos" my home. Thanks so much for sharing!!

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  93. you also inspired me to do this for my home!

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  94. My first post is up and I linked to your site! Thank you!
    http://occupationmnhousewife.blogspot.com/2012/01/31-days-to-organized-home.html

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  95. Okay...I'm inspired. I love your taste and think you do an amazing job with your completely adorable home. By any chance do you homeschool? If so, I would love to see how you would organize your school room. I have so much trouble keeping mine organized. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  96. Wow, I simply cannot wait to declutter my home. Thank you!

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  97. I am very disorganized. Hope this helps.

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  98. Love the inspiration behind this. Am starting day 2 tomorrow!

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  99. Can't wait to declutter my home

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  100. Great site.I like your wreath on the cabinet door what is it made out of?

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    1. Hi Michelle. I talk more about that wreath here: http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2011/10/my-fall-wreaths.html

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  101. Hi Kelly! I LOVE this! I would love to have a printable version of it to add to my personal HMB! I am just starting my first full time job and am working my way through this! My family is loving it, but sometimes my husband needs to be online for different things and I enjoy having something I can refer to.

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  102. I found you on Pinterest, so wonderful! Thank you for your fun ideas and blog. I'm going to start my 31 days any day now...lol. I must also find you on facebook, this looks like a great personal challenge.

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  103. found you on pinterest . I am very organized just like new ideas

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  104. I too found this link on Pinterest quite awhile ago and have been saving it for a month with 31 days :) March is the month. A perfect plan for some spring cleaning!

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  105. All these things hold true. Having clutter in your house clutters your mind and leaves little room for things you love!

    I've found since decluttering my house that I can get more done, I'm happier (because I don't have things around that I dislike!) and I've got more space.

    Absolutely spot on :-)

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  106. ok so now that your house is B-E-A-utiful!! you want to come to my house-I need so so so much help. I feel like I know the great tips and ideas of want I want it to look like-I just can't accomplish it and keep it that way. I will admit it I have WAY to much stuff.
    Love your blog and please keep up the great work!

    tandbproducts.wordpress.com

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  107. I just found your blog through Pintrest and I'm hooked! I've been reading back blogs for over an hour lol. You have some amazing ideas, thanks for the inspiration!!

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  108. Pinned! I'll be reading most if not all of these! :)

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  109. I found your blog through Pinterest and just read Day One. This seams to be a pretty clever series. Thanks a lot!

    Greetings from Germany!

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  110. I will definitely be reading all 31 days when I get a chance. Thanks for sharing!

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  111. I read your content you have done great job

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  112. Ok thanks to whoever pinned this so it was brought to me tonight! I am so so sick and tired of our chaotic house- I have to learn to re-organise our house in a very big way, and KEEP IT organised! In the past months I have really noticed the amount of stress that both myself AND my husband go through- and to be honest the kids too- because of the stuff everywhere. Sign me up! (Although I have to say right now in NZ school holidays have just begun so will have to incorporate my kids into it as well!) Thanks for being so amazing- I'm looking forward to all of it.

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  113. I dream of this much organization. It's not only organized, it's pretty too. Love it!

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  114. Wow! Love this, I will participate! :D

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  115. Just found your blog. And I LOVE IT! I'm getting married in August and looking for all the tips I can find to learn how to start our home. THANK YOU! =)

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  116. I'm a few months late, but I'm ready to learn! Thanks!!

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  117. Behind...but getting started!

    Love the blog.

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  118. Great series!

    I would love to see how you would organize toys, and what your limits on them would be. I'm trying to purge kids' clothes and toys, and I like sticking to a number. There is so much STUFF that we don't NEED.


    Thanks for all you do!!

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    1. Hi Inspired Mama! Thanks! I've blogged about how we organize toys here: http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2011/11/toy-rotation-bins.html

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  119. Love your blog and I'm trying to convince my friends to do a 31day organizing together :) Would you be able to link/make a blog post about the beautiful wreath hanging on the cabinet in the pic above?! I also found you on Pinterest via the oranized home binder, which led me to look at everything else! Very well done!

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    1. found the wreath link after looking some more! Looking foward to trying it after I Pin it on Pinterest! Maybe I'll post it on my blog someday after I get organized ;)

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    2. hehe...glad you found the post about the wreath! Have fun!

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  120. I desperately need to get organized so my environment at home can truly be peaceful. Thank you so very much for creating a rehab program for people like me, who want to ovecome the unhealthy behavior patterns that keep them trapped in household chaos. The next 30 days will be life-changing for me and my family!

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  121. I AM HERE AND EXCITED TO BE HERE!!!!

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  122. I love it when I am organized and stressed out when I'm not. I never took the time to understand why or how being organized effects me. Thank you for opening with the reasons what being organized means to you. I am so excited to start my 30 days!

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  123. I'm liking what you are saying so far. But your credibility is reduced a bit by the incorrect apostrophe in this statement:

    "Because our hearts and minds can only take so much chaos. And life has enough chaos of it's own."

    Please fix this. Remove the unnecessary apostrophe in the possessive "its" and I'll like you even more.

    Thanks!

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  124. I too grew up the youngest of 6 in a row home, and 4 girls in one room, wasn't an easy thing for keeping organized, lol. And I'm sad to say the disorganization has followed me but the last two years I've been cracking down on downsizing so I'm psyched to have found this link on Pinterest. Can not wait to read up and get it figured all out!! Thank you very much!!

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  125. Just found this on Pinterest, and HAD to comment. I am so looking forward to reading these posts. I struggle to keep my house up, partly because I don't really know how to best organize it! I have health problems and am not always able to do the things that need done (especially with 2 small children running around!! (0:) It drives me crazy (literally) to see the disarray and time wasted trying to find things. Thank you for this!! I can't wait to put these things into practice!

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  126. Thanks to Pinterest I just came across your site. Fell in love on Day One. Thank you for sharing, for documenting, for organizing!!!

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  127. Can't wait to get started....long overdue project...

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  128. Great ideas...I look forward to getting started on some of these projects!

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  129. Gotta get this done!!! I did my hallway closet yesterday, but just found this blog today. Nice to have some direction on how to make my home the organized haven it can be!

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  130. I'm in...I want to di-clutter this home I've lived in for 18 years.

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  131. Thanks to Facebook and Pinterest I found you and boy am I glad! I have decluttered but it re-accumulates. Your photos are gorgeous and your ideas are genius. I'm really looking forward to your 31 days of organizing.

    Gonna be a busy month, huh? grin

    ~Mother Connie

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  132. This is my first day. :)

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  133. I can never say no when someone asks, "can you use ......." My house is so full, there is not a corner without a "tub" or something tucked in there. I am just going to get rid of most of this stuff. I have tubs of yarn, fabric, quilt scraps and all kinds of books. I have just run out of room.
    Organize, organize, organize.
    Marilyn Brashear

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  134. It's labor day weekend for me which = 3 days off of work. My goal is to detail my home this weekend, de-clutter, say goodbye to clothes/shoes i haven't worn, etc. I started yesterday by tackling the dreaded office/spare bedroom closet aka misc/catch all/place for stuff that doesn't belong anywhere. After a couple of hours of pulling everything out and rearranging things definitely looked worse than when i started and i started to dread the undertaking. Then I came across this delightful 31 day series and am newly motivated! ;-) Thank you for sharing so many wonderful tips and ideas!! I am very jazzed about all the hard work that lies ahead of me this weekend instead of loathing. God bless you and your beautiful family.

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  135. I am decades behind, but this gives me hope!

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  136. When I first read "Because our hearts and minds can only take so much chaos. And life has enough chaos of its own," I thought that was so brilliant & I wanted to thank you for that. Then I kept reading. I'm going to frame the whole thing & put it up on my wall. So beautifully spoken (written). Thank you.

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  137. I have been letting my stay at home husband run the house for the past two years and now have been laid off and this place is so run down and yucky I just can't live with it anymore, so the gloves are on and we are busy.... all the suggestions knowlegde is greatly apprecaited as my family make it real easy to get unmotivated.

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  138. I am so excited about it....I am one of those who would rather avoid household chores over outdoor work...have started couple of days with a great energy that fades out in couple of hours bcoz dont know what to do and where to begin...

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  139. I am so in need of this. I have returned home to be with my elderly mother with a a daughter who just completed college. I feel like I am losing ground no space no closet space along with being a very didsorganized person, except in my mind:). I need this and I am hoping to start the Neew Year with some organization.

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  140. Ohhhhhhh there is hope for me at last. hope this will help me.

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  141. Perfect timing for me to find this on pinterest just when I wanted to get my new years resolutions headed in the right direction! Your home looks lovely!

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  142. Also found this on Pinterest! Instead of 31 days, though, I am doing it in 31 weeks as part of my New Years Resolution. And next year at this time I can smile at all I've accomplished. Yea!

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  143. Starting today. so by Feb 1st my home will feel like a home!

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  144. I'm going to keep checking you out...I have some organizing to do, and look forward to seeing what you have!

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  145. Great! I love it. All ideas are very helpful and make life so easier. It helps me lot to get organized

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  146. I know this post is a few years old.. but I found it and thats what counts.. my husband and I bought our home last year. we have 2 kids.. im also a stay at home mom.. your blog in general has inspired me to start being the mom and wife I know God made me to be.. i need to be more available to my family and enjoy that time with them.. however I cant do that when im constantly picking things up and trying to find them a home.. so im currently working on taking pride in my home. im on day 2 of your declutter/organization challenge.. i did my entry way closet.. im on a super tight budget so i could only afford to upcycle some items in the home and a couple of bins from our dollar store which i intend to decorate with my crazy amount of craft supplies.. but im really proud of the work i did.. no more mess when you walk in my house.. thank you for taking the time to do this month long challenge.. i appreciate it... Much Love and blessings..

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  147. I found this through pinterest and have shared with everyone I know!! I started off at Day 31 and worked my way down...Everyone is always asking me to help them with their organization and I had to tip my hat off to you throughout this blog! I'm subscribed and taking a look around the rest of the site! Thanks for all that you do :)

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  148. Wow, I am amazed that you have five kids and still have a house that looks so clean! I can hardly manage with just my husband and son. I am planning on following through this series on my blog, if you want to check it out. http://amsherwood.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/busy-day/

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  149. thank you so much. I really love your blog

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  150. I just read through every single article you wrote and they are absolutely wonderful. I am currently in the process of packing up to move in with my grandparents for college (yay for organized teenagers... I bet you didn't even know we exist!) and these were delightfully helpful for me to figure out exactly what to keep and how to get the remainder left with my parents ready and nice for them.

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  151. Just saw this on Pinterest. We're moving in 22 days. Packing is insane (when is it not?). We're getting rid of things as we go. I'll definitely be employing these strategies at our new house, as we're downsizing. Everything has GOT to be organized and in it's spot, or we'll go crazy.

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  152. Thank you so much for this. I just found your blog and I am absolutely drowning in clutter. Starting this today. Right now.

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  153. I know this was quite some time ago, but just came across this set of posts through Pinterest. I love your sense of humor and how clearly you define why we create beautiful homes - not because we need to have our houses look like so-and-so's house, but because we want it to be a place that allows us to do the things we love! Thanks for your time and effort to this project. :)

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  154. I can't waitto get to the days about the kids organization (I may have to sneak ahead ;0) )

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