Neat & Tidy Mommies

4Things You MUST Do Every Day To Keep Your Home Looking Tip-Top

2009-04-11T13:49:00.003-04:00

You never know when an unexpected guest might knock on your door. Four things I do every day to make my home look clutter free...even if you're too tired, lazy or just don't feel like doing your Every-day 30 Minute Speed Cleaning.

1. Wash, dry and put away dishes as they enter the sink. Nothing looks worse to me than a sink full of dishes. Your whole kitchen can be spotless, but if you have dishes in the sink, it ruins the whole picture.

2. "SSMV"-Speed Sweep/Mop/Vacuum the floors and carpet just to freshen them up. I usually do this first thing in the morning, and if I'm up to it, before I go to bed.

3. NEVER leave a room empty handed, especially if you have kids, you know what I'm talking about! My kids keep dragging toys in and out of their room all day long, and if I don't pay attention, the whole contents of their play room will end up in my living room. So I made this a rule. If I notice that they finished playing with something I pick it up and bring it back to their room.

4. Walk through the house with a basket a few times a day, removing clutter.

One more....

Sorry!

5. I do laundry every second day. This helps me avoid getting overwhelmed with laundry...for anyone that knows me (REALLY knows me)...they know I HATE doing laundry more than anything else.

Quick Organizing Tip

2009-04-02T14:17:00.002-04:00

Image by fiverlocker via Flickr

Bathroom Tip #2:

-Roll up your towels and display them in a wicker basket in your bathroom
-Roll the towels up and put on a shelf

No More Laundry Nightmares- Part 2

2009-04-01T14:11:00.002-04:00

Hairspray- removes Ink
Ivory Soap- removes cosmetics
Baking Soda-best for mud stained carpet
White Vinegar-sponge sweat stains
Lemon Juice- rust stains
Rubbing Alcohol-grass
WD-40- Butter, oil, margarine stains
White wine- douse a red wine stain
Goo Gone- gum, crayon, tape

For more tips follow the link to "No More Laundry Nightmares"

http://neatandtidymommies.blogspot.com/2008/05/no-more-laundry-nightmares.html

2009-04-01T02:03:00.001-04:00

I see something that has to be done and I organize it.--Elinor Guggenheimer

Quick Organizing Tip

2009-03-30T13:28:00.002-04:00

Bathroom Tip #1:

Put a cutlery organizer into your vanity drawer to keep your brushes, cosmetics, and toothpaste neatly stored.

MEDICINE CABINET: Make-Up/ Personal Items

2009-03-29T13:07:00.002-04:00

Image by The_Beast via Flickr

Have you ever wondered how long my make-up and razors are good for? With a little research, this is what I have found. Use it as a rule of thumb.

1. Mascara-good for 3 months after you first open it. If there is clumping on the brush, it's expired
2. Foundation-good for 6-12 months. If you notice separation or bad odor, it has expired
3. Powder-is good for up to 2 years.
4. Lipstick-some websites say 1-2 years, others up to 4. If it smells bad, it probably is.
5. Concealer-is usually good up to a year.
6. Razors-they are a breeding ground for bacteria. Use it only 5 times, then toss.
7. Medicine-DO NOT keep in the bathroom. The moisture and humidity makes medicine deteriorate faster.

2009-03-29T02:04:00.001-04:00

In plain words, Chaos was the law of nature Order was the dream of man.--Henry Adams (The Education of Henry Adams)

LETS GO GREEN: Home Made Cleaners-Part 3

2009-03-28T12:51:00.004-04:00

Tub/Tile Cleaner:

Vinegar-removes soap scum and mineral deposits, but make sure you rinse well.

OR

Mix in a spray bottle:
-2 drops of Tea Tree Oil
-1 cup of water
Tea Tree Oil is a natural antiseptic and fungicide. It kills most molds and prevents growth.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner:

Image via Wikipedia

-Pour 1/2 cup vinegar, than Baking Soda (it will start fizzing)
-Let it sit for 10 minutes
-Clean the toilet with brush...flush

OR

-If you have hard water, leave the 1/2 cup vinegar in the toilet for 1 hour
-Scrub

-If you have stains, add 1/2 cup borax to water
-Swish...leave it overnight
-Scrub the stains
-flush

-wipe exterior with all purpose cleaner and damp cloth.

Fabric Softener:

-Add 1/4-1 cup white vinegar to the final rinse cycle

OR

-Try 1/4 cup Baking Soda in the wash cycle to reduce static cling.

2009-03-28T02:02:00.001-04:00

"Begin at the beginning," the King said gravely, "and go till you come to the end; then stop."--Lewis Carroll (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)

LETS GO GREEN: Home Made Cleaners-Part 2.

2009-03-27T11:59:00.002-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Carpet Cleaner:

-Sprinkle the carpet with Baking Soda
-Let it sit for 15 minutes
-Vacuum

Floor Cleaner:

-For ceramic floors
-1/4 cup vinegar
-1 gallon water

Furniture Polish:
-Wipe with barely damp microfiber cloth
-Experiment with mixture of Olive Oil and Lemon Juice (0r Vinegar)
-Use more Lemon Juice (or Vinegar) for cleaning purposes, and more Olive Oil for polishing purposes

Glass Cleaner:

-In a spray bottle mix:
-1/2 cup vinegar
-1/2 cup hot water

2009-03-27T02:05:00.001-04:00

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.--Eleanor Roosevelt

LETS GO GREEN: Home Made Cleaners-Part 1.

2009-03-26T11:18:00.000-04:00

Welcome back, my friends!
I got some recipes for you!!! Here is the least toxic, healthiest way of cleaning. It will also save you a bit of money, since you already have most of these items right in the kitchen:

All Purpose Cleaners:

In a spray bottle mix:
-2 tablespoons of mild dish liquid
-2 cups of water

Image via Wikipedia

Sanitize your Kitchen counter tops:
-White vinegar
-Hydrogen Peroxide
Spray one after the other and wipe away

OR

-1/4 cup Vinegar
-2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
-Squirt of Dish Liquid
-Warm water

If you need something a little stronger. You can make a gentle scrub to use on counter tops, sinks, faucits. Make a paste:
-Baking Soda
-Dish Soap

Oven Cleaner:

-Make a paste with water and Baking Soda. Put a coat over all the oven surfaces (not self cleaning ovens)
-Let it sit overnight
-Use plastic spatula to remove paste
-Wash

Drain Cleaner:

Pour into drain:
-1/2 cup Baking Soda
-1/2 cup white vinegar
-Plug the drain
-flush with boiling water

Dish Liquid:

For greasy pots and pans
-scrub with salt.

For burned pots and Pans
-fill half way with water
-Tablespoons of Baking Soda
-Soak overnight
-Bring to boil

2009-03-26T02:07:00.000-04:00

We adore chaos because we love to produce order. --M. C. Escher

Must Have Cleaning Supplies

2009-03-25T11:04:00.003-04:00

Here is a list of the MUST HAVE cleaning supplies to get your home into a tip-top shape. Most, if not all, you already have right in your kitchen.

1. Mop and Bucket
2. Broom
3. Vacuum with attachments
4. Sponges
5. Disposable Cloths
6. Microfiber Cloth
7. Spray Bottles
8. Vinegar
9. Baking Soda
10.Tea Tree Oil
11. Lemon
12. Olive Oil
13. Mild Dish Soap

Come back tomorrow to see how to put them to work.

2009-03-24T02:01:00.006-04:00

Don't agonize. Organize.--Florence Kennedy

SPRING CLEANING...How I Do It: Part 2

2009-03-20T14:44:00.011-04:00

As promised, here is Part 2 to my Spring Cleaning. I tackled my Master Bedroom and the Kids bedroom in between moving the laundry from washer to dryer, and starting a new load....I was quite behind on my laundry, but what can you do? Now, I'm all caught up, and starting tomorrow, I continue with my Daily Speed Cleaning on a clean slate....

-As in Part 1, I started my cleaning with a basket in hand and removed all visible clutter that did not belong in that room, put away.

Bedrooms

1. Took all the drapes/curtains down...cleaned the according to the manufacturer's directions

2. Cleaned the cobwebs, spot cleaned the walls, switch plates, lighting fixtures.

3. Stripped the bed, threw the sheets, pillows and the blankets into the laundry room to be washed.

4. Removed, than cleaned all items off the surfaces and walls.

5. Cleaned the surfaces, returned everything where it belongs.

6. Vacuum/sweep/mop the floors, moving all the furniture (you might need a friend or a strong man ;) to help you out here)

7. Cleaned the windows and mirrors with glass cleaner.

8. Hung drapes/curtains/blinds.

9. Dressed the bed with clean, crisp linens.

For Daily Speed Cleaning, follow the link below:

http://neatandtidymommies.blogspot.com/2008/05/speed-cleaning-30-minutes-day.html

PS. Does anyone know how to hide the long link and replace it with for ex. Daily Speed Cleaning?

It's Spring Time!!!! Life is Beautiful!!!!

2009-03-20T13:37:00.003-04:00

Enjoy the smell in the air!!

Image by Mahima Hada via Flickr!!

2009-03-18T02:02:00.002-04:00

Crude classifications and false generalizations are the curse of the organized life.--H. G. Wells

SPRING CLEANING...How I Do It

2009-03-17T12:04:00.008-04:00

We are very sorry for not posting for a REALLY long time...

Spring is almost here...my absolute favorite time of the year. The air is crisp...the day is absolutely perfect to throw open the windows and start SPRING CLEANING!!!!!!!!

http://life.familyeducation.com/slideshow/summer/58021.html

Yesterday, I threw all the windows open and tackled my Kitchen, Living room and Bathroom. Today I'm taking a spring cleaning break, but I will do the Bedrooms and Laundry tomorrow!

This is how I went about it:

Kitchen

1. I grabbed a laundry basket and went through the areas I was ready to tackle and removed all the items that didn't belong there.

2. I put them away.

3. I washed the dishes, dried them and put them away. This opened up some counter space.

4. I removed all the items off my counters and moved them to my kitchen table.

5. I took everything off the walls in my kitchen...put them on my kitchen table.

6. Took a good look at my walls to see whether I needed to wash the walls or just spot clean them.
I decided to wash them down completely with warm water and mild dish soap...tackled all the doorknobs, switch plates as well

7. I emptied each canister into a bowl...took them apart and washed them...put them to dry.
Wiped down all small appliances (according to the manufacturers directions)

8. Dust/washed each wall item....

9. Filled my sink up with hot water, mild soap and a cap full of bleach...washed my counter tops thurally...don't forget the back-splash of course. Than dried them with a dry cloth.

10. With mild soap and warm water wiped all my cabinet doors, inside and out. Than, wiped them with dry cloth.

11. Moved the stove and fridge...swept, then washed the floor behind it.

12. Took the burners off my stove and the spill catchers....washed them according to manufacturer's directions.

13. Assembled all the canisters, wiped them to make sure they are dry...fill them up and put them where they belong.

14. Hung all the wall items back where they belong.

15. Emptied all the cupboards...onto my kitchen table.

16. Wiped the insides of each cupboard (shelves and walls)...reorganized all the dishes...removing the mismatched items and the ones I no longer use. Adjusted the shelves to give me more room on top...put everything back.

17. Sprayed the oven...

18. Emptied the fridge and freezer...wiped all the shelves, drawers and walls...discarded all the expired items...put everything back.

19. Cleaned the oven.

20. Mopped the floor.

21. Emptied and washed the trash can.

Living Room

1. Since I removed all the clutter earlier I didn't have to worry about that...

2. Took all my drapes, curtains down...cleaned them appropriately...

3. Removed all cobwebs and spot treated my walls. Washed all the doorknobs, air wents and switch plates, dusted the paintings, wiped the framed photographs.

4. Took down all the light fixtures and washed them in warm water and mild dish soap. Dried them.

5. Removed all the books and knick-nacks off the shelves...washed what I was able to...dusted the rest. Wiped all the shelves down. Put everything back.

6. Vacuumed between cushions of my couches. Wiped them down (mine are leather)...follow the manufacturers directions for your couches.

7. Dusted down the side tables and coffee table.

8. Vacuumed the carpet...Mopped the floor.

Bathroom

1. Collect all the dirty clothes. Put into hamper.

2. Took all cobwebs down, spot treated walls, washed the switch plates, dusted and cleaned the items on the wall. Took my shower curtains off...laundered them with bathroom rugs....hung them to dry.

3. Scrubbed the shower and tub....don't forget the fixtures.

4. Scrubbed the sink and fixtures.

5. Scrubbed the toilet...don't forget the handles, outside the toilet...etc

6. Washed the inside and outside of medicine cabinet. Cleaned the mirror...put everything back.

7. Swept, than mopped the floor.

8. Emptied and washed the trash can.

You can break up your home and do a room each day...I like to do it like this, because I only have to dedicate myself fully for two days and I like to tackle everything I can at one time and than enjoy the rest of my week with my fam.

As long as you do a little each day, it shouldn't take you that long to finish your spring cleaning. It only gets easier. Spring cleaning is my favorite. It takes so much motivation, but it is so worth it when everything is done. It takes me 10-15 minutes a day to keep my whole house clean and tidy. Dedicating an hour a week to reorganizing and removing clutter from my "special room" thereafter.

Happy Spring Cleaning, my friends

Kristina :)

Happy Holidays, My Friends

2008-12-24T02:47:00.002-05:00

Myspace Comments, Happy Holidays Comments at WishAFriend.com

Quote

2008-11-20T14:51:00.003-05:00

"The world is so exquisite, with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better, it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look Death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides."
- Carl Sagan (1934-1996)

A hand made TUTU for my Ballerina

2008-11-19T01:13:00.016-05:00

My husband was channel surfing about a year ago and Katie noticed a program...made him go back...it turned out to be a documentary on ballet. Every time he tried to change the channel, she threw a fit. She made him sit with her (for 2 hours) and watch the program. She nicknamed herself "Katenina Banenina." With that said, as soon as she turned 3 we signed her up for ballet classes. She is absolutely obsessed with it. She practices every day. I've been looking to purchase her a poofy tutu, but very unsuccessfully, and therefore I decided to make it myself. This is what I came up with. I am quite proud of myself. Did I mention no sewing required??

Now my little darling truly looks the part!!!

2008-06-24T02:01:00.002-04:00

Good order is the foundation of all things.--Edmund Burke (Reflections on the Revolution in France)

ROOM OF THE DAY: OFFICE

2008-05-26T01:19:00.004-04:00

Image by rephlektiv via Flickr

I keep my office nice and tidy by filing and clearing my workspace at the end of each day. It has become a habit...now I just do it automatically, I don't even think about it! I keep everything sorted and purge what I have no use for. Therefore, I usually go through everything twice a year. I adopted this from years working in an office...I liked the system so much, I brought it home! I didn't miss my job, but I missed the system.

Home offices often become a dumping zone or a storage area for anything you are not using on regular basis. Anyhow, I do have some tips to share with you on how to become organized and stay that way. It's a breeze, once you get a hang of it. It only takes me 5-10 minutes a day.

-Lets start at the beginning. Just like with any other clutter, empty your desktop, drawers, filing cabinets and shelves. I usually dump everything on my office floor (always keep your papers separate...we'll get to them later). Sort each item into piles. I have little bins that I find extremely useful for sorting my office supplies.

-Place all like items together in a separate bin or pile...pens/pencils/markers...whiteout...paper clips...staples etc. I purge as much as I can as I go through this.

-Put the office supplies back to where they belong, either using drawer organizers or if you don't have drawers in your desk, there are plenty desktop organizers available...choose what will suit your needs the best. You can also be creative and make your own! Just make sure that everything has its designated storage area.

-I also use a lot of little decorative cardboard storage boxes with labels (eg. stationary, business cards, tapes, cartridges etc) and put them on my shelves, along with books and framed photos. It looks neat, and I know exactly where everything is!

-Keep all frequently used reference books on lower shelves, where you can access them easily. Categorize them by subject and in alphabetical order.

PAPERS

-Again, same idea...sort through your papers, keeping everything in categories. Throw out unnecessary papers.

-Establish a broader category and sub-categorize all papers.

-Make sure you write the category and the year on each label.

-I keep all my active files separate from my archives. I archive my files at the end of each year and keep them in a small plastic bin in my storage area. These are the items that I have to keep for records, but don't use.

-My active files are placed into my filing cabinet...easily accessible. Alphabetical order.

-I also have a three-tray organizer on my desk. I labeled them:

in-box
out-box
filing

Open all mail daily. Discard envelopes. Staple papers together, stamp with date or write date received. Put into in-box.
I keep keep folders in my in-box labeled:

bills
to do
time sensitive-VERY IMPORTANT!

my in-box is for anything I have to do, but didn't have the time to do. I try to get to it at the end of the day.

Once you pay your bills, stamp with "paid" and date it. Put into "filing" tray, and outgoing mail into out-box.

-My ongoing projects I keep in color coded binders.

If you have due dates for each project, mark it in same colored marker on your desktop calendar.

Take 5-10 minutes at the end of the day to clear off your desktop and file all papers. Voila! Your job is done.

I hope my system helps you. It makes my life a hell of a lot easier.
If you have any questions or tips, we would be more than happy to hear from you.

Happy organizing guys!

Kristina

"WHAT TO BRING CAMPING" LIST

2008-05-25T18:23:00.014-04:00

Save Yourself Some Drama with the “YOU FORGOT MY…”

Hello my fellow campers,

Camping season has officially begun! My husband and I are avid campers, in fact we pretty much met while camping with friends. The following time we met up on a camping trip, we fell in love and the rest is history! Since then I went camping pregnant five times, and we have been taking our beautiful children camping a few times every year. So if you want to talk camping, I’m your girl!

Every one needs a little organization when planning a camping trip with kids, I’m sure alone you can kick it without a few things, but with children, it’s complete chaos if you forget one single thing.

So, first things first. A week before you go, write out a “my kid can’t live without” list so you WILL NOT forget the little important things. At the very end, grab a small backpack and have your child pick “indoor” toys that he/she wants to take, in case you need to stay inside the tent (rain or for settling down at bedtime). These toys should stay in the tent at all times. Once you have that set, we can move on to the basics.

The basics are: Shelter, Bedding, Tools, Cooking Supplies, Clothing, Toiletries, and Miscellaneous items that you might need to bring.

THE BASICS

SHELTER AND BEDDING

Tent

Include extra pegs
Image via Wikipedia

Tarps

You are better off putting tarps up all around your site, or just over your tent and fire pit, in case it rains, you can still cook!

A small one to put in front of your tent to prevent you from bringing dirt in

ROPES!

There’s never enough, especially if you are hanging tarps, clothes line, etc.

Sleeping bags
Extra pillows and blankets

Sometimes it gets really chilly at night

Air mattresses or cots

For those who don’t like to rough it!

DON’T FORGET THE AIR PUMP!

TOOLS

Axe and hammer for chopping firewood and pounding tent pegs
A knife or scissors to help cut rope
Repair kits for both the air mattresses and tents
And also bring miscellaneous tools, that you think might come in handy

COOKING SUPPLIES

Cooler, thermos
Water bucket
Food, water
Stove, campfire or BBQ grill

Fuel or propane. Don’t forget a lighter/matches and all the other supplies you need for your stove ex. Fire starters, extra propane, newspapers, charcoal, etc.

Tablecloths, plates, bowls, cups, glasses, cutlery, cooking utensils, and Tupperware for left over food storage.

DON’T FORGET A KNIFE! And of course a cutting board, and your buddy, the can opener. They all come in very handy!

Paper towels, garbage bags, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, ZipLoc bags, napkins, dish rags.
Oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, sugar, any other condiments
Dish soap, a container/bowl to do dishes in, Brillo pads
Laundry detergent, dryer sheets or fabric softener, clothes pins

If the campground has a laundry facility, bring your own supplies, because they charge an arm and a leg for a cup of detergent, and if you have little ones, YOU HAVE LAUNDRY!

CLOTHES AND TOILETRIES

The clothes you should pick according to the season, climate and weather forecast.
Make sure you bring extra t-shirts or sweaters “just in case”
Don’t forget your rain gear (including umbrellas), swim suit, towels, pajamas, and hats
As far as toiletries, you know what you use and what you need.

Don’t forget:

Lip balm, sun block, toilet paper, bug repellent, medication

If no shower facilities available, take a camping shower.

MISCELLANEOUS (The Big One)

Lantern, candles, flashlights, extra batteries and bulbs, lantern fuel
Compass, whistle, binoculars
Water filters, or treatment tablets
Maps, directions, reservation information and your confirmation, note pad and pen
Form of communication: Cell phone (with charger, or extra batteries), walkie-talkies or 2-way radio phones.
Ropes, straps, tape (you never know when you’ll need it)
Folding chairs, table, hammock

Most campgrounds have picnic tables at each site.

Well those were some of the more important miscellaneous, as far as the rest goes, you decide what you wish to bring, whether it’s fishing gear, cards, radios etc.

My husband and I have three large plastic containers that we pack our basics in, (excluding our clothing). It makes packing a breeze and we know exactly where everything is. Color code your boxes, each color box is for a different thing. Example, we have a large navy blue box for all of your cooking supplies, (well most, we also have a cooler with food), our big black box is for most of the miscellaneous, all tools, and everything but tents from the shelter and bedding list. The third box, which is red, is for most of our kids stuff, like outdoor toys, (shovels, pails, etc.), their camping chairs, flashlights, and the “little things” that matter the most.

DON’T FORGET A FIRST AID KIT AND HEALTH COVERAGE INFORMATION

Accidents happen, be prepared!

Now that I have you guys all packed nicely, ENJOY!

Care to share your favorite camping moments, blunders, or “MOM, YOU FORGOT” dramas?! Please feel free to post anything you wish, or tips I might have missed.

I wish you all the best of luck for the camping season 2008! Have loads of fun, and don’t forget your camera for the little Kodak moments.

Have Fun!

Val