My To Do List

As much as I love technology and all that is available to do with technology, there are a few paper things I still enjoy.

I prefer actual books over my Kindle.

I prefer to write out my grocery list on paper over any app I have found.

And I prefer a 'to do' list on paper over my phone.

I know there are many systems and apps out there.

I have tried many systems and apps.

Here is the thing...whoever created any particular system or app, that system or app worked well for that person. Maybe the person shared that system or app and it worked well for a bunch of people. Doesn't necessarily mean the system or app will work for you or me.

Maybe you have tried countless systems or apps, and none of them work for you.

That is okay.

Why?

Because you have to find what works for you.

Just because 'something' works well for 'everyone', doesn't mean it is right for you.

So why am I sharing about my to do list?

Because it works for me.

And maybe it might work for you.

It is simply a junior legal pad and a pen.

This is not a daily to do list.

I started this list on Monday, and today is Friday.

I added things to the list each day this week.

Some of these things I finished earlier in the week.

Some of these things I finished yesterday.

As you can see, I still need to do a couple of things on this list.

I keep a running to do list because there are things I need to remember to do, and I won't remember to do them unless I write them down.

So now that this blog post is written, I need to write letters to my Compassion kids!

How do you keep track of your to do items through the week?

Kickstart to Clutter Free - Day 14

Finally, I have made time to tackle day 14 of Kathi Lipp's Kickstart to Clutter Free challenge! Today's challenge...the Dining Room...

This is what my dining room looked like this morning. Yes, there is a bunch of stuff on the table and on that end chair. The dining room table is an easy place for me to dump stuff as we come into the house. Flat surfaces and I are constantly having a battle in our home. I know what I 'need' to do, but there are times when I am just too lazy to tackle it.

So this morning, I grabbed my Kickstart to Clutter Free checklist and started working on clearing off the table.

First thing I did was correct and look through my daughter's school work. As a homeschool mom, this is a constant task for me. But rather than put her books at her place on the table, I actually walked them back to her room. Less clutter on the table!

Then I started working my way through old mail and other things that found they way to trying to be permanent fixtures on the table.

I changed out the table cloth and stopped for some flowers on our way home from Bible study.

Amazing how just 15 minutes of clearing out the clutter can change the look of a room!

Now I know it has taken me a whole lot longer than 14 days to complete this challenge, but I am glad I was able to make it work around my life. I am looking forward to doing some deeper de-cluttering around our home over the next few weeks and months.

If you are looking to start de-cluttering your home, I really recommend Kathi's Kickstart to Clutter Free challenge. Just think, in 14 days you can clear out over 500 items in your home! 

Kickstart to Clutter Free - Day 13

After being under the weather for about a week, I finally had a chance to get back on track with Kathi's Kickstart to Clutter Free challenge. Today's task...eliminate 25 items from your car.

Front seat...yep, my empty Jamba Juice cup that was basically my lunch yesterday after a meeting out of town.

Back seat...a full trash container and a couple of water bottles.

But on closer inspection, once I looked in the glove compartment, the door pouches, the seat pockets, and the middle console, I was amazed at what I found in my car.

Pens, buttons, old paperwork, a power cord that we don't need, an old magazine, extra CDs, card games we don't use any more...I even found someone's missing pair of socks!

I was quickly able to go through what needed to be thrown away, put away, and set aside to give away.

And the exciting thing about completing today's task...I only have one more day to complete on this challenge, which means I have eliminated over 475 items from my home!

Kickstart to Clutter Free - Day 12

Last summer, after reading Kathi's book, Clutter Free, I cleared out one whole bookcase of books and had my daughter help me go through the clothes in my closet. So for today's Kickstart to Clutter Free challenge, I was able to clear out some of the other items in my closet.

As of this morning, my closet looked like this:

I was quickly able to find 25 items to remove from my closet

There are still many things I would like to clear out of my closet, but I keep reminding myself that this is just a start.

So the before and after picture don't look much different, but I do know that at this point, there are 25 less things in my closet!

I am so excited that I only have two more days to complete on Kathi's Kickstart to Clutter Free eCourse challenge! If you are wanting to clear out clutter in your home, you should definitely look into Kathi's eCourse. I know it is making a big difference in my home!

Kickstart to Clutter Free - Day 11

Getting closer to the last day of Kathi's Kickstart to Clutter Free challenge! Today's challenge is the medicine cabinet. Our 'medicine cabinet' lives in two areas in our home, one shelf in the kitchen and one drawer in one of the bathrooms.

So let's see the kitchen area first:

This shelf is where our vitamins and pain relievers live...or so I thought:

Once I pulled everything out, I was kind of surprised with how much was living on that shelf. So I checked dates on the bottles and boxes, and put back everything that I was keeping. Here is everything that I didn't put back:

Not sure why I was keeping all of those care and use guides, but they quickly made their way to the garbage. And the outdated benadryl?

Added it to my shopping list because it is something we need to keep on hand.

With the kitchen shelf cleared out, it was time to clear out the drawer in the bathroom:

Yep, this drawer is a mess!

My kids are 21 and 16, so I know we have no use for Baby Orajel, not even going to think about how old that tube is! Why is the towel ring hanging out in the bathroom drawer? Who knows, definitely something to give away. And that old instant thermometer? It doesn't even work anymore. That ended up in the trash.

Ah, much better!

Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the opportunity to attend Kathi's Finally Clutter Free events. She is a big believer in that when we overcome clutter in our lives, we are free to become world changers. One way that she is a world changer is by sponsoring children through Compassion international and sharing about her experiences at her events. At the last two events she has held, 12 children have been sponsored!

Not only do I encourage you to give Kathi's eCourse a try, but give it a try so you can clear out clutter in your home and become a world changer for a Compassion child today!