20 Day Challenge - OVERVIEW

{Clean, De-clutter & Organise Your Home in just 20 Days!} 
Check out what I did to my home in just 20 days...includes before and after photos...See it here.

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{20 Day Challenge} Day 20 - THE LAST DAY

{Day 20}

I can't believe it is Day 20 - the last day of the 20 Days to Organise & Clean Your Home Challenge - although I only need to look at my house and see how clean & organised it is...routines are put in place, new habits & 5 minutes tasks completed regularly...I am feeling fantastic and very proud of myself for completing this challenge!

Today I de-cluttered a few things from the freezer and gave it a good clean... PLUS I have organised a "Baking Day" with my daughter for this weekend - to celebrate my success. 

Looking back... My Goals

When at home I want to feel organised and relaxed

I want to spend more time doing fun activites outside with my family & Blogging 

I want an area of the home where I can set up a desk/area for laptop and stationary

I want to organise my Bedroom & the containers of 'sentimental items' hidden away in the wardrobes

I don't need anymore but can't part with clothes and teacher resources

I always lose motivation

NOW??

• I am definitely feeling more organised and relaxed and so does my partner when he gets home from work.
• I have loved blogging about my journey during the 20 day challenge. I hope you have enjoyed reading about it and seeing the before and after photos.
• Now that the house is sorted I am looking forward to spending more time outside enjoying the sunshine with my kids. BRING ON SUMMER
• I now have a designated area where I work and where I keep my stationary etc.. 
• My bedroom is clean & organised and I make my bed every morning before I leave the room.
• I have culled and organised A LOT of my 'sentimental items' which feels great to FINALLY get it done
• I have donated 3 rubbish bags full of clothes/shoes to op-shop & dumped a rubbish bag full of teacher resources no longer needed.

This is my home. I would be happy if potential buyers walked through my house today and opened my cupboards!!

Hi 5 and a MASSIVE THANK YOU to Katrina & Kate at The Organised Housewife

and to everyone in our AWESOME FB Community!! You are all fantastic - give yourselves a PAT on the BACK for making the first step - SIGNING UP to this CHALLENGE!  There is a light at the end of the tunnel!! You WILL get there!! Believe in yourselves! I believe in you! 

To anyone that is considering doing the challenge! I highly recommend it.

 

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DIY Headband Organiser

(I also made this Handprint Art using strips of scrapbook paper) 

Today I got all crafty and made a Headband Organiser for Miss B! All you need is a formula tin (or equivalent), scrapbook paper & washi tape/glue. I was inspired by the lovely Katrina at The Organised Housewife - she has a great post of how to make one HERE. Miss B loves it and now wants to get some more headbands! 

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{20 Day Challenge} Day 11 - Washing machine & Linen Cupboard

Week 3 kicks off with cleaning the washing machine and sorting out the linen cupboard!

For me, the tasks didn't take too long. I had already cleaned the washing machine a couple of months ago, so today I just gave it a quick clean & did a vinegar-hot water rinse.  (oops - I didn't take a before photo - but I can tell you it was pretty yucky!) 

How do you clean your washing machine? How often do you clean it? 

Linen Cupboard

It can be a challenge to keep sheet sets organised amongst duvets, sheets, and blankets. The Organised Housewife has some great tips on her post Organising the Linen Cupboard. Check it out! Martha Stewart also has a simple solution - How to keep matching sets together!

Using either of these strategies, you are bound to have a perfectly presentable linen cupboard you won’t mind showing off to guests.

After a while the towel cupboard can get a bit chaotic, towels just chucked on the shelf. So today I was able to de-clutter a few towels from the pile (now used as rags) and organised the towels nicely on the shelf! I keep my face clothes in a basket so that they are easy to find and not scattered around the cupboard. 

I have black, white and a pop of colour in our bathroom! Every time I walk in there, it's like I'm in a hotel room (especially after giving it a really good clean the other week during this challenge). Feels great knowing that these cupboards are tidy and organised. 

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{20 Day Challenge} Day 10 - Cleaning the Oven

Wow! I can't believe we are already half-way through the 20 Days to Organise and Clean Your Home Challenge - and what better way to celebrate than with Cleaning the Oven! ugghhh.

I had a feeling that this task was going to be on the list. I was in denial. I didn't want to clean the oven. I hate cleaning ovens, I really, really do.  I have probably only cleaned an oven three to five times in my lifetime. In my previous houses (rentals), I cleverly designated this job to other people - my mum, my friend (such a good friend) and last year I payed a professional cleaner to clean the oven after I moved out (worth every cent).

I have used a range of oven cleaners that you can buy from the supermarket - almost passing out from the fumes, and have also just used soapy water & a Steelo. 

The Organised Housewife has a great post on How to Clean the Oven on her website (this is what I did to clean mine). I have to say Bicarb soda & Vinegar Combination is now my best 'cleaning' friend. I had my own little science experience happening in my oven today (lol). 

I am AMAZED at how clean the oven looks now. It's so shiny - I never want to use it again. I can actually see through the glass panel on the front. The racks came up pretty good too after a bit of scrubbing with a Steelo **I used the Steelo to clean the grease off the glass panel as well. Such a great tool to have.  

Some other useful posts about How to Clean the Oven I found useful. You can check them out here and here.

I am STOKED to give Day 10 - Cleaning the Oven a BIG TICK. Woohoo.

Now to take a break from the cleaning & enjoy the weekend with my family.

Have a great weekend everyone. 

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{20 Day Challenge} Day 8 - Toy/Craft/Spare or Extra Living Room

{Day 8} 

I have to say that I am absolutely loving the "20 Days to Organise and Clean Your Home" Challenge with The Organised Housewife. I am already seeing a shift in how I organise & clean our home. New habits and routines are put in place to make things run a lot smoother - even Miss B is doing a few extra jobs to help out. I am very thankful to Katrina & our Facebook group - a community of wonderful women who are very inspiring and have some fantastic ideas and tips. You all ROCK!

Today's task: Toy/Craft/Spare or Extra Living Room

I don't have a toy room, spare room or a craft room (I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing lol) I do however have Craft & Games Cupboard! I actually did this a couple of weeks ago, when I started doing the pre-task challenges (as I was motivated to get stuck into jobs that I had been putting off for a loooong time). It was a massive job because I went through EVERYTHING, de-cluttering as I went! (in the end I filled a rubbish bag of junk). I love how more organised it is now and the fact that we can find things, whereas before I was scared that something would fall on me! Looks much better, don't you think? 

Miss B's stationary is also organised! 

Now I really need to do the same for my Teacher Resources - at the moment it's all in containers hidden in my wardrobe! I'd say we will be doing an Office task so I shall save it for then! eeek Watch this space.

Do you have a toy room/craft room/spare room or extra living room? 

How does it look? Clean & Organised? or Messy & Cluttered? 

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{20 Day Challenge} Day 7 - Fridge

When was the last time you gave your fridge a good clean? 

I mean pulling EVERYTHING OUT and wiping the inside, washing the shelves & wiping the outside! This is what I did with ours today! 

I usually give our fridge a quick tidy the night before rubbish day and again before I do our weekly groceries, so it wasn't too bad, but needed a good clean nonetheless. It's also a good time to dump any items that have expired - that are usually tucked away in the back of the fridge (guilty!). 

After giving it a good wipe inside, washing all the shelving the warm soapy water - I put everything back in the fridge, grouping food items - making the fridge look more organised, and finally wiping down the outside.

{MEAL PLANNING}

Do you do Meal Planning for the week/fortnight/month? I have been trialling it for a while now and I can tell you - it is FANTASTIC! If you are not doing it - YOU NEED TO! It takes the stress out of answering that dreaded (nagging) question "What's for dinner?" every night!

   

Idea 1: You can use a magnetic Weekly Planner. Pop it on your fridge and fill in what you plan on having for dinner for that week (also great for jotting down events/special occasions/notes) 

   

Idea 2: Download a FREE Weekly Menu Plan (go to 20 Free Menu Plan Printables for ideas) or make your own, print, fill it in & pop it on your fridge. 

The Organised Housewife did a fantastic post on Meal Plan Inspiration yesterday! There are so many yummy meals! If you are wanting/needing more meal ideas - I definitely recommend you check out her page (just click on the links) 

All-in-all, I had a great day cleaning and organising the fridge and getting the meal plan sorted! 

P.S Tonights Lasagne was delicious :) 

What did you have for dinner? 

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20 day Challenge STARTS TOMORROW!

I am really excited about what the next 20 days are going to bring me, my family and especially my HOME! 

Last month, I signed up to participate in the 20 days to Organise and Clean your Home Challenge with The Organised Housewife because...

1. I love an Organising/Decluttering challenge 

2. I am a sentimental hoarder and need help! (lol)

3. I want to enjoy the Summer holiday with my family, not stuck inside cleaning!

4. I want to get our house ready for potential buyers (as we are selling in the new year) 

5. It's good for my mind, body & soul!

(*squeal*) THE CHALLENGE STARTS TOMORROW!! You can read about what is involved in the challenge HERE (Please note Registrations close 5th October, 2014)

Since I registered, I have been busy completing the Pre-Challenge Tasks - these tasks are used to prepare us for the weeks ahead and I am happy to report that I am OFFICIALLY READY TO GO!! 

We will be focusing on a different area of the house each day. I will not be sharing detailed information about the tasks due to it being a MEMBERS ONLY group, however, I am going to share with you MY JOURNEY as I tackle the 20 day challenge...so WATCH THIS SPACE :) 

This is my journey -  20 Day Challenge!

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