Getting Ready for School!

School starts tomorrow and we've been doing a few things around the house to get ready.  The other day, I had both kids clear off their desks completely and wipe them down.  Now they're ready for their homework, at least in terms of a space to quietly work on it!  We also worked on cleaning their rooms.  I don't want to have to look at messy rooms all day while they're at school because I'll be tempted to clean and purge them while they're gone, which isn't a bad idea anyway.  But I would like them to be part of getting rid of their excess stuff. 

Today, we're putting together a little lunch/snack station in the kitchen.  Since I put them through Self Sufficiency Boot Camp over the summer, I've discovered they're quite capable of making their own lunches (as well as being proficient at many other skills they've been hiding from me).  So, we're going to put the things they need in one place so they can just toss them into their lunch boxes and go.  We'll make a spot in the fridge for cold items they'll need too.  My plan is to prep as much as we can for the week on Sunday so that the mornings don't require a lot of choices and thought.

Here's to all the kids and Moms for the new school year.  Cheers!

Decluttering While the Kids Are In School

Summer break is just about over as the kids return to school next Monday.  As much as I'm going to miss them (for the first week maybe) I'm looking forward to having some uninterrupted chunks of time to tackle things around the house.  I want to declutter some closets, drawers and shelves, and purge some stuff that's taking up space.  Plus there are a few cleaning chores I've been putting off such as wiping down the kitchen cabinets.  Personally, I'd rather declutter and toss things out than clean anything!  Creating space is much more visible and rewarding than dusting or scrubbing.  When we had our carpets cleaned over the summer, the rooms looked so big and spacious without so much stuff in them!  So, that's my intention, to create more space via less stuff.  I'll keep you posted!