Cynthia Ewer's Blog, page 70
January 22, 2013
Challenge Day 17: Declutter Living Room Decor
The New Year brings a breath of fresh air to daily life; today, we'll reflect that seasonal change with a decor declutter.
As we deep-clean and organize the living room this week, it's a good time to cast an appraising eye on the room's decor items.
Does the living room look warm and inviting, or cluttered and cramped?
Today, we'll take a deeper look at the place of decor in an organized home.
Today's Assignment
Declutter Decorative Items
When it comes to creating a lovely home, decor items can ma...
January 21, 2013
Challenge Day 16: Life in the Living Room
At the outset of Living Room Week, an important question arises. Who's living in your living room, and what do they do there?
Some homes feature a formal living room, used to receive guests and put up the Christmas tree-while the family's day-to-day life is lived down the hall in a den or family room. For these families, Living Room Week will be a straightforward process of cleaning walls, light fixtures, furniture and floors.
In other homes, the living room is the central stage for family life...
January 20, 2013
Challenge Day 15: It's Living Room Week
It's a new week in the Cleaning Grand Plan Challenge: today, we take on the living room.
In the days ahead, we'll consider how our living room is used, and schedule time to declutter, deep-clean and organize this central gathering spot in our home.
Goal: to create a relaxing, pleasant and beautiful place to enjoy with family and friends.
January 19, 2013
Challenge Day 14: Entryway Week Wrap-up
Entryway / Foyer Week is drawing to a close; time for a weekend wrap-up!
Today, take the last steps to clean, declutter and organize entry areas to your home.
Looking ahead, the Cleaning Grand Plan Challenge takes on the living room.
Will you have a clean and organized place to visit with family and friends? Join us tomorrow for Living Room Week!
Today's Assignment:
Wrap Up Entryway Week
This first "working" week of the Cleaning Grand Plan Challenge has gone by quickly. How are you doing with you...
January 18, 2013
Challenge Day 13: Keep Tabs on the Keys
Answer honestly: how many times a week does your family play "hunt the keys" ... and how late does it make you?
The solution to the problem of missing keys is as simple as a home and a habit.
Today in the Cleaning Grand Plan Challenge, it's time to establish a dedicated home for key rings--and build a habit to make sure you never lose track of them again.
January 17, 2013
Challenge Day 12: Clean Out the Coat Closet
In the Northern Hemisphere, January brings the year's coldest weather--and puts new demands on the family coat closet.
How do you store the family's outerwear during blustery weather?
Today in the Cleaning Grand Plan Challenge, it's time to take a peek inside the coat closet. Is is free from clutter and ready for use?
January 16, 2013
Challenge Day 11: Stop Dirt at the Door
Friends and family members aren't the only guests that enter the house through the entryway.
Less desirable visitors hitch a ride inside, too: dirt, dust and dander carried into the house through the front door.
Today in the Cleaning Grand Plan Challenge, get tips to stop dirt at door in your organized home.
January 15, 2013
Speed Cleaning Tips From Professional Cleaners
By Cynthia Ewer
Editor, Organized Home
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Paid cleaning help can be a wonderful short-cut to a clean and organized home--if the household budget can stand the cost. But what do you do if the Prize Patrol bypassed your door this year?
Take a speed-cleaning lesson from the pros! Paid cleaning services are masters of the art of speedy, efficient cleaning. Watch professional cleaners at work: they don't waste time, cut corners or dawdle over the job--and they know how to clean fast, clean right.
To...
January 13, 2013
Cleaning Grand Plan Challenge: It's Entryway Week
Cleaning Grand Plan by Katie Leckey
Daily Challenge Messages by Cynthia Ewer
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It's the place where public meets private: the entryway or foyer of your home.
It's the launch zone for family members each day, and the source of a guest's first impression of your home.
This week in the Cleaning Grand Plan Challenge, we'll deep-clean, declutter and organize the portal to the world outside. Daily challenges will focus on cutting morning chaos and fine-tuning daily routines.
Ready? Let's tackle the...
Goalposts: What Football Players Know About Setting And Reaching Goals
By Cynthia Ewer
Editor, Organized Home
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Wheeling my shopping cart down the aisle at the supermarket this week, I was forced to take notice that it was, indeed, football season. With my attention distracted by a flashing soda display, my cart crashed into the corner of a miniature football field, constructed entirely out of beer cases.
Untangling my cart (and trying to shove the cases back into line before anyone noticed that I'd creamed the goalpost), it occurred to me that I could learn a...
