Tuesday, April 23, 2013

top 10 :: spring cleaning ideas

I'm not sure what it is about springtime that prompts organization and cleanliness... but regardless, I have spring fever.  I'm loving this warmer weather and I'm ready to knock out a few things off my spring cleaning list.  Here are the top 10 things on my spring cleaning to-do list... and all Pinterest inspired (of course:)...

1) Organize my expedite shelves.  I recently moved some stuff around in my office, which included a big expedite shelf... and for now, there is all kinds of crap shoved into the shelves.  I'm hoping to bring some order to the chaos eventually.


2) Create a "life folder" of some sort.  With all of the adoption paperwork we have been doing lately, now is the perfect time to clean up and update our personal files.  I've been using a similar system for our adoption paperwork, so I'm thinking this will be fairly easy to create.


3) Paint something.  Spring is the perfect time to paint that old piece of furniture that you keep talking about, or maybe you're super artsy and need to pull out the brushes and canvas?  I'm not quite sure what yet... but I'll be painting something this spring:)


4) Do something with my pictures.  I have been working on a Project Life album this past year, but I am incredibly behind.  I would love to figure out a system that works for me... especially in getting all of those past year's photos off of my computer and into an album of some sort.


5) Bring order to my closet.  I may not be able to have a customized walk-in closet... but I can organize parts of my closet.  I love this idea of using an old dresser in a totally new way.


6) Organize those recipes.  I may not cook much... but you would never know that by the amount of recipe cards I have stuffed all over the place.  I have a cute little recipe book... but the cards just never seem to make their way back to the right spot... which is proof that I actually used some of them at one time... 


7) Make use of unseen cabinet space.  This is the perfect spot for take out menus, important phone numbers, baby-sitter notes, and even calendars and doctor appointment reminders.  And those little Martha Stewart self sealing protectors make it super easy to corral everything in one spot.


8) Clean out the fridge.  With my new job, I have been trying to make my lunch more often... and the task is way easier if everything is visible in the refrigerator.  I also love the idea of having all of the sandwich supplies in one convenient container... makes the whole "make-your-lunch-experience" way more tolerable.


9) Splurge on fresh flowers.  It's amazing how much fresh spring flowers can boost your mood.  And how cute is this bouquet in this adorable teapot!


10) Keep going.  And just in case you run out of spring cleaning ideas... here is a website that lists out 40 very attainable organizing ideas.  Most of these are 5-10 minute tasks.  Brilliant.

What about you?  Do you have a spring cleaning list?  Have you already started?  Finished?  Any tips for us late bloomers?


Linking up with...
Michelle at The Vintage Apple
Angie at Many Little Blessings

6 comments:

Zion said...

I love Pinterest! Great list. You can do it :)

Anonymous said...

I actually made a recipe binder like the one you listed of just my grandmothers recipes. I rarely bring it out, because I don't cook that often, but I'm glad it's there.

Angie said...

I wish I would catch the Spring Cleaning Bug but so far nothing! I need to work on a binder for myself as well as organize my recipes desperately. Of course there is a million other little projects I need to do too!

Rebecca and Lori said...

I wish I had more time to clean... I feel like I am never home!
Love that dresser idea- brilliant! I have never seen a dresser put to use and re-imagined like that.
Lori

Anonymous said...

This is an awesome list. I hope May is good to you in your conquests.

Angie @ Many Little Blessings said...

I totally need to do some of these things! Although, I find that as a homeschooler, it seems that summer time tends to be my time to tackle these types of things.