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During our two weeks off here, I'm hoping to get the house decluttered and scrubbed so that it's more manageable for me next year.

 

Here are the rooms I want to get done:

 

Living Room

Dining Room

Kitchen

Mud/computer Room

Playroom

Our Bedroom

Bathroom

Office

Kid Bedroom #1

Kid Bedroom #2

Upstairs Living Room/Playroom

Basement

 

Does anyone have any chore/winter cleaning/decluttering tips or things to-do that I should remember?

 

I'm also thinking of using the "Motivatedmoms" list to keep things in order after the big cleanup. Does anyone have experience with that?

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Well, I'm off to a good start today. I've:

 

- added things to my lists for each room

- decluttered the living room

- rearranged the living room furniture

- did 2 loads of dishes

- scrubbed out and polished the kitchen sink

- wiped out the bathroom sink

- made our bed

- put away a load of laundry, started another load in the washer

- cleared the office floor enough to vacuum it

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Here's my list:

 

Laundry Room:

sweep

check dryer ductwork

wipe off washer/dryer

take out garbage

Check for cobwebs

Wipe off freezer

Wipe down counter top

 

Foyers

clean closet

vacuum

Clean carpet

clean light fixtures

inspect/wash walls

wash curtains

clean windowsills

wash entry doors

Check for cobwebs

 

Kitchen

sweep

sweep and mop floor

scrub floor

wash dishes/clean counter, stove, and sink

put away dishes

declutter

clean a cupboard

clean a drawer

clean light fixtures

clean oven vent

clean oven vent filter

wash blinds

clean window sills

wash windows

clean screens

wash walls

wash woodwork

clean oven

wash top and outside of refrigerator

clean inside of refrigerator

sort freezer

clean coffee pot

wash do-dads

clean small appliances and canisters

Check for cobwebs

 

Living Room

vacuum

clean carpet

vacuum furniture

dust furniture

straighten bookshelves

clean drawers

wash windows

clean screens

wash windowsills

wash curtains

wash blinds

clean woodwork

inspect/wash walls

throw away old periodicals

dust lamp shades and bulbs

clean out computer desk

clean art frames

dust whatnots

Check for cobwebs

 

Dining Room

clean mirrors

dust furniture

vacuum

clean carpet

straighten china cabinet

straighten books under fishtank

clean drawers

wash windows

clean screens

wash windowsills

wash curtains

wash blinds

clean woodwork

inspect/wash walls

clean art frames

dust whatnots

Check for cobwebs

 

Family Room

vacuum

sweep

vacuum furniture

dust furniture

sort/arrange movies

straighten bookshelves

wash windows

clean screens

wash window sills

wash curtains

clean woodwork

inspect/wash walls

throw away old periodicals

dust lamp shades and bulbs

inspect equipment hook-ups

clean art frames

dust whatnots

Check for cobwebs

 

Bedroom

vacuum

clean carpet

dust furniture

straighten bookshelves

clean drawers

wash windows

clean screens

wash windowsills

wash curtains

wash blinds

clean woodwork

inspect/wash walls

dust lamp shades and bulbs

clean art frames

dust whatnots

Check for cobwebs

 

Bathroom

wash mirror

wash counter and sink

clean commode

sweep

sweep and mop

refill soap dispenser

clean tub

clean cabinets

clean drawers

take out garbage

clean woodwork including cabinets

inspect/wash walls

wash closet doors

clean light fixture

wash do-dads

check grout, plan repair work

inspect plumbing

wash shower curtain

 

School room

vacuum

clean carpet

vacuum furniture

dust furniture

straighten bookshelves

clean drawers

clean woodwork

inspect/wash walls

throw away old periodicals

clean art frames

dust whatnots

Check for cobwebs

 

 

 

 

Edited by Parrothead
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Here's my list for each room do far (hoping to get it done over the next two weeks):

 

Living Room

 

Done - declutter living room

Done - sweep around wood stove

- vacuum furniture

- mop living room

- dust furniture & windowsils

- vacuum curtains

- weed out shoes that kids don't wear

- straighten end table drawers

Done - clean out under coffee table

- move couches & vacuum underneath

- dust fan

 

Dining Room

 

- organize school shelves

- declutter & organize cabinet

- scrub down dining room table and chairs

- mop dining room

Done - clean dining room windows

- clean out under changing table

- wipe down woodwork

- dust fan

 

Kitchen

 

- empty china cabinet, clean shelves & glass, put dishes back

- move book boxes out of kitchen

- organize kitchen drawers

Done - sort through junk drawer

- organize spice rack

- clean out under the sink

- sort out cabinet under stove

- scrub down stovetop

Done - empty sink & scrub out

- throw away old foodstuffs

- empty fridge and clean the inside

- wipe down cabinet fronts

- mop kitchen

- clean kitchen windows

 

Playroom

 

Done - throw away broken toys

Done - put toys back where they go

- weed out toys to take to Goodwill

- clean windows & mirror

- shake out carpet

- sweep playroom

- mop playroom

- clean out closet

- wipe down woodwork

- dust windowsils

 

Bedroom

 

Done - clear off floor

- wash sheets

- organize dresser drawers

- clear top of dresser

- straighten up shelves

- straighten up closet

- clean windows

- dust fan

- wipe down woodwork

- vacuum carpet

- wash curtains

 

Bathroom

 

Done - organize bathroom closet

Done - empty trash

Done - scrub tub

- clean toilet

Done- mop floor

- paint bathroom a less ugly color

 

Office

 

- declutter office

- empty out closet

- straighen up bookshelves

Done - move white bookshelf upstairs

- vacuum carpet

- clean windows

- wash curtains

 

Kids' Rooms

 

- help kids clean their rooms

 

Basement

 

- take lots of stuff to Goodwill and the dump

Edited by phathui5
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I'm not doing my list right now. I posted it as a guide for anyone who wants to utilize it. Right now I'm just trying to keep up with the daily chores. It is probably another post but I've had it up to "here" with these other people in my house and the constant chores they create for me. I can see another family discussion coming very soon.

 

Anywhoo, enjoy your cleaning time. I'm going to do mine in February. We will have a week off then, and I won't have to clean around the Christmas decorations.

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Well I have almost finished the mainfloor, including washing walls, light fixtures, replacing burnt out bulbs that I had been avoiding etc. Left to do on my main floor is the kitchen cabinets and the school books.

 

I also have planned out the first 2 weeks of next semester and sorted through 4 giant boxes of handme downs I was given and took 2 of the giant boxes filled with the clothes I didn't want to good will.

 

I only started on Saturday but have a good rhythm going, and the fact baby girl has a cold and is getting her molars has meant that 2 nights in a row now she has been up and wanting to be walking about from 3-5 am, so that gives me 2 extra hours to get work done each day.

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I'll only have a little time to put in this morning, as we're meeting friends for a field trip at 10am. I'm going to try to do 1 or 2 things while I get the kids ready to go. Then I'll edit my list to reflect things done.

 

Any more cleaning site recommendations? How about books? Movies?

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I'm done for today. We made some progress.

 

I started on my lesson planing for Jan-March as well.

Looks like you made quite a bit of progress. I'm going to be happy today when the laundry is finished. I feel like such a slacker.

 

Swellmomma looks like you have been busy too.

 

Those of you that are being industrious, keep up the great work.

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Here's where I'm at right now. I'm trying to pick what to do next:

 

Here's my list for each room do far (hoping to get it done over the next two weeks):

 

Living Room

 

Done - declutter living room

Done - sweep around wood stove

- vacuum furniture

- mop living room

- dust furniture & windowsils

- vacuum curtains

- weed out shoes that kids don't wear

- straighten end table drawers

Done - clean out under coffee table

- move couches & vacuum underneath

- dust fan

 

Dining Room

 

- organize school shelves

- declutter & organize cabinet

- scrub down dining room table and chairs

- mop dining room

Done - clean dining room windows

- clean out under changing table

- wipe down woodwork

- dust fan

 

Kitchen

 

- empty china cabinet, clean shelves & glass, put dishes back

- move book boxes out of kitchen

- organize kitchen drawers

Done - sort through junk drawer

- organize spice rack

- clean out under the sink

- sort out cabinet under stove

- scrub down stovetop

Done - empty sink & scrub out

- throw away old foodstuffs

- empty fridge and clean the inside

- wipe down cabinet fronts

- mop kitchen

- clean kitchen windows

 

Playroom

 

Done - throw away broken toys

Done - put toys back where they go

- weed out toys to take to Goodwill

- clean windows & mirror

- shake out carpet

- sweep playroom

- mop playroom

- clean out closet

- wipe down woodwork

- dust windowsils

 

Bedroom

 

Done - clear off floor

Done - wash sheets

- organize dresser drawers

- clear top of dresser

- straighten up shelves

- straighten up closet

- clean windows

- dust fan

- wipe down woodwork

- vacuum carpet

- wash curtains

- post playpen on freecycle

 

Bathroom

 

Done - organize bathroom closet

Done - empty trash

Done - scrub tub

Done - clean toilet

Done - mop floor

- paint bathroom a less ugly color

 

Office

 

Done - declutter office

Done - empty out closet

Done - straighen up bookshelves

Done - move white bookshelf upstairs

Done - vacuum carpet

Done - clean windows

- wash curtains

Done - bag up books for Goodwill

 

Kids' Rooms

 

- help kids clean their rooms

 

Basement

 

- take lots of stuff to Goodwill and the dump

- sweep laundry area

- take out trash in laundry area

- clean basement windows

Edited by phathui5
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Lots to do today! Dh's Christmas present is going to be a "man room." I'm turning our old office into a space that's his. No toys, no kid stuff, etc.

 

I got him a foosball table and my brother is bringing it over to set it up. I'm going to go out after that and get some other things to put in the room. Right now I'm working on scrubbing the place down.

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Does anyone have any chore/winter cleaning/decluttering tips or things to-do that I should remember?

 

I'm also thinking of using the "Motivatedmoms" list to keep things in order after the big cleanup. Does anyone have experience with that?

 

I love the Motivated Moms planner. LOVE it.

 

My only other tip is consolidation. After decluttering the fluff you don't use, see what you can consolidate. I recently consolidated my millions of cleaning products into just a few to keep under each sink. (Kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room.) That way, every room has all the cleaning products it needs, and I have fewer bottles and cans to worry about overall. My cabinets have never been so organized. I'm about to do the same with shower/shampoo/makeup products.

 

Anything that can be consolidated into fewer items makes a big difference!

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I almost fainted when I read this thread!!! KUDOS to you for having the energy to do this right now after all the Christmas hubbub! I can barely peel myself off the couch today I'm so tired from it all!!

 

I did do it in three wks over the summer though, and you will be so glad when you finish-really helps you feel on top of things and organized! Have fun!

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My focus this morning is our Bedroom. It was Santa's workroom, but we are DONE with that stuff!!!!

 

After a shopping break (I have to take MIL home anyway!) I'm goign to work on my new office space. DH bought and put up a bunch of white wire shelves for me and I'm thinking about using some of my money to get a new desk. Of course, I still have to get RID of the old one....it's a 4 piece, u-shaped with hutch. And wasted SO MUCH space. But I digress. EVERYTHING in my office is currently on the floor, so I've got a TON of work to do. UGH UGH But I do have about $125 of fun organizational stuff from Ikea to play with :D

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Progress!

 

Here's my list for each room do far (hoping to get it done over the next two weeks):

 

Living Room

 

Done - declutter living room

Done - sweep around wood stove

Done - vacuum furniture

- mop living room

- dust furniture & windowsils

Done - vacuum curtains

Done - weed out shoes that kids don't wear

Done - straighten end table drawers

Done - clean out under coffee table

- move couches & vacuum underneath

- dust fan

 

Dining Room

 

- organize school shelves

- declutter & organize cabinet

- scrub down dining room table and chairs

- mop dining room

Done - clean dining room windows

- clean out under changing table

- wipe down woodwork

- dust fan

 

Kitchen

 

- empty china cabinet, clean shelves & glass, put dishes back

- move book boxes out of kitchen

- organize kitchen drawers

Done - sort through junk drawer

- organize spice rack

- clean out under the sink

- sort out cabinet under stove

- scrub down stovetop

Done - empty sink & scrub out

- throw away old foodstuffs

- empty fridge and clean the inside

- wipe down cabinet fronts

- mop kitchen

- clean kitchen windows

 

Playroom

 

Done - throw away broken toys

Done - put toys back where they go

- weed out toys to take to Goodwill

- clean windows & mirror

- shake out carpet

- sweep playroom

- mop playroom

- clean out closet

- wipe down woodwork

- dust windowsils

 

Bedroom

 

Done - clear off floor

Done - wash sheets

- organize dresser drawers

- clear top of dresser

- straighten up shelves

Done - straighten up closet

- clean windows

- dust fan

- wipe down woodwork

- vacuum carpet

- wash curtains

Done - post playpen on freecycle

 

Bathroom

 

Done - organize bathroom closet

Done - empty trash

Done - scrub tub

Done - clean toilet

Done - mop floor

- paint bathroom a less ugly color

 

Office

 

Done - declutter office

Done - empty out closet

Done - straighen up bookshelves

Done - move white bookshelf upstairs

Done - vacuum carpet

Done - clean windows

- wash curtains

Done - bag up books for Goodwill

 

Kids' Rooms

 

- help kids clean their rooms

 

Basement

 

- take lots of stuff to Goodwill and the dump

- sweep laundry area

- take out trash in laundry area

- clean basement windows

Edited by phathui5
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I'm joining in a little late.

 

Order Dumpster-Done (Friday)

Schedule hide-a-bed pick up-Done(Friday)

Schedule 1986 200-pound broken 27-inch TV pick up-Done (Friday)

Schedule Donations Pick Up

Buy new vacuum-Bought a Kenmore Progressive Upright Vacuum with Inteli-Clean System and I love it! Also bought a furniture dolly, because as DH whispered, we're getting old.

 

(Okay, the dumpster thing--we got new dining room chairs, and our old, broken chairs are in the garage, along with the mouse-chewed Christmas tree we had to replace. Dumpsters are cheaper where we live as we have no dump. Besides, I'm being BRUTAL with my decluttering, so it's convenient. Will arrive Monday)

 

 

 

Living Room

 

Master Bedroom-Decluttered, umteen bags of garbage, eek! Two tubs full of donations(Friday)

 

School Room-work in progress(Saturday)

 

Bathroom-Decluttered. A few bags of garbage, couple of things for donation(Friday)

 

DS's Room

 

Hall Closet

 

Living Room

 

Kitchen/Dining Area

 

Family Room

 

Laundry Room

 

Basement

 

Exercise Room

 

Garage

Edited by Frankie
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You are such an inspiration to me. I can't seem to get rooms done in only an hour, though. Thank you for starting this thread, as it's keeping me going!

 

I have been working on our school room off and on all day long. It is so very hard for me to cull books. I have only one child, who is now 13, and I really don't have room for all the younger books. Sigh.

 

I have filled three tubs full of books/curricula to sell, and have another tub full to donate to our library. This is almost traumatic for me, but I know the end result will be fantastic, and we'll have so much more room. My school room is only 9 x 9, so this was desperately needed.

 

Again, thanks so much for the inspiration! I will think of you fondly when I finish this whole-house project hopefully next week sometime.

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Sunday morning reflections:

 

I am absolutely disgusted with myself. I had to Google hoarding last night, and was relieved that I don't fit that definition, but rather I am a "clutterer."

 

The school room was to take one day to declutter. I am not done.

 

I had enough art projects, scraps, tidbits saved up to supply the Duggar family for a year. My recycle bin, donation box and trash bags runneth over.

 

I am staring at 8 kitchen-liner bags FULL of garbage. From the schoolroom alone.

 

Did I mention I only have ONE child?

 

This morning I am doing everything BUT starting the decluttering process again.

 

My husband reassured me that the school room was the worst room in the house. He's right, because the rest of my house (except the basement) is company ready. There's just way too much stuff, though, even if it looks okay.

 

I am just so mad at myself.

 

No more garage sales for me.

No more, GULP, library book sales for me.

No more, "I may need this some day."

 

I could cry.

 

To top this all off, my husband just teased me. The school room is the smallest room in the house, says he. :mad:

 

This will be worth it when it's done. Until then, ugh.

 

What will the neighbors think when we fill our dumpster?

 

What if, :eek:, we have to dump it and re-fill it?

 

I am horrified.

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Going to see how much of this I can get through today:

 

Living Room

 

Done - declutter living room

Done - sweep around wood stove

Done - vacuum furniture

Done - mop living room

- dust furniture & windowsils

Done - vacuum curtains

Done - weed out shoes that kids don't wear

Done - straighten end table drawers

Done - clean out under coffee table

- move couches & vacuum underneath

Done - dust fan

 

Dining Room

 

Done - organize school shelves

Done - declutter & organize cabinet

Done - scrub down dining room table and chairs

Done - mop dining room

Done - clean dining room windows

Done - clean out under changing table

Done - wipe down woodwork

Done - dust fan

 

Kitchen

 

Done - empty china cabinet, clean shelves & glass, put dishes back

Done - move book boxes out of kitchen

- organize kitchen drawers

Done - sort through junk drawer

- organize spice rack

- clean out under the sink

- sort out cabinet under stove

- scrub down stovetop

Done - empty sink & scrub out

- throw away old foodstuffs

- empty fridge and clean the inside

- wipe down cabinet fronts

Done - mop kitchen

- clean kitchen windows

 

Playroom

 

Done - throw away broken toys

Done - put toys back where they go

- weed out toys to take to Goodwill

Done - clean windows & mirror

- shake out carpet

- sweep playroom

- mop playroom

- clean out closet

- wipe down woodwork

- dust windowsils

 

Bedroom

 

Done - clear off floor

Done - wash sheets

Done - organize dresser drawers

Done - clear top of dresser

- straighten up shelves

Done - straighten up closet

- clean windows

- dust fan

- wipe down woodwork

- vacuum carpet

- wash curtains

Done - post playpen on freecycle

 

Bathroom

 

Done - organize bathroom closet

Done - empty trash

Done - scrub tub

Done - clean toilet

Done - mop floor

- paint bathroom a less ugly color

 

Office

 

Done - declutter office

Done - empty out closet

Done - straighen up bookshelves

Done - move white bookshelf upstairs

Done - vacuum carpet

Done - clean windows

- wash curtains

Done - bag up books for Goodwill

 

Kids' Rooms

 

- help kids clean their rooms

 

Basement

 

- take lots of stuff to Goodwill and the dump

Done - sweep laundry area

Done - take out trash in laundry area

- clean basement windows

Edited by phathui5
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Going to see how much of this I can get through today:

 

 

 

 

You've made quite a dent in your list! Congrats. I'm cheering you on.

 

Here's our list:

 

Living Room

 

Master Bedroom

School Room

Bathroom

 

DS's Room

 

Hall Closet

Kitchen/Dining Area (Bits and pieces are done, but I need a final go through, which I'll do tomorrow.)

 

Family Room-working on it today

 

Laundry Room

 

Exercise Room-will finish today

 

Garage-bits and pieces again. DH will finish tomorrow

 

We need to take Sunday off, and I don't know if we'll get to DS's room or not. I did declutter it this past August while he was at summer camp, but it still needs done and deep cleaned.

 

The living room can't be done until the Christmas stuff is down, which will wait until next weekend, probably, or I may do it in the evenings during the week. It's a very clean room, with minimal clutter, so will take an evening to do all the cleaning.

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Wow, y'all are amazing! I declutter every 6 months or so, but it is amazing that each time I declutter we throw away more bags of stuff than the previous time! We just put our house on the market, and it took 12 big boxes just to get the house neat enough that prospective buyers will see that we really do have 1500 sq ft in this house! We need to move every few years just to get rid of all of the stuff we don't need and dust things that have not seen a rag since they were put in place when we moved in, but yuck I don't like to move LOL.

 

Good luck ladies! The progress is amazing!!

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I just got done emptying out the china cabinet, wiping the shelves down, getting rid of stuff we don't need and putting the dishes back. Then I did a load of dishes, wiped down the front of the dishwasher and mopped the kitchen.

 

After dinner, I'm going to work on my kitchen list some more and try to help the kids clean their rooms.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------

 

Here's where I'm at now:

 

Living Room

 

Done - declutter living room

Done - sweep around wood stove

Done - vacuum furniture

Done - mop living room

- dust furniture & windowsils

Done - vacuum curtains

Done - weed out shoes that kids don't wear

Done - straighten end table drawers

Done - clean out under coffee table

- move couches & vacuum underneath

Done - dust fan

 

Dining Room

 

Done - organize school shelves

Done - declutter & organize cabinet

Done - scrub down dining room table and chairs

Done - mop dining room

Done - clean dining room windows

Done - clean out under changing table

Done - wipe down woodwork

Done - dust fan

 

Kitchen

 

Done - empty china cabinet, clean shelves & glass, put dishes back

Done - move book boxes out of kitchen

- organize kitchen drawers

Done - sort through junk drawer

- organize spice rack

- clean out under the sink

- sort out cabinet under stove

- scrub down stovetop

Done - empty sink & scrub out

- throw away old foodstuffs

- empty fridge and clean the inside

- wipe down cabinet fronts

Done - mop kitchen

- clean kitchen windows

 

Playroom

 

Done - throw away broken toys

Done - put toys back where they go

- weed out toys to take to Goodwill

Done - clean windows & mirror

- shake out carpet

- sweep playroom

- mop playroom

- clean out closet

- wipe down woodwork

- dust windowsils

 

Bedroom

 

Done - clear off floor

Done - wash sheets

Done - organize dresser drawers

Done - clear top of dresser

- straighten up shelves

Done - straighten up closet

- clean windows

- dust fan

- wipe down woodwork

- vacuum carpet

- wash curtains

Done - post playpen on freecycle

 

Bathroom

 

Done - organize bathroom closet

Done - empty trash

Done - scrub tub

Done - clean toilet

Done - mop floor

- paint bathroom a less ugly color

 

Office

 

Done - declutter office

Done - empty out closet

Done - straighen up bookshelves

Done - move white bookshelf upstairs

Done - vacuum carpet

Done - clean windows

- wash curtains

Done - bag up books for Goodwill

 

Kids' Rooms

 

- help kids clean their rooms

 

Basement

 

- take lots of stuff to Goodwill and the dump

Done - sweep laundry area

Done - take out trash in laundry area

- clean basement windows

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You're doing great!

 

I am happy to report that finally my basement is done, done, done, done, done. :party::party: It took forever! We kept finding things to do. :tongue_smilie:

 

So I'm going to take a well-deserved nap, DH is already napping, and DS is setting up his new gaming area in the family room. I sure wish I had his energy. Tonight I'll start on the kitchen.

 

My DH, bless his heart, cleaned out our shed today. It's a barn-shaped single car garage in our back yard. This was not on our list, but that sweet man did it anyway! The garage is almost done, too.

 

I was hoping to take tomorrow off, but we're not going to. We're going to finish up the kitchen, because it will take three times as long as I've planned as everything else has seemed to, and we are going to do DS's bedroom.

 

Living Room

 

Master Bedroom

School Room

Bathroom

 

DS's Room

 

Hall Closet

Kitchen/Dining Area (Bits and pieces are done, but I need a final go through, which I'll do tomorrow.)

Family Room

 

Laundry Room

 

Exercise Room

 

Garage-bits and pieces again. DH will finish tomorrow

Edited by Frankie
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:crying: I did not finish.

 

My kitchen is a mess, but the cupboards, all but two, are neat, clean and organized. There's stuff all over my countertops. Piles.

 

School starts tomorrow.

 

:willy_nilly:

 

Guess I'll be busy into the week next week.

 

BUT...this project is so worth it, and we have moved mountains.

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