Living Clean

All Blog Posts (81)

Thanksgiving Day Request

I've had a long week with my dog Maggie becoming sick on Tuesday.

It turns out that she had pancreatitis. I suspect that she had it for quite a while.

We had chicken on Sunday and gave her and my other dog Snoopy the scraps - skin and fat.

It was too much for her and as I saw that she was getting progressively worse instead of better, I took her to the vet.

She was on IV until last night because she couldn't… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on October 12, 2008 at 1:09pm — No Comments

Well 1st step made, am here!!

Habitual non-tidy'er! Any excuse I've used it, found it and justified it!!!

Added by luciebythesea on September 23, 2008 at 1:00pm — 3 Comments

Just Keep Moving

Do you ever just not feel like doing your house cleaning schedule?

Want to fluff it off?

Once in awhile that probably isn't going to be a big deal, but of course the problem starts when that once in awhile works into a regular thing.

I noticed this last week with my dishes (where do they all come from? the same place as the laundry I guess!)

I was exhausted one night and just couldn't bring myself to go over the kitchen before I went to bed to… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on September 13, 2008 at 9:41am — No Comments

18 and a Fresh Start

THE BIRTHDAY BOY

Yesterday my son turned 18. (I'll post a picture of him when he was little if I can get my scanner to work).

He left early in the morning and I had a nice little time with him before everyone else got up, reminiscing about how he'd been born about 20 minutes before - 18 years ago - 1 month before his due date - I spent the entire month grateful to have that extra time with him - and how the person who drove me to the hospital was… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on August 28, 2008 at 9:59pm — No Comments

Make Today Better Than It Was

I woke up this morning with a sense of anxiety that has been clinging to me the past weeks.

The past few weeks have seen a lot of traveling - not vacation time unfortunately! Family stuff mostly and of course the usual driving kids to friends, appointments, outings.

So I'm finding things in a mess because I have let me routine go. It doesn't take long!

As I was looking around starting to let it get to me - I have to go out again for most of the day today - my… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on August 13, 2008 at 7:58am — No Comments

Taking a break from life... is that allowed?

So, things have been crazy. I've all but dropped most of my regular life activities to keep up with the growing demands of having 3 kids in diapers and the continuous needs of active boys. I've also been trying to be focused on my Tupperware business - I'm excited to say I've been more and more successful! How?

My Business

Well, I guess the time I've spent partnered up with Janice has rubbed off a little, because although my house is still somewhat of a tornado… Continue

Added by Lisa Marie on July 17, 2008 at 6:57am — 3 Comments

One Small Step Towards a Clear Space

I've been collecting books, one by one since I did my bedroom in the Spring Into Spring Cleaning Challenge.

They added up to one bag that has been sitting there for too long.

So, on my way out the door yesterday I made the monumental decision to grab the bag on my way out the door.

I stopped by the library and gave it to… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on June 11, 2008 at 4:34pm — No Comments

Baby Steps

I've been totally overwhelmed with life and reality this past month that everything has sort of crumbled and any success I was having seems to have gotten lost completely. The passing of my birth mom and the impending end of my hubby's parental leave have left me exhausted and unfocused.

In good news, I've made some baby steps - going through the 100 lbs of baby boy clothes given to me by well-wishing friends, sorting them out and donating the extras to another friend with a wee one.… Continue

Added by Lisa Marie on May 23, 2008 at 2:30pm — 1 Comment

Clean Kitchen

I read the tip on having the kitchen clean before going to bed. I did that last evening and it was so nice coming in this morning to get my coffee. I did feel better. Now I need to work on the bathroom, so that when I get ready for work tomorrow, I will have that same great feeling. One less thing to nag at me in the morning. :)

Added by Kim on May 18, 2008 at 10:36am — 1 Comment

Get Your Spring Cleaning Groove Back

Spring brings with it new life and new beginnings.

But these are ALWAYS better when the old garbage is swept aside.

Despite best intentions, there are too many tomorrow to do it, then suddenly they are gone.

Overnight it seems, cleaning up for spring has gone from something to do tomorrow, to an urgent task in danger of not getting finished at all. And where does that leave us?

In a mess.

Upon old… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on May 14, 2008 at 7:54am — No Comments

Springing Into the Livingroom!

This week has been focusing on the living room in the Spring Into Spring Cleaning Challenge.

I'm finding the same reaction with the living room as I had with the bedroom - awe that there was room for so much improvement.

Not saying that our house is Martha Stewart by a long shot, but the spring cleaning really shows me how much better it can be and how… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on May 9, 2008 at 8:30am — No Comments

Week Two

Well, Little League baseball is 5 nights this week and I am meeting myself coming and going. I know that there is always the option of waking up earlier but I am not much of a morning person. I will have to carve the time out during lunch or break it into two 10 minute intervals. Hubby has started helping out more and that is a great load off my plate. He does keep up with the laundry and he and my step-son do the dishes...of course, I have to go behind and finish the job but it's still a great… Continue

Added by Traci Graham on May 6, 2008 at 10:46pm — 1 Comment

Bedroom is Spring Ready! Onward Ho!

I finished up the bedroom portion of the Spring Into Spring Cleaning Challenge and really was amazed at how much stuff I took out of the room and how I got some shelves cleaned and tidied that I had 'looked at' for years. I even found a love letter to my brother written about 20 years ago. Don't ask me how I got it!

And I found about 100lbs of coins that need to be wrapped and taken to the bank. I didn't get them wrapped, but the will… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on May 6, 2008 at 6:56am — No Comments

Failure to Launch!

Ok, I admit it. I never even downloaded the first week cleaning guide!! I'm such a slacker! My house, my kids, my sanity all really need me to get motivated and step forward, but for some reason, I can't seem to get there.

I am so happy with some progresses we've made around here though, thanks mostly to our recent tax return which helped fund our plans! A new (much needed) bed for us, some bunk beds for the boys, and the tackling of the basement, which to-date has been a room to… Continue

Added by Lisa Marie on May 4, 2008 at 8:06am — 1 Comment

Keeping on!

Made more progress today. I really love seeing the horizontal surfaces reappear. Doing this at 20 minute intervals daily really makes it so much more bearable; I don't feel overwhelmed. Progress not perfection ~ that's great!

Added by Traci Graham on April 28, 2008 at 9:41pm — 3 Comments

Help Me!

This is a picture of my bedside reading 'pile'.

I try to keep it to a dull roar but seem to have lost the ability to read one thing at a time anymore.

I read almost every night before I go to bed. Part of the problem is that I am usually too tired by the time I get there to do any real, quality reading so I skim a book or two.

Then I am sure that I will want to read more about it tomorrow, when I definitely… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on April 28, 2008 at 12:20pm — No Comments

Getting Started

I just started my Spring Clean today and am very happy with the progress that I made in my task to de-clutter. I would say that my bedroom seems to be the most popular place for the "homeless" items to accumulate and it's time to make it a place of rest and romance and not the "Island of Misfit Toys". I enjoy seeing instant results; it keeps me motivated.

Added by Traci Graham on April 27, 2008 at 8:36pm — 1 Comment

My First Day of the Spring Into Spring Challenge!

Yesterday I did my first Spring Into Spring 20 minute session. The pictures above show a before and after shot of the boxes I used to declutter.

It flew by, and I was dropping things into the give away box left, right and center.

I also got a few sweaters out of my drawer that I won't be needing until next year and a bit of garbage out.

I was amazed at how much… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on April 26, 2008 at 1:30pm — 2 Comments

My Intro

Hi ! I'm Lisa - a WAHM mommy with 3 little boys.

Do you have a family?

William is 4 in a couple of weeks, Samuel is 2 and Tristan is 7months old. They are all active, busy, loud, excited, far more energetic than me, cuter than anything and both the most frustrating aspect and the best part of everyday of my life.

I make my days even fuller by working a Tupperware business (www.inlisaskitchen.com) and a newly started Passion Party business as well as help… Continue

Added by Lisa Marie on April 16, 2008 at 6:30am — 1 Comment

The Power of 5 Minutes

The target of the day was to deep clean the counter... to take 5 minutes and move things... wipe under them... on top... get rid of stuff... you know the drill.

I was cleaning up some things that I was behind on anyway, so it was a good fit. We have a window behind our counter that often gets neglected so while I was moving things, I decided to take an extra 5 minutes and take a swipe at it.

I didn't aim for perfection, just… Continue

Added by Jan Ferrante on April 14, 2008 at 8:16pm — No Comments