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Organizing

All Things Home

cleaning out the cleaning supplies

I got a jump on organizing and decided to start somewhere quick & easy – cleaning out the cleaning supplies.  (Oh, the irony of having to clean and organize your cleaning supplies!) But, I figured it would be a job that would take about 30 minutes and I would fly through it.  I don’t have to try things on or weigh the sentimental value of bottles of toilet cleaner.  Sort, consolidate, and done.  If you missed my February challenge, you can read about it HERE.) Well, it ended up taking me two hours! I knew that things were out of hand because of the crammed cabinets under each sink, in the laundry room, and the kitchen, but I didn’t know the extent of it until I spread it all out over my kitchen table.  It was way more than anyone needed for one house and there were so many products

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a slice of life

February 2021 Organizing & No Spend Challenge

I know I’m not the only one who felt like things got a little out of control in 2020.  Not only did we have the big, global things going on, but I had a lot of significant events happen in my business…selling a part of my business and writing a book to name the two biggies.  When big, overwhelming things are happening, I find that I start to slip in the little day-to-day things.  I’m not quite as on top of daily habits that keep the house organized.  I’ve tackled a few organizing projects over the year, but small things like getting rid of the boys’ shoes they outgrew or cleaning out a linen closet, or purging the freezer start to feel simultaneously too small and too big to worry about. But I’m feeling ready to deal with all of the things that have been forgotten and neglected.  I’m ready

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All Things Home

organization tips for the new year

I typically get the organization bug about twice a year…  in the new year and in September when the kids are back in school.  I also organize as I’m working on projects or just in a problem area (like the junk drawer in the kitchen) that is getting out of hand.  But, once the Christmas decor is down (we still need to take down our tree), I like to take some time to purge and organize.  I know I’m not alone in this because that is the topic of most home decor and lifestyle magazines, blogs, websites, and all of the stores put their plastic storage bins front and center.  I’m often asked about cleaning and organization tips since I keep a pretty tidy house, so here are some of my tips if you’re working on organization in the new year. laundry room makeover organization tips no. 1 Organizing wasn’t

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All Things Home

organizing the sewing room closet | plus tips

As tidy as I am, there are spaces in my house that get out of control or have never been organized properly since we moved in.  Such was the case with the closet in my sewing room and it was time I got around to organizing it. I will say right up front that it’s amazing to have an entire spare room that I can take over for sewing and upholstery supplies, my fabric stash, sewing machines, etc.  We really didn’t need this extra bedroom, but I will take and utilize it!  It’s also become the “cat room” and we keep one of their scratchers as well as their litter box in here. The closet in the sewing room has been problematic when it comes to organizing since we moved in because it’s configured for clothes (understandably), not for sewing and upholstery supplies.  I have planned on building shelves in

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a slice of life

Neat Steam Cleaner Review

When I shared about the progress in the ensuite bathroom a couple of weeks ago, the thing I was asked about most was the steam cleaner I bought to keep the tile, grout, and glass clean!  So, in this post, I’m sharing the brand of steam cleaner I bought and offering a review for those who are interested in purchasing a steam cleaner. First of all, I have used a steam mop to clean my hard floors for years.  I love my steam mop so much that I’ve given them as gifts.  It is definitely my favorite way to clean tile, sealed wood, and even my painted studio floors.  It gets the floors squeaky clean and sanitized and doesn’t require any cleaners or chemicals.  My steam mop (I currently have the older version of THIS ONE) does come with some attachments, but it really is best to use on the

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All Things Home

gold leaf frame & office details

I was supposed to be cleaning.  Let me say that right upfront.  It was a self-imposed task, but my home projects have distracted me from basic housekeeping.  I gave the kitchen a quick cleaning – wiping down the counters and the stove, emptying the dishwasher, vacuuming.  I even got as far as cleaning the toilet in the 1/2 bathroom and running the vacuum in the living room, but the cleaning stopped there.  The rabbit trail started with hanging a picture light over my Manet study and it turned into reclaiming my office, rearranging furniture, and gold leafing my inspiration board frame.  It wasn’t what I should’ve done, but it’s what I needed to do.  I’ve learned that when inspiration strikes, I just need to roll with it and the cleaning can wait. Jeff has been inhabiting my office since March, but he’s working at the church more often and, when

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All Things Home

tidying the sewing room

I was hoping to post about our cloud-painting class on Friday, but it is taking an eternity for the videos to upload and process, so that’ll have to wait until tomorrow.  We will be having another class this Friday and a special cloud-painting class on Instagram Live with Megan Gray Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at 2:00 CST.  I’ll share more details in tomorrow’s post. So, today, I’m going to share the tidied-up sewing room!  This was one of the projects I worked on last week to get ready to work on bigger projects over the coming weeks.  The sewing room, also known as the “cat room” and “Sebastian’s room”, had become a dumping ground.  We loaded up on kitty litter before Minnesota was under a stay-at-home order, so there was a healthy stay of litter buckets randomly placed on the floor.  While cleaning other rooms, stray home decor pieces were

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All Things Home

organizing the dining room

If you’re going to join my live painting class/demo, I’ve scheduled it for Friday, April 3, 2020, at 2:00 CST.  HERE is the event in Facebook to let me know if you’re joining live.  It will be recorded and you can watch it later if you’re not able to make it. Remember, this is just for fun.  No pressure about having all the supplies or the right supplies.  We’re just going to paint and learn.  It’ll be my first time doing a live oil painting demo, so we’ll muddle along together! I’ve had “organize the dining room” on my to-do list for a loooong time.  Months.  It hasn’t hung out on the list because it’s a big project, it’s hard, or even that I’m avoiding it.  It’s just not that important when the mess is behind closed doors that I don’t open very often.  I only go in them when

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I’m Marian, a painter, writer, and lover of all things creative. From art and antiques to home projects and everyday life, I share my journey in hopes of inspiring you to embrace your own creativity and make beauty in the spaces you live.

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