21 Day Organizing Challenge...Day 2

When I started the 21 Days to getting Organized Challenge over at A bowl full of lemons, I never claimed I was going to do it over 21 consecutive days! However, I did accomplish Day 2's task - the Computer Desk - today between preparing some goodies to take to big sister's house to watch the Super Bowl (or at least the commercials) tonight.

I don't really have a computer desk. Most of my computer time is spent here...

And I do keep Big Red fairly neat so I decided to tackle the places where I keep the "computer desk" stuff.

Like on top of and inside the cute desk my parents found and my dad refinished for me...

I usually stash small items inside the desk if company is coming.

When I work from home, I turn my kitchen table (which my dad also refinished for me) into a work space. Please ignore the mismatched chairs...my parents are still on the look out for some.

I also have a great closet under my stairs that I store stuff in. It's also the nephews' toy closet so watch for it on Day 9 when it's time for toy organization!

In addition to cleaning all of these spaces, I also got my shredding done today! What does that have to do with this organization task? The shredder is stored in the closet so I got the idea to tackle the shredding while emptying the closet!

A couple of things I noticed today...1) my hoarding ways extend to scotch tape (found at least a dozen MORE rolls today to go with the 10 or so already in my junk drawer) and 2) it was time to recycle some phone books (I don't need two from 2009 and three from 2010!).

Here are the "after" photos...

The table shot was boring so I decided to show you what replaced the mess on the table. Some delicious white-chocolate candy mix with Valentine's M&Ms for the party tonight!

I even have some extra storage space in the closet now!

Now it's on to the next task...Tupperware Cabinet. Again, don't really have one of those so I'll tackle a couple of cabinets that hold Tupperware and other kitchen stuff next.

21 Day Organizing Challenge...Day 1 Continued

Well yesterday, I decided to take the 21 Day Organizing Challenge over at A bowl full of lemons.

Since yesterday was technically Day 1 of the challenge, I jumped right in and tackled my junk drawers and my countertop which I hate to admit is more of a junk drawer than a workspace!

Here are a couple of before photos...

My dad refinished the great dry sink above a couple of years ago. It was languishing in my grandparent's shed when Dad found it. Now it looks great in my kitchen...when it's not covered in STUFF. Unfortunately that's not often!

The drawers aren't much better. I keep my kitchen towels in one of them but the other two are my official junk drawers.

Here's a shot of my kitchen counter.

Now, I just did a quick sweep of the counter a couple of weeks ago so it wasn't as bad as it has been in the past. But it's amazing how quickly it can get cluttered again.

As I was cleaning out my junk drawers, I found that I had put several of the pieces I brought home from my grandparent's home months ago when my grandma passed away. It's not that I don't value these pieces but I think I just didn't want to deal with them at the time.

I LOVE the blue knit purse in the back. We think Grandma or one of her friends made it. My boss even borrowed it to look at the pattern!

The box in the middle is one I brought back for her from my semester abroad in Poland during college. It still has two decks of cards of hers in it. She and my grandpa LOVED to play cards. She was still an awesome Euchre player in her late 80s.

I also realized that I have a slight obsession with notepads...

and chapstick, pens, bandaids and sunglasses. It's a bit scary!
Here's a shot of the finished project...

Notice the full trash can...in addition to organizing I even managed to get rid of some stuff!

It feels great to mark off one task of the Challenge! I don't really have a computer desk so I need to decide what to tackle in its place.

21 Day Organizing Challenge...Day 1

Since I've been stuck in the house for the last two days because of the Great Ice Storm of 2011, I started checking out some new blogs. There are SO MANY out there that I just can't get to all of them on a regular basis.

I was over at Beth's Blog...musings of my everyday life and her posts about getting organized intrigued me.

It's not a secret to my family and friends that I am not a very organized person and not the best housekeeper! It's not that I enjoy living in a mess...I'm just used to it.

So I am going to try and do the 21 Day Organizing Challenge over at A bowl full of lemons.




Here's a run down of the daily tasks...

Join the Challenge (at any time)
Day 1 - Junk Drawer
Day 2 - Computer Desk
Day 3 - Tupperware Cabinet
Day 4 - Linen Closet
Day 5 - Under kitchen sink
Day 6 - Dresser Drawers
Day 7 - The Pantry
Day 8 - Coat Closet
Day 9 - Toy organization
Day 10 - Laundry Room
Day 11 - The Freezer
Day 12 - Spice Cabinet
Day 13 - Medicine Cabinet
Day 14 - Under bathroom sink
Day 15 - Medicine/Vitamin Storage
Day 16 - The Fridge
Day 17 - The Mail
Day 18 - Keepsakes
Day 19 - Master Closet
Day 20 - Photos
Day 21 - You pick!

I'm off to tackle the Junk Drawer...probably should include the "Junk Counter" too!

Stay tuned...