From the category archives:

cleaning/organizing

Getting kids to clean up: how to motivate and direct your pint-sized help

February 16, 2012

We all know kids make a lot of mess. But if yours are old enough to hold a broom or put a toy in a basket, they’re old enough to take some of the work off your plate. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to get them to clean up after themselves or [...]

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mini-resolution: clean up my desk

February 2, 2012

Where do you do the majority of your work? Is it typing at a desk? Stirring over the stove? Mixing in a test tube? Creating in a studio? Chasing kids around the living room? For me, the answer should be “typing at a desk”, but right now I’m sitting in the living room pounding away [...]

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Sunday Reads: fall decor, finishing home projects, cleaning checklists, Halloween fun

October 23, 2011

With the end of our kitchen reno finally in sight – and a house littered with half-assembled cabinets, tools, and drywall dust – this week I’ll be concentrating on getting our house back in order and decorated for fall and Halloween. (Did I mention we’re having a party on Saturday night? And that right now [...]

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The Kitchen Hour

September 6, 2011

Like a lot of big-picture thinkers, I have a hard time focusing in on details. I simply lose track of time, or lose track of my biggest priorities amid all the “urgent” little details. It’s true of home life, too. Between writing work and housework and books to read and Facebook and permission slips and [...]

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Looking forward to July

July 1, 2011

I had so much fun talking all about YOU (and me) throughout June: from dreams and goals to clothes and hair, it’s been really fun. A few notes to wrap up the June theme: I think you have all pretty much convinced me to get the pixie cut. I’ll post pictures, of course. If you [...]

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“Help, I’m drowning in paper!” 3 tips for tackling end-of-school-year clutter.

June 8, 2011

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week! As I wrote in this week’s Mindful Monday post, my intention this week is to take it easy…and I’m sticking to it. In fact, the kids and I have a date with my friend’s pool in about a half-hour. In the meantime, four school bags stuffed with [...]

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Housekeeping, techology, and happiness–according to Lillian Gilbreth

May 11, 2011

One of the things that’s come up a few times in the past few week’s discussions about homemaking and hired help is the role of technology in making life easier. (Or not.) While I was searching around for some data on household help in the early 20th century, I stumbled across this fascinating article by [...]

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