Back to School: 4 Weeks to Organize Your School Supplies

For most of the country it is back to school in just 4 weeks or less.  Yikes! Where did the Summer break go to?  This is week 3 of my 4 Weeks to a Clutter Free Room Challenge.  How are you doing so far?
For those of you with school age kid's you'll find these organizing tips just what the doctor Mom ordered to help you get those school supplies tidy.  Here is what you'll need:

• clear freezer storage bags in several sizes (quart, gallon, sandwich)
• 4x4 inch white labels
• colorful non-toxic markers

 Get that school supply list ready. Lay out your freezer bags on the table.  One of each size to start will do.  Place a label on the front of each one.  Starting with the first item on your list write the name on the label i.e. pencils, crayons, box tops, permission slips etc...
Now, for the fun stuff that I thought of for you to stay connected with your child all year in a fun way.  Get a set of lunch box note cards, I just happen to have some available in my Markets of Sunshine Etsy shop starting the first week of August.
Each day of the first week put a special message on the note card to empower your child to make it through that first week with flying colors.  Then, the rest of the year do it the first week of every month and on very special occasions such as report card time etc...you get the picture.
You've now taken the stress out of shopping for back to school supplies.  You'll be organized in a flash using these tips.

For those of us with grown kid's who still need help organizing our junk drawers, office desk etc..here are some tips for you that will help keep the clutter under control.

Using the same method above using clear freezer bags.  

Empty the drawer contents on the table.  

Separate out the pens, pencils, rubber bands, paper clips etc... now place a label on the front of each size bag you want to hold these supplies and write the name on the front.  

Now, they have a home and you have an organized drawer.

I found a bookcase at a garage sale Saturday that is the perfect size I needed to go next to the big one I showed you in week 1.  If you remember there was a stack of boxes next to it filled with books. They will have a new home in this organizer's life.  I'm not ready to show you the final results yet, just the empty shelves.  You'll have to wait until next week for the finishing touches are completed and I show you the now tidy storage room.
But, the floor in my sewing room is now clear and clean.  See!

My daughter and son-n-law were so happy to see the progress we are making in these 2 rooms of the house.  I'm happy to say the rest of the house is clean and tidy.  
So, show me your photos and tell me your story on your progress in our 4 weeks to a clutter free room challenge.  I believe in you!  Keep going!  You can do it!!  See ya next week for the big reveal of my new product: Gifts in a box.

Sending You Sunshine,

Marsha Jaramillo

Back to School: 4 Weeks to Organize Your School Supplies

For most of the country it is back to school in just 4 weeks or less.  Yikes! Where did the Summer break go to?  This is week 3 of my 4 Weeks to a Clutter Free Room Challenge.  How are you doing so far?
For those of you with school age kid's you'll find these organizing tips just what the doctor Mom ordered to help you get those school supplies tidy.  Here is what you'll need:

• clear freezer storage bags in several sizes (quart, gallon, sandwich)
• 4x4 inch white labels
• colorful non-toxic markers

 Get that school supply list ready. Lay out your freezer bags on the table.  One of each size to start will do.  Place a label on the front of each one.  Starting with the first item on your list write the name on the label i.e. pencils, crayons, box tops, permission slips etc...
Now, for the fun stuff that I thought of for you to stay connected with your child all year in a fun way.  Get a set of lunch box note cards, I just happen to have some available in my Markets of Sunshine Etsy shop starting the first week of August.
Each day of the first week put a special message on the note card to empower your child to make it through that first week with flying colors.  Then, the rest of the year do it the first week of every month and on very special occasions such as report card time etc...you get the picture.
You've now taken the stress out of shopping for back to school supplies.  You'll be organized in a flash using these tips.

For those of us with grown kid's who still need help organizing our junk drawers, office desk etc..here are some tips for you that will help keep the clutter under control.

Using the same method above using clear freezer bags.  

Empty the drawer contents on the table.  

Separate out the pens, pencils, rubber bands, paper clips etc... now place a label on the front of each size bag you want to hold these supplies and write the name on the front.  

Now, they have a home and you have an organized drawer.

I found a bookcase at a garage sale Saturday that is the perfect size I needed to go next to the big one I showed you in week 1.  If you remember there was a stack of boxes next to it filled with books. They will have a new home in this organizer's life.  I'm not ready to show you the final results yet, just the empty shelves.  You'll have to wait until next week for the finishing touches are completed and I show you the now tidy storage room.
But, the floor in my sewing room is now clear and clean.  See!

My daughter and son-n-law were so happy to see the progress we are making in these 2 rooms of the house.  I'm happy to say the rest of the house is clean and tidy.  
So, show me your photos and tell me your story on your progress in our 4 weeks to a clutter free room challenge.  I believe in you!  Keep going!  You can do it!!  See ya next week for the big reveal of my new product: Gifts in a box.

Sending You Sunshine,

Marsha Jaramillo

Summer Break: 4 Weeks To A Clutter Free Room!

Summer break.  Those words are being rejoiced by kid's everywhere.  Parent's on the other hand may not be so joyful. School is out and the kid's have the whole Summer to spend helping Mom and Dad turn their messy room into a clutter free room.  Right!  If, you rolled your eyes or said something a little more colorful than I did, I hear you.  So, how can you get the kid's to help out around the house this Summer without the same old excuses?

Lead by example.  If, they see you making goals for yourself over the Summer they will have no excuse to not do their part.  If, you are tired of fighting with your child to get them to clean their room.  If, you have you tried every time tested piece of advise with little success.  If, you can't remember when was the last time your child cleaned their own room.  Maybe, it's time for a change.  

If, you can relate to any of these issues then you'll want to stick around for this series of posts about how You can take control back over your life and home with just 1 hour a day or on the weekend in each room in your house.  

Cleaning my own house has inspired me to create a new product line for our 2 Etsy shops that I'll introduce at the end of the series.  
It will help your child keep their room clean and organized in a colorful, fun and useful way.  It's something that can grow with you or your child.  It's sustainable, so it will last a lifetime.  It's affordable so it saves you money in the long run.

Week 1:
Let's face it.  Technology has changed our lives.  
Action step #1 -Try going a entire weekend with no cell phone, tablet or laptop in your life.  What about turning the TV off for the weekend!  Yikes!  Most of us would first go into shock and squirm and then there would be total silence.

I dare you to give it a try and see what happens at your house.  But, I can guarantee you that if you do, you will get more done than you ever thought possible.

My husband and I have made a personal decision to cancel the paid TV service. I then took it a step further and decided to not even watch TV anymore and see what we could get done by not being lazy and being a couch potato every night.

It has been amazing!  Now in the evenings after dinner we can actually get to talk and relax and just enjoy the quiet.  We are now empty nester's and at first all we could do is talk about how much we missed our daughter being around.

But, after a few weeks we decided to focus on us and our needs as a couple.  We have several home projects that needed finishing and now instead of the TV stealing our time we have been working on the rooms in the house that were unfinished.  

In just one hour we were able to go through 6 boxes of stuff and actually begin to see more of the floor instead of walking in this little narrow pathway.

We both rejoiced over what we accomplished. A clean floor!  So, each weekend we spend time together doing fun things like going to garage sales and then in the evening we tackle one room or project in about an hours time.

In just one hour my husband built me this cool bookcase.  It now is my storage space for our beanie baby inventory we sell in our Pioneer Fundraiser Etsy shop.  Once, we get each room organized we will be able to start on our new product line for our other 2 Etsy shops, Markets of Sunshine and My Secret Compartments.

I challenge you to reduce stress in your life and join me during this 4 weeks to a clutter free room series.  Leave comments telling me what room you are starting on and what progress you have made each week.

Are you in?  Let me hear from you in the comment box below.  Use the hashtags #mosgiftclub & #clutterfreeroom with your comment. Tune in next week and see more photos of our progress.  Week#2 - 4 Weeks to a clutter free room will have an easy check-list for the family to use to help get things rolling and to show your progress.

At, the end of the series there will be a reward given to one of the families who have participated each week.  You will be put in a drawing to win one of my new products I'll be launching at the beginning of August 2016.

Happy Uncluttering!  

Sending You Sunshine,

Marsha Jaramillo