I seriously dislike messes, and I loathe clutter. I do not function well in a house that is messy or disorganized. Normally I run a pretty tight ship around here, but lately things have gone a bit awry.
Remember when I wrote a few weeks back about only being able to do a certain number of things well at any given time? Well, housekeeping has kind of fallen by the wayside over the past few months, thanks to this little addition to our family.
Isn’t she so sweet sleeping in her swing? Well, let’s just say that sweetie pie really, really likes to be held. And normally, when sweetie pie isn’t being held she isn’t very happy. So over the past 2 months I have needed to prioritize, and getting school done came first. Everything else kind of fell by the wayside. It hasn’t been too big of a deal since we all loooove holding Miss Cora, but over time the clutter has been building, and building, and building.
Part of the clutter is just stuff I need to sort and throw away. Then there is school clutter, toy clutter, clothes clutter, food clutter, you name it, we have it! I have put some photo collages together just to give you a taste of the junk I will be tackling on this summer.
It seems clutter has crept into every corner of our home, and this summer I am going to do something about it. With school finished, I plan on using my free time to go through my house room by room, closet to closet, corner to corner and start getting rid of the mess!
I am really excited about my summer project, and while many of you will be lounging by the pool or visiting the Mouse, I will be knee deep in junk we should have thrown out weeks, months or even years ago.
I am seriously amazed at how quickly things pile up around here. As I was walking through the house snapping pictures I saw this little collection hanging out on a bookcase.
Not a single one of these items belongs on the bookcase, and yet there they all sit, just waiting to find a home…
Now, it is time to get cleaning, but I am asking for your help. There is a lot to go through and our summer is already shaping up to be a busy one. I figured if I am cleaning and organizing then maybe my readers want to spend their summer cleaning too, right? So I am issuing a challenge, let’s declutter our homes this summer. Let’s clean out, give away, recycle, and pitch items in our home that are keeping us from enjoying a clutter free life. For the rest of the summer, every Monday, I will post the “I’ve got the Itch to Pitch Challenge.” Find an area of your home and work on it throughout the week, then link up with your before and after photos every Monday.
I would love to attach a few giveaways along with this challenge, but I can’t really think of what to giveaway quite yet. Feel free to put the button on your blog if you think it will motivate you! The first Mr. Linky will go up next Monday, June 15th, so let’s get cleaning!
Amy @ Finer Things says
Your clutter aint got nuthin’ on my clutter, girlie. 🙂 I’m in!
Christina says
Ok fine.. Im game LOLOLOL. You mean I HAVE TO SHOW IT OFF???? LOLOLLOL Cant I just show the PRETTY after??
😛
Cindy S says
I used to suffer from clutteritis but we when we put our house on the market in December last year it required a spic & span house. That is how I got in the forced routine of keeping things put away in its place. Since we have moved I have been doing a much better job now I am going into every area of the house and really organizing things properly. It is even rubbing off on my husband who said he went to work and was making files the way I set up my office.
I used to live in piles, stacks, shove it in there or here mode. Now I just get really frazzled if things begin to creep out of place.
Though there is a huge difference I only have one child. Work an area per day even if it’s only one drawer it is one more drawer than yesterday. Love your itch to pitch slogan!!!
The most important thing is your children right!!
Kim says
I am ready for the challenge. I have been feeling the pince of clutter. Let’s get it out!
Stephanie says
Sounds like a fun! I have a basement that overfloweth! I cannot stand messes and clutter either. Makes me a momma bear 🙂
Rachelle says
Thank the Lord I am not the only one with clutter!! 🙂 UUMM Toni, when your done would you like to come to my house! It sure could use you 😉 and being a military wife/mama, I bet you can crack the whip real fast 😉
Every room in this house is cluttered, ok who am I fooling it’s trashed. I have been on bed rest for 7 1/2 months , so does that count for something ??
I in, with baby coming I don’t know how much I’ll get done. BUT I am willing to try. I’ll have my “angels” take some photos to post.
Now to bribe( I mean recruit ) the children !
Blessings-
Rachelle
TheHappyHousewife says
Sure, just email me your address and we can turn it into a summer trip, lol! Use your kiddos to help, even if you tackle a small space it will be worth it!
Toni
Mel says
I’m in – we’ve just moved into a fixer-upper, so most of our clutter is still in boxes, but it’s still there and still needs sorting!
Christina says
Hey if your traveling LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Laura says
Haha! I was just walking through our family room with a garbage bag chucking stuff…literally saying “WHY is this still here?” out loud to myself.
I love the Itch to Pitch slogan & button!
TheHappyHousewife says
Perhaps I should start the Itch to Pitch Whirlwind Tour… Throwing out Other’s Junk… Just for Fun!
Anne Alagna says
yep, my clutteritis has flared up again lately too. Even if it is my mess, it still gives me the creeps… I am with you, Let’s get rid of it!
petersonclan says
How about a reverse giveaway? The winner gets to GIVE AWAY something?
Maybe we can show pictures or weigh in on how much we have given away, and the top ones each week get to be the winners, and get a button on their blog? Then it doesn’t clutter up the house?
I am in.. I need to get photos… do we post them with Monday’s Mr. Linky or before?
TheHappyHousewife says
Carri
I love the way you think girl! You can post whenever, but the link ups will start next Monday. I will post one every Monday so everyone has a chance to work through their entire house and do a thorough job. My next week’s post will be focusing on homeschool clutter, but you can tackle any area.
Toni
Hip Mama says
saw your tweet…had to take a peak, but I am so right there with you. I have an almost 3 month old–kiddo #4, I feel your pain…she doesn’t want to be anywhere but in my arms. It’s ridiculous! But I’m up for the challenge…plus I’m trying to get some stuff together for a garage sale…working on Baby Step #1 (Dave Ramsey stuff)so I’m all in with the challenge.
MNKristy says
Oh man! I should have read this post before I spent my day decluttering and organizing the school desks and the junk drawer. I didn’t even get before and after photos. And after having the garage sale recently, the house is pretty clutter free. One project that I have left is the garage. I will be sure to take photos and participate one of these Mondays after I have it done. Good luck with your junk!
Diane says
Getting rid of clutter is my summer plans. I was in an accident a year and half ago. And well over that time I have a whole lot of clutter around my house. And there is only 3 of us living here.
So my goal is to each day declutter something. A table, cabinet, closet, clothing ect.. I hope to be clutter free by the end of the summer. lol.
I am going to look forward to see how you are doing each week. Bring it on!!!
jolyn says
Sounds good! Clean Sweep is one of my favorite shows; I should do more than just watch it. Peter Walsh is my hero. I even named my youngest son after him. (I’m kidding.) (But my son’s name is Peter.)
Kat says
Yay! What a great idea! I’m in!
FishMama says
When did you sneak into my house and take pictures?!
I’ve been plotting the same kind of overhaul here. I’ve only got 6 weeks of summer vacation and need to make it count. Love your challenge.
Raquel says
i am in! i want to have my whole house clutter free by the time i have my baby in September so this is just what i need. and i just did some closets so i will start today!
Kristin says
I *need* to join in, for sure!
L2L says
I’ve already got my wheels in gear, de-cluttering must be in the air!!!!!
Virginia Knowles says
Toni,
I am taking a break in the middle of a huge reorganization of the shelves in our storage room, which has a bit of EVERYTHING, much of it in a jumble. I’ve made a lot of progress, especially using quart-sized zipper bags to group and label like items. I don’t have any “before” pictures, but I did do a blog post on organization last fall that has a lot of pictures of ways to organize. Nine of our ten kids still live at home, since this is a constant issue.
You can find the blog post at:
http://virginiaknowles.blogspot.com/2008/09/place-for-everything.html
Blessings,
Virginia
P.S. I bumped into your mom in Sam’s Club last week and she gave me your site, which I have in my Google Reader. You are doing an awesome job!
Bree says
I am with ya sista! 🙂
Judy says
I LOVE IT!! This is right in line with what I was planning on doing this summer in preparation for the baby due in September.
I not only have rooms to declutter, but windows, walls and carpets to all wash, rooms to paint, move the boys room and decorate the nursery. This will help keep me accountable (even though the before pictures are going to kill me).
I am going to go and put the button on my blog right now.
Elizabeth says
I go in cycles with this clutter thing. I get things cleaned up. They stay cleaned up for a little while. I start to get lazy, letting little things slide. The clutter builds up again. I get feeling overwhelmed by the clutter. I get things cleaned up…again. Round and round we go. I wonder if this crazy cycle will ever end…
Vicki says
Oh my goodness!!! Your clutter collage LOOKS like a single room in my house!!! Your individual pics really aren’t that bad… And yes, I TOTALLY hear you on doing one thing well… and with my new baby, it is all I can do to get school in and perhaps a dinner (I am EXHAUSTED when evening comes!!) Yes, I’d be up for a clutter challenge… but keep in mind, there are those of us who are WAY TOO SENTIMENTAL about things AND who truly think (as a teacher…) “I might just need this someday for some school related thing…”. Thanks for your transparency!! AND thanks for your book recommendations… The Read Aloud Handbook has been thoroughly wonderful AND my kids LOVE the books that it lists!! My copy of Don’t Make Me Count to 3 arrived on Friday… it is really good too!!
Blessings to you…
Vicki
Vicki says
By the way… as for a giveaway.. how about some restaurant gift cards (see if any of them will donate…) AFTER ALL… if we are spending all of our time de-cluttering… we surely won’t be able to meal plan or fix dinner… OH wait… I just remembered I am trying the GF/CF diet this summer… nevermind… Do any of your readers eat GF/CF?? I need a mentor…
Samantha says
I love this post! I am working on lots of organizational posts as well now that we are finished with school for a bit. I will be sure to link up on Monday!
Samantha
cutiepiescards says
Hey, I started on this same challenge a few weeks ago! So far I have tackled the kitchen cupboards, the boys rooms (only one is completely done though), the playroom, and today it was the laundry room. I am moving on to the linen closets and the big first floor closet next!
Jaime (from CVS) says
Oh my gosh Toni I love this idea! Before I got pregnant with Emerson, I was in the very, very beginning stages of starting my professional organizing service in CA. But, when Em came 3 months early and with our move across country, that dream got pushed to the back burner. However, I LOVE organizing and turning cluttered spaces into functional areas so if you ever want help, seriously call me! My husband FINALLY has a normal M-F 7-4 schedule now so I’m free in the evenings!
Thanks again for this post, I’m going to participate myself! I’m in the middle of re-doing Em’s room so I’ll hopefully be able to pose the before AND after pics next week!
Alyssa @ Keeping the Kingdom First says
Toni, you are seriously my hero. I am in awe of your transparency. Love the brutally honest photos, thanks for sharing!
Katie @ 3 Blondes and a Redhead says
I am with you on the clutter thing! My head is so much less chaotic when my house is in order.
But all I keep thinking after reading your post is…WHERE did you get that wallet?!?!? My son’s birthday is coming up and my husband wants to get him to stop carrying around my daughter’s dress up purses (wonder why…) and I can’t find boy wallets anywhere. Plenty of girl wallets, ZERO boy wallets. HELP!
petersonclan says
Great post for de-cluttering today…
http://www.titus2atthewell.com/2009/06/tips-for-cleaning-up-clutter.html
TheHappyHousewife says
Thanks Carri-
I am going to check out the site later today.
Toni
DeAna says
I respond the same way to clutter. It drives me crazy. My husband has been remodeling our dining room little by little, but not fast enough to keep the clutter from accumulating…as he clutters up the dining room with construction debris, so goes the rest of the house.
I’m really eager to participating in your Itch to Pitch challenge. It’s been on my mind to get the house back up to par, so this is perfect timing!
Mary @Raising 4 Godly Men says
I am soooooooooooooooo with you on THIS one ! I just happened to be dejunking my learning room. To bad I didn’t get a before pic but there is still tons of stuff to look like a before pic. LOL
I will be for sure putting your logo on my side bar. [0=
Blessings and ((HUGS)) my SSiC
In Him<
-Mary
Shelly says
Love the idea of this challenge :o) Also had a thought – have you tried using a baby sling? It has saved my house and sanity many, many, times. For a baby as young as your cutie, I would probably go with a ring sling, pouch, or a wrap.
Beth Jones says
If you find out what that little thing is in your picture that is unknown, let me know. I am curious, too, lol. Your summer sounds so like mine….don’t even get me started on how my darling husband throws NOTHING away (quite the pack rat for 16 years, he has now rented a storage shed for his ‘treasures’ out of respect for me, the orderly “clean freak.”). But there are other areas of our house that looked similar to your closets and cabinets(these things slowly happen and when we get so busy), so we moms will join with you, plastic bins, trash bags, and cleaning products in hand, in the summer Big, All-out, De-clutter project – which from now on will be officially referred as BAD. Also, I love your graphic, “Itch to Pitch.” Finally, I’ve met like-minded people who dislike messes as much as I do! 😀 PS: Your little addition is precious!
momstheword says
I love this idea! I am doing a Summer Cleaning Frenzy on my blog, but mine is more about deep cleaning (well, unless someone is using it to declutter).
Summer is just a great time to clean, declutter and get organized!
Melessa says
I’m in, the button is up, and I have already decluttered my Tupperware cabinet in the kitchen to show off on Monday. (I’m leaving for the weekend tomorrow and knew I’d better have the project done before I went.
niki says
Oh this is fab! I am so excited (and relieved) to see someone else’s mess.
🙂
Karin Katherine says
Oh, you are so on. Cannot wait to get the clutter out of here. I needed the motivation. Thanks for giving it to me.
april says
I seriously need to do this. I normally lack motivation but it’s time to get busy!
I’m in!