Choosing Voluntary Simplicity » Get Organized Series

Accomplishing What Needs To Be Done… Efficiently, Quickly, and With As Little Stress As Possible

Shirley — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:11:54 +0000

Eventually just about everybody comes to the realization that housework is never ending and involves drudgery, tedium, and getting your hands dirty. It's a fact of life that if we want to live like civilized people in clean houses there will always be chores that need to be done.

Discovering Your “Enough”

Shirley — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:18:07 +0000

There are indeed many good reasons to purge. It makes sense to purge when an item breaks and repairing it isn't possible or feasible. It makes sense to purge when clothing becomes too worn or faded or no longer fits. It makes sense to purge as tastes and circumstances change. This "purging for a reason" involves only one... or a few... items at a time and is a gradual, almost automatic purge that happens naturally as your needs change or an item no longer fits your lifestyle.

What’s in My Refrigerator?

Shirley — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:26:15 +0000

Continuing on from my "What's In My Pantry?", here is a rundown of what is in my refrigerator today. We just purchased a new refrigerator... our previous refrigerator was twelve years old and "died" suddenly after a two-day power outage. It seemed a good time for a ruthless clean out.

What’s in My Pantry?

Shirley — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 12:57:17 +0000

Reader question... "I have tried several of your recipes and they were a big hit with my family, so I hope you don't mind if I ask a question about how you feed your family. I know that you don't buy any processed foods, and I would like to feed my family a more natural diet too, but the bulk of what is in my pantry and freezer is processed food, and I don't know how to cook without them. Would you mind telling me what you buy and what you keep on hand in your pantry and freezer?" --Annie

No, of course I don't mind the questions, although my shopping list is probably quite a lot different than most people's because we have to be so careful to avoid ingesting soy or any of its many derivatives. There are many, many items I don't buy... things like chocolate chips, cake or cookie mixes (or any other type of mix), baked goods or any convenience type foods, but I can usually make a from-scratch version of many of these items or come up with equally tasty alternatives. We're buying more organic foods now, and over the last several months we have added genetically modified foods to the "avoid list." Shopping has become a whole lot more difficult... and a whole lot more expensive.

Organizing, Decluttering, And Purging

Shirley — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 23:46:42 +0000

I believe strongly in organizing and decluttering and (to a certain extent) purging... but I also believe that not all clutter is material possessions or "stuff." Clutter in your emotional life... bad habits, too many commitments, or a job you hate, to name just a few... can sap your energy and cause more stress than a disorganized house with overflowing closets ever will. That is why I believe that any purging or decluttering effort should always target emotional baggage as well as material possessions.

How I’m Organizing My Recipes

Shirley — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:16:01 +0000

I have been trying to organize my recipes for a while now. I have visions of eventually having them all categorized and with personal notes added to the margins... unfortunately I'm not there yet (or even close). But I think I am making some headway.

How Can I Stay Motivated?

Shirley — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:37:44 +0000

"I was wondering if you could share some advice. How can I stay motivated when I have a lot to do or a large project ahead of me? You seem to accomplish so much. I always have lists of things that need to be done but I keep putting them off. I feel overwhelmed most of the time." --Maria D.

How To Get Organized

Shirley — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 01:07:20 +0000

Over the past couple of weeks I have received a surprisingly large amount of mail from readers very similar to this message that arrived a few minutes ago: “You sound like a super organized lady and I envy you. I want to be organized but I don’t know how. I have small children. My house [...]

Waking Up to a Clean Kitchen

Shirley — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:30:34 +0000

I HATE a messy kitchen! So I try to take immediate care of any messes as they happen… especially keeping dishes caught up. If I have lots of dishes to wash, I work on cleaning other areas of the kitchen while the dishes soak. I always use hot water. It’s a bad idea to try [...]

6 Quick Steps to a Clean Living Room

Shirley — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 10:00:29 +0000

Although cleaning a messy living room can seem like an overwhelming task, you can actually make even the messiest room look presentable and clean in just a few minutes by following these six simple steps. Get everything out of the room that doesn’t belong there. Use an extra laundry basket or a similar-sized container to [...]