Organizing Challenge!

So, I was reading emails from one of my Yahoo! groups and came across this, from a lady named Jodie:
"The way we went about this was that I had them clean one room one day--
completely-- everything-- windows, curtains put everything in its place. The second day make sure that the first room is straight and neat early in the morning and then pick a second room and clean it the same way. The third day, make sure the first two rooms are neat and then tackle the third room. Do this each day until all rooms are clean. Before you go to bed each night walk through the house and put things that are out of place away. Have your children pick up after themselves each night. Even little ones can learn to put toys in a toy box before bed. We have always had a two story house and for me it has been easy to straighten the house morning and night and then to dust and vacuum the main floor Mon, Wed and Friday and to dust and vacuum the upstairs Tues, Thurs and Sat. I used this schedule because then the kids can help with their rooms on Saturday mornings. I taught my kids from babyhood to pick up their toys and that you get up early enough to get your chores done before you have to leave to go some place. One of the things I helped the young sisters to do was to set goals. One that is easy is to make a goal to have all basic household chores done by lunch time. If that is accomplished than you can use nap time for your own. You can sew, nap, read, hire a sitter and go shopping or to lunch alone. If not then nap time is catch up time. Some of the other things I got the young sisters to do was to plan menus ahead of time and prepare as much of it as possible in the morning. IE Casseroles can be made ahead and kept in the fridge until it is time to cook them (start in a cold oven). That way you are not frazzled and franticly trying to decide what to have for dinner as your husband comes through the door at the end of a busy day at work. Also do one load of light,1 of dark clothes each day-- that way you never have dirty clothes sitting around. (Larger families may have to do 2 loads of each a day). In some parts of the country this will prevent mildew. I still do my laundry every day-- much easier. I taught them to especially do the chores they hated the most on a daily basis because then it never builds up. I HATE ironing but want my family to look neat and well groomed-- to me ironing is a must-- so I iron at least a couple of things each day so that I never have a ton of it to do at any one time. If you can't afford containers to store things in than find boxes that will work instead. Years ago in the Navy commissary we could buy milk in half gallon containers that came in a cardboard box. I have seen those boxes used for just about everything imaginable. From carry totes for Primary teachers to individual laundry carriers for clean clothes. One sister used them to store such things as mittens and scarves to cookie cutters in. I promise you that if you will get your hoes organized that you will not think homemaking is a burden but a joy. The scriptures tell us that the Lords house is a "house of order" and we are supposed to be striving to become God like."

So, I am going to try it! I will admit I am not that great at keeping things orgainized. I will clean really good one day and by day 3 I feel like I haven't done anything at all! I have closets in my house that I would be embarrassed to show anyone! (Well, maybe my mom or sisters. My mom would probably have me clean it!) So, here we go! (I have no aspirations for a perfect house. But, I know that I will be happier if I am not stressed out about my house!! I already have Dan BBQ for dinner and the salads/fruit are ready so, at least dinner is done. Now on to the living room!!