“I need help keeping my kitchen clutter free.”

Busy Moms everywhere suffer from kitchenitis. You know what I mean. The counters are always full of stuff and how do I keep my kitchen clutter-free when we use it so much? Unfortunately, your kitchen will get messy when you use it every day. Fortunately, I have a few quick tips that will help your kitchen look less cluttered, even when it’s not.

1.Have as few things as possible living on the flat surfaces of your kitchen. This includes décor and small appliances that are not used on a daily basis.

2.  Establish a daily routine. There are two things you need to do every day before you go to bed:

a.  Wash your dishes and put them away.

b.  Wipe down your counters.

3.  Have a landing spot for the things that always end up in your kitchen: mail, keys, school work, etc. Whether it’s a basket or something else, put everything in it so it doesn’t creep across your countertops. It may not be as attractive as you would like, but it will be contained and you will know where to look when you need something.

The kitchen is the heart of most homes. It is both loved and detested at the same time. Show it your love by taking care of it.

“I have one joining the army in May and one off to college in August. I need tips to get my house party ready without stress and how to get their rooms in guest usable order with their help.”

It’s party time! With graduation season upon us, it’s time to get the house company ready. Busy Moms know how impossible this can seem. Not only do you have to get the common areas in order, but you have to get the kids to help out by cleaning their rooms. It may seem easier to just do it yourself, but you have other things to worry about. I am going to give you a few quick steps to getting your kids to organize their own rooms. Yes, it’s true. My kids clean their own rooms when company is coming. Here’s the magic in 5 easy steps:

1.Sit the kids down and discuss why they need to have an orderly room for this particular event. Buy-in is essential to success. Warn them that they will be working on their room on a specific day (i.e. Saturday).

2.Give them a time-line for completion. Usually by a specific time on a specific day.

3.This is really important: Give them a specific, detailed list of what they need to do. Go into their room, with or without them, and make a bullet pointed list of what you expect to see when they are finished (i.e. Dirty clothes off of the floor and in the hamper; All books on the shelf, toys in the basket).

4.Praise them for their work as they go. Give them a break here and there if the job is really big.

5.Be prepared to go in after them. Look at their list. Did they do everything on it? Keep in mind, their room may not be up to your standards, but it is probably a lot closer than it was before.

Getting organized for a party can be overwhelming, but if everyone pitches in just a little bit, it won’t seem so impossible. The best news is, this strategy works for every room in your house! That’s right! Make your list for the Kitchen, Living and Family Rooms, and Black holes (basements). You can even make one for your significant other! Get carried away!