SICK DAYS

I'm not one to complain but whatever strain of flu and cold that's going around this year is nasty! Everyone in our house has been sick at one point another, off and on since the new year.  We are all warn out, tired and ready for some warmer weather and good old sunshine!!

Between bronchitis, pneumonia, colds, the flu and a disgusting amount of antibiotics I am just waiting till we can all say we are healthy again. Lucky for me I have been the only one who has not been sick.  I had a wicked cough that lasted a few weeks but nothing compared to what everyone else has had. Little lou lou is still dealing with something,  we are not sure what it is, but I sure hope we figure it out fast! Poor guy didn't even get to celebrate his first birthday....

The one thing I find that has really been helping us (we use it all the time around here) is our RIORAND Aromatherapy air diffuser/mini humidifier, which can be found HEREat AMAZON. I am a big believer in aromatherapy and holistic remedies before bringing out the hard stuff.  I really try to avoid over the counter drugs if possible, for myself and our little's.
  Before buying this diffuser I used a little metal tea light diffuser but I would always fall asleep with it lit due to the fact we use it mostly before bedtime and we all know that's not a great idea! This diffuser automatically will turn off and spray an aromatherapy mist throughout the room. Its modern, sleek design fits right in to our decor and it's just the right size and it also comes in two different finishes to match your decor. I can't say enough good things about it and I highly recommend it if your in the market for a great looking and functional aromatherapy diffuser.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE

Picture via Pinterest

As of lately, I have felt extremely overwhelmed with the amount of stuff we have in our house. Too much clutter.  I have been trying to get rid of things for a while now but it just doesn't seem to be happening fast enough.   I get rid of one thing and next thing you know we have acquired more of this or more of that and with Christmas and birthdays that have come and gone.... well.....stuff just starts to accumulate. We have an abundance of  things that don't get used, thrown in a drawer to be discovered a year later and then tucked away for another two years until discovered again - repeat.

The stress of a busy schedule and the feeling of being bogged down and then throwing clutter into the mix, well  I feel like I can't even think and adds to the stress of our busy lives.  I feel like sometimes I am just shifting "stuff" from one room to another but not really fixing the problem. Honestly, Sometimes I feel like an episode of the HOARDERS. Its scary.....

This year I have decided that all changes!

This summer I will slowly go through everything and sell, donate, or give away whatever it is that I feel I don't need or haven't used. This is a hard one for me because I am always asking "What if I need that later?" or  "Maybe I will fit into it again," you get it. I am sure you have been there too.

So, I have been pinning away and researching, trying to find ideas and solutions because lets face it, organization is not my strong point. I found this great blog called Slow Your Home which has 34 proven ways to prevent clutter that I really like and this blog called A Slob Comes Clean that has so many great tips and ideas and even cleaning checklists!!

Some guidelines I am setting for my self  are:

1. If I haven't touched it in the last year, it's gone!
2. It serves no purpose, no point keeping it.
3. MAYBE bin - if its still there after 6 months of no use, get rid of it.
4. Organize - (This is a huge weakness for me!)
5. Everything should have a spot

Picture via Pinterest

(I love the use of baskets for organized storage and they look great too!)

This years motto "less is more" and I am sticking to it!

Do you struggle with clutter and organization like I do? Tell me your tricks and tips, I am all ears!