Declutter Your Mind to Declutter Your Space {Book Review & Giveaway}

Do you do a major spring cleaning each year just to have it all end up cluttered & disorganized within a few months? Then you just may need to learn how to Declutter Your Mind to Declutter Your Space...

This happens to be my second year participating in the Spring De-Junk Challenge. When I heard that a second challenge was going to take place this year, I walked around and started to assess the areas of my home that I had tackled and organized during last year's challenge. What I found left me feeling pretty much disheartened. And why? Because almost every single area of my home that I had so meticulously organized and cleaned a year ago is all in the same sorry state (or even worse!) than before I had started the challenge in 2014.  I had to step back and ask myself why this had happened. Why had we not been able to keep those rooms and cabinets and shelves organized and de-cluttered? I found the answer to that question when I started reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo...

The 2nd Annual Spring De-Junk Challenge & Giveaway

Ready to tackle that annual spring cleaning, but need a little motivation to get started? Join us in this year's Spring De-Junk Challenge & Giveaway, & you could win a $210 Amazon gift card...

Some of you all may remember when I participated in the Spring De-Junk Challenge with Heidi of One Creative Mommy last year. There had been several areas of my home then that I just didn't have the motivation to tackle, but the challenge gave me the little kick in the booty that I needed to finally get in there and get things done. :) Well, guess what? Most of those once tidied areas are sadly back to the state that they were in pre-challenge last year... and in some cases, they look even worse. One of the kitchen drawers and my coffee mugs are all that is still tidy and organized from all my hard work last year. Boo. The problem for me seems to be stuff. Stuff that we keep accumulating either by choice or because they are given to us. Stuff that keeps piling up. Stuff that we are not getting rid of even though we haven't touched it in a year or more. Stuff that we keep moving and shuffling around in an attempt to store or organize them more neatly. And the last that I checked, our house hasn't been growing to accommodate all of this new stuff and old stuff. Can anyone else relate here??

Well, I have a new weapon in my de-junking arsenal this year, and I cannot wait to share that all with you next week. ;) Stay tuned.  But in the meantime, check out all the 2015 Spring De-Junk Challenge and Giveaway info below! Will you join us next week in de-cluttering, de-junking, and organizing our homes and lives? 

Spring De-Junk Challenge- The Halfway Mark! {& a $110 Lowe's Giveaway}

Today is Day #5 of the 10 day Spring De-Junk Challenge- halfway there! Whew!

And I have been a busy, busy mama and blogger this week with this challenge, but all the effort (and sweat!) has been well worth it so far. :)

If you have been following me on Instagram, you have probably been noticing all the before and after photos I have been posting as I work through this daily spring cleaning challenge.

I have to admit that putting all my clutter and mess (and maybe some slight hoarding- mostly on my husband's part ;) ) out there for all of the Instagram world to see hasn't been the easiest thing to do.

I mean, some of it is just embarrassing.  But it really has been just the motivation I needed (& we needed) to finally take care of some of the cluttered and messy areas of our home.  There is just something about posting a photo of one of your colossal messes on social media and pledging to tackle it that just makes you now feel even more accountable and in turn, motivated.

Spring De-Junk Challenge {& $110 Lowe's Giveaway!}

One thing that I have really come to love about blogging is that can be a wonderful way to give yourself a good kick in the pants towards those things you have been dreading and putting off.  Whether it is a sponsored post or a challenge I am joining in with other bloggers, posting it here and on my social media for all the world to see can provide me with just the right amount of inspiration and motivation to get things done. ;)  

There is something about being accountable not just to myself, but also to everyone "out there" that pushes me to get things done.

And there is certain sense of accomplishment and pride when I can in turn show you all the progress I have made and maybe inspire you all to take a little action as well.

This Spring De-Junk Challenge I am taking part in for the next 10 days is just one of those kick in the pants kinds of things that I need right about now.  You all know we have those places in our homes- that cluttered kitchen cabinet, that bedroom closet that is packed full of clothes that haven't been worn by anything other than a hanger for the past year or so, that crazy drawer in the kitchen or bathroom that you sort of cringe at every time you have to open it.  I know you all know exactly what I am talking about, right?

So here is your chance! Join us over the next week or so in de-junking and clearing out the clutter! :)