Category: organize

The Secret to Tricking Everyone That Your Apartment is Clean

Published on by blonde rosie1 Comment

Jake always rolls his eyes when I say that my apartment is a mess. There will be a few things on my floor and a bowl on my coffee table and I think my apartment is a disaster. It usually takes us like 5 minutes to straighten up my apartment before bed and everything is back to being clean again. One trick that makes cleaning up super easy is that I am very insistent on having clear counter tops. Sure, I have decor on my coffee table and end tables, but I try really hard to keep it very minimal. Even really pretty home decor can look like clutter when there is too much of it.

My kitchen is tiny so clean counter space is a must! I try to keep only the appliances I use daily on my counters and everything else is in the cabinets. All of my spices and cooking tools are in a cabinet so they are out of sight until I need to use them which is rare. Pots and pans should have a home in a cabinet so they are not taking up valuable counter top space. . At night before bed, I will put all of my dirty dishes in the dishwasher, wipe down everything and put any food back in their right place. Just having a kitchen with nothing on it makes it look so clean!

I don’t get much mail so I can easily sort it or toss it as soon as I walk in the door. I have a little entry table with a mail sorter so anything important goes there so I know exactly where it is. Paper accumulates quickly so I try to prevent it from happening as much as possible. One thing I like to keep is coupons because I always use them when I shop! There is an envelope in my junk drawer that has all of them so I can easily grab them when I go shopping.

At night, I will do a quick walk around and put items back where they belong. It takes like five minutes but really helps keeping the place look clean all week long. My inspiration is hotel rooms because there is nothing on the counters and the rooms are always relaxing. Am I the only one who can’t go to bed when their home is a mess? My closet can have clothes on the floor, my hamper can be overflowing with laundry, but as long as all of the surfaces in my apartment don’t have clutter, my apartment looks clean!

How I Use My Emily Ley Simplified Planner

Published on by blonde rosie2 Comments

MONTH: AT A GLANCE

Write down when bills are due.
Sponsored content for the blog deadlines.
Scheduled blog posts.
Work events like jeans day and payday.
Include appointments. Fill in holidays and birthdays so you don’t forget to send a card!

WEEKLY: AT A GLANCE

Schedule when to take photos for the blog.
Write down commitments to go to the gym.
Make note of what errands can be done after work and errands to run over the weekend. Schedule time for self-care, for example, manicures, wash your hair and nighty skincare routine. 

I keep my planner at my desk at work since I spend the majority of my time of the week there. On Fridays, I look quickly to see what I have going on during the weekend and put down my errands that need to be run on post it that I keep on the back of my phone. I will also check to see if any birthdays or anniversaries are coming up so I can send a card on time.

On Monday morning, I fill out my planner for the week so I am prepped and ready for the week ahead. I love my Emily Ley Simplified Planner because every day has a to-do list making it easy to write down things to do. I keep my personal to-do list at the top of the list and write down blog things on the bottom to keep things organized. In the notes section on the bottom of each daily page, I write down the blog posts that are scheduled for each day to remind me to finish writing them. A lot of work goes into each post and I always have the post written and it’s missing photos or I started a blog post and never finished!

I honestly do not know how I would live without my planner and to do lists! This is my first year using the Simplified Planner and after just a few days of using it this year, my life is a lot more simplified!