I have never been a spotless housekeeper, mainly because I was so busy (cough cough) and I have so much clutter and THINGS.  Since I have decided to simply my life I have been getting rid of things and I have been following a cleaning routine.  I never knew how helpful this would be.  I was searching Pinterest for some organizational ideas and came across this cleaning box idea.  You can find it here http://aprongirls.blogspot.com/2011/08/cleaning-box.html,  I thought it was such a great idea.  Of course, mine isn't as cute as the one on the blog but it is nevertheless very helpful.  I tailored it to fit my lifestyle and what I needed to have cleaned.

Today, Friday, is kitchen cleaning day - wipe down counters, appliances, cabinets, knobs, sink, and clean the floor.  I can't tell you how excited I was to have a sparkling white acrylic (horrible) sink.  The faucet is shiny, the cabinets are clean, the baseboards are free of chalk from the chalkboard wall, and the appliances are clean, including the inside of the microwave.  It makes me want to keep it clutter free and now I will work on that - clearing off the counters.  I've changed out several cabinets earlier this week to make the kitchen more workable.  When I opened the dishwasher before to empty it, I had to put the dishes on the counter, close the dishwasher door, and then put the dishes away.  Now it is much easier.  Still a work in progress but getting there.

Now let's see, what can I get rid of on the counter......

My first post on my new blog.  I previously wrote a blog named "Lucky Loves Home" but decided I needed my time for myself.  I was working in San Francisco and was gone from the house for eleven hours a day.  When I came home I took the dogs for a walk, prepared dinner, and was pooped.  I had a one and half hour commute each way.  Granted, I did a lot of reading, but it gets old really fast.  I was let go and lived on unemployment for six months, then helped my mother for six months, now I am retired living on a very fixed income.

This blog will be about my frugal living (or learning to be frugal), my hopes and dreams for my family and myself, living simple and discarding clutter, and dealing with an ill mother and the family dynamics that entails.

I will try to post some pictures here and there, but I do not have a camera, only my Samsung Galaxy Note 3, so we'll discover how the pictures turn out.