How to organize our home on daily basis : It's Easy!

Lorie Marrero is the best-selling author of The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life, the spokesperson for Goodwill Industries International, and the creator of ClutterDiet.com, an innovative online membership program that's provided affordable professional organizing advice to thousands of people in eighteen countries. I've included some of her valuable advices in my post before and this time, here is what she says about daily basis organizing ideas that makes long term effect in the personal and household grooming.

Brush your teeth once a month, sixty times, and then you don't have to worry about it every day! That won't work? The same reasoning applies to cleaning, organizing, and maintaining your home. It's a little silly to save up all of your cleaning, maintaining, and organizing for one giant project. Here are some small things we can do regularly to keep things working well all the time.

Closets: 

• Each day, hang up everything and put away clean laundry. 
• Put your shoes back in their places, straighten stacks, and have a regular habit of bringing empty hangers back to the laundry room. 
• Remove clothing along the way as you decide to donate it, and put it in your "Donation Station," using a paper shopping bag or box to gather those items for Goodwill. 
• Twice a year when you organize and change out seasonal clothing, these habits will keep everything more visible and manageable when you are ready to do a bigger project.

Garages:

• Break down cardboard boxes, manage your recycling and trash, sweep excess leaves and dirt to keep them from tracking into the house, and keep a path cleared between the car and the door.
• Return sports equipment, chairs, and bikes to their racks and shelves. 
• And each time you fill up with gas, empty the trash from your car right there at the gas pump!

Pantries: 

• Each time you return from the grocery store and put food away, stop and straighten up what's there. 
• Move cans and boxes for greater visibility, throw away containers with only a few crumbs left, and check for moldy bread and stale chips. 
• Reclose cereal cartons and cracker boxes that your family has left open, and remove excess packaging from large warehouse purchases like soft drinks, paper towels, and snack foods.

Entry and Exit Doors: 

• Take shoes back to bedroom closets, put errand items in your car, and clear out mail and papers. 
• Hang up coats, put dirty socks in the laundry room, and get the kids to handle their odds-and-ends of toys and school items once a week.

What we always forget : Hard work is often the easy work we did not do at the proper time. 

So What other little things could you do regularly to save yourself lots of time and effort later? Share your valuable comments with me. 

How to clean with Lemon

A Zest of lemon! This is what I want whenever I look for a cup of tea. But do you know a lemon is not only to savor our taste buds!! Lemon is one of those great cleaning agents we already have in our kitchen! The lemon's tart citric acid is great at disinfecting and can make those nasty, foul smells disappear. Cleaning with lemon always comes with very low price tag and that is always good news. Isn't it?? If you want to know further, I hope you are with me as I follow. :-)

  

1. Deodorize your Sink/basin and garbage disposal: 

The Sink, basin and garbage disposal drain can get stinky. Instead of pouring bleach down there to kill the bugs causing the odor (which can put off noxious fumes that make you cough), consider tossing a few lemon rinds down the disposal. This will help neutralize the odor naturally. It will leave instant aroma of the lemon that you will certainly feel fresh.

2. Disinfect your Cutting Board : 

Apply a good amount of lemon to your cutting board, scrub, let sit for 20 minutes, and rinse. Not only is this great for cleaning and disinfecting your cutting board, it is also great for getting rid of those nasty odors.

3. Polish metal: 

Use lemon juice that you can squeeze out of the lemon or buy already squeezed and salt to scrub those pans clean! You have made those metallic things in your living area and kitchen shine now.

4. Sanitize your microwave: 

Microwaves can get grease fast. The acid in lemons can zap germs and leave a fresh sent. Boil four tablespoons of lemon juice with one cup of water and wipe down your microwave. Lemons are one of the best solution for cleaning your microwave. The lemon solution basically does the scrubbing for you.

Another way to clean your microwave with lemon juice is to soak your sponge in lemon juice and microwave your sponge for two minutes. The lemon and water steam will loosen up the food and stains in your microwave.

5. Food Graters: 

Rub a lemon cut in half against both sides of the grater and wash. This will make the residue come off a lot easier.

6. Blast soap scum: 

Now, this is brilliant, i think. Juice six lemons and pour the contents into a spray bottle, the citric acid will dissolve soap scum! Isn't it Simple! Clean shower, any stainless still in your bath area and kitchen with it spraying the lemon juice.

7. Clean your dandruff : 

This one is quite easy rather than other messy ideas i've got so far for hair. Just rub half a lemon in your scalp 15 minutes before you wash your hair. leave it for 15 minutes. and then shampoo it. Dandruff will lessen in 6-7 washes. and you will get shiny hair textures as well. Ting Ding.

8. Clean Ink Spot : 

Apply lemon juice to the stain and wash with cold water. The citric acid is great for getting ink stains out. Only use it if the fabric is cotton, otherwise, it may get ruined.

Now, Lemon says thankx to you that you've decided to use it in your cleaning. 

Easy Style Inspiration : Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama is well known First Lady of the United States of America (wife of the president Mr. Barack Obama) who is highly educated, smart as hell, and by many accounts as warm and gracious as she seems. There are many reasons style (read 'grace') watchers love her along with the people of America. And many reasons we admire her, ranging from her incredible accomplishments to her sense of humor She was her husband's mentor, and she seems to have a marriage where both equality and love are a given. She works tirelessly for her causes, inspiring young women who also likes to be a perfect mother for her 2 teenager kids along the way. In short, she's everything we want to be at age of 49 (Yes, she is !!).

Like any other celebrities in the world, her words and every step outside her home are under scrutiny. But here, we will take a look at her simple yet defining style of wearing clothes and accessories that add gracefulness along with personality and are extremely easy to put together in our REAL everyday life. 

In my opinion, Style of Michelle Obama is :

• Classy
• Feminine with personality
• Timeless
• Indivisual and Easy

# Style Tip 1: We don't always need a Blazer to give personality to an outfit. There are Cardigans and Sweaters too which are much easier, feminine and Budget friendly.

Michelle's decision to wear a cardigan sweater to visit Queen Elizabeth provoked an international debate about etiquette, but look at her and think again !! A cardigan and sweater can be best alternative even for a formal occassions. For daily office wear, a cardigan will give you feminine edge with adding personality to your overall look than the corporate look of the Blazer in much lower cost.

 

I love the way Mrs. Obama mixes patterned and even embroidered cardigans for frocks, and sheath dresses.

and even pants can be co-ordinated with Cardigans. Impressed !!

# Style Tip 2 : Brooches add glam quotient to your plain and otherwise boring outfit. It reflects you are playful and creative even in corporate wear. 

From Wide Belts to colorful shoes, first lady Michelle Obama loves eclectic accessories. But it’s how she dons brooches — on dress necklines, pinning together cardigans, even clustered over a strand of pearls which shows her creativity.  It's inspiring she is wearing them in unexpected ways.

Sometimes feathery.......

Note that Brooch joining the cardigan. Creative Michelle !!

# Style Tip 3 : Ruffles in work wear and simple and plain shirt/top can make your outfit look fabulous instantly. It's one of the best way to give boost to your work wear in Budget.

Give those plain skirt and trousers uplift with smart and clean cut ruffled shirts and tops, and there you are with sophisticated formal attire. Coordinate color that works best on you. This is one of the few options for timeless look regardless of your age.

Ruffled shirt, Big Belt and Cardigans, Sophisticated Michelle Obama.

# Style Tip 4: Learn to wear Statement Jwelleries. Either neckpices and earings or cuffs and bracelets. Strict them for one or two item at a time and NEVER look decked up heavily.

You will probably be thinking; every celebrity wears statement pieces as they can afford high end ones! Please look at Mrs. Obama, she wears even tribal neckpieces with Sheath dresses without being over the top ans it makes statement. She plays safe wearing only one item at a time and coordinates colors with her plain outfits. She never wears heavy neckpieces with printed sheaths and dresses and that's what I am trying to highlight.

# Style Tip 5: We will never go wrong with pearls. These are the safest options in jwellery that will change a look with panache and suits with any outfit.

Mrs. Obama often dons lots of pearls, double-stranded pearls. She makes statement with it wearing low profile through make up and keeping her elegance at high level.

# Style Tip 6: A flattering neckline in outfit and new haircut can make you look many years younger. Smile is your best accessory. 

# Style Tip 7: Give your outfit some needed color and see the results. A more happy you.

Michelle's style has been evolved. She used to dress in a much, much more conservative manner, big, boxy suits and turtlenecks, and her hair was in a flip and as the campaign progressed, she found herself and she expressed herself much more. She started incorporating color and really taking risks with the way she co ordinated color !! Thankx to her personal style sense and I am happy she did !! 

# Style Tip 8: Wear Belts in your stride. 

Mrs. Obama has been wearing Belts, big bold ones that suit her wide and tall body frame. She even wears Belts in layered way. Cardigans, slim fitted tops and Big wide belts. So smart !! You can work with the kind of belt you are comfortable in and see the results comparing before and after you. I think it rally works wonder through a simple change in accessories. Learn to love your Belts and cinch your waist a little.

Even a shirtdress or a long plain shirt can be stylish with addition of jwelled belt !

A plain Sheath dress can be edgy with belt. Michelle OBAMA SHOWS how.

# Style Tip 9 : Exercise at any age to be fit. Fit mind, body and soul. It's been proved that sweating makes you look more attractive. And every dress will look more good on you if you are fit ! Inner and Outer !!

Michelle Obama knows how to make her body work at an age of 49! With exercise, she is capable being on the go with two teenagers and a wife to president !! Phew !! Her very well toned arms are statement making in it's own right and she has got terrific well-toned physique that makes any plain sheath dress look fab on her; Do you think that is possible without sweating out ?? Think again and i think i should consider it as well. 

Trademark looks of Michelle Obama:

• Belted sheaths
• Cardigans
• Color coordinated outfits and Color Blocking
• Statement jewelry ... one or two pieces, well-chosen, bold, big
• Empire waistline is probably one of her favorite silhouettes.
• working with separates and going easy with brands
• Lots of pearls, double-stranded pearls. 

Michelle Obama made a J.Crew cardigan look high end and her low heeled pumps were simple but noticeable. No First Lady since the reign of Jackie O has left an impact on the fashion industry like Michelle Obama. Her bold decision to wear sleeveless dresses despite criticism, proved that Michelle is a woman who lives by her own standards. She has truly went from First Lady to Style Icon Michelle Obama.

What can we learn from her style ?

She certainly promotes a healthy sense of enjoyment and individuality in fashion. With her clothing choices, Mrs. Obama has rewritten the dress code for women who work. Wear cardigans instead of always jackets, flats instead of impossibly high platform heels. Her style tells us to have a little fun with style.

And, most important, we dress for ourselves, something the first lady does so effortlessly it's hard to imagine that there had ever been any dress code for her position. With her floral prints and hula hoops, she's not afraid to flaunt her femininity!so why should the rest of us be?

What do you like most about her style ?

Disclaimer : 

Image Courtesy : Huffingtonpost, style.com, Vogue.com