I'm overwhelmed. . .

I wish I had the magic solution. Last year at New Years I made a resolution (which I typically don't do because I know myself too well). IF YOU TAKE IT OUT, PUT IT BACK. IF YOU MAKE A MESS, CLEAN IT UP. I imposed that on DH as well. It worked like woah while I was actually enforcing it on myself and in DH. A mess can't be created if you don't let it. It usually only takes an extra 30 seconds to put something away where it goes or to clean up a mess that you made. I make a lot of excuses for not returning something to where it belongs or cleaning up a mess, saying I'm in a hurry. But I think I'm probably fooling myself there. It hardly takes any time at all to keep things from getting out of hand, but it takes a whole lot of time once they're out of control. I plan on remaking this resolution again this year. It really did work great when I was serious about it for a couple months. I'm a little ridiculous sometimes and DH and I are big on having "family meetings" to sort out logistical stuff. We recently had to develop a "magazine policy" becuase they were beginning to stack up. I like rules. When everyone knows the rules and had a hand in creating them, no one can claim that they didn't know what to do with XYZ or where to put it. We now keep two issues of every magazine, in a basket in the bathroom, and throw out the rest. Problem solved.
 
As for the dog stuff: it helps that we have a spare room that is entirely devoted to all things dog. Marlowe's crate is in there (his bed is in the crate) and all the toys eventually wind up in there. Conrad's crate is in the bedroom. I have a wire basket that I put all the kongs and alone-time-toys in when I get home from work. If I don't, they tend to get growly over them.  The rest of the dog supplies live in the kitchen on top of the fridge. I have a basket up there that has all their medications, grooming stuff, extraneous random junk, balls that only come out when we're going to the park, etc. I keep their treats and rawhides in seperate ziploc bags also on top of the fridge. The leashes hang on the basement doorknob.
 
I have to make sure that things are always kept in the same places because DH likes to use "I don't know where it is." as an excuse to not do stuff. I'm sure pretty much everyone else living with a man can sing along to that tune.

Thank so much everyone.  I'm finally cleaned up around here.  Willow thinks this is great, now she's getting all her balls out from under the couch and recliner, we found a few bones she was missing. . .
 
I'm going to take bits of advice from everyone and try to implement a plan to keep on top of things.  And, I'm going to put away some of the dog things that are out but never used.  And, now that the summer is gone I don't think she needs this many water bowls all over. 
 
Anyway, thanks!
 
 

ORIGINAL: my2saints
My last piece of advice is this quote by Lao Tzu "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."

Ah yes, but every now and then Nature throws in a good wildfire or hurricane to clean things out! My mom always threatened to burn the house down when things got too bad, we then knew it was time to clean our rooms! Around here, I basically have to have a hissy fit and then DH and oldest DD start picking up. Bless her heart, the 21-month-old puts things back . . .even when you don't want them put back yet, but we're not discouraging this!

I do a bit every day.  DH does the bathrooms and the kitchen floor.  He clean his shop/office once a year or so. I do nothing out there!

DSs clean the cat box, clean up the kitchen after meals, bring in firewood, mow the lawn, weed, clean the cars and clean the Guniea pig cage as well as other chores that may come up.  Their own rooms are a disaster area (as a rule--DS#2's room is actually clean right now!). I have a "don't ask,don't tell" policy about their rooms.

Our main floor is usually relatively clean and tidy.  It may not be Martha Stewart clean, but it doesn't warrant a call to Child Protective Services either![]

Oooh, I love Karin's idea about converting an entertainment center into "dog storage central."  If it had big doors on it, everything could be hidden behind them in one place.  I'm going to remember that suggestion!
 
And before you all think I'm standing on ladders looking for dust on high places -- you have to realize that I'm barely 5 feet tall, so when I say I don't dust the high spots except for rare heavy cleanings, that means just about everything above the height of the fireplace mantel!  If I could see the dust on top of the fridge right now or if I looked up at the cobwebs in the hanging light fixture, I'd probably freak out!  []

Dusting in high places? That's what 6'5" boyfiends are for!

He can SEE ON TOP OF THE REFRIGERATOR!

Scary, ain't it?

oh wow i am not the only one!   []  I had someone come and look at a foster the other day and found out the husband was 6'4 and reliazed he could see on top of the fridge so i was standing in a chair dusting off the fridge...lol... and took a broom to the top of the cabinets for good measure.  Not sure why i bothered they were in my house maybe 2 secs and spent 30 mins out with the dogs...lol...
 
I dont know how you guys keep up either.   With Coals dog hair you can see it all over the floor.  Black Lab hair sticks out on carpet.   Have to vacum every other day or so especially in his spot on the floor by the bed.   And with 4 dogs in the house and 2 cats its hard to keep up. 
 
I am happy if i get the litter box scooped and laundry done.  and try to do the other  stuff once a week or every two weeks... or i do the mad dash if i know someone is coming over and clean then... kinda bad huh...lol..  [8D]

We vacuum once a week, I do laundry once a week and BF helps occasionally.  He does his own laundry and that's every 2 weeks or so.  I dust maybe every 2 months or so.  When I can see the film on stuff, then I dust.  []

Dog stuff.
-3 beds and comforter on the floor in the bedroom
-toys all over the house that get picked up when I vacuum but then miraculously find their way all over the house again.  the reserved toys are hidden away on the mantle or in the basket with a lid.  The every day toys are in the cheap basket when I pick up.  It's always empty except for vacuum day though.[]
-food bowls are in the kitchen in 4 different corners out of the way
-water bowl in the "dog room" so that Tasha's drool isn't in the path anymore
-crates are all in the dog room where the dogs spend their day while we're at work.