I went on a long run yesterday. By the time I finished a late lunch and went home and showered, it was after 4pm.

All I wanted to do was relax and watch TV, but I was dedicated to my goal. I had to clean up first!

I decided to tackle the mountain of bags that has accumulated in the living room. (Another downside of having no real entryway! Though, some of those have been there since August. Yikes!)

There are some bags that we use everyday that are allowed to stay there, but everything else had to be put away!

I suppose I should also move the reusable bags into the car so that I’ll actually remember to use them. Baby steps!

So it’s November. Time once again for NaBloPoMo, the phenomenon that started me blogging back in 2006. Despite a busy schedule and tendency to post only once or twice a week lately, I just couldn’t resist!

And as I looked around the clutter throughout my house, I knew I had to resurrect my 2007 theme, a little project I dubbed NaBloCleanMo.

Each day, I vow to clean up one of the problem areas in my home. Even if I only have time for a small mess, every little bit helps!

It’s tricky sometimes to take photos, clean up, and post about it by the end of each day, so I’m trying a new strategy this time around. I’m working a day in advance!

Yesterday I addressed a very common problem — the living room couch. This also happened to be my very first NaBloCleanMo project in 2007.

The front door opens right into the living room, and the couch is a popular dumping ground for mail. I am also in the habit of adding jackets, bags and other items that don’t belong to the mix.

It actually doesn’t look as bad as it really was in the “before” photo. I probably should have snapped the photo before I put the two running jackets in the wash that had been on the couch for several days!

This was an easy fix. Sort the mail (most went straight to the recycle bin!), put a few things away, and fold the blanket!