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I think fly lady is great too. I've also found the blog abowlfulloflemons VERY helpful. I'm a very visual person and this blog is very readable, handily indexed by topic (mail center, pantry, cabinets, etc), with great photos. I recently organized my mail station following her lead and have been thrilled to have controlled that part of the clutter. :)

Sounds like you and your family need to take a weekend together and dedicate it to de-cluttering the entire house. Get rid of anything you dont need or havent used in a long time. It will be amazing how much stuff you get rid of and how much space you have afterwards.

Do you have a basement? Or attic, or garage? If so then get a tall pantry shelf or cupboard that you can buy real cheap and put it up in whichever you have and put most your can goods in there and leave only say a weeks worth of cans that you will use for a week in the pantry in the kitchen. It will leave you a lot of room and make things easier.

Happy Organizing!

I have to second the flylady. She is great. Some ideas (borrowed from her.) Start small, so it isn't overwhelming. It sounds like the mail and/or the pantry are the two big places to start. I bet you could go through your whole pantry in less than half an hour if you set a timer! I know -- I just did mine last week. I found several cans of soup/veggies that were several years past their expiration date -- pitch them. Things that are still good but you bought for that recipe you're never going to make - give them to Loaves & Fishes, or some other food pantry. Then, think of 5 meals you can make using up the stuff that's still in the pantry. Use those meals to make the next grocery list. You will have cleaned out half the pantry with those 3 steps.

For the bathroom -- I too buy way too many products. I carved out a small space in my linen closet, where I have put all the duplicates/extras/experimental products. I have committed to not buying any new cosmetic/hair products until I have used up the current collection -- it could be 2 years at this rate. But, I only have one of each type out at a time now, so they are easier to see and use, and I have noticed that I have actually used up a couple of things (lotions, spray in conditioners) because I only have one thing like it out at a time now and I actually use it. I probably still have too many things on the counter, but 10 bottles down from 45 or so seems pretty managable to me.

For the mail: I put a brown paper grocery bag in my recycle bin in the garage. When I bring the mail in, I stop in the garage and pitch all the junk mail straight into the recycling. It never makes it into the house. For the rest, I have a stand up paper sorting thing (office max/office depot/target.) Bills go in one slot. Things I want to save go in another. Things that need action but aren't bills go in a third. Then, when I'm doing bills, I just grab the pile and finish them off.

We have a corner of our kitchen counter that must have a paper/mail magnet in it. It is the spot where this stuff grows and breeds overnight. I need to make a conscious effort to keep it under control every day. However, with a system for where to put things, I can move them out of this spot pretty easily. Also, I have learned to let go of more. Most junk mail will come again -- if I might want the name of that furniture reupholsterer or whatever, I dont keep the mail anymore. I either plan to google it if I really want it, or write it down at the back of my calendar, or just let it go. It takes time -- don't get overwhelmed. Just do 15 minutes at a time and then stop. You'll be surprised what you can do in 15 minutes!

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Hi! Make a list of the things that are making you the most crazy and start with them. But start small. If you try to do too much too fast you will overwhelm yourself and get discouraged. Try getting everyone to do 15 minutes every night. There are lots of things a four year old can do. You and hubby do the most decision making things and the kids can do basic things (get all the mail piles into one big pile, throw out any non-current ads, sort laundry, empty waste cans, clean up from supper, the possibilities are endless). Set a timer so they know it isn't going to be an all night affair. If your pantry is overflowing sort through it (one shelf at a time) and give away what is in there that you aren't going to use. Then promise yourself you won't shop until you are down to a comfortable level. It may make for some interesting meals but it won't hurt anyone. All that bathroom stuff? I have a friend with shelves full of stuff, it just keeps getting dustier and dustier. If you don't use what you have just toss. Really, it will make you feel better to have it all gone. There is something about peace in the bathroom, if every other room is a disaster I always feel better after cleaning up the bathroom and getting all the excess out. Send the pens and pencil to school. I used to periodically send a bundle back to work with my DH, his secretary always loved getting a fresh supply so she didn't have to order more. Oh, the mail... I like to sit and get comfy with the mail. I have a bag for recycling, a shredder, and an open file box by my comfy chair and have finally learned to deal with it everyday. Before it was an overwhelming pile project. Now if you want to see today's junk it's already in the recycling. Oh, I keep a pile on the ottoman of DH's stuff and at some point will slip it in his computer bag if you doesn't take it for himself. There are lots of things you can do. I LOVE the shoe things. Do you have Barbie dolls in them? Matchbox cars? Hang them on the kids doors. I have clear shoe boxes for all our craft stuff. Trying to get everything is a huge help and saves so much time instead of searching. Baskets by the door for keys, wallets, sunglasses, whatever you to take out or bring in. Good luck! I'll bet everyone has great ideas...

Each of my kids (I have 3) have a "pencil" box for markers and one for crayons/colored pencils. They keep track of their own boxes in their rooms (they are older, 15 spec needs, 12 and 9). Then I have a "mom" pencil box that I keep track of that has all the pencils in it for homework. I keep in in a drawer in the kitchen since the kids do homework at the counter. We do have mechanical pencils which have been easier to use, but also some regular ones too.

Hubby is in charge of all the mail. He's way better at it than I am. He goes to the mail box and gets it and goes thru it right away. He throws out all the junk mail and opens all the rest. He puts them in a pile and I shred them after I pay them.

It has really helped me to downsize everything. I just gutted my sons room and most of his stuff is gone except for his very favorites. I even got rid of most of the furniture and now there's room for a nice chair or love seat and he's excited about that. Same thing for my middle daughter.

I also gutted the pantry and did the same thing. Got rid of all the empty tupperware I wasn't using, all the gadgets I never touched and reorganized all of it. I have 2 baskets on the floor of the pantry that has all the snacks and one for chips (so they don't get crushed by other snacks!). I moved the foreman grill, blender, toaster oven, everything that I didn't use every day, off my counters and keep them on a shelf in the laundry room (its right next to the kitchen). That has really helped.

The next thing I'm working on is our bedroom and closet...wish me luck...but its made such a difference in all the other rooms, its my last (and hardest) room to do. And the garage, but thats a work in progress. =)

Hope you find some things that work for you. Good luck!!!

Mail- As soon as I get it, I immediately throw out all junk mail. As for bills, I've gone to paperless statements on all that allow and pay them online. Any mail I want to keep, goes in a decorative basket. I also have a filing cabinet in the basement for important items to be filed (receipts, appliance manuals, warranty info, ect.)

Pencils/Pens - If I start to get too many, I get rid of them. I keep some in a desk drawer and that's it.

Bathroom- throw out all old beauty supplies or things you just don't use. I recently got rid of 8 bottles of shampoo because it was just taking up space, I kept thinking "I might use/need this.", it's created more space now that it's gone.

Pantry- I don't usually worry about having an overstocked pantry because it never goes to waste, but I sometimes forget what I have. I'll take everything out, take an inventory and then put it back in a little more organized.

Please check out www.flylady.net and start with the babysteps. It really changed the way our house and family operates!