31 Days Fall Challenge: Week Three ~ Hidden Clutter... Part 1

So here we are into the third week of the 31 Days Fall Challenge...Making Your Home a Haven.  I'm really thankful that Courtney decided to host this challenge.  It has helped me so much in just 2 weeks. I know that there are lots of different challenges and blogs out there in "cyber world" for wives and moms and women in general, but I like something that really challenges me spiritually and practically.  We always have room for improvement and should remain teachable throughout our lives.
Here’s week #3′s Challenge: List a few of the spots in your home that make you visually stressed. Now go buy something for that spot – like a basket to put it all in! Work on cleaning up clutter. Throw things away.

While you’re at it – clean up some clutter in your spiritual life. What gets in the way of your peace spiritually?

Well, as I mentioned, I've already been working on the clutter in my home.  If you are a regular reader here, you know that I've mentioned tackling the clutter and having a desire to live in a home that is comfortable, organized, welcoming, and clean.  My biggest clutter zone is my garage and that's just from moving many times in short periods and then storage for all of our church/school/ministries and family of 6.  However, I would like to minimize it all, not just for ease, but to be less of an eye sore when I see it.
Anyway, I looked around at my house and I must say that I've got things pretty much the way I like it to be.  We have church Bible study and prayer at my house every Wednesday now and I've finally got a handle on keeping the house presentable.  However, I do have some weak spots and these will be my challenge for this week.
Here's spot number one:

 This bookshelf is in the corner of our "office" room.  My husband Marco uses one side and I have the other side all set up as a craft space.  This is not a room that has a door that you can close to tuck away the clutter when company arrives.  When you walk into our home, it is the first open space to the left - the front room.  This bookshelf has become a catch-all for my school things for my little guy, crafts and such for the kids and for church, etc.  I also have a box of framed pictures that need to either be hung or re-purposed.  The box on top of it is our church projector that we use and then the gift bags are from parties we've recently had.  It all needs to get straightened out.  My husband has boxes of books in the garage and he needs to go through those.  I think I will encourage him to do that this week so that I can spruce it up for him.  This spot has been on my nerves for a while, but it doesn't ever get done.  Now is the time!
Here's spot number two:

This mess is inside our pantry.  Out of the picture, but to the right are shelves that keep our canned goods, pastas, etc.  That is fine and in order.  The shelves that we're looking at WERE in order at one time, but have gotten out of control.  Part of it is that I've done a lot of entertaining lately and instead of putting things away properly the first time, I just stuff it in there and make sure it won't fall out.  This will be handled this week for sure.  I will post pictures for you all  hopefully before next Monday!
There you go.  Two spots that really need my attention.  They may not be anything that bothers anyone else because they don't even know it's there, but I know what is happening and it bothers me.
Tomorrow, I will be sharing with you Part Two of Hidden Clutter.  I will be talking about the clutter that's different...the clutter that is weighing down our hearts.  See you then!