The mess has to go... but where?

You're trying to get the house in the Valentine's Mood for your hubby... It's 8:30, kids are in bed and you take a look around and see this... common, we've all been there.
Truthfully, this is my reality (6 kids remember? No, this isn't my house.. poor soul on google image search just got popular)  As I mentioned in my previous post, I did not come a natural homemaker.  Growing up, when my room looked like this and my mom made me clean it, I TOOK HOURS to get it done... because I didn't even know where to begin.

Then I discovered chocolate!!!- the great motivator (oh, and MarieBelle's is THE BEST- if you have $2.50 per tiny tiny piece.-- Tell your hubby this would be great for V-Day! I recommend the chocolate with Chipotle chilies!) ooh... look I'm getting off topic again!
Well, the point is every mom gets overwhelmed with messes.  For those ladies like me who were born without the neat freak gene, rehabilitation for the disorderly is possible.  Here are my tricks... oh and if you're one of those ladies who looks at a room and immediately knows what to do... just keep reading and have sympathy for this homemaker who had to "find herself."

First, strap on anything with pockets.  Aprons are great but if you have cargo capri's hey, that'll work.  You just need a place to put the hair clips, rogue lego pieces, lid to the milk jug... etc.
The best investment I ever made in homemaking were strong (unnaturally strong) sturdy laundry baskets.  I love the square ones and I have oh... at least 6 or 7 of them BESIDES my regular hampers.  They save my day.  

To attack a room like above: Line up several laundry baskets and sort... boys room, girls room, laundry room, master bedroom... etc.  Just start at one side of the room and toss the mess into the appropriate basket.  The room is picked up in no time!

I deliver the basket to the room where it belongs and the KIDS put their items away.  If the kids are too young, you have a head start and at least have like things grouped together and in the right room!
This game of course is no fun unless you race yourself against the clock... and oh, a little reward of chocolate... or for you TV fanatics 24 (still haven't seen it).... see how long it takes you.  Really, you'd be surprised how much you can get done in 5 minutes when you're dedicated and working to beat a clock!
The laundry basket idea works in many situations:  Messy living rooms, Kids rooms- (have kids sort books, toys, dirty laundry and then have them work on putting away 1 basket at a time), Messy cars or the big clean up after a car trip, and even the laundry room itself!
When I take time to race the clock and divide the job into tasks I can tackle, I am surprised at how quickly and efficiently the job is completed.  Now, of course there are ladies (like my mother, the homemaking Duchess) who don't need this course... their brains are wired to work.  They thrive on sorting and really, their rooms never look messy because they can't pass something out of place without picking it up... what a gift... but alas, that gene was not for me.  For the rest of us people who are keeping it real and trying to keep our sanity, laundry baskets work fine!  If you want more ideas on being blissfully domestic check out this site.

With a little inspiration for zapping clutter, you're sure to have the house picked up in no time, just in time for Valentines!  Now light the candles, start the music and enjoy your evening!
What are your strategies for attacking the nuclear messes in your house?