Getting Used To the Bump On My Head....

Hills, a yo-yo and me; what do we have in common? (yes, I'm fully aware of how lame and cheesy this riddle is....) Give up?  -Each endures endless up and down, continued back and forth ... 

but

I'm okay with it. I get it. It's just how I work. It's how new behaviors become habit or lifestyle.

In learning to buy less, becoming an organized housekeeper, eating healthy and developing a lifestyle of exercise, you've seen me fall off each of these wagons ... 

At last I see that, over time, the many times I start and stop, try, fail and try again ... are slowly yielding change. Over time, I'm buying less, eating better and making wiser financial choices. Not perfect, but better. 

So, this time the decision to develop a lifestyle of exercise (which is totally and completely foreign to me by the way...) is followed by an unsurprising parade of starts and stops. Rather than worry, I accept this as simply my way of working - my methodical madness that eventually achieves results.  ... unless, of course, I get wrapped up in the guilt of these hiccups.... 

So, here's to self-acceptance,

to progress, however stuttery, 

and to a lifestyle of exercise, healthy eating and all those other things

which are more of a journey

than a destination.

*cheers*

Kids To Do List

"I'm booored" my 4 year old whines. 

Bored? How is a kid with a sibling and a house full of toys and books bored? I don't know.

A friend suggested he needs a sense of control or purpose, so I made this list. (much like hers) These 5 things should (in theory) be done before anything else in the day. They get to know what to expect and work towards a goal; something I want for myself each day too.   

   

   1. use washroom

   2. dress

   3. breakfast

   4. brush teeth

   5. tidy toys

Once the 5 things are done, they can each choose a 'Fun Card' - something that we can do together. (there are more cards than pictured below) 

As with many systems and tools, it worked fantastically for two or three days. Today my son is working on his 5 things again (because I need undistracted time to tell you about this).  ... and it's working!

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Cleaning Zone - Thursday

Thursday = Kitchen

Today I feel truly ridiculous even posting about a cleaning zone, because I have not been 'in the zone' for weeks. (Plus it's not even Thursday!) However. I do intend to get back into this groove - which worked excellently, by the way.  ... why do we have such a hard time starting good habits anyway? Eat well, exercise, use moderation. Self discipline - is it so hard? Apparently so. 

Oh well. I will eventually get back into the habit. When I do, this is what Thursday will look like:  

• clean fridge (might mean empty and wipe all shelves ... might just mean get rid of old food ... depends on the day)
• clean oven (that happened one time...)
• organize freezer (that felt gooooood. ...Of course I  need to do it again soon...)
• wash cupboard doors
• light fixtures 
• wash counters corner to corner
• clean microwave
• tidy / organize cupboards
• sweep & mop
• garbages
• wipe under-sink cupboard
• wipe front of all appliances
• replace dishcloths and towels if needed.

There it is.

Cleaning Zone - Wednesday

Welcome to Wednesday in this magical sometimes-I-get-to-it cleaning zone schedule.

So, in this ideal world, on Wednesdays this is what it would look like:

Wednesday = Bedrooms

You may ask, "What?? You clean the children's bedrooms?? How will they ever learn discipline, dedication and responsibility?"  The short answer is I don't know. I help them with their rooms (which means I do most of it), and one day perhaps by pure osmosis, they will absorb good habits and behavior.  


So. Here's the list :)

• bedding 
• vaccuum
• sort / organize / exchange toys as needed
• sort / organize / exchange clothes as needed
• clean windows
• spot-wipe walls, doors, knobs
• dust
• put away folded laundry

As I  mentioned on the Monday post, I get to whatever I can in about 2 interrupted hours, (or less depending on motivation) and leave the rest. That's it for house cleaning on Wednesdays. The normal list (below) doesn't include cleaning - just daily operations stuff:

• make lunch & supper
• dishes
• laundry
• bathe children
• tidy all rooms
• return phone calls
• emtpy garbages as needed

How do you systemize your house maintenance? Do you find (like me) that a system is necessary, but finding the right one for you can mean trying about a hundred different times or systems? 

Cleaning Zone - Tuesdays

Okay .. I  know it's Wednesday, but I really wanted to tell you about the buns I baked on Tuesday, so that won :)  


As I clean my house zone by zone each day (in theory), it becomes more organized and clean (in theory). Isn't it great? (in theory) 

Tuesday = Pantry and Entrance 

• Pantry:
• sweep
• take stock out for kitchen
• organize shelves

• Entrance & Breezeway

• sweep & vacuum
• sort shoes & jackets
• clean shoe shelf
• dust walls
• wipe doors & door knobs
• wash windows in & out

Keep in mind .. this is my 'dream list' of what I'd like to get done in each room if time and motivation were not a factor. But, since they are, I have yet to dust walls, wipe doors and knobs, or wash the windows. But hey - at least it's swept and the shoes are in neat rows. Way better than it was! ... and you remember my pantry, right?

As I  mentioned on the Monday post, I get to whatever I can in about 2 interrupted hours, (or less depending on motivation) and leave the rest. That's it for house cleaning on Tuesdays. The normal list (below) doesn't include cleaning - just daily operations stuff:

• make lunch & supper
• dishes
• laundry
• bathe children
• tidy all rooms
• return phone calls
• emtpy garbages as needed

How do you systemize your house maintenance? Do you find (like me) that a system is necessary, but finding the right one for you can mean trying about a hundred (and then several times each), to find something that works for  you? 

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In the Zone - Cleaning Zone, That Is...

Okay, I confess, I was too embarrassed to take before pictures. I'm sorry. I'll take before pics next time. No really! What's that? you'll believe it when  you see it? *sigh* Okay, fair enough...

So, my house was taking over my life - it had become this looming mess monster that I couldn't capture. Turns out expectations were my downfall. But I finally won the day!  ... well, okay, I'm only on day 5, but still! It's success, right?

I'm telling you -every piece of laundry, every cup and pot, every counter stacked with papers, dishes and crumbs ... garbages overflowing, and I don't know how we don't stick to the floor around here.

Anyway, my brilliant, organizing sister (who's reading this right now and rolling her eyes), came up with 'zones'. ... although I hear FlyLady does this too.)

Basically I divided the house (on paper only), into zones.

Monday      = Office
Tuesday      =  Pantry, Entrance and Breezeway
Wednesday = Bedrooms
Thursday     = Kitchen
Friday         = Washrooms
Saturday     = Living room and Dining room
Sunday       = put up feet, have coffee, read other people's blogs :)

Then I wrote down what I wanted done in each room, and that's it.

It was great! I cleaned my office and ignored the messy bedrooms and sticky floors. It didn't overwhelm me to know I wouldn't get to it because their turn was coming. Ahh. Peace of mind.

Now my house has gone through nearly one full week cycle, and it looking great. It's also easy to keep up!

Now I'm FREE! FREE I tell you! Yesterday I picked up and left for the day, spur of the moment, and it didn't  matter! My house was clean when I left. I didn't have to worry about all the things I wasn't getting to. It was done.

Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh,

Thanks, Char! :D

Cleaning Zone - Mondays

To climb out of the disheveled heap that had become my house, I determined cleaning zones. This way, I clean only one small area each day - not the whole house, and not with the expectation of perfection. One small piece every day, and the habit should (in theory) keep the house decent.

Disclaimer - I've been told numerous times that I'm seen as organized - that my home is always clean and presentable. To all of those who think that ... you are deceived. Bwa-aa-aaaaaah! Somehow, I must have tricked you with all my hiding-piles-of-papers-in-drawers-when-company-comes-over tricks, and stuffing-toys-into-closets-so-you-don't-see-it manouvers.

Now that you are pleasantly disillusioned, I'd like to show you my newest plan of attack to maintain this house. Who knows? It might even work!   Well, it's actually been working fairly well for about 2-3 weeks.

Anyway .. enough introduction. Here's what the basic Monday plan is:

Monday = Office Day

• file papers
• sort and file mail
• pay bills
• organize drawers
• empty garbage
• vaccuum
• dust / wipe desk and electronics
• spot wipe or dust walls and doors

I get to whatever I can in about 2 interrupted hours, (or less depending on motivation) and leave the rest. That's it for house cleaning on Mondays. The normal list (below) doesn't include cleaning - just daily operations stuff:

• make lunch & supper
• dishes
• laundry
• bathe children
• tidy all rooms
• return phone calls
• emtpy garbages as needed

With this kind of task list, I'm able to maintain a clean and organized house (in theory), while not dedicating the whole of my life to it. Ahhh. It's so nice. There was one day I even picked up and left for the day - spur of the moment - and I was free to do it because my meal was in the slow cooker, house was clean and caught up. Aaahhh. Freedom! 

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A Tale Of Two Freezers

Well, some might argue that it's only one freezer, but I'm not so sure...

This is the evil twin freezer. Hideous, isn't he?

I couldn't stand looking at that ugly mug anymore, so I kicked him out.

Eeeeeew.








But, then I invited his more tidy brother to live with us. We like him.

Aaaaaahhhhh. That's what I'm talking about! Now I don't have to be afraid to open my freezer when we have company. Yay! 

Cleaning Zone - Before and After

Okay, so this time I'm including before pics :)

I told you how I divided the house into zones, and here's the bathroom zone ... before.

These vanity drawers sit in continuous disarray. Sometimes I wonder how I even find my make up in the morning. ... of course, sometimes I can't, but anyway ...

So this is the before...

And this is the after.  Huh. You know, some things just don't translate well through photos. It's really alot better than it was, and it's even better than this picture illustrates. Oh well. It's organized, I'm happy :)


This whole cleaning zone thing is pretty great so far.

Week 1 - I focused on basic cleaning in each assigned room, and didn't think about the sticky floors and dirty messes in the other rooms. I was free to do the task for each day and no more.

Week 2 - my house was clean! Wow. That was cool. I was all caught up, so I organized instead of cleaning.  ... hence, the organizational befores and afters you're seeing.

Week 3 - oops. I guess house cleaning gets a turn again...

Next, check out  my freezer. It was pretty scary ...

Organizing Drawers - Before and After

As I strive toward some sort of organized existence, I discover many nooks that suddenly appear disheveled. Whether one is naturally organized or messy, it seems to always needs redoing.

I heard a great little story once -  "A farmer knows and accepts that his job involves dealing with poop. He expects to daily deal with poop. This is farming. What kind of farmer would, in his right mind, expect to go in, clean the barn good and proper and then expect it to stay that way? What kind of farmer would expect to deal with all the poop in a day, and never have to do it again?"

And yes, I seriously used my drawer like this. Don't ask me why.

So, here's one picture of one moment in time where I had a messy drawer and cleaned it up. I do not promise, nor do I expect it to stay this way.  ... I want it to, I'll try to, but most certainly it just won't. Oh well ... more pics for you then!

Here's the after. Yay. All better.  ... for now :)

(Notice the insane amounts of bar soap in the drawer now? Good ole half price soap. I bought a boat load. .. .a small boat, but still.)

Pantry Before and After - Who's Mess is THAT?!

Oh dear... I don't know WHO's mess that is, because it surely can't be MINE!?!?  ... Okay, I confess it is. Or, rather, it was.

This is the before shot of my nightmare pantry. Scary, isn't it?

Why am I showing you this? Good question. Because I feel better when I know other people struggle with the same things I do.

Basically, you're not perfect and I'm not perfect. Oh good! We have something in common! Yup .. that's why.

Plus, it's proof that I don't just talk about it, but am actually working toward some kind of organized existence :)







Okay - back to the pantry ... So that was before, and then I organized it.

Aaaah. Much better. 

This was several weeks ago and I already need to do it again ... but it's better ;)
These shelves are about 2-3 feet deep! I don't quite know what to do with that! Suggestions?
For now, I try to keep what I don't need often in the back. It's not bad until I  need an item in the back ...
then we embark on a 5 minute journey that ends with the pantry you saw in the first picture. EEEEEEK!

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New Cooking & Meal Planning Resources!

Just came across two new cooking / meal planning resources you may just love ..

Baffled by menu plans? Puzzled about what to make for supper? 

Ever wish someone would just tell you what to do so you could get on with doing it? -Here it is! 

The Working Woman's Cookbook is more than  just a cookbook  ... it offers ...

• 12 Weeks of Menus - Each week has 6 recipes (we'll do the math for you) that's 72 recipes!!
• Shopping Lists - with each ingredient referencing back to the recipe so it's easy to customize the list to the meals you want to prepare for the week.
• Nutritional Information - so you know how healthy our recipes really are! 

• Serving Suggestions - So you don't even have to think about what to serve with our recipes.

• Vegetarian and Kosher Options

• And much, much more ... (the second resource is also offered on the 'Working Woman's Cookbook' page)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Enjoy!
  
  
  
  

Neatness Counts - Before and After

Does it drive you crazy when your workspace is a jumbled, disorganized mess? I can almost feel my blood pressure rise with each day I allow any area of my house to look like this...

 Behold the nightmare I call my pantry! Bwaa-a-a!

I'm afraid so. This is my scary pantry. Horrors.  But, when I finally dared to touch it ...

Aaaaaah. Peace of mind.  I can actually breathe deeper now.

The appearance of my home really does affect me more than I realize. Even if it is 'just' the pantry. I think efficiency necessitates cleanliness. ... does cleanliness also necessitate efficiency? ...