I have a new mantra that I am trying to stick to
FOCUS-FINISH
I get sidetracked, A LOT!
So, I am trying to stay focused and finish things.
This is a quick example of how I can avoid things. I have an old dresser in my bedroom. I really need to get rid of it. Two of the drawers don't work right so I barely use them for clothes. The other I do but those undies could be moved. The rest of the dresser is a hutch type top. Truly what it has been for the majority of twenty years is a junk collector/bookshelf/major dust keeper.
Well, today I started dusting in my bedroom. You know that kind of dusting where you look behind something and gag because the dust is so thick you can't tell what color the carpet is? Well, it led me to start cleaning off the top of my dresser. Eewh! gross! There was some cold medicine sitting there that expired in 09. It is so embarrassing!
One problem that I discovered is that I am not a collector yet I have things that are "treasures" from my past. Rocks from my deceased Uncle, belt loops from when Dave was a kid, little kitschy things I bought in Germany(little tiny replicas of castles-I have since learned just don't buy them-they only look cute in tourist shops!). I don't know what to do with these things! I don't know if I will regret it if I throw them out. I know that my Mom was at about this point in her life when once they were cleaning out and they threw out letters she and my Dad had written to each other dating. She has regretted that for many, many years! I don't want to have regrets yet I don't want to drown in junk!!!
So, with my new mantra ---Focus/Finish I am starting this mess. This dresser is going to go away. It is a junk collector. I sit stuff on it that I don't want to deal with. It is going to take awhile. I have only just begun. There are two little drawers that have lots of little "decisions" to make.
FOCUS/FINISH FOCUS/FINISH!!!!!!
Showing posts with label cleaning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cleaning. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hoarders Here we Come!
The other day Mitch and I sat and watched the program Hoarders. It is basically a show about people that have a real severe case of OCD where they can not get rid of things or they compulsively buy too much. They have usually been turned into the health department or turned in for some other public code violation. These houses are bad. I mean mounds and mounds of stuff on top of more mounds and mounds of stuff. So disgusting that it is hard to imagine anyone living in these homes.
When I was a girl my Mom often used this phrase in reference to us needing to clean our bedrooms, "you need a scoop shovel in here it is so deep". Well, I am here to officially say that I have never needed a scoop shovel to clean anything in my house! On this program they did use scoop shovels, and industrial sized dumpsters and face masks. It was really sad actually, because most of the people featured really did have a mental disorder that was the underlying factor to this utter filth.
Mitch watched with me in utter dismay. He kept making comments like, "how could anyone live like that?" "Why don't they do something about it?"
The comment that I jumped on was "our house could never get like that." Oh, really? I told him that our house could be the beginning stage of a hoarders episode within one month. That is why I am constantly asking them to pick up, dust, vacuum, doing laundry, taking mounds of stuff to the garbage and continually sending things to the DI(local thrift store).
I have actually been part of a couple of clean up efforts in my life that were close seconds to the Hoarders show. I learned all those years ago that anyone can get their life in a mess. It is a constant, every single day effort.
Today I have been doing some basic housecleaning. Things that no one notices unless they haven't been done in a long time. Dusting for example. Does anyone ever come in and notice that the house is freshly dusted? Not unless it was so dusty before that you could write in the dust--or there were cobwebs hanging all around.
What I discovered while dusting is that I ignore my piano room. It is a small sitting room as you walk into the house. We use this room for reading, playing the piano and housing the Christmas tree in December. I realized that in February when I took all the remaining Christmas decor from on top of the piano I never replaced it with the normal decor-which is a bunch of family pictures. It is now the end of September--I have had nothing on the piano for eight months!!! Should I put the pictures back up or leave it empty until Christmas again? Maybe some spooky Halloween decor?
I also discovered that when my children dust they really do a poor job!(surprise) The end table looked like it hadn't been dusted in months. I am wondering if it was dusted by me in February and not since. I also discovered that my children like to stash things instead of putting them away. My #3 child is the worst at this. I found a complete (dirty) outfit stashed behind a row of photo albums, empty pop cans under the chair and an electric fish tank stashed behind the chair. All of these items had been given instructions to be put away. I usually add to that command---"in the appropriate place." Somehow I think that my children have misunderstood what exactly the appropriate place is!
So here I am at 2:26 in the afternoon, still in my gym clothes that I put on at 4:30 a.m. I have been cleaning and decluttering for hours. However, if you walked into my house you would never know that I had done a thing today.
Just trying to keep one step ahead of the authorities! Please don't turn me in the next time you visit!
When I was a girl my Mom often used this phrase in reference to us needing to clean our bedrooms, "you need a scoop shovel in here it is so deep". Well, I am here to officially say that I have never needed a scoop shovel to clean anything in my house! On this program they did use scoop shovels, and industrial sized dumpsters and face masks. It was really sad actually, because most of the people featured really did have a mental disorder that was the underlying factor to this utter filth.
Mitch watched with me in utter dismay. He kept making comments like, "how could anyone live like that?" "Why don't they do something about it?"
The comment that I jumped on was "our house could never get like that." Oh, really? I told him that our house could be the beginning stage of a hoarders episode within one month. That is why I am constantly asking them to pick up, dust, vacuum, doing laundry, taking mounds of stuff to the garbage and continually sending things to the DI(local thrift store).
I have actually been part of a couple of clean up efforts in my life that were close seconds to the Hoarders show. I learned all those years ago that anyone can get their life in a mess. It is a constant, every single day effort.
Today I have been doing some basic housecleaning. Things that no one notices unless they haven't been done in a long time. Dusting for example. Does anyone ever come in and notice that the house is freshly dusted? Not unless it was so dusty before that you could write in the dust--or there were cobwebs hanging all around.
What I discovered while dusting is that I ignore my piano room. It is a small sitting room as you walk into the house. We use this room for reading, playing the piano and housing the Christmas tree in December. I realized that in February when I took all the remaining Christmas decor from on top of the piano I never replaced it with the normal decor-which is a bunch of family pictures. It is now the end of September--I have had nothing on the piano for eight months!!! Should I put the pictures back up or leave it empty until Christmas again? Maybe some spooky Halloween decor?
I also discovered that when my children dust they really do a poor job!(surprise) The end table looked like it hadn't been dusted in months. I am wondering if it was dusted by me in February and not since. I also discovered that my children like to stash things instead of putting them away. My #3 child is the worst at this. I found a complete (dirty) outfit stashed behind a row of photo albums, empty pop cans under the chair and an electric fish tank stashed behind the chair. All of these items had been given instructions to be put away. I usually add to that command---"in the appropriate place." Somehow I think that my children have misunderstood what exactly the appropriate place is!
So here I am at 2:26 in the afternoon, still in my gym clothes that I put on at 4:30 a.m. I have been cleaning and decluttering for hours. However, if you walked into my house you would never know that I had done a thing today.
Just trying to keep one step ahead of the authorities! Please don't turn me in the next time you visit!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Hall Closet
The Hall Closet-2010
This closet is in my main hall. It is not a coat closet. It doesn't need to be a linen closet. What it has turned into is a catch-all! I seem to have lots of places in my home that this is the case. Lots of just putting things anywhere there is a space, just to get it put somewhere, even if that somewhere isn't really its home!
This picture is AFTER I pulled out all the blankets, pillows, sheets and other types of linens. It was crammed to the gills!
I pulled out blanket after blanket. I counted fourteen baby blankets that will be going to DI so someone can get some good out of them. I kept many of them because I love the flannel and thought that I could make something out of it. The problem? I am not at the point that I am making things like that and I am drowning in TOO MUCH STUFF!
I did have to call my Mom and have a moment of sadness because I love these blankets. These are NOT the blankets that my kids loved. They are not their Lovies, those I kept. However, fourteen baby blankets? Next were the pillows(why in this closet?) The extra large bedding blankets-just in case. Not the home for them. Old sheets that the elastic is worn out and not cute fabric. Tablecloths, old embroidered pieces that I want to make something from. Just way too much stuff!
This is what my hall looked like--actually this is a little bit better, I must have already put some blanket piles away.
This project has taken much too long. Mainly because all the other aspects of my life continue-even if I am in organization mode! Things like laundry, dishes, dinner, swimming lessons, toilets!
I have had this medium sized tote in the bottom of our pantry for nine years. It is the catch all craft box. The problem is that it is a big box and you have to sift through it to find what you want. I really don't like this. It is just the reason why big toy boxes don't work. The kids have to dump out the entire box to find the red car that is at the bottom of the box! I emptied out the box, threw out a bag of garbage, have another bag of unfinished crafts that will go to DI and I have an empty container for my crochet yarn that has been sitting in a plastic sack on my bedroom floor!!! I also went through my yarn, putting colors together so that I know what I have. Hopefully, I will start to make hats again soon!!
I knew that for my family"craft" closet to work I would need separate containers. So, off I went. I have sorted, purged, junked and finally have a closet that I can open!!
I have all the craft stuff separated into similar things. I have a little box(hidden in corner) for my hot glue gun and extra glue, I have a shelf for wrapping supplies(notice the empty box-that is for scissors, tape, bows etc.) The blue box on the floor is my yarn! Off of my bedroom floor!!!
I am so excited about having this project finished!! Now on to the bathroom closet!!! That is after I clean my bedroom from all the residual leftovers that are either being donated or going to their rightful other homes!
Progress-I am making Progress.
This closet is in my main hall. It is not a coat closet. It doesn't need to be a linen closet. What it has turned into is a catch-all! I seem to have lots of places in my home that this is the case. Lots of just putting things anywhere there is a space, just to get it put somewhere, even if that somewhere isn't really its home!
This picture is AFTER I pulled out all the blankets, pillows, sheets and other types of linens. It was crammed to the gills!
I pulled out blanket after blanket. I counted fourteen baby blankets that will be going to DI so someone can get some good out of them. I kept many of them because I love the flannel and thought that I could make something out of it. The problem? I am not at the point that I am making things like that and I am drowning in TOO MUCH STUFF!
I did have to call my Mom and have a moment of sadness because I love these blankets. These are NOT the blankets that my kids loved. They are not their Lovies, those I kept. However, fourteen baby blankets? Next were the pillows(why in this closet?) The extra large bedding blankets-just in case. Not the home for them. Old sheets that the elastic is worn out and not cute fabric. Tablecloths, old embroidered pieces that I want to make something from. Just way too much stuff!
This is what my hall looked like--actually this is a little bit better, I must have already put some blanket piles away.
This project has taken much too long. Mainly because all the other aspects of my life continue-even if I am in organization mode! Things like laundry, dishes, dinner, swimming lessons, toilets!
I have had this medium sized tote in the bottom of our pantry for nine years. It is the catch all craft box. The problem is that it is a big box and you have to sift through it to find what you want. I really don't like this. It is just the reason why big toy boxes don't work. The kids have to dump out the entire box to find the red car that is at the bottom of the box! I emptied out the box, threw out a bag of garbage, have another bag of unfinished crafts that will go to DI and I have an empty container for my crochet yarn that has been sitting in a plastic sack on my bedroom floor!!! I also went through my yarn, putting colors together so that I know what I have. Hopefully, I will start to make hats again soon!!
I knew that for my family"craft" closet to work I would need separate containers. So, off I went. I have sorted, purged, junked and finally have a closet that I can open!!
I have all the craft stuff separated into similar things. I have a little box(hidden in corner) for my hot glue gun and extra glue, I have a shelf for wrapping supplies(notice the empty box-that is for scissors, tape, bows etc.) The blue box on the floor is my yarn! Off of my bedroom floor!!!
I am so excited about having this project finished!! Now on to the bathroom closet!!! That is after I clean my bedroom from all the residual leftovers that are either being donated or going to their rightful other homes!
Progress-I am making Progress.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Next on The List
I go through phases. Usually it is just survival. Doing the daily stuff and keeping my head above water just enough. Then I realize that the chaos is drowning me and I better start digging out.
Quite a few weeks ago-maybe even six weeks ago, I started a list. This is a list that really is on going. I write one quite often. This list consists of most of the chaos ridden spots in my house. Places like closets, cupboards, etc. I started on the garage shoe spot. That project took three weeks to finish. I am happy to report that we are sporting a new shoe cupboard. I will hold off on deciding if it is a success-as it took me nine years to call the other method a complete and total failure.
However, I did cross it off "the list".
Stuff from TWO Shelves in my pantry
This is my latest project off of "the list" My pantry. I have a very large walk in pantry. It really is a lovely pantry. The problem is that it is a very large pantry. It serves dual purposes. It is not only the food pantry it is also the broom closet, the kitchen office, and over all catch all for anything that doesn't want to be properly put away!
I have been working on organizing this pantry for the last three years. I have made progress. I have labeled baskets for food that actually mostly work. I have drawers for pencils, crayons, phone books etc. that have actually been working for 8 1/2 years! The problem is that there is still space that is not designated with a very specific purpose. What ends up in this space? Anything! Mostly art projects and such that I want to save. I have a room in my basement that I have drawers for each of my children. The problem is that my children bring me treasures every single day. Usually I put the art on the bulletin board so that we can enjoy them. Then I decide to clean it off but I don't actually take the thirty two seconds to run it to their drawer in the basement.
So--my very large dining room table and counter is covered with stuff from TWO SHELVES!! Two! I am sorting, purging and will be photographing the artwork. I am also considering new containers. I have realized that my family(and me) do better with closed drawers. This way the only things that gets put into these drawers are the things that are labeled. I will be visiting the store in a day or two to purchase some plastic drawers. Baskets with lids work on things that are used infrequently, such as extra school supplies or recipes. But for the rest I must have drawers-that way, I wont just pile!!! I am also thinking about a label maker.
Hopefully, there will be great success to share soon!!!
Quite a few weeks ago-maybe even six weeks ago, I started a list. This is a list that really is on going. I write one quite often. This list consists of most of the chaos ridden spots in my house. Places like closets, cupboards, etc. I started on the garage shoe spot. That project took three weeks to finish. I am happy to report that we are sporting a new shoe cupboard. I will hold off on deciding if it is a success-as it took me nine years to call the other method a complete and total failure.
However, I did cross it off "the list".
Stuff from TWO Shelves in my pantryThis is my latest project off of "the list" My pantry. I have a very large walk in pantry. It really is a lovely pantry. The problem is that it is a very large pantry. It serves dual purposes. It is not only the food pantry it is also the broom closet, the kitchen office, and over all catch all for anything that doesn't want to be properly put away!
I have been working on organizing this pantry for the last three years. I have made progress. I have labeled baskets for food that actually mostly work. I have drawers for pencils, crayons, phone books etc. that have actually been working for 8 1/2 years! The problem is that there is still space that is not designated with a very specific purpose. What ends up in this space? Anything! Mostly art projects and such that I want to save. I have a room in my basement that I have drawers for each of my children. The problem is that my children bring me treasures every single day. Usually I put the art on the bulletin board so that we can enjoy them. Then I decide to clean it off but I don't actually take the thirty two seconds to run it to their drawer in the basement.
So--my very large dining room table and counter is covered with stuff from TWO SHELVES!! Two! I am sorting, purging and will be photographing the artwork. I am also considering new containers. I have realized that my family(and me) do better with closed drawers. This way the only things that gets put into these drawers are the things that are labeled. I will be visiting the store in a day or two to purchase some plastic drawers. Baskets with lids work on things that are used infrequently, such as extra school supplies or recipes. But for the rest I must have drawers-that way, I wont just pile!!! I am also thinking about a label maker.
Hopefully, there will be great success to share soon!!!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Monday---or Tuesday?
It is Tuesday--however, yesterday being a holiday today totally feels like a Monday! I have a HUGE list that I want to at least make a dent in. To do that I must stay focused--something that is so difficult when there are so many fun distracting things!
So--a list--perhaps I will get a bit of it done!
*laundry, laundry and more laundry!(I have been slacking-not good, it always gets away from me)
* bathrooms-those can wait till children can help
*floors--same as above
*basement--the ping pong table has been full since-well it's too embarrassing--it MUST be emptied
*my bedroom--I have a corner that is becoming a catch all--a huge mound of books and yarn.
Those are immediate things--here is the big list
*office-floor, closet, bookshelf--total overhaul
*pantry--it has been a year since the last major overhaul-it is time
*toys-more to di
*kids books--I must find a better way to house them-a new bookshelf(or five) will be necessary
*preschool closet-awful
*my studio-continue working on this-
*hall closet, bathroom closet---okay--ever single closet and every single drawer
*garage--snow clothes mess
*movie/toy/blanket closet
That is just a few off the top of my head. I better get to work!!!!
So--a list--perhaps I will get a bit of it done!
*laundry, laundry and more laundry!(I have been slacking-not good, it always gets away from me)
* bathrooms-those can wait till children can help
*floors--same as above
*basement--the ping pong table has been full since-well it's too embarrassing--it MUST be emptied
*my bedroom--I have a corner that is becoming a catch all--a huge mound of books and yarn.
Those are immediate things--here is the big list
*office-floor, closet, bookshelf--total overhaul
*pantry--it has been a year since the last major overhaul-it is time
*toys-more to di
*kids books--I must find a better way to house them-a new bookshelf(or five) will be necessary
*preschool closet-awful
*my studio-continue working on this-
*hall closet, bathroom closet---okay--ever single closet and every single drawer
*garage--snow clothes mess
*movie/toy/blanket closet
That is just a few off the top of my head. I better get to work!!!!
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Laundry-again and forever!
The plan today? Attacking Mt. Washmore! Mr. Sweetness asked if I needed double washer/dryer combos? I said that I needed another ME. One that can be running around the house doing all the things that are required and one to run and be everywhere the family needs me.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Why?
Why do my children keep garbage? I don't mean things that I think are garbage but they think are treasures ---like the broken McDonald's toy that has been slept with for weeks. I mean actual garbage. Wrappers from candy, lids from containers, broken boxes, crayon wrappers. Why?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Monday
Monday
I have almost always liked Mondays. It seems like a new start.
Sometimes, however, Monday is a hard day. There are dirty dishes left over from the weekend. Dirty socks, pants, undies and rugs litter the floor. Unmade beds, dirty mirrors, dusty baseboards, sour laundry, overdue library books, and unpaid bills.
Sometimes Monday's just seem to slap me in the face with all the things that I am not doing as well as I think I should be.
Why is it that women take it personally when their children leave their dirty underwear on the kitchen floor? Why do we think that it is our fault when the garage is a total wreck, full of wet stinky snow boots and gloves? Why do we think that we are failures when our children's bedroom looks like a war zone? Why do we feel inferior when our kitchen floors resemble a movie theater floor? Why do we have a mental list of all the things that need to be done, checking things off, slowly realizing that the list is getting longer not shorter because we keep adding to it.
Why can we not realize that most of the things that we take personally are not really "ours". The dirty underwear? I didn't wear them and dump them on the kitchen floor, a little four year old took them off there because he was trying to get his own pj's on. The dirty dishes that are endless? A family that was fed. The dirty mirrors and stinky toilets? The blessings of indoor plumbing-remember the outhouse of yesterday? Unmade beds and dirty bedrooms--a sign of a warm place to sleep and a home that is large enough to have extra space. Clothing strewn about? A sign that we are well covered and not trying to stay warm in the cold.
The list that never ends---a sign that we are not finished, there is always room for improvement. If we are breathing we need to be living. If we are living then there are messes.
Lots and lots of messes.
I have almost always liked Mondays. It seems like a new start.
Sometimes, however, Monday is a hard day. There are dirty dishes left over from the weekend. Dirty socks, pants, undies and rugs litter the floor. Unmade beds, dirty mirrors, dusty baseboards, sour laundry, overdue library books, and unpaid bills.
Sometimes Monday's just seem to slap me in the face with all the things that I am not doing as well as I think I should be.
Why is it that women take it personally when their children leave their dirty underwear on the kitchen floor? Why do we think that it is our fault when the garage is a total wreck, full of wet stinky snow boots and gloves? Why do we think that we are failures when our children's bedroom looks like a war zone? Why do we feel inferior when our kitchen floors resemble a movie theater floor? Why do we have a mental list of all the things that need to be done, checking things off, slowly realizing that the list is getting longer not shorter because we keep adding to it.
Why can we not realize that most of the things that we take personally are not really "ours". The dirty underwear? I didn't wear them and dump them on the kitchen floor, a little four year old took them off there because he was trying to get his own pj's on. The dirty dishes that are endless? A family that was fed. The dirty mirrors and stinky toilets? The blessings of indoor plumbing-remember the outhouse of yesterday? Unmade beds and dirty bedrooms--a sign of a warm place to sleep and a home that is large enough to have extra space. Clothing strewn about? A sign that we are well covered and not trying to stay warm in the cold.
The list that never ends---a sign that we are not finished, there is always room for improvement. If we are breathing we need to be living. If we are living then there are messes.
Lots and lots of messes.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Monday Morning
Ever just KNOW that you are having a hormone induced bad day? I did--yesterday. I was planning to attend Sacrament Meeting at Mr. Sweetness' ward. However, after going to 3 hours of my own meetings I just didn't have it in me. I came home and climbed in my bed. Lucky for me my children were incredibly well behaved and I got to stay in my bed-without any screaming.
By later evening I was doing much better. I even made cookies. Shocking, I know. I even ate a couple. They weren't that good but Mr. Sweetness loved them. Snickerdoodles are his favorite.
After having such a day I knew that I had to get back on the merry go round. So, I got my sorry butt up and made it to the gym this morning--albeit 15 minutes late. I did get there though and that is 2/3 of the battle for me.
What do you do when you are in a bit of a funk? I have to find ways to keep me out of them. I don't like myself when I am in one.
So---it is Monday. I am trying to stay home. I have cleaned my big tub, vacuumed up hundreds of dead bugs(sick little creatures--I have sprayed twice-I hope that they are all dead soon!).
I am going to vacuum my bedroom, try and pick it up some more(big project) and work on every other mess in my house. I am trying to stay motivated and get "caught up" enough that I can work on a little sewing project.
*clean kitchen
*vacuum carpet
*clean bathrooms
*laundry
*laundry
*laundry
*straighten up basement
*prepare for preschool
*50 other things that need done but never make it to the list!
By later evening I was doing much better. I even made cookies. Shocking, I know. I even ate a couple. They weren't that good but Mr. Sweetness loved them. Snickerdoodles are his favorite.
After having such a day I knew that I had to get back on the merry go round. So, I got my sorry butt up and made it to the gym this morning--albeit 15 minutes late. I did get there though and that is 2/3 of the battle for me.
What do you do when you are in a bit of a funk? I have to find ways to keep me out of them. I don't like myself when I am in one.
So---it is Monday. I am trying to stay home. I have cleaned my big tub, vacuumed up hundreds of dead bugs(sick little creatures--I have sprayed twice-I hope that they are all dead soon!).
I am going to vacuum my bedroom, try and pick it up some more(big project) and work on every other mess in my house. I am trying to stay motivated and get "caught up" enough that I can work on a little sewing project.
*clean kitchen
*vacuum carpet
*clean bathrooms
*laundry
*laundry
*laundry
*straighten up basement
*prepare for preschool
*50 other things that need done but never make it to the list!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Rainy Monday
Happy Monday!
It is raining and dark here. Usually that would depress me. Today it is actually creating quite a calm, soothing effect. Miracle of miracle--I got my lazy rear out of bed at 4:30 am and went to the gym by 5:00am for a great class! I know---I am so proud of myself.
I have a list a mile long today. I am hoping to get on top of the normal house stuff. Isn't it amazing that we all have to deal with the same things? Laundry, dishes, dirty floors-etc. I think that it should be mandatory that every mother has an Alice to come and help with these types of things!
Until my Alice comes I better get back to work!
Happy Rainy Monday!
It is raining and dark here. Usually that would depress me. Today it is actually creating quite a calm, soothing effect. Miracle of miracle--I got my lazy rear out of bed at 4:30 am and went to the gym by 5:00am for a great class! I know---I am so proud of myself.
I have a list a mile long today. I am hoping to get on top of the normal house stuff. Isn't it amazing that we all have to deal with the same things? Laundry, dishes, dirty floors-etc. I think that it should be mandatory that every mother has an Alice to come and help with these types of things!
Until my Alice comes I better get back to work!
Happy Rainy Monday!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Same thing different day
Last week I wrote about consistency. How did I do with this? On a scale of 1-10--10 being good. Probably about a 4! That is just not good enough!
Summer has really started (finally). The weather has been wonderful. This has made the children forget that they all still have responsibilities. I am not sure what I am going to do to remedy this problem but I have to do something. I have to have more control in my house! I hate the messes.
Will this ever change? This is something that really makes me crazy. I HATE constantly hollering at my kids to do the same things---again. It makes me old and ugly. I understand why women age so much worse than men. WE are the mother's.
I have heard of people actually picking up their children's things that are not properly put away and putting them into a garbage sack. I am considering this. I truly don't know if this would affect them one bit.
So in the spirit of Smart Habits Saturday I will continue to do the same thing again, and again and again. Try and teach my children to put their things away and help in this house. After 15 years of parenthood I am beginning to lose hope that anything will ever change. I try but I feel as if truly, I am the only one that cares at all. We could live in a complete sty and they wouldn't care. They would just think that I wasn't doing MY job.
Wish my luck. I need it. Maybe a few prayers would help also!
Check out the Lazy Organizer for more Smart Habits Saturday.
Summer has really started (finally). The weather has been wonderful. This has made the children forget that they all still have responsibilities. I am not sure what I am going to do to remedy this problem but I have to do something. I have to have more control in my house! I hate the messes.
Will this ever change? This is something that really makes me crazy. I HATE constantly hollering at my kids to do the same things---again. It makes me old and ugly. I understand why women age so much worse than men. WE are the mother's.
I have heard of people actually picking up their children's things that are not properly put away and putting them into a garbage sack. I am considering this. I truly don't know if this would affect them one bit.
So in the spirit of Smart Habits Saturday I will continue to do the same thing again, and again and again. Try and teach my children to put their things away and help in this house. After 15 years of parenthood I am beginning to lose hope that anything will ever change. I try but I feel as if truly, I am the only one that cares at all. We could live in a complete sty and they wouldn't care. They would just think that I wasn't doing MY job.
Wish my luck. I need it. Maybe a few prayers would help also!
Check out the Lazy Organizer for more Smart Habits Saturday.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Clean Up Time!
This is what my workspace has looked like for the last little while! I have been working on a project and so I kept using the same stuff over and over. However, it finally got to where I had about a 8x8 inch working space!
So---I am taking some advice I have heard lately. Edit, edit, edit! My workspace is now looking more like a table instead of a garbage pile! I have also thrown away lots of bits of garbage and put all my ribbon into my ribbon box. I even put pins into many of the spools to keep them from unraveling!
I am going to try and focus some energy on my scrapbook studio in the next week. I want to get it back into shape. It is such a disorganized mess that I can't find anything and it is not a fun place to create. That has to end!
So, I am going to take little 10 minutes take-outs and work on getting this space back into shape!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Consistency!
That is a word/action that I struggle with. For years I have realized that being consistent in anything is what brings true success. If we want to lose weight we have to consistently exercise and eat well, not just once a week. If we want to learn a skill we have to consistently practice it, whether it is the piano, painting, photography, golf, etc.
This summer I am really trying hard to encourage my children to consistently help keep our house nice. Every morning(almost) I have had them clean their rooms and do their other chores from our chore chart. My #3 child balks at this every single day. "Summer is supposed to be a vacation, why do we have to do all this cleaning?" I keep explaining (sometimes nicely, other times not so nicely) that if we consistently pick up our house, put our things away, wipe the counters, vacuum floors, etc. then our house is always pretty clean. It isn't a HUGE project.
I am hoping that by summer's end they will have a better understanding of WHY we do a little everyday. Perhaps then it will continue into the school year and they will be on their way to understanding that a little bit all the time is much easier than a lot everyonce in awhile. It also makes for a much happier momma!
That is a word/action that I struggle with. For years I have realized that being consistent in anything is what brings true success. If we want to lose weight we have to consistently exercise and eat well, not just once a week. If we want to learn a skill we have to consistently practice it, whether it is the piano, painting, photography, golf, etc.
This summer I am really trying hard to encourage my children to consistently help keep our house nice. Every morning(almost) I have had them clean their rooms and do their other chores from our chore chart. My #3 child balks at this every single day. "Summer is supposed to be a vacation, why do we have to do all this cleaning?" I keep explaining (sometimes nicely, other times not so nicely) that if we consistently pick up our house, put our things away, wipe the counters, vacuum floors, etc. then our house is always pretty clean. It isn't a HUGE project.
I am hoping that by summer's end they will have a better understanding of WHY we do a little everyday. Perhaps then it will continue into the school year and they will be on their way to understanding that a little bit all the time is much easier than a lot everyonce in awhile. It also makes for a much happier momma!
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Progress
Summer has begun! We have started off on a good note. I sat down with the kids and we had a talk about my expectations. The things that they needed to do everyday to maintain order. I hope that we can continue. I explained that there were some projects that we would be doing all summer long that I would be expecting their help with. Yesterday we started the garage. It had become a dumping ground. We have a corner that is supposed to be for coats. There are hooks and shelves for shoes. Well, Mr. #2 and Miss #3 have been HORRIBLE this winter about putting anything away. Truthfully, I decided to ignore it. It made me angry every single time I had to push shoes or coats out of the way. However, I didn't want to deal with it. Yesterday was the day. It isn't finished yet but we are making great progress. I am trying to decide what system would work better. Lockers? I don't know. I just know that I don't want to continue with the horrible mess that it has been. I also need to go through all the other shelves in the garage. We have some great shelves but a few of them seem to not have a specific purpose laid out. Therefore, they become the home to anything that doesn't have a home. So, I need to work on that. My sweet hubby is usually pretty organized, however, if things aren't labeled with a specific purpose even he just sits things. So, that is one of my next projects.
My project list is long. I am compiling it. It is probably depressing!
My project list is long. I am compiling it. It is probably depressing!
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Pigsty
I am tired. We are home from church. It was a small miracle. We made it to church and we walked in the building TEN minutes early!
I am going to take a little nap and while I am resting I am hoping that the little cleaning fairies come and clean up the pigsty that has overtaken my house.
I am going to take a little nap and while I am resting I am hoping that the little cleaning fairies come and clean up the pigsty that has overtaken my house.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Will I Ever Learn?
I am not a born organized person-the reason for the name of this blog. However, I am trying to learn. I am walking around my house picking things up. I realize that my own coat and sweater are still in the family room from the track meet. I go to put them away in my bedroom. As I look around my bedroom I realize that I have a few other sweaters/jackets that need to be put away.
Ok, why do we do this to ourselves? I know that I am trying to teach my children to pick up after themselves. I constantly tell them to hang up their clothes, put the dirty stuff in the hamper, throw the garbage away instead of leaving it on the counter.
Yet, here I am. THE ADULT! The one that is supposed to be a role model
This is the pile of sweaters/jackets
that I picked up. Obviously, this is not from one day.
that I picked up. Obviously, this is not from one day. Will this ever improve? How does one make the improvements that will really improve life? I know that these are questions that people have asked throughout time. However, is there truly a way to overcome the way we are now to become the person that we know we are capable of?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
My Dungeon
Do you ever walk around your house and just realize that you are the only one that actually cares whether it is clean? I do daily. Usually, I don't do it all that pleasantly. It makes me crabby that I am the only one that realizes that a bathroom is close to a health risk and the HAZMAT crew is going to be the next line of defense!
Well, I have been working on my dungeon, better known as my basement. Now, for those of you that haven't been to my house my basement is completely finished. It is a wonderful place. It has a family room, playroom(space under stairs) a bathroom, 2 bedrooms, my studio(junk room) and the laundry room. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Well, it becomes the dumping ground for my family. Unfortunately, I am not as diligent at cleaning it as the rest of the house. (not that the rest of the house is always so clean!) We have a ping pong table that many times is covered with STUFF.
Well, yesterday was the day! I started tackling the dungeon. It has been a horrible mess since the beginning of December. With Christmas, I just avoided it, which made it even worse. We all know that any mess laying around gives permission to make MORE messes! Somehow everything mutates! So, I started with the dirty clothes. The laundry room is two feet away, why are there dirty clothes on the floor? Garbage-why do people dump cereal on the floor? For 6 1/2 years we have had the "no eating" except in the kitchen rule.
To say the least it was disgusting. I have the ping pong table now completely covered in mostly stuff going to DI(like goodwill). I have also picked up and removed almost every toy and stuffed animal that my family owns(too many after 15 years). They are all in totes on top of my deep freeze. I am going to actually go through the mound and sort, trash and DI. My little guy just doesn't play with n*ked old barbies! That task will have to wait for another day. Today, is finishing up with the rest of the basement, you know, vacuuming under the cushions(yuck) and stuff like that!
Well, I have been working on my dungeon, better known as my basement. Now, for those of you that haven't been to my house my basement is completely finished. It is a wonderful place. It has a family room, playroom(space under stairs) a bathroom, 2 bedrooms, my studio(junk room) and the laundry room. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Well, it becomes the dumping ground for my family. Unfortunately, I am not as diligent at cleaning it as the rest of the house. (not that the rest of the house is always so clean!) We have a ping pong table that many times is covered with STUFF.
Well, yesterday was the day! I started tackling the dungeon. It has been a horrible mess since the beginning of December. With Christmas, I just avoided it, which made it even worse. We all know that any mess laying around gives permission to make MORE messes! Somehow everything mutates! So, I started with the dirty clothes. The laundry room is two feet away, why are there dirty clothes on the floor? Garbage-why do people dump cereal on the floor? For 6 1/2 years we have had the "no eating" except in the kitchen rule.
To say the least it was disgusting. I have the ping pong table now completely covered in mostly stuff going to DI(like goodwill). I have also picked up and removed almost every toy and stuffed animal that my family owns(too many after 15 years). They are all in totes on top of my deep freeze. I am going to actually go through the mound and sort, trash and DI. My little guy just doesn't play with n*ked old barbies! That task will have to wait for another day. Today, is finishing up with the rest of the basement, you know, vacuuming under the cushions(yuck) and stuff like that!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Finally!
Yeah! I finally got my Christmas stuff put away! I had decided that I wanted to go through all the boxes before I put them back in the tunnel(strange, extra narrow, storage spot). What had happened up to this point was me taking the Christmas decorations down and plopping them on the ping pong table. Well, today was the day! My basement is disgusting and I just couldn't really seem to get it clean with all the Christmas stuff snearing at me. I just went through every last box to see if there was broken, old, boring stuff that I wanted to get rid of. I am so proud of myself--I got rid of a LARGE box! It will be going to DI with a large load of outgrown clothes and other odds and ends.
It feels so good to have a BIG job finished!!
It feels so good to have a BIG job finished!!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
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