Weekly Challenge: August 30 - September 3, 2010

Set a basic Fall Schedule.

For almost everyone, fall brings schedule changes.  Whether you have children in school, are going to school yourself or it is just the changing length of days, some changes are required.  Think about those now, if you haven't already, and plan accordingly. 

With school starting this week, I need to get my children to bed earlier and have supper on the table earlier. The cooler weather means I need to have heartier food for my husband's lunches and make him a thermos of tea in the morning. 

I have written the food items on my basic grocery list and penciled in the other items on my calendar.

Weekly Challenge: August 23-28, 2010

Find 75 personal possessions to get rid of. 

If you don't have much, this could be challenging.  If it is too much for you, choose a number that suits you, but, I have a feeling that if you are reading this, then you have plenty to get rid of.

The idea for this challenge came from this article, on the subject of only owning 75 personal possessions.  Now, I am really wondering, do these minimalists count necessary hygiene items, like tooth paste and toilet paper in this equation?  Or do those fall into necessities, not possessions?  I suppose a bit of research on my part could quickly answer that question...

I know that when I begin decluttering I often run into the road block of, "This could be useful."  Or, "Good money was paid for that, wouldn't it be wasteful to to eliminate it from my life?"  As I was contemplating these questions, I came across this article.  It was encouraging to see that I am not alone, but that keeping things that are unwanted is just as, if not even more so, wasteful.

For me, the rules of this little challenge are going to be simple:  If I don't like it, if I don't need it or want it, it is going out.  If it something that I would rather sell than give away, then I will list it in our local paper this week.  I am going to be keeping a list here, and you can too, or share a link to your list on your blog.

• 2 magazines
• 23 old, used up, school books
• 14 pieces of clothing

Motivational Tip #5

Choose one room of your home and go on a treasure hunt.  Find the most valuable/useful things in that room.  Now look at the other things in that room.  How many of them can you get rid of?

If the thought of going on a treasure hunt does not motivate you, read this article:

STUFF AND THINGS - The 75 Things Movement, Minimalism and Freedom

Now, I should confess upfront that I am not a minimalist, and probably never will be.  For one thing, I like my books too much.  Real books -- not computerised ones!  Never the less, I found this article motivations.  Imagine living with only 75 possessions.  What would you keep? 

Sorry to have been gone for so long.

It does appear that I fell off the face of the planet for a few weeks.

Oh well.

They were good weeks.

My husband went to some extra schooling, so that he could obtain his Masters Lisence, and I went to a cousin's wedding!  It was good to see much of my extended family, some of whom had never met my two youngest children.

Motivational Tip #4

Find some music that really gets you moving, in an organized mannor, and start cleaning with it.  If the first thing you try does not motivate you, try something else.  Pick CDs or play lists that are a good length for the amount of cleaning you want to get done, then work until the music stops.

I have about five CDs that I enjoy listening to while I clean, and there is one in particular that really gets me moving.  I can't identify what it is that I really like about the CD, except that I find it easy to focus on the why of my cleaning while it is playing.  I have used this one CD so much while cleaning, that I almost *have* to clean while I listen to it--which is very distracting in the vehicle!  (Don't try to clean and drive.)

Motivitional Tip #3

Here is an article for you, written by SliverOfData.

How to Keep your House Looking Clean

There are a number of tips for quickly making your home look decent, especially if you are expecting company shortly.  For me, the best tip was:

"Once you've finished your quick cleaning, and your guests arrive, don't apologize for the state of your home. Guests come to see the host/hostess, not the house. Unexpected company, especially, will understand if everything isn't perfect."

Weekly Challenge: July 19-23, 2010

Deal with 3-10 things that would improve the way your home functions and how you live.

Just do what you know.  Deal with the emotions as they come.

We all know things that would make a difference in the way we feel about our home.  Some of those things are big, like insulating the attic.  Some are small, like getting rid of that appliance your aunt gave you, that you never use, but it takes up gobs of space.

This week, I have several big projects to complete, such as grouting the tile and redesigning my kitchen.  I know, I have had the grouting on my list for three weeks, but baring a catastrophe, it will be done today!  I also want to take care of several other things.  As I look around my house, I see several things that are not too hard to do, but are going to take a bit of emotional stamina.

The projects I am am facing are ones of dealing with things that were once very needed, but whose purpose in my home is no more.  Things like emptying the diaper bag and taking down the crib.  Last week a friend told me to embrace change and view it as a good thing.  I'm taking his advice to heart, knowing that it comes from some of the hardest changes he has ever faced in his life. 

My challenge to you, is to find at least three things you can deal with this week, and why dealing with them is a positive change.  Feel free to leave your list in the comment section, and I will list mine here, as they are complete.

1.  Emptied the Diaper Bag and cleaned it up, so that it can be given away. 

• My youngest is full potty trained, and we no longer have to be prepared for accidents. 
• Some new momma will get to use my bag for her little one, as she travels with him/her.

2.  The laundry room is grouted!

• In three days, it will be ready for things to be put back in place.  That means we get our bathroom back, unless my husband decides we are going to get the drywall taken care of first. 

3.  Designed how I want the kitchen laid out, and began researching surfaces and counters.

• This may be my only chance to redesign my kitchen.  If the plumber can easily move the sink where I want it, then then there is no reason not to cease this opportunity.

Motivational Tip #2

Do the worst job first!

There is something that you know needs to be done, but are dreading doing.  You try to do other things, but just want to go back to bed -- to hide under the covers.  Let me tell you what:  There is nothing like just getting it done and over with. 

The other day, it was time to pay the bills  I hate that job!  And yet it comes twice a month...  I had managed to put it off for several days, but the due dates just kept getting closer, and I hate late fees even more than paying the bills, so decided it had to be done.  Done today.  But, I would clean my bathroom first, and help the little boys pick up there room, and weed the garden and then tend to some of my daily chores.  There would be plenty of time to get the bills paid!  Yah.  Right.  I cleaned my bathroom, sort of.  It did look a little better than when I had begun.  Then I mosied outside, determined to do better at weeding, but after wandering around the garden for half an hour, I decided it was time for a break.  It was only after I had a glass of water in my hand that I realized I had not pulled a single weed the entire time I was out there.  I attempted to do some other things, I even tried to write several articles, but nothing good came about.  Finally, I realized, I just didn't want to pay the bills and that nothing was going to change until they were out of the way. 

Time to bit the bullet.  Sit down.  Getter done!  It was 5 pm.  I had wasted the whole day, not paying the bills.  By 5:30, the bills were all paid, recorded, stamped and ready to go.  And I finally had energy!  Energy and ideas!  I cooked a good supper and cleaned up several other things that had been bothering me all day.  Today, I started with the most unpleasant chore:  Admitting to my husband that I had lost a tool he had loaned me, and had no ideas left as to where to look for it.  *embarrassing*

He found the tool a few hours later.  It was on his work bench, probably where I had set it moments after he had entrusted me with it.  *relief*  And I got quite a bit done today. 

Doing the worst job first is a trick I learned from reading the Little House books as a child.  When Laura was a teen she had a job at the local General Store, sewing shirts.  She hated making button holes, so always did them as soon as she could, and as quickly as possible.  She did such a good job at them, that her boss complimented her, thinking it was her favorite part of shirt making.  She did it so that she could enjoy the rest of the prosses.

Motivational Tip # 1

Pick up and deal with five things, or groups of things, from each room in your house. 

Five seems to be an ideal number for me.  I have tried ten, and often get distracted before I am done.  I have tried three, and that works too, but does not make the impact on the room that I wish to make.  Five gets me moving and makes a small difference through out my home.

When I run out of obvious things to deal with, I begin cleaning.  When there is nothing that needs to be cleaned, I begin removing clutter, one surface, drawer or shelf at a time.

This last week I have been busy with family visiting and have not had time for my regular routines.  By taking a few minutes to pick up and put away or throw away five things from each room, each morning, I have kept on top of things and even improved some areas that I had been neglecting.

In the afternoon, after laying the kids down for thier naps, I have been going throughout the house again, taking care of three things this time around and doing a load of laundry. 

I find that working in all parts of the home helps to keep a balance.  When I work to improve just one room, the house feels unbalanced and my family will compensate by creating messes in the other parts of the home.  This can be very frustrating, but it is a natural reaction.  This is why making real change is much more affective than going on a cleaning spree.  This tip helps to make real change.

Get Me Moving! Motivate Me to Clean!

The motivation to clean comes and goes, like the tide.  The need to clean, however, does not, especially when you have a family!  Cleaning can seem like a non-stop chore, but it does not have to be.   There are ways of getting your home clean and enjoying the day, without hiring a maid. 

As I find things that motivate me or articles that inspire, I will post them as 'Motivational Tip # __ '.  I will also be tagging them by type, so that you can easily brows the ones most likely to motivate you.

If you need something, right now, go pick up all of the trash you can find laying around your home.  It will give you a sense of accomplishment and make a difference in the way your home appears and feels.

When the trash is gone, pick up the dirty laundry and deposit it in a hamper.  If you have a washing machine in your home, start a load!  Set a timer for one hour, so that you don't forget to move it over to the dryer or hang it out when it is done.

Now, plan what you are having for supper and get anything frozen thawing.  Decide when you need to begin cooking and clear the table, so that you have a place to eat.

Make the Necessary Changes

One of the most useful things you can learn to do is to put away what ever it is you are using, when you are done with it.  Learn to do this yourself and teach your children.  It will cut down on the amount of clutter and misplaced items around your home.  It is simple enough, that even a toddler can learn...

But what if your things don't have a place? 

Organized people love to say, "A place for everything and everything in it's place."  And they are right.  As much as I hate to admit it, they are right.  I wish there was an easier way, but there is not!  If you want order, then the things you own need a place.  A place that is accessible and orderly.  As I told my children the other day, "Your closet may be where that belongs, but if you just throw it on the floor, you will not be able to find it when you need it!"  They knew I was right, because the closet floor was three feet deep with stuff, and they were in tears trying to find their things.   After my little lecture, we hauled everything out of the closet, threw all of the trash away, sorted through what was left, putting away the things that readily had a place, and then made decisions on the few things that were left.  The things that they did not value enough to find a place for were given away.

In my opinion, getting rid of clutter is the hardest part of cleaning.  What do you hold onto and what do you get rid of?  The best advice I have found came from the book, Throw Out Fifty Things, by Gail Blanke.  She said to keep things that are loved, beautiful and useful.  She said to get rid of things that weigh you down or are not loved, beautiful or useful.  She also said to get rid of anything that you hesitate on.  Those hesitations were the part that had always kept me from feeling like I had succeeded.  Now I know that if I look at something and hem and ha over what to do with it, it needs to be given away.  Plain and simple!

Don't let the cleaning and organizing overwhelm you.  Do what you can, do what you know.  I realize the mess is fustrating, but you will burn out quickly without regular breaks.

Tackling my Craft Room

This week I have been spending a bit of time each day in my craft room, as it is the most cluttered room in my house, cleaning out the stuff I am done with and throwing away trash.  I have to say, the room looks much better, even though I have not regained nearly as much space as I had hoped to at this time.  There was not very much trash in the  room, just scrap paper from the fax machine, but I did manage to fill two large black garbage bags with stuff to give away.  Most of it was clothing that I had been give -- second hand.  Some of it was acrylic yarn that I have had, since I was a kid, that I am just not going to use.  Then, there was the garlands of artificial flowers that I use to use for decorating.  Part of me wanted to keep them -- sentimental value, but then I realized, they have been moved from place to place for more than five years now, only occasionally in use.  Why not pass them on to someone who will enjoy them? 

Observation on Uncluttering:

This last week I have noticed that it is not possible to clean an overly cluttered room all at once.  After taking out a certain amount of stuff, the room needs a rest.  The energy of the room needs to regroup and calm down.  I think this is why uncluttering an area is difficult.  It is more than the decision making, it is the stirred up energy of the room that creates tension.  Opening the windows wide and playing peaceful music does help, but the room still needs a break. 

Dust and dirt seem to stagnate the energy in a room.  Cleaning out the dust and dirt that is easy to access, before beginning to sort can relive the stuffy feeling.  Continuing to clean as a space is cleared helps the place to feel fresh.

Anything that causes a feeling of guilt is best let go of.  Why hang on to something negative?  One of the things I let go was a little picture frame I was given as a baby shower gift, before our first was born.  It was cute, and I had used it, but I never really liked it.  But it was a gift, so I had kept it, until this week.  I know that it will never be missed, as it has been on the floor of the craft room for months now, and I know the guilty feeling I felt each time I saw it better off gone.  Trying to talk myself into liking something is not worth the hassle.  If something is not going to be enjoyed, it is not worth keeping.

Today is my last day of looking for junk and give away stuff.  Next week I will begin sorting through the things left in there, storing what I decide to keep in an accessible manner.  My hope is to have a working craft room by the end of next week.

Trials

Early in the morning, on July 1st, a water line in my kitchen broke. It dumped gallons and gallons of water all over the kitchen, and down into the basement.  The laundry room was the worst, and I can't imagine how far the water may have gone if the toilet had been in place.  Finishing tiling is currently on hold.  The boys room got more than it's fair share of water in it.  My pantry was damp, so had to be cleared and aired out.  There are holes in several walls, where insulation had to be removed.  The kitchen flooring is missing.

Wednesday, the insurance adjuster will be here to look things over.  I am scared.  I have never dealt with insurance before and rebuilding is going to take some $. I just pray that all goes well and that they treat us fairly.  No matter what happens, I know that God has a plan in all of this and that His plans are for the best.  I feel like we are being tested... my own miniature Job type trials. 

This last week our dog, who never chewed on anything, except a mitten that was greasy, has chewed up several toys and containers.  Today the tent broke.  A pole bent.  I don't know that it is repairable.    I am not complaining.  I know that it could be much worse, but I am grieving.  This is hard to deal with.  I know that it is only stuff... and over it I cry not, but over what it will take to get everything back in order.  Over the loss of what we had already accomplished.

Doing What I Know

This morning, when I put up This Week's Inspiration, I had no idea how it would affect me.  You see, there is more to motto's than just choosing one or two, there is living by them. 

Love me or hate me, I am who I am. 
I will not back down, just because someone does not like me.  It really doesn't matter what anyone thinks of me, as long as I know what I am doing is pleasing to the Lord.  If you don't like God, I am sorry.  Sorry for you, not what I have said.  I make my decisions based on what I know will please God.  If I realize that what I am doing does not please God, then I will be changing. 

Do what you know and the rest will be easy.
Doing what I know to do is not always easy.  Sometimes, doing what I know is the hardest part of all, but that is were the true test of character comes in.  Am I willing to do something, even when it is difficult and I don't want to?  The answer is yes.

This post is about change.  I need to change.  I spend far too much of my time in front of the computer, wasting it on silly things. 

The Bible says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."  I Corinthians 10:13 KJV

I have realized that the 'way of escape' is for me to turn off the computer and put it away (I use a lap top).  We really don't need to listen to Pandora, or watch YouTube.  I really don't need to check my emails ten times a day.  But my children need a mommy who will teach them what they need to know.  Who will work with them and who will finish projects.  I need to be an example of good things to them.  And for my sake, to break my addiction, I am going to put the computer away for a few days, maybe a few weeks. 

List of Hopes

I've decided to share my list of extra things I hope to get done this week.

1.  Finish the laundry room.

1. Clean the floor.
2. Finish removing trim.
3. Paint the walls.
4. Figure out tile pattern.
5. Lay tile. 
6. Grout.

2.  Finish planting garden.

1. Plant tomatoes.
2. Plant peas and stake, both kinds
3. Plant lettuce.
4. Flowers.
5. Keep watered.

3.  Transplant saplings. 

Edit:  Done things will become blue!

Tiling the Laundry Room

Last week we tore the carpet out of our laundry room.  I don't know what possessed someone to put carpet in a laundry room/bathroom.  Carpet should never be put in a bathroom.  It is completely unsanitary!  It is gross enough in a living room, where dirt is the biggest problem. 

We tore it out, to lay the tile I bought years ago at a garage sale.  I saw the tile, and knew it was just what I wanted for the room.  I got all the man had, plus the tools to lay it with, for $100.  I brought it home, sure my husband would be equally thrilled.  He was, but had different ideas about where it should go.  "How about the kitchen?  What about the entry way?  Maybe the family room?"  So, it has sat for years. It's fate undecided.  But recently, my husband noticed how gross the carpet was, I think it was when the toilet overflowed again, and decided something should be done about it!

We washed all the laundry up, and took the machines out.  We removed the toilet and the sink. We ripped the carpet out, and removed the baseboard.  I spent two days scraping glue off the floor, and now I am ready to pain the room.  I don't think it has ever had more than the initial coat that was put on when the house was built.

I am a bit nervous; laying tile is a job I have never done before, but the principle is simple.   I don't see any reason I should not do well.  The floor is terribly uneven, so it is going to take a while to get everything just right, but I know that I can do it.  Other women can, so I can too.

Monday, Monday

Monday.  It is one of those days that you either love or hate.  I have never met someone who is neutral about the day, but like it or not, it comes once a week.

I think the reason it is either loved or hated is because it is a day of transition.  A day of change.  A day to get up early and pick up the pace.  I know for me, it is time to clean up from all the weekend adventures, restore order, and pick up the slack of last week.  That's a tall order, for one day!  But the results are so worth it.  By getting things back on track today, I will have the rest of the week to live normally and focus on projects.  It will give a sense of peace to the entire week.  I know from experience that if I put off restoring order, then the whole week will be an unproductive mess.  I will feel presumed upon by any little thing that goes wrong.  The kids will be crabby and behave in a spoiled brat manner.  My husband will feel unloved, and like he is the only one who ever does any work. I hate those moods in this house, especially in me!

So, if you are like me, and really need to use Monday to get back into the swing of thing, what are you going to do today?  What do you know to do?

I know to grab my box of cards, organize them by what is most needed and to make a short list of other things that need to be done today.  I know to keep a good attitude, and not expect the kids to share it.  I know to be realistic about what I can accomplish in a day and to leave room for interruptions.  I also know to take time for some fun.  *Ahem*  Make that schedule some fun into the day.  If it is not on my list, it is unlikely that it will happen today, because I tend to be either project or people focused.  Rarely both.

Remember, do what you know first.  Get it out of the way, and then, the rest will be easy.

* * * * *

If you are one of the many that hate Monday, but you have no clue why, take some time today to write down everything you dislike about the day.  No, I mean Everything!  I don't care if it is a little bother or a big 'I want to scream at it' moment. 

When you have a list, look it over and ask yourself how you could either avoid those situations or make them easier to handle. 

I ran into this type of situation yesterday morning.  We were getting ready for church, and one child comes out of his room wearing his only clean pair of jeans.  They had holes in the knees, big enough for a semi truck to drive through, and holes in the butt too.  Let's just say, I was not happy.  I know that he had had clean, hole free jeans just two days before.  I had washed, dried, folded and put them aways myself!  So where were they? 

In the hamper. 

Why?

Because he had decided to play in the mud with them, and when they got wet, he changed and hid them in the hamper.  Grrrrrrrrr!

So what am I going to do about it?  (Since this is not the first time we have found out the kids clean clothes were not available on Sunday morning?)  I am going to hang a pair of hole free jeans in the closet, just for Sunday!  Friday is the day I am going to make sure each child has a pair of hole free jeans ready and waiting, because that gives two days to correct it, if there are not.  I am also going to use this for anytime we are planning a day trip somewhere. 

Don't get me wrong.  I love kids in play clothes, but they are not needed in airports and sporting goods shops.

Afraid of Running Out

Do you ever find yourself in a quandary over doing the projects on your list, because somewhere in your subconscious, you are afraid of running out of things to do?  I know I get that way.  I look around me, and there is no end of things to do, and yet I panic.  What if I were to run out?  What would I do then?  *breathing in a paper sack* 

The fear can be overwhelming, but so can the ridiculousness of the situation.  This morning I was talking to a gal, who brought up this very point.  She was asking how one is to stay motivated when it seems that the work will never be done and yet you are fearful of running out.  My first suggestion was to make a bucket list.  She started laughing, and said, "I think it would take about a 5 gallon bucket to hold my list!  By the way, where did that term come from?"  I told her that I thought it was a list of things you wanted to do before you died.  She thought about that for a moment, then said, "In that case, I will never run out of things to do."

I felt like her response was key.  So often we are absorbed by what we see, we forget to dream and we forget the dreams we have already had.  We forget that if we fulfil one dream, there will be another one, ready and waiting to take it's place.  If we finish one project, we will find another one to do.  It is like the kitchen floor:  Sweeping the floor today will not make it disappear.  It will still be there tomorrow.  It will need swept again tomorrow, and if your house is anything like mine, it will need scrubbed too.  There will never be an end of things to be done!  (I know, that can be good news or bad news, depending on your mood.) 

I told her that me favorite way to keep moving was to come at the situation form a new direction.  That is the reason for "Today's Inspiration", found at the top of the page.  It is one way to come at things, from a new perspective, and at the end of the day, you will know that you got at least one 'big' thing done.  One thing that will make a difference, even if the kitchen floor does need to be swept again.  again.  again.  again.

Is there an echo in here?

Oh, and she decided that her 'big' thing was to fill up the scrub bucket with water once a day, and use it for whatever.  Be it a shelf in her new home that has not been scrubbed in 40 years or the kitchen floor.  It really didn't matter what.  The point was to do it.  To be able to say that it was done!

Getting Started with an In and Out System

An In and Out System is designed for handling projects, not chores.  To make one you will need a box or basket of some sort.  Even a large paper bag will do.  Sticky notes and scrap paper.

For a long time, I have haphazardly used this dollar store dish pan:

It has worked, but do to its size, things tend to get lost in the bottom of it.  For this reason, I decided to replace it with this basket, which I found at a second hand store:

Since it is much smaller, I have to deal with what I put in it more often.

Once you have your container, gather up your projects that need to be done, but will take more than two minutes to do.  Anything that takes less than two minutes, do!  Write today's date on a sticky note and stick it to the project.  If the project is big and/or already has a home, like a scrapbook or quilt, write the project on a piece of paper--one project, one page--with today's date at the top, and drop it in. 

Why today's date?  So you will know how long that project has been in the box!

Next, look around for non-gatherable projects, like painting walls, and add them to your box, using the scrap paper.  Remember to date it.

Now, when you have your chores done, or a bit of time for a project, you will have a box of them waiting for you.  It is recommended to work from the top down, so as you are setting up your box, you may want to sort things into the order you most want to get them done.  When a new project comes in, it goes on the top of the pile.

When a project is finished, it will be gone from the box, hence, no Out box.  If the project was written on a piece of paper, toss it when you are finished!

If you start on a project, but are unable to complete it, cross of the old date, and write today's date on it.  I like to cross of the old date in such a way that it can still be read.  This way I know how long it took and how often I worked on it.

* * * * *

How I am Using My In and Out System:

Years ago, when I used this system before, I had every project in my house listed.  We moved before some of them were completed, and, I hate to admit this, but several of those projects are still in boxes.  I threw out the project from my old In box several years ago, because they were just a reminder of things not done, that I didn't have time for.

Because I do not want the box to overwhelm me--I know my tendency to run and hide--I am only working with one room at a time.  Today, I went through the kitchen, gathering projects and getting things done.  I collected, until the basket was full.  Then I cleaned the surfaces thoroughly that I had cleared.

Is everything in the kitchen accounted for?  No.  I decided ahead of time where I was starting and what the stopping point would be.  For me, the stopping point was when the basket was full.  If I had been limited by time, then a timer would have told me when to quit gathering, giving myself five minutes to wipe down surfaces and finish up.

I decided, in order to keep my In box from becoming a dumping ground, to set up a second basket, where mail and such could be put until it was time to deal with it.   Mail is on the left and my In box is on the right:

In and Out

Years ago, I read an organizational book that was aimed at those who worked in offices, to help them tackle the projects that fell outside of thier daily routine.  What it suggested was to date each project that came in with today's date, and place it in an 'In' box.  Then, in free time, work on the top project, doing as much as possible in the time available.  The author also said that any job/project that could be done in 2 minutes or less should never be put in the In box.  Just get it done!

This idea of an In box, and it's counter part, an Out box, really appealed to me, so I began using one for the mail and such.  It was great for all paper things, but it didn't work so well for bigger projects.  This is where I had to get creative, and come up with a way to make it work.  I began using scrap paper, such as the print outs from the fax machine, to write projects on.  One project per piece of paper.   This way, like the box of cards, I never had more than one project to look at at a time.  It worked really well.  Then we moved, and I started a business.  Everything in my life had changed, and any unfinished projects were in boxes, along with my In box.

Recently, I have been working to reorganize all areas of my life, and am seriously considering starting an In box again.  There are so many projects to get done.  When I look around my home and yard, I am overwhelmed.   I think an In box for the projects would really help, because my present method of leaving them out, in site, is not working.  They all look like clutter, and when I work on decluttering, I don't know how to handle them.  They would be useful and lovely, if they were finished. 

What are your thoughts?

done list

It is just after 4 pm, and I have done very little today.  I feel lousy.  It is my own fault, but I guess it is also one of those live and learn moments.  Here is what I have done so far today:

1. Made hubbies breakfast and lunch.
2. Got the kids going.
3. Redesigned this site.
4. Wrote a couple of emails.
5. Looked at the garden, decided it was too muddy to work in. 
6. Talked to my mom, on the phone. 
7. Played computer games.
8. Answered a survey.

Great list, right?  LOL.  I hate being unmotivated, so I am going to make myself do something!  Ugh! 

My goal is to complete at least 10 things before 5 PM today.

1.  Picked up the blocks in the hallway that my toddler dumped out.  It was the most obvious thing to do.
2. Hung a load of laundry on the line.
3. Made bed.
4. served the kids a snack and heard the worst song I thing I have ever heard.  Does that count?  Okay, I'll go for 11 things.
5. Put my dough mixer away. 
6. Took extra groceries to the pantry.
7. Cleaned up the glue the little boys spilt.
8. Cleaned the stove top.
9. Put away/threw away 10 things.
10. Listened to all the damage my dog did to the neighbors dog, when they didn't keep the thing on a leash... Don't want your dog eaten?  Keep it out of other people's yard! Okay, enough of that rant.  I know, doesn't count, I'll go for 12.
11. Started tonight's supper.
12. Began marinating tomorrow's supper.
13. Looked up the address and requirements for Locks of Love.

And that is it for now. 

Doggy Meatloaf Recipe

10 pound hamburger
2 quarts rolled oats
1 quart calf replacement milk (mixed)
1 dozen eggs, soft boiled
1 head garlic, minced
juice of one lemon

Soak oats in milk while eggs boil. Mix all ingredients very well, and make into meat balls. Flash freeze on wax paper lined cookie sheets.

I used my mixer, small batches, to get it all blended together. Then I used my ice cream scooper to make the meatballs. When they are frozen, I will put them in a zip lock bag to keep. It will allow me to pull out a couple as I need them.

done list

1. breakfast
2. kitchen cleaned
3. seller of dry calf milk located
4. recipes found for fattening dog
5. three loads worth laundry folded and put away
6. learned how to add videos to blogspot
7. lunch made and supper planned
8. grocery shopping
9. dog supplements and dewormer gotten
10. dogs given their deworming tablet
11. bed made
12. made sure kids chores are done
13. had kids each pick up and put away 20 things
14. found recipe for making yogurt.  The vet suggested it for helping to heal the dogs digestive track.  I am going to make it with the calf milk.
15. Made raw meatloaf for the dog, and have half of it freezing.  The other half will have to wait.
16. Supper

I think I am done for today!

Mario Brothers Bedroom

Mario Brothers Bedroom

There are so many places in life where doing what you know can put you ahead of the game. Lately, I have been working in the garden, trying to get it ready to plant, despite the rain. I have been writing, but have not taken time to backlink.

Truly, I think backlinking is more important than the writing itself, but it is not as much fun. Today I am taking time to improve the standing of this article on creating a Super Mario Brothers themed bedroom.

Getting Started with a Box of Chores

A Box of Chores is an index box that holds a complete list of chores that you do, with the frequency you want them done. They are easy to arrange to fit your day, and can be designated to others with ease.

To make a chore box, you will need:

• Colored index cards or white cards and colored pens to write with.
• Dividers, numbering 1-30 and January-December.
• A,B,C dividers may also be handy.
• A recipe/index card box.

Set up cost is less than $10.


Choose a color to represent things you do for you, and then assign a color for daily chores, 2x a week/every other day chores, weekly chores and monthly chores.

• Write one chore per card, giving as much detail as you like on how to complete the chore.
• At the top of the card, write down how often to do the chore and how long it takes to complete the chore. --Don't guess! Take the time to time yourself. You may be surprised!
• Any chore that takes less than 10 minutes, mark as a mini chore.
• Any chore that is easy enough to do while on the phone, mark with an '!'.
• Any chore that can/should be designated to someone else in the household, mark with an 'X'. This makes it super simple to had out chores to the children... but that's another topic.
• At the bottom of the card mark 'Chore Skipped'. This is so you can pencil in the date of days when you have skipped doing that chore for what ever reason. I give myself two blanks, because any more than that is a disaster.

If you are unsure of what chores to list on your cards, keep a list of all the chores you do in the following week, while you are gathering your supplies. Take note of how often you do the job, and how often you would like the job to be done. Decide which color of card it belongs on, and write it down. Remember, things can change, and when they do, simply write a new card and through the old one out!
And remember, your cards need not be boring:

• My Chore Cards -- The chores that I do.
• Scrappy Recipe Box

My Cards

Daily Tasks:

• Make bed -- change pillow cases every other day Feed and water dog
• Make Breakfast
• 1st load of laundry -- our room, clothing, bedding, towels.
• 2nd load of laundry -- kids clothing, bedding, towels.
• 3rd load of laundry -- diapers, bedding or rags Pack husband's lunch.
• Fill his water bottles. Sweep and scrub entryway
• Clean main bathroom.
• Wash dishes
• Clear Kitchen counters completely
• Sweep kitchen and dining room
• Plan supper and next day's breakfast.Knit -- 15 minutes minimum
• Make Supper
• Take all trash out -Garbage pickup is Tuesday!
• Update Blogs
• Fold and put away large basket load of laundry
• (seasonally) Shovel walks
• (seasonally) Work in garden for 20 minutes

Twice a Week Tasks:

• Scrub kitchen and dining room
• Vacuum upstairs
• Re-tuck slip cover on couch
• Clean Laundry room
• Dust up and down stairs rooms
• Water plants, as needed
• Clean master bathroom

Weekly Tasks:

• Check and recharge batteries, as needed.
• Clean all toilets, showers and sinks with cleanser.
• Wash windows and mirrors
• Balance check book
• Pay bills and update books
• Dust fans and walls
• Polish appliances with Fuller wax spray
• Clean out refrigerator
• Update grocery list

Once a Month Tasks:

• Iron clothing
• Wash walls
• Vacuum furniture
• Review sewing and writing goals. Set new ones.

For Me:

• Bathe &brush teeth
• Get dressed -- clothes, hair and makeup
• brush and floss teeth
• Write for Hubpages, 1-5 articles/ week
• Rate articles at Helium -- 30/ month

Other:

• A grocery list of the things we always buy, staples, and sale items to look for. Once a week I add in items needed to make specific meals that we want to make.
• A list of writing goals for that month.
• A list of sewing goals for that month.
• List of clothing needed for each person.
• List of gift ideas for each person.
• A 'books, movies and music' wish list -- no fail ideas when some one asks, "So what so you want for your birthday?"

Find Hope for a More Organized Home

Are you longing for a cleaner, more organized home? Do you look around for inspiration, and only find chaos? Do you have a terrible time knowing where to begin? I have hope for you!

Did you know that the solution to your problems is within your grasp? No matter where you are. No matter what condition your home is in. The solution to you housekeeping nightmare is at hand! It is inside of you.

How do I know this? I have been there too. I have looked around in complete bewilderment at all that needed to be done and go back to reading my book. I have lost my umph for the day, upon seeing a pile of laundry that I thought would never be done. Even unmade beds have made me cringe. Just the thought of how long it would take to make them was enough to make me shudder. Let alone thinking about how long it had been since they were laundered...
While struggling as to get my act together, I tried my mom’s list method. Writing and rewriting it, so that everything was prioritized and given a time limit. It never got done! Then I asked an organized friend for advice. She said that she like to completely clean one room every day, walls and all. I tried, but spent so much time cleaning one room, there was not time to cook supper. Finally, I asked my husband what he suggested. He looked at me a bit strangely, and replied, “Just do what you know.”

Panic swept over me, as I wondered, 'What do I know?' Then, 'What would he do?' That was the magic question: I suddenly knew where to start!

I washed all the dishes, and put them away. Then the counters and stove got a good cleaning. Loads of laundry were washed, dried and put away, floors were swept.

All along, the answer had been within. I did know what to do, and furthermore, so do you!

Don’t sit there and over think it. Just begin with the one chore that you most want to see done. As you are working, think about how often it needs to be done. Make a point to repeat that particular chore as often as needed. If you have trouble remembering what to do, write it on a 3x5 card, and make yourself a rotating list. Be sure to include how long it actually takes to do the chore on the card. You will find much confidence in this, as most jobs will take much less time than you suppose them to!

When you have finished the first task, move on to the next. Then grab a load of laundry, as it always needs to be done, and throw it in the machine. In about an hour it will be ready to go into the dryer, and you will be able to start another load. Even if your time is limited, or your stamina is shot, it is worth getting started. You may not be able to get everything done, your house may not be immaculate, but you will have solved the problem of how to clean and organize. Plus, a glance at your cards will show you all that you do know.

Making Changes

Over the past few weeks, we (the kids and I) have been decluttering and rearranging rooms.  The big boys cleaned their room really well and rearranged as my friend had suggested.  They choose to get rid of the old computer they had in the room and the pet snake died the same week, so that made finding a place for everything easier.

The little boys room also got a bit of a makeover.  We moved the bed and dressers around, then took the doors off of the closet, so there would be room for the crib in their room.  While I was taking the doors down, Kaycee took a nose dive off of the bunk bed and cut his forehead open.  It really scared me, and I almost rushed him to the clinic, but he was bleeding everywhere!  So, I got the bleeding stopped, cut a butterfly band aid out of a regular band aid, and put his head back together.  By this time, he was calm, so I hesitated to take him anywhere.  I had just rationalized that it would be better to be safe than sorry, and was looking up the clinic's phone number, when a friend called.  He asked what was up, and I told him, hoping he would get off the phone right away, without making me ask.  Instead, he interrogated me as to how I had handled the situation, then pronounced everything to be fine.  I was getting pretty upset with him, until I realized that he was an Army Sargent with first aid training -- in the extreme!  If he said my little boy would be okay, then he would be fine.  Last week the band aid came off, and Kaycee will only have a little line of a scare, if any marks at all. 

That same day, our new dog, Sage, decided to rip his toenail off, and bled all over the carpet.  So, the carpet got a thorough cleaning, again!

Within two days of moving the crib into the little boys room, Kaycee began using the toilet, of his own accord.  He has only had a few accidents in the past two weeks, and most of those happened when he was being chased by his brothers or tickled.  *snickers softly, with fond memories*  It is all part of learning. 

I followed my friend's feng shui suggestions concerning my living room, and rearranged the furniture there.  It feels much better and has stayed much cleaner than it use to.  In fact, most of the messes to be found in it are mine.  *hmmm*  Yep.  The creative bug hit, and I have some stuff out that could be returned to it's appropriate spot. 

With all of these changes in the home, I have been considering other areas of my life and what needs to change there.  I have so many ideas, things I want to do, and not enough time in ten years to accomplish them all.  I am sure you struggle with this too, so don't think that I am complaining.  I am simply trying to prioritise.  Every day, I remind myself that  God, Family, Home, and Writing are the big rocks.  Get them in first, then find time for the rest -- like trips to the post office, to mail out books people have requested!

Getting Advice

During the past few weeks it seemed like I was doing the same thing day after day, and not getting ahead.  Sure, more stuff was being thrown out.  Things were being put away on a regular basis, but to me the house did not feel any better.  So, I did the only thing I knew to do:  call for help!

I called a friend of mine who is good at organization and tends to see things very differently than I do, for some advice.  She came over, and brought a lot of stuff with her!  She came to look at the house with feng shui eyes, take readings of the chi and made some drawings.  Pointed out the same problem areas that I have been attempting to deal with and went home.  I figured it was time to keep cleaning, and went back to doing the same old things.

A few days later my friend called with some more advice:  "You've got to re-paint your hallway.  It is the wrong color, and the boys bedrooms need some rearranging.  I've got more information for you, but we will have to look it over later, and I am still waiting for some more answers."

What was she up to?

It took until today, for me to get the full story.  She had taken home the drawings and looked at them more careful, but couldn't make sense of everything.  So, she contacted a friend or two for further advice.  One of them put her in contact with a feng shui master in China.  He was able to give some advice that actually makes sense.  I feel very at peace with the ideas presented, and have begun to make some changes.

The first change was to hang up a curtain by the kitchen counter, where it connects to the dining room.  They all said that it was a problem because the chi from my sink was washing out through the corner in the dining room, and that is why everyone is so prone to cluttering the counter.  I like the affect of the curtain, because it makes my kitchen feel like a room, not just an open space in the center of my house; but then, I like rooms with door -- not open floor plans.

The next change was to move the piano over a bit, so that I do not have a 'stale corner' in the living room.  By moving the piano about 8", I was able to put my Norfolk Pine in that corner of the living room, and now it is safer from all the little people.

To be continued...