5 Days

Holidays are OVER!

5 Days.

Five days till my new year.

My 2009.

Whatever shall I do with it you ask?

Well I will tell you...

• Potty train Bagel
• Work on projects the month or a few months PRIOR to when they are due (not days before!)
• Since I am in the card making business it is silly that I do not send out fun cards. My new year shall consist of a small list of people that will appreciate home made cards. Make them cards for V-Day, Easter, Mothers Day, Father's Day, 4th of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Also send out birthday cards to lots of people, and anniversary cards to weddings I have attended. Just a simple idea... but I need to organize the idea.
• Organize pictures. I am pretty good at this as of late. But prior to the last 6 months I have 8 photo boxes FULL of pictures. I need to organize, scrap and move on. Possibly scan some all time favorites to disk. But I do have the last 2 years on labeled disks, with most of them having the index prints also with the disk (get the index prints for the extra .99!)
• Good god organize my paperwork, files, and plug in and use the shredder!
• Separate the Stampin' Up! business paperwork from the home.
• A big one is to pick up after myself! I suck at this SO BAD!

Lots of house work to keep up with, I think if I had a weekly schedule, a basic one to go by, I would not be so overwhelmed by the house.

I also need to get laundry together, get a good system for that, and keep it in effect.

My mom wants to organize her art room (shocker, my mom also has an art room) all in pinks, so I am going to help her with that too.

Oh I want to do some painting in the kitchen, and the mud room (not a real mud room (I would love one!!) but the area by the garage door is made for shoes and coats, I want to paint that a light bright color.

Lots of plans, gatta get to work!

update on the bags of clean laundry

I did not shine my sink last night, I actually left it full of dirty dinner dishes, and did not clean off my hot spots. But I did wake up, and fold and put away two baskets of clothes!

I guess I am doing much better at washing clothes, I have only 1/2 a load to wash, it's all clean, but oh it's not all put away. Yep still got those 10 bags in the closet in Spikes room... obviously we don't need all those clothes if we have gone almost 2 weeks with out them!! Yikes!!

Well off to clean some more!

Me loves my fat suit.

Laundry Day.

Well it's not wash and dry laundry like you may think... it's put away all the clean clothes day. This is a day that no one, I mean not even the laundry lovers out there (yeah they're out there... mom) would want to tackle.

I have... drum roll please...


16 bags of clean clothes.
and
5 big laundry baskets of clean clothes.

To put away.

WTF? You ask? Well I suck at laundry. No really I do, shocker I know, with all that to put away it seems I am on top of my game, right? Riiiiight.

So I have nothing but some bill paying this morning, breakfast with the kids... then I will lock myself, and the little people on the second floor to attempt to put away all laundry.

I need to have my imaginary Peter Walsh and FlyLady right next to me, because I am going to be throwing away the nasty, and donating the not used, and returning some to my mom that I don't wear any more. I want to try on a shit load of my clothes, and decided what I am going to attempt to fit into again. I want to loose weight but not right now.

I am going to enjoy the month of December in my fat suit. I really thought about dieting in December but it's like trying to tell the fat kid he can't have cake. Too much good food. And I will be just like all the other cattle, and promise that on January 12th I will eat good. (not the first, it's a Holiday too, and I am going on a girls weekend the 9-11th so that would just mess with a good time)

I will dedicate myself back to Spark People, and get my shit together. Spaghetti and I really want this. So back to the purge of laundry. I will be trying on, making a "I wish" section in my closet, that I WILL fit into again.

Wish me luck... I need it!

They ran away...

I didn't think Spaghetti would take me seriously. I told him yesterday at 4:30 if he took the kids and ran away, I would clean all night... they were gone to his mom's house by 5:00...

So I cleaned. Alot. Now I am not at the moment into decluttering, since we are having a house full of guests on Sunday, I will be gone today, and Saturday at family events. So that leaves me tomorrow to clean.

I mean surface clean, like just make it look pretty, and yes this means the kids rooms too, since some people haven't seen them. So the loft is a freakin' zoo. I mean it was insane!

So I spent most of my energy there last night. And with 4.5 hours to work, I did good. I didn't file papers, I found a big basket and just dumped it there for another hot date of shredding and filing.

I also cleaned the front t.v. room, took out the big coffee table, most of Bagels toys, put in a HUGE new area rug (well new as in, it's from my parents old house, new to this house) I am excited about my rug! Spike can crawl, or whatever on the floor now (hardwood otherwise) and I put up the tree yesterday, lights too. No ornaments yet.

We had a cute family moment, it was right before Spaghetti left with the kids, it was dark out (yep 4:45 and pitch black out) Spaghetti was holding Bagel, and I had Spike. And I noticed how pretty the tree was all lite up at night time. So the 4 of us stood around admiring the tree. Awww. A family moment...

ok back to the cleaning story. So it's still bizarre around here. I need Spaghetti to help me move the monster coffee table (it's going under the pool table for now) and to move out the beloved office chair my big butt is planted in right here every day. But it's too big, and heavy and is jacking up my floors (yes even with the heavy plastic floor mat) so my dad, Carrots, gave me his old chair for his desk.

Oh and that is a funny story, I traded my mom two tables for an office chair and an area rug. Either way it's lookin' good around here. I am trying not to just shove shit everywhere, I am trying to clean up.

Hope I can get it all done!

7 days...

Sigh... Baptism is in 7 days. Which means family. friends. All checking out my house. I need the whole house, yes whole house, in clutter free, clean, smelling nice, and all cute and cozy. Sigh... no pressure...

Fucking Laundry.

Fuck the laundry.

Fuck the white tshirts I can not find.

Fuck the dress shirts, dress pants, clean underware, hoodies, socks, sleepers, and bras that I can not find clean.

It's all fucking dirty. I care. I want it all organized.

But what I really fucking want is a nudist colony for a family, or disposable clothes. Fuck the environment on this one. Well, no... ummm... how about biodegradable clothes.

Whatever.

I fucking hate laundry. I suck ass at laundry. I do not enjoy it.

I don't even enjoy when it's all put away. I just know that it will be all back in the dirty clothes pile again. or on the floor, up to my fucking knees in clean-what-the-fuck pile of laundry.

FUCK it. GD laundry... BAH!! Grrrrrrrrrr.....

Rules to post. Bagel's room.

Bagel's room.

Sleeping rules.
Close the bedroom door.
White Noise on.
Armour tied shut.
Hanger on closet door.
Lock door when leaving.
Books away.


Awake.
Night light off.
White noise off.
Blinds open for free sunlight and heat.
Door shut.

Update

I swear I have a good reason for not posting here... I have been cleaning. Yes if you read my other blog, you will think I just read Twilight. But I have been decluttering and organinzing like a nesting freak!

It's looking good in some rooms, great in others, and yes there are some you still can't see the floor. I will post again soon.

Crying babies!

Advice from the Queen

What is a surefire way to raise your spirits every time you enter your home?

Spruce up the outside front of your home or apartment - the part that everyone sees - including you! This is also a great way to jumpstart your decluttering projects. The quick results will encourage you to keep going with the areas which are more challenging.

Now you may already have a beautiful exterior on your home, and maybe the clutter is all inside. But let's examine this. One of the easiest ways to figure out how your own home should look on the outside i s to drive around your neighborhood and figure out what everyone else is doing wrong!

After a while, your eye starts to get better and better at seeing what looks good and what looks like crapperooni, and why! It's true - some homes look so wonderful, and others decidedly not - and it's not always easy at first glance to see what makes that critical difference. But I can tell you ONE thing - houses with a bunch of STUFF outside (instead of nice trees and plants) have a clutter problem. Sometimes it's STUFF that the people obviously love and think looks great. But it doesn't, does it?

So take a little drive or walk around, and criticize your neighbors (just kidding - keep it to yourself!) and you might come back with some GREAT ideas on how to improve the exterior of your home! It's okay if you steal a few great ideas from the neighbors who have beautiful homes!! But of course, you have to be sure that what looks good on their home will look good on yours! But the MOST important thing is to reduce the STUFF outside your home - less is almost always more in this case.

You have to make the time

Oh Fly Lady, I love you.

I told you all how I receive about 10 emails a day from Fly Lady, and after 2 or 3 days, yes I know your smart! That is like 20 to 30 emails just from her! Some are reminders...

Go to Bed at 10. (I get this one at 8)
Get up and do your morning routine.
Plan what's for dinner. (morning email)

Then there is the testimony emails, most I read, or skim, some I just delete. (I don't read the ones for older kids, yes you can teach your kids to fly right along with you!) It's great reading from others that this is really working. That if I am down I can get back up. And that I am not the only nut that is excited about my shiny sink.

Then there are the emails from Fly Lady just about everything. Like the one about Time in a bottle. It was great, and a quote that I have heard before

"When you say you don't have the time to do something. That is not true. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. It's just what you choose to do with them"

Everything from sleeping to eating and working is your basics. But when I do all my art work, read a book, or take the time to blog, this is what I choose to do with my spare time. Some people watch t.v. or go out with friends. It's just what you do.

So back to Fly Lady and the time in a bottle. She had mentioned how cool it would be if you could go into your neat and tidy bathroom, into the medicine cabinet, and find a bottle of time. And you could take as much as needed for that day.

Well you can in a weird kinda way. There is things to do, prep work. That makes saving time possible. Fly Lady says your night routine is the most important, and I agree. If I do stuff for the next day, it goes so much better for me. For me it's making the coffee and having all the sippys and bottles lined up for the next day, have the dishwasher loaded and ran before bed. If all the dishes are out of my sink I can function better it seems in the morning.

Also having my clothes laid out, and the kids for the next day. There is little steps like having my purse, and or the diaper bag all packed and ready to go. And yes at night I am not in the mood for all this. But if I do it early enough, between feedings and getting Spaghetti off to work, I can get ready.

Some of the other emails were about, letting yourself be less then perfect, and seeing things through your childs eyes, time in a bottle, and finding peace during the Holiday Season. These are just a few paragraphs, either from other Flybabies, or FlyLady herself.

I want to be prepared, and I want to have a place for everything. It will take time. Fly Lady said it took her 9 months to do her house. I have been trying, and yes I fall of my wagon all the time. I don't do the control journal like I should, I don't shine my sink every night. But I sure do like it when I do. I feel better.

Oh and yes I do put my shoes on everyday, it does something to me, motivates me more to do housework.

Hope this helps some of you. I have lots of tweaking to do with my routines and cleaning, but I am trying! If you want to be a flybaby, go to the site, join the Yahoo group, and then you can get these emails. There are alot of them. but nothing the delete button can't handle!

Shine your Sink Fly Babies!

I wanted to re post this email I got today. Everyday the Fly Lady emails me. About 10 times a day. With testimonies from other Fly Babies like myself, or notes of encouragement, or just my daily reminders (when to go to bed, to start the day with my morning routine) I love all the emails. And even though it fills up my mailbox fast, all I have to do is hit delete if I get behind.

Fly Lady is also on Twitter, so I have added her so even when I try to procrastinate I can't! It's a free site, and I recommend it to everyone. She is always reminding you that just go start now, and she is proud of you. Seems funny coming from a complete stranger, but it really means alot to me.

I must tell you, I laughed my ass off about the "shine your sink" idea. But it really worked. After my sink is shiny I want my counter to follow suit. Eventually it takes over and my whole kitchen is shiny. This was a great message I got today, on how each room has it's own "shiny sink"

Well I have to put my shoes back on, my lunch break is just about over. Read the below email and FLY!


Dear Friends,

When you got your welcome letter from us, your very first assignment, was to Go Shine Your Sink. Do you remember how good it felt to see it gleam. Then after is was shining, it was more difficult to put dirty dishes in it. As a result you kept the Dishwasher empty so you could dispose of your plates and glasses.The Clean and Shiny Sink was contagious.

I have another God Breeze for you from a member's subject line! Did you know that every room in your home has a Shiny Sink!Let's think about this for a little while.

Master Bedroom: For me it is seeing my bed made with my decorative pillows on it and my one crowning pillow that my SHE sisters gave me! It says, "I'm Not Bossy, I just have better ideas!"

Children's Rooms: Having the toys put away and the floor clear, is usually a good sign.

Bathrooms: Having the sink shining! That is an obvious, but the mirror clear of tooth paste splatters and dental floss home runs is another thing that makes my bathroom look nice. Also having toiletries put away and not sitting out on the counter.

Office: This is a tough one, Keep your desk clear, with an uncluttered work surface.

Dining Room: Having the dining table empty and a pretty center piece on it. Maybe even a table cloth and napkins.

Living Room: This is a hard one for me. Keeping my end tables and huge coffee table clear of papers.

What this all boils down to, is Hot Spot Prevention. We all have these areas in our home, that if we will be vigilant, they will not become cluttered with our daily stuff. So twice a day, I send out a Hot Spot Reminder. If we will stay on top of this, they will not become a raging clutter inferno.

There is one other Shiny Sink, that I'll bet, you have not thought of.

Yourself: What are the final touches that make you feel special when you are getting dressed. It could be, putting on your makeup, fixing your hair, donning a pair of earrings, placing that string of pearls around your neck. It could also be a spritz of your favorite fragrance, the perfect color of lipstick, or using a sweet smelling bar of soap in your bath.

One other more intriguing possibility could be the foundation garments that you put on that give you that special feeling all day long. Something lacy and pretty underneath jeans and a t-shirt can make a huge difference in your own attitude. Something special just for you!

What can you do each morning to make yourself feel special?
Each and every one of your are special to me!
My goal is that you will feel this worth for yourself.
If you outsides look good, your insides feel good.
If your insides feel good, you can do anything!
The Sky is the limit!
I want you to Shine too!
Are you ready FLY along with me!

FlyLady
You are not behind!
I don't want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are. O.K.?
Do it now! Don't wait! Get things done in 2008!

The above email was taken directly from the FlyLady herself. Even though I did copy it with out permission, she also has stated that if I post a link back to her, and tell exactly where I got it from that would be ok too. I can't tell you enough times to go check out Fly Lady, even if you are the busiest person, they have schedules for working people too! You won't be sorry!

I heart FLY Lady!!

No coffee and I am still good to go!

Get out the dumpster. Get out the shredder. Move the children to a safe spot. And give me some damn coffee. I feel good. Let's declutter this bitch.

(yes I will hopefully post later, to see if that momentum continues...)

Cleaning, not decluttering. It's a start

I have been meaning to post here. This is what is new.

I have a Control Journal. I do read it. Daily. I have shined my sink, I did it for 3 days in a row.

Spaghetti and I spent time Monday cleaning our asses off. Not decluttering, but it took us 4 hours, to really clean Spikes and Bagels rooms. Spikes included the attic space. His closet, but not hers.

The main bathroom upstairs is clean too. Needs to be organized too though. The big desk in the loft needs to just be tamed. Then the big paper purge needs to happen.

It will take time, but I am trying. I give us and e for effort on that one.

On the same page.

So this morning I was writing in my Control Journal (from Fly Lady, I am choosing to write mine out. Sticks better) as I am writing I look over at Ed, who is writing his football pool choices for this week.

He doesn't know what I am doing, but he rolls his eyes, probably thinking it's another procrastinating tool I have found, to put off house work.

So over screaming children quality family time, he asks me if this house drives me nuts. He means with all the clutter and just shit everywhere. I mean everywhere.

I agree, and we both say there is no where to go for peace, and just to relax with out seeing a pile of something or another in that room. Agreed.

He asks me if we had a whole day of just us (Queen and Carrots would have to entertain the kids) could we organize the whole house... realistically I straight out said no way. It's not possible.

But you know us, we like a good challenge. So on Monday we are taking Spike in for his 6 month stabbing vaccines, my parents will come to town and take the kids from us. We will start the day off with our 6 month dental cleaning. Then straight home for some physcho cleaning and decluttering.

My oh my, this is not in the books, not what Peter Walsh or Fly Lady would recommend. Probably not the nice lady, Laura, over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

But we will see where this takes us... until then I need to get some of the things organized... I am not looking for a miracle on Monday, well maybe, sorta, but I am looking for Spaghetti and myself to get a good start on getting this house how we want it.

I was elated that we talked for over an hour today on our goals for this house. I am not alone, nor should I be in this!

Morning Routine

1. Get out of bed, and hit the ground FLYing!


2. Make the bed


3. Get dressed to shoes! Shower, hair, face, brush teeth, deodorant


4. Read 2 minute FLY lady reminders.


5. Gather laundry from all bedrooms. Take it down with you when you go.


6. Swish toilet, wipe counter, put away things.


7. Get Bagel up, changed, dressed, make bed.


8. Feed Cats.

Go downstairs with Mia and laundry.

1. Get Bagel set in front room.
2. Get coffee, Sippy and bottle ready (prep for breakfast, place mats, bibs...)
3. Take the laundry down, throw a load in, let the dogs out
4. Feed the dogs change out water
5. Empty dishwasher
6. Check calendar for appointments
7. What's for diner? Take food out
8. Put out your Hot Spot (pick a room) 2 minutes
9. 5 minute room rescue (pick any room)
10. Declutter for 1 hour, 30,15 or 10 minutes.

What a way to start your day! I am so proud of you!!

Reminder: Please go to bed

Geez I hope this goes better then my diet blog. Yes that one no longer exists. The reason is I am on a quest to make myself better. But I have realized that with my house being the chaotic mess that it is. I can not focus very well on getting any one thing done right.

I try, really I do. I mean I try to have control over the dishes, and laundry, and bills. But it's always a mess. I want so bad to have a cute nice clean home for people to visit. So I am starting my online control Journal.

Flylady.com is my source of all my organized skill (or at least 99% of them) I am not sure where to go from here, right now. I do know that I was supposed to take 30 days and take FLY baby steps, but instead I read them all, and I will do them for 30 days (It was way to much baby steps right there) I will do my check lists.

The morning, afternoon, and before bedtime routines. I will clear my Hot Spots, put on my shoes, Swish and Swipe... yeah, I'm lost. Must be why I was supposed to take baby steps.

You know this site means business when I just got this email...

Reminder from:
FlyLadyMentors Yahoo! Group

Title:
PLEASE GO TO BED: YOUR BODY NEEDS SLEEP!

Date:
Tuesday October 21, 2008

Time:
10:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Repeats:
This event repeats every day.

Notes:
REMINDER: PLEASE GO TO BED: YOUR BODY NEEDS SLEEP!It's getting late on the east coast of the USA. If you live somewhere else in the world set your bedtime now. I really want you to go to bed. Getting up is much easier when you get plenty of sleep.Getting enough sleep is the key to many of our health issues. Please don't deprive your body of the rest you need. When I started getting restful sleep; my body clutter started going away.Consider yourself tucked in!

Get reminders on your mobile, Yahoo! Messenger, and email.Edit reminder options

And on a very serious note, I am to the point where I need someone like this (for free at that) to tell me to put on my shoes, make my bed, brush my teeth... every step... baby steps...

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