Help Starting Over

So, wow, it's been a while, eh? Almost 2 years to be exact. I have a major problem, and I need help with it- I can never follow through with anything. Please don't think that I have let my home get exremely cluttered again- it isn't that. I do, however, still lack organization skills. Not only around my home, but with my life in general. I suck at time management. Despite having just completed a course in college for time management, I still suck at it. I also suck at handling stress.

I have fallen short with writing in this blog, because my life spun out of control. Over the process of the last year and a half, I separated with my husband. I have 3 children, and my youngest child belongs to him- although he has been a father to all three of my children since my oldest was a mere 5 months old and I was pregnant with my second child. We have both moved on, and are dating other people. He and I are successfully co-parenting our son. I learned over the process of our separation that to successfully co-parent one must put their own differences aside (e.i. don't try to do things just to upset the other purposely) and one must ask the following questions during any decision making when it comes to your child: WHAT IS BEST FOR THE LITTLE ONE? WILL THE DECISION I MAKE NOW AFFECT HIM IN A NEGATIVE MANNER ?

The father of my two oldest children petitioned me in court. He didn't like the fact of my moving on and dating someone other that my ex-husband, and he threw me out to the wolves in court. He lawyered up and they did a mighty fine job of slamming me and making me out to be a monster. Like all parents, I know that I have made some mistakes that I learned from. I Never mind the fact that I raised three beautiful, well mannered children (without his help) who strangers would boast of. Never mind the fact that I was the one to take care of them and sit up with them in nights that sickness would fall- I was the one that kept them up to date with their medical exams, vaccinations, etc. I was the mom that signed them up for extra curricular activities and took them to all practices and attended their activities. Never mind the fact that I did without designer brands just so they could have nice things.  I wont get into that, because it has nothing to do with this blog- but that custody battle nearly cost me my sanity. I have never been so hurt in my life- it sucked the life out of me. We are still in the middle of it. So please keep me in your thoughts and prayers (if you do that).

I am trying to move past this. It is a new year, and I am hopeful that things will improve. My laundry is backed up and I am catching up on that today (while I do some work from home- I am training with my job).

Here is what I need to vastly improve on and will blog on:

My stress level

Time Management

Keeping my home organized

Keeping my vehicle organized

FINANCES

So Here Is My Game Plan for Today....

I have bacoodles of laundry to do, and I mean BACOODLES! I probably have 4-5 loads plus all the sheets and comforters need to be washed.

I will begin washing laundry. If there are any clothes in the dryer (which I am sure there is because my hubz is world's worst to start laundry and not finish it past the dryer) then I will go ahead and fold and put those away.

My next game plan is to take on the living room, because it really isn't that bad. After I have put away all of the kid's toys and clothes (they like to strip in the living room for some reason) and vacuumed, I will have a clean living room. Then I will feel really good and feel like I accomplished something today.

By the time I am finished with the living room, I can empty the washer into the dryer. I can, then, start another load. Then, I am off to clean my dining room (not so bad) and kitchen (Oh, it is ugly). It will probably take a while in the kitchen because I always like to scrub down everything with bleach water in there. I will probably come across 10-15 little handprints on the walls and appliances if I get down on my knees, so I may have to break out the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. When all is said and done with, I will have a clean kitchen with a shiny sink.

Okay, so I could go on and on about every detail that I plan to do today,  but you guys would get bored. As I sit here writing this, I realize that I am going on and on just to put off cleaning. So I am off here, and onto the living room!

I Slipped....A-G-A-I-N

So, here I am again...months later. I think about this blog everyday.  I have been working major hours- around 60 a week. I was also driving an hour to work. So calculating that in, I was gone at least 70 hours out of the week. That doesn't count all my errands that I run.

The house isn't as bad as it once was. However, the floors could be mopped more often. My husband vaccuums about every day. Well, he is the one that keeps it looking presentable- I have done nothing...nothing at all. I should be  and am ashamed. I fell off the wagon hard. It all started when I came down with the flu. I laid on the couch for about a week.

It devastated me that I couldn't even keep my house perfect for 3 months. I think I have been way too hard on myself though.

I want to be the person that when someone walks into my house, they say, "How do you keep this so clean with 3 children?" I know that it is possible because I have walked into perfect houses with children residing there.

So here I am again, ready to start anew- with your permission and encouragement, that is. I cannot do this without my readers advice, opinions, and encouragement. You ladies (and guys) have been awesome!

I Do Not Want to Strangle My Husband...

I Do Not Want to Strangle My Husband...
I Do Not Want to Strangle My Husband...
I Do Not Want to Strangle My Husband...

I must keep telling myself that. Do you remember how hard I worked on getting my home clean and organized? My poor husband who was just trying to help me cleaned our brown carpet with bleach spray! He sprayed 4 spots to be exact- 2 in my bedroom and 2 in the kids' room. Now there are 4 spots on my carpet.

We have a dog who is house broken, but something we fed her didn't do right on her tummy. During the night, she did 4 "messes" (the 4 spots). My husband, trying to be a good spouse, cleaned it up while I was at work.

He failed to tell me what he used to clean it with. Our conversation was something like this:
Me: "Did you get Bossy's mess cleaned up"
Him (answering with a weird look on his face): "Yeah, I cleaned it up"
Me (thinking he gave the weird look because it wasn't pleasant to clean up after a dog): "Did you use the carpet cleaner?"
Him: "Yeah, I got the carpet cleaned. Did you have a nice day at work today?"
Me: "It was a long day, but it was okay."

I didn't catch it- he basically just lied to me, and I didn't catch it until after coming home to see the spots.

Now, what can I do about it? I am desperate! I wonder if I can get clothing dye to fix it! I need a quick fix girls!

Day 6: Hot Spots

Oh, I have several Hot Spots in my home. If you are familiar with Fly Lady, you may know what a hot spot is. If you aren't, then you can read about it here. It is basically that place in our home where all of the things go that don't actually have a home. For example, my kitchen table is one of them. On the top of my washer and dryer is another one.

Here is what you should know. Everything NEEDS a home. For small items, that home shouldn't be out in the open either. For example, I am really bad about throwing all of the mail on the kitchen table. Most of it is junk mail too. If you cannot find a certain home for something, perhaps you do not need it. This is something I have to tell myself often. I hate throwing things away, but for the sake of having an organized home it is becoming easier these days.

If everything has a home, it will be easier to locate that item when you need it- so I have learned from experience! You are talking to someone who has never been able to keep up with anything because "I forgot where I put it". This is still a work in progress for me.

Now, here is what Flylady wants us to do about Hot Spots:
Set your timer for 2 minutes and lets practice putting out your Hot Spot. You don’t have to work till you have finished; just do what you can in 2 minutes. Put your bills in one place. This will keep you from having to search for them.

I Did Not Bail!

I know it appears that I have been M.I.A. for the last few days, but I haven't! I have had internet problems with my provider- long story short: billing dispute over $1.11! Anways, I am back and still kicking!

 I work 40-50 hours a week on most weeks. When I come home from work, I start a load of laundry and pick up around the house. Since starting work, I have noticed that my house stays cleaner. You would think it would be the other way around.

Stay at home moms, I have been in your shoes. If you want to keep a clean house with little rug rats running around, you may as well put up your apron and cleaning spray (not really, but it sure feels hopeless). It is so hard to clean and keep things organized with children.


At the same time, it is so hard to keep things clean and organized when you are working all the time. I will give credit to my husband because when I am working, he is home with my children. He keeps the dishes done and vacuums at least twice a day. I am very lucky to have him. However, the house is never as clean as I like. I am a perfectionist, and I notice the smallest things. If you would have seen my home 2 months ago, you would have never called me a perfectionist- a slob maybe, but definitely no perfectionist. When I work hard at something, I want to keep it looking perfect.

So, I finally got around to cleaning the upstairs! Let's do a check off from my previous list:

My Bedroom (oh dear):
Put away laundry (my bedrooom is where the baskets of laundry go after leaving the dryer)
Change linens
Organize closet
Vacuum

 Notice the table at the foot of my bed with the plastic totes underneath? Check out the after picture. I covered the table with a downy comforter and throw pillows- I think it looks nicer than a table with totes underneath.

Kids' Bedroom
Have kids clean bedroom (because let's just face it- anything I do will be undone within minutes)
Organize kids clothes in drawers
Change linens
Vacuum

 








Bathroom:
Clean Bathtub
Clean toilet
Organize under sink
Sweep & Mop

Here is a photo of the dining room after I placed the pictures I bought:

And after I completed all of this, I rewarded myself and family with a meal of baked ham, dressing, green beans, and mashed potatoes. I helped my daughter bake a chocolate cake also. We had a very good meal in a very decluttered and clean house.