The End of the month

Tomorrow is the week anniversary of my blog. I have even posted everyday since the inception of my blog. I am impressed that my attention has been kept. This is truly progress. If I can make it to the two week mark I might be on a roll.

Where did the summer go. Was summer even here.
I had the furnance on last night.
So I am starting my motivational speech to myself now for when I go home. I am tired. I don't have to make dinner tonite..something else became available for us. So just re-heating.
I just need to get into the mind set to go clean that bathroom. I mean really clean it. Get on my step stool and everything clean.

I don't want to. I want to go home and have a nap that is what I want to do.
If I wanted to go home and exercise instead then fine..but nope I want to nap. Which I can't.

So I am thinking go home make tea drink tea at some point change cloths and talk myself into cleaning the bathroom. Vacuuming the kitchen won't take long I can do that while our dinner is heating up.

We will see what happens when I get home in just over an hour.

Progress Report

Well I stuck to the plan. Couple glitches along the way but I over came stayed focus and conquered.

I got home and opened the cabinet above the toilette and just started purging. Overall 2 shopping bags of garbage came out of the bathroom. I scrubbed and cleaned and found homes for everything and a things that didn't belong left.

Interesting items I found in there.
- heat gun (not a craft one either)
- 3 screw drivers
- a phone holster
- caulking
- nuts and bolts
- drain snake
- a picture of me from grade 8 (18 years ago)

So all of those things have been removed.

I used some baskets to store things properly ie: all of hubby's electric trimmer accessories, razors & nail clippers. Things are grouped and kept together ie: first aid stuff, hair products, facial products.

Dinner was made (followed the meal plan menu and everything) all dishes were done.
Things that need to be thawed for tomorrow's dinner are out.
Cloths for tomorrow morning out.
Sitting in recliner posting on blog priceless.

I did realize that our under the sink cabinet is useless. And our bathroom is really small.

So I feel good. I did something. I accomplished my goal.
Tomorrow's goal is to do a deep clean of the rest of the bathroom.
Next project is linen closet.
So it was a good day! EXCEPT: I burned my hand (or my finger tips) taking a pan out of the oven. And my other hand (thumb specifically) is burning right now from handling a cayenne pepper from the garden..

I think this will be my happy place

I was going thru some pics in my files didn't even remember I had this pic. (not bad .. my little 5.1 MP Kodak takes some nice shots)..

So on top of everything else I have to do..I will have to organize my digital stuff too.. why did this happen, why..because I wanted to post a pic on my blog. I went looking thru some stuff and this is what I found. I have no idea where it was taken. i would assume it was in the fall but other than that. NO CLUE.
So the list is just getting longer.

I got nothing but time though right.

The Binder

So I actually did something tonight.

I have finally finished the binder. It is a heavy duty 2in binder that has vinyl pockets on the inside and I can slip something in the cover and personalize it (eventually I will get to that but that is in priority sequence. Inside are 3 sets of tabs (the kind that you can slip in your own labels)

My tabs are as follows:
(and I can adjust these as I see fit and move the order as necessary until I find what works)

- Daily / Weekly Planner
- Monthly Calendar
- Menu Planner
- Grocery List
- To Do List
- General Cleaning List
- Food Logs / Exercise Logs (for when I start to try to lose weight and get healthy)
- Company's Coming (this will be a list of general things that needs to be done to prepare, if dinner is being cooked..etc.)
- Special Occassions (this would be for major events ie: Hosting Christmas)

Then I have rooms broken down each room tab will have lists of repairs, steps to organize, deep cleaning lists, plans of action, shopping lists all pertaining to that room.

- Kitchen
- Bedroom (Master & Spare)
- Rec Room
- Living / Dining Room
- Office
- Other Rooms (this includes: hallway, bathroom, tool room, sunroom & laundry room)

So to go with the binder I will use a 8 x 5.5 coil 5 subject 300 pg notebook. I can write daily to do lists and ideas and transfer certain info to the binder. But I have something that I can carry. Yes a daily planner would work but it never has in the past for me. But a notebook has so going with what has worked.

So there you have it.

The Why

I had a friend show up today. I knew she was coming as of last night, but it was too late to do anything about the house.

the house is destroyed right now. The living room is full of scrapbooking stuff.
There are laundry baskets from doing laundry yesterday as well in there.

the place needs to be vacuumed and just overall house is in dismay.

Embarrassing yes. the house is embarrassing right now.
I am home it's 7pm do I start to work on the bathroom. Nope why...procrastination. Excuses I am telling myself right now. I don't have time to really start on it. I have to get my cloths out for tomorrow..or find pants to wear for tomorrow. etc..

Tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow is a new beginning..tomorrow, tomorrow I love ya tomorrow, your only a day aaaaaaa wayyy...oohhh tomorrrow..

Then we have people probably staying here on Saturday night so the house will have to be in some form of order by then which means stuff will have to be thrown in places and yes the house will be clean..but it will still be clutter.

I have to figure out what to tackle next..or at least get the house cleaned before the weekend so no more organizing this week. Unless I tackle the linen closet..which could be done in a night and I would still have time to clean.

A set back I think.

I don't know how long this process will take. I am hoping a month at the most.
I am starting easy and working my way to the not so fun tackling. My top three dreaded rooms in the house are the kitchen, my bedroom and my office / scrapbook room.

At some point I have to start my eating healthy and excerising as well.

Well that is my report as of tonite. Tomorrow I will post my theory behind the organizing or the approach I am taking to tackle each project.

Procrastination

I don't think it is a ailment. I think it is curable..
Procrastination is my character's downfall.

I was reading about "procrastination" in my organizing book which is by Stephanie Winston. And it says it is a mind set and that you tell yourself things to talk your way out of doing things.

So my excuses that I use: I am tired, I don't have time, I will do it tomorrow (which we all know tomorrow will never come), I work better under stress and will leave it to the last minute, and the best one and personally my favourite: "I am too much of a perfectionist and I will never be able to pull that off and maintain it so I will just do a half ass job to begin with and just deal with that." Isn't that one a good one. I mean come on..more thought when into that line then I put into most things I do...hence the problem.

So what the book says.. Take baby steps. Just do a couple things. And the overall feeling of accomplishment might make you continue or if you actually start it then you might continue and focus on the task at hand.

I am results oriented (hey at least I know all these things about myself). If I see progress it will make me continue..if it just make it worse..then I am more than likely going to fail.

Tonite I should be starting on the bathroom but..(and yes there is a but..but I am happy to say that it is not that of procrastination it is that someone is suppose to be coming over tonite and taking me to dinner..) if I am not home this evening I will not be doing the cabinets in the bathroom tonite. So it will be tomorrow.

Funny thing though..this morning I looked in the cabinet above the toilette..I looked at the things and said to myself I don't need that anymore..so the purging should be easy. I only have a mild case of pack ratism.

Hummus Recipe

I just made hummus..so much more economical and takes NO time at all..very easy and healthy. I finally measured out what I put in it..thought I'd share.

My Hummus

In a blender add:
1 cup of Olive Oil (I actually use a type that is a blend of canola/olive oil
2 heaping teaspoons of garlic (I used minced and use less if you don’t like garlic)
2 teaspoons of sesame oil
2 teaspoons of lemon juice
1 splash of soy sauce
1 splash of worchestershire sauce
Couple dashes of hot sauce (add more if you want spicy but it really does make the difference)
Salt and Pepper
Lastly add I can of Chic Peas..(my can is 540 ml)

Put the blender on a low setting it will start to mix together. You will need to stir it up and mix it again..when it is at the desired consistency taste and add more lemon if necessary or other ingredients. This is best left to sit but can be served immediately.

Blender cleaning tip….after all the stuff is out..fill blender half way with water (can add soap as well..just a little though) and put back on the pedestal and spin it a few times..put in dishwasher or hand wash.

Bathroom

I have decided this is my first project. Why: cause it seems small and hopefully easy project.

So I have drawn a very rudimentary sketch of the bathroom. Obviously not to scale. Very small bathroom.

Over the years these are items I have found in the bathroom that really don’t belong.
- notebooks in a package.
- various tools
- Work gloves
- Beer bottles
- Phone chargers.
- And various other non-appropriate items

So as you can see by my very talented work of art my bathroom is as wide as the tub/shower. We have storage above the toilette and we have a medicine cabinet and sink cabinet.

I am sure I can purge a lot of items that are in here. Various bubble bath gift sets etc..

So what needs to be fixed: The bottom portion of the walls are tilted the above is wallpapered in horrible looking wall paper (previous owners doing..but it cant’ come down unless we gut the bathroom..only bathroom in the house so) I would like to put tile board on the ceiling and the walls to make it easier to clean and just freshen it up. We have no exhaust fan in the bathroom (window in the shower) so the ceiling gets stained quite frequently and we have painted it I don’t know how many times.
The medicine cabinet needs to have something done with it..not sure what. Either rebuilt, painted at least.

So my plan of action.

1. completely empty above toilette cabinet.
2. clean cabinet (on top of it too)
3. go thru items and purge as necessary decide where they should be stored in 1
of the 3 options I have. To recap that: 1.above toilette cabinet,2. medicine
cabinet, 3. under sink cabinet.
4. move to under sink cabinet—empty completely and decide if I need to
add a shelf in there or baskets etc..
5. 2 and 3 again.
6. medicine cabinet same as above.
7. any left over items that need a home determine where they should be put.
8. Clean from top to bottom—ceiling to floor.
9. Tub/shower top to bottom
10. toilette—including base
11. sink
12. vacuum bathmat
13. wash bathroom floor (can do on hands and knees not that big)

So bathroom will be organized. I am thinking I can do this in two nights..organize and purge one night (which includes cleaning the cabinets) and the other night deep clean the bathroom.

Meal Planning day

So I am going to meal plan while I post.
So this is my first week at it so I am only going to plan dinners.

So off to the freezer to see what we have first.
Oh I will also be making my grocery list at the same time.

The idea is to not over buy at the grocery store and to try to remember to take stuff out of the freezer.

Okay not looking too good.
We have 2 packages of hamburger
1 piece of haddock
1 piece of salmon
1 package of pork ribs. (which I will cook on the weekend--maybe Friday..but will have to make a note to get them out on Wednesday to marinade)

So I need 4 dinners for Monday thru Thursday

Monday we will have fish. Me the Haddock him the salmon (not a big salmon fan). I think rice will be a good carb and a green of some sort to go with it.

Tuesday...hmmm..I think we need poultry item..need to buy that. And little potatoes. With spinach and mushrooms and onions.

Wednesday...have NO freakin clue. ..Oh we wil do eggs and bacon..I will make omelette's.


Thursday..hamburger helper..easy dinner..with a frozen vegetable peas and corn I think will work.

So there. Now I am going to do inventory on the fridge freezer and pantry to see what we are out of and stock up this week on things.

I have a sheet I found (will post a link when I remember from what site I found it on) that has a master list of all items all broken down to grocery sections..ie: produce, meat counter, bakery..dairy..etc..

Anyway. At least I started.

today we need to go to the laundry mat because the dryer is still broken. Hubby had found a dryer at Lowe's that was a return for $150 we went to buy it yesterday but unfortunately it had sold a half hour before so still going to the laundry mat. Really should put away my cloths from the last time. Really need to transfer summer and winter cloths to there respected storage spots..which are under the bed containers.

Really need to do a lot of things..which is why I started this blog.
So we will see what will happen.
I guessing not to much today.
Still working on the binder.
This is classic procrastination.

Day 3

I have accomplished not so much.
I have the links posted.
Still need to make this blog prettier I think.

Goals for the weekend. Is to analyze the house..figure out room by room what needs to be done.

Do a meal plan for the week.

Nothing to high on the goal list. But I need to find an action plan that will work.

I have a book. (will post later what it is called and who by etc..)

the theory behind the book is to decided a method.
You are either digital or paper.
Paper will work better for me. But the idea is you have 1 method only. You have a master list and a short term list. (I came up with the binder) Random post-it notes everywhere is not a method. Random pieces of paper everywhere is not a method either. So basically the book told me I was wrong. And you know what..it was right..the book was right. Hasn't worked for me yet.

And overall you don't just take on a room you take on a section only. If you overwhelm yourself you will not make any progress..yes this whole task seems daunting but setting realistic size goals. Say a closet here a cabinet there is better than not doing anything and eventually I will get there.

When I start the purging aspect of it. I have something in my favour..The Salvation Army is across the street..so taking items over there will be easy.

Well at least I am following thru with the dailies..
Yay..I am doing something I set out to do.

Just Another Day

So I took stock of the house last night. For such a little house we have so much crap.

I will break each room down and work in an area.

I will get links posted soon with some great websites.

I am 31 today.

Un-motivated, Lazy and No Willpower at all--hopeless procrastinator

That is what I am.
It's true..I know it, my husband knows it and most people that truly know me know it.
Well I guess the first step is to know.

So my plan is to Get Organized, Get Healthy, Exercise, Lose some weight and just get my life in control.

We are a basic household. Me, my husband and 2 cats. We have a 900 sq ft bungalow with a 900 sq ft basement that we use as well. We have 2 bedrooms, kitchen, living rm/dinning room, sunroom, a very small bathroom, rec room, office, work shop and laundry area. Minimal storage space.

So my theory and yes I always have a theory is to regiment my life.

I wake up at 5:30 am leave by 6 am and home just after 4:30. In my bedroom around 9pm..Mon thru Fri. So between 4:30 and 7pm I have 2.5 hours to clean and make dinner (except for Friday night).

I have been planning this for awhile always set a target date and well never make it.

So I am hoping blogging about my progress, set backs and methods might help me reach my goals or just at least improve my whole chance of doing this.

I love to make lists, I love to make spreadsheets. I just need to implement them. I am great planner horrible executioner.

My Goals:

- Organize each room in the house. Purge and deep clean.
- Get house in order and do 15-30 minutes of cleaning each night to keep it up. Maybe 1 hour on weekends as necessary.
- I want my house company ready within moments or already ready.
- I want to eat healthier (work is my main problem with this)
- I want to exercise
- I need to lose 25-40lbs



So.. I got a binder I printed off stuff.
Stuff
- Monthly Calendars
- Weekly Calendars
- Food Logs
- Grocery Lists
- Meal Planning
- To do Lists
and probably a few others (and the above is in no particular order)

Tonite my goal is to get the binder functioning and workable.
I plan on doing my meal plans on the weekends before grocery shopping.

I am very lucky because my husband is very useful and willing to help out.
And I would like to be a better wife. I am a horrible wife..but he is at least a good one.
I think this whole idea will just make everyone's life easier and better in the long run.

Now my obstacles are me. I have the shortest attention span. I am a professional procrastinator, I am lazy and well I am lazy.

I will share everything I can. The links, sites, books or whatever I learn something from.
And well I hope I accomplish something with this.
I hope to update this (to begin with) weekly..hopefully more..and eventually get it scheduled in to be a daily post.

Thad Be Me!!!