Cleaning Grand Plan

For the next few weeks I shall be doing my best to follow THIS plan over at organizedhome.com

I've tried it before and failed....for a whole host of reasons - the main one being that I just couldn't be bothered to clean.
I'm not a house keeper....I have too many "fun" things going on in my life.  But now I HAVE to do something about this. The house is too small for 5 of us AND the mess.
The clutter is getting in the WAY of fun, and is causing stress and arguments amongst us. Especially Hubby. Especially as over the last 2 years he has spent more and more time living in hotel rooms where there is nothing but space - and peace and quiet!

I'm living in Can't
                  Have
                 Anyone
                 Over
                 Syndrome   ....to quote Flylady ....Yes, I've followed her for a long time too!

It's going to be hard, but I *HAVE* to get this sorted this year. ~
There are other projects too....but at the moment they are not important to the blog (they concern money and some of my hobbies.....I might need to add them into the mix later......)

But for now, who's with me?
It's Preview Week over at Organized Home! ........and I'm in front for once - I printed all the cleaning prompts and planning sheets off LAST week! Lol!

51 Weeks To Christmas 2014!

So, last week I said I was looking at Organised Junkie's 2012 challenge that ran for the year and encouraged you to complete 52 projects to declutter and organise your home.

Well, I still haven't worked out how to add documents to the blog, and I'm not going to bore you with a great LONG list, but here are a few of the projects I've decided upon......

1: Set up a Cleaning Binder and Year Planner    - Done and Done!!
2.Draw up an Action Plan to attack the house    - Done!
3. Winter Car Kit
4. Kids rainy Day Trolley
5. Toy Box to Coffee Table
6. Organised Paper Storage
7. Kitchen Shelves
8. The Desk.....Of DOOM!!!!!
9. Landing and Stairs
10.Master Bedroom....Part1 !

I'm looking forward to sorting out the car .....it's new (to us!) and Eldest and I made a good start on only putting in what was essential when we got it. But that was almost 2 months ago now (before all the rain!) AND we had a road trip "Up North" to see Hubby's parents at the very start of the Christmas Holidays (oh BOY was THAT a wet trip!) so there is a lot of junk we need to get rid of, along with things we need to add for the winter.

The kids rainy day trolley shouldn't take that much doing either, the bones of the project are there...they just never really got fleshed out!

So, despite all the comings and goings in the house at the minute, I'm still feeling positive! Long may it continue!

(This post was planned for 2-1-14...but I'm running late - it's now 5-1-14!)

UPDATE NUMBER 1!

(This post was planned for Sunday 29-12-13.....As is usual with me...I didn't get round to it! ....Another bad habit I need to break!)

So, what have I been up to this week?
Not a lot really....it's been SO WET here in the UK! It hasn't stopped raining in what feels like DAYS!!

Hubby (a Coach Driver) has taken a group over the Holland for a Badminton Tournament for the next few days, so the house is quieter and the smalls are occupying themselves with their Christmas games and purchases. The eldest is holed up in her room "allegedly" doing school work but more probably watching films on her laptop!

I have ticked off a few jobs on by "to do" list.

# I've just about finished my planner for the next year.....pictures when I can get them....at the moment it's so DARK in the house they are coming out all grainy....plus I'm not entirely sure where I put the cable to transfer them to the computer!
# I've counted all the boxes and bags I need to empty on my quest to find the house.......there is A LOT!!!!
So many infact that they are probably a post all on their own! We're talking into 3 figures here, combined!
It's a number that shook even ME....and I live with them all day every day!
# I've thought...I mean *REALLY* thought about my goals for 2014.

So all in all I think I'm doing OK.
As long as I keep it up!

52 Weeks of Organising

There are a lot of "spelling mistakes" in this blog. Some because I'm hopeless and can't spell for toffee when I'm typing  and some that are "deliberate"......seeing as I'm English, and so I write with English spelling!
Here it's "organiSing"......I have to remember when I go searching the net that most other people write 'organiZing'!

Hey Ho!

My plans for 2014 are to follow as many organising plans and challenges as I can possibly find - most of which I've tried before! And failed at!.....Because I've never really bothered.

I can't do that this year. I *HAVE* to get it right.
I'm 45. I can't faff about any longer.
Me eldest is 17. She wants to bring friends round - people important to her. She can't.
Not because I'm ashamed of the mess - I mean, I AM, but that's not the reason why. No, she can't have people round because there simply isn't ROOM for them IN the house!

There are other reasons too, that I won't go into now, but will probably become apparent as the year goes on. Sigh.

So, what am I doing? Well, I like the idea of quick, little projects that will motivate me and organise small areas as the year goes on. So I'm using Organized Junkie's 52 weeks planning sheet from her 2012 series, found HERE

But I ALSO like the room by room projects sent out by Home Storage Solutions HERE ......So I'll be having a go at those too! -Well, at least for the rooms we HAVE!

And finally, every year since I discovered it, I've attempted Organized Home Challenge......and never actually managed it.....so I'm having a go at that one too - again with tweeks for the rooms we actually have!

SOMETHING has to stick....doesn't it!
We'll see!

I'll be back to let you know how I'm getting on - and to post my 52 week projects - once I've worked out how to add documents to the site!

(Planned for 28-12-13....running late - it's now 5-1-14!)

52 Weeks to Christmas 2014

(So, it's not REALLY 52 Weeks to Christmas - but it was when I *SHOULD* have written and published this post!)

Helloooooo!!!
I've been missing in (in) action for AGES, but I'm back, the fight is back, and I'm ready to go.
Christmas 2014 WILL be the most amazing one for a LONG time!
I am determined!
....But then, I've said that before!

2014 is my make or break year.
The year I either get things right, or things change....forever.
There is a lot going on in my life at the moment. They have been simmering under the surface for a good 18 months - possibly even longer, it's hard to  pinpoint an exact time that I became aware of them. Suffice it to say, if they happen, I'll let you know, if they don't......well, the blog will carry on to 2015!

So, it's Boxing Day here in the UK. The madness of Christmas is over, and it's a day to relax and spend with family.Except all mine are either skulking in the kitchen, carefully *not* listening to the football on the radio, or holed up in their bedrooms playing with yesterdays presents!
I'm sitting about, thinking about next year. And what it means. And what I'm going to DO about it all!

I started this blog the week before Christmas 2011, because the house was a pigsty and I was in a flap about getting ready for Christmas......I vowed it would NEVER happen again, that I *WOULD* be organised next time......... It hasn't happened yet!

So 2014 WILL be the year it doe....and this Blog will capture every back breaking second of it!
I've already listed dates in my diary and the outline of what I want to post about.....so lets see if THIS time it works!

(Except, I'm already behind! This post was in the diary for 26-12-13....and it's already 5-1-14!! But lets not let minor details like that stop us hey!)

Re-Boot

So. I spent yesterday evening and this morning looking at the house and garden. Jeez it's a LONG list!

Here goes.......
Front Garden:

• Prune back shrub
• Weed
• Dig out big "grassy" thing
• Try to exterminate the Budlea (AGAIN!!)
• Relay weed barrier and put new mulch down
• Maybe plant some bedding plants or bulbs

Front of House

• Sand and repaint window frames
• Sand and repaint the door
• repaint the garage door and the gas/electric cupboard doors
• Get someone in to look at the misted window panes

Front Door/Lobby

• Empty out the rubbish
• Sort all the coats/hats/gloves/scarves etc
• Clear out all the shoes and wellie boots and keep just the current size!
• Reclaim and reorganise the shelves for the Guiding stuff I use every week
• Find somewhere for DH to stash his many....MANY....Train photos.....and his (important I'll grant you!) Tour Notes.

Living Room

• Clear out the rubbish for starters (we're drowning in paper!)
• Get rid of old computer
• Decide what to do with the rack of Videos......now we have lots of DVDs instead!
• Repaint eventually (not a priority.....have to find the room first!)
• Sort out/empty/get rid of/reorganise the 11 boxes and at least 12bags of "stuff" that has accumulated

Kitchen Diner

• Dust down the cobwebs
• Reorganise the cupboards - get RID of all the extra plates, cups and tupperwear!
• Save up for a new fridge and microwave
• Clear off the counter for display and packed lunch item storage
• Redo the Command centre (that I can't get to at the moment for all the junk!)
• Get rid of the dozen bags of "Stuff" that have accumulated there.

Sheesh!

I'm exhausted!
That's just DOWNSTAIRS!!!!
Upstairs is my room and the wardrobe I haven't been in in the last 5 years!
Upstairs is the kids "dungeon"......ULP!!!!

And then there is the back garden.....and the play house.........
......AND.......

..........................The............GARAGE!!!!! (Cue scary music!)

So.
There.

I've told you the first part.

So now I HAVE to do it........don't I?!

Promises, Promises!

I know, I know!
I know I said I was going to get a wriggle on.

But.....

Well......

You see........

Oh who am I kidding! It all boils down to just not being bothered! A lack of motivation. A dislike of putting the effort in.

.....Or maybe, just maybe.....I just DON'T KNOW WHERE to start!

If I sit on the computer, I can't see the mess behind me.

If I go to bed and read I can "forget" the junk piled everywhere.

I'm fed up of it, and I *HAVE* to change.

I just......

......don't know.......

....................how.............


Sigh.


Time to take a bite out of the Elephant.

I have people coming over in a few weeks.

New colleagues........for a planning meeting.......they could be here a while.

They will walk through the jungle to the front door. GULP.
They will squeeze through the junked up untidy lobby. GULP.
They will walk through my scruffy - full of junk - living room. OUCH
They will sit in my cobwebby kitchen. ....Which honestly I though was getting better as I had really been making an effort in there......until I put the light on last night! Oooopppps!
And if the weather holds - they will sit out in my untidy, junky, full of weeds and not a flower in sight back garden. SIGH.
NOT a good start to a new working relationship.


I *KNOW* I've said it like a gazillion times before.........but I *HAVE* to change.

Anyone want to take bets on how far I actually get?