October Daily Cleaning Challenge: Week 3

Here we are in week three!  Yes, the post is a few days late.  Such is life, as it is.  We all know things happen.

As far as the challenge - I've had good days.  I've had a few off days.  I wish I could extol you all with tales of how this has made such a huge difference and my hope is sparkling and tidy.  But I'm not going to lie to you like that.  It's maybe not as bad as usual though.  I hope. (?)  And I'm sticking with it.

Here's a list of cleaning ideas for Week 3:

• Dust /clean light fixtures
• Wipe light switches
• Sweep/Vacuum
• Clean under the kitchen sink
• Clean off the top of the fridge
• Wipe down the legs of your dining table and chairs

And don't forget the two optional challenges:

Bonus Challenge #1:  Complete at least one load of laundry per day.  By "complete" I mean washing, folding and putting away.  Because if you are anything like me, that basket of clean cloth clothes may sit around for days before something finally gets done with it.

Bonus Challenge #2:  Get the family involved!  Ask them to help tidy up for 10 minutes.  Set a timer and see how much y'all can get done.  You might be surprised what a difference 10 minutes can make.

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October Daily Cleaning Challenge: Week 2

An entire week of October has already come and gone! At this rate it is going to be a quick month!

How's everyone been doing with the daily cleaning?

I have a confession - I skipped a day or two.  Although I have tried to do a little something each day, even if I don't get the full 15 to 30 minutes in pet day.

Here's the list of suggested tasks for Week 2.

• Clean the kitchen/dining room chairs
• Wash the walls in the hallway or one room
• Clean out the junk drawer
• Clean out from under the couch and chair cushions
• Clean the front door (and any other doors leading to the outside)
• Tidy up the front porch area
• Dust tops of door frames
• Sweep/Vacuum

And don't forget the two optional challenges:

Bonus Challenge #1:  Complete at least one load of laundry per day.  By "complete" I mean washing, folding and putting away.  Because if you are anything like me, that basket of clean cloth clothes may sit around for days before something finally gets done with it.

Bonus Challenge #2:  Get the family involved!  Ask them to help tidy up for 10 minutes.  Set a timer and see how much y'all can get done.  You might be surprised what a difference 10 minutes can make.

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October Daily Cleaning Challenge Update

Hello fellow cleaning challengers!  How's everyone been doing this week?

I've had some long neglected tasks get marked off the To Do list this week.  Including finally switching out the mantel decor from summer to autumn, straightening up the foyer and cleaning and decluttering under the bathroom sink.  Yay me!!

I wish I could tell you that I feel as if it has made a huge difference and my house is shiny and spotless.  But that's just not true.  There's still a long day to go.  But every day is a little step closer, so I stick with it.

I'll be posting the list of task ideas and such tomorrow or Saturday.  So, be prepared for that.  In the meantime, tell us a little about how your week has been!

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October Daily Cleaning Challenge: Week 1

Welcome to October!  And thanks for joining us in the October Daily Cleaning Challenge!

If you're new around here, you might be asking yourself what this whole challenge is all about.  So, here's a quick recap!

Each day in October do 15 to 30 minutes of cleaning. Yes - EVERY day.

That's it.  No cleaning schedule or assigned tasks.  Just clean SOMETHING in your home each day.  There is only one "rule":  your 15 to 30 minutes has to be something other than washing dishes or laundry.  Those need done regardless.  And in my case, if anything is getting done its typically going to be one of these two things.  So, I have to pick something I would normally be more likely to avoid.

Here are a few suggestions to get you started this first week of the challenge.  Do a few.  Do them all.  Do something you decide all on your own.  Just Do Something!!

• Clean foyer/entrance area
• Clean out the fridge
• Clean under the bathroom sink
• Vacuum and/or sweep
• Clean off surfaces in bedroom
• Sweep and mop bathroom
• Tidy up living room

And don't forget the two optional challenges:

Bonus Challenge #1:  Complete at least one load of laundry per day.  By "complete" I mean washing, folding and putting away.  Because if you are anything like me, that basket of clean cloth clothes may sit around for days before something finally gets done with it.

Bonus Challenge #2:  Get the family involved!  Ask them to help tidy up for 10 minutes.  Set a timer and see how much y'all can get done.  You might be surprised what a difference just ten minutes can make!

Ready?  Set your timers!  We can do this!

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The Reality of Housekeeping (and a challenge)

I have a confession to make.  I hope you won't judge me too much.  And maybe you'll even be able to relate.  Anyway, here goes:

 I am a terrible housekeeper.

It's true.  Just ask my poor husband.  I am not great about keeping things super tidy around the house.  We're no where near being featured in an episode of Hoarders or anything of that sort.  It's not that bad.  (Which is often how I justify and excuse my laziness)  It's just more that I seem to have a special talent for ignoring the clutter and dust bunnies until it gets to a critical peak where I just can't take it any more.  Then I go on a mad frenzy of cleaning and organizing.

To help improve (and hopefully correct) this reality, I have created a challenge for myself during the month of October. And I am hoping some of you will join me!

During October I am challenging myself - and you! - to do 15 to 30 minutes of cleaning.
Every.  Single.  Day.

That's it.  No cleaning schedule or assigned tasks.  Just clean SOMETHING in your home each day.  There is only one "rule":  your 15 to 30 minutes has to be something other than washing dishes or laundry.  Those need done regardless.  And in my case, if anything is getting done its typically going to be one of these two things.  So, I have to pick something I would normally be more likely to avoid.

Each week I will be posting a list of suggested chores to get done based on what I am going to try to accomplish that week.  You are welcome to follow the list, or just follow your heart based on the needs in your own home.  This post will also be a chance to comment and let us know how you are doing and what you accomplished over the past week.   Yep  - Accountability!

I'm also including two bonus challenges for those of us who are really feeling up to it.

Bonus Challenge #1:  Complete at least one load of laundry per day.  By "complete" I mean washing, folding and putting away.  Because if you are anything like me, that basket of clean cloth clothes may sit around for days before something finally gets done with it.

Bonus Challenge #2:  Get the family involved!  Ask them to help tidy up for 10 minutes.  Set a timer and see how much y'all can get done.  You might be surprised what a difference just ten minutes can make!

So, what do you say?  Are you in?

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When Things Get Messy

My house is a mess, y'all.   Not "kind of messy".  A big ol' embarrassing mess.  Pretty much a disaster area.

Ok - no, it's not that bad!!

Nothing much is getting done around here.  I am neglecting the housework while I try to push through to complete a few big orders facing deadlines.  (And not making the kind of progress I would like to see).  Meanwhile,  things are piling up around me.

I keep nagging at the offspring to help with keeping the kitchen clean.  They do the bare minimum to be able to say they did what was asked.

I'm dangerously close to running out of clean laundry.  And the Man of the House may or may not be rewearing socks.

Something is going to have to give soon.  I feel stretched too thin and on the edge of that place where I just might snap soon.

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This Is Why

This is why you should always be a little bit afraid when a preschooler is playing quietly in the next room...

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Yes, But...

I recently delegated the chore of cleaning up the dishes and kitchen after dinner to the offspring.  (off springs?)  Seemed like a great idea at the time. They have more responsibility.  The kitchen gets straightened up.  The dishes get washed.  I get to mark one thing of my forever long To Do list.  In theory it seems almost perfect.

photo- publicdomainpictures.net

Yes, But...

Nothing is perfect.  Certainly not my wonderful - yet flawed - offspring.  It is a rare night indeed that they don't have to be TOLD that the chore needs doing.  Or else I face a pile of dirty dishes and counter tops when I wake the next morning.  As if they somehow suffer some sort of selective amnesia once they have finished consuming the meal which was made for them.  

OK.  So, they need reminding.  But once they are told reminded to take care of the after dinner cleanup - it gets done.  By someone other than myself.  And that's what I need to focus on.  Whatever method it takes, the chore is getting done. 

Yes, But... 

Sometimes it still annoys me that the mindset seems to be that it doesn't matter where the clean dishes go as long as they are put away somewhere.  Anywhere.  Or that my idea of a clean counter top and their idea of a clean counter are miles apart.  I'm talking like 'Earth and the end of the universe' miles apart. 

photo- publicdomainpictures.net

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What Do You Do?

I saw this writing prompt on another blog recently and couldn't stop thinking about it:

"If you couldn't answer with your job, how would you answer the question, 'what do you do'?"

Maybe this was easier for me since I stopped answering this question with a description of my work away from home job about a year ago.  But it still made me think: what do I do?

I...

... love my husband

... take care of my family

... like to read

... crochet

... write a blog

... love to hang clothes out on the line

... enjoy saving money and am always on the lookout for bargains

... babysit my grandson

... watch documentaries on Netflix

... make my own cleaning products

...  google everything
... do crafts for my home and to give as gifts

What do you do?

What Is Given Them From Heaven

The other morning I was just waking up and thinking about my day ahead.  Somehow I began thinking about what a mess the house was and how much cleaning it needed.  Then my mind wandered to how out of shape I am and the weight I have put on over the last two years or so.  I was feeling a little discontent with both of these things and spent a few moments reflecting on changes that need to be made.

Suddenly - as clearly as someone speaking in my ear - came this thought.  Often I have not been a very good steward of many of the things God has trusted to me.  More often than I really care to think about.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19

My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.  Yet, quite frequently  I have been treated it more like a food court at the mall.  Just sitting around, stuffed with as much junk food as it could possible hold.  Not exactly "temple" material there. 

I have been making an effort to consider the many blessings the Lord provides to me, and to give thanks for those things.  This showed me a whole new step in this process.  I have to remember that just as John 3:27 says, "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven". 

Everything is a gift from heaven, and I need to treat it accordingly.  Whether that is taking better care of my health, doing my best to keep the house up, keeping my car cleaned out, or spending quality time with my family.

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' ~ Matthew 25:21

Still Here...

As most of you are perfectly aware by this point - the world did not end yesterday.  There was no massive polar switch, no rogue planets or asteroids colliding with our little planet. 

In the words of Robert Browning: "God is in His heaven and all is right with the world".

Which for me means... cookies to bake, presents to wrap, and cleaning still to be done!

What's To-Do: October 22 - 26

The To DO lists for the next few weeks are going ot be mostly focused on the living room remodel we began this weekend. 

To Do List for October 22 - 26:

• Tape and compound new drywall to get ready for painting next weekend
• Take down pictures, clean and spackle other walls for painting
• Work on Christmas present
• Walk 2 times
• Pick up some mugs for new project
• Figure out where all the note pads for my To Do lists keep disappearing to!

No Time for That

I don't feel good.  (well?  whatever...) 

My head hurts.  I'm congested.  My sinuses burn.  My throat is scratchy.  I'm feeling a bit nauseous.  And I'm just generally achy and tired.  What I really want is to lie down and take a nice long nap.

Here's the thing - I don't have time for that.

I have family coming into town in the next 48 hours.  I need to finish getting the house cleaned up.  It is in no way, shape, or form "guest ready".  Carpets need cleaning.  Bathrooms need cleaning.  Towels (and other laundry) need washed.  Floors need swept.

I also have to get the male offspring to guitar lessons after school.  AND he has a violin concert tonight.  Somewhere in there I have to feed him and the rest of the family some dinner.

If I crawl up under the covers and hide, would all the to-do list somehow magically be done when I crawl back out? 

Yeh, I didn't think so.

Weekly To-Do List: October 8 - 12

The effort on the To-Do list for last week turned out to be a fail of epic proportions.  I'm not going to feel too bad about that; there were uncontrollable circumstances.  Nope.  I'm going to pick myself up, dust off the To-Do list and start fresh for this week.

To - Do List for  October 8 - 12: 

• Write everyday  
• Read
• Finish Queen B's Busy Work order  
• Bible Study 
• Clean, clean, clean 
• Clean carpets  
• Take male offspring to strings festival rehearsal
• Take male offspring to strings festival
• Restart "30 Days of Activity" and do something "active" everyday

 

 

October Goals

October has arrived!  The year just keeps getting busier and busier from this point on.  Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc, etc, etc.  The To-Do list becomes even more important as we start heading into the busy, hectic months. 

To Do List for October:

• Schedule a date night with Man of the House
• Write everyday
• Do more reading
• Do something "active" every day (see "30 Days of Activity")
• Work on Christmas presents
• Work on holiday inventory for Queen B's Busy Work
• Complete "About" page for Queen B's Busy Work
• Man of House's birthday!
• Clean carpets
• Family coming to visit!
• Schedule some "me" time each week (bubble bath, give myself a mani and/or pedi, etc)

Getting It Done

To Do List for September 24 - 28

• Give dining room a thorough cleaning
• Write
• Finish book before it is due Tuesday!
• Work on Queen B's Busy Work custom order
• Get more new items up on Queen B's Busy Work
• Go to Man of the House's softball game
• Attend Women's Bible Study
• Attend James McDonald Vertical Church Tour
• Give myself a manicure
• Organize something (anything!) in craft area
• Organize coupons

Less Time To Do It

I enjoy a good long weekend just as much as anyone else.  But what is it about "short weeks" that always makes me feel a little rushed and stressed? Too much to do, and a day shorter to do it all. 

To Do: September 3 - 7

• make homemade dishwasher detergent
• work on Queen B's Busy Work items
• clean up bedroom - complete with some purging
• keep mammogram appointment
• do something (anything) to start organizing craft area
• library
• make a decision on at least one Christmas present to make
• write, Write, WRITE!!

Climbing Lighthouses

  Each week for the Follow Friday Four Fill In Blog Hop (try saying that 3 times fast!) Feeling Beachie gives us four statements with a blank for you to fill in on your own blogs. Want to be featured as a Co-Host to the hop? Come up with four fill in’s of your own and email them to her at feelingbeachie@gmail.com. If she uses them, you get a nice little mention in that weeks hop! Please help her out and email some statements! This week’s co-host is Leslie from Time out for Mom she came up with the last two statements.

And, since Feeling Beachie is sharing her blog hop with us - it's only far that we share and share alike! So, be sure to tweet, facebook, etc about the Follow Friday blog hop. And add the little linky tool there at the bottom to your own blog if you participate!
This week’s statements: 1.I love to ___ but I hate to ___
2.__ makes a day better
3.They Didn’t Think I Could ______, But I Did
4.Warning: ______!

My Answers:

1. I love to have a clean house but I hate to clean


2. Starting the morning by reading my Bible makes a day better

3.They Didn’t Think I Could walk to the top of the lighthouse with my fear of heights, But I Did

4.Warning:  Sudden hormonal outbursts!

What's A Girl To Do?

It's a busy week around here.  A transitional week.  School starts tomorrow.  Guitar lessons and Bible studies are gearing up.  But all the rest of the things that need to be done won't just go away to accommodate all the new things added to the calendar.  Too bad. 

Things To Do This Week:

• Catch up on the laundry (have to make sure school clothes are clean and ready to wear!)
• Clean up living room
• Work on organizing craft area
• Work on projects for Queen B's Busy Work
• Finish at least one of the books I'm reading
• Do some writing
• Go to library
• Organize coupons
• edited to add:  Schedule yearly mammogram!!

Searching For My Gold

Like much of the world population (or at least the U.S. population), I have spent hours and hours viewing the various Olympic events over the past week.  I'm starting to get a little bleary eyed and delirious from staying up far past my bedtime to see our gymnasts, swimmers, and runners.  And in that muddled brain state I begin having dreams of my own Olympic gold.

I'm not completely delusional yet.  I don't imagine myself biking cross country, or swimming a 400m IM, or doing a stunning balance beam routine and nailing the dismount in a way that sends the crowd to their feet.  Although that chick sitting in the front of the boat telling the rowers to "stroke"?  Yeh - I think I could master that.  Maybe.  I'm good at telling people what to do.  Just ask my kids.

But after careful consideration of my general lack of athleticism, I have come up with my own  "Olympics - Home Edition".

That's right.  Olympics for the home maker.  Events in cooking, cleaning, general home and family management.  Medals for the every day heroes of family life.

I may be a medal contender in dishes.  Empty dishwasher, rinse dishes, load dishwasher.  I've got that routine down cold.  Gold might be a stretch, but silver is certainly within my reach.  Not today.  If the event were held today - I'd be lucky to squeeze by with a bronze.

I probably wouldn't even get past the quarter finals in laundry.  I'd take a terrible tumble off the pile of Mt. WashingToDo causing huge deductions.  An epic fail of  Feck proportions.  No coming back from that sort of disaster. 

And I am refusing to contend in Ironing at all.  I just can't see any good reason to do that to myself.  That would be like a runner trying to race in the pool.  Completely out of my element.

I would , of course, dominate in Clothesline Drying.  Watch me folks.  I would dazzle the judges and the crowds with my hanging skills and the speed with which I can remove the dry clothing from the line!

I'm already dreaming up other events and imagining myself up on the podium waving and smiling at my cheering, adoring family.  

Bathroom cleaning - GOLD!


Meal planning and cooking dinner - GOLD!

Grocery shopping and couponing - GOLD!

Vacuuming. Dusting. Sweeping and Mopping. GOLD, GOLD, GOLD!  Oh, who am I kidding... probably Silver at best.

What event in the Olympics: Home Edition would win you a medal?