Reinventing

Lucy at Attic 24 and I have been in discussion about our new way of life - i.e where the children are now at school.  We are in the process of reinventing ourselves.  We have both gone in to over drive on organizing ourselves.  I have to say that this is not a bad thing for me as I have gone from being known as Mrs Detox to well, parts of the house are disintegrating around me as I type.   I feel like I am swimming through treacle, my mind is a whirl of activity and thoughts which I find difficult to put in to action.  I am distracted by the thought of this

I wrote a cheque the other day saying sixty hundred pounds ????? What number is that?  Well I will tell you - my son says he loves me sixty hundred million times - I didn't even know the little thought was going through my head.  Talk about distraction.  They were all safe at school and not running around me squawking and making a racquet as usual. 

One blogger I asked 'how did she find time to be so creative and maintain her house and kids etc?'   She replied by saying 'do you EVER see anything but a close up shot of my work?'.  She freely admitted she would rather create than clean.  Another blogger I asked (these are the only two bloggers I have asked by the way!) said she 'would like to have cleaner skirting boards'.  Mmmmm - the last one is a little bit annoying don't you think.  It may well have been my answer 9 years ago when I ran a spotless house and commuted to London to work - WAKE UP - no-one (i.e three children) were at home undoing what you had just done!

However, I think there is a balance to be had - something I am going to strive towards and fix by December.  I want to have a completely organised, clean, tidy house and mind by Christmas Eve!

To this end I have been doing the gardening bit by bit.

I have tidied shelves and cupboards but still have loads more to do - unearthing all sorts of crap that I really do not want and will car boot sale.  Another rule no more thrifting.  I am going to allow Christmas present purchasing, and some spending at the Country Living Fair and the Vintage and Handmade Fair and that is it until everywhere is completely sorted!

I covered a shoe box with some lovely wrapping paper to sling all the small cookery books and loose bits of paper with jotted down recipes in.  It immediately felt better. 

Something I have always done, is have a folder per person on the inside of one of my kitchen cupboards.  In to this, I put party invitations, school letters etc I then know where to find everything straight away. You know, that sinking feeling - Gawd is it such and such a person's birthday party today - phew the invite is here, it is tomorrow - relax!  Not when is it and flip where is the invite too!!! 

I would love to hear any good ideas you may have.  Also I would love to hear some honesty or own ups about what hiccups you have domestically.  Check Mrs Lace Hearts out for an own up about her muffins (sounds rude but isnt!)- so funny! (23 and 24 September posts)

Comments

[Nicole]

If you want to learn about a serious organizer check out this blog. She makes me feel very inadequate!!

http://chezlarsson.typepad.com

[simone]

You look like you are doing good to me. I have 10 years of build up to deal with in decluttering my house! I love your folders inside the cupboard door idea, and your shelves and cupboards look immaculate.

[sarah ~ a beach cottage]

hmmmm, i don't think there is an answer, I went into pure overdrive when the little one went to big school but there was so much treacle to wade through, we had just moved house (oh and countries not long b4 that) and done a reno so I guess it was never gonna be completely up to date

some of my house is tidy most of the time, like the sitting room (toilet lol! oh no, those 3 kiddos can even manage to leave empty toilet rolls on the floor, ahhhhh!) but it is *never* ever as clean as I want it, with 5 of us and one at 13 nearly adult size it just doesn't happen. I've dabbled with cleaners but it isn't much better.

When I had just one or even two babies, my house was always sparkling, those long long days without schedules and pick-ups meant I could potter around all day, now that just doesn't happen, even on a free day, once the school run is over it's only 5 hours really til you have to go back...

I am a complete airhead with all the school stuff, just last night I had totally forgotten a playdate for number 3, but you know what I really can't stand is those anal mummy's who know everything, know everyone and their whole life, vocabulary, brain is about school...but those people are very good for PTA's

phew I've rambled here, sorry...

heard the weather is getting chilly, I miss the Autumn's

S

[sarah ~ a beach cottage]

hmmmm, i don't think there is an answer, I went into pure overdrive when the little one went to big school but there was so much treacle to wade through, we had just moved house (oh and countries not long b4 that) and done a reno so I guess it was never gonna be completely up to date

some of my house is tidy most of the time, like the sitting room (toilet lol! oh no, those 3 kiddos can even manage to leave empty toilet rolls on the floor, ahhhhh!) but it is *never* ever as clean as I want it, with 5 of us and one at 13 nearly adult size it just doesn't happen. I've dabbled with cleaners but it isn't much better.

When I had just one or even two babies, my house was always sparkling, those long long days without schedules and pick-ups meant I could potter around all day, now that just doesn't happen, even on a free day, once the school run is over it's only 5 hours really til you have to go back...

I am a complete airhead with all the school stuff, just last night I had totally forgotten a playdate for number 3, but you know what I really can't stand is those anal mummy's who know everything, know everyone and their whole life, vocabulary, brain is about school...but those people are very good for PTA's

phew I've rambled here, sorry...

heard the weather is getting chilly, I miss the Autumn's

S

[Lace hearts]

That is so funny. Listen, from where I'm sitting, your pictures make your home look fabulously organised, and frighteningly neat. I mean, folders for separate invitations - what a fab idea. Ours are stuffed by the front door, so I always know where they are, but...! I wouldn't dare to show my recipe books, or even at the moment my kitchen dresser. And I can't take a shot of the kitchen cos I haven't cleaned the floor lately. Honestly, if your house is like treacle, mine's thick sticky chocolate fudge. I despair. And I've got no organisational suggestions. But then I get more time with the littleys, and boy are they growing up so fast. My eldest has just started 2ndary, and it's really hit me badly how quick they grow.
You have made me laugh, btw. Why not make my oh so public apology more public!
And I've got a bone to pick with Lucy at Attic24 - I didn't realize you knew her. Well, she's the reason for my tardiness on the domestic front this week, because I just had to make her birds! lol.

[Lace hearts]

That is so funny. Listen, from where I'm sitting, your pictures make your home look fabulously organised, and frighteningly neat. I mean, folders for separate invitations - what a fab idea. Ours are stuffed by the front door, so I always know where they are, but...! I wouldn't dare to show my recipe books, or even at the moment my kitchen dresser. And I can't take a shot of the kitchen cos I haven't cleaned the floor lately. Honestly, if your house is like treacle, mine's thick sticky chocolate fudge. I despair. And I've got no organisational suggestions. But then I get more time with the littleys, and boy are they growing up so fast. My eldest has just started 2ndary, and it's really hit me badly how quick they grow.
You have made me laugh, btw. Why not make my oh so public apology more public!
And I've got a bone to pick with Lucy at Attic24 - I didn't realize you knew her. Well, she's the reason for my tardiness on the domestic front this week, because I just had to make her birds! lol.

[carolyn]

Skirting boards I probably couldn't find mine under the dust! Only joking, well I hope I'm joking, I haven't exactly checked the skirting boards recently.

[Lesley]

I dream of a tidy organised home :-) I am quite tidy already but behind the scenes (cupboards, drawers etc) its a whole other story and with both children in school now I am going to get organised !!! I thought of you this week as have been on hols and spent one lunch sat just looking at the sea and remembered where you live and how lucky you are!!
Lx

[Jayne]

You look terribly organised to me! My "must" is a calendar where I can write everything down that everybody has to do - I'm the one that has to remember everything so it's a big help. (It's always a Matthew Rice calendar of course!)

[Julie]

Just this morning my husband has been ranting and raving about how every room in our house is full of clutter. He started to go through our bedroom with a vengance getting rid of loads of stuff. Boy was he on a mission, I kept out of the way, too scary for me!!! This is my weakness I let STUFF pile up everywhere and my cleaning usually involves moving STUFF from one pile to another...... Well I am going to follow my man's example and try to de-clutter, wish me luck!!! Oh and good luck with your mission to have a clean, organised and tidy house and mind by Christmas.

Love your folders on the back of the cupboard door, neat idea...........X

[Roseberry Crafts]

I love that folders in the cupboard idea! With four girls to keep track of I'm forever losing track of parties, school trips etc. Thanks for the tip!