SAHM's getting organised in 2009!

greent

mOZzy wrote: »

yep bin collection every 2 weeks (which is rubbish ( ) in my eyes!)
we recycle as much as possible and that just gets us through - but others (i don't mention any names [greent ] recycle even more!!) - we fill the bottle/can bin every 2 weeks, recycle all paper/cardboard - that just leaves us enough space in the waste bin :rolleyes: - it happened before that i get up in the mornings/late evenings and and sneak a bag in somone elses bin (but generally they are all full!!)

I only recycle that amount cos it's all relatively easy - kerbside collections/ recycling through school (batteries/ milk bottle tops/ stamps) or at the supermarket (plastic bottles and card) I don't do tetrapaks or foil - cos there's nowhere near us to recycle them and I am not giving up precious space in my garage to store them until some vague point when we *might* go near a recycling point! Old towels/ unwanted toiletries and tin cans are all done through Guides/ Cubs with my children (for homeless shelter/ fundraising).

Our bin is collected weekly - although I'd happily move to fortnightly (unlike my neighbours - family of 3 who regularly have an over-filled (ie top slightly open) wheelie bin?!!) Recycling is weekly, and garden waste fortnightly (although stops for about a month in winter, I think)

greent
x

morganb

mOZzy wrote: »

morgan wow! i am impressed!! - maybe you could make it a movie night? with popcorn and a funny movie?
and you didn't do all this for your kids, you did it for yourself!! and i am sure YOU feel much better for it :grouphug:

Yes, but I didn;t do it because I didn't want to be with my kids, i did it because it needed to be done and, once done, should have freed up more time but I just feel like I'm a hamster going round in a wheel, there is SO much to do

Girl_least_likely_to

Evening All :wave:

I've not been on for a couple of days. I'm managing to do my dailies fine and have sorted out 2 of my weekly tasks although have decided to put me feet up for the rest of the week rather than paint doors . I went shopping today and got lots of little things done like.......getting all my birthday cards for the rest of the year and into my file....taking my white gold wedding and engagement rings to be replated.... new batteries in 2 watches and a good old rummage around the 75% off sale in Boots :j . Tomorrow I'm having to take the car in for a service and get back to pick DD up from nursery by 11.30. Think we'll get some baking done as BIL has put his order in for DD to make him cookies and butterfly cakes for the weekend :rolleyes: .

Mozzy - Thanks for telling me to stop nesting . I have still got quiet a bit to do but I feel I need to get it done whilst I can before I get too huge. I've taken the rest of the week off though and am putting my feet up and eating the last of the xmas chocs

mummy2mygirls - DD is moving into the spare bedroom which she calls her big room, although it's only 6 foot square! We're gonna keep DD's old bedroom as it is for the new baby. It probably needs freshening up a bit but it can wait a couple of years. The spare bedroom needs plastering and is a bit more of a job so I'd rather get that done than redecorate something which we can live with. I have 15 weeks to go and would really like DD in her new room at least 4 weeks b4 baby is due so she can settle in .

Triggles - Sending you big hugs, hope your morning sickness goes soon.

Keep up the good work everyone , I'm off to put my feet up for a few days, or for as much as I can

Teapartymum

Hi all, Not much been happening here apart from doing a couple of loads of washing and keep ontop of the ironing.

May well be a mass clean up again on Friday as I liked that, WHY???

Lalaladybird

Today's task (I know it is late so you can do it tomorrow if you like ) is to check the dates on your herbs and spices and throw away any that are out of date. I'm pretty good at keeping up with this one since I once found a jar of coriander my mum had that was 6 years out of date :eek:

I have separated my dried herbs into one container and my spices in another and labeled them and they are much easier to get out now I have done this instead of grabbing around blindly at jars rolling around on the top shelf

Hello all...I have a bit of catching up to do on here as I was out yesterday at my friends house which was lovely but I got really behind in my chores. I used to just think "never mind...I'll do it tomorrow" but instead, with my get organised resolution in my mind, I just got it done (fell into bed completely exhausted but there is nothing wrong with that!) I have given the house a really good clean today and I discovered a horrible mould problem in OH and my bedroom :eek: on the wall behind a picture and on another wall behind the pile of uni work I have been meaning to bin for more than a year:o. It was quite funny because I stomped round the house wailing " I hate this place, I want to move, its so cluttered and now we have mould..." OH ( who was off today) just went and got a bucket of bleachy water and scrubbed it all off :rolleyes: without a backward glance at me :rotfl:The house looks quite nice now so I like it again (ish).

Lalaladybird

morganb wrote: »

I'm beginning to feel really stressed!

I'm really struggling with going back to work after christmas. It;s all very well getting dinner ready and keeping on top of the house (have done loads of cleaning / clearing out / freecycling / ebaying, etc.) but how can I then fit in quality time with my children?? At the moment I'm exhausted!!!!!

Sorry to read that you are feeling so stressed out :grouphug::coffee: You seem to be getting so much done but don't have any time for yourself or fun with your kids. Can you get the family or your OH to help out around the house a bit more? Can you prepare meals that are really easy to make but still cheap and healthy? (I am getting really good at this as I hate cooking...let me know if you want any recipes ) Can you work fewer hours? Maybe if you post where the daily difficulties lie then we could all make a few suggestions, if that would help. There have been loads of times in my life when someone else offers me a simple solution that I just couldn't work out for myself because I have had so much else to think about. If I lived nearby I'd gladly come over and offer you a hand, as it is though, you have my support ((hugs)) Lala xx

Ishtar

Had a good day today - motivation has returned (hope it's not nesting as I'm only at 31 weeks and not quite ready to have the baby just yet!).

The glory hole has been defeated....I didn't realise there were that many carrier bags in the world They've obviously been breeding in the dark. I had been complaining as our local Tesco no longer gives out bags, which we used to use as kitchen bin liners...I think I've got a year's supply now.

I also tackled the fitted wardrobe dumping ground. Much of it is now in a bin bag ready to take to the charity shop and we've created enough space to put a chest of drawers in there. Sounds mad, but the cupboards take up a sizeable chunk of our bedroom and hiding the drawers behind there just makes it look tidier. Plus, we need to make room for a cot within the next few weeks, so putting the drawers in there makes sense.

In addition, I've been going great guns elsewhere - all my dailies done (well, except from swish and swipe the bathroom - still can't seem to do that one) - along with mending some doll's house furniture for DD and taking up some jeans for her.

I'm ahead of myself for tomorrow as I'll be at my sister's in the afternoon - I'm doing a roasted pepper quiche for dinner, so already have the peppers and pastry ready. Will finish that tomorrow when DD is at playgroup, and make salad/prep potatoes.

One interesting thing that has come out of all this is that I've been able to address DDs diet. We'd got to the stage where I'd just grab anything for her snacks and consequently her behaviour was all over the place due to sugar surges and dips. For two days now I've been able to think straight and have managed to wean her off much of the refined sugar she's been eating. I can't believe I let it get so bad...over the past six months it has been gradually descending into chaos and we'd been at the end of our tether with an aggressive little girl.

She's now asking for fruit rather than sweets/chocolate/biscuits, etc, which I am happy to give her. She does still get the odd treat, but only at mealtimes, when she's eaten her dinner and to be honest she's just as happy with a yogurt.

Take care all
D

morganb

Lalaladybird wrote: »

Sorry to read that you are feeling so stressed out :grouphug::coffee: You seem to be getting so much done but don't have any time for yourself or fun with your kids. Can you get the family or your OH to help out around the house a bit more? Can you prepare meals that are really easy to make but still cheap and healthy? (I am getting really good at this as I hate cooking...let me know if you want any recipes ) Can you work fewer hours? Maybe if you post where the daily difficulties lie then we could all make a few suggestions, if that would help. There have been loads of times in my life when someone else offers me a simple solution that I just couldn't work out for myself because I have had so much else to think about. If I lived nearby I'd gladly come over and offer you a hand, as it is though, you have my support ((hugs)) Lala xx

Thanks Lala
I can't really cut my hours as i'm a teacher and hubby's job isn't 100% safe, plus we need to fork out for a new bathroom so every penny counts.
If I'm not at work, then I'm at home with DS2 so I never have the benefit of being able to do jobs, etc., without a little helper, and I feel SO guilty when he's at home and I'm doing stuff around the house, it can't be fun for him. For example today, I had promised to take him to gym but then I only had an hour and a half after work before picking up DS1 from school and i picked DS2 up from Grandparents, had lunch with them which I thought was nice, and then had to nip into plumbing shop on the way home ... and that took all our afternoon. So he and I missed out again. Hubby doesn't drive, so I have to do all the errands.

I am on top of cooking; DS1 enjoys helping out in the kitchen, so that isn't a problem at all, but I haven't even started marking my books for tomorrow and it's already 2234!!! I'm supposed to be going out for lunch with my mates tomorrow but I'm getting really stressed about that, as I could be at home with DS2 ... but then I'd get stressed about the state of the house ... at least if DS2 and I go out for lunch, then we're out and about together and not worrying about tidying, etc.

Heaven help me if an unexpected visitor turns up!!!

Seriously though, I don't think I can manage. I'm getting up at 5 a.m. and going to bed at 11pm just to keep my head above water ... and I haven't done the jobs for today yet. Goodness knows when I'm going to do tomorrows.

Lalaladybird

morganb wrote: »

Thanks Lala
I can't really cut my hours as i'm a teacher and hubby's job isn't 100% safe, plus we need to fork out for a new bathroom so every penny counts.
If I'm not at work, then I'm at home with DS2 so I never have the benefit of being able to do jobs, etc., without a little helper, and I feel SO guilty when he's at home and I'm doing stuff around the house, it can't be fun for him. For example today, I had promised to take him to gym but then I only had an hour and a half after work before picking up DS1 from school and i picked DS2 up from Grandparents, had lunch with them which I thought was nice, and then had to nip into plumbing shop on the way home ... and that took all our afternoon. So he and I missed out again. Hubby doesn't drive, so I have to do all the errands.

I am on top of cooking; DS1 enjoys helping out in the kitchen, so that isn't a problem at all, but I haven't even started marking my books for tomorrow and it's already 2234!!! I'm supposed to be going out for lunch with my mates tomorrow but I'm getting really stressed about that, as I could be at home with DS2 ... but then I'd get stressed about the state of the house ... at least if DS2 and I go out for lunch, then we're out and about together and not worrying about tidying, etc.

Heaven help me if an unexpected visitor turns up!!!

Seriously though, I don't think I can manage. I'm getting up at 5 a.m. and going to bed at 11pm just to keep my head above water ... and I haven't done the jobs for today yet. Goodness knows when I'm going to do tomorrows.

You are a great mum.... bad mum's wouldn't even worry about devoting fun time to their LOs and you are feeling way too much guilt. As a teacher I imagine you get all the holidays that your children do? I think that if you are spending quality time with your children during the holidays...walks at the beach and picnics in the summer, making decorations and visiting santa at Christmas etc then you are creating memories. During term time if you manage to read them a bedtime story/watch a movie/just sit and talk round the dinner table then you are doing plenty IMHO. My mum worked full time and was a great mum too, I remember that at a weekend we might go to feed the ducks but we also had to go to the supermarket and I helped her fold laundry, she walked me to school so we chatted on the way. I don't remember her sitting down and playing with me much but I remember her giving me dressing up clothes and off I went to play. You are worrying too much about trying to make each day special/perfect. That is impossible. I believe that if each year has a handful of great memories and the rest is just day to day normal life then that is fine. Your sons will enjoy just walking with you on the way to school, seeing their grandparents and visiting a plumbing shop! If everyday is so exciting for them, grown up life will seem like a real drag

I hope you enjoyed your lunch out with your mates, it helps us to remember that we are still people not just there to facilitate our families. I really hope what I have said doesn't sound sanctimonious (sp?), I'm not in your shoes and I get mega stressed about meeting up with friends and leaving a messy house too and feel the motherly guilt about washing up instead of playing with my dd, so I do sympathise.

Lalaladybird

Today's task is to wipe over the telephone with a damp cloth and antibacterial spray (or similar)