sorting all my problems for a new year start can it be done ?

2012ismyyear

hi alisonpennypincher only just seen your post thanks for the support you could be our cheerleeding crew yay!

Spendless

Ok - so on my quest for what can I tidy/organise that the kids won't wreck immediately afterwards, I settled on the freezer. :rotfl:

It could do with de-frosting but it's not going to happen cos there is too much meat in there. Cos there's not too much of anything else in there, I was able to take each drawerout individually and defrost them. I came across quite a few oven chips spilt out loose in the drawers so gathered them up and they're now in a tupperware box in the freezer ...shhhhhh no need for family to know this prior to eating them up.

Then I had a bit of a look round the food cupboards and did a 'semi meal plan' in my head. Then went to Mr T and wondered why when 2 sorts of trifles are reduced from a similar price £2.20/£2.25 why is the raspberry one only reduced to £1.65 when the fruit cocktail one is reduced to £1.19. Answers on a postcard please....

Valli

my guess would be either dates - maybe one's OOD a day earlier than the other or, more likely, stock levels.

Re the freezer defrosting - why not wait until it's freezing out? I bag the freezer contents up and store outside, in the cold, in the shade

on the other hand since it's dry and breezy I have washing on the line!

and, 2012, my mantra is (and my siggy used to be)
'Don't put it down, put it away!'

you can order clothes labels on line - they are truly a blessing, because, almost all the time the stuff comes back to you! I also used to label scout/brownie etc clothes and kit (camps - they lose EVERYTHING) and dance clothes/costumes.

Anyway here's link to a slow cooker thread (blue text is a link)

2012ismyyear

Well here we are after a hectic few hours i have done the following

-clean conservatory DONE BUT NOT MOPPED
-put washing in constantly until it's done GOT THREE LOADS LEFT WASHING AS WE SPEAK
-clean out kitchen cupboards NOT DONE
-tidy shoes and coats at bottom of stairs DONE
-clean handrail on stairs KIDS HAVE DONE
-re tidy kids bedroom DONE BUT PROBS NOT FOR LONG
- tidy and dust our bedroom DONE BUT NOT DUSTED LOL!
-tidy out and clean tv cabinet DONE
-throw out anything that is no good 6 BIN BAGS TO GO TO TIP
-freecycle everything else HAVENT GOT ANYTHING TO FREECYCLE AT MO
-clean bathroom top to bottom DONE BUT NOT THE FLOOR
-mop floors in kitch, bath, porch and conservatory NOT MOPPING TODAY
-sort out mantelpeice so vase can go back DONE
-also i have done a sausage cassarole for tea:o

Well i feel great totally pooped but great! i have also made a tiny change towards my healthy ness and diet i replaced 2cups of tea today with water that i filled up and put in the fridge this morn yay!
Also talked to kids about healthy sandwich fillings they like and we came up with the following (we are all going to be healthier next year) kids are totally opposite to me but i don't want them to get into bad habbits so what does everyone think of the following for healthyness
on wholemeal sliced bread
- egg and cress
-ham and cucumber
-cheese and tomato
-salmon spread and cucumber
-chicken salad
-low fat soft cheese and cucumber
-beef spread and tomato
-tuna and sweetcorn

any other ideas/healthier ideas

Of to read some of the slowcooker thread thanks valli

also go for it spendless

yellowbear

One thing I found useful was to wash certain items each day. So on Monday I wash coloured tops, Tuesday coloured bottoms, Wednesday towels, Thursday darks, Friday uniform, Saturday whites and Sunday bedding.
I have 4 kids 9 and under and they each have a pop-up bin tidy for their washing. This means the main laundry basket doesn't get full to over-flowing.

We haven't quite cracked the tidying up before bed thing yet but I'm working on it!

As said before: baby steps. Doing too much too soon means you're more likely to give up.

Be back later. Have to put away mount washmore!!

Emmala

Valli wrote: »

my guess would be either dates - maybe one's OOD a day earlier than the other or, more likely, stock levels.

Re the freezer defrosting - why not wait until it's freezing out? I bag the freezer contents up and store outside, in the cold, in the shade

on the other hand since it's dry and breezy I have washing on the line!

and, 2012, my mantra is (and my siggy used to be)
'Don't put it down, put it away!'

you can order clothes labels on line - they are truly a blessing, because, almost all the time the stuff comes back to you! I also used to label scout/brownie etc clothes and kit (camps - they lose EVERYTHING) and dance clothes/costumes.

Anyway here's link to a slow cooker thread (blue text is a link)

I was just to post about a mantra I'd picked up one here but couldn't remember exactly who from.......'don't put it down, put it away'..............and here you are!!!! It's a fab motto, works a treat.....and would be even better if I could persuade the others in the house to use it as well.................!!

2012ismyyear

Well everything is coming along very well in the 2012 household and i feel like i can actually do this before saturday at 7pm which is my deadline:j

I am liking all the ideas that now i am thinking about to keep on top of this when it is tidy and organized.

I am really excited and i feel like things are finally changing. I have spent wasted years thinking why are things so bad for us why can't it be simple. I'm not grabbing the bull by the horns this year i'm grabbing it by the ding dong and throwing it behind my rainbow so that i can see it clearer! he he he

I am so glad so many others are wanting to change things too it spurs you on thinking it's not only you doing it.

To being clean and tidy, organized and incharge and hubba hubba whit whoo next year!:beer: (here come the girls! and boys. we want you,we want you we want you for a new recruit!)

mrsd

gailey wrote: »

Watching this thread with interest.

I have same problems

always losing things
nothing stays tidy
have dirty laundry piles
clean laundry mountains
rarly iron.

Problem is we need least one more wardrobe and 2sets draws.

we only have one open plan/lounge diner nightmare to keep tidy as we eat and live in that room.
My girls bring stuff down and dont take back.
I have nappies and baby toys.

I have 3kids age 5 in primary age 2 does nursery once a week and a 8month old.

My girls share a room which seems impossible to keep tidy.
I tried boxes and draws for specific things but they never keep to my systems.
I have full shed, fairly full loft and cupboard of doom under stairs is embarressing!

My bathroom also very small

babys rooms a box room.

kitchens huge problem as not enough cupboards and too many appliances.
we rent so cant replace or redesign better.

I do need a solution but all costs flipping money.which we dont have spare.

feel dont spend as much time on myself as would like as so busy looking after everyone else!

Hubby works long hours if he gets home at teatime its bedlem and he gets stressed.
if hes on late downstairs is tidy and his dinner on table hes calm.
house only thing we row about.

I am a great cook, im good at planning meals and doing the shopping:D

washing and ironing struggle to keep up with

its only thing me and hubby row about

its mostly clutter of toys/clothes

house not so much dirty would like to deepclean kitchen and bathroom least once a week.
I could dust more
regret gkass tv table and detest my patio doors for prints.
I do hoover downstairs daily.

My mams really insulting about my house and makes me feel like crap.
I really do want a lovley uncluttered home just feels out of reach.

You inspired me to make a start tommorow.

so much want to achieve in 2012 and feel like house is holding me back and causing us all stress.

we cant afford to move so need to make most of what we have.

well done and good luck.

My mum used to make snide comments about my house/kids/everything (which actually are not too bad. Its clean although not always tidy, we always have clean clothes and are well fed) until DH pointed out that she was jealous and probably wished she had more in her life than a pristine home. Last summer after another one of her comments I bit back and told her that her critisism was hurtful not useful and if she was so bothered then she could help out, things were a bit tense for a while but now she has become nicer and even helps with weekend meals! Might be worth taking yours aside and pointing out that she makes you feel bad, she might not realise how hurtful she is being and will make an effort to help you rather than be critical.

jetbag

Hi Everyone,:hello:

Mind if I join you?
I too need to get organised and shift a few stone in weight, and hopefully increase my energy levels at the same time.
thanks 2012ismyyear for starting this inspiring thread.

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

heres a few tips...

- get into a routine, I do mopping on mondays, ironing tuesdays etc
- when doing laundry, hang outfits on a coathanger eg kids school unifor
m, pants, socks, vest etc so they can get ready quick in the mornings, do a week at a time

- plan meals in advance, even if its the nigh before, the whole day seems to work for me if I do this as tea time creeps up on you and its the worst time of day!

- keep a basket at the top and bottom of the stairs, put things in it through the day and when you go upstairs take them up and put them away, saves on leg work

-get a plastic bag and see how much stuff you can chuck away in 10 mins! amazing how much cr*p you can collect!

-keep things to hand, I keep bin liners next to the bin (or keep the roll at the bottom of the bin) makes it easy when you put the rubbish out.

-get the kids to help tidy up!

- dont feel pressurised, try to keep on top of things, be the master not the slave.

- take each day at a time

- I always put my feet up in the afternoon, make it a rule, you cant keep going all day! Its something to look forward to and is a break, also recharges your batteries for when the kids come home and you have to start all over again.

- get a slow cooker off freecycle if you can, do the dinner in the morning and leave it to cook, easy and cheap.

-use a diary or a calendar as mentioned earlier, put jobs in that need doing, before you go to bed, read the diary so you know what needs doing tomorrow.

good luck