Sunday, January 11, 2009

Start of my new Control Journal

My Before Bed Routine

1. Garbage Run in the LR

2. Wash any last dishes

3. Shine your sink.

4. Lay out your clothes for tomorrow

5. Brush your teeth.

6.

7.

Go to bed at a decent hour! You need your rest.


Morning Routine

1. Get out of bed and hit the ground FLYing!

2. Make the bed.

3. Get dressed to shoes: Shower, fix hair and moisture or make-up

4. While in bathroom; Swish the toilet and wipe down the counters and put things away. Swish and Swipe is what I call it.

5. Empty the dishwasher

6. Check Calendar for appointments

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

What a way to start my day!!


AFTER WORK ROUTINE

1. Get home from work and change clothes and put on lace up shoes.

2. Get dinner started; fill the sink with hot soapy water; clean as I go!

3. Sit down and drink some water for 5 minutes

4. Set the table and put some candles out

5.

Start thinking about tomorrow right now: Your Before Bed Routines can start right now not just before you are ready to crash.


Monday

q Kelly’s Mission

q The Hot Spot Fire Drill

q The 5 Minute Room Rescue

q Work in your Zones

q Master Bedroom

q Clean Windows (inside)

q Vacuum floor

q Remove cobwebs (if necessary)

q Dust furniture

q Dust Tv

q Dust VCR

q Dust DVD

q Check cords on lamps, TV, VCR, DVD, Fan

q Dust fan

q Check batteries in remotes

q Dust lamps

q Check light bulbs

q Change bed linens

q Empty trashcan

q Take laundry down to be washed

q Put clean clothes away

q Dust mirror


Tuesday

q Kelly’s Mission

q Laundry (alternating weeks)

q The 27-Fling Boogie

q The 5 Minute Room Rescue

q Work in your Zones

q DD1’s room

o Clean Windows (inside)

o Vacuum floor

o Remove cobwebs (if necessary)

o Dust furniture

o Dust lamps

o Check light bulbs

o Check cords on monitor

o Check cords on lamps

o Empty trashcan

o Take laundry down to be washed

o Put clean clothes away


Wednesday

q Kelly’s Mission

q Clean out our refrigerator

q Take inventory of the food that is in there that needs to be used up.

q Check Calender for upcoming events!

q Make Menus (two weeks at a time)

q Make Grocery list (for two weeks, stick to budget!)

q The Hot Spot Fire Drill

q The 5 Minute Room Rescue

q Work in your Zones

q DD2’s Room

o Clean Windows (inside)

o Vacuum floor

o Remove cobwebs (if necessary)

o Dust furniture

o Dust lamps

o Check light bulbs

o Check cords on monitor

o Check cords on lamps

o Empty trashcan

o Take laundry down to be washed

o Put clean clothes away


Thursday

q Kelly’s Mission

q Groceries (every second week)

q Weekly Home Blessing Hour (alternating weeks).

o Vacuum or sweep just the middles not around the walls.

o Dust

o Mop the kitchen and the bathroom

o Clean the glass in the doors and bathroom mirrors.

o Purge magazines. This means get rid of them from your house.

o Empty all the trash cans

o Change the sheets on your bed. (each family member is responsible for their bed)

q Errands (alternating weeks)

q The 27-Fling Boogie

q Garbage Night (alternating weeks)

q The 5 Minute Room Rescue

q Work in your Zones

q Bathroom

o Remove all everyday and decorative towels

o Take laundry down to be washed

o Empty Garbage Can

o Disinfect garbage Can

o Clean mirror

o Empty sink/counter

o Scrub Sink/counter

o Use a toothbrush to remove gross stuff around faucet

o Polish faucet

o Clean toothbrush holder

o Clean soapdish

o Place fresh bar of soap (if necessary) in soapdish

o Clean toilet tank cover

o Clean outside of toilet bowl

o Clean around floor bolts

o Clean inside of toilet bowl

o Clean seat

o Dust towel bar, switchplate covers and plug for charger

o Clean walls of shower (scrub away scum)

o Scrub tub

o Scrub tubmat

o Clean showerhead, faucet and handles

o Sweep floor

o Wash floor

o Put new bag in garbage can

o Put empty laundry basket under sink

o Wash walls

o Dust heater

o Dust baseboards

o Clean any bathtoys

o Check levels of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face scrub, and soap. Replace as necessary. Add to grocery list if necessary.


Friday Date Night

q Kelly’s Mission

q Clean out your purse and file those receipts.

q Clean out the car and check those car seats.

q Then plan something special for date night with your sweet darling or a good friend.

q The 5 Minute Room Rescue

q Work in your Zones

q Living Room

o Clean Windows (inside)

o Clean screen door

o Clean cobwebs (if needed)

o Dust tabletops

o Dust lamps

o Check light bulbs

o Check cords

o Clean telephone

o Check batteries in remotes

o Clean TV, DVD, stereo, PS3 and speakers

o Dust TV stand

o Newspapers/flyers to recycling

o Dust tabletop items

o Vacuum floor

o Refill changing supplies


Saturday Family Fun Day

q Kelly’s Mission

q Weekly Home Blessing Hour (alternating weeks)

o Vacuum or sweep just the middles not around the walls.

o Dust

o Mop the kitchen and the bathroom

o Clean the glass in the doors and bathroom mirrors.

o Purge magazines. This means get rid of them from your house.

o Empty all the trash cans

o Change the sheets on your bed. (each family member is responsible for their bed)

q The 5 Minute Room Rescue

q Work in your Zones

q Front Entry

o Clean Windows (inside)

o Make sure all clips are supporting window

o Clean screen door

o Sweep floor

o Wash floor

o Dust bench

o Vacuum floormat

o Dust heater

o Clean cobwebs (if needed)

o Check laundry detergent levels


Sunday Renew your spirit day

q Kelly’s Mission

q Check Calender for upcoming events!

q Laundry (alternating weekends)

q The 5 Minute Room Rescue

q Work in your Zones

q Kitchen

o Clean Windows (inside)

o Dust Blinds

o Clean cobwebs (if needed)

o Move tables and chairs

o Sweep floor

o Wash floor

o Wash table and chairs

o Empty trashcan

o Wash and disinfect trashcan

o Shine trashcan

o Empty countertop

o Wash and disinfect countertop

o Make list of items in cabinets, pantry, fridge, freezer and deepfreeze that are low

o Check garbage and recycling bags


Saturday, November 15, 2008

Yes We Have

This was, I believe, quite well done by the Bristol Group. It's wonderful to know that my home province (though I am no longer there) has become what it can be - a Have province instead of a have not.

I love that this was inspired by the Obama speech put to video. I love that this wasn't a political statement or even as a nod to one of the best (if not the best) premiers Newfoundland and Labrador has had. It's a patriotic acknowledgement of what these strong men and women have done to make life better. They may have lost a lot of their fish which in turn has meant the basis of their economy but they have found other resources, new ways to help themselves.

Yes we have!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Finally got our new carpet :)

We've been waiting to get the new carpet (complete with new underlay) for awhile now. Our (new) neighbours below us have made it their personal game to complain every time we (or the kids) walk across the floor after 9:30PM.

I got so sick of their complaining that I finally wrote the rental office giving them 3 options

  1. Give us new carpet with a thick under pad
  2. Reduce our rent by 25% and we would stop using 1/2 of our apartment, 1/2 of the time.
  3. Move the neighbours (hey - we've been here for four years and the only noise complaints have been from them!)

Obviously, they chose option 1. But...my letter apparently circulated around the office because I became known as the 25% rent reduction gal...they thought it was ballsy! LOL. I thought it lightened the tone of the letter.

Anyhow, they replaced the horrid blue with this nice dark taupe colour (or as Blue Eyes describes it - a salmony brown!).

I think it suits our furniture much better.

I've finally thrown out the green chair that scratches the walls. No need of having that around anymore. The room feels so much bigger now too!

I think we've agreed that the tree will go on the wall between the computer and the TV. For now, the girls have their paper tree on the back of the door to colour and add ornaments to...pictures will likely follow as they get further with it.

That's been the day. Any thoughts?

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

US Election results

Wow! The election was the most exciting I've watched in a long time. I'm Canadian and a political junkie and I get so excited that I can watch TWO countries elections. I watched from 8PM (AST) to 3:30 AM (AST).

I'm also an Obama nut, like many Canadians. I visited my facebook account today and I see many of my friends have also commented on how excited they are that Obama won.

See, we see him as being better for Canada than McCain.

I also think that the US needs change in a big way. I think the way average Americans drove his campaign was telling of their feeling the need for change, to be involved. This is an historic moment. Not because Obama is black, but because he really seems to listen to and work with the people.

I heard a comment last night that this generation of youth is working WITHIN the system to create change instead of against the system as in the 60's. I'm excited to see how things are changing and look forward to more.

Wasn't it nice to also know the election results last night instead of having to wait for a month? Regardless of who you supported, it was nice to just know.

I will say that McCain's concession speech was amazing. It impressed me that he was such a gentleman in accepting his defeat. Talking about working with Obama to create the change. That is was a time to be united, not divided. It was his best speech to date. He was animated and fresh. Pre-2000 McCain perhaps.

Congratulations America! I believe you made the right choice. Look forward to your troops coming home

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Meal Planning

I've been thinking about meal planning lately.

I have a beautiful 8 week menu plan that I never use. It was OK when I was at home on maternity leave, but now that I am back to work, it doesn't work for me.

My days off shift each week. My nights vary each week too. I basically have a 2 week rotating schedule to work with.

I need meals that are easy for Blue Eyes to make - or some really good crock pot recipes that don't include "cream of something soup".

These meals need to be inexpensive. They need to be easy (I'm beat at the end of my work day). They need to be healthy. They need to be good. Oh, and Sweet Pea and Sugar Angel need to eat them too.

Any ideas?? I'm open to any suggestions. I will try to post a meal plan soon.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Control Journals

I've been reading a few posts on blogs tonight about various binders with different names that serve the same purpose - to help us organize our lives.

Some call it a control journal, others a home organizer (that's what I call mine most of the time) and for others it is "sanity in a binder" - which is what I call mine the rest of the time!

I have a 2" binder that opens flat. It contains most of the physical things that are important to me in life - after the girls and Blue Eyes of course!

Here's what's inside:

  1. The Family Manager Creed with a picture of my family
  2. Taking Care of me - a page to keep track of when I get a hair cut or go to the doctor. I also have some self affirmations so I keep my guilt levels down.
  3. A section called "Put the Fire Out!" This is where I keep the emergency information like
    1. Important #'s - the rental office, medical #'s, insurance info, etc.
    2. Passwords for e-Billing
    3. Utilities Phone List
    4. What # to call for emergencies - 911 or another #
    5. Health Insurance info - the 411 for contacting the insurance companies and how to coordinate benefits, and benefit summaries.
  4. My 8 week meal plan - not that i really use it but it gives me a lot of ideas of meals that we actually like and can make easily.
  5. Addresses and Phone #'s. This has email addy's too. I use Outlook to keep track of this stuff, but I print off a directory every so often to keep it all updated. I'd hate to lose that if we had a fire.
  6. Routines - My morning and evening routines as well as a Rebus version for the girls. When Sweet Pea was attending play group and soccer I had calenders with all of her activities.
  7. Monthly dividers - I found some monthly checklists online awhile ago that were interesting. I have made some of my own that help with holiday preparations too. Anytime the local FLYlady group that I belong to made a list of maintenance ideas for a given season, I printed that off too. I also file important info there too - like notices of Rent Increases.
  8. Household Toolboxes - Again, things my local FLYlady group compiled over the years - everything from how long to keep various cosmetics to what to keep around for Cold and Flu season. This includes a specific grocery list of brand name items that we like in case I have to ask Mom to bring groceries by because we are all to sick to pick them up. This has happened more than once and it has been very useful.
  9. Notes on home repairs, Reno ideas and dreams. Mostly used to document repairs I've requested through the rental office and not used often. Should use more frequently.
  10. Things to do - daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonally. Detailed by room.
  11. Financial Records - divided by months - I try to file my bills that I get on paper. Anything I get electronically, I try to save a PDF version on my hard drive. I also have my insurance papers filed there so renewals can be easily filed.
  12. I also keep current income tax info here.
I figure if we ever have to evacuate, I can grab my binder and keys, wallet and cell phone, kids and a few pieces of clothing. We can get out fast. When the girls were smaller and I was at home, I had a bag packed at the door all the time with clothes and diapers for going out that would have done in case of emergency. It was fabulous. No worries.

Do you keep a control journal? What do you keep in yours?

Thursday, June 12, 2008

NKOTB - Together Again. Why oh Why?????

I can't believe that this is what became of my favourite band as a child. Yes, I was one of those NKOTB fans. I had the posters everywhere. Had all of the tapes. New all of their stats (much like boys with Hockey cards).

I have to say that I think the Boston 5 were better left in my memories as those hotties that I dreamt of nightly. The 18 year old that I drooled over at age 12 just isn't the same now that he is at least 36.

The songs are the same though. Bubble gum pop songs. Things you can't help but sing along to and yet hate every moment of it.

Some groups should leave well enough alone when they break up. I think this might be one of them. "I'll be loving you forever" was a lot better in my memory than this new song "Summertime" is in reality.

Perversely I do wonder how that song would sound now sung by men instead of boys...an internet friend in the US is going to see the show nearest to her. I'm looking forward to hearing her reviews - even if it is just to think "yeah, ok, I wouldn't want to see this show now anyways".