We have finished the babysteps - cautiously moving into toddler sized steps now.

[Carrotsandcelery]

You are all going to be so disappointed. My hobby is horse riding. Ta da!! I really wasn't trying to be coy. I didn't realise you were all so nosey took such an interest in fellow thread members I am totally mortified that it is not hang gliding or rally racing or anything a bit more adventurous

Morning all!

I am a bit stressy this morning. The dcs are off for teacher training again and they are a bit "fighty" for no known reason. I am also trying to pack as I am going away for three days. This also means getting everything ready for the dcs for the next few days as various people are standing in to "cover" me. This is very complicated. It also means having enough clothes clean and ironed for the trip. As I only have 2 presentable pairs of jeans this is a bit tricky.

I have also been packaging up ebay parcels to post but not everyone has paid. If they don't pay soon I can't post until Saturday. Ds has also managed to get one of the items dirty since I listed it. Goodness only knows how but I have had to rewash it. Grr!

We also have no milk. I don't know who did what with it as we had loads last night. It means I can only have camomile tea though. That is probably what I need as I am so jittery.

deep breaths carrots! I hope you are going away somewhere nice (I only have 2 pairs of jeans too!) and that your DH will be shining the sink for you while you are away?

black & angel - i thought her idea of getting everything sorted by the end of nov is a good challenge. It's not one i think i'm going to manage to do, but i'm going to give it a go!

I've made a good start on the house blessing by tidying downstairs, vacuuming & putting stuff down the loos ready to scrub later.

I've also done the usual S&S, laundry, dishwasher.

I've done a bit of cleaning in the bathroom (this week's zone) - I cleaned the inside of the shower/bath after my shower last night, so this morning I did the outside, and descaled the taps (with my new vinegar spray)

Am feeding DD2 now, whilst decluttering my graze box

This afternoon, I need to prep everyone's tea & dinner (3 different meals ) and continue cleaning the bathroom. No naps for me as it's taken me a while to get to sleep the last couple of days (even after going for a run last night) - am wondering if it's due to my increased meds...

lunchtime now!

bessie thanks for the tea I have calmed down a bit now.

I hope you settle better at night soon. The running could be to blame as it gets all the endorphins etc pumping and it takes a while to "come down" after that (dh is the runner not me!!)

I have got my ebay batch posted, got some milk (Yay!) and had a blether with a few friends around the village on my travels which has made me feel a lot better.

I have also done a lot of laundry washing, hanging and piling up ready to sort and fold.

Envelopes for all activities are done, dd's various clothing kits for her various activities are laid out, my clothes are laid out (just to iron jeans once they are dry) so I am getting on top of it.

Ds and I have had lunch. Dd was not keen when I made ours so I will have that to do and still have the dishwasher to do and worktops too. It is clearly habit now as I am jumpy about it.

I have got the dcs decorating paper gift bags from Tesco for the gifts they give at Christmas which seems to have calmed them down a bit.

bessie what sort of items do you keep in your graze box?

I get a new graze box sent to me every tuesday (use code BL13LWN if you fancy trying it, I get some money off my bill!) - it's my little healthy treat each week, although DH & DD1 often 'help' me eat them!

DD2 has scuppered my plans for this afternoon, by being sick, having a temp & generally feeling sorry for herself She's currently napping in the bouncy chair in the kitchen where I can keep an eye on her, so I'm going to have to prep up everyone's tea very quietly!

Oh dear, poor dd2 I hope she sleeps it off and it passes fast.

The graze box looks fantastic. Would you recommend a nibble box or the healthier option? Dh and I want to improve our snacking habits so this might be a step in the right direction. It might be a nice treat for my ddad too. He eats a massive amount but nearly all incredibly healthy foods. It might even be a nice treat for dd - something that is just hers but which is better for her than the treats she is drawn to.

I think I have the middle one ( in terms of healthiness) it means I don't get the yummy flapjacks, but I do get occasional (dark) chocolate. Strangely, they just emailed me to say they have gift certificates - a clutter free gift! I think I will get some for my friend.

DD2's temp has come down a bit & is currently asleep on me after having a feed. I'm sat in her room, which has easy to clean laminate flooring, just in case!!

Hopefully she has fought it off. Fingers crossed for baby baby bessie.

I was looking at the middle one for dh and me. The totally healthy one looked a bit too worthy and I know I wouldn't stick to it then.

I think they would be a great clutter free gift but only for those who are interested in taking care of themselves ie not my dmil or anyone else from the Glaswegian end of my family.

Graze boxes are seriously tasty - I took up their free trial but couldn't afford to continue it unfortunately.

Carrots, that's a good sign about the worktops. I'm getting to be the same - real progress! :)

Hope DD2 is better soon, bessie.

She's still got a bit of a temp, but not been sick again so I think she's fine. She woke up about an hour ago & my heart sank, but luckily she just needed some help doing the loudest burp I have ever heard a baby do! and then went straight back to sleep

Anyway, it got me out of prepping 3 separate meals this arvo! and we won't go swimming tomorrow so I can crack on with more cleaning - woo hoo!

How's the packing going carrots? And are you aware of munchy seeds?

I'm a bit that they moved my clutter free Xmas gifts thread into the Christmas area, I wanted lots of flying & decluttering people to see it! Oh well. I think everyone will be getting calendars &/or food this year!

have been up & down with DD2 all night. Sod the bathroom, I'm going back to bed at the earliest opportunity! Zzzzzzz

Sounds like a good idea, bessie.

I need a boot up the backside - nearly 10am and we've only just finished breakfast and I'm still in my PJs. I need to get going as

...as DS has a medical appointment later and we're going straight out from there so I need to get food etc ready before we go.

Not much FLYing to be done today I think as we'll be out over naptime and DS will go to bed late.

BOOT!

DD2 & I have just woken up from our nap, I feel a bit more human now!

Need to do meal plan today I really, really must sort out a 4 week one I can just repeat!

Thanks, bessie. I've managed to get showered & dressed, now I just need to clear up breakfast & get food etc ready for going out.

Glad you feel a bit better. I need to menu plan too.

I got showered, but got back into bed in my PJs to menu plan. DD2 has joined me now, but tbh, she's not being much help with this menu!

hope your appointment goes ok this arvo angel

HI all, I think my house has temporarily descended into chaos.
But I got the DC to help a little earlier by playing a game of "Lets tidy up".
Before we started you couldn't walk in the living room/Dining room without stepping around toys.(Thanks to DD). Now the floor is mostly clear but the rest of the house needs sorting!
I might have to start from scratch with everything.
I need to have the kitchen sorted for Friday so I can make birthday cake.

Can anyone give words of encouragement?

black you know you can do it!

What exactly needs to be done? Would crisis cleaning help?

Thanks for that link Bessie I might try and have a go tomorrow.

Hello all, and good morning. I have been a little more motivated this morning, so packed ds1 off to school in a taxi with my friend, and got straight on to cleaning my little grotbags' room, all that's left to do is hoover it, just having a break before my next mission, landing and bathroom, then I'll be back see you all soon.

Morning all,

Well done Gossip you sound like you have been busy.

I have made a start on my "Crisis cleaning". I have done 15 mins in kitchen and 15 mins in dining room. (not quite sticking to the rules) I'm on a break now before I start again in kitchen.

How is everyone else?

Well the bathroom and landing is finally done, I think I took too long on my break, however I did manage to do some more xmas shopping on my break so that's another job done and out of the way. Coffee and cig then my room and hoover throughout and yet another break :).

tired. DD2 was up all through the night again, so we've both had a nap this morning. Need to go find some lunch now & finish the meal planner/shopping list. I really CBA, but DH needs to go tonight we do have lots pf food in the freezer, so think we will be eating alot of that! Not having an oven is a real PITA, but will hopefully be fixed sometime next week.

will be interested to hear how the crisis cleaning goes black, i've never done it, but am sure i will need to at some point over the holidays!

Bessie I couldn't imagine how I would cope without an oven.

The crisis cleaning is quite good although you need to be in the right frame of mind to get on with it.
I am adjusting it to suit me and my not so good health (get tired easy).
I have done 15 more mins in kitchen then hoovered dining room and hallway.
Now on lunch time break.

The dining room looks really nice --apart from the hot spot--
The kitchen is slow progress but if I stick at it I'm fairly sure it will be an improvement on what it was.
I can't do too much in the living room as DD has her toys out in there.

well done on the crisis cleaning black! Have you had your bloods done again yet?

Menu planning was bad enough in the first place, but now I have to include meals for DD2, and with no oven it is a nightmare! The hob still works, but I have to say I would be in real trouble without the slow cooker.

I've just been through the freezers. We have 54 meals in there! including 9 portions of chilli!! It's definately going to be a freezer week!

I will not be back until I have finished the planner & the shopping list