Making a New start, Stepping into the New year

[BlackCatinChristmasChaos]

Hi all, After a pretty rough ride last year (2012) I think I feel ready to start again with babysteps
So who's with me for the journey?

Old and new steppers are welcome!

Lets do this one small step at a time!

I, too, have several amazon lists - one for things i want, one for things ds wants and one for utility items/gifts for others.

TheOneWithTheHair it sounds like you've done loads. Don't forget, entertaining and emotional events take up LOADS of time and can be draining. Stop beating yourself up.

Thus far today:
Showered and dressed to socks upon waking.
Bed made.
DS bed stripped and in washer.
Drying swapped (no drier just radiators and airers)
Tutoring session (3 hours).
Made an early start on swishing and swiping
And my sink is still shiny

DD2 was up 230-330 last night.

Thanks HellesBelles. I'm ok usually. The sun is shining today so I feel much more energetic. Dd is at her party and ds2 has new shoes. I also have done dinner and my 15 minutes.

Just have to Hoover and shine my sink. It feels good to tick things off. It's a good reminder of what you've achieved especially on days when you feel like you've done nothing. :)

I did completely different things than on my to do list. I have ironed school uniforms and done repairs but they weren't on the list so I'm going to add them on so I can tick them off!

evening all
have had a productive day
after being up all night with a poorly boy
done dishwasher - kitchen gleaming
washing load done
10 minutes in dining room allocating toys back to bedrooms
another carrier bag of paper work has been sorted and filed
bathrooms will be ss'd when the boys are out of the bath.

been out for lunch which blew my daily calorie limit but it is the last weekend of the holidays so I decided to relax.

ooh and most excitingly (for me) I remembered that ds2 has a superhero day at school on Thursday and bought him a cheapo spiderman outfit when we were in town (would normally be flying round the house on Wednesday evenig trying to fashion somthing remotely superhero like!!)

babystep6

Hi all, sorry I've not posted much today, been a bit busy with other stuff.

Sounds like everyone is doing well and making progress. TheOnlyPink I think that's the point, to make changes slowly but stick to them. I need to remember that - I am great for initial bursts of enthusiasm but tend to fizzle out. I really want to stick with it this time. Am pleased that I've kept my sink shiny, got up and dressed first (if not particularly early, but hey it's the holidays!) and swish and swiped the bathroom every day. I definitely feel more in control even if the house doesn't look radically different.

bessie I was dithering about the school application because I wanted to include one that's in the next county and I wasn't sure how to do that - actually it was really easy. Anyway, I feel a bit of a weight off me now that's done.

scout another one who's of your spreadsheet keeping skills. I am quite organised about Christmas but birthdays sneak up on me. It's my step-mum's next Saturday and I have no idea what to get.

blackcat I hope your DD sleeps better tonight. My DS is 3.9 and has suddenly decided he's afraid of the dark. He was a dreadful sleeper up until about 2 but has been really good since then, so I hope this is a phase that passes quickly.

I'm trying to re-instate my weekly housework routine. Today's task was to change sheets and towels and tomorrow's is to dust and hoover bedrooms. The dusting alone is a major task in our room!

Cats I hope DD is allowing you to sleep now.

I'm also a list maker, but not as well organised as Scout because I find long lists frustrating. I make short lists daily on paper and recycle once they're crossed off. I keep things like birthdays etc on my phone.

Another day out, so hardly any flying done-again.

S&S'd my bathroom
Pulled back my bed to air
Breakfast
DDs emptied DW, I reloaded
Then we went out, came back to find Houdini up to her old tricks (for anyone who deosn't know about my saga I have a canine escapologist)
We've eaten, picnic style dinner, I just need to open a vino

Artie I hope you feel better. I know exactly what you mean about competitive whining, MIL does it. The best worst was when FIL had a knee replaced. She was enraged that the Dr said her hips where still good for another 20 years and so she couldn't have them replaced. I struggled to keep a straight face while she was whinging. I really like your idea

WM is all set for the morning and DW will go on before I go to bed. We're at home all day tomorrow so flying will be done.

For the first time this year, I did not smile when I went into the kitchen. I came in late last night (midnight is late for me) and did not wash the couple of dishes I created nor shone my sink before bed.
I did it this morning (took less than 5 minutes) but thought it was interesting how much it disappointed me despite the kitchen being in a better condition than at almost any time over the last 12 months!

Hello everyone!I haven't posted in a few days but I have been keeping up with the thread to find out what the baby steps are and what you're all up to. Lots of action I see! scout I also marvel at your spreadsheet organisation!

Yesterday DH and I tackled the mammoth task of moving both DCs into one bedroom. DD is 2 and has started to climb out of her cot. She was in the larger bedroom that used to be DH's study, so had computers etc in one corner. DS is 5 and in the box room. We've moved DS into DD's room and turned the box room into the study. It took hours and my back was really aching yesterday. Both rooms look great. Our bedroom on the other hand doesn't. It was the transitional area, the contents of DS's room went into ours while we cleaned his empty room & moved the study in, then we moved his stuff into the newly cleaned DC's room. We still have some of his stuff piled around the room.

Today I will do:
A thorough cull of DC's books - so many no longer read
Iron school uniforms for the week
Another wash load
Dry above wash load
Look up how to joint a whole chicken
Joint a chicken
Make dinner
Clear a hotspot on a table downstairs

I've also kept up with my photo a day blog. Need to get out with the camera today too.

Best get started!!

morning all
following the guidance of fl I am going to bless my spirit today.
I have a strong Christian faith but DH is agnostic, he has agreed that he will come to church with me and the children for each of the family services at church.
I am reallly looking forward to it.

Morning everyone. Just writing down my list for today.

get up and dressed
make bed
Load DW
Put a wash on
washing up
Hoovering that I didn't do yesterday
Sort out uniform for tomorrow
Sweep and mop kitchen floor
Lunch
Dinner

Will check back later. :)

Hi ladies!

Feeling a bit lazy today, but have my load of washing on and my dishes clean after breakfast. Not washed or dressed myself yet tho! Last day of the holidays, tbh i'm looking forward to getting back into the usual routine tomorrow.

I like todays babystep, feels like i'm on the way to actually doing something to tackle the house! My 2 biggest hot spots are the side of the couch just inside the living room door and the kitchen table.

Todays list:
~Fill out form for eye tests
~ Load of washing from machine to drier
~ Dont leave dry clothes in the drier
~ Clear off the couch hotspot
~ Get uniform ironed and ready for tomorrow
~ Do weekly meal plan

Today's list:
up and dressed to socks
make bed
readings at church
go shopping for food for next weekend's scout camp
pre-cook and freeze it
shine and spray protector on school shoes
prepare tomorrow's slow cooker contents

Hi all,
List update, Today I have:

made bed
got dressed
breakfast
sorted some washing
loaded washing machine
done 15 minutes paperwork hotspot
had lunch

Still need to get everything ready for back to school tomorrow. Off to buy some new school shoes for DS this afternoon.

I might not pop in again till this evening as there is lots to get done.

Hope everyone is alright. x

update to my list:

have now done the scout shopping and cooked a mince dish and butternut squash soup for 15 ahead of scout camp next weekend.

we have had family time today with fun at the pool, a Natural Trust property and lunch out

but I have done the
dw
wm
got out all the uniforms for tomorrow
got out the bookbags
made up the pe bags
take down ds1's school trousers
tidied around (working tomorrow so not much time)
and.............
done the menu plan for the next 4 weeks, it starts tomorrow!!!! but I haven't shopped for it yet

Today I have:

washed, dried, folded and packed a load of laundry
packed all of the clothes for me, SB and MrScout
packed up all of the Christmas presents (SB's, mine and MrScout's)
wrote two thank you cards
got SB & I going (up, dressed, etc)
kept SB fed & watered
helped MiL with shopping

MrScout is going to pack up all of the Brio/trains. I need to get the empty suitcase out of the boot of the car so we can load as much as we can tonight to leave early-ish tomorrow.

final update to today's list (though I missed the 2 min hotspot - unless sorting out my work bag counts?)
I have not sprayed protector on our shoes but ds school texted today to say that tomorrow is a teachers training day so they can be done tomorrow
I have cooked 39 portions of food today and left the kitchen clean, tidy and shiny
hope everyone has a victory to take away with them!

Scout Safe trip home!

Helles well done you!!! thats fab!

Had a pretty good day, got all my list done! Even got my meal plan sorted for lunches and dinners.

fantastic pink is your list longer than the babystep list? mine seems to be growing uncontrollably though I have started dividing it into must, should and could!

Well done everyone! Sounds like you're all doing great.

I am just having a bit of chill out time now before bed. Have done everything I needed to get done to be ready for tomorrow, just need to get DS school jumper dry by the morning.
Can't believe DS has size 6 feet and he is only nine years old .
He is going to be tall and have bigger feet than me and DH!

NKU I'm glad you are doing something for you, it's very important.

I feel like I haven't done anything today but we've all eaten, both breakfast and lunch, nearly time for dinner now. All the laundry is clean and either back inside or still drying on the line. two storage boxes have been sorted, rubbish binned and recycling put away. Excess crimbo decos have been weeded out for recycling, tree is still in situ though. I've showered- this morning- and the rest of the family are playing in the pool. We had the bolognaise that I didn't freeze t'other day for lunch but I don't know what to do about dinner coz me plan has gone kaput I have lot's of veg to use, it may turn into a stir-fry.

Tomorrow I plan to do bathrooms thoroughly and vacuum at the very least. Tuesday DDs start volley ball and I'll spend that time in the gym. I'm finding with the dogs I get a pleasant walk but not fast enough, but I'm not fit enough to run with them.

Well done everyone for today's achievements, I'm off to chop veg.

See you tommorow.

babystep7

See you all tomorrow as I must try and go to bed now. --have to break my late nights habit--

Cats I also have a late night habit I need to break. I find I need a little time for myself after everyone is in bed, then I get stuck on MN, it's beginning to impact on my health now so I really need to make a conscious effort. Tonight I'm going to bed at 11.30 because DDs were up until 10.30. School hols and OH keeps suggesting watching a film.

DW is on, I just need to remove tea mugs and biccies from the lounge and brush my teeth before I hit the pit.

Thanks for the baby steps