SUMMER HOLIDAYS HOUSE BLITZ!

[fuzzpig]

Excuse me for shouting in the title :o

My house is utterly, completely hideous. As in, can't see the floor in the bedroom, no clear surfaces, can't find anything, falling over stuff hideous.

I've never been house proud but it's spiralled further and further as my mental health got worse, and then in 2011 my physical health followed :(

Apart from when I have flare ups of my condition(s) I have just about got used to keeping on top of the two biggest things, washing up and laundry. I am doing those now since DH started FT work a few months ago (he was unemployed due to being injured for a long time and is really struggling to adjust now). He does this on weekends and does the tidying up stuff but TBH it's like trying to bail out the Titanic with an egg cup. POINTLESS.

I seriously, really and truly can't handle this anymore. The mess is making me more ill and I'm totally disgusted that my DCs have to live with it. I just want to cry. Or burn it all (but then I panic at the thought of throwing stuff away).

Anyway. DCs are on summer holidays as of next Friday. I will hopefully be recovered from current virus as I REALLY need to tackle this. But I need to be careful as doing too much will make me more ill. I keep making the mistake of doing too much and then by the time I've gone to work as well, I've messed up the entire week because I've pushed my physical limit too far. I only work 12 hours but it's a very fine, precarious line.

I need some buddies for mutual support and motivation. HELP.

OK, so feeling completely shattered but nearly feel like progress has been made.

off to the charity shop
deliver books to someone who has bought them
organise dd's room
washing
drying
put washing away
hoover all the sand out of my house
buy smaller cat litter tray to reduce costs!!

DD's room was like a pit and now looks really cute so I am pleased with it. Makes me realise what my house could look like if I didn't work full-time normally!

Epic fail on the charity shop front - hoping I can persuade DH to do it first time. Packed up stuff to give to bro-in-law - 5 boxes full! Not sure he will want it if he's given a choice!!

I need to do stuff today

Mid separation and cleaning helps me sort my head out

Hope you had a good day mumof3.

We spent most of the day at the beach :) But when we came back, we had a quick blast and DH took 7 bags to the charity shop (who nearly refused it!!) and DS and I ran round with the hoover and put washing away.

Result = house is nearly clear again and has a roof less of stuff in it!:) :)

Need to put some pictures up, but need to buy frames
Still trying to pick seating for the conservatory
Need to get DD a bigger bookcase
Need to clean wooden floors
Need to organise the garden bed at the front - de-weedify it with a long-lasting solution that is minimal maintenance....
Want to get a big rug for the lounge to make it more cosy.

Think this may take a few days to be achieved!

Day was ok

Fair bit achieved

Bathroom all scrubbed
One kitchen cupboard de cluttered
Underwear draws cleared out as I had about 10 bras that no longer fit
General cleaning kept on top of
All washing done
All beds stripped and remade

I agree with 3 dc there is a constant stream of stuff that isn't needed anymore! Always someone growing out of clothes, toys etc plus all the things that break! And never ending piles of artwork

I have two ds and one dd

However ds rips or stains everything he owns within a week so no hand me downs here

Ds1 that is

I did a cash for clothes things a while back. Think I got £30 for 9 bin bags

Today I have to go get some shopping in as I failed to checkout online in time last night

I have 2 ds's and 1 dd.

We're decluttering lots of old clothes / toys that are just taking up space! Also want to make everything much easier to clean / tidy this summer so that life is easier when we go back to work after the holidays - fed up of working till late and then having to start tidying at ten pm!

Feeling fairly pleased today as the whole house looked nice when I came downstairs. Just put a load of bedding on to wash - love the anticipation of getting into new sheets tonight! Trying to decide whether it's going to be OK today weather-wise - rain seems to have passed and there are glimpses of blue sky. Might go out and have some fun as a reward for all the organising that we have done.

Chucking it down here!

And my house did not look lovely and tidy first thing either! I was lazy and didn't wash up before bed

Scrubbing floors sounds painful. Just using the Hoover hurts my back!

Didn't do much yesterday as was at work

Sorted some cupboards on Sunday though

AAAAARGH

Just not happening here. What I didn't anticipate is how much the DCs are fighting this summer. My smuggery ends here! They used to get on so well, holidays have never been a problem before, but this is just horrendous. I think it's because DD (7) has been generally more stroppy and is reacting more.

They were fighting within five minutes of getting up today (long before 7am ) it's been so bad I nearly considered phoning in sick as I don't know how my dad (who I virtually never ask to watch them but had no other choice today) will manage them :(

Anyway it's meant I've don't fuck all basically. Sigh.

Incidentally I only have two DCs (7/nearly 5) but actually really want a third... in fact it's one of the main incentives for sorting this house out as we can't bring a baby into this mess! Though on days like this I wonder why I want #3 at all :(

Completely know where you are coming from Fuzzpig. We had a hideous summer a couple of years ago with DS2 being horrendous. Interestingly he has been a lot better since. We now do tons of exercise every day and I make sure there are a couple of stand by activities every day in case of boredom issues. This has resolved most of the issues.

I haven't done a lot until today. I tackled re-organising DD's shoebox bedroom and have actually made it look like a room rather than a place where only a bed fits! Just need DH to come home to check he is OK with it (fingers crossed)

Have got rid of pile of rubbish that's been waiting in the hall and organised the cardboard recycling.

Hoovered everywhere and given the shoe rack away to a lovely friend.

Becoming really frustrated by the huge pile of stuff cluttering up my conservatory that we are GIVING away for FREE and that the people having it can't decide when suits them to come and get it! AARGH!!!!

Still hunting for the perfect rug and the perfect sitting solution for my conservatory....

Sigh.... I may be done just in time to return to work!

I have begun the great declutter today. I'm a couple of hours in and feel like locking the door and running away.

Plus, I am watching all of the money I've spent on tat heap up around me and am itching to keep it all and go on ebay, but I know I would feel so much better just getting shot of it.

DH and I have 4 days without the children and I am determined we will get this place in order.

Good luck with it. There have been quite a few moments in the past few weeks where I wondered what an earth I had done - but the house looks so much better now and I feel better knowing that lots of junk has gone!

I still have lots of boxes waiting to be delivered, which is driving me slightly insane!

We're on day 3 now and it is killing me . Is looking better though. Still a long way to go.

Know the feeling :) We have moved onto the garden. Boxes are still here :(

I have been weeding for hours - front bed still looks rubbish, but a lot less rubbish than this morning. I can't wait to be able to put membrane and bark all over it!

Cleaned the bathroom properly - all the tiles etc etc - it looks great now.

Debating painting the downstairs cloakroom. I got a couple of seaside-y ornaments so thinking about potential stripes so it looks like a beach hut... This may be one of those ideas that seems like a great idea until I get to the masking tape and paint options!

with the masking tape. It does sound nice though.

I am decor-challenged and never pick the right colour, so am now painting everything various shades of magnolia and white and using accessories to give colour instead.

DH is in the kitchen cursing me as he paints the kitchen for the third time after we have accepted I cannot be trusted to make paint colour-related decisions .

My job is the great declutter. Pffttt.

Lol! I really wish I had chosen endurance paint for the hall - it now needs regular re-touching and in my wisdom I went for light and space paint!!

Garden is now looking millions of times better! DH and DSs finished the weeding, whilst I cooked roast dinner as bribery! Now need much, much more mulch.... I think I massively underestimated how much we would need!!!!!

Tomorrow is the great paint job. Also need to put a little shelf up to hold -pointless objects that will gather dust- high quality ornaments! Also need a wider bookshelf for DD's room.

Think I need a new list - they have proved really helpful. So tomorrow:

Charity shop run
Vet visit
Order more bark
Buy paint
Paint cloakroom
Put shelf up
Decide how to up-cycle horrible mirror
Organise hall
Clear study

Think I might be being aspirational!! But I think I might see how far I get!

Well, the day is ticking away.

Charity shop run
Vet visit
Order more bark
Buy paint
Paint cloakroom Mostly done... Having a little break then finishing off.
Put shelf up
Decide how to up-cycle horrible mirror Chucked blue paint on it!
Organise hall
Clear study

So, getting there - done more than I thought I would. Think I'll finish painting and then do hall or con DSs into doing it! ;)