Trying to Clean House with Kids- A Joke!

I'm not sure who is worse the kids or the hubby!  My mom is coming in a couple days so of course I'm trying to tidy up the house.  I know she knows what I live with so I'm sure she won't verbally judge me outloud.  LOL!  She isn't like that but she might say in her head "damn Pam!" 

I'm trying to clean but it seems like no matter how much I clean the kids mess it up anyways!  I did the carpets the other day and within 12 hours a nice spot appears on the carpet but guess who did it...HUBBY! 

I just wish people (the Allen's) would RESPECT that I want a clean house but with my clan it's just not going to happen.  Do I really have to wait until they move out?  I'm not saying we have garbage everywhere (hell no) but everything should have a place right?  Put it back where it belongs.  If you are done with something-PUT IT BACK!  Close cupboards!  Every morning I get up the cupboards are open- how hard is it to close it.  How hard is it to put the dishes in the sink...not the table! How hard is it pick up the clothes you wore and put in laundry basket- not the floor.  Oh that's right...mom/pam will do it.  Can you tell I'm a bit PO'd at my family?  I ask for help and I don't get much back but they sure do want a lot from me.  I cook, clean, and laundry for everyone but no one wants to help keep our house clean.  When I ask for help I usually get the response "Later Mom" or "I'll do it Sat/Sun" and most of the time it doesn't get done unless I ask 10 times and I hate that! 

I found this on Pinterest the other day:

Tip Tuesday~ Getting Kids to HELP Around the House!

I know I struggle with this EVERYDAY.  I want the HELP of course but then I always say "no I'll do it" knowing I will do a better job and won't have to go over it.  Now what is that teaching my kids....absolutely NOTHING!  So now when I ask for help...I don't get it, I only have myself to blame (but don't tell them that!). 

I picked up this book from Borders " How To Clean Your Home Fast by Vicki Christian" a while back but I had it out and I was looking at it last night.  I came across a great chapter~ Chapter 3- Recruit Your Kids to Help. 

1. Set a GOOD example for your kids "Monkey see, Monkey do". (sounds reasonable)
2. Ease children into doing chores as they grow.  (don't make your 3 year old do laundry--lol..ok got it)
3. Music- play kid's music/favorite songs and they might just surprise you by helping.  (not sure if that would work with my kids- they would be dancing and singing not cleaning- but I get the idea)
4. Use a egg timer to clock each chore as a game.   Reward the kids with the fastest times (ummmm not sure if I like this one due to if they go fast they won't really do a good job. So maybe I can tweak this one into something else like: I can use the egg timer  to do a 15 minute clean-up,  we turn on the music and clean for 15 minutes.)
5. Initiate a NO FOOD NO DRINK policy in the kids room.  ( I do have that policy but my son seems to FORGET that rule when we are sleeping- he is a night time food sneaker and then leaves the evidence either on kitchen table or in room)
6. Plan your kids cleaning routine and STICK TO IT~! (I need to do that)
7. Ask them to help wash, dry, fold and put away a load each day.  Doing this will cut down on the weekend mountain of laundry.  (simple request- haha)

Rewarding~ now I have my pro's and con's about this!  How I was raised is HELP MOM no matter what- You just do it!  A Happy Mom makes a Happy House- is my motto.  As for rewarding- okay if that is what is going to make them help, fine but it has to be something simple- not $$$! Because if I have to pay my kids to help around the house I might as well pay a housecleaning service and then I know it would get done properly.  But then I wouldn't be teaching them any responsibility!  Fine- chore chart with reward stickers will be a must do this week!

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/How-to-Clean-Your-Home-Fast/Vicki-Christian/p/9780696234330

It's $ .99!

How do you get your kids to help around the house???

ALSO~ I was just entering some giveaways and came across this one that I would LOVE to win:

http://www.random-dealz.com/2011/11/chore-pad-app-review-and-giveaway-8.html   as much I want to keep the numbers down so I could win, as a MOM I have to share this giveaway.  If I don't win I will buy it :)

Day 4- Linen Closet (Completed)

Okay folding sheets is on my Top Ten Household Chores I Don't LIKE!  So my linen closet was so messy and disorganized. 

Before:


After


Wonder why my camera takes such different color pics. 

Anyway, I took out everything out then wiped down shelves (made a mental note I need to get shelf liners).  I folded the sheets nice and placed all my sheets together, the kids sheets on another shelf, then I was able to put my sewing machine/sewing box in there too! I also have my hair styling tools (I use them like 2-3x a year so no point in having them in bathroom, lol). 

Weekend Cleaning- The Good and The Ugly!

Last weekend we worked real hard getting our house inside/outside in order so we can ENJOY the summer.  I know we have a lot more to do but we were able to check off at least 10 things off our TO DO LIST.  

The GOOD 

Saturday we cleaned the kids room and everytime I walk by them I go "awwww" because I love seeing a clean room.  Wish my kids felt the same way. I now have boxes full of stuff for the Garage Sale we are going to have on Sunday...yep Father's Day.  It feels good to get all that crap out that we are not using or don't need!  Wait until next Saturday when I really go through stuff to put in the garage sale, I might not stop LOL!

Sunday we worked out in the yard.  Pulling, cutting, pruning everything!  Weeds are not my friend that is for sure and damn they grow back fast.  Or maybe I'm just slow pulling them out- which is probably the truth.  I had to wear a bandanna around my face because I'm allergic to something out there that causes my throat to close up and that's not a good feeling.  It worked okay but I took many water breaks.  The backyard looked awesome and a place where I want to hang out.

The UGLY

But guess what.....the WASPS are all crazy now and they are mad at us.  Not sure what we did to piss them off but I swear if they see us outside anytime after 10am they do everything in their power to torment us.  Lovely huh!  If anyone know a NATURAL way to get rid of them please let me know.  We would like to enjoy our backyard that we worked really hard on!

Well on to research on how to get rid of Wasps- Bees creep me out!

Tackle it Tuesday

LOVE IT! Yes, it is hard to find that time to clean. Or maybe I should say blog. Well anyways its hard to balance it all! My house is fine if people stop by but is it REALLY REALLY clean?  No, but with 2 kids- 7 and 9yrs old,  I have come up with the conclusion that I needed to pack up my OCD until the kids are away at college. Why....because it was driving me crazy. I have to say after marrying my hubby my OCD (of cleaning) kind of went out the door anyways-one of those battles that I always seemed to loose. I think I should haven known I was going to have problems dealing with hubby when we first started dating because there was beer bottles under his bed. Fast forward 12 years later- house is fine except for his side of the bed which I call THE PILE. THE PILE- whenever he is looking for something I say go look in THE PILE, and about 90% of the time it is there. Okay I got off topic and ranted about hubby, sorry!

Anyways, TACKLE TUESDAY....on my TO-DO list this week is LAUNDRY! I want to get every piece washed, folded, put-away by Friday. I have about 5 loads left and I think this is manageable. Speaking of laundry Hubby put a bottle of bleach that had a hole in it on top of the washer. Since the bleach bottle was leaking it leaked right into the washer full of dark clothes, thanks dude.  Luckily it was only a few things that got totally ruined but none of of his stuff though- oh geez a rant again.  I need to stop! 


Click here to participate in this Week's Tackle It Tuesday

Thanksgiving Stress-Just NOT Having It!

Well it hasn't hit me yet....wondering why not.  Usually I'm all panicked that my house isn't clean enough or I'm not that good of a cook so what is people going to think of my food!  That's a lot of pressure to put on someone and I guess at 41 (yes almost 42) I'm getting to the point of I know I can't stress or I get sick!  Wow I'm so happy I'm finally beginning to see the light.

My house will look lived in- not messy nor extra extra clean.  Really with a 8 & 6 yr old kids what good is it to spic and span the house when in an hour something is going to get messed up anyways.  Lived in is just fine for me.  Now when my mom comes in Dec maybe I'll do a lil extra scrub here and there but I'm not busting my butt.  My hubby will be happy that's for sure.  I usually have a list of 10 things for him to do and maybe he gets 2 done- so that eases that stress of getting upset with him too. 

As for cooking...hell after all these years I think I got the basics down!  Simple menu and all the usual thanksgiving suspects (turkey, mashed potatoes, mac/cheese, greens beans, rolls.....).  I'm no Martha Stewart so why try to be!  Part of me wishes I was more into decorating but hey I keep that for Halloween, Christmas, and Easter. 

Simple this year people SIMPLE!  That means lil stress on me than I'm all for it! 

So THANKFUL!

FlyLady~ Who Does This?

Well I'm going to give it shot!  I remember a couple years ago I tried Flylady and I was bombed with email after email and so I stopped. 

Holidays are around the corner and I'm grown enough that I should be throwing a FABLOUS holiday party...LOL!  It's all about the kids so if I'm prepared and not stressed on what my house looks like. I might actually have a FUN holiday not a stressful one. 

So I know I'm late but Fly Lady says's its OK! 

Here is the home page for FLYLADY- a lot of info http://www.flylady.net/index.asp

The Holiday Mission - http://www.flylady.net/pages/HolidayCruising1.asp

Okay- time to get my booty moving :) 

Monday Mornings- Vent Again

I know your probably tired of my venting about Monday Mornings but its rough!  I work as you know as a waitress and at 41 my body hurts so do you think I want to clean up when I get off work.  Yesterday, 30 minutes after I got home from work I took the kids to the park for 3 hrs!  I was there with some friends so had a blast but that gave my hubby 3 hrs all by himself.  He cooked a fabulous dinner and did a little shopping so of course last night I wasn't too upset about the condition of the house.  But I do have to say I wasn't very happy that my son was still in the same clothes as Saturday....um you took your PJ's off and put the same clothes on and DAD you let it happen.  Ugh-I told my son to change his clothes before we go to the park and he went right in to to do that- so why couldn't hubby say that to him.  Roll eyes!

Now lets get back to Monday mornings....I asked my hubby if he good do a load (1 load) of clothes that had the kids uniforms in so that we would have something to wear- that didn't happen but I did notice that all my hubby's clothes were washed.  So had to pull out some old clothes and work with what we had- lil mama was not happy with her uniform clothing today.  Love to start Monday morning with a lot of crying and yelling.  I put clothes out the night before for the kids except for Sunday's- guess I'll need to walk my tired ass body down to laundry room do my babies laundry when I get home on Sunday's. This morning was hard on everyone. 

As for the house OMG....breath in breath out Pam.  It's not like its totally filthy but at least pick up after yourselves- that's all I ask and ask and ask and ask but no one seems to get it!  My hubby took the kids to Gamestop- the one place they all love going and got games for everyone (not me) so they all vegged out on video games and you can tell because of the wrappers, receipts, bags, snacks wrappers are everywhere- PICK UP PEOPLE! 

When I'm at the computer I can't see the mess so maybe I'll just sit here all day :)  Let them come home and see I didn't do anything and they need to help- wishful thinking but I know I'll be cleaning up soon.  Guess thats my que to go clean....wait I'm going to make lunch and sit down to watch YR and when hubby gets home thats when I'll clean. 

Okay done w/my bitching.....I'll post a better post later- just needed to get this out before hubby gets home and he gets yelled out- feel a bit better now.  :)  Blogging does help WOOHOO!

Monday Morning and Coffee

I know I've talked about Monday Morning and Coffee in separate posts but today they go together.  I need a lot of coffee to deal with Monday mornings, LOL!

Saturday was filled with running around with kids to do this and do that.  My son played in a soccer tournament and wow my inner soccer mom came out!  I was on the sidelines screaming and clapping.  My son looked proud but he did ask me not to be so loud.  Okay I'll tone it down. 

Sunday I work at a cafe as a manager and its stressful some days.  Yesterday was one of them!  I come home and went right to my room.  That's where everyone hangs out anyways so I'm not closing myself off.  My husband evens brings me my dinner in there- I know a bit spoiled.  I have a hard time walking after being on my feet for 10 hrs.  I'm getting too old and also not in the best health but still get the job done- its the aftermath that kills me.

Monday mornings I would LOVE to just relax after the kids go to school but that's a big fat NO!  Every room is a mess.  Love my kids and husband but they are DIRTY.  This day is far more cleaning than I want to do but I guess that's my life for now.  I try to let them know in a very nice mom/wife voice that I don't want to be cleaning a big mess but they just don't get it.  Their "clean" is a lot different than my "clean".

Anyways, now that I bitched about the Monday Mess again- its time to get off the computer (lip out) and clean my house.  Rolling eyes too BTW!

Monday's are ROUGH!

I enjoyed my cup of coffee and now its time to get moving and get things DONE.  Personally I would love to sit at the computer all day (not very healthy I know) but yes I have CLEANING to do- geez sometimes the life of mom sucks!  Only the cleaning part. 

Weekends are busy at the Allen's.  Usually on Saturday we have a b'day party or playdate to go to for each kid.  We try to clean house, and when I say "we" I do ask everyone but I usually get "Oh Mom its Saturday" attitude so I tend to do it myself.  Sunday's I go to an actually J.O.B.- I'm a waitress/manager at a cafe that I've been with for 11 yrs.  Sunday's are CHAOS and I'm the one in charge- pressure and more pressure.  I have a great crew so that helps but some days I just want to give it the big middle finger.  I come home to a messy house- love my hubby but cleaning is not his forte.  I should have caught that clue when I started dating him and he had old beer bottles under his bed.  But hey love is blind, right!  I do get dinner cooked for me though- so big woohoo for hubby on that.  However, when I get up on Monday I see Hurricane Allen has hit my house yet again. 

I guess I need to move my big booty off this comfy chair, blast some smooth RB, put on my gloves and conquer this MESS! 

Crazy Week!

It's almost done right!  I thought this week was going to be easy breezy- and whoever put that in my head LIED!  Might have been me though :( 

I tend to overextend myself a bit and then of course get all stressed out about it.  I need a sign that says CHILL!  This was the kids first week at school and I thought I was going to have soooooo much time to do this and do that.  Wrong! Wrong!  Lets just say I was busy from 6am to 8pm. Couple mornings got up w/hubby at 4am.  Just like every other mom out there :)  BUSY!

I still haven't touched laundry which I should be doing instead of sitting on here telling you I need to do laundry, but hey that's how I roll.

Today's To Do List:

1. Laundry
2. clean living room carpet
3. kitchen-daily clean
4. bedroom-daily clean
5. bathroom-wipe down
6. sew 2 banners in morning
7. sew 2 banners when hubby comes home with more material
8. answer emails
9. do the 30Day blog challenge-day 3
10. answer soccer banner emails
11. work in PTC database-school stuff
12. work on my online job- about 1hr of customer service 30 minutes of apps

most of this needs to be done by 1pm when I get the 9 month old baby, watch him to 3pm then go pick up my kids, drop off baby to teacher then walk home- listening to WHY DO WE HAVE TO WALK HOME all the way home. By the time we are home (a 10 minute walk) of course wished I drove but I'm trying to be healthier by getting some exercise in.  I know kids rough life just rough!

So I guess I need to go do some house work for an 1hr then computer for an hour and so on and so on!

Vacuum vs Computer

Does anyone out there like to vacuum? I do it almost everyday and its not because I want to but because my kids are messy. Yep blame it on the kids. I've asked them to vacuum but of course its not good enough for me. I let them but a couple hours later I go over it just because its not up to my MOMMY STANDARDS ssshhhh don't tell them that. I try to vacuum everyday but some days I just don't want because I'm spending too much time online. If I had to choose between vacuuming and computer time...guess what I will pick. I was vacuuming tonight thinking about all the other stuff I would rather do. No wonder I spend more time on the computer than cleaning...its a lot more fun! I try to balance my time but yes I do have issues on that. This is one of the reasons I do this blog. Help me FOCUS. I know I'm not the only mom who has this issue,lol!

18 Unexpected Organizers~Great Article

My house is in dire need of a SPRING cleaning so I'm getting all my good advice from the web & magazines. Today I came across an article about Unexpected Organizers and they had some awesome ideas.

http://www.rightathome.com/view.aspx?pid=513

That should bring you right to the article.

My "fav" is : #14. Empty suitcases are a missed opportunity! Remember, there are some things you just don’t need to unpack, like your travel hairdryer, electric adapters, sleep mask, neck pillow, earplugs and your restocked travel makeup kit.

I also use my suitcases to store clothes I'm not wearing. I don't travel much, lol!

What Did I Do Today~

Not Much. Having two kids at home of course is a lot of work. It reminds me of a SAHM joke a friends sent me the other day:
************************************************************

What Did You Do Today, Honey?


A man came home from work to find total mayhem at home. The kids were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud and muck. There were empty food boxes and wrappers all around. As he proceeded into the house, he found an even bigger mess. Dishes on the counter, dog food spilled on the floor, a broken glass under the table, and a small pile of sand by the back door. The family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing, and a lamp had been knocked over.

He headed up the stairs, stepping over toys, to look for his wife.
He was becoming worried that she may be ill, or that something had happened to her. He found her in the bedroom, still in bed with her pajamas on, reading a book.

She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went.

He looked at her bewildered and asked:

"What happened here today?"

She again smiled and answered:

"You know everyday when you come home from work and ask me what I did today?"

"Yes," was his reply.

"Well, today I didn't do it!"


******************************************

I didn't stay in bed, wish I could but I did just basic clean up. I wanted to work on a clean up project. The ENTRYWAY is my 1st project from the book I'm reading. Every time I tried to clean up that area I got 20 questions...what are you doing, can I help, why is that shoe in that pile, can I put on that jacket. I just gave up. I will do this when I only have Lil Mama home. Geez!

I work Friday thru Sunday at a cafe I've been at for 10yrs.I love my customers! Of course we have been a little slow but things are still good. Anyways while I'm at work my hubby is home with the kids. They still don't understand the concept of picking up after yourself when daddy is at home, dang my hubby doesn't know how to either. Hmmph! I spend pretty much all day on MONDAY cleaning up my family's mess. I scream, I yell, I pout, I explain, I give rewards, but nothing works they still live like pigs on the weekend. Someday I hope the kids see this is not how I want to spend my day off doing. Okay vent over. Be thankful its Thursday because if I was writing this on Monday I would probably have some curse words in this post, lol!

Cut the Clutter~ Chapter 1

I have a lot of self-help/organizing books that I decided I'm going to read them and SHARE the info or at least talk about it.

First Chapter is CUT THE CLUTTER....oh yes I need this bad. My house is so cluttered that I feel I need to move to get out of this CHAOS!

The intro for the first chapter is: If your family's "stuff" has taken your home hostage than this chapter is for you. ARE THEY TALKING DIRECTLY TO ME....lol!

Anyways, lets go see what this chapter is all about.

We all want to pass the Guest Test! My house is on the borderline. I would like a 30 minute "heads up I'm coming over" call then I know I can pass the test. But I wouldn't pass if they knocked right at this moment.

I'm supposed to learn:

* How to Organize to find things quickly
* Ways to re purpose items for storage
* Tips on maximizing shelf and closet space
* Solutions on what to throw, what to keep
* De-cluttering techniques that add beauty to your home

Well the night is ending so I'm going to read chapter 1 tonight and I'll let you know what I'm going to be working on tomorrow!

Hey anything to DECLUTTER my house!

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR HOME FAST by Vickie Christian (591 tips for the Busy Moms) I bought this book at Borders for $1.99 (reg $14,95).

Cleaning Fairy.....

Where are you today????

I have laundry, dishes, beds to be made, dusting, moping that is just sitting here waiting for you to do.

I have may too much stuff to do online today....geesh!

So I guess someone else has the fairy today...when is it my turn damn it!

Well guess where I'm going to be for the next couple hours....yes doing my housewife duties!