Holy Week = a busy busy week!

Ahhh...Easter is creeping up faster than I had anticipated! 

I have been fluttering - with a litter floudering thrown in, but that's ok!  I realize that flylady says "15 min" but I spent 1 hour working on decluttering my basement yesterday and I am THRILLED!  I chose to work on one pile, almost got distracted by the other piles but I kept my focus.  There is plenty to do down there still, but I can't help but break into a cheesy smile when I see what I did in just 1 hr! 

I found another blog today that I think will definately help me keep my focus - House Honcho - I added her to my Good Reads.  I think that I will cap off my blog list when I get to 10 of my favorites.  I have been known to get lost for hours while blog hopping, lol. 

Now I really must get off the computer and finish my morning routine!! 

....6 days later....

Erm, ok - so I was awol for a bit.  Things like work and a ridiculously busy weekend kept me off the computer for "fun" time.  While I want to be accountable here, I'm trying to keep my focus on my home and my children...not my cyber activities.  Facebook anyone?  lol....

Did I fly perfectly?  Heck no.  In fact, pretty poorly, but I TRIED.  Dishes are caught up and so is laundry.  Not too bad! 

But, it is time for me to refocus and see what I can do with my morning routine:

• up, dressed, teeth brushed, vitamins, by 5:30 (didn't make 5:30, but it's done)
• kids fed & off to school
• devotions
• 2 F/V
• make beds
• swish, swipe, scoop, tend cats
• 1 load of laundry & put it away
• make breakfast & do dishes

It's not really in order of completion, but it's written down

Still working on the laundry, but I also made a phone call that I was procrastinating on AND dinner's in the crockpot!  :)

Running around to do this afternoon - kids need to get to the pediatrician - but I also have quite a bit of paperwork to complete.  I've been looking for blogs to help me with my motivation - as I come across them I'll add them to my "Good Reads".  I tend to get lost in forums (waaaay too distracting) but if I have a list of places to help keep me focused I won't get stuck at the computer for hours!  Oh yes, it has happened, lol.

Day 2 - Dusting off the Control Journal

Babystep #2, I'm good.  I've gotten better at this one-the tough time is going to be during the summer when I could just LIVE in flip flops! 

Ok, I actually FOUND my control journal-the one in a binder.  My more neurotic side likes to use the one on the computer and I can highlight in pretty colors when I have completed a step.  But I have found that once the kids are home from school, and my computer access has been interrupted ended, my focus on my CJ pretty much stops.  SO-I am going to use my 3 ring binder and delete (...oh dear...) the one on the computer. 

As I looked it over I realized that I fell into the trap that Flylady had warned us about - trying to perfect (EEK!) my CJ.  My daily plans were wonderful, but totally unattainable.  Right now my focus has to be decluttering.  I may be quite familiar with Flylady's plan, but my house doesn't reflect that at all.  I'm going to rewrite my CJ a little bit at a time.  NOT on the computer and perfectly printed...in pencil.  Gasp! 

I started on cleaning off the table and the sofa yesterday, but lost my focus when the kiddos got home. So that needs to get finished today.  The family is all going in separate directions this evening, so my plan for today is to get a workable morning and evening routine and DO THEM. 

Day 1 - nope, sink is not shiny

It's about noon right now.  I have a Control Journal saved on my computer AND in a 3 ring binder - neither is open right now. 

Lately I have gone in spurts with dishes.  Some days I'm good, others, not.  I don't have that many to do, so I am off to clean them up, shine the sink and see EXACTLY how long it will really take me.

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

Ok, it took me 20 minutes.  BUT, I washed, dried and put away the dishes.  PLUS, I scrubbed the sink and the drainer (I don't have a dishwasher) and did a baking soda/vinegar treatment for the drains.  Yay me!! 

While I was doing this I got to thinking - I remember a while back reading a testimonial about having different "shiny sink" areas in each of the rooms of our home.  Those are the places where, if they are kept in order, the rest of the room tends to follow.  In the dining room, that's easy-the DR table.  In the living room?  Getting Mount Washmore cleared off the sofa and getting the clutter off the coffee table. 

I'm not going to try for miracles today.  I will burn out-I know that.  My goal for the rest of the day is to get those shiny sink areas cleaned up.  Just those two rooms.  I have 3 kids coming home from school soon and I'd rather be available to be "mom" for them & not crazy, psycho, crabby cleaning lady.  ;-) 

Tomorrow's babystep should be easy....my shoes are on and tied right now!