Perspective.

With the new year well and truly here now, most people have got their inspirational and motivational post for the year out. You know the one where they go on about all the wonderful things that they hope to accomplish and all that they hope to be the whole year through and all that blah blah blah?

Of course we all know by now that I am not like most people. In fact I wonder if most people really are like most people? You know on account of all the differences that we all have, but already I am getting off track.

Come the first of January I tried to be like most people and sat down to write a post about the wonders of the new year and all that it would hold. Really all I did was welcome 2014 and whinge about not having enough money or being able to get a dream job. Go me.

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty." Perspective defines how you see the world, and the decisions you make in response to situations which may arise.
Image found here

I know at the end of the post I hinted about maybe having the word perspective as my word of the year. An idea that I have toyed with for nearly a week now. So much so that I have even named this post (well at least tentatively while I try and get it written) with the notion of it being about perspective.

Yet something doesn't quite feel right about it. And by something I mean, actually I have no idea exactly what I mean. Which quite frankly is driving me bonkers because for the most part I am certain I am on to something (provided of course I work out what that something is)

Screen shot taken from here

Now I know that there are few sureties in this crazy old world of ours but one thing that is relatively common is the fact that we all have varying perspectives. That is not to say similar perspectives aren't shared amongst people, because they are, but to me it is the differences that need greater consideration, acknowledgement and acceptance. Which I think for me is what I want to focus on this year.

The way other people look at the world at large. Their perspective. The way they see things differently from myself. While it might just be some fleeting half brained idea, the notion that there is much to be learned from our differences keeps bouncing around my pretty little head.

My list of faults is long and tedious. I am a work in progress. As much as I am full of awesome (particularly in my own lunch box) there are some fundamental changes to my being that need to be made I want make. Things like my lack of motivation or laziness, the line between the two is thin and blurred. I need to find new ways to look at things to encourage myself to just get them done. And by things in this instance I mean boring household tasks that often feel like they suck the life force out of me.

Post by Kate Says Stuff.

To me this is the essence of perspective and why being able to see the perspective of others has it's advantages.

In this case I can see both perspectives. Yes I too show my family I love them with cuddles and time spent together rather than doing the laundry. However there is no denying that the laundry will always need doing. In fact at the end of each and every day there will be laundry patiently waiting to be seen to.

So when I have no choice but to get on with tackling Mount Washmore or Mount Foldmenow, I gently remind myself that I will do so with a happy heart and not begrudgingly because I love my family and they love clean clothes. Well I assume they do, I know I do.

Chores, whether we like it or not must be done. We expect our children to just get on with them without constant complaining and I am starting to realise that I must as well. Especially if I am going to assign myself to the whole be who you want your children to be ideology. At the end of the day it all boils down to how you look at things and your perspective.

Originally this post was called Perspective - Don't only think of yours. I had intended (hoped?) that it would be a post about the beauty of putting yourself in someone else's shoes, looking through their eyes and trying to see things from their perspective. By doing so I believe that you will open yourself up to a world of new possibilities that you may not have been able to see before. Some of which will give you a better understanding of those around you. Obviously though that is not quite how it turned out.

Mind you I am just glad this is now out, it was kinda blocking me in many ways. I am sure though that there will be another post or two about the importance of perspective for me this year.

Joining in with IBOT with Essentially Jess

Thankful for all the machines

Earlier in the week when I was busily trawling the net as opposed to tackling Mount Washmore or the leaning tower of dishes I happened upon a post by Zoey about her creative process. It got me wondering what is my creative process? 

In fact I wondered if I even have a creative process?

I am pretty sure I don't really. I just sit down in front of my beautiful big iMac screen and hope for the  words to flow faster than a river down a mountain. Some times they do, some times they don't. 

There are however certain things that need to be done before I can write. Surprisingly enough most of those things involve the completion of household tasks. At least some of them anyway. Sure there are days where I come here and there is washing all over the place and dirty dishes desperately waiting for a wash, not to mention the floors and their dire need for sweep, but rarely on those days do I manage to write something outstanding. Mainly because I spend half the time worrying about all the other things I am not doing rather than writing.

However on the days where I push myself to get the jobs done before I sit down to write, the writing seems to come so much easier. I am thankful that today is one of those days. Of course that is why this post is more than slightly delayed but you can't always win them all. 

image with thanks from here

As I was scurrying about the kitchen this morning, moving clean dishes from the dishwasher to the cupboard and then the dirty dishes from all over the place to the dishwasher I realised just how thankful I was for the blasted machine. 

I say blasted because this time last year when Mr A was pleading with me to allow one into the house, I was adamantly against it. Always had been. Such a good case was put forward by both the children and Mr A I was eventually worn down though and gave in. I may also have been stuck for a Christmas present for my beloved.

Since having it though I have slightly fallen in love with the lovely shiny machine that saves me from submersing my delicate hands in dishwater. I am not sure what it is but there is something much more appealing about stacking a dishwasher than you know actually doing the dishes.

Anyway so there I was this morning swooning about how much I loved this machine that washed my dishes for me when I realised there are actually quite a few machines I am thankful to be the proud owner of. Like the washing machine. Seriously not everyone has a working washing machine. I am so thankful that I do. 

And well, don't even get me started on how wonderful the dryer is. Especially on rainy days that last for a week. But then there is also the coffee machine, the vacuum cleaner, the air conditioner, the television, the fridge, deep freezer and, well you get my drift by now I am sure. There are so many machines that in someway enhance my life. All of which I really am incredibly thankful to be the owner of.

On the days when getting the jobs out the way with happy heart is easier said than done I think of all the machines that are there to help me. I think of all the women before me (and some even at this time) that don't have the machines that I do and suddenly it all seems just a little bit easier than before.

Other random thanks this weeks goes to 

• all seven, yes that is right, seven lovelies who joined in last week. That really just made me all sorts of special
  
• the school holidays arriving and giving us all lots of down time
  
• Lovely having a safe plane trip
  
• the other two coping much better than expected with Lovely's departure and absence
  
• getting to hang with my brother for an hour or two in between flights as he was passing through.
  
• the airport parking not costing an absolute fortune
  
• receiving our share of Grandma's estate

Now you. What are you thankful for this week? Share in the comments below or link up your own post.

The last day of holidays

It doesn't seem four weeks since school broke up for the mid semester break. Apparently it is. Tomorrow the chaos of the school term returns. 

There is no sigh deep enough to help me pass the relcutance with which I face tomorrow. There are no words to descibe the dread with which the dawning of tomorrow brings.

As I mentioned yesterday, I am struggle with the other reality of returning from time away. We may only been gone for a few days but it felt like much longer. Much, much, much longer in fact. The remotness and tranquility of where we were made it easy to forget about the reality of normal life. It felt like we were totally removed from civilasation and all of it's woes. 

Needless to say the return to suburbia has been brutal. Amplified only by the fact that tomorrow school returns.

There is a part of me that is deeply concerned about my desire to be removed from the normal way of life. But then I think who wouldn't want to run away from bills and housework and all the drudgery that fills a lonely housewife day? 

What would you rather, being confined to the monotony of day to day life where Mount Washmore and Mount Foldme compete with the leaning tower of dishes to see who can climb to the highest height or the vastness of the bush where dishes, clothes and commercialisation of life almost cease to exisit?

For me it is easy pickings.

I want to be surrounded by nothingness and empty spaces.

I want to be free from clutter and the unnecessary.

I want to breathe in gum leaves and fresh air.

I want my alarm clock to be choirs of birds greeting the morning sun.

I want to be free from commitments and responsibilities.

I want to blow about in the wind and land where ever that may take me.

I want not to be sad about school holidays ending because life is one big holiday full of life long learning

The other reality of getting away.

I have spent far too long sitting here at the computer. Not that that is exactly new or breaking news but it is what it is. 

Slowly life is about to return to it's normalacy and I would be lying if I said that thought excites me. Again though it is what it is.

We have just returned from a place where I could take photos such as this

As I said on my Facebook page when I shared it there I am sure if you look hard enough there are fairies flitting around. Or at least words to that effect.

Right now I wish I was back there.

The peace and tranquility of it all can not be adequately described by words. The lack of commitments and responsibilities leads to a lack of worries and cares, and can not be underestimated. Sitting amongst the shady leaves on the cool of the rocks little seems to matter and life takes on a whole new meaning. One that has little to do with the likes of bills, working, money and the general doldrum of everyday living.

I want my life to be more than the general doldrum of everyday living. Though really who doesn't?

Having said that though in the twenty four hours since arriving home I seem to have done nothing but slip back into the ordinary of everyday. The downward pressure of Mounts Washmore and Foldme feels like it could easily suffocate me.

It is much easier just to put it in the too hard basket pick up some crochet and pretend I am once again sitting here

Sigh. 

The downside of holidays I guess, the reality of home.

I must confess and blog on Tuesday all at once.

It feels like forever and and a day since I last joined in with Kirsty and the gang for a bit of confessing.

Sadly my days were beginning to overflow with commitments and activities that left me with little time to no time to idly sit around on the computer commenting on blog posts. Regardless of how much I may actually have wanted to have sat around idly all day reading and commenting on blogs.

While I was able to squeeze in enough time to post it didn't seem right to keep on linking when I knew I had no intention of returning some comment love. Apart from IBOT and TIK I have barely linked up for anything else of late.

With today (which is actually now yesterday because it turns out I was more time poor than I realised and this post took forever to write) marking the first official day of the four week break I am confident in in my comment ability. (That and the fact that it is now Tuesday and I always make time to blog and comment on Tuesdays) There is nothing grander than being on school holidays I tell you.

So in the interests of killing two birds with one stone (so to speak of course) and in honour of the true linky whore I once was, I am going to confess while I blog on a Tuesday.

This week's confession prompt was about bad habits. Of which of course I have many. And seriously who doesn't? Which made me think that listing mine could possibly be rather boring. And by boring I could very well mean depressing.

Given that no one needs depressing I decided that perhaps it was best if didn't share my bad habits and instead confessed to a little secret about my toilet.

Certainly not my bathroom. Or anyone else's that I know for that matter.
Photo thanks to Arjun Kartha

Recently a friend had her third baby, which was born via cesarian. This rendered her unable to mop floors, clean toilets and a few other things. When she came to me and said "Rhianna I know you don't like cleaning but if I pay you will you help me out for a few weeks?" it was kinda hard to say no, even without the payment offer. Especially when she got to the part that mentioned baby cuddles.

It was during the first week as I was squirting some smelly yellow chemical around the inside of her toilet bowl, that I realised I wasn't actually sure  when I last cleaned my own toilets (yes that s is meant to be on the end, The Shoebox amazingly has two loos despite it's small size). After a bit of thought though I remembered when the last toilet cleaning I did took place.

It was the morning of Mr Awesome's work Christmas party. Last year in November. I wanted to make sure that if by some crazy chance either Mr A or myself felt the need to relieve ourselves of the inner linings of our stomach due to excessive alcohol we would be greeted with lemon freshness.

As it turns out my efforts were in vain. (In case you were wondering and I am sure you are) While we had an entire 24 hours child free were remained somewhat responsible and refrained from drinking ourselves into a complete oblivion.

Now it is at this point I must point out a couple of things.

The first of which is that I don't really have a drinking problem, regardless of what impression a few of my comments my give. The second is that just because I haven't cleaned my toilet since November, doesn't mean it hasn't been cleaned since November.

There is a very valid reason why Mr Awesome is fondly known as Mr Awesome.

Toilet cleaning duties pretty much fall in his court. Along with rubbish removal, lawn cutting, floor washing and every now and then, the cleaning of the kitchen.

Told you he was awesome.

I know at this point you are probably wondering what it is that I actually do do around this place. Well, I tend to all food preparation, as well as source and planning of all meals for at least six of the seven days in the week. I also do homework and reader duties, most of the child entertaining and managing and all of the washing pretty much all of the time. And if that isn't enough I do vacuum and sweep on a fairly regular basis.

Which to me all sounds pretty fair. I know that he goes out and works but the whole kid thing is hard going. I am honestly not sure my sanity would stand kid wrangling and a paid position elsewhere. At least not at the moment anyway. Plus when would I blog?

For quite some time I have championed against the division of labour within the household. I had this article published way back in 2008 The funniest thing about this whole toilet revelation though is that I can't ever remember a conversation that went, well "I'll cook dinner and wash the clothes if you clean the toilet and take out the trash"

Mind you as much as I am all for men doing housework, given that we do actually have two toilets, I have started to be slightly more proactive in pulling my weight in this department.

Who cleans your loo?

Joining in with Jess and Kirsty

Why washing dishes in the rain is not always the best idea.

Normally this time on a Monday afternoon, the last place I would be allowed to be is here at the computer. Since this Monday afternoon happens to be a public holiday rules are allowed to be ben a little. Or a lot if the following day happens to be your second child's seventh birthday. As is the case in our happy little home.

Yes, that's right, tomorrow sees my Little Miss Six become Little Miss Seven. She's is beyond excited about the prospect as well. Apparently she is the last of the year two students to turn seven. In fact some have been seven for so long they are soon to be turning eight, with some students already having done so.

But I digress, the whole age of entry to schooling is a whole other post for another day. My thoughts are wide and varying on that. I can see why so many claim it's advantages but I am not necessarily sold it is what you should have to do if you'd rather not. And nor should you be made to feel like your decision is less valid than that of the norm. 

Again though, posts that are not really meant to be written today on account of there being something else I wanted to say. Which if I don't hurry up and get to will somehow slip out of my mind and be forgotten until who knows when. It appears as if my lack of concentration is on track to make new record highs.

I was again reminded today of just how absent minded I can be at times. 

How did that happen I hear you ask?

Well I finally brought in some dishes from the garden. They had been put there to be washed by the rain. Oh wait, most people probably don't do that. 

Doing the dishes in the bath!
I couldn't find any photos of dishes in the rain at my favourite photo site,
I did however come across this little beauty.
image from here

Let me explain a little more.

After being left in the fridge for far too long a rather funky fungi had taken hold. Said incredibly funky fungi had in fact taken such a great hold it was impossible to identify the origins of the food that the dishes once held. Rather than try and stomach cleaning this delightfully rank mess I opted for leaving it in the pouring rain.

Seemed like a rather eco friendly option to tell you the truth. The funky fungi was pretty manky and would have needed quite a lot of water to ever have any hope of ever coming clean. By placing them in the rain rather than attempting to face the fungi in my sink I was sure I was saving gallons of water.

Now it doesn't really matter when that, or even the last rains stopped by, let's just say it wasn't yesterday. What does matter is that today was the day that I finally had nothing else to do but get the dishes in from the garden that had been left there to be washed by the rain and think about whether they may or may not be fit for use again.

Actually I did have plenty of others things I could have been doing, which was probably why this suddenly became appealing as the most important thing to get off the normally ever expanding to-do list. Again though I start to digress...

Thankfully we have a dishwasher so I was still able to hold onto the hope that the dishes may actually live to see what it is like to hold more food rather than just funky fungi and rain water. Though really I wasn't holding onto much hope.

Before placing them in the dishwasher I thought perhaps that rinsing off some of the leaf matter that had replaced the funky fungi from the fridge. Placing my once favourite dishes (while wondering how they had been left to such a fate) in the laundry sink I turned the tap on and was instantly distracted by the cries of children.

After tending to the ills and assuring the wronged that all would be right, I then noticed my half finished attempt to clean my desk. Diligently I moved pile A to pile B and then halved it and created pile C. You know what it's like right?

From there I did a bit of this and did a bit of that. My main goal of the day was not to be drawn into the vortex of Candy Crush and instead remain as productive as possible. I felt that I was slowly steaming ahead, though in the back of my mind there was a niggling that there was something else I just needed to tend to.

Pausing from my paper reshuffling I scratched my head and pondered on the all the possible things I should possibly be doing. Drawing a blank I knew I needed to investigate further.

Heading to the laundry I decided that the washing was the best place to start. The washing/folding/putting away of clothes was such a constant that I was certain that had to be what was playing on my mind waiting to be done. 

Much to my delight the washing machine was gently whirring away doing it's thing. Which meant I was saved from the need to hang it out (just yet). What did not bring me joy though was the tapping running in the laundry sink rinsing of the funky fungi and grass residue. 

Go me right?

The irony of all the water wasted from something that originally stemmed from a stupid idea that hoped to actually save water is not lost on me. In many ways it just feels like the story of my life.

Have you had any bright ideas go terribly wrong lately?

Just one long drag.

After trying, but not quite achieving, a little post every day challenge for the month of January I entered February feeling somewhat drained. And by somewhat drained I mean pretty darn exhausted. Though the ridiculous weather and my sudden desire to exercise may also play some part in the feeling of exhaustion that currently plagues my body.

Or perhaps the return to school and all that comes with it has been my downfall and it is that which has left me void of all energy for blogging?

More than likely a combination of both and about a thousand other things that have not quite gone to plan in recent times. But then when does anything really ever go to plan?

As the second week of school draws to a close it, the holidays already feel like a distant memory. The prospect of the Easter break is still too far away to really look forward to. And so the drag of life continues.

Only it shouldn't. Life shouldn't be a drag. It should be lived and enjoyed with each day being made the most of. Yet as I sit here right now, it feels anything but made the most of. Instead it all seems like just one long drag.

Sigh.

I don't want it to be a drag, really I don't but the mundane of it all this mothering sometimes is just too much to bear.

How do you not make doing the same thing day in and day out a drag?

Sure I can spice things up with a trip to the park here and an outing there but in between all of that there are still mountains of washing waiting ever so patiently to be washed, folded and put away. Just like the never ending cycle of dishes. Always needing to be done.

Double sigh.

I saw the above quote floating around the traps in the last week. Naturally I can't remember where and rather than spend all night looking for it I thought it easier to just whip one up myself. I need to embed this into my brain.

A reminder that I am actually making progress, regardless of how small it might be.

Joining in with Grace for some Friday blog flogging fun

The Last Long Weekend

Monday was our last official long weekend till Christmas.  This is heartbreaking because it means so many things.  Such as the weather will now start to change, leaving behind gorgeous sun drenched days, filled gentle breezes for a hot sticky steaminess that can only be broken by a rain that you know is not yet coming.

It also means there are in fact only 21 weeks till the start of the new year.  Time to achieve goals and plans is quickly fading. The last things I want to be doing though is wishing the year away. There is still so much to be done before we get there.

Such as my sister's wedding.  Which is also code for road trip to Cairns. When I spoke to my sister at the start of the week she said that there were only 36 days till the big day. This means there is even less till we leave.  Like a good seven days less.

OMG! I have some much to do before then.  Starting with finding a dress...

Time is something I struggle with on a fairly regular basis.  In fact you could probably say it is actually something I struggle with all the time. And have done so for as long as I can remember. One of my most vivid memories ever is of my first love smashing his fist through our wall clock in a bid to ease my concern about how time was passing.

That actually turned out to be a turning point in my life, one that is most certainly not being discussed today.

Today I am supposed to be sharing my thoughts on Olympic Gold and Glory. Only I still haven't written it. It has been floating around in the vastness of my mind for a week now. Ever since those poor swimmers were unable to swim faster than everyone else.

As always the time to write is hard to find.  Naturally that is not the only post quietly waiting in the wings. This was supposed to be a Thankful Thursday post that I wanted to publish yesterday. You know because that's when it was Thursday and all.

But moving on, as let's face it there is much to be done and time is slowly slipping away from us all.

So here are some

Things I Know and What I am Thankful For on this Blog Flogging Friday

I know I am super thankful that we took the time to get away on the weekend.  With the weather changing even if there was another long weekend this year we wouldn't be able to hang out here any more.  With the warmer weather comes some nasty creatures in the area that spoil all the fun.

I know that neglecting to take the clothing bags of not one but two children, is incredibly frustrating.

Thankfully we were able to work around the situation and get by with what we had.  Washing clothes takes on a whole new world of fun when it is done in the ocean and dried by the fire.  Of course the actual cleanliness of the garments may be some what questionable but it not like that matters when you are the only people around.

I know that I can't begin to explain how blessed I feel about being able to take the kids away from all the technologies of today and let them run free through the sand.  Or exploring through some tidal creek beds.

Thankful that we live where we do.
Thankful that we have technologies to escape from.
Just so thankful.

I know that reading this post from Jess at Diary of SAHM, made me wish I had already written one similar sooner.  I had thought about writing about Denyse and her awesome grand daughter on Tuesday but didn't.  I kinda feel like hanging my head in shame now.

After all if a young child can go to the trouble of creating such a wonderful little e-book in the hope of raising money to change the lives of those less fortunate than she, surely the least I can do is encourage others to go out and support her efforts?

So will you?  Have you already?  I know that it will not just be I that is thankful if you do.

I am also thankful that there are so many wonderful people out there doing wonderful things to help others.  People like Grace and Trish who on Sunday will give it their all for World Vision.  Again even a small amount can make a huge difference for those that it goes to.

I know that while I would love to sit here for hours and write I really should go and stop that washing machine from beeping. Which in turn leads to hanging it out and so forth.  Sigh.

I know that the work of a mother is rarely done.
I know that as much as I complain about doing it, I am also so thankful for the fact I can do it.
I know that you only get out what you put in and that I probably should try putting a little more in.

What about you? What do you know and for what are do you give your thanks?

In case you missed the earlier plugs this post links in will all the cool ladies below.  Each button will take you to an awesome blogs with lots of other awesome posts.  Head on over and have a look around

Thankful Thursday - A brand new sucker

Yep you read right.  Today I am thankful for the brand new sucker that joined our family this week.

And by that I mean this

That is right ladies and gentlemen (yes I do have male readers, this is one of them) I am now the proud owner of a brand spanking new upright vacuum cleaner and steam mop.  And O.M.G, cleaning just went to a whole new level.

Now those of you who know me, or have even just stopped by here before, will know that cleaning and I are not exactly the best of friends.  In fact there is very little that doesn't come before cleaning.  Well at least that is the way it used to be.

Since these wonderful fangdangled machine entered our house at the start of the week the floors have been vacuumed and mopped more than what they have the entire six years of living here.  Ok maybe not quite but I am pretty sure it goes close.


The best part of all of this is that it is not just myself who is enamored with them.  I have had to battle with Miss 11 over whether I could have a turn.  Ok maybe I didn't put up as much of a fight as her and my requests may have just been a ploy to test her keenness, but either way she was not giving up control of the floor cleaners to anyone.

To say I am thankful for her sudden desire to ensure the floors are clean at all times is an understatement.  It feels more like a dream come true.  Oh how I hope it lasts and is not just a novelty due to the newness of it all.

Joining in with Kate Says Stuff for

Oh and in case you were wondering this was not a sponsored post, I really am just excited to own such a flash vacuum cleaner, perhaps I need to start getting out a bit more...

The Changing of the Guard

Right now, right here is not where I am meant to be.  This post was supposed to have been written yesterday, scheduled for this morning and you are actually meant to be ready something entirely different. All I was meant to be doing this morning was linking said post up to the hug free Jess, over at Diary of a SAHM.  Clearly that well laid plan has all gone astray though.

Instead I sit here blurry eyed at some ridiculous time in the morning trying to sit of something insightful to say.

There was a time when a little while ago when most of my blogging occurred at this time.  It was one of the few times of the day I could escape the clutches of children and the responsibility that comes with them, steal a few moments with my thoughts and share them with you, my super duper awesome readers.

The downside to all of this meant that children would generally get to school late and half dressed as we tried to race out the door well after we were meant to because I had somehow become so engrossed in what I was doing.  Since this whole blogging gig is meant to be for fun and there is no monetary gain from it, it just didn't seem right to use it as an excuse for constantly being late.

So I changed my ways.

I introduced organisation and order into my life.  I imposed a heap of rules upon myself and began to implement a new way of life.  One where the little things would matter.  One that involved structure and routine, or at least had some resemblance of structure and routine.  Both are relatively new concepts to my life so the adjustment period was taking some time.

It was good.  Life was good.  I could feel and even see myself getting on top of things that had previously left me feeling overwhelmed and at times useless.  I knew that there were other women, mothers, who were able to keep a top of simple things like washing, the dishes, house keeping and to know that I was slowly joining their ranks made me pretty darn happy.

Mind you I still have my off days where the washing and the dishes and everything else seem to pile up and try to become insurmountable but I wise to their wicked ways now.  I know that as long as I do a little bit each and every day then they just won't get the chance overwhelm me.  Which then means I will have time to do the things I love without that little nagging voice telling me I should be doing something else.  Win win all round really.

So what went wrong with today I hear you ask? What has made me revert back to my old ways that I so desperately want to leave behind?

Children.

And their refusal to go to sleep.

One of life's largest battles faced by too many parents.  It seriously does my head in.  For the most part two out of three children have got it down pat.  The third however sees sleep as something only for the weak and refuses to do it on a fairly regular basis.  She has actually been heard at times saying she is allergic to sleep.  Which when you see the fuss she can kick up at bedtime it does almost seem plausible.  If of course it wasn't so ridiculous.

Part of me thinks that I shouldn't complain too much.  It has been quite a while since a night like last night.  Not only that but we are coming down from a massive week where routines partly fell by the wayside.  Rules got bent and late nights were had.  Excuses are a plenty.

Then there is this other part of me, that actually speaks much louder than the first.  She is old enough to know better.  She needs to learn that she can no longer use sleep as a manipulation tool to get what she wants.  I am wise to her ways and there is no room for them here.

On the upside though I don't need to worry about the dishes for a few days.  There is a sleep refusing child in need of extra chores!

Joining in with all the other iBotters for

Me & YOU - What is Making it Matter all about?

You may have noticed that over the last few weeks I have been banging in about Making it Matter.  Essentially this is my mantra for 2012.

You see for way too long I have let things slide.  I have been happy to live a footloose and fancy free type of life.   One where house work and a whole range of other boring and mundane essential parts of life where ignored for as long as possible.

You see all I really did was stop things from mattering.  It did bother me if the dishes weren't done.  To me it didn't matter if clothes stayed on the line for days at a time and then took nearly a week to actually get it to the cupboard. After all, clothes will only be worn again, which then only result in them needing to be washed again. One of life's true bitter circles.

Last week my challenge was to declutter my house and boy did it feel good.  Thanks to hubs having the week off we, and by that I mean him, got a whole heap of crap cleaned up. Hubs did a great job in keeping me focused and on track. He also brought out the ruthlessness in me and managed to convince me to part with my beloved junk.

Unfortunately I did not think of counting just how many bags of crap we expelled until we had nearly finished, but from hubs and mine guesstamics we are thinking a ball park figure of over 20.  Which is pretty impressive. Some of the stuff went straight to the dump shop while others really were only good for compost. There were also quite a few bags that were good enough for the op shop.

In all seriousness those close to me are greatly concerned of the very real possibility of my possible appearance on that TV show about hoarders. Not that I am that bad yet but unless I take hold and start letting things go now I could very well be there in the future.

For now though my house is awesome. It is looking better than it ever has. Some parts of it even look like they could appear in magazine shoot. It is (for the most part) clear of clutter, junk and general rubbish. There are a few little hidden pockets that will be need to be dealt with over the coming weeks but it is all much more manageable than what it once was. Actually I think it is currently much more manageable than ever before.

For this week the things that will matter are having fun. And lots of it. We are currently on holidays and having a blast. The weather hasn't played along as well as it could but it hasn't been bad enough to really complain about.

As always on a Monday I am joining in with The Mother Experiment's Me & YOU link up. A supportive and caring place to work on being a better you. Head over and see what everyone else is up to this week www.themotherexperiment.com

Me & YOU - Making it Matter

Welcome, welcome welcome.

It is wonderful to be here and I am so pleased that you have decided to join me on my journey through the year that will be 2012.  Having recently finished the year that was 2011 with a few personal highs I am confident that bigger and better things are just around the corner.  Particularly if I knuckle down and try to get things done.

As I mentioned I felt I left 2011 more up than down.  I know many people who have had a horrific year and are more than pleased to see the end of it.  I am not one of those people.  For me 2011 was a year of minor discovery.  Discoveries that helped me to become a better person.  Discoveries that have slowly led to my house and life becoming just a tiny bit more organised and together.

One of my favourite discoveries of last year is The Mother Experiment's Me & YOU.  I am fairly sure that the discoveries I spoke of above are a result of partaking in this linky.  (Here for more info)

While many bloggers, and people at large actually, have all come out in the last day or so and shared their plans, hopes and goals for the coming year sadly, I am not one of them.  Well at least not yet.  But that's ok because what I do have is my motto.  Well that and the fact that I know each day is a new beginning

Last year, was the year of trying.

This year is the year to Make it Matter.

You see the other day while I was idly tidying up it dawned on me.  It is all the little things that matter.  If I look after the little things then the bigger picture will take care of the rest.  Little things like folding the washing as I get it in will make it easier to put it away as soon as I take it inside.

Now previously I thought it didn't matter if the clothes never made it to the cupboard from the washing line.  And that is where I was wrong.  See if you want to wear clothes that are free from wrinkles (as my husband's boss likes his workers clothes) then it is best to get them in the cupboard ASAP as opposed to sitting scrunched up in a basket for days on end.

The old 2011 me, thought that it didn't matter how many chocolates I ate at night.  The new 2012 me knows that every single chocolate does matter.  Everyone of those delicious little treats matters to my ever expanding waste line.  Just like the old me thought it didn't matter how much sleep I did or rather did not get.  The making it matter me knows that it does matter (quite a lot actually) to get enough quality sleep.

Lots of tiny little things that never used to matter are all going to come together and make for the most awesome year ever.

Having said all of that though there is a bit of a but.

January is a bit of a busy month for me.  What with hubs having three weeks off to join in the fun that is school holidays and our impending trip to Sydney.  I am really really hesitant to set out a long list of goals.  Hubs and I have already discussed plans for a major cull of crap as soon as his leave starts.  Which will be lovely.  It is great when he gets in and helps me clear out as he is somewhat ruthless compared to the hoarder in me.

So here is what is going to matter for this week

Sleep - lots of good quality and regular sleep to feel refreshed, recharged and ready to go
Staying on top of the regulars (washing, dishes, etc)
Being present and having fun
Not wasting time online

Simple I know but that is where the best things start.  Make sure you stop by next week to see how I went.  Hopefully by then there will be a few other changes to check out as well.

Wanna make a change in your life? Want a caring, supportive  place to share your journey?

Head on over to TME and join on in.

Monday Goals (Just a little late)

Ok so getting last Monday's goal post out in the wee hours of Friday morning is probably not the best of plans but sometimes life is just like that.  Nothing this week has gone to plan and I think I have reached the point where I will just stop planning.

Today, actually I mean yesterday, being the first of the month meant that it was time to check back in with TME to see how our monthly goals went.  Needless to say that mine have not gone to well.

My first goal of successfully writing 50 000 words for NaNoWriMo did not even come close to being achieved.  Which stands it in good stead with my second goal of writing 20 blog posts this month.  I got to 19.  Though I do have one scheduled for later today that was written in November, so I guess technically I did reach this goal. (yay me) My final goal was to remain conscious about the housework.  As always this has been hit and miss.  There were some really awesome days when I would have given Martha Stewart a run for her money but then there were also days I should probably have been locked away for my lack of effort.

One thing I did learn this past month though is that I need to maintain a weekly round up of my goals.  I just don't have the focus to let it go to monthly.  At least not yet,  and aside from that I need all the blog post ideas I can get my hands on so for the time being a weekly post about my ineptitude towards goal setting and achieving will stay on the cards.  Who knows I may actually get something done.

With that in mind last week I wrote about my return to weekly goals (which much like I assume this will be remained largely unread)  On the upside though I feel rather successful in terms of the goals that I set.  Mt Washmore is not at it's peak and is in fact almost under control.  Given some of the wet weather and the need to change sheets around three times due to sick children that is all pretty admirable.

Not only that but I actually managed to pump out four posts instead of the anticipated three  and on most days I was consciously active, including to runs to the shop, so I am currently feeling like a real winner.

Having said that though it was not all roses and sunshine.

The dish free sink area was a massive failure.  There were a few days were the tower of dirty dishes at the kitchen sink gave Mt Washmore a run for its money in the race to reach the ceiling first.  Even as I speak the drainer is plagued by dirty dishes.  In my defense though I don't feel I should have to cook and then clean every single night.  Surely there are other people in the household capable of assisting.  Something I will certainly be looking into.

My final goal for last week was to consciously model the behaviours I wish to see in the kidlets.  This is a tough one.   I know that my yelling has decreased but I have still been a bit of a grumbler which is not exactly something that I want the kids to be.  I did model good  housekeeping skills for a while but no one else joined in and I got disheartened.  Maybe I need to try for longer than a day?

So where to now?

Since this week is nearly over it seems a little silly to come up with a heap of things to try and achieve in an already booked out weekend however in an ideal and perfect world the following would occur

1. By 4pm Saturday afternoon my house will be spotless and sparkling so Grandma can relax and enjoy spending time with the girls while hubs and I go to his work Christmas party.
2. I will have baked up a Christmas storm to take along to Carols by Candlelight on Sunday night
3. Awesome posts will be in the pipeline and ready to be scheduled for the week to come
4. The Christmas bunting I so desperately wanted to make will all be finished and dangling from my ceiling
5. Somehow I will have added quite a few extra hours in the day where I can sleep uninterrupted

Best I stop now before I get too carried away.  I am thinking I might call this little series the Weekly Wrap Up.  What do you think?  Sounds a bit more enticing than Weekly Goals don't you think?

Oh and not that this is a goal but I would love to see how many votes I can get in the Mom's Circles Aussie Mum's Blog List.  Go here to vote once every 24 hours till Dec 8th.  

Me and YOU Monday - The Finale

Image credit

*sniff sniff*

Yep that's right the lovely Karlee over at The Mother Experiment, host of the personal improvement and life changing Me and YOU Monday, has said this will be the last ever week of Me an YOU.

I know, sad right?  Though I do totally understand her reasoning and the fact that it will now be a monthly link up offers me some condolence.

Deep sigh

It's just that I was really starting to feel that I was making some awesome headway in maintaining the house in an acceptable manner.  I know that just because Karlee's not hosting it any more doesn't mean I have to stop posting weekly updates of my continued struggle with housework but it just doesn't feel like it will be the same.  *runs off crying*

Ok.  Big breath in and start again.

It is hard to believe that it has been nearly three months since this project first started.  Yep 3 months.  I wish I could say that in that time I became a new person, one that resembles something of a domestic goddess but alas that is not the case.  I am still me (which I am a bit glad about as on the whole me is a pretty cool chick) and I am possibly never going to be a domestic goddess but I have slowly found myself developing a new attitude towards housekeeping. (See I even have a new term for it, keeping rather than working sounds a lot more appealing)

Over the past few weeks I have come to the realisation that the biggest hurdle I needed to overcome was actually my own poor attitude and habits.  Neither of which can exactly be easy to change but they not impossible either.  I honestly feel that if I just keep plodding along I will get there.  Who know's perhaps I might actually be able to increase the plod to a bit of a run and get there even quicker?

When I first read Karlee's post about Me and YOU going monthly I was horrified. Part of me wass concerned that flying solo without the link up each would mean that I might get distracted.  Lose sight of the bigger picture and somehow lose not only my way but also my motivation.  Then I realised that in many ways by going monthly I will be tackling the bigger picture rather than just looking for it.  Though I am a bit glad the first month is only actually fifteen days.

So from here until November 1st

• I will ensure my house is clean and tidy
• All washing washed, folded and put away as needed
• The sink will be free from dirty dish towers and the floors will be regularly swept and mopped
• Tables and bench spaces will be left clear and clutter free
• Blog posts will be regular and awesome

All sounds pretty straight forward and easy really.

Only it's not.  There will  be ploys on my time and inclination.  My motivation will wax and wane with the moon.  Even my continued determination my ebb a little.  But I will not given in to it.  I will stay strong and focused.  I will get all of these little gritty things in order so I can get on with this thing called life.  

UPDATE - Pleased to say that Me & YOU has returned to weekly posts.  Here is the return if you are so interested

Medication, Housekeeper, Nanny or All of the Above

After surviving the Bunnings BQQ fundraiser I greet Saturday night slightly before exhaustion.  The constant late nights this week are the main reason for any real lack of energy though.  That and the fact it is the end of an action packed school holidays that has seen much excitement and activity, but that is all another post in itself.  Due to being to tired we are having a Saturday night at home (don't you love the way that sounds like most Saturday nights we have something to do?) Which means I get a chance to catch up on some of my favourtie blogs.


The first one I stopped by tonight was Gemma over at My Big Nutshell who was raising the question what would you prefer a Nanny or Housekeeper?  She had asked her Face Book likers what they would choose.  The resounding result was a Housekeeper, so they would be able to spend more time doing fun things with the kids.  


Gemma however would opt for a Nanny.  She makes some very valid points as to why she has such a preference.  After watching her Vlog I found myself longing for a Nanny as well, even if only for a few hours a week.  Which is a bit strange to hear myself say as until now I feel a little lost if I am not looking after little ones.


One of Gemma's main reasons for a Nanny was so she could housework without being constantly interrupted.  Which got me thinking.  Perhaps that is why I can't get any housework done?  The kids keep interrupting me.  Which then got me thinking how lovely it would be if there was a Nanny around to help out.  I suddenly found myself flashing into a Brady Brunch style life where Alice was there flipping the eggs for breakfast while I buttered the toast she just cooked and sipped on the coffee she had just made.


Oh deeeeeep looong sigh.........


Wouldn't that be nice?  An Alice.  Someone who was just there to get on with those niggily little things that really give life that super sweetness.

Then as I picked up the freshly made (by Alice) lunches and put them in the respective school bags, Alice would clear the dishes and tidied the kitchen.  The children and I would calmly and quietly walk out the door off to start our day with a full tummy and a yelling free morning.  Imagine the things we could do if our day started off like that...

Instead my reality is a mad search for matching socks after a ten minute hunt for all the other needed clothes for the day.  Of course before all of this there was a 15 minute discussion over what breakfast should consist of and trying to find a happy medium between what is actually in the cupboard and what they desire.  Throw into this bits of not done homework, unread readers and a pile of dinner dishes that should have been done the night before.

Arrrhhhhh.  No wonder some mothers scream.  Or drink.  Or both. A Nanny would ensure readers are read, homework is done, breakfast is served and lunches made all without anyone turning into a bluthering mess.

Alternatively, Gemma suggested we could be medicated to numb the burning desire to yell and scream and stamp feet when things don't go as smoothly as if they would if Alice were around.  Which I gotta tell you I have wondered about myself.  Some times, on those days when nothing has gone to plan, when the too hard basket is overflowing, the thought of cooking dinner (aka surviving the witching hour) is too overwhelming and Mt Washmore has now become bigger than Mt Everest and there is a little person (or two or three) pulling at your leg...wouldn't it be nice if there was a pill that would just make it possible to have it all fixed in a sanely non yelling kind of way?

If there were some ingenious pill that could take all of that away, or make it some how copeable, I would take one in an instant.  Yes yes I know that I should just organise it so that crazy type of environment is never created but no one is perfect, least of all not even me. (like the positive note there)


Hmmmmm....

This post was started last night, but due to waking children and stuff like getting them back to sleep getting in the way I didn't get it finished.  Which is a shame as now I have lost my train of thought.  Grrrr... and since everyone is waiting on me to get this finished so we can go to the water park I am crumbling under pressure and unable to think.  Grrr...grrr....grrrr....If I had a Nanny or a housekeeper or just an extra set of hands then the fruit for said outing would already be cut and in the packed ice bag ready for departure.

Sigh if only....

Me and YOU - Slowly slowly ever so slowly

So how did I go last week?  Well read on and find out!

As I write there are no piles of dirty dishes at my kitchen sink.  Nor are there piles of dirty washing waiting to be washed.  I mean there is washing waiting to be washed but it is not it's usual mountainous size.  I have accepted the fact that there will probably always be washing waiting to be done like much in life it is the size that matters.  As for the folding and putting away of washing...let's' just say there is a bit of that to do but it is not covering the couch, dinning room table or any other important area of the house.  There is a small mound in my bedroom but that has been there for so long now I am actually thinking I should just donate everything there as clearly we don't need it.

All in all not a bad effort I say.

I feel I can honestly say that for the majority of the week I was on top of most things or very close to it.  There was a day or two when everything was a shambles but we all know I am far from perfect (much to my disappointment at times) so really a shambles day here and there is to be expected and is a massive step up from the shambles weeks I used to have!

Now when I started this post (hours ago thanks to many interruptions) I had intended to write about the importance of priorities and how if I was able to prioritise a bit better, life would be, well a lot better.  Only now, that train of thought is once again lost.  Though I have been trying to get something out about priorities for over a week now...something/one always seems to get in the way.

In all honesty though trying to stay afloat of the housework has been a bit of an effort.  It has taken some readjustments and doing things a little different.  It has also meant sacrifices.  Actually the only real sacrifice has been computer time (which apparently is not a bad thing)  It is amazing how much more time there is in the day when computer time is drastically limited.

The real key I think is consistency.  Never letting things pile up and up and up so that they become overwhelming.  Doing little bits here and there really has made a difference to the overall picture.  I know that these are all common sense things and for a lot of people reading you will probably be wondering why I feel this is a startling revelation.  What can I say sometimes I am a little slow off the mark?  Actually I am a procrastinator that would much rather play with my children/computer than do housework.

So where to from here?

Well clearly I still have a long (read really really long) way to go before I even come close to achieving anything that resembles domestic goddessness.  But that's ok.  In fact I am not sure I will ever be a domestic goddess and I am not sure I really want to.  All I really want is to be able to have people over with out them feeling uncomfortable because they are sharing the couch with all our clean undies.  I would also like said people to be able to get a clean cup for their beverage and use the sink without fighting through the worlds largest tower of dirty dishes.  Not a big ask really.

For the coming week my goals are

1. Maintain the house's current order (I did think of saying improve but I would much achieve than fail so maintain it is, after all there is nothing stopping me from improving it if I so desire)
2. Declutter the table or the bench
3. Be super busy outside the house lots in the hope it helps keep the inside clean (since it is school holidays being out and busy is not such a huge ask)

It is such a tricky juggling act though.  It feels like I can only do one thing.  I can have a clean and tidy house or blog lots or be busy at the school not all three at once.  Really my ideal dream goal is to have a  spotless house, awesome blog and help out lots at the school.  Not really much to ask is it?

Head on over to Karlee at TME to see how everyone else has gone.  And you know what it is not too late to join in if there are some areas of your life you wish to change.  

Starting Again

It never ceases to amaze just how quickly Monday keeps popping up.  I don't even want to think about how many weeks I have sat down to do my Me & YOU post with Karlee at The Mother Experiment.  I am physically shuddering at the thought of just how many weeks it has been now.  It may possibly even be months by now.

No doubt when I click on over to link up I will find out.  Speaking of passing weeks actually quite a few weeks have passed since I joined Sarah at Accepting and Embracing Autism for her Monday Goals...

(little sigh, deep breath, head shake)

Life has been more than just a little busy of late.  

Actually, there is a part of me that does not feel very comfortable with that statement.  

Sure there has been a bit going on (change of weather sickness, grand final games, school performances) but really compared to some, my life this past week(s) was not really hectic or thrown into any true chaos.   Certainly not enough to justify why I have still struggled to maintain establish anything that even comes close to resembling order.

Yes I do have three kids so obviously to a certain extent that keeps me occupied as well as creates the disorganisation that is my life but I see other people somehow manage to juggle with it all so it is not impossible.  In fact my own mother made it all seem rather simple and she did stuff I would never even come close to be able doing like ironing!

(Exhale grrrrrrrr, inhale peace and tranquility)

Week after week I feel like I am just sitting here saying the same things over and over.  Making the same silly excuses  Week in week out. Really I could make excuses till the cows come home (should they ever actually decide to return home of course) as to why my house is the shambles that it is, but at the end of the day we all know what the problems are.  A delicate balance of laziness and procrastination mixed with an addiction to time wasting and bright screens.

Well no more excuses.

As of right now I am going to try just a little harder to ensure my kitchen doesn't look like this

or this

All week long

Thankfully the ever wonderful Hubs got busy last night while I was putting kidlets to bed (read laying down having a rest while they fell asleep) so I am off to a good start once I jump off here and get to the breakfast dishes that is...

Seriously though, I am constantly thinking about this whole improvement thing.  Without being too critical there are quite a few areas that I should be doing better in and to tell you the truth I am not really sure why that it is.   I have taken to asking if I really am being the best me that I could be as that is what I ask the girls to be and I am not sure I could honestly say that I am even trying to be the best me I could be.  So it is with that in mind that I will try and steer myself through the week with.

Head over to TME to join in and read how others are going on their personal growth journey and don't forget to come back next week to see how I went

The Start of Another New Week

So Monday has managed to sneak itself back onto the agenda meaning that a new week is upon us.  Last week was a bit of a right off for me, particularly in terms of blogging.  I did not get up my Monday goal stuff instead using what little time I could find on Monday to do a Monday Mention.  Which as it turned out proved to be rather pointless as the lovely host of Monday Mentions was herself having a tough week and was unable to host.  Thankfully for me though my week did pick up and I managed to get a few posts out.

In terms of making and keeping goals though I have somewhere between little and nothing to report on.  Which is a bit disappointing to say the least.  Especially when I read about all the wonderful progress others are making.  Karlee over at The Mother Experiment really is a bit inspirational with the way she keeps putting herself out there sharing how she is trying to change.  Mind you I only have myself to blame about my own lack of change and there is no point whinging and whining about it all.  After all each day is a new beginning and I do believe the same can be said for each week.

So when I first began with this whole improving me stuff I was going to concentrate on my efforts on home maintenance.  Simple things like folding the washing as soon as I got in off the line, or not leaving the washing sit in the washing machine or on the line for day(s) and a similar story with the dishes.  Stuff that I think for the most part the rest of the world just accepts that they have to do and gets on with it.

As I write, (which I would just like to point out I actually started some five hours ago but unfortunately got slightly distracted with various meetings, keeping a toddler entertained, grocery shopping and school pick up) my house is somewhat of a disaster zone.  There are more than a few dishes to be done, plenty of clothes to be folded, a good couple of loads to wash and just general housey stuff that needs to be done.  Not to mention all the school things I have volunteered to do before the week's end.

On top of all of this I had also been linking up with Sarah over at Accepting and Embracing Autism for her Making Goal Monday blog hop where I had been making silly little goals like I will exercise 3 times a week and goodness knows what else.  Perhaps I should make a goal of not putting so much on my plate?

In my defense though last Sunday I managed to get the house into tip top shape and it felt as awesome as it looked.  It might not have been a designer magazine picture but it sure looked snazzy to me.  For the most part I was able to maintain it, well sort of, at least for a couple of days however by the end of the week I was nearly back at square one and looking around the place now it may actually have hit a new all time low.

(deep sigh)

So where to now?

Part of me doesn't want to set anything for this week as I know I will be incredibly caught up with the school's birthday but then I know that without goals it can be difficult to actually achieve anything.  Come to think of it even with goals it can still be difficult to achieve anything.  So here is a list of some of the things that I must get done this week.

1. Create a 2 minute video to show at assembly (all footage, well apart from one interview has already been taken it is just editing)
2. Film final interview
3. Create a full length video of all interviews recently conducted
4. Write character profiles for those interviewed, well at least 3 of those interviewed
5. Scan piles of old photos and turn into a slide show
6. Help decorate a huge cake (and boy do I mean huge will hopefully get some photos up)

hmmmm ... ... ... 

... ... ...  that doesn't seem nearly enough but right now that is all I can come up with (lucky me)  

I will also try and maintain create some domestic order within my four walls more commonly known as home.  How about you? What goals are you going to aim for this week?  Go here and here to read more and join in the fun