5 minute challenges

Okay so some of these aren't cleaning up your house but they will help clean up your marriage ;)

1. Wipe down the wall behind your stove.
2. Wipe around the base of the toilets
3. Vacuum under the cushions of one couch
4. Leave some sort of romantic "I love you" note for your spouse to find
5. Take a new fun (or cute) picture of you and your spouse (I just realized Jared and I haven't had any fun pictures together in a while) and post it

A Question?? (for the slackers)

Bryan and I were talking last night and he does not like the bonus points for the challenges.  He things that I lose motivation when I have a perfect score, but know full well that someone else got bonus points and I can never catch up.  I have to somewhat agree with him, but I like the idea of bonus points.  After talking about it we wondered if we should change the rules a bit.  The idea we came up with was that you could still get bonus points if your challenge is already finished, but if you get a perfect score that week you could  also earn the bonus points that way (you would not be able to earn the bonus points both ways in one week though)  That way it might help those of us who have a little bit messier house than others (aka myself) be able to really compete for the winner?  What do you all think?  I know this is just me being whinny, but thought I would throw the idea into the arena.

Weekly Challenge ... Keep things in Check

I had actually decided to do this for my challenge, even before Charlotte said her bit about repeating challenges. I am with her, there are several that I need to do again (sadly my car is one of them too). So, the challenge this week is to pick one or two of the previous challenges that needs some touching up or completely redone. If all of yours are still finished (I would say you get the 2 minute touch up for each challenge) you are a Super Star and will happily be rewarded with the 20 bonus points and some severe bragging rights. Here are the previous challenges.

Dust / Clean Door frames and doors
Clean out the Fridge
Vacuum under the furniture in your bedroom (clean under bed)
Organize and Clean Toys
Clean out Oven and Stove Top
Clean and Vacuum your car
Pantry

Last Week of Cycle

I've noticed that I am not the only one struggling this go around. I think it is the depressing bipolar weather in March. Anyway, lets make this last week a good one!!! Here are the assignments for the week:

5 Minute Challenges: Tami
Weekly Challenge: Kim
Tuesday Tips: Brenda

Don't be afraid to repeat previous challenges. One of the hardest aspects of housework is that the same things always need to be done. Hopefully this blog helps us keep track. I could probably do all the challenges over again (um, especially the car...).

Lets keep track of our totals on this post and make things work. I know that I have grounded myself after last week to follow a written schedule. Everyone have a good week.

5 Minute Challenges

Here goes:

1. Post one recipe on recipe site
2. Strip and wash bedsheets (at least one persons!)
3. Clean cabinet fronts
4. Wash mirrors and electronic screens (mine need them again)
5. Your choice- surely I am not the only one who has thought "That would be a great 5 minute challenge", only to realize I am the only one who would need to do it. For me this would be to clean the screens in my kitchen window. Post your choice in the comments section.

Tuesday Tips

This is the pregnancy edition (for obvious reasons). For those who may not be experiencing the wretchedness joy of pregnancy again, you can pass these on to others.
1. Tums Quick Paks. These really do work instantly on that acid reflux. Sometimes it doesn't completely take it away, but it literally will instantly take the edge off and usually completely eliminates it. I carry them with me everywhere.
2. Tide to Go. Have you tried this yet? Somehow, when you are pregnant you always get that stain on your shirt, right where you can't see it. This little guy works wonders in getting out a stain. Not only should every pregnant woman have one, but it belongs in every diaper bag and purse.
3. Memory Foam (not pictured). I have a lot of trouble sleeping while pregnant and I get charlie horses in my calves a lot. Sleeping with a memory foam pillow between my legs helps so much. The way it contours to however I am laying makes it a million times more comfortable than a regular pillow.
4. Cocoa Butter. I swear by this. I put this on morning and night from the second I find out I am pregnant. I have yet, now I know I may be jinxing myself since I still have 10 weeks of torture pain and suffering utter misery until I am due, to get a single stretch mark while pregnant. I think it is all about the cocoa butter. Plus it is very soothing when your skin is stretching and itchy and tight.
Anyway, there are my pregnancy tips. You guys have any to add???

Weekly Challenge- Beginning 3/23

This week's challenge it to wipe down/dust your door frames- especially on the top where a bit of dust might have collected. If you don't have many doors, or your door frames are ridiculously clean (freak) then continue with the baseboards. I have to do the baseboards in my whole house this week- one of the down sides to having pretty white trim, they show all the dust and dirt!

Good luck!

Bonus Fridge Points

My kids are crazy about the fridge so I couldn't get a picture that they weren't standing in.

Next Week Assignments and Pt. Totals

Next week assignments are as follows:

Weekly Challenge- Andrea
5 minutes- Charlotte
Tuesday Tips- Kim

Keep track of your scores in the comments here! Happy cleaning!

I'm guess I will step in

Since there is no Challenge posted yet, I will step in with one. The week is half over so lets do a relatively simple one- how about cleaning out the fridge? I noticed yesterday that mine is due for a good clean out.

5 minute Challenges

1. Sweep front porch or entryway (get all those old cobwebs from last fall!)

2. Reorganize pantry (or food cupboards) I figure if we take 5 minutes here or there to touch up our previous challenges they wont need to be challenges that often.

3. Wash walls (in at least 1 room) 

4. Tackle your to-be-filed stack

5. Clean sliding glass doors (or windows if you don't have one) I think this has been a challenge before but I know mine needs done again!

Whose on First?

Okay...who's got what this week? Abe's sleeping and I'm ready to clean!!! We can count this post as the keep track of your points post too.
I am finally done traveling and being out of my schedule and I am READY to kick some points butt. I am behind on the count, but optimistic!!!

*inserted by Charlotte*

Here goes:
Weekly Challenge- Jessica
5 minutes- Brenda
Tuesday Tips- Andrea

My Devotion to the Challenges

That is me, leaning over the railing to clean the ceiling fan hanging from our vaulted ceiling in the kitchen. The beam is at regular ceiling height and you can see the top of the cupboards (No, those are NOT our graham cracker houses still there from Christmas. They're ... think fast-think faster ... um, houses celebrating Pi Day?). Did I mention I am slightly scared of heights. Anything for a point!

Weekly Challenge - The Ultimate Vacuum Challenge

This week's challenge is to vacuum under the furniture in your bedroom. All the nooks and crannies. If you've done that or if that doesn't take to long then do the front room. Now that it is almost spring and the birds are hatching their eggs that means that the spiders will be hatching theirs too. This is a good time to go through and get them before they get you!!!! (insert evil laugh)

5 minute Challenges

Here are the challenges for this week:
1. Post weekly menu on Recipe Blog
2. Vacuum or Dust curtains / blinds
3. Dust ceiling fans (if you don't have ceiling fans you can dust something else in the house that needs it)
4. Send a "just for fun" card to someone (family or friend)
5. Clean baseboards (I know Charlotte had this one, but five minutes didn't even come close to getting all of mine done, so I'm doing it again)

Starting New Again

Here are the scores from the last 4 weeks:

Mom- 235
Charlotte- 340
Brenda- 329
Kim- 374
Andrea- 264
Jessica- 10
Tami- 175

That makes Kim the winner. I will post her prize ASAP.

I am resetting the points, so if these are inaccurate, let me know and I will change them in this post.

_________________

I think we will completely skip last week, as a lot of us were out of town. That means that this weeks assignments are:

Weekly Challenge- Tami
5 minutes- Kim
Tuesday Tips- Jessica

_________________

Lastly, I was talking to Kim and we were thinking of adding a scrupture study to the daily regimen. Let me know what you think so I can add it (or not) for this cycle. Maybe starting next Monday?

Good luck cleaning!! Keep track of your weekly points on this post.