Where our desire to avoid cleaning is overcome by the fear of public humiliation
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
5 minute challenges
2. Dust and wipe down computer desk
3. Wash windshield and side windows of car
4. Organize your coats, gloves, hats, winter stuff area.
5. Sit down and have some hot chocolate for crying out loud (and then clean up the mess) :)
Monday, November 16, 2009
Beginning Week 3
Weekly: Charlotte
Tips:Kim
Mom and I have been keeping track of things differently. She has been counting all 7 days, while I am pretty sure we only count Monday-Friday for the daily cleans. What have you all been doing? Anyhow, I will try to come up with a weekly challenge ASAP. Happy cleaning!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
My Perfect Weekly Score
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
5 Minute Challenges
Monday, November 9, 2009
Weekly Challenge
A thought about our goal lists
Weekly Assignments
Weekly : Mom
Tips : Brenda
Clean!Clean!Clean!
Keep points on this post!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Weekly Challenge
Monday, November 2, 2009
November- assignments.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tip- Electric Knifes
Monday, October 26, 2009
Assignments- week 1
Weekly: Tami
Tips:Charlotte
We are beginning our new cycle this week. Make sure you tally your points for last cycle up ASAP. Happy cleaning!!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Weekly Challenge
Here's a few ideas-
- Mop the floor
- Clean baseboards
- Using a scrub brush or sponge, clean edges and corners
- Clean/spot clean carpets
- Vacuum edges
Assignments- Week 4
Weekly: Andrea
Tips: LeAnn
Happy cleaning & Halloween prepping!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
5 Minutes for the Week:
1. Top of washing machine/dryer
2. Closet floor
3. TV screens
4. Front of fridge, oven, microwave, dishwasher
5. Dust book shelves
Weekly Challenge - Some Things Never Change
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=messy%20car&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
I'm Sorry.......So Sorry!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Tuesday Tip
My tip for the week: It appears the "dryer ate my socks" conspiracy is a myth! HUSBANDS are the real sock thieves. If you find a sock with no match, check your husband's favorite hang out spot. Because mine can't be the ONLY one who does this... right?
Monday, October 5, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
True?
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/dave-barry/story/1223091.html?story_link=email_msg
5 Minute Challenges
2. Wash kitchen walls
3. Clean our your purse and wallet
4. Quick fridge organization (since I'm sure they are all still clean from the challenge, right?)
5. Search your recipe books and find a NEW fall recipe to try this month and post it on the recipe blog.
Tip - Keeping the fridge clean
Weekly Challenge- coats & jackets
OK, fine, it is me. I admit it.
The challenge this week is to get ready for fall. Pull out those jackets, coats, whatever you need for the colder season and make sure everything is washed, fits, needs replaced. Whatever needs done.
Happy sorting!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Weekly assignments- week one
Congrats to Andrea for getting the most points last cycle, I will be sending you a prize shortly.
This week the assignments are as follows:
5 Minutes: Tami
Weekly: Charlotte
Tips: Kim
Good luck with the new cycle!!
Back on My Feet
Well, I am not sure if any of you have noticed but I kind of dropped of the house keeping wall. I tried to keep up when it was my turn to post things but I have not kept track of my score, and for good reason.....it has not been much of a score. I have had a hard time being on my feet for long periods of time, and even rooms that I can sit and clean have drained most of my energy doing just one room. I am feeling much better these days and I have found that I can get a lot more done that I have for the last 2-3 months. (I am also ready to reclaim my floors, cupboards, closets, etc.) I think this is the start of a new cycle....right? So here goes, I am going to try to get back into the swing of things, get all my daily points and actually attempt the challenges (so go easy on me) It is a bad week to start because Bryan and I took Saturday off and did not clean the house at all, then we were home from church yesterday, so things have gotten especially bad, but I find that it is almost easier for me to get started when it is really bad vs when it is only kind of bad. (is that really weird?) Anyway, I am glad I have this support group to see me through and hope that I can carry through with my new goal to get a good score this week/month! Check up with me and see how I am doing, I am counting on you.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tuesday Tip: Baking Soda
I can see clearly now.
Monday, September 21, 2009
5 Minute Challenges
2- Wipe base of toilets
3- Kitchen table and chair legs
4-Wash rugs (i.e. bathroom rugs, etc.)
5- Make one appointment you've been neglecting- Doctor, VT, haircut, dentist, etc. (If you are all caught up on your appts., maybe call someone you Visit Teach and check in on them)
My weekly routine
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
5 Minute Challenges
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Woo Hoo!
Bonus points this week!
I just did this (on my own!) about a week and a half ago. I did need just a minute to do a little rearranging in the freezer.
Confession: I was going to make a post about how productive I'd been, completing a few extra projects like the laundry room and fridge... but I was secretly hoping that if I kept my mouth shut someone would choose this as a challenge and I'd get the bonus points! Mwahahahaha!
Weekly Tip- Use the Snack Sizes!!
- Divide out the whole bag/box at once. Otherwise the kids will get into the stuff and it won't really be saving you money. After I put them into the bags I put them back into the container they came in (if it is big enough).
- Buy the $3 container and put some of each choice in it. It makes it easier to choose when they can see the whole selection at once. I try to keep three options available for both chips and snacks. When it gets low, I add more from their stored containers (from above)
- I tried not freezing the cookies because the kids would eat them pretty quickly- it is worth it to freeze the homemade stuff.
- Don't overfill the bags. 3 vanilla wafers or 5 pretzels seem to be enough for the kids.
- Buy the name brand bags. I tried the off brand, they did not work as well.
Weekly Challenge: Clean out your hearts closet
The extra room was a closet in their heart. A place where you stored offenses, bitter feelings toward others, hurt feeling, unforgiven things, etc. Basically things you were pretending you had forgiven but that they were really keeping around but hidden. These things we keep in our heart's closet are taking up space that could be used for so many other things.
So basically the challenge is to start to clean out your closet. Think of something you have been holding against another person and forget about it. Forgive them. Let those wasteful feeling go. This isn't an easy thing but something that will truly improve the quality of your life.
Oh yeah and while your at it clean out your fridge and freezer!!! :)
Monday, September 14, 2009
Assignments, Week 3
Weekly: Tami
Tips: Charlotte
I'm getting better, but for some reason Fridays are always a dud for me. I'll have to work extra hard to get it done on the last day this week!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
And to think, it only took me 3 and a half hours
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Tuesday Tips
5 Minute Challenges
Weekly Challenge
(Can you spot the blocks??)
This week's challenge is your kitchen cupboards! Remove the dishes and wipe down the shelves, organize those canned goods, wipe up the powdered sugar that spilled all over the lazy susan weeks ago (oh, is that just me?), etc.
And, yes, I realize I am AGAIN handing over bonus points to certain people who might have recently moved! :-)
Let's see some awesome before/after pics!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Weekly Score (Charlotte)
Mop- 5
Laundry- 5
Bathrooms-5
5 Minute Challenges- 5 + 5
Dishes- 4
Sweep- 4
Vacuum- 4
Bed- 1
Read- 0
Weekly- 30
Total: 68
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Worked hard this week
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Have you been doing your daily work?
Monday, August 31, 2009
Dusting, Windows, and Baseboards ... Oh My!
5 Minute Challenges
1- clean garbage can
2- wash mirrors
3- clean sink
4- computer desk
5- top of washing machine
Weekly Assignments
5 minutes: Charlotte
Weekly: Kim
Tips: Tami
I tried to space out the assignments so that you only have to do one every other week. Good luck! I'll have to post the 5 minute challenges later (as I am in the middle of scouring my bathrooms now and only took a 5 minute break at the half way point). Lets keep track of our progress here!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
No Fair
Ditto!
Hooray for fresh starts and FALL!
Count me in too!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Time to Reclaim the House
Now that my kids are in school I am feeling a huge drive to reclaim my house. Over the summer (and a little before to tell the truth) things have sunk into craziness and I have a list of things that need cleaned out and reorganized. The list included every area in my house :( My plan is to tackle one area a day until things get back into order. I have 4 hours every morning after the older kids leave and before Joseph heads to school. This will be my reclaiming time. So far there have been 2 days of school and I have cleaned 2 area. Until I get done my goals sidebar will be my reclaiming list. I'm hoping to be done in a few weeks. Wish me luck!!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Dropped the ball... off the empire state building.
So, is everyone else ready to drop the summer funk behind them?? Let's get the party started.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Weekly Challenge: Beds!!!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tuesday Tip
Recently I have found something that has worked wonders for my housecleaning motivation:
Podacasts and Audiobooks.
Specifically, on my iPod. I've tried just bringing my laptop in the kitchen to listen while I cook or clean, but there are so many distractions it just doesn't cut it. So now I stick the earbuds in, turn on my book (I'm listening to Pretties right now), and blissfully ignore the children and all other household distractions while I finish what needs to be done. This has also helped me while running- I let myself get wrapped up in the story and forget what I'm doing for a few seconds.
Podcasts I enjoy include Stuff You Should Know and This American Life.
I'd love to hear if anyone else tries this, and what books and/or Podcasts they like.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
5 Minuters
2- Wipe kitchen cupboard doors
3- Wipe bathroom cupboard doors
4- Dust: shelves, screens, clocks, tables
5- Wipe off at least two kitchen shelves
Monday, August 10, 2009
Weekly Challenge: Clothes
Anyway, the challenge for this month is school related. I know it is time for me to pull out the winter/fall clothes and make a list for school this year. The challenge is to go through the clothes again and make sure everything is organized. For me that involves putting away the outgrown things, pulling out the stored things that fit and making a list of any gaps in clothing that I need to fill. I like to do it before school starts each year. Good luck!
Challenge Review...CHECK!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
August - Week 2
Weekly Challenge: Charlotte
Tips: Tami
Good luck.
N-O E-X-C-U-S-E-S this week ladies!
Keep track of your weekly points on this post.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
5 minute challenges
Monday, August 3, 2009
Weekly Challenge Review
Weekly Tip
August Begins!!!
Here are the assignments:
5 Minutes: Tamerel Jo
Weekly: Brenda Ranae
Tips: Mother LeAnn
Keep track of your points here ... no excuses this month ... good luck!!!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Finally Mended
Monday, July 27, 2009
Weekly Challenge : Closets, again
Last Week of the Cycle!
Weekly : Kim
Tips : Charlotte
This is the last week of July's cycle! Everyone kick it into high gear. I have to say I was at Tami's house several times last week and it was spotless everytime I walked in. It was so nice. So, even though I'd gotten most my points last week, I spent about 3 hours yesterday just cleaning up. Now it is Monday morning, my house is already clean. On Mondays I leave Abe at a friend's house (I watch her son on Wed), so I am taking Tyler to baby lapsit and going shopping since I don't have to clean!! Hooray!
Keep track of your points here.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Andrea's Challenge (A Little Late!)
In my defense of this photo, my playroom was clean enough to sort my laundry in. Then I got really sick and the laundry sat there all week. The floor pillows are from the kids watching TV in there and are not really a part of the mess.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Junk Drawer
My Harry Potter dolls. I'd totally forgotten about these and can't wait to play with them with Abe.
Randomly I found both of my positive pregnancy tests. The back, pink one was for Abe and the front purple one was for Tyler. What a great keepsake.
Motherly Question
Thanks.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Weekly Challenge
Some ideas:
weed the garden
plant some flowers
mow the lawn
sweep the driveway
spray/sweep porch for spiderwebs
Heck, if you want to count playing with your kids at the park, I'd give you the points.
5 minute cleans
Let me think, let me think ...
1) Bedroom dresser
2) Trunk of car
3) Junk drawer
4) Windows
5) Microwave
6) Find that smell in my front room- oh, wait, that one is just for me...
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Weekly Assignments
5 minute: Charlotte
Weekly: Andrea
Tips: Brenda
Good luck. Keep track of points here.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Weekly Challenge
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tip of the Week
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
5 Minute Challenges
Weekly Assignments
5 Minutes: Brenda
Challenge: Tami
Tips: Andrea (although it seems as though she stepped in and did it for Charlotte just last week, so if she doesn't want to this week we'll skip her and I'll do it, just let me know)
Good luck to everyone this week. I know I'm getting all my points for sure!!!! This girl needs her some jewelry!
Keep track of your points on this post.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Craft Area = BONUS points!
Notice all the water on the side?? Hooray for food storage.
It isn't *AS* bad
Two Thumbs Up
Friday, July 10, 2009
Just a Check-up
I am feeling really good about this week. If I straighten my bathroom drawers tomorrow, I'm looking at a perfect score! I was motivated half by Brenda's bribe and half by the fact that we're expecting company this weekend. I've not only been happier and more relaxed with such a clean house, I've been able to do lots of fun family stuff and complete some of those long-needed projects. One of those projects was cleaning out the computer desk, and I was reminded of my vow to never let it get "that bad".
Luckily, I am not alone in this claim. If I remember correctly, each one of us has, at one point or another, claimed that we would do this or that challenge and then keep it tidy.
SO.....
I want the following people to please take a picture of the following areas and post it ASAP. We need to check up on you and make sure you are keeping your promises!
Charlotte- Kids' playroom
Brenda- Laundry room
Kim- Nightstand
Tami- Kids' closet
LeAnn- Computer desk
Ok, no cheating, I really want to see how you guys are doing! I'm so excited!
Monday, July 6, 2009
5 Minutes
1. Sweep porch or patio
2. Straighten bathroom drawers / cupboards (keep them from being a challenge again!)
3. Mop one area besides kitchen (bathroom, stairs, etc)
4. Vacuum under cushions of couch
5. Clean top of fridge
Weekly Challenge- Craft Area
2nd week of cycle assignments
Here are the assignments this week. Keep track of points on this post. I am going to try to get that scripture reading done so I can have a perfect score this week!
5 Minutes: Kim
Weekly: Charlotte
Tips: Tami
Grossest Garage Ever
But the smell was still there! As I was cleaning the last area up, I noticed the smell was greatest right by the freezer. It was coming from behind the freezer. A quick inspection revealed the culprit: a week ago Matthew had left the freezer door slightly ajar and the meat in there (remember our cow we bought?) had defrosted. It was still pretty cold, so it wasn't ruined. I shut the door and everything refroze. What I didn't realize at the time was that the defrost tray on the bottom of the freezer had filled with meat juice. It has gone rancid and I can't figure out how to get it off to clean. I pulled out as much liquid as I could with paper towels and added some diluted bleach to the tray, but the smell was only slightly reduced. I am trying to convince Peter to replace the whole thing as it is 10 yrs old, runs hot on the outside, freezes only barely and is hard to shut tight. Until something happens, we have to live with the nasty smell.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Back & Begging for Mercy!
Daily Points: 3 x 10 = 30 + 4 + 4 = 38
5 min challenges = 5 + 5 = 10 = 48
Bathrooms = 5 = 53
Mop = 5 = 58
Laundry = 5 = 63
Weekly Challenge = 30 = 93 out of 105 possible.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday Tip
Solution:
Oven Cleaner
Maybe it seems like an obvious solution, but it took almost a week of having a big ugly burnt-food spot on my brand new stove, and trying every cleanser and method of scrubbing and scraping, for me to discover it. Just spray onto the offensive spill, let sit for around an hour (depending on intensity of spill and burnage) and voila! It wipes right off. Works every time.
Summer is a Little Busy for Me
I'm sorry I am so late getting things posted. I have decided I need to just do the best I can this summer, but spending time making time with the kids are the priority. That means that we spend most mornings away from the house and most afternoons on the beach. I will try to get my daily things done, but can't promise I'll achieve any of the challenges. That being said, maybe someone else can be in charge of keeping track of who has assignments this week? I would appreciate it. If no one cares to do it, I will try to keep up. I think since everyone had an off week last week we will go with Andreas idea and keep the weekly and 5 minute challenges the same this week and rotate next week. That means, I suppose, that I need to come up with another tip. I will think about it and let you know.
Hope everyone is enjoying their summer!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
A New Incentive Program!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
A Game for my Tip
I like that we can play it with just our family at a local park. It is also perfect for classes (the kids played it all the time at school) or church groups. Even uncoordinated people like me hit the ball. The whole time we played, I never saw someone strike out. It is really fun and you should give it a try.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
5 Minute Challenges
1- Vacuum edges of carpet (at least one room)
2- Clean all mirrors
3- Deep clean high chair (or equivalent)
4- Clean inside & outside of sliding glass door (or equivalent)
5- Read one Ensign article
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Garage
Monday, June 22, 2009
Last Week of Cycle
Here are the assignments this week:
5 Minutes: Andrea
Weekly: Brenda
Tips: Charlotte
Happy Cleaning!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Weekly Challenge
5 minute challenges
2. Dust out light fixtures
3. Make Grandpa Bodily a father's day card and mail it
4. Wipe off top of fridge
5. Sanitize outside of garbage cans
Monday, June 15, 2009
LEMONS
Weekly Challenge- Done!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Tuesday Tips - Kids Journals.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Weekly Challenge- Charlotte
I clean my fridge out almost every week on shopping day. Sometimes it gets pretty bad, but usually it isn't too bad. My freezer, however, just gets stuffed fuller and fuller. It is SO small and my family is SO big that it looks crowded all the time. I even have an outside one that is also full. Ever since we bought the cow and stored it outside, my freezers have been a mess. So I pulled it out and organized it. Surprises: 3 bags broccoli, 4 bags strawberries, 15 small bags mozzarella cheese (I buy big bags and store them in smaller ones and must have accidentally done it 2 or 3 times thinking I was out), and 3 opened bags of hotdogs. I'm saying that this REALLY needed done. To make room I moved all the meats to the outside freezer.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Weekly Challenge
5 Minutes
2. straighten broom closet (or where ever it is you keep the brooms and cleaning stuff)
3. electronic screens (mine need it again)
4. straighten computer desk
5. table/chair legs
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Mas bonus points, por favor!
So with my 2 minutes I straightened the snack-food shelf:
And cleaned up some sugar that spilled:
Here's the rest of my cupboards:
Watch out, ladies. I might actually be a threat this month!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Weekly Challenge completed- Charlotte
Until I posted this, I had no idea I had a passion for kitchen organization, but apparently I do. Maybe because it is one of the few places the kids can't mess up?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Weekly Challenge
So there you go. Good luck and happy cleaning!
Tuesday Tip
When I know I need to clean something just because I "have" to, my motivation is at -12. But if I decide to have a specific purpose for doing it I am able to get going and get so much more accomplished. Maybe points are the only thing that motivate you, or the look of surprise on your husband's face when he comes home, or, like Brenda said, having a more "refined" home.
Sometimes I try to remind myself who I do it for- to set a good example for my kids and show my husband that I love and appreciate his hard work.
Although- my motivation might not always be positive (yesterday I worked SO HARD so that I could prove to Barlow that I could get more done in half a day than he did in the 10 days I was gone... but that's another post.)
Whatever your inspiration, think about it this week as you get ready for summer!
Monday, June 1, 2009
5 minute challenges
Lets start again
5 Minutes: Brenda
Weekly: Tami
Tips: Andrea
Happy cleaning!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Week Off
Friday, May 22, 2009
Piggy Banks/Saving Jars
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Just File this Under Weekly Challenge
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
5 Minute Challenges
2. Post your menu to recipe blog
3. Clean diaper bag / purse
4. Wash windows
5. Vacuum under a larger peices of furniture (bed or couch or coffee table, etc)
Monday, May 18, 2009
Ahhh...... Finally
Week 3
5 Minutes: Kim
Weekly: Charlotte
Tips: Tami
I will have the weekly posted by tonight, but right now I am late for visiting teaching so I gotta go~ Happy Cleaning! Don't forget to post your progress here. Also, with summer approaching, I think we need a plan for points for those vacation days when the cleaning regimen isn't an option. Any ideas?