Monday, February 25, 2013
Daily house cleaning routine
Ok, I don't know about anyone else but I find myself searching for hours for an efficient way to clean the house. Mainly because I like when someone says do this, then this, and then this. I like cleaning my house in steps. Unfortunately I've found that a lot of house cleaning steps don't makes sense. Like they'll say "wipe kitchen counters" with out once mentioning to take off the jelly crusted plates your kids left on it.So I've decided to make a cleaning schedule for every day. For moms. You know, one that makes sense- using the tips I've gathered over the years.
Let me say though that my house is never totally clean. But if I let those layers of gunk build up then hoarders will come knocking on my door. This is just maintaining your house when you have kids.
1) go around the house and gather all the dirty laundry and put it in the correct baskets. (I personally have 5. 1 for each day of the week. Mondays I wash pants. Tuesday is pjs, socks, and underwear. Wednesday is shirts. Thursday is whites and sheets that have been the victims of "accidents". And Fridays is delicates and towels)
2) start a load of laundry.
3) gather all dirty dishes from around the house and put it In the dirty dishes side of the sink. Yes, get the dishes from other counters in the kitchen and put it by the sink. I can't be the only one who's laded the dishwasher and then turned around to see a pile of plates on the stove.
4) unload the dishwasher and/or clean dishes rack (I don't put knives in the dishwasher so I usually have some knives to be put away from the rack).
5) wash/load the dishwasher in this order- plates, bowls, cups, silverware, pots and pans, misc. wash by hand whatever doesn't fit.
6) here's where you'll need your multi tasking skills. It's toy time. First let me say that I have one of those shelves that holds many buckets and have separated toys by categories. Cars in one, animals in another, balls in another etc. Take one day and seperate your toys by type. Things will be easier later. Now where you are right now get the toys you can see and gather them up. Put away what you have I. Your hand. Chances are you're in another room now. Pick up toys where you are now and put them away. Go through the whole house and pick up toys. Do not DO NOT pick up a toy then go put it away and then come back. Don't enter or leave a room empty handed until the toys are picked up.
7) check on the laundry. If its ready to be put in the dryer do so and then if its a multi load day put the second load in.
8) go back in the kitchen and put away things that go in the fridge.
9) put away things that go in cupboards.
10) if you've washed anything by hand you'd have a sink of soapy water, if not fill one up or spray your counters with every day cleaner. Now wipe the counters. Note that I view the stove top as a counter while cleaning. I mean its right there.
11) clear the table you eat at. Chances are its probably fairly cleared now that you've sorted dirty laundry, and gotten the dishes and toys. Now wash it.
12) stop and look at the awesome.
13) back to work. Put away all shoes from around the house.
14) hang up all coats/jackets.
15) pour some vinegar or bleach in all the toilets
16) vacume the living room
17) make the beds. Some people think this is a step that can be skipped. I believe you sleep better in a bed that been properly made. Also I've gone through days/nights when I need to put the kids to bed only to see that I forgot to put clean sheets on the bed after they've had an accident.
18) spray and clean the toilets. Flush the vinegar or bleach down
19) take the clothes from the dryer if they're ready and put them on the table to fold later (I fold during nap time while catching up on my shows)
20) if its a multi load day put the second load in the dryer.
21) you're done! Eat a piece of chocolate!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
My Town
Most people who know me (Hell, I think even those who don't) know I'm a CA girl. Born and raised. It is my second home and always will be. When I die part of my ashes will been strewn in the foothills (like there's not already dead things strewn about the foothills).I left CA when I was 18. For Kentucky.
The culture shock was insane. And depressing. And lonely. And in a way the hurtful words of the people in the small town we lived in made me cling to my home state even more.
We Californians already seem snobby to people in the midwest- we don't see it, or understand how we can be perceived that way. It's a few cultural behaviors though.
In CA we don't smile and wave to people passing us by. We keep to ourselves. In the midwest, whether they know you or not, they smile and do the steering wheel wave. It took many years before I realized it was just a thing they did and didn't have the gut reaction of "what the hell is your problem?"
It's slower- even in the city. People will stop their cars, in the middle of the street, to have a quick conversation.
After I met Stephen and we soon started talking about marriage I told him that if we got married in CA I'd move in KC with him and that's where we'd raise our family.
I won't get into details of why, but we got married in Colorado and now live in Kansas City.
I'm slowly but surely growing to love KC. I do indeed feel at home here and am thankful we can raise our kids in such a neat town.
Heck, there are even times when I'm proud of it.
KC is one of those gems that most people disregard as just another midwest town.
They don't know about the awesome art and music scenes. The gorgeous architecture. The people.
I do get weird looks from people when I tell them I root for the Raiders (as though I actually watch football lol). The Chiefs have, apparently, a long standing rivalry with the Raiders. And that I prefer Texas BBQ over KC (Texas bbq is a more vinegar based BBQ which I looove).
But by now most people tune me out when I mention, again, that I'm from CA. I can't help it. We just seem to do that. A lot.
So when the prompt for this week's Focus52 came up and was Your Town I got super excited to show of my Midwest home.
My home.
(note, I had to take photos with the boys with me- it's hard to walk a straight line let alone be able to take photos so I didn't get everything I wanted.
Most people don't know this but KC actually has more fountains in it then Paris does. Beautiful fountains:
Most people when walking through KC just walk and go about their business, never looking up.
I wish they would. KC has some of the most beautiful architecture. Most buildings are frosted with gorgeous work. In fact one building in KC (which I didn't get to take a photo of) was the inspiration for the apartment building in the first GhostBusters film.
This building isn't even close to the gorgeous architecture that lines the city streets:
There also very midwestern elements. Like the restaurant that's an old train car and the normalcy of a BBQ pit next to a tractor on the side of the parking lot:
Last year I decided I should do something nice for my husband so the nagging thought that I hate KC and wished every second of the day I was back in CA.
So I did the best thing I could.
I bought a Chiefs shirt.
Yeah. I like my town.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Minimal. Simple.
This week's Focus52 prompt is Minimal.I don't know about you but I think we females have one hell of a time accepting our flaws. I'm not saying we should think everything about ourselves is ridiculously sexy, I just think we should accept the fact.
Or maybe we should think everything about ourselves is ridiculously sexy. Hmm. No. Maybe not- cause then we wind up delusional.
I, for one, am dead set against being one of those delusional females who don't quite understand that yes, men like curves, but that means boobs and a significantly smaller waist. Not boobs on top of a gut. Boobs are not boobs.
I wish they were.
However in my stubborness and obsession not to be one of those females who are indeed delusional I've built up a nice, thick wall of doubt.
But slowly, very very very... very slowly I am starting to accept small parts of my body. Oh sure, thoughts creep in. You know when you say to yourself "I look like this- but I'm the only one that accepts it... waaahhhh"
I do not have the best confidence- oh no no no- but there are times when I find myself in a room full of females (and when I say room I mean facebook hehe) and all I hear is just the most annoying crap and I want to punch all of them in the faces. In the faces!
My want to accept my body and all it's changes that will happen goes so far as to be absolutely against plastic surgery (even a small lift and tuck I'm against).
Every female I know sees herself completely different than how she actually is.
We live in a world where there are women out there who can identify with that old Special K commercial- the one where the woman is whining because she can't fit into her toddler aged daughter's toddler sized chair.
Seriously. What the fuck?
What is wrong with us?
No- I'm not saying eat doughnuts 3 meals a day and say "dammmnnn I'm so skinny!" - but damn thinking your skinny ass is fat? Or trying things in desperation so no one will know you've have kids. Why? Stop it. It's annoying.
But, like I said, I too am guilty of viewing myself with doubt colored glasses.
Back to this week's 52... (sheesh I sure can yap lol).
So think week- simple photos of small, and simple bits I'm learning to accept:
First- do you know how hard it is for a curly girl to accept her curls? Not only that but to learn how to break the habit of washing it as though we have straight hair? Thankfully about a year ago I stumbled into Naturally Curly.com. So- curly girls- go there.
Next- I've have 3 kids. The youngest is over a year. I still look pregnant. Am I working to get healthy and back into shape? Yes. Do I know I will won't look how I used to before kids? Yes. Am I ok with that? Getting there...
Ok. So these might not be minimalist photos- but they're stripped down, so to speak.
Thursday, March 08, 2012
Admitting imperfection
I do not know any mom who doesn't have the teeniest bit of judgmental tendencies when it comes to other parents. All of us have looked another mom and for a split second smile in the knowledge that our parenting skills are sooo much better than theirs.And most people would agree that "hey unless you're beating your kids or molesting them- you should parent how you want to" and for the most part I do agree with that sentiment.
But- well here comes the confession.
I never wanted to be the type of mom (that I seem to always be surrounded by) that runs to her kids when they take a fall.
Bragging rights for a moment- when my kids fall down, even from what other moms think of as "high up" my kids 99% of the time get up, dust it off, and keep going. And I'm proud of that accomplishment.
BUT- oh how there is a but...
My want not to be "that mom" has become almost a sub-conscience obsession. Maybe not as bad as telling them "so what if a crocodile ripped your face off! Go play!"
But whenever I'm around, like Facebook and I see other moms posting about how wonderful their kids are and how much they love them- my immediate thought is that they're "those" types of mom.
I admit, that even though I don't want to be the mom carrying bubble wrap in her purse - I forgot how to love my kids.
Now, that's not to say I don't love my kids. I do- very much. I'd shoot someone in the face if they tried to hurt them. I'd sacrifice every personal luxury to give them a chance a better education and a better life.
But I've forgotten the simplest of moments. Plain and simple- nothing added- just plain moments of loving joy. The split second - take a breath in, think to myself how much I adore them, breathe out. That quick. That simple.
Maybe its because my mind never stops. Maybe it's because I'm pretty much with them 24/7. I don't usually get an opportunity to physically take a step back. Step outside myself- not being the one mainly responsible for making sure they're respectful, well-behaved, fed, have a thirst for life and education, etc.
I am jealous of other SAHMs who've seemed to find away to be with them all day and night and still be able to take a step back and have a moment of simplicity.
And it makes me sad.
Thursday, March 01, 2012
J is for... Jubilee
I normally try not to get super political or activisty here. And I'm not really going to now. But this happens to be an issue I feel strongly about and so it made sense that this week's Focus 52 prompt- J- would be for Jubilee.Let me explain.
I will say it loud and proud- I am a fan of the The Duggars. We do not share pretty much any political or religious beliefs but I adore them in a way makes my heart ache. Not in the "oooh celebrity!" way. No. Forget that. They are, to me, some of the kindest, respectful, loving, accepting, wonderful people on the planet. I have learned so much from the wisdom of Michelle- she's opened my eyes to a whole new area of motherhood and life I might not have known if not for her.
Recently they miscarried their 20th (yes, 20th) child. They were going to name her Jubilee Shalom.
Before we had 3 rambunctious and crazy little boys we got pregnant.
Twice.
And miscarried.
Twice.
The first time I didn't find out until the 4th month. Thanks to the wonderful Army health insurance my first appointment wasn't going to be until I was 4 months pregnant.
I had what's known as a blighted ovum. Where you've miscarried but your body continues to tell you you're still pregnant. You still have all the symptoms and everything.
So because it was a blighted ovum I had to go in for surgery and have the fetus removed via DNC.
Saying they vacuumed it out sounds crass but that's basically what they did.
It was a rough time, needless to say, for Stephen and I.
Though I didn't realize it for a while, I needed someone to blame and I found myself blaming him. It was a terrible mountain we had to overcome- but we did.
We learned that miscarriages are more common than people think, and most people don't even know they've had one.
The day of the surgery- which was an in and out, go home the same day, surgery- after I woke up- there were nurses gathered around my bed. They gave me a tiny gold ring they give to all mothers who've had to go through a DNC and also a pin of feet. The exact shape and size of a fetus' feet at 8 weeks.
It's been on my purse ever since- for over 5 years now.
So that's why this week J is for Jubilee.
