I know some of you will read this and laugh at me.
Showing posts with label clean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label clean. Show all posts
Thursday, March 24, 2016
How to Clean a Peanut Butter Knife
***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***
I know some of you will read this and laugh at me.
I know some of you will read this and laugh at me.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Countdown Cleaning
In today's flashback post, I'm teaching you a simple technique for helping kids deal with chores.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
The Secret to Housekeeping Without Effort
I once read one of those "get skinny without effort" articles that claimed that fidgeting helps you lose weight.
Liars!
Liars!
Thursday, January 7, 2016
The Lazy Person's Guide to Eliminating Clutter
***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***
You're going to pretend that the pile of mess pictured below was staged for this blog post, okay?
You are so sweet to do that. After all, a person who blogs about order in your life would not have parts of her home that look like that, right?
You're going to pretend that the pile of mess pictured below was staged for this blog post, okay?
You are so sweet to do that. After all, a person who blogs about order in your life would not have parts of her home that look like that, right?
Monday, October 12, 2015
How to Make a Household Routine Checklist in a Planner
My house is often out of control. Stuff gets piled up on the island in the kitchen, and the bathroom counter, and the side desk, and the table, and, and, and...
Yes, I blog about organization and order. Yes, I teach people how to manage their lives. Yes, my therapist called me "high functioning" just this week!
Doesn't matter. If I don't do certain things every single day, I drown in housework.
Since nothing ruins a Saturday more than hours of household chores looming over my head, I have a MAGIC list of things that I do daily to keep things in check.
In addition to erasing the evidence of everything that I do throughout the day, I do my magical dailies every single day to keep my house and life in order.
PLANNER TIP: In your planner, use graph paper to make a simple chart of your Magic Dailies. Check them off as you get done! I keep them in my Projects section with other active projects.
MY MAGIC DAILIES
15 Minute Quick Clean - Sweep through the house and put things away. Clean areas that need wiping down. If the house is orderly, vacuum the carpet or clean a toilet. If everything is clear (HA HA HA!!!), organize the junk drawer.
Laundry - Throw in a load of laundry in the morning or as soon as you get home from work. Try to follow through to wash, dry, fold, and put away (or delegate to the family to put away). For times when it doesn't all get done, put those items away on tomorrow's laundry day.
(This laundry technique changed my life!)
Dishes - Unload/load the dishwasher. Hand wash dishes as needed.
Hot Spot - Pick the one hot spot that needs to stay clear and clear it off completely (by putting things away). For my household, the island in the kitchen is that hot spot.
Food Prep - Prep your food for dinner. Maybe that means jotting down what you are cooking. Maybe that means pulling something out of the freeze. Maybe that means chopping veggies. Perhaps you are ordering pizza. Just make sure the decision is made and any advanced steps are done.
Special Dailies - All of us have daily stuff that we need to add to our checklists. Maybe you take medication each day or you have to check email. I blog most days. Make a place for that stuff on your checklist.
Prep - Include prepping for the next day, including planning food, clothes, and any items for errands, work, or school, on your checklist.
PLANNER TIP: On your weekly pages, put a repeating task tab with the word "Dailies" on it on today's entry. As you complete your dailies, move the tab to tomorrow!
At first, it is hard to learn the routines. But if you put an X if something doesn't need doing (for example, if your hot spot is already clean) and a check mark if it is done, the empty spaces will remind you where you are slacking!
And you can give up cleaning all day on Saturday...your house and life will already be magically in order!
Etcetera.
If you enjoy what you read at Giftie Etcetera, please share on social media. Click here to join the Giftie Etcetera Facebook group.
Partied at: Marvelous Monday, Anything Goes, Good Morning Mondays, Something to Talk About, Meetup Monday, Monday Musings, Art of Homemaking, Mommy Meetup Monday, Create Link Inspire, Hip Homeschool Hop, Amaze Me Monday, What Are You Doing, Dream Create Inspire, Wednesday Showcase, Link It To Me, Creative Muster, Wow Us Wednesdays, Whimsy Wednesday, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Worthwhile Wednesdays, Way Back Wednesday, Wonderful Wednesday, Happy Home Life, Thoughtful Thursday, Think and Make Thursdays, This Is How I Roll, No Rules Weekend, Get Your Shine On, Momma Told Me, Weekend Blog Hop, Creative Inspirations, Fridays Five Features, Beautifully Creative Inspired, Funtastic Friday, Pretty Pintastic, My Favorite Things, Saturday Sparks, Saturday Sharefest, Skip the Housework, Share It One More Time, The Not Just Homemaking Party
Featured at: Meetup Monday
Yes, I blog about organization and order. Yes, I teach people how to manage their lives. Yes, my therapist called me "high functioning" just this week!
Doesn't matter. If I don't do certain things every single day, I drown in housework.
Since nothing ruins a Saturday more than hours of household chores looming over my head, I have a MAGIC list of things that I do daily to keep things in check.
In addition to erasing the evidence of everything that I do throughout the day, I do my magical dailies every single day to keep my house and life in order.
PLANNER TIP: In your planner, use graph paper to make a simple chart of your Magic Dailies. Check them off as you get done! I keep them in my Projects section with other active projects.
MY MAGIC DAILIES
15 Minute Quick Clean - Sweep through the house and put things away. Clean areas that need wiping down. If the house is orderly, vacuum the carpet or clean a toilet. If everything is clear (HA HA HA!!!), organize the junk drawer.
Laundry - Throw in a load of laundry in the morning or as soon as you get home from work. Try to follow through to wash, dry, fold, and put away (or delegate to the family to put away). For times when it doesn't all get done, put those items away on tomorrow's laundry day.
(This laundry technique changed my life!)
Dishes - Unload/load the dishwasher. Hand wash dishes as needed.
Hot Spot - Pick the one hot spot that needs to stay clear and clear it off completely (by putting things away). For my household, the island in the kitchen is that hot spot.
Food Prep - Prep your food for dinner. Maybe that means jotting down what you are cooking. Maybe that means pulling something out of the freeze. Maybe that means chopping veggies. Perhaps you are ordering pizza. Just make sure the decision is made and any advanced steps are done.
Special Dailies - All of us have daily stuff that we need to add to our checklists. Maybe you take medication each day or you have to check email. I blog most days. Make a place for that stuff on your checklist.
Prep - Include prepping for the next day, including planning food, clothes, and any items for errands, work, or school, on your checklist.
PLANNER TIP: On your weekly pages, put a repeating task tab with the word "Dailies" on it on today's entry. As you complete your dailies, move the tab to tomorrow!
At first, it is hard to learn the routines. But if you put an X if something doesn't need doing (for example, if your hot spot is already clean) and a check mark if it is done, the empty spaces will remind you where you are slacking!
And you can give up cleaning all day on Saturday...your house and life will already be magically in order!
Etcetera.
If you enjoy what you read at Giftie Etcetera, please share on social media. Click here to join the Giftie Etcetera Facebook group.
Partied at: Marvelous Monday, Anything Goes, Good Morning Mondays, Something to Talk About, Meetup Monday, Monday Musings, Art of Homemaking, Mommy Meetup Monday, Create Link Inspire, Hip Homeschool Hop, Amaze Me Monday, What Are You Doing, Dream Create Inspire, Wednesday Showcase, Link It To Me, Creative Muster, Wow Us Wednesdays, Whimsy Wednesday, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Worthwhile Wednesdays, Way Back Wednesday, Wonderful Wednesday, Happy Home Life, Thoughtful Thursday, Think and Make Thursdays, This Is How I Roll, No Rules Weekend, Get Your Shine On, Momma Told Me, Weekend Blog Hop, Creative Inspirations, Fridays Five Features, Beautifully Creative Inspired, Funtastic Friday, Pretty Pintastic, My Favorite Things, Saturday Sparks, Saturday Sharefest, Skip the Housework, Share It One More Time, The Not Just Homemaking Party
Featured at: Meetup Monday
Thursday, July 9, 2015
The Proper Order of Cleaning Up
I hear rumors of people who love housework. They patter around the house, singing along with the oldies station on the radio (which, let's face it, feature songs from when I was in college), and smile while mopping the floor.
Oh, wait...those are commercials!
There is an easier way to clean up that saves so much time and effort. And I'm going to share it with you. (Hint: It does not involve tennis shoes or the kitchen sink!)
TIP: Set a timer and do as many steps as you can in that time.
I set mine for fifteen minutes a day (and move to other rooms if the kitchen/living room are clean or if other rooms need cleaning more). For your first time, you might want to put aside an hour. But maintenance shouldn't take more than 15 minutes in a single room, unless you fail to erase the evidence as you go!
There are five easy-to-remember steps: clear, spray, dry, wet, and mop.
1. CLEAR: Clear off flat surfaces.
I won't lie. You will HATE this part. But put on your Fit Bit and earn those steps! You won't regret it.
When I clear off, I don't just dump things into a basket. I actually take each item and put it away in its home. My hair ties go into a hanging organizer in the bathroom. My keys go in my purse, hanging for a hook on my desk. My kids' toys go in their seats at the kitchen table - for removal to their bedrooms before they get to eat again - tucked under the table so I don't have to look at it. Dirty dishes go in the dishwasher. Folded clothes goes to the closet.
PLANNER TIP: Have something with no home? Write a task to "find home" in your planner and put the something in your hold box.
Probably the most time consuming part of cleaning any room is clearing off surfaces. But if you do it daily (or almost daily) and as you go through your day, it's also the most rewarding part.
TIP: If you have hot spots, decide if that should be the new home of the item. Keys can be corralled in a $1 decorative bowl bought at any thrift store. Thrift store bags and baskets are great for holding library books or mail for your husband.
Clearing will have a greater impact than anything else you do, so if you only get to this step today, that is completely fine.
2. SPRAY: Spray and soak raised surfaces.
For the longest time, I would spray, wipe, respray, rewipe, spray, wait during soaking, and finally scrub off a spot.
What a waste of time and money!
Spray any dirty spots and walk away.
3. DRY: Dust/sweep.
Next do the dry stuff, while the wet stuff is soaking. Dust from top to bottom, then sweep the floor.
4. WET: Wipe surfaces, in this order: a) germ catchers, b) high impact, and c) everything else.
Germ catchers are places like handles and knobs. Cleaning them first saves you time in the form of not getting sick!
High impact areas should be cleaned next. Your house will simply look better. Wipe down that counter and that stove top.
Finally, time permitting, do everything else. Clean inside of the microwave and that area on the door that gets footprints on it. But if you don't, no worries. You'll probably be the only one who even notices.
5. MOP: Mop.
I always mop last. (Let's be frank. If I mop, I always mop last.) After all, my food is not eaten off the floor. Only my shoes touch the floor! And if I wait long enough, my 9 year old will beg to mop it for electronics time.
This system will take a while to learn, but logging the time in my planner helped me to be realistic about how long it takes to clean my house.
This sample Weekly Schedule (created in OneNote 2013 as a time log) is available in blank form at www.calendarpedia.com (not linked here as I didn't ask them first and don't want to presume).
Notice that each room takes less and less time to clean as long as you keep it up! I clean the kitchen (at least through step 4) most days of the week.
This printable also is a great way to schedule out your week.
Want to chat about cleaning, organizing, and time management?
Click on Etcetera below to join our discussion on Facebook!
Oh, wait...those are commercials!
There is an easier way to clean up that saves so much time and effort. And I'm going to share it with you. (Hint: It does not involve tennis shoes or the kitchen sink!)
TIP: Set a timer and do as many steps as you can in that time.
I set mine for fifteen minutes a day (and move to other rooms if the kitchen/living room are clean or if other rooms need cleaning more). For your first time, you might want to put aside an hour. But maintenance shouldn't take more than 15 minutes in a single room, unless you fail to erase the evidence as you go!
There are five easy-to-remember steps: clear, spray, dry, wet, and mop.
1. CLEAR: Clear off flat surfaces.
I won't lie. You will HATE this part. But put on your Fit Bit and earn those steps! You won't regret it.
When I clear off, I don't just dump things into a basket. I actually take each item and put it away in its home. My hair ties go into a hanging organizer in the bathroom. My keys go in my purse, hanging for a hook on my desk. My kids' toys go in their seats at the kitchen table - for removal to their bedrooms before they get to eat again - tucked under the table so I don't have to look at it. Dirty dishes go in the dishwasher. Folded clothes goes to the closet.
PLANNER TIP: Have something with no home? Write a task to "find home" in your planner and put the something in your hold box.
Probably the most time consuming part of cleaning any room is clearing off surfaces. But if you do it daily (or almost daily) and as you go through your day, it's also the most rewarding part.
TIP: If you have hot spots, decide if that should be the new home of the item. Keys can be corralled in a $1 decorative bowl bought at any thrift store. Thrift store bags and baskets are great for holding library books or mail for your husband.
Clearing will have a greater impact than anything else you do, so if you only get to this step today, that is completely fine.
2. SPRAY: Spray and soak raised surfaces.
For the longest time, I would spray, wipe, respray, rewipe, spray, wait during soaking, and finally scrub off a spot.
What a waste of time and money!
Spray any dirty spots and walk away.
3. DRY: Dust/sweep.
Next do the dry stuff, while the wet stuff is soaking. Dust from top to bottom, then sweep the floor.
4. WET: Wipe surfaces, in this order: a) germ catchers, b) high impact, and c) everything else.
Germ catchers are places like handles and knobs. Cleaning them first saves you time in the form of not getting sick!
High impact areas should be cleaned next. Your house will simply look better. Wipe down that counter and that stove top.
Finally, time permitting, do everything else. Clean inside of the microwave and that area on the door that gets footprints on it. But if you don't, no worries. You'll probably be the only one who even notices.
5. MOP: Mop.
I always mop last. (Let's be frank. If I mop, I always mop last.) After all, my food is not eaten off the floor. Only my shoes touch the floor! And if I wait long enough, my 9 year old will beg to mop it for electronics time.
This system will take a while to learn, but logging the time in my planner helped me to be realistic about how long it takes to clean my house.
This sample Weekly Schedule (created in OneNote 2013 as a time log) is available in blank form at www.calendarpedia.com (not linked here as I didn't ask them first and don't want to presume).
Notice that each room takes less and less time to clean as long as you keep it up! I clean the kitchen (at least through step 4) most days of the week.
This printable also is a great way to schedule out your week.
Want to chat about cleaning, organizing, and time management?
Click on Etcetera below to join our discussion on Facebook!
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Sparkly Clean, Organized Houses - Only on TV
I understand that television is fake. But I think directors could change one little thing to make sitcoms seem more real.
They could add a sink full of dishes to the set.
My kitchen (pictured above) is not a mess. But (left to clockwise) my chairs are not tucked carefully under the table, my purses and bags are unzipped and hanging haphazardly over my desk, and there is a mug and a plate on my side table.
That's the reality. A bachelor on a sitcom? He has a Mountain Dew can, open and empty, on some surface. A college girl? She has four pairs of shoes slipped off right in the doorway. A mom? There's probably sticky orange juice on the counter and a pile of mail to sort.
Sitcoms could really up the realism by simply letting the sets get messy.
Why don't they? I, for one, would welcome the recognition that things are not perfect in real life.
So, vote in the comments - sparkly sets or realistic sets? I'd love to hear what you think.
Etcetera.
Linked at: , Foodie Friends Friday, Frugal Friday
They could add a sink full of dishes to the set.
My kitchen (pictured above) is not a mess. But (left to clockwise) my chairs are not tucked carefully under the table, my purses and bags are unzipped and hanging haphazardly over my desk, and there is a mug and a plate on my side table.
That's the reality. A bachelor on a sitcom? He has a Mountain Dew can, open and empty, on some surface. A college girl? She has four pairs of shoes slipped off right in the doorway. A mom? There's probably sticky orange juice on the counter and a pile of mail to sort.
Sitcoms could really up the realism by simply letting the sets get messy.
Why don't they? I, for one, would welcome the recognition that things are not perfect in real life.
So, vote in the comments - sparkly sets or realistic sets? I'd love to hear what you think.
Etcetera.
Linked at: , Foodie Friends Friday, Frugal Friday
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Clean This First: One Step to Make House Cleaning Easier
***This post may contain affiliate links. These links help you find the items that I use in my planner and financially support this blog. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***
If you know anything about the world of housekeeping, homemaking, or organizing websites, you probably think I'm going to say "clean your sink" first.
Of course not!
Cleaning your sink to keep your house clean is a silly tactic for most people. In my house, for example, my nine year old is in charge of dishes. Every day, after school, he unloads and loads the dishwasher. If I cleaned the sink each morning, I'd just ending up doing a chore that I have effectively delegated. That would be crazy.
Instead, I clean off the island in the kitchen first.
You can see how that would instantly improve the condition of my home. (You can also see that I have no shame. Who posts their mess for the whole world to see?)
In my home, the island is a hot spot. It is where things land in the afternoon rush. The island is where I prepare veggies for dinner. It is where we gather to chat about our day. The island is where we fold laundry, since it is near the laundry closet.
If the island is clean, it not only affects the visual of the whole house (with an open floor plan that means everyone sees the kitchen), but a clean island makes other chores easier. In addition to cooking and laundry, a clean island means that I can rest cleaning supplies or pots there while I clean the stove or the kitchen table. A clean island gives me a place to clean out my purse or do a craft.
Understand, I do not suggest that you clean the island in your house first.
Instead, I suggest that you identify your hot spot. What is the one place that, if neat and clean, would produce great visual impact and allow more stuff to get done?
Even though I never make the beds, if that is where you fold clothes, your bed might be that spot. Perhaps it is your coffee table or a counter where you dump stuff at the end of a long day.
Heck, it might even be your sink!
But it's not your sink because someone arbitrarily declared sinks important. It's your sink because that is your hot zone.
Find your hot zone. Now, promise yourself that, six days out of seven, you will clean that spot first. Watch how that simple tweak changes your home.
For help finding your hot spot, click on Etcetera below and join the conversation on Facebook.
Etcetera.
Linked at: Home Matters
Featured At:
If you know anything about the world of housekeeping, homemaking, or organizing websites, you probably think I'm going to say "clean your sink" first.
Of course not!
Cleaning your sink to keep your house clean is a silly tactic for most people. In my house, for example, my nine year old is in charge of dishes. Every day, after school, he unloads and loads the dishwasher. If I cleaned the sink each morning, I'd just ending up doing a chore that I have effectively delegated. That would be crazy.
Instead, I clean off the island in the kitchen first.
You can see how that would instantly improve the condition of my home. (You can also see that I have no shame. Who posts their mess for the whole world to see?)
In my home, the island is a hot spot. It is where things land in the afternoon rush. The island is where I prepare veggies for dinner. It is where we gather to chat about our day. The island is where we fold laundry, since it is near the laundry closet.
If the island is clean, it not only affects the visual of the whole house (with an open floor plan that means everyone sees the kitchen), but a clean island makes other chores easier. In addition to cooking and laundry, a clean island means that I can rest cleaning supplies or pots there while I clean the stove or the kitchen table. A clean island gives me a place to clean out my purse or do a craft.
Understand, I do not suggest that you clean the island in your house first.
Instead, I suggest that you identify your hot spot. What is the one place that, if neat and clean, would produce great visual impact and allow more stuff to get done?
Even though I never make the beds, if that is where you fold clothes, your bed might be that spot. Perhaps it is your coffee table or a counter where you dump stuff at the end of a long day.
Heck, it might even be your sink!
But it's not your sink because someone arbitrarily declared sinks important. It's your sink because that is your hot zone.
Find your hot zone. Now, promise yourself that, six days out of seven, you will clean that spot first. Watch how that simple tweak changes your home.
For help finding your hot spot, click on Etcetera below and join the conversation on Facebook.
Etcetera.
Linked at: Home Matters
Featured At:
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Countdown Cleaning For Kids (And Child-like Adults)
***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***
Ander is seven. He gets overwhelmed by sweeping tasks, like "clean your room."
Loki is five. He gets overwhelmed by sweeping tasks, like "clean your room."
Alan is forty-one. He gets overwhelmed by sweeping tasks, like "clean the counter."
See a pattern? I'd totally blame genetics, except that I think all of us sometimes get overwhelmed with multi-step tasks.
So, whenever something huge needs to be done, like cleaning out the garage or going through files, the people at Giftie Etcetera (the little people AND the big people) use a simple countdown method.
We do ten things. Then we do nine. Then we do eight.
TIP: For really little kids or older kids with attention issues, use a toy abacus for a visual countdown.
(That tip totally works for adults with ADD, too.)
The goal is to finish before you get to zero (or "Blast Off!" as Loki calls it).
TIP: A nice loud buzzer (with a custom message from you) gives kids a way to brag (and get an instant, positive reward) when they are finished. For bonus points, you know when they are done because you hear the buzzer!
Need to clean out the car? Grab ten things. (I count each old french fry under the seat as one thing.) Toss them. Grab nine things. (Books. We ALWAYS have nine books in the car.) Everyone brings his/her own to the book shelf. Eight pieces of trash. Seven CDs go back in their cases. Six random items get brought inside and put away.
It works every time. I even manage to fool myself.
Etcetera.
If you enjoy what you read at Giftie Etcetera, please share on social media. Click here to join the Giftie Etcetera Facebook group.
Partied at: Making Your Home Sing, Funtastic Friday
Loki is five. He gets overwhelmed by sweeping tasks, like "clean your room."
Alan is forty-one. He gets overwhelmed by sweeping tasks, like "clean the counter."
See a pattern? I'd totally blame genetics, except that I think all of us sometimes get overwhelmed with multi-step tasks.
The Countdown Chore System
So, whenever something huge needs to be done, like cleaning out the garage or going through files, the people at Giftie Etcetera (the little people AND the big people) use a simple countdown method.
We do ten things. Then we do nine. Then we do eight.
TIP: For really little kids or older kids with attention issues, use a toy abacus for a visual countdown.
(That tip totally works for adults with ADD, too.)
The goal is to finish before you get to zero (or "Blast Off!" as Loki calls it).
TIP: A nice loud buzzer (with a custom message from you) gives kids a way to brag (and get an instant, positive reward) when they are finished. For bonus points, you know when they are done because you hear the buzzer!
How Kids Do Thier Chores
Need to clean out the car? Grab ten things. (I count each old french fry under the seat as one thing.) Toss them. Grab nine things. (Books. We ALWAYS have nine books in the car.) Everyone brings his/her own to the book shelf. Eight pieces of trash. Seven CDs go back in their cases. Six random items get brought inside and put away.
It works every time. I even manage to fool myself.
Etcetera.
If you enjoy what you read at Giftie Etcetera, please share on social media. Click here to join the Giftie Etcetera Facebook group.
Partied at: Making Your Home Sing, Funtastic Friday
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Mouse - 4 Giftie Etcetera - 0
***This post may contain affiliate links. See my "Disclaimer" link for additional details.***
I've seen Mouse four times now! Once, he was looking at the trap. He rolled his beady little eyes, put his nose in the air, and scampered away. Last night, we got home around 11 p.m. I was about to enter the kitchen when my husband of almost two decades yelled, "MOUSE!" There was no mouse this time.
Husband can probably expect divorce papers later in the week, unless he brings enough chocolate to repent for his grievous sin.
My Facebook friends, who shall remain anonymous, have weighed in on the (TOTALLY GROSS, right?) situation.
"Just name him and feed him pancakes."
"He just hangs out waiting for breakfast. He's cute in a filthy sort of way."
"I cook for him and teach the kids not to fear him. My husband spends every waking moment trying to kill him. It's the perfect storm."
Okay, all three of those were from the same amazing person. The rest are from the people on Team Kill Mouse.
"{A link to the CDC: Hantavirus}"
"Get a cat."
"Some people say that if you see them during the day, there's a lot of them. But that is not necessarily true."
"We have a terrier if you need him."
"Get a falcon." (Seriously, that is one of my favorite ideas!)
"I hear peeing on floors gets rid of mice." (Not only helpful, but timely, as a toddler nephew of mine crouched down and peed in the middle of the kitchen.)
"I had a pet mouse..." (I love this Facebook friend, but am considering whether I can even visit her house again.)
"An old-fashioned trap baited with peanut butter works every time. Wait, is baited really a word?"
"...I envision Loki with an army of falcons, about to take over the world." (Loki is my five year old.)
"Your best bet is to wait until Christmas Eve. I heard mice don't even stir before Christmas Eve."
"We think we had a mom come in and have a litter..." (Oh. My. Gosh.)
"Oddly, I find death by metal trap okay." (Total credit here - my husband.)
"I think I'm going to put a pecan covered in peanut butter on one trap, and Nestle crunch on the other, since he seems to be a fan of Nestle Crunch." (My husband again, basing his crack analysis on the bite marks in the Halloween candy.)
"Get a rat snake and let it loose."
We are all laughing, right? But not too hard, because...MOUSE!!!
Think writing "kill Mouse" in my planner will help?
(I've named the d*mn thing. Who names the creature of doom?!?)
(ADDENDUM: Eventually, a combination of plain ole mouse traps and plastic storage bins for all food stopped The Mouse. Find out the details of how to mouse-proof in this post.)
Etcetera.
I've seen Mouse four times now! Once, he was looking at the trap. He rolled his beady little eyes, put his nose in the air, and scampered away. Last night, we got home around 11 p.m. I was about to enter the kitchen when my husband of almost two decades yelled, "MOUSE!" There was no mouse this time.
Husband can probably expect divorce papers later in the week, unless he brings enough chocolate to repent for his grievous sin.
My Facebook friends, who shall remain anonymous, have weighed in on the (TOTALLY GROSS, right?) situation.
"Just name him and feed him pancakes."
"He just hangs out waiting for breakfast. He's cute in a filthy sort of way."
"I cook for him and teach the kids not to fear him. My husband spends every waking moment trying to kill him. It's the perfect storm."
Okay, all three of those were from the same amazing person. The rest are from the people on Team Kill Mouse.
"{A link to the CDC: Hantavirus}"
"Get a cat."
"Some people say that if you see them during the day, there's a lot of them. But that is not necessarily true."
"We have a terrier if you need him."
"Get a falcon." (Seriously, that is one of my favorite ideas!)
"I hear peeing on floors gets rid of mice." (Not only helpful, but timely, as a toddler nephew of mine crouched down and peed in the middle of the kitchen.)
"I had a pet mouse..." (I love this Facebook friend, but am considering whether I can even visit her house again.)
"An old-fashioned trap baited with peanut butter works every time. Wait, is baited really a word?"
"...I envision Loki with an army of falcons, about to take over the world." (Loki is my five year old.)
"Your best bet is to wait until Christmas Eve. I heard mice don't even stir before Christmas Eve."
"We think we had a mom come in and have a litter..." (Oh. My. Gosh.)
"Oddly, I find death by metal trap okay." (Total credit here - my husband.)
"I think I'm going to put a pecan covered in peanut butter on one trap, and Nestle crunch on the other, since he seems to be a fan of Nestle Crunch." (My husband again, basing his crack analysis on the bite marks in the Halloween candy.)
"Get a rat snake and let it loose."
We are all laughing, right? But not too hard, because...MOUSE!!!
Think writing "kill Mouse" in my planner will help?
(I've named the d*mn thing. Who names the creature of doom?!?)
(ADDENDUM: Eventually, a combination of plain ole mouse traps and plastic storage bins for all food stopped The Mouse. Find out the details of how to mouse-proof in this post.)
Etcetera.
Monday, June 11, 2012
The Everyday
The hardest part of staying organized is the everyday. Today, for example, was full of surprises. We got ready to go to free summer movie. (By the way. Legends of the Guardians is too violent for a 3 year old. And a 37 year old. Oops.) I had feed the kids breakfast and supervised the getting dressed, hair, shoes, and teeth. I had a back packed, complete with mints for me and gummy somethings for the kids, so that we didn't have to buy popcorn. (Popcorn that the 3 year old is ALLERGIC to, which is oh-so-much-fun. {rolls eyes}) We were meeting someone, but no problem. Easy peasy!
And then my coffee spilled.
Spectacularly.
All over the island, on the paperwork, and creeping towards my new Nook, the 3DS, and the library books.
I cleaned it up, but was 15 minutes late for meeting our friends at the movies. Also, I am still finding coffee that dripped into odd little spots.
Then, once we got home, ate and cleaned up after lunch, and put the preschooler to bed, it was only two hours before my husband gets home from work. Everyday this moment arrives - the one where I stop and think that I need to put laundry away and clean the kitchen and start supper, because this is my job. But it happens, everyday, at the same time that I want nothing more than to watch tv (damn Oprah for giving up her talk show right as I decided to stay home) and read a good book. Also, the 3 year old naps in my bedroom, which really makes it hard to clean in the dirtiest part of the house without waking him. And I know I am going grocery shopping and cooking supper after husband gets home to watch the kids, so I know my day isn't ending.
The everyday. That is the hardest part about this being organized thing. My planner has appointments all day long, a checklist of daily goals that never get reached, and no room for down time. I need to get a handle on this. And I'm kind of clueless as to how.
Etcetera.
And then my coffee spilled.
Spectacularly.
All over the island, on the paperwork, and creeping towards my new Nook, the 3DS, and the library books.
I cleaned it up, but was 15 minutes late for meeting our friends at the movies. Also, I am still finding coffee that dripped into odd little spots.
Then, once we got home, ate and cleaned up after lunch, and put the preschooler to bed, it was only two hours before my husband gets home from work. Everyday this moment arrives - the one where I stop and think that I need to put laundry away and clean the kitchen and start supper, because this is my job. But it happens, everyday, at the same time that I want nothing more than to watch tv (damn Oprah for giving up her talk show right as I decided to stay home) and read a good book. Also, the 3 year old naps in my bedroom, which really makes it hard to clean in the dirtiest part of the house without waking him. And I know I am going grocery shopping and cooking supper after husband gets home to watch the kids, so I know my day isn't ending.
The everyday. That is the hardest part about this being organized thing. My planner has appointments all day long, a checklist of daily goals that never get reached, and no room for down time. I need to get a handle on this. And I'm kind of clueless as to how.
Etcetera.