Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

My Weekly Plan

February 27, 2018

Okay, so I’ve got my daily routines in place, but I also have a weekly plan in place as well…for the most part. What’s a weekly plan you ask? Each day has a purpose like in the old rhyme: Monday Wash Day, Mend on Tuesday, etc., except more modern.

Here’s the plan from Sidetracked Home Executives by Pam Young and Peggy Jones (which is where I first heard of it in my early married days):
- Monday- Heavy Cleaning
- Tuesday – Free Day
- Wednesday – Errand Day
- Thursday – Bill and Paperwork Day
- Friday – Moderate Cleaning
- Saturday – Family
- Sunday – Rest
And theirs was theirs – they told you to do those things on days when you could do them – not try to plug their plan into your life because both are different. This is something that a lot of people don’t realize with these systems – they aren’t set in stone! You can move stuff around to suit YOUR day as you please.

And here’s the current Flylady Weekly Plan, although she now calls it the Daily Focus:
- Monday – Weekly Home Blessing
- Tuesday – Plan and Play Day
- Wednesday – Anti-Procrastination Day (formerly Desk Day)
- Thursday – Errand Day
- Friday – Clean out your purse and car Day
- Saturday – Family Fun Day
- Sunday – Renew Your Spirit Day
I kept to the above plan for a really long time and it worked! I even put my laundry on a schedule where each day has a specific load to do. That saved my life!

My Current Weekly Plan
- Monday – Weekly Home Blessing/Heavier Cleaning Day
- Tuesday – Play Day
- Wednesday – Errand Day
- Thursday – Desk Day
- Friday – Planning Day and Clean out your purse and car day
- Saturday – Grocery Shop (and bumming around in the afternoon with the kid of the week)
- Sunday – Mom Time, Library (usually every two week, and Sunday Spa (personal grooming)
One other thing I want to mention, again, is that even your plan isn’t set in stone. Remember in another post I said I moved my days around because of the weather? Well, you can do that too. You have to make things fit your life and you have to know when to do that, otherwise no system is really going to work. Flexibility is the key in life because, let’s face it, crap happens all the time.

So, my daily routines and weekly plan are now in place and fairly well established. As I said, next month (March) I’m going to re-introduce myself to zone cleaning and decluttering. I’m really proud of myself for getting a grip on my routines again – it has really helped me get my days back and running smoothly. Let’s face it, when housework is kept up, other things can get done much easier without everything going to hell in a handbasket.

Well, off to get things done. Remember – do a little every day to start. Even a little is better than nothing.

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Daily Work

February 19, 2018

I thought I’d share my current daily routines in case anyone is wondering what I actually do in a day. I still have four teens at home so this all works around the school day during the week as well.

Here’s what I do in the morning:
- Get up (best if by 6am), eat breakfast, check email
- Shower/skincare routine,brush teeth, brush hair, get dressed to shoes
- Makeup optional
- Make bed (or if your SO gets up later than you, let them do it)
- Kids get ready for and go to school
- Kitchen cleanup (dishes, counters, unload and reload dishwasher)
- Start laundry
- Check the calendar/to-do list
- Check menu plan
- Bathroom clean up (Tues and Thurs)
- School
It may look like a lot, but it really doesn’t take as long as you’d think. And since I’m on top of things at the moment, it takes a lot less time than it used to. Also, if I see something that needs to be done, like an overflowing garbage can somewhere, I go ahead and take care of it. Better now than let it keep on getting worse. That’s actually a good adage to follow for other things in life too.

Okay, here’s what my afternoon looks like:
- Laundry
- Finish homeschool
- Pick daughter up from school
- Take son to work
- Break time
- Fix dinner
There’s a lot less to do in the afternoons, because I get the bulk of the work out of the way in the morning when I have more energy.

Now, my evening routine and it is just kitchen cleanup:
- Load and run dishwasher
- Clear and wipe counters
- Sweep floor
- Take out trash
Yep, that’s it and my evening is mine. By that time I’m really tired anyway so there’s no sense doing more than I can physically or mentally handle. Unless there’s extenuating circumstances.

The rest is homework the kids have to do and getting off to bed at a reasonable time and me doing the same.

So, that’s it. Again, it looks like a lot, but once you start doing every thing every day it speeds up and you find you had more time on your hands to do other stuff you need to do or like to do. Since I have no little kids anymore, writing on my blog is a thing I can do now. And your house looks better too and that makes it more of a haven than a hovel.

Anyway, that’s what I’ve been doing every day for this month and for the foreseeable future. Next time I’ll talk about my weekly plan. Have a great day!

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Crushing It

February 18, 2018

Now that I’ve said that, this post will be tossed into the “pride goeth before a fall” file. :-P However, it’s true that I’ve done pretty well the last two weeks, if I do say so myself. A couple of days that were difficult, but overall pretty damn good. Here’s what’s going on:

Routines – Doing them! I’ve been really tired a few nights but I’ve made sure the dishwasher gets run, counters cleaned off, and trash taken out every night. This is key to starting my morning off right because I do not like coming downstairs to a sink full of dishes to run which then pushes back everything else. This is one of those non-negotiables for me – like showers – it has to be done.

Weekly Plan – Next to morning and evening routines, the weekly plan is a major player in getting the crazy under control. Basically, it’s having a focus for each day. Like my errand day is always Wednesday, Tuesday is Planning Day, Thursday is Finances Day, and Saturday is Grocery Shop Day. So, sticking to this plan is a must.

Laundry – I’ve been making sure to stay on my laundry schedule every week. Oh, and that means: washing, drying, and putting away. Done! I have also found that a local laundromat will do laundry you don’t have time to do. Can you say bedding? I may test this out to see if it will work and how expensive it is.

Meals – I’ve cooked dinner every day and I’ve made meals from stock we already had on hand. I’ve also been sticking to a meal plan which is key to the whole getting dinner on the table every night thing. We had take out last Friday, but it was a good move for that day.

Staying out of the stores – Since I’m using up everything we already have on hand, I really haven’t had to go to the store except on errand day – yay! I really love getting to stay home all the other days because while grocery shopping is okay, going too many times a week is for the birds.

Paperwork Project – I’ve got a lot done already, and I finally picked up supplies to finally get into my file drawer. It’s a royal mess and needs to be taken care of once and for all! I also ordered a shredder which will be here today – looking forward to that! I even cracked out my timer and worked in 15 minute “shifts”.

There’s a couple other things like spiritual reading and prayer but that’s a post of it’s own. I’ve also started watching “My So-Called Life” again and I should finish that up by the end of the month.

So, that’s my review for the week. I’ve done well and I’m going to continue on with it through February. Next Month, I’ll attempt to add in zone work a la Flylady. With my routines under my belt it should be easier. That’s the plan anyway.

Enjoy the day!

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Payment Due

February 15, 2018

Referencing the other night’s post, I did end up paying for those indiscretions right off the bat yesterday morning. My gut did not like the sudden jolt of an overload of coffee and chocolate after not having any. :-( I also spent too much time online doing stupid things, but I got off my butt and salvaged the day. I took the day off school, but I got all my housework done. On the flip side, I went to lunch with my mom and sister which could be turning into a regular thing. Then, it was a trip to the library to pick up 3 books I had on hold and visit the once a week book sale they have. However, since my intestines were not cooperating, I had to cut that short. All in all it wasn’t a bad day.

Today, I’m declaring another slow day. I’m getting stuff done, but I’m not running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off because I know it’s all going to get done. If it doesn’t – it passes to the next day. Then it gets done. What’s non-negotiable this morning is my shower so I’m off to do that after I hit “post” and truly get my day started.

So, that’s the plan. I need to get as serious about my eating habits as I am about my household routines – both are important. The eating habits probably more so because if I feel better and have more energy then that’s really laying the groundwork for everything else. OK – off to begin the day! And it’s almost Friday – yay!

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Backslidin’

February 13, 2018

Yes, that’s right – I’m having a cup of coffee! And later – a big bowl of warm chocolate pudding. The kind you cook. And no I don’t put plastic wrap on the pudding to avoid the “skin” because it’s my favorite part. I’m sure I’ll pay for it later, but right now it’s therapy.

My weekend turned out busier than expected so I really didn’t have any rest and, of course, school days are busy. I’m just hanging out with my pals coffee and chocolate.  And I’m feeling better.

Tomorrow is another day as Scarlett O’Hara said, and it’s going to be fun. I’m going lunching with my mom and sister and I might sneak a visit to Ulta in there as well. Shopping is fun,  even if I don’t buy a thing.  Although store clerks seem to not know what “browsing” means. Like it’s against the law or something. Go figure.

So, that’s the plan for the next 36 hours. Hopefully come Thursday I’ll be a little more refreshed and less crabby. On a high note – I’m still keeping up with my routines so all is not lost! There’s a post coming later on that too.

Happy Ash Valentine’s Day tomorrow! I pray for those practicing Lent that it will be fruitful. And, in regards to Valentine’s Day,  remember that any day can be Valentine’s Day.   We don’t need a special day to say “I love you”, “I care about you”, or even “I’m sorry”. Any day will work. Peace out.

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TGIF!

February 10, 2018

I am so glad it’s Friday, but I have to say it wasn’t nearly as bad a week as the previous ones this year. I keep telling ya – winter is not my season! What has made this week better? Let me tell you.

Keeping up with routines and staying on track with my housework – That right there has made me feel like I’m not fighting a losing battle. And deciding to just do my daily routines and not try to do everything else on top of it has eased up my load. If I don’t get everything done one day, I just move the few items (like laundry loads) to the next day and it still gets done.

Staying out of the stores and shopping from what I have – This goes for food and non-food items. Example: I ran out of cotton balls so I’m finishing up the cotton rounds I also have. When those are gone, then I will buy a new package. It also means having a definite menu plan and getting everything you need for that week’s meals at the store. And going through what you already have so you don’t buy what you don’t need.  Like when I bought mayo and found we already had two jars on the shelf. :-P

Taking care of me – This is going to sound terrible, but sometimes I put off showers. Don’t judge! I don’t work up sweats by working out every day or doing mechanic type work so it’s not as bad as it sounds. Hell, I don’t even shower every day to begin with! Skipping them is a whole ‘nuther thing.   A shower is a nice thing to have especially if you have fragrant shower gels or soaps. At the end of the day it can relax you and help you fall asleep. I usually have mine in the mornings, but,  in the rush of taking kids to school lately, especially when I get up late, it’s all too easy to say, I’ll do that when I come home. Then I get home and realize I have other stuff I need to do like run the dishwasher because it didn’t get done the night before and BOOM – no shower. I’m putting it off…again.  So, it’s now non-negotiable. And I feel like a human being again. Self-respect people.

Low amounts of coffee – As much as it grieves me to say this, it is true: I do better on only one cup of coffee a day. Since the cold weather showed up (and that was in December), I’ve been having 2-3 cups a day. Yeah, far more than I am used to and too much does a number on me. I’m more tired because I don’t sleep well, and then I tend to be grouchier. So, when the last coffee pod was made, that was it. No buying more and I’ve only had a couple this week from Starbucks. I’m sleeping better and less grouchy.

Delegating – I tried doing more of it this week because I really wanted to get stuff done at home instead of my day being interrupted by running around. So, I had my husband do a few things for me and it just felt so good not to have to do everything. I need to do this more and stop thinking I have to do it all.  I can delegate.

Phew!  So, it’s been a good week and I’m very thankful for making these changes. This weekend is going to be cold and possibly icy so it’s a staying in weekend.  I’m going to get overdue paperwork done and we’re also going to make some cookies. Let the good times roll!

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Keeping Up With the Housework

February 8, 2018

I’ve been gradually falling off the Flylady/Routines wagon for a couple of months now, and decided I’d better do something about it or I’d go under in this cold, dark weather. So, I jumped back into my routines at the beginning of this week. Although it was a rocky start, I really got into the groove yesterday and got a lot done. I’ve decided that I’m just going to work my daily routines and save the zone work for next month when everything else is humming along. And warmer.

I’m also keeping up with my weekly plan as well and making it work for me. That means, I switched around my errand day yesterday to today and today’s work to yesterday. I did that because the weather yesterday was cold and today it’s supposed to be much warmer and I’d rather run around in warmer weather than freeze my butt off going in and out of stores. So, note to Self, sometimes switching days around just works better.

The last thing I decided was to stop working after the kitchen gets cleaned up in the evening. I almost threw in another load of laundry late yesterday afternoon (hey, I was on a roll!) but stopped myself. I knew it would get done today and there really does have to be an end to the work for the day so you can rest and recharge for the next.

So, I feel I’m back in the groove again and it’s a good feeling.

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My Peeps

February 7, 2018

I was talking with my oldest son about this today – how my people are now those who are aged 50 and up. There was a time after I turned 50 that I had to realize that I didn’t fit in with the younger moms anymore. For one thing, I don’t have little kids and two I’m not young either. I would go to the library during their storytime and look at all the younger moms with babies and toddlers and the realization hit – that’s not me anymore! I cried all the way home.

For a time it was difficult being an older mom with a large family of kids whose ages spanned 17 years apart between the oldest and youngest. When the twins were around 7-10 I felt like I should still belong to the younger mom set, but I was already 47+ years old! Not to mention I’ve been mistaken for their grandma a time or two. So, I felt left out and a misfit.

A few years later, after I turned 50, I was at Walmart shopping and I saw that most of the people up there doing their shopping that early in the morning were older adults. It was like a party atmosphere too with everyone talking and laughing and griping about not being able to find anything. And it didn’t matter if you were strangers – your age was the in. I had found my peeps!

So, sometimes I still feel like I’ve missed out on something, but mostly I don’t. I know who my peeps are, and when I’m around them I feel like a whole person again. And it feels great.

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Slow Day

February 6, 2018

Not as in it’s a slow day with nothing going on, but as in taking things slower. Not rushing around. All last week was a train wreck – getting up late, rushing around to get things done, and by the end of the week just feeling drained. And crying a lot. Not good. I watched a video the other day about slow eating – taking your time to really look at what’s in the store, cooking and enjoying the process. That sort of thing. I’d also read somewhere about taking a slow day – being mindful of your day and what you are doing instead of just rushing through and not feeling much of anything while you’re doing it. I realized I needed to do that too. So, I’m taking a slow day. I still have the usual to do – laundry, cleaning, school, etc. – but, I’m going to not rush. It’s all going to get done and if some things don’t, then they don’t. On with the slow!

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I Had Plans

February 4, 2018

Oh yes I did! More specifically, I had plans for this blog and I’ve just let it go and I’m not sure why. Well, okay, life is a freaking mess right now, but I could write it out here. I mean, it’s called “Oh Crap” for cripe’s sake! I probably have been depressed too (it still comes and goes) and that keeps me from a lot of stuff. From time to time I even think about scrapping it and then I read my posts – I like them! I love my blog! And it is part of me and my life so I need to post more often to keep it going and show it the respect it deserves. Besides, when I’m gone, my kids might actually read it. :-P

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