Day 3: Cleaning Schedule

Hi All

Day 3....it's going well so far! The topic today I haven't had chance to really put into place as of yet. I really need to get into a routine with my cleaning. Now I am back at work and have a little person running around, time for cleaning seems to be limited! I have been looking for external sources to help me get myself organised and someone recommended 'Clean Mama' on Instagram.

Have a look at her website, Facebook and Instagram-it's inspiring! She has six things that she tries to do each day to keep on top of things. Here is her original blog post for you to take a look.

I have used this idea and adapted it slightly to suit me. So from today I am going to aim to each day:

1. Wash the dishes and put them away-this is definitely a problem area for us, we haven't got a dishwasher and often have tea late, therefore we can be lazy!
2. Deal with mail on a daily basis-my filing is out of control! I have been trying to do this more recently so that I don't end up keeping things I don't need.
3. Clear the stairs each day on the way up to bed-another area that we seem to clutter up each day and then it becomes a dumping ground!
4. Clear and clean down all counters-kitchen and bathroom. 
5. Put toys, clothes and anything we have used away at the end of the day, even if being used the next day (this is a common excuse of mine!)
6. Pick up in the living room, bathroom and bedroom for five minutes at the end of the day-usually clothes seem to linger in these places, particularly my hubby's!

So thank you for the tip Clean Mama! I will try and do these six things each day to keep on top of our problem areas and will then adapt my cleaning schedule based on how it goes! I'd love to hear what your cleaning schedule is, particularly on a daily basis! I am working on getting mine a bit more formalised with fancy charts and things...although this may just be my avoidance tactic ;-)

Enjoy your day and happy cleaning!

Arline

xx

Day 2. Currently reading...

Hi All

My second day of blogging in February! What I am currently reading....

'About a Girl' by Lindsey Kelk

Over the past year or two I have really enjoyed reading Lindsey Kelk's novels. I started with 'I heart New York' and fell in love with the 'I heart' series! If you like girly chick lit then it is definitely a series to try. So recently I decided to try her other books. I am really enjoying 'About a Girl' so far. It has the same humour and witty characters as her other novels and is definitely another feel good tale. What I really enjoy about Kelk's novels, and this is no different, is the way it allows you to live another person's life so vividly, another person who is usually a lot braver and prettier than you! Lol! I will do a proper review when I have finished reading but so far...

Tess, a bit of a control freak just like me, has had her life turned upside down as she has lost the job that had consumed her life for so long. She lives with someone she hates and a simple misunderstanding, accidentally on purpose, takes her on a new journey and career....to Hawaii as a photographer! It has just started getting interesting as she has just been found out to be a fraud, as well as trying to avoid the advances of a man who clearly won't be any good for her! I'm looking forward to seeing how her tale is going to unfold...will keep you posted ;-)

What are you reading right now? I'd love to read about it.

Thanks for popping by.

Arline

xx

Day 1: 2015 Goals

Hi All

My first day of blogging in February! Hope you will join me or at least enjoy reading my posts. So today is all about goals! I've decided to share you my main ones as I have many and they change over time!

2015 Goals:

1. Read at least one book a month.
• As an English teacher, it is really important for me to make time to read for myself. Over the past few years I have read lots of different books and I want to continue this in 2015.
2. Go to the gym and try to eat healthier
• I am now back down to the size I was before I had my little girl but now want to work on changing my lifestyle to improve how I look and what I eat. I don't want to see it as being on a diet anymore!
3. Donate at least one bag of items to charity each month
• Not only do I own far too much that I do not need, I really want to start giving back in some small way and this is a good starting point for me. I have been doing well with this over the past few months so hopefully I can carry on!
4. Clear out and organise the loft (amongst many other things!)
• Our loft is just full of stuff, stuff that we don't really need. So I'm going to pin down  my hubby at some point and get it sorted!!!
5. Save more using various money challenges!
• Being on maternity leave, being on a budget, has made me realise how much money we just waste on silly things! I really want to save for various things but just have some general savings to be able to turn to if needed. There are some great challenges out there to motivate you!
6. Make a cleaning schedule and stick to it!
• I hate cleaning, like us all! After a day at work and sorting out my baby girl, all I really want to do is slob on the sofa! But, I need to get myself into a routine so I am determined to get some kind of schedule sorted that I stick to!
7. Come up with a system for each room to stay more organised
• I love being organised but in some areas/rooms it doesn't stay organised for very long. Therefore, I want to come up with systems that work for me and my family. I'm hoping my organisation may become a little more permanent then!
8. Get my work/life balance right
• Having my little girl has really taught me what is important in life. And I am trying hard to make sure I get this balance right...I will keep you posted!

Some big goals there but they are a work in progress for the year, not something I expect to happen overnight. And many I am continuing from last year, not that I've not made any progress, but that I want to continue to work on it this year!

I would love to hear what your goals are!

Thanks for stopping by.
Arline

xx