Organized

18 comments

I’ll be honest. I go through stages of being organized and, without a doubt, September is the month of choice. Not surprising really, as the children go back to school, which gives me more time, and, just as crucial, it’s all about new. New teachers, new subjects, new interests. The word “new” litters every sentence they utter. I’m surrounded.

This September is no different, so I’m getting organized.

To start with I have been getting my weekday routine set up. I’ve started to follow a tidying and cleaning routine (again, she cries), so when I sit down to work, there are no nagging things to distract me.

Three weeks ago, I started following the Organised Mum Method (#teamTomm). Simple routine, with reminders on Instagram, and it’s working. I’m not someone that generally has a tidy house, but I am loving going into a room and finding it looking presentable. Really makes me smile. The family love it too. It only takes 15 minutes to do the usual daily tidy/cleaning and then 30 minutes a day to target one area, on rotation.

And no cleaning at the weekend. Let’s get real. You have got to love a system that gives you the weekend off.

More crafting time for me!

I also organized my eldest Teen’s desk. She can now sit there and study. Last couple of nights she’s done just that and seems happy with her progress. Success!

So will it stick, this new routine of mine? I know why I usually fail to keep my organization vibe going once September slips by. I set myself unrealistic targets. I feel the fail. Once that happens, it’s easy to let one day missed turn into a week, and then more, until it drizzles out completely. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone.

The penny has dropped that I must stop beating myself up about not crossing everything off my to-do list. Or lifting the same items from today’s list to tomorrow’s and then the next. It’s not about doing it all, but doing my best.

Lists are there to help me, not to rule me.

Now the wonderful thing about getting organized is that I have extra pockets of time to spend in different ways.  My week has not been all about cleaning or list making. No. It’s been about me having room and time to do the things I really love doing. More time to read, knit and spend time with my family.

Three wins from this week:

I tend to read while waiting in the car for one of my children, and also last thing at night. I’ve won myself some extra time this week and finished my book “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter“. It is slow, but captivating. Real struggles and emotional turmoil. Glad I read it. Now for the next. Any suggestions?

At the weekend, we went out as a family to the small, independent cinema in Wells to see  Jack Black in “The House with a Clock in Its Walls.” A fun film. Thank you, organized-me.

Also with my extra time and organization at its peak, I spent a happy time making chocolate cherry mice after school, with my middle teen. Partly helped by me working my lists and adding the ingredients to my shop last week. It is quick and everyone loves them. Unorganized-me hardly recognizes herself.

Dead easy to make.

Chocolate cherry mice

Ingredients:

small punnet of fresh cherries, preferably with stalks
100g dark chocolate
pack of Hershey Kisses (I found them in Waitrose)
handful of toasted almond flakes
cocktail sticks (if cherries are missing stalks)

How to make:

1. Melt the chocolate in a small bowl in the microwave until it runny.
2. Unwrap enough Hershey Kisses, so you have one for every cherry.
3. Hold the cherry by the stalk (or cocktail stick) and dip it into the chocolate until the cherry is covered.
4. Push the flat end of the Kiss onto the cherry to make the head, and put the mouse on a plate.
5. Slip two almond flakes between the Kiss and the cherry, to make ears.
6. Leave to set.

Eat and enjoy. If these are to be kept a while, then store them in the fridge, but only for a few days. Not that I would know. These pesky mice were gone in two seconds flat.

I am so enjoying the extra time and space to do what I love to do. A little bit of organization and I can have that time. Joining in with #wotw with my word organized.

18 comments

  1. Those mice look so sweet! I love to be organised and am finding my routine at the moment and I think you’re spot on where you say it fails, I know what you mean. I am telling myself that it’s still better than it was and if one day goes by the wayside, to pick a little up again the next day is better than not at all. Sounds like you’re doing well with it! Thanks for sharing with #WotW x

    1. Absolutely. I’ve reached the stage where the house is presentable, so if I miss a day, I can just pick it up the next. Or even the next. No point being hard on yourself and killing the whole process. It’s finding a routine that suits your household.

  2. Good luck with your organized cleaning, I wish I could do that. When I’m feeling well I tend to do 15 minutes cleaning at a time. It doesn’t sound a lot but I can get a lot done with lots of 15 min. bursts. If I try and work any longer I wear myself out and end up not doing anything else all day. Your mice are adorable and chocolate covered cherries is one of my favourites.
    #Wotw

    1. I sometimes split it down to smaller chunks, just to fit around the rest of my work, so I do agree that you can fit a lot into 15 or even 5 minutes. Chocolate and cherries are such a good combination.

  4. It sounds like you’ve had a fantastic organised week, well done you. There’s nothing better than feeling on top of everything and finding extra time to indulge in the things you love doing. Those mice look delicious, you are so creative ! Have a great weekend x

  5. Love the sound of those chocolate cherry mice – I can imagine they didn’t stay around for long! That cleaning schedule sounds like a good one – I’m up for anything that gives you the weekend off! Glad you are enjoying those little pockets of free time too 🙂 #WotW

  7. Oh, I love your little chocolate cherry mice! How creative.
    It feels really good to be organised doesn’t it?! I must admit, keeping our home organised and tidy can be a real task at times. Especially as both of my boys are homeschooled. I tend to be tidying up throughout the day. Like you, I do treasure the extra time when I get it. 😉

    Thanks ever so much for sharing with #MMBC. x

  9. Kisses is my fave chocolate! They are also available at ASDA! And this is such a nice thing to do! They look cute together.

    I would check this account out. I need some guidance in my life and myabe I can find it through this account =)

    #wotw

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