My Week

I know I haven written for a week, life has been crazy. My household was sick for a few days with some sort of stomach gumbo. Yuck!!! This is when I wonder what Martha would have done. Sick husband and 3 kids down for the count as well.
I have been reading the book" Being Martha" written by her friend. It has quotes from family and friends including himself. Very interesting. Growing up with a stern father, very critical, not a Lotta hugging going on. Her father guess was the kind of person that if you didn't do it right the first time you did it again. No matter how old you were or what the project/chore was. I'm sorry but that would drive me crazy. She has major OCD. Has to be busy all the time, can't sit still.
O.K. That's where Martha and I are different. I don't mind sitting on my patio for a bit to watch my kids play.
So the question I asked on the first day of this challenge... is Martha really Martha. Ummmm....
YES!
So now what. this week on her schedule has been really easy. Just going over what I have already done. I can do that, but now I know that I may never be up to the Martha Crazy level. I don't think I want to be. I want to sit and enjoy life and kids and friends. Not make them work every minute of everyday.
But I have been liking the different cleaning lists and meals. I have taken pride in what I do. Of course it does go to pot when the husband gets home and the kids runamuck. Then everything I have done during the day... goes undone. Still working on that one.
I like having the bar raised so that I may push myself to be a little better. That is what Martha has done for me so far. And that's OK.

What's been going on???

Everything!! I just hosted Ben's 40th birthday party over the weekend. Holly Hannah!! Why as women do we add the extra pressure to get everything done. I even re-painted my bedroom. So for my Martha schedule it was on hold for 2 days. After the party I had to re-group, re-coup, re-energize and anything else that begins with "RE".
So the month of May looks really good on the home cleaning lists. Today was vacuum under couches, and in between pillows, clean all furniture. Since I don't have that many couches or chairs... this was a great one.
It feels good to be caught up on housework, so all I have to do is maintain. Just adding the Martha-ism is a bonus... right now. That is the bonus of having a party, it forces you to get the things done .. done.
Got a new Martha cookbook. 52 dinner meals. Hmmmmm .. buttered lettuce with brie and pears?? We'll see how the kids go for this.

Good Night

Patio

Today was Patio day. And thank goodness too. I forgot to take pics today, but let me see if I can create a visual. How about broken toys, duck poop, leaves from the tree that is next to the patio, kids shoes, empty bowls from snack time. Is this a good enough picture???

So I have managed today to get the ducks in their Pen, and stay there. Clorox, dish washing soap, and carpet cleaner were used today. I have an outdoor rug, with a patio furniture set. Clean, Clean, Clean is what happened today. No more poop, broken toys, and empty dishes.
I now have a clean patio with the furniture nice and shiny.

Man did that feel good, and perfect timing. Right before I host Ben's b day party. And I just found out that the weather is suppose to turn from nice to crap in a couple of days. What's up with that. I want to enjoy my patio after all that hard labor work.

Well hopefully soon. It's still not all the way done. Needs some touches like, flowers in their pots and the out door drapery hung. But in all... what a turn around. Very pleased.

Good Night

Nothing

Today on the schedule was ..... NOTHING!!! I am so thankful for it. Still re-cooping from yesterday's fun 8(
But tomorrow brings on, laundry and spring cleaning the bathroom. Oh- Freak. Should be interesting doing my girls bathroom. My floors still look pretty, and I am grateful that my house is slowly coming together.
Now if I can just get my 19 month old baby to get on the same train, then I am in business.

Good Night

Cinderella

Today was most definitely a Cinderella day. It all started with my little baby girl being up all night. I thought she was teething, but come to find out... it was her ears. As most mother's know, It is very difficult to get work done when you have a sick baby. A child is different, you can put them in their bed with their DS and call it good. A baby, wants to be held allllll the time.
So that was a great start... sleep deprived and a little sick monkey hanging off the hip.
I had bought this sealer, because my neighbor's tile always looked so shiny and clean. man does this stuff rock. Hands and knees all day, doing the floors.
My 3 year old wanted to help in her dress-up cause she said "I can help you Cinderella, just call me sleeping booty"

Good Night

Carpet ...Blah

Cleaning carpets was on the Martha schedule today. And I guess so was a work out. The cleaning vacuum is big and heavy. And hauling that thing up and down stairs, ummmm, not fun.
So I was trying to think of the last time I cleaned the carpets in the house and that would have been 2 yrs ago. Right before I had my 4th( and last) child. I have thought about cleaning the carpets, but with kids and a bunch of other motherhood crap that goes on,it gets pushed down to low priority.
So I was thankful that cleaning the carpets was on the list. I just don't enjoy looking at the black water that comes out, when you need to put in the clean water.
Thank you Martha for that kick in the butt.

Goodnight

Summer list

Today on the summer checklist was a continued of swapping out clothes. Winter for summer. So I decided to do our closet. I can't believe the crap I hold on to. Some of it was... maybe I might fit into that. Or I wore this on my honeymoon. C'mon...... really!! DO I really need to hold on things like that. I would need a second or third closet for that. Just for memories.

It did feel good to go through all the clothes and get real with myself. Martha would have me put in a lower clothes bar for my blouses, but in our small shared closet, I just dont see how that would work. I might have to come back to this project later. Hmmmmm

Good night

Friday Mayhem

So Friday was suppose to be my craft day. And I thought great... I can also catch up on a few other housework stuff.
Well I was not expecting my husband to be home around noon, and make a trip to the garden center.
I also forgot to mention that we got baby ducks. To help with the garden and hopefully eggs as well.
SO I cleaned out their bin, and picked up, laundry and by the night time I was bushed.
So now I am thinking maybe Sunday afternoon, to do the craft. Relax and hang out with the fam.

How many more weeks to go on my challenge?....... Maybe my husband knows 8)

Mulching or does Martha really mean Weeding??

SO today on Maratha's Calendar was to Mulch. Really... Really. I think she means Weeding. The weather was good and my 18 month old was happy to be my helper, so we weeded. As you can see in the after picture; I need to get some more black mulch. Ran out of time. It was Papa's birthday today, and we were celebrating it a little early in the day. I love it when the weather warms up. Everybody comes out of their cave. Today was no exception. While I was out in the front, I had many friends stop by and visit. That was fun, but at the same time I was a little frustrated cause I wasn't getting a lot done like I had planned. Very happy this was on the schedule. So nice to kick my but into gardening gear.

Tomorrow is craft day, and I'm having a hard time trying to decide what to do. Hmmmmm. But thankful that it is a low key day. I will be able to catch up on some other things that I have been putting off.

Good night

By the looks of the pictures, it seems as if I didn't do anything. But baby did I!!
I can't believe it took me more than 3 hrs to clean my fridge. Annnnd... I couldn't get to the drip pan. Literally. My husband and I tried to pry it out of the little place the fridge is wedged in, and NO luck!! But the fridge is looking and smelling nice.
So far this whole challenge has been tough, and draining, but when I step back and look what I have done. I can't help but feel really good. Just going the extra mile really does make a difference.

Maybe I should throw a party at the end of all of this ... show off the house and the Martha cooking that I have been learning.

Season Change

O.K....O.K... Now I might be struggling. Did not plan on going on a field trip today with my girls,and their classmates. It was fun, and exciting, and great being involved. BUT..... how do you inter grade something like that with Marthasizing. ( that's what I have started calling it) Cause it is a work-out and a half!! Came home from the trip after 2:00pm. And I needed to wash the glassware and go through the girls clothes, change from winter to summer. For me (since I have 4 girls)means I have to go through 11 totes of clothes and what's in their closet to do this. Sooooooo.... I still need to finish. This means I will be up a little late and may have to finish this tomorrow.

On a happier note. We ate Martha's cornbread and beef skillet. Yum!!!
link to the recipe

The Re-Vamp

I am a day late in writing this. Monday was crazy. My husband was home sick, and as married women know...... You don't get anything done. SO I started on my Monday Laundry room Re-Vamp late in the day. I'm happy I did it, because it is the only room right now that is clean downstairs. This room was tricky. The laundry room also doubles as a craft room. I did paint one wall to brighten up the room. That made me happy. I still need to get some butcher paper and put it on a roll. Along with the ribbons I have. But other than that. I am super pleased. So far so good......

My weekend

SO I had my first weekend on my challenge. And I can honestly say that today(Sunday)I am soooooo tired. Sat was busy. Waking up early to go to a mega meat sale 30 min away, then host a wedding shower, then have my sister come over to make whole wheat bread, then off to a date with my husband. Did I say BEAT!! It was a good day, but oh- so worn down. Working like Martha.. cleaning and cooking like her, manual labor to the "T"!!

This week, I have the re-vamping of a laundry/craft room. Swapping out winter, for summer clothes. Cleaning out the fridge. Like totally clean out. Unplug, clean the drip pan. The DRIP PAN!@#@ What the F?? My craft day is this Friday, and I'm either etching or making something else. And then the ...... the garage..... Heaven Help me.
This week should be interesting, still going. One week down, how many to go???

The Landry Mat

Alright I will admit it... I'm dying. This is way to much manual labor, it is ridiculous. Today's checklist was from the spring cleaning list. Wash curtains and/or blinds, shutters whatever window covering you might have. Well I happen to have both on the main level. What the Hell was I thinking of having both. Took down the curtains.. then washed the blinds in the vinegar/water mix. AHHHHHHGG!! My back is killing me. But.... they are nice and sparkling and the curtains are smelling Downy fresh.
Tomorrow is suppose to be cleaning the office. Well my husband's domain happens to be the office. And we don't really see eye to eye on cleaning/ organizing. He happens to be a collector of various things. And I happen to be the kind of person to get rid of a lot of things. So in order to keep my marriage on a happy note, I will by pass the office and fold laundry and get the things for the wedding shower I am hosting Saturday. This will be a much needed and welcome break.
Oh- Martha, Martha, Martha... Really!!! You do all of this S*$!!@#

Day 3 of the challenge and Im starting to get a little frustrated. Today was the monthly checklist, and I had to clean the grout in the bathrooms. Yes, I clean my bathrooms, but do I focus strictly on the grout .... no. I comet the bathroom, scrub then rinse. But just scrubbing the grout with a toothbrush.. oh- my gosh... hard work! First I did the vinegar-baking soda cocktail. Still didn't feel my grout was white enough in my bathroom, so then I used the Kaboom.. did not feel like it kaboomed my bathroom . So then I used the bleach, water mixture that Martha suggests. And....... the grout looks OK. I think my 70's bathroom just needs to be redone. New tile and grout. Who wants pink tile in their bathroom anyway.

I think the thing that is starting to get to me is, how do I fit everyday life in this challenge. Picking up girls from school. make my bed, go to the store. The checklist is not hard, but I do find that it is taking up a few hours of the day. Like cleaning my bathroom.. and hour and a half later. I still had 2 other bathrooms to do.
Need to figure out this tricky schedule. But I am thankful for the challenge still.
When was I going to focus on the grout and thoroughly clean it.

Better luck tomorrow.
Good Night

The Loot

SO the checklist today was to go through your Medicine Cabinet and throw away old prescriptions, and any other goodies you might have. Well..... this was a task that I was avoiding before the challenge. The cabinet was overloaded with crap. I knew this but for some reason have never found the time to clean it out. There was laundry, cooking, poor-version cleaning, friends, activities with the girls. This was such a low priority for me. But Thank You Martha. I know now that I have outdated Tylenol, and other cold medicine in my closet. Boy, did I have a lot of crap.

So thankful that today was a low-key day. Was able to make cookies, and find my living room floor.
So far loving her list. Mind you I'm only 2 days into it. I know in 11 days I have to organize the garage. I can't even park in my garage. I am not looking forward to this day. Can we say "energy drink"!!! Yuck!

That is all
Goodnight

The After

So today was my first day of The Martha Challenge. Oh- Man I am beat! So AS you can see I cleaned up my kitchen.. painted the shelves above the stove. Placed white uniform dishes above the stove (which are new from Ikea). I have placed my cooking utensils in their separate containers. Martha has suggested that the wooden spoons and brushes be placed in one, and the stainless steel in an other. Tiny touches like cleaning my windowsill and putting pots with herbs on the there. I did "Audit the pantry" which was very gross. I did not realize I had canned goods from 2002. Ahhh!! I also cleaned and deodorized the dishwasher. It was good. It almost felt as if I was moving back into the kitchen again. You can't help but want to organize the cupboards and the fridge. But all in due time. It's on her checklist.
I also made her broccoli soup for dinner. I needed something waay easy and good. It took me 30 min, and my kids ate it up! SURPRISE!

All in all I did not feel over-whelmed. Which was great. Tired... ready to clock out and take a bath. But feeling good.
Oh- did I mention, that Ben and I are doing p90x in the morning before all of this crazy cleaning happens.
Now as far as the rest of the house.. total disaster. But who cares. My kitchen is wonderful, and cleaned and a little refreshed. Maybe that is where I will sleep tonight

Goodnight

The Before

So tomorrow begins my journey. Either my journey to crazy land or the journey to some really great education on how to get my crap together. I have taken the last few days and researching and getting my game plan together. The Martha website has a calendar of what you can do everyday. So I will be following that plus doing one of her cleaning checklist each day. There is a Spring, Monthly, and Summer checklist. And they email you a tip of organizing each day. This might sound over whelming, but when I laid it out .. does not look that bad.
So on Monday, I will do the one thing that is on the calendar, one thing on the Spring cleaning checklist and the tip of the day. Plus cook one of her dinner meals that night. Then every other week I will do one of her crafts with my 3 girls. I would like to know how Martha would have managed all of her compulsive cleaning with 4 little girls. Hmmmmmm

So wish me luck. And you may find me a very happy woman at the end, or committed to the loony bin.

I am a mother of 4 girls. And everything else that comes with being a mother. The good the bad and the very UGLY. My husband is a wonderful father and a very hard worker. His work has him traveling a lot, so I tend to be home ALONE with the girls. At times it is great, save money on food, no pressure to get housework done, but at the same time it sucks. Would love to take a bath by myself, or even go to the bathroom by myself. The last few weeks have been very hard. Not motivated to do ANYTHING. I mean really, how many times can a woman clean the kitchen, do the laundry, cook dinner, do lunches, pick up after people before she is ready to give her husband her 2 week notice. Redundant, redundant, redundant. My girls are not in the after school activities, like soccer or ballet. Can't afford to. So I am not a mother who lives in her car. Instead I have the house to take care of as well as the children. So.. what is the point to all of this. I need a change in routine, a challenge, something to get my butt going and loving it.

The other night I watched Julie and Julia. What a lovely movie. Absolutley loved it!! And the movie inspired me to do something about my laziness. So I thought what could I do that would challenge me, and yet grow and learn and hopefully discover something about myself. So I thought of Martha Stewart. To Martha is... clean, classy, organize, good food, crafty, and all sorts of good things. As a person I have no idea but the image of her is good. I don't even think Martha is fully Martha Stewart. But I thought if I could for 3 months do the things she does, who knows what my household might look like. Either this will be great or I will want to kick Martha and everything she represents to the curb. I have come up with a plan. I will cook her meals, lunch and dinner, I will wash, and iron and fold, and organize liker her. Have my cupboards look like hers. I will prune when her calendar says too, and get ready for holidays like she does. Down to the decorations. Will this challenge break my bank. I certainly hope not! There just has to be something good that comes out of this. My friends think I'm a little crazy, but I also know they feel the same, being a stay at home mother. Love it at times, and other times you just want to scream!! So I will start Monday April 5th. Getting prepared. Getting books and checking out her website. There is definably info overload on her website!