Showing posts with label making a house a home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label making a house a home. Show all posts

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Things I am loving right now ...

I haven't exactly been sick - but I'm not quite right. Low grade fever, constant headaches ... what it does mean is I'd rather be at home than out ... and I am loving pottering about my home ..

So a long overdue post ... things I am loving right now ...


Woodwick candles. For years I have loved how a scented candle can freshen up your home, and my husband has hated them. So I don't use them. Until I discovered THIS candle. It's soy based with a bamboo wick. And the scent reminds me of washing day at my gran's ... linen, cashmere and cotton flower (OK - now I know gran never had cashmere anything except unopened cashmere bouquet soap and powder .. but this candle SMELLS like her home.) And Paul can tolerate it :) And I'll take that. Love it!





I've rearranged my mantle about my fire and I am loving it ...



A lot ....



I really really wanted a family rules subway art poster. But we are on budget freeze due to a broken hot water system ...

Enter a wonderful giveaway at The Daily Dye an a $4 frame from the cheap shop. I'm very happy!

Wonder wht joy pottering can bring me tomorrow?

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Today is a good day

I'm going to be honest. The last few weeks I have really struggled. Actually - since before Christmas I have struggled.

I have lost that balance between maintaining my home, loving my family and working.

Home is what has suffered. Pretty much anytime someone asked me what I was up to I would say "I need to clean - my house is trashed" and it was.

But today is a good day. Today my man and I have worked to catch up. We aren't done but we are almost there.

And today we have worked together to come up with a plan of how we will stay on track. And how we will manage our busy lives. School is back next week and that means so many more things to do!

I will update more this week with what we are doing. I have a heap of ideas to share!

But first I have washing to hang.

And I'm taking my man out to lunch to say "thank you" for his help today.

Happy day!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Quarantined!



No - I'm not sick! And nor is anyone else in our home. Everything is fine! Well, everything except for the fact that our home is trashed and I don't seem to be getting anywhere!!

One thing no one tells you about having a school age child is just how much the running around interupts your day!
Just yesterday we had drop off, pick up, helping with school swimming and then ballet after school! And amongst all that it is SO hard to get things done!

I work best first thing in the morning. Problem is, first thing I am not at home.

So today I have quarantined myself. I have asked Paul to drop Miss E to school so I can get into the housework and get some order back! And it is working great! Without those interuptions I have gotten the kitchen, bathroom, lounge, toilet and spare room tidy. And am onto my third loud of laundry.

So I'm about to break for a coffee before starting the rest of the house.

I seriously should do this more often. As in every week! I feel so much better and more in control! And it isn't even 10am yet!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Today's spring cleaning tasks!

I'm counting today, plus the few hours I put in on the weekend after work as my first day or two of the spring cleaning challenge!

So far I have accomplished all the tasks from day 7 and day 2.

To give you an idea of some of what I have done I have
Cleaned my pantry!
Cleaned my linen closet and bathroom drawers
Cleaned my laundry closets
Dusted
Polished wood items
And lots lots more!

I love that she has a plan - what to clean and how to clean it. And I like checking it off! It appeals to the list maker in me!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Creating a family room (playroom)

I could never really justify a playroom. With just one child it seemed so excessive.

But then more playdates started happening, and I hated it when they locked themselves away in the bedroom.

And the bedroom was SUCH a disaster!

Then she would want to play NEAR us so during the course of the day every toy would end up in the lounge room and THAT would become a disaster zone.

And then the family room just annoyed me every day - it was the layout I hated. It was a room with a heap of stuff in it and no real function.

So we decided to make a change. It is not a "playroom" as such, it is more a family room. A space to play, watch tv and movies, for the playstation and board game storage.

Besides the fact that Miss E actually plays in this room instead of all over the house, it has the benefit that I can re-sort and tidy at night while I watch tv.

No before pics - I just didn't think of it. But here are a few of our work in progresses.


Board game storage



These are stored in a large timber chest that my dad and I picked up from a garage sale, and my mum restored. I love it. It keeps them all hidden, but there is room for our huge collection of games





Our calendar, and learning to tell the time clock.

(This is a great clock! It has the "to's" and the "pasts" the hours marked on it.) (and it is coming up in this weeks Aldi catalogue for anyone interested)






Our books (these are still getting sorted so could be a little tidier yet!)


The books are in an ikea Expedit unit that was in Miss E's room housing toys. We have repurposed it as a bookshelf and each "section" houses a specific type of book(eg readers, chapter books, information books, stories, books about fairies!)




Our toys - this is the larger ikea Expedit unit.

I love these units for organising toys, and they aren't childish so we will be able to use them as Miss E grows.
There will be labels made for all these sections soon, to help my little reader learn more words, but also find things.




The pink and green baskets were a fantastic target bargain. They were over $12 each. I got them for $2.87. *must go see if they have more!*






The large boxes down the back were previously in use in Miss E's bedroom. They are from Ikea as well.





Our Rosie cottage and doll corner






Doll houses on top of the bookshelf where Miss E can reach them. (this will swap around at times - it might be lego, the farm set, ... who knows!)




So that's about it. There is a tv corner but I need to do a makeover there. Will post before and afters when I work out what I am doing!

Anyone want to come play??

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Goodbye todo list ... hello AHA List!


I'm going to blame work. OK - work, and assignments. Oh plus a sick girl. A sick mama and daddy. And um - coffee too - just a little socialising in there. Plus scrapping. Finally - after almost 18mths I am scrapping just a little again!

Anyway - excuses galore - my house is in a scene of complete disarray. Total disaster area.

Tomorrow my inlaws are coming. Plus we have a 5year old birthday party to attend. And I am on nights Saturday and Sunday.

Right now a to do list seems overwhelming to me. But inspired by another friend I am going to get in, get the work done, and do an AHA list. A list of everything I actually GET done today!

Miss E is at school today - I will have 5 hours without her.

Will report back tonight to share how we went!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Stay at home my heart and rest ...

I've posted this quote before

Stay, stay at home, my heart, and rest; Home-keeping hearts are happiest…” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


Today I am feeling the truth in it. We have had two productive mornings pottering around our home and garden this weekend (and another to come tomorrow.)
I feel more calm and rested and at peace than I have in a long time.

And I think Miss E has enjoyed being home more than any of our "adventures" lately.

Truly- home IS where the heart is.

(anyone want to pop over for a cuppa - we are clean, tidy and have time to spare!!)

Friday, April 23, 2010

Saturday ... brings me peace

I work shift work and I almost always work weekends.
Today is the first time in a long time that I have an afternoon shift, and no plans to go anywhere during the day.

I have enjoyed today so much! It wasn't till today that I realised how much I missed those first couple of hours on a Saturday morning when we normally got those jobs done and the house tidied up from the week that was.

Today Paul and I have pottered all morning. And I almost have the house in shape, and he almost has the yard under control.

It's amazing the peace this catch up has brought me. It's just so much easier to maintain the house when you have a good baseline to start the week.

Here's our other joy for the day. Miss E chose an egg for breakfast! Imagine her delight with what she found inside! Our first double yolker!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Take the time today ...

To put something in your home - just because it makes you smile.




Thank you mum! It's perfect!