Tag: messy house

Categories
Family

Does It Spark Joy?

I saw everyone’s posts and comments about Marie Kondo and thought it looked interesting.

The rave reviews kept on coming in and not just from my network of friends, people I follow on Instagram and others online were now massive fans of Marie Kondo.

I like everyone else wondered what all the fuss was about, and had to see her new show , “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”

Yes, I might be late to get with the KonMari Method or watch it. I did know about it before but never implemented it. My auntie read Marie’s book and followed what she recommended and has had great results.

Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, watch the new show on NetFlix
Tidying Up With Marie Kondo, watch the new show on NetFlix

So just in case you have no idea who Marie Kondo is here is a brief overview:

Marie Kondo is a tidying expert and a best selling author. Her latest show is featured on Netflix and if you haven’t seen it yet, I would recommend you watch all episodes. I’ve nearly completed the series and I must say that the results are stunning to say the least.

Not only does Marie help families, and couples with their clutter the flow on effect changes relationships and allows for a more harmonious home.

“The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go.

People around the world have been drawn to this philosophy not only due to its effectiveness, but also because it places great importance on being mindful, introspective and forward-looking.”

Only keep items that spark joy - The KonMari Method
Only keep items that spark joy – The KonMari Method

I had no idea that the show had made a deep impact until I was shopping with one of my daughters and I tried on a dress. This dress looked okay but I was unsure about it. My daughter said I looked pretty in it, but deep down I felt dumpy and frumpy in it.

I then said to her after a lot of to and froing that “the dress didn’t spark joy”

Yep, Now I’m using Marie’s signature phrase, only keep or have things that spark joy.

I asked myself, “Does this dress spark joy?”

And the answer was a BIG NO! So this dress never got purchased and has saved my bank balance and the clutter that it would be adding to my chaotic house currently.

Who knew from a few episodes already that I would be looking for items that really spark joy and that I actually need.

My aim for 2019 is to implement the KonMari Method so that our house in all rooms and wherever you look is super organised. Once done, we should be able to find anything we want and be happy for guests to turn up announced. (Currently we need to clean for days so that we can have people over – busy mum with 3 kids)

I have noticed that charity shops have been overwhelmed with donations and I think that the KonMari method might be largely responsible for this. I do hope that all the usable items go to people and places that need them.

Some charity organisations have said that they cannot accept anymore donations. Hopefully when I start my process of tidying I can give away items that might help others.

Have you been watching Marie Kondo’s new show on Netflix?

Have you put her method into practice?

If you have let me know how using the KonMari Method has helped you, the house and family.

Not an actual picture of the kids desk but pretty accurate. Soon the KonMari Method will make this image of mess no more!
Not an actual picture of the kids desk but pretty accurate. Soon the KonMari Method will make this image of mess no more!

 

 

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Categories
4 years and beyond

Cleaning and Stuff

The house is a mess due to it being too hot to do much and also kids wanting to play with everything. My aim is to tidy as much as I can over the weekend as the kids are in pre-school 3 days next week. I would like to make use of my time next week in a better way and also need to focus on what to pack for summer school and staying at the relatives place. After I have things better sorted will create a list of what I need to make sure not to forget anything.

It will be another hot and steamy day today and hoping that the cool change will make night time better for the kids, last night it was very warm for them. According to the temperature egg in their room it was about 30 degrees even when I had the fan and all doors and windows open.  Today is the first day of summer so I suppose it is meant to be hot, I do like hot weather, however it would be nice to be a pool or have a drink in hand under a tree relaxing. What about you?

Laundry, folding and sorting then putting away, and of course picking up and putting away awaits me. Hubby had a good night last night with work and stayed in town in an air conditioned hotel, so last night was rather jealous that we were not there with him. As I type he is on his way home and then will experience the heat that we have been facing. He does not deal or cope well with the heat. Maybe he is lucky it will be cooler tomorrow, lets hope that the weather people are right about this report.

I still think a cleaning fairy would be ideal or at the very least a clone of myself to do the jobs I just really don’t want to do. Do you have these fantasies or is it just me? Maybe it is? Since there are no magical helpers I am off to get into the housework. Although my little helpers helped mummy clean the outside of the car yesterday, both girls were very good and did such a great job – just needed a change of clothes for all of us afterwards.

Do you try and get your jobs or chores done so that you can maximise your time off? I do try to, however there are some things that cannot be done when kids are around. Why not continue the discussion on our twitter or facebook pages.

Categories
3 years and beyond Pre-School University Study

Little people don’t eat salad

The kids are home yet again due to being ill. I was reading them some stories; we have a series of books about dinosaurs. One of the books is Wilbur the Dinosaur who wanted to Fly, Wilbur is a triceratops, and in the book it has a blurb about this type of dinosaur. It talks about eating plants, so I told the girls that plant eaters are called herbivores.  I explained that plants are salad, and vegetables.

This then prompted Julia to tell me, “Little people don’t eat salad” and then she said “We might eat it when we are grown mummy”. I did explain that salad and vegetables are yummy, but this was not believed by the girls, they still think that little kids should not touch salads.  Now I need to expose them to more salad. Just another food that they have decided they don’t like.

Today has been a bit better than yesterday. All three of us had a Shrek A Thon, well just the first 2 films, then we did a puzzle, had some lunch (the girls picked at it and told me they were not hungry), due to no body being hungry they both went to their room for rest time.

As they share a room this rest time is more like enforced play time in their room, this gives mummy a little break, but not long enough. I managed to get some laundry done, have some lunch, watch Being Human which I love (it is based on the BBC Series, I am watching the US version), and after the show they had successfully opened the door and where free to be trouble makers again. Glad that I got to see this show by myself as it would be scary for little kids.

Yesterday it was open all the toys and make a huge mess, It was a task in itself to keep them occupied and every so often there were tears and upset due to not being well.  I managed to get their room sorted, new sheets on the bed and at least there is more floor space. However today, it seems like it is in the same situation as before I started to clean yesterday.

The girls have not eaten that much, however they did eat a big breakfast.   I was asked to get more vegemite sandwiches for lunch but the new ones that prepared were not eaten in full, but some were so not a total loss. I think it might be due to them not being well, but maybe it was due to have a big breakfast?

The girls seem to a bit better and that is good as I need to go to a board meeting at the child care centre they used to attend. If I make sure that they have their medicine and are showered and all ready for bed, then they can just go to bed once home. The centre gives them dinner while I am in the meeting so that is good for me, makes it so much easier.

This week has been a right off with housework and university study. I am aiming to get more done next week. I was able to secure an extension for my assignment but I only have an extra week.  The girls need to be at school next week and glad that they will be ready to go for the last week before school holidays.

What activities have you organised for your sick child/children? What funny things have you learnt from your kids? Monday I was told not to run inside the house. “Mary at school says don’t run inside” said Julia. This was while we were running in a circle to music. Now I am getting told, “Little people don’t eat salad”, what is next?  Send in your comments.