New Year's Resolutions

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year. 

With the New Year, always comes the resolutions. You know, the things we want to do different this year and we usually only remember them for the first two weeks of the year. I made a personal list that is only for my eyes. Things I want to work on that I don't care to share about myself to even my family. Hopefully "when" I change those things, they will notice. Then I have my regular list. That's the list I'm sharing with you! :)

If you follow me on Pinterest, most of my ideas are on my boards.

Here is my wonderful 2015 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Get more organized.
   If you are like me you have a snack drawer, that's empty; a school supplies/craft cabinet, that you can't find anything; and those extra closets that just have "extra" stuff in it. I feel like most the time we can't find anything. Of course, I mean my family can't find it. How much time and stress would that save me if someone else in my house could actually find something.
   Part of my organization will include not just "stuff" but myself as well. This will include menu planning each week, watch for those post. Plus organizing my coupons is a must. I have just let them get out of control.I have a cheat sheet for 40 days of Organization, which several of my plans are for "40 days" but it will probably take me 40 weeks.  So if my house is organized by October, that's not bad right? Just in time for the holidays and it's still in 2015. While I'm doing this...de-cluttering is involved.....
2. De-clutter my house.If you follow me on Facebook, you may have saw my post "40 bags in 40 days". It's basically for 40 days you fill up a bag. It can be a donation bag or a trash bag. It doesn't have to be a HUGE bag...just a bag. Easy enough right? This should be an easy task since both myself and #4 are huge pack rats. I plan to have a "garage sale" bag or box as well so we can have extra money for vacation this year.....
3. Save money.
   I know several of you have seen the 52 weeks of savings. I'm sure we're like most people and we get paid every 2 weeks. Well in one part of that savings plan,that would be putting a way $103 in one paycheck. Now I may not be like my fellow bloggers, but that's a lot for one paycheck. I'm going to revise the "52 weeks" to fit my budget. It may not add up to be $1000 but if I put away $200 this year, that would be awesome for me. I've started by throwing all my change into a jar that's hid in my closet (hey! I have kids!). I'm going to set a goal of how much to try to save each week and go from there. Watch for that post coming soon. I'll also being using coupons more and I want to take whatever I save X's 10% and put that away too. I don't want to just save money, I want to make more money this year without taking time away from my family.
4. Make more money.
   I'm kind of a crafty person so I've decided to start selling my crafts. Still haven't decided how that's going to go but stay tuned.
   Hobby Lobby is opening soon where I live. They maybe looking for a cake decorating instructor and I would love to do this again. #4 & #5 are older now and would probably enjoy this.
   Since I'm a blogger, I need to put it to better use....
5. Keep my blog updated
   What's the point of my blog if it's never updated.
6. Be more active spiritually
   We need to go back to church. #4 & #5 mention it to me all the time. If children want to be closer and learn more about God...I shouldn't stop them. Just another way to have something in common with my kids and spend more time with them....
7. Spend more time with my kids...
   Other than in sports or PTO. I volunteer... A LOT. I have a non-profit organization, secretary for Indian Parent Committee, PTO Member, and coach little league. Though this does include my children and time with them, is also includes other children. My children do enjoy most of my volunteering. For Christmas we made stockings for children in foster care and delivered them on Christmas Eve. The younger ones enjoyed being "Santa's helper". 
   For his birthday last week, #4 received a board game from his friend. We sat down and played it...and had fun. I've tried the board game thing before and it didn't work. Gonna try this again.
   I want to be more active with them too...
8. Get in shape
   As crazy as it sounds, this is another way to spend more time with my kiddos. Thanksgiving 2013, myself,  #4 & #5 ran a 5k. They LOVED it. So as I'm losing those 20lbs..we can loose it together. They love to run, go hiking, ride bikes, go skating, and exercise (I have weird boys...ok!) 
9. Yell less and be more calm with my kids.
   Yes, I'm a yeller. Can't help it. I'm too lazy to walk in the house to find you. It's just easier for me. But this year I want to Yell Less. If they don't hear me the first time (which I still haven't figured out how they miss it), continue on and have them miss out. You really can't miss it if I yell at you for something other than you are just flat ignoring me. I do have a rule in my house...If I yell for you...don't yell back at me. Stop what you are doing, physically walk into the room I'm at, and answer; what, yes, huh...whatever. That way we're all not yelling at each other in house, it's just me yelling.
   I don't tolerate smart mouths or laziness from my kids. I'm not saying I don't get it, everyday, I just don't tolerate it. #3 and I go round and round about this. He believes he does everything in the house and that he can talk to me however he wants. He's my SS so I'm just the caregiver I guess...wrong. I believe in 'Spare the rod, spoil the child'. I will bust their buns in a heart beat, whether the other parent approves or likes it or not. I'm the one caring for them. If we're out and my children are acting a fool, you have my permission to get on to them or whip that butt if needed. I work PT retail, and can't stand when parents let their children run buck wild.
   Way off subject there...Anyways
   I started getting right at my children's level and whispering or talking low to them to stop or whatever they are getting in trouble for.
   So far this year (the whole 7 days) I have NOT yelled a child......
10. Be more happy
    Keys to happiness....
    1. Less stress...(See resolutions 1,2, & 9)
    2. Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. (Thanks Elle!)
    3. Be happy and grateful for what I have. This should be a number all by its self and include my children. But I only wanted to list 10 things.

Ten resolutions. That's all. Doesn't seem like much but let's see how it goes. 

I would love to hear some of your resolutions and your tricks or success stories. What do you have planned this year?

My weekly schedule

I don't know about you but my life is super busy and crazy. If I do not have checklist for almost EVERYTHING, I forget. Which includes a house cleaning list. I really don't remember to dust or wipe off door knobs. 

Since my blog is here to share my life with you, I wanted to share My Weekly Schedule. Feel free to share how you keep everything on track cause Lord knows I always need suggestions.

Daily: (well, I try with good intentions)
10 mins kitchen clean up
10 mins bathroom
10 mins computer room
10 mins bedroms

Monday:
Menu
Kitchen
Batch Cooking
Bills/Budget
Schedule for the week
*Shopping


Tuesday:
Bathrooms
Towel Tuesday
Tim's Clothes 
Parent Committe Stuff
 
Wednesday:
Living Room 
Boy's Clothes
Shopping Day
Non-profit Stuff

Thursday:
Bedroom 
My Clothes
PTO Stuff

Friday:
Popcorn Friday
*Shopping


Saturday:
Work outside (when it's nice)
Enjoy day with kiddos


Sunday: 
Coupon list


*On Monday's and Friday's my stores get trucks in. So if something wasn't available on Wednesday, I can get it the other days. Plus Monday is another good day for Homeland because new coupons came out on Sunday to match up to the ad.

Back on track

Did you see us on the weather channel?  They were questioning us about the F7 that went through our house. 

Ok, so maybe it just looks like 4 small and 2 large tornadoes hit, but none the less, my house is a national disaster.

With Valentine's Day fundraisers, several basketball games, Pow Wow, baseball practice and just plain life, I have not worked on anything in my house. Now don't get me wrong, I don't have tons of dirty dishes piled up in the sink that smell, but my cat refuses to walk on the floor. One of my bathrooms are half way clean because #4 went to use it one day last week and decided to hang out and clean it. I've been trying to get him to use the other one ever since.

Now I told my self this week I was getting on track no matter what. I'm a couponer for crying out loud and I'm almost out of deodorant! I HAVE to shop this week.

So I'm going to work off check lists and weekly schedule to get back on track.

My checklists include:

50 Bible Verses to learn (an all year deal)
21 Day Organization Challenge and adding 21 days 21 bags with it. (which I was suppose to start 2 weeks ago...Oh my jeeze I suck!)
Spring Cleaning (post coming soon)
My weekly schedule 

Now hopefully it won't be 2 weeks before I get started again.

21 Day Home Challenge

I realized I have been slacking on my New Year Resolutions. So since I am rarely on time for anything, I didn't figure it would matter if I am late on getting started with this. Plus the fact that basketball season is almost over and baseball season is basically here it has put me in action mode! Which for those of you who are not baseball moms, that translates into non-stop on the go starting mid-February until July. I am going to be super busy this year because all three of the boys will be playing league baseball so because I do not want to be the mad mom trying to find everything, I better start getting organized NOW.

I have found a couple of websites to help me do this, Holiday Sparkles: 21 Day Organization Challenge and  Finely Ground:One-A-Day Challenge: Spring Cleaning. Of course I am just going to borrow their ideas and adjust it to my house. 

My weekly cleaning schedule is really Monday through Friday but I'm trying to change that some. I changed the challenges to match the rooms I will be in and my upcoming schedule.

•  Monday - Kitchen
• Tuesday - Living Room
• Wednesday - Bathrooms
• Thursday - Bedrooms
• Friday - Computer Room
• Saturday - Ball games or outside work
• Sunday - Relax

My 21 Day Organization Challenge is:

1. Her's was Medicine Cabinet so since I do not have one, I really thought about skipping day one but I better not. All my medicine is on top of my frig, so that's where I'll start.
2. Coat Closets
3. Linen Closet
4. Under Beds
5. Hand Bag/Camera Bag
6. Fridge/Freezer
7. Living Room
8. Her's was Make Up Case but I have make up drawers!
9. Bedroom Dressers
10. Jewelry Box
11. Kitchen Cabinet
12. Craft Supplies
13. Under Sinks
14. Bedroom Closets
15. Laundry Room
16. Her's was playroom/den but we have a Computer Room
17. Car
18. Garage
19. Backyard
20. Her's said Attic/Basement but there's no way you're getting me up there so I'll have to figure out something for here. I'm sure I've missed something.
21. Revisit all your hard work and enjoy!

Here is the Spring Clean Challenge but I will have to adjust mine later.

1. Dust light fixtures and ceiling fans--microfiber dampened with vinegar is good.
2. Sweep cobwebs in corners and along the ceiling.
3. Dust all horizontal surfaces—tops of doors, picture frames, shelves, baseboards, counters...
4. Magic Eraser or spot-clean the walls.
5. Wipe down circulating fans, wall, and floor vents with a cloth dampened with vinegar.
6. Get a new  vacuum filter (seriously, when's the last time you did it?)
7. Take everything off the bed and launder, including things you might wash less often like comforters or bedskirts.
8. Sprinkle the mattress with baking soda and let sit for at least an hour, then vacuum it all up with the brush attachment. You can do this while your bedclothes are in the wash to save steps!
9. Vacuum all upholstered furniture and vacuum or launder curtains.
10. Take rugs and mats outside and beat with a broom handle.
11. Vacuum the floor REALLY thoroughly before you put the rugs back down.
12. Spot-clean the carpet.
13. Give the kitchen a deep clean, especially the parts you usually skip (drip-pans, anyone?)
14. Check expiration dates in your fridge, pantry, and medicine cabinet, and bring things to the front—or to the garbage!—accordingly.
15. Give the bathroom(s) a deep clean, especially the parts you usually skip. Here's an easy, green method for the shower!
16. Go through your make-up and throw out anything that smells funny or you never use.
17. Wash windows inside and out. A mix of water and vinegar with a microfiber cloth work great!
18. Scrub out all window tracks with soapy water and an old toothbrush.
19. Go through your wardrobe and if there's things you never wear or have worn out either donate them or put them in a rag-bag (for craft projects!)
20. Bring summer clothes to the front and hide winter clothes in the back.
21. If you have a wool coat, bring it to the dry-cleaner's—I know, not cheap, but it's only once a year!
22. Treat any dingy whites to a soak in vinegar or borax. Might be a good time to do the dishcloths, too!
23. Polish and condition wood—anybody know a good green way to do this and nix the orange-glo?

Your welcome to follow me each day to see how it goes and give your suggestions and thoughts. Cleaning is never fun so I will probably need all the support I can get.

So without further ado...let's get cleaning and organizing!

Welcome to my krazy life!

Well, welcome to my krazy life. Yes I realize krazy is spelled wrong, but let's get a few things straight. First, I am a mother of 5 crazy kids, whom I rarely call by the right name, (which seems like a lot of kids, until I meet a mom that has like 7 or 10, then I'm like...OMG!). Second, spelling was not a gift I was blessed with and this is not a college paper so we will let it slide. And third, crazy wasn't available anyway so I had to get creative. 
I decided to make this blog as one of my New Year's resolutions. It is like a law that every new year you make a bunch of resolutions that you usually break within the first 7 days of the year. One of mine this year was to keep a blog of my krazy life. Why you ask? I have seen cute ideas on pinterest about getting index cards and writing down what happen that day with your family so you can look back over the years and remember what was special about that day. Ok, well with 5 kids, it will take 1 index card per kid per day to keep up with all the special and crazy things I want to remember so unless I wanted to buy a filing cabinet instead of an index box, this was the next best thing. Besides, this way maybe my kids will behave more if they thinks hundreds of people will be reading the goofy stuff they do everyday. Hey, it could work. :)

Follow me on facebook too at A Mom's Krazy Life