Home organization and things...

While looking for flylady apps on Android I found things I figured I would share, as that is the purpose of the internet. I was looking for apps partly to try and create my own based upon other variations floating around out there. But surprise, surprise got sidetracked. Anyways, here are websites I found listing what most call FlyLady alternatives.

http://flyingwithsmilegilrsmilechiccorner.blogspot.com/ - blog of Flybaby

http://www.chorewars.com/index.php - make chores into an RPG (role playing game)

http://www.habithacker.com/start-here/ - alt system

http://unclutterer.com/discuss/topic/flylady-alternative - whole discussion on FlyLady and variations.

http://messies.com/ - another system

Well anyways, just sharing not sure if I'll change to another system at this point. But thought it was interesting how many variations are available and how many apps are on the iPhone verses android. :\

Stickies

So the next step in the babystep world is placing sticky note reminders around in specific areas of the house (bathroom and kitchen). I put sticky notes on my computer desktop (digital versions) and one of my phone's home screens. Not quite the same thing but similar, I have been maintaining things thus far without jumping ahead, so that's good. I need to tackle the laundry tomorrow, but otherwise it will be a day of "renewing my spirit." ^.^

Babystep numero dos

Okay so I haven't updated, why you wonder. Well because I haven't really completed babystep #2 yet which is "getting dressed to your shoes" in the morning. This is a slight issue for me, and I'm sure this is just me making excuses to an extent but oh well it's my blog I'll whine if I want too. ~.^

So I have 3 different activities that occur when I wake up, I either go to the gym, go to work, or have a morning off. When multiple of these activities occur it throws my routines off. Tomorrow for example I go to work in the morning, but there are many days where I wake up, have a few hours at home then go to work and sometimes go to workout after, thus requiring up to 3 outfits in one day (yes laundry is a large issue at my house, for me at least).

So getting dressed to my lace up shoes when I go to work and typically wear heals isn't an option always. Thus fulfilling this babystep I guess I will have to accept getting fully dressed and not wandering around in pj's.

Monday - the previous text was written last night, I didn't get around to posting/proof reading yet. But I am happy to report that this AM I got up and got dressed to shoes...they aren't lace up shoes but they are shoes. I put on flats with my dress to get things done around the house. I also had the motivation to get dressed as I realized my package from Amazon was delivered on Saturday. So I wanted to go to the mailbox too. But I returned and put the clean dishes away, made breakfast and had time to play with my new stuff. I still have a few things to accomplish before leaving for work, but I even have time to finish up this blog entry. So I'm feeling pretty good this morning.

My sink is shiny ^_^

So I spent some time last night shining my sink, Flylady's first babystep. So it's complete, now being honest I did not soak the sink in the bleach water for an hour on each side, but I had cleaned it with a bleach infused chemical earlier yesterday. So I used comet, brillo scrubber, and windex to accomplish the shine. 


As you can see in the picture my kitchen is on the small side, it's pretty freaking tiny actually. I will post a picture of the other side which consists of the stove, microwave and fridge. Leaving an extremely small amount of counter space. The sink side is all the counter space, which as you can see holds the toaster over and foreman grill. I would like to point out the little flylady cling that lives in the kitchen to remind me to keep that sink clean. Also my rubba scrubba and weekly dishtowels (which I don't see on her shop anymore), I mentioned I wasn't new to this whole thing. ^.~ I actually have the entire rubba series, but I'm sure I'll talk about those later. My favorite is the rubba sweepa, seriously. But I got the cling in the box when I ordered the rubba series and dish towels so that was a happy surprise a few months back during my last attempt. I will say everything shipped quickly, and I was excited to "play" with my new toys. My boyfriend has found multiple uses for the rubba scrubba too, so it's not just my toy.

Here is my sink before, as I mentioned in yesterday's post it was "clean." I had wiped it out with some cleaner and had completed any remaining dishes from the day. The after picture is shiny, which did slightly surprise me but I did put forth more effort on making the sink, well shine. 


So mission accomplished. Babystep 2 is getting dressed to the shoes, well it's a little late for that one today. But tomorrow is another day, and I'm not suppose to jump ahead as I have so many times in the past. It doesn't work when you do multiple babysteps in one day. Now I need to go work on the clutter for 15 min and get through some of that weekly home blessing. ^.^

Another attempt at FlyLady

So over the years I've done FlyLady and it's worked, but I haven't stuck with it consistently and thus fall back into living in CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome). Inspired by Fly Lady Flunky I am going to try and blog about accomplishments with the baby steps and Fly Lady system. I'm not going to get to detailed into the system here, as there are multiple websites and books to read that information from the sources. I've already included some links here. And will probably continue to do so. This blog isn't dedicated to just fly lady either as it's title implies. I use it to ramble and babble about other things, although I have a feeling the current focus will be on homemaking. 


My biggest headache is clutter, and laundry...go figure. Anyways, I've been maintaining some of my FlyLady habits for awhile now, mostly keeping dishes out of the sink and making the bed when it's not still occupied. So tonight I will restart officially with babystep 1. Which is shining the sink, my sink is currently clean but I will tonight make sure to give it a good scrub again. 


I am ahead of the "game" in some ways, as I have a control journal that's partially completed. I even have to do lists and reminders programed into my Android phone. Although there isn't an app specifically helpful as there is one for the iphone. I'm looking forward to being able to use the App Inventor for Android by Google, once I get an invitation. So hopefully I can create a personalized app, because seriously who doesn't have their phone with them most of the time. So it's my lifeline. 


Part of the reason I've gotten out of the habit of the "system" is that I work pretty scattered hours, and it changes. I'm a brain trainer and so I work one-on-one with students (of all ages), but that means that sometimes I work 3 days a week to 6 days, for random hours throughout the day. Thus making routine harder to accomplish. But I'm going to do my best to maintain this, and start out slow as I like so many others tend to jump into things and get overwhelmed. There are babysteps for a reason and as FlyLady likes to remind all her flybabies "You are not behind! I don't want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are. O.K.?"

Clutter

I'm a pack rat, I accept this at this point. I've spent years collecting this or that, nothing specific. But collecting all the same. I am letting go of stuff, it's not always fun but typically feels good after it's gone. To charity, in the trash, or whatever depending upon what it was to being with. I like certain things, I like journals, I have a few that are completely untouched. Why because I liked the front or wanted to save them for some special occasion to start journaling in that journal for, so I either ned to use them or give them to someone that will. Shoes, purses/bags, clothes, knick knacks, etc...I have more than I'll even need. I give stuff away but just always seem to have more than is necessary. I'm happy when on vacation or staying somewhere for awhile when living out of a suitcase, it's nice to feel that freedom of not having to make decisions. Granted I'm an over packer when I travel, but that's an entirely different rant.

I am trying to change, I am trying to make less stuff in my house, because it makes me happy when I have enough room in my closets for all my clothes, when shoes aren't over pouring our of closets, baskets, etc. But I don't always let go as I "see" a use for shoes I haven't worn in 5 years. Those are so in fashion...@_@ (eye roll). I am going to change, I will live in a less clutter life, because it will make me happy. It will help me feel better...I currently use FlyLady.net to help me in this process. I've used it before and it worked, I just have to follow the guidelines and make them my own. I have the time, right now. To organize my life and spend time de-cluttering an organizing years of stuff.

Yep that's my plan, it's been working for awhile. ^.^