CTMs vs MUMs Home Organisation Update and Giveaway

Ok, so we’re half way there in the Home Organisation Challenge between the Muddled Up Mummies and the Crash Test Mummies.

To recap, in Part 1 team Muddled Up Mumma (Amelia, Allie and myself) who are following along the Organised Housewife, were focusing on using a cleaning checklist, grocery shopping list, meal planning and following the daily tasks.

We’re half way and the results are in.

Make sure you read to the end as I also have a Giveaway from Sabco on offer.

Jodie

I threw myself out of whack by deciding to go away for Easter, so half the time I wasn’t in my own home. But when I came back I did manage to follow the Cleaning checklist pretty much to the letter. Considering my husband who moved out of our house over Easter (in case you didn’t know we have separated recently) told me he thought I would have no hope keeping up with the housework and might need to get a “maid”, I am really proud of how well I have kept on top of things. All washing, dishes, cleaning and gardening is totally up to date. I even had a lawn mowing lesson over the weekend and mowed the lawn myself for the first time. It’s amazing what you can do when you are determined to prove someone wrong!

In terms of the grocery checklist and menu planning, well this is going to be something I will make more of an effort on next week. I have struggled to get into any routine and having had my son home sick this week with croup has really thrown me.

The Daily tasks have been great reminders to do the little things you forget about. For example, today’s was to:

Have a look through your collection of candles and throw away any that you know you will not use again.

And yesterday’s was:

Do you have email subscriptions that are decluttering your inbox? As you receive them this week make an effort to unsubscribe from each of them. Next week your inbox will be a lot cleaner!

Pretty easy hey!

Decluttering has been a bit of a focus and in particular I did manage to clean out my bathroom cabinets (could have been more ruthless, but it’s a start.) I am going to focus on organising my fridge in line with getting a shopping list and menu plan down pat and who knows, it may end up looking something like this (from here):

I promise to take a photo how ever it ends up!

Amelia

I've been going so well!! I have just lapped up this challenge. It's really made me re-evaluate the way I spend my time each day. The cleaning checklist has been incredible. And I feel so much better for getting all the little jobs done at the start of each day. It's so much better than having it all hang over your head all day.

The daily email has also been really good - a few things on there I hadn't even thought of doing!! Whoops. :)

Meal planning was something I was already doing, but I am considering trying to do a fortnightly meal plan/shop and see how I go.

But so far, I'm loving it and I've learnt a lot!

Can't wait for Part Two. xx

Allie

I have been going ok, Easter did throw a spanner in the works as I was showcasing my business at 3 markets over the long weekend and starting at 5am & finishing up around 3-4pm all 3 days there was no time for cooking, cleaning or planning. However, I have managed to stick to a meal plan and I have cut down the supermarkets visits to 3 times in 2 weeks rather than everyday.

My cleaner has gone on holidays and I spent all morning Saturday vacuuming, mopping, dusting and cleaning in general, I used the cleaning checklist from Katrina and found it very helpful.

I have even started organizing my household. First I installed an under sink bin so that I could get rid of my ugly bin that sits in the middle of the kitchen always in the road and too heavy for the kids to empty so I always end up doing it. Now the bin is out of sight and is emptied everyday by my son and one less job for me to do everyday.

Next job was my linen cupboard which was an unsightly mess. I could never find matching sheets or pillow cases. I took a tip from Katrina and placed sheets inside the matching pillow slip.

I have installed a railing with hanging tubs from IKEA in my sewing room which keeps all of my knick knacks within reach but out of the way.

I have a pile of stuff to take to Vinnies and have thrown out old threadbare sheets etc. and basically stuff we no longer use and keeping "just in case"

I am using an iPad to do list app called 2do and it is really keeping me on track. Organizing my head is the first job that I am getting on top of by taking all of the 2 do's out of my thoughts and down on paper (well virtual paper)

I am looking forward to this week to set more of a routine as I will have more energy and time, the last 2 weeks have been pretty hectic with kids home for holidays and Easter. I need to work more on my anxiety levels. The trip to the supermarket and a full trolley sends me into panic attacks, to overcome this will be my challenge for the upcoming week, so that I can get the visits down to once a week.

Our tasks for Part 2

1. Continue using the tools from Part 1

2. Introduce a Routine Chart and Reward Charts for your kids -

Routine charts – These are meant to help kids know your expectation, of what needs to be done each morning and evening and help them develop a sense of responsibility for their own things. The Organised Housewife has charts available here. But depending on the age of your children you may need to tweak and create your own.

Reward Chart – To add along with the routine charts if you like. Also available here

The Organised Housewife has provided a 20% discount for my readers until the end of April. Just enter the code muddled20 at the checkout. http://theorganisedhousewife.com.au/shop/

If you are following along, I’d love to hear how you went – just leave a comment below! Also, don’t forget to pop over to Crash Test Mummy to see how her team is going. We have a hashtag going if you want to stay in touch about the challenge on twitter #CTMvMUM.

Feel free to post on either of our Facebook pages too (mine is here and Laney’s is here).

Giveaway Time!

To help you get in the spirit of the challenge (let’s face it, cleaning is a huge part of being organised at home and no one really loves it!), Sabco have offered a $60 cleaning pack to one reader.