How to Train Me

Word of the day:

'Petrichor' (n) that pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a period of warm, dry weather.

There are some great storage ideas on this site that I found today ...

Simple Ways to Organise Your Wardrobe

I spent some time yesterday writing out 28 cards, each with a chore that needs to be done around the house.

Things like:

• Clearing the junk drawer
• Culling the filing cabinet 
• Sorting through and donating clothes and shoes
• Washing windows
• Cleaning my desk drawers
• Dusting the skirting boards and the paintings hanging on the walls
• Clearing my unread emails (all 899 of them!)
• Getting the ironing up-to-date
• Donating recipe books and other old books in the bookcase
• Tossing all the boxes that once housed our kitchen gadgets, electronic devices and other assorted electrical appliances. Adoring Husband likes to keep them for a while and I believe there may be approximately twenty boxes in various locations around the house.

Today, I pinned the cards on the cork board, and each day, Adoring Husband and I will take a card and do the job that's written on it. Between the two of us, we could have all of the chores completed inside two weeks, but there will be days when we've got other commitments, so I hope that a month will cover it.

I did one of the chores today, without taking the card down. All of my emails are now read and/or deleted/saved. That job took more than two hours. No wonder the list, on it's own, looks so overwhelming!

Here I am, with 24 hours every day to fill. No work commitments. No children. No responsibilities. Yet I can't create a routine or schedule to get my life organised. I wonder how the hell I worked full time, raised three kids, looked after a house as well as fulfilling sporting commitments and social activities!

Obviously, I work better under pressure!

I've got a batch of chicken bone broth in the slow cooker as we speak and I juiced some pineapple, watermelon, mint and coconut water this morning, to help AH recover from a morning of mowing in this horrible heat and humidity.

We've spent the afternoon watching Super Saturday football. So far, I've tipped two from four, but loving the new footy season!

Tomorrow, after I've completed one of my chores, I'm going to create my new vision board for 2016. That should be fun. I'll post a photo in tomorrow's blog.

Nite all.

Whaddaya reckon?

This looks interesting ...

Personal Development Event

I'm going to check it out, as are a couple of my friends.

Time for bed.

Nite all.

A Day in The Bay

Word for the day 'drapetomania' - (n.) an overwhelming urge to run away.

The history of that word is not pleasant, but I won't go there.

I think I suffered from drapetomania for a lot of the time that I lived in Sydney.

There was no cleaning or de-cluttering today.

Instead we spent the day in The Bay. The first stop was Go Natural where I stocked up on organic chicken carcasses for my broth, a whole chicken, a tub of plain coconut yoghurt, a jar of kimchi, organic apples, coconut water, almond meal, coconut flour and a couple of other odds and ends.

We bought coffee from the place next door to Go Natural (I can't remember the name of the shop). They refuse to provide (with a sign on the counter to warn us)

• sugar
• anything extra large
• anything extra hot
• any syrup that you can normally buy at a coffee shop

They have a couple of GF options for sweets and one very delicious looking option for a lunch meal each day. I keep coconut sugar and plastic spoons in the glove box of the car specifically for when we buy coffee at this shop. The coffee is delicious, but I don't think they make it hot enough.

Next stop was the mower shop for some new blades.

We selected the Bay Central Tavern as our stop for lunch. The tavern has just completed major renovations and they've done a great job. It has a nice friendly atmosphere and there is a large sports bar, a well hidden poker machine area and a lovely restaurant which includes the huge deck that wraps around two sides of the building.

The food was nice, but a touch bland. There were only three GF options and they were quite expensive. Lunch with a drink each cost $63.50 altogether. I don't think it was good value for money, but apparently, our lady's group is going there for lunch this month, so I'll give them a second chance.

It was nice to spend the day out with Adoring Husband.

After lunch we did some more grocery shopping, I bought what I hope will be the winning Ozlotto ticket and found a big tin money box to help me save money for the next road trip (just in case lotto doesn't pan out). I stole AH's $2 coins to start my saving stash.

We picked up our FROG  box and arrived home mid afternoon.

Plenty of time to prepare for the first NRL game of the season between my team, the Brisbane Broncos and Parramatta Eels. Broncos won 17 - 4 and I picked the margin correctly in the WWOS footy tipping competition! Yay for me!

I'm so excited that the football season has started for 2016! I always miss it over the Summer.

I'm now watching Pretty Woman. One of my favourite movies. It always reminds me of Mum.

I forgot to mention yesterday (Wednesday) that it was the 37th anniversary of (my first son) Jamie's death. I'm pretty certain that there are only two people left on this earth, who remember Jamie's birth and death dates. (Thank you Grannymus for your email).

I kind of feel sad that there is nobody else left who can remember that he existed and who can remember the important dates connected to him. He is just a distant memory to my brother and sister, they don't remember the dates and never mention him.

I really must take the time to scan some old photos and share them on here, just so that they will be saved for posterity. You never know when someone in the future might wonder about him.

For any new readers, who don't know this story, Jamie was my first child, born 31st October 1978 and died of SIDS at the age of 17 weeks on 2nd March 1979.

It was a big year that year. In the space of twelve months, I got engaged, fell pregnant, turned 18, got married, gave birth 9 wks early to a baby who spent the first 8 weeks of his life in hospital, brought him home in time for Christmas and 9 weeks later, attended his funeral.

Inside the following five years, I gave birth to three healthy babies, and they have all grown into fabulous adults, so there was a happy ending!

I guess I can use this blog to keep Jamie's memory alive each year.

It has been a good day today! Tomorrow I might have a go at this 'cleaning' and 'de-cluttering' business. Small steps might make it work. I'm more of a 'big picture' kind of girl, so 'small steps' are tricky for me. I'm certain that I can do it.

Nite all.

Cyber Space Gems

It's amazing what you can find when you look!

You know how I've been whinging about housework? About how much I detest it? About needing to do the job properly, or not at all? About my lack of motivation to do it? About wishing for an easy routine?

Well, I decided to do a search in youtube for some hints and tips on making housework easier, quicker and perhaps even more enjoyable (haha - as if!).

There are endless short and long videos with hints and tips on everything:

• Folding and storing clothes.
• De-cluttering closets, cupboards, drawers and rooms.
• Faking a clean house when visitors are arriving unexpectedly.
• Cleaning out your kitchen cupboards.
• Organising your laundry.
• 31 days to get organised.
• Organising paperwork.
• Tackling the bathroom vanity.
• Taming the junk drawer.
• Maintaining a clutter free home.
• Cleaning hacks.
• Spring cleaning. 

Or this one ... How To Clean Your Bedroom Closet

Or this one ... Cleaning Your Kitchen Cupboards and Drawers

Or my easy favourite ... 31 Days To Get Organised

For your amusement, I spent a good three hours sitting on the couch watching numerous videos on cleaning and de-cluttering and did not spend one single minute actually cleaning and de-cluttering!

Procrastinators unite!!

It's all fabulous and awesome in theory. Tomorrow, we'll find out if it's fabulous and awesome in practise!

Firstly, I need to squish the procrastination bug and then I need to find the motivation serum. Once I've got that all sorted, I should be able to begin the organisation/routine process.

Stay tuned for my report.

Nite all.

You Can't be Serious!!

Just call me 'Forgetful Jones'!!

This is a day that I'd like to forget!!

Apparently, I was supposed to join the girls for aqua-aerobics this morning.

I remember having a discussion about it. I remember saying that I would see if my swimmers fit me before I could decide whether to go. I don't remember saying that I would go .. however, I MAY have agreed to do this after a bottle of wine on Friday night .. in which case the girls simply HAVE TO forgive me because I've warned them before that all conversations on Friday nights are null and void.

I may have agreed to join them over the lady's lunch .. which also includes wine .. same rules apply.

Anyway, the girls apparently waited in my driveway this morning .. while I slept soundly.

The girls called the home phone. Adoring Husband was at home, but watching TV with his headphones, so he heard nothing. We can't hear the home phone when the bedroom door is closed, so I heard nothing.

The girls called my mobile, which was switched to silent, so once again, I heard nothing.

Upon waking up, and discovering the missed call on my mobile and the message on my home message bank, I felt confused and guilty. Ugh.

I didn't phone anyone, because tonight is the monthly barbecue, so I decided to wait and to offer my apologies at the barbecue.

Well, guess what?

By mid afternoon, I had forgotten about the barbecue. Adoring Husband had forgotten about the barbecue.

We missed the barbecue.

At 10.30pm .. just thirty minutes ago .. I remembered the barbecue.

I cursed.

Loudly.

I've been looking forward to the barbecue since last Thursday. How the hell could I forget something like that?

So today is a day that I choose to forget.

I'll see the girls in the morning at our morning tea, so I will offer my apologies and hopefully they will forgive me for forgetting two dates in twenty four hours!!

Sorry girls :(

I didn't even have a busy day. There is no excuse!!

This was nice ...



I wonder if men, anywhere in the world, would take the same kind of notice of this ad, as women?

Time for bed.

Nite all.

Maximum Minimum Effort

For me, when it comes to housework, it's always minimum work, but maximum effort. You know that, because I've explained it here in the past.

I would rather pick one job and do it well, than spend hours doing a lot of jobs badly.

This is kind of contradictory because even though I WANT my house to be spotless and perfect, my motivation levels don't allow me to do housework often enough, and that means, my house is never completely clean. *rolls eyes* Okay, it means that my house is almost always messy.

Today, I found a little motivation and cleaned the main bathroom and toilet. I also did some washing and made some chilli paste.

Chilli paste was on my 'to do' list for February, so I only just made it in the nick of time! I completed all but one item on my list this month. My desk/office didn't get touched, so it will be on top of my March list.

Thanks to Lady Lynn and The Lifesaver, I tossed my chillies (three big bags) into the food processor with coconut oil and avocado oil and some salt. I whizzed it to a paste and then plopped spoonfuls into 95 mini muffin patties and placed them on a tray into the freezer.

Once they were frozen, I put the patty pans into a container so that I can simply remove one whenever I need it.

I swept the floors. The worst thing about having three dogs and a husband who works out in the garden, is the amount of dirt and grass that gets traipsed into the house every day. I sweep a full dustpan of muck out of the house every day.

I detest housework! It really is 'never' done. If only the fresh and clean would last for days instead of minutes .. or if we're lucky .. hours.

I found this movie trailer today, and even though it's a kid's movie, it looks hilarious. We all have pets, so we can all relate to the cheekiness and quirkiness of the animals here.



I'll definitely look forward to watching this with Chicklet.

Tonight, I'm setting myself up to watch the Academy Awards. I may have to record the second half, because it goes til 1.30am and I doubt I'll stay up that late!

So nite all.

I Feel the Need to Heal

While I'm struggling to get this gum disease under control, I've been doing a bit of research into boosting my immune system to help me heal. I've always been a fast healer, but it seems that my body is struggling with this one.

It has been two weeks since my procedure and I'm still not completely healed. I feel like one specific part of my gum is really fighting off infection, so I need to help my body get stronger.

During the last couple of years I been following a woman called Dr Sarah Ballantyne (PhD) who strictly adheres to the paleo way of living but also needs to follow the Autoimmune Protocol due to a number of health issues.

*The Autoimmune Protocol is a diet that helps heal the immune system and gut mucosa. It is applicable to any inflammatory disease. AIP addresses inflammation in the gut that causes AutoimmuneDisease.*

Aside from those health issues, she was morbidly obese, and through a heavy fitness program and changing her eating habits, has lost a lot of weight.

She does her own scientific research, as well as reading and explaining to the common person, the results of other research and studies.  

I recently acquired a copy of her latest book 'The Healing Kitchen' which I need to find time to sit down and read properly - there is so much information to absorb, so I need to commit some time to focus on it.

I'd also like to get a copy of her original book, 'The Paleo Approach Cookbook'. It costs around $60, but I currently have the highest bid of $25 on ebay for a pre-owned copy, so fingers crossed on that one!

While we wait for the outcome of that bid, I thought you might get a good giggle out of this guy ...

Nite all.