The OSCAR Project

It's almost December!

The end of November is when I usually have a mini panic attack/inspiration burst.  I am overwhelmed by all the cleaning and organizing I want to have done BEFORE I decorate, and also inspired by all the decorating that can be done AFTER everything is neat and clean.  The last two weeks of November have evaporated and here I am on the day before December starts wondering how much I can accomplish in one evening.  I really love to start Christmas decorating on December 1st each year.

Today's Projects:

ORGANIZE: The pile up of outerwear by the front door. This is an ongoing battle.  We are really and truly in the throes of winter now though so all we need is the very cold weather gear.  The rest can be stashed away in a bin.  I still need to get hooks set up a child height so the kiddos can put their own things away.  I better call Dwayne right now and see if he can bring home a drill...

SIMPLIFY: Make a meal plan for the next two weeks at least.  I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow anyhow.  That will makes things simpler and my afternoons much calmer.  No more "what are we having for dinner tonight?" dilemnas. 

CLEAN: The kitchen.  Stovetop, counters, dishwasher, fridge, bottom of the oven.  Maybe the floors if I don't run out of steam.  If I do, I'll imagine what they look like clean until I get to them tomorrow.

AESTHETICS: Clear off the top of the piano (a few books, pictures waiting to be framed), put away the loose DVDs on top of the DVD player, remove non-seasonal items from shelves to prepare for Christmas decor.

RELAX: A movie while I do laundry.  I think perhaps "The Family Stone", on loan from a good friend.

On a very exciting note, Dwayne is going to install our new dryer tonight!  It is the first time for us to have a dryer in this house (4 years!).  I am so excited.  I hope it revolutionizes my life.  Really.  I think it's going to be that good.  I don't care that it's a compact, it is so much more than just relying on clotheslines.  Yippee!

 

October 14 (Friday)

Today's Projects:

ORGANIZE: The pile up of outerwear by the front door.  We are in the dreaded in-between season around here.  Almost cold enough for winter gear but not quite.  Definitely needing sweaters and fall coats.  Time to round up the rain jackets and windbreakers and put them away or pass them on.  Store the winter gear outside but in an easily accessible place. ~not yet! there are new hooks waiting to be installed when Dwayne brings the drill home~

SIMPLIFY: Come up with a visual chart for the kiddos of all the things that need to happen in their day.  I don't expect this to be completed today but I'd like to start.  It can include chores, grooming, fun activities, quiet time, etc.  Then each kid can just check their chart when in doubt. ~hahahaha! enough said?  one of these days...~

CLEAN: The bathroom.  Time to wash the floor, clean all the fixtures, wipe down the walls, and clear some clutter. ~yes, mostly.  walls still need to be tackled~

AESTHETICS: Clear the top of the piano.  It has been safely storing a few piles of precious items for far too long.  I need to move them to another secure, yet contained location.  I feel much better once I've gotten rid of horizontal clutter. ~the piles have been sorted but are awaiting appropriate sized storage, need to make a run to the store for boxes with lids~

RELAX: Movie night?  Perhaps the rest of Star Wars: Episode 1 with Hendrik, and before that, something more gentle with the girls.  Time for popcorn! ~oh yes! we all watched the second half of Star Wars: Episode I.  Lots of cheering for the good guys.  And popcorn!~

Tomorrow...OUTDOOR PROJECTS! ~this didn't happen!  it was very cool outside and Dwayne went hunting so this will happen another day~

Time to resurrect OSCAR

Oh, it has been a while and I am in need of de-grouching again!  Summer was not as productive as I thought it was going to be.  Now we are well into fall in our neck of the woods, and the first snowfall will not be far off.  It's time to get cracking!

Today's Projects:

ORGANIZE: Clothing!  We've rearranged the upstairs and haven't quite got an effective system worked out yet.  Beds moved, dressers moved, new clothing racks for the girls built, but still struggling to fit it all in.  Time to pass along some clothes... ~some success, still a work in progress!~

SIMPLIFY: Set up the second play pen upstairs.  Again.  It makes all the difference having a safe place to stash Emma while I work.  ~done~

CLEAN: The kitchen.  Pots and pans are staring at me, the floor needs attention, table linens need to be changed, and the baby's chair needs to be wiped down thoroughly. ~this is one of those tasks that never stays finished but dishes got washed, floors were swept, placemats and tablecloth changed/removed but now we are back to the same problem as the other day...time to start over...~

AESTHETICS: Tidy the stacks of books sitting on the floor in the living room.  There are some that will be leaving our home and others that there just aren't enough bookshelves to hold them. ~this hasn't happened yet!~

RELAX: Watch an episode of a TV show online or on DVD.  Play through a song or two from a new Christmas piano music book that came in the mail yesterday. ~TV on DVD was watched, Christmas music tomorrow!~

I'll be back tomorrow to let you know how I fared!

Busy Saturday

I could have gone into town today, but decided against it.  There is to much to do at home.  It ends up taking at least 2 hours each time I go in (Getting everyone ready and in the van, running errands, etc.).  So far I've had a very productive day. :)

Today's Projects:

ORGANIZE: Added another plastic drawer unit to the kids' toy area.  Much better!  Now the stuff that was sitting around in reusable shopping bags on the floor has a proper home.  Done!

SIMPLIFY: Sorted all of the clothes into clothes that fit now, clothes for next season, and clothes that are too small for everyone (at least for this season).  I put all of the clothing currently not in use into clear plastic garbage bags for now.  When I am able to better sort that lot I will move the "keepers" into sturdy bins and store them outside in the trailer/shed.  I also sorted the bedding and put all of the heavy flannel sheets into a bin to store outside as well.  These two tasks have increased the amount of space we have upstairs enormously! Done!

CLEAN: Loads upon loads of laundry!  Wash the floors.  Clean the bathroom.  Done!

AESTHETICS: Dining table fully cleared off, fresh tablecloth put on, pansies from the garden and some flowers still lingering from a grocery store bundle in vases on the table.  Done!

RELAX: Old cartoons, favourite books, puzzles.  Done!

 

FAMILY PROJECT: Planting the tomatoes and a few of the pots of flowers we brought home from the greenhouse the other day.  Done!

 

Long weekend

This post is actually for Saturday through Monday.  Long weekends usually are filled with a mix of the predictable and planned, and the spontaneous.  Here's what we hope to accomplish.  I'll let you know how it goes on Monday night. :)

Today's Projects:

ORGANIZE: Paper piles in the living room sorted into two boxes - work and home.  We'll start there. Still in progress!

SIMPLIFY: Bin up all of the winter footwear.  Get out the summer shoes and sandals that still fit this year.  Toss/give away/keep what is garbage/will be of use to another family/what will fit in future years.  Still in progress!

CLEAN: Take everything off the front porch.  Sweep.  Wipe off bins.  Chuck stuff.  Put away the scattered bits and pieces.  Made major headway here.  Still lots to do!

AESTHETICS: Move boxes out of the living area that don't belong there.  One of them contains Christmas books/magazines/CDs/DVDs.  Yep, it's more than time to move that baby.  Done!

RELAX: Old cartoons, favourite books, working outside in what will be the garden space this year.

 

FAMILY PROJECT: Vehicle clean up!  Steam clean upholstery.  Wipe the dash/door panels/door handles etc.  Clean windows.  Finish cleaning car seats (that got jump started earlier in the week).  Done!

 

Our work beast.  

 

It's exhausting watching people work. :)

 

Another very grubby truck.  Husband in background is much less grubby looking than usual.  Much easier to clean vehicles than fix them, methinks.

 

The gear required for cleaning out vehicles might be different if you are 4.

Playing dust tag isn't as fun alone.  It's much better to try to convince your sister(s) to join in.  Again.

 

Re-emerging from the van after a little bit of self prescribed quiet time.

 

The Sick Day Edition

The Projects

ORGANIZE:  No time for this today!

SIMPLIFY: Socks and underwear for the kids are now stored in the bathroom storage baskets.  It seems to make sense given this season of potty training and extended outdoor play sessions.  Socks aren't lasting long out there!

CLEAN:  Lots and lots of bedding!  I've washed the mattress covers, mattress pads, sheets, and blankets for the girls' beds.  Tomorrow I will tackle the pillows and remaining beds.  I would have done it today but we were running dangerously low on water.  

AESTHETICS:  Air freshening was high on the list of priorities today.  The diffuser was in use, as was the screen door.  It's so nice to have the outdoor breezes blowing in.  De-cluttering also helps - there were lots of laundry baskets scattered throughout the living area and bedroom from yesterday's laundry marathon.  They should all be empty by the end of the evening.

RELAX:  If children allow, I think a movie is in order.  Something with lots of action in it.  I've had enough action of my own for today, I want to watch somebody else sweat it out. :)

 

Pictures will follow if the kiddos settle easily.  Otherwise, perhaps tomorrow.

 

I'm not sure what day it is...

Today's episode is brought to you by the letter "c" and the number "12".  "C" being for confusion, and "12" being for the number of days since I posted a project.  Oh dear.

I don't have any official photos to accompany this OSCAR post, so I'll just throw in a few random ones instead. ;)

The Projects

ORGANIZE:  The recycling.  It sort of counts.  Not itself though, we did that.  We sorted and counted all of the recycling that has been piling up in the yard throughout the winter.  Once the snowbank it was frozen into melted, we were able to see the mountain of cans, bottles, juice boxes, and milk containers that would yield $131.20.  Plus, the yard looks SOOOO much better without that pile of clear plastics bags.

 

 

SIMPLIFY:  Dwayne rehung the clothesline.  This time, instead of going across the back yard, where I'd have to troop out there with shoes on and a heavy basket of wet laundry, it is anchored to the side of the house right outside the backdoor.  No shoes required.  No major treks to the line.  No need to wonder if the kids are tormenting one another, I can see and hear them from the back step.  Most excellent!

 

 

CLEAN:  The seemingly gazillion loads of laundry that have been accumulating the past couple of weeks.  The interim washing machine keep leaking and error coding, generally being a nuisance and wreaking havoc, and wasting a colossal amount of time.  It shouldn't take an hour and half to do ONE load of laundry.  Then there were the extremely loud clanking noises.  Thanks to Uncle Ian and Joan, a washing machine part made it's way to us from the U.S. (the store wouldn't ship to Canada) so our old machine (which isn't that old) could be fixed, and the clanker chucked outside.  We now have a quiet, efficient, properly behaving washing machine again.  Fixed washing machine + convenient clothesline + warm weather + strong winds = lots of clean, dry, soft, yummy smelling laundry.  I like that math. :)

 

 

AESTHETICS: An essential oil diffuser has been added to our household.  I'm really enjoying it.  Aside from filling the air with great scents, it also provides an optional little rainbow LED light show.

 

 

RELAX!:  I'm feeling restless today and am having a hard time relaxing for some unknown reason.  For the moment, I'm drinking milk and blogging.  I'm also searching for a new book to start for some bedtime reading.  "Girl With A Pearl Earring" wasn't my cup of tea.  I'm thinking something adventuresome or comical would fit the bill.  Perhaps "Elephant Bill" or a "Calvin and Hobbes" collection. 

 

 

 

De-grouching Days 1 & 2

Well, I may only end up being able to get through the whole acronym every two days but we'll aim high and see what happens!

The Projects

ORGANIZE:  Gathered all winter wear to one location to be washed, dried, and stored for next season.  In my case, the location will have to be a mountain beside the wood stove, just outside the bathroom/laundry room.  Actual washing will have to wait until after our next water delivery day.  Now we are down to one coat and one vest each instead of layers upon layers of coats, vests, snow pants, and snow suits. 

 

BEFORE: Back door coat hooks

BEFORE: Front door coat hooks

 

Pile of miscellaneous winter gear piled under front door coat hooks. 

AFTER: Back door coat hooks

AFTER: Front door coat hooks

SIMPLIFY:  Created a reading basket for the living room.  Dwayne and I often have multiple books and magazines on the go at one time, and they often end up scattered around the room.  This way they are all in one place, ready for whenever we are.

 

 Book basket

 

CLEAN:  Vacuumed the black shaggy area rug in the living room.  I don't have a before and after picture for this one.  You can use your imagination.  Black carpet + 4 kids + spring mud season + lots of tiny Lego pieces + 1 daughter who loves to shred paper + snack crumbs = 1 carpet that is not so black.  Hooray for vacuums!  Speaking of which, I bought a little Dirt Devil cordless vacuum today for getting into nooks and crannies, and for reaching up high to vacuum off the dust bunnies accumulating on the log beams.

 

AESTHETICS:  Cleared off coffee table, shone it up with glass cleaner, then added a baby and silk floral arrangement.  

 

Can you spot the baby on the couch?  There's quite a mountain there...

 

Ahhhh...after!  

MUCH easier to find the baby now. ;)  Don't worry, the baby was only up there so I could vacuum! 

 

RELAXING:  We watched "The King's Speech" tonight.  Quite interesting.  I confess to being as interested in the architecture as in the storyline.  Reading "Girl With A Pearl Earring" before it has to go back to the library and it's home on the other side of the country.  I'm also working on another loaner - "Homeschooling for Excellence".  Don't you just love inter-library loans?

 

Perhaps I'll read more than one page tonight.

Getting Started

Note: This definitely has not been happening on a daily basis so instead of a daily event in May, this will be continuing as and when I'm able to.  Sick kiddos, a teething baby, a family business, and life in general are not compatible with my original goal right now! - May 28, 2011.

 

Here's what I'm up to for the next little while - The OSCAR Project, partially inspired by Oscar the Grouch himself.  I've come up with a nifty, and somewhat corny, acronym.  Yes.  Here's to hoping it's helpful!

 ORGANIZE.      SIMPLIFY.      CLEAN.      AESTHETICS.      RELAX.

 

I am tired of being grouchy from the stress of living in a house that is highly cluttered.  I don't mind the small scale of our home, it's the stuff scattered across it willie-nillie that has me on edge.  This is something else Oscar and I have in common - small spaces that have to encompass many things, and rooms that serve multiple purposes.  Unlike Oscar's trash can, I lack the swimming pool, elephant, and pet worm named Fluffy.  However, we both have pianos.  I digress...

Over the month of May, I will be focusing on the house and ditching the clutter in it.  Each day of the week, except Sundays, I will be tackling the following: an organizing project, a task to simply some process in our home, a cleaning project, a task to improve the aesthetics of our home, and a relaxing activity.  It's easy to feel like the hamster running on its wheel with no end in sight, and that is why I added the "relax" portion.  It is impossible to right every wrong in one day, or even a week, so why not reward the little successes of each day with something enjoyable?

Follow me as I journey towards a less hectic, smoother existence for our family and avoid becoming an official Grouchketeer.  

_____________

Oscar: "How do you tell a Grouchketeer?"  

Grouchketeers: "He's the one with the thumb in his ear!"