DAY 1 - 1950s HOMEMAKING EXPERIMENT

I slept in.

Don't think I need to say anymore!

I felt behind before I had even gotten out of bed. I started anyway beginning at step 1. I made it all the way to step 7 on the cleaning list that I found yesterday. Here's the link in case you missed it - http://www.jenbutneverjenn.com/2010/05/keeping-of-house-1950s-style.html
I did skip over step 8 & 9 but I managed even managed step 10 all before lunch.



Some background information before I begin with my excuse for sleeping in. The kids slept in too so don't worry I woke up when they did. I am a single mum to a 17 year old daughter, Miss E, and I'm also a foster mum to 2 children, a girl aged 3 and a boy aged 4. So I'm busy. Also 4 months ago I slipped and fell in my backyard and broke my ankle and leg, which is a major reason for the mess plus throw in little kids and its a disaster!

Slowly but surely I'm on the mend but the key word is slowly, which is frustrating because I really want to have a tidy house where we can invite friends over without embarrassment.

First up step 1 and 2 of the cleaning schedule was to fold back the covers or in my case doona and open the windows and curtains, I then threw on my dressing gown and got the kids up. It was just a quick breakfast because it was so late so the kids had toast with cheese spread and I had coffee and raisin toast with peanut butter.

After breakfast and getting dressed, I dropped the kids at day care, which happens on Fridays, I came home and tidied the kitchen and did the breakfast dishes.

My mum rang and we made plans to meet at the pool to exercise, so that took care of the 10 minutes of exercise. I put on a load of washing and I went and had a shower and completed step 7. I also made my bed while I was in my room.

We had an early lunch because I had to drive 30 minutes away to drop my daughter off at a birthday party, I then met up with my mum at the pool where we walked in the pool for about an hour.

It was time for a coffee once we had finished and we also enjoyed a raspberry and white chocolate muffin. I quickly snuck to the grocery store before I went and picked up the kids from day care.

I stopped on the way home and picked myself up some satay chicken from the local Chinese shop, made it home and fed the kids dinner and gave them a bath and then it was early to bed because they didn't have a nap.

No complaining from me because it meant that I was able to eat my dinner in peace for a change. Plus the bonus is that Miss E had youth group with the birthday girl tonight and my dad is picking her up after its finished.

I also hung out the washing and put the kids clothes on to soak over night so my laundry is all caught up. Double Bonus!

Now its time to relax and put my feet up and definitely early to bed, I'm exhausted!

Dishes done and kitchen cleaned before bed!

1950's HOMEMAKING EXPERIMENT!

Waking up today, I just feel so utterly defeated with my home. Its an absolute mess, things everywhere and piles of items that need to be sorted through and put away or even better thrown out. The floor needs vacuuming and don't even look at the shower! Its just chaos and I'm done and I mean I'm really done living this way.

When did it all get so BAD!

Its not like I went to bed with a beautiful clean, tidy and organized home and then BAM get out of bed to find myself tripping over all the stuff piling up.

To be honest it's not really as bad as it seems but it just feels like every cupboard has been emptied on every surface possible.

So my solution to my homemaking problems is to turn back the clock to an era when women had immaculate homes, even though that's not what I'm aiming for, but how did they manage to have a tidy and organized homes while looking after their children and husbands, while looking fabulous too, without all our modern conveniences.

Even though its now afternoon I'm going to begin today, I was thinking of starting fresh tomorrow morning but there is no time like the present and I might even be able to go to bed feeling better than at the moment so I'm just jumping in and learning as I go.

Firstly I'm going to do some research on cleaning schedules so that I can make some goals to aim for.

This is the schedule I am going to follow-
http://www.jenbutneverjenn.com/2010/05/keeping-of-house-1950s-style.html

My chin hit the floor, oh how far I have fallen, but its only up from here, right?

I was going to just print out the list but decided I'm going to find a pretty notebook and write the list in there so it feels more authentic.

Okay now to begin today - First step is make my bed

Tomorrow will mark the beginning of day 1 of following the cleaning schedule listed above. I know I wont be able to complete it all in one day but I'm hoping that by the end of the year to be able to complete all the tasks.

So I'm committing the next 80 days to the 1950s homemaking experiment which will bring it to New Years Eve.

I'm excited for all the changes that are about to happen since they are so lone overdue but I'm excited to not be living in constant chaos and feeling defeated before I even get out of bed.

Alright early to bed for me tonight because I'm going to need to get started early to accomplish even a few tasks on the schedule.

Behind my beautifully made bed is the truth :-0

I will keep you up to date with how its all going.