My Declutter 365 journey – January check in

One of the things on my list of 100 things to do this year was to complete the Declutter 365 challenge. The first month is all about the kitchen and, I’ll be honest, is one of the areas I really struggle with. I love to cook but I HATE cleaning. So I’m undertaking this and am blogging as I go, accountability and all that.

To start I found a largish box that was still in good condition after Christmas and have designated that as our donation box. Something we don’t want/need but it’s still in good condition – into the donation box it goes. I’ve put it on the shelving in our hallway so it’s out of the way but still easily accessible.

I’ve also created a household notebook to house (haha) all our important stuff. I may create a separate post about this.

Onto the kitchen *sigh* Here’s some before pictures. Seriously it’s shocking. Christmas and all that, hot weather and honestly it’s the last thing I want to do of a night time. I hate it. I really want to have a clean kitchen. I need less ‘stuff’ in here and honestly just keep what I use frequently. No point asking anyone else in the household because I do the majority of the cooking. Anyhoo…

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Seriously feral *sigh* these were taken in early January. I’ve managed to do counters, drawers, utensils, some of the kitchen cabinets, plastics and made a start on the pantry, fridge and freezer. I’m still working on some of the January bits and pieces even though we are now well into February.

Photos will be coming when I finish the January tasks.

Now just to get hubby & Miss K on board with keeping it clean haha

I love to read

I’ve always been an avid reader. This year one of the things on my list of 100 things to do was

Make a list of 30 books I want to read & then read those books (0/30)

So I have made myself a list on Goodreads and thought I’d share it here too

  1. Spark Joy by Marie Kondo
  2. The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brené Brown
  3. Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider
  4. The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life by Francine Jay
  5. The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman
  6. True Magick: A Beginner’s Guide by Amber K
  7. A Game of Thrones by George R.R Martin
  8. Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
  9. Dancing the Sacred Wheel: A Journey through the Southern Sabbats by Frances Billinghurst
  10. The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer (must actually finish this one!)
  11. Branding Yourself by Erik Deckers & Kyle Lacy
  12. Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams
  13. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams
  14. Life, The Universe And Everything by Douglas Adams
  15. So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams
  16. Dreamweaver CC for Dummies (to freshen up my understanding of CC)
  17. I, Strahd by P.N. Elrod
  18. Dead until Dark by Charlaine Harris
  19. Living Dead In Dallas
  20. 03 Club Dead
  21. 04 Dead to the World
  22. 05 Dead as a Doornail
  23. 06 Definitely Dead
  24. 07 All Together Dead
  25. 08 From Dead to Worse
  26. 09 Dead and Gone
  27. 10 Dead in the Family
  28. 11 Dead Reckoning
  29. 12 Deadlocked
  30. 13 Dead Ever After

Ok so I did kind of cheat by adding a few series but they are ones I want to read/reread. What’s on your reading list?

Currently #6

Currently #6

TIME: 10pm, 31st January, 2016

LOCATION : Dining room table

FEELING:   good, tired

LOVING :  that it’s nearly the first day of school

READING : Spark Joy by Marie Kondo

DRINKING : Coke or hot chocolate

ANTICIPATING : the first day of school

LISTENING TO : MUSIC : random tunes   PODCAST :  Simple Scrapper member podcast

WATCHING : X Files

PLANNING : on catching up with my 2015 PL albums

LOOKING FORWARD TO : school going back (sense a theme LOL)

CREATING :  baking heaps of food to freze for school lunches

NEED TO FINISH : my JYC pages for 2015 and my 2015 PL albums

WISHING : for more scrapping goodies and it would rain more to help with the fires around the state

MAIN GOAL : to get my PL albums finished for 2015

What are you “CURRENTLY” doing?

Happy birthday week to me

This week I turn 21 (38!) and I’ve decided that I will have a week long ‘celebration’ and do things I enjoy and make some me time.

Yesterday we went to ChilliFm’s pre-Australia Day event Skyfire. Mainly to watch the guys from TCW but to also catch the fireworks. Got to have a good play with the camera too :D  I’ll be uploading a few to my Flickr album soon if you want to check out some more of my work 🙂

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Today is Australia Day. We checked out the local Oz Day festivities this morning and I’m having a lazy day of Hottest 100, cricket, the new X-Files and some scrapbooking.

Not really sure what the rest of the week will bring apart from back to school prep for Miss K and going out for tea Thursday evening but I’m making sure to do something for me 😀

Let’s get blogging

It’s that time of year again – the biannual blogathon bash.

Biannual Blogathon Bash

This year I am keeping my list pretty short

  • work on my YIAH blog
  • clean up my inbox
  • check out the blogathon challenges
  • schedule some educational time in my planner (I’m currently enrolled in 3 courses over at udemy)

Are you joining in? If so Hi *waves*. If not, check out this post about why you think you may not be able to join in. 🙂

100 things in 2016

Disclaimer: Links are affiliate

Well here we are. Another year and another list of 100 things to do. It’s all written down in my 2016 Life workbook. Sorry in advance for the loooong post.

For the last couple of years I’ve been posting my lists on my blog, making me a bit more accountable. So no excuses, here is my 100 things in 2016. There are quite a few things from last year that either didn’t get done or I want to continue doing. I’ve split my list into sections this year – Blog/Social Media, House & Garden, Family, Things to do, Work & Finances, Scrapbook/Craft and For Me

As with previous years bold is started, strike thru is finished & red isn’t done

Blog/Social Media

1. Increase my social media following (see 2-4)
2. Increase Facebook followers (Jan 1 – 152   Dec 31 – )
3. Increase Pinterest followers (Jan 1 – 665   Dec 31 – )
4. Increase Instagram followers (Jan 1 – 283   Dec 31 – )
5. Organise Pinterest boards better
6. Learn a new recipe each month and blog it
7. Continue In the Den Kitchen
8. Create a monthly blog backup
9. Try something I’ve pinned and blog the results
10. Start a new blog series
11. Start my YIAH recipe blog
12. Sort bookmarks
13. Blog everyday for 1 month
14. Blog emails to zero
15. Be more active in Facebook groups that spark joy
16. Cull email lists
17. Cull Facebook groups

House & Garden

18. Weed garden beds.
19. Work out what vegies to plant and then plant them
20. Start a Garden Journal.
21. Get a garden shed
22. Finally get gazebo up
23. Do Declutter 365 (& maybe blog my progress)
24. Finish custom recipe books – Thermomix Favourites and non-Thermomix recipes
25. Donate/sell remaining recipe books I don’t use
26. Paint laundry
27. Get laminate up in laundry
28. Get dryer up on laundry wall
29. Get new laundry sink
30. Laundry storage
31. Get floors polished
32. Organise office (I finally have a plan!)
33. Organise garage
34. Work through (& complete) Creating your Goddess Haven e-course (restarting Jan 1)
35. Re-tidy the pantry. Toss or donate stuff we don’t use
36. Sort linens.
37. Redo my herb garden

Family

38. Do something special for 10 year anniversary in November
39. Family holiday – Melbourne or Queensland
40. Have my parents over for dinner
41. Have in-laws over for dinner
42. Get an updated family photo
43. Work on family tree
44. Organise some play dates for the girls
45. Write a letter to Miss K to open on her 18th
46. Write a letter to Miss A to open on her 18th
47. Watch a documentary every month

Things to do

48. Anzac Day dawn service
49. Have a family movie night (complete with popcorn & choc tops)
50. Spend a day at the beach
51. Go on a picnic
52. Go for a drive somewhere for no reason other than getting out
53. Spend a rainy day in PJs watching TV/movies
54. See more of Tassie
55. Go to Botanical gardens
56. Visit QVMAG
57. Go to MONA
58. Cirque du Soleil

Work & Finances

59. Money into Christmas club (starting balance – $0)
60. Put $5 a pay into girls’ accounts
61. Get BAS in on time
62. Keep work accounts up to date
63. Work through the Business Goddess e-course
64. Upgrade RAM & Hard drives in laptops
65. Sort EHDs and make sure there’s no duplicates
66. Work on better backups of important files
67. Work email to zero

Scrapbook/Craft

68. Find an inspirational quote and make it into a piece of art
69. Finish JYC 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
70. Scrapbook with mum more
71. Finish wedding scrapbook
72. Do #30Lists (March, September, December)
73. Organise all my paper scrapbook supplies
74. Scrapbook with others more
75. Backup digital Project Life supplies
76. Start a cross stitch
77. Project Life date at least once a week – PUT IN PLANNER!
78. Do some more classes & make sure I finish them
79. Apply for Scrappy Canary design team
80. Create a scrapping binder
81. Organise craft group days

For me

82. Do something different for Afternoon Teal
83. Do Frocktober
84. Write a letter to myself to open on my 40th
85. Keep a gratitude journal for 30 days
86. Get a massage
87. Make a list of 30 books I want to read & then read those books (0/30)
88. Burn to CD/DVD stuff I don’t need on my PC all the time
89. Sort & cull movie folder
90. Deadpool
91. Create a mini Goddess altar
92. Personal email inbox to zero
93. Get to bed earlier
94. Drink more water
95. No more screens in bed
96. Rejoin the shining life & biz academy when renewal due
97. Cook more with the thermomix
98. Renew Thermofun membership
99. Journal every day
100. Enjoy life

The Life:Captured Project December 2015

Read more about Life:Captured here.
Catch up with my previous Life:Captured posts

01 Describe a moment from today that you want to remember always.
The excitement of Miss K upon finding her Christmas elf Glitter had arrived this morning.
02 What are five things that you have enjoyed the most about this year?
Miss K being at school (& the friends we have all made), watching Miss A grow, renovating the girls room, scrapbooking, spending more time with mum
03 What were the five hardest things about this year?
Miss K having an attitude, Miss K being at school, wonky sleep, long colds
04 Do you feel ready for the holiday season?
Yup, nearly all the shopping is done
05 Who are the people you will be buying presents for this year?
Hubby, the girls, my parents, the in-laws
06 Write about your family rituals when it comes to Christmas time.
Breakfast with Mum & Dad – croissants, ham, cheese & pineapple.
07 Is there someone you are missing right now?
My cousin.
08 How will you spend Christmas Eve?
Opening our Christmas Eve box (new PJs & a DVD) then watching the DVD. Once kids are in bed, doing the final present wrap, stockings and Santa bits
09 How will you spend Christmas Day?
Open Santa presents at home with the girls. Breakfast & lunch with my side of the family. Tea with hubby’s family.
10 Write about your favourite childhood Christmas memory.
Waking up to find Santa had been.
11 What are three things you are thankful for right now?
My family
12 Write about three people who have made a difference in your life this year.
My mum, for her strength and resilience. My bestie, just because. My hubby, for believing in me.
13 How do you feel about the world events in this last month?
Sad and angry.
14 When was the last time you cried, and why?
The other night because of PMS and crap hormones
15 When was the last time you laughed, and why?
Today because of a funny video on YouTube
16 What is the most wonderful gift you could possibly receive?
The news that mum was better
17 What does generosity mean to you?
Being kind and unselfish
18 What does Christmas mean to you?
A time of giving, sharing and spending time with family and friends
19 Write a list of all the things you feel you have achieved in 2015.
Been in business 11 years, have managed to renovate another room, still alive, learned some new skills
20 What is the funniest thing you’ve read or heard recently?
Miss K sharing crappy Christmas jokes
21 Write about the things you find hard around this time of the year.
Missing loved ones who are no longer with us
22 What happened at 10am today?
Having a cuppa, checking social media. Kids watching ABC for Kids
23 How are you planning to spend New Year’s Eve?
Quiet night in, a few drinks with hubby, ABC NYE show, working on my Life workbook, starting my 2016 planner
24 What are you most looking forward to on New Year’s Day?
Having a shiny new planner to play with
25 What’s on your heart right now?
Happiness that I have a loving family
26 Write down five things that you want to remember about Christmas day.
The girls ripping into their presents, enjoying time with my brother, the lovely weather, good food, happiness.
27 What are three things from this past month that have been magical?
The kids meeting Santa, Christmas lights, the girls’ faces on Christmas morning
28 What are three things from this past month that have made you feel helpless?
World issues, family issues, environment issues
29 How are you feeling today?
Pretty good. Tired but happy.
30 What is your favourite thing about Sunday nights right now?
Enjoying time with hubby after the kids have gone to bed.
31 What excites you the most about 2016?
Our 10th wedding anniversary. Planning a trip away