Slightly obsessed with lists.....

I have been a working mum since the girls were very young.  To ensure I maintained a healthy lifestyle - I hired a cleaner for most of my working career.  After deciding to put my career on hold to be "just a mum" (tongue in cheek - it is the most important job in the whole entire world!) last April, I decided I really had to get into some type of routine for house chores, as well as still allowing some "me" downtime; run an efficient house with a FIFO hubby and two very busy young ladies in the house; and somehow still be healthy and train for Busselton half ironman next May.  It really made me think, how did we do this when I worked full time?  Sure we hired a cleaner once a week, but we still managed to lead a healthy active lifestyle; maintained gardens; cooked healthy meals for the week ahead; all played several sports; socialised; and somehow had some fun family times.  How did we fit this into 24 hours each day?

 My career as an environmental scientist shaped me into an obsessive list maker.  Without setting goals, I feel overwhelmed and have a sense of not achieving anything - even in something that seems as simple as running a household.   After playing with various methods of multitasking - I found a method that works for me. 

 I write all the things I need to do each week on a white board - this includes my house and garden chores; finance management for the house; triathlon training, strengthening and rolling sessions; and "me" crafting time - essential for ensuring I don't go insane looking after everyone else. I progressively wipe these chores off as I complete them.   I also have a daily list that I tick each day, which includes tasks like dishes; the girls lunches for the next day; preparing meals etc. Oh and of course our little princesses don't avoid the house chores - they also have a daily chore list they must complete.   Overkill?  Maybe.  I sometimes don't feel like I am getting enough done each day.   My family thinks I am hilarious and even try to sabotage my list by adding tasks to my whiteboard.  It appears to work for us somehow and being a busy FIFO wife and mother to two active girls, it helps me to stay on track.  

I would love to hear how other busy working mums organise their houses and associated chores.  

Here are a few items I recently completed as part of my "me" time....

Proof I need more me time - I am now five years behind in my Scrapbooking pics.  Layout made using Sassafrasslass papers, Kaiser flowers and bling. 

A canvas of a Mulla Mulla - using acrylic 

painting and collage methods.  

 

I had to use this favourite stamp of my eldest daughter - she has already asked to have this card put aside for her next birthday.  

 

This,  and the next few cards, are made using a cute elephant stamp.  Loved colouring him in and trying a few different backgrounds and layouts with this little guy.  

 

 



 And finally a new simple layout of our beautiful girls from five years ago now.  My how time flies.

Can't wait to share my

 new journal pages soon.  

Tata for now xxx

Too long between blogs!

I love blogging but have just not sat down and updated my blog and profile for so long.  I look at the last time I blogged and think of how much has changed since then.
1. We have moved 700km away from our previous address.  After nearly a year at this new address I finally feel like this is starting to become home.
2. I have gone from a full time working professional mum to full time stay at home...and I love it. My husband has become a fly in fly out employee for a totally different company and has changed roles.
3. Our children have moved schools and gone from a busy lifestyle of dance, hockey, netball, basketball and swimming to just swimming all year round and one team sport.  So much easier and less hectic - despite the fact we are still at the pool six days a week.  They love their new school and new friends.
4.  We have moved from a 1950s character home (which I adored) to a 1970s home that needs a lot of work.  Perth house prices are not cheap and more affordable homes typically are further away from the ocean and my brothers house.  For us it was a choice of either concrete vs. nature and lifestyle.  We chose nature and lifestyle.  We liked the house because it is  only a few 100m from a large wetland in Perth's northern suburbs, quiet and larger old land sizes.  We have native trees in our back yard and we listen to kookaburras and lorikeets wake each morning.  We can ride/run around the local wetland and occasionally we have the odd duck on our front lawn.  We love it.  Our new favourite shows are selling houses Australia and any house renovation show - we have so much to do in this outdated house.  Love the big rooms though!  On a normal day the furthest I drive is fifteen minutes.

 

Ducks on our lawn - too cute

6.  I have more time to craft now but also need to mix it with maintaining this house and making sure it all runs smoothly.  Being a fifo wife means you have to be strong and organised for the entire family.  I have gone from full time work as an environmental scientist to part time casual work as a competitive swim coach.  I love to coach and it means I have more time available for my family.
7. I have discovered the art of furniture restoration, painting, drawing and my new love - art journaling!
So here are a few of my recent crafty explorations I have been engaging in:


Art journalling

My favourite sites are Daily Life Project on Art to the 5th and 21 Secrets.  

Renovations

Laundry before and after

Scrapping

Determined - Kaiser Craft papers

Cards

And on top of this I am still trying to finish a quilt from 6 years ago and learning how to paint and draw.  Loving life xx