Keeping The Kitchen Clean

Today I have prepared for dinner today, we are having a Roast Chicken dinner and never been this organised and had to clean the surfaces a few times to maintain hygiene as Kitchens can have lots of very bad bacteria if its not kept clean.

So the first tip is:

1#Clean as you go: I find it saves me so much time and can enjoy my dinner without having so much to clean at once.

2#Change the sponge and cloths: These can really spread germs and so make sure they are damp but not soaking as excess water can turn to mold. I keep the sink clean and dishwasher. Make sure you descale the dishwasher and sink. The best thing to descale the sink is salt and lemon for sinks and I also use kitchen spray. 

3#Clean glasses separately if you washing up by hand: They can tend to be cloudy and have marks around the rim so wash first and dry with a washable cloth and you can use vinegar for utensils to help clean these items. I have been told to clean them properly and so working on as they can have water marks.

4#Clean the floors on a daily basis: They can have all kinds of dirt on it and be build up with crumbs and other bits of food and so will sweep and either I do it or my husband does to help fight germs and wash it. We use a spray mop and dustpan and brush. Keep rubbish in the recycle bin and general waste separately and are cleared and bag up food left over and thrown for collection by the dustmen, which is for us is, on Tuesdays. 

5#Clean all areas and sort through. Do a regular clean inside and outside the cupboards and do a declutter and go through what you have got like plates, cutlery, glassware and appliances. Are they in good order or need to go and be rid of. 

It can be challenge but seeing a clean kitchen it helps you feel fresh and use what you have and making the most of your kitchen and cook without worrying about getting dirty. Bit by bit goes a long way. 

I hope this blog is helpful and there will be more to come.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

5 Things to help organize on a regular basis you can do in the kitchen

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I have been going through what needs to be eaten and did a meal plan, but as always changed my mind and big believer in using what you have already got before buying anything else and when things must be eaten first and making simple meals, Breakfasts, lunches and dinners. 

Foods I have donated for the local foodbank

Here are 5 things to help organize on a regular basis you can do in the kitchen.

1. Do a regular stock take of the food you've got and if there is cans that are not going to use, but are in date, donate them. I each month now do a monthly donation of food to the local foodbank in Wimbledon and feels so good to make a difference. I go through the fridge, work top where we keep fruit and cans of drinks and the food cupboard. 

2. Go through your kitchen ware and if you have dupes get rid of and donate, or anything that you've never used. Anything with chip or a crack get rid of, unless you can fix or know someone who can fix it, and repair them.

3. Change your sponges on a regular basis and put these with cleaning products and near the sink, and same with cloths and scrubbers. 

4. Have a home for your appliances that you can easily get to it and gets used, and not all over the worktops, but underneath where it will be used and can pull it in and out of its home and not forgotten about. If you still don't use it but in fine condition see if it will of use to someone else, and put it up on Facebook Market place.

5. Put your recipe books in a cupboard you can reach and where you can take out, along with a folder with printed recipes of meals you like to make. Any recipes not used or books donate, sell or recycle.

These are so simple to do and going to make a series of blogs and help you have a more organized home and life.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Good ways to use what you have got

So before you begin to buy anything, do an inventory, and if it helps write it down, or do it, by viewing  of what you've got. See what you have and how much of the items you have, and if you will be using it again, or shop around to see if you can still get a good valued product for less, than what you usually pay, and still be a good product. 

I find writing it down helpful or keeping it on my phone using my note app, to be helpful, and doing a regular declutter, or review on items. I bought some salads from ASDA for my lunch in the week, and was horrible, and feel this was a lesson for me to make my own. 

Go through the things you watch or listen too. As I am writing this blog, catching up on some Podcasts I still have to listen to, and create a playlist and can help with concentration, and being productive. 

Challenge yourself. I love a challenge and going to do more, and has helped me in terms of my finances, having a no spend month, which I am going to do next January, like I did last year. I want to do more to help build my confidence and grow my content, to help my community and followers even more. 

Build up your skills. If you are bored doing the same thing all the time, learn something that can help build on the skills that you already have, and if you like me have enrolled on online course, get these completed first before enrolling on more. 

Use up your cash and change. Before buying anything by card, try and use cash instead that you have in your purse and now I do this, has helped me manage my finances and save. I have some ideas of how I am going to save me even more, and use my change, that I saved and on things I like to buy. 

Exercise and use everyday things. You don't have to buy fancy equipment, and you may have items in your home you can use, like stairs, chairs and floor space. I have a set of dumbbells that I keep in the living room, and so in the afternoon will pick these up and do some exercise but you can also use bottles of water and tins. If you a garden, in the summer workout outdoors, and a kick about with your kids is still exercise, so use a football if you have one or in Epsom my husband has a treadmill I can use, rather than going to the gym. I do like pay as you go gyms which we have in Epsom and plan to do this again, just to get out as it can get boring, working out indoors and spread your wings.

So I hope you find this helpful and going to do video on this too, and start thinking about Christmas, if you like me have only started now. You be surprised on how much you save, and still buy those memorable gifts and make time to spend it with those you love.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Organizing my life 2022

So this week I have really been sorting my stuff out, and have a reset. So basically going through my computer and online, this morning before I had my first cup of tea sorted out my clothes, and yesterday when I got back from spending some time with my son, is tidy and clean my desk. 

It is good to get Organized even though I do put it off. I find any excuse, so hence why this morning I tidied my clothes, and setting myself a challenge, I am sorting out one area a day, and works everytime I challenge myself to do this. 

There is structure in this too, and that is I will take note of what I want to sort out and just little bits can make such a difference, that it becomes like walking, you end up doing a sort out everyday. 

Avoiding is not the answer, but doing a huge amounts, it can demotivate, and I wish I had a hiding place sometimes or be able to click my fingers, but not possible. It has to be done for mindset. Sorting my stuff out does help to clear my mind. 

Looking at my tidy desk gives me a burst of good energy, that doing it is the hardest thing, but seeing the results is encouraging and helps me to keep it going, and get my life back on track. 

At the moment I am listening to a youtube video, by Kate Kaden on 30 Easy Frugal Habits, and these type of videos are really helpful, and gives me a boost of energy to sort out my life. I have started to organize my finances better with sorting one area of my life that I feel needs changing, and I check my bank balance all the time now, and jot down what money has gone where and how I can save. I am all about #frugalliving 

So if there are areas in your life that needs changing, then do it by challenging yourself too.

Many thanks for reading,

Carrie X 

Organizing post Easter Holidays

I feel I need to write this because I think with everything going on in Ukraine the world, I want normality and to continue on, but it is hard. I feel guilty that I am able to have normality when there are people fleeing for their life because of war. 

I do watch the news now, I would avoid it but it has a funny way that keeps you captured and that is why I acknowledge it. I want a happier world and have peace like most of us want, and everyone is able to get on with their lives. 

In this blog I am talking about organizing post Easter Holidays, as you may have kids with a lot of Easter Eggs, and the one I bought for my son, I am going to give it to him tomorrow or Saturday, as if you have eggs for family, but you weren't able to see them, arrange a day nearby that you can still have Easter shared with them. 

Have a Easter Egg shelf that can be clearly seen and not forgotten and allow them time in the day to have some of them, but not eating all of them at once. It doesn't have to be all about the eggs, receiving a scented candle to light to celebrate Easter the son of god if you believe in it. My mum put in sets of pretend kids glasses and have funny hats included and masks, with Easter theme, like a bunny, or a hen. 

Recycle the packaging the Easter eggs came in and use a large box to store them in and if you have kids set chores for them to do, to earn their eggs and eat them. 

Put names on each of the boxes and eggs, so you know who is who's and saves any arguments trying to workout who's who. 

Use uneaten chocolate eggs into to a dessert or a cake, like rice cakes. I love these and if I see these in a coffee shop always invest with a coffee and is something I have loved since I was a kid. Make a chocolate pie and or cupcakes with mini eggs on top, and then nothing goes to waste. 

Make it an occasion, like a movie night and they had have piece of their Easter Eggs as a treat rather than popcorn and after dinner time, I have a rule that I am not allowed any chocolate until after lunch and in the morning unless I have treated myself with a pastry. 

Dedicate a scrapbook for the special holidays within the year and good to look back on previous Easter Holidays or a collage that you can put up on a the wall to store those family fun memories. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

   

 

Keeping the home safe and preparing for the colder weather

 A lot of hazardous can accumilate in the home and we often forget about home safety as we just go about our days living. 

Yet keeping the home safe is a must and should be remembered. 

So to begin, the first tip is: Don't put candles on appliances like TV's, near curtains and near baby and not put on low surfaces kids can reach. Fires can wreck a home and one of my colleagues I used to work with had a home fire. Never thiink this can't happen in your home, because it can so be safe when purchasing candles.

The second tip is keeping dirty sponges on surfaces or in the sink. They can be covered in bacteria and can be harmful. If you have kids, they will at tiny to child age put things into their mouths and the last thing you want them to touch is the used sponge and so have them wash up but supervised, until they stop putting things in their mouths and stay at bay of illnesses caused by dirty water. 

If you have a used sponge replace and keep them dry as possible, but in easy reach for yourself to use when kids aren't nearby. 

The third is. Keep coats clean and wash regularly emptying pockets in case of used tissues and near the front door, not to high reach from your kids so they know where their coat belongs when they come home and they know where to put when dirty. Jacket accumilate outdoor germs so wash and dry hygiencially.

Keep hobs and cookers clean and store cleaning chemicals in a locked up cupboard and know before hand how to use them. Some of these cleaners are toxic and when working in a industrial kitchen you'd wear a mask when cleaning an oven or a grill.

Never play on the steps and that kids are supervised when a child uses the stairs and have bare banisters so they have something to hold on, making sure doors and banisters are cleaned safely too. 

When it comes to ourselves we are all guilty of spreading germs and we can easily do that when walking around in barefeet and so when walking around your home, make sure you clean all floors, carpteted, wooden floors and rugs. These can have lots of bacteria if not and make sure you feet are clean too. Any veruccas are cleared and treated as they can spread and wear socks in the winter and good unworn shoes and these should be cleaned regulary also when walking around on different surfaces outdoors.  

During fireworks night never store in a warm room and should be in a darkened room in a garage not in other rooms as heat can cause devestation.

Any dogs or cats, make sure they are cleaned up and their fur is picked up. Make sure that they keep indoors in the warm in the winter and in hot weather they are in the shade and can burn their paws.

I hope these tips help you and many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

How to organize without spending any money "use what you already have"

Can we organuze without spending money?

Here are some tips to answer this question:

Yes! "Use what you already have":

1. Any boxes that can be used from deliveries, use them and then when you know what needs to put togeher then look for, and it can help decide what storage ways will be good for long term storage. This can be a bin or even a bucket, I have used my sons bucket to store kitchen cleaning items, and stored up high so my son to get hold of it.

2. With recycled I think its being misconstrude as coffee cups you get made out of cardboard are not recyclable and if you check the bins outside you have two options, general rubbish, and recycle, NO DISPOSABLE COFFEE SHOP CUPS. Yet it is good to use reusable and when I tried to reuse a cup from a shop the coffee I made in it did not taste nice. You can empty them out and be used as a desk organizer for pens and stationary such as paper clips and if you want to get office supplies on sale, this is the time to shop, as they will be a load of sales as in the UK all schools all re-open. The other time is around the new year and then July when academic planners go on sale. The school year in the UK is from September to July.

3. If you have are on the moving and order items online keep the boxes and they started many retailer, using reusable bags which are handy for packing clothes, books, make up as I am using that to store in a storage bin and have a cleaning caddie for my toiletries and are great for packing if you already have any and separate your makeup from your toiletries and use clothing labels as labels for your boxes and storage containers.

4. In the kitchen, have items stored of what you use the most at the front, and others that you don't at the back. You don't need a Lazy susan, use plates that you don't often use and I used a microwave tray when I lived in my old home in Epsom and plates. 

5. Knives, forks and spoons are great stored on the counter top in a cutlery holder, rather than a draw, but if you got kids store these out of reach and you can use again bowls to store mugs too. 

I hope you find these tips helpful and there will be more blogs to follow as we move from Summertime to Autumn and get nearer...wait for it...birthdays and Christmas. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X  

 

Shopping ideas/buying for kids/how to save on kid clothes

When it comes to kids they grow all the time and with Henry I was at one time clearing out his wardrobe and chest of draws everyday no lie as they grow at such a rate that it is difficult to catch up. 

Second hand clothes saved me so much money on clothes for him and if you know someone who has had kids and want to hand you down some kids clothes always take them up on it, and honestly it saves time and money, and what one child doesn't wear and you have other kids then it suits them instead, have them and go through and separate them into different ages, example 0 to 4 months, 4 to 6 months, 5 - 7 years. 

Have a system where you rotate the clothes worn and what is not to keep tabs on their clothes. Invest in some good hangers and if you can have beds that come with storage as these are always a great investment in storing kids clothes and toys then they are a game changer.

If they share rooms dedicate a draw to them and segrigatte the wardrobe by putting names with the clothes stored and who they are for. 

When it comes to cuddly toys check Charity shops and Car Boot sales, as they always have good items for kids, and great if you keep change and have a low budget. 

Keep a budget on the money spent for them and have them have their own bank accounts that you can help manage and I used to love it when I kept pennies and would pay them in, it is something I have always done and have an emergency tin of money for those last minute purchases that needs to grabbed, like need new shirts for school, nappies and if the store you got to have a points card and you use them regularly and school themes like if they need a certain coloured top or fancy dress.

Teach thema about money and how to count it and save. Teach them about budgeting and shop wisely and have them create wish lists.

I wrote more blogs on parenting on my site: https://theparentingadventurestipsandtricks.wordpress.com  

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X 

Hoarding/mental health/how to be an organized hoarder

So before I begin this blog, I want you to answer this question, When you see the word hoarder, what does it mean to you, and are you really a hoarder?

I hold my hands up as I am a hoarder, but I do have it under control. So in that, I go through parts of the year not buying anything, and then get the urge to spend money, but it is always planned and set out, and this helps me control the things I have and not buying items just for the sake of it, which is a sign you could be a hoarder, if you always go into a shop like TK Maxx and have to come out with a purchase, and really was in impulse you are feeding your hoarding. When you don't you know you have it under control. 

I am watching a show that was on TV about Hoarders but the extreme kind where they can't even get into their home easily as they have a house full of stuff. Its often sentimental value, wanting to recycle everything and feeling they have to keep stuff "Because its just in case" factor. 

How do you get it under control?

For me its "Will I ever use it" and "Have I used it?" and "How long I have had that item?".

If it is "No I haven't used it since it was bought", I don't see place for it at the moment and its been sitting there for a year. This can mean, it is time to let go of it, and I do the one in and one out, system. So if I buy new clothes I will have a sort through to see if there are items I have that I can donate, sell or give to someone else. 

Is it something you inherit?

Well my nan on my mum's side of the family, always had a lot of items in her home, because my grandad would collect items, like keeping newspapers. My grandad on my mum's side, loved horse racing and so would mark down who won, who got second, but yet it was organised. 

I loved my nan's studio flat they had and it will still big enough for when family came down to visit, room for them to stay for a couple of nights or so. 

For me I like to have a collection of items, and it is comfort over commonsense a lot of the time.  

Can it take over your life?

Yes it can, and when you can hardly see the floor you know soon or later you'll being tripping over the stuff in your room or house, so the things I would suggest to keep hold of, is shoe boxes as these are great to keep documents in, and envelopes by gluing them together and will lower the spend on a filing system or temporary until you can buy a better filing system to keep letters and bank statements in. 

If you can go paperless take it, as if you need a statement you can print off your transactions and deposits, from doing home banking. 

Things like Gas bills still go with paper statements as they can stitch you up with the bill and also keep tabs on your Gas Meters yourself as this will help make sure, they don't charge you more going on your meter reading. 

Also these are great for when you need to change your name of accounts or open new bank accounts and also when going for new employment they now often ask for these items to prove you are a UK resident. 

The other items that are good to keep hold off, is jars as they are great if you keep buttons off from clothing, make up brushes, pens and pencils and washed out and for snacks. 

What is good hoarding?

Buying items in bulk, but to a limit too, but things that you use regularly and that you easily run out of, like Washing detergent, dishwasher tablet, toilet paper, kitchen roll and reusable cleaning cloths. Even make up items I will by extras of like my regular Nivea face cream and body sprays. 

Just to say this blog is not being sponsored.

Item that aren't gonna clutter, but be used without having to spend money on more, and often you can save money by buying items in bulk. 

It is good to have if you have a house with many floors is having cleaning items around the house, upstairs and down as it saves so much time, when tidying and cleaning. So having spares of cleaning cloths, sponges, toothbrush to cleaning tiles and plug holes, and shower heads. 

I have before used natural products to clean so lemon and table salt, is the great to descale areas around the house. Like I am near Mrs Hinch, I sometimes wish, but its the effort and what I'd rather do, to that has to be done at some point.

Can passed experiences turn you into a hoarder?

Going on myself yes, as I remember once my mum asking my brother to go into my room when I lived in London, Hammersmith and clear it out, and so I am very protective over my belongings, but it has in a way worked in reverse in that I try not to have too much of every item I own, only on items I like to wear and use all the time, like writing materials, and leggins. 

I have got it under control, and seeing the TV shows about hoarding it has made me more aware of having loads of everything, and having items I know will definitely use and its does it have any relevance in my life any more. It can happen due to a loss of a loved one or a end of a relationship, it isn't something you are born with it is things that has triggered this behaviour of having loads of stuff. 

How can hoarding effect your mental health?

The question is, "Do you always want to live with something that is an eye sore?" and it can make us feel stuck in a rut, and that we haven't got out life together when we live in mess, so even though I don't like cleaning seeing my desk in a chaotic mess makes me feel Gosh that is too much, so for me yes. When I have a functional way I find life is less stressful and that I have my life in order. 

It can make you not want to get out of bed, when you see that you have too much stuff that you can handle, then it means you mind is full of seeing the amount you have, so needs to be cleared to feel "Yes now I have my life in order". So it does, it makes us feel "Everything is okay with the world again". 

So if you hoard it is okay just learn how to manage it is the key. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X

Ways in which you can recycle/sorting my life out

I love to recycle and today tried to make a Kanban board with a piece of card, but it wouldn't stay on the wall and just looked I could have added it to my white board planner, so I will try again, and it was back cover of a notebook I am using that I take out with me. 

I have used shoe boxes to organize items and had one beside my bed, now I use storage bins but have a shoe box where I keep my stickers for my planners. I keep my plastic bags and use these to reuse when I visit the shops. I need to get more bin liners as I am guiltily using plastic bags from when I go shopping so I going to do this. However there is a box I can put items like can drinks into to make sure I help save the environment. 

If I can use a tote bag, and reusable bag, then I do. Not saying I am perfect, and still need to be more careful it comes to things like gum. I used to chew this a lot, but now I don't. When I do, I don't like to drop on to pavements and gutters, but if I can use a tissue when I have gum now and then, and put it into a general waste bin. 

This week as I update this blog, have been having a sort out of my items I have and includes what is on my laptop, and making sure I have clothes tidy and would like to have more hanging and clear out my plastic draw units to store other items and have been going through my planners, journals and is part of a challenge I like to set for myself and this month (June 2022), to clear and sort one item a day. 

It seems to be helping to clear the head and reset. 

I am a girl who likes to let go of the passed to focus on the now and the days to come. 

Many thanks for reading, 

Carrie X