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Sarah
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| Posted: June 20 2006 at 5:10pm | IP Logged
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I can say that I'm happy with my house!
Yes, there are things undone, and its NOT immaculate but I'm okay with it BECAUSE. . .
I've discovered 2 Belarussian cleaning ladies, Motivated Moms, a Catholic Planner, and a simple house with a simple floor plan!
My Belarussian ladies clean the main floor & spruce the bedrooms & main bathrooms once a week. They are amazing---nothing like Merry Maids  . Then, using the Catholic planner I keep track of meals & appointments, and finally I have the Motivated Moms checklist and I just check things off as I go. Take this from a hopelessly disorganized and messy woman who was ALWAYS depressed about her house (me!). I've reached a comfort level here over the last 4 weeks with the house and I'm so excited I just wanted to share this.
Also, if you think that your house might be causing your organization problems (people always said that was just an excuse women made when they couldn't gain control) I'm here to tell you that it MAY be your house. We moved this spring to a smaller house that is laid out SO MUCH BETTER and all of a sudden we're wallowing in half the chaos we once had.  Simple things like shelves in the boys closet for gear, a tiny master bedroom thus no room to pile mounds of laundry, a HUGE laundry room for those piles, etc.
As for Motivated Moms, I love it! Its the basic Flylady idea but practical for moms. If there is something I don't need to do, I switch it for something I should do. For $7 you get a whole year of lists you print out each week. I love to look ahead and see what I'm going to do. Furthermore, it is SO REALISTIC! For example, last night before baseball I had 5-10 minutes to kill. All the water bottles were filled, everyone was ready, and I knew I had to check my Mot. Moms' list. According to the list, I still needed to clean out my refrigerator drawers. In 5 minutes, I tossed out the old stuff, wiped them clean and that was it! I didn't feel guilty about the rest of the fridge because over the last two weeks, I've been wiping and cleaning a shelf here and there. No guilt about what you have NOT done yet. Refrigerator Boogie (flylady) just didn't work for me because it was too much of a time chunk and somewhat inappropriate for my lifestyle. Motivated Moms reminds you to clip your kids' fingernails! That sold me! Anyway, it might not be for everyone and I don't mean to bad-mouth flylady because it's a good idea, too.
Finally, Michelle's Catholic planner is awesome. There is a place to plan menus and all sorts of great stuff!! I can't wait to start in August with the lesson plan section of a new planner. BTW, when I ordered it, it came in like 1-2 days and we live miles from her.
My intention here is to just pass on a few things that have been working at my house, not to give anyone a guilt trip or to say I'm perfect. It was because of you all and your suggestions with MM's and the planner that I pursued them! Thanks!!
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Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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kingvozzo
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| Posted: June 20 2006 at 5:14pm | IP Logged
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Wow, Sarah! There's hope for me, yet 
I think I'm going to look into the Motivated Moms. I do really miss the days when I had a cleaning woman. Just not in the budget these days, but hopefully soon.
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Noreen
Wife to Ed
Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: June 20 2006 at 5:47pm | IP Logged
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Sarah,
!
Now, questions:
If you order now, do you just get pages from now to the end of the calendar year or do you get a full year from the date you order?
Is it really enough to vacuum once a week? I guess I'm asking if you feel that they cover the needs of a big family well enough?
__________________
Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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teachingmyown
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Sarah,You give me hope! I don't think I can afford any Belarussian ladies, but I can order the Motivated Moms calender (again) and try harder to use Michele's wonderful planner! 
It's the piles of clothes and the sea of paper that really wear me down. That, and a houseful of children who should have been born into royalty!  But we are working on it...
__________________
In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: June 20 2006 at 6:43pm | IP Logged
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Sarah,
I've been feeling pretty low lately.  Down in the dumps.
I read your post like it was the cure for cancer. 
My dd has a summer job and I'm not sure if she'll have time to do the housecleaning. DH told me to get the 13 yr old and 8 yr old to replace her. But a 13 yr old BOY and an 8 yr old (even though a girl) just can't do the job like the oldest daughter.
Also, my house is falling apart around me.  I want so badly to remodel but, with the company strike, a lot of projects are on hold. 
My house was my in-laws so it's an older home and NOT a simple lay-out. It's the craziest house plan you ever saw. The hallway even has twists and turns. 
I've used Michele's planner faithfully (and love it) but just the other night dd and I were tearing up the house looking for her dance recital/rehearsal schedule and info...to no avail. I've always put important papers into my planner until the activity was over. I had just see it in my purse the week before then...Poof!
I also lost my curling iron after vacation. Why I took it, I don't know. I didn't use it. Then it was lost and my hair was a SIGHT at Mass last Sunday. I found it the next day in one of the girls' overnight bags that still wasn't unpacked. You don't want to know what THEIR room looks like. 
And my hallway is back to TRASHED!!! We're painting and redoing Garrett's room and, while I'd really love to turn it into a dining area and have him move in with his brother, dh vetoed that idea.
I just feel like I'm loosing control over the hhouse. I'm anxious to hear more.  I NEED more.
Am I understanding that for $7.00 they send you PDF files to download and print?
Oh...I found that dance recital paper, btw.  Last night in the book I've been reading in Adoration. I only go to Adoration once a week and I guess I used it as an emergency bookmark.
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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Cay Gibson
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teachingmyown wrote:
| It's the piles of clothes and the sea of paper that really wear me down. That, and a houseful of children who should have been born into royalty! |
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ROFLOL!
Oh, thank you, Molly! That laugh makes me feel much, much better.
__________________
Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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aussieannie
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| Posted: June 20 2006 at 7:51pm | IP Logged
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It IS great to hear it! It helps me think that all is not lost in my desire for change!
Many years of ill health has made good planning, training and DOING a nightmare and so I would like to think that now I am turning a major corner with the things that held me back that there CAN be a new start. (I really needed to hear all this!)
In my case, I finally tracked down in Australia, 'Managers of their Chores', some lovely lady in aussieland put me onto the supplier and the day I emailed, the first batch from the U.S. arrived!
I have had it since the beginning of this week, so I am busily reading, preparing and HOPING!- most importantly praying, and it is prayers from others (mainly) and my own plea's to heaven that I feel has brought this good health and the chain of events that has followed.
So very good timing for me to read this jolly news.
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Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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Sarah
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| Posted: June 20 2006 at 8:52pm | IP Logged
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Elizabeth wrote:
If you order now, do you just get pages from now to the end of the calendar year or do you get a full year from the date you order?
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I got the full 2006 year, even though it was April or May.
Elizabeth wrote:
Is it really enough to vacuum once a week? I guess I'm asking if you feel that they cover the needs of a big family well enough? |
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Well, for me I figured that if was better than the nothing that was happening before. When I get overwhelmed and don't know where to begin, nothing happens. Also, We have the dog in a FR, so for me that needs daily sweeping. On the side bar she has these little squares where you check off daily chores. I cross some out (like "exercise" I replace with "garden" and "quiet time" I replaced with "prayer" and then In Michelle's planner I have a master list of what I'm replacing it with and now I have it memorized. There is also a part where you write in a couple of your own and if you had an area that needed more frequent vacuuming, then you could write it there. Every Sunday I'm actually excited to see what's next because I KNOW I can do it. For today I had to vacuum the Fam. Room.
Ds9 received a lot of baseball privileges today, so he was VERY compliant when I asked HIM to do it for me. 
She has a box you check each day for "read to kids." There have been MANY a night when I went to bed sad that I didn't remember to do that.
Obviously, its not perfect, but I see the big picture of what the Mot. Mom's is doing. During the course of a certain amount of time your house and life gets done in little spurts. I NEVER realized before how many little 5 min. chunks I had here and there.
Okay, for this week sometime she has dust the lightbulbs in the lamps. I see that as totally worthless, so I replaced it with something more pressing. There aren't many I do replace, however. I like it so much because I'm doing something and now after 4 weeks I see progress, something I never have before.
Another example, "wash the walls in (one assigned) room. Hand a kids a rag and away they go for 5 minutes. If you miss it. No problem. It will come back up or you make note of it and use it at another time when you don't like the assignment.
There were days I couldn't do any of it due to 1st Communion, British soccer camp, or whatever. I just picked up where I left off. Sorry to ramble. . .
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Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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Sarah
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| Posted: June 20 2006 at 9:04pm | IP Logged
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Cay Gibson wrote:
Sarah,
I've been feeling pretty low lately. Down in the dumps.
. . .tearing up the house looking for her dance recital/rehearsal schedule and info...to no avail. I've always put important papers into my planner until the activity was over. |
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Cay, I know how you feel. Honestly.
Something else came to mind when you mentioned the lost paper. I bought Pigeon Holes (scroll down)to organize myself. You could easily make your own for a fraction of the cost. It is basically a 3 ring binder with lots of pocket folders in it. Each pocket folder is labeled according to its purpose (household, soccer, dance, bills, etc) and that where ALL paper goes. I have two of these and there is no paper chase. I also have a slotted mail holder to temporarily hold all this stuff until it can get it filed AND Motivated Moms has a day for that, so don't feel guilty. Of course, if you have people unorganizing you, it can be frustrating. 
I hope this helps.
PS my link didn't go right. One you're on Small Meadow Press, go to shopping and I think its under the "order (as in clean)" section" but seriously, you can make your own.
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Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9
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Erin
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aussieannie wrote:
| In my case, I finally tracked down in Australia, 'Managers of their Chores', some lovely lady in aussieland put me onto the supplier and the day I emailed, the first batch from the U.S. arrived! |
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Anne
What is Managers of their chores? and come on share the info- where do we get it?
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Erin
Faith Filled Days
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Natalia
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I am a Motivated Moms user. It has worked better for me than Flylady. Each week I print the page for that week and I post it on the refrigerator door. I like how it incorporates daily chores ( which I think are pretty basic) with the extras. Sometimes I even have the kids choose one of the chores for that day and they get to check it off.
If I remember correctly somebody on this board had a custom made MM planner done. i think you pay 25 dollars and you get and "appointment" and they customize the planner for you. For me the general 7.00 has worked so far.
Motivaded Moms paired withMenus4mom have really made a difference in how I manage my home.
Natalia
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aussieannie
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erin wrote:
Anne
What is Managers of their chores? and come on share the info- where do we get it? |
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You can get it from Mary at Homeschoolifavourites - it is pricey though, if you were prepared to wait I could lend it to you (that might suit you too, since bubs is nearly due and then you have your babymoon) then if you like the program you can just buy the ChoresPack from Mary for about $15 or two in your case with more than 4 children who can be hands-on for chores. (I should have bought two and will have to because my little Joseph is 3 and is suppose to be a part of it all plus my and dh's brain cells are not too good - we would need to wear the plastic clip-on slips for the chore cards on our clothes for a while too! )
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Under Her Starry Mantle
Spiritual Motherhood for Priests
Blessed with 3 boys & 3 girls!
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Elizabeth
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teachingmyown wrote:
| It's the piles of clothes and the sea of paper that really wear me down. That, and a houseful of children who should have been born into royalty! But we are working on it... |
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It's the clothes, the clothes, the CLOTHES!!! I can't deal with clothes.
Then again, the royalty point is a very good one !
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Elizabeth
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Sarah wrote:
Elizabeth wrote:
If you order now, do you just get pages from now to the end of the calendar year or do you get a full year from the date you order?
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I got the full 2006 year, even though it was April or May.
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I think I need professional help (and not a Bellarussan lady--though that sounds lovely). I read this and thought, "Well I get the whole year and the year is half over. If I do two weeks' worth at a time, we could catch up." That's not the way it's supposed to work, huh?
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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stefoodie
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Elizabeth wrote:
| I read this and thought, "Well I get the whole year and the year is half over. If I do two weeks' worth at a time, we could catch up." |
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Scary. That's exactly what I was thinking.
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stef
mom to five
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Elizabeth
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stefoodie wrote:
Elizabeth wrote:
| I read this and thought, "Well I get the whole year and the year is half over. If I do two weeks' worth at a time, we could catch up." |
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Scary. That's exactly what I was thinking. |
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I am SO glad to hear this . Or, maybe I am so sorry for you Stef, poor OCD dear...
Balance, balance, there must be balance to be had here somewhere...
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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MicheleQ
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Sarah wrote:
| Finally, Michelle's Catholic planner is awesome. There is a place to plan menus and all sorts of great stuff!! I can't wait to start in August with the lesson plan section of a new planner. BTW, when I ordered it, it came in like 1-2 days and we live miles from her. |
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Just a disclaimer here. Normally I try to get orders processed and mailed with a day or 2 of receiving them. I still try to do that, but I am swamped with orders right now (a good thing yes) and am somewhat behind. I actually ran out of some things (menu plans) but a new batch is scheduled to arrive in the next few days so I am hoping to be caught up by the end of the week. If you ordered and it didn't come yet . . I promise it IS coming.
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Michele Quigley
wife to my prince charming and mom of 10 in Lancaster County, PA USA
http://michelequigley.com
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mary
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i have been using motivated moms for almost 4 years now and this year i had the custom planner done. i can tell you it has changed the way we live. i feel that our house is picked up every day (and i'm particular) and yet, we have the days to play and learn and are not tied to cleaning.
i just tried something new in the laundry - i have a rack where i hang clothes when they come out of the dryer. i fold towels and put them into the baskets. each child has a basket for their 'non-hung' clothes. at the end of the day (before dad comes home), i wheel the rack to the hallway and the kids pick up their clothes and bring me their empty hangers. they take their baskets upstairs and put away the new clothes. no longer are we looking for our wrinkled clothes in baskets of clean laundry all over my bedroom floor! i wish i'd thought of this before.
as for vacuuming, i got a dyson and i vacuum 3x a day. i love that machine. it gets every crumb, grain of sand off the floor. it's therapeutic!
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Kathryn UK
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Thank you Sarah, you have inspired me! I signed up for Motivated Moms within two minutes of reading this thread . I have the motivation ... I'm beginning to have the energy ... and even if I only do half of it, it is way better than things have been around here. I have tried Fly Lady, but I'm always too far behind. Or lose my shoes .
And Natalia, I really like the look of Menus4Moms too.
There is hope
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Kathryn
Dh Michael,  Rachel(3/95) Hannah(8/98) Naomi(6/06)  (11/07)
The Bookworm
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andibc
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mary wrote:
| i have been using motivated moms for almost 4 years now and this year i had the custom planner done. |
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I don't see any custom planner, can you link to it?
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: For the first time ever. . .
