Gross

Mr. Saucy and I have a joint New Years Resolution. 

Along with the ever popular Lose Weight, Eat Healthy, Exercise Daily ... we have ... a secret one.

"Don't Be Gross"

Because ... we're gross. We are. I mean, we're fat and lazy and gross. We don't always do the dishes at night, we let the trash can(s) fill up to a balancing act that would make a physics professor proud, and we step over dust bunnies the size of rhinoceroses. 

I finally got fed up and decided to clean the kitchen. Like really CLEAN the kitchen. And I was so grossed out, I thought I was going to gag.  

We had a bunch of decorative things up on the top of the cabinets that were coated in cooking grease residue that had floated into the air over the past several years and just clung to items in the kitchen that aren't used regularly. 

The layer of yuck on top of the cabinets was just as disgusting. We used a powerful degreaser, a plastic scrubbie, and a mixture of hot water and Palmolive dish soap to scrub then wipe up the yuck.

Once everything was cleaned up, we organized the cabinets to make space for these things to live inside the cabinets and not on top of the cabinets. 

I know that as the full-time at-home parent that I "should" be able to get everything spic and span every single day. I mean, Beverly Cleaver did it in heels, pearls, and with a 24" waist, so why can't I manage in an age of convenience, ease, and technology? I don't know. Ok ... I don't know. 

So ... yesterday while I was writing out this week's meal plan and exercise plan, I added a cleaning schedule too. It includes which night is which kids turn to clean the table, which days I dust, sweep, mop, clean bathrooms, change the sheets, wash the towels, etc.

This may seem second nature to you, but to me, it's just not. I have a super-human ability to overlook clutter and crud. So ... when it gets to the point that I think it's nasty, it's probably closer to toxic for the neat-freaks out there. 

We're not about to be on an episode of Hoarders, not even CLOSE, but it is time to realize that 4 humans, 2 huge dogs, and an indoor/outdoor cat can generate a lot of dirt. And we're gross. Just gross. 

So, let's stop being gross. And here's how I hope I can make this happen during the week so I can relax on the weekends, not feel guilty about relaxing, and not be upset that other's aren't helping.

Here's the cleaning plan for this week...

Monday = Dust everywhere and Vacuum Downstairs
Tuesday = Sweep all hardwood and tile, Mop, Laundry
Wednesday = Vacuum bedrooms and clean the bathrooms
Thursday = Laundry, Sheets, Towels
Friday = Wipe cabinets, sweep, mop

Here's the meal plan for this week...

Monday = Pork Tenderloin and Carrots
Tuesday = Fish and Spinach
Wednesday = Venison Stuffed Peppers
Thursday = Chicken and Broccoli
Friday = Pizza for the kids, Venison steaks and spinach for Mr. Saucy and me.

And, here's my workout plan for this week...

Monday = Walk and Pump
Tuesday = Pump and Treadmill
Wednesday = Walk and Pump
Thursday = Pump and Treadmill
Friday = Pump and Treadmill
Saturday = Walk and Pump
Sunday = Walk

For my work week, I need to get into Wordpress to work on a project for a friend's web page, I need to get more blog posts written for my Dad's blog, I need to tweet more, and blog more for my own blog, and I need to get more active in my BeachBody coaching.

For my peace of mind week, I want to get some sewing done, some pictures taken, some film developed, some prints made, some books read, and some clutter tossed.

Check Please.

I'm a check-list girl. I'm also a procrastinator, and I don't like being told what to do. But for some reason, if I make my checklist, I'm much better about getting it done. 

This started at my first real big-girl job, where I was running the financials and HR and all other office work for a restaurant. My boss wanted me to use a check list because there were about a thousand little tasks that all needed to be done and with my ADD, it was hard for me to keep on task. Even while taking my Ritalin, there were still times it was hard for me. When he suggested I use the check list I was annoyed. I've got SO MUCH to do, I don't have TIME to stop, highlight what I've done, and then go do another project. After several weeks of head-butting and stubbornness, he won. And I learned that the checklists took a lot of the *fog* out of my day. A large part of my panicky stress about my day and week was lifted with this simple checklist. It honestly acted like a map for me. 

Now that I'm running the business of a family, I find that I once again need a checklist. I think this will help me stay focused, not get overwhelmed, and not let things pile up. 

And, oh, how I do LOVE organizing things. So the thought of sitting down for a few hours and planning the activities and actions of the members of this organization is as relaxing to me as a day at the spa. Maybe more so, because a day at the spa would make me feel guilty and I'd start to dread the pile of work awaiting me when I got home. 

So today I shall create an organizational schedule. I'll write a mission statement, a financial plan, and delegate tasks according to skill level, ability, and degree of potty training and napping needs. 

No lie, I'm super excited!!