So much to do and so little time to do it…

…was it Pooh Bear who said that…or was that about eating honey – Oh if eating honey was my only task!

I have set aside what time I have this month to Focus on completing and following up on the previous three.  To recap: I spent January focusing on my finances, February focusing on simplifying and decluttering my space and March focusing on a Spring clean.  I now have a list of left over jobs to tackle from each month and only two weeks of April to complete as we will be away for Easter and beyond.

You will find the list of tasks under April if you click on the Focus 2014 tab above or click here

I have been a busy bee this weekend whizzing through some of those little jobs that hang around – you know the ones I mean the non-urgent tasks that seem to roll over on the task list from one month to another.  If you don’t suffer from this ever then please leave me your secret in the comment box!

Since last Friday I have managed to  –

• get a spare garage key cut £5.50 (ouch!), only on the list since last month
• take my paper scissors to be sharpened £3.50 (I thought this was reasonable as they will last a while and it saves buying any new ones), on the list since January
• laminated the clock change instructions to keep handy in my car and the compost layering ‘recipe’ to nail to the underside of the compost lid, as well as the musical sheets that are part of our musical crackers game ready for next Christmas get together,  on the list since January
• cut back part of the front lawn that had crept over the driveway, on the list since last September
• weeded the front bed where my lovely tree had been that succumbed to Honey fungus and is now ready for new planting,  on the list since February
• finished copying over the old videos that we want to keep on DVD discs,  on the list for over a year
• hubby took the sink trap off for cleaning (the fact that he didn’t screw the half bowl trap back on properly and I flooded out the cupboard below tonight – we won’t mention!), actually not on the list but we had a drain smell occur this last week
• sent another bag of clothes to charity,  not even on the list
• washed my black winter coat,  on last months list
• washed all the cleaning cloths and dusters,  on the list for ages – the pile has just got bigger (they definitely breed)
• balanced our finances, trying to do this at the end of each month no matter what
• located the bottom of the ironing basket, this is on my weekly list but often has to be abandoned

and that was as well as the usual cleaning, washing  and tidying but it does feel good to not have to roll them over again.

 

I must say that the parts of the house that I have simplified, decluttered and cleaned are a real pleasure to be in.  I do need to work on my routines to keep up to this level of tidiness, cleanliness and clutterlessness (is there such a word?)…and most of all I need to keep a tight hold on the purse strings to avoid buying and bringing unnecessary bits and pieces back in.

Having said that there are certain items I am looking to buy or even make and as I go through each room simplifying and decluttering I am making a list of these items.  That may sound strange when my mission is to get rid of things but I also want to enhance my new space and make it decoratively pleasing to be in.

One of the items I am on the look out for is a small pretty wicker basket to contain my use up toiletries – so I can leave it out in full view and remember to use them.  At the moment they are in a Muji plastic tub but it would be nicer to have them in something a little more decorative than functional as I am sure it will be an ongoing container, even this plastic one

Google Images

from Lakeland would be better but I would like to avoid plastic and prefer a white-painted wicker one.

For anyone out there doing the same decluttering / tasks / spring clean how is it going for you?

 

Have a good week x

 

 

 

 

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Focusing on Simplifying my space update # 2…

Simplifying my space has been a harder project than I first thought and of course I am nowhere near finishing but the areas I have completed are working so well it is motivating me to press on.  As you will have noticed I have produced very few posts about this project as time has not been on my side during February but I will keep you updated as I complete a task.  I am concentrating my time in our home office at the moment which is probably a months work in itself.  Hopefully this weekend I will get to photograph the fruits of my labours!

Whilst I have been doing all these tasks I have been thinking a lot about how I can make my space both simple and uncluttered and keep it that way.  In fact I did wonder if I am simplifying at all or just reducing.

Even though simplifying and reducing are closely related terms I think there is a big difference between the two, for instance I could simplify my meals without reducing the amount I cook or I could reduce the amount I cook but still keep my meals quite complex.

The dictionary says to simplify is to make easier – so how would I make my space easier once I have reduced the contents?

This is what I came up with –

• I can rearrange the items to make a more workable space – both the furniture and the decorative objects.

• I can make the cleaning easier – washable surfaces, revamp existing items, maintain existing items, clean simple lines and shapes.

• I can simplify how the space is used so it is single rather than multiple use eg the kitchen for cooking, the bedroom for sleeping and dressing.

• I can simplify the decor making it more restful.

• I can introduce better storage.

• With my finances I can simplify the way I am dealing with them and tracking them as well as reducing the amount I am spending.

So as I am reducing I will also simplify by keeping in mind the above check list.

Whilst on the subject I thought I would share this short video I came across recently on You Tube and although this is a life taking simplicity to extremes it does have a certain appeal to me. 

They have named their tiny home Innermost House – such a beautiful name and I especially like the fact that even the few books that they have with them are ‘chosen’ to live there.  If you have a few moments take a look and tell me what you feel after watching it.  Would this life appeal to you or fill you with horror?

Thoreauvian simple living: unelectrified, timeless tiny home

Tomorrow I will reveal my new Focus for March and do a catch up on my weeks spending and the menu plan.