{The Nest Resolutions} The things that make me better

Posted in This is life by centralwestnest

Having three little people under 7 and another on the way means life can be super busy for me and easily becomes overwhelming. So, in an effort to stay on pointe this year I have made several resolutions that I refuse to break.

LIST LIFE

I make lists. Like loads and loads of lists.

Lists on jobs to do around the house. Lists of items to write about on the blog for you lovely people. Lists reminding me when the girls have swimming lessons and doctor’s appointments, school events and sports day at school. Lists to remind me about all the little things that it takes to keep our little nest turning over day after day.

I write lists not only to remember to do things but to feel good when I tick off the box next to it acknowledging that’s another job done. I find it really helps when I am feeling overwhelmed or like even though I am doing a bazillion things nothing is really getting done.

MEAL PLANNING

I cannot even tell you how much difference this will make to your life if you haven’t already tried this. Not only is that horrid decision of what to eat today already made for you, it means you save a whole tonne of casholi as well. No longer do you walk around aimlessly at the supermarket buying bits and pieces of meals to realise when you get home you have missed a crucial ingredient.

I write mine up on the menu board (from KMART) on the pantry each week so everyone in the house knows what we are having that day.

You will also notice a massive reduction in wastage (especially fruit and veg)

MAKE THE BED

This is an easy one. I make my bed every morning so that each time I enter my room throughout that day it feels clean and organised. A messy space leads to a messy mind. I dare you try it for one week and see if your mood improves.

DON’T SWEAT IT

I resolve to not sweat all this little stuff. I have always been quite organised and strive for near perfection in everything I do, but following the birth of my third child, Coco I was diagnosed with post-natal depression and the world around me collapsed. I was so focused on making sure everything was perfect that I ended up doing 100 jobs but none of them well. As much as it is hard to remind myself some days, not everything can be perfect all of the time. When I am feeling overwhelmed I take a step back and pick out what really matters.

DISH LIFE

I clean the dinner dishes EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. If you wake up to a clean kitchen to make a pot of coffee in the morning it makes everything smoother. This really makes a crucial difference to me but it took a long time to get in the habit of not just sitting on the lounge absorbed into primetime television after dinner. If you form the habit then you reap the rewards. Trust me!

So nesters, what makes your days easily?

17Jun2016

{The Nest Writes} Things I have learnt this year

Posted in This is life by centralwestnest

What I have learned in one whole year.

Pelvic floor confidence and three children is an either/or option.
You will survive fairly severe post-natal depression. It will crush you, you won’t feel like you can breathe, let alone function. You can though. You will get through this. There will be sunshine again.
Plain flour and self-raising flour have VERY different outcomes when baking.
Sudocream can be removed from carpet. Over time. Long amounts of time.
Even though this year marks 12 years of being with the hubs you will still love him more than you ever thought possible.
You will wear studs and think that’s cool. Your sisters will openly (and very vocally) disagree.
You will be nominated for blogging awards that you didn’t even know existed one year ago.
Your gut is always right. Trust it.
You will get a brand new niece on your birthday and she will be completely wonderful.
You will learn how to actually, successfully cook meringue.
You will dance in front of 300 odd people to raise money for cancer and not die/wee/fall over/
Despite your best efforts this year a ‘sarcasm font’ still won’t exist.
There will be breakups and engagements for those you love most.
When the toddler advises that the baby is painting the cot with chocolate. IT IS NOT CHOCOLATE.
After living the first 32 years of your life knowing no different, you will grieve for your two grandfathers this year. You will never have another birthday where they exist in the world with you.
Your baby will start at daycare, and thrive.
You have family members who you will no longer count as family. They say and do some completely horrific things. Let. it. go.
For the first year in a long time you will not need to have any moles removed PLUS they will extend the time until you have to come back! Well, saying that you’re due now so make an appointment.
Stop collecting cook books. You already have too many. You are getting out of control woman.
The toddler will empty an entire container of talcum powder into the cot with the baby. Be aware, according to her this is not her fault that it snowed.
You will learn the hard lesson that not everyone in the world is good. Some people are just inherently bad and despite how much you try you won’t be able to save them.
Your children will hide your phone. Often. You should look in the toy box or the bathroom bottom drawer most often.
You will struggle learning to balance parenting and working. It is hard and you will cry. Really ugly cry.
You will finally get back to tropical North Queensland with your lover and it will be perfect.
Sometimes step back and realise good enough is enough.
It the sign says electric fence. Trust the damn fence!
You will compete in ROC Race and Miss Muddy and you will have an extraordinarily brilliant time.
You will fight with the toddler about going to kindy. She will not want to go because she has ‘brown hair’ and will only go if she is ‘yellow haired’ like her sister. You will win this battle.
This year will be the year of ‘Netflix and chill’ and that is fun
Life happens. Coffee helps.
You and your firstborn will survive and triumph in kindergarten.
She who cuts chillis and rubs eyes cries.
Don’t do shots. You are too damn old.
Don’t trust your tongue when it is bitter. You will probably regret it.
Don’t worry so much. It will eat you up.
The thermomix will be worth every goddamn cent.
You will desperately miss your five year old while she is at school. Like deeply. More than you can even imagine.
The world will change this year. It will become subtly darker due to terrorism and fear mongering. You are fully capable of being shiny happy though. Don’t let the baddies win.
I am proud of you.