Looking For Control Freaks & Worry Warts - We're still here!

[Camster0307]

Just stay at the resort. The drug lords are warring with each other, and sometimes make examples of the tourists - Jim said that on base they were asked not to go to Mexico on vacation.

So, with that happy news in mind, here's the link:

http://palaceresorts.com/

Oh lord - I hope they put that tidbit of info in the brochure!

 

[Camster0307]

Seriously, this young man may have something to worry about if we get the chance to meet them! Think what you'd like, but I just think he's gorgeous! (reminder - he IS legal!)

 

[tttessa]

I will see her, in person for the VERY first time, the weekend of May 1st at Lauren's musical. It should be interesting.

Cammie - I'm glad you are already planning to be the one who rises above it all.... remember Lauren will be worried about you meeting as well as anything else going on...
My mum and stepmum (who did steal away my feckless cheating dad despite knowing he had 4 kids who would be made homeless by him leaving - house was tied to his job!!) met for the first time on my wedding day - luckily my mum decided she wasn't going to be phased by it all and I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO proud of her! I got myself in a bit of a state beforehand worrying about them spoiling the day, but all went swimmingly.

We are having a mini heatwave for April over here - currently 60 deg!!! woohoo. Guinea Pigs doing well - still alive!! And I've discovered they munch so much grass in their run in the daytime that I don't need to mow the back garden at all!! Good result!

Weight loss going rubbish as usual, so last night signed up to Weight Watchers points sytem (again....) lets get it moving!! The leader is a lady who was a member last time I went - she was bigger than me then, so I know I will gain motivation from that - she looks SOOO good!!! She stood in ONE leg of her old pyjamas to give us all a sign of how much she has lost - and kept off for 3 years now. As they say.. if she can do it I can do it!!! I'm starting my ticker again from 0, so you can see how much I will be losing using WW.... see I'm using POSITIVE imaging...

Tessa

 

[karajeboo]

Tessa - good for you! I always say it's about just DOING IT. No whining, no complaining. Just suck it up for one month, see the results and you'll WANT to continue. My goal is 10 lbs by Memorial Day (last weekend in May for us here). Then a total of 15 by 4th of July. I did sneak a couple of Hershey's kisses yesterday, but I guess that's better than a whole Hershey bar, huh?

Tammie - didn't even think about the stupid Mexican drug war going on! I've been watching all the kidnapping reports on the news. I thought those were more in Mexico City and they left the resort areas alone? Hmm, Jamaica is looking better now. Who knows what we might do.

We started pricing out Carnival cruises out of Jacksonville. No hotel, no rental car, no airfare. We could do our whole family really cheap for 4 nights to the Bahamas. Then we started looking at Port Canaveral - about 2 hr drive. We could do 7 nights really cheap to and go to the Caribbean. So those are all options. But now I'm on a Key West kick. Jeff has never been and it's such a great little town! But something tells me we'll be vacationing at the pool this summer!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Okay, I need to go back and read AGAIN - but I need my girlfriends.

I've come to this -either I clean and my house looks great and dinner is cooked - or I do playdates, etc. with the kids, but I seem unable to do both and not have my house look trashed.

What am I calling trashed?

1 - my bedroom is a dumping ground. Everything that doesn't get dealt with immediately ends up here and it is the last place to get clean.

2- my floors look awful. I could seriously clean them at least 2 times a day. The kids tear up paper, spill food (crackers, cereal) all over, etc.

3. The kids drag all kinds of clutter everywhere (toys, clothes, etc.)

Okay, so I'm seriously crying today over this. If someone comes to my door I am mortified. I dont' ask people over - except for my BF who doesn't care. Why can't I keep my house clean and let the kids play and do errands?

It just seems like I cannot do both, it is either one or the other.

What is wrong with me?

 

[tttessa]

I've come to this -either I clean and my house looks great and dinner is cooked - or I do playdates, etc. with the kids, but I seem unable to do both and not have my house look trashed.

What is wrong with me?

NOTHING You are normal!!!!

My house looks trashed on a GOOD day - must de-clutter!!

I don't know about everyone else, but I feel that magazines/media (and childless friends !!) do give us an ideal of cleanliness and tidiness that we all aspire to, but just cannot attain. BUT - there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel - as my 2 get older, the house is getting tidier in general.

I also hate when someone calls unannounced - but have a tip for that too - my hallway is sooooo clean and tidy so when I open the door it looks great, and I do not let people in - all my friends have been told in the past -" I'm busy right now, but if you ring me we can meet up" People I like and want to get together with always ring - anyone else - well, not getting back to me is a bonus!

My bedroom is also the dumping ground!! Last clean up I found stuff in there that we "lost" 3 THREE!!!! years ago.

Got to go pick up kids.... hang in there, go with the flow and have FUN!! No one ever died wishing they'd spent time cleaning rather than having fun with the kids - did they??


Tessa

 

[karajeboo]

Lorrie - there is NOTHING wrong with you! I'm the same way! And I freakin work from HOME! For me it is my kitchen - the floor is dirty, the counters are always dirty and it makes the whole house look dirty. Right now there are two blankets on the floor in the family room, three pair of shoes, crumbs on the coffee table, Jeff's glass from last night on the end table, plus toys.

Here is what I've started to do, just yesterday and I begged Jeff to help me, otherwise I feel like you. I cry over it. Seriously. And I get so worked up.

Make a list. One thing a day. Yesterday I vowed to ONLY clean our bathroom, and get laundry done. Jeff came home and for the first time in YEARS actually put his laundry away the first day it was done.

Today it is to clean the clutter in my bedroom, dust and vaccum in there, and mop the two downstairs bathrooms. That's it.

Tomorrow it will be dust and vacuum the downstairs. That's it.

That way, it's only maybe an hour of work a day. And if worst comes to worst, I can do it at the end of the day, no matter how tired I am. But it's when I just stand back and look and see how trashed it is - and of course, I can walk into any of my neighbor's homes and they look like model homes all the time! So I freak. I throw a tantrum. I cry. I threaten to go on strike. Etc.

So seriously take it one little bit at a time. See if that helps. And start TODAY!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Thanks guys - you made me feel better. Especially since I thought you could eat off Kara's floor from the pics you have posted!

Part of it is laundry. I seriously do about 4-5 loads daily. I don't understand why. I need to put my foot down about people changing clothes 50000 times a day.

My bedroom is the area I need to focus more on. Like Tessa, everything ends up there. Laundry that needs to be put away, etc.

I think part of my anxiety is our open floor plan. You come to our door - which has those side windows you can see in through ( I HATE THAT) and you can see our dining room, living area, breakfast nook and kitchen. And there is a good shot off to the right where you can see the kids bathroom.

I've threatened to frost those windows.

It is 9 am here. I've gotten up, showered, ran a load of dishes (kitchen still looks trashed). I'm on my 4th load of clothes already. Took clothes to the cleaners. Getting ready for Nicolas' Allergy test. Paid some bills - still have more to go. Took out the trash from 2 rooms. Picked up the living room and my house still looks like a bomb. It is the same all day every day. I've seriously wondered why I'm so unable to do things right. I mean - I don't get why this is so hard.

I think honestly though for everything I"m cleaning up, the TWO kids are also working against me so that is how I get so behind. I'm going to talk to Carlos about maybe getting a mom's helper one day/week during the summer for about 4 hours. That would give me time to "deep" clean baths, floors, etc and then I can do the general picking up daily.

Kara - if I did one thing a day, seriously, things wouldn't get done. I like the concept, but Maybe the one room a day thing would work. I'll try that today and see how it goes. Okay, so today is my bedroom. That is always the last place, and it is the one place I'd love to have tidy.

I'll report back in later.

I'm starting to work on outfits. Okay, not to sound like a total idiot, but this is my first vacation for 7 days ever. I never vacationed before Carlos. So - how much do you pack outfit wise for that?

8 days - so 10 outfits? I'm stumped. I'm use to having a washer/dryer at our beach trip. What about kids who get so messy. 13 or so?

 

[karajeboo]

Thanks guys - you made me feel better. Especially since I thought you could eat off Kara's floor from the pics you have posted!

Part of it is laundry. I seriously do about 4-5 loads daily. I don't understand why. I need to put my foot down about people changing clothes 50000 times a day.

My bedroom is the area I need to focus more on. Like Tessa, everything ends up there. Laundry that needs to be put away, etc.

I think part of my anxiety is our open floor plan. You come to our door - which has those side windows you can see in through ( I HATE THAT) and you can see our dining room, living area, breakfast nook and kitchen. And there is a good shot off to the right where you can see the kids bathroom.

I've threatened to frost those windows.

It is 9 am here. I've gotten up, showered, ran a load of dishes (kitchen still looks trashed). I'm on my 4th load of clothes already. Took clothes to the cleaners. Getting ready for Nicolas' Allergy test. Paid some bills - still have more to go. Took out the trash from 2 rooms. Picked up the living room and my house still looks like a bomb. It is the same all day every day. I've seriously wondered why I'm so unable to do things right. I mean - I don't get why this is so hard.

I think honestly though for everything I"m cleaning up, the TWO kids are also working against me so that is how I get so behind. I'm going to talk to Carlos about maybe getting a mom's helper one day/week during the summer for about 4 hours. That would give me time to "deep" clean baths, floors, etc and then I can do the general picking up daily.

Kara - if I did one thing a day, seriously, things wouldn't get done. I like the concept, but Maybe the one room a day thing would work. I'll try that today and see how it goes. Okay, so today is my bedroom. That is always the last place, and it is the one place I'd love to have tidy.

I'll report back in later.

I'm starting to work on outfits. Okay, not to sound like a total idiot, but this is my first vacation for 7 days ever. I never vacationed before Carlos. So - how much do you pack outfit wise for that?

8 days - so 10 outfits? I'm stumped. I'm use to having a washer/dryer at our beach trip. What about kids who get so messy. 13 or so?

Yup, 10 outfits is probably what I would do, plus one hoodie or long sleeve shirt - although from the reports I'm seeing, you will not need it.

Two things Lorrie - you have two kids at home, I have none. So when I focus on one thing a day, that is for actual "cleaning" not so much picking up. But I tend to let things go and then freak when I realize that I can't clean it all up in a couple of hours. And remember that Nicolas will be in school in a few months so that will help a LOT!

Also, it may be time to have the talk with Nicolas about picking up. I battle all the time with Ally, but she also knows now that if I ask her to pick up her stuff and she doesn't do it, the TV goes off, and sometimes the stuff "disappears." So lay down the law with Nicolas - I think he's old enough now to start helping take care of picking up after himself. And you'll only be helping his wife somewhere down the road....

Also, keep in mind that I only take pics of my house when it is spotless - and that is usually right before we have company. It is NOT like that 90% of the time - trust me. I don't know how people do it. Well, I do know that my neighbors have husbands that help a LOT. They pick up after themselves, clean up behind themselves when they are in the kitchen, and don't have to be nagged into doing stuff around the house. I don't have a husband like that. He thinks he does sooooooo much by spending 1/2 hr mowing the grass.

 

[tttessa]

Hiya all,

Kara - guess what I just did today - mow the grass at the front - I can't even get hubby to do that!! And yesterday I washed the car - a seagull had done the biggest you-know-what on it!!! You know, I'm now getting some idea about why my house is a mess even though the girls are at school!!!!! What with all the other stuff, I have NO time to clean!!
But I do love him.. he puts the girls to bed and reads their bedtime story, just to give me half an hour to chill....

And Lorrie - I didn't realise you still had kids at home all day - forget about it, with little ones the house is supposed to be a big adventure playground, with blankets and torn up paper and crumbs!! No one is perfect - and do you know what - apart from your mum and MIL NO one notices anyhow... I certainly wouldn't be able to say which of my friends had a tidy house when the kids were little - I was just pleased to be having coffee with a friend...

Tessa

 

[CRdisMom]

don't worry. I'm right there with you. I'd call and csmiiserate but I lost my cell in my mess. No really can't find it. We had a play date today and I had a royal mess in the livi g room. I aplologozed but restated my mantra. When I die they aren't going to euolgize my cleaning abilities I want them to say I was a great person and was comfortable with all my friends.

10 outfits sounds right. I put all the outfits in tonplastic baggies. It made getting beth dresses a snap. I just loaded the drawers in the hotel with the baggies and she pulled out what she wanted to wear. No fights.

Tim is getting my own laptop. Hopefully my bad spelling will stop soon. .

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Kara - you win the made me feel better prize. I had forgotten that Nicolas starts school this fall and Mia starts mother's day out twice a week! So I just have until now til August - and know what. I think I know how I'd rather spend my time with the kids. I'll just do what I can and let it go.

What can I say, you girls just rock. Seriously. I feel like I can be so honest with you about things. THANKS!

Well -we allergy tested Nicolas. YES, he ended up with a severe allergy - but the sneezing/skin rash type - no airway issues like me thank goodness. Wanna know to what? DOGS! cats too. It has been a few years since ours passed away, but she slept in our bed and was all over the house. He gets in bed with me in the morning and sneezes his head off. Guess that explains it. I had been thinking I was sucking at cleaning - but it just probably is dander down in the matress. Explains why he is worse at my moms (she has a maltise) and Carlos' moms. I had just never even considered the possibility!

And Carlos and I were just talking about how much Nicolas loves pets and getting a dog when we get back from Disney. The Dr. said his were bad enough now that his advice would be no dog in the house period. He may grow out of it as he gets older.

The sneezing isn't the bad part - it is his itchy rash. He scratches till it bleeds and complains about it constantly.

So no dog for us.

Cats never were much of an option - just not cat people.

 

[karajeboo]

don't worry. I'm right there with you. I'd call and csmiiserate but I lost my cell in my mess. No really can't find it. We had a play date today and I had a royal mess in the livi g room. I aplologozed but restated my mantra. When I die they aren't going to euolgize my cleaning abilities I want them to say I was a great person and was comfortable with all my friends.

10 outfits sounds right. I put all the outfits in tonplastic baggies. It made getting beth dresses a snap. I just loaded the drawers in the hotel with the baggies and she pulled out what she wanted to wear. No fights.

Tim is getting my own laptop. Hopefully my bad spelling will stop soon. .

I totally agree with the ziploc idea! Plus, you can fit more in the suitcase. I did it for all of us last year when we went for a week. And I also just tossed the ziplocs in the drawer. Seriously made the morning a lot easier!

Kara - you win the made me feel better prize.

Yeah? What's the prize???

I had forgotten that Nicolas starts school this fall and Mia starts mother's day out twice a week! So I just have until now til August - and know what. I think I know how I'd rather spend my time with the kids. I'll just do what I can and let it go.

What can I say, you girls just rock. Seriously. I feel like I can be so honest with you about things. THANKS!

Well -we allergy tested Nicolas. YES, he ended up with a severe allergy - but the sneezing/skin rash type - no airway issues like me thank goodness. Wanna know to what? DOGS! cats too. It has been a few years since ours passed away, but she slept in our bed and was all over the house. He gets in bed with me in the morning and sneezes his head off. Guess that explains it. I had been thinking I was sucking at cleaning - but it just probably is dander down in the matress. Explains why he is worse at my moms (she has a maltise) and Carlos' moms. I had just never even considered the possibility!

And Carlos and I were just talking about how much Nicolas loves pets and getting a dog when we get back from Disney. The Dr. said his were bad enough now that his advice would be no dog in the house period. He may grow out of it as he gets older.

The sneezing isn't the bad part - it is his itchy rash. He scratches till it bleeds and complains about it constantly.

So no dog for us.

Cats never were much of an option - just not cat people.

Ya know, with the allergy thing - I just heard something about bedrooms are the worst places for allergens to hide. They say to change sheets weekly and to wash the comforter or bedspread every two weeks! Now I know that's almost impossible, but I found it interesting. Most washers won't hold a queen/king comforter or bedspread.

We're not cat people either - but I don't know what I'd do without a dog in the house. I just love my dogs!!!!

Speaking of dogs, how is Minnie doing, Jillian?

Guess what I just discovered? A dill pickle takes the edge off a sugar craving! Seriously!

OK, gonna go play on facebook now - Debbie, I could shoot you for getting me hooked on that stupid Tycoon thing, too. Celebrity agent is bad enough - did you see how many badges I have now??? I so need a life.....

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

For those of you who might have dust issues - in addition to what Kara said - you need to use HOT water too - that is the only thing that kills dust mites. Actually, I was told ALL BEDDING weekly. SERIOUSLY - and also any stuffed toys in the bed - washed hot water weekly too. Impossible - but what they say.

On the upside, I've been wanting a new mattress. I think I will just get the allergy case instead for now.

I've been using Kara's suggestion - my room is 75% clean. Headed down to work on it during the kid's rest time. One big step is I have kicked out all the paper. Moved that upstairs. So all mail comes UPSTAIRS rather than on my dresser.

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

**&^&*^&*^*":!!!!!!!

The Publix near us can't get the pieces for this cake in - it is the one Nicolas has been wanting - and honestly why I think he wants Spiderman for his party.

Mind you, it isn't so much for the CAKE as it is the toys he can have afterward - spiderman swings around on the building.

So... I can drive 20 miles to another Publix on Friday and order the cake or I can tell him to pick something else from our local one.

What should I do? I"m a little nervous about that cake getting shifted around in my van and getting destroyed before I can get it home.

 

[CRdisMom]

hmm can't say onthe cake---but just thought of an absolute must have for your trip. One of those mister fans. It is a spray bottle with a fan attached. Get it at Walgreens, CVS, etc before you get to the parks. They are like $10 in the parks, at least they were last year. It will keep you cooler and prevent begging for them. Katie just found mine from last summer.

and all of my nails popped off. I really need to go in and have them fixed

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

hmm can't say onthe cake---but just thought of an absolute must have for your trip. One of those mister fans. It is a spray bottle with a fan attached. Get it at Walgreens, CVS, etc before you get to the parks. They are like $10 in the parks, at least they were last year. It will keep you cooler and prevent begging for them. Katie just found mine from last summer.

and all of my nails popped off. I really need to go in and have them fixed

Good point - we have two - so maybe I should take both, one for each kid.

Captain Dumb butt comes in last night and has been talking to friends at work - suggest I "look into" a double stroller rental. Um... what about the airport? What about going back to the room? What about paying more than $100. Yeah, he said... "forgot who I was talking to!"

Just peaked at the 15 day forcast -

High 80's; Lows mid to upper 60's.

 

[karajeboo]

Lorrie - I didn't even think about you looking into a stroller swap. They are offered mainly at the value resorts, but if there are any still available, you could head to the resort to get it - FREE for the week! BSIL is doing that and getting a new double jogging stroller. They didn't have it available for the first 2 days of their trip so they will rent those days. But she said they did not have room in their Jeep Cherokee to fit their stroller. Is this possible? Two kids, 5 and almost 2. They don't read the DIS (thank GOD!!!!) or they'd be better packers.....

 

[CRdisMom]

I had to pull it out because I got such a laugh out of it last year. Jillian I know this won't be you.

 

[Debbie6221]

Hi Girls!
I am still glum but better weather is on the way! I tried to catch up. Tammie! Welcome back! We missed you. I feel so bad for your hubby. It's gonna be an emotional time! I couldn't do it I tell ya! I am coo coo.

Okay, I need to go back and read AGAIN - but I need my girlfriends.

I've come to this -either I clean and my house looks great and dinner is cooked - or I do play dates, etc. with the kids, but I seem unable to do both and not have my house look trashed.

What am I calling trashed?

1 - my bedroom is a dumping ground. Everything that doesn't get dealt with immediately ends up here and it is the last place to get clean.

2- my floors look awful. I could seriously clean them at least 2 times a day. The kids tear up paper, spill food (crackers, cereal) all over, etc.

3. The kids drag all kinds of clutter everywhere (toys, clothes, etc.)

Okay, so I'm seriously crying today over this. If someone comes to my door I am mortified. I don't' ask people over - except for my BF who doesn't care. Why can't I keep my house clean and let the kids play and do errands?

It just seems like I cannot do both, it is either one or the other.

What is wrong with me?

I have anxiety over this EVERY day of my life!!!!!! NO ONE can come over! I mean NO ONE! If they saw my rubber maid/hefty bag collections up and down my hall I would die! It is my mission in life that I NEVER get too. I thinks it's just so bad now that I don't know where to begin.
YET....I do a lot with my kids and we have a lot of fun!!!! I just wish we could have people over!


Kara...I am sorry but I don't believe your house ever looks as bad as we are talking about. I don't believe you!