Author: Isa Laverty

Hello!

I know it’s been a while, so I thought I’d write a rather long (and to most of you probably rather yucky) post. It will probably be followed by another post later, so you know… Quiet for a while, then bombard with random nonsense, as is probably going to be my style!

We had some guests just after easter, and having come from Sweden we had to do something fun. We decided on Longdown activity farm. As there were too many of us to take one car, we took the train. All good. Plenty of spare clothes packed for all the children in attendance. All children were rather well behaved, and it came time to go home (after one head butting incident with a sofa resulting in a rather sore nose for my oldest).

On the train I realised H needed a nappy change. It really didn’t seem so bad, just like she’d leaked wee and/or tipped her last juice all over herself, so I proceeded to ask the few people in the carriage if it was ok with them that I changed her there. After no objections, I was faced with what is now (not so affectionately) known as Nappygate in our house… Upon peeling her jeans and tights off I realised this was not just a case of a wee leak – there was poo down to her feet. Do not ask me how, I will never understand (especially as I had changed her nappy 30 minutes previously). My friend quickly told me to just throw the clothes away – upon when we realised we had absolutely no bags empty to throw it in. I wanted the world to create a hole just for me, and for it to swallow me up. I asked the three girls who were backpacking if they had a spare one – they didn’t. They did however spot an empty bottle carrier at the next station and jumped off to get it for me. If they ever read this I want them to know that I am eternally grateful for that kind gesture.

This brings me to nappygate take 2. It wasn’t quite as bad tonight, in fact, it was a lot easier as it happened in the cosy confinement of our own home. It was, however, followed by a bath, and our oldest shouting “mum, there’s something gross in the bath… I think it’s poo”

Sigh. it follows that I got soaked by my 4 year old holding a shower whilst I was holding our 2 year old up for her to rinse off….

Let the potty training start soon, and without too many incidents, thank you to the powers that be!

That is the question!

Following a comment from someone who suggested I take a look at the Konmari method (by Marie Kondo) I duly bought the book. I can’t say I’m disappointed, because some of the things she writes really make sense.

Declutter, just get rid of those things you don’t use or want anymore. Sounds simple right? Well… Although I found good reasoning in a lot of what she said, here are but a few of my problems!

1 – if I go by her methods to declutter my clothes (i.e. if it doesn’t spark joy, get rid of it) I probably wouldn’t have anything left to wear apart from black tie attire…

2 – don’t hold on to something just because you have a sentimental attachment to it. Well, this kind of brings me back to problem 1… A lot of clothes I have stashed away I keep due to a sentimental attachment. My dad bought me that cashmere jumper, all on his own (hence it was kind of the wrong colour), so it sparks joy, but I don’t wear it – mostly because who with children has the time to wash cashmere…? I also have a lot of his old jumpers left, and I wear them on really cold winter days where I need to put something on top of my own jumper that I’m already wearing. Similarly I have shirts from my grandmother, that I don’t necessarily wear, however find it really difficult to give away because – yes you guessed it – they spark joy when I hold them.

Maybe my “sparks of joy” are different to most people. Maybe that’s part of my problem, that it’s sentimental things that spark joy in me rather than.. erm… I don’t really know.

So yes, I am decluttering my clothes, there are so many things I don’t need. This also brings me to another point! My style (or lack of it). I see so many friends when I go up to London, or when I do the school run, that seem to have a defined sense of style, and they always seem so confident in what they’re wearing. One of my friends literally shops every week (mostly online and she might send a lot back, but it still counts), and every time I see her I’m in awe, and almost jealous!

I say almost, and let me explain to you why. I have kids, so a) I know I don’t have time to shop a lot, and well, lack of funds due to their necessities doesn’t help matters – and b) sometimes when I moan to my husband about it, he tells me he’s incredibly lucky to have a wife who doesn’t fuss about her appearance or what she’s wearing every day, that and the fact that I can get ready in the same amount of time as him, if not less. This isn’t to say that I think any less of my amazing friend, because she is truly amazing. I am still in awe of her, and jealous – perhaps for reasons I will never understand. It’s probably to do with the fact that even though she’s a shopaholic, she still has less clutter than me… *insert embarrassed smiley here*

So without blabbering on too much, I devised my little method. Firstly, as I was not at home when I started reading the book, I decided that anything that I truly liked I must be able to remember – so I started listing some things. I got to seven items… (Note I am not including underwear or socks here, at the rate we amass odd socks I simply can’t! It also doesn’t include previously mentioned black tie attire, or jackets and hats).

So – from me to you, I am making a start. Wish me luck and pray I am not naked the next time I see you! And Marie, I am sorry, I would most definitely be that client who failed…

Isa xxx

p.s. I honestly don’t think Marie Kondo has children…

So, this week has been interesting! Lovely hubby came back from his trip away (and brought me some lovely fabric from a little quilt shop in Vancouver – yes I send him to quilt shops…), and his parents have come to stay for a while.

Whilst my mother in law and I agree that we don’t necessarily see eye to eye on everything, we have reached a really harmonious medium, and whenever they come to visit they are invaluable in the things that they do! Bo’s room is now finished (apart from me painting the bed) and she tidies everything which is a huge weight off my shoulders.

I’ve been discussing with her how to solve some of my laundry “issues” – which is something I also very frequently discuss with my own mum when she comes to visit. I have decided to try a new method in the madness of my laundry. I have three wire baskets from (you guessed it) Ikea, that are placed next to my washing machine and dryer. In my original genius, I had decided to use them for the clean clothes so that I could then sort and fold etc… How naive I was. The clean laundry could lie there for days, even weeks, and if something clean was needed we went straight to the wire baskets. Nothing got folded and put away neatly, unless my mother came to visit – when she would tackle all of it.

So, for the revelation. It might seem so simple to some, but to me it was like a stroke of genius on my road to tackle the laundry nook! Instead of keeping the clean clothes there, I am using them to sort the dirty clothes. I bring my laundry bin out to the nook, and sort the clothes in to the wire baskets. That way, I know I have a full load ready to go when everything needs swapping over. If I then fold the things out of the tumble dryer I get two bonuses – 1. they don’t wrinkle and 2. they get put away instantly (ish – still working on it).

Step 2 of the laundry nook will involve tackling the insane amount of shopping bags I seem to have amassed throughout a few years. That and the rest of the house!!

As usual, photos will get a little post in Tips & Tricks!

So, until next time my lovelies! xxx

Half term! It’s nearly over – just one more day to get through and it’s back to some sort of normality. It’s been an interesting one too. Last Friday, shortly before bedtime, the tv broke. I honestly can’t tell you how disheartening this was just before a whole week of my oldest at home. Luckily, we had a spare one in the bedroom – not as good but it’ll do until Dad gets home. Perhaps I forgot to mention, he’s away! The lucky guy is snowboarding in Canada, and although envious, I have gotten a lot done!

It’s been a week of birthday parties, trips to town (and IKEA – you will probably soon realise it’s like my most favourite place, ever!) and organising.

On the topic of organising – I have been sorting through the kids clothes. Mountains of them. Realistically I know they really don’t need that many clothes, and we seem to wear the same ones over and over again. In fact, so do I. Why can’t I let go of the ones we don’t wear? Give them to someone who needs them more? I honestly can’t tell you why. Anyhow, I decided to sort through Harley’s chest of drawers (I forgot to take a before picture… sigh) and I just wanted to share my new method. Hopefully, this method will stick!

See, even though I’m not very organised, I like things to look neat when they are organised. A bit of a catch 22 for me, especially seeing as I’m lazy. But if it’s visually pleasing I feel good, even if it’s hidden away in a drawer, one that probably only I open on a regular basis.

I shall now continue on my quest – that, and keep going in the kitchen. Adding to the list of things I need to get done – next week’s meal plan, food shop for said meal plan, make sure school uniform is clean, find the school shoes and so on!

Much love xxx