I Love Op Shops

I'm fast becoming addicted to Op Shopping (Thrift Stores). I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing... lol

Normally I might go Op Shopping 3-4 times a year, sometimes if that. Not because I'm opposed to it, but mainly because I never thought of it when I was working outside the home. If I needed to get something I just got it while I was out.

This year though, I've probably been about 5-6 times, maybe even more. The past 2 Fridays, I've dropped the older kidlets at preschool, went grocery shopping (this week I spent $24.57 woohoo), Went back home, did some house work, dropped Hubby down mums (he borrows my dads car for work on Fridays), then Mum, Mr 1 and myself go up the 2nd Hand Store.

Last week I thought I did good with the amount I got for the $10 I spent (best buy was a pair on industrie pants for myself for .50c).

This week I did even better. I did spend more then last week, total being $18, but I got quite a bit:

• Barbie Quilt Cover set - $3
• Flannelette Car print Sheet set - $3 (barely used, and the pillow case looks brand new)
• Rain Coat sz 5
• Baby Blanket - $1 (I have many baby blankets, but this one's nice and big and perfect for the cot)
• Girls pants sz 5
• Hi 5 Girls 3/4 pants sz 5
• Girls Target shorts sz 5
• Girls MK mini shorts sz 5
• Target Dora skirt sz 5
• Girls long sleeve shirt sz 5
• Girls Tweety jumper looks around a sz 6-7
• Girls Cotton Long sleeve/pants PJ set sz 6
• Girls 2pc Lizzie Mcguire skirt ad singlet set sz 10 (looks about an 8 though)
• Mango Girl Denim shorts sz 10
• Supre denim shorts xxs
• Boys Urban Culture long sleeve top sz 5
• Boys World Industries Top sz 7
• Crossroads top not sure what sz maybe a 10-12
• Nice Blue/Aqua material Place mat which I'll use to store my centrepiece on the kitchen table :)

Most things being 50c.

Apart from a couple of going out clothes for my daughter for winter next year, I am done with next years winter stuff for the family :) Who knows, maybe she'll still fit into this years stuff.

I spent almost $300 at Target on Miss 4's winter stuff for last yr (and this yr as I buy clothes a sz bigger to get more wear), and to be honest I didn't bring much home for that price.

I get the majority of the boys stuff off my sister, as her son is a couple of years older then my boys, and my sister goes crazy buying kids clothes so most of the stuff is in perfect, barely worn condition. I don't mind, I'm getting almost new/new stuff for a fraction of the price hehehe :)

I do still buy some new stuff for them, as it's always nice to have some new stuff, plus I can't resist when I see motor bike, dinosaurs or pirates when it comes to my son. He LOVES them lol :)

Anyways, here's a couple of pics of my purchase today.

Routine

I have been tracking my daily routine, and jotting it down every hour, for the last few days. I've already noticed where the "Time Wasters" are, and each day have noticed I slight change (for the better) in my routine, not only because it's a new day, but because I'm aware of my actions, and where I wan't to improve things.

The main areas in which need improving are as follows:

• Go to bed earlier and/or get up earlier - I'm trying, I really really am :)
• Watch less TV - Done! As long as I watch Home and Away I'm happy lol
• Cut down Computer time - This is hard, but I have limited my computer time.
• Leave the Mobile alone - Done! My bill was $16 higher then expected, so this ones easy to do.
• Priotitise - Still Learning.
• Lower my standards - I noticed a lot of my time was spent constantly cleaning/tidying, even though I'd already done a before bed tidy, plus a morning tidy.
• Baking - I love it, but it was hard to find time, and/or I made excuses, so now I whip up something while dinners cooking. I get double the result, and less time wasted.

There's a few other issues, like washing, weeding etc, but I figure this all comes down to getting up earlier. As with today I got up at 7.30 (early for me) and I was able to do 3 loads, 2 dried, 1 was still a little damp because it was hung out later, and I got a fair bit of weeding done too. Made a nice Potato Bake for dinner, plus some biscuits and a carrot cake, which to my horror I ran out of butter and coudn't make the icing :( lol

(Sorry if this is a bit over the place, I'm doing some Maths with Miss 4)

 I've even had time to spend with the kids properly, and do some work with Miss 4, like Maths or Reading.

I am very happy with how things are turning out, and I already feel so much more at ease, and definitely do not feel so overwhelmed like I did before.

21 Day Challenge - Day 16 The Fridge

Day 16 of A Bowl full of Lemon's 21 Day Challenge, is the Fridge.

WARNING: These before pics are horrid, and I almost wasn't going to post them, but I need to, to keep myself accountable...

Everything was removed. I purged everything that was out of date or just gross (like the lettuce yuck).

I pulled it all apart and scrubbed everything with hot soapy water.

Everything was returned neatly, and here's the end result :)

                        It makes me smile every time I open the door :)



21 Day Challenge - Day 15 Medicine/Vitamin Storage

Day 15 of A Bowl full of Lemon's 21 Day Challenge is the Medicine/Vitamin Storage.

Both the meds and vitamins are stored in the medicine cupboard which was done recently, so I decided to do the last of the bathroom drawers which needed some love.

This was a very quick job as the drawer is tiny, but it has definitely made a difference.

Here's the before pic:

Some store had a sale on toothbrushes for a dollar so I stocked up :)

I took everything out, gave it a good clean, relocated my breast pads to my bedroom, Through out old razors and all other rubbish, Removed things that definitely weren't meant to be in there, such as

• a paint scraper
• an Alan key
• a screw
• and some other weird thing

The husband tends to leaves his stuff EVERYWHERE.

Everything was returned neatly and here's how it looks now:

I'm starting to really feel the difference in our house now :)

21 Day Challenge - Day 14 Under Bathroom Sink

Day 14 of A Bowl full of Lemon's 21 Day Challenge is under the bathroom sink.

This also was done not long ago, and even though it's messy, I'm surprised it's not worse lol.

Here's the before pic:

I pulled everything out, gave it a good wipe over. and sorted through everything.

Anything not being used, out of date, empty or broken was chucked.

(I don't really use those 3 bottles filled with red stuff, but I've had them for years and I can't bear to part with them or use them :) )

Everything was put back neatly.

Here's the after pic:

I unfortunately didn't get a purge pic, but at least it looks better :)

21 Day Challenge - Day 13 Medicine Cupboard

Day 13 of A Bowl full of Lemon's 21 Day Challenge is the Medicine Cupboard.

I did this cupboard not that long ago, but it's no surprise it's a mess again.

Here's the before pic:

Last time I organised it, I placed all cotton balls, band aids and bandages in an old wipes boxes. This has worked extremely well.

I pulled everything out, and purged anything out of date, ripped up old forgotten about prescriptions, left out sunblocks and repellents (will be transferring to the laundry cupboard) and sorted through the many medicine cups.

Everything was wiped over and returned neatly.

Here's the after pic:

And here's whats not going back in there...

To the left is being relocated to the laundry and to the right is rubbish.

21 Day Challenge - Day 12 Spice Cabinet

Day 12 of A Bowl full of Lemon's 21 Day Challenge is the Spice Cabinet.

I don't really have a spice cabinet, I have more of a spice tray so I decided to do the whole cupboard :)

Here's the before pic:

And the after pic:

Wow!! I can't believe my eyes. I think out of all the challenges I've done, personally, this would have to be the best outcome. I don't know why, maybe because this cupboard always seemed hard to organise because of its mostly non related contents.

The steriliser is out of it's box, which is top shelf up the back, as that is holding all newborn size bottles.

Anyway enough rambling :) Here's my purge pile:

The pile consists of:

• Old falling apart potato box
• Bottle steriliser (I have two, plus the dishwasher, and personally we prefer the microwave one)
• The Steriliser box
• 2 bottle lids (Not sure if the other one is in the pic)
• A bag of all girlie coloured bottles
• A small round tin which now houses my elastic bands
• A snack oven - I think I've used this 4 times in the 6.5 yrs we've had it.