But what’s five months between friends? Ben has struggled to find the time between work and family to get the ensuite finished,and as our last house only had one bathroom,we haven’t really missed having an ensuite. But we have missed having a shower,as the family bathroom doesn’t have one. I’m aware that I’m over-using the word ‘exciting’at the moment,but it’s the best way to describe what’s happening in the ensuite today….
There has been a little bit of a delay while the builders waited for the delivery of the new patio doors. They were finally delivered yesterday at 4.45pm,so today should be an exciting day.
Holes in exterior walls ready for the arrival of the new doors and window
The only way to get the new door in was over the neighbour's wall
The twins and I have decamped to my mum and dad’s for the rest of the week,but the husband is sending me regular photographic updates from home to satisfy my control-freak instincts. Here’s the kitchen wall at the end of day one (yesterday)…
This year,one of my resolutions is simple:stop forgetting birthdays. Since the twins were born,I have pretty much failed to send a single birthday card on time,and mostly I forget to send a card altogether. And as many of you will know,having children can already make you feel isolated from a lot of your friends,and I don’t think forgetting everyone’s birthdays helps matters much.
This week I worked out that I had already missed eight friends’birthdays. And my mother-in-law’s. Urgent action was required.
I have everyone’s birthdays written in a birthday book,but that doesn’t help me buy the cards and remember to pick up stamps in time. For a while I had a stockpile of cards,and that helped a bit,but then it ran out and I failed to restock it. So when I came across a birthday card organiser on Pinterest (you can follow my boards here),I immediately liked the idea.
This week,the twins were at nursery and I was supposed to be working at home,but thanks to a week’s bout of sinusitis,my brain was unable to manage any kind of work-related productivity. So I decided to make my own birthday card organiser instead. And not only that,as 2012 is my year to tattoo FRUGAL onto my forehead,I have vowed to make all the cards as well.
I used a children’s Clark’s shoe box,and covered it with paper. Then I made 12 dividers –one for each month of the year. Behind each divider I’ve popped a cue card with all that month’s birthdays written on it. I was pretty pleased with the card organiser but it was useless until it contained cards.
So that afternoon I treated the twins to a trip to our local craft village to price up how much it would cost me to buy pre-folded cards. And at £8.95 for a box of 100 pre-folded cards and envelopes,I was sold. All fired up,that evening I made belated cards for all the missed January birthdays,and cards for upcoming January and February birthdays. I’ve stamped and addressed the envelopes,and written the day of the month in the top corner so I know when it needs to go in the post.
So I’m all set. Well,until the end of February at least. Now I just need to remember where I put my car keys…
Want to learn how to cheat at tidying up? Left it all to the last minute? Got guests coming over Christmas and want your home to look as good as the ones you see in beautiful home magazines? The tidiness you see on magazine pages is all an illusion,believe me. Here’s what our old house looked like a couple of hours before we shot it for Style At Home magazine back in April…
Before
After
As a stylist on a photo shoot,I only tidy and clean where the camera sees,so everywhere else is generally pretty chaotic. And you can apply the same reasoning when you have guests over. You only need to tidy where their eyes can see. Here are my tips for creating the illusion of a spotless home,without having to put in much more than an hour’s effort…
CLEVER CLEANING TIPS
Clean the bathroom. I wish I could tell you not to bother with this,but I think a clean bathroom is important,a) because people sit down in there and so will have a chance to notice grime and b) bathroom lighting is generally bright and unforgiving,highlighting the grime even more. A sparkling basin and tap,clean hand towel,and spotless loo will give the impression you’re totally on top of all the housework.
First impressions count. So tidy your hallway,entrance hall and stairs so that the first thing your guests see is a clutter-free home.
Clear clutter. Put it away where it lives if you have time,if not –try one of the following:spare room,under bed,wardrobe,washing machine,oven,car boot. I have hidden stuff in most of these places. It does help if you remember to remove the clutter before warming the oven or putting a load of washing on.
Dust at eye level and below. Even better,if people are visiting after dark don’t bother dusting at all!
Vacuum everything you can. I have even been known to vacuum kitchen worktops and use a soft brush attachment for quick dusting. I always like to remember I’m actually doing exercise while I vacuum,so there is a lasting benefit to the short-term pain.
FINISHING TOUCHES
Pop fresh flowers in a vase. Nothing says domestic idol better.
Spray some furniture polish around like room scent. Your house will at least smell clean and sparkling.
Burn a scented candle. I did this at our recent Christmas drinks party to mask the smell of cat wee,as my two cats refuse to cease weeing on my carpet.
Go for mood lighting. This works best in winter time,when the light is dull anyway,and when the days are super-short. The main light is a sworn enemy of the tidying cheat. Employ table lights,floor lights,and flickering candlelight for a romantic glow that will seduce guests and ensure they remember the mood,rather than the mess.
Be generous with snacks. Bowls of snacks on the coffee table are a great distraction and give the impression you’re well prepared.
Ply your guests with alcohol as soon as they cross the threshold. Try to avoid plying the children with alcohol.
Let visiting children run riot immediately. Your guests will then feel bad that their children have caused the mess rather than realising it was there already.
