OC's rules

[cher.liman]

if i were to describe SIS AQUACHARLY --- mind boggling!!! 

[aquacharly]

RASPBERRY, mahaba na sagot ko so cut it na muna.  Baka may magreklamo. Although as I say -- you don't find it interesting, skip it.  Peace!

Now with regards to your yaya.
Ang baby talaga mahirap ma control -- but puede mo start off leading an orderly life.
As in, by 3 months, my midwife yaya and I are able to have some semblance of a schedule.  RASPBERRY,  CS ako ha but with the 1st kid -- wala pang 1 week back to the office na ako. From the hospital, derecho ako with my cook sa palengke ==  ang super galit ng OBGyn ko!

The baby -- make a schedule for waking up.  Hwag mo gulatin.  Medyo lakasan mo kanta mo around 630 gigising yan.  Tapos follow the necessary wellness schedule, ligo, kain, tulog, entertainment , kain, tulog, whatever.  Bedtime sched shoud be enforced as early as possible, for your sanity.

What is the biggest drain on your energy?  Pagluluto?
Ako talaga ayoko mag luto. But now, galing ko daw magluto. But I cook only when I want to.
Noong wala kaming maid at all, 2 lang kami ni hubby in our town house....  I hired someone to cook for us in 1 half-a day 7/8/10-12 thereabouts ulam. Doon ko start my racket -- double the quantity, freeze half to replay after 2 weeks.

Cleaning ayaw mo?
I would borrow 1x a week a cleaner of my mom --    pa linis ko townhouse. Ang garden na kapiranggot?  I planted only bromeliads, which take an act of God to die.  Once a week lang ang watering.  I love bromeliads, they thrive on neglect -- hindi nila requirement ang pakisamahan, ang kantahan, ang kausap usapin like the orchids of my mom. 

Laundry -- same,  someone comes 1x a week to launder and to iron.

Delegate!  
False economy yang pilitin mo sarili mo to do what you hate to do.  
Ang importante, happy ka.  At may energy ko patulan whatever your husband wants to do during playtime. 
Wala sa commandments na sinabi kelangan overqualified maids tayo when we start a family.   

Basta RASPBERRY, what you hate to do most -- yan hanapan mo ng solution hangga't pupuede, asap.

[aquacharly]

RASPBERRY, LOL, hwag ka himatayin and definitely, hwag ka maniwala sa husband mo na something cannot happen.  Ganyan mga guys, kaya mas magaling tayong mga girls.  LOL

To start, think in terms of real estate cost.  Magkano per sqm ang bahay mo? 

For docs/papers you do not need to keep -- as well as clothes/shoes you seldom use --  calculate how much real estate it occupies.  Sayang di ba?

Another useful practice for keeping your clothes/shoes under control is to buy the best you can afford.  Instead of buying 4 pairs from SM --buy a pair of designer shoes.  Eh di kaagad from 4, 1 pair na lang!   

Bags are my addiction (and Coke Light and Bloomberg).  I am now into Hermes bags.  Eh teka, hindi naman ako si Gretchen Barretto who can have all the colors.  Eh di agad, may limit on the number I own now.  Better investments pa kasi well, I use them all the time .. kulang na lang sa palengke.  LOL    So when you get better quality expensive stuff -- tingin ko you are just giving yourself what you truly deserve (LOL).  At the same time,  you are keeping only what you truly want to own/use. 

Maximize closet space.  Maraming storage aids now out in the market.  Go look at Make Room but do not buy there --  go to SM for cheaper alternatives.  LOL 

So the first guideline for clothes and things is -- buy the best you can afford and use these regularly. 

If you will send me your room dimensions and indicate the fixed structures like the closets, doors and windows -- I may be able to help you organize.
Email me your photos, if you like, RASPBERRY.

Mga gamit ng anak mo that have been outgrown -- give away/sell/donate.  Your son has moved on, he needs no museum pieces to bog him down.   Puede ka rin maglagay ng storage of your stuff in your son's room.  Some ha, stop using it as a bodega.  That is stressing you out.

Do not get overwhelmed.  Tackle 1st what it is that bugs you the most.
Tapos isipin mo what is the end result you want.  Pag nadefine mo na your end point,  mas madali to organize how you get from here to there.

Good luck!   

[kaiz]

^ we'll try nga din your suggestions sis 
might work for me too

[anetski]

galing talaga ni sis aquacharly! alang sinabe si martha stewart at mga housekeeping divas ng Good Housekeeping!

yeah, i certainly agree with her. get the best that you can afford and maximize its value by using it as often as you can. we dont need clutter in our lives. you should be the one defining your quality of life, not the other way around.

me being a Virgo, being organized is somewhat inherent in me. im not saying na super-organized ang bahay at buhay ko(hehe actually, may loose ends din), but i can say that my household thrives in a system that works for me. ang problema lang sakin, being the perfectionist that i am, hirap ako mag-delegate. may mga household chores pa rin na prefer ko na ako gagawa like cooking and cleaning the bathroom. ang gawa ko lang, pag gahol na ko sa oras, chaka ko lang papagawa sa maid(i dont have a full-time maid, yaya-helper na stayout lang-works 9 hours a day, 5 days a week). i make cooking easier by doing the palengke once a week(pag restday ko) and preparing all the ingredients for the dishes for that week and freeze them(hiwa-hiwa na lahat, napalambot na, naka-marinate na, so isa-salang na lang), para pag lutuan time na, dere-derecho ang paglagay ng mga ingredients. that way, i finish cooking in 30mins, even less pa. my shift ends at 6pm, dumadating ako sa bahay mga 7pm. pagdating ko, alang upo-upo, derecho sa kusina para magluto. by the clock hits 8, dinner time na or patapos na. 9-9:30, tulog na kids ko(ako may insomnia hehe). sila naman, bago ko dumating, cleaned-up na, kaya kakain na lang sila pagkaluto ko. while im cooking naman, i check my eldest's schoolwork(with my eldest na nasa dining table with her assignments). pagkakain, derecho toothbrush na, then relax-relax bago matulog(while digesting dinner hehe).

i have the laundry picked up once a week by the shop. ironing is done once a week by the yaya-helper. house-cleaning(including bathroom) is everyday, para hindi kumapal at dumami ang lilinisin. linens are changed weekly, marketing and grocery din. we are a small household, 2 kids, me, and my husband lang. i think our secret to clutter-free life is, we dont buy or hold on to things that aren't really necessary. minimal lang ang toys, clothes, shoes, and accessories, that way, hindi napupuno ang closet at drawers. minimal expense, minimal clutter, kumbaga.

[raspberryglace04]

sis aquacharly grabe gusto kong i-print lahat ng sinabi mo at i-highlight ang mga dapat gawin! 

super tawa ako sa bromeliads... that it would take an act of God to die! dapat siguro yan ang subukan kong itanim. "mainit" kasi kamay ko sa halaman. lahat ng hawakan ko namamatay agad. 

kaninang umaga i was looking around our bedroom, thinking of ways kung paano i-implement ang mga sinasabi mo para walang clutter. naku sumakit na naman ang bangs ko! our bedroom is really what stresses me out the most, next is our son's room or what i prefer to call our "bodega", na dinagdagan pa ng kalat ng nanay ko who stays in our house at night para me kasama ang baby ko. yung old study table ko na nilagay ko sa room for my son to use in the future eh covered na in clutter. as in!

kung hindi lang ako nahihiya sa itsura ng kalat namin talagang ipapadala ko sa 'yo ang pictures! kaya lang for sure pati ikaw maii-stress. 

i'll try to make ligpit this 4-day weekend (holiday kasi sa US)... sana nga kayanin ng powers ko! pray for me na hindi ako matabunan ng kalat. documents palang kasi inaayos ko, like i file yung mga papers sa folder or i-prune and shred yung bills, etc na di na need i-file, naku sobrang pagod na ako after.

i love my books, law books na lang nga yun at a few "classics" and self-help ones. pero puno na yung 5-layer shelves na kinabit namin sa kwarto. sa upper 3 layers yung books, tapos lower 2 layers are pa-arte stuff like lotions, gels, toiletries, deodorants, brushes, some office supplies like stapler, tape, puncher, etc. PERO bottomline is punong-puno na din yung shelves!

grabe napakarami kong abubot!!! dapat yata mag-garage sale ako! guilty ako sis sa pagbili ng SM shoes.  comfy naman kasi tsaka nanghihinayang ako gumastos sa mahal na shoes. sa callcenter kasi pwede naman na decent-looking sandals lang. kaya i have a lot of pairs. minsan pag me konting deperensya lang pero pwede pa gamitin o ipa-repair, i keep it. sayang naman itapon kasi. pero believe me i have given away, thrown a lot of my shoes. pikit-mata na lang yun when i had a cleaning / throwing spree. supposed to be nag-improve na yung pero ang dami pa din talaga! dapat siguro i give / throw away some more pa.

clothes... after i gave birth, i fitted all the clothes i was keeping in luggages, boxes, folded sa closet. tapos talagang i gave away those na hindi na kasya... those pieces na i kept kasi hoping pa akong pumayat.  i gave them to my yaya, my mom... yung iba pinabenta ko. sinunod ko yung if you haven't worn them in a year, give them up.

the thing is parang lumipat lang yung mga clothes ng closet. kasi yun yung nasa aparador sa room ng son ko... pero nanay ko na ang nagsusuot. 

i only have a 10 sq. m bedroom siguro. tapos dami pang gamit. nakaka-stress! ang bahay ko seems like a reflection of my life / my utak now... suuuper gulo. if not for my son, madalas gusto ko na lang wag magising pag natulog ako. nade-depress ako sa buhay ko and my house mirrors that. i feel soooo out of control.

[cher.liman]

^sis mag garage sale ka. ang hirap din i-overcome since hubs and i are packrats! ako pinamimigay ko nalang my stuff which includes beauty products i havent used/opened. ayun kumokonti naman na my tambak

[Frenzied]

the thing is parang lumipat lang yung mga clothes ng closet. kasi yun yung nasa aparador sa room ng son ko... pero nanay ko na ang nagsusuot. 

that's the reason why i try to avoid giving out stuff to my helpers (in your case sa mom mo). It's okay for me to give it to househelp if they would make sure they would bring it elsewhere (iuwi sa bahay ng kapatid, ipadala sa bahay nila) basta hindi nila itatambak lang din sa house.

WHat's good with me naman is i don't hold on to things. Ang dali kong magpamigay ng gamit.

As of last general cleaning, I gave out  1 bed (grabe problem din pala magpamigay nito, sabi ng basurero bayaran ko daw sila, haller! Binigay ko nga sa school service driver), 2 mattresses, several bedsheets, linens, pillowcases, curtains, pots & pans, extra rice cooker & other appliance, chinaware (the cheap ones because I want to use my corelle na nakastore lang and my noritake), water bottles/lunchboxes, magazine (sana pala sa therapy center ko nalang binigay, kinuha kase agad ng kapitbahay), old shoes and clothes.

Sarap ng feeling, laki nabawas sa house ko.

[aquacharly]

Hay naku, RASPBERRY, do not get depressed.  Even CEOs need "retooling" when a major change lands in their lap.  A baby is a major change.

I think I have a headstart with most when it comes to my organized home management coz I had to deal with my disorganized life in Grade 5 pa.  My mom was angry with me everyday, coz there was always something I would forget/lose.   It was my Ate who started me on making lists, and on the habit of prepping, before I sleep,  everything I need for the next day.

Atchaka, talaga, RASPBERRY -- hindi ako nagpapahuli nang buhay gumagawa ng puede ko ipasa sa iba (delegate).
    My office handles even my personal requirements/tasks like paying bills,
scheduling appointments, buying our meds, locating where to buy what/canvassing, even making my albums. 

I avoid "time vampires" too -- like making albums.  Naku dyan ka malulunod talaga, IMO.  What I do is choose pics from my digicam to print out --  my secretary attends to this; then sticks it in albums -- with just the time, place and event (if any) tags.  That is all, walang commentaryo.  Parang logbook. 
  (But if impt like our wedding, the Christenings, etc... well, I choose the pics, and bahala na si Patrick Uy to make the album/s).

RASPBERRY,  find out what you can pass on to your yaya and mom. 

Also, IMO lang naman ha -- a woman with a career and a husband + kid + no cook -- shouldn't be cooking everyday.  1x per 3 days is reasonable, though.  LOL.    Hanap ka ng shortcuts, and ask your mom to cook.

ANETSKI, thank you for the favorable comparison but -- I am NOT a Martha Stewart. I do not want to be like her, nor living her lifestyle.
Actually, I can't afford her lifestyle.

When I catch her on tv --  I wonder how someone can be so maarte and still have time for her family. 
Like, kung ako pa mag carve nang pumpkins -- I will ignore Halloween na lang.  And heck, I will not bother to make devilled eggs --  pa buy na lang ako ng balut, take it or leave it kung ayaw.  I also do not do canapes/hors d'ouvres.   Potato chips/tapas  will do just fine.

But ALESKI, I admire it that your household is synchronized.  Even the kids are part of a well-choreographed schedule/set-up.  Eventually, when our kids grow up -- we will have more time for ourselves, and our other interests.  In the meantime,  consistency in time management lang talaga.
We cannot afford to get distracted. 

[raspberryglace04]

Waaaahhh!!! Pagod na pagod ako! Hataw ako sa ligpit, linis, decorate at re-arrange ng bahay last Sunday and today. Thurs kasi natulog lang ako, Fri morning nasa SM kami, then PM nasa Ghills naman. Sat plakda ulit kasi pagod kakagala. 

Sunday, eto na... Ligpit ng docs, ayos ng laman ng shelves, tapon ng old bills / paper / basura. Palit ng sheets at pillow cases, re-arrange ng buong sala, re-decorate ng xmas tree (kasi hindi ako natuwa sa unang pag-ayos ko ng decors), nilabas yung part ng sala set that didn't go with the "arrangement", ligpit ng kalat ng anak ko, luto, ayos ng "koleksyon" ko ng paper bags... Monday, garahe naman. Ligpit ng mga kalat ng asawa ko sa garahe, etc. AWA NG DIYOS umaayos naman kahit paano ang kapaligiran ko.

Hindi ko pa lang na-tackle is yung mound ng sapatos namin. Actually nakalagay naman sa shoe racks... pero dapat yata ilagay na lang sa box kasi inaalikabok lang.

Sis Aquacharly ano ba ginagawa mo sa mga paper bags? As in tapon na lang? Hindi ba pwedeng i-recycle o ibenta kaya?

Haaayyy sana nga meron akong pagde-delegate-an! Actually, nanay ko naman helps out a lot... kasi hindi na nya matagalan yung mga kalat sa bahay.  Kaya linis-linis din siya o ligpit-ligpit. Nagluluto din siya... pero hindi mabenta luto nya eh. Either maalat yung food o over-cooked yung vegetables. Ako kasi "buhay" pa yun vegetables... as in crunchy pa.

Ang ginawa ko na lang... habang naglilinis / ligpit ako is pinaghihiwa ko ng gulay o ingredients si yaya. mega instruct na lang ako kung paano.

gumawa din ako ng 1-week menu starting Dec 1. Tapos yun na ginawa kong basis ng grocery ko, inabot ako ng 6k.    pero ayun, sat / sun pa lang naluto na yung pang dec 1-5, kasi mabubulok yung mga gulay ko.

sis aquacharly thanks for the tips. medyo palpak yung dry-run ko. pero mai-improve pa naman siguro. di ko lang talaga kaya yung manuals mo. di ko pa maisip kung pano ko ia-apply sa buhay / bahay ko. 

[marose17]

Raspberryglace, if I may add.  Once a week lang kami ni hubby mag-grocery and marketing because we both work.  We have twin toddlers and 2 yayas in the condo.  We don't have an "all-around" or cook.  What I do is make lists of my bilins, menus, etc. 

Yung gulay para di mabulok, put in ziploc bags.  Yung leafy veggies, snip the "leaves" na and store sa ziploc.  Pag Sunday kami bumili ng veggies, umaabot until Saturday kasi naka-ziploc.  Store in the crisper.  Yung iba naman, like sayote, patola, etc., you can slice na and store also in ziploc bags.  Mura lang naman yun and you can just wash the bag after use para ma-recycle mo.

I also make a weekly menu - simple lang puro steamed fish, stir-fried veggies lang on weeknights kami bec that's what the helpers know how to cook.  When I want something special, I cook on weekends.

Hope this helps...

[raspberryglace04]

^ talaga sis, 1 week nagla-last yung mga gulay mo na hiwa-hiwa na? yun kasi ang worry ko, either matutuyo o malalanta pag hiniwa agad. dapat pala sa zip lock bags ilagay hindi sa microwaveable plastics lang. gagawin ko na talaga nga yan! even for salad veggies siguro, para itataktak na lang tapos lalagyan ng dressing.  ayoko kasi talaga yung mga lantutay na gulay.  salamat for the tip ha! sige pa tips pa!

ano-anong fish ba ang pwedeng i-steam at mabibili sa grocery? tilapia lang kasi ang mabenta sa bahay kasi ayaw namin ng matinik na isda. so kung mag-bangus kami dapat boneless. i usually buy yung marinated na boneless bangus. recently discovered boneless bangus belly na pwedeng i-sigang. saw some salmon fillets also, ano ba pwedeng gawin dun?

ano pa ba mga OC rules na pwedeng magpa-gaan ng buhay? Sis Aquacharly nasan ka??? 

kailangan ko talaga ng life makeover... i'm so depressed sa buhay ko. ewan ko kung nagmi-midlife crisis ako or what pero i just need to be organized and feel in control. dati naman i know exactly how to handle these things. basta magulo na buhay o isip ko, nagliligpit lang ako ng bahay okay na ako. pero ngayon parang i neither have the energy nor the time. buti pa si britney spears naka-recover na sa pagka-luka-luka niya. 

[marose17]

Re steamed fish:  pampano, lapu-lapu, dory fillet, boneless bangus puwede rin  - salt, pepper, spring onions, some ginger, olive or sesame oil lang, yummy na, healthy pa   

Salmon - you can also bake it - wrap mo sa foil, put some herbs and olive oil or teriyaki style - buy one of those teriyaki marinades (Kikkoman is what I use) and marinate overnight; stir-fry lang sa konting garlic, onions ok na - put spring onions too para masarap; you can also do this with tuna fillets

Yung gulay, cook first the ones that get lanta easily like leafy veggies.  Yung mga squash, upo, sayote, etc., i-ulam nyo towards the end of the week na.

Raspberry, if you feel overwhelmed sa pag-organize ng stuff mo, I read in one of those home magazines that there are people who can do this for you for a fee.  Professional organizer ang tawag dun.  She will go to your house, look over your closet or stuff, make notes and buy those organizer solutions (the ones you see at Make Room and SM).  I think siya yung mag-aayos ng stuff mo tapos maintain mo na lang.  I don't have any idea how to contact them though.  Maybe you can google them?

[runaway_bridesmaid]

hirap talaga mag organize kapag napakarami mong stuff sa bahay kaya ako plano ko puro basics na lang ang nasa house like basic appliances and furnitures.  dagdagan ko man ng mga decorative pieces siguro minimal lang at yung hindi masyadong takaw sa oras kung lilinisin kasi wala naman akong helper me lang mag isa at working pa ako so ganun na lang para mas simple, ok ba idea ko??

[marose17]

I agree with you, sis.  Kami kasi nasa condo ngayon kaya konti lang talaga ang stuff namin.  We made sure to buy only stuff that we need and are of good quality.  Pareho kami ng husband ko na hindi mahilig sa mga anik-anik.  Kaya naman now that we are moving to a new house, we can still use our major furniture and appliances tapos konting dagdag na lang.  Ayoko talaga ng clutter.  For me, less is more.   

[aquacharly]

RASPBERRY, hello!  Just finished finalizing three bids -- ay hopia! but that is another long story.

Naku ha, RASPBERRY, napagod ako sa pinaggagawa mo. Take it easy -- coz it really takes time.  Sabi ko nga sa yo, may headstart ako kasi maaga akong nagkalat sa buhay.  LOL

It is the cooking you must focus on most.  Once you get this debugged -- it will have the most relaxing effect on your life.  Now that you have 1 week's repertoire of menus,  another week will be easier. 

Now, remember -- use a clear book.  Ganito, RASPBERRY -- after a month -- you will have a good grasp of how much of each ulam your family can consume (you double it di ba to freeze 1/2 for consumption in another week?)  Now -- try your best to make a recipe based on your family's consumption and preferred panlasa.  As in make it as accurate as you can.

Example:  I have a tapa recipe that requires a dry marinade that I mix the tapa with.  Well, talagang ginawa kong recipe and my mas matinong cleaner is able to follow it na.  But it is accurate as accurate can be -- as in 1 TB of so and so, 1 tsp of whatever.  Tapos naka 1, 2, 3  -- after the 4th dry run na i showed her really slow how to follow the recipe -- gets nya na.  Cleaner pa sya ha, not the cook -- kasi si cook busy sa food ni husband.  Ika nga, RASPBERRY -- "KISS".  LOL

At the back of each recipe -- write down in 2 lists the ingredients --
     under 1 list the ingredients you buy at the grocery
     under the 2nd list -- what you buy from the palengke

Put it all in a clear book. 

Now, eventually when sure ka na about your weekly menu -- just make a summary of all the ingredients at the back of the recipes for the week. Magkakaroon ka ng total ingredient requirements from the grocery and from the palengke.  Eh di isang listahan ka na lang every other week!   

Given a month or so -- ma gets ng yaya mo yang concept na yan and tignan mo -- she will be able to do the palengke or grocery for you (para mas enjoy ikaw nag aalaga ng bata), and she will also be able to do simple prep and cooking for you.  Pati mom mo -- ma gets na what panlasa you want. 

Ngayon, RASPBERRY -- if this all makes you tense -- ganito -- fix your weekly recipes -- try to make it accdg to your family's consumption -- single ha (dali na lang double eh) -- then I will have my secretary fix it up for you in a clear book.  She will just follow my manual format.  Ikaw na magdagdag ng pics ha.      Kasi some have pics on how to "plate" it.
PM me a number where she can reach you -- then just dictate it all to her. Or she will make arrangements for you to fax your handwritten notes.      

Naku, RASPBERRY -- zero in muna on what it is stressing you out most, halika let us work on it.  Siguro #2 after the cooking are the shoes. 

There are acrylic boxes with a few little holes (for ventilation) for shoes -- I bought them at the Robinsons Galleria Dept Store Plastic Houseware Area over  6 months ago, then saw them at the Rustan's Shangrila kitchenware section (across the Lock & Lock stuff).  3 sizes:  for women's regular shoes (up to 3" puede itayo, if higher like mine -- lay them down inside); low ones for flats; and a bigger one for men's shoes.   You can stack them up and they will look neat.  Now, there are packet humidifers you can buy at TruValue -- put 2 each per box.  IF you ride your car when it is still in the garage -- put the shoes you wear to the office in the garage.  When you get off your car -- change to your house slippers there.  That should declog your room or hallway. 

RASPBERRY -- while your Xmas decor are all out of storage -- now is the time to assess your storage spaces.  That is what I am doing now.  Mas madali makita sa bodega what things I can still unload -- well, our lifestyles change and so some things we outgrow.  Basta isipin mo sabi ni Buddha eh "detach and be happy"  (something like that, please lang ha mga Buddhists dito hwag akong batuhin, am not being malicious here) .

[aquacharly]

RASPBERRY, we also like our veggies malutong lutong at kinda hilaw pa. 

Veggies must be bought once a week -- and then, do not store in the plastic supots -- we just put them in the veg compartment or for the really perishable ones --  wrap them in paper towels.  Diario puede din daw per my old yaya but ngek -- parang pangit kasi our diario papers here are not crisp.

I do not have the veggies pre-cut.  When the pre-cooked food is heated -- that is the time we add the veggies so they come out the way you want them -- not overdone.

Also, plan your veggie menu or meals with veggies in such a way that those that are easily perishable are eaten earlier in the week. 

To keep it all simple,  the veggies or whatever food products in the ref that must be consumed in a day or so -- are put on 1 ref shelf -- easy to see.  That way, halos wala kaming spoilage.  Coz the cook, kaming mag asawa --  when we search for food - we automatically look at this 1 shelf below the meat chiller.  The milk, baked goods, salad greens, and others that must be eaten soon are all there easy to see.  Kasama na nga din doon sa shelf na yon ang mga left overs. 

What else, RASPBERRY?  Hindi ko pa ginagawang career ang pagka busisi ko with systems to "KISS" -- LOL.  As I said, organizing de-stresses me.  How else can I help you?   

Teka ha,  is your kitchen lay-out organized accdg to your choreography?  Baka kaya na stress out ka din kasi you have to make extra moves.

My personal kitchen pina layout ko parang hindi ako walking all over.  Kelangan konting steps, or ikot -- ayan na.   It is completely equipped  but amazes my friends and family coz -- even 6 people can work sabay  sabay without bumping into each other.   But if you are just 1 -- hindi ka din masyadong gagala at mapapagod.

It is L-shaped.  The shorter side is what you see when you are in the daily dining area.  Maayos.  The longer side is partly behind a wall where all the magulo stuff happens.  That way, you do not get stressed out kapag nakatambak pa the cooking and the washing.   (Oh but my freezer is in the Service kitchen coz well, it is the cook that needs to access that often).  Ganoon RASPBERRY,  dapat konting lakaran lang -- put related stuff together. 

You want to email me pics to help you organize?   
 

[raspberryglace04]

^ naku sis than you so much for your offer... pero kahiya naman na i-bother ko pa secretary mo. pero i'm touched... really. siguro sobrang na-bother ka na sa gulo ng buhay ko.   ako din sobrang napagod sa pagliligpit.  

ita-tackle ko na talaga yung shoes next. when we get a break, talagang marami pa akong aayusin. tumingin na nga ako ng shoe boxes na plastic. saw some sa SM, pero yun nga walang holes... me sis na nagsabi na me nakita siyang plastics na with holes. pero pwede nga siguro lagyan na lang ng dessicant kung wala akong makitang me holes. pero hindi kaya madagdagan na naman ang kalat ko pag bumili ako ng laksa-laksang plastic shoe boxes at yun naman ang kumalat sa bahay?  

tinitingnan-tingnan ko na nga yung mga sapatos namin... pipiliin ko na talaga the ones i'd like to keep and give away / tapon na the rest. same with my bags. dapat talaga i-prune ko na mga ito. nakakahinayang lang kasi talaga yung tapon ng tapon.   kung kaya lang ng powers kong mag-garage sale... sana me mag-organize dito sa GT or sa subdivision namin ng garage sale... yung tipong sa basketball court tapos lahat pwedeng magbenta ng mga anik-anik nila. yoko kasi yung maraming labas-pasok sa bahay / garahe namin... naha-high blood ang mga aso ko tsaka feeling ko yung iba ini-scope out lang yung bahay, lalo na yung mga gustong magnakaw.

yung paper bags... ano ba suggestion mo sis? do you even keep the paper bags of the stuff you bought or tapon na din agad. ang gaganda naman kasi ng mga paper bags from malls, yung tipong pwede pa talagang i-re-use, kaya i keep them. kaso super dami na! inayos ko na nga kaso dapat yata i-dispose ko na kasi it's eating up space in our closet.

ang isa pang over-flowing sa bahay is yung mga microwaveable containers, pati yung mga sturdy plastic ones na pinaglalagyan ng delivery or takeout from north park, max, etc. ay punumpuno yung kitchen cabinets!

again, nakaka-hinayang kasing itapon kasi alam ko pwede pang magamit ulit like when we store leftover or kung magbabaon kami ng food. nare-recycle ba mga yun? ayoko ng dumagdag sa kalat sa environment by just throwing them away.  

yung menu na ginawa ko... pinost ko pa sa ref, after a day tinaggal ko na din kasi hindi nasunod  ... me instructions yun para ke yaya na pag natulog na anak ko eh magprep na siya ng iluluto, like magdikdik na ng bawang o maghiwa ng sibuyas... pero yun nga hindi din nasunod! hahaha. kasi nailuto na nung weekend yung ibang pang-weekday. tapos me days na antok na antok ako kaya di ako nakaka-luto. dapat ma-remedyuhan ko din 'to. iniisipan ko pa kung ano sa mga tips mo ang pinaka-applicable sa amin.

hirap nga akong gawin yung sinasabi mong i-double. ang takaw kasi ng asawa ko!   imbes nga na me mai-baon pa kami sa niluto ko for the day, aba ang natitira is yung sobra na lang sa isang tao. so alanganin na. basta natuwa siya sa ulam namin, naku for sure yung para sa yaya na lang matitira.

sa ginawa kong menu me "leftover day" pa nga sana ako na every saturday kasi dinamihan ko na yung niluluto ko, so i thought magkaka-leftover. aba from monday to thursday eh walang tirang food! ang menu ko from M-Th is chopsuey, daing na bangus paired with soup, tocino with egg, chicken nuggets paired with la paz batchoy. ayun, ubos! etong fri lang yata magkaka-leftover kasi medyo napa-asim yung adobong baboy with hard-boiled egg ko, so di gaanong bumenta sa asawa ko.

parang hindi ko talaga kaya yung everyday magluto. so siguro dapat pag weekend lutuin ko na halos lahat ng nasa menu. tapos freeze na lang or yung tipong nasa last stage na ng luto na kaya na ni yaya na siya ang magtapos, like kung need na lang i-simmer ng ilang minutes pa.

yun naman talaga balak ko sanang gawin nung nagka-4 day break kami, kaya lang sobrang napagod ako sa kaka-ayos ng bahay.  

pero in fairness, like ko yung itsura ngayon ng sala at christmas tree / decors namin. medyo gumanda ng konti ang tingin ko sa buhay / bahay ko.  

thanks so much sis aquacharly! na-inspire ako sa 'yo. nag-wish tuloy akong maging parang hotel din yung bahay namin kahit half-star hotel lang. hahaha!  

hindi lang talaga kaya ng powers ko lahat ng mga OC rules mo, lalo na yung manuals mo, pero konti-konti naia-apply ko siya. mino-modify ko na lang para mag-fit sa tulad kong hampaslupa na walang 6 helpers, a couple of cooks, drivers and gardeners... at taga-put up ng chrsitmas tree.  

thanks din ke sis marose nagka-idea ako sa mga recipes na madali iluto. ita-try ko yang mga steamed-steamed na yan.

pini-print ko yung mga tips nyo, kasi sobrang dami kong natututunan na pwede ko palang gawin para gumaan buhay ko. mabuhay kayong mga certified OC!  

[Frenzied]

yung paper bags... ano ba suggestion mo sis? do you even keep the paper bags of the stuff you bought or tapon na din agad. ang gaganda naman kasi ng mga paper bags from malls, yung tipong pwede pa talagang i-re-use, kaya i keep them. kaso super dami na! inayos ko na nga kaso dapat yata i-dispose ko na kasi it's eating up space in our closet.

just to share...
saw paperbag organizer at sleepcare (the store near glorietta foodchoices that sells pillows, linens, home stuff, etc). It was for PHP395.

[aquacharly]

Those paper bags!  Naku, my husband gets exasperated too.  Lalo na abroad,  they have nice paper di ba.  So I have quite a lot too. I keep only the large and medium sized ones; these are segregated by size, and put in super large paper bags.  So I have what --   2 or 3 max paper bags with paper bags inside.  The big ones are in my computer room where I process papers at home.  The medium ones are stored under the island in my daily dining area.  So there, do not store in your closet but position where you will need them.

Now. RASPBERRY,  you MUST use these, not keep as souvenirs.  I use the large ones to put in docs I process at home (or bring home) for the secretary to distribute in the office to whoever should work on these.  The medium 1s are used to put things I send to my sisters, mom, whatever, usually magazines we share.  Clothes to be sent for drycleaning, mga ganoon -- use these too. 

You are doing fine with your cooking and menus.  As I told you, in a couple of weeks  you will have a better feel of the quantity and the choice of ulam your family prefers.  Do not give up!  You will eventually be able to double it all and freeze for another week.

The shoes -- yes, prune to the ones you use most often.  Stack the acrylic boxes to save on space.   Same with the bags -- you gotta prune.

Avoid doing garage sales in your home,  too risky security-wise tama ka.  IF you have a friend in Urdaneta Village -- join their garage sales.  Ewan ko ha but doon ang lakas ng benta ng garage sales -- masipag mamili the maids.  Same deal in San Lorenzo Village.  Or, give to your less-ok relatives, donate to toy drives, etc.  Madami this Xmas.

As for the household staff I have.  Alam mo -- that was the deal with my husband when he decided on this big house.   I made it clear I wasn't going to spend time pandering to a house.   But it is a double-edged sword.  Madami nga mautusan pero kelangan ma break-in to your standards, ma train, ma monitor, etc.  Just scheduling their weekend/months off and their annual month-long bakasyons for their fiestas -- irritating kasi nagtatalo pa sila who goes off when.    Kaya nga halos lahat kelangan may manual.  Kung kakausapin ko pa lahat yan -- wala na akong magagawang iba.   LOL.   Eto nga pag Xmas, I add 2 temporary helpers kasi well,mas madaming gawa. 

I also like it that their rooms, and the service areas are outside our house and that I can lock them all out but they will still be able to do their work.  Kasi naku, parang ang dami nila eh wala ka nang privacy. And it will give you a headache if you see them going back and forth or lounging around in your areas.

Kaya RASPBERRY -- konting kwerdas lang yang yaya and mom mo so that they will know how they can do more things for you.