All-Around Pinay Mama

AAPM Reader of June 2015 Announcement + July Giveaway

July 25, 2015

Mars and Pards, I apologize for not being able to announce the winners of AAPM Reader of June 2015 on time. I decided to choose two winners instead of one to make it worth the wait. This Mama was so busy/productive since the school year of my two boys started. The sudden change of weather also hightened the onset of my allergies. I also had to start stocking up our products in our outlets. A sick work-at-home mom with no helper was really, really tasking or shall I say "toxic" ?

Without further ado, I would like to announce again the winners of AAPM Reader of June 2015. Congratulations to Misses Jenina Tuazon (1st placer) and Lynne Agapin (2nd placer)! I already announced the winners on July 16 through Facebook. I'll make personalized #faithshoppePH magnets for both of them, 24 pieces for the 1st placer and 12 pieces for the 2nd placer respectively.

I already send private messages to the winners on their Facebook accounts. I'm just waiting for them to send their photos that they want me to place on their magnets. Honestly, I'm super excited to see their photos to be incorporated with my creations.

As promised, I'm still having a giveaway for July despite rolling it for a week only. I'm going to give a BABY BENCH COLONIA & POWDER GIFT PACK to one lucky #AAPMreaderofthemonth of July 2015! Why Baby Bench? It's one of our family's favorite cologne brands and I want to share it with one of my lucky readers.

You may like reading Tips in Choosing and Using Cologne and Perfumes to know more details.

Joining is so easy. Just follow these three (3) easy steps:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway is open to my readers residing in the Philippines. Giveaway period is from July 26- 31, 2015 only. Winner will be chosen by random.org.

I'll announce the winner through a blog post on August 1, 2015 and he/she will be notified through email and/or Facebook message on the same day. Thanks!

Good luck and thanks for joining!

XOXO,

SJ

It's Possible to Do a One-Man General Cleaning with Very Young Kids Around

July 20, 2015

The afternoon of May 27 was the start of my most successful installment general cleaning this year. I already had two attempts early this year but I ended up fixing the same clutter that I normally fix everyday. I never thought that Bunso, a preschooler and more active than Kuya when he was at the same age, would behave and play on his own while I cleaned-up.

Pardon me, friends, if I shared photos of my general cleaning journey on Facebook. I was so happy that I was able to accomplish that much in one and a half days.

Obviously, I was so proud of myself because finally, I was able to let go of my precious nursing books and they were adopted by a good blogger friend.

My friend, Jenette Soriano-Florig, said that it's nice to dispose and share old things to make way for new things. Yes, it's true. I feel very light and inspired to go back to my usual routines because I know that the things that I let go would be in good hands and it feels good to live and work in a clean and clutter-free environment.

General cleaning with active boys around, including our husbands, is merely impossible for us moms who have no helper or caregiver to lessen our load or to take care of our kids.

I was surprised because my endless planning and attempts pushed through. My strategy was indeed effective!

Here are some tips to survive general cleaning while looking after your very young active kids:

1 Talk to your kids. Tell them that you are going to clean the house including its purpose and advantages. Plan with them the things that they are going to do while you are working.

2 Start with the areas of the house that need minor cleaning for you not to be overwhelmed with so much cleaning and decluttering. It's a sort of priming and motivating yourself. Doing this can make you feel accomplished knowing that you've finished lots of areas in a short span of time without your kids feel being unattended because you can play and take care of them during short breaks.

I feel relaxed whenever I see our precious books properly arranged on the shelves!

3 When items like clothing, shoes, and the likes are not being used within six months and up, they need to be disposed. You may donate them, share them with friends and loved ones, or sell them. But make sure that they are still usable and in good condition when you do. Always put yourself on other people's shoes. Who wants to receive dilapidated hand-me-downs or buy overused preloved items? Of course, nobody.

4 Next, declutter the areas that need major cleaning and sorting. By this time, your kids have the feel of what you are doing. You'd be surprised! They are going to help and cooperate.

I had pending orders while doing my installment general cleaning. I also had promises that were meant to be done the following week. Honestly, I couldn't concentrate when my kids' toys were unsorted so I fixed them first before moving on to my WAHM duties.

5 After decluttering and putting things in order with wiping and dusting on the side, do ceiling, wall, furniture, and floor cleaning and other finishing touches. Please start from ceiling to the floor. It follows the cleanest to the dirtiest rule.

6 Do multitasking to save more time. You may cook your viand by popping it in the oven, cook rice in the rice cooker, and do machine laundering while cleaning for instance.

7 Most of the time, you need to touch the bedrooms, kitchen, laundry room lastly due to presence of active people and they are used all the time.

8 When the house is already spic and span, I do further sorting of files, documents, knick-knacks, photos, and receipts. Based on experience, it's better to check them out again once the house is already orderly so that you'll have a clearer judgement on what to keep and what to dispose.

How I wish that my working area stays this way ALWAYS! It feels good to work when the house is spic and span.

I hope that my general cleaning tips can help you. Do you have other cleaning tips that you want to share? Fire away! Feel free to comment!

AAPM Reader of June 2015 Announcement + July Giveaway

It's Possible to Do a One-Man General Cleaning with Very Young Kids Around

SJ Valdez

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