This week my Word of the Week is: Jobs! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

This week hasn't been any less chaotic than last week, in fact it has been worse! Stu worked Monday, his usual day off. Becky stayed out at a friends on Monday night, she never stays out on a Monday and Ellie has been all over the place. She even went to college on a day she didn't have to be there just to catch up with friends who were in for an exam. Even one of her teachers said she was crazy to be there when she didn't have to be. I am just embracing the chaos. Even today things are going to be out of whack with the girls taking Stu out for the day as an early treat for Father's Day. I wasn't invited as it's his treat. Hmmf. hehehe

I have got lots of little jobs done around the house this week. Just silly one's that I don't usually do like getting rid of the stains in the sink, mowing the grass out the front, pricing up some things for the garden for next year, cleaning the stair carpet, thinking about what the girls want for their birthdays, tidying and reorganising the cupboard under the stairs and moving some furniture about. Yesterday I spent the day with my dad doing some jobs with him. Lots involved being in his workshop, using tools which was fantastic fun for me and him too showing me what he was doing. It was lovely to have that time together. I've also found time to weed the back garden (it still needs mowing), keeping on top of the housework and getting Ellie to wash the dishes.

Ellie hates washing the dishes, if she can find a way to get out of it she will and sometimes flat out refuses even if it means time without the internet or not being able to go out with friends. She is so stubborn, she gets it from me. lol Anyway, now I've learned to use it to my advantage. I had spent a couple of hours out in the garden and just as I was thinking that I couldn't be bothered to wash the dishes she text to ask if she could stay out a little longer with friends so I said yes, as long as you wash the dishes when you get in. It worked like a treat, she was happy staying out with friends and I got out of washing the dishes. Win, win!

It feels like the start of summer here with Ellie winding things up at college until September so that means that Ellie has about 10 weeks of not having much to do but she has been applying for jobs. Any that she can find which sometimes I know won't work out. She applied for one 2 bus rides away and a 20 minute walk, it would take a couple of hours to get there and 2 hours back by the time she's waited for the buses and it doesn't seem worth it for 12 hours a week spread over three days. She would have been travelling the same amount of time she would be working. I am not discouraging her though, I am letting her apply for anything that she wants to and some of the jobs have surprised me. She is not a people person but has applied to shops in customer service roles, she has applied to places that she hates going and for evening work too. It is a shame that she isn't 18 yet as then she will have more options. She only has a couple of months to go but by then she will be back at college and has to be more choosy about jobs so they will fit around her time in college. I am just glad she is willing to work, she has finally realised I don't have a magic money tree growing in the back garden.

So my family are out enjoying themselves today and I have jobs to do. Washing to wash, dry and put away! I am going to change the bedding and if I feel like it give mine and Stu's bedroom a deep clean. 

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one! I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay for her Word of the Week linky!

What I have loved this week! Week 24. #FridayFavourites

Happy Friday! I hope you have all had a good week. I have, it seems like the rain has stopped for a little while and it's warmed up again! I am so happy with the temperature now. It has been around 24/25C all week which is about 75F which is hot enough for me. If it could stay like this all summer I would be grateful! I am of course linking up with Erika and Andrea to share the things that I have loved over this past week.

Embracing the chaos! 

My Word of the Week last week was Chaotic and this week hasn't been much different, my routine is all out of whack but I am just trying to go with the flow and embrace the end of the school year chaos and Stu and Becky working different days. It is really starting to feel like summer having Ellie home for some extra days and I am all for that!

An empty house!

I woke up on Tuesday to a completely empty house! Usually on a college day I would set an alarm and make sure Ellie is up and has breakfast but as she was only going to college to finish a few things off and could go anytime during the day there was no pressure. I didn't set my alarm and woke up naturally just before 8am. Ellie had already left and Becky had slept at her friends the night before. Usually at least one of the girls is at home so it felt so strange! Is this what it feels like to be an empty nester? I don't know if I like it but it was nice not to have to fight for the bathroom.

Gardening!

The grass at the front was getting out of control with all the rain we have had and it was wet every time we had chance to cut it so earlier on in the week when it hadn't rained I jumped at the chance to get the lawnmower out. I hate cutting the grass, watering plants and weeding yes but not mowing. Anyway I got it done and I was so proud of myself. Then later in the week I spent some time in the back garden doing some weeding. I keep saying it but it's a never ending job. It was nice to be out in the sunshine though.

A clean sink!

Obviously our kitchen sink gets cleaned more than once a day but it always seems stained but I made the effort during the week to get rid of the stains. All it took was a bit of bleach, I know I shouldn't use chemicals and there will be something better to use but I wanted a quick fix and it came up sparkling!

Father's Day!

The girls have plans for my fella over the weekend, in fact they're going to be keeping him busy all weekend! I love how they are taking charge about gifts and what they are treating him too and that I don't have to nag or encourage them. They're taking him out for the day doing things that they all enjoy and I think it's so sweet of them.

Birthday lists! 

The time has come for my girls to come up with what they want for their birthdays. My youngest is turning 18 and my eldest will be 23 in a just over a couple of months. I have started making lists of things that they might like. In fact I have two lists. One list filled with things that I need to run by them and a shorter list of things that I am getting them as a surprise. I do love this time of year, planning their birthdays.

What have you loved over the past week?

Parenting Teenagers: Things I thought I’d never say out loud but did!

Before I became a parent, I knew I’d say some strange things. I’d heard other mums shout "Get that out of your nose!" or "The cat does not want to wear a nappy!" and I assumed that phase would end with toddlerhood but how naive I was!

Parenting teenagers introduces you to a whole new world of bizarre sentences, things that leave your mouth before your brain can even catch up and often the moment you say them, you pause, blink and think did I really just say that out loud?

Here are some of my favourites. All real. All said out loud.

"Snapchat is not an excuse for being late."

“Oh, sorry, I had to finish my Snap streak.” Imagine explaining that your boss at work when you are late, apparently for my youngest it is a valid excuse for being late!

"Yes, I am listening. I’m just trying to Google what you just said."

The teen slang changes weekly. I once thought rizz was a new fizzy drink. It’s not and “drip” is apparently a compliment now.

"We do not microwave socks."

Yes, it happened!! Cold feet plus laziness apparently equals a singed pair of fluffy socks and a microwave that smelled of burnt polyester for a while. Lovely!

"No, you cannot revise while watching Netflix."

Multitasking has its place but revising for exams while half watching 22 seasons of Grey's Anatomy doesn’t exactly scream academic success.

"You cannot put your phone in the fridge just because it's ‘overheating."

Thinking about it now it was quite a clever solution and I did almost let her but thought better of it.

"How many chargers do you need? You’ve got more cables than NASA."

My girls buy them when they are out and about then come home and lose them, once in a while they'll tidy their bedrooms and find all the wires which ends with a huge pile in the cupboard which all end up getting tangled.

"You cannot live on cereal bars and iced coffee."

They have both tried it and one ended up being sick on the bus after a breakfast of a cereal bar and iced coffee.

"If it smells like feet, clean it or bin it."

Some of the things in my girls bedrooms stink! I refuse to deal with it, they are old enough to sort it themselves.

"No, you cannot wear pyjama bottoms to the shop"

I don't mind too much in the winter when it's dark out but not in the middle of the day when anyone could see. The shame!

"You don’t need a £40 pair of jeans with holes in them. That’s not fashion!"

If I had holes in my clothes I would be made to sew the holes up or throw the item out. Now it's t-shirts, hoodies and of course the ripped jeans!

"No, I’m not texting you from the next room. Come here."

My girls even text each other when they are in the same room, there is no hope.

"Please don’t call your sister/dad/grandad bruv."

I don’t care if everyone else does it. They are not your bruv!

"Yes, you still have to brush your hair, even if you’re not leaving the house."

My girls get extra lazy when we have a day at home.

"Socks with sliders, really?"

When I was younger socks were not to be seen but now my girls wear them with everything including sliders which I just can't get my head around.

Parenting teenagers is chaotic, unpredictable and wildly entertaining and I wouldn't change them for anything even when I do find myself saying the most ridiculous things!

What gems have you said to your little darlings lately?

This or That: June Edition!

June always feels like the warm up act for the summer’s big performance! The days are longer, the sandals are starting to make an appearance and there’s a constant debate about whether or the weather is OK for a BBQ. To celebrate the start of sunny season I’ve put together a little round of This or That questions perfect for getting into the summer spirit.

Hanging baskets or garden gnomes?

Ohh! I love both but think I would have to go for the gnomes, especially the fun, cheeky looking kind. I keep thinking about buying a few for the garden but my family keep talking me out of it.

Deckchair snooze or hammock nap?

A hammock nap for sure! I wish I had somewhere to hang one, I do love the idea of them. They seem so much more relaxing than sitting in a deckchair.

Watering plants or mowing the lawn?

Watering the plants, definitely! I hate mowing the lawn, that is my fellas job and mine is to deal with the plants and I do love watering them.

Making daisy chains or playing swingball?

It depends on how energetic I am feeling. I think I will go for making daisy chains. It reminds me of being a child and sitting on the school field at break time with my friends making them. My family for sure would choose swingball! It is such fun!

June rain or surprise heatwave?

I will take the rain for June as long as we get a little bit of heat in the following months.

Pimm’s in the garden or cider at the pub?

Cider at the pub, yes please! I am not a fan of Pimm's. I know it's a real summer thing but it isn't for me.

Strawberries & cream or scones with jam & cream?

Strawberries and cream! Especially when the tennis is on the TV, it's such a British thing eating strawberries and watching Wimbledon.

Day at the beach or picnic in the park?

I would love a day at the beach, it seems such a long time since we went to one. The nearest beach to us is either a bus and train ride or 3 buses away. We are determined to go during the summer though.

Paddling in the sea or rock pooling?

I like a paddle in the sea. Rock pooling makes me anxious, the rocks are always so slippy and the little critters hiding in the rocks scare me. My girls do love it though.

Seaside arcade fun or fairground rides?

A seaside arcade! I love the 2p machines and the grabber machines. Such fun! I am not a fan of fairground rides unless they are really slow one's.

Glastonbury on TV or a local festival?

I love watching Glastonbury on the TV, it is one of the highlights of my summer. A local festival is nice but they're always so expensive so it's staying home for me.

Garden centre mooch or car boot rummage?

I love a good rummage at a car boot sale. You never know what bargains you will find.

Caravan trip or camping in a tent?

Give me the comfort of a caravan any day! The idea of camping in a tent fills me with dread!

Flip-flops or comfy sandals?

Comfy sandals, I have never been able to find a comfortable pair of flip flops!

What would you answer for these questions?