Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Housekeeping Diva

This is what I have decided to be. While watching my girlfriend's kids last night, I picked up this book of hers:
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
I am totally inspired! I don't consider myself a 'bad' housekeeper, but I'm not great at it, that's for sure. I know I used to be, when we lived in tiny apartments and I had nothing better to do. But now I live in a house that is easily 3x the size of our apartments and have 2 children and a dog and a cat and playgroup and school obligations and more laundry than I ever dreamed possible. And I'm just NOT organized.

The thing is, I crave organization, but this little part of me is afraid to do it, because I'm afraid people will think I'm 'uptight' or that I think my home is better than theirs. This is a totally new revelation to me. When I start spending time with someone who keeps a messy home, my own home and my own routines get sloppier. I want to be on the same level as everyone else... but sometimes that means compromising what is my true nature. And well, that can't be right.

So I was at my new friend Stacy's house yesterday, and she is very organized. Not a neat freak, not a cleaning nut, but very organized. She had color-coded keys in her cabinet, cups and bowls and plates perfectly stacked and arranged, scrapbook albums chronologically arranged, a calender on her fridge filled with all her dates and appointments clearly labeled.

I am impressed.

And she doesn't brag about it, nor seem embaressed or apologetic about it. She just IS what she IS and it makes her comfortable.

THAT is what I want to be like.

So I decided last night that I LOVE a lot of the ideas in that book, and I'm already very familier with the Flylady philosophy (and keep up with a lot of my routines) and I want to improve my home. I don't want John to have to dig through the dryer 3 mornings in a row looking for clean t-shirts, or start wandering around the kitchen at 5:30 because I don't know what to feed my family or realize that the dustpan has been gone for 2 weeks and I never even realized it was missing.

Of course Johnny woke up puking last night, and Eden has diarrhea this morning and it feels as though the forces are against me. I am still going to start working at it!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh Val, I hear ya sister! I'm not very organized, but I think my case has more to do with my DH! LOL! Can't wait to see how it turns out- be sure to pass on a few pointers when you come across them!!

Angela said...

Ugh...never fails, does it? Good luck with the organizing. When you're done with your house, come on over and get my office done! :)

Stephanie said...

I don't find anything uptight about a place with good vibes that's organized and refreshing. I actually CAN'T do homework in my house if the clutter isn't at least organized. (If I don't have time to do both, I go work at the cafe.)

I should probably post a blog about my organization endeavors and how badly I've been slipping. It could be very encouraging. Love you, Val xoxo

Lynds said...

Good luck with organizing! I will have to see if we have the book in the area to browse through. I can so relate to the "used to clean when it was an apartment, life was simpler" kind of idea...

Anonymous said...

You can do it! I recommend starting with a small change and you will be surprise how that will inspire you to make other changes and it won't even feel like a challenge anymore! :)

Rachael said...

Hey, be sure to post what you think about the book! I am interested in developing a little OCD when it comes to cleaning myself. I NEED it, LOL :)

Anonymous said...

Hey! I just started a little something of my own, sorta FLYLady-ish, but for my own house. Hope you get to sit down and decide a few things. It really de-stresses your life when you get up in the morning and just have to look or remember what day it is to know what needs to be done. I find it liberates me from having to make endless lists all the time and then get upset at the end of the week because nothing gone done completly ;)

Phew, long winded! That book sounds interesting, I'll try and find it myself :)

Angie said...

Ok I think you have inspired me, I just maky have togo on a mission for that book myself. Ive been working on imporving my housework routine as well. I used to keep a very neat and tidy house, before school, dance, t-ball, growing business. I get frusterated with myself sometimes wondering what happened, and why isnt my house cleand like it used to be. I guess its good to write it down and know we are not alone.....