Continuing the loveliness theme, I thought I would post a little list I compiled recently of the top five housekeeping lessons I learned last year. I know it's only January but the spring cleaning bug seems to have hit me early this year. Putting your home on the market will do that to you, I suppose.
1) Always start with the bigger jobs. I find that if I insist upon getting my daily chores (vacuuming, bathrooms, etc.) done before tackling the more involved ones (shampooing the carpet, organizing the closet, etc.), the latter will never get done. They will just stay on my to-do list day after day after day so I started tackling the larger jobs first. There aren’t usually too many of them and it feels so good to cross them off my list. As an added bonus, I’m usually on such a high after completing one of these tasks that I’m inspired to tackle the smaller ones, too.
2) I always add at least one touch of beauty to my home each day. I make sure that in addition to tidying that I create something lovely each day. I will put out flowers, bake a pie, throw a soft, beautiful blanket over the corner of a chair, something. It doesn’t have to be labor intensive or time consuming but I am committed to feathering my nest a little each day. It’s fun, it keeps me inspired and makes housekeeping a joy.
3) Keep the end goal in mind. Just as we are encouraged to keep our eyes on heaven I find it helps me to keep in mind what I want my domestic church to look and feel like. I try to focus on those things that I am working towards even as I am scrubbing bathrooms. It’s amazing but keeping a picture in my head of where I want to end up makes even the drudgery a pleasure.
4) Magazines!!! Cottage Living! Domino! House Beautiful! I’m an addict. I really can’t get enough. I encouraged Mr. Beguiles to work my magazines into the budget because “they make me a better wife!” How’s that for manipulative? They really do inspire me though. I’m not terribly disciplined so I lean heavily on inspiration and it truly goes a long way. (I have a few favorite blogs that are always good for an inspirational nudge, too.)
5) Aprons. For those days when all I feel like doing is laying on the couch and eating bon bons I find a good apron always helps. I consider it a healthy form of role playing. I have the most adorable vintage-inspired apron with red cherries on it that conquers my tendency towards sloth every time. I slip it on and am immediately transformed into Housewife of the Year, 1950.
2) I always add at least one touch of beauty to my home each day. I make sure that in addition to tidying that I create something lovely each day. I will put out flowers, bake a pie, throw a soft, beautiful blanket over the corner of a chair, something. It doesn’t have to be labor intensive or time consuming but I am committed to feathering my nest a little each day. It’s fun, it keeps me inspired and makes housekeeping a joy.
3) Keep the end goal in mind. Just as we are encouraged to keep our eyes on heaven I find it helps me to keep in mind what I want my domestic church to look and feel like. I try to focus on those things that I am working towards even as I am scrubbing bathrooms. It’s amazing but keeping a picture in my head of where I want to end up makes even the drudgery a pleasure.
4) Magazines!!! Cottage Living! Domino! House Beautiful! I’m an addict. I really can’t get enough. I encouraged Mr. Beguiles to work my magazines into the budget because “they make me a better wife!” How’s that for manipulative? They really do inspire me though. I’m not terribly disciplined so I lean heavily on inspiration and it truly goes a long way. (I have a few favorite blogs that are always good for an inspirational nudge, too.)
5) Aprons. For those days when all I feel like doing is laying on the couch and eating bon bons I find a good apron always helps. I consider it a healthy form of role playing. I have the most adorable vintage-inspired apron with red cherries on it that conquers my tendency towards sloth every time. I slip it on and am immediately transformed into Housewife of the Year, 1950.
So, what is your best housekeeping secret? I'm dying to know! ;)
7 comments:
I wear an apron, too, most days. It does help to keep me going. That, and wearing shoes.
I really like your ways of justifying buying magazines. I'll have to try that one. :)
I so badly need to follow your advice for #1. I have so many big projects that I NEVER get to because I'm always doing the day to day stuff. Gonna try that!
I'm not sure I have any housekeeping secrets, but I want to make sure--you DO buy your magazine subscriptions online, right?
I have ordered Traditional Home ($8/2 years on Ebay), Veranda ($5 for 1 yr from Hearst.com), etc.
There is something satisfying about ripping the keeper pages out that a blog screen just doesn't give me.
My best tip: Clean the living room (our main public area) before dinner. This is a huge quality of life improvement for me, since after dinner I want to be able to relax, talk with the dh (if he's around), read, listen to music, etc.
My second best tip: have the children do the cleaning. They have far more energy than they know what to do with. My seven-year-old is currently cleaning. (The nine-year-old boy carries laundry from the second floor to the basement)
One last tip: a glass of wine over the dinner hour.
My apron has the same effect on me, and you're SO RIGHT about tackling the big projects first (why haven't I put that in words yet--THANK YOU!).
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