Housework rules? I think not!

Today is Saturday!

Anyone who grew up in Utah has an annoying little song

brainwashed into their heads...

"Saturday is a special day"...

I think it was originally written to teach a "keep the

Sabbath day holy" message, but has taken on a larger idea...

"a mass plot to get slave labor

out of offspring".

It worked when I was young and I am

trying to indoctrinate my own children with the

dogma that on Saturday we have to clean.

Some Saturdays are busy... Most, in fact.

So sometimes we go to ballgames or do something fun

instead of conquering the boring household chores.

Besides.. they are always here waiting... growing!

I am not a pig... and I married someone who is

VERY fastidious and clean.

So when I say my house is dirty.. I am not really ready to sign up for the show "Hoarders"... I just need to spruce up a little

and declutter a bit!

Today I woke up early and got my cleaning skank top on,

some ghetto capris and my tennis shoes...

My working uniform!

I washed bedding and cleaned my bathrooms...

Even my bedrooms, kitchen and great room

are cleaned dusted and vacuumed!

I kept thinking there has got to be a better way.

Maybe a little maintenance?

I remember this little website called the flylady

that I investigated at one time.

She has some fantastic ideas to keep up on

housework so it is not a

Saturday slave camp environment.

I am going to check her out and take some of her

ideas to heart!

One of her little acronyms is CHAOS

(Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)

I love to entertain... and lately I have been unable

host any parties or even have a

friendly bar-b-que due to the fact that my

house has been a little neglected.

That all ends today!

She has clever little tips...

the 27 fling boogie, hotspots,

swish and swipe and shine the sink.

She is really quite a house work genius.

So... until I develop a serious case of

housecleaning OCD or I make a million dollars to hire

my own version of "Alice"...

I am going to stick with the Fly lady and

get my house under control.

No more CHAOS!

Check that NASTY project off the list!

Put a great big check mark on that nasty pantry cleaning job! I got it done!
I have decided I am kindof a PIG! I can't believe I allowed my pantry to get soooo bad! I know that all three of you that read this are thinking..."more junk on the stupid pantry?... Why me and I wonder what is posted on Seriously So Blessed today?" Don't switch just yet... I have got to come clean about what has been haunting me for months... yes I said months. I knew I needed to get this bad boy in shape, but the thought just made me want to scream. I decided that today was the day... I posted it on my blog so I had to get results... that was good peer pressure. Being the blogger I try to be... I even took photos and I must say I am quite embarrassed about what you are about to see. I really am not such a slacker..but here goes. The photos on the left side of the cube are before and the done deal is right next to it on the right. I even tried to get the same angle on the before and after shot. See my shame! I must also say that it took me ALL day to get this monster under control. Moral of my story? Either hire someone really good to clean and organize ( even if a kidney has to be sold to pay for it) or be a little more on top of things that need to be done. Well I am off to check off another thing on my list...party it up with my mom and sister-in-law, Mindy. We are going to shop, and laugh, and go to lunch, and have a ball... Just trying to do what I set my mind up to do! Aprons to be made Thursday...they are going to be so cute... I'll take pics!

I've got BIG plans!

Okay.. so today is Tuesday, but it feels like Monday, and I have got big plans! Last week was the first week of school so I indulged in a little bit of "me" time. Well I have danced all night now I need to pay the fiddler... I have got things to do. I know that one difference between successful people and... well those that don't quite get their crap done (me) is the ability to write their goals down. I am trying to take a page out of Tanja's book and make a list, but most importantly stick to it and check the items off my list. I figure if I actaully write it out loud then I might be held accountable for it. SO- here it is... MY LIST...

(This was a handy little thing from superstickies... Kindof a fun idea I got from Kami)

Here is the run-down...I have got to make a few aprons... 1 for an apron swap I entered online from Apronista, 1 for a bridal shower, and 1 for Halloween ( a gift to send early). I have GOT to organize my pantry... it is a disaster... and then the third thing on the list is Party with VIV- Yes Viv is coming to town and we are going to have a ball. So I have got to organize my time so I work smart, not hard. I have got a lot to do before the party queen hits town this-afternoon. I will post some photos of my progress. I am trying to get my crap together and be a disciplined adult. We'll see how long that lasts.

How to be a good wife...

So... I went to Dear Lizzie for Tonia's b-day shopabration and had such a great time... blah...blah...blah... old news! While I was there I bought the greatest t-shirt. It has a retro housewife on it ( you all know I love the 50's type housewife...wearing an apron, of course!) and the word HOUSEWIFE bedazzled with pink rhinestones.Love it! The best part is that it has this little quote from a 1954 Home Ec. book on the back of the shirt. I loved it when I saw it and had to get it. I have read this before and it totally cracks me up. As I was reading it this time... I realized that I strive to do many of the things that are listed below. I don't really love the tone, for it is a little condescending to the "little woman" but on the whole... I like my job as a "housemom" and try to take pride in being a good homemaker.When I was first married I was riding to Las Vegas with my mom, Viv. She gave me the whole talk about... " when your man comes home, you need to have some food on the table, and the house needs to be clean" and I bought it. Later I listened to Dr. Laura's book "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands" and got the idea that as long as you cook food, keep a fairly clean house, and give "IT" up once and a while you can have anything you want from your man. I tend to believe it. Now... don't think that all I do is clean, and cook, and clean some more! Any of my friends will tell you that I can play with the best of them all morning and early afternoon... but, about 3:00 in the afternoon I get nervous to get home and start "backpedaling" or making it appear that I have been slaving away all day. There is a blog out there WWMD ( What would Martha Do) that makes no bones about being a homemaker and LOVING it. I am going to again holler something from the rafters...take a stand! I am going to say it loud and say it proud... I LOVE TO COOK, DECORATE MY HOUSE, HAVE A CLEAN HOUSE ( notice I didn't say clean my house... I hate that... I just like the after effect), BE CRAFTY, AND BE DOMESTIC. I would like to be Martha Stewart! I am not always perfect... and neither is my house or my menu, but today I am going to strive to think.. "What Would Martha Do" and then DO IT! That is my soap box message for this day... Now... I am going to go tie one on ( whether an apron or something else... you'll never know) and get my work done...unless someone calls to go to lunch and then I will "backpedal" my work done later!

HOW TO BE A GOOD WIFE
Home Economics High School Text Book, 1954


Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal, on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the home just before your husband arrives, gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad he is home.

Some don'ts: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.

The Goal: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

Back to Reality!

After reading my own blog... it sounds a bit pretentious. "This is how rad I am and this is how hard I can party... blah...blah...blah" - Do I live in a crazy state called Utah? I do like to have fun, but I am not as "jet setting" as I sound. The last week has been pretty crazy on the constant party meter...but, I just need to let you all know that yesterday I didn't go anywhere ( besides to the Chevron to get a Diet Pepsi - and I drank it from a regular cup). I am back to the daily grind of being a housemom. The party is unfortunately over for a minute or two and real life is banging on my door. Like I said, fun is a HUGE need in my life and I don't have anything planned as of right now... so if any of you want to party on...just let me know. I am always good to go! until then, I will be the one without make-up buried under a pile o' laundry.