BREAKTHROUGH

Last night was a first. I did not want to clean up my kitchen before I went to bed. Nick got home later than usual, and I was already in bed snuggled up and watching Pretty Little Liars on Hulu. I could have easily said "I'll just do it in the morning"...But, for once, I didn't do that! I actually got my butt out of bed, and spent 10 minutes cleaning my kitchen to make sure it would be done when I woke up (and yes, my sink was shining).

This is a BIG BIG BIG deal for me. I think I am finally establishing some routines and feeling like I want to have a clean house. I realize that it causes less stress for me to just spend the couple of minutes tidying up than it does putting it off. And, I could not be happier about this. I am slowly, but surely, on my way to an organized home free from chaos!

The Wonders of FLYLady

So, I have tasted the FLYLady kool-aid, and I am hooked. I have been trying to follow this routine for a week now, and I truly think that it is helping. This system is all about baby steps, and working on one new habit at a time until you build up your own personal routine. In addition to working on one thing at a time, she also developed the system to be done in short time spans...so my 30 minute clean is right on the money for the way I should be tackling my house.

FLYLady's first thing is that your sink should be shiny before you go to bed, everynight. At first I thought this wouldn't do much, it's just a sink. I was so wrong. When I cleaned my sink, it just moved into the other parts of the kitchen. I didn't want to put dishes in my shiny sink, so things began making their way to the dishwasher. It becomes something that you want to do, instead of something that you have to. And now, I have a clean kitchen and I am confident that I will be able to keep it that way.

Cleaning Support Group

Today, while looking through my facebook news feed, I came across a post from a friend about flylady. Now, my mom has been telling me about the wonders of this website for literally 10 years, and has tried to keep up with the "baby steps" that are listed on this site. Anyway, my friend posted to see who would be interested in a little cleaning accountability! Can I just say that I commented right away:) Even though I don't live anywhere near the people who will be doing this with me, I think this will help. I have been working on making changes and some of them have been working (ex. this morning I did a little 30-minute clean up that turned into about an hour clean up that tackled a part of my house I have been completely avoiding!).

In other news, my parents are pretty much moved out of our house now. My mom, like me, has lots of stuff. Much of it is useful and interesting, but probably doesn't get used or appreciated as much as it should! She did a big thing by taking much of it, but deciding that what was left in boxes in the basement for 10 years probably isn't that important! I wonder if I would be able to do that with things that I have in boxes that have been there for a few years? I am getting a few things from her (an over the sink shelf, a couple of antique school desks that I love, heirloom dressers from my Dad, and a box of my schoolwork from elementary school), but had to say no to things that I would have liked to have, but don't have a place for. And you know what, that's OK!