The Dying Art of Keeping House

I recently discovered a friend of mine has this fabulous blog,

The Dying Art of Keeping House!
I can't help but smile while reading her posts, I even enjoy going through her archives to see what I missed or what new and wonderful things I can learn. Who thinks of putting their olive oil in a spray bottle? Not me, but Melanie! What a great idea! I don't usually take the time to browse archives but I can't help myself. I've learned about laundry, clever and FREE ways to wrap gifts, and even awesome ways to streamline breakfast! I have much to learn!

Random note to Melanie: I remember one time as a child sitting in your room on your day bed asking you questions about your hope chest and what was inside. I remember you taking the time to show me some of your special things and explaining to me what having a hope chest means. Thank you for that. I remember your violin and listening to you practice, and how much I enjoyed it. I remember your love for Bryan Adams. Funny the things that we remember.

Melanie writes with eloquence, I feel inspired to improve, simplify and reassess the way I run my household. A post this week was specifically inspiring to me, Simplify. Simplify. I've decided to follow Melanie's lead and make a list of ten goals according to her suggestion in order to simplify my life. (Some I have already started.)

1. Find your passion and follow it: Birth. Birth is my passion. I must stop ignoring the universal pull at my soul to become a Midwife and just do it. So, I start school on January 11th. I've also started learning to sew, you should see Melanie's sewing room even a novice like myself can appreciate this room.

2. Do something physical every day: I have been exercising with my children every day in order to loose weight. Let's face it, being thin is simple. It's easier to find cute clothes, why do designers think that fat people want to wear horizontal stripes? You don't have to worry about whether you can run fast enough to catch your toddler before he runs into the street. You can fit in amusement park rides. Your six year old won't ask you if "you have a baby in there?"

3. Sit down to eat your meals: I have to admit that sometimes I stand at the counter and eat while everyone else sits at the table. I will make a commitment to sitting down to eat for at least two meals a day.

4. Read: Reading is something I truly enjoy but need to do more of. I read aloud to the kids everyday but need to find more books that I will enjoy for myself. Some ladies at church belong to a book club. So I think I'll join and maybe make some new friends along with reading some great books.

5. Write things down: I'll buy a note book on Monday. I really do forget things I'd like to remember sometimes.

6. Let go of “stuff.”: I'm going to go through all my clothes and if I haven't worn it in a year it's outta here!

7. Let go of at least one commitment: Hmm, Wow this one is tough. As a mother I have the unspoken commitment to clean up everything gross that happens in the household without loosing my lunch. While everyone runs from the scene dry heaving Mom pulls on the gloves and cleans up with a stomach of steel. I'm sure every Mom is familiar with the up the back down the legs stinky pants, vomit, dog poop shoe, goopy noses, toddler toilet, hot wheel in the toilet (yes I have pulled the entire commode off the floor to pull out a car), bathroom floors, tub drains, pee in the heater vent, and an entire jar of Vic.ks vapo.rub used as body and hair lotion. Yes the last two things have happened to me while being a foster parent! Ok, so I can't get out of any of these commitments so I have to think of something else....

8. Let go of at least one emotional attachment: Attachment to outcome, I could have used this epiphany long ago! I need to relax and accept that things don't always turn out as planned in my head. For example, loading the dish washer. If someone loads it randomly with dishes and glasses on both racks uneven with the silverware all a mess I re-do it! Really? Won't the dishes get clean regardless of how they go in as long as they are rinsed properly? I will let this go. If the dishwasher is UN-organized I will leave it alone and turn it on.

9. Turn off the technology: Okay. I love my blog and reading others, I like seeing what my friends are up to on fa.cebo.ok., I'm not much of a TV or phone junkie but I'm sure I could limit myself more than I do. So I will.

11. Ask for help: Help! :) I will ask my children to HELP clean up their toys rather than just doing it myself just because I don't want to hear them whine. I am doing them a disservice by doing it for them.

12. Reduce debt and spending: I will set up a weekly spending allowance for fun and entertainment so we don't over spend in this area.

Melanie thank you for your blog. You are inspiring! For this I am grateful.

I would like to present you with the:

Feelin' The Love