I don’t know what happened. This weekend things spiraled. Downward. I loafed around here in my pajamas working on my young women’s lesson, took care of basic hygiene and feeding of myself and family. Ran errands and ended up at the park on Saturday night. No where along the way did I even try to keep things picked up and the results are U.G.L.Y.
I have decided that I am going let you help me. Don’t you feel special? There is something in it for you too. I am taking you on a room by room tour of the messes (that isn’t your prize). I have shown you the before picture. I am not pre-picking up. You are going to get the real deal. Refrain from judging (Matthew 7:1-2). Your job today is to motivate me to keep digging. Send me your funniest, most uplifting, motivating thought, quote or nicety. Now a moment of clarification…while I am not embarrassed by the mess, I am embarrassed by the fact that my house is still not even close to decorated or personalized in any way, shape, or form. It will change. I am just waiting for my mojo to come to me.
Tomorrow night by midnight I will do a random draw and the winner will receive a $20 Target Gift card along with the same treat that I will treat myself with tonight when I have completed my clean. I don’t know what it is yet, but most likely (okay definitely), it will involve chocolate.
- Leave me your most uplifting, motivating comments throughout the day. Feel free to come out of hiding. I know you’re there and I would love to hear from you even if you are a complete stranger or a long lost friend or family member. Are there such things as strangers in blogdom?
- At my bedtime tonight I will do a random draw. I will post the winner and the after pictures tomorrow. Just send me an email with your address and I will get your gift card and chocolaty delight sent out ASAP. (nataliekidd@cox.net)
34 comments:
I don't know how I can uplift, except to say that your house is WAY decorated (and cute) and WAY not as messy as our messy days. So buck up, little camper!
my uplifting thought for you: i stayed up and watched the duggar wedding also (i know we are supposed to think they are weird but i think they're awesome) and my house, too, is a disaster! so my uplifting thought is, you're not alone! we can do this together. or maybe just you can and i'll keep reading blogs.
If you apply the same amount of time it took you to take pictures and post this blog, you will clean your whole house with 90% less cerebral faculty and only 20% more physical exertion required.
First of all, it was so nice to see you the other night at Enrichment....even if it was only for about 4 minutes!!! You are so brave for posting your messes-I am way to prideful to do such a thing, what does that say about me? The only uplifting thing I have to say to you is what I tell myself. Are the messes going to clean themselves up?-NO! I make a list of things that have to be done and then just pick 2-3 to do that day, and then justify not doing anything else by saying that I could either be a good maid, or a good mom and wife-not even husbands can argue with that one! So, pick 2-3 rooms to do a quick clean-up and then do your other non-motivated things the rest of the day! Good luck!
Okay...I turn on some AWESOME tunes, put cartoons on for my kids (I know, I'm terrible!), put my head down and go! I, actually, just got done cleaning Stocktin and Kade's room. HOLY COW! It was like your entire house in one small bedroom! YOU CAN DO IT!! Good luck! :o)
Seriously, if you think that's a mess, you need more children. I could humble you with pictures of my own house that I'm avoiding.
And un-decorated? Come on. And I completely forgot (until you mentioned your own dilemma) that I have yet to hang things on my walls since our remodel 2 years ago. Is that motivating?
I didn't think so. If I knew how to motivate you, I wouldn't be here commenting on your blog right now; I'd be motivating myself to get my own house picked up. Good luck, my friend: Monday's are hard.
BTW, been following your blog since Post ONE. Love your blog, don't love the effort it takes to post a comment. cuz i'm lazy like that.
JeffryG. Do I know you? Or did you Google "giveaway" and land on my blog? Thank you for your concern as to my cerebral faculty. I don’t really perceive using it, even if inefficiently, as a negative thing. Sometimes I think that I have this blog just to assure myself that I have any cerebral faculty left at all. After being home with kids all day, one starts to wonder. As for my physical exertion, were you talking about the part where I lifted my camera to my eye and used my index finger to push the button? That was pretty physical. Or were you talking about the physical exertion that it took to sit at my computer and type? Hmm…both are taxing indeed.
Sometimes for me, when I have a lot to do, I have to trick myself, I have to think in baby steps, one thing at a time, line upon line..."For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts...(2 Nephi 28:30)
I tell myself I'm just going to do one room or even only one thing in one room, depending on how hard of a day I'm having. But then, once I get started, I start getting in a groove and I don't want to stop and I feel so good from that one room or one thing getting done I am able to keep going.
And of course it really works great if you can lock all the kids out for a few hours so you don't get stopped (it's cool enough outside right?). Cause that messes with my groove. Just do like Jesika said and turn on some tunes, that way you don't hear them screaming MOOOOOMMMMMM from outside. (and no, for those of you who read this and don't know me I've never locked my children outside.......for too long! (Just Kidding)
Natalie, You are so funny (comments to Jeffrey), and so very brave for posting pictures of the "mess." I think I am still too proud to do that, but I'm working on not caring.
My inspiration: hmmm, I'm thinking really hard, but, if I had some, my house wouldn't look like it does. I did hear once that you should pick one thing in your house that, if clean, gives you a sense of peace, and if you can only clean that one thing, at least you'll keep your sanity. For me, that place is my laundry room, because that tends to be the collect-all room (it's where I throw everything, then shut the door, when someone is coming over). When it's clear, so I can actually do laundry, I feel like I can get anything done! It can be anything; the kitchen sink, a toilet, a drawer, a closet, your room etc.
If that doesn't work, try this. When my sister an I were little, we would run around our room cleaning, and singing "A Spoon Full Of Sugar" from Mary Poppins, pretending that all the toys and clothes were putting themselves away. It worked. Ive done it with Jacob a couple of times.
Wow I don't know if I can beat Kendra and Kims' inspirational ideas. How about I'll come help you clean up. I'm not kidding I'll do it, just say the word. I do feel partially responsible for you late night though. =)
i think it would take way more than 20% more physical exertion jeffery, whoever you are- not because your house is messy nat but because most men don't have a clue as to what it takes to run a household let alone keep it clean and organized. jahde says i have alot of time on my hands yep, no clue. you know i would help you if i was closer, maybe you should start a cleaning co-op. i don't think the kitchen looks so bad:)mines a total wreck.
Jeffry who? I'm sorry. Do you have children? Perhaps a wife? If you do...I feel sorry for them & your relationship will mostly likely not last long with that kind of advice.
So natalie...I'll reiterate my e-mail message. Carrotts...eggs...or coffee? LOL!
I think your house looks great by the way. I need to get my butt of the chair & get up and clean my own disaster as well. Good luck to us both! :-)
Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Is that inspirational? Or just a fabulous guilt trip?
I get it, you just want to do wife swap with me because you know that my house is perpetually clean right now and you are jealously trying to overcompensate for my cleanliness. RIGHT?
Let me come out to your house and lets go shopping with your money to decorate! (I need an outlet- but have no money)
Kisses!
ok, I'll come out of my self imposed blog moratorium for a giveaway!
I read in cookie magazine that just as our bodies are not the same after having kids, neither is a house. This made me feel better about my house (but not my body).
I also read somewhere that if your whole house is a mess, you should spend no more than ten minutes in each room. that won't help for spring cleaning though...
Ok...Nat...your house is amazing, even with a little clutter. I saw you shopping at Target on Saturday and you had it totally pulled together (like always)! You are an inspiration to me...in life, in church, in decoration...you're awesome. Here's my little bit of advice...Get your kids involved. My house was way worse than this on Saturday, you see, as I was shopping at Target..busy Target, my house was being transformed into something I just don't want to talk about. Anyway, as much as they don't want to help, if you make it into a game for them...like "let's see who can pick up the most stuff (and put away) in 5 minutes." or "Crayton, I bet you can't clean this area up as fast as Piper", give them a competitive edge. This always works for me. Especially if there is a reward involved (yes, I'm all about bribery if it gets my kids to help out). If this doesn't work, try the guilt factor...I brought you into this world...you get the idea. I hope this helps you out! You can come over and see my mess anytime and that will totally make you feel better. i hope you have a great day and I love ya!
WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT...REALLY!!! I WAS JUST TALKING TO A GAL AT CHURCH YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS VERY THING. SO, GUILT OR NO GUILT??? THE ONLY THING THAT EVER MOTIVATES ME IS TO SAY TO MYSELF... WOULD JESUS BE COMFORTABLE IF HE WERE HERE RIGHT NOW? IMAGINE WHAT HE COMES FROM AND WHERE HE IS RIGHT NOW, WHAT THE HEAVENS LOOK LIKE. THAT IS WHAT I WANT MY HOME TO BE LIKE ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES IT'S ENOUGH TO GET THE FIRE GOING...SOMETIMES I NEED MORE THAN WORDS TO MYSELF. IF YOU ASK HEAVENLY FATHER EVERY DAY FOR HIS HELP TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME IN THE DAY TO DO ALL YOU NEED TO IT CAN HAPPEN. THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU WON'T TIRE OF YOUR MOTHERLY CALLING, YOU WILL, BUT YOU JUST START ALL OVER AGAIN.
YOU DO A GREAT JOB AND YOU JUST NEED TO FIND YOUR NEW GROOVE.
OR, YOU CALL ME AND I'LL COME HELP CLEAN UP YOUR MESS!!! IT'S ALWAYS MORE FUN SOMEWHERE ELSE!
LOVE YOU
Is anything be more embarassing than me yelling out "I stick rolls under my armpits!!" at the exact time there was a lull in the conversation, at my first official YW's dinner w/ you fabulous leaders?
Nope.
Just think of me cutting locks of your hair and posting them on my blog to prove "I really do know the fabulous Natalie.....really...were like this (fingers crossed)." for every room that you don't clean.
That should get you running....
;)
so here are some words from Pres. Thomas S. Monson:
“Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important – and what is most important almost always involves the people around us…Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.”
His point was for us to find joy in the journey.
My journey includes 3 kids and a husband who still thinks that he is 16 and our house is often in shambles (your pictures DID not scare me BTW -- they were a comfort: ). So my defining moment was on Saturday when my daughter was invited to drive her race truck at the monster jam (A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR HER)-- she had to be there at 10am for a drivers meeting. She didn't race until 5:30 and again at 7:45. So what did her lunatic mother do, stayed home to mop the floors. As soon as they left I listened to my perfectly still house and cried, what have I done. Seriously, miss this fun opportunity to clean the house!? Regardless of the layer of muck that has been gathering in the kitchen since before Christmas (no pride there). It was a dark moment. I showered and left for the races. There was a lot of sitting and waiting and for my terrible behavior I even tripped and fell in front of 50,000 fans...But I was there to take pictures and see the interview on the big screen and buy her overpriced treats from the vendors and that my friend is worth far more than a clean house.
I am a lurker. I am a friend of Laura the Great and I had already checked your blog this morning (you are a great story teller) and this post was not out. She called me laughing and said read this. It's my life in your pictures : )
My mom gave me a magnet when I got married and moved out to my own home. It states - "Dull women have immaculate houses." I finally understood her constant muttering and Saturday morning antics that interfered with my cartoon viewing after a few weeks of taking care of the house, husband and myself, college classes and 40+ hours of work a week.
I remember just steeping over piles of stuff not even looking until I had a break from school. I would then don my favorite pink bandanna on my head, my yoga pants and a comfy sweatshirt and put my hair in pigtails - not sure why, but they made me feel spunky. My CD player would be loaded with some great classic rock like the Stones, CC&R, Crosby Stills & Nash and maybe a little Chicago. I picked a room and just dug in with visions of a sparkling perfect house to be delivered in a few hours.
Usually DJ came home to one or two really clean rooms, me soaking in a marathon of the Newlyweds or some other train wreck reality TV and I informed him that we would be eating pizza that night.
Now that I have Caden in the mix I have a whole new appreciation for mothers that have even one clean room. I have envisioned when he starts crawling affixing swiffer pads to his hands and knees before turning him lose. I figure I should teach him the fundamentals now so he will have a very appreciative wife someday =>
Good luck with your cleaning. I do know I always sleep better after the house is clean and really a good nights sleep is the best reward in the world!
when i read your blog, i can't help but feel like i'm reading my own blog, four children into the future. except your house is actually cute underneath all the clutter. mine is... an apartment. painted white. very white. anyway... here's how i have handled clutter since i was a kid. perhaps this will assist. BUT if i had to guess, you probably do this same thing... cause you're me, four children in the future. anyway, i tackle one room at a time. and i basically pile all the stuff that needs to be put away into one part of the room, and then i sort. i make piles according to location, and when i'm done sorting, the piles go where they need to go. usually 90% of it goes to the garbage. :) all that being said, i've realized that things need to have a place. it's hard to tidy things that have no where to go. so downsize or get organized. also, when you're done cleaning and everything is where it should go, take pictures (which i know you're already planning to do), so then when you're trying to motivate yourself, you can look back at the pictures and feel that feeling... that "awww... peace" feeling. and perhaps it will motivate you to make it happen. but keep in mind, this is coming from a "you" four children in the past... passed?... so i don't really know what i'm talking about. :) and decorating... heaven help us.
AND how could i not comment about a very duggar wedding?! am i the only one who watches that show with my hand over my gaping mouth the entire time? and please tell me i'm not the only good mormon girl who feels like a tramp after 30 minutes of the duggars. thank goodness for cousin amy who sports jeans and kisses boys. phew.
“I surely know that there is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood.
“There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be ‘full-time moms,’ at least during the most formative years of their children’s lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else.”
M Russel Ballard...
wow a lot of people like you when you have a give away :)
p.s. my house looks the same at times!!
Hi Natalie--
I always love your posts and your humor. Here is one of my favorite quotes: "A lazy mom is one who does everything herself." I think those pictures prove that you are anything BUT lazy and "spiraling" and instead that you are teaching your kids (and Ryan) a great lesson in that they need to pitch in and help out!!! I think you win the prize for allowing it to stay messy instead of cleaning. Way to go.
I called my friend Lisa Geiser and told her to check out your current blog. It was so funny. She is one of your blog stalkers, (because I talk about you all the time, and she loves your blog)
I really don't have any motivational advice to give you. I came home from teaching seminary and put a load of laundry in the wash, wrote 4 letters, my visiting teacher came. Then I took a 3 hour nap. This was not my plan but Seminary wipes me out. I think my best sleeping time is from 4:00 am to 6:00 am and since I get up at 4:15 to get to ready and to the building by 5:30 set up. I miss my good sleeping time. I feel badly when I accomplish so little during the day. I think, my husband is working and I just took a 3 hour nap. I did finally get all the laundry done, a Seminary lesson prepared for the next day and went grocery shopping and a little cleaning. My saving grace is that my children are older and they help some.
All I know is that we both married amazing men and they know we work hard and do our best, and if they are happy that is all that matters.
My motivation goes in spurts. It depends on the day. Today when I got home from teaching Seminary, I hurried up and did a load of laundry, wrote 4 letters, cleand the front room (because my visiting teacher was coming) and received my visiting teachers. Then I took a 3 hour nap. Seminary wipes me out. I feel bad about napping (I usually only take an hour nap) but I think my best sleep is during 4:00 am to 6:00 and I get up at 4:15 to get ready for Seminary. I feel guilty when I nap because I know my husband is working hard.
All I know is that we both married amazing men who love us and know that we do our best. I am thankful for that.
Thank you so much for posting what you call a mess. It makes me feel more normal. Because I honestly feel like I have the worst messiest house, and I hope no one comes over unexpectedly. I almost NEVER have motivation to clean unless I am going to have company....or unless I get mad at my husband. Don't ask me why, but when I am mad I just clean. So try that...sorry Ryan. Whatever it takes right?
Just call Mariella, and call it a day. Keep taking your kids to the park and enjoying all their funniness. You will never remember the clutter when you are older, but will cherish every seemingly insignificant memory of your yummy babies. And staying up late and watching movies is one of lifes greatest pleasures. Because it is naughty. And when you aren't allowed to do REAL naughty things you have to settle for things like not going to bed early. Although it sounds like you have the getting up early down. Just not by choice. ha.
oh yah, and I see that you got your book cases. They look great! Do you love them? and the striped chair looks fabulous. I don't think you should recover it. You should see the green one I just got! so cool. Sorry, didn't get two this time.
Natalie
As your ex- young women's leader, old friend and mother of four including twin boys I feel I do have experience in the matter. Is this not normal for a family with small children? I ask you.
when questioning my own grown up children what they remeber it was the cookies warm from the oven when they got home from school. Not the kitchen being sparkling clean. Going to the park to play and brwon baggin it. Having sleep overs with friends and grandparent and cousins. Not if the laundry was clean and folded and put away. Playing trucks or barbies on the bedroom floor, playing in my make-up. They are not going to remember how well the house was kept. Just that you took care of them and made them happy. They will remember you making them do their homework and practicing piano and taking them to dance lessons. The house isn't really the important thing here. When I look at the pictures of your house I know what a great mom you are. I dont' see the mess. Life is short the kids will be gone and your house will be so clean. Then you will yearn for the mess of the clothes on the floor, dishes on the counter and toys on the floor. I know that is what I do. As Pres. Monson said, "Enjoy the Journey" If it drives you crazy play games with the kids to get them to help, sing songs while you clean. Put on great music you like and dance around the room as you pick up. Make a list of what you want done the night before. As long as you just cross of a couple of thouse things you will feel content in the things you are striving to accomplish. You are an awesome person, mother and wife. Don't sell yourself to short. The house will always wait. So what! You know I luv ya.
Wendy Wonderful Anderson
Hey, you guys got a new couch!!!
Natalie, it looks like you have gotten lots of good advice and lots of really inspirational inspiration..... all that I might be able to add is the number of a really good cleaning lady! Lol....
I'm coming out of hiding. I'm not sure if you even remember me. Your mom was my young women's leader for a while. I think you were in the ward with us, but maybe you had moved out already. My maiden name is Stacie Roberts. Anyways, I occasionally click on your blog from Katie Roberts' and I find it so fascinating! You are a great writer and so down to earth. I love it.
Ok- so my motivation: Set your timer for 20 minutes. Go as fast as you can. Carry around some different grocery bags to put items that don't belong in that room in- so you can put them in the proper place later. You'll be amazed how much you can PICK UP in 20 minutes. And hey, if you can even turn on some groovy music and get your kids involved. You are brave to post that, but I still love all your furniture and such. I am not looking forward to keeping a house clean with even 2 kids (I have one now)! You're awesome.
Stacie
stacieaho@gmail.com
Since I just spent the last who knows how long reading all of your comments. A first for me really, I promise. Reading all of your comments that is, not your blog. Because I read that often. I usually click on it from Denise M. I haven't added you on mine yet, because would that be weird? But I have decided since I was Pipers favorite CTR 7 teacher. I can offically add you, and it wouldn't be totally weird. At least not any weirder then me going from Denises blog to yours. Anyways, like I started out saying. Since I just spent the last who knows how long reading all of your comments, and now rambling on. I obviously have nothing inspirational to motivate you with. Since I certainly am not motivated to clean my house at this exact point in time. Don't get me wrong it gets clean. Usually in shifts. Which I have now dubbed the downstairs & upstairs shift. It usually goes something like this (as if the name wasn't self explanatory). For one week (about) I will focus on the downstairs while the upstairs remains in shambles. Then the next week I focus on the upstairs. . . you get the point. Sometimes when I am feeling nice I will ask my husband which shift he would perfer. He really doesn't care to be honest. But it makes me feel better that I at least asked. Now since this give away was based on something motivational, and not who could ramble on the longest, and since it is a day past the drawing. I assume I will not be in the running for the prize. But I will dream about that chocolate. I will. I really will.
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