Sweeping it under the rug!!

I am in cleaning mode again. I have a certain visitor coming and certain visitors make me look at my home and its state of cleanliness with a rather large magnifying glass. Who is this visitor??Well, although you might be thinking it's my mother or mother-in-law (whose trips also get me dusting baseboards and cleaning out my fridge), it is not. My rather discerning visitor is my much loved, eldest brother...and his sweet family.

...aren't they a handsome bunch??

My sister-in-law is one lucky woman. Now, I am definitely not saying my brother is perfect, no sirree...but he is definitely a bit of a neatnik. In fact, both he and I inherited this disorder (and yes, it really is a disorder) from our ever-tidying mother. We both despise mess, and crumbs under our feet send us lunging for a broom. In fact, my brother is the only male who willingly helps tidy up after big family meals, while all the other "lay-about" brothers and husbands skulk into the living room to rest, burp, and engage in "man-talk". Oh, they're a crafty bunch, that crew. But that's a whole other story...

So as not to come across as messy or cluttered, I have been dusting, vacuuming, washing duvets, shower curtains, and the like...all for my tidy, astute brother. Oh, and I would be remiss to not mention that my sister-in-law is also a very tidy girl, herself! In fact, I think that when they leave, my house is tidier than when they arrived!!

Thus, tomorrow will find me washing my slipcovers, mowing the lawn, and cleaning out my fridge (because one of my children must have tipped over a jar of beets and not told me...lovely!!). Of course, they are all chores that need doing; and I secretly enjoy the kick in the pants that visitors unknowingly give me to get done what needs doing! Who knows, maybe my beloved brother's good habits will somehow rub off on my husband and make him even a tiny bit more tidy. A girl can dream...!!

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Oh, and I figure I need to add the following disclaimer: I have three other brothers who I also adore and who have many wonderful attributes...but tidy, they are not!!

This photo shows my brothers many moons ago...They were a muscular crew!!

photo: courtesy of my sister

Sophie's room revisited...

I wish someone had told me that little girls come with so many accessories. If I had known the full story, I would have given her the master bedroom!!! Honestly, our little girl is a collector of anything and everything. A magpie of sorts, she likes all things shiny, sparkly, and glittery, and scoops them up to feather her little nest. She has more treasures than drawers to put them in, and things finally came to a disorganized head following Christmas.

This treasure was hand-picked by me at Pottery Barn Kids...had to have it!!!

While Sophie has the largest bedroom of our children, it still is not large by any measure, especially since it has to double as her playroom. However, it should be plenty big to house one little girl and her toys...the problem is, Sophie is drawn to so much. She is a true girl through and through (as am I) and she loves baby dolls, Barbies, Polly pockets, Littlest Pet Shop, Strawberry Shortcake...you name it!! Every doll is like her child and she has attached a sentimental value to each one: there is "sleeping baby", Baby Alive, Amazing Amanda, Canadian Girls (our version of American Girls), "Fat baby" (don't ask...), and even tiny babies that she remembers tucking into her car seat as a little toddler.


I made it my New Year's mission to get things under control in her bedroom, and do so in a pretty way. I am tired of buying storage containers that simply add to the visual clutter in her room, despite containing all the little "pieces of her life". Sticking to my guns, we purged what she could bear to part with (and donated it all) and I decided on the perfect (affordable) storage solution: (from Ikea)

...except I got it in white...with pink and white bins:



Here is a close-up: Sophie and I made labels using pretty scrapbook punch-outs and now she knows where everything should go...we'll see how that goes...







The proof is in the pudding:


Sophie (age 2 and 1/2)on her potty...expecting showers, no less..with some of her "treasures" scattered around her and Sophie (age two) "nursing" her baby (stuffed animal in this case).

Into the dungeon I go...

I hate dealing with my basement storage area. I feel extra pressure because home organization is one of the services I provide and my basement and garage are like my dirty little secrets right now. I don't, however, accept any blame in this matter. I organize and re-organize both spaces each season and it makes very little difference. The problem is my otherwise great husband. He is messy, messy, messy. He can make a whirlwind out of order within 24 hrs. Unfortunately, he seems to have passed on this trait to our youngest son! I pack up the Halloween decorations and my youngest two decide to have a haunted house in mid-July! Out come the carefully packed costumes. Hockey season sees my hubby's hockey gear strewn all around the basement floor precisely blocking my easy access to the Christmas decorations.

The garage is a sore spot for me right now, too. I am awaiting additional shelving to be made by my handy-man husband, but alas, he wants me to go through any and every rubbermaid container to see if I can get rid of any of my "junk" (which always means decorative stuff). Meanwhile, he drops his tools as he goes and doesn't see anything wrong with having six sawhorses lying around waiting for building projects to be started... if he could only get to the tablesaw that he surrounded with outgoing recyclables.

I know the rules and techniques to bringing order to chaotic spaces. I am very good at it! I can whip a cluttered space into shape in no time flat. Initially resistant clients end up being able to anticipate what should stay or go and do so willingly after getting through just half a room with me. They are thrilled with the results and vow to keep it organized forever more. However, herein lies the problem in my own household: my family realize I am always striving for the order I can so easily create for my clients. They know I will become the taskmaster because it will drive me to the brink of despair to wait for them to keep the order. I realize that I am my own worst enemy!!

Despite all this desire to be organized in every facet of my home, I take to heart the words of Cobi Ladner, editor of House and Home magazine, in last month's issue. In her editorial piece she wrote of the temptation to organize her own garage using expensive storage systems, pretty the garage up so it will be a space to enjoy being in, and know where exactly every lawn implement and skipping rope is at first glance. She said that by doing all this we are essentially expanding the spaces that we now have to keep clean and tidy. Don't we have enough to do? I am in almost total agreement with her...I will forge ahead with my plan for wall storage for all those storage bins, hang bike racks and sport bins, and then close the door behind me and hope I don't trip over those tools that have fallen where they may...