SANITY SAVER: Keeping it Clean

One of the more challenging things that comes with Motherhood is keeping the house clean.  Not just clean.  Tidy.  It seems that while I'm organizing and beautifying one part of my home, my kids are busy emptying a drawer somewhere else.  How frustrating!  It is easier to give up than clean up some days.  But don't despair!

On days when you lack any motivation to clean and just allow yourself to exist with the clutter, try this tip to re-energize, encourage and inspire you.

SANITY SAVER tip:  Make it beautiful!

1. Look around your house or just think of the area you dislike.  The area you always shut behind a door, a cabinet or in a drawer.  For me this was my pantry.  It was always a mess of loose pasta, ugly cans and plastic bags of beans.

2. Google the name of your space and add "beautiful" to the beginning to find inspirational pictures on how to beautify your "ugly space".  Or search your favorite magazines.  Or quiz your friends about how they tackle their "ugly spaces".  You can create a collage, a list or just a mental image of what you want your space to look like.  Remember to be realistic.  Take into account your household budget, time and the space available in your house.

3.  Make it happen!  If you're like me you don't have an entire afternoon free to work on a project but little by little you can make an impact.  Remember to shop the dollar store, thrift stores and garage sales to find items you need.  This can save alot!

4.  Once your space is beautiful it will be much easier to keep it clean.  You'll want it to always look beautiful so will find yourself making the extra effort.  I also find myself making extra rules for the kids and hubby to keep my space beautiful.

I'm still in the process, but I am beautifying my pantry.  It was my "ugly space".  Instead of instituting rules, I've put a child-proof lock on.  I didn't like the kids moving around the canned goods.  I had left it unlocked because "experts" say to leave one cupboard available for your kids to play in.  To be honest I was always afraid one of them was going to drop a can on their toe and we'd have to make a trip to the hospital.  Now that my space is beautiful it's an excuse to give me peace of mind.  A real SANITY SAVER!

Which space is your "ugly space"?

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