Once upon a time, when I was working 60+ hours a week in the Corporate World, I always somehow managed to keep my house or apartment spotlessly clean. It was second nature, making sure things were put away. Possibly bordering on OCD with everything having a place and everything in its place.
Fast forward to when Princess Nagger was born and deciding to leave the Corporate World to stay home with her, I still kept the house neat and tidy. It was a bit more of a challenge, particularly with the hubby being prone to leaving things lying around willy nilly, and Princess Nagger’s toys growing with each passing holiday and birthday.
She inherited the propensity to leave things laying about from her Dada. But since I wasn’t ensconced in multiple hours of working away from home, I rolled with it, and things were mostly always in their place.
As Princess Nagger grew out of babyhood into the toddler stages, the number of toys continued to grow, as did the mess. She has inherited the pack-rat mode from me, unwilling to part with things because she may want or need them “some day”.
I had a dream that when she started school, I’d have plenty of time to surreptitiously weed out the excess and restore order to the chaos that had grown over the years. Now that she’s in 3rd grade, that dream has yet to become a reality. It’s amazing how much you anticipate all this free time when you choose to leave the workforce and stay home to raise the kidlets – somehow those 24 hours in a day simply aren’t enough to get everything done.
When Little Dude joined our family over the summer, the collection of ‘stuff’ has doubled, along with the tornadic mess both kids are guilty of. It’s a miracle if my house is picked up on a weekly basis, forget about the daily mode I used to do once upon a time.
Now I simply dream of a tidy house and hope that dream comes true some day. Maybe when we move back West and secure my dream house, with extra rooms specifically designed to contain the every day messes – a play room for the toys, and a big-girl playroom for me and my crafty stuff. One can dream, right?
Which brings me to this week’s question(s):
How do you keep order in your house? Or is your house like mine, with that ‘lived in’ look?
Have a great weekend!
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This not-quite a dream sequence Spin Cycle was brought to you part by the lovely Gretchen at Second Blooming, who has graciously taken the reins from Jen who, as Sprite’s Keeper has too much on her plate and wanted to make sure her Spin Cycle baby was in good hands. It definitely is. Check out the other Dreamy Spinners – let’s all dream together, shall we?
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Happy Aloha Friday!
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays let’s take it easy on posting, too. Ask a simple question…nothing that requires a lengthy response. It’s a great way to make new blogging friends!
Follow Friday 40 and Over
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There are a lot of fabulous bloggers who are 40, so I’m participating in Follow Friday 40 and Over – please be sure to leave a link to your blog so I can come check out your site and follow you, too!
More Friday Follow Fun
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LOL, my house is very lived in.
I’m a “organization junkie” and “neat freak” so definitely not lived in.
Catherine would like you to read ..Aloha Friday – Facebook “Unfriend” Do You Take It Personally?
Husbands leaving things lying around? I’ve never heard of such a thing, haha.
The little things can make a difference, such as spending a few extra seconds here and there to pick up. Don’t ever expect perfection though.
Bob from 36 Bar Stools would like you to read ..Potty Training Step Stool
Definitely the lived in look! Sigh! And I have no kids at home!! LOL!
Hugs
SueAnn
My house has both. But now that we are empty nesters, organization is a lot better.
Cheryl “Mash” would like you to read ..Aloha Friday
My house usually stays picked up and uncluttered, with the exception of my 15 yr. old daughter and 18 yr. old son’s rooms….they drive me crazy with their clothes all over the floor.
Kari would like you to read ..Aloha Friday – Healthy Snacks
i try to keep my house orderly but it is hard with 3 kids and 2 of which don’t listen at all
My house is most definitely…lived in! and, I’m okay with that.
Amethyst Moon would like you to read ..Aloha Friday the 13th
My house has a slightly lived in look. I’m a huge stickler about Sprite’s crap invading the only living area we have, so at the end of the night, she has to haul it back to her room. My husband is also a leave it as he drops it kind of guy, so that tends to irk me, but at least he doesn’t leave food lying around anywhere. We stayed with friends once while our house was being finished and they were notorious for it. John and I learned a lot about what kind of mess we’re willing to tolerate. 🙂
Sprite’s Keeper would like you to read ..Spin Cycle: Dream A Little Dream Of Me (Or Dad) (Or Fill In The Blank)
Our house is lived in but I do clean daily and keep the kitchen extra spotless since I use it ALL the time.
I’m At Home Baking would like you to read ..Olive Oil Pizza Dough
Lived in! I’m a working mom, and there is never enough time in a week to get the house in order. I’m trying to get son to start doing more chores around the house.
Barb would like you to read ..Home Alone, Sick!
Our house isn’t messy, but it is not spotless, either. I’m fortunate that Beloved is a neat person and has no problem doing his fair share of housework (he will let no one else touch the laundry), and The Young One, outside of his bedroom, is also pretty neat. I don’t strew things all over the place, but I tend to accumulate piles of stuff in places that I find myself frequently – the kitchen, my side of the bed, the table on which my laptop resides, where I keep my place settings and photography equipment. Every so often, I’ll go through it all and redistribute my stuff before it starts driving Beloved crazy, but he’s really fairly tolerant of my faults and foibles.
Jan would like you to read ..Taking It All With A Grain Of…Grain
I have the SAME DREAM. Once a year or so (when Jimmy’s family comes to visit!) I’ll go on a freakout cleaning binge. But even then, I almost never get the insides of things – closets, drawers – places where his family wouldn’t look- NEVER get organized. I think moving will help a lot. Give you a chance to purge and get everything in order at least once!
Thanks SO much for joining in! You’re all linked up!
Gretchen would like you to read ..Spin Cycle: Dream Lane
I try to pick up daily and put things away. As for the kids. I give them fair warning… “I am cleaning today and my memory sometimes is not good”. that usually gets the job done. That is if she cares about her things. My rule for the pick up issue is.. If I have to pick it up for a month and she doesn’t take care to put it away.. someone else gets it….donated out. that makes less to pick up.
Auntie E would like you to read ..Aloha Friday-The Plan versus Resolution
I had that dream. I tried hard to put things away packed away and I’ll freak out if things are too messy and closing in.
But I know one day they’ll leave and I”ll be ablel to spend time doing nothing but tidying up. I’ll miss them in it making it messy. But I’ll still continue to teach them to clean up 🙂
Here’s to our dream eh
JamericanSpice would like you to read ..Fingers Or Pencil
You inspired my blog post. A comment here would have been too long and I truly hope I do not offend you because it was not meant to offend at all. It is from an older mom, been there done that.
Lucy would like you to read ..Keeping My Fingers Crossed I don’t Piss Off A Blogger!
I would so LOVE a tidy house, but I have kind of given up on that dream. Maybe when all my kids are grown…..
Patty would like you to read ..Nightmare on Pancake Street
Thanks for hosting Stacy! I wanted to personally invite you to the launch of Friendship Friday – please stop by and share what you love most about blogging!
Have a fabulous weekend!
Ramona
http://create-with-joy.com
Create With Joy would like you to read ..Friendship Friday 1 – New Blog Hop
I have always managed to have my own little corner of the world, where I kept a bit more organized than the rest of the ‘lived in part of the house.’ I hated picking up one room and when returning to it an hour later finding it topsy-turvy again. Therefore, I made my own nest, so to speak, and everyone had to stay out of it, or just set around in it and not make a mess. That is how I kept my sanity, while trying to raise 5 children
Gigi Ann would like you to read .."Aloha Friday"
We have the lived in look for sure! I always wonder how some folks pull of the spotless house but I don’t know how to do it – not with the fam and animals.
I sometimes think about a dream house, and then realize that getting one would mean moving and the thought just scares the dickens out of me. I really don’t want to move for a very long time.
VandyJ would like you to read ..Confess is Good For You
Oh, I would love to go through my girls’ bedrooms and get rid of a ton of stuff! However, I know they would notice. They keep track of things like that!
Ginny Marie would like you to read ..My Favorite Read in 2011 {Book Nook}
For me, it’s all about everything having a place and also keeping all flat surfaces free of clutter. It’s not easy with a 5-year-old around but seriously, my hubby is the worst offender at our house. Feels like I am constantly picking up and putting stuff away but if I didn’t the clutter would drive me around the bend.
Happy Friday!
Menopausal New Mom would like you to read ..Aloha Friday – Customer Satisfaction?
Are you kidding? hahahaha My house is definitely lived in. I do not run a Good Housekeeping Book House. I have a musician husband and I have 2 amps and 2 guitars (sometimes 3) in my frontroom, 2 in the bedroom, and one acoustic in the office. Dogs toys wherever. I have a small kitchen there’s not too much I can do there, but although my house looks lived in it is CLEAN! Have a great weekend.
Xmasdolly would like you to read ..ALOHA FRIDAY PHOTO FLASHBACK, FOLLOW STALK HOP FRIDAY 40 & OVER!
I have the same story as you do! LOL! We have the ‘lived in’ look going on in our house as well – except for the few moments when I get a hankering for the ‘old days’ and I make everyone who lives in my house pitch in a make this place spotless. It usually lasts a good 5 minutes… 😉
Jennifer would like you to read ..Simple Pleasures – AF
LOL — I like the lived in look! My DH is much more perfectionist which creates some problems — sigh.
I need the sign I see on Pinterest that says, “Excuse the mess. We live here.”
Sarah would like you to read ..Nerd alert!
I have that very same dream! The only way I keep up with a clean house is by picking stuff up every single time I walk into or out of a room! Like, if I go into the kitchen and hubby left his trash RIGHT BY THE TRASH CAN but NOT in IT! 😉 I pick it up and throw it out. And if I go into the living room, I pick up a couple toys and throw them in the play room toy box. That is the ONLY way I manage to even keep the house a little clean!
Kim would like you to read ..#Hop Along Friday! Gain More Followers!
Even with both kids gone, the house is still a mess. Sure, there are times when we tackle the first floor because company’s coming, but that leaves the upstairs and downstairs still cluttered. I dream of a day when we can have help and can clear out a lot of the stuff because we both feel overwhelmed and would much rather do something else.
CaJoh would like you to read ..Dream Spinner
It took me a while to realize that most people are more concerned with their own houses than yours.
Have a great weekend!
Harriet would like you to read ..Step on the Scale Georgia School Kids….
I’m dreaming of the same thing as you. My house is like yours. It is… chaos in living color. Whew! Thank God I’m not alone! 😉
Very lived in! Tara is a slob!
Martha would like you to read ..Finally some Fragments!
Very lived in. I keep selling stuff, consigning stuff, taking it to good will and even the dump………it still keep appearing.
Lisa L would like you to read ..My search for common ground
Definitely lived in. We have so much “stuff” everywhere!
kailani would like you to read ..2012 Valentine’s Day Goody Swap
Our house is lived in too and when I stay at home I use to clean up all things and clutters because I don’t want to see any disarrange stuffs that I may see everywhere in the house.
Nicholle Olores would like you to read ..Timber Doors & Timber Windows, Bifold Doors, Allkind Joinery & Glass Cabinet Maker Brisbane
Our house looks very lived in, but we also try to clean for a few hours every once in a while. We try to make semi-regular trips to the thrift store to donate things we haven’t used in ___ years. It’s hard work!!
Becca would like you to read ..Zucchini Casserole