The Best (and easiest) Question I've Ever Asked My Husband, My Daughter's Fashion Sense and Etsy Stuff

So, I could of split this post into three separate days of writing, but decided I would include all of; I like to have a little bit for everyone, you know?

First. I have said before that the Hot Doc and I are totally opposite! Sometimes being opposite doesn't matter. Like, he is the best person to hang out with! He cracks me up, he'll always offer to let me watch a girly movie (but I always decline, mainly because while I'm crying at Julia Roberts in My Best Friend's Wedding, when she's at the wedding and has to give the "best woman" toast, but just the day before she was telling the groom how much she loves him, and you know that even though she means everything she is saying in her speech, it's still completely breaking her heart, you know that scene right? Well Jeff would be making fun of her or me the entire time, kind of ruins the moment), he says "thank you" for everything, and reminds our kids to do the same, and even though he leaves for work at 5 am, he still takes the trash out on "trash days." But in other things, being opposite does matter. And in our house, cleaning is one of those things. So a couple weeks ago, I asked the Doc to tell me some of his top things around the house that he would like me to make sure to pay attention to. This is what he said: keep our room and bathroom clean, manage the laundry (I loathe laundry!) and make sure the kids' trash cans are emptied regularly (because let's be honest, pee diapers can really start to stink!) So easy right?! So when I can't keep on top of my daily schedule, I just make sure that the Doc's three things are finished. It's awesome! I love that he notices when things are clean and he appreciates that I am taking the time to make him happy (because let's be honest, I don't really care if the bed is unmade...but he does.)

Next. I've been documenting a couple of Crazy Girl's outfits. From a VERY young age, she has insisted on dressing herself. Sometimes I put up a fight, but other times, I just flat don't care. She thinks she looks great, and if you know Harper, it's really difficult to change her mind...about anything...ever.

Heart sweatshirt, over flower dress, over white skirt, over striped leggings

Prom picture

Blue flower shirt, over purple shirt, jean shorts, over striped tights

Drooly dinosaur shirt on Sweet Boy

As you can see, she likes the layered look.

Last. I started a facebook page for New Millie (go here, check it out, write a comment, click the "like" button!) I also have a few new items for sale on Etsy, here are a few...

Spring Time Hat

Sweet Baby Hat

Charlotte's Headband

Also, coming soon is the first of many COUPONS! What! What! (That just felt right). Discounts are coming everyone! So become a fan of New Millie on Facebook, check out the etsy page, be a fan of this blog and go find more beautiful photos like these at katielittlephotography.com! Man, I am bossy today!

Happy Wednesday!

Coolness

I wanted to share two really cool websites I have been stalking lately! (My wonderful friend Angie told me about both of them. We like to call her "Martha" as in Martha Stewart and try to listen to what she tells us.)

The first is A Bowl Full of Lemons:

This site is dedicated to cleaning and organizing, and it is awesome! Toni, the author of the blog, has a whole section devoted to making a "Home Management Binder," which is not a new concept, however I could not get over how incredibly CUTE her pages were! She uses this free printable for her weekly calendar and is fortunate enough to be friends with the creator of Clean Mama Printable (check out her etsy shop here!)

She has also just started some "Weekly Challenges" that you can take part in and has a 21 Day Organizing Challenge...it's awesome!

The other site is Knock Off Decor:

It has a TON of tutorials based on high end decor like, Ballard, Pottery Barn, Anthropologie, Crate and Barrel, etc.

My FAVS so far are...

This one

Burlap Mr. and Mrs. Pillows

and this one

Antique Book Bundles

LOVE this one

Sunburst Mirror

Check these out and ENJOY! Happy Monday!

Cleaning Schmeaning: A Confession

Okay, so who did their Monday cleaning? I DID! Holla! (Just kidding. I don't really say "holla.") But I will admit it was with a bit of tweaking. Something you should know about me, or already know about me, or don't care to know about me, but you're reading this so you're going to find out anyway; I am not a perfectionist. Okay, wait. I take part of that back. I am perfectionist when it comes to crocheting or sewing or crafting. I will take something apart in a second if I don't feel like it is "just right." But most anything else, I can let things go. So on Monday that's just what I did. I did manage to do all of the actual "Monday cleaning," but slacked a bit on the "Daily Cleaning." Beds were not made, toys were not picked up before nap and no laundry was done.  But weirdly, my house seemed (and still does) "feel" cleaner. Which is really a change from how I normally do things because, like stated in the previous post, usually things are picked up and wiped down, but good old fashioned cleaning isn't always consistent.

Today, however, my "Tuesday Cleaning" was not done. It was cold and rainy this morning which led to cuddling and coffee drinking on the couch. Since my kids are little and we don't "have" to get to school or other things (except on Bible Study morning) I'll let them snuggle with me as long as they want. Sometimes, there is no snuggling; they wake up and are right to playing, but some days, like this morning, we get a fire going and get under daddy's big blanket and watch "Sid The Science Kid" or "Mickey Mouse Club" or "Super Why," or Harper brings me book after book and we read and read and read. It's lovely. So with a leisurely morning, came running late errands, having a late lunch, and so on and so on, and no cleaning. So I will do "Tuesday's Cleaning" tomorrow. The upside about the schedule is that there are only 5 days of cleaning, so if you need to (or want to) skip a day, you can always push it back.

I'm going to go ahead a post all the chores for the rest of the days of the week, just in case you wanted them. I know you all just jumped for joy, "Yay! She's posting a whole list of cleaning chores! This blog is so exciting! What exhilarating thing will she think of next?!" I promise I do more than clean, or think about cleaning, or write about cleaning (well, sometimes).

But before we do that, we would just like to say...

There are A LOT of January birthdays in our family! Also, Happy Birthday Auntie Cheri, Dana and Papa! This is the part where most of are thinking, "but, it's February." Why, yes it is smarty pants reader, but something else you should know about me...total PROCRASTINATOR, that's just how I roll (I'm kidding again. I don't really say that either.)

Okay, back to the "un-fun"

Monday's Schedule

Tuesday- Living Room and Playroom

Dust 

Vacuum

Wash any frequently used blankets

Wash pillows (as needed)

Organize toy buckets (Throw away broken toys/add to "give away" box)

Clean mirrors and TV

Sweep and Mop entry tile

Wednesday- Master Bedroom and Bath

Dust

Vacuum

Sweep and Mop bathroom

Wash and change sheets

Wash bathroom Rugs

Wipe down counters

Clean toilet

Clean shower and tub

Tidy up closet (which really means, "stop throwing your clothes on the ground or laying them over the hamper and actually put them on a hanger"

Thursday- Kids' Rooms and Office/Craft Room

Wash and change sheets

Dust

Vacuum (including upstairs landing)

Organize craft items and desk

Take out trash

Friday- Upstairs and Downstairs Bath

Wipe down counters

Clean toilet

Clean tub

Sweep and mop

Wash Rugs (if needed. Barely anyone uses my downstairs bathroom)

Clean mirrors

Take out trash

Good Luck! I'll keep you updated! 

Let's Talk Some Dirt

I hate cleaning. I love a clean house, but I hate cleaning. No, wait, I hate cleaning with two toddlers who are jumping on the bed I just made, and walking in the crumb pile I just swept, and pulling down all the clothes in my closet during an exhilarating game of "hide-and-seek." Most days my house is kept "picked up," but on a weekly basis I never get all the "cleaning" done I would like. This doesn't always bother me, but sometimes it does. And usually ever few weeks on a Sunday evening (I like to start new things on Monday) I plan a whole weekly cleaning schedule that I will never accomplish.

But the Word says, "She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness" Proverbs 31:27, so here I am, ready to try again.

Let me say also that this guy (see below) hearts a clean house big time. If the house was clean and the laundry was done (did I say I hate cleaning? I really meant, I hate laundry!) he would be the happiest, hottest doc in all of Texas. Gotta love a guy in some waders and a hat!

So, what's the plan? Great question. I have in the past subscribed to FlyLady.com, and she is great, but despite her best effort she overwhelms me a bit and she will BLOW up your email! Seriously, she sends 10-15 emails a day, it's crazy. I have also, in the past done a "Monday-vacuum, Tuesday-dusting" etc., etc. But this week I am going to try something different (for me). I found the original schedule here and just tweaked it to fit my house/life.

Daily:
Make bed (Harper makes her own bed)
Clean up kitchen after all meals
Pick up toys (with kids) before nap and bedtime
One load of laundry (Monday-Friday)

Weekly:
Monday- Kitchen and Laundry Room
Tuesday- Living Room and Playroom
Wednesday- Master Bedroom and Bath
Thursday- Kids' rooms and office
Friday- Upstairs and downstairs bathrooms

So here's Monday's Schedule- Kitchen and Laundry Room:
Clean sink
Disinfect counters
Wipe down appliances
Clean out fridge
Dust table and chairs
wash high chair liner
Sweep and mop floor
Vacuum/wash rugs
De-clutter top of washer and dryer
Wipe down washer and dryer
Empty laundry of all non-laundry items (tends to be a "catch all")
Sweep and mop floors

I would love for this to take 30 minutes or less, but with my children constantly asking me for a snack, or   to read a book or screaming and running the house, I am sure it will take three times that long. I'll let you know! And if all is well and I haven't quit yet, I'll post Tuesday's cleaning schedule tomorrow.

Also, please don't think that I think you care what my cleaning schedule is. However, I have spent a lot of time looking for someone to just "tell me what to do," or give me ideas of how to keep this toddler filled home clean, maybe you feel the same way...maybe this will help. Maybe you want to tell me what to do! Always open for suggestions!