Spring Cleaning

If you are one of those people that boast have a clutter free home then I would like to congratulate you. I know you exist because I've been to your homes, and they look amazing. I know, I know. They don't always look that amazing. You have your seconds "days" right? And I have yet to check if you stash piles of junk in the dryer. (Yes, I've stored junk in the dryer. I learned from my mother. Sorry mom.) But I assume it was junk free. In fact your laundry was probably folded and put away! I hear people do that.

I may covet love the crisp comfort of your clutter free home, but I can't seem to replicate it! Let me assure you that the desire is there. I think I'm lacking the skill... In fact, I'm not sure I believe in clutter free homes. I classify them in the same category as the Easter bunny and earthquakes.

If you're like me, then you may also be attempting to dig out of your clutter. Apparently Spring is the time to do this. My sweet friend Tammy Maltby has a motto that I've begun to adapt across many areas of my life. She says, in regards to living a hospitable life, "Start simply...But simply start." Check her out! Her message and her recipes are amazing (and her new book is coming soon)! I love what she has to say about inviting people in. And can I please just tell you now...if you receive an invitation to my home, it may or may not be clutter free. If I waited for the latter to extend invitations, you may never be invited!

Danny and I have almost completed Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, a 13 week course on achieving... you guessed it... financial peace. Can I please tell you that in addition to earthquakes, and the Easter bunny, I also did not believe in budgeting. To make a long story short, we've been taking simple steps toward being more responsible with our finances. Living on one income will force you to do that, people!

We started simply, and I'm proud to boast that we now live on a budget. Not just any budget either. Every single dollar we bring in is spent on paper before we spend it for real! We use cash for many things, and even balance our bank account. A-mazing. I'm telling you, if this girl can budget, anyone can. Maybe I do believe in budgeting now...

I've decided that this "Start simply...But simply start" motto may very well be applicable in other areas of my life. So today I decided to put it to the test. The piles of clutter in my home are innumerable (just keeping it real, folks). So recently, I wondered what might happen if I just decided to tackle them one by one. Start simply, indeed.

So here's what I started with this morning (while on the phone with my friend, Jenny - cleaning is much too lonely). If you look closely, you can even see the box of goodies from our financial class. I'm not even going to tell you how many weeks along we are in that class...


And, voila! Here's how I finished!


I added the dogs for extra effect! It may not look like much in the picture, but...simply starting with that pile led to scraping excess grout off the tile with a razor blade, sweeping and mopping the floor, wiping down the blinds, washing all of the windows, and wiping down the wood. Spring cleaning at its finest!

I even dusted all the frames on this family wall of fame! Okay, I dusted most of the frames. I couldn't reach the ones up top, and I wasn't about to try to hang those suckers again!


The proof is in the pudding. Now, pay no attention to the fact that the first picture was taken in bright daylight, and the last one was taken at dusk (as evidenced by the window seen in the mirror). I have a child, people. Enough said.

So, by starting simply, I'm committed to working towards a clutter free home. But if I invite you over, please realize that I'm recovering. I'm a clutterholic in process. And for those of you that live clutter free, what is your secret? I would really love to know! But, I'll be honest, if even one person mentions, "a place for everything..." I may scream!