How to fake a clean house

So you are loafing at home when you get a phone call of a friend in the area who is going to drop by for a visit. It hasn't been your best housekeeping day and you'd like to present your best self. I mean why didn't you get the call yesterday when the house was spotless? Cause anyone with little kids can attest to the quick downward spiral that can occur in regards to home cleanliness. Right? So here are my best tips for faking a clean house: (although it should be said that if home cleanliness is not a priority, faking will probably not be an option)

1. First do a quick "tidying" of each room. Make your kids help. I try to put things were they go in the tiding phase as it is a pet peeve to move things from one place to a new place where they still do not belong.
2. Wipe down counters in kitchen and bathrooms.
3. A quick wipe of bathroom mirrors, and a swish with the toilet brush in your main bathroom.
4. If there is time run a quick vacuum over the floors (Jeremy makes the best vacuum lines. Mine are never as good and I do enjoy good vacuum lines.)
5. Light a candle and sit back and enjoy your clean home

Honestly this can all me done relatively quickly. It is amazing how much you can get done in thirty minutes when you have the mind to. So next time you get that phone call, or are not able to muster the motivation to tackle the mess, turn on a little music get your beverage of choice, and set the timer for thirty minutes, you'll be amazed at all you can accomplish.

p.s. I forgot to include to make sure the beds are made. A neatly made bed will do wonders for a room. I love a beautifully made bed. I still remember my grandma showing me who to make a bed correctly and it is a job I've always prided myself in. You might be thinking it's a bed how can there be a right way? Well there is nothing like climbing between the sheets of a well made bed, and that's that, enough rambling.

Fall=Home

So Sunday (9/12) after church Andrew wanted to put out the fall decorations. I remember doing this as a kid and always loved it. So we pulled out the fall and Halloween stuff and got the house looking all festive. I need a few more, as it seems there are not enough decorations to go around. Do you have fond memories of pulling out the decorations as a kid? It made me think about that even though I'm not "home" , home is where you are. A quote I've heard a lot lately, I read it on a blog somewhere, my dad said it to me, and it was in the movie Julie and Julia. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something. So thanks to my little Andrew for wanting to do the fun things that make a house a home, and for being the first person I see when I get home. (He is always the first to greet me and is oh so excited to see me.) I love you buddy!

Missing Home!

my house Dec 2006 dosen't she look great in Chritmas lights

I love lists so I thought I'd write one of all I am missing at home. I know I need to embrace where I am, but just for today I am going to miss home. It is rainy and dreary a movie day at my house, and so I am going to list what I miss about home:

1. The Cleverly's. They are my amazing neighbors whom we love. I miss them. Borrowing ingredients, talking with Meghan, making cards at Shauna's house. It is the type of home which embodies the word HOME. You can feel the love, life, work, all that takes place there. It is were the neighbor kids gather, and I think everyone thinks Shauna is there best friend because she is just that type of person. Everyone loves her and she seems to love everyone, what a gift. So I miss the Cleverly's.
2. I miss the seasons, I find myself wondering about the leaves changing colors. I picture the mountains, driving up Oak lane the street I grew up on. I can feel the crispness in the air, and can picture my mother busy at work picking peaches, what she was doing when she called this morning. If I only worked as hard as my mother. I miss my house and yard. For some reason, I guess cause this isn't my house the yard here is just not mine. I miss digging in the soil and making my yard beautiful. I really have missed that this summer.
3. My big Garage with the painted floor. It is a nice garage.
4. I miss the park three houses away from my house. I could see it from the deck and the kids loved playing there. I just really want to come back. I know I just left and we won't be coming back right away but like I said for today I'm wishing I was there.
5. My old job. I complained plenty about it, part of that is health care. If I could only go back to it now. The physicians were excellent, they did a good job and manged there patients well. I miss the people I worked with, and miss feeling like a valued member of the team. When I make it back I won't take that for granted ever again, or if I find it here. I'm looking.
6. Seeing my family on a regular basis. It makes me a little sad when I call and they are all together for a birthday or Sunday dinner or something.
7. Jeremy misses the hills to bike on.
8. The dry air. Humidity is rough. Well I am going to pay attention to my kids, get lost in a book and enjoy the rest of the day I hope all ya'll do the same!