Guest Blogger Julie Elliot

I can talk about decorating day in and day out but cleaning is another story.  I can't even pretend to know what I'm talking about, I mean I just get by ....barely.  I didn't want to give you half baked tips so I went to the expert - Steve's cousin and my good friend Julie.  We've been trying to get her to write a book, a blog or give classes, anything to share her knowledge and cleaning tips.  I invited her to be a guest blogger this week and I hope make it a monthly addition.

I knew I was in the presence of greatness when I was showing her around my new house 5 years ago and I was telling her how much I HATED cleaning bathrooms.  She responded with "Yeah, with three boys you should just keep a screwdriver taped to the back of the toilet!"  I responded with a laugh and a "yeah no kidding!"  The only thing was, I didn't have the faintest idea what she was talking about.  Come to find out she thought that I should be taking off my toilet seat every week (probably every other day) to clean.  Here are some of her tips for containing chaos:

To Do Lists

 

I make mine as I drink my morning coffee.

I've been told that you should have an "A" list, a "B" list and a "C" list.

"A" being the most important and to to that one first.  To that I say; "BOLOGNA!"

Make one list, do something easy first and then get to the next most doable thing.  It feels good to check things off and it can get really rewarding.  You'll still get that bit of "me do it!" satisfaction you got at 2-1/2 years old.  Now I just say "there, that's done!"

 

Garage Sale

 

Do it!  Get rid of it!  You don't need it!

The best part is that you get paid to clean out your own house. 

I have two rules.  1. I will not let anything that makes it out to the garage back into the house.  2.  3 p.m. on Sunday, when it's over I load everything that didn't sell into the trunk of my car and immediately drive it to the Salvation Army Store. 

Not only do they unload it, but they give me a receipt for my taxes.  Now that's a good deal.

"There, I helped the less fortunate!"

 

Bathroom

 

Soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, make-up, hair products, etc.........

Here's what I tell myself when I get tempted to buy something in a pretty bottle, that smells good and is going to clutter my bathroom, and then a landfill.

"Self, you know who needs a lot of stuff?  Babies and old people."

Babies need more stuff than anyone.  (Or so we're programmed to think.)

And old people need lots of bottles of stuff because they're falling apart.  Not being a baby anymore and refusing to believe that I'm old I will not have all those bottles of stuff.

"There, I have helped the earth!"

Hopefully Julie will be joining us more over the next couple months.  If you have any questions for her leave a comment and I'm sure she'd be happy to answer them.