Skip to primary navigation
Skip to main content

House Love
Mothering
Recipes
Books
Tutorials
40 Bags In 40 Days
Search this website

Nav Social Menu

Home
About

Blog
Contact

The Best Behavior Modification Secret

January 21, 2010

Playing

Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular. Just an o

Nothing pretty, flashy, or spectacular. Just an ordinary Monday morning breakfast counter after the kids leave for school. Because ordinary gets the short hand in our culture but really it's extra special.
It's a symbol of unselfishness, contentment, prudence and gratitude. There is a certain peace about the ordinary. It's the opposite of temporary-it holds the joy of contentment and gratitude and prudence all in one hand. It's lends itself toward peace, and a settling in, not a constant search for more or less or anything. Ordinary is authentic and good enough- in short it's a gem in disguise. 🍃

I love my home and I hope you do also. With all t

I love my home and I hope you do also. With all the imperfections and maintenance it requires, when I pull up and walk in I want to stay, to relax, to feel safe, for daily life to be easy, and to care for "home". I want simplicity, ease, convenience. To me when my home is simple, without being filled to the brim of things that just take up space I love it best. I hope if you've participated fully or even partially as time allowed in 40 Bags in 40 Days you've found that joy and pride in your home. I plan to share more little challenges and tips as the year proceeds to trouble shoot areas and keep maintenance effortless and the house love flowing. Daily life in our homes should bring us joy and ease while we care for our families, we should be thoughtful stewards of our money and of our time and simple living is the answer to that.
Thank you for participating! 🏡

I think this is one of the best things about the 4

I think this is one of the best things about the 40 Bag decluttering process. When I know what I have and have removed all that I don't, it cultivates more discretion and caution about what I bring back in. I think there is also some realization of how much money is wasted on fads, or thoughtless purchases. It's quite eye-opening. I've become so much more careful, and find we all take better care of things, as do my children.

The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days! I've tackle

The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days! I've tackled all the areas of my home with exception of my oldest daughter's room (not the photo)- which she is excited to work on this week.

The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean an

The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean and straighten up. And then the more enjoyable it is to actually sit in that room. It's not a hard equation, all it takes is ruthless purging-and not just little things but larger items also. Functional furniture is the key and very few decorative pieces especially when children are in the home, makes life so much easier.
🍃

As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40

As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge I'm hearing from so many of you what a difference it has made in your appreciation of your homes, a certain contentment, and at the same time a thrill of looking in on the organized kitchen, closet and living space. I agree! I love purging, cleaning and organizing a space and then going back later that day just to get that wonderful sense of accomplishment. It makes such a difference!
🍃
A lighter, fresher, calmer home is the result of de-cluttering. I even had a participant who had been planning on listing her home, start 40 Days just to get her house ready to sell, and then was so ruthless in the process and also thrilled by the results that they decided to stay put in what seemed like a new home to them. What a savings of time, money and energy.
🍃
Next week I will be talking maintenance and answer all questions! ☀️

Tips For Shared Kids Rooms- This bedroom has seen

Tips For Shared Kids Rooms-
This bedroom has seen every configuration possible. With kids spread out 18 years apart, I've had to be creative over the years-which I think is the key to sharing rooms. It is all possible-I consider it a rare luxury and privilege to not have to share a room although I know that is not the norm today.
🍃
I like to create a simple look with white furniture (this ends up making room transitions easier also when moving someone out and someone else in.) I also like to match bedspreads for a cohesive look.
🍃
Clip on bed lights save space.
🍃
A simple shared book shelf can hold a child's special books and knick knacks and if necessary can be assigned per shelf.
🍃
When my kids were younger I had my dad build me a large wooden roll out box for under each bed. This held each child's toys.
🍃
All clothes are kept in a closet instead of dressers to save space.

I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags

I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags progress and tips. My excuse is the stomach flu ravaging us all here in the last week with me being the last to fall and the slowest to recover. On top of that the weekend before I tried to roller blade (don't even ask how many steps I made it) and majorly bit it. Thankfully I think I just sprained my arm. So I've been using one arm for nursing sick children back to health, and doing whatever cleaning and cooking and straightening I can do. Alas, last week was a wash. We have two weeks to go. I'd like to continue and end on a high note. How about you? Even a little de-cluttering counts! Spring is in the air and I can't wait to throw open my windows and let fresh clean air circulate through my fresh clean orderly home. ☀️🌷🌱

Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to th

Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to think that the more things they have the happier and more occupied and loved they will feel. Nothing can replace human interaction and I've found that too many toys has the reverse affect. They cause overwhelm-just like us - we'd rather sit in an orderly space than one filled with too many things to do and too much stuff.
☀️
When it comes to kids closets here are some tips-
1. Hand me downs don't all have to be received. Or received at all. Be choosy and keep just what they will use and need.
2. When children are presented with too many choices, tension and acrimony can exist. Being able to open a closet with a reasonable amount of outfits can create more peace.
3. Cultivating independence in care of clothes is easier when there is less and the space is simplified and organized.
☀️
More tips coming on the blog this week. I am moving my blog platform so I can't make any promises - it's under construction and that's exciting!

Home
About
Blog
Contact
Disclosure

Copyright © 2021 · Memories on Clover Lane · All Rights Reserved
Please do not duplicate anything on this blog without written permission from the author.
Disclosure: Amazon affiliate links used.