Tips for Tidy Spaces

Fun Fact: I send my sister IG reels and posts on decluttering every week. You're welcome sissy! 

I absolutely can NOT handle clutter! And she has a ton. As the older sister it's my duty to help guide her ... she's polite but she finds it unnecessary. 

Another Fun Fact: Ryan gets super annoyed with me because if you sit something down within seconds I will move it ... to its rightful home (or where I feel it should go).

A clean and tidy home brings me peace and joy!

Final Fun Fact: I am riding around on week 3 with a trunk full of donate. To be fair, the place I donate to is only open on Saturdays 10-3.

Having an organized home is all about maintaining in my opinion. It's not a one and done task. As pretty as a I make our shelves with containers and sections inevitably over time things will need adjustment and edits/removal of items will be needed. 

Like a lot of people this time a year, I encourage you to declutter in a way that works for you and your family.  

MY #1 RULE: IF YOU LOVE IT, KEEP IT!

I hoard clothes and have no intentions of being a minimalist there! I also enjoy table linens and make up. Now, kitchen gadgets, tools and appliances, I can live with very few.

MY #2 RULE: ONE SPACE AT A TIME.

MY #3 RULE: DO IT WITH GRATITUDE ... AND MAYBE SOME FUN MUSIC.

MY #4 RULE: DON'T RUSH IT, LET YOUR KIDS PLAY WITH THEIR THINGS AS LONG AS THEY WANT!

MY #5 RULE: BE INTENTIONAL WITH THE ADDITION OF ITEMS.

MY MAMA'S RULE: CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS

FYI You don't need fancy clear containers, baskets or labels to be organized. I use clear shoe boxes from the dollar store and nice gift boxes/lids to categorize items. Get creative!

Dress Your Home Beautifully

with Tidy Spaces

XOXO Sarah Louise

Morning Routine

Good Morning! You can't see me, hear me or experience my energy but just know I'm wide awake. Since high school I've been waking up around 5am.  I don't use an alarm but rather pop out of bed enthusiastically for the day... 100% morning bird! 

I'm often asked what I do in these dark quiet hours so today I'm sharing with you what I do each morning from 5-7am.

5:00 -5:20

I start by coming downstairs and reading God's Word. I don't just flip it open at random but use a study with questions.  Currently I'm in a ladies bible study on Ruth. I have this one in my cart. 

I truly believe starting the day with God prepares our hearts with gratitude, patience and endurance for the day. I encourage you to go beyond a quote of the day or devotional and use a study with questions to create more intention and growth. 

5:20-5:45

I then move on to chores. Unloading the dishwasher occurs nearly every day but other chores may include folding a load of laundry, cleaning the floors, watering plants, polishing furniture - whatever can be done to tidy our home in the quiet. 

5:45-6:00

At this point I'm very hungry! I've been eating the exact same breakfast for over 15 years. 

FIRST, I make coffee! I grind 1/4 cup of beans to 2 cups of water. We use Black Rifle Coffee and highly recommend auto shipment. 

I then cook 2 eggs over medium with a sprinkle of cracked black pepper and toast 1 piece of Ezekiel bread with a light dusting of butter.

6:00 - 6:15

I wait until I've been up for an hour before opening my phone or computer to check email and social media. 

6:15

I recently added this 20-30 minute face mask to my morning routine. It's amazing!

Now I sip the piping hot black coffee!!!

6:15-6:50

I spend this time writing blog posts or working my job.  I'm my most creative and sharp in the morning which makes for writing that's genuine.  I've always found it efficient to complete work tasks prior to actual business hours so that there is room in the day for responses and tasks. 

 

I consult my planner and create/modify the day & week's to-do list so that I can be organized. 

My list making is a bit over the top but it makes me happy and accomplished! 

6:50 - 7:00

I quietly go up stairs to wash my face, brush my teeth and get dressed for the gym.

Vivian will be waking up in the next several minutes and I'm now ready to focus on getting her prepared for school. We leave around 7:30 and then I'm off to exercise.

Note: I'm insistent on making the bed immediately upon waking up however Ryan comes home from the hospital most days between midnight and 6am so I must wait until he's up.

I highly recommend this tidy task to set your day up for success!

Dress Beautifully in a Morning Routine

XOXO Sarah Louise

Closets & Cabinets & Drawers Oh My!

TGIF! This isn't my typical 'Friday Favorites' post but it fits because organizing is one of my favorite things. I thrive on a tidy and orderly home. I actually smile when I see empty shelves and space in closets. 

Note: I'm fairly minimal, except in my closet!! 

Please don't judge! We all have our issues.

I took advantage of having Trixie away at training and Ryan being off of work and took an entire day to go through our home and edit/organize nearly every single cabinet, closet and drawer.

There's still a few places left but nothing an afternoon can't tackle. 

There are a lot of popular organizing methods out there and I take a little bit of inspiration from several to make a process that works for my time and house. 

Note: I do not invest much into the trending clear bins, organizers & labels (It can get really pricey) But I do believe in using containers. I use clear shoe bins purchased at the dollar store, nice shoe boxes and baskets I find at low prices. 

Here's how I tackle organizing ....

- Make a list

    I write down what specific cabinets, closets, drawers I need to address

- Schedule a day

    Set intentional time, dedicated to the project 

- Start

    just pick an area and go for it (I started downstairs while everyone was still sleeping in the early morning) 

- Throw away

    Donating is great (do that too) but often it's not something to resale and you don't need to save it!

- Embrace Empty

    Not every shelf needs to be filled. I find empty space enjoyable 

- Do what you can

    Interruptions happen! I had to work, eat lunch, Vivian came home from dance wanting to participate so I had to move around from area to area and that's ok - just keep going.

- Drop off donate immediately

    I'm literally shaking my head as I type this ... I am very guilty of driving around with bags of donate in my trunk for a time I'm too embarrassed to share lol

When deliberating on something that's not easy to decide on whether to keep or donate, I ask myself "If I were moving is this something I would want to pack and move into a new home?"

After all the hard work I have decided to add these products:

Plastic Bag Organizer & Grocery Bag Holder

Dress Your Home Beautifully 

with Organized Spaces

XOXO Sarah Louise

6 Ways to Keep Your Home Neat as a Button

Cleaning is no fun, said Cinderella, and every other gal ever. But it is a necessity.  

AND you can do it with Love! I bet you've never thought of cleaning with love. But God says:

Let all that you do be done in love! 1 Corinthians 16:14

Those dishes you're cleaning - you had food to cook

Those toys you're picking up - healthy kids that can play

Those clothes you're folding - resources to buy and clean them

You get the point

Personally, I thrive and insist on living in a very clean and tidy home. They are 2 different things. Clean implies sanitized surfaces free of dirt. Tidy implies no clutter or items out of place. I've been called a 'clean freak' a time or two and take it as a compliment!

I keep our home in 'showing' condition every single day. Anyone can ring my doorbell and take a tour without me ever saying "oh, please excuse our mess". 

Messes aren't bad. They're there because you're living life and making memories so never ask for someone's grace for that. And since messes happened you need a system for putting it all back together quickly when the fun is done.

I must mention, now that more and more folks are spending time in their homes these days/year there are more disruptions to maintaining a clean and tidy space.

For me, it was having Vivian and ALL her things that made our home cuter and yet more cluttered.

NOTE: I follow Marie Kondo's method for keeping our home tidy.  It addresses editing your belongings and organizing them. You can't possibly attempt to maintain a clean home with an abundance of things without a proper place. I have a strong aversion to hoarding! ewww 

Everyone has a different threshold for housekeeping. My goal is to share what I do that helps lower stress and create a peaceful place to live.

Here are some quick daily tricks I use to keep our home neat as a button ...

1. First thing, always make the bed!

Literally the very very first thing. It makes the entire bedroom look neat and put together. I absolutely can not climb into a bed that isn't tightly made. 

this picture was taken before we added wallpaper to our dining room and it looks so naked!

2. Keep it Clear

I keep all of our counter tops as clear as possible. The only things displayed in our kitchen are the knife block and coffee maker (when we renovate they will both be tucked away in cabinetry). 

Clear counters make the space look bigger and cleaner.  The stone surfaces can shine! 

The same principle applies to our bathroom counters and even table tops.

Canisters & decorative things will collect dust, trap dirt and make a space appear busy. 

3. Wipe down

I wipe our counters, appliances and mirrors throughout our home frequently, It's sanitary yes, but also makes each room look shinier. Removing smudges and finger prints from your appliances makes a big difference since stainless steel is so reflective. Clean mirrors bring lots of bright light into your rooms. I do a quick walk through and polish one by one.

4. Start to Finish

I believe it's important when tackling a chore to complete it in its entirety. Laundry is a good example.

I have a small family so our laundry is minimal. We keep soiled garments in pretty closed baskets in our rooms and I am in charge of sorting and washing for us all. It keeps things easy if one person manages this project. I never start laundry unless I can complete it.  This means from washing machine, to dryer, to folding and then placed back into storage all at once. You'll never see piles of laundry in our home. 

When things sit and aren't addressed the mess will grow. 

When you start, finish before moving on to something else or you'll find yourself buried!

5. 20 min Marathon

Set a timer for 20 mins and tidy your home with gusto. Put everything away, fluff the pillows, put away the laundry, load the dishwasher, run the vacuum etc ..

I recommend doing this after lunch during nap time, maybe for only 10 minutes and once everyone is in bed for the full 20.  I also encourage you to do it with your earphones in while listening to some fun music or an audiobook. 

You'd be amazed what you can accomplish when you have focus.

6. Delegate

We've had a professional come into our home every 3 weeks to add a little more elbow grease for over 3 years now and it is the greatest blessing! She scrubs our kitchen, bathrooms, floors and dusts. While this is a luxury it is also an investment into our home. By keeping it clean we prevent our fixtures from staining so they will last. Think about your faucets, toilets, grout, tile, lighting, etc... 

From time to time we will add specific tasks like the baseboards, refrigerator, stove or windows. 

Note: if this isn't an option, make it an appointment/block of time on your family calendar where you can tackle and focus on the heavy scrubbing on a frequent basis. Divide the tasks up among you.

Our homes are personal and I know the dynamics are as unique as our individual families but I hope at least one of my tips will help encourage you.  I know I can relax, focus on my family and am simply happiest when my home is clean.

Like my Mamma always says, "Cleanliness is Next to Godliness"! 

Dress Beautifully in a Spic & Span Home

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Mamma Monday: Welcoming Interruptions

 I have important things to do, this is true, 

but the most important thing right now is me loving you!

Gals, I don't know about you but I'm a planner and Type-A personality through and through.  I thrive on structure and routine.  I organize my days, weeks, months and years with lots of lists.

I get a very happy sense of satisfaction crossing off my to-do's. It creates a sense of success and productivity when I've completed things.

But as we all know, life throw us interruptions. These interruptions are never accounted for in my schedule. My instinct is typically to be flustered, annoyed and upset about them and the time lost.

Here's some typical interruptions: the phone rings right in the middle of a task, an unexpected financial responsibility, a clinging toddler when I'm trying to cook dinner, or a meeting when my work day was already overbooked with deadlines. 

I've been praying asking God to help soften my heart to interruptions. I know that He allows my day to be disrupted for His purpose. I want to welcome a conversation with friend, delight in dropping my task to play with my darling, and be content with abandoning the list to enjoy sunshine & fun.

Life doesn't always go our way, and it's always twisting and turning, but we can choose to follow His way trusting in His plan, provisions and presence! 

His agenda is always more fruitful! 

People are More Important than Projects!

I get it, you've got things to do. But just maybe what you NEED is to slow down and push pause for something greater. 

Those conversations can encourage and bless not only the other person but yourself!

The to-do list will keep, your children will not.  You only get one today. Vivian is only 3 years and 3 months old once and I want to savor her right where she is.

Embracing the gift of another day with gratitude by doing something fun, is far more rewarding than a clean house.

I encourage you to welcome God's interruptions because 

He has a wonderful plan for so much good. 

Dress Beautifully Through Life's Interruptions 

XOXO Sarah-Louise

Mamma Monday: Closet turned Playroom

Welcome to Vivian Louise's closet turned playroom!  When we found our house one of the things we were most thrilled about were the humongous walk in closets for all the bedrooms.
Now that Vivian Louise is 1, her nursery isn't just a pretty room where we rock her, change her and where she sleeps.  It's now a room where she spends time awake playing with her toys.

She's always adored her room, not sure if it's the soft colors or just that she knew it was hers but it's her happy place.  This thrills me as I loved creating it for her.

I wanted to keep her room nice and pretty and the rest of our home nice and pretty!  As I noticed she would bee line to her closet every time I was in there picking out her clothes it occurred to me that it was just the right space to make into a play area for her.  And to house her toys in an organized fashion.

The hanging quilt was handmade by a lady at our church and made the perfect wall decor and the mermaid painting my sister made using her daughter's hand print.

The rug is amazing!  It's not fluffy so it won't collect dirt but just enough softness, color and a fun confetti pattern :)
It's not a perfect fit with a few inches too wide but it is mostly hidden.

I used soft bins with labels and handles for easy and pretty organization. I love that you can find them in whatever color suits your decor - everything purple and pink for my baby girl!

Although she can't read to put her toys away in the correct bin, whoever is playing with her can.

I used the inside cubbies to house bigger toys.

I decorated the top of the shelves with her wooden doll house (she's not quite ready for it yet) and her special handmade bear and caterpillar.

On the left side are her hanging dress clothes and of course beautiful bonnets.

Underneath is her piano, puzzles and baskets of fun.
Low soft baskets are key Mammas! That way they can get into them easily.
I bought a nesting set in white and they've been perfect.

Puzzle racks are also necessary so that you don't loose the pieces.

There are also two rows of shelving on top to house sentimental things like her Moses basket, baby book etc ... as well as the everyday things like diapers.
I also have bins up there with clothes I'm keeping and clothes that she hasn't grown into yet.

We use this canvas tote bag to fill with toys when we are going places for extended time.  Easy to grab, fill and go! 

I used a clear over the door shoe rack for her baby shoes, socks and hair bows.

She's not confined to play in her closet, we leave the double doors open and she has a blast in her teepee and spreading out her toys on her rug.

This rattan carriage is not only beautiful but it's great to push around.

This lamb sings 'Jesus Loves Me' and this bunny is the BEST! She got her for Christmas and we gave the elephant version to her cousin. She plays peek-a-boo and sings.

Again these soft low baskets are so perfect for toddlers. And they're cute!

This shelf has nothing to do with her closet/playroom but it's pretty so I'm sharing it :)

It houses the things I don't want her playing with/destroying.  They're special and require supervision. 

Now the prettiest part of her room is her framed heirloom dress gallery wall I shared with you last week HERE!

6 Cube Organizer Shelf | Storage Bins | Confetti Rug | Rope Nesting Baskets |

Puzzle Rack | Tote Bag |

Dress Your Baby's Playroom Beautifully

XOXO Sarah Louise

Life Changing Products I Can't Live Without

TGIF gals!

Today I'm sharing products that not only do I love, but that have made my life better.  They are essential to my every day.

1. Yeti Coffee Mug

This mug literally keeps my coffee piping hot (just how I like it) forever! Life is full of distractions/interruptions and we're all multitasking so sipping til the last drop can take longer than we'd like. Problem solved with this mug!

Yeti Coffee Mug 

PS They come in colors now!

2. iRobot Roomba
She's basically the best sister wife you'll ever have! I like our home very clean but having Scragley (lang haired Maine Coon cat) and now a baby that's the messiest eater having this thing clean our floors while we sleep is a game changer.  Now, this doesn't mean you never have to actually clean and vacuum your floors again but it is able to remove loose dirt, hair and fuzz.

iRobot Roomba

PS. You must name her! Trust me she'll instantly become a valued member of your family.

3. UGG Slippers

You need a pair of these to walk on your clean floors. Our house has 100% hardwood flooring (a nonnegotiable - we hate carpet) and even with rugs it can be cold on your feet.  Not all slippers are created equal.  The wool lining is key.  It wicks away moisture keeping you comfortable and never sweaty.  They also have a rubber bottom so that you can step outside to take out the trash or check the mail. This is also a safety measure.  You can easily slip in socks.

UGG Slippers

4. Book: Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

I've had this book for years and often reference it's contents.  Now there's a show on Netflix showing the world how it's done.  I binged it immediately.  Our home has always been 'tidy' we are not packrats and everything was always stored neatly in it's home. BUT we moved unexpectedly several months ago and because it was just down the street, most of our belongings weren't packed and they were just put places.  Our new home is also around 1000 sq ft bigger and now we have a baby and ALL her things so I am revisiting the method.

Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

5.  Sound Machine

Now, once your day is done (and your house tidy) you want to recharge in sweet slumber.  Sleep is  a very important part of being healthy.  It's the time when your body takes care of it's organs and heals those muscles from exercise.  Mr has always slept with noise and a fan.  I couldn't do the fan (too cold) but I compromised on the white noise.  We've been sleeping with this sound machine for nearly a decade and even have one for baby girl.  It travels with us!

Sound Machine

6. Iron

Mr and I both iron EVERYTHING.  We travel with it too.  Neither of us can stand our clothes wrinkled.  A good iron is key.  Heats up fast, steams and gets out the wrinkles.

Iron

7. Gleener

Not only do you want your clothes neat and crisp, you certainly don't want them covered in fuzzies! This handy dandy tool removes lint and pilling from your knits.  We travel with this one too. It has saved our garments.

Gleener 

8. Velvet Slim Hangers

Now when you're not wearing your clothes, you want to store them neatly and in an organized manner.  These hangers reduce space and prevent your clothes from slipping. They also help with keeping a tidy closet.

Velvet Slim Hangers

9. Sonicare Toothbrush

I've been using a Sonicare toothbrush for around 10 years.  Yes, they are pricer than a manual.  But you aren't replacing it every few months and it is worth every single penny! Dental health is incredibly important! Fun fact: I used to want to be a dentist; still kinda do :) This toothbrush truly cleans your teeth and keeps your mouth and gums healthy. 

Sonicare Toothbrush

10. Make-Up Remover Wipes

In keeping clean, removing make-up is essential.  I was finding that when I washed my face with cleansers, I would find makeup residue on my towels when I dried my face.  So I use these wipes to take off my makeup prior to washing my face and it's all gone.  They truly remove it all!

Make-Up Remover Wipes

11.  Daily Microfoliant

Once a day, after my face is clean, I use this daily microfoliant.  It makes my skin so smooth and refreshed.  It also helps with breakouts.

Daily Microfoliant

12. Lip Balm

Gals, this is the BEST!  Other balms actually create a barrier preventing moisture in and out of your skin.  This is all natural! So use this and pucker up for some super soft smooches XX

Lip Balm

13.  Tanning Lotion

Because I keep my skin healthy by slathering it with sunscreen, my natural glow-in-the-dark skin is pretty blinding.  So for about 15 years I used the Bare Minerals faux tan body lotion.  It was discontinued last year and I darn near cried.  I didn't know what to do and while I strive to emulate Princess Kate I'm not wearing panty hose ever again. So I've been using St Tropez brand and so far so good. 

Tanning Lotion

14. Hanky Panky Panties

I'm pretty sure I discovered these when I was engaged (nearly 10 years ago). They are the BEST panties you will ever wear.  In fact, they're all I wear. But, gals they aren't cheap.  So I buy a few pairs every now and then through out the year to spread the cost. Also I NEVER dry them.  So be careful when you have guests over or your in-laws visiting that they aren't hanging in your guest bathroom (it's happened more than once). 

They are not only comfortable they are invisible underneath your garments! Made of stretchy lace they feel like second skin. 

Sorry if this is TMI but undergarments are extremely important.  They are the foundation for dressing beautifully.

Hanky Panky Panties

15. Fitbit

A couple months after baby Vivian Louise was born my sister convinced me to get a Fitbit. I was hesitant because Mr gifted me a gorgeous watch that I wore every day, I find tech watches to be tacky, and I'm already a very active person so I didn't need the motivation.  But I've found now that I'm home it's more practical and durable for my daily activities. I also love monitoring my sleep, heart rate and activity.  I needed to see the time in the middle of the night/dark when baby girl was a newborn and it was easier than picking up my phone. Another cool feature is that my text messages come through on it.  My phone has been on silent since the day she was born and it's been amazing.  Until you loose it! 

My sister and I challenge each other all the time and it's been fun :) 

I chose the Alta HR because it's slim but the bigger ones have more features. 

I'm not tech savvy enough for the Apple Watch.

I wear these bands and love them.

Fit Bit

In a nut shell, if our house were to burn down these are the things I'd have to replace asap!

Dress Your Life Beautifully with These Products

XOXO Sarah Louise