Tips for a Tidy Home

It's no secret......I like a Tidy Home!

Hence the name, TidyMom.

Ever wonder HOW I got that title?

My oldest daughter assigned me that title years ago when we first got online. Does that girl know her mom or what? LOL

I'm not neurotic or one of THOSE moms. I don't really LIKE to clean, I just LOVE the end result. I like to look around the house and see clean. I don't like the stress of seeing a mess.

Trust me, I have piles of junk like everyone else, some are just hidden in closest (remember this post).

How do I keep my house looking tidy?

I'm going to share a few of my tips (what works for me)

Don't let it sit for later (Clean ASAP) - a mess is much easier to clean up when it happens. Once food or dirt is allowed to dry or soak in, it's going to take a lot more time and elbow grease to clean it later.

Don't Put it off - this is probably my BIGGEST household tip! Clean as you go. You'll be amazed that many things only take a few minutes to do if you clean as you go, rather than hours of cleaning if you put it all off to do at once. If you stay on top of these things daily your house will look nice and you will be more organized and relaxed. Some of the things I do daily are:

• make my bed
• wipe down the bathroom after I have gotten ready - I keep Clorox wipes and a cloth diaper under the bathroom sink - and I give the bathroom a quick wipe down daily.
  
• clear the dinner table AND do dishes as soon as we finish eating.
• load the dishwasher any time there's a dirty dish - it really only take a few seconds, instead of having a sink or counter piled with dirty dishes.
• wipe off the counters and table.
• sort mail, throw out junk.
• do at least one load of laundry
• fold and put away laundry as it comes out of the dryer
  

By doing these things daily you can reduce stress and have a visually cleaner home.

Set a Timer for Quick Clean Ups- Many days I will give myself 15 minutes and run thru a few rooms and just pick up stray times, fluff and straighten the room. You'll be surprised how often this will motivate you to keep going. Get the kids to help - make it a game!

Dust While on the Phone - often if I'm on the phone with my mom or daughter, instead of sitting on the couch, I will get up and dust a room while we chat! Multi tasking is my friend

Don't walk to another room empty handed - there's almost ALWAYS something in a room that belongs some where else - don't pass it up, grab it on your way - even if you just open a door and toss it in!

Clean up as you cook - I have a small kitchen, so I really get stressed if I have no room to cook or bake. Like wise, if you're waiting on dinner in the oven, clean up the mess while it cooks.

I LOVE to come home to a Clean House- I try and pad my "to go time" by 15-30 minutes and do a quick run thru before I leave, put dirty dishes in the dish washer, wipe off counters, pick up stray items, even vacuum if I have time. I especially did this when I worked, that way I could walk in to a clean house and start dinner with out the stress of a messy house to pick up as well.

These are just some tips that keep me sane, more relaxed and a happy mom.

Do you have any quick cleaning tips?

I'm Hooked on a Tidy Home.
See what other's are hooked on at
Hooked on Fridays

I've also linked this post at Remodeling this Life

Hooked On Friends!!

Friday means it's time for Julia's Hooked on Fridays Party!

This Friday I am TOTALLY hooked on my FRIENDS!!

It's been a CRAZY week with the Samsung contest!

I have some awesome friends & family and

amazing Tidymom readers

who have been helping me all week!!

Seriously, there are no words to express my gratitude!

This contest will end Friday Oct 2 at 11:59pm Eastern Time

If you still want to help and leave some comments on my

Where is the Heart of Your Home post ,

I will be forever thankful whether I win or not!

So many people have dedicated a lot of their time to helping me win!

*NOTE* in the 23 years we've been married,

we have never owned a BRAND NEW appliance!

{sigh......Samsung would be our first }

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Getting goodies from friends is always fun!

I found an unexpected package in my mailbox earlier this week, only to open it and find a new Twilight t-shirt that a friend had sent me as a thank you gift for something I had sent to her! She certainly did NOT need to do that, but I LOVE my new shirt!♥ - on a side note, we just purchased our movie tickets for the midnight premier of New Moon on Nov 20 !!!!WOOHOO!

Sorry if it looks a little wrinkled, I've been sleeping in it! LOL

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Earlier last month I won a giveaway on It's So Very Cheri - I was the winner chosen as she reached her 200th follower!! Woohooo!! Cheri sent me this wonderful fall pumpkin plate and plate holder!! Can you believe I STILL don't have any fall decor out! - I'm going to try and work on that this weekend!

Be sure to check out Cheri's blog carnival she hosts every Monday! There are always loads of GREAT links!!

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And last, my bloggy buddy (whom I've also met IRL because we live near each other!)

Jenny, awarded me with a Best Blog Award- Thanks Jenny

But really, you need to head over to Jenny's blog, Our Nifty Notebook

and see the GREAT fall/Halloween items she's been working on!!

Like these Fantastic FAKE Caramel Apples!! - you won't believe how crazy easy they are to make! Click the picture to see her post

Jenny, I'll trade you - some fake caramel apples for some of my cookies!! Deal?

I will be linking this post to Julia's Hooked on Fridays Party!! Be sure to click over and see what other's are hooked on! ~

Things are Getting Exciting!!

I'm sure by now you've seen my posts about the Samsung Washer and Dryer I would like LOVE to WIN!!

This contest is getting exciting, the comments are flying!!

The blogger with the MOST COMMENTS will WIN!

I hate to beg, but there are a few of us leading the race, and I know I have THE BEST READERS!!! and you all LOVE TO COMMENT and help a girl out right?

I mean, what's a TidyMom with out a nice washer and dryer? The set she has now belonged to her grandma, then passed to her mom and now TidyMom is using that set! YIKES that set is OLD! LOL

So lets see what you can do! - CLICK HERE and go to my post to help me WIN the WONDERFUL WASHER & DRYER!

You can leave as MANY COMMENTS as you wish - just remember, ANONYMOUS COMMENTS DO NOT COUNT! you can even just say "Good Luck" or talk about YOUR laundry rooms!

We have until Oct 2,

be sure to check in next week, I have planned lots of FUN!

♥Thanks for finding it in your heart to help a girl out!♥

I'm HOOKED on WINNING!!! and SAMSUNG!!

Head over to Julia's Hooked on Fridays to see what other's are HOOKED on!

Where is the Heart of Your Home?

"Dinner! Time to EAT!"

Do you remember your mom calling those words when you were a kid? Do you remember running down the stairs to familiar smells and rushing to take your place at the table?

Samsung Home Appliances asked Twittermoms to share "Where is the heart of your home?" What room in your house celebrates the "life" of your family?

Ours would have to be our dinner table. Whether we are having frozen pizza, flank steak sandwiches or Lasagna, the dinner table is where important stuff happens. Our family discusses news of the day, stories are told, jokes are made and most importantly memories are made for all of us!

Twittermoms and Samsung Home Applicances have teamed up to give one lucky blogger who enters and gets the most comments on their blog posts will win a free Samsung Washer (WF448AAP) and Dryer (DV448AEP).

So Let's Hear It!
Where is the heart of your home?
Let's see how many comments I can get!!

*ANONYMOUS COMMENTS
DO NOT COUNT*
you CAN leave multiple comments though

The deadline to enter and to comment is 10/2/2009.

I'm hooked on winning a new Samsung Washer & Dryer
and our Family Dinner Table!
Click over to Hooked on Houses and see what other's are Hooked on this week!

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Don't forget to enter my Perfect Pocket Giveaway while you're here
Click here for Giveaway!

The White Rabbit {Shabby Heaven}

Now that we've had our cupcakes at Jilly's Cupcake Bar, lets head over to another place that I had been dying to visit.

As soon as you open the door to The White Rabbit, your heart will skip a beat and you will know you have stepped into shabby heaven!

I had the pleasure of chatting with Angie and her daughter Lindsay, the owners of the vintage- chic boutique, The White Rabbit, in St. Louis, MO. Angie KINDLY allowed me to take photos so that I may share their GORGEOUS shop with you. Please browse at your leisure, you can click on the pictures to see more detail!

Did you see anything you liked? I sure did! Take a look at the goodies I brought home for my new office (I will reveal my somewhat finished office next week!)

Isn't it a WONDERFUL shop? You can read more about it here, 2008 was a tough year for them, but they prevailed and are stronger than ever! I hope to visit The White Rabbit again one day soon. I hope YOU have the chance to visit it also - if you do, please tell them that TidyMom sent you!

The White Rabbit
9030 Manchester Rd.
Saint Louis, MO 63144
314-963-9784

I'm hooked on The White Rabbit and vintage chic. Head over to Hooked on Houses and see what other's are Hooked on this Friday!

Smiley Face Cookies

Start every day with a smile and get it over with. ~W.C. Fields

Sunshine and I made smiley face cookies yesterday and iced them today.

Not perfect, but not bad for our first try.

In case you were wondering..........

they taste as GOOD as they look!

If you want the recipe to my butter cookies...click here for that post.

I'm hooked on SMILES!

Head over to Hooked on Houses to see what others are Hooked on this Friday!

also be sure to click over to Bake at 350 for a great new food carnival - I linked up an oldie but a goodie, my Magical Pudding Pie

Last day of "12"

It's official! Today is the last day of being mom to a "child" - tomorrow my baby turns 13! A teenager!!!

Sunshine is strong.
She is beautiful.
She is smart.
She is fun.

She is a great friend.


You know what you like and what you don’t. I absolutely love that about you. I do… even though at times it makes me nuts. Your instinct and self-assurance will serve you well.





Tomorrow you turn 13. How did that happen? In so many ways, it seems impossible that it’s been thirteen years since you were born. Yet, it seems impossible that we existed without you.

Your dad, sister and I welcomed you into our family, and life has never been a dull moment with you in it! We joke and tease a lot, but you know we love you, you're always such a good sport!!

Enjoy your last day of being a little girl.............tomorrow, you become a teenager!

oh, and how did I possibly become a mom to a 13 and 21 year old???

Since I'm hooked on my kids, I added this post over at Julia's Hooked on Fridays carnival!

Hooked on Barns

Ok, so have I ever told you I have always harbored a deep love of BARNS?

This is one near my house that I just LOVE♥

Maybe it's simply out of a longing for a simpler time, perhaps it's the reminder of our agricultural heritage.

I love all the texture and color!

Barns in the snow

Many have become neglected,

while others get a new lease on life! I don't know what it is about them, but I just LOVE them!

I'm Hooked on Barns!!!
How about YOU? Do you LOVE barns too?

Head over to Hooked on Houses and see what others are "hooked on"

Hooked on Fridays Blog Carnival

photo credits: Robert Crum , eron_gpsfs' , Cindy47452 , Joe Thorn , myoldpostcards ,McMorr, and cwalker71

Linky Love

I thought today would be a good day to share some of the blogs I love to visit!!

Have you see Audrey's button over to the right? She's blogging 365 days of fashion advice for moms - most of her blogs are video and I just love all of her great little fashion tips! Today is about summer scarves! I ♥ scarves! Check out Audrey's Blog and 365 Days of Advice for Moms

Lolli at Life is Sweet has just changed her blog look and name to Better in Bulk!! Go over and take a look, she has a lot on her plate with 5 cute kiddo's, an awesome blog, she's an amazing photographer (with great tips on her blog). She's not only starting a advertising network, Out on a Limb, but she's also dealing with black mold that she recently discovered at her home. Go over...say hello.....give her a hug! ♥

Design Dazel is a blog I recently found and I'm in LOVE with all of the design and decorating ideas for babies, kids and teens! Be sure to check the archives.....but don't blame me if you're there for hours!

I don't have a boy, but how cute it this baseball room?!

I'm a freak for cute bags! That's why when I first found Whitney Caroline Designs it was love at first sight!!! She just has THE cutest bags and lots of other goodies!

I'm REALLY thinking I need on of these stunning Damask Hobo Bags!

Chris at Just a Girl is just a fun cute blog that I get so excited every time my reader says she has a new post! She's whitty, she's fun, she's creative and she's got amazing decorating style and does incredible things with all her thrifty finds! Whew! did I say I ♥ Chris? LOL This is another blog you can easily get lost in her archives! Don't say I didn't warn you!

Have you checked my link up under my banner "TidyMom Finds"? It will take you to my Tumblr account and you will see all the great things I find while blogging - I update it all the time!

So, I'm hooked on blogging!

Head over to Hooked on Houses and see what other's are "hooked on"