Charts and Dreams of Perfection

I live with a man that I can’t tattle on when he leaves toothpaste in the sink or his laundry on the floor. I never thought that I would have this much of an adjustment to make after growing up with my brothers. I never thought that my obsessive need for routine and cleanliness would lead me to a “cleaning chart” either. I have become my own worst enemy.

After waking up for the third Saturday in a row to a huge mess of a house I decided things needed to change. I hate that every weekend that I should be spending time with my husband on his day off we’re stuck cleaning up the mess we made the week before. Thus, the idea of a chart! I separated the house/chores into seven areas one for every day of the week. 

The chart is extensive. There is a description of what needs to happen in each room and who is in charge of what. I have to tell you, it works… when we feel like letting it work. It saves us from Saturdays of cleaning, but it’s an hour sometimes on Thursday I spend in the kitchen. My favorite part about it though is that there is way less to do the next week because we have kept up with the work.

I’m sure reading it will give you a big laugh. I know that Adam thought it was hilarious until he realized how much working I was giving him! Enjoy! And before you think I’m a psycho wife know that Adam asked me to tell him what he needed to do around here and to make a list for him. I just got carried away. That’s all. Right? 

(I tried to add a link to the document I created, but couldn’t figure it out. I stink with computers. So I copied and pasted it. Sorry!)

Monday

Bathroom: A+M

Job Description: scrub shower/tub, toilet, counter, wash mirror, empty trash if necessary, towels and mats, dust décor, wash toothbrush holder, sweep and mop floors, organize bathroom products, replace toilet paper.

Tuesday

Master bedroom: M

Job Description: pick up room, change sheets, empty trash can, dust furniture, wash mirrors, organize closets, vacuum. 

Wednesday

Foyer/stairs (laundry): A+M

Job Description: FOYER/STAIRS pick up, dust (shelf, décor, stair rail), sweep and mop foyer floor, hand vacuum stairs, clean out mail bin.

Job Description: LAUNDRY sort, wash, fold, hang, put away, roll socks. 

Thursday

Kitchen: M

Job Description: clear counter of dishes, empty dishwasher, empty trash, clear refrigerator of old food, straighten pantry, clean countertops, clean appliances, sweep floors, remove office pens/pencils from cup, clean bulletin board, wash table cloth and towels and clean trash can.

 Friday

Living room: A

Job Description: Pick up room, straighten pillows, blankets, replace all remotes, dust (tables, tv, window sill), hand vacuum (curtains and couch cushions), vacuum rug and carpet, scrub spots on carpet.

Saturday

Office/Guest bedroom: M

Job Description: Pick up room, organize all papers in tray, replace/wash bed sheets (if used), dust furniture, vacuum (if needed), empty trash can, organize closet. 

Sunday

Back Porch (cars): A

Job Description: BACK PORCH All tables and chairs on cement, trash removed, porch swept.

Job Description: CARS Both cars cleaned out entirely, vacuum, armor all, scrub stains from seats, inside windows washed, febreez, outside car washed on occasion. Also, please check fluids and all other regularly needed check-ups. 

Everyday Cleaning/Habits:

Bathroom: No products or make up left on counter top, towels hung, shower curtain closed, check toilet paper available.

Master Bedroom: Bed made up every day, floor picked up. 

Foyer/Laundry: Please keep trash out of mail bin, shoes belong in bedroom, take items set on stairs to where they belong, all dirty laundry belongs in laundry hamper, hang clean clothes, all shoes belong in closet. 

Kitchen: Dirty dishes immediately go to dishwasher, clean countertops every night, sweep when necessary regardless of day.

Living room: Pick up entirely, clean major messes immediately, take all dishes to kitchen. 

Office: Organize paperwork immediately. Take all dishes to kitchen. 

Back Porch: Please encourage friends not to litter and bring in all trash you see immediately.

Cars: Make a habit out of carrying in all items including trash. 

RULES TO GAME:

1.  If you do not complete your task you may double up the next day. 

2   If you have not completed the task to its’ exact requirement after three days the other person will give you one of their tasks for the next week.

3.   You may switch days of designated tasks as long as they both are completed by the end of the week. If there needs to be an official change of tasks to day you may reprint the sheet.

4.   If company will be present all tasks must be completed a day before their arrival.

5.       This list is to be used in addition to all other to do list’s made. 

Brothers and Sisters

Three weeks ago Adam picked up the flu and decided to keep it a while. I lived on coffee and Netflix as I tried to avoid him, but stayed up all night so I could check his temperature every forty five minutes. While watching much TV I crossed the TV show Brothers and Sisters staring Sally Field, Calista Flockhart,  Rob Lowe, Emily VanCamp, and several other well known names. I literally can’t go a day without watching the show now.

Brothers and Sisters is a TV show about a mother and her five children that are grown, married, and reproducing. They find out in the first few episodes that their recently deceased father has left them a multitude of hideous secrets and mess that they must clean up within their family produce business and lives. Their unfortunate events are frequent as any family drama must be in order to keep its’ viewers which is frustrating, but how they handle these misfortunes is what attracts me to the show. 

Like this family our family too has spent a Thanksgiving in the hospital hovering over my niece who was seriously sick. Like this family our stress built tension was let out through screaming and nasty remarks. This show portrays that families still love each other no matter what. It was a pleasant surprise discovering a television show that so well represented the conflicts a family faces and how they deal with it. 

Brothers and Sisters makes my family seem normal in the sense that the way we behave is so common that there is a TV show depicting it. No one enjoys arguing with their family members, but the truth is that it happens. Sally Field, the mother of the Walker family is so much like my mother it scares me. She’s incredibly protective, loving, and well… overbearing with every good intention. Her mannerisms, “it must be my fault” comments, and ability to know exactly what her child is thinking mirrors my mother and it thrills me. My mom even looks like her a little bit.  

I don’t have any deep and thoughtful closing comments. All I can say is, if you watched the show you might be able to better understand my family and I love it. My only criticism is that the daughters/sisters don’t cry enough. No girl can be criticized by her brothers so harshly and not walk away with a few emotional scars and tears. For real. 

I've attached a picture of my super close loving family for kicks. We're a good looking team. 

Love and Capturing Moments

I received an email today from our wedding photographer, Nathan Gilmer that said our wedding album is ready. After taking some time pondering on how lucky Adam and I were to find Nathan via facebook I realized I hadn’t yet raved about his work on my blog.  That’s what blogs are for anyway aren’t they? 

Nathan spent four hours with us this past August to shoot our engagement pictures here around town. We started at our favorite coffee shop Starlight Café and moved onto an abandoned school house and then a golf course just recently sold to become a housing development. 

We were thrilled to find out that though Nathan lived in PA close enough to shoot our engagement pictures and he was moving to Daytona Beach with his wife. Adam and I had already booked our wedding venue at the Hilton on Daytona Beach. What luck of fate and what an awesome photographer. 

Nathan notices details and captures emotion. Looking at our pictures from our engagement shoot and wedding gives me butterflies and reminds me how much I love Adam. You can check Nathan’s work out on facebook: Nathan GIlmer photography or his blog at: nathangilmerphotography.com. 

Thank you again to Nathan and his wonderful wife who kept my veil in check despite the wind.