Motivation to Clean

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:21 pm

Sounds like a lot of moms who resented having to keep house... ;-(

karla, I'm really interested in why you think Brocante works for you? Your post made me think why it helps me keep on top of things and I think it's perhaps because as a messed-up teen, dressed as a mess and living in a mess and my life was a mess, I did that typical "hah, who wants an ordered pretty life anyway? How pathetic is that?! Hey look at me, so cool here with my cool pals and my night-life and my cool clothes and all that... housekeeping is, like, so straight and dull".

Now years on, my life is not a mess, and I can admit that even when I lived in ripped jeans and army boots and my bike-leather jacket (all of which I still wear, just not religiously!), I did actually wish I had a life that was simpler, less drama-queen, less volatile and frankly less scaring.

Now I wear matching little lace-trimmed camisoles and knickers in pretty pastel colours, and I have cashmere cardigans (albeit 2nd-hand!) folded in tissue in my drawer with home-made herb-sachets made from my Gran's embroidered hankies sending out their faint soothing scent, and I make my bed so that it looks beautiful and welcoming and it's not a place of nightmares but of beauty and tranquility even on insomniac nights (rare now!)...

I'm the person I always was, but now I know I'm a kind of person, a homemaker and housekeeper, that I never would admit before.

Why I love Brocante is because it makes me see how having your home pretty is not stupid or futile or silly or insular, but is simply an outward reflection of your personality. When my thoughts were ugly, my life and home was ugly. Now my life has beauty in it, my home has beauty in it.

Thanks, Alison!

laura

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:40 pm

Laura - I suppose there has always been a part of me that wanted a pretty home. Now, to be honest, I'm not satisfied that I'm there yet. But Brocante Home has let me do things leisurely - at my pace - and leave things looking pretty, even if it's not beautifully decorated. I've learned that clean brings prettiness that wasn't there before.

The difference between Alison's message and FlyLady, for me, is the gentleness. As a word picture it's the difference between waking up to classical music at my own pace as the morning light comes in the windows and the opposite which is being woken up by a blaring beeping loud alarm screaming at me in the dark, cold room. Sure, both result in me getting out of bed, but I'm a much better me when I wake up to my own rhythm.

The Brocante Way makes keeping a tidy home fun. I will never be able to do the tidying "just for me" or not feel irritated if people don't help me, as FlyLady suggests I should. It's just not me. And sometimes it felt like even though I knew that goal was a good one and would benefit me, it was supposed to happen "right now" and it just wasn't happening. I ended up feeling more resentful rather than less. But with the Brocante Home method, somehow that message gets through because things are so much gentler and the pretty treats and the puttery vintage loveliness speaks volumes to my soul and makes me want to keep things tidy, whether others do or not. I'm doing it because it pleases me, not because I'm being told to.

Does that make sense at all? I had a hard time putting it into words others could make sense of.

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:18 pm

O yes it makes sense - but how very very different from why I like Brocante and find it works!

Isn't it interesting that it works for such different reasons in different people but it works all the same!

Maybe we should alert Alison to this thread...?

She ought to know how much she helps us!

laura

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:21 pm

I agree Laura - perhaps it would bless her and make her realize how much we appreciate her.

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:01 pm

I looked up flaylady...and it actually freaked me out a little...far too draconian for me...I like my life a little more decadent!!!
_________________
Ouissi x
http://ajournalofdreams.blogspot.com

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:34 pm

Yes, Karla, you have made a good point for me....that Flylady did become just like mom wagging her finger or shouting orders. Good to know I'm not the only one to "jump ship" with Flylady.

It has hit me tonight though that I am not the perfect little homemaker BUT I am getting it together, finally. I posted elsewhere about my lovely friend with whom I spent some hours today. Her home is a place of beauty and serenity and she realizes how much progress I have made in keeping our home in a tidier state in recent weeks.

When I returned home from my visit with her I was greeted with the news that we are to have unexpected company to stay overnight tonight. Normally I would have been in a blind panic to get things straight. How relieved I was that all was under control and it was only necessary to prepare the sleeping area! It felt soooooo good!

"How Clean is Your House" is a great motivator...also a great encourager! Who hasn't watched it and thought smuggly..."well, my place is looking pretty darn good after all." But their natural cleaning solutions are fantastic and great for the cleaning budget too!

Whatever floats your boat is my motto. Use whatever it takes to help you with the task to hand...homemaking, cleaning, crafting. Anything that will motivate you and get the jobs done.

Jacquie x

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:29 am

I have tried FlyLady numerous times and just can not stick with it. The mere thought of following her routines sends me into a rebellion!

I'm going to give Alison's way of homemaking another go, me thinks.

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:28 pm

Somebody...anybody.....can you give me a clue about Alison's way of homemaking? I have read quite a lot about the site as I've discovered Brocante and I have now downloaded the toolbar which makes accessing the site much faster and easier...whew!

Is there a part of the Brocante site that I may have missed about keeping home?

I do love the gentle, pretty and beautiful way women on this forum speak of their homes. It's what I've been waiting for for years! I don't want the "sterile, super-clean" look nor the "cluttery/grandmothers homey look"...but I do want a home that is welcoming and pleasing to the mind and spirit. I'm getting there!

Jacquie x

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Thu Mar 27, 2008 2:35 pm

Jacquie - have you downloaded the planner Alison created yet? It's wonderful to use to jot down a nice weekly routine, etc.

Just print them out on a colored printer, if you have one, and you're good to go.

Here is the page:

http://brocantehome.typepad.com/brocante_home/the-housekeepers-planner-.html

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:04 pm

jacquie,

alternatively, get inspired... I started with Alison's planner and routines, gradually realised I live a different life from hers and slowly replaced some things with other things... finally I wound up learning how to put "repeat weekly" into my google-calendar and now I get morning emails reminding me of today's chore (eg book-shelving, clothes-mending or laundry) as well as pretty printed-out weekly rotas.

I reckon I stick to it one day in three, but even that is twice a week!!!!

It definitely helps to have ideas and the great thing about Alison's is that they aren't bang-bang-bang-bang-DoThisNow-bang-bang, they're more fun and pretty and smiling...

Actually, Alison's homekeeping plans make me think of Doris Day in Calamity Jane doing the song about 'A woman's touch' and transforming Calam's scruffy basic backwoods cabin into a pretty feminine bedroom!!!

A woman's touch... a woman's touch...
The magic og Aladdin couldn't do as much!
With the whisk-whisk of a broom
She can brighten up the room

[or summat like that...]

laura

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:41 am

Well thank you Karla and Laura....I haven't looked at the planner and I don't ever recall seeing the Calamity Jane movie so there's two little diversions for me in the next few days!

I am not organized at all with homemaking....in fact I quite lost interest in my home during the dark depression. Now though, having fully recovered from that, I am taking up the enjoyable task of creating "home" again. I am thoroughly enjoying it and getting rid of clutter, streamlining things and just generally "caring" again....it feels great!

So....the planner and Doris Day. Sounds good to me

Jacquie x

New Member. Joined : 17 Mar 2008 Posts : 11 Name : Bethany

I think Fly Lady has a few very powerful ideas to offer folks who've never done their housekeeping with any kind of pattern/routine before and desperately need some way out of a haphazard mess. I love the idea of getting started with a single perfectly shiny clean spot (sink or no) just to center you and inspire you to make more spaces around it shiny and clean everyday. I also really like the idea of starting a routine a few steps at a time, i.e. establishing a before-bed routine and practicing it everyday for a week before trying to add to it. They're great stepping stones, I think, for people starting from scratch. It's hard to get any enjoyment out of the little joys in housekeeping without finding your way around getting the basic chores done regularly.

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:29 pm

Bethany -

Despite what I said earlier about FlyLady, Fly Lady is how I got started actually caring a little. LOL I have to respect that and give honor where honor is due. I have been on her "list" several times over the past 10 years. The only reason it has fully taken hold has been my own rebellion and laziness - honestly. I just rejoined her list today. Things on my own are not working out. LOL

This time I am determined to just take my time and make it my own - something I've not done before. I've been in too big of a hurry to be "perfect" and have held onto a mindset that i couldn't come up with a good enough routine of my own because I was working full time outside the home. Well, now I"m working at home full time so no excuses, right? LOL

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:38 pm

I have never come across this 'FlyLady' before, but feel I must go check her out now, out of sheer curiosity!

Jacquie - I find the nicest, most inspiring part of how Alison keeps home are her 'Puttery Treat' lists. I think if you print out the planner, you will get them all at the end anyway, or you can look them up individually here. They make you feel all warm inside and make me want to add these little touches of frippery to my home that just add that finishing touch, no matter how you live, or what your routine is!

Karla - do you think we may be in danger sometimes of forgetting that we are GROWN UPS?!!!! I chase this idea of perceived perfection too, only so far, then I actually stop and think 'give yourself a break Sash'. I'm a grown up - and it's MY house after all! Did anyone lay on their death bed and wish they had done more hoovering......??!!

Subject: Re: Motivation to Clean Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:50 pm

Sasha - oh you have no idea how much I struggle with that. I think my biggest issue is that I simply don't want to do anything. LOL A bad case of shear laziness and resentfulness that it's my house and I have to do the bulk of the work. It's all so silly in the scheme of things. LOL