dance session 4
This was this morning. The girls occupied themselves while I cleaned the house in preparation for our trip. I know we discussed this before, but I can’t leave until everything is put away and the house is clean. This morning I even washed all the bed sheets so they would be nice and fresh for when we got back. I also did a load of laundry which is saying a lot since I typically loathe doing laundry and piles of freshly washed clothes will often sit in the basket for days, unfolded. The other task I hate is unloading the dishwasher. I’d rather clean the bathroom spotless than do laundry or deal with the dishes. Pretty weird for someone who is a neat freak, but my favorite cleaning task? Vacuuming. It’s so satisfying.
So when did I become so OCD about neatness? I wasn’t like that as a child (just ask my mom), so certainly not growing up, and most certainly not in college. I don’t know. But when you’re still wiping down the kitchen 15 minutes before we’re set to load the car and take off…well, something happened at some point along the way.
I entirely understand having to clean before you leave! There’s not a worse feeling than coming home, exhausted from your trip, to a messy house.
Vacuuming is satisfying, unless your house is entirely carpet and you know no amount of vacuuming is going to get it truly clean!
Enjoy your trip!
This is the last straw on the similarity front. For real. I am as anal and neat as they come, and I often spend an entire day cleaning before vacation or weekend away. Everything must sparkle and smell fresh. But ask me to do laundry or empty the dishwasher? UGH. Hate them both as well. The only thing I’d add is cleaning out the fridge.
I think the most successful freelancers are ones that are a little OCD – especially successful freelancers who are parents. I think they learn that the unpredictability of life makes it crucial to be organized and prepared.
I am neither successful as a freelancer nor a parent… therefore my home is a quagmire of disorganization and laden with booby traps galore. One false step and you could be stumbling upon a series of rusty found objects and have a stack of books and beads collapse!
P.S. I love the bad-ass picture of Mia. It’s intense… like what could be MORE important that little girls dancing?!?!?1
have a nice spring break, despite all the conditions. i hope you all find mark’s father well.
the girls are beautiful and then show us your new air cut. *
Hi, I am from singapore and I really love reading your blog. Even when there are no words, the pictures are beautiful. Especially the pictures of Mia and Claudine. They reminds me of my sister and I. Im 22 and my sis 20 this year. We share the same bedroom for all our life and reading the post about your girls brought back many fun memories.
Just want to let you know, thank you for blogging
Mmm vacuuming and also washing floors <3 Sounds weird for me to say that, since I’m far from being a neat freak, but the floors just have something about them…
Maybe as we age we develop some sort of “longer vision” that allows us to appreciate how TOTALLY wonderful it is to return from time away to a tidy home, clean sheets, clean counters, clean. I am the same way now, but never knew before.
they are just so beautiful. i love tiny ballerinas.
I’m the same way. When I was younger my mom would have to threaten me to make my bed or clean up my clothes, but now I can’t fall asleep at night without my bedroom being spotless. I think it had something to do with living in a teeny tiny college dorm and being forced to either be super clean, or a disgusting roommate.
Emptying the dishwasher is the worst! I’ll happily put dirty dishes in but once I run it I have no desire to put the dishes away. Then the dirty ones start to pile up. It’s a mess. I’d almost rather hand wash the dishes as I go. Almost. Enjoy the road trip! Glad it’s not so far.
i do the exact same thing. i can’t leave for a trip unless the house is spotless.
it’s a little nutty…but i totally get it!
Oh, I hate unloading dishwasher, too. It’s pretty satisfying to load it, it’s sort of playing Tetris. Fortunately, my boyfriend doesn’t mind putting dishes away
The floor is lava! and what’s wrong with putting away clean dishes? I thought the refreshing feeling if squeaky plates was universal.
I am glad to hear someone else hates doing laundry and emptying the dishwasher. Sometimes I think all women love doing those chores…but I certainly do not!
I get the ‘cleanies’ all the time … it always resets me before I venture out for the weekend, before the work week, during the week …
But then again, in my mind I organize other people’s groceries while waiting in line.
Cleaning makes me feel better, to have my environment in place so that I can move about efficiently through the house (perhaps an underlying control issue too)
Later in life, your kids will appreciate it (or not) ….. I know I appreciated my Mom demostrating organization and giving me a sense of time maagement.
Here’s to a clean house!
I’m completely the same way. I was messy all throughout my life until after I graduated college. I blame it on graphic design and my current job as an archivist. Being detail-oriented made me a clean freak.
I have to come back from vacation with a clean apartment or else the stress will come flooding back in!
I’m the same way! I’m already a neat freak but just before heading out on vacation, I leave the house spotless clean. It’s one less thing to worry about when you come back. Have a wonderful trip! You deserve it:-) And hope Mark’s dad is well on his way to recovery!!
oh my goodness, that second photo is priceless! their expressions are SO unique [and fleeting]
i hate the same things…and ironing. to think that i used to find ironing relaxing when i was still a student living away from home! now that i’m married and a mum i’ve become obsessed with tidiness too…just because if i don’t put things away and clean up, probably nobody else would.
I love that picture of mia, but the second one is so sad. both of the girls look so upset.
Little girls in dance costumes are about the sweetest ever. I too have to clean the house before I leave…there’s nothing like knowing you’ll have to come back to reality and clean.
I also love vacuuming and loath doing laundry, especially the folding part! I, however, do not enjoy cleaning the bathroom, either… What am I going to do…? I like having a clean bathroom, though! I hope you’ll have a wonderful trip! Enjoy the weekend. I’m impressed that you blog even when you’re on vacation. So inspiring. Love the photos. They are so pure and clean looking. I hope one day my photos will make people happy like yours do.
Hi Jenna – I also don’t like to fold the laundry and empty the dishwasher, and I prefer to clean the bathroom. I have a theory for that – the laundry to be folded is already clean and the dishes are also clean. so with so much little time, we rather clean what is dirty than deal with what is already clean. I hope you understood
your girls are adorable! love the tutus.
Christina – I like your theory. It actually makes sense!