I tried and failed at a lot of homemaking systems over the years. I read books that overwhelmed me with charts and steps and advice that I knew was wise and insightful, but it just didn’t work for me long term. I needed to understand my own passion and style of living first so I could develop a simple daily routine that actually made sense for me.
For years and years now, I’ve used four daily routines to keep my house what I call “clean enough.” These routines keep my home in fairly decent order even on the busiest of days. Having simple daily rituals is how I stay motivated and inspired at home! Once I found what systems and home making style worked for me and my season of life, and I made peace with my imperfection, I could enjoy and feel content with the home I had — rather than be overwhelmed or discouraged by it.
My ebook, NOT a DIY Diva is about nurturing a passion for being the creative keeper of your home. This isn’t necessarily a “how to keep house” or “how to decorate” book, but rather gentle encouragement I hope will inspire you to seek beauty in having a home (whatever place you currently call home!), no matter what your own limitations or struggles are. I hope it will encourage you to enjoy the process of a creating a comfortable home that is authentic and personal to you and your family!
You can download a sample chapter of NOT a DIY Diva by clicking the NOT a DIY Diva sample page.
If you would like to find out more about this ebook as well as read endorsements, you can go to the website NOT a DIY Diva (you can also purchase your own pdf copy for $3.99, downloaded directly to your computer immediately upon purchase!).
If you’d like to connect with other women who want to nurture homemaking, creativity and simple decorating skills (on a realistic budget of time and money!), I’d love for you to join me at my blog, The Inspired Room, each week. I share affordable and doable decorating ideas, motivation to keep up your home in simple ways, and encouragement to live the kind of life you want, in spite of our limitations and struggles. You can also find me on Facebook! I’d love to meet you!
Leave a CommentWhat is your biggest struggle or feeling of limitation in creating a home you love? Let’s share in the comments!
Charina @ Pondered Thoughts says
Hi Melissa, thanks for sharing. I will have to check The Inspired Room.
Do you have any tips about gardening, need help on this 🙂
Melissa says
I’m not very good at gardening but I have done a few posts on container gardening, kitchen gardening and I even made a fairy garden! 🙂
Renee says
My biggest struggle and feeling of limitation in creating the home I love is time to work on projects without kids around and I’m so overwhelmed with the options available that I can’t decide. I love it all. I want to do it all and paint it all and have the perfect everything. Then when I’m reading to my kidlings or praying in my chair it doesn’t all see to matter what is on my walls. I’m torn between wanting the “House Beautiful” and just getting the dishwasher emptied . . .
Melissa says
I love your line about being torn between wanting the House Beautiful and just getting the dishwasher emptied. I relate. Ha! That is my life.
Beth WIlliams says
Renee,
I use the phrase (often) “Martha Stewart doesn’t live here”! My house is clean enough, but I don’t worry about the small things.
I would just focus on the biggies, dishwasher emptied, clothes washed, house mostly dusted & stuff put up. Don’t worry about all that other stuff–It will get done eventually!
Melissa says
I agree, we just have to do first things first and the rest will come together in time! Keeping the dishes and laundry going is sometimes all we really have time for!
Lacy says
I have all kinds of great ideas for our home. But actually making the decision and doing it is something else. I just freeze! Afraid to make a wrong choice. And I still haven’t found a routine for keeping my home that’s worked for us yet…but still searching!
Melissa says
I know what you mean, I wrote about the fear that keeps us from enjoying and living creatively in our home and give some tips in the ebook for overcoming the fear of making a mistake!
Becky M says
In a previous house where we lived, I felt unworthy to “finish” decorating it — pictures on the walls, little touches that personalize. I didn’t deserve to live in such a nice house and waited for someone to take it away.
Beth WIlliams says
Becky,
Don’t feel unworthy. If it wasn’t meant for you then God would not have given it to you! A clean house is not all about fancy decorations, etc. It is about dishes put away, laundry done, toys & other stuff put up–basically looking neat & tidy! The other stuff will come eventually!
SANDY says
Perfectionism rears it’s ugly head. Our Lord found me when I was 19. HE then transformed me and blessed my life greatly and so beautifully. My prayer has always been to build a home where Christ is front and center. Motherhood, the good wife, servant…I wanted to please HIM and everyone else I think. I’m dissapointed at myself. Somethings that seemed so simple have become almost impossible for me. Please pray for me. Thank you and God bless you for sharing.
Shari~Rain into Rainbows says
Wow… two posts in a row where I’ve either read about or been linked to FlyLady. Do you think Someone is trying to tell me something?
I thought so.
Listening, Father. Listening.
Pinterest Style - The Inspired Room says
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