I found a handy-dandy checklist (yes, it's printable) of 6 things that, according to Martha, you must do every day. Let's see how the TMI household measures up...
1. Make your bed everyday.
Check! The Big Guy got me into this habit, and the bed is made each day as soon as we are out of it.
2. Manage clutter.Yeah, we're not as quick on this one.
3. Sort the mail. Martha has detailed instructions on this.
We're 1/4 there on this one--junk mail always goes straight into the trash. Everything else sits in a nice, neat pile. Does that count? I'm 1.25/3 on Martha's checklist.
4. Clean as you cook.
This hardly ever happens unless I am cooking in front of company. Meal preparation in the TMI household is a mad dash to feed a hungry Little Guy and Big Guy before they start whining. Under those circumstances, and that's usually every day, cleaning can wait until everyone has eaten.
5. Wipe up spills while they're fresh.
Another item I can check off. So far, 2/5.
6. Sweep the kitchen floor.
I'll be sure to do that, right after I stop rolling on it while laughing hysterically. TMI confession: we're lucky if the kitchen floor is swept once a week. With our busy schedule, and lack of household staff to do it for us, sweeping the floor on a daily basis is just not a priority.
Looking at this list, it's clear that I need to fudge my results. If I eliminate #2 and #6, consider my piles of mail a legitimate form of organization, squint my eyes and tilt my head, then I've gotten 2/4 things done on Martha's list! That means I'm halfway to being just like Martha.
Take a look at the list here. What are your "must-do" items each day?
6 comments:
I think I'm about 0.5/6. Are we still friends?
hee hee. Yes, we're still friends. As long as you can tame the jealousy that comes with having a friend who is more "Martha" than you. I'll try not to boast too much. ;)
I think cleaning as you go is overrated. I'd rather clean up one big mess than several little ones in the kitchen. I also have to laugh at the idea of sweeping the floor daily. As if. I do make the bed everyday. And sort the mail. And if by "manage clutter" you mean "move the piles around"- yes, I sure do! I also try to take a walk daily, which I think is more important to my well-being than any of her items. So there, Martha! L
this list makes me feel very, very un-martha like! the only thing on that list i do every day is sort the mail. i DO sterilize the bathroom and kitchen sinks & counters every day. that counts for something :)
i cook more like ina garten....notice she leaves dirty things in the sink and runs water into them as she cooks. in one of her cookbooks she even says (i swear), "i never clean the pots right away, i soak them until morning. who feels like cleaning after cooking?" and that is why i love her so!
Yeah, in theory I like the idea of cleaning as I cook, but I also like the idea of just leaving things be until I have more energy later. ;P I do think that 'managing clutter' can apply to kitchen cleaning too... like putting away ingredients right away, tossing trash, etc, can help cut down on at least a little of the clean-up... and when you have a dishwasher, a lot of times it really is just as easy to stick a dirty dish in there rather than putting it in the sink.
PS I'm moving to a place with no dishwasher soon, and I'm freaking out more than a little. ;P Could Martha live without a dishwasher??
Sarah,
If by Martha's dishwasher, you mean her staff, then No, I don't think she could. Good luck!
Post a Comment