WHAT: “Home. It may be a sprawling, multi-level abode or a studio apartment. It may sit on acreage or in the middle of a bustling city. No matter where home is, we all retreat there to meet our most basic needs. We find shelter and rest. The meals we prepare feed us, and we draw comfort from familiarity and a sense of belonging. Our homes reflect who we are, and how we live our lives.” DWELL GATHER BE Alexandra Grove
WHY: Believe me, I get it. The thought of our homes being a reflection of “who we are and how we live our lives” can be downright daunting. But on the other hand, when we elevate the task of taking care of our home environment to an elevated level, we can view the mundane and sometimes seeming daily grind into more of what the fab Flylady calls “blessing our home.” I am a firm believer that home truly is where the heart is, and it doesn’t matter how fancy or simple those four walls that surround you may be, it’s who’s inside them that matters. I also believe that the intention of creating a relaxing, nurturing, environment – one that feels like a warm hug when you walk in the front door, is more important than ever in today’s modern world.
HOW: I have searched, and searched…and searched, for that magic bullet to keep a house in order. I have found that routines (specifically those of Flylady.com and the humbly named “A Slob Comes Clean”) are my answered prayers. I was also always on the hunt for the holy grail of how to manage the comings and goings of the heart of the home, aka: the kitchen and the daily “delight” of cooking and feeding a family (ha!). I am thrilled to say I created weeknightsonly.com in an aha moment, and it’s since been a dream making weeknight dinners. Wonderfully, there is no shortage of home and cooking gurus for all types, so truly whatever works for you, works!
And beyond the daily and weekly routines that help keep a home running on the rails, I also fell instantly in love when I was introduced to the Danish concept of Hygge. It spotlights the vibe of the home and family connections. Details on all of the above, and lots more, below:
TOOLS & TIPS:
FLYLADY: As usual here at MMH, if creating and keeping order in your home comes naturally, a massive kudos and keep up the great work. If however, you are searching like I was for the secret to success in this department, I present to you the dear (free!) Flylady. The basic jist: daily and weekly routines bring peace from chaos, I promise. She’s got them all listed, and her free app is a lifesaver. And her mantras of Do It Now, Progress not Perfection, and Baby Steps, will chearlead you all the way to the peace and contentment. Check out her site to get started.
A SLOB COMES CLEAN: Every now and then, the rabbit hole that is Instagram unearths a total treasure. That’s what happened when I found Dana K. White aka A Slob Comes Clean. Though Flylady is the OG for me, when I added Dana’s Daily Chores, and listened to her book, “How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind”, I (finally!) felt like I had found a lost piece under the couch and clicked it into to place to complete a lifelong puzzle. She is the best.
DIANE IN DENMARK: Another Insta find, and her You Tube videos brought to life the FlyLady’s mission in the most cozy, comforting, and zenfully consistent way. She also delves into fave recipes, holiday traditions, etc. and best of all, is an origin source for all things Hygge, one of my favorite things ever. She describes it as not a word, but a concept, and a “way of living that the Danes have perfected. Making the everyday things cozy, warm…it’s about spending time with the people that you love. It’s not a thing you can buy, it’s just a thing that you do.”
GRETCHEN RUBIN: Gretchen is a guru for sure. Her follow up to The Happiness Project (see SELF for more) was the wonderful Happier at Home. And her latest gem, Inner Order Outer Calm or rife with tips and observations of the how’s and why’s to declutter your space .
MORE HYGGE: For me, knowing the essence and origin of “why” something matters fuels me with inspiration to put in that extra effort it come to fruition. I believe feeling Hygge in your home is the supercalafragalistic benefit of doing those darn daily routines. I first heard the term one Christmas when my nephew was home from a college semester abroad in Denmark. When he explained it to me, it was as though someone had finally put words to something I had felt and honored my entire life. Though there will be attempts to commercialize anything, the true Hygge of concept requires not money, but intention. TAnd elevates the vibes of a home and the moment.
IN THE KITCHEN:
WEEK NIGHTS ONLY: They say desperation leads to innovation. Well, in this case, innovation might be a BIT much, but the desperation part? Spot on. One particular night, foraging together a dinner of same old same olds, a lightbulb went off and I immediately send out some SOS texts asking friends to send their one “NEVER FAIL” week night recipe. The mission of WEEK NIGHTS ONLY is to collect and share THOSE recipes, the ones we love and love us back. In fact, feel free to cook any of these recipes ANYTIME, just know on a busy weeknight, you’ve got a recipe friend. The only criteria for each and every recipe on this site is that it represents, for the sender, their GO-TO dinner. When I was sent an amazing CHICKEN SHAWARMA recipe, my mind was blown how the simple tip of marinating in the morning (or night before) could make this seemingly complicated, out-of-this-world dinner, a weeknight go-to. All it takes is knowing that for SOMEONE it is, and then it’s up to us if it earns a spot on our greatest hit list
MENU PLANNING: There are sooo many ways to go about this, and believe me, I’ve tried (and failed) at many. Used to fail, I should say. Because now I know that there is no perfect way to menu plan (or do anything for that matter!). But along the lines of the they daily and weekly routines needed to keep a house in order, there does need to be some version of menu planning going on to keep that whole “feeding a family” thing on the right track. Here are a few TIPS & TOOLS that I try to incorporate, and when I do, they always help:
Don’t Let the Perfect Be the Enemy of the Good!
Though this applies to pretty much any area of life, work, or self, it’s a great one to remember with menu planning. I used to hem and haw with myself that I HAD to menu plan on Sundays, which meant take out my favorite cookbooks to peruse over a warm cup of coffee, and plan the five dinners for the upcoming week. Then head off list in hand to the store to buy everything we needed, not to return again until the following week. That even sounds dreamy as I type it. And if that’s how you roll, you truly rock. Otherwise, I have found that incorporating the IRL tools below help a ton.
BASIC GROCERY LIST: As a fan of words I must say I get more of a kick out of thinking of this list as “Provisions”, but I digress. Whatever it’s called – I suggest keeping it on your phone. I love a cute pad or notebook – possibly more than anyone – and there is certainly a (wonderful) time and place for those. But let’s get real – we have our phones 99% of the time when we are out and about and can pop in a market – and the list written on the cute pad sitting on the counter does us NO good. But a quick glance at our phone in the market can remind us that we are out of paper towel, peanut butter, dog food, and olive oil, and feels like a godsend. Also – if you have your basic list – you can always make a meal – whether you have menu planned or not. I like using the Notes app on my iphone and adding the blank circles next to each item. Then I can check the item at home when I discover we are low or out, so at the market I know the checked items are needed for sure.
Head to the FAMILY page for all the scoop on the crown jewel of all your hard work: The FAMILY DINNER.
