My cousin Jenna has on her blog a link to another blog - home and harmony. Which is where I learned all about another blog that recently highlighted the author's cleaning supplies shelf.
I admire the look of these ladies' homes. They are simple, lovely, and serene. Melanie even found a way to organize her cleaners, rags, and scrubbing brushes in a way that is beautiful.
Here's my problem: to get there from here where I'm at is a huge leap. And to make that leap would require the purchase of a lot of pretty bottles and jars and baskets and such. (Not to mention, much, much prettier soap.) Which I am not necessarily opposed to, I just don't want to do it right now while I'm trying to pay off some debts.
All of that left me feeling kind of defeated and hateful. But I decided to do what I can, with what I have, and see what I could come up with. With a plastic basket that I already own to corral the smaller items that tend to get knocked over a lot, along with a dust rag and a little effort, I tidied up my laundry closet. And even though it's not what you could call classically beautiful, and no interior design magazine will be dropping by to photograph it, my laundry closet is organized, neat, and tidy and everything looks cared for.
And in my opinion, it is the care you give something that can cast the beautiful glow on common, everyday kinds of things. It's like my mother used to tell me - if you can't have what you love, love what you have.
Thanks, Mom!
Fortunately I had children that I didn't have to learn to love.
ReplyDeleteI did a lot of wanting what I had in other areas, though.
Sometimes you just have to figure out how to get the things you love--I guess the genius is in knowing when to do what!
I dream of buying in bulk....
ReplyDeleteKarie, I haven't bought anything in bulk. The way that I've built up a supply of things is by scheduling my purchases just like I would my electric bill or phone bill. Like I always buy a bottle of laundry detergent on the second payday of the month even when I don't NEED it. Over time it begins to accumulate and I begin to have a good supply on hand.
ReplyDeleteI knew a lady who bought two of one thing whenever she shopped. Like, she would buy two bottles of catsup and put one in her storage. She had a wonderful storage built up over several years--and it was all comprised of stuff she actually used and her family liked.
ReplyDeleteI don't buy in bulk really either, unless it's just a killer sale price. What I have decided is there are things we will always use no matter what, that don't spoil or do so slowly. Toilet paper is one. Laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent and toothpaste are others. So my goal is whenever I go to the store this month, I will buy one or two extra of one of those until I have a years' supply, then I will switch to something else. Right now it's dishwasher tabs.
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