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Allison Larkin

Internationally Best-Selling Author

You are here: Home / beautiful things / Spring Cleaning

Spring Cleaning

April 12, 2010 Filed Under: beautiful things, kindred spirits

I am so touched by all the kind words about last week’s post left in comments, e-mailed and tweeted. I can’t thank you enough! It’s such an incredible reminder of the amazing kindness of people and the power of sharing our experiences with each other. There’s something so comforting and heartbreaking and beautiful in hearing the words, ‘you aren’t alone,’ or, ‘I understand, that happened to me too.’ Thank you!
In the past few weeks, taxes, car troubles, a plumbing disaster, and all the chores and tasks that make up every day life have left me feeling a little out of breath and out of step. So, I’ve promised myself that this week I’m going to take the time to put some sense of order back into our house. The goal is to make our house feel like a home again, instead of a three-bedroom junk drawer/laundry pile, and I have this crazy idea about seeing the surface of our kitchen table again someday. But, since this will involve doing laundry, filing papers, and possibly using one of those vacuum things I’ve been hearing so much about, I need to bribe myself.
Candy is often my go-to bribe for unpleasant chores, but I’m pretty sure I have single-handedly caused a jelly bean shortage in Western New York over the past few weeks, so I’ve resolved to call it quits on the sweets for awhile. Luckily, my dear friend, Shanna Murray, launched her line of hand-drawn wall decals today, and they make the perfect bribe!
Not only do Shanna’s designs (and Shanna herself) lift my spirits, but the decals give me the perfect motivation to get the house in order, so when they arrive I have the space and time to enjoy them.
I ordered this one for our living room.
And this one for my office.
Because, who doesn’t need a reminder now and then?
Do you have any good motivation tricks?

8 Comments

Comments

  1. courtney says

    April 12, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    Those decals are gorgeous! Love them.

    I give myself little mini-rewards throughout the day. For example, I won’t check Twitter until I’ve finished a task. But for big stuff like house cleaning, you’ve got to break out the candy rewards. For REALLY big accomplishments, I’ll give myself a new pair of shoes or something.

    Reply
  2. Sara says

    April 13, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    I’m a fan of dangling an Anthro 1-item splurge as my rewards. That, or I’ll finally bake something just for meeeeeeeeeeeee. Fresh out the oven, chocolate chip cookies, anyone?

    Reply
  3. Sara says

    April 13, 2010 at 1:48 pm

    Oh! One more thing! I reward myself with fresh flowers once I get my house all clean and tidy. I buy a couple of large bunches and then separate them into 4 or more little vases around my house. So pretty, and it makes me ridiculously happy.

    Reply
  4. Wombat Central says

    April 14, 2010 at 1:04 am

    I’ve been enjoying Starburst jellybeans this week. Not as a reward. Because they’re in the house. :)

    Reply
  5. Noelle says

    April 14, 2010 at 1:28 am

    lists, lists, lists. If it’s down on paper, then I have to do it. I used to reward myself with whiskey and ice cream, but I’ve outsmarted myself to know that I’m going to get those anyway. Stupid brain. Always one step ahead!

    Reply
  6. Kyla Roma says

    April 18, 2010 at 12:39 pm

    Those decals are amazing! I’m glad that they’re a sweet little reminder that you’re doing so much good work.

    Honestly, for me my big reward is taking a weekend off here and there. I’ve been working really hard on a bunch of projects lately and I’m getting worn out. This weekend I just stopped and it was beautiful =)

    Reply
  7. Laura Marcella says

    April 23, 2010 at 5:14 pm

    Oooo, those decals are so neat! My motivation tricks are inspiration quotes about writing and life. I have a bunch around my desks and on my office bulletin board. Whenever my eyes start to wonder away from the computer (in an “I want to stop doing this” kind of way!) I immediately read a quote and it gets me back on track!

    Rewards for me usually involve chocolate or a new book!

    Reply
  8. Mickey says

    April 26, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    Actually, no. I’m a horrible self-motivator. No discipline, either.

    I like Noelle’s suggestions, though. Whiskey, ice cream and lists. We should give them a shot.

    Reply

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Okay, fine. Her jacket is reversible and we kinda Okay, fine. Her jacket is reversible and we kinda match. I admit it. Alright? We all knew this was coming. None of this should be a surprise to any of us. #dailyroxydog #huskychihuahua #dogjacket #peoplewhomatchtheirdogs
Just a dog in a puffy jacket that matches her lawn Just a dog in a puffy jacket that matches her lawn chair. And she likes it! #dailyroxydog #chihuahuamix #ilovemydog
We are in the habit of starting and ending our day We are in the habit of starting and ending our days side by side in our lawn chairs, while the light rises or dims. It’s still chilly at the outer edges of the day. Sometimes Roxy shivers. I bought her a sweater, but she won’t wear it. Sometimes I try to wrap her in my jacket, but she’s not having that either, so I throw her ball and try to get her run and then she comes back to her chair, warm for a little longer. #dailyroxydog #huskychihuahua #dogssittinginchairs
“I got a secret I should tell. I’m going up to “I got a secret I should tell. I’m going up to heaven in a split pea shell.” ~ @petermulvey43 Words Too Small to Say
Happy as a dog in a freshly dug nap hole. #dailyro Happy as a dog in a freshly dug nap hole. #dailyroxydog #huskymixesofinstagram
I saw this little dresser at my favorite magic ant I saw this little dresser at my favorite magic antique store sometime in November and didn’t buy it. But then, of course, I kept thinking about her. She’s the perfect size for my office, and I found those drawer pulls hilarious. When I finally went back in December, I told myself I was shopping for wall art, because I assumed she would be gone. But she was right where I’d seen her last: balanced on another dresser with boxes of old picture frames and tchotchkes piled on top (the true mark of a magic antique store). I didn’t even realize she had a towel rack — that she was a wash stand, not a dresser — until I asked about the price, said I’d take her, and my favorite magic antique store person asked if we needed to unscrew the towel rack to fit her in my car. I suspect this little sweetie is not from the days of necessary wash stands so much as from a country kitchen in the 80s. She was in rough shape, and not made from wood worth stripping and re-staining, but her price reflected that. I had to disassemble that door and put it back together, but I’d been in the market for some experience working with old furniture, and she made me feel brave about trying. I thought about painting her something more neutral, but I’m so glad I didn’t. She deserves to be pink. She’s not perfectly painted and needs a few touch ups. I learned some things about chalk paint and finishes. The drawers stick a bit. Eventually, I’d like to line them with fabric and when I do, I might plane the edges to smooth things out. But goodness, I love her in a way that I wouldn’t if I hadn’t spent time cleaning away her cobwebs and scrubbing the grime from her hilarious drawer pulls. She’s also become a little shrine for the book I’m working on, which makes me love her even more. I’ve always been a person who sees some soul in certain things, and I’m learning to cherish that idiosyncrasy, because there’s so much joy to be found in a brave little toaster or an underdog wash stand. We’re not here in the world for all that long. We may as well love some bright little things. #furnituremakeover
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