Home Sanctuary

Be More Creative in 31 Days

 

On the heels of my Tidy Habits series, I vowed not to talk about cleaning for a whole month. A WHOLE MONTH!

And everyone said, "Amen!"

For October, I'm linking up with The Nester's 31 Day Challenge to write about one topic for 31 days. I've never done anything like this challenge before, but I thought it sounded like fun, and that it would fit right in with my resolution to talk about Home Sanctuary...without all the tidiness.

So naturally, my topic is: Be More Creative.

 

Me, being creative

 

I will give you 31 tips, exercises and inspiration to become the creative woman you were meant to be. And I'm going to do it in A-Z order, with five bonus tips. 

If you ever wished you were naturally creative and artistic but felt doomed to live a life of straight lines and spreadsheets, this is the series for you. Together, we are going to break out of our perfectionistic prisons tendencies and be brave enough to spread our creative wings.

I know this is possible because I am living proof that art can be learned and creativity can be cultivated. 

I never picked up a paintbrush until I was in my 30's, and never really wrote anything significant until my 40's. (Unless you count the three poems my mother has saved from my childhood.)

Today, I make a living as an artist, write this blog and am writing a real deal book. It has been a journey of learning, taking risks and being brave enough to say "yes" to new opportunities and experiences. I'm excited to share my creative journey, my ideas and yes....my mess with you this October.

Don't miss a post. Subscribe to my daily posts via email by clicking on the Subscribe Form in the upper right hand corner of my blog. And be sure and check in each day for a simple exercise that will get your mind thinking creatively! I can't wait to see the results!

Happy 31 Days to Becoming More Creative.

 

I'll keep adding links to each post this month:

A is for Appreciating Art - All Kinds

B is for Bad - As in, make a bad one

 

Tidy Habits: A Summary of Sorts

You know, part of me really enjoyed the Tidy Habits series during the month of September. And part of me got just a little bit beaten down.

I started thinking that maybe YOU were thinking that I was thinking that Tidy People have it all together. That they are the cat's meow. That if you're Tidy you're better than the rest of us.

And secretly I started feeling a little critical of the Tidies. Yeah they may be tidy but can they sit on the couch and truly enjoy a mediocre movie like I can? Psh.

Don't get me wrong. The purpose of highlighting Tidy Habits was simple: to show how small changes in our thinking could impact our behavior so that we too, could become tidier, and thus enjoy our lives more. That part I really, honestly, loved. And I hope you did, too.

But by the end of the month I wanted to scream, "RACHEL, DO A SERIES ON CREATIVE HABITS for not-so-creative people!"

Because CREATIVE is where I live, people. And the land of Creative is messy. It's not pristine. There are crumbs on my floor and mushy zucchinis in my fridge and a ring around my tub.

That's because sometimes I sit and dream up designs and think about colors and imagine conversations and look at pretty pictures instead of tidying up all the time. Maybe last month I realized that I need to stop "just" talking about the kind of person I want to be and celebrate the kind of person I actually am.

Which is:

Creative, always on the look-out for inspiration. 

Tired a lot. (Yes, I know I should be taking iron.)

Concerned about my neck wrinkles.

Crazy about my family.

Serious about making this place a sanctuary.

Convinced that Sanctuary is not about tidiness.

 

The truth is, writing about cleaning is easy. A series on Tidiness? Piece of cake. Hard....is writing about the stuff that really matters, like forgiveness and grace and listening to your teenager's music that you can't stand. Hard is writing about failure, the kind where you fail people you love in ways that hurt them deeply. Hard is talking about babies you lost and disappointments you face and realizing that you will never get a part in a major motion picture or have a fat bank account because of choices you made when you were younger. Hard is dealing with the baggage you brought into your marriage, or the fear of the future, or the agony of the present.

Hard is taking pictures of DIY projects and presenting them in an attractive manner. Hard is watermarking all those photos so people know where they came from on Pinterest.

Hard is writing about the things that matter most. And when it's 11 pm and I'm sitting down to write a blog post after a long day, I often choose easy over hard.

 

So here is my summary of sorts. 

 

Having Tidy Habits is obviously a good thing. Keeping things orderly helps you function, creates an atmosphere of calm and certainly can't hurt your marriage. It's nice to be able to find your car keys when you need them. I like having clean clothes handy.

But I offer this promise to you: in the month of October, I will not mention cleaning, tidying or spiffing in any of my blog posts. I will only write about the things I truly love, none of which involve bleach or elbow grease.

 

In October I will celebrate sanctuary by highlighting the things that inspire me:

colors, pretty things, music, art, family and creativity. Possibly food.

 

I want you to see the things that make make life good, not just clean. Because the mess IS the good part. The cheerios and toys and wet towels on the floor mean that there is life and goodness and love under this roof. That there will be whispered "good nights" and "sweet dreams" in the dark, and you will know that you are blanketed with acceptance and belonging as you drift off to sleep.

That is what sanctuary is really all about.

 

Will you color outside the lines with me next month? I'd love to have you along. Let's be inspired together.

Love you, Rachel Anne

 

 

Related articles

Habits of Tidy People

Tidy Habit: Structure

Tidy Habit: An Ounce of Prevention (+ Coffee)

Around the Barn

I'm heading off to San Antonio for a project this morning and will be gone through the weekend. I'll be back on Monday to recap my Tidy Habits series, but in the meantime, I thought I'd share some photos Tom took of Flash, Penny and me.

I still think it's crazy that Flash has become such a part of my life. When He arrived on our doorstep, we were in such a desperate situation that we had no time or resources to care for a homeless burro. He certainly didn't seem to be the answer to our prayers....I was thinking maybe a winning lotto ticket would be the answer, not this guy! But how God has used this unloved, unlikely and unchosen stray to speak His truth into my life is nothing short of remarkable.

 

Flash loves to be groomed.

 

Penny, our rescue miniature horse, is still very, very shy. She will only allow us to touch her nose briefly and occasionally pet her neck. Tom is working with her to bring her around.

 

Penny is a pretty little thing, huh? She's been grazing in a burr patch. Burrs all over her mane.

 

Our multi-cultural couple. Love it.

 

Each of us has "donkeys" in our lives - unexpected problems that show up and turn out to be blessings in disguise. I'm praying for you today, that no matter what surprises come your way, you'll find the silver linings and joy hidden inside. 

See you on Monday!

Tidy Habit: Storage

Oh, for a house with storage space! It seems every place we've lived has had a shortage of closets and cupboards. If I ever get a chance to design my dream house, it will have a whole storage room for off-season items, Christmas decor and family memorabilia. At present, I find myself squirrelling things into nooks and crannies and forever wondering, "now where did I put that?"

Have you ever noticed that Tidy People are really INTO storage? Even in situations like mine (no closets) they creatively find ways to put things away. Maybe this goes back to the fact that they get rid of superfluous stuff they don't need or use to make room for the things they do. They aren't constantly digging through broken toys and outgrown clothes to find an extra blanket or winter boots.

I so admire that.

 

Craft Storage!

 

Bathroom Storage! via the InspiredRoom.net

 

Kitchen Storage! via Country Living

 

Storage doesn't have to be fancy to be functional, but looking at these photos is inspiring. Pretty baskets, or matching containers, help me want to keep things in their proper places. I absolutely LOVE Laura over at OrgJunkie for her daily inspiration and storage ideas. I subscribe to her blog, do you?

 

Today's Small Thing is to tidy up a storage area.

 

• Find a shelf, drawer or closet that you use regularly. It needs occasional weeding and straightening to stay functional.
• Get rid of the unused items to make space for the things you need.
• Put "like things" together.
• Use ziplocks, rubber bands, envelopes, baskets and clean sour cream containers you can't bear to throw away because "they'll be good for something someday" to group things.
• Label. Get out your sharpie or your fancy-schmancy label maker and make your life easier by labeling things.
• Open your cabinet door or drawer about 50 times to admire your handiwork.
• Take photo for Instagram or Facebook.

 

I'd LOVE to see your storage photos! You can post them to our Facebook Page  or tag me in an Instagram photo (rachelridge). You can also tweet a picture and tag me on Twitter!

Related articles

Tidy People File Stuff

Tidy People Make Their Beds

Tidy Habit: CAYG Method

Tidy Habit: Structure

Habits of Tidy People

Tidy Habit: Structure

We free spirits balk at words like "structure." To our creative, fun-loving souls, structure sounds like prison. We want to live free to drop what we are doing so we can fly kites and raise chickens if we want and draw pictures and have lattes with with friends at sidewalk cafes.

I'll be the first one to tell you that those are all good things. I need to be able to color outside the lines and have options in my day or I just shut down.

Problem is, flying by the seat of your pants every single day can be messy. You can quickly find yourself in a quagmire of craft materials, laundry and dishes from last night's culinary experiment.

I've found that putting just enough structure in my day gives me a clear-eyed view of what needs to get done without putting me in a prison of endless chores. A simple housekeeping schedule is a lifesaver. It's a Tidy Habit.

 

Here is my most popular post on setting up a Housekeeping Schedule.

 Housekeeping Schedule. 

It is worth taking the time to review, because family life changes often. Work schedules change, kids grow, your needs fluctuate....so there will never be a "finished" schedule for getting things done around the house. Now that my kids are off on their own, I don't need it nearly as much as I once did....but there WAS a time I clung to it like a life raft, and I'm not even kidding. It kept me from insanity.

You will benefit from these posts as well, Step 1 and Step 2, which lead up to the Housekeeping Schedule. There are several downloads and blank schedules to help you.

Download and print away, my friends!

 

Today's Small Thing is to review or set up a simple schedule that will help you keep things tidy.

 

You don't have to be a slave to a schedule. It is simply a tool to break the enormous tasks into manageable bites so you have time to chase butterflies and rock babies. In the big scheme of things, having your sink empty of dishes is far less important than most other things women do in a day. This helps us put things into perspective and keep joyful so we can focus on meaningful relationships, serving others and having lattes with friends at sidewalk cafes.

How about you? Do you have a schedule that works for you? Do you use a two-week schedule? Never tried it? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Tidy Habit: Delegate

I love being a martyr.

No one around here knows what it's like to shoulder the weight of all the housekeeping, laundry, child-rearing and oh, yes, a JOB. I, and I alone, am responsible for the wheels turning, the homework management, the drycleaning, the dog feeding, the shoe locating and the cheerio unsticking. If only this ungrateful lot knew how much I sacrifice my own goals and dreams just to keep my family organized! Why, I'd be the CEO of my Very Important Creative Business if I didn't have to scrub every potty and pick up after these kids day after day. No doubt the world would recognize the greatness that this family takes for granted as they sit on the couch with their video games and ipods, asking for snacks served on a tray.

Oh, self-pity fits like a comfortable shoe. So snug. I'm warmed by the tears of despair that flow from my downturned eyes. My deep sighs as I go about my day are the only clue that my worth is less than a serf, that my duty is to work my fingers to the bone, and that my every waking moment is spent in servitude.

Is this you? Yeah, it's me too.

But Tidy People rarely have this affliction, this affinity for sorrow.

They know the art of delegation.

Sharing the work is an important part of family structure and function. Oh, I know. Everyone complains and groans when asked to pitch in, and the demonstration of lethargy whilst doing their jobs is more than a parent can take. But perhaps some of this is a result of inconsistent delegation on our part.

Ouch.

Making work - chores - part of every family member's daily life causes a household to run with a rhythm. There is less complaining, because everyone knows what is expected. There is more overall joy, because everyone is a part of the team. It makes each member feel significant.

Unfortunately, there is less martydom. You'll have to get used to feeling happy.

 

Today's Small Thing is to delegate.

 

Give plenty of heads up. "Today when you get home from school, you'll pick up your room before you watch TV." (said cheerily.)

Don't bribe.

Don't give a long list. Better to get the family in the habit of doing one or two things consistently, than occasionally slamming a long list on the table and saying "I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU PEOPLE!" Very ineffective approach. (Trust me.)

Give a time limit. Every job takes as much time as allotted to it...so don't make it drag on.

Rotate jobs. Try a spinning wheel.

Show appreciation, but don't act like they've done you a big favor for picking up their own socks. 

Use a chore chart. ListPlanit has a bunch of great ones!

Here are my Top Ten Tips for getting kids to help around the house.

 

What are YOUR tips? Please share!! What tips will you make use of today?

 

Now, how about some coffee, the virtual kind? Link up for a chance to visit with new friends. Simply share what's going on in your life! We'd love to know.

Related articles

Tidy People Know the Power of Now

Tidy People File Stuff

Tidy Habit: Margin

Habits of Tidy People

Tidy Habit: CAYG Method

Tidy Habit: Start

Power is Out!

Hi Ladies! Our power is off and we don't know when it will be back on. I'll post Fridays Tidy Habit and Coffee link up when I can....see you then! Love you, Rachel

Tidy Habit: Margin

 

Years ago, when our family was bursting at the seams with activities and responsibilities, we stumbled across a book that resonated with us in a big way. It was  Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Dr. Richard Swenson.

Its premise is simple: Margin is the space that needs to exist between ourselves and our limits. It is something held in reserve for contingencies or unanticipated situations. It gives us room to breathe, to thrive, to enjoy. It is the prescription for overloaded lives.

We made a commitment right then to sign up for fewer activities, a decision we continually have to revisit when we find ourselves running ragged. Overload tends to creep in every time we turn around.

Margin does not come naturally to me. If it takes 20 minutes to get to church, I leave the house 20 minutes before church starts....forgetting that it takes a few minutes to load up and several minutes to park, unload, find a seat and greet fellow parishoners. Margin says, "leave yourself 30 minutes." I feel less stressed and more prepared to participate in the service.

I notice that schools do a better job of building margin into their schedule than I do. They figure out how long it takes to pass between classes, and create "passing periods" for students, rather than ignoring the necessity for travel time. 

When I don't build margin into my schedule, I fling my clothes and shoes on the floor to change into what I need for the next event. I leave dishes in the sink and the craft area a mess because there is no time to organize and clean before rushing off to do the next thing. Overload makes for chaos because there is simply no time to pick up, put away and organize. Then I wonder why I'm three feet deep in debris in every room.

Margin really is the cure, and it is an important Tidy Habit. It's a Lifestyle Habit.

 

Today's Small Thing is to create margin in your schedule.

 

Leave extra time for the unexpected traffic jam, slow customer service line, or time to thaw the chicken for dinner. Remember that projects always take longer than you think, so give yourself the gift of an extra chunk of time to get organized before, during and after your work. Look at your calendar: is it back-to-back-to-back meetings, phone calls and deadlines? Work to space things out so you can breathe and be fully present, rather than thinking about the "next" thing you're late for.

And this is really, really, really important:

Margin not only helps us be tidier with our stuff and our time, but it allows us to be available to serve others when we see a need. It gives us time to be creative, inventive, gracious and giving. We can be the kind of people we know we are meant to be. This is what our souls long for in this busy world.

Margin.

 

Tell me your margin story. Are you on Overload? Do you need space to breathe? Have you begun to create space in the areas of your life that are stressed? How has this helped you? We'd love to hear!

P.S. So sorry about not posting yesterday. I took a Benadryl the night before and it KNOCKED ME OUT! Went to bed early and could not, for the life of me, wake up early enough to get this posted! No more Benadryl for Rachie.

P.P.S. The link above to Margin is an Amazon Affiliate link, which means I'll earn a few cents if you purchase. I'll only use these links on books or products I believe in and think you might benefit from. 

Praying for You Today

 

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.

"They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Jeremiah 29:11

 

Hi Sweet Company Girls,

I've got a full day ahead of me today and I'm up early to prepare for a meeting with a potential client. It looks like a great mural project, so I hope that it will be something I can be involved with. I'll let you know how it goes.

I woke up thinking about the many different women who read my blog each day, and how each one of us has a battle to fight. Each of us has a set of circumstances that settle on our minds and fill our hearts. Sometimes with anxiousness, fear,  or uncertainty, or maybe with hope and gratitude. Sometimes it's a mixture of all of those things.

I would love to pray for you. I'll be in my car a lot today, and I like to use my drive time to pray and meditate. If you have a prayer request, feel free to leave me a comment and let me know. You don't have to share the specifics unless you want to....just your name and maybe a general subject is all.

And girls, would you lift your sisters up in prayer today? Pick one request and cover it in prayer. I believe in the power of prayer and it's good to remember that we are all in this journey together.

I'll continue my Tidy Habits series tomorrow...but today, please know that I'm thinking about you and praying for you!

With love,

Rachel

 

 

Tidy Habit: CAYG Method

 

Oh, those Tidies. Sometimes it seems like they don't work very hard. I never see them break a sweat over cleaning up kitchens or shovelling out bathrooms. It's like they have little fairies that keep everything nice while they whiten their teeth and inspect their cuticles.

How DO they do it?

I'm glad you asked, because this month's series is all about Tidy Habits. It's a peek into the lives of Tidy People, the people we aspire to become. I can't get anyone to 'fess up to employing fairies, but I HAVE learned a thing or two about their top-secret methods...which I am revealing exclusively to you.

So, here's a bombshell for you: Tidies utilize CAYG.

That's neatnik code for "Clean As You Go."

The reason Tidies never seem to have huge piles to pick up is because they....well, clean as they go.

They rinse and soak pots, pans and utensils as they are making dinner.

They wipe down the bathroom counter and sink after they brush their teeth.

They throw out junk mail before they set the rest of the mail on the desk.

They put their clothes away right after they wear them! Mercy.

They grab an extra handful of debris every time they get out of the car.

Goodness. These people even put their toiletries away each morning!

They return tools to their storage spot each time they use them.

Maybe you are getting the picture. The point is, it only seems like they never do major housecleaning because they always make picking up, wiping down, and putting away PART OF EACH TASK.

Not part of a disaster relief program.

 

Today's Small Thing is to CAYG: Clean As You Go.

 

What would your home look like, if TODAY you simply put away what you took out, wiped down surfaces you use, returned things to their storage spots, hung backpacks after school and washed dishes as you went along? 

Why, your home would look purdy darn tidy, my friend.

 

Do you CAYG? What is your favorite CAYG task? How can you make this a habit each day? Do you help your kids emply CAYG?

 

Related articles

Tidy Habit: Get Up Earlier

Tidy People Throw Things Away

Tidy Habit: An Ounce of Prevention (+ Coffee)

Tidy Habit: Start

Tidy People Make Their Beds

Habits of Tidy People

Tidy People Know the Power of Now