When I prepare for any event in my home, I tend to go overboard with the lists. Lists for food, ingredients, prep timeline, cleaning, etc… As a natural list maker, this is a good thing. In theory, right? Nope! Just because they make it on the list, doesn’t always mean they get checked off.
This week I am preparing to host a ladies brunch, so I figured I’d “bring you along” with me, or at least give you a sneak peak into my list-filled brain. I also plan to walk you through the steps of how I organize my thoughts into a scheduled list and get all (well, most) of the items checked off.
Naturally, my first course of action is to walk around my house and say those dreaded words, “Everything is a mess!” Yet, in reality, I have been working over the past few weeks to organize various zones around the main living space in our home. (Everyone is our house has pitched in for this and for a larger organization project in the exterior “living” spaces around our property. Stay tuned for a video all about this over on our Youtube channel.)
So, I force a deep breath, look around again as I make notes of the state of the various zones in the main living areas. I notice many are tidy, and some areas need a bit of extra attention. I pick up my phone, open the memo app (gone are the days of handwritten lists) and start jotting things down. Piles, dust, cobwebs. It’s a bit real out here in the country. And, lest I give the impression I have “it all together,” I want to be very clear. I don’t!
Making The List
Ok, so you’ve walked around my living room and seen (okay, heard) about the piles and the thick layer of dust. How do we make that list AND tackle all the to-do’s before the big event
- Brain Dump- Write down all the thoughts swirling in the brain. Don’t worry about order so much, as just getting it all down. This includes everything you ideally want to complete before a certain deadline. Be sure to note that deadline as well, as it is necessary for step 3.
- Create Order- Reread the list and group things according to similarities. (This is so much easier on a device than when using paper. If using paper, just be sure to use a pencil!) These could include location, job type, job tools (i.e. duster, vacuum), person for the job, etc.. Put a star next to items that are ideal, but may not be practical. (I often create unrealistic tasks for myself, like cleaning all the baseboards, cabinets and scrub floors for a simple event like hosting friends, in 2 days. They aren’t looking at the baseboards, and if they are… So what?!)
- Create a Flow- Now that things are grouped according to job or location, decide how many days you have to work on this list. Then, realistically, rearrange the items according to specific days (or times during those days, if you have babies or are really busy.)
- Execute- Start tackling those jobs scheduled on day 1. If something isn’t completed on the set day, move it to the next day (or the next available time slot.)
- Breathe- I often forget this, and my hubby is quick to remind me! If everything doesn’t get checked off, or if it does, when the big day arrives: Just Breathe! Nothing else matter but the event. (The dirty floors you saved for last minute probably didn’t need to be cleaned until after anyway.) Enjoy the guests, the people in front of you, and forget about the list.
Keep in mind that just because you have made the list and have a plan, you are not off the hook. It’s time to get to work. And, enlist others to help! Kids are great for smaller jobs (like those pesky baseboards mentioned above!)
What’s On My List
Maybe you love those day in the life blog posts or videos, just like me… And if you do, this next part is especially for you. Below is an unedited, real-life version of my list. It’s gross and dirty, but most of these items have been put off too long.
Day 1:
Piles- Put away papers on woodstove; papers on desk; papers, book and other things on island; give away pile next to island (move to van.) Why are there so many piles around my house?? Neat, “tidy” piles of junk 🤨
Dust- all wood items in living room We really have a lot of dust in this area as we’ve had baby chicks in the living room for several days! Yuck!!
Day 2:
Front porch (With kids)- finish removing chicken wire, sweep, wipe down railing, remove cobwebs, *weed the large “dirt” bed
*Back porch- Tidy furniture, sweep floor, dust cobwebs
Day 3:
Hall Bathroom (With kids)- Deep clean This is the kids’ bathroom and they are fully responsible for cleaning it during the week. When we have company, I often join them to really get in all the nooks and nasty crannies.)
All Main Living Areas/Zones- The kids and I regularly clean Monday, Wednesday and Friday in sections that we call “Zones.” This will be done a bit more thoroughly on this day in preparation for company.
*Carport- remove cobwebs
Ok, now that you see all the work I have over the next three days, you will understand that I need to stop typing and get to work!
See you next time!
❤ Ashley
Beautiful.
Thanks!!