My resolution is to follow the 20 minute a day cleaning schedule posted on your site: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/the-schedule-house-cleaning-in-131142

I started off on the right foot, now I just need to keep going with it! It's made a HUGE difference. I even let the housekeepers go (for now anyway). It feels so much more relaxing to have the house clean and tidy everyday, versus that one magical day a month the housekeepers were there.

I did all 5 of these over winter break and it was wonderful! I tried staying home more and working on things that I had started there. This helped me spend less and bring less into the house.

Just read that a good way to get your day going as a mom, wake up the 30 minutes earlier to get your own "stuff" done, that way no dragon breath, (sorry to be graphic), secondly, make the beds before going downstairs, after getting dressed. Thirdly, clean the bathroom when the kids take a bath. We're in dire need of some storage in our lego strewn living room, we have a small space, I have resorted to the "what do we really love mantra".

This website helps me keep style, yet be functional and honest, I am a mom, and we are expecting our third.. Yes, buying only what I love- very important now that funds are tight. Inviting people over, equally important! Clean sheets and flowers-- even if just on my wall, it makes our home more cheery.

Im on the decluttering train lately, and my husband is on the "install a shelf' and create "order" train, the beauty comes after the hard work..in small doses. We also just painted, this has helped with the beauty factor..

I'm starting small: I'm resolved to keep my home workshop organized.

Mine include:
* I will remove my shoes, at the door, to signify that I've arrived HOME. Delicious moment.
* Setting up a tea tray, I promised myself I'd take a 15 minute break each day, no electronics and no distractions. Just a little break, like my mother and grandmother used to do, to appreciate my surroundings.
* Walking through my house monthly, asking, Useful? Beautiful? and if the answer is No either selling or donating the item (I donate to the thrift shop that benefits my local humane society so I feel motivated to keep things moving). Since I enjoy haunting the flea markets there's always something new-old that sparks my imagination. My own little decluttering/recluttering ritual... (a bit crazy but fun).
* I will COMPLETE more house & garden projects, not just get them started as I did in the past year, but really finish them off. Then I promise to stand back and admire the effort for at least a few minutes before moving on. In December I bought all the remaining supplies I need, and they're grouped together in the garage, so monthly I can pick another project and finish it.
* To make it easier for me to clean, and save money, I tried some extreme coupon tricks and stocked up on all my house cleaning supplies. Now, for the price of just one or two of each item, I have enough of each to last 18-24 months (which makes my food shopping trips easier since I'm not lugging heavy boxes of garbage bags and laundry detergent).

I love the fresh start a new year promises...

I started working on number 5 at the end of last summer. I feel so much happier in my home, and, as an added bonus, there's a direct correlation with an improvement in number 2. I've been working towards making sure I have people round at least once a week and it's making a world of difference to my housekeeping habits.

All of these but #3 are on my list this year. (I already do #3, lol). I'm most excited about the "having people over" one, but the others are also things that I'm really excited about.