a clean sweep

today was a good day.

it started with this:

and then something even more amazing happened.

i had started getting the house in order for a play group i was going to have this morning (the same people who were supposed to eat the above coffeecake).

but when no one was able to come due to everyone and their mother having the plague (b/c it's plague season)... i kind of just ... kept... cleaning.

i know, i know. crazy concept. ME. wanting to clean.

but something came over me and before i knew it (not really, it took all day)

i cleaned my whole house.

not sure it has ever looked this clean.

notice i say "looked".

b/c it wasn't a deep clean. not sure that will ever happen on my watch.

there is still plenty of dust, film, and dirt on various surfaces (ie, my floors and windows).

but every single room is straightened and presentable.

laundry is put away.

hats/gloves/boots are organized.

i even moved some shelves and got a new system in place for winter-wear.

this always makes me feel like a new person.... moving things around. i just stand there and stare at it in its new place, with pride, like it's a new baby or something.

stuff that's been sitting in our bedroom for lack of a better place is now stored properly.

dust bunnies no longer hide under my dresser, bed, or in the basement.

i found the mysterious missing plug to our humidifier that we lost shortly after we moved here 4 and 1/2 years ago. i swear i've looked under my dresser for it a million times, but somehow, today, it was there! this may have been my favorite moment of the day.

or maybe it's tied with the genius organization of my newly moved shelves.

either way, very exciting.

i know there are days more worth of work to do in terms of organizing and true cleaning, but right now, i feel really, really happy. it's amazing what a little hard work will do for the soul. especially a soul that fights tooth and nail to avoid hard work.

but the cleaning bug has bit me, and i'm not complaining.

yet.

i'm sure in a few days when i realize that the hard work is not a one and done thing, and i have to start all over b/c i let it go for a few days... i will be tempted to complain.

as i like to say... it's so hard being an american.

...with my dyson vacuum and my automatic dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer, and my trusty 'clorox anywhere' spray... not to mention my clean, running water, flushing toilet, and warm shower. ... oh and healthy children... and devoted, hard-working husband...........

sheesh.

somebody slap me if i ever complain about ANYthing.

for now, i will sit here in my somewhat pristine livingroom, and glow along with it.