I keep thinking about the Magpie who wrote in a comment a few years ago about her “house hushing” process at the end of the day. I hadn’t known about this term of art before, but it is something Landon and I have intuitively done since we moved in together — wipe down counters, load and run dishwasher, return throw pillows to their rightful homes, carry laundry baskets upstairs. I love the feeling of restoration, of everything in its place, and I also love the concept of a conscious “hushing.” I’ve been thinking about that lately with my iPhone. I recently deleted about half of the apps on it. This was partly storage-related (I have a lot of photos) but I realized that you don’t need an app for everything; many things can be handled via web browser just as easily. I felt immediately lighter, as though I’d quieted the iPhone screen. I’m now looking around my studio and feeling a deep urge to “hush” this space, too. There is a lot going on. I’ve always hated the blinds in here; I think I’ll take them out. The bin of clothes in the corner could be relegated elsewhere. Etc.
Anyhow, today I want more of this kind of detail on how to carefully and lovingly run a household. We spend so much time managing these things; why not make visible some of the thought and strategy you’ve poured into them?
We have a separate thread dedicated to meal planning, but today I want to know how do you tackle:
+Clutter — specifically of the “party bag junk” variety?
+Children’s art / project storage;
+Laundry (how often? I know we talked about this in the comments on a previous post but I can’t find it?!);
+Chores for kids;
+Household supply management (i.e., toilet paper, dish soap, counter spray, etc);
+Grocery lists;
+Routine services like gutter cleanings, window washings, etc?
+After-dinner dishes.
Please share your thoughts on how you keep these daily/weekly admin tasks in a good groove!
One thing I’ve done recently (embarrassingly late into my tenure as a mom): ordered more than enough of each component uniform part so that the kids can get by for a full 5-6 days without needing the laundry done. I don’t know how I neglected to connect the dots on this in the past, but I was often doing laundry mid-week to make things work out, and this was unnecessarily disruptive.
OK, please share your tips, strategies, frustrations, fixes, rules, division of duties, philosophies, etc!
Post-Scripts.
+Related: the comments on this post about Sunday resets was fascinating. I thought everyone was going to share their elaborate meal prep and laundry routines but a lot of us actually treat Sunday as a day of rest and use Monday for catch-up on admin.
+What do you love about this life stage?
Magpie Meet Up in Raleigh, NC on 10/1!
My first fall Magpie meet-up is on 10/1 at Inslee’s Art Studio in Raleigh, NC! PLEASE JOIN. Yes, you! Bring a girlfriend or a mom and come celebrate art and sisterhood. Inslee and I will have wine and snacks and we’ll be chatting about books, creative practice, balancing motherhood with a vocation, and more. No need to RSVP but I’d love an email or DM if you’ll be there! All details here. You can also buy some of Inslee’s beautiful artwork/prints and I’ll be selling and signing Small Wonders and my new letterpress prints!
Shopping Break.
+Ordered this striped half-zip. I absolutely love the sweatshirts from this company. They’re super-soft on the interior and have a great fit. Several of their crewnecks are on sale right now — check out the perfect nantucket red color!
+Just got these Ogee contour sticks in — I mentioned them last week. They’re somewhere between a foundation and a concealer and my girlfriend raved about the darker shades for defining cheekbones (swipe beneath the cheekbone and blend) and framing the face (blend along the hairline). I was delighted to find that they are semi-sheer / easy to blend and apply. Some similar sticks from other brands are SUPER pigmented and can go awry quickly. I watched this tutorial on how to apply and found it really helpful…the video influenced me to order this trio of products as well. I just love the concept that these sticks are 88% skincare and 12% makeup. Definite “Maine-woman-in-the-summer” vibe — more about enhancing than covering up. What other products do you like from this brand?! I’m hooked!
+Ruti just released the coolest cords in great fall colors. Note that these are different from their on the loose pants. I think these run a bit smaller! Use code JEN-15.
+This notepad so many of you love whenever I share it is now on sale! Just a joyful little way to keep your lists together.
+Still my top undergarment obsession. Weightless, breathable, and just gorgeous! (I also love their relief bras for beneath tees. Insanely soft and comfortable. LE BEST.) Use code JENSHOOP15 for a discount.
+This epic skirt is back in the best fall color. Love it styled with a white button down and heel for an elegant evening out.
+$60 on-trend corded jewel necklace. Love the color combo!
+STOP, this puffer jacket from VB is insanely good. AND HOLY COW, this suede fringed number. No one does a statement jacket like VB!
+While you’re there: new additions to the VB sale, including this linen eyelet Kiki jacket. The coolest colors and silhouette.
+When my sister visited me earlier this summer, she was raving about these pajamas. The patterns are super whimsical and bold and she said they’re exactly what she wants to sleep in: like crisp, cool sheets. I just noticed they’re running a big sale — a perfect Christmas gift. She’d be super into these. I like the tennis racquets or seashells for myself! Anyone else a big fan of this brand?? (PS how cute is this quilted tote for a teen?)
+On-trend, under $200 bandana print midi skirt. I saw this and immediately thought of various back to school gatherings with other parents — this would be perfect with some suede boots or ballet flats and a little jean or suede jacket. Cool, casual, on-trend, comfortable.
+Cool girl jeans and a cool girl felted wrap jacket.
+These shearling clogs look divine.
+Cutest ditsy floral crocs for my girl!
+Fun way to bridge summer and fall. The croc handle is so good!
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“House hushing” was actually created by. Myquillyn Smith. Her newest book, House Hushing, just came out last week. You might want to check it out!
Love sharing household management ideas!
Party junk- I let them keep the goodie bag out for a day or two and once I notice they’ve lost interest I go through it and toss most and keep a few. I have a dedicated “junk toy” bin (it’s a decorative unassuming bin) that I toss the keepers in and the kids have fun going through that from time time to time and playing with all of their “junk”!
My 3 kids aren’t in any major sweaty sports yet so the majority of their laundry gets done on Sundays and put away when I find the time. My laundry gets done about every two weeks when I run out of underwear, ha! My husband does his own laundry. It’s always been our thing. He knows I handle 90% of the household tasks so maintains this as his chore. Towels and sheets get done as needed. I don’t ever feel too overwhelmed with this system.
My kids art/schoolwork- when they come home each day we decide keep or toss and the keepers go in a hanging bin in our mudroom dedicated to each kid. I’d say we probably toss 75-90%. When the bin is overflowing (probably about 3x/year) I go through it again and keep the best. Then I put them in a storage bin with hanging file folders for each grade. Each kid has their own.
I’d like to know how people organize art supplies, ours are always a mess!