Photo credit: Paperwork Etc.

Right now, I’m sitting at my computer, staring at the stack of unfolded laundry that mocks me from across the room, all the while wondering what kind of dinner I can scrape together with a box of macaroni, a can of tuna, and a bottle of apple juice. Sound familiar? What would Martha do?

In today’s world of 50 hour work weeks, is it unreasonable to try to be Superwoman? Is it even possible to be Martha Stewart, even for Martha if she didn’t have her crew of assistants? Or is it time to stifle the guilt, embrace the lack of perfection, and just roll with it?

I have talked to the experts on the subject - my fellow mommies - and I have come to a few conclusions I’d like to share with you:

• No, you cannot be Superwoman, unless you would like to end up in the hospital with an ulcer. You will have to decide what’s important to you and go from there. What is your priority? An immaculate home? Happy children? A turbo-charged career? Unfortunately, something has to give, at the risk of your health and/or sanity.
• The ability to delegate is key. You won’t be able to make a cake for the PTA bake sale, mop the entire house, pack lunches for the kids, and write a complete redesign of your client’s web site on your own in one night. What can your husband or kids do to help?
• When was the last time you did something for yourself? Have you exercised in the past few months? Taken a bubble bath? Or even picked up a book? Maybe it’s time for some healthy narcissism.
• Has the word “no” crossed your lips recently? If not, perhaps it’s time to give it a try.

What I’m asking is not a simple thing. After several years of thankless people-pleasing, I have finally come to the realization that I just cannot be all things to everyone. No, I will never be the woman who keeps a dust-and-hair-free home, my kids may eat popsicles for breakfast every now and then, and I don’t have the time to make every meal from scratch, but my family is all the happier for my having had this epiphany. My ability to embrace the imperfections and rise above them has made me a better and stronger person, wife, and mother. I deserve more, and, really, as Hubs likes to say, “if Mommy ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”

Tired of trying to be perfect? Join me in the forum and discuss!

Sara is a full-time writer, wife, and mom. She’s still working on perfecting the art of saing no. Find her at So Many Flavors, So little Time!

Hospitality doesn’t have to mean a perfectly clean home.  It doesn’t mean always having freshly baked cookies to share with unexpected guests.  Hospitality is an attitude in which we welcome guests (expected or otherwise) into our homes. Think back to a time when you maybe stopped by a friends home to say “Hi” and stayed awhile to chat.  Do you remember if they had stuff on the table?  Were the pillows rumpled on the sofa?  Dog hair in the corner?  Exactly.  People don’t notice what we think they notice!

Hospitality can be as simple as:

• A smile when you open the door
• Offering cup of coffee or glass ice water
• Just being yourself (they came to see YOU after all!)

Country Living Magazine has a great fantastic book out called “Home Almanac; Maintaining Your Home Month by Month”.

(pictures from Country Living Magazine)

Here is October’s list for fall home maintenance:

(not everything on the list will is applicable to everyone, but

it’s helpful to most of us in some way.)

Inside:

*Test and/or change batteries

*Reset timers for standard time

*Inspect windows for condensation

*Winterize air conditioners

*Shut off outdoor faucet valves

*Get your humidifier up and running

*Update your woodstove.

Outside

*Put up storm windows and doors

and remove screens

*Check window frames for leaks

*Disconnect garden hoses and store them inside

Deck, Porch, and Patio

*Empty dirt from planters

*Get outdoor furniture ready for winter storage

*Take care of your hanging plants

Visit the Blissfully Domestic Homekeepers Ning for more conversation!

Also check out:

Fall garden cleanup guide and also

AAA has a fall home maintenance guide online.

~Get many more great fall decorating, autumn menu, and home care ideas at HipHome~

Photo Credit: Reasonably Educated Bumpkins

Let’s face it: we’re all busy these days, so it only makes sense that we evenly split household responsibilities, right? Maybe, but it doesn’t always seem to work out that way, does it? That could be why you may find yourself standing over a sink full of dirty dishes, seething, while your Hubby lounges on the couch, in front of “Hole in the Wall.” Before you blow up, try these tips and keep the peace:

• When bringing up chores, try to ask for what you need, rather than nagging. If something is important, say so. Don’t expect your guy to be a mind-reader.
• Make a list of chores and see what you can negotiate and what seems fair. What are the things that need to be done and how often? You both have a say in the matter, and you will probably renegotiate the list in the future, so nothing you decide right now is set in stone
• Tell him he’ll get more sex. I know it sounds silly and potentially sexist, but according to a study conducted by Dr. John Gottman, men who regularly contribute to housework are more likely to have sex more often than those who don’t. The theory is that women who feel respected are more likely to reciprocate with their spouses.
• If nothing else, try a checklist. Stumped for ideas? Try this checklist from the Nest.

Bothered by chores? Join me in the forums and discuss!

Sara is not a marriage counselor, but she has been married for nearly five years to a man who’s her polar opposite in regard to tidiness. When not picking up dirty socks and random bits of food, she blogs at So Many Flavors, So Little Time.

Do you have piles of papers on your desk, or worse, your kitchen counter or dining room table?  Have any stray, ugly cords?

Here are are a few clever tricks that will get that clutter out of sight, and what I love best is that they are as attractive as they are functional:

• Use decorative boxes to keep mail, receipts and coupons in.

• Store items underneath a table and add a tablecloth that reaches the floor to conceal your storage.

• Display a pretty book in a stand, to hide outlets and cords on kitchen counters.

• Hang your window treatments wider & taller than the window and all the way to the floor, too.  Not only does it had height and drama, but it will hide those pesky outlets and cords, too.

Photo by Posh Living, LLC

• And finally, create a charging station for your electronic items by drilling a hole in the back of a drawer of a table for the electric cords.  Place the table near the entrance of your home.  Open the drawer and hook up all of your items and then when you close the drawer you will not have to look at them until the next time you head out the door.

Red Side Table Photo: Reginia Boling/Charging Table Drawer Photo: strabes

Do you hide clutter around your home? Please share your tricks & tips with us!

Bella Djordjevski is a contributing writer for Blissfully Domestic. She blogs about decorating on a budget at Bella Casa .