How I (attempt) to keep my home clean and organized

Imagine this, after a long chaotic, hectic, draining day you're finally home. You open the door and see a spotless house. Everything is in its place, there are no dishes in the sink, beds are made, clothes put away, it even smells fresh and clean. You don't have to mentally pile on another list if things to do, you can just relax. That my friends is the reason I strive to keep a clean home. That is my "ahhh" moment. 

Just a disclaimer I don't have kids or pets. When we first moved into our new house I was ocd about keeping it clean. Then as we settled in, things got busy and stuff piled up. To help keep me on track I created a cleaning schedule that has daily tidying, one day of deep cleaning, and monthly and 3 month goals as well.  This is printed out on the side of my fridge:

Daily:

Morning:
make bed
put clean dishes away
Evening:
After dinner clean dirty dishes
wipe kitchen counters, stove top, and sink
quick sweep kitchen
tidy kitchen and living room
sort mail
water plants
wipe down bathroom counter, sink and mirror after getting ready for bed

Weekly:
Friday (day off):
sweep and mop floors and stairways
vacuum carpets
wipe down kitchen appliances
scrub bathroom toilet, sink and shower
dust wood furniture

small space organizing

laundry
meal planning/ grocery shopping list 

Saturday:

yard work
trash/recyclables

Sunday:

weekly meal prep
Finnish all laundry
ironing

Monthly: (changes out every week)
1) wash bedding, wash windows and window frames
2) wipe down base boards, door frames, base board heating
3) clean ceiling fans, spot clean carpets and couches, self clean stove and scrub microwave
4)wipe down all kitchen cabinets in and out, clean inside of fridge, run dishwasher through clean cycle
Every 3 months:
change filters on coffee and water
wash curtains and shower curtain
wash all throw blankets, wash living room pillows/cases

For my deep cleaning day I'm lucky that while everyone else is at work I'm scrubbing, dusting, and sorting. I crank up the tunes and go to town.

I keep my cleaning products in a carry all tote so I can take it room to room

These are some of my favorite cleaning products

I use washable cloths to wipe surfaces

I use a steam cleaner for my wood & tile floors, I love that it only uses water and has washable cloth pads

As for organizing your home here are some tips

1) Sort similar items together and place them in the most functional place in your home

2) Use bins and baskets for small items and to contain clutter

3) Labels are always helpful (I want a label printer SO BAD lol)

4) Seems simple enough but put things back where they go!!! That way you can always find things.

I use bins to hold small items in drawers

My "junk drawer"

Again using a small bin in my bathroom drawer

Next to the door I have a basket of items we might need as we go out side, now I have sun block and bug spray, scrap paper to start our charcoal grill and Pat's wrist brace he is supposed to wear doing yard work

Also near the door we have a tray to contain smaller organizational items a key holder, mail basket and office supplies caddy

I use all different baskets in my home to contain clutter

Chalkboard labels in my cabinets 

 

Another tip is to constantly purge your home of unused items. 

Old worn clothes, decor you never use, the books you promised yourself you were going to read three summers ago, all have got to go. Someone else will make good use of your things, and your house will not overflow. I suggest keep a pile of items you notice you haven't used in years or are broken and donate about every 6 months. I have gone back into my bags and got something out that I realized I needed, that's why I say to wait a few months. If you don't even notice its gone in the bag for months, you probably wont miss it.

I hope this is helpful and motivational to keep a tidy home. Hope everyone is having a great week! : )

Thanks so much for reading

xoxo Brianna

nordstrom anniversary sale picks and stella and dot purchases

Here are some things I found online at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale that just started this past week. Most are at a discounted price but the beauty items are Nordstrom exclusive sets put together for just this occasion. I haven't purchased anything for myself but I did order a gift online.

nordstrom anniversary sale picks by bcecilee featuring black shoes

After my Stella and dot trunk show closed I was able to pick up a few Ah-dor-able items at a discount! You might have seen me post the pictures on items on instagram literally a second after opening the box because I was that excited.

The leopard chelsea wallet, sardina chandeliers, and double clutch in geranium

I love that these earrings can be a stud, drop or a chandelier 

I still have access to two half off items and the new fall line just came out TODAY! I can't wait to get my hands on some more goodies. I'm currently lusting after the new gold sutton necklace  and rose gold rebel necklace.

Maybelline color tattoo collection and review, including the NEW leather line!

The Maybelline color tattoo 24 hour cream gel shadows are a cream shadow or eyeshadow base. That means you can use them alone on the lid as a long lasting smudge proof color or you can add powder shadows on top to help them look more intense and again stay on longer. I typically apply these on my lid with my finger tips. The darker shades as a cream liner with an angled brush.

I have collected quite a few over the past couple years and I was VERY excited when I heard they were coming out with smooth leather like neutral shadows that are more matte then the original. I love matte shadows for everyday and one that packs a punch like these cream shadows and lasts long can usually be a little pricer. These however at only $6-7 depending on what drugstore you find them at. 

The original color tattoo line is mostly shimmers, and some mattes. The metal collection has all shimmers but are more pigmented in my experience. The leather line has all mattes and one shimmer. 

Heres my collection! 

From the core line is (from left to right) fierce and tangy (matte bright orange), shandy shores (irredencent white), Bold gold (shimmery gold), Bad to the bronze (shimmery chocolate brown), pomagrate punk (dark shimmery pink) and Audacious asphalt (shimmery silver grey)

From the Metal tattoo line I only have two, inked in pink (shimmery light pink) and barley branded (shimmery ivory) Both are great on the inner corners of the eyes to make them look more awake. 

Last is the Leather line. I have all five of the colors which are (swatched from left to right,) creamy beige (matte nude), vintage plum (matte dusty purple) deep forest (matte medium brown), chocolate suede (shimmery dark chocolate brown), and dramatic black (matte midnight black).

If I had to recommend five of my favorites that I use the most often they would have to be fierce and tangy, bad to the bronze, inked in pink, creamy beige, and dramatic black. 

Truth be told just go get all of the leather color tattoos they are so amazing! They are increadibly creamy and neutral I can see anyone using these!

Also who else is super pumped for the Real Housewives of New Jersey season premiere tonight! I love that Dina is back but not so sure about the new housewives just yet. The twins seem ditzy and the other one seems like she has a stick up her arse. haha Irregardless if I like them I know Im going to love the drama to ensue on this season! 

If you follow me on instagram which is also bcecile, I would appreciate if you could "like" my post of my new hair cut to help me win a gift card to the salon I go to! 

Thanks for reading!

XOXO 

Brianna : )