Boy it was a good motivation to let you all know I would be posting part 2 today. I may just do that with other things!
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A few people asked to see the tureens put back so there they are. I realized that I have room for one or two more if I put them closer together. Which made me very happy! I love searching for these kinds of things.
I decided that I wanted to change out the paper I have on my bulletin board, plus I had to take a few old things off anyway.
So that’s the old paper – just some wallpaper I have. I just tack it on to the cork portion of the bulletin board.
More fun to look at than just the regular cork don’t you think. You can use scrapbook paper, wrapping paper etc. I looked through my wallpaper stash and found this fun one to use
Monkey Toile!
Now I have a huge bulletin board in my office where I tack most of my stuff up on. So this one doesn’t usually have tons of stuff on it.
I also make my own decorative tacks – it’s very easy. All you have to do is to use either hot glue or some other strong glue and affix whatever you want to the top of a tack. Much prettier! There’s no reason for ordinary things to not be pretty!
There’s a little bookcase I got at Target years ago that sits under the bulletin board and on top is the phone and the mail basket. This is what’s on the shelves. The cookbooks I use most frequently and the take out menus on one shelf. Shelf two is all my kitchen towels, and the bottom shelf has the phone books and rolodex.
And finally, my clean and shiny kitchen floor!
I cleaned it the old fashioned way – on my hands and knees (actually part of the time I scooted around on my behind!) I like to clean my floors like that every so often. You miss alot when you just use a mop. Believe me, when you’re on your knees you see things you normally wouldn’t!
I’m very happy to be done with this! If only it would stay clean for more than a day (especially the floor)!
Some people have commented that it seems like I’m always cleaning or organizing something. I don’t think of myself as a neat freak (remember I haven’t cleaned my kitchen floor since Christmas) or super organized (I think of Martha S. as organized). I don’t really like cleaning, I’d much rather do something crafty or decorate, or read.
But, my feeling is this….my husband works hard for our family and I should work hard as well. I don’t work outside the home and my home is my work. I should do more than just re-arrange my furniture or change out my displays, or spend my time and money constantly shopping.
My husband and daughter enjoy coming home to a clean, pleasant home. I enjoy it too! I know many will think that it’s an old-fashioned way to think but that’s my view. Believe me I’m not a perfect homemaker, it’s something I work on all the time! Anyway, I just didn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea about me.
Love LOVE LOVE your kitchen!I agree with you about keeping your house pleasant and nice for your family. I am the same way! Wonderful! I also love your Lime green walls with the checkered.
xoxo Emily
I think your kitchen is fabulous! I love the little touches that change so much! Even just the paper on the corkboard! Its genius! Your kitchen is gorgeous! Keep it up girl!
Smile,
~Abigail
i love the idea of the paper on the cork board! you are so brilliant. i think you do an amazing job at keeping your home inviting and clean so that your family enjoys coming home. that's very important! and i agree about scrubbing the floors the old fashioned way on your hands and knees. i try to do that once a month and the other times i use my steam mop. there's something about the way it looks, feels & smells when you scrub it by hand that makes it so wonderful! – until everyone comes home that is, LOL.
Yes, every so often, the floor must be cleaned that way to FEEL like it’s clean! I agree with you wholeheartedly on your attitude about being a homemaker/homekeeper! Good for you to model that to all who are reading your blog. And you do a fabulous job of it! You are so creative!! Thanks for sharing!
Suzanne
I’m with you on cleaning floors on your hands and knees. I mop occasionally, but ever once in awhile, I need to get on my knees. After 50 years of keeping house, it’s getting harder, but I still think it is important. Now, that my husband is semi-retired, he helps with the housework. But for years, that was MY job, and I was happy to stay at home and do it. Have a good weekend. Sally
Your kitchen looks great! And I loved hearing your philosophy of cleaning! Your family is blessed!
Shilo
You have a gorgeous kitchen and I plan on redoing mine sometime this year. I am getting great ideas from all the beautiful kitchens I’ve been seeing. 🙂 I understand wanting to have a nice clean home. I am slowly working on decluttering and organizing to get it in good shape. I’m going to copy your bulletin board idea and give you the credit when I post it on my blog.
You have such a pretty kitchen and I love the cork board idea!
Well you are faster than I am LOL…it took me like all day yesterday just to clean out the fridge!
I love the color on your walls. And i’ve always liked the black and white floors.
I am far from being the neat freak i use to be. Seems like when you have children, they love the neatness, but you can’t keep it the way you left it because they come along and put their own touches on it.
Ciao
I love those tureens……they are perfect up top and I’m sure you can fit some more in…there is always room for more when it’s something you love….I agree with your housekeeping skills..I always clean my bathroom floors on my knees and the kitchen floor, well with a 135 pound drooling dogs and broken cookie parts it’s tough to keep it clean, but I sweep it a couple of times a day and wash it about once a week…
Your floor looks great! I recently did our wood floors on my hands and knees and you are right – I saw alot I normally don’t! 🙂
Thanks for sharing simple things such as cleaning your kitchen. It is reality for us all.
I also so appreciate your view about your work at home for your family – sounds right to me!
I have always loved your kitchen! The colors and patterns are soooo me!
I love your attitude about keeping house. You are my role model Manuela!
xo
Penny
Your house is beautiful. I am the same way with cleaning. I am also home and enjoy having the house nice and comfortable.
It looks so fresh and clean. I like to clean my floors that way also…lately I haven’t been able to and Mr B pitches in:)
The soup tureens look so pretty and shiny.
I also like the new look of your cork board! Great creative thinking. You are a treasure.
♥♥♥
There’s nothing that says loved home like a clean and sparkling one…now that’s just my humble opinion, of course. You did a splendid job and now I’m thinking that I’ll take you up on your challenge to get down and clean the floor the old-fashioned way.
I clean both my bathrooms and my kitchen floor on my hands and knees. It just doesn’t feel clean if I don’t. Not that I do it nearly often enough…
You have a noble profession and you do it well. I aspire to be more like you. Thanks for sharing your home with us.
Great job. I clean my floor on my hands and knees, too. I just don’t think a mop is near as thorough.
I understand completely! By cleaning regularly then most of the time it is not overwhelming.
It’s when I put off any cleaning that it becomes such a big deal.
You motivated me when I read your last post. I only have one soup tureen but everything I have on those shelves was very dusty.
So I washed what needed washed and dusted what just needed dusting. 🙂
and THAT is why I love your blog : )
Those are my sentiments exactly. I love being a homemaker, wife and mother. No better job for me!
Manuella
I really love your blog. I love your kitchen. Sure wish I had one even 1/4 the size of yours. If you ever want to get rid of any of your tureens. Just head them this a way. Sure don’t find many here. Yours are quite a bit more interesting than mine.
Sibyl
I love your kitchen. I totally love your cork boards. I can do that in my little girls room to brighten things up! Thanks for the great idea!
That floor is awesome! I do that with our floors too now, it’s the only way to get them really clean and it counts as a workout. 😉
I know what you mean able seeing things differently down on your hands and knees! I’ve noticed that a lot lately in my house! Things are pretty clean at eye level! ha-ha! Your kitchen looks beautiful!
Your kitchen is beautiful and so cozy! I also love how you decorated the cork board and I agree with you on keeping a home. :0)
~Kelli
Your kitchen is lovely, as is your home. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about the way you keep your home. You are awesome.
I have always loved your home, your kitchen. Each image just quickens my pulse! I think it all looks so wonderful!!
Love,
Sue
I love what you said about being homemaker and I totally agree! Love the bulletin board, the floor, well just EVERYTHING!
Everthing looks great. I really like the toile window treatment.Know what you mean – I started a 10 min. project yesterday that lasted 2 hours
Glenda
Your kitchen is so pretty. Love the tureens on top of your cabinetry. I always feel so good when I accomplish a big cleaning job like that. laurie
Hi Manuela. I love the colors your use. I remember when I was able to get on my hands and knees and clean the floor. I’d give anything to be able to do that again, but my knees won’t let me. I too feel like you feel about keeping house and making it nice for a working hubby. I think that’s the way it should be. Thx for sharing and take care.
I like a clean and pretty home too, but being out at least 10 hours a day it’s a little hard to do that. When I’m home I like to cook (not the cleaning after) and read and spend time with my daughter/husband/friends. It leaves no space for domestic stuff. But I promise to be more active on that front, it’s my 2009 resolution!
The soup tureens and the Cupboards compliment each other so nicely.
I also must scrub the floor on my hands and knees from time to time.
It is only recently that I broke down and started using a mop sometimes…that way it gets surface cleaned more frequently…
You do not have to apologize for being who you are. Even if you were a neat freak it would be fine if it was how you wanted to keep your home.
Your home is lovely and I think it is great that you are willing to share the techniques and ideas with the rest of us!
Have a great day!
This was fun! I loved seeing your kitchen. Your colors are so fun! You motivate me to do more in my kitchen!
Your kitchen looks beautiful!! What a lovely space :)! I agree that being a “Home-Maker” is my job. It takes a lot to truly run a home, and I think it’s great when we women do it with a loving heart!! Doesn’t mean it’s always easy or fun, but I think to care for my family in this way is so important!
Blessings,
Stacey
I love your kitchen! And I completely agree with your perspective on your home being your work–we have had family members comment on the house being clean, and I always just say that it’s my job. I stay home with our son and keep our home. And I love it!!
Hi Manuela, Love the paper idea on your cork board…I never would have thought of it…just beautiful and much more elegant then plain cork.
Ruth
More amazement on my part Manuela! You have been so busy! I love your kitchen and especially love your little touches and philosophy about the ordinary things being pretty too (i.e., the thumb tacks and bulletin board). LOL I got a kick out of your tureen collection and the comment about room for more (that is such a “me” comment too). Thanks for the inspiration.
Warmly,
Traceyxo
Your kitchen is so pretty.
I have the black and white toile in my master bed room.
I haven’t felt you were always cleaning or organizing something, really people think that. I think your do a great job. Sometimes we have to clean or organized or it will just get worse.
Do what works for you.
I’m off to clean up my house.
Have a lovely day.
You have a beautiful home. I agree with your thoughts on keeping a neat home for your family. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
Julie
Manuela, your kitchen is beautiful. I love the color of the walls, it’s very similar to the color in my dining room. And you could eat off of that floor! Although, then it really wouldn’t stay clean for long.
Love your kitchen!!
Great job as always!!
Rosemary
Very pretty! Yes, sometimes the blog readers make me accountable too. It’s good!
I so love your blacksplash in your kitchen. I think it is great what you are doing and proud of your home and you manage to make it look like a million bucks but on a budget. Your are an inspiration to me.
I love those tureens on your cabinets. So lovely. You’re right. We as women make or break the attitude in our homes. I try to make a peaceful place for my honey and family. Mimi
Good morning, Manuela! You were the winner in my giveaway! Please email me your address so I may send to you the prizes!
Congratulations!
Hey, you have been busy, as usual. I know what you mean about cleaning. It's not on the top of my fun list either, but something that has to be done. And I'm with ya on the kitchen. It's the dirtiest are of our house, since it's the most used & me & hubby both work from home.
Your kitchen is SO cute & very well organized. I love how you have it arranged. I'd love to find another big soup tureen myself. I have one big one & need another to balance it out.
Really like your kitchen and your fun creative touches. The tureen collection is great! Are they old or a mixture? And I am with you, I am on a break now but back to cleaning. I got behind having this flu bug. And like you I am a stay at home house mouse, so I try to keep up with most the around home things since hubby works so hard.
Actually feels good to get back to it after laying around being icky!
Enjoy your weekend!
Linda
I love the colors in your kitchen! I think it’s time for me to do the same thing too. My kitchen won’t be as pretty as yours when I get done though. I wish I could paint my kitchen cabinets too!
Your kitchen is beautiful and your post inspires me to work harder, darn it! lol, love that floor!
Just love all your tips for the kitchen. Adore the paper on the corkboard! I love the rooster calender! lol Your floor is so clean I think you could eat on it. lol I get a hand brush and scrub with my hands all so. Then go back over with a cloth! Thanks for all the tips
Always a treat to catch up on the wonderful things you share Manuela! You never cease to inspire with the beautiful things you do, but also the spirit in which you do them!
Thanks dear!
PS. Your kitchen is FABULOUS! Love that sink. Oh how I miss my old sink, you are making me want a new one already in this house! Sigh! Someday!
blessings,
melissa
You have a beautiful kitchen. I love your attitude about your “job” at home. When I was a SAHM I felt exactly the same way.