Note that you actually have until Sunday to join in the fun! But next week, no {phfr}. Happy Thanksgiving!
I got this mat from Target, and replaced the two inadequate ones that were all I could find at the time. {Mats at the door are a must. Pleasepleaseplease get some sturdy “waterhog” mats that are big. There on the right is a really big one that dogs and people have to walk several steps on while taking off their coats, before entering my kitchen. Then there's another mat inside the kitchen door. You will invest under $50. So much cheaper than therapy.}
I tweaked some things in my mudroom — nothing grand, mind — but I'm just happier with the use of space and the pleasingness to the eye. Remember the front door exercise? I needed to do this.
Almost the same, but I decided that –
I realize that now I should address pipes and paint splatters. But isn't this a step in the right direction?
I'm trying, and I think these particular photos demonstrate this, to be that person on the part of the spectrum who makes you think, “Well, if she can do that, what's stopping me? Things aren't that bad over here in this life of mine after all!”
{phfr} is meant to share that sense with each other — that it's all good. One mom made my heart sing by saying she let go of her perfectionism and let her children decorate some wooden dolls. And you should have seen how adorable they were! The dolls — and the children 🙂
I sang because I am that mom too. Constantly comparing, constantly afraid to show any weakness — which is of course absurd, since one look reveals all!
I like to show you things I've been doing, because that's the kind of person I am. It's fun. I hope it energizes, and doesn't deflate, you. I know that you energize me! So thank you!
Actually, the whole project of small steps in this room to up my contentment quotient began with a stray comment from a friend about the usefulness of dryer lint as a fire starter.
Hmmm…. maybe I don't have to step all the way across the mudroom (I feel faint just thinking about it) to throw away my dryer lint! But I need a cute container for the lint! And what about the laundry detergent, anyway?
So I cleaned out this enameled pan (I use it for all sorts of things — lately on top of the woodstove during the power outage for a hot water supply). And the covered crock is just right for the lint. I may find other things to use instead, but I'm well on the way to more cuteness, don't you think? (The rubber mat is so that my dryer doesn't get scratched up, since things will get put on there.)
Now this is not so much about the unfinishedness being the {real} — it's more about my anxiety when it comes to ordering big loads of heavy stuff requiring large dump trucks. Anxiety. Attack.
It's all so final. What if eight yards of 3/4 golden brown is not enough? What if it's too much? What if I am not actually that fond of it? What if I'd rather sew up a hem?
But when the stone is raked out and the light fixture is put in over the front door, then people can come in this way! And not through the laundry room! I mean, good old friends always come in the back door, but you'd like an option that isn't sort of creepy and spidery, right?
I'll let you know what happens.
Kelly Heine says
Leila! I am so delighted to have your blog this early morning – just heading to bed but not before I tell you that I am happily a beneficiary of the contentment you convey in your conversation to all-of-us-out-here! May God continue to bless you and your family as you so graciously encourage us as only a friend and sister in Christ can do!
~Kelly
Sonja says
Your advice to get doormats that “mean business” has been so helpful! I got – admittedly not very pretty – door mats for my three doors and the amount of dirt I vacuum out of these babies every week? It sort of makes my heart sing.
Your detergent and lint containers are darling. It's such a good idea… too bad I have a stacking washer/dryer combo (actually, that's not bad at all, but you know what I mean) and my detergent box is hidden, so I have no reason to steal your idea. 😉
Charlotte says
My laundry room is tiny but a few years ago we installed open wire shelving to help organize the space above the machines and it's still working so well. I need new doormats that mean business. Mine don't have a good work ethic.
I know it's hard to read comments like the ones that make you cringe. Just remember that most of us in this crazy world today are broken in some way. It's bound to show up in a combox now and again. Most times I've been wounded or upset by even a “friendly” comment, it wasn't my problem to deal with, but rather, a personal problem with the person leaving it. Pray for them.
_Leila says
Charlotte, comments don't upset me but I do want to tell the person not to idealize my life, and feel bad if I see they have. It's a no-envy zone around here 🙂
Kate says
What I love about {phfr} is that it makes me actively LOOK for contentment. For me it isn't always a feeling or something that will just land on my doorstep but something I have to cultivate in myself. Like love and happiness it's a choice. But without a moment to sit down and sift through my week it can be hard to find. Thank you!
Breanna says
When you make dryer lint firestarters, 1) use up your old candle stubs–the ones where there's like a tablespoon of pillar candle left in the cup, you know what I mean? Melt those down in your ugly melting pan (at least mine is ugly). And 2) use old cardboard egg crates to make the starters, because then you don't have to pry wax out of anything when they've hardened, but put something under the crates because hot wax will leak through the cardboard at first. Ask me how I know.
Nothing makes me contented-er than having a use for the various and not always practical information I have stuffed in my brain. And this weekly feature has been a Godsend as I try very hard not to be discontent simply because my new home state is 1700 miles from my old home state. It's so nice to quit thinking about how weird the weather is and just consider wiping the spilled detergent off my washing machine.
Kris says
I just can't thank you enough for this post, for your blog, for the inspiration you are to me. For the sense of peace that I feel when I read your posts and say to myself that it really is all ok, and I'm ok, and I can do things like this. I just can't express how much it means to me.
Shannon says
I have a door mat on the inside and one on the outside! I totally agree that door mats are a must! also I am so glad I found the PHFR posts they greatly up lift me as well.
nadja says
Oh, your laundry room makes ME happy! Such order, such tidiness…
Ours is also a mudroom and the room where we store our milking equipment and jars, our butter churn, and it is a pantry as well. So it is almost never tidy for more than 30 minutes.
I have a pretty container for my powdered detergent, too. And it makes me {happy}!
Habou says
Love the post, as usual – that's my girl! The mudroom really looks and feels really great.
I have one comment about comparing oneself to others. On one episode of “What Not to Wear” Carmindy said to her client, “Stop doing the compare and despair thing.” That phrase has etched itself on my brain. Thanks Carmindy.
_Leila says
Haha — yes — no compare and despair!
Anitra says
I got tired of having wimpy doormats a few years ago. Got an industrial-sized one from BJs, and it has made winter weather a little less stressful – We can actually have multiple people stand on it (or sit, if you're my 3-year-old) and shut the door before taking off boots, coats, etc. – WITHOUT dripping snow, mud, and water all over the floor!
I wish my parents had one like this when I was growing up. I remember my mom yelling at me because (a) I walked past the tiled entrance in my boots/shoes OR (b) because I wouldn't get off the little doormat so other people could get into the house! It was a lose-lose situation.
My laundry is in the unfinished basement, so I don't care about making it look pretty. But I have gotten things moved around so it's a little more functional – yay!
Lisa G. says
Leila, do you know that in “The Way We Garden Now” by Katherine Whiteside, she says you can put vacuum cleaner lint in your compost pile – that must include dryer lint. She says anything biodegradable, without animal products. (in case you didn't know) 🙂
_Leila says
Lisa, hmmm. That's not a bad idea! I think the bag itself is biodegradable, right? Electrolux bags?
Laura @Show Me A Day says
When I have a laundry room of my own . . . I hope it looks like yours!
Any case, I DO have a mat from Target in front of our apartment's door. I LOVE IT. It's the floral Jacobean print and even though it has gotten a little worn down, it's still GORGEOUS. Go Target.
Melanie says
I have only come across your blog about a month ago and participated in phfr for a few weeks. It has been such a gift to me. In the daily routine of managing my little home and big family it can feel like I am in a constant state of controlled chaos. But when I sit down and reflect on photos from the week, I see contentment in my family. Now if I can work on feeling that in the moment. It's a journey, right? Thank you!
justamouse says
Thank you for posting that bit about comparing. I think we all need that time to time.
I just finished redoing my laundry area, too!
Kathryn says
I'm relatively new to your site, and this is my 3rd week doing PHFR. Thank you for the reminder about comparing ourselves to others. I'm constantly looking at your (and other) posts where the houses look beautiful and the meals are all homemade and I just can't keep up. Then I remind myself that I have a 5 year old, a 3 year old (almost 4 if you ask him), and a 9 month old who still needs to nurse exactly at 5PM when I'm trying to cook dinner. In my life right now I'm called to do the best I can to create a home FOR THEM, not for anyone else, or anyone to ooh and aah over. I do enjoy thinking back through my week to come up with things to post on Thursday. It has definitely made me more mindful of the wonderful things going on in our family right now, not when there's more money, or when the baby actually sleeps all night.
Adri says
Now don't laugh, but I think of you as a mentor! 🙂 Since I don't have a mentor, I just jump on here and nab your ideas and tips! I was telling my husband the other day about all of the things that I've gleaned from this blog (and I just started reading it in Feb.) and he asked, “Have you told Leila this?” So, now I can answer “yes', because I've thought of you and smiled many a time as I now prescribe to; “reasonably clean”, taking a blanket with me for my infant (even when it was in the 90's and who would dream of needing a blanket) because I was so thankful to have it on the plane and train during a trip this summer. I have 3 boys and a girl. Your post on raising boys and discipline–I recall this when needed. There's so much more, but I'll stop. Thank you…it really is a pleasure! 🙂
Margo says
I have that same enameled box with lid! I love it! Mine keeps the chocolate stash in the pantry right now. In the past it was a bread box, but when the bread was out of sight, it was out of mind and got moldy. And homemade bread getting moldy is sinful.
I love your tweaks. I need to carve out some time to tweak a room or two! My mental health would improve, I'm sure.
Margo says
and I wanted to say, thank you for your honesty and sensitivity to blogland. It can be wonderfully encouraging and inspiring, but it's easy to go over the line into dissatisfaction and envy. So easy. I try to focus my blog on the positive, but that can seem like a perfect life if people don't know me in real life.
Emily says
Wow, a great post. I can't tell you how much the phrase “constantly comparing, constantly afraid to show my weakness” resonated with me. I just have to say that I have been a long time reader/lurker here, but your words have been so encouraging to me so many times. Thanks!
see jane run says
And I am impressed that you can even SEE the tops of your washer and dryer. Ha!!
I think I know what the next task is over here!
Camille says
LL Bean has quite a selection of well priced water hog mats and they currently have free shipping on any order!
Mary says
I always have such a hard time spending money on mats for the snow and mud! But, you're right, they are an investment and the cheap ones just don't cut it. I keep finding that out over and over every year when I once again buy the cheap one 🙂
And lint as a firestarter…I'll have to remember that if we ever have my dream fireplace!
annafirtree says
Do you have any recommendation on how big the “waterhog” mats need to be? Is a 2×3 mat enough for a big family?(They definitely get more expensive as they get bigger.)
-Anna
_Leila says
I have a 2×3 one at the door and a 3×5 one in the passageway (and then another one inside the kitchen door like I said :). And I always think I should have more…
If you buy it at Home Depot it's $18 — and it's important that a couple of kids can stand on it while removing boots. Actually, when it's really snowy out I throw an old blanket on the tile as well so that their socks don't get soaked.
Here's what I think: You will save on cleaning products for the kitchen floor! Not to mention refinishing wood, which is what I have in my kitchen! I just don't even think about it with my mats.
womanofthehouse says
Yes, yes, yes! Mats at all the doors, preferably inside and out. It makes a huge difference. I love the containers for your detergent and dryer lint!
Lori says
Thank you for hosting this weekly link-up. It is my first time to participate and already I am happy to see new visitors to my blog and to be “meeting” new friends as I visit their blogs. Most of all, it is great to have an extraordinary reason to look at my life as it is right now and find the joy.
Colleen says
Just this week my husband requested that I start “saving” dryer lint to be used as a fire starter. I hadn't thought of a covered container, but that's a brilliant idea; thank you 🙂
Nancy says
It is so good to see a real home with furniture like I have …and the attitude that goes with taking care of what you have and being creative with it.
Rachel says
Well, let me just chime in…you are a total success.
And this is what I mean. What you do turns out beautifully.
And then I think, “Hey! I could do that! She just showed me exactly how to do that!”
And then I go and do it.
And then my place is a little brighter, too.
Thank you!
Elizabeth C. says
Oh those mats that fit our doorway and are nice to look at…I'm one of those that can never choose one that fits just right.
And BTW I'm energized…we show one another support here, or at least try too. So keep posting and sharing please…this reader enjoys and appreciates it.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Joy says
I need mats, especially in my side/kitchen door. The problem is that the door is at a ninety degree angle to the stove so whatever mat is at the door will also be in front of the stove. Or perhaps that is a positive. I'll have to look. Where is the best place to buy a mat like yours?
_Leila says
Joy, what if you put the mat the long way?
The scroll-y one is from Target, the others from Home Depot.
Joy says
I'll have to measure, Leila. It may be better just to get a really big one that fits both the door and the stove. The door is literally next to the stove. If the oven door is open, the kitchen door can't even be cracked open. When I'm cooking, I lock the side door and make the kids come in the front. 🙂
The next time I'm across town, I'll have a wander through Target. I really like the scroll-y one.
The person who designed this kitchen was crazy because there is also NO counter space next to the stove. The sink is jammed up against it and all of the counterspace is across the room. Fortunately it is a rental and I won't be here forever and I am thankful to have running water and a working stove so I count my blessings and throw a big cutting board over the sink to use as a makeshift counter.
Tracy C. says
I was on vacation last week and missed {PHFR}. Even when I miss posting on my blog, I come here to see yours (or Rosie's or Bridget's…) and all of the others.
This is my favorite blog link up precisely because of the tone you have set. I never feel envy or despair (gasp!) when I visit here or at those linked up. There is a great sense of esprit de corps that you have fostered in this weekly posting. I love to see what other women are up to and enjoy getting glimpses into their lives without feeling as if there's some sort of unspoken competition.
I do see you as a wonderful mentor and leader, but never intimidating. You really do give me the feeling of 'well, if she can do it….' May God Bless you and Happy Thanksgiving!
PS. My family was the wooden people painting family and yes, they were just darling! I am so darn glad we did it. I hope to do more with the kids with my new perfectionism-isn't-allowed attitude. It is so incredibly FREEING!