Spring Cleaning My Life

I tend not to make New Years Resolutions. I rarely keep them and then I feel disappointed that I couldn't even get halfway through January without giving up on whatever I resolved to do that year. For me, winter is dreary and dull and all I'd much rather stay in my pjs all day than load 4 kids into the car to head to the gym.

Instead, I typically get a burst of energy and motivation as winter melts away and spring begins to bloom. Something about the crisp fresh air makes me want to get all my ducks in a row -- I want a clean house! A fit body! Organized finances! Well-behaved kids! Yes, spring is definitely my favorite time of the year. And after this particularly brutal winter, being pregnant and dealing with the chaos of a cross-country move, I am more anxious than ever to blow away the cobwebs that have settled in all the crevices of my life.

A few months back, a Facebook friend messaged me asking if I could share with her my tips for how I keep my life so organized and together. Once I finished laughing, I thought long and hard about what I share on here and wondered if I am being genuine enough. I tend to write about the fun things we do. I share adorable pictures of my happy, smiling kiddos over on Instagram. And I post about the good moments on my Facebook page.

But, my friends, I rarely feel like I have it all together. In fact, more often than not I feel like a hot mess. I'm hard on myself and a little type-a and I swear if there is a medical condition that links a cluttered, unorganized house with a cluttered, unorganized mind, I so have it. 

Do I have many many good moments on a daily basis? Absolutely. And I love to share those moments with my friends, family and readers through social media. However when it comes to dealing with the everyday annoyances, mini-meltdowns, and personal insecurities, I tend to handle those on my own, privately, rather than complain in everyone's news feed. The really tough stuff on the other hand, well, I do write my way through those things.

Anyhow, what I'm getting at is this: I am not perfect. Not even close. My life is not perfect. My kids are not perfect. I don't have all the answers and I certainly don't have it all together. I fight with my husband over taking the garbage out or unloading the dishwasher. My kids make me want to pull my hair out several times a day. On a daily basis, I find myself doubting my abilities as a mother. I am plagued with insecurities about my body. 

Over the next couple weeks, I am going to try to harness the fresh motivation brought about by the change in weather to tackle some of those things. To change my attitude. Change my actions. A little spring cleaning for my life, if you will.

I'll be bringing back my Body After Baby series. I'll share my attempt at removing processed junk from our home (again), organizing tips, meal planning, parenting successes (and failures). And I'll round up some of my favorite things: blogs, products, recipes. I'm a work in progress and I hope you will continue to read as I get back to blogging on a more regular basis once again.

Happy Spring!