Instead of today’s usual Inspired By: Fridays post, I participated in a show-and-tell guest blog for Leigh-Ann at her blog, Freckled Nest. Head on over to check out my five favorite finds, and maybe you will be inspired to go treasure hunting at the thrift store this weekend!

Today I am honored to be a part of Danielle’s “8 Weeks to a Better Me” series on her blog, Sometimes Sweet. Head on over to see some images of my home, with three great tips for easily making your home a better place to live.

Thanks for having me, Danielle!

Sometimes I’m too busy keeping a foot in every door, that I’ve no time to mind the clutter that has crept through my own. I take pride in creating a pretty and cozy home, with all of those personal touches that make it a nice place to be. But lately the dust is thick enough to write out “clean me” with a finger, it’s nearly impossible to walk across the floor without picking up little dirty bits on the bottom of your bare feet, and I have some misplaced furniture that needs a couple of hefty men’s strength to move. But if I look at my home with squinty eyes, or peer only at the places that have managed to remain clutter free, I can exist in this wide open space and still maintain most of my sanity.

I often feel like a bad homemaker for not keeping up with the day-to-day duties that come with having a home. (And before you tell me, “It doesn’t look bad at all,” just know that I’m showing you the rated G photos here… the places I allow my eyes to rest when it all gets to be too much. You should see my office area or my bedroom… eep!) I know Phil likes a tidy place to come home to. And I like a tidy place to get work done while he’s gone. But golly, that sun is finally shining awfully bright outside, and sometimes I have to choose between staying cooped up inside with a dust rag and a broom or hopping on my bike and high-tailing it to the nearest coffee shop. Today I choose the latter.