Tidbits From the Queen of Chaos: Cleaning Ladies and DVR

Two of the luxuries in my life that I can't live without. I know that I am a stay at home mom and I struggle with us spending money on a cleaning lady when I am perfectly capable of cleaning the house myself. Capable but not good in that I hate it and when is the last time you were good at something you hated? I hate it for so many reasons. Mostly because it is never done. Whoever said (I think it was Phyllis Diller) "Cleaning house with kids is like shoveling while it is still snowing" was right on and it makes me a mean mom. For example, if I just cleaned the floor and Belle spills milk or I just cleaned the bathroom and the boys pee all over the seat (if they even makes it in the toilet), I hit the roof. When I liked my house, when we first bought it, I actually liked cleaning it. I took pride in taking care of it. I thought, it takes care of me and I'll take care of it. My house no longer likes me and I do not like it. It shows me it doesn't like me by having a smoke alarm that beeps at odd times (usually just when I get Gia to sleep), having a setup that makes it impossible to ever change the furniture so I am stuck with the same thing, toilets that run, garage doors that get stuck and a whirlpool bath that I can't use because it leaks onto my kitchen table. So when I clean it, I am reminded of all of these things and it puts me in a bad mood. These are all minor and Leo says he'll fix them but that is for another post. Anyway, there are people out there that like to clean and paying them to do what they like and I hate keeps me sane and happy. I love my cleaning lady. I would go without food before letting her go and I often say that if was between Leo and her, I'd choose her. It's funny because I go crazy the night before or the morning of the day she comes. I run around the house making sure she doesn't think we live like slobs. I mean, she has to know that if I was any good at keeping the house clean, I wouldn't need her every two weeks but I don't want her to hate coming here.

DVR...greatest unnecessary invention ever. I don't have time to sit and watch hours of television. Does anyone, really? I am a TV addict. I'm embarrassed at the shows that are on my DVR. Though, I am happy to say, I still have never seen a full episode of Jersey Shore. However, Rock of Love used to be a staple as is 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom 2. I have every Housewives series on there, Top Chef, American Idol, The Voice, Celebrity Apprentice, Friday Night Lights, Parenthood, Law and Order and my favorite The New Adventures of the Old Christine. I bug everyone about that show but not since Seinfeld or Friends has a show made me belly laugh like that show. The best part is that anytime I need a laugh, I can go to my DVR and play an episode and instantly, I am in a good mood. How great is that? You can tell a lot about someone from what is on their DVR (thankfully, Rock of Love is off mine). The MTV shows make me feel like I am a great mom and really, really smart. The Housewives make me feel like I have no drama in my life. Top Chef inspires me to cook. Oh, yeah, I have Hoarders on there too. That makes me feel like my house is spotless but also inspires me to get rid of stuff. Friday Night Lights will be on there forever because it is nice to be able to see Tim Riggins whenever I want (he might play a teenager in high school but he is really 28, so it is okay). I love my DVR.