My Husband Was Right…

My husband was right. Yes, read that again. I actually admitted someone else was right. What was he right about? Well, for the past few years, he’s been telling me to hire a cleaning service for deep cleaning. And I resisted. I said we didn’t need to spend the $$ on it and felt guilty hiring someone else to do what I should have been doing. When we moved, I agreed to since I’ll be spending more time commuting. The cleaners came for the first time yesterday and cleaned. Best investment EVER! I left for an hour and a half and came home to a spotless, magazine perfect house. I should have listened to him a long time ago. I like a clean and tidy house. More than one person has called me “Danny Tanner”. However, I don’t always have time to clean it all at once or was too busy picking up to get to the deep cleaning. Then I’d spend my weekends deep cleaning and getting irritated when he asked me if I wanted to go have fun. Now I can spend my weekends relaxing and not worrying about what’s clean and what’s not. The cleaning service I found has a special for biweekly cleaning. That means every other week, they come in and do floors, bathrooms, kitchen, baseboards, EVERYTHING. I remember when I was younger and my grandma had a cleaning lady, I thought it was so fancy and that I’d never be able to do that. It’s more affordable than I thought it would be and the money spent is worth the time you gain.

In other news, I was scrolling through Instagram this morning and saw that Megan McCain (John McCain’s daughter) posted that it’s been 62 days since her dad died. When he died, James and I were in Arkansas for his final interview and checking out the town. That means in 62 days, we’ve completely changed our lives. He started a new job, we’ve moved, and the house in Sibley is closing soon. It’s amazing what can happen when you put your mind to it. And that got me thinking about other things that I could change in the next 60 days….there’s really nothing holding me (or you!) back from living my (your) best life. Like everyone else, I’ve been reading Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. She talks about how we are our own worst critic and about how we have the power to change our thinking and change our lifes. It’s not some new age mumbo jumbo..it’s real and it’s raw. I’ve listened to her podcast too and she has simple, practical steps to change your outlook.

Speaking of books, I also got Reese Witherspoon’s Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Making Biscuits. I LOVE Reese Witherspoon. I’ll watch any movie she’s in. She’s ambitious, smart, and funny. You never catch some paparazzi photo of her in sweats and looking horrible. And she explains why in this book! The book is filled with recipes, stories, holiday ideas, and other cool stuff. I’m making her Tea Punch for my upcoming Girls Weekend in Branson, MO. Every year, my college friends and I go on a trip and shop. We usually go to Minneapolis or Omaha. Since I moved, we’re meeting in Branson, MO. We’ve rented a cabin for the weekend and we’re going to Dolly Parton’s Stampede for dinner and a show. I love anything Dolly and since we’re going in November, we get to see her Christmas show. All my favorite things in one place- my friends, Dolly Parton, Christmas, horses…I can’t wait.

Oh, and while we’re on the Christmas subject, I have 2 things to mention. 1) Hallmark starts their Christmas movies today. Yes, I love them. Yes, I know every movie ends the same. But it’s Christmas and at Christmas we need happy, warm fuzzy movies. I don’t put Christmas stuff up until Thanksgiving because I believe Thanksgiving doesn’t get enough credit. ( It’s a holiday where all you have to do is eat and watch football.. 2 of my favorite things). But I do watch a few Hallmark movies before Thanksgiving. I usually just have them on while I’m cleaning but since I hired my cleaning, maybe I’ll see a few this year. And 2) Author Jen Lancaster posted on Instagram about the big decision we all have to make in November. No, not the midterms (That’s big too but I’m tired of politics!). We all have to decide whether we are Team Ulta or Team Sephora. I’m Team Ulta all the way. I love Ulta because you can get drugstore makeup and high end makeup in one place. The rewards program is great and the associates are friendly. Whenever I go into Sephora, some 21 year old is telling me what to buy and acting like she knows more than me. I always want to say, ” Honey, listen, I’ve been blending out eyeshadow since before you were born. I worked at a makeup counter and took professional lessons. Now watch the master…” I know they’re just doing their job, but they have no idea how to put eye makeup on eyelids that are a little saggy! Although maybe one of them could teach me how to be better at putting on false lashes. A new Ulta just opened up in Searcy so I’m going to go check that out soon!

And on that note, I’m going to turn on Hallmark and wait til James comes home from work. We’re gonna check out a gym tonight and possibly join. I also checked out doggy daycare and boarding for Deuce. I can’t believe all of the great places I’ve found around here in the past 2 weeks!

Have a GREAT weekend!