If I Start Spring Cleaning, Will Spring PLEASE Come NOW?!

Ok, is anyone else through with this weather?! I can appreciate lots of snow with the best of them, but this is just ridiculous. Poor school kids are going to have a three day summer vacation by the time they make up all of the snow days they've had. Not to mention the FREEZING cold temperatures!! We are in Kentucky, not North Dakota, I think Mother Nature needs to brush up on her geography a little bit. 

This morning as I was dreading getting out of my cozy bed, I started thinking about spring. It's only 38 days away! That seems so close...yet so far! One of my favorite days of the year is that first warm, sunny day when you can drive with your window down. Wind in your hair, sun on your face, arm out the window, singing your favorite song that you may or may not be playing just a little too loudly. Ah, does life get any better? Another exciting thing about springtime (some may not agree with this one..) is spring cleaning! Ok, ok, I know it's not the most exciting thing to do,  BUT just like working out, when it's all over it was so worth it! Who doesn't love a clean house? I'll be the first one to admit that over the years I have majorly slacked off in the spring cleaning department, but this year I have my game face on! I am going to scrub, and dust, and organize my house until every little nook and cranny is pristine! Who's with me?! 

Obviously since this is indeed my first rodeo, I need a little guidence. I am going to post a great room to room checklist I found on imperfecthomemaking.com, but first I want to share with you her extra tips that were really helpful! 

• Set aside at least a week for a thorough spring cleaning. Work from one end of your house to the other.
• Plan some easy meals for the days you will spend cleaning.  Consider using your slow cooker.  A crockpot full of stew at the end of a day of intense cleaning is a beautiful thing!
• As you clean, keep a list of any jobs you notice that need to be done around the house: little paint touch-ups or a pillow that needs to be mended.  Don't get distracted by these chores during your cleaning, save them for when you are done.  (Or else you may never be done!)
• Keep another list of things you notice you need.  Especially when you clean out your fridge and pantry, you will probably become aware of some supplies you are out of or running low on.
• Take an empty laundry basket and pile in it anything you need your hubby to sort through (miscellaneous receipts you're not sure you need to keep, random bolts and screws you've found in his pocket a year ago but you're afraid to get rid of because if you do he's sure to come to you tomorrow asking if you've seen that little bolt that is vital for something or other, that singing Christmas tie you're really hoping he'll finally part with... you get the point!)  Ask him to sort through the basket when he has a chance.
• Purchase one, or serveral bottles of wine for celebrating when you are all done....or for drinking along the way. 

Ok, that last one was mine, but come on, wine probably helps.

Below is the link to imperfecthomemaking.com's indredibly thorough room to room checklist. If this is one is a little too much for you this year, MarthaStewart.com has a great one that isn't quite as in depth. Check it out, and be sure to comment and let us know how your spring cleaning turns out!

http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/p/thorough-spring-cleaning-checklist.html