Why Keeping it Fresh Matters

Apr 7, 2022 | On Design, On Homemaking, The Parisienne Farmhouse | 8 comments

I’ve been pretty committed to my kitchen lately. There’s a lot of work to do there and even more if I’m really in the zone. I’ve got my new freeze dryer and I’m pretty GIDDY about it. Talk about freshening things up??!! It’s added a whole new element to my home dairy specifically, and I am going for broke putting up as much milk, crème frâiche, cream and eggs as I can before the natural lull in production later this year. It’s taking a TON of my time right now and that’s OK. It’s given me time to think, ponder and mentally create. This extra time in the kitchen has me thinking about something we’ve talked about on the podcast before; freshening things up… keeping our spaces inspiring and why that’s important.

I’m not talking about getting out the nuclear cleaning products and going to town (though sometimes a girl just has to ditch the natural products and get her bleach fix!). Instead, I’m talking about homemaking, being in it for the long haul, and staying motivated in your space. Because you know, I’m all about “the spaces.”

There’s a monotony to homemaking. Two things can be true at the same time. The monotony can be a comfort; comforting because the homemaker knows what is expected of her. There aren’t too many wrenches thrown into the job description. It’s long, very long, and ever-expanding. But it’s not a roller coaster and it tends to stay rather predictable. We get up, we get started, we do our thing and rock it all day long and if you’re like me – you light a candle on the counter at the end of the day to signify a job well done. I find this routine comforting. I’m not battling traffic trying to determine which way to get to work. I’m not having to cultivate a new account with someone I don’t like. Or sitting in a staff meeting with my eyes glazed over in boredom as a guest speaker comes in for the day.

Not much is new in my job description. It’s routine and that’s comforting to me.

It’s also monotonous. Day in, day out. As the French say:

“Métro,

Boulot,

Dodo.”

Breakfast, milking, kitchen clean-up, phonics, LEGOs in the couch cushions. Dry shampoo and then more dry shampoo again. Sibling battles. Sass. Pop the bread in the oven (if you remembered to start it yesterday) and so on and so forth. To be sure – the days are long, comforting, and monotonous. And God-willing, I have a long life ahead of me full of just these kinds of days. I’ll take ’em. But if there are YEARS more of homemaking ahead then we must make an effort to LOVE where we work.

And now, this is where I bring it back to “your space.”

All about that space, ’bout that space…

The homemaker needs to stay inspired in her space. Am I dogmatic about this? Well, yes. Simply because I can not imagine it to not be true. If you’re a mother, a single woman, a grandmother… and you’re looking down the road and contemplating YEARS in your four walls, caring for the space and the people within – even if that’s just you – Well, you should enjoy your surroundings, darn it.

Elevate.

All about that space?

All about that elevation.

What can you do to elevate your space? I bet you have rooms you walk through a hundred times a day. Walls you’ll stare at for YEARS. Countertops you’ll wipe down countless times and beds you will dress over and over and over again. If you’ve got a (NOBLE) job to do for the next few years or even decades… you’re punching in every day and giving it your best… shouldn’t you love where you work? Shouldn’t it be kept fresh and enjoyable? Dare I say, elevated –simply to keep you enjoying those comforting moments and riding out the monotony? Why not consider today what you can do to elevate your space?

-Fresh flowers on the bathroom counter?

-Light a beautiful candle in the kitchen?

-Pop new, springy tea towels on the stove?

-Toss your pillows a little differently on your bed?

-Pull up the shades, wash the window and let the spring sun in?

-Nestle a chair and basket of books up close to a picture window?

-Hang that piece of art you’ve been meaning to for so long?

-Replace the burned-out lampshades?

-Rearrange your bedroom?

-Move the rug to a new angle?

Take a look at your space today and ask yourself what you can do to elevate it, to switch it up a bit. Stay in love with your space by keeping it fresh.

I hope you found this food for thought. Of course, give a listen to Homemaker Chic Podcast, where we are all about supporting the homemaker in her ‘daily grind’ and…

If you’d like to read a bit more I’ll be sharing specific things I’ve done around my own house to keep it fresh, elevated, and a home I want to be in every day.

Society members can read that by clicking here.

I appreciate you. I know your time is valuable and it means so much to me that you’d spend a bit of it here.

PS: Is it “all about that space” for you too? My Old World Design Society might be a good place for you to hang out. We’ve got a private design forum, one design class a month, you can read the full version of these blog posts, AND if you want you can choose the accompanying print or digital magazine FULL of beauty to keep you inspired if your space. Why not give it a try for the month of April and see what you think. A Society membership starts at $5 or is FREE with a magazine purchase. Print or digital. I’d love to have you join us.

8 Comments

  1. Donna

    Thanks for the inspiration, Angela. I’ve had a chair sitting in the corner bugging me for the longest time (it’s only used when we need extra seating at the dinner table). So I am going to steal your idea and elevate it with a stack of books or even that basket you mentioned.

    Reply
  2. Kimberly Shaffer

    Hi Angela, I recently ordered the Winter 2022 and Spring 2022 editions of your magazine. I have been trying to log in to read the Members Only portion of your website. However, every time I enter my password it says it’s incorrect. Why can I log into my account with my password, but I’m unable to access the Members Only material? Am I doing something wrong? It was my understanding that if I ordered magazines I’d be able to access it. HELP!!

    Reply
    • Parisienne Farmgirl

      Kimberly, Gah – You’re probably chomping at the bit, I don’t blame you. Please check any emails from us. We’ve sent you the password. It is different from the personal account password you’ve made yourself. No worries – we’ll get it worked out with you, but every customer receives the email so can you double-check, and then if you still need help, email my amazing assistant Brynn and she’ll fix it for your ASAP, she’s the best.

      Reply
      • Kimberly Shaffer

        So sorry I did not reply to you sooner…was dealing with a family emergency. So I went and checked my spam folder but it only goes back to April 30th (I’m not sure why?!?) I’m guessing the email may have been there but since I can’t access any later emails I’m afraid it’s gone. Would love if Brynn could help me. Could you provide an email so I may contact her? Or she may email me at qrtrhors@lhtot.com Thank you so much!

        Reply
    • Kayvarel68@yahoo.co.uk

      Hi Angela! I’ve just received my summer 2022 magazine and I’m loving it, Thank you so much, I do have a little problem though, I can’t log into the members only section of your blogs. I’ve just read another’s members message and realised that I have been doing the same thing. I’ve checked both my emails and spam box but as yet I have not received a password. Please advise on what to do next. Many thanks

      Reply
      • Parisienne Farmgirl

        Kimberly, Forgive my huge delay in seeing this. Hopefully, we’ve helped you out but if not, please email my assistant at OWDS@parisiennefarmgirl.com and she will help you out right away. It’s just some password confusion and she can explain better than I.

        Reply
  3. Kimberly Shaffer

    So sorry I did not reply to you sooner…was dealing with a family emergency. So I went and checked my spam folder but it only goes back to April 30th (I’m not sure why?!?) I’m guessing the email may have been there but since I can’t access any later emails I’m afraid it’s gone. Would love if Brynn could help me. Could you provide an email so I may contact her? Or she may email me at qrtrhors@lhtot.com Thank you so much!

    Reply
  4. Patience

    This is something I am currently working on… Elevating those spaces. I have been so caught up in our small business…which is home decor and antiques that my house has been put on the back burner. Well, I am tired of that and I want my space and my families’ space to be beautiful, warm and inviting.

    Reply

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