Which Needs The Better Rub Down?

Posted: August 22, 2011 at 8:00 pm

Holy moly fritoly! Today has been insane!!! I have had to play the catch up game from the moment I awoke this morning. Does anyone else feel like things multiply into a tremendous mountain of to-dos if you leave things for a few days? I sure do. And the proof is in the pudding laundry, dishes, and emails – oh my!

This morning when I woke up I wanted to get to the gym…badly. I was ready to tackle a great workout before dropping Makenzie off at preschool. I got dressed to go and had a smile on my face.

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Then, I came downstairs and saw the incessant things that needed some tender loving care. I don’t function well if our main living spaces don’t have some semblance of order, so I scratched the workout for some speed cleaning instead.

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Bing. Bang. Boom. I knocked out quite a lot of those pesky little tasks and could breathe easy. Things may not be truly clean clean, but they work well enough for me. Honestly though? Things are never really clean clean in this house. I am a very superficial cleaner. Wipe off the counters. Put away dishes. Sweep up the floors. Maybe dust a bit or swipe a brush through the toilets if you’re lucky. I don’t think I can tell you the last time I did anything like clean the baseboards, deep clean the tubs/showers, or give my floors a good cleaning. I have enough trouble showering myself!

After this morning’s quick clean fest I got to thinking that maybe I should take care of that. Or invest in a monthly maid visit. That sounds better. I have thought of allowing myself a monthly massage indulgence as a reward. Maybe I could switch that out for a cleaning service indulgence? There’s a thought. Although, gah! I don’t know which would be a better choice! Which needs a better rub down? My body or my baseboards?

I think I know why I have such issues with staying on top of cleaning. Many days my time boils down to the following: cleaning or playing with my kids? Cleaning or blogging? Cleaning or going to the gym? Cleaning or watching Bachelor Pad? Ahem. You can see why cleaning just doesn’t happen around here.

I need to figure out what super powers got into me today though. I somehow did all of those things today…cleaning, blogging, gym (went to spin class this afternoon), and of course playing with the two most adorable beings on the planet!

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I swear they have grown since I left for Healthy Living Summit. And gotten smarter. And cuter. And funnier. And snugglier. I missed them so much! I even miss them now while they are in bed. I guess Bachelor Pad a supremely insightful book, podcast, or whatever will keep me company instead. Good night loves!

  • Which would you choose – monthly massage or monthly cleaning service?
  • Are you a superficial cleaner or are you amazing and deserve mad props for staying on top of deep cleaning?

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50 Comments to “Which Needs The Better Rub Down?”
  1. YOU!!!
    The baseboards can’t feel crap. And no one ever says, “Wow, what a nice house but the baseboards have dirt and scuff marks on them.”

    But anyway, definitely go for the massage! It’s a little indulgence that you deserve, especially as a mother. It’s important to pamper ourselves 🙂

  2. Love the pictures of you and the kiddos! Jason actually hired a cleaning service for me once when we were having a big wine tasting party. God love him he was trying to do good, but they did such a bad job cleaning that I still had to clean. So….as much as I hate housework (I’m a terrible house keeper) I think I’d choose the massage. And sadly, I don’t like massages…

  3. Mama Pea says:

    I so relate to this post. I’m so glad you got to go to HLS, but happy to see you so happy at home. 🙂

    • Tina says:

      Yes. The travel is incredible but nothing feels quite as good as home. Even if it does include things like teeth getting knocked out on fences or poop explosions. 😉

  4. I would definitely take a cleaning service. I’m working on getting the hubby to agree to that, but I’ve been working on it for about a year now. Hmmm… not going so well.

  5. Lauren says:

    OMG they melt my heart every time you post a picture of them. Too sweet. I can imagine how much you missed them and how they must have missed you.

  6. Your children are gorgeous! I think that I’d rather have a monthly house cleaner. I stay pretty on top of cleaning and clean on daily basis in some way or another…but it would be great to have someone else handle it for me! So great to meet you at HLS. 🙂

    • Tina says:

      I try to do a little bit daily but never seem to stay on top of it. Wish I could though. So great to meet you too!

  7. I was just thinking… I need to start getting a massage but with cleaning. I’m a maniac! Its relaxing and so satisfying for me so I guess that’s a good thing

  8. I’m a superficial cleaner in every room except the kitchen. The kitchen needs to be clean, especially if I’m going to be baking!

    • Tina says:

      I’m most anal about the kitchen too. And I miss hanging out with you! HLS needs to last a week to have more time together.

  9. Awwww your kiddos are so adorable!

    I would definitely pick a house cleaner or a massage any day. I really need to look into hiring someone to do the deep cleaning – like you, there’s just no time (and most of the time I’m OK with it!).

  10. I would choose a monthly massage – hands down! I freak out when the house isn’t orderly, which is why I am in freak out mode right now. Seriously, I just cleaned it on Saturday. Oh well – time to go straighten up!

  11. The first photo of you with your kids may be the cutest thing I’ve seen all day!

  12. I might pick the cleaning service in theory, because I wouldn’t have to be home for it and scheduling isn’t an issue. But, I haven’t had my place professionally cleaned but *do* get 3-4 massages a year when my muscles turn into one gigantic knot.

    Maybe look for groupon deals and get a little of both!

  13. Monthly massage for sure. I can clean haha! Aww that last pic is sooo cute 🙂

  14. Courtney says:

    You and your kids are absolutely adorable!

  15. Ommgshhhhhh their faces and expressions are just toooo cute!!! hehe MK’s look of “yup, I know I’m a cute princess” cracks me up!!! If i feel THIS way with my own lil nephew, I can’t imagine how I’ll be with my own kids! 0_0 scary thought lol.

  16. You really do have the cutest kids in the world – well, until my little one is born! ;o) I don’t even have a child yet and feel overwhelmed with all the things I have to do that cleaning just gets pushed aside. However, I have started doing the “clean your house in 20 minutes a day for 30 days” and have absolutely LOVED it so far! My house has been cleaner than every. Guaranteed, sometimes it takes more than 20 minutes, but it has kept me from being overwhelmed trying to clean everything on the weekends. Here’s the link if you’re interested: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/cleaning/the-schedule-house-cleaning-in-20-minutes-a-day-for-30-days-131142
    I’m sure this might change once I do have a baby to take care of, but for now, it’s working!

  17. your kids are so adorable!! 🙂
    I would, hands down pay for a massage and then clean the house myself. I help my mom out around the house and I’m a pretty good cleaner (because if i don’t, she’ll nag at me 😛 ). Once I start cleaning and see all the dirt everywhere, I get disgusted and get motivated to REALLY clean.

  18. Dorry says:

    That’s a tough question! I’d probably choose the massage. 🙂 Between Billy and I, we are able to keep out place pretty clean.

  19. Katherine says:

    Is both an option??? I have a monthly maid so I’d have to say cleaner, but I would LOVE a monthly, or daily, massage 🙂

  20. Omg your camera strap is so cute! Where did you get it! And I know this doesn’t compare but after not seeing my dog and husband for awhile I always think they’re even more adorable than when I left them. It’s definitely love 🙂

    And I would choose the massage for sure. I actually like cleaning (we’ll see how that changes with this baby) but I figure a massage would be a reward for cleaning!

  21. I love the pictures of you and the little ones 🙂 And your arms in the first one– dayummmmn girl! you’re awesome! xo

  22. Lindsay says:

    I love your camera strap! So cute!

    I would definitely choose a monthly cleaning service! I live with 2 23-year-old boys and they do not appreciate a clean room. I love to scrub things clean, but I never have time! (I think I find it therapeutic. Weird, I know.)

  23. I’d definitely go with the cleaning service! I do the superficial thing in our house too. Enough to get the dog hair off the floor but look closely and you’ll see dusty picture frames, fans and baseboards. Mopping the floors has only happened maybe 5 times in 2 years. Dark hardwood hides a lot 😉

  24. Crystal says:

    Monthly massage wins with me! With cleaning, I do little things here and there…10 mins of sweeping here, scrub the bathtub for a few minutes while I’m taking a shower..and I do little things daily so our apartment, while never spotless, is never too messy either. My two BIG things are making sure the floors are swept and making sure there are no dishes just sitting around or in the sink.

  25. I vote for the massage!

    You deserve to do something special for yourself!

  26. I’m totally a surface cleaner. There are just too many things that I would prefer to do than deep clean. Am I going to be happier because my shower is clean or because I spent time making pancakes with my stepson. I’ll choose the latter, every time!

  27. Maren says:

    It seems like the to-do list never really goes away, even when I feel super productive all day. There needs to be 26 hours in the day instead of 24.

  28. I would prefer a cleaning service…the first and only massage I had hurt like heck!

    I’m superficial cleaner. I straighten and organized and Hunni does the deep clean.

  29. Khushboo says:

    As much as I LOVE my massages, my hatred for cleaning is more and hence I think I would have to go with the cleaning service!

  30. I would definitely choose the massage! We workout so our bodies deserve it!
    I am totally a superficial cleaner – nothing wrong with that though! I just have better things to do! lol

  31. Lee says:

    Thats such a hard choice. As much as I love a massage, I think I would go with the cleaning. I am horrible at cleaning and it makes me very stressed out when the house is messy. Not the best combo!

  32. krit says:

    Cleaner definitely! I have someone come every other week and even then it seems too spaced out! And that’s with me also doing the superficial cleaning in between. I about gagged reading your don’t clean your toilets girl!

  33. A monthly cleaner definitely wins that battle! I love massages, but I’d MUCH rather have someone come in & clean my house so I had time to do other things. I’m most definitely a superficial cleaner, we might do a deep clean once a year, or once every 6 months…I just don’t know how some people keep up with it all!

  34. You! I am a superficial cleaner for sure. Well, the areas that people will see (downstairs) are cleaned much better than upstairs. I know I could do better … but does it really matter? Something for you!

  35. KATHY says:

    cleaning can wait choose to spend time doing what you love like those sweet children.

  36. I’m like you most of the time, but once a month I usually go crazy on the house and deep clean!!

    If I had kids, I would get a maid for sure. But for now, it’s just the two of us so I’d go massage!

  37. Katheryn says:

    I would choose the massage. I get wicked knots in my shoulders and back. And without sounding too prideful, I think I’m a super cleaner for sure.

  38. HAHA! I am just now working on a “deep cleaning schedule” post! I feel like every time I go away on vacation, I come home and NEED TO PURGE AND CLEAN. It just HAS to be done.

  39. I am such a horrible cleaner and at the same time love having everything clean (I’m OCD like that) so I pay for a monthly cleaner…it’s the best $75 I spend every 2 weeks. I just forgo other things and that way, like you mentioned, I’m able to go to the gym, spend time with the hubby, and watch Bachelor Pad 😉

    And love the pics with you and the kiddies – adorable!! 🙂

  40. Katie says:

    Aww, sweet little babies! I know they missed their mama!

    I’m a superficial cleaner. Everything has to LOOK spotless and straight, but if you opened my drawers, closets, pantry…yikes. Good think my husband is a deep down cleaner – between the two of us we get the job done.

  41. How do you NOT have 5 million bottles in that top rack? I feel like all I do is wash bottles…..omg. And your little muffins are SO CUTE! Welcome back 🙂

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