Sink Reflections [Paperback]

I am not a Stepford wife - I'm a senior executive for a national organisation and I have no family at all, no parents, siblings, partner or children - not even a pet. Because I have absolutely no time for myself and no priorities apart from work, my house was utter chaos. Thanks to Marla Cilley it is now livable and I am able to have friends over without drowning in shame and am gradually reclaiming my life away from the office.

This book contains practical ideas that made me completely rethink my approach to my home. I am not cleaning out of moral duty or to please someone else, but because I deserve a nice place to live. The concept that it is better to do something imperfectly than never to start completely changed my thinking. And permission not to finish - to just do 15 minutes worth and stop - has made a huge difference to my life.

And while I don't like the syrupy stuff, I also suspect that someone without that homespun sweetness could not or would not have written this book and offered this help. So I am just grateful, and Marla can be as religious and as honeyed as she damn well likes, because I truly appreciate what this book has helped me do, and only an idiot throws out a rare gift because the wrapping doesn't suit them - particularly when it is genuinely well meant.

And to the patronising cow who can't believe people don't have time to throw out old toothpaste tubes - not everyone has as much free time as you do, and not everyone has the self-esteem necessary to put their own needs first. Clearly you are lucky enough to have plenty of both time and ego. Perhaps you can now invest in some insight to match.

Thanks, Marla, for your generosity and common sense.

*The suggestion of a daily 'chore/to do' schedule works well for me. Some days more gets done than others - but I can keep better track & reprioritize as needed & as time allows.
*If you have a tremendously cluttered house & don't know where to begin - this would be a great book for you.
*Nice selection of cleaning tips.
*Simple suggestions on how to reorganize that people can truly use

Cons:
*Everyone is encouraged to adapt the advice to your needs, but if you don't modify it to suit your lifestyle then it will just seem like way too much to do. I think this is why many people get frustrated.
*I don't have a tremedous amount of clutter so a lot of it just doesn't apply to me.
*The cutsey acronyms/catch phrases, religious references, being told you must wear shoes & have a shiny sink will not sit well with everyone.
*The web site offers just about everything the book does for free.

My 2 cents:
**Borrow the book from a library or check out the web site for free.
**Take what you can use from the system & just leave the rest.