Do you enjoy doing the dishes?
Do you smile while doing the dishes?
I do, I swear!
My philosophy is that one should create beauty in the places where one must perform mundane tasks. This elevates the task to a more pleasant experience, therefore making it much less mundane and displeasing.
I know, I know...you're thinking I'm crazy...that couldn't possibly make a difference...but I'm telling you...it DOES! Try it, and see for yourself...make it a habit for at least 30 days...then see how you feel about it!
By creating beauty right at the sink area where I do my dishes, I look forward to enjoying the scene that I've set...right now it's pretty roses in a vintage silver pitcher...and yes, I have purple dish soap, that is scented and it is in a pretty painted bottle. I've even found purple sponges (purple is my favorite color, followed closely by pink). Soft green hand soap in a pretty container...I noticed I should have refilled it before the pictures and not after..is also pleasantly scented!
In the next scene you'll notice a beautiful topiary of permanent pink roses (in a soft green container) and a window...through which I can see our beautiful and now green backyard and all the pretty pink flowers we've just put out on our deck.
I can daydream while doing the dishes, taking in the beautiful scenes I've created, and before I know it...the dishes are done! and...I've had a lovely time experiencing beauty!
TRY IT...won't you? If you have already created scenes of beauty in places where you must perform mundane tasks...please share...we all need some inspiration and I love to hear your ideas!
HAPPY THURSDAY!
Where will you create beauty today?
20 comments:
How inspiring! What's your laundry room look like?!? : ) ~ Violet
Pretty pinks and purples Kathleen, I like to have roses in the kitchen and laundry room, they make me smile so I guess that makes me happy doing the chores. happy monday, Kathy.
Kathleen,
I totally agree with you and keep a pretty ceramic container at my sink to hold soap, pretty sponges, etc. Another thing I keep there is a pretty candle. Dishes by candlelight? You bet!! When the children were small I had a "lights out" rule in the kitchen which meant all eating & snacking was over. SO in order for me to finish up dishes, I did it by scented candlelight and it made the chore much more relaxing and the kitchen also looked pretty. It also enabled hubby & I too sneak in for a cookie or two!!
xoxo
Jane
Lovely idea Kathleen!
I completely agree.
Your pink rose topiary is so beautiful.
I wouldn't mind looking at that while doing dishes.
Have a blessed day.
~Melissa :)
Washing dishes is not going to make me smile, but I'm always happy to have a gardenia cutting or a bit of rosemary that was more than I needed for a dish, rooting in little bottle above the sink, or a single rose first to bloom.
My sister used to have a little easel on which she put a Scripture verse or a poem she wanted to memorize, over the sink.
Beautiful! I always try to keep my sink area lovely. Maybe I'll add some fresh flowers for a change of pace. Thanks for sharing!
Kathleen~ ~ ~Love your idea of prettying up the sink area but I am such a slob when I do dishes I have the whole area wet. Oh well, water is good for flowers right? I'm going to go outside and cut some right now and put them by the sink. Thanks~ ~Ahrisha~ ~
Hi Kathleen, it's me again...no, I'm not a stalker..hehe...you have so inspired me to make my area around my sink to be a place of beauty, thank you!
I hope you don't mind that I'm following you, I just love your ideas and as a fellow romantic I am indeed inspired by you.
Have a wonderfully gorgeous day!
Melly:)
My solution to mundane tasks is to keep a bottle of blowing bubbles nearby. I blow bubbles into the sink, and it gives me a smile while I'm doing the dishes. Been known to pick them up and do it while I'm ironing too! Your sink area looks so pretty. laurie
Looks like a pretty place to do the dishes -- shall I dry for you?
Lovely flowers! I usually don't day dream while doing dishes, I just want to get done! LOL
Cathleen :)
Hi Kathleen,
Stopped by for a visit. I've been so busy lately with life that I've had no time for these lovely visits. I couldn't agree with you more about making the mundane beautiful and elevating it to something that can become enjoyable. That is why I decorate and accessorize my kitchen as I do - while I love to cook, there is always the clean-up and that's no fun at all! Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas and insights! Have a great Tuesday!
Hi Kathleen~ ~ ~
Thanks so much for sharing. You are an inspiration~ ~Ahrisha~ ~
Hey Kathleen -
Yeah, I'm TOTALLY on board with this whole idea (love the silver pitcher, BTW) and actually went for it last summer. I brought my beautiful rosemary plant in from the garden before winter set in and put my matching dishsoap in a beautiful glass bottle with a pour spout. I put my sponges and etc. in a glass footed compote dish on the back of the sink, too. But...the wind blew in the window and knocked my soap dispenser into my porcelain sink and shattered it to pieces, and my rosemary is about 80% dead. I can't figure that one out! I was looking at it yesterday and thinking I really need to do something with it. I wasn't exactly going for a Morticia Adams inspired kitchen! So, anyway, I've never been to PA - just through it once. It looked beautiful, though. I could really use some tablescaping ideas. Maybe YOU should move to IN! The house across the street is for sale!
XO - Pam
This is an awesome idea! I do love to handwash my dishes but I have nothing special around my sink area. Thanks for the great idea!
Deanna :D
I agree! I have several sink embellishments (as I call them).
They lend a more pleasant atmosphere for many hours spent in the kitchen,
cooking and cleaning. I've carried it over to the window ledge above the sink. I have candlesticks along with the my infused olive oil bottles. I also have beautifully scented hand creme dispensers. To avoid dishpan hands.
Sweet wishes,
Sara
pretty flowers. Fresh flowers always keep me smiling.
Hi Kathleen!
I think that's a very good point. I'm very influenced by the beauty (Or lack thereof) around me. Your little area by the sink looks lovely. I wouldn't mind doing dishes there at all with ya *winks* Now if I could just do something with my laundry room....
On a different note I hope you enjoy book "Rooms" as much as I have. Vanna
Oh I love your kitchen, and I love the colors. I really adore the bunny thing in the corner, what is that!! It's gorgeous! I have to have my sink pretty too! Thanks for sharing!
What a beautiful site you have! I love the idea on keeping something beautiful where I work. :)
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