Kitchen Rules Pallet Board Sign

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This Kitchen Rules Sign makes a perfect decor piece and helps keep the kids in line at dinner! 🙂 I can’t wait to share with you how I changed my mindset about having a spotless house and now am enjoying every day to the fullest in my less than immaculate, but very happy home.

When I first became a mother over ten years ago and then even after adding a second child to our family, I had an unrealistic expectation that my house should be clean and tidy all day long. What that meant was that I was the crazy mom who followed my children around every second picking up after them, wiping up spills and just about pulling my hair out when they dumped their toy bins.

I knew this was not something I could maintain long term and be a cheerful and sane mother. So over the years, and after adding two more kids to the mix, I’ve adapted and loosened that standard. Now, I like to focus more on the level of contentment of my family and less on the crumbs that are left on the floor or the dust that gathers on the shelves.

I must admit, it’s working out really well for us.  Sure, there are instances when the counters don’t get wiped down before bed, but we are spending more time enjoying life together. It’s been said that children grow up all too quickly, and I hate to miss those precious, fleeting moments over a sink full of dirty dishes.

That being said, I absolutely love the feeling when the house is freshly cleaned and picked up. The wonderful scents that accompany it and the way it allows me to unwind and breathe easily are unmatched.

When I give the kitchen a refresh with Mrs. Meyer’s® Brand products, my mood instantly lifts and all the world seems sunny. The kids typically come in and ask what the wonderful smell is. I’ve always taken pride in the cleaning process and making things look nice for my family. It’s so fulfilling!

I like to clean my subway tile backsplash, counters, stove, and sink with Mrs. Meyer’s® Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner. It’s a naturally fresh spray that works great on all non-porous surfaces such as finished wood and tile floors, countertops, walls, porcelain, bathroom fixtures, sealed natural and synthetic stone, and more.

And then I like to wash the extra soiled or non-dishwasher safe dishes with Mrs. Meyer’s® Dish Soap. It’s rich, thick and makes grease disappear like none other. It includes Soap Bark Extract, an ingredient from the garden that is one of nature’s best degreasers.

The Lemon Verbana scent is my all-time favorite!

I found these kitchen essentials at Smith’s.  They’re easy to find on the traditional cleaning aisle. Be sure to check out the laundry aisle, too, for additional Mrs. Meyer’s® Clean Day products.

All are packaged in beautiful bottles that are recyclable and BPA free. And they’re made in the USA with essential oils and plant-derived ingredients.

Though my house is not always in perfect order with four busy, messy kiddos, I do like to set a few ground rules when it comes to meal time. I find myself saying these things over and over to my kids as they sit at their places and roll their eyes about having to eat casserole or corn. So now these expectations are set in stone or wood, if you will. 🙂

This craft was so easy to put together and sits front and center in our kitchen where the kids can always be reminded of what mom and dad want to have happen.

Here’s how to make it:

You’ll need a wood pallet board. You can make your own or purchase one pre-made like I did. You’ll also need some craft paint, fine-grit sandpaper, a foam brush, and some stencils for painting on the lettering or a craft machine and vinyl.

Begin by painting your pallet board. I let that dry and then roughed up the edges a bit with sandpaper to give it some character.

Next, use your stencils to add the rules with paint. You can also cut out vinyl, remove the letters inside, and paint, using the vinyl as the stencil. You’ll need to place the centers of the letters (such as on the R’s, a’s and o’s) in before painting. Carefully peel the vinyl off and remove the letter centers immediately once done painting. Allow it to dry and that’s it!

What are your best tips for staying sane while maintaining a livable, happy home? I’d love to hear!