Messy Monday -> Makeover Monday: The End of the Series (but not the mess)

If you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one in your house who cares about clean, welcome—you’ve found your people. This series, Messy Monday -> Makeover Monday, is my honest (and sometimes hilarious) take on life with kids, chaos, and the never-ending battle against mess. I hope it makes you feel a little less alone in the battle to have a clean house.

Over ten posts, I’ve shared everything from the magic of closets (or lack thereof), the myth of a sacred bedroom, the weekend cleaning conspiracy, to why Marie Kondo doesn’t live in my house. We’ve laughed at the 15-minute fake clean before company arrives, commiserated about how chores never seem to add up, and even explored the small joys of having one clean corner in the chaos.

Here’s a quick overview of the posts:

1. Closets Are Not Magical Portals – Kids + closets = a disaster waiting to happen.

2. The Myth of the Sacred Bedroom – Even your sanctuary can become a dumping ground.

3. The Weekend Cleaning Conspiracy – How two 15-minute chores on the weekend can still feel impossible.

4. Why Marie Kondo Doesn’t Live Here – Kids and chaos break every rule of tidiness.

5. Company’s Coming: The 15-Minute Fake Clean – Ninja-level shoving and strategic placement.

6. I Clean, Therefore I Am (Tired) – The unique exhaustion of being the only “clean freak.”

7. Storage is Not the Problem – You can have all the bins you want; it won’t magically stop the chaos.

8. The One Clean Corner – How a tiny slice of order can save your sanity.

9. Rebelling Against the Mess – Sometimes leaving one thing out is a small act of self-preservation.

10. The Vicious Cycle (and How I Try to Break It) – Cleaning, chaos, repeat… and how I survive it all.

    
    

Each post is a mix of humor, honesty, and practical tips for surviving a messy house without losing your mind. My goal isn’t perfection—it’s sanity, laughter, and the occasional clear countertop. Because, let's face it, Pinterest style homes are not for people with kids and many priorities.

Kristian

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Think about every photo you’ve taken of your children, every memory you’ve preserved for them. You deserve that same love and attention. Come to Kristian Hutchings Portraits, let me pamper you from start to finish, and leave with portraits that show the beauty, strength, and grace you give the world every day. Motherhood is part of our legacy and we should leave our children and grandchildren a true reflection of our beauty to remember us by.

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Kristian is a mom of six, Program Manager by day, active Professional Photographer by trade, and a big believer in finding beauty in the everyday chaos.

Life in our house is loud, messy and full of literally everything. Love, noise, laundry, laughter, and definitely could use a bit more grace. I'm happily married to my best friend, grounded in my Catholic faith, and fueled by five to six hours of sleep per night and adrenaline.

I try to find joy in the everyday — even when it's wild, because without the little bit of joy, this life would be unbearable. This space is for the moms in the middle of it all: the ones juggling family, faith, work, and wonder. The ones that need someone else's messy life to make their own seem better or somewhat normal. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think.

Welcome to Six Sweet Smiles — where we celebrate the mess, the miracles,