Life's Too Short To Fold Fitted Sheets

Life's Too Short To Fold Fitted Sheets: Your Ultimate Guide To Domestic Liberation by Lisa Quinn. Book Review for The Mom Renewal Project.

I knew I would fall for this book, just by the title. What really packed the punch for me were the street creds that the author brought to the table. Written by the instantly likeable Lisa Quinn, mother of 2,  emmy award winning hostess on HGTV, contributor to Redbook and Home and Garden, decorating book author, AND having appeared on Oprah giving her advice! This woman is a force to be reckoned with: what she had to say, I wanted to hear. I thought I was the only one whose laughable attempts at folding fitted sheets resulted in something resembling a large turban.

I was a receptive audience to her words, and she sang my tune.  Lisa is an admitted recovering Marthaholic. There was a time where she'd fall asleep, glue gun in her hand,  cranberries scattered among the pillows, while she stayed up till the wee hours, crafting that perfect holiday wreath for her front door.  One morning, she had an "aha" moment Oprah style: where it all fell into place. She questioned how this quest for all things domestically perfect and aligned was helping her live the authentic life she felt she was missing. She was busy doing so much providing the perfectly crafted home, yet felt she was never free enough to spend moments with her family.  She began this introspection with a "Goal Statement"  in mind for her family life, what she calls an "Intention Board" of how she wants to live life, and a "Gratitude Journal."  The section she provides outlining these 3 major starting tools for this new way of life is inspiring. Lisa feels we can create new areas of esteem, to replace the accolades we once pursued in setting up the perfect home that is the envy of all.  


With this newfound direction, she takes us along on the road to a life more available for true moments, rather than crafted ones. Lisa's book is clever, witty, friendly, and "up in your kitchen": where she rattles all your pots and pans and has you come along on this Martha intervention with her by your side.

Her book is easily divided into entertaining with minimal effort, kid's parties made simple, the "basic ten" areas of your house that need to be cleaned, and no more, and the simplest ways to maintain these areas. She provides suggestions on how to have family and children involved in the cleaning, and creating a feeling of cleaning for function, rather than for perfection. We can clinch the title of  "domestic delegator, " and have fun with the kids while getting it done. She's got some fun ideas to show how.

We can find easy recipes for parties including drink suggestions. There is a valuable section that provides 17 recipes using deli chicken for family meals (Loved this, this alone was worth the book). Lisa walks us through how to choose decorating styles for ease, accessorizing for simplicity, storage, lighting, and how to furnish your home for easy maintenance. She writes on this in a way that is more fun than it sounds.

One section is invaluable for how to stock your pantry so you are always prepared, along with a basic grocery shopping list, and what to always keep in your freezer and fridge (HUGE help). She promises that with these ingredients on hand, you can be ready for family meal preparation, and any drop- in company.

I'm going to join Lisa in her liberation revolution. It is time to put down the origami napkin I'm folding, step away from the hot glue gun, and join her in living more, and doing less.  Lisa Quinn's book is one that I am going to keep close by, to remind me to hang up the title of Manic Mom, inspect my life, and make the deliberate changes she provides the workbook for. Her style is reassuring and down-to-earth, and her suggestions are easily implemented. This is a very useful book to keep around as a reference on your book shelf.

The Mom Renewal Project generously provided me with a copy of  "Life Is Too Short To Fold Fitted Sheets" as part of their Book Review posts. Thank you, Mom Renewal!