One of these things is not like the other.
I’ve made a resolution to make our bed everyday for the month of October. Sure, October isn’t traditionally a time for resolution-making, but with our house now needing to be ready for potential buyers to walk through at any moment I thought it couldn’t hurt to try. Plus a little extra tidiness never hurt anyone, right? Oh, except for maybe Burger who now has to revise his plans to sleep until 1pm curled up under a giant duvet wad (part of the reason we fell out of the bed-making habit in the first place). Here he is caught in the act of trying to find his way under the covers.
Feel free to join me in my new effort. Or, if you’re already a pro at this (or prefer a nap-ready bed at all times) you’re welcome to hop on my other new resolution bandwagon – drinking nothing but water all month. It’s a little thing I dubbed “Aqua-tober” back in college when I was trying to curtail my soda habit. Now six years later I still find myself needing a little Dr. Pepper detox each fall. Sigh.
UPDATE: For anyone worried about Burger, it took him a little while but he’s finally figuring out how to work around my new resolution. Notice the lump in today’s made bed?
Diana says
After your Friday goals, I had a feeling that you’d have a weekend post;) I love it!! I NEVER make my bed unless company’s coming over, so I might join you in your October resolution. OK – it’s already a few days in with no bed-making, but better late than never, right? Have a great rest of the weekend!
Rebecca Foxworth says
At least toss a throw blanket wantonly over the end of the bed for the poor little guy. He can nose at and poke at a throw blanket until he makes his own little sleeping nest. EASY, quick fix to straighten up a throw blanket when the peeps come for a showing of the house, dontcha think?
YoungHouseLove says
There’s an idea! The funny thing is that there are blankets all over the house (a throw on the sofa along with baby blankets in the nursery and the office and a fleecy blanket in his crate) so Burger always has a few other places to curl up. I think he just likes to unmake the bed to remind us he’s the boss around here.
xo,
s
Kim says
Love the weekend post! So does this mean Burger sleeps in bed with you guys?
YoungHouseLove says
Kim – Yep, Burger sleeps right between us every night. It can be a little hot in the summer, but in the winter he’s the best cure for chilly sheets. Oh, and half the time he makes his way up to our heads in the middle of the night and sleeps like a human (head on pillow, body under covers).
Karen B – Sherry and I found ourselves stacking books and magazines on the floor sometimes, rather than putting them in our wardrobes so we decided it was time to contain the mess. So we snagged two brown magazine file boxes that conveniently fit snugly on the side of the bed frame to keep ’em tidier.
-John
Karen B. says
Hi! OK so as I was looking through these pictures I noticed storage on either side of your bed. Is that what that is? My hubby and I are constantly looking for new ideas for storage as we live in an older house and they obviously didn’t have as much stuff as we do back then :)
Janell Beals says
A good goal, particularly with your house on the Market!! Janell
Jocelyne says
Perhaps it is something engrained in me by my mother, but if I don’t make the bed, I just don’t feel “right”. No hospital corners here, but just having everything in its place makes me feel better prepared to face the day. It is difficult sometimes, as I feel like a jerk moving one of my sleeping kitties to pull up a sheet, but I just hate getting into an unmade bed.
I confess that I even tidy and “make” the bed when staying in a hotel, even though I know a housekeeper will be tearing off those sheets an hour later.
Jenna says
Ah…sigh. I am debating Aqua-tober as well. Especially no coffee and coffee-like drinks! But it’s my birthday this month and that just sounds like no fun. Then again, October is the last month before two months of parties and food.
Rachel E. says
Oh man, I don’t know how you can give up the Pepper for a whole month. If I go one day without caffeine, I get a slammin headache and I can’t leave the bed for like two days after. You’re hardcore, John.
gail says
I always make my bed. I love to slip into “neat” covers every night. :)
funny about the puppy! :) All three of my critters know that once the bed is made (and the pet sheet removed) they are not allowed. Two kittos and a grand-dog make for an interesting night’s sleep!
good luck with your resolution!
gail
Jill Stigs says
I am a bit OCD and make my bed every single day. And my daughter is not interested (sigh)…….I cut out drinking my Diet Coke at work, that’s all I can do right now!!
Mrs. Money says
I love a made bed. I think it helps make the whole day feel more organized!
Jen says
What a nice Sunday surprise to see a post from you guys! My dog loves to unmake my bed too…usually right after I’ve made it. Sometimes he’s satisfied with just rearranging my pillows, so at least he’s leaving my blankets in place!
C @ A New England Yankee says
Great idea! As mine sits unmade, this is a goal I can do! A few days late but I’ll start now!
Sassy says
I got quite a kick out Burger’s efforts — we have a Portuguese Water Dog who likes to get up on the bed and push and pull until the comforter is in a big heap in the middle of the bed. At that point, he carefully settles himself — on our pillows! So we have been known to make (ie, resettle the comforter) several times a day.
Ashley says
On the only water for a month, I stopped drinking anything but water my Freshman year of High school to play tennis. (What the coach recommended). 9 years later and I only still drink water, rumor has it if you do something for at least 8 weeks you can break a habit, or make that a new habit. Now I have tried with chocolate and thats a different story….
kathy says
My cats do the same thing. I go in to make the bed up and they are so comfy looking, I just hate to bug them, so I practically gave up bed making. Once in a while, I’ll catch them not there, and make it up. When I go back, it’s messed up where they were climbing around on it and hiding in the pillows or under covers. I agree… they’re just letting us know whose bed it really is!
Sarah says
I’m in! Maybe I should tell myself that I’m not allowed to have my first cup of coffee until I make the bed. That’s a sure fire way to get the bed made really quickly!
lauryn says
This is awesome! My husband and I have a list of five things that we each would appreciate the other to do daily that makes us feel more loved. On my list I put making the bed everyday. I dont know why but I feel so much better going to bed at night when the bed is made and I have to turn it down. Good luck with Aqua-tober!
Kristine says
Good resolution! I’m not good w/making the bed either. Just curious… do you guys have another comforter set to switch out your blue one, or do you always use the blue one in the master bedroom?
BTW, I didn’t know you posted on weekends. :D
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Kristine,
We’ve only got one comforted set for the master. And we haven’t typically posted on weekends but now that we’ve decided to mix things up a bit you might just see more weekend posts (read more about it in our goals post from Friday: https://www.younghouselove.com/blogiversary-iii-goal-tending/
-John
Lexie says
A weekend post! I love it! And good luck with your bed-making efforts. I tend to go through phases of being great about making our bed before I return to neglecting it for weeks on end.
Angela says
This seriously just made my day! I remember the days when I would see a post from you on a Saturday or a Sunday. Thanks!
I don’t think I’m ready to make the resolution of making our bed everyday though. Maybe someday …
Deidre says
My kitchen and family room look dreadful by 10 am but I can guarantee that my bed is made first thing each morning. Weird, I know. No one sees the bedroom!
Kelly says
Thanks for the weekend post! yay!
Also, just wanted to say that I can’t wait to hear all about your trials and tribulations of selling/ buying a house- I love real estate!!!
Lauren says
Love the weekend post!
charm says
LOL this post cracked me up, thanks!
Making the bed is kind of a non-negotiable in our marriage. I used to iron my sheets back in college (crazy person here) …so I’ve scaled back to taking them out of the dryer as soon as they’re done and making the bed before creases set in. And if for whatever reason the bed isn’t made at all during the day, I make it right before bed — then slip right in.
liz @ bon temps beignet says
A Sunday post? Yall are jumping on the new goals pretty fast.
Aqua-tober sounds like a good challenge! I’ll have to try to convince the hubby.
Hannah says
Love the weekend post! it was definately the mental break i needed from grading papers all day (life of a teacher!). I’d have to agree with the earlier post & say that a comfy throw blanket might be the perfect solution to Burger’s hunt for a comfy place to sleep the morning away. And it’s definately an easy thing to fix or hide when buyers swing by.
Holly H says
Too funny – our dog pulls up the sheets too, she always looks so guilty when we catch her in the act. She’s also slept between us on her back like a human… usually taking over my pillow in the process. Gotta love dogs!
Shreya says
I LOVE both the weekend post and a made bed every morning :D
CampDallas says
If I had a quarter for everytime I came home and noticed the dog had attempted to ‘ruffle’ the covers on our freshly-made bed, I’d be rich. So, like you, our bed goes unmade a lot of days (wouldn’t want to disappoint the pooch, after all!). I think I’ll join you in your attempts, and toss a throw blanket on the end, in hopes she won’t undo my hard work while I’m at work!
Once again, YHL has inspired me to get my act together. :-)
The Reluctant Belle says
Hi Guys!
I always have to make my bed. Even on the rare occasions that I don’t make it the moment I get out of it, I have to make it before I get back into it that night or I just can’t sleep. Maybe you could leave a little flap turned down so Burger can crawl into it without disturbing it too much. Like his own personal turn down service! :)
In related news, where did you get your duvet? I LOVE it. :)
Have a great Sunday, y’all.
YoungHouseLove says
It’s from West Elm a while back- maybe try eBay?
xo,
s
Traci says
Sounds like a great idea….I’m IN!
I also quit the diet soda habit almost a year ago….switched to sparkling water, water, and tea sweetened with honey, instead. I feel TERRIBLE when I have a diet soda, now. I never realized how badly it dragged me down until I gave it up. It’s all really just poison, when you think about it.
Christy Panzarella says
If my bed isn’t made, I feel like the whole house is a mess. I’ve been taking the couch so the newborn baby doesn’t wake my husband, and I “make” the couch first thing when I wake up too! You can do it. No worries.
Mallory @ R. Simple Life says
During football season, my husband and I do weekly “picks” (we choose who we think will win every NFL game for the week) and the loser has to make the bed all week. It turns a mundane task into bragging rights every week!
Kristi says
I love mid-year resolutions! I make them all the time. You don’t have to wait until New Years to make improvements in your life and your self. Good luck with your goals! :)
Nikki says
So fun to see a weekend post! I’ve tried making my bed too, and that usually last a day or two before I fall back out of the habit. I’ll give it a go with you guys and see if I can last the whole month as well! I believe the theory is, if you do something for 21 days, it becomes habit? (or is it 27? I dont remember…) Either way, good luck!
Shelley says
I can SOOOO relate to the Dr. Pepper detox. I’ve been trying SO hard to cut out the caffiene and sugar so I decided no more soda…only to find myself picking up an iced cappuccino habit I’ve never had before. *sigh*
Alicia says
What a fantastic idea! I need to rearrange my bedroom and try the same resolution :)
I LOVE that Burger burrows under the covers. My wiener dog Emma does the exact same thing! We just make the bed around her, otherwise she will destroy the covers trying to find her way back in.
Amber says
My pup does the same thing!
Tracy Lee says
You couldn’t pay me enough to make my bed everyday, LOL! I am a weirdo and actually find a “made” bed to be the opposite of cozy! There’s nothing snugglier to me than ruffled blankets and disheveled sheets! A messy bed just seems so inviting! And I’m pretty sure Burger agrees with me at least =)
YoungHouseLove says
Very true. Although it seems like he gets some sick satisfaction from undoing John’s efforts. I’m highly entertained by the whole thing.
xo,
s
The Orchard says
I always make my bed. My mom taught me how to when I was young and I have been doing it ever since. It makes me feel like I accomplished at least ONE thing in the day!
I LOVE that your dog is a lump under the covers. Our cat Meiko used to do the same thing.
Your blog is totally B-awesome (a little line from the movie Bolt), but you probably know that already!
Thanks,
Tricia
Laura (Blogging Over Thyme) says
So happy and excited to see a weekend post! I can’t believe Burger likes sleeping under the covers that much, I would have thought he would get hot. He must love to bury!
Kristen says
Love this goal! I’m going to give it a whirl, already off to a good start!
Mary says
Just wondering where you store your throw pillows when you’re in the bed? Mine always ended up on the floor and so I gave up on them and they’ve been banished to a closet where I’m not enjoying them anymore.
Lisa says
I make the bed every day…a few years ago I was running late one day and didn’t, and my husband came home and asked if I was feeling ok, since the bed wasn’t made.
Tangentially related, I read once that 80% of women make the bed every day, but only 20% of women remember to take a multi-vitamin every day.
Sarah says
Yippee a weekend post! What a pleasant surprise!!
Nicole says
My dog does the same thing, if I make the bed she makes a point of diving between the pillows and moving the covers around with her nose until they are just right. She can spend up to 20 minutes moving the duvet until it is just how she wants it. Like Burger she also likes to lie on her back with a pillow under her head and the covers over her, can’t have her in bed with us at night though, she’s short haired and too itchy as she likes to lie right up against one of us. As clean as she is there’s also the problem of the’sweaty dog’ smell, though I’m not sure whether that emanates from my husband or the dog!!!
Sima says
I always have to make our bed everyday. Its he first thing I do in the morning. Cute photo of Burger under the covers. My cats like to be under the duvet when its cold at night or sleep on the bed during the day. I love coming into the room and seeing one of them curled up on it. I dont think any potential buyer should be put offf with Burger under the covers. Love the weekend post.
Jarrod says
Lovin’ the Sunday post!!
Leslie W. says
Our pup Molly does the SAME thing. First of all, she also sleeps like a human, head on pillow, body under covers. And, every time we make the bed in the morning, she has it completely torn apart within minutes and there’s a little lump in the middle of the bed where she’s curled up in a little ball. Or spread out like she owns the place. I love that you did a weekend post and Molly is totally and completely head-over-heels in love with Burger.