I AM a Motivated Mom (You can be too)!

What motivates you?  

You know, what really gets you going? 

I think it's different for everyone.

I am motivated by accountability.  I am motivated by results (positive or negative).  I am motivated by frustration.  I am motivated by others' successes or failures.  I am motivated by the calendar or the clock.  I am motivated by change.  I am motivated by stagnation.  I am motivated by a lot of things.

One thing that really motivates me, really gets me going, is a checklist.

I think I have my Auntie Dona to thank for that.  She's a list maker.  I hear that she makes lists of her lists.  (I don't know if that's true or not, but that's the story.)  I'm not quite that extreme, but I am a list maker for sure, and few things make me as happy as checking something off a list.  

I discovered one of my favorite lists a couple of years ago.  I've told you about it a couple of times.  I love it, in part, because I don't have to make it myself (although there is great joy in the making of the list).  I love it, in part, because it reminds me to do things I would have otherwise forgotten.  I love it, mostly, because it totally motivates me.

Are you curious yet?

Yep, that's right.  My amazing motivational list comes from Motivated Moms!

Motivated Moms is a "chore chart" for moms.  It's awesome.  It's wonderful.  It's terrible.  It's everything you need it to be.  It's...well...motivational!

Imagine a home in which laundry piles up for days upon days, where the kitchen floor gets a once-over with the broom once a week or so, the kids' nails get clipped when they get scraggly enough that the kids are actually asking for them to be clipped, the fridge gets cleaned when someone can no longer stand the grime...dreadful, isn't it?  Yeah, so ummm...welcome to my house.

Four months ago I started an amazing new job.  An all-consuming, exhausting, amazing new job.  I adore my new job.  I am amazed by how...amazing...it feels.  The trouble, though, is that it's all I have time for.  I feel like, between work, kids, and sleep, I have run out of time for anything...even beneficial things.

Beneficial things like, you know, cleaning.

So, as I sat here on my couch during Christmas break, contemplating what would motivate me to get my messy house (and perhaps life) in order, it's no surprise that I remembered Motivated Moms and the difference that printable calendar's made in my life the last two years!

I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was, to discover that not only does Motivated Moms have the amazing printable calendar I've grown to love, but they've got both apple and android apps now, too!  I don't know how you feel, but this was amazing news for me.  

You see, I love lists.  I love marking things off of lists.  What I don't love is clutter (although my house is full of it).  A binder of lists on my counter?  That feels an awful lot like clutter to me.  It's clutter that helps control clutter, I suppose, but it's always just been awkward.  We don't have tons of room on our counters.  The binder just takes up space.  The app, though?  Perhaps it's clutter on my phone or my iPod, but I don't see that when I walk by.  

I am so much more in love with Motivated Moms today than I was before I downloaded the app yesterday!  SO much more in love!

That house I described earlier?  It's still there.  It's still messy.  It's a work in progress.  But right now?  My bed is made (or at least straightened).  My LAST LOAD of laundry is in the washer. (Don't ask me about the folding, m'kay?)  My bathroom counter is cleaned off.  The top shelf of my fridge is clean.  My furnace filter has been changed.  I could go on, but I won't.

Give me a warning and 30 minutes, and my house will be clean enough for company!  

I couldn't have said that yesterday morning.

You see, Motivated Moms gives you daily chores to do.  Whether you choose the paper version or one of the apps, you get a list of daily jobs, mixed together with day-specific jobs.  Today, for instance, I made my bed (like every day) and wiped the bathroom sink (like every day).  I also cleaned the microwave inside and out.  I cleaned the top shelf of the fridge, which was actually yesterday's job.  Some days the list seems long, especially when you're just starting (or re-starting). Some days, though, the list looks so manageable.  Even on the days when the list looks long, it's really not so bad.  The longer you stay on the Motivated Moms "program," the easier it gets!  Faster, too.  

Motivated Moms actually has the option, now, to assign tasks!  If it's Little Lou's day to feed the dog, for instance, I can turn that task purple.  If it's Bugsy's day to sweep the kitchen floor, I can turn that task yellow.  It's an great way to monitor who else is doing their chores, too, not just Mom!

In fact, if you become a Motivated Mom, you very quickly discover that you've got an amazing amount more time on your hands than you ever had before...and a much much cleaner house! 

I choose to use the version with Bible reading as well as other chores.  I've chosen the paper downloadable version with Bible reading the last two years.  The app already comes with the Bible section, and you can choose whether you want to leave that turned on (I hope you will) or turn it off.  

Not only does Motivated Moms help you clean up your house, it'll help you clean up your life.

People, Motivated Moms is an $8 investment.  $8 will get you either the paper download OR the app.  Motivated Moms is worth FAR more than $8.  If you try it, you won't regret it!  

Speaking of trying it, there's a free trial version of the app!  2 weeks worth of chores for you to try.  What an amazing gift Motivated Moms has given!  You're going to love it so much, you're going to want the full version.

Ready to get started?  Head on over to Motivated Moms!

If you're in the mood to download the printable version, be sure you use the coupon code THISNTHAT.  You'll get $1 off the printable ebook, making it just $7!  That offer's only good through the 18th, though, so hurry!

Does WINNING motivate you?  It motivates me, too.  Leave me a comment below (we'll do this the old fashioned way) and let me know why you NEED Motivated Moms this year!  I'll choose a random winner from the comments on 1/19/2013!  The winner will be able to choose either the printable ebook or the apple app.  (Sorry, the android app isn't available for giveaway.)

Don't forget to purchase your ebook or app right away, so you can get moving in this new year!    Your house deserves it...YOU deserve it!!

I was given a copy of the apple app at no cost in order to facilitate a review, but I was going to post one anyway.  I was not compensated in any other way.  This is seriously an awesome app, and even if I hadn't been compensated, I would have said the exact same things.