31 Days to Clean: Review and GIVEAWAY!

Welcome to The Humbled Homemaker. Check out this review and read to the end for details on how you can enter to WIN a free copy of the book!

30-some day ago, I had never even heard of Sarah Mae. 

But now I'm singing her praises. 

Her new book, 31 Days to Clean: Having a Martha House the Mary Way couldn't have come at a better time in my life. 

As the mother of two very little girls (3 and 8 months), I've really struggled with keeping my home clean. 

And I don't think I'm alone. 

I think a lot of mothers struggle to maintain some kind of order in what can easily become their castle of chaos (aka--their homes).

One of my biggest weaknesses is just getting started. I get so overwhelmed with the constant pile-up of dirty dishes and laundry, the sorting through mail and toys and figuring out how to work in actual deep cleaning, that I sometimes just give up. 

But Sarah's book makes it easy--or at least easier. 

She gives you a guide, a step-by-step approach, in a 31-day process.

Using the biblical sisters Mary and Martha from the New Testament (who were dear friends of Jesus with very different personalities), Sarah gives readers two challenges for each day. 

The Mary challenge has to do with the spiritual.

The Martha challenge has to do with the practical--usually a cleaning challenge. 

Sarah begins each of the 31 days with some type of motivational message.

Some of the messages were devotional in nature and included Scripture verses to motivate and memorize.

On other days, Sarah simply re-told an inspirational story to remember. 

Each day can easily be read in a couple of minutes.

From practical advice like getting the sleep you need to convicting suggestions like checking your heart, Sarah put this humbled homemaker in her place over and over again. 

What did I learn the most?

Keeping a clean house is a heart issue.

Now I didn't say perfect house--I said a clean house. 

On day 3, Sarah said: "Our homes reflect our mental/spiritual/emotional health."

Ouch. That statement...hurt....but it sure resonated with me. 

You see, it wasn't the first time I had heard something like that. 

I actually took a home organization Bible study class a few months back. 

The teacher said the same thing.

I was convicted then. 

And I'm convicted now.

As I look around at my too-often cluttered home, I can see a reflection of my too-often cluttered heart.

There are stains I've ignored that God wants to clean.

There are piles of junk that need to be dealt with and purged, instead of swept under a rug or tossed inside a closet before company comes over. 

It's a lesson I'm learning.

And will continue to learn over and over again.

Did 31 Days to Clean make a difference in my life?

Absolutely. 

But I'll be honest.

I just told my hubby I'm working on a review of the 31 Days to Clean book. He said: "You ARE?" I said: "Yes." He said: "Um, are you still doing 31 Days to Clean?" I said: "No, it ended." He said: "Ohhhhh, now it makes sense!" 

Ouch. As I look around me, my house is not what it should be. 

One good thing about 31 Days to Clean? You can re-start it each and every month if you want or need to.

Just like God's amazing grace lets us start over and over again.

I spent June doing the 31 Days to Clean "new" challenges, establishing routines for a more organized "cleaning" system.

I plan on re-starting the book in either August or September and tackling the original challenges, which involve more deep cleaning. 

My home needs it.

My heart needs it.

Does anyone want to join me?

You can get the book, here. 

Now, I have EXCITING news! Sarah has very graciously offered one Humbled Homemaker reader a free copy of her book! 

There are SEVERAL ways you can enter this contest:

1. REQUIRED entry: Tell me why you need 31 Days to Clean. Like the Humbled Homemaker on FB. *Leave your full name and e-mail address.*

2. 1 extra entry: Go to the 31 Days to Clean website, check out "About Sarah Mae" and tell me one thing you learned about this author.

3. 1 extra entry: Like 31 Days to Clean on FB. 

4. 1 extra entry: Like Sarah's blog, Like a Warm Cup of Coffee, on FB.

5. 1 extra entry: Like Sarah's other blog, Raising Homemakers, on FB. 

6. 2 extra entries: Share this contest on FB. 

7. 2 extra entries: Tweet about this contest.

8. 2 extra entries: Blog about this contest. 

9. 3 extra entries: Leave a comment on another post on The Humbled Homemaker. 

10. 5 extra entries: Subscribe to The Humbled Homemaker via RSS or e-mail.

Fill out THIS FORM to enter the contest! The contest will be open until Friday, July 15 at 11:59 p.m. EST. I will choose winners via random.org, and I will notify the winners via e-mail and announce them on the blog Saturday, July 16. 

Did you take on the 31 Days to Clean Challenge yet? How were your 31 days?

*Thank you to everyone who entered the Zarbee's All-Natural Cough Syrup Contest! The winners are:

1. Bottle of Cough Syrup: #41 Laura Whistler

2. Sample To-Go Packets: 

#16-Jennifer Deibel

#8-Lexie McNeill

#33-Sarah Cape

#54-Whitney Cornelison 

If you liked this post, you may also like my post on 31 Days to Clean: Mission Statement and Motivation and 31 Days to Clean: Dropping the Ball.

Do you enjoy reading The Humbled Homemaker?  Subscribe to receive posts:

• via RSS (like Google Reader/Google Friends Connect) here 
• Subscribe for weekly e-mails here
• Subscribe to receive every post (3-4 times/week) via e-mail  here 
• Find me on Facebook here 
• Follow me on Twitter here