Welcome back, friends! 🌞 Summer is here in full swing, and I couldn’t wait to roll up my sleeves and tackle some satisfying home projects. Today’s deep clean is part therapy, part backyard glow-up, and ALL homemaking joy.

Whether you’re sprucing up your space, prepping for guests, or just craving some before-and-after motivation, this post is for you!

We’re diving into:

• 🐔 A chicken coop upgrade the hens went wild for
• 🧹 The declutter of a terrifying junk closet (yes, I survived)
• 🍃 Some much-needed pavement cleanup and hardscaping
• 🍕 A festive cook-with-me moment, just in time for summer BBQs

Grab your iced tea, fluff a throw pillow, and let’s dig into this clean-and-refresh session together.

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🐔 Chicken Coop Refresh: The Dojo Gets an Upgrade

Let’s kick things off with the cluckiest corner of the backyard — our beloved chicken dojo. My girls (read: chickens) have been laying eggs left and right, but their nesting boxes were starting to feel… uninspired. You know how it goes — you give a hen a home, and she immediately redesigns it. 😂

What We Added:

• ✨ New nesting boxes with deeper bedding
• 🪵 Extra roosting bars for overnight comfort
• 🍽️ A DIY feeder system to cut down on mess

I grabbed the Little Giant nesting boxes after seeing rave reviews on coop forums. They’re easy to clean, lightweight, and gave my girls an instant boost in egg-laying morale.

Within minutes of installation, the hens were lining up like it was opening night. No exaggeration.

Here’s the thing. I didn’t want to keep working on that outside coop if the girls just weren’t going to show interest in being outdoor birds.

And, believe me. They don’t want to be outdoor birds. My chickens have standards. Who am I to argue? *shrugs shoulders

Quick Tip for Backyard Chicken Owners:

Sprinkle a bit of diatomaceous earth beneath the bedding. It keeps mites and pests away naturally and keeps your coop smelling fresh.

I wish I had known this tidy tip earlier on…

Backyard SEO Bonus:

If you’re new to backyard chickens, I highly recommend checking out Fresh Eggs Daily for incredible tips on chicken health, natural remedies, and coop care.

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🧹 Closet Declutter: Enter the Black Hole

Onward to the indoor jungle — aka, the junk closet. This little beast has become the Bermuda Triangle of our home. It’s where batteries, holiday decor, and rogue socks go to disappear. But not anymore!

The 3-Step System I Used:

1. Empty EVERYTHING (painful but necessary)
2. Group like items – lighting gear, cleaning supplies, tools
3. Use clear bins + labels to make things findable again

I used these clear stackable containers from The Container Store and let me tell you — life-changing. I can actually see my extension cords now instead of buying a new one every six months.

Decluttering Tip:

Ask yourself: If I needed this, would I remember it exists? If the answer’s “no,” donate or toss it.

For Further Inspiration:

If you love a good declutter session, check out Dana K. White’s blog for real-life organizing without the Pinterest pressure.

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🍃 Pavement Blow-Off & Paver Progress: Hardscape Dreams

Time to step back outside for a satisfying blow-off moment (yes, I filmed it in slo-mo because I’m that girl). The patio and paver path had been smothered in dirt, petals, and random backyard debris. A quick power blow made the space feel brand new again.

My Tools of Choice:

• 🌀 Worx Cordless Leaf Blower
• 🧤 Garden gloves + knee pads for paver placement

We’re slowly extending the paver path through the garden — it’s a weekend warrior project that just won’t quit. BUT every little bit adds up, and watching it evolve gives me that “I built this” pride.

Paver Setting Tip:

Use polymeric sand between stones to prevent weed growth. I followed this DIY guide from Family Handyman, and it’s made a huge difference.

Landscaping SEO Suggestion:

Looking for drought-tolerant paver ideas? Check out Gardenista’s hardscaping section for elegant inspo that won’t break the bank.

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🍕 Cook With Me: Homemade Pizza & Patriotic Trays

After all that cleaning, it was time to get festive! Nothing screams summer backyard vibes like homemade pizza and red-white-and-blue eats.

On the Menu:

• Homemade crust with a hint of rosemary 🌿
• Classic margherita and pepperoni-lovers pies
• Patriotic pizza boards with fruit skewers and flag-themed toppings

I used this pizza dough recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction and it turned out chef’s kiss perfection.

4th of July Serving Ideas:

• Use star-shaped cookie cutters on your mozzarella
• Add blueberries and strawberries to your dessert boards
• Serve on rustic wooden trays (mine are NOT rustic (new), nor wooden (plastic) lol)

It felt like the perfect ending to a long day of productivity. The dogs lounged underfoot, the hens clucked in the background, and we chowed down under string lights. Heavenly.

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🎉 Final Thoughts: Cleaning Isn’t Just Chores — It’s Self-Care

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from deep clean days like this, it’s that homemaking isn’t about perfection — it’s about creating peace in your space. From nesting boxes to junk closets to cheese-stuffed crusts, these small wins added up to one joyful summer day.

Quick Recap of Today’s Projects:

• ✅ Refreshed the chicken coop with new nesting boxes
• ✅ Decluttered the junk closet with clear bins
• ✅ Cleaned and progressed our backyard paver path
• ✅ Cooked up a festive homemade pizza night

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your own to-do list, pick one of these to start with. A coop refresh, a closet clean-out, or even just sweeping your patio can shift your entire energy.

And hey — if you want to watch it all go down in real time, catch the livestream replay on my YouTube**. Come for the cleaning, stay for the pizza boards.

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💬 Tell Me in the Comments:

• Which of these projects is on YOUR list this month?
• Have you tackled any backyard upgrades lately?
• Would you try a themed pizza night like this?

👇 Drop your answers below or tag me in your progress on social @ritaslanina — I love seeing your cozy victories!

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📌 Pin This Post

Want to save this for later? Pin the full post here on Pinterest and revisit it when you’re ready to tackle your own deep clean day. Bonus: I’ve added a printable checklist to make your refresh extra easy!

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SEO Keywords for Optimization (included naturally throughout):

• backyard chicken coop upgrade
• junk closet organization tips
• paver path DIY
• summer clean with me
• festive 4th of July food ideas
• homemade pizza night
• outdoor decluttering
• homemaking blog
• deep cleaning motivation

Here’s what we tackle:

• 🐔 Chicken “Dojo” Refresh – reorganizing the coop & installing NEW nesting boxes the girls immediately love
  
• 🧹 Junk Closet Declutter – finally facing the black‑hole closet and winning!
  
• 🍃 Pavement Blow‑Off & Paver Progress – clearing debris and inching that never‑ending walkway closer to done
  
• 🍕 Homemade Pizza & 4th‑of‑July Trays – cook with me, then chow down on patriotic pizza boards!
  

Whether you need cleaning motivation, backyard makeover inspiration, or just love watching chickens live their best life, hit play and let’s get productive together. 💪

👉 LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more clean‑with‑me vlogs, DIY projects, and cozy food moments every week!

RECIPES!

Pizza Dough Recipe

2.5 C flour                                       Dash of Salt         1 Tbls Olive Oil

1pkt (or 2 Tblsp) Dry Yeast         1 tsp sugar           1 + ¼ C water 

Mix together salt + flour in a medium bowl. In a measuring cup, add the yeast, sugar, and water. Allow 5 minutes or so to proof the yeast. (a fancy term for foamy.) Add yeast mixture to flour mixture. Blend until a ball forms. Add oil on top, sides, and bottom of dough ball. 

Preheat the oven 450 degrees. (Or air fry at 425.) 

Flour a sheet pan to prevent the dough from sticking. Press the dough onto the sheet pan. Use a fork to poke holes all over the flattened dough. This removes the possible air bubbles that can occur during baking. So err, on the side of more holes poked than less. Lol. Add your toppings.

 Place in oven and bake for 22-32 minutes. 

Voila! 

Garlic Aoli Sauce

1 C mayo       1 C greek yogurt (for more ranch-like flavor, substitute sour cream)

2-4 lemons for lemon juice     Garlic cloves, minced  (6-8 cloves, as necessary for stronger taste) 

Salt & Pepper    

Mix all ingredients together. Keep in mind if you want a runny texture use more lemon juice, more thick, add in more mayo or yogurt. Let stand to let the ingredients meld together. Serve chilled!

SECTION 2

*Deep Clean, Ceviche & Classic Rock 🎸 | Productive Reset Vlog 

Welcome back, friends! After a chill Memorial Day weekend, we’re jumping into a productive reset day with some serious sparkle, flavor, and behind-the-scenes music vibes!

In this video:
🧼 Deep clean with me – bathroom scrub + backyard cleanup
☕ Pistachio nut iced coffee recipe (your new fave, trust me)
🦐 Homemade ceviche prep – fresh, zesty & SO easy
🎸 Studio sneak peek – classic rock covers in the making with my husband!

Whether you’re here for cleaning motivation, lifestyle inspo, or just to vibe with me—hit that LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE to stay in the loop. 💕

📍Drop a comment: What’s your go-to productivity boost after a holiday weekend?

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Ready to reset after the long weekend? Let’s tackle that to-do list together! 💪 In this productive vlog, I’m deep cleaning the bathroom, refreshing the backyard, cooking up fresh ceviche, and giving you a behind-the-scenes look at our classic rock studio session! 🎸

☑️ What’s Inside:
— Deep clean with me: bathroom + backyard
— Cook with me: easy homemade ceviche
— Pistachio nut iced coffee recipe ☕
— My running project list reset
— A sneak peek at our new music series in the studio 🎶

🦐 Easy Shrimp Ceviche Recipe

✨ Ingredients:

• 1 lb cooked shrimp (peeled, deveined, chopped)
  
• 1 cup fresh lime juice (about 6–8 limes)
  
• 2 medium Roma tomatoes (diced)
  
• ½ red onion (finely chopped)
  
• 1 jalapeño (seeded and minced – optional for heat)
  
• 1 cucumber (peeled and diced)
  
• 1 avocado (cubed)
  
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
  
• Salt & pepper to taste
  
• Tortilla chips for serving (or tostadas!)
  

Join me for a productive Clean With Me session as I tackle laundry, reorganize my closet, and even move a piano! 🎹✨ Along the way, I share a peek into my recording studio, take you through a day in my life, and unwind with a beautiful flowery crafting project. If you love cleaning motivation, home organization, and a touch of creativity, this reset routine is for you! Don’t forget to like & subscribe for more cozy productivity vlogs. 🌿🧺 #CleanWithMe #LaundryDay #HomeReset

PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Sky Organics Castor Oil

https://amzn.to/430uvgs

Clamp-On Speaker Monitor Shelves

https://amzn.to/4gTeJY7

oday we’re making room — not for guests, not for a full house overhaul — just for whatever’s coming next ✨ watch next: *NEW* DAY IN THE LIFE // Light Homemaking Day 💛 Fresh Patio & Kitchen Tidy + Solo Summer Dinner 🍽️

I’m giving a little love to my most lived-in, created-in, and occasionally neglected spaces: the dressing room (aka outfit explosion zone), the home office, and the recording studio. You’ll see some light cleaning, laundry wrangling, and me casually pulling out a few bins I swear I wasn’t going to open yet 👀

But while I clean and reset, I’m also reflecting on what these spaces have seen — from book writing and filming Armchair Chats, to late-night tortilla snacking (off camera, of course). Because sometimes the mess isn’t just physical. It’s energetic. And it needs a sweep, too.

🧼 In this video you’ll find:

• Dressing room clean with me + laundry fold
  
• Studio reset and reflections
  
• Home office organizing + sneaky decor sorting
  
• Some light nostalgia spiraling 🌀
  
• A mini heart-to-heart on creativity & balance
  

If you’re into light homemaking, cozy vlogs, and figuring life out one small reset at a time — you’re in the right place.

🚢 P.S. My Kickstarter Is Sailing Strong – Come Aboard! 🎉

Before you go—BIG NEWS! My newest book Harbor Excursions 2: The Offshore Account is now live on Kickstarter, and we’re already making serious waves. This project is near and dear to my heart, blending breezy beach vibes with a twisty little mystery—perfect for a summer escape.

✨ And guess what? If you loved today’s DIYs, homemaking chatter, or just need a moment of calm, you’re going to adore the limited-edition coloring book companion I created to go with the series!

🌊 Here’s how you can help:

1. Pledge your favorite reward tier — we’ve got signed books, coloring pages, and a very special “Captain’s Club” tier!
2. Share the campaign with a fellow cozy mystery lover or homemaker in your life.
3. Comment on the campaign page to help boost visibility and let me know you came from the blog!

👉 Click here to check out the campaign and pledge now!

Every pledge—big or small—brings this little dream closer to life. Thank you for cheering me on, supporting indie creatives, and being part of my cozy crew. 💙