Hey Everyone!
I'm back, didya miss me? Huh....Huh, didya? Well, with the holidays comes . . . . . well, stuff to do. Crafts to make, stuff to bake, and computers to break. Yep, you heard it right. I caught a worm. Ahem, I mean my computer did, cuz that would be really gross if I did. (Not to mention inappropriate for me to share that little bit of info with all of you.) But alas, my computer acquired a worm (evidently the size of the ones Kevin Bacon fought in Tremors) and I have lost all my forms, files, pictures, and sanity. I will say this though, I think it was sweet and thoughtful for the thing to croak on the biggest sale weekend of the year:)
So, after being out of cyber touch, I braved the cold and crazy, and I went to Wal*Mart at 3am this morning. Yeah, I know what you are thinking, "Are you stoopid?" and as a matter of fact, yes, I am. I did however, acquire a doorbustin', smokin' deal on new laptop. I am now back in business and riding in the fast lane on the cyber highway. Whoo Hoo!!!
I decided it only proper since I have new stuff, my web page should get a face lift too. I will try to get all my gadgets and links back on over the next few days, so please bear with me. I also thought it would be nice to add music to my blog. If you are listening to something else, or if you just need some peace and quiet, feel free to hit the pause or you can change the song if you would like. I will add some more music over the coming weeks, too.
Well, I'm off to work on my new laptop. Please leave comments and let me know what you think about the changes so far. Also, if you have any topics you would like me to blog about, drop a line.
Special Note: Thank you so much to my niece, Anna Kate for all her help on my blog. I couldn't have done all of this without her.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Plan to Plan
Well, it's about that time again! Time to change out those summer tank tops and bathing suits for some snugly sweaters and jackets. Time to dust off the "comfort food recipes." Time to look at that budget (with a magnifying glass) to gear up for Christmas shopping. Time to fill our calendars up with holiday gatherings. Okay, I'm tired already! I vow every year NOT to wear myself out and over commit to . . . well, . . . STUFF! This year I want a simple, Christ-centered Christmas. So, how do I accomplish this? These are my thoughts:
***Look for ways and opportunities to talk about the birth of Christ***
* Watch movies about the Nativity
* Have devotional time with your children 2-3 times a
week (maybe go through The Birth of Christ from the Gospels)
* Display Christ-centered decorations (a great idea for small
children is to have a nativity they can actually touch and move the pieces
to re-tell the story)
*** Begin planning ways to minimize the commercialism***
* Make presents by hand
* Shop online for gifts (keeps you out of the stores)
* Make your Christmas cards by hand
* This would be a great family project, in fact Jackson (my 10 y/o)
drew our cards last year, I treasure those far more than any I have
ever bought
* Turn the television off and the Christmas carols on (the carols are focused
on Christ, the TV is focused on the latest, greatest toy that the kids must
have)
*** Commit to NOT over-committing this season***
* Talk to your husband and decide how many "events" you will attend this
season. I think this is important, because without limiting your parties,
you will end up spending more time, energy, and money than you planned
on. It's always the last minute dessert or gift that gets you. All of these
"little" things add up.
*** Celebrate this season with other believers***
* The holidays aren't the same without "family"
So, get your notebook out, and start your planning. Plan to make this year the BEST holiday season ever.
***Look for ways and opportunities to talk about the birth of Christ***
* Watch movies about the Nativity
* Have devotional time with your children 2-3 times a
week (maybe go through The Birth of Christ from the Gospels)
* Display Christ-centered decorations (a great idea for small
children is to have a nativity they can actually touch and move the pieces
to re-tell the story)
*** Begin planning ways to minimize the commercialism***
* Make presents by hand
* Shop online for gifts (keeps you out of the stores)
* Make your Christmas cards by hand
* This would be a great family project, in fact Jackson (my 10 y/o)
drew our cards last year, I treasure those far more than any I have
ever bought
* Turn the television off and the Christmas carols on (the carols are focused
on Christ, the TV is focused on the latest, greatest toy that the kids must
have)
*** Commit to NOT over-committing this season***
* Talk to your husband and decide how many "events" you will attend this
season. I think this is important, because without limiting your parties,
you will end up spending more time, energy, and money than you planned
on. It's always the last minute dessert or gift that gets you. All of these
"little" things add up.
*** Celebrate this season with other believers***
* The holidays aren't the same without "family"
So, get your notebook out, and start your planning. Plan to make this year the BEST holiday season ever.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Just give me one Gilligan and two Handy Mannys, and I'll get it done
"I wish I had more time, but I only have an hour before I need to be at my appt."
"There's only an hour before supper, not enough time to get anything done."
"The kids need to be in bed in an hour, I better not start anything now."
Do any of these sound familiar? How many times have you ended your day, wishing you had a little more time to get your chores done? Maybe you looked back on your week and saw nothing but unfinished projects, or mounds of things left to do. It's always easy to become overwhelmed when you look at the whole. But when you dissect it into smaller bite-sized pieces, it becomes possible, even imaginable that you could achieve success with that scary to-do list.
Let's look at the hour. Sixty minutes. Three Thousand Six Hundred seconds. Two episodes of Brady Bunch. One Paula Deen. Two episodes (grueling though they may be) of Barney. You get the idea. It really doesn't seem like a whole lot of time. Quite frankly, it can be easy to lose hours everyday if you are not careful. As a child, I could get lost in a book for hours. Now our kids get lost in video games. Hmph. Adults can lose hours too. I think we can all think of "grown-up" ways to waste an hour; waiting in a doctor's office, surfing the net, stuck in traffic, etc.
Maybe there are some ways to make better use of an hour.
Instead of flipping through magazines in a doctor's office:
1) Make your menus for the week
2) Make your grocery list
3) Plan short term and long term goals for yourself
- What you would like to have done in one week, one month, 6 months, one year, etc..
4) Read your Bible reading for the day, or a devotional
Instead of jumping from site to site surfing the net (needlessly, not when looking for something specific):
1) Clean out one drawer in the kitchen, two if you have time.
2) Dust one room in the house, thoroughly.
3) Make a meal for the freezer.
4) Bake cookies with the kids.
5) Read a book to your kids.
6) Play a board game with the family.
7) Organize your linen closet.
Instead of complaining about being stuck in traffic:
1) Clean out your purse, throwing away all old receipts, gum wrappers, and other icky stuff.
2) Pick up all the trash on the floorboards in the car. Now....please do not do this when you're just at a red light, it is very easy to rear-end the person in front of you, and you want to talk about hours wasted!? Man, we're not even gonna talk about insurance companies, and court dates. Seriously, let the kids pick it up. After all it's their mess :)
3) Practice spelling words or Bible verses in the car with the kids.
4) If the kids are not with you, put in a sermon or audio book.
5) Meditate on the passage you read for your devotional.
6) Call and make any appointments you need to schedule.
I know it doesn't seem like much, but after a while, you will notice that things are starting to get done, and you don't feel so far behind. There's a reason we don't eat a T-bone steak in one bite. Aside from it being really gross, we would choke. But by taking small bites, we are able to enjoy its flavor along the way, savoring each bite. When its all gone, we can sit back and relax, feeling completely satisfied. Let's face it, sometimes it's just nice knowing there's nothing left on our plate.
"There's only an hour before supper, not enough time to get anything done."
"The kids need to be in bed in an hour, I better not start anything now."
Do any of these sound familiar? How many times have you ended your day, wishing you had a little more time to get your chores done? Maybe you looked back on your week and saw nothing but unfinished projects, or mounds of things left to do. It's always easy to become overwhelmed when you look at the whole. But when you dissect it into smaller bite-sized pieces, it becomes possible, even imaginable that you could achieve success with that scary to-do list.
Let's look at the hour. Sixty minutes. Three Thousand Six Hundred seconds. Two episodes of Brady Bunch. One Paula Deen. Two episodes (grueling though they may be) of Barney. You get the idea. It really doesn't seem like a whole lot of time. Quite frankly, it can be easy to lose hours everyday if you are not careful. As a child, I could get lost in a book for hours. Now our kids get lost in video games. Hmph. Adults can lose hours too. I think we can all think of "grown-up" ways to waste an hour; waiting in a doctor's office, surfing the net, stuck in traffic, etc.
Maybe there are some ways to make better use of an hour.
Instead of flipping through magazines in a doctor's office:
1) Make your menus for the week
2) Make your grocery list
3) Plan short term and long term goals for yourself
- What you would like to have done in one week, one month, 6 months, one year, etc..
4) Read your Bible reading for the day, or a devotional
Instead of jumping from site to site surfing the net (needlessly, not when looking for something specific):
1) Clean out one drawer in the kitchen, two if you have time.
2) Dust one room in the house, thoroughly.
3) Make a meal for the freezer.
4) Bake cookies with the kids.
5) Read a book to your kids.
6) Play a board game with the family.
7) Organize your linen closet.
Instead of complaining about being stuck in traffic:
1) Clean out your purse, throwing away all old receipts, gum wrappers, and other icky stuff.
2) Pick up all the trash on the floorboards in the car. Now....please do not do this when you're just at a red light, it is very easy to rear-end the person in front of you, and you want to talk about hours wasted!? Man, we're not even gonna talk about insurance companies, and court dates. Seriously, let the kids pick it up. After all it's their mess :)
3) Practice spelling words or Bible verses in the car with the kids.
4) If the kids are not with you, put in a sermon or audio book.
5) Meditate on the passage you read for your devotional.
6) Call and make any appointments you need to schedule.
I know it doesn't seem like much, but after a while, you will notice that things are starting to get done, and you don't feel so far behind. There's a reason we don't eat a T-bone steak in one bite. Aside from it being really gross, we would choke. But by taking small bites, we are able to enjoy its flavor along the way, savoring each bite. When its all gone, we can sit back and relax, feeling completely satisfied. Let's face it, sometimes it's just nice knowing there's nothing left on our plate.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
I'm the Queen, my panty hose say so!
On the heels of the last post, I will tell you about something that God is currently working on in my heart. I have let my mind be consumed with negative thoughts about my physical appearance, more specifically, my weight. Before I go forward, let me go back a little.
Before children, I didn't struggle with my weight. I wasn't a chunky child, thick teen, ample adult, or a bulky bride. (How'd ya like that alliteration?) Now, I don't say all of this to say that because I didn't have a weight issue growing up, I am better than people who did. Not by any means. I say it, because as our circumstances in life change, so does our focus. When I married, I was the "ideal" weight for my height and build, and almost never thought about my size. I was still wearing jeans from high school. Shortly after I got married, I had surgery to correct some female type problems, ahem, and was given medicine to shut everything down. This was in hopes that I would be able to conceive in the future. (Thanks be to God, we have three beautiful children.)The problem is, the stupid stuff shut everything down, alright, including my metabolism! I gained 20 pounds in 4 weeks. (I jumped the whole alphabet in panty hose in one month) I believe I must have developed an unhealthy physical attachment with those pounds, because they are still with me today. Hmph. Not only that, they invited a few friends to come and live with them, a few after the first child, a few more after the second, and a few more still after the third. You get the idea.
Since the birth of my first child, I have not been able to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, or even within 20 pounds of it. Okay, who am I kidding? I'm not within 50 pounds of it :( It's so hard. I don't think a day goes by without me; wishing I could lose weight, thinking about how to fit more time in to exercise, looking for that new thing to try, or calculating how much money I would save if I didn't have to put foundation on 6 chins. The point is, my thoughts are sinful. I have traded contentment with Christ for conviction by culture. I have allowed advertisements and society to dictate what is of value and acceptable, instead of looking to God and His word to place the value. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2 Somewhere between Richard Simmons and Weight Watchers, I lost my discernment. You see, I forgot that man only sees the external, but the God sees the heart. "For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:12 I forgot that be beautiful than look "beautiful."
Now, don't hear all of this and think, "Yipee, I don't have to do anything with myself, and I can eat Little Debbies all day long." On the contrary, we should take care of these precious bodies that were bought with a very dear price. We need to understand that no facial cream, organically grown vegetable, or multi vitamin will lengthen our lives, even by one day. However, our stewardship of our body is an offering of thanks back to God. We need to take care of ourselves, physically, mentally, and spiritually. But if we are seeking after the Lord's will, and being "transformed by the renewing of our minds," we won't be neglecting our bodies, minds, and souls.
So whether it is your weight, your complexion, your hair style, or some other insignificant, outward entity, don't let your focus on the external let you neglect your internal relationship with God. In the end, there is only one thing God wants you to be consumed with, and that's Him!
Before children, I didn't struggle with my weight. I wasn't a chunky child, thick teen, ample adult, or a bulky bride. (How'd ya like that alliteration?) Now, I don't say all of this to say that because I didn't have a weight issue growing up, I am better than people who did. Not by any means. I say it, because as our circumstances in life change, so does our focus. When I married, I was the "ideal" weight for my height and build, and almost never thought about my size. I was still wearing jeans from high school. Shortly after I got married, I had surgery to correct some female type problems, ahem, and was given medicine to shut everything down. This was in hopes that I would be able to conceive in the future. (Thanks be to God, we have three beautiful children.)The problem is, the stupid stuff shut everything down, alright, including my metabolism! I gained 20 pounds in 4 weeks. (I jumped the whole alphabet in panty hose in one month) I believe I must have developed an unhealthy physical attachment with those pounds, because they are still with me today. Hmph. Not only that, they invited a few friends to come and live with them, a few after the first child, a few more after the second, and a few more still after the third. You get the idea.
Since the birth of my first child, I have not been able to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, or even within 20 pounds of it. Okay, who am I kidding? I'm not within 50 pounds of it :( It's so hard. I don't think a day goes by without me; wishing I could lose weight, thinking about how to fit more time in to exercise, looking for that new thing to try, or calculating how much money I would save if I didn't have to put foundation on 6 chins. The point is, my thoughts are sinful. I have traded contentment with Christ for conviction by culture. I have allowed advertisements and society to dictate what is of value and acceptable, instead of looking to God and His word to place the value. "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1-2 Somewhere between Richard Simmons and Weight Watchers, I lost my discernment. You see, I forgot that man only sees the external, but the God sees the heart. "For the Lord sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:12 I forgot that be beautiful than look "beautiful."
Now, don't hear all of this and think, "Yipee, I don't have to do anything with myself, and I can eat Little Debbies all day long." On the contrary, we should take care of these precious bodies that were bought with a very dear price. We need to understand that no facial cream, organically grown vegetable, or multi vitamin will lengthen our lives, even by one day. However, our stewardship of our body is an offering of thanks back to God. We need to take care of ourselves, physically, mentally, and spiritually. But if we are seeking after the Lord's will, and being "transformed by the renewing of our minds," we won't be neglecting our bodies, minds, and souls.
So whether it is your weight, your complexion, your hair style, or some other insignificant, outward entity, don't let your focus on the external let you neglect your internal relationship with God. In the end, there is only one thing God wants you to be consumed with, and that's Him!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Idol Time
I love watching Food Network, and on the Food Network, I love watching challenges and competitions the best. While I was watching The Next Food Network Star last night, I couldn't help but wonder, "Do these people live, eat, and breathe food? (OK, ummmm, live and breathe food, ahem)" But seriously, not just the contestants, but the judges too. Take Bobby Flay for instance; he owns four or so restaurants, has his own line of cooking products, stars on Boy Meets Grill and Throwdown with Bobby Flay, he's an Iron Chef on Iron Chef America, AND he's a judge on Next Food Network Star. This isn't even counting all the guest appearances, photo shoots, etc. The man lives for food! When does he have time to be in the Word? When does he have time to minister to his wife, serve in the church, or just meditate? That's just ONE person on Food Network. I was looking at all of the contestants, too. It's just sad to me. These people are worshipping an idol.
Idols come in many shapes and sizes. They don't have to be guilded in gold and placed in a prominent place. An idol is defined as; a representation or symbol of an object of worship, or an object of extreme devotion. I teach my children that it is anything that consumes your time, energy and resources, in short, anything that takes a higher priority than God and His Word. When we pour ourselves into something, we better make sure it is to further the kingdom of Christ, and to bring honor and glory to Him.
Idols can change for us, too. This month it may be a special gardening project we are working on, or a scrapbook for a Christmas present. Next month may be re-decorating the guest bathroom or planning your daughter's slumber party. These things in and of themselves are not bad, but don't let them steal your time from God. When the projects and plans pull us away from our time with God, both physically and mentally, they become an idol.
One of the biggest idols we Americans have is money. We work to earn it, plan to spend it, and stress for lack of it. If we are not careful, it can consume our thoughts, daily. God's word is very clear when it comes the way we should handle our money. "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' " Hebrews 13:5
So, enjoy the gifts God has given you in this world; food, entertainment, home decor, gardening, etc. But keep them in their proper place with a clear perspective. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." I John 5:21
Idols come in many shapes and sizes. They don't have to be guilded in gold and placed in a prominent place. An idol is defined as; a representation or symbol of an object of worship, or an object of extreme devotion. I teach my children that it is anything that consumes your time, energy and resources, in short, anything that takes a higher priority than God and His Word. When we pour ourselves into something, we better make sure it is to further the kingdom of Christ, and to bring honor and glory to Him.
Idols can change for us, too. This month it may be a special gardening project we are working on, or a scrapbook for a Christmas present. Next month may be re-decorating the guest bathroom or planning your daughter's slumber party. These things in and of themselves are not bad, but don't let them steal your time from God. When the projects and plans pull us away from our time with God, both physically and mentally, they become an idol.
One of the biggest idols we Americans have is money. We work to earn it, plan to spend it, and stress for lack of it. If we are not careful, it can consume our thoughts, daily. God's word is very clear when it comes the way we should handle our money. "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' " Hebrews 13:5
So, enjoy the gifts God has given you in this world; food, entertainment, home decor, gardening, etc. But keep them in their proper place with a clear perspective. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." I John 5:21
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
First Things First
Have ya missed me? :) I took a huge hiatus to take care of stuff, stuff, stuff! Let's see, I've had the home school curriculum fair, my nephew's wedding, the end of the home school year, and moving into my parents house while they are away for two months. Whew......it's a good thing they have a pool. The kids and I are finally starting our vacation. I'm continuing math and Abby's phonics through the summer, but all other subjects have halted until September. I think I'll start lesson planning in Late July or August, that way I can take a little break to be with the kids.
We recently found a new church home, and we began attending Sunday school, Sunday morning service, Sunday evening service, and Wednesday evening services. This may not seem like a big deal to you, but for us it has been a big change, but a welcome one. Lemme splain-for about 4 years, we have been members of a wonderful, Bible teaching, God-centered church........in McDonough (that's about 80 miles away). Our church had one main service on Sunday, and Bible study on Wednesdays. (The men and women would alternate weeks to meet on Wednesdays.) Our services were AWESOME!! Everything from the music to the message was centered around the Word of God and very meat filled. However, due to the distance and schedule issues, we were only able to attend on Sundays. With the sermons alone lasting approximately 1 1/2 hours, we were definitely loaded for the week. I digress, back to the point. You would think that with attending church 4 times more than I was before, my tank would stay "full." Not so much. It seems that no amount of attending church, going to Bible study, and listening to sermons replace actual individual time in the Word.
Lately I have been convicted that my individual time should be first thing in the morning. I know what you're thinking, "I can't first thing, the kids need breakfast, the dog needs to go out, etc..." I'm right there with you. I'm not saying sit down for an in-depth Bible study while your two year old is helping himself to last year's Christmas candy and chasing it down with Hershey's syrup. I'm just saying the first thing we feed ourselves should be the honey of the Scriptures. Something as simple as the Proverb of the day (there are 31 Proverbs, just read the one corresponding with the current date) will make a profound difference on the way you view the rest of your day. There's something special about our "firsts" we have to offer. God spoke several times about the first fruits. Why do you think those fruits were more special? Why do you think it's important to write your offering check before writing any others? When we give God the "firsts," we are trusting Him for the seconds, and thirds, etc. By giving our time, resources, and offerings right away to Him, we exhibit faith. We don't know if we will have anymore time in the day to study, but we are trusting God to use what we have offered Him to bring glory to Himself.
Bottom line, don't let all the distractions of "doing" your day keep you from being obedient to what God commands of His children. Topping off your tank in the morning will allow you to fill all the other ones in the house. ;) Col. 2:2-3
We recently found a new church home, and we began attending Sunday school, Sunday morning service, Sunday evening service, and Wednesday evening services. This may not seem like a big deal to you, but for us it has been a big change, but a welcome one. Lemme splain-for about 4 years, we have been members of a wonderful, Bible teaching, God-centered church........in McDonough (that's about 80 miles away). Our church had one main service on Sunday, and Bible study on Wednesdays. (The men and women would alternate weeks to meet on Wednesdays.) Our services were AWESOME!! Everything from the music to the message was centered around the Word of God and very meat filled. However, due to the distance and schedule issues, we were only able to attend on Sundays. With the sermons alone lasting approximately 1 1/2 hours, we were definitely loaded for the week. I digress, back to the point. You would think that with attending church 4 times more than I was before, my tank would stay "full." Not so much. It seems that no amount of attending church, going to Bible study, and listening to sermons replace actual individual time in the Word.
Lately I have been convicted that my individual time should be first thing in the morning. I know what you're thinking, "I can't first thing, the kids need breakfast, the dog needs to go out, etc..." I'm right there with you. I'm not saying sit down for an in-depth Bible study while your two year old is helping himself to last year's Christmas candy and chasing it down with Hershey's syrup. I'm just saying the first thing we feed ourselves should be the honey of the Scriptures. Something as simple as the Proverb of the day (there are 31 Proverbs, just read the one corresponding with the current date) will make a profound difference on the way you view the rest of your day. There's something special about our "firsts" we have to offer. God spoke several times about the first fruits. Why do you think those fruits were more special? Why do you think it's important to write your offering check before writing any others? When we give God the "firsts," we are trusting Him for the seconds, and thirds, etc. By giving our time, resources, and offerings right away to Him, we exhibit faith. We don't know if we will have anymore time in the day to study, but we are trusting God to use what we have offered Him to bring glory to Himself.
Bottom line, don't let all the distractions of "doing" your day keep you from being obedient to what God commands of His children. Topping off your tank in the morning will allow you to fill all the other ones in the house. ;) Col. 2:2-3
Friday, April 24, 2009
Washing clothes and Saving Money
Drum roll please......................Preeeeeesenting the best laundry soap recipe on this blog! Tee hee - Seriously, as I stated in the last post, I made and tried a recipe I found on the internet for homemade laundry detergent. I absolutely LOVE it, and I will never buy store brand again. This particular recipe came from the Duggar Family website. However, I have found it on several other websites as well.
Our family of 5 does about 10-15 loads of laundry a week. This recipe will last us approximately 15 months. (We have a high efficiency washer and dryer) Each batch will make a 5 gallon bucket full, which will produce 10 gallons. I'll explain in a minute. Each batch costs about $2.00. The only cost outside of that is the initial investment in a 5 gallon bucket and lid. So, here we go......
Ingredients:
* 4 cups water (for melting soap)
* 1 bar of soap (I recommend Kirk's Hardwater Castile, found in Kroger)
Other suggestions are Ivory, Fels-Naptha, Sunlight, or Zote bars - DO NOT USE HEAVILY PERFUMED SOAPS
* 1/2 cup Borax (Found in Kroger in the cleaning aisle, I think they call it 20 Mule Power Borax)
* 1 cup washing soda (Also found this in Kroger, right beside the Borax)
Directions:
Grate bar of soap and melt in 4 cups of water in saucepan on med-low. Fill 5 gallon bucket half full with hot tap water. Add melted soap mixture, Borax and washing soda to the 5 gallon bucket. Stir well. Fill bucket to rim with hot tap water. Put lid on and let sit overnight. After sitting, take off lid and stir. Get an empty container (like used laundry detergent bottle) fill halfway with soap mixture. Fill bottle rest of the way with water. Gently shake. You are ready to wash some clothes!!!! Be sure to gently shake container before each use, as the solution will gel. For front loading washers, use approximately 1/4 cup. For top loading washers, use approximately 1/2 - 3/4 cup.
Front load machines (approximately 640 loads)
Top load machines (approximately 180 loads)
Inexpensive Softener Idea- I have tried this also, and it is working well.
* 1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener
* 4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half
Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket (you can probably use a smaller bucket, depending on the size of your softener bottle). Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet. I put some of the mixture in a small container by my dryer, and keep the other bucket in a storing area.
Hope these recipes work out for you. I told you in the last post that I was making homemade liquid soap; I did, and I don't recommend it at this time. It was very labor intensive and did not yield much. I think for now I will stick to the dollar bottles at Kroger or Wal*Mart, or maybe baby shampoo from Dollar General. The baby shampoo makes a great hand soap, and it's very gentle on the hands.
As always, I hope these recipes will be helpful. Let me know if you try them, and how they work for you.
"She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27
Our family of 5 does about 10-15 loads of laundry a week. This recipe will last us approximately 15 months. (We have a high efficiency washer and dryer) Each batch will make a 5 gallon bucket full, which will produce 10 gallons. I'll explain in a minute. Each batch costs about $2.00. The only cost outside of that is the initial investment in a 5 gallon bucket and lid. So, here we go......
Ingredients:
* 4 cups water (for melting soap)
* 1 bar of soap (I recommend Kirk's Hardwater Castile, found in Kroger)
Other suggestions are Ivory, Fels-Naptha, Sunlight, or Zote bars - DO NOT USE HEAVILY PERFUMED SOAPS
* 1/2 cup Borax (Found in Kroger in the cleaning aisle, I think they call it 20 Mule Power Borax)
* 1 cup washing soda (Also found this in Kroger, right beside the Borax)
Directions:
Grate bar of soap and melt in 4 cups of water in saucepan on med-low. Fill 5 gallon bucket half full with hot tap water. Add melted soap mixture, Borax and washing soda to the 5 gallon bucket. Stir well. Fill bucket to rim with hot tap water. Put lid on and let sit overnight. After sitting, take off lid and stir. Get an empty container (like used laundry detergent bottle) fill halfway with soap mixture. Fill bottle rest of the way with water. Gently shake. You are ready to wash some clothes!!!! Be sure to gently shake container before each use, as the solution will gel. For front loading washers, use approximately 1/4 cup. For top loading washers, use approximately 1/2 - 3/4 cup.
Front load machines (approximately 640 loads)
Top load machines (approximately 180 loads)
Inexpensive Softener Idea- I have tried this also, and it is working well.
* 1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener
* 4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half
Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket (you can probably use a smaller bucket, depending on the size of your softener bottle). Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet. I put some of the mixture in a small container by my dryer, and keep the other bucket in a storing area.
Hope these recipes work out for you. I told you in the last post that I was making homemade liquid soap; I did, and I don't recommend it at this time. It was very labor intensive and did not yield much. I think for now I will stick to the dollar bottles at Kroger or Wal*Mart, or maybe baby shampoo from Dollar General. The baby shampoo makes a great hand soap, and it's very gentle on the hands.
As always, I hope these recipes will be helpful. Let me know if you try them, and how they work for you.
"She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." Proverbs 31:27
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Living rooms, Dens, and Kitchens, OH MY!
So, how are those bathrooms and laundry rooms lookin'? :) This post will be about general organization and order in our living rooms, dens, and kitchens.
The MOST important advice I can give is that, Everything should have a place, and everything should be in its place." I know that seems elementary, but I think it is fundamental for order in the home. This is especially true if you are living in a limited amount of space. Find a home for everything, and if it doesn't seem to go anywhere or with any group in particular, contemplate whether you use it or need it.
Okay, on to living rooms/dens. I will combine the two because not everyone has a separate den. Sometimes they are combined into a great room.
Living room/Den-
* Try to minimize knick-knacks. Some items for general decor are fine, but really evaluate whether that seashell sculpture from Myrtle Beach that Grandma Mable brought you is worth keeping around. Remember, everything you have must be maintained, (ie: dusted, cleaned, etc..) and that means, t-i-m-e. Sometimes, less is more.
* Make sure the items in your living space are season appropriate. For instance, you don't need fleece throws when it is 96 degrees. By the same token, you might want to put away the box fans when it's 34 degrees. You get the picture.
* Have designated areas for toys. Our kids are older now, but our dog has a basket of toys, and another one for rawhide chews. I know, pretty sad. But he actually has learned where his toys are, and goes and selects one to play with. However, like toddlers, he gets out five at a time, and never puts them away. With a basket or some type of container though, children can have access to a few toys, but also have an easy way to clean them up.
* Ditch the junk mail. Try to make a habit of throwing junk mail away as soon as you walk in the door with it. Then take the "good" mail (even bills) to a pre-designated area. This will cut down greatly on the paperwork that can accumulate so rapidly on various surfaces around the house.
* One thing we tried a while back was; we purchased three (one for each child) baskets that complimented the living room decor, and labeled each basket with the child's name. Whenever I would find something lying around that belonged to a child, (sunglasses, video game chip, book, stickers, stuffed animal) I would place it in their basket. This way, I wasn't constantly running back and forth through the house "delivering" their belongings. Then a couple times a week, I would have them take their baskets to their rooms and put their things away. This was also great when they would call out, "Mama, have you seen my charger for my DS?" I could tell them to check their basket. Ta daaaa Just one more way to help instill responsibility.
* Do a "quick clean up" a couple times a day. A quick clean up is a 5-10 minute pick up of the main living areas. The kids and I quickly scan the areas and pick up any items that are out of place. We return them to their correct locations, and Voila, the living room is clean again. (We do this in the morning, late afternoon, and usually right before bed.)
* Make a little "desk in a tote." I bought an inexpensive scrap booking tote from Wal*Mart, and filled it with pencils, pens, stapler, scissors, tape, notebook paper, Sharpies, highlighters, erasers, dry erase markers, and a dry eraser. I was so tired of trying to find a working pen, or a pencil that wasn't broken. This has been a lifesaver many, many times. We keep it right in the living room. We just have one important rule with this, if you take it out, put it away.
* Here's my favorite:) Try moving your furniture around. Sometimes you just need a new perspective to get you motivated. Not to mention all the baseboards that have been neglected over the years, and pacifiers under the couch. I love moving my rooms around, it really helps me keep things clean. You have no choice but to go through things when you tear apart your room.
Alright, enough about living rooms, how bout those kitchens?
Kitchen-
* If you haven't already, go through your cabinets, one at a time. Clean them out, completely. Donate or yard sale any appliances, dishes, pots, pans, etc... that you are not using. Weed through the 73 sippy cups and 45 coffee cups you have. How many do you really need? Remember, less is more. The more you have, the more you have to manage. Don't create unnecessary work for yourself.
* Clean your pantry out. Throw away anything that has expired. You would be suprised how many boxes of jello and cans of peaches that expired in 2006. Of course I'm totally guessing here. No first hand knowledge. Ahem
* Get a small container for frequently used meds, and put them in a cabinet. Put all other meds in bathroom, or other designated location. If you just put the ones you need on a regular basis (Tylenol, Benedryl, Claritin, Neosporin, Tums, Zantac, children's Tylenol) you won't end up with a cabinet that looks like Rite Aid. It will also make it easier to find them when you really need it. Just pull the container down, andpass out the valium to the kids give the kids their vitamins.
* Make out a menu for the week. I know, this seems lame, but it really works. You don't have to be totally detailed with it, just a general idea. But it makes it so much easier for you to see if you have all the ingredients, as well as the time prep you will need. Remember, you must manage your home. It should be the exception, not the rule, to be unprepared at supper. Things happen, and schedules get bumped, but if you have a general idea what you're fixing, you can always swap meals if you need to.
* Keep a running list on the side of the fridge, or some other strategic location, for items you need to buy at the grocery store. When you use the last tea bags, add "tea bags" to the list, and you when you go shopping, your list will be complete. It is so easy to forget something while you're in the store, and have to make another trip. Guard that time.
I pray some of these ideas will benefit you. As I've said before, I am no authority, just another mom trying to find out what works and find ways I can better manage my time and home.
On a side note, I recently made homemade laundry soap, dishwasher soap, and oatmeal bath. I'm in the process of making my own liquid hand soap, I'll let you know how that turns out. The laundry soap is AWESOME! It costs about $2.o0 for a batch that will last me approximately 15 months! Yep, you heard right, over a year for 2 bucks, that's about .13 cents a month. I'll be posting these recipes on my website in the next few days. The dishwasher soap was great, too. Incredible savings. And Jackson and Abby throughly enjoyed the oatmeal bath (separately, of course). Who knew it could be so easy? I could beat the snot out of myself for spending all that money on the brand name stuff. But never again!
Be sure to leave your comments or suggestions. If you would like, you can become a follower of this blog. You'll find the "follow" button just above Calvin and Hobbes at the bottom of the page.
The MOST important advice I can give is that, Everything should have a place, and everything should be in its place." I know that seems elementary, but I think it is fundamental for order in the home. This is especially true if you are living in a limited amount of space. Find a home for everything, and if it doesn't seem to go anywhere or with any group in particular, contemplate whether you use it or need it.
Okay, on to living rooms/dens. I will combine the two because not everyone has a separate den. Sometimes they are combined into a great room.
Living room/Den-
* Try to minimize knick-knacks. Some items for general decor are fine, but really evaluate whether that seashell sculpture from Myrtle Beach that Grandma Mable brought you is worth keeping around. Remember, everything you have must be maintained, (ie: dusted, cleaned, etc..) and that means, t-i-m-e. Sometimes, less is more.
* Make sure the items in your living space are season appropriate. For instance, you don't need fleece throws when it is 96 degrees. By the same token, you might want to put away the box fans when it's 34 degrees. You get the picture.
* Have designated areas for toys. Our kids are older now, but our dog has a basket of toys, and another one for rawhide chews. I know, pretty sad. But he actually has learned where his toys are, and goes and selects one to play with. However, like toddlers, he gets out five at a time, and never puts them away. With a basket or some type of container though, children can have access to a few toys, but also have an easy way to clean them up.
* Ditch the junk mail. Try to make a habit of throwing junk mail away as soon as you walk in the door with it. Then take the "good" mail (even bills) to a pre-designated area. This will cut down greatly on the paperwork that can accumulate so rapidly on various surfaces around the house.
* One thing we tried a while back was; we purchased three (one for each child) baskets that complimented the living room decor, and labeled each basket with the child's name. Whenever I would find something lying around that belonged to a child, (sunglasses, video game chip, book, stickers, stuffed animal) I would place it in their basket. This way, I wasn't constantly running back and forth through the house "delivering" their belongings. Then a couple times a week, I would have them take their baskets to their rooms and put their things away. This was also great when they would call out, "Mama, have you seen my charger for my DS?" I could tell them to check their basket. Ta daaaa Just one more way to help instill responsibility.
* Do a "quick clean up" a couple times a day. A quick clean up is a 5-10 minute pick up of the main living areas. The kids and I quickly scan the areas and pick up any items that are out of place. We return them to their correct locations, and Voila, the living room is clean again. (We do this in the morning, late afternoon, and usually right before bed.)
* Make a little "desk in a tote." I bought an inexpensive scrap booking tote from Wal*Mart, and filled it with pencils, pens, stapler, scissors, tape, notebook paper, Sharpies, highlighters, erasers, dry erase markers, and a dry eraser. I was so tired of trying to find a working pen, or a pencil that wasn't broken. This has been a lifesaver many, many times. We keep it right in the living room. We just have one important rule with this, if you take it out, put it away.
* Here's my favorite:) Try moving your furniture around. Sometimes you just need a new perspective to get you motivated. Not to mention all the baseboards that have been neglected over the years, and pacifiers under the couch. I love moving my rooms around, it really helps me keep things clean. You have no choice but to go through things when you tear apart your room.
Alright, enough about living rooms, how bout those kitchens?
Kitchen-
* If you haven't already, go through your cabinets, one at a time. Clean them out, completely. Donate or yard sale any appliances, dishes, pots, pans, etc... that you are not using. Weed through the 73 sippy cups and 45 coffee cups you have. How many do you really need? Remember, less is more. The more you have, the more you have to manage. Don't create unnecessary work for yourself.
* Clean your pantry out. Throw away anything that has expired. You would be suprised how many boxes of jello and cans of peaches that expired in 2006. Of course I'm totally guessing here. No first hand knowledge. Ahem
* Get a small container for frequently used meds, and put them in a cabinet. Put all other meds in bathroom, or other designated location. If you just put the ones you need on a regular basis (Tylenol, Benedryl, Claritin, Neosporin, Tums, Zantac, children's Tylenol) you won't end up with a cabinet that looks like Rite Aid. It will also make it easier to find them when you really need it. Just pull the container down, and
* Make out a menu for the week. I know, this seems lame, but it really works. You don't have to be totally detailed with it, just a general idea. But it makes it so much easier for you to see if you have all the ingredients, as well as the time prep you will need. Remember, you must manage your home. It should be the exception, not the rule, to be unprepared at supper. Things happen, and schedules get bumped, but if you have a general idea what you're fixing, you can always swap meals if you need to.
* Keep a running list on the side of the fridge, or some other strategic location, for items you need to buy at the grocery store. When you use the last tea bags, add "tea bags" to the list, and you when you go shopping, your list will be complete. It is so easy to forget something while you're in the store, and have to make another trip. Guard that time.
I pray some of these ideas will benefit you. As I've said before, I am no authority, just another mom trying to find out what works and find ways I can better manage my time and home.
On a side note, I recently made homemade laundry soap, dishwasher soap, and oatmeal bath. I'm in the process of making my own liquid hand soap, I'll let you know how that turns out. The laundry soap is AWESOME! It costs about $2.o0 for a batch that will last me approximately 15 months! Yep, you heard right, over a year for 2 bucks, that's about .13 cents a month. I'll be posting these recipes on my website in the next few days. The dishwasher soap was great, too. Incredible savings. And Jackson and Abby throughly enjoyed the oatmeal bath (separately, of course). Who knew it could be so easy? I could beat the snot out of myself for spending all that money on the brand name stuff. But never again!
Be sure to leave your comments or suggestions. If you would like, you can become a follower of this blog. You'll find the "follow" button just above Calvin and Hobbes at the bottom of the page.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Spring is in the Air (Along with other stuff)
It's time for that yearly favorite activity......Spring Cleaning! Aren't you excited? Over the next few posts, I will attempt to provide some helpful tips and ideas for getting your house tippy-top, ship-shape. Now, I am no expert, just another mom sharing things that have been tried. Somethings may work for you, some may not, but please feel free to leave comments and suggestions with your own ideas.
So, like I said, I'm going to spend a few posts covering the whole house. We will concentrate on different areas for each post. Today, let's look at the laundry area and bathrooms. Keep in mind alot of the ideas I have come from; 1) living in limited space 2) having kids 3) and being a bit meticulous, yeah, that's a good word for it....ahem. So, with that in mind, adapt these suggestions to fit your family. Here we go!
Laundry Room/Area
* Combine partially filled detergent/softener bottles to limit the number of bottles out
* Have a specific place for empty hangers, and put them there when you find them lying around (I keep mine in an empty laundry basket, separated by children, adults, and pants hangers) Train children to return hangers there. Even a two year old is able to do that and it's fun for them to do "grown up" things.
* Change clothes from washer to dryer as soon as they stop! Re fluffing wastes electricity and time. Your time is valuable, guard it! If you have to re fluff to take care of something, just be sure to get them out as soon as possible.
* When you fold a load, put it away, right away. The neatest trick I have found for this that has worked for our family for about 6 years, is to buy dishpans (you can get them at the Dollar Tree, Wal*Mart, or Kroger) and put a label or write each child's name on them. As you fold, drop the clothes in the appropriate pans. Then call the kids to come and get their buckets and put their clothes away. When they were too young to put all their clothes away by themselves, I would do it. But having them separated at the time of folding was awesome. It also helped the clothes stay neatly folded while transporting them to their dressers. Definitely a plus. Don't want to do double work, guard that time.
* I have 4 stacking laundry baskets in our master bath. The baskets are marked, "towels," "whites," "lights," and "darks." This system makes it very easy for the kids to sort their clothes, and a breeze for me to grab a load and toss it in. I absolutely LOVE this system. It also has really helped me keep a close check on the amount of laundry to do so that I don't get too far behind.
* Try to do a load everyday, even if it's towels or jeans. If you can't, or you family is too small to produce enough laundry, just try to put a load in before you have nine loads to do, and your husband doesn't have any scrubs to wear to work. (Speaking hypothetically of course. I don't know anyone this has happened to. Ahem)
Bathrooms
* If you have older children, train them to wipe down the bathrooms daily, or every other day. (Clorox type wipes are great for this, and you can buy those disposable "food prep" gloves to wear if you don't want them to handle the chemicals.) If you have younger children, doing a quick wipe down daily will help you prevent a built up mess in your bathroom. This is a great way to keep it fresh and sanitary when you don't have 20 minutes to deep clean. It is also nice in case unexpected guests pop in.
* Get small baskets for each member of the family, even babies (can be found at Dollar Tree....Can you tell I go there often?) and put each person's belongings in them. For instance: the baby's basket may have, lotion, powder, baby wash, washcloth, rubber ducky, Desitin, etc... - a teenager may have, Clearasil, deodorant, razor, shaving cream, etc.....You get the idea. Place the baskets either on a shelving unit over the toilet, or under the sink. They are easily available to grab and then all of their things are kept neatly in one place, not all over the counter-top.
* Make a "boo-boo box" and place it in an easily accessible location. This is probably one of the most used items in my house. Below is an example of the contents of a well stocked boo-boo box.
Neosporin
Band Aids-a varitey of sizes
gauze
tweezers
cleaning wipes/foamy stuff
Cortisone
When you have those little hangnails, or splinters, or paper cuts, etc.. you can grab the small box and fix it up without having to get all the first aid stuff out. Take it out, suture, and put it back. Ta daaaaa
Well, that's about it for laundry room and bathrooms. Please feel free to comment and leave your suggestions. I am always looking for helpful ideas to help me manage my family and household duties more efficiently.
Tune back in for the spring cleaning sequel, when we will tackle......living rooms, dens, and kitchens. Oh my!
So, like I said, I'm going to spend a few posts covering the whole house. We will concentrate on different areas for each post. Today, let's look at the laundry area and bathrooms. Keep in mind alot of the ideas I have come from; 1) living in limited space 2) having kids 3) and being a bit meticulous, yeah, that's a good word for it....ahem. So, with that in mind, adapt these suggestions to fit your family. Here we go!
Laundry Room/Area
* Combine partially filled detergent/softener bottles to limit the number of bottles out
* Have a specific place for empty hangers, and put them there when you find them lying around (I keep mine in an empty laundry basket, separated by children, adults, and pants hangers) Train children to return hangers there. Even a two year old is able to do that and it's fun for them to do "grown up" things.
* Change clothes from washer to dryer as soon as they stop! Re fluffing wastes electricity and time. Your time is valuable, guard it! If you have to re fluff to take care of something, just be sure to get them out as soon as possible.
* When you fold a load, put it away, right away. The neatest trick I have found for this that has worked for our family for about 6 years, is to buy dishpans (you can get them at the Dollar Tree, Wal*Mart, or Kroger) and put a label or write each child's name on them. As you fold, drop the clothes in the appropriate pans. Then call the kids to come and get their buckets and put their clothes away. When they were too young to put all their clothes away by themselves, I would do it. But having them separated at the time of folding was awesome. It also helped the clothes stay neatly folded while transporting them to their dressers. Definitely a plus. Don't want to do double work, guard that time.
* I have 4 stacking laundry baskets in our master bath. The baskets are marked, "towels," "whites," "lights," and "darks." This system makes it very easy for the kids to sort their clothes, and a breeze for me to grab a load and toss it in. I absolutely LOVE this system. It also has really helped me keep a close check on the amount of laundry to do so that I don't get too far behind.
* Try to do a load everyday, even if it's towels or jeans. If you can't, or you family is too small to produce enough laundry, just try to put a load in before you have nine loads to do, and your husband doesn't have any scrubs to wear to work. (Speaking hypothetically of course. I don't know anyone this has happened to. Ahem)
Bathrooms
* If you have older children, train them to wipe down the bathrooms daily, or every other day. (Clorox type wipes are great for this, and you can buy those disposable "food prep" gloves to wear if you don't want them to handle the chemicals.) If you have younger children, doing a quick wipe down daily will help you prevent a built up mess in your bathroom. This is a great way to keep it fresh and sanitary when you don't have 20 minutes to deep clean. It is also nice in case unexpected guests pop in.
* Get small baskets for each member of the family, even babies (can be found at Dollar Tree....Can you tell I go there often?) and put each person's belongings in them. For instance: the baby's basket may have, lotion, powder, baby wash, washcloth, rubber ducky, Desitin, etc... - a teenager may have, Clearasil, deodorant, razor, shaving cream, etc.....You get the idea. Place the baskets either on a shelving unit over the toilet, or under the sink. They are easily available to grab and then all of their things are kept neatly in one place, not all over the counter-top.
* Make a "boo-boo box" and place it in an easily accessible location. This is probably one of the most used items in my house. Below is an example of the contents of a well stocked boo-boo box.
Neosporin
Band Aids-a varitey of sizes
gauze
tweezers
cleaning wipes/foamy stuff
Cortisone
When you have those little hangnails, or splinters, or paper cuts, etc.. you can grab the small box and fix it up without having to get all the first aid stuff out. Take it out, suture, and put it back. Ta daaaaa
Well, that's about it for laundry room and bathrooms. Please feel free to comment and leave your suggestions. I am always looking for helpful ideas to help me manage my family and household duties more efficiently.
Tune back in for the spring cleaning sequel, when we will tackle......living rooms, dens, and kitchens. Oh my!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Just go vacuum the lawn
Do you ever have one of those days when: ......... you wake up to the sound of your children arguing.........when your bug man comes for his regular spraying and manages to exterminate your good summer sandals that were sitting on the carpet..........your child puts a nice filthy, food caked spoon and half filled glass of milk in a dishwasher loaded with clean dishes ........... you can't remember your child's name, but you know all the words to, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" (and sing them incessantly).........you go around saying things like you need to "mow the carpet" and "vacuum the lawn"..............you turn the dryer on to fluff the clothes, and wait patiently to switch the wet ones over, only to realize an hour later the dryer was empty.........you think of a many really important things to take care of while you're lying in bed, and can't think of a one the next morning..........
So, do you ever have those days? ....... Yeah, me neither:)
So, do you ever have those days? ....... Yeah, me neither:)
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