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
Friday, April 24, 2009
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:)
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Day is His
Discipline.........a word that evokes a range of thoughts and reactions, depending on the hearer. When spoken to a child, they may think of punishment or correction. When spoken to a businessman or woman, they may think self-control or order. But when a homeschool, Christian mom hears it, it is convicting. There are so many areas in our lives we feel we are lacking. It seems like the children are always arguing or aggravating one another. The chores are never ending. And if doing the laundry, housework, and playing peacemaker are not enough, we have the added responsibility of educating and training our children. What an awesome compliment God has given us by trusting us with His children! I don't always feel adequate. Quite frankly, I'm not. My adequacy comes from Christ. HE has called me to teach and prepare my children. And HE is the one that equips me. It is from Him that I receive strength. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 Left to myself, I would choose laziness, arrogance, and pride. But in Christ I can be diligent, merciful, and humble. What a contrast!
There are so many times I forget that I am not in control. As a parent, I am used to making the decisions, managing the house, and giving the instructions. (A shared responsibility with the head of house, my husband) I must be careful though, I have to remember that everything I do should be done for Christ. I should desire no personal gain from selfish motives. I must constantly check my heart and keep a clear perspective. All of this is easy to say, but how is it accomplished? By daily feeding on The Word of God. By constantly immersing yourself in the Truth. It is so easy to get caught up in the petty things of this world. The juice spilled on the carpet, the kids arguing who's turn it is, the bathroom sink with toothpaste caked in it, or the thrown together supper because you're late for ball practice. This world and everything in it will pass away, but God's Word is forever! "All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Isaiah 40:6b-8 We must contend with the "inconveniences" in our day, but we cannot let them dictate our lives. We must keep our eyes on Christ, so that there is no question in our children's minds where our devotions lie. "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:1-2
So, when you're doing that fourth load of laundry, or changing the 33rd diaper of the day, pop in some uplifting music (I love Fernando Ortega) or download a sermon. (Hmmm, like Mark Dever, or John MacArthur) Make 3 x 5 index cards with encouraging scripture and place them in strategic locations so that you can meditate on them throughout the day. (I like putting mine on the bathroom mirror, or eye level at the kitchen sink.) I have some awesome links on the sidebar for places to download sermons, or truth-filled devotions.
Don't get discouraged when you day looks grim. Remember, God has called you to a special task, and He has provided His Word for all your needs. His Word is sufficient! "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." II Timothy 3:16-17
There are so many times I forget that I am not in control. As a parent, I am used to making the decisions, managing the house, and giving the instructions. (A shared responsibility with the head of house, my husband) I must be careful though, I have to remember that everything I do should be done for Christ. I should desire no personal gain from selfish motives. I must constantly check my heart and keep a clear perspective. All of this is easy to say, but how is it accomplished? By daily feeding on The Word of God. By constantly immersing yourself in the Truth. It is so easy to get caught up in the petty things of this world. The juice spilled on the carpet, the kids arguing who's turn it is, the bathroom sink with toothpaste caked in it, or the thrown together supper because you're late for ball practice. This world and everything in it will pass away, but God's Word is forever! "All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Isaiah 40:6b-8 We must contend with the "inconveniences" in our day, but we cannot let them dictate our lives. We must keep our eyes on Christ, so that there is no question in our children's minds where our devotions lie. "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." Colossians 3:1-2
So, when you're doing that fourth load of laundry, or changing the 33rd diaper of the day, pop in some uplifting music (I love Fernando Ortega) or download a sermon. (Hmmm, like Mark Dever, or John MacArthur) Make 3 x 5 index cards with encouraging scripture and place them in strategic locations so that you can meditate on them throughout the day. (I like putting mine on the bathroom mirror, or eye level at the kitchen sink.) I have some awesome links on the sidebar for places to download sermons, or truth-filled devotions.
Don't get discouraged when you day looks grim. Remember, God has called you to a special task, and He has provided His Word for all your needs. His Word is sufficient! "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." II Timothy 3:16-17
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Coffee Filters Make Cents
In this day of trying to make your pennies stretch, I thought I would list a few different ways to use a coffee filter. I came across this several months ago, and just stored it away. Hope it's useful to you. Coffee Filters are super cheap, too. You can get like 1000 for a buck at the dollar store!! How's that for stretching?
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
5. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
6. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
7. Hold tacos or sloppy joes. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
8. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
9. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
10. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
11. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.
12. Use as a bowl for snacks like goldfish, cookies, etc.. Easy clean up.
Please leave comments and tell me your ideas for the coffee filter. I'd love to hear from you.
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
2. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they'll leave windows sparkling.
3. Protect China. Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
5. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
6. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
7. Hold tacos or sloppy joes. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
8. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
9. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
10. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
11. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. Soaks out all the grease.
12. Use as a bowl for snacks like goldfish, cookies, etc.. Easy clean up.
Please leave comments and tell me your ideas for the coffee filter. I'd love to hear from you.
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