Tip of the Day 11/30/11

When decorating your home for the Season it is okay to not use everything you have collected over the years. This is a good time to dee-clutter and get rid of things you no longer like. Our tastes change and just like we change our wardrobe or other decor over the years it is ok to do with your holiday decorations. Add something new or re-purpose something old. Make it fun and fresh.

Tip of the Day 11/29/11

When decorating for Christmas I love to hold each item or ornament and remember where it came from. If someone gave it to me, I pray for that person and think about what they mean to me. The memories bring joy as I decorate my home with the love special people have shown me over the years. Some things we have purchased and we talk about the occasion. Slow down as you decorate this year.

Tip of the Day 11/28/11

Over the last week I turned my home into what my husband refers to as "The Hallmark Store." I transform every room by removing most of the decorative items and replacing them with Christmas items. To do this quickly, I photograph the room, then I will use these photos to put the room back together after the Holidays. Next I use photos from last year to "remember" where everything was placed the year before, make some adjustments to add new items, and photograph again to use the following year. Happy decorating everyone.

Tip of the Day 11/16/11

My word for today is prepare. As we move into the Holiday Season, we are all very busy preparing, gifts, food, decorations, etc., but do you take the time to prepare your spirit , mind, and body. I encourage you to find time to step aside from the busyness of the season and enjoy life. This is my last Tip for a week because I am stepping away for a vacation with my husband to prepare my spirit for the weeks ahead. Jesus took time away from the demands of life to renew His spirit, and He was the Son of God. How do we, as mere humans think we can make it without times of renewal? So, my last tip for about 12 days-Slow Down and enjoy the blessings. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Tip of the Day 11/15/11

It is never too early to teach children to take care of their belongings, but you have to set the example. Children love order and find security in it. There is a difference between the person I knew that did not allow her child to have out more than one toy at a time and teaching her to pick up when finished playing. Teaching order leads to good stewardship of our belongings.

Tip of the Day 11/11/11

My Word for Today is Sacrifice and that can happen in many areas of our lives from the major to the mundane. The small sacrifices in no way diminish or take away from the big ones. Of course the ultimate sacrifice can never be diminished no matter what I do.

I believe one of the "sacrifices" we make each day is maintaining our home and taking care of our loved ones. A sacrifice is to be looked at as an honor and privilege. In the Bible we are told to bring a Sacrifice of praise. A sacrifice always costs us something, but it is always worth it.

Maybe you have sacrificed a career to stay home and raise your children, not purchasing new clothes for yourself so that your children have the best, coming home every evening after working and still putting a meal on the table for your family, even the simple things like dusting and vacuuming can be a sacrifice. Maybe you thought it was empty nest time and you have a child and possibly grandchildren that need a shelter. None of these things are in vain. They are worth it and you do it out of love.

Even if you are single, taking care of your home can be a sacrifice. Maybe you would like to go out on the weekend, but you know you need to mow the yard or do the laundry.

Each of the daily sacrifices we make add up to one thing--the joy in our life. Yes, sacrifice brings joy. Remember the verse I mentioned, a sacrifice of praise? Well praise brings joy. Sometimes when we get to church on Sunday we don't feel like praising, but as we begin to, our heart is changed and we find that place of joy. So, approach the mundane things of life with an attitude of praise, "I have a home or family to care for," and your praise will turn to joy!!!

Tip of the Day 11/10/11

Today's 15 minute project is dusting. This is key to keeping your house clean and I am amazed at how many people ignore it. In order to be able to dust a room in fifteen minutes it has to be clear of clutter. Clutter is a huge deterrent and discourager , so keeping up with the clutter can lead to being able to choose one room a day to dust. This is a great way to not have to take an entire morning to dust the house. 15 minutes a day should be the maximum it should take to dust a single room. When I was working full-time and when I was home schooling I would have the one load of laundry going and one room dusted before my day officially started. You can do it too. 15 minutes isn't much to ask in the morning.

Tip of the Day 11/9/11

The second great 15 minute morning chore to accomplish is washing sheets. Instead of making your bed in the morning, strip it, throw the sheets into the washer and by the time you are ready to relax for the evening they will be washed, dried and back on your bed. No folding and storing needed. One day a week have the kids go through the same routine. If you can't wash all of the sheets in one load divide them among a couple of days. Let them know which day of the week is their sheet washing day. As soon as they are old enough teach them how to do the whole routine themselves. There is nothing better than crawling between clean sheets at night. P.S. Remember the Tip from earlier about pulling off the pillowcases and washing them with another load at least one other time during the week. Keeps the freshness going.

Tip of the Day 11/8/11

A schedule for keeping up with my life? You have got to be kidding, I work full time, or part time, or I have 4 kids under the age of 8, or I have teenagers, or...

A schedule is exactly what you need. It will help keep you focused and your house will run more smoothly, the kids will be calmer and you will find time to do the fun things in life that you are missing because you always have something to do to keep up the house and laundry, etc.

The first easy item to schedule is getting up 15 minutes earlier to accomplish 1 simple thing each morning. I worked full-time for 9 years, before that I home schooled my children, and planning was the key to still having home cooked meals on the table, a clean house, clean laundry, and still enjoying life.

One of the easiest 15 minute things to do each morning is throwing a load of laundry in the washer. As soon as I wake up, before I do anything else I throw a load of wash in. Because I pre-sort, it is easy to grab the load and start the machine. By the time I am finished reading and having my morning tea, the load is ready for the dryer. You could even throw the load in the night before and just start the machine then or in the morning. When I worked full-time I still threw that load in first thing. If the load was, towels, whites, undergarments etc. that don't wrinkle easily I would move them to the dryer and they would be dry by the time I left for work. If it is a load of clothing you can leave them in the washer until you get home. They will not mildew if your house is air conditioned in the summer and in the winter they will be fine.

They key to not having them wrinkle is leaving them in the washer. Do not shake them out and place in the dryer or they will begin to dry during the day. When I was a little girl my mom would take the clothes off the clothes line, sprinkle them with water, roll them up, and place in a bag in the refrigerator until she was ready to iron them. Leaving them in the washer is the same principle.

As soon as you arrive home in the evening move them to the dryer. If you have kids at home, have them fold them while you cook dinner, or as soon as you have dinner simmering or baking, hang and fold the clothes. Or fold them as soon as dinner is over. Whatever you do, DO NOT leave them for tomorrow. You will have defeated the goal.

This is one simple task you can complete each day and not have to do LOADS of laundry on the weekend.

Tip of the Day 11/7/11

We can learn a lot from pioneer women and women of the last century. Weekly routines and a schedule kept their homes running smoothly. For example, Monday wash day, Tuesday bread making, Wednesday ironing, etc. List the regular "chores" that need to be done in your home and make a schedule to follow. It will help you focus and keep your house running smoothly.

Tip of the Day 11/4/11

An easy and much less expensive way to take care of all of your dry cleaning needs is through an over the counter product like Dryel. Our winter wardrobes usually contain alot of dry cleanable items from sweater, to coats, to wool pants and skirts. The cost of dry cleaning these items can be enormous. I highly recommend trying one of these other products and have the items professionally cleaned once during the season.

Tip of the Day 11/3/11

Well, I was going to honor my Mom yesterday on my Birthday, but the trip to the ER pre-empted my post. So, today I want to say "Thank you Mom for instilling in me a sense of order, organization, cleanliness, and style. I hope you are proud of what I do everyday." Pick one thing in your house to put in order today, my Mom would be proud. :)

Tip of the Day 11/1/11

Great ways to perk up a "tired" winter wardrobe--scarf, hat, and glove sets. The great thing about sets like this is they are inexpensive and fun. You can have many sets and wear them with coats, jackets, vests, or sweaters. Use them as an accessory and enjoy the added benefit of the warmth. If you live in a warmer climate you can still enjoy the look of winter wear by adding them to a sweater or vest. Make or buy them in a variety of yarns and colors and have fun.