Homemaking

...Making your home a place that sustains you and your family is one of the most important jobs you can do. Times are tough, there are all sorts of things going on in the world that are difficult to understand, but if you make your home a place that comforts, a place where you can relax and be your true self, a place where your children feel safe and warm, a place where you show your family the joy of living simply, then you are doing a really significant and essential job that takes the hard edge off the outside world. So when you shake open the sheets to make up that clean bed, when you set the table with knives and forks, water glasses and a flower in a cup, when your beef stew and dumplings is slowly bubbling away welcoming your family as they come home with the smell of home cooking, when you sit with your tea, when you sweep the floor, when you sew or knit or cook, I hope you find happiness in your home, because I know it's there. You might not have discovered the mother lode yet, you might just be picking up fragments every so often, but keep at it and you will be rewarded.

Read the rest of this wonderful encouragement at Down to Earth.

Cottage-y Pillows

Sweet things for the house often turn up in the most surprising places. One place where I often find inexpensive, pretty household items is the dollar store. How convenient that it's just seconds from my house!

A few weeks ago I was in need of extra pillows for guests. At the dollar store, I found these cute little things for just $5 each. My house is mostly traditional, but I'm a fan of cottage decorating...So a pretty pillow is the perfect way to sneak in a little cottage flair!

Red in the Kitchen

I've never been a red person. But lately I find myself craving cool, cheerful colors. Especially in the kitchen.

Tidy House Rules

One of my words for 2009 is orderliness. My little family needs lots of work in this area! Yesterday I made a poster for the refrigerator with our Tidy House Rules. It said:

1. A place for everything and everything in its place.

2. Don't put it down, put it away.

3. Leave every room better than you found it.

Cliches? Maybe. But cliches often come into being because they are true!

Orderliness and Routine

Last year, Cherry presented the idea of choosing a word for the year. I chose two for 2008:

streamline and organize.

It seems having a word or two to focus on worked. I streamlined and organized a lot this year. We had a big garage sale and took truckloads of stuff to Goodwill. I try to continue to take a bag or two every few weeks. I minimized clothing and streamlined my laundry routine. I organized my pantry and other key areas, although there's still a long way to go. (I did not, however, streamline my cooking. Healthful meals and food allergies don't go very well with minimal time in the kitchen.)

This year I'm choosing two words as well:

orderliness and routine.

These words run on a parallel track to the words I chose last year, I think. They will keep me moving in the same direction. Besides the simple fact that it's good for grownups to have well-ordered surroundings and a workable routine, it's especially important for my kids. And out of my kids, there's one in particular who needs more order and structure. So that is my direction for the year.

The domestic work of Carl Larsson personifies this kind of order to me. I love his work pictured above, "Flowers on the Windowsill." It's tidy and peaceful, full of the routine of daily living. It's a visual reminder of the qualities I hope my life will one day embody.

Simple Woman's Daybook

Each Monday Peggy hosts The Simple Woman's Daybook. I decided to participate this week.

For Today...December 22

Outside my window...it's gray and chilly. Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 70's though!

I am thinking... how glad I am that I mixed and froze cookie dough next week for stress-free baking this week!

From the learning rooms...free reading this week since we are on Christmas break.

I am thankful for...my sweet husband and precious children who have gone Christmas shopping for me. :)

From the kitchen... pie crust for sweet potato pies. Fajitas for supper. Christmas cookies!

I am wearing... fave Keen shoes.

I am reading... Nourishing Traditions.

I am hoping... to get all my Christmas prep done in time for a peaceful holiday.

I am creating... a fruit of the Spirit quilt for my oldest girl, a little blue purse for my middle girl, and a secret gift for my son.

I am hearing... Baby fussing on my lap...she is so sleepy.

Around the house... laundry, holiday cleaning for a tidy Christmas, wrapping gifts.

One of my favorite things... quilts handmade by Grandma.

A few plans for the rest of the week... cooking.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

Biscuits for Breakfast

We traditionally have a big breakfast on one of Billy's days off (Friday or Saturday). Lately I've been learning how to make biscuits. Good ones. Like his grandma used to make. Mmmmm...

New Orleans Streetscapes

Recently Rebecca posted "Maybe I'm an Impressionist," where she took on the idea of global thinkers as opposed to detail people. I concluded that I'm definitely a global thinker. My (detail-oriented) husband could have told you I'm not about details. It's the big picture, people.

So now I'm noticing this difference everywhere I go. And sometimes, like today, it makes me laugh.

We got new furniture yesterday, a barter with a friend who's moving. It's not what I would have chosen if I were going to pick all by myself, but it's very beautiful. It's definitely Billy's style: traditional and a little ornate. I can't help but love it. Especially since it replaces the freecycle futon we've had for so long.

I told Billy it looks like married people live here now. Now that we have furniture, I'm thinking about paint and curtains. And art. I could picture exactly what I wanted. A New Orleans streetscape. Deep, saturated color. Oils.

So Billy and I browsed Allposters together. "That doesn't match our furniture," he said. "It's sort of weird and ethereal. See?" Then he found some different prints. "This is nice. Clean, straight lines."

And, I noticed, details. Traditional, realistic details.

How funny that this idea of global versus detail thinkers came full circle when we were looking at paintings.

We haven't purchased any art. Maybe another day. Maybe we'll find just the right thing that's a perfect blend of what we both like. Or not.

Window Mistreatment

Blogger's acting wonky, so let's try this one more time!

The Nesting Place is hosting a Window Mistreatment Party. Wonder what window mistreatment is? Here are her definitions:

Mistreatment: (n). covering for a window that is quick, cheap and pretty. may or may not need hardware does not require sewing. a real designer's worst nightmare.

Mistreating: (v). the act of treating a window with dignity and respect without use of the following: hundreds of dollars, sewing, time, crying, divorce, child neglect...

Here's a window mistreatment of my own. It's just an (unironed) old tablecloth and a couple lengths of grosgrain from my stash, hung over an existing rod. And now it's the only window in my house with a curtain. (In the ugly bathroom at that!) But with all the great ideas I got at the party, that's about to change!

Frugal No-Sew Pillow Hack

Several years ago we ditched our delapidated old couch for a Freecycle futon. I saved the old couch's original pillows, though, and re-covered them in some upholstery fabric someone gave me.

They've gotten kind of grungy, being used for naps, forts, and pillow fights.

When I re-covered them, I made 2 of them reversible by putting different fabric on the opposite side. Since I rarely display this side, they are still looking pretty good.

With the 3rd pillow (which didn't have a reversible side), I used a piece of dollar a yard cotton from my stash and wrapped it like a gift. Safety pins in back.

I could have sewn it, but I didn't have time.

I finished it off with a length of grosgrain ribbon--a dollar for a big roll at Big Lots--also from my stash.

I also had this pillow, which I think is really cute. I especially love the color combination. But I don't really have an appropriate place to display something that says "Mommy Time Out."

A scrap of cotton someone gave me and a scrap of ribbon from a gift...

Fold, wrap around the middle, and pin...

Here's the front.

Tied with lavender.

Voila! So much lighter and brighter! If I count materials I actually bought, the total cost is less than $3. But I don't usually count the cost of stuff that's been in my stash for a long time.

And time? Ten minutes, tops.

Kitchen Informercial

OK, so I'm not a superblog who's asked to review products. But this one has been so great for me I'm reviewing it anyway, in hopes that it might help somebody else. It's a non-toxic cleaning block for the kitchen. It acts kind of like a sanding block, but supposedly doesn't scratch. I've enjoyed it most for scrubbing cooked on food and stained pans. Does wonders! Way better than a scrubby! The only drawback is that I think it could have a better shape, although I'm not sure what. The block shape is just a little unweildy sometimes.

Oh, the package I bought actually called it an Earthstone. The pic above is made by Earthstone--it's the same thing, but the package looks different.

New Daily Routine

Just the very basics--to be adjusted as necessary!

Morning—Before 10

Quiet time

Dress and comb everyone

Make beds/tidy rooms

Breakfast--hard boiled eggs and fruit or granola bars and fruit

Supper in crock pot

Bread in machine

1 load laundry

Mid-morning—10-12

Mid-morning snack-veggies & dip/nuts/goldfish/pb crackers/popcorn—outside!

2^nd load laundry

School/preschool

Lunch

PB&J or burritos+fruit, chips, and/or cookies

10 minute tidy

Story time, if possible!

Afternoon

Naps/quiet time

School

2 loads laundry

Finish supper

Evening

10 minute tidy/clean rooms

Eat supper

Wash dishes

Thaw meat for next day

Lay out clothes for next day

Everyone bathe/brush teeth

Streamlining

Sorry for the light blogging lately. Time and energy are at a premium these days.

I mentioned awhile back that one of my words for this year is "streamline". I've been analyzing just what takes most of my time and what I can do to streamline those things.

I spend many hours each day in the kitchen. Sometimes the food is not even that great, yet I find that I've been there for a really long time, cooking and washing dishes.

These little cups are a small step toward streamlining my kitchen time. Each child gets a cup with their name on it for the whole day. That means no extra washing cups, no kids getting multiple cups out of the cabinet, no mixing up drinks. (If you wonder where my child named Alycia has been you're to be commended for your astuteness. I don't have one. But the little neighbor is here so much she deserved a cup of her own too.)

Another thing I must do is find some great crockpot recipes. I've tried quite a few through the years, but most of them have not passed the husband test. Nevertheless, I think for awhile it's going to be a toss-up between real meat in the crock pot, or hot dogs...So the goal is to make the crock pot food taste great. Anybody have a recipe to share?

I also scratched out a very basic routine that encompasses the things that absolutely must be done every single day. We have to eat, we have to dress, we have to wash clothes, and in the process the house will hopefully stay in some kind of order. I also hope to take only the bare minimum of time off from school.

Finally, I'm moving the kids toward doing more on their own...Teaching them how to do small jobs, having the older ones help the younger.

Frugal Container Repurpose

As any regular readers know, I'm all about using what I have in my hand. Our new house is large, but the master bathroom is tiny, with 6 inches of counter space and one very small cabinet for storage. I have to get creative.

When I was given a pretty bath set in this tin, I knew just what I'd use it for. On the back of the commode, it saves counter or cabinet space, and washcloths are always in easy reach.

The creamy box is an old keepsake video box, just right for small toiletries.

Don't you just love the mint green tiles? OK, I'm kidding. Hopefully they will go one day. Meanwhile, I'll be content with what I have. My dad grew up without indoor plumbing. I can hardly complain!

Cleaning Day!

After we moved into our charming old rental last year, Thursday cleaning day was one of the first routines I implemented. Since Billy has Friday off, it made sense to get the house in order before our weekend. It was soooo wonderful to know that at the end of Thursday, everything would be clean and tidy for another week. Then I got pregnant and we were on the road a lot and then we moved, and Thursday cleaning day fell by the wayside...But the last few weeks I've put it in place again.

Since I had a lot of catching up to do, I'm not sure it's been evident. Today is the first day I feel I've made significant headway and I might actually get the whole house clean by supper time. What a wonderful feeling!

This is one of the first things I want to work back into my routine after Baby comes. Maintenance is ideal, but clutter, dust, and odds and ends gather during the week and a good cleaning keeps all that under control. Speaking of which, I'd better get back to work if I'm going to get everything done.

What about you? Do you have one cleaning day each week? What are your best cleaning and maintenance tips?

Streamline and Organize

Cherry Menlove chose a word for the year and asked her readers what their word would be too. I didn't think about it much at the time, but as January passed, I realized that I have two words that encompass my focus for this year: streamline and organize.

Over the past couple days I cleaned out both in my kids' rooms, similar to what I did for Elizabeth a couple years ago. The rooms are now well-organized, and I packed up all but a few toys and put them on a high shelf. That's where streamlining comes in. The kids are not overwhelmed. It's easy to keep the rooms clean. I am not stressed. They are not stressed. And they haven't missed anything. Actually Sarah asked for one toy which I got down for her, at which point she decided she didn't want to play with it after all.

I kept out a few dolls and accessories for the girls, along with their play kitchen stuff. I kept out Silas's dress up clothes and the stuff that goes with them (cowboy gun, football...), a few trucks and stuffed animals, and his tinker toys/building stuff.

They also have their lego table in the living room, tons of books, art supplies, scooters and bikes, and lots of fun, real-life, creative activities. Kids really do not need that many toys!

I can't put into to words how freeing this is. I have done it in other areas as I've unpacked, but the kids' rooms were a constant source of frustration for everyone. Now they feel manageable. I'm happy! They're happy!

His and Hers

When we first married, my decorating style was rustic country. Billy's was ornate traditional. Those two styles don't mix very well. Consequently, our decorating style became--nothing.

I think after 8 years we are finally coming up with things that work for both of us in our house. My style has grown a bit more sophisticated and neutral, and he has graciously conceded on a few points (like my great distaste for the color gold).

In our new kitchen we have almost no wall space, but next to the new bulletin board I hung our his and hers aprons. Mine is a cute retro half apron my sister made me. His (if you can't tell) is an LSU chef's apron. It represents us both, and says "our kitchen."

I just realized that his has purple and gold. Pretty funny! But in this context I am OK with it.

Show and Tell Friday hosted by Kelli.

(I have another show and tell at my craft blog!)

Office Day 4 and Entry: Check!

Yeah, I got a little off track. And it's lame to count the entry as a room. But it WAS messy.

More thoughtful posting later today, I hope.

Since I'm Sure You're Dying to Know...

I promise I'll have more interesting things to blog about shortly. Right now I am just consumed with finishing these household tasks.

I have gotten bogged down a little the past couple days. Actually I just did a little yesterday since it was Sunday, although I was home all day because the kids were still not well enough to take to church.

Then today I caught up from my day of rest. *g*

But I have the living room mostly done. I have to admit with some consternation that there is not a place for everything yet. The books are mostly in place, but as for the cd's and movies...I am just too tired to sort and organize them all right now. Soon, I hope. But everything that's not in cabinets will be orderly. And the rest will just have to stay behind closed doors for now. I've succumbed to the dreaded condition of leaving it for "the time being!"

Kitchen: Check!

The fridge is clean.

The stove and sink are shiny.

The floors are mopped.

I even alphabetized my spices. (Now you know for sure that these are the crazed ramblings of a woman in nesting freak-out mode.)

Best of all, THERE IS A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING IS IN ITS PLACE!

The kitchen is now worthy of the tea towels!