Clutter Run

I mentioned a clutter run in my post Maintaining is much easier than catching up, I realized later that I didn't have my definition of a clutter run. Well better late than never, right!? : )

A clutter run is simply keeping the clutter picked up.

Here's my definition of a clutter run:

do a run through of all your rooms to make sure that all misplaced items are put back in appropriate places. Make sure all dirty dishes are in the dishwasher or wash them by hand quickly. Make sure all laundry is in it's appropriate place. If you have enough for a load do don't let it set and sour,do it.  Make sure all toys and books and magazine are put up, shoes, coats,purses,ect are all put up in their designated place.

God Bless,
Tammy

Maintaining is much easier than catching up

I love the feeling of a clean home. Knowing that no matter who may stop by, my home is ready for company. It is warm and welcoming, it looks and smells clean. It's clutter free and organized. This is a proud time for a homemaker.

 Now let’s move onto how one is to achieve this.  Of course a good cleaning routine is a must, so to develop or if you would like you can use mine. :  )Added note: I will be posting my cleaning routine very soon. : )  Hard work is a must, your home is not going to be as clean and organized as you want it to be if you are not willing to put the work into making it that way. Determination, dedication and a little elbow grease takes you so far and let us not forget prayer. Yes, I said prayer, praying and asking God for the wisdom and desire to do this is not wrong to ask God. You are blessing your husband and your whole family by being diligent in keeping your home cleaned and organized. This is our God given role, why wouldn't you want to embrace it and ask God for guidance.

 Let’s fast forward a little shall we........ Your home is now clean, clutter is under control and it’s organized. You feel so proud of all your hard work, you stand and look around and take a deep breath of satisfaction. You can rest easy now that your work is done.That is true to a point. Yes you can relax some but you still have to maintain your home. Working daily to keep it clean and organized. If you let is lapse you will be right back to putting in all the hard work and soon your frustrated and give up. Thinking it's just too hard and takes up too much time to have the type of home you want. You start thinking that women that have homes like that do nothing all day but clean. That is not true.

When you clean a dirty home, yes it's hard, yes it's time consuming, yes it's overwhelming at times. But once you achieve your goal of a clean and organized home it is much easier to maintain that level of cleanliness.

 By cleaning daily and working your cleaning routine you will find it takes much less time to clean your home because you are cleaning it daily. It is much easier to de-clutter because you are working daily to keep your home clutter free by doing clutter runs. You will then know it's much easier to keep a clean home clean that to clean a dirty home in other words it's far easier to maintain than to play catch up.

 God Bless,

Tammy

Easy Storage for sheets

A good rule of thumb when remembering how many sets of sheets you should have is... 2,yep that's it. 2 sets per bed in your home. That is one set on the bed and one to change out when it's time to wash the bedding.

Another tip is when you are crunched for storage space,fold the extra set of sheets and tuck them neatly between the mattress and box spring. Then on laundry day all you will have to do is take the sheets out from under that mattress and put it on them on the bed(s). Wash the dirty set(s) and then fold them and place them in between the mattresses.

Tammy

The Happy Homemaker

The Prayer Closet

So many times in my life,when things get to heavy for me to carry. I go the Jesus,I cry out to my Heavenly father and he gives me peace.

There is so much stress in our lives. Taking care of our families and our homes,cooking nutritious meals for our family. So many times we take on all our duties and so much more from volunteering to help the needy,helping friends and family members,helping at our churches. Women have the need to care for others instilled in them from God and often times we feel the anguish others are going through because of this.

When going day to day in and the stresses of life get to heavy. I go off by myself so that I can be with Jesus,one on one time with my saviour. Sometimes I pray,sometimes I ready my bible and other times I just sit there feeling his presence and his love for me. When I return to my family or the job at hand I feel renewed and calm. I know I couldn't do what I do on a day to day basis with  Jesus helping me. When I feel weak he is there to strengthen me.

Do you have a prayer closet or a special place you go to be alone with Jesus?

The Happy Homemaker


photo provided by photbucket

I am linked up at: Women Living Well Blog

StedFast At Home

I wrote this article a few years back on my old blog.


When you read this term what comes to mind. Is it something bad in your views? Is it something that you relate to times that have long past when women stayed home and stood behind their man and kept the heads down and mouths shut? Or is it something else? I know for many of you what you believe this term means is all together something so very different than what it really does mean at heart.





I was like many of you, when I heard that, my alarms immediately went up. I thought, how dare you say that, I am no man's slave and I have a voice of my own that will freely use. I have a mind of my own and I'm a strong woman in mind,body and spirit. I am not a weak little woman doing what my man says. Does that pretty much sum up what you think when you hear stedfast at home or homekeeper,or even helpmeet?




I no longer see these phrases as I did, now let me tell you why. I began studying the bible alot more closer than I ever have in my life and began to talk to the Lord on a more personal level about what I felt my role was in my marriage and in the world in general. Now I believe the terms I have mentioned in the article as something to be proud of and cherish. I am no lower than my husband. I am not behind my husband. I am however his equal ,I work side by side with him to keep our home and life going. I have my duties and role in the house and so does he. He works outside the house and I stay home. I work hard and don't look down on my work as meager housework or that I'm just a homemaker or stay at home mom. I work very hard to make sure I keep a nice home for my family and that includes cooking good nutritious meals. On top of this I also keep our household costs as low and I can to save us as much money as I can in all categories of our lives. I hold my head high and I'm proud of who I am and what I do. I may not be out in the world working bringing home a paycheck but that does not make my role in my family any less important.




Here are a few bible versus that I have read that has helped me in ventures to be at peace with my choices in my life...


Psalm 128:3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house.


--What does this scripture mean,well to me is says To bare children be fruitful --


Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house but with her own hands the foolish one tears her down.


-- A wise woman works hard to keep her home where a foolish or lazy woman doesn't.--


Proverbs 31 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good,not harm,all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark:she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a Field and buys it: out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously: her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she hold the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows,she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate,where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.: Charm is deceptive,and beauty is fleeting; but a woman that fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.


--Whew that's a mouth full,LOL Meaning work hard for her home and family and don't shame yourself or your family. --


Titus 2 : 5 To be self-controlled and pure,to be busy at home,to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,so that no one will malign the word of God.


--This is pretty self explained. To show self control and work hard in your home and not be lazy and to help your husband.--






I know that's alot to read but I truly feel as a woman it's worth a good study. As you read this see how it's relative to your own life.






The Happy Homemaker

Menu Plan Monday

Since yesterday was our day of rest,I post my menu on Monday of each week or at least most weeks.

Monday - Grilled marinated chicken breast,cheesy mash potatoes (will share the recipe later),tossed salad

Tuesday - Baked brown sugar baked ham,au gratin potatoes,green beans

Wednesday - am in the pm - buttermilk pancakes,eggs,sliced peaches

Thursday - leftover ham slices,mac & cheese,corn on the cob

Friday - MeatLoaf,mash potatoes,gravy,green beans,peas

Saturday - mock beef a roni (will share the recipe later) garlic bread,cucumber salad


leftovers (if there are any) are set out with dinner. Most of the time they are eaten up before dinner ever gets here. LOL Growing boys!

The Happy Homemaker

Take a Look at the rooms your guest see when they visit

Do a little project with me. Go to each room that your guest see when they visit you. It could be the living room,kitchen,bathroom,each home will be different so each list will be equally different. Once you get your list made,grab your camera and take pictures of each room starting as you first walk into the room(s).

Once you get the pictures taken set down to your computer and upload them and take a good long look at them. You will see your home as your guests see it. Do you like what you see,is there clutter that you never really noticed? Do the walls need dusted or washed? A pictures says a 1000 words. Get out some paper and make a list of the things you see that need your attention. And incorperate those things into your cleaning this week or next.

The vital rooms in my opinion are the rooms that are visable to all. These are the rooms that people see when they enter your home and/or visit you at your home. This is also the first impression you will make to others. Are you a good homekeeper,organized and clean or are you a clutter bug. Of course you want the rest of your home to be equally as clean and organized but always make sure that your rooms that guests are in when visiting your home are 1.clean 2 clutter free 3 organized 4 decorated nicely to your taste 5 smells nice.

Did you know that dust carries odors? The thought of that curls me skin I can't stand it. I make a note to dust the trip and doors in my home all of it. The tops as well because dust will set there,yuck! I dust the outlets and light switches as well. Just a tip you might find interesting : )

It takes time to get your home the way you want it. Make sure you take the time to keep it that way. You will feel so great about your home and what it says about you. Others will love coming to your home because of the atmosphere you have developed there and of course your hospitality.

Happy Homemaking

MYO: Laundry Detergent

I know there are many versions for this but I wanted to share mine. So here goes...







What you will need....






1 five gallon bucket with lid


2 Cups borax


2 Cups washing soda


1/2 Cup baking soda


1/2 gallon white vinegar


1 bar of soap




grate your soap into a medium sized pan (I use the 6 to 8 qrt size),cover the soap with water and place on stove and melt over medium heat. Stir constantly to avoid it overflowing and making a big mess.


Once it is fully melted,add the borax and stir until completely dissolved (add water as needed),then add the washing soda and baking soda again stir until dissolved.


To the bucket add your vinegar and 4 C of hot water. Add your soap mixture to the bucket,it will fizz a bit adding it to the vinegar and water because of the baking soda. Stir and stir some more to make sure it's all well blended. Then fill the bucket up with hot water. Add the lid and wait 24 hours for it to set.


 1/2 cup per load.


I use baking soda and vinegar in my recipe because of the boosting power they provide. Vinegar kills germs and odors and is a natural stain fighter. Baking soda is a detergent booster making my recipe work harder and your clothes to come out very clean.




Happy Homemaking

Menu Planning Monday

I haven't posted a menu in a while. Well I haven't been blogging much lately. I have so much going on in my personal life that I set blogging aside for the most part. Maybe one day I will share with you all what I have been dealing with.

Monday - Mock chef boy r dee beef macaroni,rolls,tossed salad

Tuesday - Spaghetti,rollls,tossed salad

Wednesday - Chicken nuggets,mac & cheese,green beans

Thursday - Oven fried chicken breast ( I have been told it tastes like Bk's chicken breast,LOL),mash potatoes,gravy,buttered corn

Friday - Hearty chili,corn bread

Saturday - Wrestling (2 days) Braxton - Breakfast for dinner-pancakes and sausage

Sunday - Days 2 of wrestling meet Braxton - beans n franks,mac & cheese,fried potatoes

Note :

when I do not mention a fruit or vegetable on a given day it doesn't mean I do not set out vegetables or fruit or both. I usually set out what is left over as well as fresh fruits and cut up vegetables. Or we may have apple sauce or a can fruit (canned in juice of course and sugar free)

Happy Homemaking

Managing my home like......

When I had my own cleaning business,I knew what each of my clients wanted. When the day that I was to clean their home came, I had a plan of attack that was just for that home based on what the clients wishes were.

It's much like that for my own home. I know what we as a family need and I know how my husband I like our home to look and feel. That's where I start. It's almost like I'm my own client. LOL I run my home like I did my business. I know where to start what to do and when to do it. Having a take charge attitude like this really helps me keep things up the way we like them. Now I don't want to put out the attitude like we never have a messy home because that would not be true. We have 3 children and a dog in the home so you know we have our share of messes.


I get up in the mornings and I know what must be done that day. I know I only have so many hours to work and I start much like I did when cleaning professionally. I start and I don't stop until I'm finished.


Yes when anyone starts a new schedule it's daunting to them and takes a bit more time than they are use to. But I assure you that if you keep doing it,it takes less and less of your time. It becomes more of a habit and can be done rather quickly.


Personally I love my home being clean and smelling good. There's something in knowing that when someone comes to my door,my home is inviting to them. It's free of clutter,because I do clutter runs on a regular basis,and I don't feel a panic when I hear a knock on the door. I don't spend all my time cleaning, I have an alloted amount of time a day that I spend on cleaning and no more. It's taken me a bit of time to get my cleaning down like that only because my list is extensive,but remember I use to clean professionally and that carried over a bit in my own personal cleaning.


 Don't give up. Keep pushing yourself and you will get there.

Happy Homemaking

 

At my house

The above picture is of our Siberian Husky KiKi I took during the blizzard,she loves the snow

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Did you over do it this year eating to many cookies,cakes and pies. LOL That's a yummy part of the Christmas season. : )

We have been dealing one after another snow and ice and cold. It has been a doozy of a winter already. If the first week of winter is to be a sign to the rest of the winter it's going to be a bad one.

Today I am trying to get the house in order again. I made lists for the kids and they are busy working to get their chores completed. I have my list ready and have been working and marking off as I go. We have the tree down and just need to finish putting the decorations down and put them away. I am going to have John help me rearrange our living room. One of the side effect of my disability I can't do any moving or lifting of well much of anything,it's frustrating but that's the hand I have been dealt.

I am going to make cheese burgers with all the fixings for lunch today and make steak hoggies for dinner. The boys are looking forward to eating today. LOL Just like males huh,they do best with a full tummy.

Well I am now out of time,God Bless.

Happy Homemaking

Learning as I go and being Thankful

I have always wanted a big house in the country. A house that was big enough for the size of my family. What I have instead is a small house that is not big enough for my family and no storage. As a matter of fact it only has 2 yes I said 2 closets in the whole house,and one bathroom. We are on top of each other in this house and have no absolutely no privacy,we are all so close together you can literally hear each word spoken. John and I wait often until the kids are in bed to have our talks,otherwise it's a family discussion even if it's not intended to be. : )

As you can see I still am not happy with our currant living conditions but I'm learning. I am learning to be Thankful for what I have. To see my home as a blessings and not see all the things that need to be done to it to make it more of what I want. To be content with where I am and not want more. Yes I still would love to have a bigger home but it's not a must have. If Lord willing the oppertunity presents itself for us to get a bigger home of course we will. But if that never happens I am learning to be content with what I have and that is a small home that is a fixer upper and that's fine by me. The up side to this home is we have an acre of land,we are in the country,we have nice neighbors that we have known for years,we have a lot of wild life all around us,the house is paid off (that's a big one),it's quiet and calming here. Just about everyone that visits us loves it here. They say it's relaxing and they feel so calm and warm here. That is inpart because of our hospitality but also our home and it's settings.

No it's not what I have always wanted but it's a blessing nontheless. So strange how God works sometimes,we were looking for a bigger home in the country and John got laid off in March. First panic set in but soon I took it as a challenge. It has not been easy by any means, we have had to cut back and trim our spending plan. Our boys have not been able to do things they did before John was laid off. I have been so very tempted to go to work to help but I am unable to. I am still under doctors care and am now disabled and unable to work. So I strapped on my fighting gloves and dug in. Making and doing all that I know to do to cut our utility bills and stretch our food and household items. The one thing we have learned from all this,well there have been many things we have learned,we wished we had all our debt paid off before this happened. Now we are still paying off debt while living off of 60% less income each month. It hurts but we are managing.

We are determined to get out of debt and stay out of debt. We don't even want to get another car loan,they are just not worth it. Instead we are going to keep an account open to save up for our cars and when we get enough in the account saved then we will start our search for a good quality used car. We still have hope to one day have a bigger home but until then we are content where we are.

There are so many lessons in life and we never stop learning them. The key is learning from your mistakes and changing the behavior that caused the mistake in the first place. For example we have struggled in our budget since he was laid off. A few times we have even over drawn due to not watching closely. I don't have to tell you how much that hurts,paying the nsf fees,ouch,that would hurt any budget but when your laid off and living off of only a fraction of what you are use to living off of. Yep that  is a doozy,but learning for our mistakes,we know to be more careful in our spending and more watchful over our money.

Sometimes life is hard and things happen that we just don't understand. I was bitter at first when I seen or heard of guys that worked in the same factory John did and that are still working there. Getting overtime because their work load is heavy but yet the company is not calling back their laid off workers yet. I would get so angry over this ,but even though I still don't like it,God has helped me ease that anger. He has a plan for us and well maybe that factory is not in his plans. We are learning patience and waiting on the Lord. For all things!

Happy Homemaking

Frugal Fridays:Living Frugally

I wrote this article a year or so ago when things in the economy first started to go South. It's interesting to read again and touch base.

This term is frequently used all over these days. It's hip to be frugal now! There's mounds of information all over the world wide web. Some practical and some radical. I think it's hard to look at one person's or families living ways and pick at your own. Each family or person is very different. From where they live,their income,their debt,the size of the family,their lifestyle. I could go on but you get the picture. What works for one not always is going to work for another. What one family or person believes is living frugal and may be to them but is far from that to another.



 I believe and I'm not alone when I say that the ecomony is crazy right now. And rather scarey. We are a family of 5 and it's a struggle each week at the grocery store. And I hear daily that's it's only going to get worse. You know the saying it's always darkest before dawn. It's going to get worse before it gets better. But in the meantime we have to live.


One thing that I have lacked on a lot is watching the portions of meats and things that I fix. I have 3 males in my home and thought nothing at making a large batch of chicken and most of it was ate. Well in making an effort to save money when and where I can. I divided up the meat I have in portions appropriate for my family size,usually 3 to 4 oz servings for things like chicken or beef. I'm going to stretch our food as much as I can.


I also purchased a book packed full of recipes for homemade cleaner and things. I'm a big spender on cleaners and love the smell of them. But when my last trip to stock up cost me close to 40.00 dollars the thrill was gone.


Also on my list are goodies and bread. Prices on all of these have shot through the roof and they are not done yet. I'm going to make as much of these as I can from scratch. Cooking from scratch is truly going to be a challenge for me as my schedule is so busy but I do believe it's important not only for our bank account but for our health. And as an added bonus my children will learn more about cooking,actual cooking and not prepackaged meals or fast food but good home cooked food.


What are you doing to save or live below your means?


If you have any TNT recipes you would like to share please feel free!!! We are always looking for new recipes to add to our collection.

Happy Homemaking

How to manage your list

We all get company,some more often than others. And depending on how your company stays will help with how you manage your list. Will they be staying over night,all week,a weekend,are they coming over for dinner or just to visit for a of couple hours.

Either way you need to make sure of a few things if you want to ensure that your home is welcoming to your guests. If they are staying you will want to make sure the guest room is ready for them. Change the sheets,fluff the pillows,deep clean that room and guest bathroom.

No matter how long your guests are staying you will want to make sure that each room that will viewed by them is clean and organized. I do not have my home decorated very well,I took everything down while we were remodeling to keep it from being broken. Since we are not finished yet I am leary to put everything out again. But that doesn't mean that my home can't be cleaned and organized.

The beauty of your daily cleaning schedule is that it should include things that need to be done on a daily basis and will keep your rooms looking good. This will reduce your time of cleaning for company. Nonetheless you should make sure that all rooms friend and/or family may see looks presentable. By doing this along with your hospitality you are ensuring that your guests will feel welcomed .

 If you have company coming this weekend or for the holidays get your list out and start cleaning,decluttering,organizing,and/or decorating so that you will know for sure that you and your home is ready to welcome your friends/family.

Happy Homemaking

Line Drying My Clothes

Line Drying My Clothes

I love hanging our laundry out to dry. I have been doing this for years, beginning the first year of our marriage 17 years ago. My grandmother and my mother did it so it was no big deal for me to begin doing and I never gave a second thought about it.

I remember as a child running around my grandparents farm,also the same house my grandmother was born. I remember so much about those times in my life,they run through my mind like a movie projector. I can still see myself running barefoot and swooping down to run under the clothes line to pass as I was running through the yard to get to my next adventure. Making it to the well where my uncle was drawling water for my grandmother (see there was no running water at that time on their small farm),I turned around and take in the view of the towels and sheets that seemed to go on forever blowing in the wind. I can see my grandmother with her basket patiently hanging the laundry piece by piece until the basket was empty and all clothing was hung and behind her a large vegetable garden of dark greens and bright colors and beyond that the pigs were making their playful sounds. Up from the pigs you could hear the chickens and see them pecking the grounds and wondering around.

Later as I got older it's my mother that I see with her basket full of clothes patiently hanging one piece at a time until her basket is empty. Then she teaches me, at firs it was fun I mean after all I have seen this done countless times. Until our dryer went out in the winter and we hung clothes out and inside to dry,that was no fun and I complained and swore I would never hang clothes to dry when I grew up. LOL I have to chuckle a little at this because if I knew then how I would be now and what I know now I wonder if I would have been saying that.

Now that I am older I look at hanging out our laundry to dry as a tradition women have been doing for generations upon generations. There's something so peaceful about being outside with the soft summer breeze blowing,and me making my way down the line. A lot of time I take this as an oppertunity to talk to God,while I'm making my way down the line patiently hanging my laundry piece by piece until my basket it empty. 

Now it's my turn to teach my daughter the art of hanging the laundry to dry. How it connects you with nature and God and teaches you patience. All these in such a simple act of hanging your laundry to dry.

Happy Homemaking

How to properly dispose of a can and lid

To keep anyone from getting cut by the open can lid (you know how sharp those things are) .........

Place the lid inside the can first

Then squeeze the top of the can with the lid inside together so that the lid cannot fall out.

Happy Homemaking