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

Homemaker in training/helping in the kitchen

Teaching my daughter how to be a Godly young lady is a task I take to heart. It give me much pleasure and joy to watch her tackle a task in our home and to see the curiosity in her eyes  as she asks questions while she sees me working. There are many lesson a mother can undergo in teaching her daughter to be a Godly wife and mother, but for today I want to talk about “Help in the kitchen”.

 The value of teaching my daughter the ins and outs of the kitchen are very valuable. Not only will she be a blessing to me but later in life she will be tremendous blessing to her husband and later children. I know that it would take less time to just do it all myself but how is that going to help her learn. If I selfishly push her aside and not make the time to teach her, how am I really helping her? I know that when I’m mixing up a batch of cookies or making pizza crust it would be so much easier to just do it myself and it would be far less messy and trying. This kind of thinking has led our young ladies down a road of selfish thinking themselves and rendered them rather ignorant in the kitchen. This is something they will have to work hard to learn later on in life, and they will most likely feel frustrated and down on themselves all because of the lack of patience, love and Godly guidance and wisdom to show her the ropes from an early age.

 If you have not been taking the time to teach your daughter and you think it’s too late, it’s not. When you’re making a meal or snack have her come in and assign her a job to do.  The added bonus of being in the kitchen with your daughter and working side by side is the talks and close relationship that can develop from it.

 For little ones give them small jobs to start.  Wash fruits and vegetables. Set the table. Help you clean up after a task has been completed. As they grow older you can start giving them bigger jobs like Opening cans for you, stirring a pot on the stove, washing or rinsing the dishes.  By taking the time to teach her you are instilling valuable skills for her future. You as a Godly mother can take rest in knowing she has been well taught for her role as a wife and later a mother.  When she does get married and leave home she can do in confidence knowing she has been well schooled in the matters of homemaking.

 I always try to remember that the biggest example of a Godly woman to my daughter is ME! The way I handle situations, react to life’s stresses, how often she sees me pray, etc.  By investing time and knowledge into my daughter  I feel that I am truly doing what it says in Titus 2: 3-5 The aged women likewise, that [they be] in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 [To be] discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

 God Bless,

Tammy

Fall Cleaning

With Summer soon coming to an end and fall beginning I start to focus on getting things done  to prepare for the cooler temperatures.


I first go through the house and make a list of things I want to focus on that I may not otherwise. From there I make my way outside and walk all along my property. I make a detailed list of things I want to take care of inside and out of my home.

Things I look for are..... do the carpets need to be cleaned,do the drapes need cleaned,is there anything that needs to be painted or repaired before it gets to cold out to do so,wash the patio furniture and wash cushions to later put away,make sure the gutters are clean,is there any weeding or trimming that need to be done,does the siding need to be washed down. These are all things I look at as well as anything else I may see that needs some attention and add it to my list.


I work on my list until it's complete or at least that's the plan. I also enlist my whole family to work on it. We work together as a family to complete the list. In a short time our home is ready for the new season.


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

Easy Clean For Your Microwave

This came in a newsletter from debtproofliving.







I needed a way to clean my microwave when I could not get rid of the smell and splatters from a garlic dish. I wet two large paper towels with warm water and laid them on a paper plate. I squirted Dawn dish washing liquid all over the top and put it in the microwave oven on high for two minutes. When I opened the door, the oven smelled fresh and I could easily wipe the particles from the inside. It looks like new
 
Tammy
The Happy Homemaker

MYO: Oxy Clean

This recipe has been floating around on the net for some time.







1/2 C hydrogen peroxide


1/2 C baking soda


1 C. hotwater






Mix together and apply to stains, or add to machine and wash as usual.

Tammy
The Happy Homemaker

Future homemaker in training

I spent the day yesterday with Carissa by my side,helping me around the house. She got so excited when I told her we were going to make some cookies. As you can tell by the picture she was all ready to go!

Add the butter now

This was her first time using the hand mixer! She is such a wonderful job!

Now time to slowly add the dry ingredients!

Stir and mix well. Then add the chocochips,she kept trying to sneak them. She loves chocolate!

All that work and her very first batch of chocochip cookie dough,yum!

she worked so patiently and dilegently!

First batch done! As it cools on the rack I know what is on her mind!

Yum! Warm ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies.

The Happy Homemaker

Menu making made simple

Have you ever sat down to make your menu and just couldn't get it all together to finish it up. You start out ok and then before you know you have no idea what to put down to finish it up. That's how it has been for me and it's very frustrating,especially when you have a million other things to do like laundry,schooling,reading aloud to your children,believe me I have been there done that. There's nothing more frustrating to me then to sit down to a task that should take only a short amount of time to complete and it lingers on and on because I am stumped. Oh how I hate that!

One day I came up with the idea that has saved me loads of time when it comes to making my menu(s). I got out a notebook and started writing down meal ideas. But then I went more detailed,I labeled one page chicken,the other beef,then pork,and so on. I started 1. and put a complete meal idea in that slot. For example looking over at my page right now for pork in slot number one is

1. grilled seasoned pork chops,loaded bake potatoes and corn on the cob.
2.creamy pork chops,mash potatoes,green beans.

and so on and so on. When I find a new recipe my family enjoys I simply add it to the designated page.

When it comes time for me to make my menu,I take out my pages of meal ideas with me (this would fit nicely in the household notebook) and use that as a guide for ideas. I can't tell you how much time and frustration this has taken off my shoulders and I can also use this as a way to not forget a meal that my family really enjoyed but that I hadn't made in a while. Yes I'm forgetful at times! LOL By investing a little time on these pages it has saved me so much time now. They are evolving lists what works stays and what doesn't goes. I love it and I hope if you decide to try it you love it as much as I do.

The Happy Homemaker

Dinner Menu 4/26 - 5/1

Monday - Rosted Chicken,mash potatoes,homemade gravy,cucumber salad

Tuesday - Soup Beans (using ham bone from last weeks ham dinner),from scratch cornbread,fruit

Wednesday - chicken nuggets,mac & cheese,corn on the cob

Thursday - Bible study night - crockpot roast beef,mash potatoes,homemade gravy,corn,peas and homemade rolls

Friday - Spaghetti,garlic bread,salad

Saturday - Beans n franks,mac & cheese,fried potatoes,apple sauce

What's on your menu this week?

The Happy Homemaker

Homemade Buttermilk

I have been making my own buttermilk for about a year now maybe a little longer. I can tell you the quality of homemade buttermilk far surpasses anything you can buy at the grocery store.


Buttermilk is very easy to make. It takes bit of time to set but it's well worth it in my honest opinion.


I purchased buttermilk starters from here: http://www.leeners.com/  are a great company to work with.


You will need:


1 qrt canning jar with lid and ring


buttermilk starter


whole milk


thermometer


making my own buttermilk....


Fill at 1 quart canning jar with whole milk,I then pour that into a saucepan and warm it to 72 degrees. Then pour the warmed milk back into my canning jar and add one packet of buttermilk starter. Seal the jar by putting a canning lid and ring on it and tighten it. Give it a good shake and then set it on your stove top for 12 to 24 hours.


I set it on my stove top to keep the milk at 72 degrees or as close as I can to that. If it doesn't the milk won't set. I can tell you that mine sets closer to 12 hours than 24.


You will notice it's done when the milk is nice and thick. I use alot of buttermilk in my baking and have found homemade buttermilk is far better than store bought.


To make more simply take 3 tablespoons of my homemade buttermilk and use that as my starter instead of the packet of starter.


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

Our recent Bible study

This week we have been doing an extensive study on what God's word says about dating. This has been a very interesting study and my sons have had many questions. When we talk about dating as Christians,we are not talking about the kind of "dating" that the world promotes. What we are talking about is more like courting than dating. It is in the bible to do this not to play the feild until one sticks. Not to go from one boy/girl to another. To get involved with someone to early and/or moving into intimate phases of a relationship that should be kept for marriage while unmarried or even worse a teenager.

God tells us in his word to pray and find a wife/husband. Not to maybe sometimes pray when the mood hits me or maybe not pray at all or promise to pray and wait for God's choice for you but then run with your flesh as soon as someone comes along that tickles your fancy. The earliest example that the bible gives us on courting is in Genesis 2:18 It is not good that the man should be alone;I will make a helpmeet for him. The Lord didn't tell Adam hey go play the feild and be full of lust of the flesh and act on it. He made him a helpmeet from Adam's own rib. She was perfect for Adam because Eve was chosen by God for Adam. This is still true today,how do I know. Well first off  the bible tell us God is the same yesterday today and forever. So if he has not changed why would you think that his views on the proper way to find your future husband/wife would change. Why do you think he is going to turn his head and not look while you do things that you know you should not do as Christian young men/women.Young people today are making horriable mistakes by giving of themselves to whomever they feel an attraction to for the moment. How sad is it that our sons and daughter believe this is just how they are suppose to do things. When Jesus himself has made someone just for them and when they don't trust in him to bring he/she into their lives when the time is right,well why should he reward the weak in faith with a prize of the RIGHT man/woman.

God made marraige to protect us. God made marriage to keep us from fornication with the opposite sex. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honorable in all,and the bed undefiled:but whoremonger and adulterers God will judge. In other words going from boy/girl to boy/girl and doing things you know is meant for marriage is a sin we all know it. But the world wants our young people and parents to believe this is normal. Noone courts anymore dating is the norm. How is someone suppose to find a wife/husband if they don't date around? How about praying?! God has a mate for our sons and daughters if only they show obediance to him and us (the parents) and be faithful. Keep themselves pure for their future husband/wife.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that the worlds way of finding a husbadn/wife is not working it's a very broken system. Based on feelings and attractions that are led by the flesh not the spirit are leading our young people into very dark places. Divorce rates in America are rediculous. According to divorce rate.org the first marriage that ends in divorce in America in 2010 is 41%,wow and we are only 4 months into the year. But if a second marriage is in the work the rate goes up to 60% and a thirld 73%. I think we can see it's not working. Wanting to have a husband/wife is natural but going with the world and following your flesh is very much the wrong way to do it in my honest opinion,and from what I read daily and see on the news I think I'm right for believing this way.

There is a way to insure you are going to have the right person the first time. Pray,parents pray for your son/daughter to, for their future husband/wife. Children listen to the widom of your parents. Jesus tells us he is the way the truth and the light,why on Earth do you think he would ever steer us wrong. Have faith he will reward you with a happy lasting marriage.

The Happy Homemaker

dinner menu plan 4/12 - 4/18

Monday - Beef roast,mash potatoes,gravy (using beef drippings),buttered corn

Tuesday-Open faced roast beef sandwiches,leftovers,tossed salad

Wednesday - Fried Rice,homemade garlic rolls

Thursday - Roasted chicked,cheesy potatoes,green beans

Friday - BLT's French fries,corn on the cob

Saturday - Homemade pizza and salad

Sunday - Chicken n gravy,buttermilk biscuits,rice,baby carrots


It's been a hard month,we have gone 3 weeks with no pay. So my menus have been what I have had stocked up in our freezers,fridge,and pantry. Thank God I stock up on food. We have only needed to get very few items from the store this month.This Friday will be my first real grocery shopping trip in almost a month.

The Happy Homemaker

Lessons Learned

I have been spending a lot of time talking with my children about the importance of living below your means. Not only do we talk with them about it but we also try to live be example. I have so many regrets of how we used our money in the past and we are still cleaning up the mess from living that way. If only we knew then what we know now,but could of,should of and would of won't do us any good now. All we can do is pick up and keep moving forward taking what we have learned and instilling it in our hearts and minds. To make it a part of our lives.

Yesterday while with my youngest son Brandon,I asked him,"What do you think it means to live below your means,what are the steps to insure you are doing so?" His answer was very good! He said " you don't go into debt,no loans and no credit cards. I mean it's stupid to get a car loan and it loses value as soon as you drive it off the lot." He said " it's best to save up and buy things straight out then you own it and are not paying more than it's worth buy getting a loan, the same is right about credit cards they make no sense,when you charge things and they are used up and you are still paying on them. How stupid is that! "

Yes he is a very smart boy. He also mention putting God first forever and always. And saving a portion of your income without fail.
What he didn't mention and it's probably because I haven't talked about it as often or gone into any sort of detail about it. That is taking care of all you have to make it last as long as it can.

1. give to God
2. save a portion of your income
3.no debt unless it's a mortgage
4.use up what you have before buying new
5. buy things used or on sale or clearance always try your hardest to get the best price on all things
6. use cash or debit,tracking every penny that comes in and out of your home
7. take care of what you have and make it last as long as you can saving you even more money

my seven rules of living below your means

*Photo provided by dsleonard on photobucket.com*





Happy Homemaking

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

 

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