Spring Clean, Year ‘Round: Product Review

Spring Clean Year ‘Round

I received this lovely tin in the mail today! It is made by a very creative lady who has developed a clever system for keeping up with all the major chores around your house! No more big spring cleaning! Instead, you can do a little every day of the year!

Most of us don’t really enjoy the cleaning part. There are a few chores that I do enjoy, but mostly I just do what I need to do because… well, because I need to. According to Travis, Spring Clean Year Round designer, you can keep your house “spring clean” clean in just 15 minutes a day! Now that sounds like a deal to me!

How does it work?

The system is divided into daily, weekly, and monthly chores. Each day you pull out a card and do the chores suggested. You then return the card to the tin to rotate it.

Here’s what Travis says about her system:

“This system includes most common chores necessary to keep your home “spring clean” year round. It is not exhaustive and therefore blank cards are included for your personalization. It does not include the daily grind kind of chores like washing clothes or cleaning up after dinner. The frequency at the top of the card can easily be changed to suit your personal needs.”

The tin is sooo cute, which just makes you want to use it. I mean, if you have to clean, why not make it fun, right? Also, the individual cards are really pretty, too! Some other things I like about this system are:

• each card is labeled weekly, monthly, or yearly
• each card has a helpful hints
• each card lists the tools you will need for that chore
• each card has an “age appropriate” suggestion so you can have your kids help
• and did I mention it’s pretty?

I know you will love this Work-at-Home-Mom creation! You can purchase Spring Clean Year ‘Round from Travis on her website.

Spring Cleaning for the Heart and Home

Get ready for this year’s 2nd Annual Spring Clean Challenge. It begins March 1, 2010!

There will be print outs and homework and heartwork… So plan ahead!
We will have discussion here on Weekdays (Monday – Friday). You can report your progress, discuss questions you have or share insights you have discovered.

Plus! We will be giving away great FREE PRIZES daily!! To enter to win, just comment on your progress and discuss the daily devotions each day!

Winners will be selected and notified every evening!

Join the Proverbs 31 Sisters Network to participate!

Q & A: Disagreement with Husband

Q: I think this [The Heart of Her Husband] series is nice and very encouraging. However, I am a working wife who works 10 hours a day and usually I work until midnight or later. my husband works a 8-5 job and is home in the evenings. We constantly disagree about the fact that he expects the house to be emaculate and dinner cooked when he gets home. however I have explained to him that yes it is my job to make sure that these things are done, but he must realize that I am not home in the evenings to cook dinner and he is..so my solution would be for him to prep dinner. I told him that if wants these things done in a timely manner that he needs to make it possible for me to stay home and be the homemaker. Which I have no problem doing. I pay all of my own bills and buys all of the groceries so I must work outside of the home. I am bringing home the bacon, least he could do is fry it up in a pan..what do you think?

- Cynthia

A: Cynthia, I can sympathize with your issue. I applaud your efforts! Obviously if you are working outside of the home during the it would be nice if he could pitch in and help with the household chores and cooking. If he is disagreeable, perhaps you could start using the crockpot on the days you work? One of my favorite sites for crockpot recipes is: http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

As far as homemaking – keeping the house clean – make up a strict schedule for your basic chores, a rotating schedule for cleaning and make sure to do a load of laundry every day. Also, try to do those chores I suggested for the morning routine either each morning when you wake up or before you go to bed. Stick to a schedule and at least you’ll be somewhat on top of things.

In life there aren’t always easy answers, but I believe that if you do your best to honor your husband, God will bless you more than you can every imagine. God knows your best effort. Trust him to provide what you need and don’t forget to really spend time everyday praying for your husband (not that he’ll change so much as he’ll become the man God would have him to be and that you’ll become the woman he wants you to be. God bless you!

Daily Shower Spray

Use this spray in your tub/ shower daily to help prevent soap scum and keep it looking clean!

1/3 cup rubbing alcohol
1 cup water

Mix in a spray bottle and shake. Spray on, no rinsing required.

Sunlight in the Home

We have had so much rain this year. The sky has been cloudy more often than not where I live. In fact it seems that it has rained nearly everyday for the last two weeks! So, when the sunshine came out this afternoon, even briefly, it was such a welcome sight! This evening I picked up the book Counsels on Health which I have been reading and came across the following statement. It rang so true I had to share!

If you would have your homes sweet and inviting, make them bright with air and sunshine. Remove your heavy curtains, open the windows, throw back the blins, and enjoy the rich sunlight, even if it be at the expense of your carpets. The precious sunlight may fade your carpets, but it will give a healthful color to the cheeks of your children. If you have God’s presence and possess earnest, loving hearts, a himble home, made bright with air and sunlight, and cheerful with the welcome of unselfish hospitality, will be to your family and the weary traveler a heaven below.

- Counsels on Health, Ellen White, p. 196

How to Clean a Vase

Keep your vases sparkling clean with one of these handy tips:

1. Fill with hot water and 1 teaspoon of baking powder and allow to sit overnight.

2. Fill with vinegar and set overnight.

3. Fill with hot water and a denture cleaning tablet overnight.

Which ever method you choose, rinse the vase out in the morning. Simple!

Decorating for Fall

What exactly is fall? Being my favorite season, I decided to look it up and see how Mr. Webster defines it. Flipping to “fall” I found “autumn”, ok turning to that here is what it says, “autumn, the season that comes between summer and winter”. Well, that’s pretty cut and dry and I think most of us already know that, so here is my interpretation.

“Autumn; cool days leading into brisk nights. Fresh picked apples, leaves ablaze with color, pumpkins, gourds, Thanksgiving and a brand new opportunity to decorate your home”.

I’m not sure about you, but one of the reasons I love the fall is that with the cooler temperatures, I seem to have a renewed energy level. Daily activities are suddenly not such an effort. Think about the things you can do with this newfound energy. Giving your home a good cleaning – after all who wants to do that when it’s 90° and the humidity level is so high it feels like it could rain inside your home – sorting through and discarding unwanted items in closets, drawers and cupboards. Admiring mother natures magnificent color show while taking walks with the family or a favorite four-legged fur baby.

As mentioned above, this is also an opportunity for change in your homes décor. Now I’m not talking about a complete redo, just adding accessories that are fall related is all that’s needed.

Changing your window treatments from light summery fabrics and colors to something with a heavier texture and darker color is one quick way to warm up a room for fall.

Add some warm throws over the back or arms of the furniture, change out the accent pillows to something with a fall print or warmer colors, even just one or two pillows can make a difference.

Swap out summer flower arrangements for new ones that have a fall theme. Take a walk around your yard or in a neighborhood park or state forest and look for things to use, like unusual shaped twigs, pinecones, acorns and seedpods. Mixing these with store bought silk mums, preserved leaves or cat -o-nine tails in any type of container you may have will give a fall look to any surface.

Hang a grapevine wreath adorned with colorful mums on your door, or how about using the wreath as a centerpiece. Lay it in the middle of any table and place a ceramic or even real pumpkin in the middle.

Speaking of pumpkins, purchase a few – real or not – and spread them around your home both inside and out. Combine them with colorful gourds, apples, silk mums, leaves or berry vines in bowls or baskets for a festive look.

Take a look around local discount and craft stores for artificial fruit. The advantage to these is once this season has passed they can be packed away until needed again next year, so this makes for a very economical and savvy investment.

Scent is another indication of the fall season. Candles and potpourri in fall fragrances like pumpkin; spiced apple or cider will make walking into your home a wonderful experience. Below are a couple of favorites of mine.

Potpourri – “Natures Own Potpourri”, located in Tennessee, I have used many different brands and this is by far the best. Some of my favorite scents are: Apple Tree, American Harvest & Country Retreat.

Candles – Village Candle Factory Store, located in Topsham Maine. I’ve been burning candles for many years and these are my absolute favorite. As for the smell, well all I can say is yummmmm. Favorite scents consist of: Crisp Apple, Spiced Pumpkin, Mulled Cider & Gingerbread.

How ever you decide to celebrate and decorate for fall, stay warm, get comfortable and settle in while you wait for the next season to visit.

Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating. She is the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled 4yr old Blue Merle Sheltie named Toby. Having been a homemaker for over 23 yrs has provided years of experience in budget decorating and organization. Stop by Savvy Home Decorating for ideas and tips on budget decorating.

Go Clean Your Room!

If you are a mom, you have said it a million times, “Go clean your room!” It is a rare mother who gives birth to a child who prefers to clean his room instead of trash it. So what are moms and dads to do if they want their children to put away the toys, place clothes in the hamper, and keep books perfectly lined on their shelves?

Well, this may seem harsh to some of you. First things first. Go clean your room – and the bathroom, and the kitchen, and the family room, and the home office, and the garage, and the closets… you get the idea. If your room has piles of clean clothes waiting to be folded, or you only make your bed when company comes over, or the dishes get washed only when there is nothing left in the house to eat with you are not demonstrating an organized life to your child.

Okay, so maybe your house is not a candidate for the popular show on Lifetime Television, How Clean is Your House?, but look around.

• Does your desk have stacks of un-filed papers?
• Do you forget to fold the clothes as soon as the dryer stops?
• Does your bed turn stale before the sheets are changed?
• Do your feet stick to the floor before you remember to mop?Perhaps your careless ways have rubbed onto your children. It is time to clean up. Today.

Your next course of action is to create a friendly routine that you and your children can comfortably work around. Make a list of chores that need to be completed each week. Then divide them up appropriately among the members of your family. Children should be expected to do chores daily. And if Dad works outside the home full time to support his family, his household chores should reflect his hard work each week. In other words, don’t expect Dad to clean the house after a long day at work. Stay at home moms, should take over most of the responsibility for maintaining the household. The Bible tells us we are to be “keepers at home.” So, make your home a real priority. If both mom and dad work outside the home, you will have to have a discussion about who should be responsible for each chore and when. Then be accountable for your part.

Making a routine a habit is the hardest part for some people. Especially if they are not used to being on a schedule or have always been unorganized. Don’t give up if you fall off the schedule. Tomorrow is a new day with a fresh set of goals. Post the chores and schedules up where everyone can see them on a daily basis. The kitchen works well for my family.

Pray each morning before you begin your day. Ask God to give you the will power to make your home pleasing to HIM so that your family can live daily in comfort. Finally, work with your children to show them how to clean up. For instance, in the evening after supper, clear the table immediately with their help. Then after Family Worship time, follow them to their bedrooms and sit down. Tell them nicely what to do.

“John, put your books on the shelf – no like this.”
“Sarah, place your dirty clothes in the laundry hamper.”
“Timmy, you know your room looks nicer if you don’t leave your cars on the floor. Put them in the right bucket.”

And then be sure to do the same when you go to your own room to retire for the day.

Daily Plan of Action: (This is what I use in my own home.)

• Daily Prayer and Devotion
• Make Beds
• Wipe Down Bathroom Sinks
• Wash Two Loads of Laundry
• Clean Kitchen and Sweep
• Straighten House
• 10 – 20 Minute De-clutter of One Area
• One to Two Weekly Chores

Lastly, organize your child’s things so that when he is finished with a project or toy, he can put them away easily. Remember the adage, A place for everything and everything in its place. Group like toys, ie. Legos, Lincoln Logs, dolls, etc., into plastic storage containers and label them. Label everything. Teach your child this rule: “Only One toy at a time.” Your child must return the toy to its proper place before getting out a new toy.

Keeping a neat house, especially when you have children running around, is not easy. In fact, much of the time, it is down right hard. But tackle it like any other project. Break it down into manageable sections. Make a Plan of Action or Daily Schedule. And stick to it – every day. If I don’t stick to my plan daily, my house can go from clean to disaster within a matter of hours.

If your child destroys his room, it can take hours to clean. BUT, if he puts away his things as soon as he is finished with them, it only takes a few seconds at a time. The same goes for grown ups. A messy bedroom takes longer to clean than a relatively neat one and three papers are easier to file that a mountain of papers. Learn your lesson… and then pass it on!

Housekeeping Rules to Live By

Housekeeping Rules to Live By

by Melissa Ringstaff

1. “Put it away, don’t put it down.”

2. “A place for everything and everything in its place.”

3. “A clean house is easier to clean than a messy house.”

4. “Kids need chores appropriate for their age.”

5. “Plan, plan, plan – and make a list!”

6. “Create a routine and stick to it.”

7. “Don’t wait till the last minute to start a chore. Do it ahead of time.”

How to Get It All Done

Many of you struggle with “getting it all done.” From time to time I feel overwhelmed by the amount of work that I must do. However, for the most part, I am usually feeling quite at peace with a life of ministry. My first ministry is to my family. Caring for the needs of my children and my husband are a joy and a blessing. I can’t think of anything in this world I enjoy more! The fact that I have been able to stay at home full time and raise my children is one of the greatest blessings I have ever had!

When I feel overwhelmed I take a step back and evaluate the situation. I ask myself a few questions:

• Am I overwhelmed because I am not using my time efficiently?
• Am I overwhelmed because I am not having my devotions in the morning?
• Am I overwhelmed because I have planned too much in too short a time period?
• Have I set unrealistic goals for myself?
• Am I overwhelmed because the children are not helping out?
• Will the world fall apart if I let something go?

Some of you were curious as to how I can fit so much into one day. Honestly, it is ONLY by the grace of God that we are able to pull it all together each week. And when Sabbath comes, we all look forward to that 24 hour period when we can rest in Him. What a joy the Sabbath is!

I know I have shared these in the past, but over the last few months as we have adjusted better to homeschooling and life has settled into what we now consider a normal pace, our schedules have changed off and on quite a bit. The schedules we have now are working really well. I post the schedules in different places around the house so that the children and I can look at the schedule easily to determine what we should be doing at any given time of the day. Being regimented to a schedule is not the easiest thing in the world, but if you stick to it and make the routine a habit it will become easier and easier. My youngest children enjoy knowing what to expect next and my older children understand what is expected of them during the day. It also lets them know that anything they don’t enjoy (like math or chore time) does have an end.

I just like knowing I can count on the schedule to keep me going through the day! My schedule is much more difficult to put down on paper. Typically, when I try to put it all down on paper it just doesn’t fit or add up. The only explanation for this is God. He is soooo good to help me accomplish my daily tasks!

With homeschooling the children, they follow their schedules really well. I help them in between all my other tasks, which sounds impossible but really works well. I am always there to help when needed and I direct them in their lessons and which direction they are to take.

If I get behind on anything as far as my chores go, we make up for it during the 3:00 p.m. Chore Time. The house is divided into zones. The kids love the Zone system better than anything I have ever done. We have been doing it for about a year now. The zones rotate on a weekly basis.

• Zone 1: Dining Room, Foyer, Landing, Stairs, and Hallway.
• Zone 2: Kitchen, Mudroom, Breakfast Nook, and Butler’s Pantry
• Zone 3: Family Room, Laundry, and Bathrooms

At 3:00 when Chore Time comes, the children are directed in their tasks. They know what needs to be done. For instance cleaning the kitchen involved unloading the dishwasher, sweeping the floor, putting away clutter, and wiping down the counters. I will load the dishwasher as needed. They also are the kitchen helper for mealtime when assigned Zone 2.

After Zone Cleaning, the children are then directed to clean their rooms if needed and then they can have free time. On nice days they go outside to play, or they have the option of playing indoors.

I have begun the practice of preparing as much as possible my supper menu in the morning. This is sooo much more time saving then almost anything else I have done in a long time. I use my slow cooker several times during the week. Most often on Monday and on Wednesday. But even on days when I am preparing a cook stove meal, I will prepare casseroles, “meatloaves,” etc. in the morning so they are ready to pop in the oven at the appropriate time.

I have also begun making biscuits on Sundays which allows me to have biscuits for any meal during the week. I make up my dough, place them on a sheet pan in the freezer until frozen and then into a gallon freezer bag. I can then cook the number I need at anytime. I love this!

And then, I have made it a point to begin baking all of our bread so that we do not need to purchase store-bought bread anymore. Years ago I used to make bread. But due to my illness I had stopped. However, I have begun making bread again and have been so encouraged by the excitement from my children (and husband). The kids beg even for the end pieces!

Sunday’s I make the “make-ahead” biscuits and a basic sandwich bread. Wednesday’s I make my Challah for Sabbath. Thursday is French or Italian Bread or maybe Foccacia. Every 10 days I make my Amish Cinnamon (sourdough) bread which is perfect for breakfast or any time. I like to give the bread away as well. Sometimes, when we have over ripe bananas I will make Banana Bread to give to church members.

It is so easy to incorporate the making of bread right into your daily schedule. Each part of the process only takes minutes, so why not provide your family with healthy bread that has no chemicals or nasty additives in it?

Sunday’s are also the day when I really do the deep cleaning in the house and plan my menu for the week.

On days when I must go to church for the evening, my supper is packed up and taken with me. For this reason, I always do a slow cooker meal on Monday’s. If we have an extra day where we go to church to work, I pack the meals. We almost always eat a hot meal regardless of whether we are at home or church and we almost never go out to eat. I am almost always home in the mornings until after lunch. However, if we do need to go work at church early, the children just pack up their school work and sit at a table and do it while I work, paint, etc. Also, we simply pick up where we left off when we get home. If the house is in real need of picking up, I will have the children straighten up their assigned areas and we will work together to get the house tidy before bed (if it is really late we just go to bed). Otherwise, we just play “catch-up” the following day which means we move faster and work harder during chore time to get the chores done.

Keeping the car clean and tidy after packing up food, and school work and the like is another task that must be done on a daily basis. Everytime the children go anywhere with us, they are responsible for helping to get every little piece of anything out of the car when we get home. Everyone must help unload. Trash is unacceptable and a trashy car just will not do!

Getting it all done takes a lot of self-discipline. It is not possible if you like to watch a lot of TV or craft all day long or sleep in late. But it also takes the grace of God. He truly will stretch your time – just like your pocketbook – if you are faithful to Him in all that you do!

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