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!
by Melissa Ringstaff
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.”
Apron Memories
When EllyneAnne asked me to review her newest book, The Apron Book, I could hardly wait to receive it in the mail. My love affair with aprons, began about two years ago. Since then I have acquired a fair number of vintage aprons and have sewn up a few as well.The day I received the package from Andrews McMeel Publishing, I was even more delighted than I had expected! The book was adorably packaged and so sweet. The book itself includes:
- - An exploration of the history, evolution, and heyday of aprons, including 95 full color photos of vintage and new aprons
- - Adorable apron patters
- - Tips on collecting and preserving these textile artifacts
- - Recipes
- - Household tips or “apronisms”
- - Stories and images of apron livers past and present.
My favorite part of the book, though, is the patterns. There are all types and styles and so many creative ideas, you could stay sewing for weeks making new aprons! There is also a full size pattern in a pocket in the back of the book. The pattern is simple enough for a beginner, so you’ll have no excuse for not making one for yourself…. and someone you love, too!
The stories – Apron Memories – make me wonder what my own children will remember about me and my aprons…
Homemakers everywhere should purchase a copy of this beautiful book! You will most assuredly enjoy each and every page!
On November 22 of this year, we are going to be celebrating Tie One On Day. Created by EllyneAnne Geisel, author of Apron Memories and The Apron Book, to recognize and celebrate the humble apron and the spirit of women of earlier generations who have worn it. On the eve of Thanksgiving, EllyneAnne encourages us to wrap a loaf of bread in an apron and tuck a prayer or note of encouragement in the pocket before delivering the bread to someone in need of spiritual or physical sustenance.
Send your apron memories to A Virtuous Woman using the form below. The winner will receive a copy of the book, The Apron Book: Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort as well as a vintage apron. Deadline is on November 15. Winners will be announced on November 22.
The Apron Book:
Making, Wearing, and Sharing a Bit of Cloth and Comfort
Written by EllynAnne Geisel
Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing
