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May
04

Daily To Do List {Weekly Plan} :: May 6-12

For Memory...

"If then you have been raised with Christ,
seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
(Colossians 3:1-2)

For Every Day...

Morning To Do List :: {if all else fails, I'll try to do this list every day....even if it takes all day!}
--Quiet time
--Drink water
--Exercise
--Pack lunches
--Make bed
--Shower, dressed, make-up, hair
--Start laundry
--Clean up kitchen and dishes
--Wipe up bathrooms
--Water plants
--Put water bottles in fridge

Afternoon To Do List :: {this will help my day go a whole lot smoother}
--Drink water
--Take vitamin
--Finish and fold laundry
--Early dinner prep
--Update checkbook
--Quick clean-up
--Fix dinner
--Kitchen and dishes cleaned up

For this week...

Weekly To Do List :: {this includes my weekly housecleaning}
~Day 1 :: trash and recycling; clean purse
~Day 2 :: weekly cleaning tasks (ie. vacuum, dust, mop, bathrooms, mirrors, appliance fronts)
~Day 3 :: files and paperwork 
~Day 4 :: wash sheets; wash delicate laundry; make next week's menu; make grocery list
~Day 5 :: catch-up on any tasks I've missed during the week
~Day 6 :: calendar planning; clip and file coupons; grocery pre-list (I do these tasks on the weekend)

Monthly To Do List ::  {if I miss something this week, I'll catch it next month}
kitchen
~Day 1 :: baseboards - The dust that settled on the baseboards over the winter isn't going away on its own (trust me, I've asked).  A cloth or the vacuum will make for a quick and easy task today.

~Day 2 :: floor - I sort of mop the kitchen floor every week.  Except for when I don't....because I really don't like to mop.  Today, let's mop the kitchen floor like we mean it.  Those little sticky places that need scrubbed up and the dust-balls that are growing under the work table will finally be taken care of.

~Day 3 :: cabinet under sink - This cabinet seems to collect clutter and dirt all on its own.  Today, let's clean out the sink cabinet so we don't have to cringe every time we reach for the dish soap or a plastic bag.

~Day 4 :: messiest cabinet - I have a messy cabinet in my kitchen.  Actually, I have a few of them, but there is only one that endangers my safety every time I open it up.  This is the place I'll stage my cleaning and organizing attack today.  

~Day 5 :: windows - The winter does quite a number on the windows.  All the moisture, darkness, and pulled shades make my windows more than just a little nasty.  The grossness takes a hike today.

Remember, after this post goes up each weekend, you can easily access it all week long by simply clicking the To-Do List tab at the top of the page (see it up there?). 

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May
01

Homemaking Basics :: Clean One Thing


My house is some shade of messy nearly all the time.

Well...not "nearly" all the time. Just all the time.

We homeschool, and watch TV on the floor, and eat eighteen snacks a day. We leave books and pencils all over the place, have pillows and blankets from one side of the living room to the other, and forget to put granola bar wrappers in the trash. We're sort of messy.

By "sort of," I mean really.

And by "we," I mean my kids. But who's counting.

That's just real, normal life. We live here, and that's what happens when a family spends a lot of time between the four walls of a home. If I ask for a little help, the normal messiness can usually be brought under livable control in a matter of a few minutes.

But then there are the days that veer into a totally different kind of messy. The days when it seems impossible to ever conquer the chaos.

I regularly have those days after my husband has been off work. I don't do a lot of housecleaning when he's here, and my home bears the proof. I love the time off, but I hate the recovery.

There are dishes everywhere, not only covering every flat surface in the kitchen (although that's true, too), but also on the dining room table, the desk, the living room floor. Dirty clothes are in places I never would have expected, books and once-clean laundry line the steps, and abandoned shoes make it impossible to open the door to the garage.

And don't even get me started on the bathrooms. Definitely not "company ready".

On those days, it's tempting to hide in my room and ignore the destruction. Unfortunately, that doesn't work for long. Pretending the junk isn't there doesn't make it go away.

The other temptation is to become a cleaning machine. That doesn't work very well, either. I'm not always nice when I'm in cleaning-machine-mode.

I have a better solution....

I leave every space one thing better. All day long.

Before I walk out of a room, I try to make just one improvement. I throw away one piece of trash, or carry one thing to its rightful place, or wipe up one little area. Just one thing.

So, when I'm done in the bathroom, I'll make sure the toothbrushes are off the counter. Before I leave the living room, I'll grab the pair of scissors to toss into the kitchen drawer. While I'm in the kitchen, I'll put a glass into the dishwasher.

One thing here....one thing there....it all equals a whole lot of things cleaned up. And by the end of the day, the house is usually back to it's normal, just "sort of" messy, self.

Portions of this post on homemaking basics will be added to the START HERE tips that you can access any time through the tab at the top of the page. See it up there?

Would you like some more homemaking help and inspiration? You can snag 97 different ebooks on every homemaking topic know to man...er...woman for just $29.97! The books you see above are just a sampling of the good stuff to be found in this library. The sale only lasts until May 4, 2013 at 11:59pm EST, so learn more about The Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle before it's gone! 

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Apr
23

Back to Homemaking Basics :: START HERE

Do you ever look around at the wall-to-wall toys, the endless stream of dishes, the bottomless laundry pit, the perpetual crumbs on the kitchen floor....and wonder who checked your credentials when you were licensed for this homemaking job?

Wait. You don't have a license? 

Maybe that's the problem. 

I'll admit that sometimes I feel like I'm in over my head. As I stand in the middle of the mess, the clutter, the undone lists, the piles of papers, the never-ending cycle of laundry....getting it all under control can seem impossible. Just surviving  it all can seem impossible. 

Well, I'm here to tell you that it is possible.

What homemaking is and isn't. 

Homemaking isn't about doing it all so that we can have the perfect homes we see in magazines or online (news flash: perfection doesn't exist). 

It's about the day-in and day-out acts of loving and serving our families. It's about managing our homes in a way that blesses others. It's about creating a peaceful and comfortable environment where messy lives and broken hearts can see the gospel being lived out. Where our husband and children and friends can be refreshed and restored. Where we can find and give joy. 

You just have to know where and how to start.

Getting caught-up and figuring out how to manage it all isn't going to happen overnight.  But it will happen. At least, it can  happen.

Do you see the tab at the top of the page that says, "START HERE"? We're going to begin filling it with tips and links. We'll take a few days to talk about how to get the chaos under control and begin managing our homes and lives. We'll review some homemaking basics and create a resource to come back to again and again. 

Are you ready to tackle this homemaking gig?

If it feels like you're drowning in a sea of homemaking failures, please know there is hope! My life is a testimony of that. I can assure you that my home isn't perfect. Right now, it's a bit of a mess. But I know it is possible to turn things around. By getting back to homemaking basics and taking one step at a time, we can banish the chaos and embrace normal, crazy, family life. 

Let's stop feeling guilty about not measuring up to an impossible standard. Let's stop being annoyed with our kids for ruining our perfect picture (Am I only one who does this?). Let's stop being paralyzed into inaction. 

Let's start. Let's start now. Let's START HERE!

Are you struggling and looking for practical homemaking help?  Let's chat...

Shared with Mercy Ink.

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Apr
21

Daily To Do List {Weekly Plan} :: April 22-28

 

FOR MEMORY...

"By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches."
(Proverbs 24:3-4)

 

FOR EVERYDAY...

Morning To Do List :: {if all else fails, I'll try to do this list every day....even if it takes all  day!}
--Quiet time
--Drink water
--Exercise
--Pack lunches
--Make bed
--Shower, dressed, make-up, hair
--Start laundry
--Clean up kitchen and dishes
--Wipe up bathrooms
--Water plants
--Put water bottles in fridge

Afternoon To Do List :: {this will help my day go a whole lot smoother}
--Drink water
--Take vitamin
--Finish and fold laundry
--Early dinner prep
--Update checkbook
--Quick clean-up
--Fix dinner
--Kitchen and dishes cleaned up

 

FOR THIS WEEK...

Weekly To Do List :: {this includes my weekly housecleaning}
Day 1 :: trash and recycling; clean purse
Day 2 :: weekly cleaning tasks (including vacuum, dust, mop, bathrooms, mirrors, appliance fronts)
Day 3 :: files and paperwork 
Day 4 :: wash sheets; wash delicate laundry; make next week's menu; make grocery list
Day 5 :: catch-up on any tasks I've missed during the week
Day 6 :: calendar planning; clip and file coupons; grocery pre-list (I do these tasks on the weekend)

Monthly To Do List ::  {if I miss something this week, I'll catch it next month}
kids' rooms
~Day 1 :: trash - The children have a nice little trash basket in their rooms, but the floor is much more tempting. Today, we'll get rid of the old tissues (yes...gross), plastic wrappers, broken toys, and crumpled papers that are littering the room. This should take less than fifteen minutes (especially with some kiddo-help).

~Day 2 :: clothes - All of a sudden, it seems like there are too many clothes and not enough closet. Many of the clothes taking up valuable space are simply clutter. They're outgrown or out of season. It is only worth keeping the clothes that will actually be worn. Everything else either needs packed away, thrown away, given away, or sold.

~Day 3 :: toys and stuff - Please don't get me started. Please. The kids have too much stuff and no one takes good enough care of it all. That's all I'm going to say. Moving on...we need to work together to get things sorted and straightened so we'll have a place for what we'll pick up off the floor and flat surfaces later this week. It doesn't need to be perfect, it just needs to be better. Playing beat-the-timer will help keep hands moving and relieve fears that this task will take "all day". This task may require a few rounds of beat-the-timer spread throughout the week.

~Day 4 :: floor - We buy them bins, boxes, shelving units, and color-coded compartments...but the floor is still the first choice for storing toys, magazines, and books. Please don't ask me why this is. It just is. Today, all that valuable "stuff" needs picked up and put somewhere, hopefully with the junk goodies we straightened up yesterday. Remember: It doesn't need to be perfect, just better.

~Day 5 :: flat surfaces - There is just something about bedside tables, shelves, and desks that begs for good (and not-so-good) stuff to be piled high. Keeping in mind that it's a real kid's room and not a magazine shoot, straighten and organize the visible flat surfaces. Throw away trash, put away toys and books, display the things that are important to the children (such as Lego creations or crafts). Set a timer and, again, remember that it doesn't need to be perfect, just better.

After this post goes up each weekend, you can access a printable version all week long by clicking the To-Do List tab at the top of the page (see it up there?), and you can get homemaking and Daily To Do List reminders each day if you Like on Facebook and Follow on Twitter. Give it a try!

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Apr
14

Daily To Do List {Weekly Plan} :: April 15-21

:: THIS WEEK'S DAILY TO DO LIST ::

"Look carefully then how you walk,
not as unwise but as wise,
making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
(Ephesians 5:15-16)

Morning To Do List :: {if all else fails, I'll try to do this list every day....even if it takes all day!}
--Quiet time
--Drink water
--Exercise
--Pack lunches
--Make bed
--Shower, dressed, make-up, hair
--Start laundry
--Clean up kitchen and dishes
--Wipe up bathrooms
--Water plants
--Put water bottles in fridge

Afternoon To Do List :: {this will help my day go a whole lot smoother}
--Drink water
--Take vitamin
--Finish and fold laundry
--Early dinner prep
--Update checkbook
--Quick clean-up
--Fix dinner
--Kitchen and dishes cleaned up

Weekly To Do List :: {this includes my weekly housecleaning}
Day 1 :: trash and recycling; clean purse
Day 2 :: weekly cleaning tasks (including vacuum, dust, mop, bathrooms, mirrors, appliance fronts)
Day 3 :: files and paperwork 
Day 4 :: wash sheets; wash delicate laundry; make next week's menu; make grocery list
Day 5 :: catch-up on any tasks I've missed during the week
Day 6 :: calendar planning; clip and file coupons; grocery pre-list (I do these tasks on the weekend)

Monthly To Do List ::  {if I miss something this week, I'll catch it next month}
living room, dining room
Day 1 :: newspapers and magazines
Day 2 :: toys and clutter in living room
Day 3 :: clutter in dining room
Day 4 :: windows
Day 5 :: add beauty

Remember, after this post goes up each weekend, you can easily access it all week long by simply clicking the To-Do List tab at the top of the page (see it up there?).

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Apr
06

Daily To Do List {Weekly Plan} :: April 8-14, 2013

:: THIS WEEK'S DAILY TO DO LIST ::

" Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
rooted and built up in him
and established in the faith, just as you were taught,
abounding in thanksgiving.
(Colossians 2:6-7)

Morning To Do List :: {if all else fails, I'll try to do this list every day....even if it takes all day!}
--Quiet time
--Drink water
--Exercise
--Pack lunches
--Make bed
--Shower, dressed, make-up, hair
--Start laundry
--Clean up kitchen and dishes
--Wipe up bathrooms
--Water plants
--Put water bottles in fridge

Afternoon To Do List :: {this will help my day go a whole lot smoother}
--Drink water
--Take vitamin
--Finish and fold laundry
--Early dinner prep
--Update checkbook
--Quick clean-up
--Fix dinner
--Kitchen and dishes cleaned up

Weekly To Do List :: {this includes my weekly housecleaning}
Day 1 :: trash and recycling; clean purse
Day 2 :: weekly cleaning tasks (including vacuum, dust, mop, bathrooms, mirrors, appliance fronts)
Day 3 :: files and paperwork 
Day 4 :: wash sheets; wash delicate laundry; make next week's menu; make grocery list
Day 5 :: catch-up on any tasks I've missed during the week
Day 6 :: calendar planning; clip and file coupons; grocery pre-list (I do these tasks on the weekend)

Monthly To Do List ::  {if I miss something this week, I'll catch it next month}
kitchen
Day 1 :: clutter 
Day 2 :: large appliances
Day 3 :: small appliances
Day 4 :: pantry
Day 5 :: refrigerator

Don't forget about next week's series on Intentional Attitudes. Be sure to subscribe for free email updates so you won't miss it!

Remember, after this post goes up each weekend, you can easily access it all week long by simply clicking the To-Do List tab at the top of the page (see it up there?). 

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