For Today

Photo of the original House Honcho website

Wow. I'm not even sure where to start.

(Not to mention, I'm not sure I know how to blog in the middle of the afternoon. Usually I click away on my keyboard long after the crickets and the night howls have bedded down for the night.)

Last night I was notified that my Google account (used for HouseHoncho to-do lists) had reached the maximum number of addresses. (Did you know you could have too many addresses in your address book? Neither did I.)

In the past (almost) 6 months, we have grown beyond anything I could have imagined. We've bypassed a half-million hits. I regularly receive a plethora of e-mail from readers (and want to start answering more of the questions!) We have all kinds of requests for worksheets and podcasts. There are several opportunities currently in the works.

For now, we need to switch e-mail servers. You should have an invitation in your box to register with Big Tent. You can do it in under a minute (I timed it). It will give us the ability to continue sending you the same trusty e-mail while growing our readership. Nothing will change. Your privacy will still be our priority. You don't have to do anything but verify your e-mail.

But, because incentive never hurts, signing up before this Sunday (September 5th) will earn you something sweet. We are in the process of rolling out something very exciting, and YOU will be the first to experience it if you have successfully verified your e-mail through Big Tent. (More on that to come!)

So please, check your e-mail!

Recently, a reader reminded me that "keeping it simple" is the theme of this site. And so--with gratitude to her for reminding me--I will continue to commit to keeping it simple.

Thanks for reading.

On Bristles and World Peace

Photo by ArunaR

Believe it or not, I have been asked this question several times recently.

No. It doesn't involve gravity, world peace, or chicken/egg combos. It involves makeup brushes.

Recently, I listed "clean your makeup brushes" on our daily to-do list. Apparently, this sent several of you into momentary shock because you weren't sure how to clean your makeup brushes. Well. Fear no longer. House Honcho is rushing to your rescue.

It's very simple. (And very important!)

First, it's important to note that you should clean your makeup brushes once a month. Like everything else, these brushes get dirty, and since they come in contact with your skin, it is important to keep them dust-/dirt-/germ-free.

Second, all you really need is some warm water and your shampoo. Carefully place the brush bristles into the water. (If you're using the tap, don't run the water on high.) When the bristles are fully soaked, add a small amount of shampoo to the mix and gently wash.

Finally, rinse the soap out fully. (Not doing this step correctly could damage the bristles or aggravate your skin. And who needs that?) Towel dry or use your hair dryer to speed up the drying process.

And there you have it. Clean brushes equal happy skin! Tootles!

Add Lemons to Taste

Photo by S▲NI GZ

God is good all the time.

I like to keep things positive here at the Kitchen Table Blog, as much because there's enough negative stuff in the world without bringing it onto this site. But there really is no way around the truth: I had a difficult week last week. I won't go into all of the details (as much because there's enough negative stuff in the world...) but just know that I would rather have my molars removed without novocaine than ever experience last week again.

So let's get to the positive part.

God is good. All the time. We like to ascribe good things to God's providence, don't we? God provided money for the groceries. God spared us from the accident. God kept the children healthy last month.

It is much harder for us, for whatever reason, to ascribe the difficult things to God's providence. God allowed our car to break down. God caused me to be flat on my back with illness for a month. God, in His goodness, brought me to my knees in dependence on Him.

But God is good. All the time.

This week--whether life serves us lemons or lemonade--let us thank our good God for His goodness to us.

Our Friend, the Washer

Photo by peagreengirl

I aspire...

TO wear heels when doing the laundry

TO smile about the daunting load

TO re-instate National Home Laundering Week (and perhaps make it the week after summer camp)

Would You Like Cream with That?

Photo by Carolyn Coles

Here's an idea.

I often receive e-mail from readers who are anxious to find a solution to the problem of children leaving items lying around the house. One mother told me that she faithfully collects up multiple offenders (as in items left out repeatedly--not as in her offspring) and sells them in a garage sale. Swift.

Another mother explained that she sets up shop and allows the children to buy the misplaced items after a certain amount of time. Thrifty.

Yet another woman explained in a very elaborate note that she charges the children according to a graduated pay scale (based on the son or daughter's age and ability) and she uses the money to treat herself to coffee. Industrious.

I look back on my own childhood and I recognize that I would have been one of these offenders who could have sponsored my mother's weekly Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte, but I don't recall money being part of the equation. Fear of God and fear for my life were occassionally part of the solution, but not money.

I'm thinking tonight about whether or not monetary punishments are effective.

And I'm suddenly craving coffee.

Just Do It!

Photo by Frugan

It hurt my ears. Truly, it did.

A dear co-worker of mine--who I thought understood me on a level others didn't--explained to me the reason her daughter doesn't read. "It's because I don't like to read," she said. And I nearly wanted to shake her--except that would alarm her and HR would be nonplussed.

(And, of course, I've never actually shaken anyone nor plan to do so.)

But instantly, my mind traveled to ways she could overcome this unfortunate trend. Raising a reader, after all, is critical in a world where children are taught not to think for themselves. My advice to a mother who hates to read:

FAKE IT!

1. Read together. Read out loud. Read books slightly out of your child's range. Expand your child's vocabulary!

2. Go to the library. And select audio books for the car if you have a voice that sounds like an air conditioner.

3. Encourage your child to read what he/she loves. If your child hates horses, don't force the issue!

Reading is important. Period.

From Our Table to Yours

Photo by Trisha: This loot could be yours!

Introducing Contest #5

We are ridiculously close to reaching 500,000 hits to our website since we launched in mid-March. Which is really exciting because we are just getting started. We have so much yet to discuss--birthday parties, books, gift ideas, and holidays. (We are gearing up for a super helpful holiday season!)

[Get to the point already, right?]

So here are the rules and prize:

1. THE GOAL: Direct your friends and family to the Kitchen Table Blog between now and next Wednesday at noon and we will add your name to the hat for the hospitality prize package.

2. THE PLAN: Each time you tell someone this week about the Kitchen Table Blog let us know what you did via a comment on the blog. (Feel free to use a nickname--just remember what it is!)

3. THE STRATEGY: Consider using e-mail, Facebook, face-to-face, personal blog entries, etc. Be creative! Each time you spread the word is worth a vote!

4. THE PRIZE: A hospitality prize package: Dinner party invites, a new guest book, place cards, a vintage apron, the book A Life That Says Welcome, and a secret family recipe from my own family vault sure to please an entire crowd.

You bring people to our table and we may bring people to yours!

Let's get this contest started!

Dream, Dream, Dream

Photo by TorreBarolo

I like to dream big.

As a child, I could occupy myself for hours just thinking and imagining what I believed would be the perfect ... everything. You name it and I've thought about what would be ideal.

I never dreamed, however, that so many people--in the year 2010--would still take an interest in home management. I thought maybe I'd find a handfull of serious homemakers and we'd collaborate on what works best in our home. (You know--I send you a cleaning tip and you send me a recipe for your aunt's blueberry cobbler.)

Instead, this website--and I recognize it's not yet worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize--will reach a half million hits in the next few days. I've done very little to spread the word. In fact, I posted the link twice on my Facebook page and sat back to watch it take off like the dominoes I used to line up on my grandmother's kitchen floor.

And so now I am returning to the drawing board of dreaming big. It's time to expand what I thought would be a small endeavor.

I want to create bigger and better challenges here on the blog. I want to push you to try new things and meet new people. Home management isn't just dusting or straightening. The home is essentially responsible for the nourishment of our health and happiness. Millions of dollars are spent on medicine and relaxation and entertainment...when all we really need is a good, clean home.

Are you with me? Let's dream big and take this initiative to the next level.

(Oh. P.S. Come back for tomorrow's contest announcement!)

On Duties and Dusting

Photo by glenngould

You and I have a job to do this week.

Our tasks may be very different--and likely they are as unique as we are--but they are equally valid to the God who calls us to do them. What we do isn't nearly as important as how we do it. Making a bed or dusting a countertop can have all of the importance of landing a multi-million-dollar deal or flying a plane cross-country if opportunities are taken to teach and learn and listen.
But the opposite is true as well.

Making a bed or dusting a countertop can be a sad waste of time if we complain or overlook the plethora of opportunities inherant in managing a home. Whatever God has called us to do this week is the very best thing we can do.

So let's do it in the very best way.

Dinner and a Movie

(Answer: Roman Holiday, Paramount Pictures, 1953)

It's Friday night. What to do?

Recently, a reader passed along a great idea that I am passing along to you. (See how fun it is?)

Jackie from Tulsa suggested that families picnic in the living room on Friday nights--eating food and watching a movie that share the same theme.

(Think pasta with a movie set in Italy, for instance, or spaghetti with a Western.) There are so many possibilities. You can utilize the coffee table or clear the floor and spread out a blanket with plastic cups and silverware. AND you won't have to deal with pesky ants or sudden rain showers.
In case you are looking for movie suggestions, I have posted a photo, above, from my favorite of all time.

Kudos to you if you can figure out what it is from.

Only YOU Can Prevent (Bon)Fires

Photo by dwstucke

I learned three valuable things tonight.

1. Wallpaper is making a comeback. Especially the textured stuff. Just when you thought you'd never have to scrape the evil badness off your walls again ... it is coming back. Sing with me now: The paper came back the very next day. Oh the paper came back. It just couldn't stay away. Prepare to soak and straighten.

2. I hate (no, rather, I loathe) s'mores. After years of avoiding the consumption of them with the same skills with which I avoid adult chicken pox, I gave in tonight. We had company over. What can I say? I toasted the marshmallow (which was truly the size of a football) and ate it between crackers and chocolate. And I'm pretty sure I'd rather serve time than ever do that again. I finished eating the gooey, globby mess and promptly excused myself to "wash my hands."

In reality, I went upstairs and took a shower.

3. I learned a new de-cluttering tactic. Get rid of anything that does not directly add value to your life on a regular basis. Think of how simplified our homes would be? If you haven't loved it in the last month, used it in the last two months, or even THOUGHT about it in the last three months...do you really need it? Really?

Good night, Friends.

To Whom It May Concern

Photo by RowdyKittens

Tomorrow I will write myself a letter.

Well. Not exactly a letter. Not as in, "Dear John" anyway. Tomorrow I will write my goals for the quarter--goals I hope to reach between now and December 31st. (Each of my goals will fall under the headings we've discussed: Spiritual, Financial, Family, Educational, Physical. I will seal them in an envelope and tuck them into my fire safe box. And then I will pull them out and review my progress on December 31st--the night everyone else is just getting started.

Anyone with me?

I find new school years more motivational than new calendar years. Not to mention, if goals are supposed to be achievable, I find it easier to break them into quarter-size pieces instead of yearly initiatives.

Maybe in December when I open the letter I will post a copy here. I know. Now you can barely wait for the holidays.

Knock, Knock. Who's There?

Photo by thepinkpeppercorn

It's time to scrub your pie plates and flex your cookie-making fingers.

We've been talking about goal setting this month (more on that to come this week) and I have a goal for YOU! September 26th is nationally recognized as "Good Neighbor Day."

It's time to plan some great ideas!

The beauty of this relatively obscure holiday is that it combines so many of our initiatives here at HouseHoncho. For one, it enables us to practice our hospitality. For another, we can establish some traditions. For yet more fun, we can set goals of how we're going to appreciate those who live around us.

If you've wanted an excuse to knock on your neighbor's door and deliver that plate of Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti, this is your golden opportunity. (Likewise, if you've wanted an opportunity to toilet paper their tree or criticize their lawn, this is not the date to do it.)

Neighbors are such an important component of our home life. And while air conditioning has replaced the need to sit out on the porch and chat...and while fast food and take-out has replaced the need to borrow a cup of sugar...ignoring the people next door isn't beneficial to anyone.

So let the conversation begin. Let's give each other the nudge we need to meet and greet our neighbors. Ideas? How can we celebrate September 26th?

39 days and counting...

ADDitude

Photo by ADDitudemag.com

I have been bursting at the seams all weekend to share this news!

Our efforts here at HouseHoncho are beginning to pick up steam--no small endeavor for the little website that could! As each week passes, we are hearing more and learning more about how our home management initiative is making a difference in lives around the world.

Most recently, House Honcho was a featured favorite with ADDitude. Here is what was said:

ADDitudemag.com forum member Autumn Night asked, "Wouldn't it be great if there was an ADD List of Weekly Household Chores online? Like, one made up by the ADD experts, simple and not overwhelming?" And Arkypam had just the answer: "There's a new, free website you might want to check out called HouseHoncho.com. Each night (six days a week) they send out a list of cleaning/organizing tasks for the next day. By picking only three tasks, the creator swears your house will change dramatically. Each day she focuses on a different room. No pressure. ONE daily e-mail. She has a good blog, too. I find it's perfect for ADDers."

The editor's response: We just subscribed!

Thank you, Arkypam! And thank you to each one of you who recommends our website! Please continue to let me know what you do to tell our story. I would love to thank you personally.

We have lots of wonderful ideas and plans in the works! And we can say with absolute confidence that home management--as a love and priority--is alive and well.

Keep it simple!

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!

Photo by Cyron

God expects us to do more than the laundry.

God expects us to do our tasks ... for Him.

God calls us to do more than complete the same duties with the same determination that unbelieving friends and family can muster. He wants us to persevere--to work for Him--with a patient confidence that what He says is true and trustworthy. Simply put: everything we do, we must do for Him.

When the tasks are menial and the weeks unending, God's glory seems impossible.

When everything goes wrong and the family is unappreciative, God's glory feels unfeasible.

But thankfully, God doesn't ask us to complete our duties in our own strength. If He did, we would all be in trouble. No, the same God who commands us to work for Him equips us to do so. So from the dirty dishes to the cluttered closets to the dusty decorations--there is no task that is too large for us to complete or too small for God to take interest.

And for our good and His glory, He is right there beside us.

We can do whatever we are supposed to do...for Him.

It's Not Easy Being Green

Photo by Darius Baužys

I'm not sure that a blog is the best place to discuss random thoughts out loud. But alas.

This week I have been giving a lot of thought to a topic that has received little attention here at the Kitchen Table thus far. But it's a topic I am very interested in hearing from people about--and certainly a topic I would like to research further. What is it?

Green cleaning.

What is green cleaning? Basically, it involves house cleaning with products that will harm neither the family nor the environment. Green cleaning takes a step back and evaluates the benefits of cleaning with homemade products or "natural substances" vs. conventional, typically-chemical-laden products.

This topic is really gaining momentum in our green-conscious society, and as a result, there is a plethora of reading material and home resources available. On my to-do list (ding! ding! ding!) is the task of doing some initial research. I wouldn't categorize myself as a green cleaner or as a non-green cleaner.

I sort of use chemicals while throwing in some baking soda for good measure.

One thing I know for sure. Ongoing research shows lots of benefits for green cleaning. This is a trend worth considering. Thoughts?

Cents vs. Sense

I digress from discussing goals to bring you this:

These charts abound on the Internet. Conversations persist about the value of a homemaker. Right now, in India, one particular court case is taking central stage because a man lost his wife to a "road accident" and the government was only willing to compensate equal to the value of beggars, prostitutes, or prisoners--seeing homemakers are considered non-productive workers.

(One need only spend an afternoon at home to recognize that homemakers are anything but non-productive.)

These conversations will exist as long as there are women willing to work from home.

The bottom line...some things can't be measured in dollars...or sense.

Shhhh: I'm Reading

And this book is the reason my post is short tonight...

"Imagine women with masters degrees and PhDs who choose home over career advancement. Imagine wives (and husbands) who reject the false promise of endless paid labor to tend gardens and children and friendships. In a time when Wall Street MBAs-producing nothing of value but rewarded with million-dollar bonuses and blinded by greed-have driven our country to bankruptcy and despair, Shannon Hayes' stories of women and men who choose simplicity, authenticity and community inspire hope. Outside the boxes of both conservatives and liberals, this book is radical thinking at its best. Read it and think."

-John de Graaf, coauthor of Affluenza and director of Take Back Your Time

...More on this later...

ZZZ . . .

Photo by krystian_o

I just crossed off the last item on my to-do list.

Ironic, really. Yesterday I mentioned that I only ever put 10 items on my to-do list. I like to keep it simple like that. Here are the criteria:

1. The task must not involve regular routine. (I don't include getting dressed or drinking Diet Coke.)
2. The task must begin that day. (I keep all of my lists together, by date, so that I can simply add a task to a future day if necessary.)
3. The task must be actionable. (Every task begins with an action word: do, call, make, try...)
4. The task must be measurable. (I avoid tasks like, "Become a better person." Then when? Five minutes ago? Something like, "Spend 10 minutes cleaning the floor" is much clearer.)
5. The task must be important. (You'll never find, "Get the mail," on my list. Ever.)

I sit down every morning and determine my to-do list. I pick the ten things that absolutely must get done. There will always be more to do...always . . . so I narrow down my day's duties to what needs to get done the most. And then, when my list is complete, I allow myself to enjoy what remaining minutes there are before pillowing my head with no regrets . . .

I sleep very well. Speaking of which . . .

Truth, Truth, Dare

Photo by schoolofeverything

Tonight we are going to play a little game of truth or dare.

Only I am going to tell you two truths and give you one dare. Game?

Truth 1: My to-do list is likely shorter than yours. One of you lovely readers sent me a note a few days ago that included these words, "Somehow even writing [items] down doesn't motivate me to start/finish projects."

I love honesty like that. So let's begin the discussion.

To start with, I have established a go-to system. My to-do list is only 10 items long every single day. I'm not sure if it's the OCD inside me or the fact that I've come face to face with what I can handle, but every day I evaluate what 10 items must get done.

Alright. I'll address what's quite possibly running through your minds..."She only has 10 items to do every day?! Where does she live? The SAHARA DESERT?"

No. I just have a very specific set of criteria for what goes on that list. More on that tomorrow.

Truth 2: Did you know that you can make your own microwave popcorn cheaper and healthier than you find in the grocery store? I just learned this today and am bursting (like a little kernel) with excitement. Here's how it's done:

1. Take two small scoops (or hand fulls) of regular popping corn and dump them into a brown paper lunch sack.

2. Fold the bag like you would your child's lunch and place it in the microwave.

3. Using the "popcorn" setting--or perhaps setting the microwave to 2 minutes if your microwave is older than Ghandi--pop the corn until the popping stops.

4. And then your conscience can lead you in the areas of salt and butter.

Now. I dare you to try either of these for yourself.

Hoarders

Photo by fyunkie

I'm fascinated by the show Hoarders on A&E.

I don't currently have access to cable in my home (in fact, the one dysfunctional television we own rarely plays movies anymore). But if I did have access to television, I would watch each and every episode (perhaps two or three times so as to hoard it).

According to the show's site, each 60-minute episode of Hoarders is a fascinating look inside the lives of two different people whose inability to part with their belongings is so out of control that they are on the verge of a personal crisis.

I can't take my eyes off of the screen the same way I can't pull my eyes away from a car accident. It's not delight. It's not judgment. It's not even curiosity.

It's overwhelming sadness.

Matthew 6:19-21 says, Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I love my home. I carefully clean and cultivate, sort and stack, primp and pitch. But it's all a sort of head fake (you know--that move in basketball that prompts the opponent to think you're about to toss the ball in one direction, when in reality you're about to do something totally different).

The truth is this: my home management is less about my house and more about its occupants.

I can't take the pantry with me.

Break It Up

Photo by RowdyKittens

When it comes to setting goals, there's one way to do it right.

Break the goal into manageable steps.

Recently, I had a loyal reader write and tell me that she enjoys House Honcho, yet she finds it difficult to keep up with even three tasks a day. This is not an unusual challenge. For some of us, finding the time to vacuum the floor takes strength akin to swimming the English Channel.

My response: Break the goal into smaller, more attainable steps. If a goal is too hard, chances are, the steps are not small enough.

Work on achieving one more task today than you did yesterday. Don't worry about completing the entire list. Do one more thing. Find creative ways and means to accomplish what you set out to do. Dust while taking a phone call. Involve the family in wiping off the kitchen table. See who can pick up the most toys in a given amount of time. Home management doesn't mean YOU must do everything by yourself.

Today, set out to take one step closer to one of your goals.


BONUS: For those who have asked, here is a recipe for homemade carpet cleaner:

16 ounces of baking soda
10 drops of lemon essential oil
20 drops of lavender essential oil
10 drops of tea tree essential oil

Make sure you blend all of these ingredients well. If the oil isn't properly mixed into the baking soda, it could stain the carpet. Once it is blended thoroughly, sprinkle it over the carpet, leave standing for 15 minutes, and then vacuum. Store the leftover mixture in a sealed container.

And breathe in the scent of clean.

The Ants Went Marching . . .

Photo by Magnus D

There is no better backdrop for a dinner party than the great outdoors.

Earlier this week, I mentioned here on the blog that I invited more people into my home. (For those of you unaware, I recently set as my goal to have 52 people into my home by 7/22/11.)

By the way, I was so proud of this goal that I told my grandma about it on the phone last week, to which she replied, "I used to have 52 or more people into my home on a Sunday afternoon for lunch."

Thank you, Grandma.

Actually, I love my grandma and know that she is absolutely telling the truth! Hospitality is a cakewalk for her--and likely--for many who were homemakers before guests and home-cooked food gave way to Lean Cuisines and social networks of a whole new kind. What I would give for a slice of her ambition when it comes to opening her home...

But back to my measly effort. I invited 5 new people into my home last week. We ate outdoors and talked until the sun sank behind the trees. The topics ranged from sports to history to arts/entertainment to inventions. No joke.

Takeaway: It is best to have the home fully prepared for company the night before the event. You will sleep better and can focus on the last-minute, necessary tasks the day of the occasion.

7 down. 45 to go.

2-Sentence Truth

Photo by Andreas Kollegger

The fastest way to change your life is to change your goals.

Yesterday we began discussing the importance of setting realistic goals, specifically in the following categories: Spiritual, Financial, Family, Educational, Physical.

But before we set out to arrive at the destination of our choosing, we must first discover where we are on the map. Part of setting realistic goals is first coming to a clear understanding of our current condition.

For instance, if I determine to clean the upstairs closet before supper, yet fail to take into consideration that the upstairs closet looks like the scene from the worst kind of horror movie, I will likely fail to achieve my goal.

Homework: For each of the five categories above, write two sentences:

Sentence 1: Where you currently exist.
Sentence 2. Where you'd like to go.

Example: Financial

1. I currently have 100 dollars saved for my child's college fund.
2. I would like to have 1,000 dollars in my child's college fund by next year at this time.

Don't take this time to over-analyze whether or not you should want what you want to achieve. This is you being honest about where you're at and where you really want to be. Perhaps as you do this exercise, you will see that your goal should be a little less ambitious...

But then again...maybe seeing your goal in writing will make you even more determined to work hard.

Goals Are Not Just for Soccer

Photo by grongar

Some things in life are too important to ignore.

On this list of essentials, I include items like love, milk, and goals. (Of course, there are plenty of other necessities--clothing and oxygen, for instance--if you ever want to look people in the eye. But anyway.)

This month I am really excited to begin discussing goals here on the blog. I have found goal setting to be hugely motivational in my home and life. I find--when I lack achievement in general--it can typically be traced back to a distinct lack of proper goal setting.

Additionally, I am contacted by readers who want to know why they cannot accomplish more within their homes. And I have found that the reasons generally boil down to one major theme:

Achievable goals were never made.

I could write pages about this issue, and I will, but not tonight. I am going to take the month of August to talk about what I am learning in the area of goal setting. For me, understanding this concept has been life changing.

For now, I want to invite you to consider the following categories in light of your current goals. Do you have goals in the following areas?

Spiritual
Financial
Family
Educational
Physical

Over the next few weeks, we'll unpack some important facts and tips that will (hopefully) revolutionize the way you plan!