Dear June: Help Me Protect My Identity!

Photo by Jennie Faber

Dear June,

Do you shop online? And if so, what qualifications do you use in picking the places you feel comfortable?

Mary Kiely, Illinois

Dear Mary Kiely, (If, in fact, you are Mary Kiely and not someone masquerading as such),

I appreciate someone who gets to the point. Thank you for your inquiry.

My husband (who is supposed to be studying Hebrew at the moment) is suddenly very interested in tonight's Dear June column. He chose your question from 17 choices and has this to say:

"Buy gift cards. Use them online. Re-charge them when you've used them up. Then--if for some reason you DO get scammed, it won't be for more than the gift card's value."

To answer your question, I do not shop online very often. But when I do, I limit my shopping experience to stores I know and trust.

Feel special, Mary Kiely. Your question was answered by an entire village.

Be safe.

Take One Down and Pass It Around.

Photo by Dawn Huczek

As far back as I can remember, my parents have entertained in their home.

Growing up, I knew the tell-tale signs that company was on its way.

My mom had a standard "hospitality meal" that she served on Sunday nights after church when company came to the house. (Think sloppy joes, chips, vegetables, pickles, and cookies).

Mom always dabbed a few drops of scented oil on the light bulb ring--which thereafter became known as the "company smell"--and the whole family was given instructions on our roles for the evening.

Some of my clearest and fondest childhood memories resolve around Sunday nights.

Mom and Dad still entertain. And recently, they've added a game to the mix that I want to pass along to you. At some point during the evening, Mom passes a bowl of M&Ms around the circle of guests and instructs everyone to take a small handful. After the bowl has completed the rounds, she explains that each color M&M represents something the guest will have to tell about himself/herself.

For instance:

Blue = favorite book
Red = favorite food
Yellow = favorite hobby
Green = favorite place
Brown = item for which to be thankful

Depending on the number of M&Ms each person took from the bowl, he/she will have to share a corresponding number of answers to the question.

The goal of hospitality is simple. Get to know your guests. And there's no better way than with a bowl of candy . . .

In Print: So Sweet. So Wrong.

Photo of the Pez Museum by katmere

The air is fresh. The sun is shining. The sound of children's voices fills the neighborhood.

How could I bring you anything less than a light-hearted post on a day like this?

From time to time, readers send me this basic question: What is clutter?

And so I respond by providing definitions from friends like Webster or Martha. Or I list the questions we must ask ourselves while poised over the trash can with that beloved--yet unecessary--object in our trembling hands.

But then, every once in awhile, I am gifted with an example of clutter that is so perfect--so precise--that even the folks from the show Hoarders must stand in awe with me, hands over our hearts, voices lowered to mere whispers.

I offer, as exhibit number one, the William and Kate Pez dispensers.

Admittedly, I am a total fan of royalty. I've watched Princess Diana's wedding more times than I've watched my own. And I am waiting eagerly to see if Kate Middleton chooses The Duchess of Teck, the Strathmore, or The Delhi Durbar.

(Crowns, by the way. She's pretty settled on William.)

BUT REALLY? These candy dispensers will soon sell on Ebay and promptly make their way onto shelves in homes around the world. And that, my dear friends, is clutter.

My favorite line from the above article: "The figure of Prince William has a lot more hair than in real life."

Sweet.

When Mimes Go Mad

Photo by zoovroo

It's a good thing Monday is all about the "Junk Drawer," because I am throwing in 3 random items of business tonight.

1. Don't forget to post the House Honcho button on your blog and let me know you did. This weekend I am rolling out a tab with all of the blogs that link to www.househoncho.com. Yours should be included!

2. If you're interested in throwing your name in the hat for a free cookbook, read about The Daniel Fast and let us know how you celebrate spring. (We've had several great ideas shared! Thank you for your participation!)

3. And now for a story.

On Friday night, my husband and I decided to celebrate another week completed. So we went out for Thai food. Sitting at a table next to us was a mother and her three children. (The oldest daughter was in second grade, we would learn.) Imagine our surprise when we watched the mother retrieve the pile of stylish iPod Touches from her purse and distribute them like vitamins. Each member of the family--including the Mama--took an iPod, and a meal of eating with heads bent over electronics ensued.

There was less conversation at that table than exists at a mime competition.

And that is when I made a note to self: No electronics at the dinner table. Ever.

Guest Blogger: The Skinny on Home Management

Emmy and her family

Two years ago, my husband and I owned a large, beautiful, brand-new house.

It had stainless steel appliances and a dining room that was separate from the kitchen. And, even cooler, it had a foyer. I loved that house. Now, though, we rent a smaller, much older home. No dishwasher, no stainless steel, no foyer. Not even a dining room.

Yet we are just as happy and fulfilled now as we were then. It took me losing my large, beautiful house to help me realize that the price, size, or quality of a house is not what makes a home; the quality of the family in that house is what makes a home. And that helped me realize what the true purpose of home management is.

If you believe, as I do, that this life here on earth is only temporary, you come to realize that the real purpose of home management is not making our homes look better than other people’s homes so we can show off or “keep up with the Joneses.” If you are making your home beautiful for these reasons, you’re missing the point.

But if the reason you labor to keep a beautiful, organized home is to be able to better serve and minister to people, then you got it. When this short life is over, it won’t matter how many square feet your house was or how much you paid for your window treatments or designer tile. The legacy you leave with those who remain is what will last. A home is not to be like a museum for people to admire. The purpose of a home is to shelter, comfort, and provide a place of rest for those you love.

Managing our homes and being hospitable is one way we can serve others, and serving others is what life is (or should be) all about.

--Emmy

The Daniel Fast Made Delicious

This book could be yours. Read below.

I love reviewing books.

As an editor, book connoisseur, lover of all things verbum, I am in my happy place when I receive a new book in the mail.

(It's a bit like I imagine people feel when Ed McMahon shows up with a fat check.)

Such was the case last week. I received a book that I'm looking to give away at the end of this post. Read on, my fellow book boosters . . .

The Daniel Fast Made Delicious is a cookbook. But it is so much more than that.

Based on the story and diet of Daniel--discovered in the pages of the Old Testament--this book offers a generous collection of recipes that relies heavily on fruits and vegetables. But the book also lends new insight into the concept of fasting.

Within the 224 glossy pages, you will find easy recipes and spiritual encouragement. In short, the refreshment in the book is for the body and the soul.

Better still (for those of you who would rather take a hit to the jaw than eat a breadstick) many of the 175 recipes are 100 percent gluten- and dairy-free.

Lovely all around. I recommend it like lemonade on a summer day.

Check out the book here.

Respond to this post with 1 way to celebrate spring and 1 lucky winner will be finding a bit of love in the mail box with the arrival of this delightful book. I will draw 1 name on Wednesday at noon.

Happy Friday.

Dear June: Motivate Me!

Photo by i_yudai

Dear June

You are an inspiration to me and I love receiving your daily emails! I just wish I wouldn't procrastinate when I get home from a long day at work and would actually do what you suggest! I'm exhausted by the end of the day and don't have the energy to get much done. I need motivation!!! Any ideas??

Julie

Dear Sweet Clone of Mine,

I hear you. I really do. Notice, I send you the to-do list but not the energy to get it done. What a scam! I should be ashamed.

Yet, I am not.

I, too, work long days and come home with the weight of the day on my shoulders. What I thrive on, specifically, is routine. I do the same thing each day so that I don't start unwinding until my work is finished. When I get home from work, I put on a 60-minute CD (generally an audio book) and I commit to cleaning/sorting/organizing for the length of that CD. When the CD is over, my housework is done.

I focus on the designated room and daily to-do list.

Some days, it's not quite that simple. But most days, I get it done. When I am particularly tired, I put on music--something of the energy-enhancing variety. Music does wonders to the brain.

No matter the length of the cleaning or the time of the day, the bottom line is this. Do your expected, daily task list right away at the same time every day (if possible). The later it's pushed, the harder it becomes. AND set the parameters so that you know when your job is done.

After that . . . the spilled milk will just have to wait.

(Kidding.)

Have a question? Send me a message. I will reply.

Hospitality File: (Bridal) Showers Bring May Flowers

Photo by Trisha: This was the travel table


Photo by Trisha: This was the math table


Photo by Trisha: This was the heritage table

Does anyone say "stoked" anymore? Because I am pretty happy about kicking off this new hospitality file.

According to the dictionary, I am intensely enthusiastic, exhilirated, and excited.

(In short, I am stoked.)

On Saturday I had the opportunity to host a bridal shower for a friend who is getting married in June. I decided to go with the theme: A bride's life in 10 tables.

I rallied a group of girlfriends (who are also friends of the bride) and we each decorated a table or two. The themes were: childhood, heritage, high school, music, college, engagement, favorites, math (she's a math teacher), school spirit, and travel (she loves to travel).

Walking into the room where the shower was held, it was a giant museum of the bride's life. Each table reflected a different facet of her life. (Which, consequently, led to a lovely mixer!)

Here are 2 things I learned through this shower:

1. Pick a posse. Hostessing a shower takes a village. Don't try to do it alone.
2. Write out your minute-by-minute schedule for the day of the event. Less to think about when your knees are knocking.

Welcome to the hospitality files.

Calling All Bloggers! This Post Is for YOU!

Photo by Trisha: our new blog button!

One of the reasons I began this blog is because I love networking with people who love their home as much as I do.

Though I am full of ideas (many of which float like ferrous metals), I am interested in hearing the ideas of home managers around the world. 15 percent of this site's visitors are from countries outside my own.

To you I say, Hej! Bonjour! Salve! Merhaba! Kaixo!

(Okay. So I know of no one who actually speaks Basque, but I couldn't pass up the chance to say Kaixo!)

So tonight I am rolling out my change for April.

On the right-hand column of this blog, you will notice the presence of a new blog button. If you write for/own a blog that includes any of these themes--family, home, parenting, decorating, cooking--I am asking you to consider doing the following:

1. Right-click on the blog button and save it to your computer.
2. Upload the button (as a photo) in the margin/outer column of your blog.
3. Link the photo to this website: www.househoncho.com
4. Let me know via the comments page that you are linking here.

So long as the blog meets the (simple) criteria, I will likewise link to you via a new tab that will go live on April 1.

I hope to organize links by categories so that you--and I--can continue to learn from home managers everywhere. Please consider joining me . . .

Beranduago!

Dear Audience of One

Photo by • Happy Batatinha •

On Friday, we received the child history that we have been waiting for.

The next item we need to cross off our adoption to-do list is a "welcome book" that introduces our little guy to his new home. So, this evening, I sat down like a child in art class, carefully cutting and pasting photos into a book. You'll have to use your imagination for the accompanying illustrations, but here is what the book contains.

It says:

Page 1: Welcome.
Page 2: This is your new house.
Page 3: We will be your mom and dad. (We love you!)
Page 4: This is the kitchen. (We saved a chair for you.)
Page 5: This will be your bedroom.
Page 6: We will read many books.
Page 7: This is the family room. (We can't wait for you to join us!)
Page 8: These will be your grandparents. (They love you!)
Page 9: These are your aunts and uncles. (They love you!)
Page 10: You have lots of cousins! (They love you!)
Page 11: Your cousins will be some of your very best friends!
Page 12: We will do many wonderful things together. (Your dad will help you pick pumpkins.)
Page 13: We will meet many wonderful people! (Your mom will help you make friends.)
Page 14: We will travel to many wonderful places! (Your cousins will teach you fun things!)
Page 15: We will spend time with nice people. (Your grandma and great grandma will kiss you . . . a lot!)
Page 16: We will celebrate many special holidays from the U.S. and Thailand.
Page 17: But best of all . . .

Page 18: We will love you for the rest of our lives.


Friends, I love caring for my home. But I really love that soon enough I will have one more occupant to clean up after . . .

License to Rest

Photo by lakbdesign/fergusandme

"And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested . . ." (Genesis 2:2 ESV)

I love being busy.

In truth, there are days I'd like to jump out a window due to the amount of work I have left to accomplish before bedtime, but mostly, I love being productive. I love to-do lists and projects and deadlines. I thrive on them like bacteria thrives in heat.

Ugly example, perhaps, but so true.

So when I arrive at the verse in my Bible study (like I did this afternoon) where God chose to take a day off from His labor to rest, I feel the force of its conviction right between my eyes.

It is a good thing to set aside a day to rest.

One of the most frequent questions I receive on this blog is, "Why don't you send a to-do list on Sunday? You send one every other day of the week!" And my response?--because we need to learn to slow down. Because we need to carve out time to rest.

I had a roommate in college who insisted on keeping Sundays homework-free. I used to furrow my brow at her while I was running around Sunday night stuffing books into my bag, adding words to my papers, and feverishly reviewing for my tests . . . all while she reflected on and appreciated the important things in her life.

I get it now.

Something will go undusted if we rest on Sunday. But our hearts will thrive . . .

. . . like bacteria thrives in heat.

Always a Lender or a Barrower Be

Photo by juhansonin

So the adage is actually, "Never a lender or a barrower be," but when you hear what my favorite thing is for today's post, you'll be ditching that cliche like last night's chicken bones.

Consider the library.

Now, I understand that you've been to the library. Of course you have, (at least for those obligatory field trips in elementary school). But have you considered the ways you might profit from the library today?

Libraries are about more than dusty non-fiction.

My local library--which impresses me more than the Corn Palace of South Dakota--offers programs such as the Museum Adventure Pass (which offers free admission to participating museums), inter-library loan (which allows patrons to request material from around the state), audio books which can be checked out from a personal computer, and (drum roll) eBooks for eReaders. (I checked out a book for my Nook without leaving my house!)

Do yourself a favor and see what YOUR library offers. You might be surprised!

And don't forget that libraries offer magazines, cookbooks, CDs, and DVDs!

Unless you are my co-worker (who admitted to me today that she ran up a $3,000 library fine when she was in college) you will find that you can enjoy a myriad of entertainment options free of charge.

And just in case you want to know exactly how much you save, click here!

. . . making libraries my favorite things. Happy Friday!

Dear June: My Blinds Are Driving Me Batty

Photo by AngryJulieMonday

Dear June,

You have mentioned a few times now in our daily to-do lists to clean the blinds. My question is, what's the best way to accomplish this task? I about tore my blinds right off the wall trying to clean them the other day. Micro-fiber is one of my best friends but it has not done the trick for these pesky blinds. I also have a steam contraption (which I love and is good for 'green' cleaning might I add) that has a hose with a fluffy attachment on the end specifically for blind cleaning, and all it did was smear the dust around. I'm at a loss, and now my blinds look worse than they did before I tried to clean them! Please help!

M.F., Allen Park, MI


Dear M.F. from Allen Park, (who owns a fluffy attachment!)

The easiest plan is to throw the blinds out each month and buy new ones.

BUT. In case you are not Donald Trump . . .

Cleaning the blinds has been on the e-mail list a few times recently because they collect dirt and dust so easily. Dusting the blinds often is an important key to avoiding the whole take-em-out-back-and-hose-em strategy.

In the event that you cannot dust them as often as you'd like, one idea is taking them down and putting them in the bathtub to soak (being mindful of any non-plastic parts that can't get wet).

Just last week, I hung mine in the shower and used the handheld shower head to gently rinse each layer.

I like to make a solution using a gallon of warm water and a half cup of automatic dishwasher detergent. Once the ingredients dissolve, I dip a cloth (or paint brush) into the mixture and gently clean each blind.

As much as it's disturbing seeing all of that dust attached to the blinds, we can be thankful the blinds are doing their job and keeping that junk out of our lungs!

Happy dusting--

Introducing: Hospitality File

Photo by LifeSupercharger

I almost cried today.

Which, I realize--for some of my friends (particularly those who love Oprah and the Hallmark Channel)--isn't that big of a deal. But understand, I almost sat down in the parking lot and wept like a fool.

The cause? The sun was out, the breeze was blowing, and spring was in the air.

After months of surprise blizzards (and not the kind made with mint and chocolate chip) I am ready for green grass and flowers . . . and outdoor entertainment.

Which leads me to this. After serious contemplation and conversation with some of you who frequent this site, I have decided to swap out Wednesday's "Book of Mom" for a new weekly theme.

Introducing Hospitality File.

Each Wednesday, we'll discuss hospitality ideas: meals, guests, entertainment, and decorating. We'll talk timelines, strategies, timesavers, and conversation starters.

You are invited.

No RSVP needed.

Oh No She Didn't!

Photo by martingreffe

Driving home from work today, I heard this story on the radio and almost crashed my car.

According to sources (including this article in The Harvard Crimson), a Manhattan mother is suing a school for not adequately preparing her daughter for an Ivy League admission.

But get this.

The woman's daughter is only 4 years old.

According to the mad mama, the 4-year-old's $19,000 preschool education (which must have included some serious coloring books and platinum-laced crayons) wasn't fulfilling its promise to prepare its pint-sized pupils for a private school entrance exam. Instead, the mother claims that the children were learning about shapes and colors.

*GASP*

A school spokesperson suggested that the child may be a less-than-adequate test taker. Or perhaps she simply cracked under the pressure.

So many things beg to be said. Such as why a $19,000 preschool education is needed for any child on any planet! What happened to counting jelly beans or writing in flour or . . . simply being a kid? That $19,000 would have bought a lot of flash cards in my day.

Hopefully the child's mother has a fall-back plan. The little girl's best hope at this point may be a good marriage . . .

Spring: Get Fired Up!

Photo by Horia Varlan

I am a plan-aholic. When I was a kid, I used to determine an escape route for ev-er-y-thing. I even selected the two items I would take with me if ever we had a house fire . . .

Sunshine Bear and a book.

Thankfully, I never executed on the plan. And now Sunshine Bear sits on my son's bed, eagerly awaiting his arrival. (Well, perhaps not "eagerly," but the bear is there, nonetheless.)

Which brings me to this:

With the advent of each season, I like to run through the following checklist:

1. Look for water stains throughout the house. (They signals leaks that need attention!)

2. Replace the batteries in important safety devices. (Consider smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, etc.)

3. Review safety plans with the family. (Do your children know what to do in each emergency?)

4. Check walls for cracks. (Don't forget the basement!)

5. Inspect locks on each door and window. (Over time, these can weaken without our noticing.)

And above all, put your two favorite items by the front door just in case . . .

Tyranny of the Urgent

Photo by viviannedraper

During my senior year of high school, I had a teacher who was an overachiever of the good variety. He was the hiker, and his Mount Everest was the topic of time management.

Imagine that: instructing a group of teenagers (who think they have all the time in the world) that time is, in fact, a golden commodity.

Mr. Krueger was a soft-spoken man, yet his words--read from a tiny, yellow booklet that I can still see with clarity--were earsplitting in their importance:

"Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important."

He knew what he was talking about.

Though my to-do list looks nothing like it did all those years ago, the truth remains the same. I have a million things I could do, but only a handful I should do today. There is, perhaps, no greater time to reflect on this than a day in which we are saving time.

Thank you, Mr. Krueger, for taking the trek.

Favorite Things: YOU

Photo by Dimitri N.

Tomorrow marks one year since I started this blog.

305 posts, a million hits, good conversation, and 206 followers on Facebook later . . . and you--the audience--become one of my favorite things.

From my heart: Thank you for reading.

I have big dreams for this little blog. I make zero pretenses that it would be anything without someone following along.

Here is what I know for certain: We have miles to go before we sleep. We have ideas to share, tips to exchange, holidays to celebrate, and families to enjoy. Home management is far from a thing of the past.

It is the greatest job on Earth. I hope you'll continue the journey with me.

Happy anniversary.

Dear June: Vaccines and Friendship Bracelets

Photo by Zouny

Dear June,

Thanks for a great website. I recommend it everywhere I go. It's been a fun adventure to watch it take off! I have a question for you. I have a friend who is always in my face about vaccines. She doesn't believe in them and I do. How can I politely explain that I am doing what I believe is right for us? She is a family friend and not one that I can easily avoid. But she is very bold and abbrasive about her positions."

--M. T., MI

Dear M. T. from Michigan,

Thank you for your kind words about this site. I assure you, it has been as much an adventure for me as anyone else. I anticipate many more years of learning together!

Kudos to you for caring about your friendship. Our paramount responsibility--as you obviously recognize--is not to win debates, but to love our neighbor as ourself. As I have been in similar situations--over a variety of topics--I have found it easiest to clearly communicate that I love my friend and her commitment to doing what she believes is best. Sometimes straightforwardly saying something like, "Let's agree to disagree on this one" is the best road to take. At other times, when conscience dictates that we comment, a response guided by compassion is still the key.

No doubt your friend is passionate about this topic for a specific reason. Giving her a listening ear and asking thoughtful questions will not hurt you--and will, perhaps--find the same response when you are given the opportunity to talk.

We can even discuss the possibility of not giving vaccines to children because we've long forgotten the dangers of contracting the deadly diseases they prevent. Our generation is decades removed from the devastation of childhood death by most of what the vaccines exist to shield us from. For that, we can be thankful.

So much food for thought. Until we find the answers--and even afterward--keep loving your friend!

"Go to Bed!" And Other Useful Strategies

Photo by twob

This Sunday is Daylight Savings, and I admit I would rather go to the dentist than reset my inner clock.

(My apologies if you are a dentist.)

See, adjusting to Daylight Savings isn't as easy as changing the setting on the microwave. It involves re-calibrating the body's internal clock. And that's no small accomplishment. Statistically, more accidents occur on Daylight Savings. Perhaps because--unlike the rest of the year--every. single. person. is . . . tired.

Imagine it. A nation of people propped up on steering wheels by their elbows, slurping coffee and trying to keep their eyes open. Disaster is bound to happen.

Here is my strategy beginning tonight:

Today, tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday: I will go to bed 15 minutes earlier than I did the night before. By the time Sunday morning arrives, I'll be none the wiser.

I plan to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed come Sunday morning. But it will only happen if I plan ahead. And, of course, it wouldn't hurt to avoid all major roads . . .

Go to bed.

When Dolls Need Chaperones

Photo by Peter Becker

Kids need protecting. Few adults would argue otherwise. But here is a threat we may not be taking seriously enough . . .

An article that posted last night on MSNBC suggests that the line of dolls that children play with today (think pixies, fairies, and humanized horses) are a totally different breed than we played with a few decades ago.

And while innovation and improvement is the expectation in the creative industry, the article suggests that some things are better left the way they were. We want kids to grow up, of course, but should their dolls?

One glance at the row of pint-sized princesses at the top of the article gave me enough insight to understand immediately the issues at stake. The row of scantily-dressed, flirtatious, midriff-baring dolls made me wonder why it is such a surprise that our children are 5 going on 25. Is it any wonder that little girls want to dress and act like the toys they own?

Education isn't limited to the classroom.

(The article didn't even have time to address whether or not scantily-dressed, flirtatious, midriff-baring adults were a good idea. I vote, "No.")

The article suggests that provocative dolls belong in the same category as violent video games and PG-13 movies. Parents need to pay attention to the dangers.

Here's a simple litmus test from my perspective:

If your child came to the table dressed/acting like that doll, would you send her back to her room? If so, you might consider swapping out Trampy Tracie for Strawberry Shortcake, Blueberry Muffin, and Orange Blossom.

On Winners and Waiters

Photo by ben.seid.

In true keeping with the random nature of a junk drawer, I have two things to share today.

First, we have a winner in our commenting contest! Thank you to the 32 comments that have been left on the new site! It feels good to be "home" in this new layout. Consider your comments the lavender-scented shelf paper. It's starting to feel much cozier!

Oh yes. The winner. (Listen to me ramble. Yikes!)

On March 1, 2011, Heather said:

I like the new layout--very nice! I'd also love to win the BB&B card. It's such a great place to shop for the home!

I couldn't agree with you more. So a $20 gift card will be mailed to you as soon as you click here and send me the address where you'd like to have it mailed. And to all of you Heather-impersonators, I shall not be fooled.

Finally, to those of you who have graciously asked for an adoption update . . .

One month ago this week, we received notification that our paperwork is completely finished overseas. Our jubilation has been tempered by the fact that it continues to collect dust on a desk somewhere. We haven't seen it yet. Hopefully soon. Next week marks 2 years since we began this journey.

And that's the lid on today's junk drawer--

Guest Blogger: Abbey Medcalf Cooler

Photo of Abbey Medcalf Cooler and her family

I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME!

Read Ecclesiastes 3: 1-11

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens . . . He has made everything beautiful in its time.

When I was in the 3rd grade, I participated in the most important event in my young life, the Mitchell Road Elementary Talent show. I walked up boldly onto the newly waxed, wood stage in my lavender overalls. When I got to the microphone I belted out, “In His time, in His time, He makes all things beautiful in His time!"

I never would have thought that more than twenty years later, I would be using that song as the inspiration for my housekeeping. The song, “In His Time,” is taken from Ecclesiastes 3:11. In the verse we see that God makes all things, our lives, beautiful in His time. We can use this verse as inspiration in making our homes, families, schedules and daily chores beautiful all in the right time.

Just as God is a God of order and time, we as followers of Him, should also be orderly and use our time wisely. Below I have listed the schedule that I use, and I hope that you will find it useful.

Monday: Laundry, Make Grocery List, Clean Kitchen
Tuesday: Dust and Vacuum House, Go grocery shopping
Wednesday: Clean Bathrooms
Thursday: Vacuum and Mop house, Laundry day again
Friday: Dust blinds, baseboards and chairrailing

Do not be intimidated or frustrated by the schedule. It is just a guide, a road map that you can use on your journey to have an orderly home.

Additionally, you can elect for House Honcho's one-email-per-day to-do list of household tasks by clicking here.

--Abbey Medcalf Cooler

biggirlbritches.blogspot.com

Of Birds and Men

Photo by bfick

It's Friday evening, and I'm here with an idea for spring.

I love spring. Specifically, I love open windows and green grass . . . and bird feeders. According to my watch, we're 16 days away. I am going to celebrate March 20th the way baseball fans celebrate opening day.

(If grass skirts were appropriate office attire, I'd consider wearing one.)

Which leads me to this.

I am all about ideas for outdoor entertainment. So here is a centerpiece idea.

Why not fill a bird feeder with M&M's, nuts, candy corn, and other treats? It would make a cute addition to your table or outdoor spring event.

Tip: Make sure the bird feeder is new.

Don't forget to check out the contest. Happy Friday--

Dear June: I can't keep up!

Photo by jbcurio

 

Dear June

I am pretty discouraged about my house. It isn't easy to stay on top of with a house full of kids. What are the ways I can feel like I am making a difference when hourly I want to sit down and cry?
--Mom of 4 under 6

Dear Sister in the Trenches,

Have you ever tried a new exercise regime? Perhaps you threw yourself in whole hog and found out the next day that you hurt in places you can't speak about in public?!

I think juggling a home and children can be a lot like that. You have one child and flex some new muscles to care for your home and child. When your next child is born, you have to work out a new set of muscles.  And so the pattern goes with each new addition.

But you've come to the right place for help! House Honcho was designed to help women just like you improve their homes one step at a time. My advice to you is this:

1.  Have realistic expectations of yourself.  I'm not saying have no expectations.  But accept the fact that you might not be able to clean every room every day.
2.  Read your househoncho e-mails every day!  Try to accomplish one, two, or three tasks from any of the lists.  Start with smaller goals and work your way up as you are able.
3.   Arrange cleaning playdates!  Have a friend who has kids over.  The children will keep each other occupied and you (perhaps along with the help of your friend) can focus on accomplishing those goals from your house honcho task list.  When the kids need attention, your friend is there to help take care of their needs.  Don't forget to return the favor!
4.   Remember that every moment spent with your kids is a precious gift.  It can be easy to think you're robbing Peter to pay Paul with regards to your time, but never begrudge yourself quality time with your children. You are weaving a rich fabric in the lives of your children, and it's a legacy that will be passed down to future generations.

Keep it simple, my friend.


From my home to yours,