Are We THERE Yet?

I would like to be sitting on this bench, featured in A New York Minute by Raceytay. Lovely!

I am a bit like a child at Christmas when I look at the calendar and think of everything that is going on ...

1. HouseHoncho.com is getting ready to undergo a major (fun!) change. I can't wait for you to see what it is! This afternoon I caught a glimpse of what the final version will look like and almost starting jumping on the couch. Stay tuned ...

2. FREEBIES galore are being given away via the House Honcho Facebook group. So far, I have been able to keep up with a-FREEBIE-a-day and am getting all sorts of ideas about future giveaways. (Speaking of which, I received my free canvas in the mail today and am super excited about it. If you haven't taken advantage of this offer, you really should consider it! Totally worth it, in my opinion.)

3. November is shaping up to be the best month in House Honcho history. I have been talking to home managers all over the Internet, brainstorming holiday traditions and decorations, meals and crafts. I am ridiculously excited about the plethora of projects I am going to introduce. Two weeks and counting, Friends ...

4. For those of you who loved the free journal offered in the Facebook group, you will be pleased to know that I just posted a similar offer--this time for a free photo book!

5. And just because we are having so much fun, here are 20 free 4x6 Kodak prints.

Have I mentioned I am excited?

Out with the Cold. In with the Dew.

Photo by AForestFrolic

In today's Junk Drawer, I bring you 3 exciting, quasi-related things.

1. We have exceeded 500 fans on our Facebook group! Thank you for your support! As promised, I am going to add a tab on this website with all of the Honcho Hints we've collected with each new fan. And I will continue to add a hint or tip for each person who joins the Facebook group.

2. Since announcing that I will be sharing money-saving tips in the Facebook group, I have been inundated with coupons and deals from many of you. Thank you for your feedback! So as to keep it simple (and unique from other money-saving sites), I am going to limit the alerts on the Facebook page to FREEBIES. Last week, we gave away some dog food, spices, and Arby's alerts. This week, look for more FREEBIES.

(Also, I am actively looking for FREEBIES for our international readers!)

3. Finally, I enjoyed the following clip this morning from the Today show. The point I want to draw our attention to is something iVillage Home Decor Contributor, Susanna Salk, said early into the clip:

The stuff that holds your stuff should have personality.

Enjoy.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Happy Monday!

MRS. JONES: is feeling a bit blue.

Photo by normanack

Welcome to Tuesday's "In Print" blog entry.

Keeping up with the Joneses has been the goal of home managers--whether intentionally or not--for decades. Looking to neighbors' and friends' success (or lack thereof) as a personal benchmark is not uncommon to the typical housewife.

Which is why an article in Slate Magazine caught my attention earlier today.

Apparently, one of the new ways people are "keeping up with the Joneses" is by using Facebook to guage the success of others. And, in fact, the article goes on to discuss statistics concerning people who actually "get depressed" over the happy status updates of others.

Whether or not you agree with this article, it provides a lot of food for thought. While I don't necessarily ascribe to everything in the article, I am still thinking about it hours after I read it.

It should go without saying that people aren't only what their Facebook statuses reveal.

Even Mrs. Jones has her days . . .

Life Lessons

Photo by Firing up the quattro

One of the major differences between our society today and society 50 years ago is the way we interact.

Scientists have said that 150 relationships are the most we can truly and cognitively handle at any one time. Yet, I know few people who have more than a handfull of friends.

Oh sure, there's Facebook. (What's your name? Did we go to college together? Oh. Sure. We sat in the lobby of the bank that one afternoon complaining about the clerk. Your daughter's name is Sarah. You don't have a daughter? Well. I'll accept your friend request anyway. Did we attend the same middle school perhaps?)

Like I said, I don't know many people who have more than a handfull of friends. We hold people at arm's length. We're afraid to get invested--knee-deep--into the lives of those who might move away or go through something painful that would require us to emotionally feel around in the dark for what to say or do.

What we fail to understand is the true impact that good relationships have on our homes and our lives. Friends--true friends--offer a type of truth that family and acquaintances aren't always capable or allowed to extend. They hold up a mirror--by what they say and do--that allows us to see an accurate picture of who we are.

Tonight I sat in my living room across from my very dear friend and we talked about life. My dusting went undone and my blog (until now) sat untouched. I still have a pile of work calling my name. But my grandmother would be proud. (Except for the fact that I failed to offer my friend a slice of pie or cup of coffee. Next time, perhaps.)

But I--and my home--come away richer from the experience.

Welcome, Summer!

Photo by nimishgogri

Today is the first day of summer! Break out the lawn chairs and lemonade.

This afternoon a reader wrote and asked for some good outdoor meal ideas for entertaining guests. If you have ideas, feel free to jump on our House Honcho Facebook page and participate in the conversation...

Happy summer!

Sunday at My Place

Photo by lovstromp

HouseHoncho.com is not primarily a religious website.

The Internet is full of blogs and websites dedicated to Biblical and spiritual discussion. This website is dedicated primarily to the improvement of and appreciation for all things home and family. Those of us who gather here--and there are hundreds of us--do so because we are home managers in search of networking and sharing.

However.

Lately, I have been made more aware than ever before that a huge part of home and family--and therefore of me as the person who traditionally blabs on this blog--is a genuine relationship with God and discussion of spiritual things. And while I do not intend to preach--ever--I do think it would be fitting to make Sunday's blog a spiritual one. So.

Announcement 1: Beginning next Sunday, all Sunday blogs will be spiritual in nature. Short and sweet commentary on what I am learning and how it applies to my home. Feel free to do your grocery shopping if you are not interested in reading. It won't hurt my feelings.

Announcement 2: To encourage participation on our new Facebook site, I am going to offer a stimulus plan. Right now there are 31 loyal fans of the site. That isn't even scratching the surface of our readership--which is fine--but I have a feeling a few more of you would make a great addition to upcoming conversations. So. For every person who joins the group this week, (whether or not she is a member of househoncho.com), I will reach into my bag of best-kept secrets and tips and offer one up for consideration. And trust me, I have great ideas and home remedies to share. If only 1 person joins, fine. If 100 join, fine. I will show everyone in the group my gratitude by offering you some of my favorite pieces of home management genius--gathered over years of careful collecting.

Enjoy!

Mr. Watson, Come Here!

Photo by Runder

I think we may have a solution!

I have been listening carefully to your requests for an open forum where home managers everywhere can share ideas and talk about home management in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere. I started the forum, but there were obvious challenges right off the bat. For one, it was difficult to see who said what last. And who wants to scroll through pages of conversations in vain?

But! I think our answer was staring me in the face all along!

We now have a House Honcho facebook group that I intend to monitor carefully. You can find it by going to Facebook and searching under "House Honcho." In a few days, I plan to take down the forum--unless enough of you reach out and ask for it to be kept up. In the meantime, I will be updating the Facebook page almost like a Twitter feed . . . sending out little reminders and fun ideas that I collect along the way.

I have lots to share!

I know many of you are not on Facebook and that is not something to feel bad about. This blog and our daily e-mail will still be the mainstay of our communication. But for those of you interested in networking with other home managers who take their job seriously, please join the group!

Lots of contests and fun conversations await us!

Hope to see you there!

Gift Cards and Plastic Men

Photo by puuikibeach

Thank you for a wonderful week of clever status updates!

This evening I rounded up the full collection--there were hundreds of them!--and had a professional Facebook status competition drawer select from the pile.

And the winner of the Bed Bath & Beyond gift card goes to the author of:

"I wonder if HouseHoncho.com can send me a daily email full of simple, intermediate and challenging ideas for handling her children. I can see it now: 'If you do 3 items—in any combination—you will make a difference in your HOME today.' Oh well, it works for cleaning!"

And just for the record, my response to that question--and several others submitted this week--will be coming shortly! Additionally, updates to the site will be rolled out as well.

Thank you for participating! Look for another contest soon.

Keep it simple!
HouseHoncho

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Photo by Playingwithbrushes

Contest #3 is over tomorrow at noon.

I will have to go back to reading the comics for my morning laughs. I can't say I am looking forward to it. For the record, I plan to continue sharing Facebook status updates--though I will not necessarily dedicate entire posts to them--even after the contest ends. I've received so many updates that I want to share more of my favorites. Keep your eye out for more good times.

Three of my favorite Facebook status updates from today:

1. Had lots of fun house honchoing the office today. I kept repeating, "I am the stash monster"... but I must have overdone it because it turned into the "stache" monster and I was visualizing myself tackling this disorganized dungeon with a moustache on my face. Maybe that's what House Honcho meant in the first place because now it looks nice in here!

2. Househoncho.com is the website to give sanguine homemakers everywhere a simple daily list of housework so we can stay ..... --Oh my, have I got the funniest story to tell you!--Oh. sorry. So we can stay focused to work first THEN play!

3. My in-laws are coming in one week, but since i've been househoncho-ing it up... I AM NOT AFRAID! :)

Thank you for sharing your status updates! They've given me several new ideas to share with you! Now, keep inserting this enthusiasm into your homes!

Say It Loud, Say It . . . Laughing

Photo by Rowena of the Rants

Laughter is a lovely medicine.

Below is one of the Facebook statuses I received in my inbox today:

...was pondering the intrigue surrounding House Honcho's identity...Perhaps instead of a full-time employed woman who loves to manage her home, House Honcho could really be a corporate team of men who don't even do their own laundry??? Or, a well-confirmed bachelor running the blog from his ...parent's basement??? Hmmm.......what do we really know about House Honcho?!

Here are five things you should know about me:

1. I wear my grandmother's apron when I'm working in the kitchen.
2. I listen to Frank Sinatra while I dust.
3. Everyone in my home is female--except for my husband.
4. I dress up before I write my blog. (Don't ask. I don't have an answer.)
5. Green is my favorite color. Two months ago it was red. (I still love red shoes.)

I can assure you of two things: I am not a group of men, and I am not a bachelor. But I do get help with my laundry.

Keep it simple!

Look Again

Photo by itchys

Here are today's funniest statuses from some of our expert organizers:

1. –^v–^v–^v–^v-________ Bored to death? You haven't checked out HouseHoncho.com

2. ... dreams of a better world, where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned, and where everyone uses HouseHoncho.com!

3. ... suggests keeping several get well cards on your mantel. If unexpected guests arrive, they'll think you've been sick and unable to clean. OR you can use HouseHoncho.com

4. Dear HouseHoncho.com, the FOLD cycle on the clothes dryer isn't working.

5. It must be Wednesday. I can hear the messies in my kitchen quaking with fear. (househoncho.com)


Thanks for the laughs. I'm surprised my neighbors haven't pounded on my front door and told me to quiet down. I have about 50 other messages I could share, but won't. Come back tomorrow for more!

Say It Out Loud

Photo by Saucy Salad

I haven't had this much fun since my parents replaced our record collection with cassettes.

My favorite FB statuses (stati?) sent in today:

1. It's going to be a busy week, so I am delegating the house honchoing to my 2 yr old. By next Monday I'll most likely sitting @ the desk buried under a mountain of the random household items she gathers, eating graham crackers and drinking out of a sippy cup.

2. ...thinks the House Honcho site helps you enjoy managing your home so you can manage to enjoy your home!

3. ...Househoncho.com...where I go when I don't wanna do housework.

4. House Honcho (website--check it out) breaks down your household chores for the week so that you don't break down by the end of the week!

5. Dusting Rag = $2.00 Laundry Detergent = $6.00 Broom and Dustpan = $9.00 Organized Home = Priceless... There are somethings money can help you with cleaning, for everything else there is househoncho.com.

6. ...happily hails House Honcho as the happenin' helper for her home!

Reader Updates

Photo by Orin Zebest

HouseHoncho: is sharing Facebook status updates

Today kicked off the first full day of our "Say It with Sass" Facebook status competition. Here are 4 of my favorite status updates--sent it by our readers.

1. scratch here ▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒ to reveal today’s hint from HouseHoncho.com

2. has been trained by HouseHoncho.com to be organized and is therefore putting her thoughts in alphabetical order.

3. *House* = a building in which people live; residence for human beings. *Honcho* = One who is in charge; a manager or leader . . . HouseHoncho.com = a fabulous blog that assists home managers in making a house a home.

4. is laughing at the irony of Saturday's being "basement/laundry room day" on House Honcho...and the time we spent hanging out in the laundry room Saturday late night during the storms. Good thing I had gotten a few things done on the list!

Looking forward to reading more of your creative posts! Thank you for spreading the word about our quickly-growing site!

Say It with Sass!

Photo by modomatic

CONTEST #3

Let's mix things up a bit here on the blog with contest #3.

Contest #3 is called, "Say It with Sass!" (My own play on "Say It with Class.")

Here is how you get your name in the hat.

Update your personal Facebook account with a creative message about HouseHoncho.com. Do it once or do it every day--it doesn't matter! Each update is worth one entry into the contest. Send me your status updates, and I will share them with our readers so we can all enjoy your creativity.

To thank you, I will add your name to the hat in which one lucky winner will receive a $20 giftcard to Bed Bath & Beyond.

The contest begins now and will end this Saturday at noon.

Let the creative juices flow!