On Vapors and Beatings

Photo by tvol

Tonight my heart is full.

This morning, I learned that a sweet friend passed away after a 3-year battle with cancer. And this evening I attended the wedding rehearsal of a dear cousin who is marrying the widower of a lady who died of cancer almost 2 years ago.

That is the way of life, isn't it? We celebrate the ones we love whether they are coming or going from this earth. And we cherish the memories between the bookends.

So in lieu of any deep thinking--for I am afraid any more thinking would cause my mind to short circuit right now--I would like to share this tip, picked up from a conversation at tonight's dinner table.

From my cousin, Joanne:

If you dye Easter eggs this weekend, consider tucking the egg in a whisk before passing it off to your child to dip in the dyes. Not only is the whisk easier to handle than most cheap kit devices, but the egg can take a bit more of a (should we say it?) . . . beating.

Consider the photo above to see what I mean.

Hold your loved ones close this weekend. Life is a vapor.

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.

Talk Is(n't) Cheap

Photo by Willy D

I have clear memories of my family's first telephone.

(Or at least the first one I can remember after the soup cans and string.)

It was pea green and attached to the wall by a long, spiral bungee cord that threatened to choke you to death if you turned around one too many times. (Consequently, my phone calls were only allowed to be 15 minutes long--so I didn't have the option of death by phone cord.)

One of the benefits of phones today is that you can go anywhere you choose and still stay on the call. You aren't bound (literally or figuratively) by calls in the kitchen where everyone can listen in and pretend they're not. You are FREE!

HONCHO HINT: Here are 5 things you should consider doing next time you're chatting on your cell:

1. Dust.
2. Sort a pile of paper.
3. Clean out a drawer.
4. Put away the dishes.
5. Sort the laundry.

These are "mindless" tasks that will allow you to focus on your conversation while still finding a few "extra" minutes in your day. There are hundreds of tasks just like them!

Warning: If you call me, I may habitually hang up on you after 15 minutes.

My "Soap" Opera

Photo by soapylovedeb

I am a sucker for soap.

Little excites me as much as something that smells like apple, softens my hands, or promises to relax me at the end of a long day. Likewise, I love to give soap as a gift. No doubt I have offended many with repeated gifts of soap. (No! You smell fine! I am giving you this soap because I love you!)

But nothing threatens to clutter my bathroom faster than too many containers of the good stuff. And, because old habits die hard, I never seem to actually finish the fresh pear before moving onto the apple blossom or island mango, which means I am generally left with several half-empty, perfectly good containers that fill the limited space that is supposed to be my sanctuary.

Maybe you aren't addicted to soap the way I am. Maybe you prefer collecting hairbows or towels or make-up. Whatever it is, here are some tips for storing items in a small space.

1. Utilize the back of the bathroom door. Towel hooks are a must.

2. Think vertically. Put up a shelf or two. (Use the shelf to creatively store things you use every day.)

3. Use drawer space like it's the last drop of water. If something doesn't NEED to be stored in your bathroom, (think special occasion make-up or your daughter's holiday headbands), don't give it away. Store those items elsewhere.

4. Cut down on the clutter by hiding small items in baskets or boxes, grouping like items together.

5. Use the space inside the shower to your advantage. While I don't recommend stacking your towels on the shower floor, hanging a sleek over-the-shower-head steel caddy that holds your shampoo is a great use of space.

HONCHO HINT: If you need to tame a collection of hand lotion, consider donating some to the women's bathroom of a place you frequent often. (It's a good idea to ask the janitor first!) Your lotion will be used and your bathroom will be lightened.

Truth or Dare.

Photo by orphanjones

Credit Card Fraud.

We take great pains to prevent it. We don't let our credit cards out of our sight, for instance, and we never respond to those nutsy e-mails that begin, "Dear Madam" and end with, "send me your money."

We know better.

But one of the areas where we sometimes fail to exercise enough caution is in the area of preparing for fraud--as opposed to just trying to prevent it. What we don't like to think about may be the very things that we should consider.

Today's blog post is one giant Honcho Hint.

Consider how much faster it would be--once you realized that your card had been violated--to rush home, pull out a list of numbers, and start making the necessary phone calls? (As opposed to trying to remember what cards you had, what institutions they were associated with, etc.)

Though this is something that requires strategic thought and careful planning, I encourage you to copy your cards, whether on the copy machine or by hand, and hide that information somewhere in your home where no one--including someone who might break in--can find it. Copy down the names of the cards, the emergency phone numbers, and the account information. (Perhaps you can place this in a lock box or that secret room behind the bookcase?)

And whatever you do, don't leave your card in the copy machine.

Killer Confessions.

Photo by nicolasnova

Bacteria.

Often given a bad rap, bacteria is actually neither good nor bad. Certain forms of bacteria are necessary to keep us alive, while other forms are able to kill us in a matter of minutes. (Consequently, there is an entire museum dedicated to bacteria. Thankfully for those who choose to visit, it is located online--no gloves or bubble suits necessary.)

As home managers, it is important to locate/disinfect the places in our homes where bacteria is prone to gather. These areas and items can, unwittingly, cause us adverse health events if left unguarded.

1. Countertops. It's amazing how much we rely on counter space--whether in the kitchen or the bathroom--and, as a result, lots of germs and bacteria pass through on any given day. (Think JFK Airport on Christmas Eve.) We can combat bacteria by keeping our counters disinfected.

2. Cutting boards. It's a good idea to invest in a plastic cutting board that can be cleaned using soap and water. Also, it is critical that we not alternate using the board to cut raw meat and other food during cooking preparation.

3. Sinks. It would make sense--since we wash dirty items in the sink--that our sinks are breeding grounds for the uninvited. Soap and water goes a long way.

4. Sponges. Frankly, I don't use them. They collect and they infiltrate. If you are a fan of the porous cleaning tool, make sure you microwave it to kill any bacteria that might be present.

5. Toothbrushes. Cover them. Don't leave them out on the sink like little people without umbrellas on a rainy day. 'Nuff said.

Bacteria: not fun to talk about, but totally fun to kill.

Take a Hint!

Photo by exfordy

Introducing "Honcho Hints."

So it's time to start a new week, and I am really excited to launch something that I hope will be beneficial to you. As you know, there are a million ways to do everything. Whether you are organizing a cupboard or preparing for a garage sale, there are as many opinions about how to do things right as there are people in the world.

Honcho Hints is a collection of tips and theories that have worked well for us, the HouseHoncho team. They are short "nuggets of home management wisdom" that cover the full range of homemaking topics. From time to time, you will see a Honcho Hint appear in a blog or e-mail. Feel free to try it, ignore it, or even respond to it if you have a better idea.

Today's inaugural Honcho Hint comes from something I have found personally useful when tidying up my home. I love to carry around a trash can with me from room to room, as I am cleaning, so that I can throw items away as soon as I identify them as garbage. (This saves me time and steps.)

Honcho Hint: The larger your garbage can is, the more likely you are to throw things away. If the can is full or overflowing, you won't be as motivated to pitch things. Therefore, when cleaning up a room, start by emptying the trash, (or at least making sure that there is room to add items). Also, the bigger the trash can, the more beneficial to your cleaning routine.