I am learning everyday with my young daughters how to a better parent, homemaker and person. I believe in respectful, gentle parenting, being good to the earth, good to yourself, others and family and instilling good values in my child.
Showing posts with label household. Show all posts
Showing posts with label household. Show all posts
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Clutter Free in 2014
I hate clutter, clutter in my home clutters my mind. I don't function well in a cluttered home or environment. My brain doesn't know what to do and I can't seem to keep up on my daily chores when I see clutter through out my home. I neglect my daily cleaning because with too much clutter I don't know where to stop.
With Christmas coming and the onslaught of toys I know will be home soon I wanted to tackle this sooner than later. With 2 kids we are out growing our little home. But alas it is our home and I like it neat and tidy.
I made myself a list of all the rooms and areas I wanted to work on.
I've made some good progress and hope to post some before and afters soon.
I've give lots away, which I think is always a great first step.
Hoping to be clutter free in 2014
Friday, June 10, 2011
Keeping my Home Neat when I can Barely Bend Down
While many people complain how horrible a summer pregnancy is I am finding it very helpful. We spend most days outdoors so my house doesn't get as messy as it does in the winter. Other then this bad heat wave that just passed we spend most of the day outside so Liv's playroom and our living room are fairly neat.
I have also learned to enlist my toddler as momma's helper. I nicely ask her to pick something up and thank her when she helps me out. She usually helps me out. I am lucky to have a toddler that likes things neat and orderly. When something falls she says "Uh oh" and picks it right up for me.
I also have her help put away her own toys. I sing the "clean up" song and we put toys and books away. Things aren't away as neat as I would normally like, but at least they are not on the floor.
Cooking simpler meals helps too, since there are not as many dishes to clean up afterward.
We also do not wear shoes in our home. This cuts down on the need of vacuuming, sweeping and moping.
I also have my husband help out a little more. I am grateful that he doesn't like clutter and a mess and its willing to help out.
My back hurts usually pretty bad after a day of cleaning so I try to mop and vacuum as much as I can in one day so I can relax the next day and recover.
One other thing is I have to lower my standards a little. My house is not as neat and organized as it was pre-pregnancy but I do not let it get in total disarray. That also helps since I don't have to go crazy catching up.
Pregnancy is an amazing thing, but it takes a lot out of you and I've learned to listen to my body and only do so much not to over stress it. The goal is a healthy baby, not a perfect home.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Yard Sale Finds
The whole point of the sewing machine is to help save us money so I didn't want to spend a lot on a work space. I also wanted something small enough that wouldn't take up too much space in our home that is getting more crowded everyday.
I decided that I can find something used and if I need to fix it up. There is so much good quality used furniture out there that just needs some TLC.
It is much more economically sound, and environmentally sound. Cheaper wood furniture is often made of particle board which can emit formaldehyde, a known carcinogenic. It also does not last as long as solid wood. The fact alone of buying new means more trees cut down.
It is not very hard to refinish a good quality piece of wood, the problem is to find one. Well it really isn't too much of problem if you know where to look. People are often too lazy to refinish something, or they just don't know how. So when their table or chairs are starting to look out of date or don't match their new style they often just want to get rid of their old stuff. People put great stuff on craigslist, or in yardsales, sometimes they don't even need any TLC. My mom got a beautiful dining room set off craigslist very cheap and it needed no work at all.
If you are really lucky you can even find stuff on freecycle.
Yard sales are great, especially if you can find town wide ones. That is where I found an old desk, according to the owner it was bought at a garage sale by his parents when he was a child. Its a perfect size for a sewing machine, with great nautical details, dovetail joints and a very solid quality wood. As they say they just don't make them the way they used too.
Another great place to find pieces are during some towns "sparkle days" or week. Many towns will do bulk pick up once a year and you would be surprised what some people are just going to throw out.
There are tons of online resources on how to refinish furniture and with being able to borrow a sander from a friend the cost to us to make my desk beautiful will be minimal.
I am hoping to get started next week so keep an eye out for future posts of the progress of my desk/sewing machine table.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Line Dry
I really find it peaceful and relaxing to be outside hanging my clothes, and taking them down and folding them in the sunlight.
Liv got involved too and collected the clothes pins for me.
Its almost meditative to me.
On top of being relaxing it is very green to line dry your clothes, and economically sound.
Last summer I lined dry as much as I could. We have a pool filter running in the summer, and the AC on and our electric bill did not go up at all.
The average dryer uses 1800-5000 watts! Your fridge probably uses around 725. They do not even make dryers that can be called Energy Efficient since they all are not.
A friend of mine recently posted on facebook "Want a great way to save money, have your dryer break and watch your electric bill cut in half." Those savings can really add up.
Drying in the sun is also so great for your whites, the sun acts as a natural whitener. No need for bleach. (Bleach is so un-green and harmful in many ways)
Line drying is also gentler on your clothes then a dryer and can extend the life of your wardrobe. Fibers break down in the dryer, that is all the lovely lint you see in your lint trap.
I even hang towels, which can get dry and stiff. The best way I have found to avoid this is to not let them over dry, to add vinegar to the rinse cycle (another great use for vinegar) and I sometimes spray them with a light mist of water mixed with some fabric softer. I use this mostly if I need to iron, but usually line drying makes it so I have no need to iron, another energy saver.
We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or sorting the laundry.
E. B. White
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Weekly Rhythm
Monday: Market-this is the day we go to the grocery store
Tuesday:I keep Tuesday pretty open to do other cleaning or to do errands.
Wednesday: Wash-laundry day, changing the linens, and changing the towels in the bathrooms and kitchen (I do that when needed but also atleast once a week on Wednesday)This is also our garbage day. Well the pick up is early in the morning on Thursday so Wednesday we empty all the garbages.
Thursday: Baking day
Friday: Floors-this day I vacuum, mop and do other household cleaning.
Saturday: Fun day
Sunday: Church, relax other fun stuff. We usually have a nice big Sunday dinner.
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