Making Your Home a Haven: Chores

I did pretty well in my planning this week. I worked on it Sunday evening and Monday morning. It was a little more detailed this week since it was the beginning of the month. I really enjoy having my Home Management Binder to keep me organized.

Monica's topic for this week is chores and that is something that I'm adjust in my binder right now. Before Noah arrived I had my Daily Chores (bathrooms, mopping, etc) spread out through the week. Now I'm hoping to plan a cleaning day were I get everything accomplish in one day. I think Friday will work the best that way everything will be clean for the weekend and I can relax. I'm also planning to start using the Flylady's zone cleaning idea to help keep my house a little more organized. I'm still working all this out so I will be back next week with a more detailed post. Have a great weekend everyone!!

Making My Home a Haven: Cared for

Well I once again accomplished all but one item on my to-do lists from yesterday. I sympathize with Monica in understanding why I can't be this organized on any given day. It is so easy for our focus to be drawn away from our home and family into outside things or selfish ambitions. I do believe their is a time and place for others as well as enjoying time to ourselves but they should not come before our ministry in our homes. So with that thought in mind I'm going to start another day with a list in hand and hopefully a heart for my home.

1. Quite time
2. Breakfast
3. Shower and dress
4. Start a load of laundry
5. Get Olivia ready for the day
6. Fold laundry
7. Wash dishes
8. Project for the day (undecided)
9. Lunch with Eric's grandparents
10. Hair appointment for me
11. Doctors appointment for me
12. Deposit at the bank
13. Supper: Leftovers
14. Church service
15. Advent study before bedtime

Making My Home a Haven: Clean

I'm proud to announce that I accomplished all but one item on my list from yesterday!!! It was a rather ambitious list but I work well under pressure. Here are a few pictures of my now TIDY house. :-)

Christmas totes are now in storage.

And all of my Christmas decorations are spread throughout the house!!

Here is my list for today:

1. Bible study time
2. Shower and dress
3. Breakfast
4. Feed and dress Olivia
5. Start a load of laundry
6. Grocery shopping
7. Clean out fridge
8. Wash dish
9. Lunch
10. Check laundry
11. Dust
12. Sweep and mop floors
13. Wrap gifts
14. Go to in-law's for supper (Venison Chili)

Be back tomorrow with an update!!

Making My Home a Haven: Tidy

When I ran across Monica's post this morning at The Homespun Heart I was so excited. I had already decided today would be a de-clutter (tidy) day for me and I had even started a list. We have been on the road this past weekend and my house was in desperate need of a good cleaning. Well after reading her blog post and finishing up my list I started in on all my major messy areas. Here is my list and a few before pictures:

1. Bible study time
2. Breakfast
3. Start a load of laundry
4. Quick clean bathroom
5. Wash dishes
6. Bath and dress Olivia
7. Fold laundry on couch
8. Vacuum bedrooms
9. Re-check out library books online
10. Put laundry in dryer and start another load
11. Run an errand to my moms and visit for awhile
12. Lunch
13. Check laundry
14. Make a menu
15. Make a grocery list
16. Wrap presents sitting in dining room :-)
17. Organize bill payment
18. Take Christmas totes back to storage
19. Prep supper: Poppy Seed Chicken, green beans, corn, and rolls
20. Prep for advent study tonight
    

I will post an update with pictures and what I accomplished tomorrow morning.

WFMW: Carpet Cleaning Tip

If you have kids and carpet than all of you have to deal with spots. One of the best things I have found for getting up stains is Resolve and a toothbrush. Just spray directly on the stained carpet and scrub for a few minutes with the toothbrush. This almost always gets the spot right up especially if you get to it as soon as the spill/spit up happens. This tip keeps me from having to shampoo my carpets several times a year and it has saved our family tons of money.