Homemaking Mondays

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Things that make me happy:  

my Christmas tree makes me at peace

Book I'm reading:
not really


What's on my TV today:  

House & Hart of Dixie

On the menu for dinner:
Depends on how I feel during the week


On my To Do List:

rest

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:

In the craft basket:

A Christmas gift 
a Christmas centerpiece


Looking forward to this week:
getting better


Tips and Tricks:
I don't have one but I will ask one. What is your suggestion on protecting your dining room table?


My favorite blog post this week: 
http://ramblingsofamarinewife.blogspot.com/2011/11/toys-for-tots.html

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
I haven't found anything new.


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
People make their own decisions on whether to be part of an active family if they distance themselves from you its their loss.


Also keep your hands to yourself or a cup of hot chocolate can cover your daughters brand new American Girl Doll and her dressed in their Christmas duds.


On my mind:
Just wanting to feel better


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Thought of the Day from Tonya

The first duty of love is to listen ~ Paul Tillich

When we finally find time to look in the mirror, we generally do not like what we see but we cannot blame the mirror. We need to spend more time judging ourselves so that others do not find it available to judge up, we tend to leave the door open for that. However, in judging ourselves it does not mean we have to self-defeat. In Matthew 5:29-30 it says,²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. In order to cast our sins out we must directly at ourselves.

In Proverbs 12:15 it says, ¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise. There are too many of us relying on our desires and not our needs. We simply confuse the two and make it one definition. We need to understand that a desire is something we want or long for while a need is something required. There are times where our desire and our need are the same thing. For example, when you desire food because your stomach is growling you have a need/requirement to eat so that your body can sustain and maintain its duty. In most instances though we transpose our desire and make it a need. When we do this, we are not listening to ourselves (that's the first sign of a fool). If we cannot discern the difference between our desires and our needs how can we express them to the people that matter the most? We cannot explain what we do not understand. In Proverbs 18:2 it says, ² A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.  

In Matthew 22:39 it says, . ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’^[a] How can you love your neighbor as yourself when you do not love yourself enough to listen for your own sake? Although the world may be filled with sadness, disdain, and evil, not everyone and everything is evil. Psalm 34:7 clearly states that,  ⁷ The angel^[a] of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Maybe, just maybe, God sends Angels to help us deliver / show us the mirror/ or simply see ourselves for who we really are. God always speaks to us, but unfortunately, and I can attest to this, we do not always listen. The first duty of love is to listen, are you listening, are you loving? Look in the mirror and answer that question. Lord give me strength and courage to look at my soul in your mirror of truth! 

Homemaking Mondays

The weather in my neck of the woods:
We had some rain late last week which brought in a blistery cold front. Its getting a little warmer with the highs in the 60's. Today it might even reach 70! Sounds like a great day for the park!

Things that make me happy:
My children make me happy this week. I got a night out with my husband and I come home refreshed they both did well at their different babysitters and they make me proud they missed me and I missed them!

Book I'm reading:
Nothing right now

What's on my TV today:
House and Castle

On the menu for dinner:
Chicken and Mac & Cheese

On my To Do List:
Laundry
Make phone calls

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
I haven't gotten to try the Carrabba's Chicken Marsala at home yet.

In the "craft" basket:
I've been speaking to an online friend about an upcoming digital project
I want to do a scrapbook page about my sons attachment to my hair
Fleece no sew blankets for the kids

Looking forward to this week:
Thanksgiving
Putting up Christmas Decorations

Tips and Tricks:
Off of Martha Stewart
Create a Smart Calendar for the Year
Make a monthly calendar that is as changeable as your schedule. Instead of crossing out plans as dates shift, just move the notes and stack them up on busy days.
Calendar How To

Collect for Charity
Take advantage of all of that extra time spent indoors this season -- winter is a perfect time to tackle larger organizing projects. Clearing the clutter and bringing order to every room will reap benefits for the entire year.

This is the season for giving. And since it's cold outside, why not host your own drive for coats, sweaters, and other warm clothes? Set out a labeled collection basket and ask friends and relatives to bring an item to donate when they visit. Check that the clothes are clean and in good condition, then give them to a shelter or other charity.

Organize Your Medicine Cabinet
Discard expired cosmetics and prescription medicines. Affix a sheet of precut galvanized steel to the interior of your medicine cabinet with construction adhesive. Magnetic hooks can hold scissors and a mirror, and small plastic cups with magnetic bottoms corral small necessities, such as rubber bands and hair clips.

Bring Order to the Hall Closet
Take storage to new levels with shelves below a row of jackets. Install shelves near the base of your closet, and you'll no longer have to rifle through items strewn across the floor. Here, each family member has his or her own bin for hats and scarves.

The lower shelf is lined with shoes, and boxes tucked underneath hold dog toys, tennis balls, and the like. Leave a foot of space between shelves and the door frame, and you'll have room for boots and a metal bucket for umbrellas. Long hooks keep handbags neat. An acrylic organizer on the door ensures essentials, such as a wallet and sunglasses, are accessible; a mirror allows for a final once-over on the way out.

Upgrade Your Shelves
Add a splash of personality to a lackluster work space by covering plain floating bookshelves with wallpaper. Measure the shelf, and cut the wallpaper slightly longer and wide enough to wrap around it with an overlap. Use wallpaper paste to affix the wallpaper to the shelf, pasting one side at a time. Cut slits into excess paper at ends, forming flaps; fold down, and affix with paste. Let dry completely, and hang shelves as usual.

Never Forget a Birthday This Year
If the cards you buy tend to be of the belated variety, this calendar will serve you well. Print the template. Then fill in names and birth dates of friends and family for each month. Fold the chart in half to show six months at once, and pin it to a bulletin board or hang it on the refrigerator. You can even shrink it and slip it into an address book. With a glance, you'll be reminded of important dates ahead of time
Download Our Birthday Chart

Organize Your Shoes
Normally used in kitchens, a pull-out pantry becomes a shoe closet when the shelves are installed at an angle; professional assistance is recommended for this project. Nonskid shelf liners prevent pairs from sliding when the unit moves

Stock Your Spice Rack
To add flavor and kick to your winter dishes, keep an arsenal of spies and herbs in your kitchen. Stock these essentials, and you'll never come up empty-handed when following a recipe.
Get the Printable Check List

Create a Car Kit
Stock your car's trunk for winter-weather emergencies. Include a compact shovel, ice scraper, flashlight, sand or cat litter, flares, a heavy blanket, and warm clothing.

Detangle Jewelry
Four divided trays, painted orange, become a layered jewelry organizer. Two trays lie flat along the drawer bottom. The remaining two, joined with wood glue, form the top shelf, elevated by strips of 1-inch square molding affixed to the inner sides of the drawer.

Craft Some Stylish Storage Pouches
Whether you're packing a suitcase or storing items at home, these drawstring pouches are handy to have around. Made in a range of sizes, they are perfect for stowing jewelry, shoes, and even laundry.
[url=Drawstring Pouch How To]http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/drawstring-pouches[/url]

Color Code Your Home
A home color-coding system can bring order to your living space wordlessly, providing information at a glance without a miscellany of labels. Put hues to work, whether you are organizing papers, preparing food, or outfitting your entryway. With these bright additions, your living space will be far from drab -- and far easier to manage.
color code how to

Organize Kitchen Drawers
Clever ideas, practical storage, unusual solutions -- Martha shares her secrets for creating a kitchen that works.
See Martha's Organizing Tips

Hang Cleaning Tools
Wall hooks keep an assortment of brooms and mops off the floor.

Make a Stain Treatment Kit
Keep a variety of remedies at the ready: cornstarch, to absorb fresh grease stains; oil solvents, or dry-cleaning fluids, for greasy residue; combination solvents and a mild, clear dishwashing liquid for all-purpose stain removal; natural bleaching agents (lemon juice and white vinegar); glycerin, for ballpoint ink; and eyedroppers and cotton swabs, for easy application.

Keep Traction on Hand
Spread gritty alfalfa meal -- available from feed stores -- on slippery paths to provide traction on ice and snow. In spring, the alfalfa serves as a nitrogen fertilizer for surrounding greenery.

Organize and Display Photos
Why should your favorite snapshots linger in a drawer? Pull them out and create a display using colorful, inexpensive mats.
The Skinny on Photo Mats

Organize Computer Passwords
It's hard to keep all of those numbers and characters straight, especially since you shouldn't use the same password for more than one service. Find out simple ways to keep everything straight.
Password Storage How To

Consolidate Electronics
There are clever and stylish ways to conceal the necessary electronics of this modern age, without resorting to a haphazard arrangement stuck away in some inaccessible closet.
Hidden Assets

Buy and Keep Bulk Items Neatly
Do you have room for two dozen rolls of paper towels? Here are tips for getting good deals, as well as for stashing your purchases -- all you need to be a savvy and satisfied bulk buyer.
Tips for Buying and Storing Bulk Items

My favorite blog post this week:
Miracle MRI Recap. Ty is in Remission!
Amazing kid and amazing parents!

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
http://helena-alabama.blogspot.com/


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
Dating your spouse when you get married is very important. I knew this and tried to practice it with my first marriage. My husband and I don't get a lot of time to date. Sometimes we will tuck the kids in bed and leave them at home with their adult brother (he doesn't mind so much) and we take off for about 30 minutes. But twice this year we have actually go to go out with a real time constraint. I love how my hubby can get back to basics and reconnect on a raw level.


On my mind:
My bank account (someone took our money)
Getting a couch and getting the table repaired.
The Holidays

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." Psalms 18-2.

Homemaking Mondays

The weather in my neck of the woods:
beautiful outside 73 degree's low of 48


Things that make me happy: 
William saying no


Book I'm reading:
nothing... waiting on Vampire Diaries


What's on my TV today: 
I missed Pan Am, Tonight is House and Castle

On the menu for dinner:
We call it Dinner in a Box


On my To Do List:
Laundry, A school project, mailing off packages


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:



In the craft basket:
I just put up a new Tag offer on Little Monster Designs. I have other tags I need to put up for LMD and I have Skylar's school project and my school project

Looking forward to this week:
Veterans Day 


Tips and Tricks:
Christmas Photo Tips 

My favorite blog post this week: 
Good Bye Curly http://trooppetrie.blogspot.com/2011/10/good-bye-curly.html

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
http://ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com/


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):


Enlarge this image Click to see fullsize





Lesson learned the past few days:
?


On my mind:
Rick's surgery tomorrow


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
“[For] it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 (NIV 1984)

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:
We have Fall so far only in the AM haha. Nah I am kidding we have a low of around 41 and a high of 75 degrees. Partly Cloudy. Its crisp like Fall and a nice breeze no humidity. I love Fall.


Things that make me happy:
Today is Gene Simmons Family Jewels. Its also the cutest thing to see William hold a picture of his big brother as a baby and say Baby and kiss it lol


Book I'm reading:
nothing... waiting on Vampire Diaries



What's on my TV today:
I missed Pan Am, Tonight is House and Castle

On the menu for dinner:
We call it Dinner in a Box


On my To Do List:
Clean up
I need to go to Walmart for a new Table Cloth and some Ribbon
I need to go to Publix for Coca Cola :)


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Cannoli French Toast http://noblepig.com/2010/10/10/cannoli-french-toast.aspx


In the craft basket:
What's NOT! LOL

Looking forward to this week:
Time with Alex, Girl Scouts, Halloween Parties, Gymnastics, Dr Stienner appointment, and Green Mountain for Family photos.


Tips and Tricks:
A Life without Sleeping Pills – Ending the Cycle of Insomnia
Another sleepless night. We’ve all been there at one point or another watching the clock roll past midnight, one a.m., two a.m., and perhaps even seeing dawn before finally drifting off.

Insomnia typically strikes when we’re feeling particularly stressed or anxious about events in our lives, but for nearly 10 to 15% of the American population bouts of insomnia can last more than six agonizing weeks. It's no wonder we have a hard time falling asleep, with the constant worry of issues such as the economy, or juggling the responsibilities of our daily lives as well as the inundation and constant stimulation of our minds from television and the general noise of the outside world. Our hectic schedules cause an array of stress responses in our bodies; such as elevated alertness, increased heartbeat, and breathing rates, all of which cause a loss of sleep.

Traditional medicine offers the sleeping pill as a solution. It’s astounding to think that nearly 42 million sleeping pill prescriptions were handed out last year alone. While effective in the short term, these pills do not treat the root causes of insomnia and instead only temporarily mask symptoms. The end result? Those who take sleeping pills build up a tolerance and dependence over time. They need more pills in order to get much needed sleep, and once they stop taking pills will typically suffer from rebound insomnia along with drug withdrawal symptoms such as nausea and headaches. Furthermore, sleeping pills are not without side effects - they cause a general lack of clarity, drowsiness the day after, confusion, and an increase in forgetfulness.

Resting easy can be as simple as making some adjustments to our daily lives and incorporating some restful periods into our ever-busy schedules. Toning down the pace of our life, at least long enough to allow our bodies to feel tired and drift off to sleep, is the key to curing insomnia.

Early to Bed - From a scientific standpoint, our body's Circadian rhythms are very definite about when it's bedtime and time to get up. Operating outside of these normal hours will cause problems such as fatigue, malaise, and sleepless nights. We are naturally “set” to awaken each morning around 5:00 a.m. (with the rising of the sun), and so in pushing the envelope to watch the late show or get that last chore completed before going to bed, we're disturbing the natural rhythm. Most experts agree lights out should be around 10:00 p.m. In order to ensure proper rest and wakeful periods.

Ritual and Routine - Just as our children respond well to a bedtime ritual such as bath time followed by story and lights out, so too do adults. The reasons for this are many. First and foremost, having a nightly routine will train your body to feel sleepy when it's supposed to. Secondly, the process of getting ready for bed in the same manner each night will serve to distance bed time from your hectic day. The routine will be calming by nature, and with the addition of sitting quietly with a warm cup of herbal tea, or having a long, quiet bath to soothe frazzled nerves, your body will unwind and be ready for sleep.

Write and Read - Quite often sleepless nights are caused by the thoughts and worries that swim around in your head that you simply cannot let go of. As you lay in total darkness, feeling exhausted but unable to stop thinking about a problem or replaying the day, it becomes increasingly more difficult to drift off. To that end, writing in a journal every evening will help purge your mind of worrisome thoughts and allow your mind to relax. Reading also helps to quiet the mind by giving it focus and allowing your imagination to become engrossed in your reading. This will help unify your thoughts and at the same time naturally release any worries.

Teas and Herbal Supplements – The simple of act of drinking warm tea has a calming and soothing effect for many people. In addition, there are many herbal teas that have sedative properties. Lavender, valerian, and chamomile are especially recommended for their calming and sleep-inducing nature, as is catnip and lemon balm. Herbal teas such as those made with skullcap and passionflower help dispel anxieties, and St. John’s Wort is said to promote deep sleep. Drinking a warm beverage, such as these herbal teas can become part of your bedtime ritual, as well as offering these sedative qualities. Ordinarily, they do not cause the negative side effects of sleeping pills, nor do they create the same level of dependency or tolerance.

Exercise Regularly - Regular exercise of any sort during the day improves the quality of sleep by relaxing muscles and inducing a natural feeling of drowsiness. Yoga is an excellent choice to help with insomnia because performing the correct poses, breathing techniques and relaxation practices actually prepares the body for sleep. If your insomnia is stress-related, yoga provides physical and mental relaxation. Hatha Yoga poses can be divided between those that give energy and those that relax. Soothing poses influence the nervous system so that it responds with calm. Yoga relaxation incorporates breathing, visualization, and slow, deep stretching movements.


My favorite blog post this week:
Its only Monday!

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
http://apronstringsandholythings.blogspot.com/


No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
I need to make more effort with meal planning


On my mind:
Alex's visit


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
None this week I downloaded yesterdays Sermon so I could listen to it.http://familycorner.blogspot.com/

Happy Homemaker Monday March 14, 2011

The weather in my neck of the woods:

Light Rain	T-Storms	Partly Cloudy	Partly Cloudy
61°F

Things that make me happy: 
Peaceful Children


Book I'm reading:
Rick bought me a book that Ellen wrote. I ordered Confessions of a Military Wife by Comedian and Marine Wife Mollie Gross so that will be coming shortly with a sticker and her CD. I got it from MollieGross.com

What's on my TV today: 
The Finale to the Bachelor... I don't know who he is going to choose! I can see him with either of those ladies honestly! I am wondering what the drama is though!

On the menu for dinner:
Fajita's

On my To Do List:
More Laundry, Organize Bedroom, William's closet, my closet, Down stairs movies/games/books etc. I would love to do flower beds but I don't know how! HELP!

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
See my Tempt My Tummy Tuesday tomorrow its a Chicken Recipe my friend Kristin gave me

In the craft basket:

Working on Baby Layette's with Steph Designs! I need to fix my ACU purse, Hem (or replace) a pair of PJ bottoms I can't live without, Hem a baby sleeper sleeve... it can't be that hard! 

Looking forward to this week:
surviving!


Tips and Tricks:
This looks pretty awesome http://store.thecouponizer.com/organizers-c2.aspx



My favorite blog post this week: 
http://punkrockerbyebaby.blogspot.com/

Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
http://mymilitarylife.com/2010/07/09/book-reviewconfessions-of-a-military-wife/

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
Please don't build Nuclear plants in an Earthquake zone... 
“We idolize celebrities, we idolize professional athletes, we idolize millionaires, we idolize all the wrong people. The people who have started these organizations…they are the model Americans.” Dani Johnson

On my mind:
In my world in this house I feel like I stand alone on a certain issue. My husband doesn't want me to talk about it and I don't know what to do anymore. I just feel hopeless about it. Its hard for me to not be able to talk about something, spill it in my blog (after all that's how we met... irony much? He doesn't even read my blog anymore) I was watching the Secret Millionaire episode this morning and Special Spaces I wish I could things like that remarkable and amazing... I am thinking of my friend that has become a new Mommy. Another acquaintance that I struggle with a lot that I just want to say WWYD? WWJD? I missed church this week due to the irresponsibility of my Step son and it made me VERY angry.

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7