Natural Cleaners

Ever since we found out a few months ago that our eldest son is battling terrible allergies, I have done my best to convert to using natural cleaners in our home.  At first, I thought it was going to be a hassle, but I quickly learned it's actually much more convenient - as long as I have a few basic items that I make sure to keep in stock.  Those items are:

Baking Soda

Vinegar

Ammonia

Lemon juice

Rubbing Alcohol

Dawn dish soap

and

Borax

To make an all-purpose cleaner which I use on tile, appliances, cabinets, etc:

2 TBSP vinegar

1 tsp. Borax

hot water (enough to fill your spray bottle)

a few drops of Dawn dish soap

essential oil (I like lemon scented - you can find this in organic or specialty stores)

For furniture polish:

1 cup olive oil

1/2 cup lemon juice

I know, I know, olive oil wasn't in the basic items list.  But who doesn't have it in the pantry?  You could use any type of oil, really.  Just shake it up in a spray bottle and see how you can make your furniture shine!

For granite countertops:

1/4 cup rubbing alcohol

3 drops Dawn dish soap

1 cup water

essential oil

I was spending around $9 / bottle on granite cleaner before this recipe.  I LOVE how shiny my countertops get when I use this.

Soft Scrub type cleaners (for use on bathtubs, sinks, etc.)

Mix a small amount of baking soda with enough dish soap to make a paste-like substance.  That's it!

Window cleaner:

3 TBSP ammonia

1 TBSP vinegar

enough water to finish filling up your spray bottle

Shake it up and get those windows sparkling!

Another tip - lemon juice is like a natural bleaching substance.  Sprinkle baking soda into ceramic sinks, splash some lemon juice on, then scrub.  The result is a sparkly white that not even Comet can compete against!

The best part about using these natural cleaners is the scent!  Instead of having a home that smells of bleach and chemicals, our clean house smells like lemons and lavender.  Give it a try!  I'd love to hear from you if you decide to make the all-natural switch!

Happy Homemaking!

New Look

Ok peeps - it's done!  For now . . .

I most certainly am NOT going to become a blog designer anytime in the near future.  (Can't you tell?)  However, I am proud of the simple changes I was able to make thanks to Jacinda over at Growing Home.

Her e-book was worth every penny of the $4.99 she charges and I would have paid more!  Her simple, detailed instructions made it so easy for me to create a new banner and learn how to install it on my page.  There is a wealth of other information in the book, I was just so excited to get started that I read the first few pages, then went to work!

If you have been wanting to learn how to update or change the look of your blog without hiring a designer, or spending a fortune on software, Jacinda will walk you through it step-by-step.

I highly recommend you take a look at her precious blog and check into the book yourself!
You can see her post about the e-book here.

Happy Homemaking my friends!

Excuse the Mess!

Work in progress . . .

A new, updated blog look is coming soon.

Please come back to visit me again!

Thanks!

Photo Friday

We had a crazy, busy week.  Thought I would share some photos of the fun stuff!

Grace got a new turtle and named it Emma, after her new BFF.  This happened as a result of a science lesson and is going to be a very long project, indeed!  Mississippi map turtles can live to be 30 years old if cared for properly!  (I guess the key words are "if cared for properly".  We'll see how this goes.)

She also had some fun with drawing this week.  Here is a sketch she made while looking at the packaging from the clementine oranges the kids love to eat so much.  This "cutie" orange is better than anything I could draw!

She's usually the only one who asks (and poses for) photo ops.  This one was taken on a field trip with our homeschool group yesterday.

This next pic is of a book I saw at the Dollar Tree today.  I had to snap a photo because a friend and I were recently talking about the little sing-song voice our parents would use when saying:  "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me".  We decided that really doesn't make any sense because words can sometimes be more painful than anything physical.  I just thought it was funny that someone wrote a book with this title.  And I love the little cover drawing, too!

The kids had fun goofing off today.  The younger two had to really convince big brother to get in the picture.  See him using his fingers to force a smile?  He wasn't feeling the silliness.  He was a good sport anyway, I suppose.

At the end of all our errand-running today, we stopped to get the pups from the groomers.  The boy who never smiles looks pretty happy with these lovable guys in his lap!

It would be really nice if I could say that after a busy week we have a nice, restful weekend planned.  Not so.  Tomorrow is baseball registration, two vet appointments, signing up for cake decorating classes and a long list of household chores.  I'm not complaining, just trying my best to enjoy this busy, busy season of my life.  Maybe Sunday will be a day of rest!

Progress . . . well, just a little

Almost two weeks ago I told you I wanted to make a change with the kiddos bedrooms.  If you missed that post, you can read it here.

Basically, I had this great idea that baby boy's room would become the play / school room and sister's room would be the sleep / relax room.  Two words . . . NOT HAPPENING!

We started moving furniture and trying to figure out what was going to go where and the two children who were all excited at the idea in the beginning, were shouting at one another!  It was, "Don't touch that!  Leave my stuffed animals alone!  You don't know where that goes!" And I don't know what all else.  I could see right away that just because they don't like to sleep by themselves, doesn't mean they want to spend 24 / 7 hanging out in the same room.  So we nixed the idea.

However, baby boy did need a furniture make-over, and some rearranging was definitely in order!

Remember these awfully embarrassing pictures?  Ugh!  Something needed to be done ASAP!

So we took advantage of the crazy Texas weather with the 70 degree temps in January, and hauled it all outside!  I started with his desk / nightstand.  (Which I don't even think I showed you in the before pics?  And oops - I almost forgot to take one once it was outside, hence the one spot of blue paint.  hee hee)

We took all the drawers out of the dresser.

And removed all the hardware.

Hubby was super excited to be helping with the transformation.

Just kidding.  He really did help.  He and my oldest baby (almost 15 y.o. sniff, sniff) carried all of it outside.  Then hubby took care of the hardware for me.  He also saved all of it from the rain when I left it outside to drop some things off at church.  Thanks babe!

I'm pretty happy with the results, but not the pictures.  These were taken after dark and they aren't too great.  But I think the navy color looks sooo nice against the khaki walls.

I love the dark color on the dresser and the new "polished silver" look of the hardware.  (I do NOT love the gargantuan TV!  If we had a game room that would NOT be in his bedroom!)

I forgot the before pic of the lamp, but spray paint does wonders.

Love, love, love that shiny red against the navy!

I said I wanted to stay within a budget of $200.  So far, I've spent $30 on paint and $14 on baskets for books and stuffed animals (I'll show you those later).  So I still have $156 left to spend.  I'm thinking it will go towards a new curtain rod, a set of bookshelves, art for the walls and possibly a closet organizer.

There is still much more to do, but it's coming along.  I'll keep posting as we're progressing.

What have you been up to at your house?  Any big projects that you're plugging away at little by little?  I'd love to hear about them!

Manic Mondays

Mondays have always been one of my favorite days of the week.  I know, most people look forward to Fridays, or the weekend, but I just love a good Monday!  I try my best to make Monday the one day of the week that we

don't

go

anywhere!

The kids and I turn on the music, open the windows, and get busy!

I do laundry.

I sweep.

I mop.

They tidy up the bathrooms.

I get rid of clutter.

I go through stacks and stacks of paperwork.

They dance to the music.  (I dance along with them.)

In other words, we do a bunch of stuff around the house that makes the rest of the week more enjoyable.  I get things in order and clear my head.  I make a list (whether mentally or on paper) of things to get at the grocery store, errands that need to be run throughout the week, doctor appointments that are scheduled, etc.

When all these things are done, I feel like I can really focus on the week ahead and be more efficient in all that needs to be done.  Mondays are a little crazy with all we try to accomplish, but for the most part, we get it all done and set the tone for what we hope is a stress-free week.

So what do your Mondays look like?

A Good Wife

Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.
-- Martin Luther




This morning, just a few hours after giving my husband his good-bye hug, my phone rang.  His voice was on the other end, he just called to say he loved me.


I could have cried.  


That man makes me so happy!  Not because he's perfect, or I'm perfect, or we have a perfect marriage.  But because everyday, through every trial, every frustration, every disappointment for the last 13 years, we have chosen to love each other!  Because of that choice, the love grows deeper and stronger and sweeter.  He is the very best friend I have ever had.


Some women aren't happy unless their husbands put big diamonds on their hands, or buy them fancy houses or cars.  I see women who start arguments with their husbands over why they had to take the trash out, fix the leak, or paint the house themselves.  I hear stories of separations and divorces because couples "just don't love each other" anymore.


What is happening?  The devil thinks he is so clever, that's what.  He disguises himself and prowls around under the veils of pride, envy, greed and so many other ugly things.  We mustn't let him have our families!


I love the quote by Martin Luther.  I love it because it is the heart of what makes a marriage work - taking the focus off of ourselves!  


When we focus on ourselves and our own wants, needs and desires, we create a bitterness in our hearts because of what is not happening.  However, when we look away from ourselves, and we ask 'What can I do for my spouse today that would make him feel loved?' something changes.  We stop thinking about what we want, and we put ourselves to work trying to please the other.  Our thoughts are focused on what they like to eat, drink, or wear.  What would make them feel cozy and relaxed after a long day at work?  Do we need a softer blanket for them near the sofa?  A pair of slippers under the bed?  A warm pot of coffee brewing when they pull into the driveway?  Stop thinking about yourself and think about him!  I don't want your husband to hear:  The kids were cranky and fighting all day and I'm too tired to cook dinner.  The Dr. appointment ran late and we didn't have time to run the errands you asked me to.  What do you mean where are your socks?  Don't you know how to wash and fold?  (That one is for me, ladies, I'm soooo guilty - I HATE matching socks!)


Did you know that if you stop thinking about yourself, a miracle will happen?  (Well, some of you might consider it a miracle, others might already have hubbies who do this).


The miracle is, God will move your husband's heart to begin to think about you!  All of a sudden, whatever your heart desires will be given to you.  He might offer to load the dishwasher, or play with the kids while you soak in a bubble bath.  He might surprise you with flowers, or take you to dinner for no good reason.  He might start giving you unexpected hugs and kisses and telling you that you're the best wife ever. 


Or, he just might call you one day for no reason other than to say, "I love you".  


Only God knows what makes you feel loved and special.  And only God knows what makes your husband feel that way.  Say a prayer today.  Ask Him to guide you.  If you already have a beautiful marriage, this can only make it better.  If you have one that's struggling, get ready for some changes!


I read an amazing book several years ago that completely changed my view about my role as wife and mother.  Because of this woman (and by the grace of God), I finally came to see it as my purpose and ministry!  

If you aren't sure how to become the wife God created you to be, this book will help.  If you are already an amazing wife, but would like to know how to encourage others, Debi offers excellent, Bible-based suggestions.  You can purchase this incredible book through their website: http://shop.nogreaterjoy.org/created-to-be-his-help-meet-book


One of my favorite verses regarding my purpose is Titus 2:3-5  "Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled".  (emphasis mine)


I hope you have a wonderful day of homemaking, my friends!  Make that husband of yours glad to come home!  I have to go now, I hear the dryer.  It's time to match some socks.

Homeschooling Links

So I promised to share some of my favorite homeschooling links, and here they are:

http://amblesideonline.org/   This website is completely FREE and has book lists and curriculum scheduling for Pre-K through 11th grade.  It follows the Charlotte Mason, classical form of education and is an excellent resource!

http://materamabilis.org/ma/  - This is very similar to the Ambleside site, only it is Catholic based.  Wonderful suggestions for curriculum that also follow Charlotte Mason's methods.

http://www.homespellingwords.com/  I just found this one this week and the kids are LOVING their spelling now.  The lists are already created for you.  Mom just sets up students, grade levels, and which list to begin with, and the student is ready to go!  The free program will keep track of tests and let you know how your child is progressing.  I have to drag my kids away for the other subjects!

http://www.worldbook.com/typical-course-of-study?wbredirect=1&Itemid=216  While "typical" course of study is something I try not to worry over, this is a good reference for knowing what your child "should" be learning if you are just starting out.  Or, if you've been at it for awhile, and just want to reassure yourself that you ARE covering the necessary material.

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/  Recommended by a friend, I love this site for Unit Study and lapbooking resources.

Now, for some other really creative homeschooling ideas, I turn to my favorite blogs!

http://storyofmyworl.blogspot.com/

http://heartofthematteronline.com/

http://spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com/

http://www.throwingmarshmallows.com/

Homeschooling takes a LOT of stamina and patience.  Your children are with you 24/7, they are with each other 24/7.  Instead of setting and clearing the table once a day, we do it 3 times!  1 hour of homework help in the evenings is a distant memory.  It takes hours of researching, planning, organizing, teaching, encouraging and grading!  However, it also means we get more time for snuggling with pajama-clad children after a pancake breakfast for reading.  We can stay up until 11 p.m. playing a mean game of Monopoly if we choose.  We can go camping whenever we want.  Learning science happens in the backyard in a REAL garden and NOT just on a worksheet.  And the list of benefits goes on and on.  Everyday isn't perfect, but I hope what I'm doing is making a difference.  I believe it will . . .

Happy Homeschooling!

School is in Session

After a long and joyful holiday season, today we return to "routine".

Breakfast.

Chores.

School.

Lunch.

More School.

More Chores.

I'm simplifying what our day looks like, but I feel so blessed to be able to spend this time with my children and cherish them as they learn and grow into the people God created them to be.  I'm so thankful for the freedom to homeschool!

I'll be sharing links and tips to my favorite blogs and homeschooling sites this week.  So come back and check it out.  If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Happy Homeschooling!

Making a Change

The master shower project is


dragging


on


and


on.


But it's looking good.  The door has been ordered and the finishing touches are coming along.  More pictures to come soon.


For now, I'm planning on buying some paint for another project I decided to start.  Baby boy's room is being transformed into the play/school room.  He and his sister sleep in the same room every night anyway, soooooo his room will become the play / learn / kid space.  Her room will become the sleep / store clothing/extra linens space.  


At least that way maybe I can get all the toys, books, games and puzzles in one room, and the sheets, pillows, sleeping bags and stuffed animals in another room.  I'm hoping this solves my organization dilemma for now.  I'm just grateful they love to be around each other all the time.  Being only 17 months apart, they stick to each other like glue on most days.

Here is what his dysfunctional, disorganized room looks like.  Embarrassing, right?  

I don't know how he can stand to be in there -chaos!

Wow, what's up with all the junk on the night stand?  We're really going to declutter this week!

(And I'm not sure what was wrong with the lighting in this pic?

And how do ya like that unmade bed, huh?)

My kids definitely did not inherit my perfectionism!

The bed, nightstand and dresser will all get a coat of navy blue paint.  The furniture will get rearranged.  The walls will get some new art.  I'm probably going to be on craigslist trying to find something to transform into a desk-type arrangement along the window wall.  And we'll try to do something about the lack of light in this space.  I'm trying to keep the transformation under $200.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Happy Homemaking!

Become a Model

No, not a runway model, or anyone you would find flaunting their "beauty" on a magazine cover.  I'm talking about a model of Christian faith.  A model of courage, hope, and joy.  Did I fool ya?  I hope you'll keep reading anyway.

It's so easy to be a good model of Christianity when everything in our life is going right, isn't it?  Picture this conversation between two friends:

Sally: "My husband got that promotion he's been waiting for, Praise the Lord!"

Sue: "That's wonderful news!  Our prayers are being answered too, thank God.  We got a report back from my mother's doctor.  She is completely healed of cancer!  Can you believe it?  Our Lord is SO good!!"

Of course Sally would probably respond with squeals of delight, they would giggle, hug, maybe cry from the sheer joy of their good fortune.  They would each go their separate ways, spreading the good news to friends and family far and wide and letting everyone know that God DOES perform miracles in this day and age.


And they should, because He most certainly DOES!


But, what if the conversation went a little differently?

What if Sally's husband had just been laid off and they weren't sure what they were going to do about food or the mortgage?  What if, instead of being healed of cancer, Sue's mother had just been diagnosed with it, or with some other serious, incurable illness?

Would you expect the conversation to be filled with squeals and giggles and hugs then?  Of course, there is nothing wrong with feeling sadness, or expressing our pain or grief.  But if we saw things with our Spirit eyes, and not our flesh eyes, we would see that God's good plan for our lives (see Romans 8:28) does not always mean everything is going to go well.  It is through the storms of life that we MUST really cling to Jesus!   If we could only stay filled with "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding" (Phil 4:7) , others might see the light of Christ a little more clearly in us.  They would look at us after the job loss, or during the illness, see us filled with peace and joy, and wonder to themselves 'how do they do that?'  It gives us opportunity to witness, to express to others the deep love our Lord shows us when we open our hearts and allow His healing peace to fill us.

We can only be these models for Christ if we understand and believe that suffering and pain are not because of sin, or because we have fallen out of favor with God.  He allows these things to occur in our lives, but He stands near, waiting to be our comfort and guide when we are filled with fear or despair.

We know this by reading Job 1:8-12, "Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright.  A man who fears God and shuns evil.' "  9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and  his household and everything he has?  You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.  11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."  12  The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."  Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.


Do you see the 3 things that are happening here?

1)  God is pretty much saying Job is a good servant.  One who is blameless and fears the Lord like no one else does.

2) Satan says well of course, that's because he is living the good life.  He's kind of saying ' look, God, you give a guy a large family, prosperity, health and happiness and of course he's going to sing your praises! ' He is challenging God, claiming that if things weren't going so well, Job would curse him.

3) Satan tells God to stretch His hand out and cause destruction in Job's life, AS A TEST, to see if Job will curse God then.  (Do you see that?  Did you read it?)  But God doesn't do it himself.  And while He does give Satan permission to strike, He sets a restriction - Satan is not to "lay a finger on the man himself."

So what does that mean?  GOD IS ALWAYS IN CONTROL!!!  Satan himself cannot do anything without first getting permission from the One who created and loves us with a love so deep we cannot comprehend it.  Did God give Satan permission because of Job's sin?  No,  He said Job was blameless!  Why does God give the permission?  I think the answer to that can only be provided by God himself.  I also think that His answer would be different for each person and each trial.  However, I've come to believe that the why is not important.

What is important is how we face every trial He allows.

If we endure with faith, courage, hope, peace, and joy, then we become models for Him.

We should let 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 be our encouragement.  "For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.  You know how we lived among you for your sake.  You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.  And so you became a model to all the believers . . ."

I want to become a model, how about you?

Get. It. Out!

It's time for some major decluttering, folks!  Hubby and I started 3 days after Christmas by completely cleaning out and organizing the garage.  It felt sooooo good!  Next, I desperately want to clear out my daughter's room, which we just tackled LAST month (you can see the closet re-do here), but there is an area more pressing, more irritating, than even her room.

We have this ginormous closet in our living room (well, it's ginormous to us!) that is just swelling with, for lack of a better word, JUNK!  We have everything in there from old computer cables, to garage sale finds I have yet to transform into beauty, to boxes of I-don't-know-what that I packed up when I thought we were going to sell.  They are labeled, they are just so far back in the closet that I can't get to them to see what they are!

Can you say di.  sgust.  ing?

January always inspires me to get rid of things.  Out with the old, in with the new.  Or maybe, just throw the old out and enjoy the EMPTINESS of the space.  There is a novel idea for ya!  I have this incredible vision in my head of this closet becoming our indoor laundry room.  I'm so grateful for the washer and dryer, and the roof over my head, which are like a wonderful slice of cake compared to what many people have.   But having it indoors, rather than in the garage, would just be icing!  I can just see all the shelving, and the cabinets and the new, painted sheetrock, and the fabulous lighting.  <sigh>

If you aren't already addicted to Pinterest, you're about to be.  Please don't tell your kids, your spouse, or your dog, that you found out about it from me!  They will not like me or think I am a good influence at all. 

So here are some of my (well, not really) ideas for this space:

Who wouldn't want to do laundry in a space like this?  It's all white and bright and airy!

This would add some much needed humor to the mundane task of cleaning all those tighty whities!

I'm pretty sure my closet goes all the way to the exterior side of the house. 

Adding a window would bring sunshine and happiness into the space!

(Well, I can dream about the window making me happy to do laundry, right?)

Not to mention those gorgeous floors!  Have you seen the tile you can buy

that looks like wood flooring? (Sing it like an Opera Star) LOVE!!

Home Depot carries it.  You can check it out here.

Something like this would be simple to do and wouldn't break the bank!

So, there you have it.  Just ONE of my dreams for the new year - an indoor laundry room.  A place where I can find all the missing socks, store all the extra band-aids, and maybe, just maybe, not see any creepy crawlies when I'm in there!  Have you HEARD about the bugs in Texas?  Sheesh!  They're huge!  And they love my warm, dryer-sheet scented garage.  I despise them all!  I could get write a whole other post about hating bugs and all I do around the house to prevent them.  I'll save that for later.

What have you dreamed up for your home this year?  I'd love to hear about it!



Happy New Year!

Ahhh . . .  a new year.  There's just something about it, isn't there?  I don't even know if I can describe the feelings stirring within me when I flip the calendar to January.  I love it.  It's like that one little turning of the page signals the beginning of something great.  A new year means a chance to begin again, to start fresh.  We can once again plan to live our lives with meaning and purpose and ambition!

As is custom, I've made a few resolutions and I'd like to share them with you:

In 2012, I resolve to grow even closer to Jesus - I am looking forward to what He has to teach me, and I am truly enjoying embracing the idea of becoming more "child-like".  Children worry about nothing, and I am grateful that our Lord is constantly reminding me and showing me how His care for me means I have no cares.  I am more important to Him than the birds in the fields and He provides for my every need!  (Luke 12:24)

I will spend more time with other women who share my desire to grow in holiness -  In December I invited a group of women from my church into my home for prayer and fellowship and God really showed up.  We'll meet once a month, and only God knows what is in store for us! 

I will be more devoted in my prayers for others -  In the last few months, God has shown me how powerful intercession can be, and there are no words to describe how He will move if we only ask Him.

I will do my best to stay attentive to my husband and his every need - I will manage his household in a way that will make him proud to call me his wife.  I will not be idle.  I will do my very best to be frugal in managing our finances and keeping our spending well below the means he provides.  I will NOT keep up with the Jones's and I WILL create everything I possibly can with my own hands.  I will sew, cook, garden, and create a home that I pray will exude the peace and love we find in Christ.  (Read Proverbs 31:10-31 for a description of a good wife.)

I will serve my children in every area that is necessary -  I will ask God to help me instill a servant's heart in each of them and together we will continue to answer any call He places in our lives.

I will try my very best to overcome my self-critical nature -  For in my weakness, God's power is made perfect!  (2 Cor. 12:9)

I will BLOG MORE!!  I have always loved writing and strongly believe God has a purpose for me in all this.  I have yet to figure out what that is, so bear with me.  I'm just rambling until He shows me exactly what it is He wants me to share.  I love you all for putting up with me!

I just know that God has wonderful things planned for all of us this year!  I am anxious and excited to watch it all unfold and look forward to sharing every good thing with you.

Here's to another year of Happy Homemaking!