Beautiful Homemakers

  Last year I read a very interesting book by Cassandra Aarssen called The Clutter Connection, How Your Personality Type Determines Why You Organize the Way You Do (affiliated link). The first time I took her test was on her website, Clutterbug.me , I came out as a “Butterfly.”  But when I read her mini online book detailing the four different organizing styles that are based on your personality, I thought I was a Bee who coveted being a Cricket!  (See her website for a quick explanation of the four Clutter Bugs.) I bought this book since it goes into depth on the four areas, with color pictures, and I wanted to know more.  I was skeptical of her test and felt that the questions weren’t clear enough, so I took the test in the book several times on different days, and again after reading each of the four sections of her book. I felt that on many of the questions I could answer “Yes” to 3 out of the 4 scenari...

Last year I read a very interesting book by Cassandra Aarssen called The Clutter Connection, How Your Personality Type Determines Why You Organize the Way You Do. The first time I took her test was on her website, Clutterbug.me , I came out as a “Butterfly.”  But when I read her mini online book detailing the four different organizing styles that are based on your personality, I thought I was a Bee who coveted being a Cricket!  (See her website for a quick explanation of the four Clutter Bugs.) I bought this book since it goes into depth on the four areas, with color pictures, and I wanted to know more.  I was skeptical of her test and felt that the questions weren’t clear enough, so I took the test several times on different days, and again after reading each of the four sections of her book. I felt that on many of the questions I could answer “Yes” to 3 out of the 4 scenarios.  So one time I did this on all the questions, and then added up m...

This is Part 4 of “Organized Women Do THIS for Christmas!” Eloise Wilkin, Illustrator When I worked outside the home I was always sick either right before Christmas or right afterwards, and I know it was the stress.  But many times our children or husband brings home a cold or the stomach flu, and sometimes we just pick up something while out grocery shopping. In 2018 we had a fever and chills run through the family, and I was in bed on December 21 and 22.  Yet that was my first completely stress-free Christmas because I was DONE.  Everything on my list had been accomplished, so it was no big deal to just lie in bed until I felt better.  Within 24 hours I was fine. (See post From Christmas Chaos to Christmas Calm .) Now I am not a doctor, and some of these are only folk remedies, but this is what I do to prepare for colds and flu, because once you are sick, it is too late to run to the store! I make sure that these 3 things are done year round:...

Easter Sunday by A. Sarnoff God has given women a natural nesting instinct, and the number one item for April is always Spring Cleaning (unless you are in Australia, and then it is autumn cleaning). We all get this innate urge two to four times a year. It can be a little freshening such as washing curtains, or it can be a complete room by room cleaning. I’ve written the ultimate A Welcome Home Checklist , and you can access it here . The second big TO DO in April is to prepare your heart and home for Easter. Sometimes it occurs in March and so I began a list of tips in last month’s post here . I talked about cookies, books, crafts, treasure hunts, decorating, and devotionals. I’ve got just a little more to add. A great way to make Easter a special holyday for your family and friends is by using the Hymns for a Kid’s Heart (affiliated link). Volume 4 focuses on Easter. It makes a great countdown devotional. The book is fantastic and you will love the accom...

Arthur Sarnoff, Illustrator 1.  Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day and create a Treasure Hunt for your children to follow!  It is so much fun for them.  You can make your own, or you can use this wonderful book! Discover the rest of the items on this post over at www.ThriveOnOneIncome.com .  Thanks!

Arthur Sarnoff, Illustrator I discovered that implementing the first and last items each February helped keep me on track for the entire year! 1. Buy birthday cards for everyone you want to send a card to for the entire year. Sound crazy or too expensive? It’s not! If you are constantly sending cards late or not at all, this will cure you. It helps to have a special card holder.  You can’t just put them in a drawer or you will forget you bought them. This can be a box with dividers by month, or a special birthday book.  Books work best if they have only ONE PAGE for each month.  They have the days of the month with a line for you to write in people’s names. Read more at ThriveOnOneIncome.com  

Come on over to my new website www.ThriveOnOneIncome.com to discover 12 things organized women do every January to have a better year! Arthur Sarnoff, Illustrator I used to feel like a mess.  I was always overwhelmed.  One day I asked an ultra-organized friend to show me how she does things.  She happily showed me all over her house, her ways of doing things, her best tips and tools, and her routines.  She even came over to my house and pointed out what specific cleaners and tools would help me with my problem areas!  Needless to say, I learned a lot from her. I had already come far by being a subscriber to FlyLady’s e-mails (Flylady.net), but my friend’s tour “behind the scenes” was the push I needed to make major changes, because I could SEE what she was doing and how it worked.  I’m extremely visual. I’m also a list-maker.  Thus, I’m sharing my list of what I learned to do each January, with you.  Read more here . My next two po...

Priscilla Poynter I spent many, many years unorganized. After reading countless books and decluttering, I just had my best Christmas ever, even though I was ill Dec. 21 & 22.  I had NO STRESS.  Everything was on schedule! Let me share with you the four steps I took to move from Christmas Chaos to Christmas Calm : 1)  Write up, then type up, your Christmas Countdown .   This is what MY list looks like: Christmas Countdown January Buy Christmas cards for next year (I do actual Christmas cards, not photo cards).   Go to post office and buy Christmas stamps (I did this today, and saved myself the postage increase happening Jan. 21, 2018)  Shop online for after-Christmas sales - Christmas themed items for next Christmas (it can be gifts, partyware, decor, wrapping paper, etc.) Place large empty box or Christmas bag into closet for gifts bought throughout the year, with post-it note for who it is for, or you will fo...

This is not a list to be done daily, nor is it meant to convey the impression we must be perfect, and live in a perfectly clean, magazine-worthy home.  No!  It is just the "ultimate" list I finally wrote because I was always forgetting something and wanted it all in one place.  My windows will never be spotless.  But it sounds good on the list, doesn't it?  It's a goal - something to shoot for.  But don't worry - your house doesn't need to be perfect to be welcoming.  In fact, perfect homes are not welcoming.  We don't want our homes to be hotel rooms.  My fridge will always be covered in photos, magnets, and drawings.  That gives us pleasure.  I think refrigerators without childish decor looks sterile and unfriendly.  I'll take a lived in, much loved home over a perfect home any day!  This is just for offering tips to help you spruce up your living areas, or for help before throwing a big party. A Welcome Home ...

Eloise Wilkin We Help Daddy Whether you are selling your home or just need to look at your home with new eyes, here is a checklist I compiled from improving my own fixer-upper.  Home Improvements Checklist ¨     Front door should be repainted every one or two years at most (unless it is stained wood kept in great condition)   ¨     Add outside shutters or decorative trim ¨     Update or repaint garage door ¨     Wallpaper should be in good condition or remove it ¨     Repair nail holes, cracks, stains or repaint ¨     No leaking faucets; update faucets and fixtures that are tarnished, worn, ugly or outdated ¨     Fix broken shower doors or toilets (includes stains and hinges for toilet seats) ¨     Fix bathtub if worn, chipped or damaged; fix caulking ¨     Replace any bathroom carpet or worn linoleum with water...

I love reading books on organizing.  Harder is implementing.  Sometimes I just need a little encouragement before I can act. I thought this book, Organizing for Life by Sandra Felton, was one of the best I've read.  I've kept these notes in my binder for a year, and today thought I'd share them.  I think they will encourage you, too! Page 144   Become proficient in what you do...   You are more powerful than the house is....   The real tension will be relieved when the house is beautiful and orderly....   Then the stress of an ugly house, so powerful because it is so closely tied to womanhood , will be alleviated. 154    Proverbs says "It is possible to give away and become richer!   It is also possible to hold on too tightly and lose everything.   Yes, the liberal man shall be rich!    By watering others, he waters himself."   (11:24-25 TLB)     Is this not true of our situation? ...