On Her Side of the Bed

While the bedroom is the place we often "hide" our messes, or at least pay little attention to because "well I just sleep there - my eyes are closed, why does it matter?" it is the place that more than anywhere else in your home should be your serene haven, your special place.  This week we're going to work not only on our bedrooms, but what contributes to the chaos and clutter that seems to reign in there despite our best efforts.

A study in 2011 showed that less than half of the people surveyed felt they got good quality sleep every night or almost every night.  Now don't get me wrong, I'm well aware that as a parent every night or almost every night is nearly laughable.  Many of us would give our left arm for once a week and those of us with children 2 and under would give both our arms and a leg for once a month!  I get the problems - but hear me out!

Among the rest of these findings, people who made their beds were 19% more likely to get a good night's sleep (remember that being step 2?  See why?) and 2/3 to 3/4 rated a cool room temperature, fresh air, and a dark, quiet, and CLEAN room as important for a good night's sleep.  Last, but not least, 75% said they got a more comfortable night's sleep with freshly scented sheets!

Maybe you aren't one of these people.  Heaven knows my husband can sleep wherever he falls.  The Army trained him to do that. ;) But there's a pretty good chance that 1 of the 2 of you may be one of these kind of people.  So, at least for the rest of Lent, let's try to keep up with the bedroom.

Here's another tidbit - we're all familiar of the Bible Story of Moses when he was hidden in the rushes to escape being murdered - but did you know he's not the only child in the Bible who escaped a death spree by hiding?  In 2 Kings 11, the infant prince Joash was rescued from the killing spree of one of the other royal families in the palace in a bedroom where he remained hidden for 6 years before being revealed to a group of guards and then was revealed to the world as king. 

Your bedroom is more than just a place to stick stuff and to sleep.  It's a haven, quite literally in Joash's case.  It's a safe place.  It should feel that way to you.

This week we begin to tackle the place we often leave behind because no one sees it but us, the Master Bedroom.  We're also going to take this Family Mission Friday and work on our family's bedrooms using what we've learned this week.  So know that's coming up in the near future. :)

For today, since your bed is already made (right?), you're going to move onto the area directly around your bed.  Concentrate on your nightstands, headboards, footboards, and other areas around your bed.  Are they cluttered or clear?  If they're cluttered, take care of it.  If there's a pile of reading material there, pick ONE book/magazine to remain and put the rest somewhere else.  Are there drawers?  Empty them out and make certain what is in there belongs and what is not, isn't.

Here's my "must have" list next to my bed:

1. Reading Book - usually not something intellectual but rather something to help me fall asleep when I'm having nightmares.
2. Bible - for reading when I want something more challenging or need to look something up that is on my mind.
3. Notebook and Pen - for taking notes on other things I am reading and for emergencies!!!  PLEASE keep a notebook and pen by your bed so if you ever get that dreaded midnight call, you have it available to take notes so your recollection is what actually happened and you know what you need to do next.
4. Lip Balm - a necessity as I live in a very dry climate
5. Foot Lotion and Hand Lotion - same reason as above - plus I find a happy smell on my hands helps me sleep. 
6. Nail File and Clippers - for when I'm on the phone hiding from people and talking on the phone.  Talking on the phone is an excellent time to file your nails. :)  It's also excellent to have a nail file/clippers so when you have nails catching on the sheets you can file them down right away before they create a snag and/or drive you crazy when you're trying to fall asleep. 
7. Phone - for me, this comes and goes with me as I only have one cordless phone at the moment (the other shall be located during this Lenten Activity if I have anything to say about it). 

That's it.  If it doesn't contribute to your sleep or peace of mind, get it out of there!  

Now for the rest of it.  Take a damp rag (not too wet!) and wipe down or dust your bed and bedside furniture.  If you have a dresser right there, it can wait until tomorrow.  Otherwise, tackle it now!  Give it a nice wipe down and give the dust bunnies names.  Really, it's the least you can do after all these years of them spending such intimate time with you. ;)

Mea Culpa

Well, let's suffice it to say that this past week hasn't exactly gone as planned...at all.

I set up Friday's post and figured I'd be back on Sat/Sun to give you your weekend list...

and then...

Life Happened.

From Saturday to Wednesday I drove 1040 miles, did 3 major Cub Scouting events, and generally lost my head.

Mea Culpa.

This week was originally to be dedicated to your bathrooms.  Since I'm SO far behind, the good news is this week was light anyway (because I knew what I was going to have going on - well, 180 miles of it and the 3 events).  So we can definitely catch up on Family Mission Friday by doing it as a group. :)

So, everyone take a bathroom!!!  You will need the following supplies:

1 toilet brush
1 rag
1 cleaner (your choice!)
1 scrubbie
1 laundry basket
1 trash bag
and if your cleaner of choice doesn't do windows, window cleaner!

Now, I call this the 5 minute fly in my home.  I can clean almost any bathroom in 5 minutes.

First step - Flush toilet.  By allowing it to completely cycle through to clean water and be wet, but not running before adding your cleaner, you have a better chance of your cleaner staying where it belongs and doing it's job instead of sitting in the bottom of the bowl.  Turn on the shower to the hottest it can go and let it run for a few minutes.

Then start grabbing everything that needs to be washed, linens, clothing, mats, everything.  Into the laundry basket it goes.  Take off your socks now and place them in the laundry basket.

Next, trash.  Get all the trash off the counter, out of the baskets, and if you have people in your home who think empty toilet paper rolls fall wherever, now would be the time to corral them. (note: for homeschoolers/teachers/CCD Catechists - those empty toilet paper rolls can be used for THIS fun actvity!)

Now go back to the toilet.  If you have a favorite toilet cleanser, knock your socks off.  If you're cheap like I am but go through tons of shampoo trying to find the right one, those "extras" make awesome toilet cleaner. :)  Squirt, swish, and let it sit.

Now back to the shower.  Turn off the shower (learned that one the hard way! ;) lol) and grab your scrubbie, rag, and cleaner.  Toss all the bottles, gadgets, and doo dads into the bottom of the shower so the places you put these things are now empty.  Now spray the cleaner right onto those spots and let it sit.

Back to the sink and clutter attack.  Get everything where it belongs.  Spray the sink with your cleaner.  Let it sit. 

Go back to the tub and start grabbing bottles.  If they're empty, pitch.  If they're not being used, make a line up to go to the closet.  If they are "active duty", wipe them down (scrub bottoms if necessary) and put them back in their homes.  Last step, turn the shower back on and rinse out the tub.  Voila!  One more down!

Back to the sink.  Any crud is now loose BUT wait a minute and clean the mirror first with your window cleaner.  Then go down and clean the sink and counter.  Then go one step further.  Take that cloth that just cleaned the mirror and wipe down your faucet so it's nice and shiny!

Quick, go back to the tub and wipe down the shower's "parts" (the shiny metal stuff) with your mirror cloth to shine.

One last step, spritz the toilet with cleaner.  Then open it, swish, and flush.  Then wipe it down and grab that mirror cloth one last time to wipe the handle and then the door knob and light switch on your way out.

DONE!

Family Mission Friday: Meal Planning

Today we tackle one of the largest problems I hear so you never again stare at a pantry of odds and ends muttering to yourself "what can I make with 3 cans of tuna, ketchup, frozen carrots, and one potato?"

Meal planning isn't just for moms - it's a whole family activity.  There are a few different ways to tackle this.  If you have a small family, I recommend each member that eats be responsible for one day of menu planning - then Mom and Dad take the extra days.  If you have a larger family, consider using a 2 week or more "plan".  Start with just planning dinners and then let it grow to the rest of your day's foods.

Even your youngest children can plan.  If they're able to express what they like, they get a vote.  For "the smallest among you", try this.










Supplies:
Index cards
Markers
Photo Album
Glue/glue stick
Family artist and/or Google

Take a set of index cards and get your computer ready (or your artistic skills if you're braver than I!) and a set of markers.  You're going to have 4 categories of cards.  Starches, Veggies, Proteins, and Desserts.  Pick a color for each and "edge" the card by making lines around the outside so it can be quickly identified by category.  Attach a picture (or draw one right on the card) of the item and write the name.  So, for example, a card may look like this:

Once you have a wide variety of the ingredients your family loves, you start what can actually turn into a game.  Everyone gets "dealt" 2 proteins, 2 starches, 2 veggies, and 2 desserts.  They can then swap, trade, etc to create the meal they're aiming for.  So, if a child had the above "cards" he/she could make his/her meal Beef with Broccoli over steamed rice.

Take the photo album and slide the index cards into the day so you know what day is which.  Block out 5-6 "spots" per day based on your album's layout.  That gives you room to slide in a card with the recipe, a list of other ingredients you will need, etc. 

From this list, you make your grocery shopping list and then just go through the book and compile the meals.  :)

As children get older, you can change the cards to have the meals on them and have them actually make the meal that they've chosen.  Cooking skills never go out of style!

Get the whole family involved with meal planning.  This fun activity helps everyone feel included and reduces the chaos of trying to get dinner on the table every night. 

ClutterBug Attack!!!!

I don't know about your home, but our home is plagued with ClutterBugs.  They're closely related to I. Dunno and Nobody of Erma Bombeck fame.  They appear from nowhere, usually directly behind where I just finished cleaning and attack.  I turn around and the area that I know was perfect 5 seconds ago is now...well....not.

Today we're going to tackle kitchen clutter which tends to gather in one of 3 places.

1. On top of the refrigerator

I don't know why, but the area on top of the refrigerator is approximately 2-3 square feet of magnet.  You'd be amazed what has gathered up there that you've forgotten about, or never knew it existed in the first place!  Unless you're one of those people with a cabinet over your refrigerator, grab a small step ladder and climb up there and see how bad it's gotten.  At best, it likely needs some love with cleaner and some towels.  At worst, well, let's just say I found a miniature promo Minion on the top of mine from the movie Despicable Me which came out in 2010.

2. Under the sink 

This is where cleaning products go to die in my home.  Maybe you store something else under there, but for me, that's what's usually cluttering it, ironically preventing me from being able to clean.  A relative of mine likes to store grocery bags to use for other things.  This is a great tactic if you use them often for walking your dogs.  This is a horrid tactic if you can't close the doors anymore.  As with all things, moderation. :)

3. The counter closest to where people walk into the kitchen

You know the routine - you're walking in the door juggling 5 bags of groceries, a screaming baby, a pile of mail, your car keys, your purse, 3 toys, and a water bottle.  Bottom line, something's gotta give!

If the money is in your budget, organize this area formally NOW, or at least by this weekend.  I took this area in our home and put a few bins.  One is for each person.  The top is for DH (he's the tallest).  His mail, magazines, and anything he puts in that spot goes in his bin. 

The next one down is for me.  I don't get much mail or magazines, but I get tons of "Mom!  Look what I did!!!" so they go there until I have the chance to sort through them.  Once a week I go through and pick a few things to selectively display around our home of triumphant moments.  The rest magically disappear.  This is also where I keep my "go bag" on a hook next to my bin.  It's a diaper bag since I have an infant at the moment which also carries a planner, notebook, 3 pens, any reading material I'm supposed to be reading (think handouts for church, school, etc), an MP3 player, and my Kindle.  This way I know where everything is when I need to leave and I can just grab and go.  I put the charger for the Kindle in the car (which also works for the MP3 player and my phone) and I don't have to worry about running out of battery!.

On the bottom is the one for my son.  His contains his magazines and mail as well as any paperwork that comes home from CCD, Scouts, and anything else.  Once a week I go through his bin, move the "need to reads" up to my bin to go into my bag, and make certain any art to be featured has also made it up to my bin.

Now, in that "spot" where things tend to land, put the following:

a small decorative bowl
   ~ to catch keys, pins, buttons and anything else little that's in your hands as you come in the door
a towel
   ~ lay flat to wipe grimy hands and/or to absorb any condensation from drinks that magically appear
a pen and pad of paper
   ~ to write the notes that are running around in your head from the day as you come in

Everyone Deserves a Friend

Stop the discrimination!  Give your containers some love today.  They deserve a friend, a companion, a lid.

Go through your food storage containers and find them friends or let them leave.  Put them in your box to donate and drop them off if they're still in decent shape.  Someone may very well have the lid they need. :)

If your food storage containers are stained, place them in a sink filled with HOT water, 1 cup bleach, and 2 tbsp dish detergent.  This should bleach out any stains from food and help remove any grease residue which can also cause stains. 

Whatever is left, organize and if it doesn't fit in the space where your containers belong, weed out some more.  This is a doable project that may take longer than 15 minutes, but will make a difference in your daily routines and make it so much easier for you to save the food that gets ruined saving you money.

Cupboard Clutter

Today we're going to tackle our cupboard clutter in 3 simple steps focusing on the pantry and other places you store food items.

1. Take out anything expired and toss it.  Also toss opened packages that are now stale or icky such as chips. 
2. Take out anything you'll never eat and put it in a box to donate.  Also take out things you overstocked on and add them to the box - you know - those "I need cream of mushroom soup" moments that accidentally occurred for 7 paychecks in a row.  If you won't eat it before it expires, now is the time to pass it on to someone who needs it.
3. Organize what's left so you can actually find it.

When you organize, keep in mind who eats what and where it should go.  Keep treats in high cupboards to prevent pint-sized snitchers (the big snitchers, well, you're on your own).   I also recommend keeping sweet things used for baking like chocolate chips, candies and such up high as they are often the most pilfered in my cabinets when the treats disappear.

Keep healthy snacks for the kids at their eye level in the cabinet in their own basket to set them up for success.  Some larger families I know have gone to a basket per kid system to divide the treats in advance when they come home from the shopping trip.

Organize one of two ways - put items together that are usually used to store a meal, such as storing spaghetti next to the spaghetti sauce OR organize by type of food, all the pastas together, all the sauces together.  Since I tend to make "Frankenmeals" that are grab what I want, I organize by type rather than by meal.

As you're organizing and pitching, take note of what you're getting rid of and what you'll need.  Also pay attention to those "I'm missing one can of this to make that" moments and add those to your list of what you need.  When you have all your ingredients, it's so much easier to make that kitchen magic happen. :)

Next time you're going by the local food pantry or attending Mass, just drop off your box and then take that list to the grocery.  :)

What's growing in there?

Today we're going to begin tackling the kitchen.  Some are certainly better than others, but today I'm going to ask you to attack the area where most of us have something lurking.

Today you're going to go through your refrigerator.  Take out anything that you can't remember when it went in, anything that's growing, and anything that has lost a lid because it will no longer properly seal to maintain it's freshness.  Next check out this wonderful Food Storage Guide and use it right away to finish going through the fridge.  Pitch everything that isn't within the guidelines and make this your new plan. :)

Now, if you have the extra time today, this is also a great time to give your fridge a good cleaning.  If there isn't time today, that's okay too!  We're going to put this part on next Saturday's list so you can add it to you "to do's" for the future as well.

Last, but not least, find a permanent marker and place it in the drawer next to your fridge.  When you put something with a longer shelf life, such as condiments, in your refrigerator, write the date it will expire (based on the food storage guide) right on the label so there's no more confusion about when to pitch it. 

Blessings and peace!