Did you make your bed this morning? No, I’m not your mom. Yes, I’m from a generation that was taught to make their beds every morning. And I do.
Frankly, a made-up bed is so much more welcoming at the end of a hard day than a tangle of sheets. The message centers on clutter.
A wise person once said, “Clutter wearies the spirit and fights against serenity.”
These days there’s enough clutter of heart and home to last a lifetime. It’s so much nicer to “order your day,” as the Scripture says. That gives you more time for the really important things God has for you to do. We all need a place where we can rest and relax and refresh ourselves spiritually and physically.
Be honest: How many plastic bags do you have folded together in that kitchen drawer? And what about all those magazines stacked beside your bed? And is there any woman who doesn’t have a “fat wardrobe”… and a “thin wardrobe”…just in case? Why hang on to them?
Get some boxes and start labeling and storing away the important items you may need to find quickly and easily. Take those clothes you haven’t worn in a year or more to a local charity. Let someone use them instead of just keeping them in your closet. Recycle those plastic bags and magazines. You can do it!
Why do it now? There’s always tomorrow.” Procrastination may seem fine today, but it’s not a very good way to lead your life. I can pretty much guarantee you won’t accomplish much.
Putting things off until tomorrow is the universal “effectiveness killer.” We say things like “I hope” or “I wish.” How frustrating and how negative!
If this is you, here are some simple tips to get going:
• Make little tasks out of big ones. Hardly anything is really hard if you divide it into small jobs.
• Make a commitment to someone, and ask your friend to hold you accountable.
• Set up rewards for accomplishing tasks.
• Give yourself deadlines.
• Resolve to make every day count.
Be a woman of action. Treat each day as being precious. The truth is, when it’s gone, it never comes back.
Today why not do a spontaneous act of kindness? Write a note to someone who would never expect it. Put a rose in your hubby’s briefcase. Return a shopping cart for someone. Let someone merge into traffic and give him or her a big wave and smile. A thank you note out of the blue to someone who’s said something nice about you will bless his or her day. Give another driver your parking spot. Leave a gift of money for someone anonymously. Call your mom or dad for no special reason. Send a letter to a teacher and thank him or her for all they do. Ask an older person to tell you his or her life story. The Holy Bible reminds us to “entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
“The Sacrament of our marriage will impart to us the graces necessary to keep our good resolutions. How few understand this Sacrament! How few prepare themselves for it and expect to receive from it the graces it can give to those who seek them worthily.” – Fr. Raoul Plus, S.J., Christ in the Home
Leane and Theresa from Finer Femininity discuss the lovely Catholic customs and traditions in the home during the Advent and Christmas season.
Coloring pages for your children….
Make a statement with these lovely and graceful handcrafted aprons….fully lined….made with care! Available here.
Drawn from Archbishop Sheen’s bestselling books, these 28 reflections will lead you day by day through the Advent season. Eloquent quotes are paired with beautiful Scriptures on the themes of the season―patience, waiting, gift, hope, humility, joy―and more. Spend a few quiet moments of each day with one of the 20th century’s greatest preachers, preparing your heart to receive the Savior of the world.
Save
Save
Save
Save
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
“How do you get more hours in your day?” Everyone is looking for that simple and easy secret that will give them that magic commodity called time. Unfortunately there isn’t one simple trick that makes everything flow together; however, if you can eliminate long searches for whatever you’re looking for it will help save time.
Group Your Shopping Trips Together
In your organizational/planning notebook keep a list of items you need to buy: books, videos, Christmas gifts, clothes, cosmetics, household items, birthday and anniversary gifts. When you see a sale or go to an outlet store, you can acquire what’s on your list. This will save time and a lot of money because you can shop sales.
Purchase More Than One Like Item
If you have frequent demands for items such as toiletries, pens, rulers, tape, and scissors, store several of each in strategic spots around the house. Don’t waste time running all over the house to obtain a basic item. This is especially true if you have a two-story home. An extra vacuum cleaner and cleaning items are great to keep upstairs.
Do More Than One Thing at a Time
Most women can multitask very easily with a little training. A cordless phone in the kitchen is a must. You can do any number of things while talking to a friend or relative.
Also develop a “to read” folder to take with you when you know you’re going to have to wait someplace. You can get caught up with all the junk mail, catalogs, magazines, letters, and correspondence.
And carry along a few blank thank-you notes so you can write friends. If you exercise and have an indoor exercise machine, this is also a great time to read a magazine or your favorite book as you work out.
Cut Unwanted Calls Short
When salespeople, survey people, or people who just want to chat call and you’re busy, cut the calls short by learning how to handle these people graciously. These types of calls can really eat up valuable time.
One of the greatest inventions of our time is the answering machine. Turn it on and use it when you need to keep working on a project. Be sure you get back with your friends when you have time.
Determine What’s Important
This is where a to-do list really comes in handy. Each evening before going to bed or before leaving the office, I (Emilie) make a list of what I need to do tomorrow, and then I go one step further.
I rank items according to priority: one, two, three. The next morning I start working with number one, then go to number two. It’s not long before I’ve made a real impact on that list. As has been mentioned, it’s best to do the worst job first. By completing and deleting that item off your list, you are less stressed and can feel a sense of accomplishment. You’ll be eager to tackle the next item on your list.
Each of us operates most efficiently at a certain time of day. Schedule taxing chores for the hours when your mind is sharpest. Do these chores when you have the most energy. Find out when your children are most alert and active. Schedule their chores during that time. It will help alleviate whining and complaining.
Have It Picked Up and Delivered
We’re returning back to the good old days. More and more companies are offering pick-up and delivery services. These are valuable time savers, and in many situations they are cost efficient.
Divide Big Jobs into Instant Tasks
Break the whole job into smaller tasks or “instant tasks.” You will have to work at this concept if you are a “practicing perfectionist.”
Turning a big project into small tasks is a great help! A job may be overwhelming, but when it is broken down it’s not so daunting.
For example, cleaning the refrigerator. Clean one shelf on Monday, one shelf on Tuesday, and so on. By the end of the week, the entire refrigerator will be clean, and it only took 10 to 15 minutes a day!
Use a Timer
One of the best investments you will make is a digital timer, preferably a triple timer. If you tend to get distracted or you have a hard time getting started, a timer keeps you on task. And knowing you only have to do something for 15 minutes helps you tackle a job.
Set a timer for your children and make a game out of picking up toys, cleaning rooms, and other chores. Reward them for jobs well done.
Become a List Maker
In my daily planner I (Emilie) have a list for almost everything I do—all the way from planning a tea for a group of friends to getting ready for a Christmas party. I save these notes so next time I can go back and review my comments. It’s a great way to start planning since you already have a good beginning.
You may want to get a journal or blank book for your project list making. Date them and then you have a point of reference for your next event or project.
Do your errands at one time. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish! Create your list and then organize by the order of your stops.
Arrange your errands in a big circle, moving from one place to the next, starting with the closest. Within a short time you’ll be back. With gas prices out of sight, this will save you money too.
Stop Procrastinating
Your to-do list will help you get started. Rev your engine and get in gear. Even if “traffic” isn’t flowing well, get moving. A car has to be moving in order for it to go somewhere. Start now!
It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect
This goes hand-in-hand with procrastination—not wanting to do something if it’s not perfect. It’s nice to want things done right, but not if you’re crippled into inactivity. Besides, even if you know the difference, your friends and guests might not know or care. Some jobs don’t need perfection. No one is going to show up with white gloves.
Become a person who takes control of your time. With a little study you can turn “time-interrupters” into positive “time-savers.”
“This art of housekeeping is not learned in a day; those of us who have been engaged in it for years are constantly finding out how little we know, and how far we are, after all, from perfection. It requires a clever woman to keep house; and as I said before there is ample scope, even within the four walls of a house (a sphere which some affect to despise), for the exercise of originality, organizing power, administrative ability. And to the majority of women I would fain believe it is the most interesting and satisfactory of all feminine occupations.” -Annie S. Swan Courtship and Marriage And the Gentle Art of Home-Making
A housekeeping schedule to give you some ideas and to tweak to suit your needs….(not to stress you out!)
Make a statement with these lovely and graceful Autumn handcrafted aprons….fully lined….made with care. Aprons tell a beautiful story…..a story of love and sacrifice….of baking bread and mopping floors, of planting seeds and household chores. Sadly, many women have tossed the aprons aside and donned their business attire. Wear your apron with joy….it is a symbol of Femininity….”Finer” Femininity! 🌺 💗 Available here.
Why do we wear our best clothes on Sunday? What was the Holy Ghost Hole in medieval churches? How did a Belgian nun originate the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament? Where did the Halloween mask and the jack-o’-lantern come from?
Learn the answer to these questions, as well as the history behind our traditional celebration of Thanksgiving, in this gem of a book by Father Weiser.
Celebrate the Faith with your kids all year round!
For over half a century, Catholic families have treasured the practical piety and homespun wisdom of Mary Reed Newland’s classic of domestic spirituality, The Year and Our Children. With this new edition, no longer will you have to search for worn, dusty copies to enjoy Newland’s faithful insights, gentle lessons, and delightful stories. They’re all here, and ready to be shared with your family or homeschooling group. Here, too, you ll find all the prayers, crafts, family activities, litanies, and recipes that will help make your children ever-mindful of the beautiful rhythm of the Church calendar.This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
This is a Traditional Catholic printable planner for the month! Set your days in motion having a plan that will help to keep your focus on your daily duties! Featuring the Old Liturgical Catholic Calendar for the year, you will also be able to keep track of the feast days throughout the year so you can plan accordingly!
A little video (with some jaunty music 😉 )explaining the planner. The script is included below for those who would rather read about it….
We would like our days to run smoother…to focus on our daily duties so that when that time comes for some relaxation and recreation, we know that we have put our best foot forward in sticking to and focusing on running our home with as much precision as possible in the life of a busy wife/mother.
That is what this printable planner is here to help with….
Let me run through it with you.
This is your daily page. On the top of this page is the day and the date. Underneath the date, the feast day will be noted. This planner follows the old liturgical calendar so the feast days will be according to the traditional calendar.
Also, the familiar fish will be added under the date on the days of abstinence.
You will no longer have to run to your calendar on the wall to see what special saint to pray to that day or to make note of an important feast day of the church!
On this daily page is the hourly time slots so you can map out your day. It’s important to be flexible but it is also important to have order. This area is for more scheduled things throughout the day that you want to put a time on…
…like getting up in the morning, starting school, lunch, rosary, appointments, or just anything else you want to accomplish at a particular time.
If you like the time slots, use them. If you prefer not to use timeslots and just have your duties written down in order then you can use it that way, too.
On the right of these day-to-day pages you will see a space for your daily goals. Here you can write such things that you would like to get to that day but not necessarily a specific time. as spend 15 minutes cleaning fridge, write a note of thanks to someone,
Everyone will have their own daily goals that can vary greatly. But you get the picture.
If you need to use the spot for something different, then do it!
Next is our spiritual goals. The foundation of our day. As you can see I put important things on this checklist. If you have others, you could include that in your daily goals space above also.
And of course, the space for gratefulness. Each day we need to work on having an attitude of gratitude. It really will change our life for the better. And actually writing them down helps, too!
There is a quote included on each page. These quotes are from solid Catholic authors. They reflect knowledge, common sense and timeless wisdom.
All of this is included on each of your daily pages throughout the month.
There are three other pages along with your daily pages..
The first page of each month, what I call the title page has a space for your spiritual intentions for the month. We all have big things that we want to pray for. We can include these things here and offer up all of our prayers works joys and sufferings of the month for these intentions.
We also have a space here for the monthly goals. Bigger things… Like paint the bathroom, say a novena, get to daily mass four times a week, things like that.
This is a great page to kind a wrap our head around the bigger picture for the whole month. Having them there in front of you, writing them down is Definitely an incentive to get them done!
Another page included is a menu plan for the month. I have the dates written in there and just enough space to include dinner which I thought was probably the meal that needs to be planned out the most.
What a difference a meal planner makes! I didn’t include a grocery list because thats something you have to take to the store with you anyway. So you can do that on your own separate piece of paper or on a grocery list app on your phone.
The third page is the homeschooling page for the month with a blank for the students name in the top right hand corner.
There is a space on the left-hand side for your subjects and then across is for each day of the week. You can print out multiples of these papers depending on how many students you have for the year.
Get yourself a pretty three ring binder and a three hole punch and you have yourself a lovely monthly planner! The links for those are in the description below. They are affiliate links, so thank you for your support!
Also, you have the option to print these out in color is you so wish as I did the pages in color. B & W looks great, too!
A gentle reminder as we go forward planning our month, that people are more important than things… schedules and accomplishments . We need to remain flexible and not get in a tizzy if we didn’t get things done during the day that we had put on our planner.
That being said, these planners/journals can be very helpful in trying to stay focused during our day. When we put our best foot forward, God meets us more than halfway!
So, I wish you joy in planning out your upcoming weeks using your new traditional Catholic daily planner! God bless you and Our Lady guide you.
These are affiliate links. Thank you for your support!
I took mine to the local computer shop and had it spiral bound for less than $3. It lays nice and flat and works perfectly!
We must take great care to be encouragers of our children. They will only be with us for a short time. What kind of legacy do we want to leave for our children? ….One of hope, love and inspiration or one of negativity and criticism? Take those moments today to listen to them, to smile at them and to see the wonderful good inside of them. Let’s start the habit today of seeing the positive in our children!
Package Special of 6 Soaps! Honeycomb, Orange Patchouli, Lemongrass, Lavender, Citrus, Peppermint! 100% All~Natural, Handmade Free Shipping! Available here.
NEW! Activated Charcoal, Tea Tree Bar Soap Pure, 100% All~Natural, Handmade. Available here.
Hands Free Mama is the digital society’s answer to finding balance in a media-saturated, perfection-obsessed world. It doesn’t mean giving up all technology forever. It doesn’t mean forgoing our jobs and responsibilities. What it does mean is seizing the little moments that life offers us to engage in real and meaningful interaction. It means looking our loved ones in the eye and giving them the gift of our undivided attention, living a present, authentic, and intentional life despite a world full of distractions.
With his facile pen and from the wealth of his nation-wide experience, the well-known author treats anything and everything that might be included under the heading of home education: the pre-marriage training of prospective parents, the problems of the pre-school days down through the years of adolescence. No topic is neglected. “What is most praiseworthy is Fr. Lord’s insistence throughout that no educational agency can supplant the work that must be done by parents.” – Felix M. Kirsch, O.F.M. https://amzn.to/2T06u28 (afflink)
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
I love school days. The schedule can be a beautiful thing….it’s all in the attitude. So….Let’s Get Ready!
The School Bell is Ringing….Are You Ready?
Painting by Jim Daly
With school just around the corner and so many responsibilities and things to accomplish, we may get a little nervous on how we are going to pull it all off.
I know, for me, summer time is so full, my days are bursting, that I truly wonder how I am going to “fit” school back in with all its demands.
I find my life goes in spurts. I am organized for a time, then it slips through my fingers for awhile. I have learned not to get discouraged, trusting that, with grace, I will get it together again. So I know what works for me and I know what doesn’t. Floundering does not work. 🙂 It is always good to have a plan.
The following are a few things that help me along the way not to get too stressed. Maybe a point or two might work for you, too.
1. Make your list. If you are feeling overwhelmed you may think that writing it all down will make you feel more burdened. That’s not how it works. When you can get it down on paper, you can sort and prioritize. Those lowest on the “essential” list can be put on the next day so you can slowly work at getting them all done. If you don’t get it done the next day, continue to add it to the next one. Checking each thing off gives you a sense of accomplishment and energizes you!
2. Keep the house picked up. My corners aren’t always great but if you were to walk into my house at a given time, it would be generally clean….unless we decided to go play volleyball instead of doing the dishes right away (priorities, you know. 🙂 )
3. Go to Bed. 🙂 If I can go to bed and get up at consistent hours, it helps a lot. It’s important for the kids to do the same. Summertime is a season of later bedtimes. We loosen up the night time schedule and relax for a spell. It is quite refreshing….for a time. I notice how much it affects the next day, these inconsistent and later schedules. That’s okay for a while during the summer but you wouldn’t want to do that during school days. So regularity on getting to bed is important.
4. Wake up at a consistent time, earlier than the family, if you can. With the demands of young children, and the lack of sleep that goes with that, this isn’t always possible. At times like those, we need to just offer it up. That being said, nothing helps me more than getting up before everyone else, getting my prayers said, and doing other duties before the family gets up. It gets me started on the right foot.
5. Plan Your Meals! Okay this one I am not very good at but, Wow! does it take the stress-load off!! I have periods in my life when my girls are taking over the meals so it is hard for me to get back in the swing of things when they are occupied with other life things. But it makes such a huge difference! So if you can get it together once a week to plan those meals, DO SO! It will make a positive impact on your week!
6. Get yourself fully dressed first thing, right down to your shoes. This will help you to get motivated to accomplish things right off in the morning. I also wash my face with cold water first thing in the morning. I started that 2 years ago when we had the drought. It was a waste of water to leave the tap running until it got warm, so the cold water did the job and now I like the “pick me up” it gives me. Try it! 🙂
So…what kind of things make me feel more organized and on top of things:
!. Number one for me is sticking to my “Spiritual List”, starting with morning prayers and then the other simple spiritual things on that list throughout the day. If I can check each of those off then I feel like I have accomplished the most important duty and can have the focus and grace to accomplish the other ones that fill up my day.
2. If I haven’t already got an ongoing chore list for the kids (better if it is made the night before) so they know what they should be doing, I make a quick one in the morning for each child. Then everyone knows what they should be doing and you don’t have to have your mind going in all different directions trying to figure out what needs to be done and who needs to do it! The kids are able to tackle their jobs and have the satisfaction of checking it off each time it is accomplished! (Mom….don’t forget to inspect those chores!)
3. Keep the house picked up. (I know, I talked about this already.) Don’t get obsessive about it, especially if you have young children, but periodically through the day get everyone to help with a “pick-me-up”. When you can look at a clean table and a generally clean house, it invigorates and at the same time relaxes you. It’s easier to focus on the next thing to be done.
4. Delegate. Remember, you are the supervisor. Of course, supervisors get their hands dirty, too, but if there is something that you can delegate, do. It helps the children to grow into responsible adults.
5. Don’t listen to negative self-talk. Don’t analyze it, just don’t listen to it. Period. It will bring you down and make you sluggish in accomplishing what you need to get done. Instead, look at your list and do the next thing, say a prayer, grab a book and read it, spend some time with the kids. It’s not worth listening to the rubbish that goes on inside your head.
6. DON’T feel sorry for yourself!! If you have lots to do, thank God for it. He will help you accomplish it….one step at a time. There are many lonely people in this world, many trapped in their addictions, many sad and discouraged because of broken relationships. Learn to thank God for what you DO HAVE and all the wonderful things you GET TO DO each day. Sometimes it just takes an attitude change. He never gives us more than we can bear. Believe it!
7. One last tip….a little self-care goes a long way. Take a little time for yourself each day. It doesn’t have to be long, but something that will rejuvenate you…Reading a good book with a cup of tea, spending a half hour on your craft, taking a walk outside, hiding in your bedroom and eating the chocolate you have hidden for yourself…I like this one! You get the picture. Everyone’s situation is different and you can figure something out to give you a fresh kickstart during the day. Everything looks a little brighter after some revitalizing!
“Hospitality is so much more than entertaining-so much more than menus and decorating and putting on a show. To me, it means organizing my life in such a way that there’s always room for one more, always an extra place at the table or an extra pillow and blanket, always a welcome for those who need a listening ear. It means setting aside time for planned camaraderie and setting aside lesser priorities for impromptu gatherings.” -Emilie Barnes. Simple Secrets to a Beautiful Home
Finer Femininity is a small publication compiled to inspire Catholic women in their vocations. It consists of uplifting articles from authors with traditional values, with many of them from priests, written over 50 years ago. These anecdotes are timeless but, with the fast-paced “progress “of today’s world, the pearls within the articles are rarely meditated upon. This little magazine offers Catholic womankind support and inspiration as they travel that oftentimes lonely trail….the narrow road to heaven. The thoughts within the pages will enlighten us to regard the frequently monotonous path of our “daily duties” as the beautiful road to sanctity. Feminine souls need this kind of information to continue to “fight the good fight” in a world that has opposing values and seldom offers any kind of support to these courageous women. Inside the pages you will find inspiration for your roles as single women, as wives and as mothers. In between the thought-provoking articles, the pages are sprinkled with pictures, quotes and maybe even a recipe or two.
The Mother’s Maglet, Wife’s Maglet, Young Lady’s, Sunshiny Disposition, True Womanhood and The Heart of the Home During Advent and Christmas…..Available here.
Save
Save
Establish simple systems that save time and money and gain peace of mind
Organize the home’s problem areas–kitchen cupboards, crowded closets, home offices, and more
Reclaim precious time for family and friends
Filled with inspiration, encouragement, and tried-and-true tips, this book is a must-have for every woman!
The good news is that a beautiful home doesn’t require too much money, too much energy, or too much time. Bestselling author and home-management expert Emilie Barnes shows readers how they can easily weave beauty and happiness into the fabric of their daily lives. With just a touch of inspiration, readers can
turn their homes into havens of welcome and blessing
build a lifestyle that beautifully reflects their unique personalities
enrich their spirits with growing things (even if their thumbs are several shades shy of green)
make mealtimes feasts of thanksgiving and kitchen duty fun
establish traditions of celebration that allow joy to filter through to everyday life
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
Here is a simple outline to ensure we are carrying out our daily duties as best we can on this road we travel as Catholic women. This is my own list of what I deem the basics of a successful day. It is an ideal I strive for. You may have your own plan, and I hope you do. If this can help in any way, then I have accomplished my goal with this video. Link to My Morning and Night Prayers. Link to My Journals.
I have included the transcript for the video below:
I’m here to talk to you today about Two Simple Steps for a Successful Day.
I think that most ladies would like a simple outline that they can stick to each day to ensure we are carrying out our daily duties as best we can on this road we travel as Catholic women.
This is my own list of what I deem the basics of a successful day. It is an ideal I have strived for. I have successes, I have failures but at least I know this plan, it is burned into my mind so I can get back to it if I am floundering!
You may have your own plan, and I hope you do. If this can help in any way, then I have accomplished my goal with this video.
#1 ~ STAYING GROUNDED WITH PRAYER
#2 ~ STAYING GROUNDED WITH A LIST
#1 – Our Prayers. Starting with our morning prayers.
Our Morning Offering is one of the most important prayers of the day. Imagine a bunch of zeroes, let’s say 9 of them on a blackboard. How much are nine zeroes worth? One big fat zero.
Now put a one if front of them. Do they become a lot more valuable? Yes they do. Kind of changes the picture, doesn’t it?
Our Morning Offering is like that one. All of a sudden, all our thoughts, words, actions, sufferings of the day have value. Before our Morning Offering, they are not worth as much. After our Morning Offering, they are so much more valuable.
All is used as an offering to Our Lord for our own happiness and salvation, and for those we love.
I know that we often hit the ground running…nursing a baby, helping our toddler, or our alarm didn’t’ go off and we are running to school or work late. Let’s make sure we get that Morning Offering in. It’s very important.
We should try to say our whole Morning Prayers….
And I will include a link in the comments below that may be able to help you with your Morning and Night Prayers…they are what I have said throughout the years.
You should have a few other simple time slots for prayers throughout the day. Not too much and not too long. But enough to keep us and our family grounded all day long.
I usually stop midday, 3:00 to say with whoever is at home at the time our Mercy Chaplet. You could do any prayer you wish here. Maybe a Litany? Maybe the Holy Wounds Chaplet? I have a lovely book with many different chaplets in it. You could switch it up each day if you like. Maybe a special prayer honoring our Lords crucifixion because the hour is 3:00?
When my kids were younger we would say the Mercy Chaplet…that took 5 minutes…then I set the timer for 15 minutes for quiet time. Then I would give them 3 choices.
They could read a spiritual book. If they were young that would mean looking at the pictures of a children’s spiritual book.
They could pray.
They could rest. And yes, sometimes they fell asleep.
It was very valuable…that quiet time with the kids. Because we lose our taste for spiritual things if we do not nourish ourselves each day. And once again, this is building a great habit with your children they can carry on throughout their lives.
So we have our Morning Prayers, our Midday prayers…then our daily rosary and our night prayers. Daily Mass if we can.
So…number one…staying grounded with prayer. Let’s keep that prayer life alive and well!
Just a note…Make sure you say simple morning and night prayers with your little people so they get in the habit of this. This is very important!
I said my own morning and night prayers by myself…hopefully before the kids got up, but not necessarily. And then I would gather the little people who weren’t old enough to say their prayers yet, I would sit down and have them kneel before me and say their prayers with them. They were simple and eventually they memorized them and could say them on their own.
This got them in the habit of morning and night prayers. Because I have met Catholics who know the necessity of saying the daily rosary and they do that. But they find the morning and night prayers daunting…because they weren’t trained as youngsters! So do that for your children…
This is the basis of a successful day! We now have the grace to do what we need to do for the rest of the day. To make the right decisions. To get our work done, To deal with any crosses, etc.
#2. STAYING GROUNDED WITH A LIST.
Make a List!
I sure notice a difference when I get back to making my list! I accomplish so much more…and I don’t forget so many things. I get myself a lovely journal-type book and then I turn to it during the day when I am floundering and getting distracted with things I don’t need to get distracted with…not talking about my family. They are one big blessed distraction…a good one and one that needs attending to.
But you know those other distractions….the ones we could do without…or that make us put off our priorities…until later…and then we’re too tired.
Making your list the night before is helpful. But if you haven’t done that, snag a few moments as early as possible the next day to write your list.
I use shortcuts to write mine down, For instance, MPR is morning prayers, NPR is night prayers, MCHAP is mercy chaplet. This makes the list writing quicker. And since I know the basics well, I know what I am talking about.
Many of the other items I write the whole thing out. I have made the mistake of doing shortcuts on the other non-basic things on my list and when going back to it, I couldn’t remember what it was I was writing down. J
This list, which is my #2 step of a successful day, will help you with your #1 step – Staying Grounded with Prayer…because you write down your spiritual items at the top….After all they are top priority!
Morning Prayers, 3:00 prayer, Rosary, Night Prayers.
And if I go to daily Mass, I will come home, write down daily Mass and then check it off. Check these spiritual items off when you are done.
If you have accomplished those by the end of the day, you have accomplished the most important work of the day…because these very prayers will give us the grace to accomplish the other duties of the day!
And even if it is one of those days and we get nothing else accomplished…because of a child being sick, an unexpected visitor, a fridge that needs tending to because it quit working, etc, we still have those prayers, that time with God. And He will bless that! And will help us to embrace these other things that throw us off-kilter!
As you think of things throughout the day, add them to your list. But don’t overwhelm yourself. Stick to the priorities and a few other items. For me, I put down even the little things…like take out garbage. Then I can check it off and it does give one a feeling of accomplishment and it energizes me!
The most important ones need to be checked off by the end of the day….like make dinner, do laundry, make lunches, check on mother, etc. Write them down!!
And for those ones you think of during the day and don’t get to… Transfer them to the next day!
To get into these habits….Prayers, List-Making…is very valuable.
I want to show you a couple of examples of my list. Here’s one day.
Something must have come up this day because I don’t have much checked off. Maybe I just got distracted. That’s ok…I don’t beat myself up for that. I especially like to get my spiritual part of the list done.
Most of my days don’t have the night prayers checked off because I forget to check them off in the evening. And sometimes I do forget!
Here’s another day.
Now this day looks better! I can walk away from that day and say, “Wow, I was able to get a lot done and it looks good to have all those check marks!” There were some things I didn’t get done and I will transfer those to the next day,.
These habits help us to train our will. Regularity, order…it is the making of a saint. The daily little things are the important ones! Saying those short prayers with your kids every day, morning and night, is teaching them invaluable lessons about regularity and good habit-making.
I want to remind you that in the comments I have a link to my morning and night prayers.
I also have a link down there for my journals. I think using a journal for while can be quite helpful.
I have an Advent Journal, Lenten Journal, a Gratitude Journal and then a 30 Day Journal for boys and one for the girls. Those last 2 are in color and quite lovely! And those will help those children to stay on track for 30 days and carry some of those habits with them throughout life!
These are very good tools to help us on this journey of getting our lives in order. The link for those are in the comments.
In conclusion, I would like to say that I am still on this journey. It is never perfect and life throws at us its curve balls. Sometimes we cause the curve balls! It’s not our failures that are the important thing…we are human, we will fail. It is how quickly we pick ourselves up!
So let’s remember the 2 basics of a successful day:
#1 Staying grounded with prayers
#2 Staying grounded with a list
Thank you for tuning in today. God bless you!
A mother should make it one of her important responsibilities to keep a clean and organized home. This is not always possible, especially at certain phases of child-bearing years, and she must be patient with circumstances and with herself. At the same time, it should be one of her priorities. -Finer Femininity
Make a statement with this lovely and graceful “Strawberry Soda” handcrafted apron….fully lined….made with care. Aprons tell a beautiful story…..a story of love and sacrifice….of baking bread and mopping floors, of planting seeds and household chores. Sadly, many women have tossed the aprons aside and donned their business attire. Wear your apron with joy….it is a symbol of Femininity….”Finer” Femininity! 🌺 💗 Will fit most sizes…
In With God in Russia, Ciszek reflects on his daily life as a prisoner, the labor he endured while working in the mines and on construction gangs, his unwavering faith in God, and his firm devotion to his vows and vocation. Enduring brutal conditions, Ciszek risked his life to offer spiritual guidance to fellow prisoners who could easily have exposed him for their own gains. He chronicles these experiences with grace, humility, and candor, from his secret work leading mass and hearing confessions within the prison grounds, to his participation in a major gulag uprising, to his own “resurrection”—his eventual release in a prisoner exchange in October 1963 which astonished all who had feared he was dead.
Powerful and inspirational, With God in Russia captures the heroic patience, endurance, and religious conviction of a man whose life embodied the Christian ideals that sustained him…..
Captured by a Russian army during World War II and convicted of being a “Vatican spy,” Jesuit Father Walter J. Ciszek spent 23 agonizing years in Soviet prisons and the labor camps of Siberia. Only through an utter reliance on God’s will did he manage to endure the extreme hardship. He tells of the courage he found in prayer–a courage that eased the loneliness, the pain, the frustration, the anguish, the fears, the despair. For, as Ciszek relates, the solace of spiritual contemplation gave him an inner serenity upon which he was able to draw amidst the “arrogance of evil” that surrounded him. Ciszek learns to accept the inhuman work in the infamous Siberian salt mines as a labor pleasing to God. And through that experience, he was able to turn the adverse forces of circumstance into a source of positive value and a means of drawing closer to the compassionate and never-forsaking Divine Spirit.
He Leadeth Me is a book to inspire all Christians to greater faith and trust in God–even in their darkest hour. As the author asks, “What can ultimately trouble the soul that accepts every moment of every day as a gift from the hands of God and strives always to do his will?”
I get a lot out of Emilie Barnes’ ideas for taking care of clutter and organizing your life and your home. Here are a few tidbits for you to take to heart and incorporate into your hectic schedule….to make it less hectic! 🙂
Get your children into the habit of cleaning up after themselves, especially before bedtime.
Schedule a family meeting to explain the new routine and get everybody on board. Initially they might not be too excited about the idea of an evening clean up session, but you can make developing this new habit fun.
Stress the importance of waking up to an orderly home and ask everyone for ideas so each member is included in the pursuit of this new goal.
It takes 21 days to form a new habit so don’t be discouraged on day 12 if they haven’t caught the vision! Press on.
Keep the cleaning simple. You can either set a certain amount of time each person needs to spend cleaning or designate an area for them to maintain. Even little kids can clean their rooms in just a few minutes.
Adjust the cleaning plan as you go so that it works best for your family.
Why So Many?
In most cases we don’t need more than one of anything. As you survey all your stuff, you will soon discover that you have multiple screwdrivers, spoons, glasses, tape measures, flashlights, pliers, boxes of cereal, and cans of pasta mix.
Why do you hang on to all these multiples? Perhaps you think that if you have more than one, you have a better chance of finding it when you want it.
Multiple things take up a lot of space in an already cluttered area. Here are two suggestions that might help you find that one of a kind object (whatever it might be):
Decide on an exact place to put it.
Always return it to that spot the minute you are through using it. Is this rule sinking in yet?
Clear the Clutter in Child’s Room
Children’s rooms also need the proper tools and equipment in order to keep from accumulating a lot of clutter. Consider these suggestions:
Keep a small vacuum handy to quickly clean up messes.
Put up a blackboard to write on or a pegboard to hang things on to keep things off the floor.
Use extra large wastebaskets with plastic garbage can liners.
Organize toys in plastic boxes, milk crates, or decorated cartons.
Install closet rods (appropriate to the height of the children) so they can hang up their own clothes.
Limit snacking in bedrooms.
The Closet of Mystery
All of us have “ghostly closets.” They are a mystery even to us. We open the doors just to see what we have stuffed into them.
As a child I can remember listening to one of my all-time favorite radio programs, Fibber McGee and Molly. During one of those episodes, Molly opened up her closet and everything tumbled out of it—many things that didn’t even belong there. But because it was behind closet doors, no one except Molly could see into the closet.
If you have one of those mystery closets, begin today to get a grip on it. Take everything out, lay the items on the floor or bed, and examine each item to see if it still fits or if you’ve worn it in the last year. It must pass your inspection before you put it back into the closet.
If the item doesn’t pass the test, you must give it away or put it into the garage sale bag.
The Messy Medicine Cabinet
When you open your medicine cabinet, do you feel as though you’ve just walked into the Rite Aid Pharmacy? Do you have one of every pill prescribed by mankind? Have some of the items expired three years ago?
Do you find old toothbrushes and half-filled tubes of toothpaste? Do you have old ointments, tweezers, eye makeup, and nail polishes of various shades of red and purple?
If so then you need a “medicine chest makeover.” Attack with vigor—get rid of all that old stuff you no longer use. Make sure you don’t throw out old medicines in a way that children could mistakenly find them.
Don’t use your easy-to-reach medicine cabinet to store all of your feminine items. Be selective about what you keep in this handy storage spot.
Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them. -Benjamin Disraeli
Order is not pressure which is imposed on society from without, but an equilibrium which is set up from within. -Jose Ortega Y Gasset
Broken and Outgrown Toys
Do you suffer from kiddie clutter in your home? As I visit homes where children live, I’m amazed at how many toys, games, gadgets, puzzles, and books there are in the home. You know who is responsible for much of this clutter? Parents and grandparents—not the kids!
In many cases these toys are missing parts and the games are no longer played with (because they are for three- to five-year-olds and the child is now nine).
Take an inventory of all this clutter. Set aside those items that should be given away, tossed out, or added to the garage sale bag. As long as you keep all of this kid stuff clutter, you are having to store it, dust it, move it, and spend your energy vacuuming around it.
This is a declutter paradise. Check to make sure that your children have shelves, closets, baskets, and trunks to store their belongings. If they don’t have proper places to store their toys, everything will end up strewn across the floor, or in piles at the bottom of their closets.
Do the Worst First
One of the basic principles I share in my organizational seminars is “do the worst first.”
Once you complete the worst part of the project, everything else is easy. This is also a great rule to follow if you have trouble with procrastinating.
We all dread the worst—that’s why it is best to get it out of the way in the beginning of the project.
When you enter a room with plans to clean it, determine which of the projects you dread most.
Take a minute to break down the whole job into smaller tasks. Now choose the worst of the small tasks and do that one first.
You will learn two things about this “do the worst first” rule:
It didn’t take you as long as you thought.
It wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be.
Happy Feast Day! I love my patron saint! ❤
St. Anne, Gentle and Saintly Grandmother, Pray for us and all our needs!
“Christian cheerfulness is that modest, hopeful, and peaceful joy which springs from charity and is protected by patience. It is the well regulated vigor of spiritual life that throws off all morbid humors and depressing influences, refusing them a lodgement in the soul devoted to God.” Archbishop Ullathorne (19th c.)
Beautiful Blessed Mother Wire Wrapped Rosaries! Lovely, Durable… Each link is handmade and wrapped around itself to ensure quality. Available here.
St. Anne Rosary
In this book, Kennedy Hall explores the traditional wisdom of the Catholic Church on all things pertaining to masculinity. It is no secret that in our day it is hard to define what a man truly is, let alone how he should act. With all the modern obstacles that work against forming virtuous men, Kennedy Hall provides a solution with this book. Terror of Demons: Reclaiming Traditional Catholic Masculinity will help men of all ages and stages in life to develop heroic masculine virtue, something greatly needed in our time.
Here’s the award-winning classic that for over forty years has shown Christian men how to be the loving husbands and gentle fathers that Christ calls them to be.
Rooted firmly in Scripture, these pages call on husbands to stop thinking of themselves simply as bosses and breadwinners. Rather, says author Clayton Barbeau, husbands should see themselves as co-creators with God, imitators of Christ’s love for His people, high priests in the domestic Church, teachers of their children, witnesses to society, providers of spiritual and material goods, and models of holiness.
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
When you’re passionate, your enthusiasm is contagious!
When you get involved in an activity or a project that you really love to do, you suddenly get out of yourself. You may be volunteering with at risk children, helping the elderly, coaching a sports team, teaching knitting, or creating memory books-whatever you’re excited about doing is worthwhile.
One author said, “Every hobby teaches you something.” What are you learning?
Spruce Up!:
If you’re spending more time in your kitchen but enjoying it less, it’s time for a few changes.
• If space is part of the problem, store pots on a hanging rack.
• Put “like items” together, such as spices and oils.
• Use baskets to keep things organized.
• Spruce up your kitchen window with some glass shelves and plants.
• You can brighten any kitchen by painting the ceiling white.
• Why not install wonderful under-cabinet task lights? What a difference they can make. Or perhaps add a lamp for soft lighting.
De-Clutter:
If you’ve got that cluttered or claustrophobic feeling, you’ve come to the right place.
Here’s a great guideline: For every purchase you bring into the house, something else has to go.
With a new blouse or shirt, out goes an older one. A new table? Out goes the former one. These items are great for a garage sale.
Life can get very complicated, and stuff seems to accumulate. Then that “bunched in” feeling occurs.
So the next time you purchase an item, give a like item away or set it aside for a garage sale. Become a giver!
A Woman of her Word:
Today I encourage you to do what you say you’re going to do. We get into trouble when we don’t keep our promises.
And sometimes we’re not even aware we’ve made a promise. We say, “I’ll call you tonight” or “I’ll get back to you to set a date for lunch,” but don’t follow through.
Does this sound familiar? Get out of the habit of offering to do things you might not do.
Your friends would rather not hear an “I will do” statement if it’s not going to happen.
A friend of mine says, “It takes so little to be above average.” And she’s right!
Develop a reputation for being a woman who does what she says. Your life will have more meaning and people will enjoy being around you.
Gratitude:
A little “thank you” goes a long way. Never take anything for granted. When you do something courteous for your husband, use it as an opportunity to remind him that he’s loved.
Say, “This is just another way to show that I love you.” This may sound terribly old-fashioned, but be willing to treat that guy of yours like a king …so he will treat you like a queen.
Build your husband up in your children’s presence. It is up to you to assure he is a hero in their eyes. They should know why he works so hard….and that it is the reason for the roof over their heads and the food on the table. That time when Dad arrives home needs to be a highlight in their day! -Finer Femininity
St. Rita Wire Wrapped Rosary! Lovely, Durable… Each link is handmade and wrapped around itself to ensure qulaity. Available here.
Filled with inspiration, encouragement, and tried-and-true tips, this book is a must-have for every woman!
The good news is that a beautiful home doesn’t require too much money, too much energy, or too much time. Bestselling author and home-management expert Emilie Barnes shows readers how they can easily weave beauty and happiness into the fabric of their daily lives. With just a touch of inspiration, readers can
turn their homes into havens of welcome and blessing
build a lifestyle that beautifully reflects their unique personalities
enrich their spirits with growing things (even if their thumbs are several shades shy of green)
make mealtimes feasts of thanksgiving and kitchen duty fun
establish traditions of celebration that allow joy to filter through to everyday life
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
I get a lot out of Emilie Barnes’ ideas for taking care of clutter and organizing your life and your home. Here are a few tidbits for you to take to heart and incorporate into your hectic schedule….to make it less hectic! 🙂
Do you ever feel like you’re running in circles? Do you put off new pursuits because you are spending your precious time juggling projects that are never completed?
Make a list of five projects you would love to finish. Tackle these one at a time. You’ll find that as you clear away the unfinished business, you’ll be free to reach for new pursuits.
Don’t delay your goals and aspirations. Which terminal projects are eating up the most time? Give yourself an absolute deadline to complete each one or consider letting go of the project altogether.
Which projects are the most overwhelming and which have the highest priority? If you take care of a couple that are time sensitive, you’ll give yourself breathing room and a sense of accomplishment.
Consider the ones that absolutely must get done because others are counting on them or because they have a deadline. There’s your starting place!
Practical Expectations
It’s nice to want things done right, but not if you’re crippled by the pressure. High expectations can lead to inactivity when you’re overwhelmed. By all means do the best job you can do in a reasonable amount of time. However, don’t get bogged down by perfectionism.
You may know the difference in the finished product, but your friends and guests probably won’t know or care if it’s not perfectly done.
If you’re preparing for guests, determine the cleaning that must be done versus the cleaning you want to get done. You’ll find that if you clean the areas your guests will be visiting and just tidy other areas, you’ll have a very welcoming environment.
Always keep in mind that you want your home to be inviting, not sterile and immaculate. Aim for inviting rather than ideal, and you’ll enjoy the time before and during your guests’ visits. You’ll be a much more sane hostess.
Break It Up
To accomplish a big task, break it into a few smaller parts—these become “instant tasks” that you can easily handle. It’s the big items that throw us and leave us in a panic.
Think of one project that you have put off because it seemed too big to take on after a busy day or in the middle of a hectic one.
For example, let’s choose cleaning out the refrigerator as your dreaded project. Can you give it 15 minutes? Even the craziest of days usually have a few breaks in them that could be put to good use.
Set a timer and work like mad for those 15 minutes evaluating leftovers, checking expiration dates, and wiping off shelves.
Tomorrow, set the timer and toss out old vegetables, refresh the ice trays, and rinse the meat and produce bins. In a day or two you’ll have invested two or three 15-minute sessions and completed the larger task of cleaning your refrigerator.
When Are You Most Productive?
Each of us operates efficiently at different times of the day. Pay attention to when you feel the most energetic and alert. Take a few days to observe which time periods and what parts of each day are best for you when it comes to cleaning, working, juggling multiple tasks, focusing on one, and being creative.
It might help to write out what you observe—it could be surprising. Maybe you always linger over breakfast and dishes to draw out the morning when it’s actually your most energetic time and should tackle a couple work projects.
Don’t use this awareness as an excuse to not perform well during your off period of the day. Instead, use it to be good to yourself and to enhance your life, productivity, sense of balance, and enjoyment.
Schedule taxing chores for the hours when your mind is sharpest. Do the physical chores when you have the most energy. File papers or sweep the floor when you need a task that doesn’t require too much thought and evaluation. This principle is good for work as well as at home.
“Regularity in meals is another thing the wise housekeeper will insist upon in her abode. Regularity and punctuality, how delightful they are, and how they ease the roll of the domestic wheels! A punctual and tidy woman makes a punctual and tidy home.” -Annie S. Swan, Courtship and Marriage And the Gentle Art of Home-Making, 1894
Make a statement with this lovely and graceful handcrafted “Blessed Mother and Son” apron….fully lined, lace overlay….made with care. Aprons tell a beautiful story…..a story of love and sacrifice….of baking bread and mopping floors, of planting seeds and household chores. Sadly, many women have tossed the aprons aside and donned their business attire. Wear your apron with joy….it is a symbol of Femininity….”Finer” Femininity! 🌺 💗
Home management expert and bestselling author Emilie Barnes comes to the aid of every clutter keeper with 101 simple ideas to rid rooms of piles, stacks, and disarray…
The good news is that a beautiful home doesn’t require too much money, too much energy, or too much time. Bestselling author and home-management expert Emilie Barnes shows readers how they can easily weave beauty and happiness into the fabric of their daily lives…
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
If you’re going to have time for the important things, then you need to have the five-minute principle well in place in your thinking. It means not letting those five-minute segments slip away just because you think they aren’t long enough to get anything important done.
Remember that most small chores can be accomplished in bits and pieces of time. In just five minutes, you can make an appointment, file your nails, water houseplants, make out a party guest list, order tickets for a ball game, or sew a button on.
If you have ten minutes, you can write a short letter or note, pick out a birthday card, repot a plant, straighten your desktop, or exercise.
You get the idea-do small chores that occupy little time.
But don’t overdo it. Leave some slack in your day for God’s little surprises. Who knows, maybe today the Lord will give you the opportunity to have a small talk with a neighbor, to enjoy a few minutes with a child over cookies and milk, or to make a quick visit to drop off a bouquet of flowers.
Let your life be full of five-minute miracles.
Simple Pleasures
Try putting a bunch of flowers in your refrigerator. Beautiful!
Purchase several birthday cards all at once so that you will be ready throughout the year!
Expressions of Love
As a child bride of 17, I began my decorating journey with almost nothing. In those days I was trying to create a beautiful home on no budget at all!
My husband, Bob, and I spray painted an old wrought-iron garden table for our kitchen. We rooted around behind charity shops for interesting discards, and we even moved our little plants from room to room, just for some variety.
Without knowing it, we were learning a lot about what we love, and how we can share ourselves by sharing our home.
We also fell more in love with each other as we spent time creating our home.
It wasn’t always easy, though. Sometimes we had to work a bit to marry Bob’s tastes with mine, but we kept working at it, and it’s been well worth it!
Even today, our home is an ongoing creation-an expression of our love.
You don’t know what the future may hold, so practice the art of contentment. What we have right now is this one day.
May God give us a peace of mind that lets us rest-right where He’s placed us!
Simple Pleasures
Embark on a spontaneous midnight walk and do some stargazing.
Take advantage of sales to add to your candle supply
Wake your spouse early and enjoy a moment of prayer together.
Talking about Storage
Today, let’s talk about storage! It’s an important word in organizing.
Storing things around the house is a real headache, so let’s get started.
A garage-sale wine rack or a wire bike basket attached to the wall are perfect for towels! You know the baskets you’ve been saving? Hang them on a wall for your napkins or table linens. An old set of drawers is great for holding videotapes or CDs.
Pick up an unfinished toy box and paint it in adult colors. It doubles as a lamp table and lots of storage!
I love to use cardboard boxes for everything and anything! Use spray adhesive to cover a cardboard box with fabric; add some trim and use it in any room of your house.
And while you’re busy around the house, tack up a few notecards with verses on them and do a little storing of God’s Word!
Simple Pleasures
Clip articles from magazines and create a reading file.
A pretty apron can make your evening chores a little more inviting.
The Sweet Savor
Why bother with any of those around-the-house tips?
Here’s why: Organization and efficiency can give us more time to pursue the things that really matter.
Try some of these ideas over the next few days. They really work!
Do you seem to never have enough lemon juice when you need it? Squeeze the juice of fresh lemons into ice cube trays. Then just defrost them and use them when you’re ready. It’s wonderful having fresh lemon juice at your fingertips!
Do you spend precious minutes scrubbing pots and pans with burned-on food? Drop one or two fabric-softener sheets into the water. Let it stand for an hour or so and the food will lift right off.
Keep your kitchen smelling fresh and sweet by washing your sink with a strong salt solution or even with laundry bleach.
Creating a home filled with order and cleanliness communicates a heart that is ordered and pure.
Take a moment today to make your home more simply organized and see how the sweet savor blesses those around you.
Simple Pleasures
Puttering is acceptable. Enjoy your home, and don’t always be on task.
A cup of hot broth is a comforting beverage this time of year.
Frame a card from a loved one-let it be a “grace note” in your home.
Men! Fathers! Listen up! Excellent Sermon!
“Being humble means recognizing everything good and beautiful in my life (my qualities, the good I can do, and so on), as a gift from God. There is more to life than negative things; sometimes we are happy with ourselves, with what we experience and have been able to achieve, and this is justifiable, provided we recognize God as the ultimate source of all those good things.” – Fr. Jacques Philippe, The Way of Trust and Love, Beautiful Book: http://amzn.to/2minNMv Painting by John William Waterhouse 1908 (afflink)
Beautiful Kanzashi Ribbon Flowers! Intricate and Classy Hand-Crafted Kanzashi Accessory Flower.. Hair, Scarf, Shirt etc…. These fetching ribbon flowers are a perfect accent to any special outfit and provides a sweet final touch! I like to wear these flowers in my hair, but they can be worn many ways! Available here.
Save
Filled with inspiration, encouragement, and tried-and-true tips, this book is a must-have for every woman!
The good news is that a beautiful home doesn’t require too much money, too much energy, or too much time. Bestselling author and home-management expert Emilie Barnes shows readers how they can easily weave beauty and happiness into the fabric of their daily lives. With just a touch of inspiration, readers can
turn their homes into havens of welcome and blessing
build a lifestyle that beautifully reflects their unique personalities
enrich their spirits with growing things (even if their thumbs are several shades shy of green)
make mealtimes feasts of thanksgiving and kitchen duty fun
establish traditions of celebration that allow joy to filter through to everyday life
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
Do small chores as needed so they occupy the least amount of time possible. Put a shirt back on the hanger, repair the sag on the gate, replace that burned-out lightbulb, and put new batteries in your smoke alarm.
If you start taking care of the immediate tasks rather than save them for later, you’ll notice an amazing difference in your clutter problem.
The small stuff adds up to big projects later – don’t let them snowball.
As you go about your day today, pay attention to which tasks can be done immediately. The dishwasher can be loaded, the cereal box can be put in the cupboard, the dining table can be cleared so that it’s clean for dinner, and your paid bills can be filed. Things are looking better already!
Be My Guest
Be a guest in your own home for a day. If you walk into your living room, what stands out? What looks messy? Inviting? Fun? This fresh inventory of your living room and each room in your house will awaken you to ways to clean out and cheer up your home.
I’d encourage you to have fun with this.
Do one room at a time and take a few notes about this “first impression” makeover. Then get ready to make a difference in that room.
What’s working? What’s pleasing? What draws your eye? Look for items that just don’t fit.
Most importantly decide the focal point for your room. What do you want people to see when they enter the room?
The focal point is the anchor – the center of gravity. Find that and you’re well on your way! Not a bad idea for every area of your life!
Little Tasks Take Little Time
Few of us have several hours to clean out our closets. The key is to use the 10 minute segments you do have to accomplish a small task or make a dent in a larger one.
For example:
Clean one shelf in your closet
Make an appointment with the dentist
Put in a load of wash
Make your shopping list
Answer a few emails.
You’ll declutter if you learn to do small tasks in small blocks of time.
Just Give It a Try
Is your accumulation of stuff burdensome? I can relate. Most women can. What many people don’t realize is how incredibly freeing it is to get rid of clutter. They hesitate because they just see the work involved, the logistics, the possible changes, and the future commitment to keeping a home clean.
They can’t envision the openness, the beauty, and the peace this change will offer them and their families.
Keep your eye on the prize – the sanctuary you will create when you remove the obstacles of clutter! If you’re new to this or hesitant to begin, don’t look at your house as a whole. Start with one room.
If you incorporate just a few of the suggestions in this book or ones you’ve gathered from magazines, you will see transformation. The results of your one room makeover will give you the energy and the desire to keep life simple and lovely.
Happy Ninth Day of Christmas! “There is nothing insignificant in the life which we live within our own doors. There is nothing which is without influence in the building up of character. Let no one think that the history of any day in the life of a home, is not recorded imperishably on the sensitive lives of the children.” -J.R. MIller
Wire wrapping is one of the oldest techniques for making jewelry or rosaries by hand. Frequently, in this approach, a wire is bent into a loop or other decorative shape and then the wire is wrapped around itself to finish the wire component making that loop or decorative shape permanent. Not only is it quite beautiful but it makes the rosaries sturdy and durable. Available here.
Blank Journals for the New Year!
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
“This art of housekeeping is not learned in a day; those of us who have been engaged in it for years are constantly finding out how little we know, and how far we are, after all, from perfection. It requires a clever woman to keep house; and as I said before there is ample scope, even within the four walls of a house (a sphere which some affect to despise), for the exercise of originality, organizing power, administrative ability. And to the majority of women I would fain believe it is the most interesting and satisfactory of all feminine occupations.” -Annie S. Swan Courtship and Marriage And the Gentle Art of Home-Making
Now this day looks better! I can walk away from that day and say, “Wow, I was able to get a lot done and it looks good to have all those check marks!” There were some things I didn’t get done and I will transfer those to the next day,.
Finer Femininity 