Day 11 {Something Blue}

Earlier this year I bought some new bedding for our bed. We had had our old bedding since we were married. It was stained from having lived through 4 babies. It had holes in it. In fact, on several occasions we would get into bed at night only to find one of the children had stuffed some kind of toy down one of the holes and we would spend the next 15 minutes trying to fish it out. We couldn't find a matching sheet set in our collection for anything. Normally, these types of things don't really bother me. But since my kiddos aren't little babies anymore, John and my room has become, well, more our's not everyone's. Moms, you know what I'm saying, right?

I wanted to do something special to mark this big occasion! John could care less about bedding and decorating in general, but he was kind and humored his little wife. He gave me a budget and I set to work! It had to be a good deal, it had to be something that both John and I liked (he actually did have opinions about it once I started showing him stuff), and it had to be comfortable.

All this to say, I'm really pleased with our bedding. It's bright and happy, I love curling up in bed at night, and I was under budget! Yay!

Anyone else out there get excited about new bedding? Or am I alone?? :)

Fabric Overload

(All fabric except for the night gowns...which I haven't bought yet. I'm in denial.)

2 girls
+
8 dresses each
+
2 aprons
+
5 night gowns each
=
One busy Mama

Ladies (and dad), if no one hears from me for a couple weeks...send help.

Creative Inspiration :: Doilies

Hello. My name is Amanda. And lately I have been slightly obsessed with....(whispers) doilies. I don't know how this happened. I remember when I was getting married my mom and I had totally different tastes. She was very much into lace, frills, and sparkly things while I was much more plain and simple. But some where along the way my taste started to change and I have been so drawn to pretty lacey things...especially doilies.

I really don't consider myself a very crafty person. But I do like to look and I do appreciate beautiful things in my home that make it a cozy and warm place to live. I also think when giving a gift, it makes it so much more special when it is homemade. I don't spend a lot of time or money on crafts or decor. My rules are it has to be cheap and/or I have to be able to make it myself. The Lord has called us to be good stewards of our time and money and I try to keep that in mind when it comes to all things crafty.

With all that being said I thought I'd share a few pictures of what has been inspiring me lately...and yes, they involve doilies. :)



Sources: Doily Stationary, Doily Clock, Doily Canvas Bag, Pillows, Doily Vase, Tablecloth, Framed Doilies, Table Runner

The table runner is the project that started it all. I love the look. I also bought the tablecloth from K-mart for 50% off. Deal!

What do you think of doilies? Are they just for old ladies or are they making a come back? Would you decorate with them?

Be blessed!
~A

Keeping it Real

Guess what I am working on today? I realize that I have been missing in action lately. But when your house looks like this...one just can't justify sitting down to blog. Oh wait, that's what I'm doing right now. Hmm...well, scratch that.

My house had gotten out of control. I've been working like a mad woman in the mornings (we do school in the afternoons) to try and clean it up. This is the last room to finish up. And, as you can tell, I have my work cut out for me. Do you other moms ever have the urge to just sweep it all up and throw it away??

I realized yesterday that I have got to get some kind of system established for cleaning. Should I do school 4 days a week and devote one whole day to cleaning? Do I assign one day a week to each room?

Something has to change. When the house is a complete mess I am SO unmotivated to get out of bed in the morning, knowing what is waiting for me!

What kind of system do you use for cleaning and laundry?

Off to wade through toys,
~A

Yep. He's listening.

Just in case I ever doubted that God does, indeed, care about the small things going on in my life....

My previous post was me lamenting over my very unorganized craft supplies and today on Heart of the Matter ( a homeschool sight I LOVE) there was this article. Thanks God! I knew you were listening!

~A

And thanks to all of you who left your suggestions too! I think there will be some major re-organizing in my future.

Anybody??

Keeping the house clean with 4 small children is a job in and of itself. I've had to make peace with the fact that, in this season of life, my house will never be as clean as I would like it to be. But, one thing I have been struggling with lately is how to keep our art supplies picked up. My children love to color, cut, glue,etc. The problem is when all of them want to do it at the same time...it's a mess. Crayons, colored pencils, scissors, glue bottles, markers, Oh my. And, of course, we can't forget paper. Paper everywhere! Things wind up getting broken or lost so when we do need them for school we can't find them. Grr.... So, I'm calling upon the wisdom of those of you out there who have any suggestions.

Any tips on how to organize the supplies? Should I keep them put up out of their reach or let them get into them when they want? Should I watch them at all times while they create (I cringe as I write that....)? Or should I enforce some good old fashioned discipline until they get into the habit of not making the mess in the first place??

So let me break it down for you:

4 children
+ lots of art supplies
________________

HUGE MESS! HELP!


Thanks!
~A

A place to sew

If you had asked me about 6 years ago if I would enjoy sewing, I probably would have laughed hysterically. I had taken a one sewing class when I was a child, had a mother who loved to sew, but me?? No way. Ah....but times have changed. I now consider it such a joy to be able to sew for myself, my family, and for our needs around the house.

I have been doing a lot of sewing lately. Spring is just around the corner for us south Georgians and Lilly is in desperate need of some dresses (she just keeps growing!). I had a couple ladies over a couple weeks ago and we spent the whole afternoon cutting out fabric for her dresses. I was so incredibly blessed by that. If it took 3 women a whole afternoon to cut out dresses I can't even imagine how long it would have taken me by myself. For the past two weeks I've been using every spare minute to work on her dresses, in hopes I can have them all done by the middle of March.

So, I thought I'd give you a little peek at my sewing spot. Why?? I have no idea. :) Since it's been consuming so much of my free time lately....I just had to blog about it!

This is my table. I wish you could see the details of the table. It becomes a catch all for the household. I see a lighter, one of Lilly's memory games, and a sippy cup. At least once a week I have to go over my table and remove everything that doesn't belong there! There is also 3 half finished dresses, 5 dresses I have cut but have yet to start on, and a whole slew of zippers.

I also keep a stash of these behind my sewing machine (out of plain sight :)) It's my reward for sticking with it!





This is my ridiculously unorganized pile of things I don't use very often. A whole tub of scrap fabric, patterns, batting, and that pile of fabric is my mending pile. I'll get to it....one day.

Here is where I hang the clothes when I'm done. That's 2 dresses and 2 nightgowns Lovely, huh? Normal people would probably go ahead and hang them in the closet but it's not quite warm enough for her to wear them yet and I know they will inevitably wind up on the floor getting stomped on. So, I will keep my dress chandelier just a little longer.

This last picture is my next project after the dresses are complete. I'm going to be making an "I spy" quilt for the children. These are 6 of 100 little squares. They are all different designs. I think they will LOVE it! I'm not quite sure what I am getting myself into. I've never quilted before but am hoping I can figure it out! I'd love to have it done by Bradley's birthday at the end of March but I'm doubting that will happen. It will all depend on when Lilly's dresses are done. And then there is Kate who will need dresses in the near future too....oh my.

So, those are my projects and my little sewing spot. Do you sew? Do you have a sewing spot? I'd love to see it! Any organization tips would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for checking in!
~A

See you later, Alligator!

John and I, normally, aren't the type to make New Year's resolutions. But for some reason, this year, without even telling each other we both made one. Mine, was to be better about sticking to my schedule. (But..ahem...we just won't talk about that.) And John's was to go "No-Poo". And since we share the same shower and he wanted me to make it for him. I decided I'd go "no-poo" as well. Now, he bravely stated on Facebook that he was going "no-poo" with no explanation whatesoever. I...not so much. For well over a year now I have been concerned about bath products. I've heard of the ridiculous things they put in them. I started buying soap at our farmer's market that I knew had no chemicals in it. We bought all natural toothpaste (although, I might try baking soda soon) but I was reluctant to give up my shampoo and conditioner. It's not that I needed perfume-y smelling hair or even that I doubted how well no-poo would work on John. But, I did doubt how well it would work on MY hair. You see, I have A LOT of hair. To the point where any hair stylist who has ever worked on my hair has made the comment "You have a lot of hair!" No joke. Now add to that the fact that I haven't cut it in 5 years and that equals massive amounts of hair. I just wasn't sure how clean it would get and I was really doubtful that it would detangle my hair. But, it's cheaper and healthier so, it couldn't hurt to give it a try. I. was. shocked. It worked so well! I absolutely could not tell the difference in my hair. No, scratch that. I could tell a difference and it was for the better. It's shinier and softer than ever. We are on week two and I am sold! I've used it on all of the children and we've all had the same results. Awesome. So, no more store bought shampoo for me! Just give me some vinegar and baking soda from now on!

To see the method I used (and a great "no-poo explanation) you can go here. The only thing I did different was to add a couple drops of tea tree oil to the baking soda mixture. I also usually make a triple batch of what she does (again...lots of hair!). If you give it a try let me know what you think!

Hope everyone is having a blessed day!

~A

According to my 5 year old....

...this is very blog-worthy!

Normally, I don't blog about this kind of thing but when your 5 year old says "Oh, Mama! You should put this on your blog." Well, you just gotta take her advice, right?

John and I have been trying to get our family system a little more organized. You know, family rules, schedules for our days, blah blah blah. One of the things we decided on was making a tangible, physical way for our children to see what chores they have left. In our house when a child turns 4 years old they are old enough to be assigned daily chores. So, that means Lilly and Luke are our little work horses...er....helpers. :)

The idea is pretty simple really. Use whatever theme you want- soccer balls going into a goal, food going from a plate to a mouth, etc. I chose money and piggy banks. You have a slip of paper with the chores on it:

Aren't my pennies so life like?? Hey, I majored in psychology not art...bare with me. You keep them in some little pocket contraption depending on your theme:

And then in the morning or during the day the child can pull out a piece of paper and read what chores they have yet to do. Once they are done they move that piece of paper over to the other pocket contraption:

We decided that for every night they completed all of their chores they would get a sticker on their chart and after an alloted time if they had so many stickers they would get a treat of some kind.

Like I said, it's a very simple concept but I'm hoping it will save me from going horse every morning from saying "Lilly? Did you get ______ done??" or "Luke, you still haven't _______"

Because, let's face it, I homeschool. I hear myself talk enough. :)

Blessings!

~A

On my mind and my heart...

I really enjoy reading blogs. I like being able to see what's going on in my friends lives. I like reading new recipes, tips for keeping house, and other "homemaker-y" type things. One thing I have been looking for and had yet to find (until now) was a blog that was directed toward homemakers but had a heavy Christian weight to it. Let's face it, all moms get burned out at times and I wanted a blog I could go to that was written by a woman to other women that would encourage, uplift, and teach. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Bible. And, of course, I get SO much encouragement from it, but I found A Wise Woman Builds Her House just last week and I have soaked up everything she shares. It is exactly what I was looking for! You see, I went through a period of time where I had totally lost the joy in my job. I love my children and husband, that never changed. But when I woke up in the morning, I didn't look forward to my day. I was irritable, grumpy, quick to anger and well, a real pain! This went on for (to my shame!) several months! I knew my attitude wasn't right. I prayed and prayed for the Lord to rescue me from this unhealthy attitude.

Fast forward to two weeks ago and the Lord had given me a whole new outlook, it seems! He showed me my purpose and given me back the joy that only HE can give.

"This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." ~Nehemiah 8:10

I quickly realized that I had let Satan get to me. I had let him whisper in my ear the lies that he loves to tell. I always think of the book The Screwtape letters. I imagine Satan sending one of his demons to confuse and discourage me, while they write letters back and forth discussing my case. Yikes! Thank you God, for hearing my prayer!

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" ~Proverbs 18:10

So, why do I share all this with you? I wanted to let you moms know that every mom goes through a time of feeling discouraged, inadequate, and overwhelmed. But the key is to know where to look when that time comes. Jesus!

I also wanted to share the link to todays post at A Wise Woman Builds Her Home. The issue she discusses today is something that has been on my heart since my joy returned. The world can be a very hard place to live, especially for Kingdom Christians, who live to follow God at all costs. Our homes are to be a place of refuge from that world and we, as the homemakers, play a very large part in that. If you have a few extra minutes take the time to read it. It will get you thinking, I sure!

Thanks for reading. I pray your day is as blessed as mine is sure to be!

Running the race,
~A

Product Review: Soap Nuts!

I had first heard of Soap Nuts when reading Lindsay's blog. If any of you know me well, you know that I am always on the look out for ways to avoid chemical cleaners. I've been struggling to find affordable, effective alternatives to toothpaste, shampoo, and dishwasher detergent. For the past year I have been using Charlie's soap for laundry soap. And I've been very happy with it. But then I heard about how cheap and versatile soap nuts were. That was enough for me to order a sample packet! Here's a little blurp from her blog:

"Soap Nuts are the only laundry soap that grows on trees, thus giving us the most sustainable and natural option out there. It is 100% safe and natural for the most sensitive skin. Soap nuts are the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree. They contain saponin, a natural cleaner. They are simply harvested, de-seeded, and then dried in the sun. Great for hard water and high efficiency machines. It is biodegradable, hypo-allergenic, brightens colors, low sudsing, and contains a natural fabric softener. You can reuse a handful of nuts for 5 or more loads (depending upon water temperature, etc), and then they can be added to your compost! Most soap nut orders come with a reusable cotton bag which you use to place the nuts in and then throw in the washer, keeping them contained. The best price I have found is the NaturOli Soap Nuts. If you buy it in larger quantities ($50 for 800 loads), you are looking at around $0.07 per load! You can also purchase them in smaller quantities, which will be no more than $0.12 per load. Plus you will save additional money as there is no need for dryer sheets or fabric softeners.

By simply boiling soap nuts in water you can use it for: all household cleaning, liquid hand soap, plant cleaner, jewelry cleaner, produce wash,toothpaste, and even shampoo! It has also been found to be effective for skin allergies. You can even use some of this liquid in your dishwasher! I am in the process of experimenting further with soap nuts for these uses. I will let you know how it goes!"

My review: I was very pleased! The clothing came out clean and fresh smelling. I line dried my clothing and they dried soft (with the exception of the towels. Those pesky towels!). Just a note: If you are washing in cold water you must let your soap nuts soak in hot water for 5 minutes and then add them to the wash. Once I finish my last bag of Charlie's soap I think I'm going to order a larger quantity of soap nuts and give them a try for a while!

As soap nuts are very frugal, can accomplish so many different purposes in one product, and is completely sustainable…that seems to be the way to go!

Thanks for reading!
~A

Taming the laundry monster

I've been reinventing the way I do laundry lately. Trying to keep up with laundry for a family of five has been hard work. When I start thinking of the fact that we are about to add another little one to the family AND start using cloth diapers...well, let's just say it isn't pretty. My other chores were falling behind. Laundry would pile up and not get put away (isn't that really the hardest part anyway??). I knew I had to figure something out. So, when I read Blissful Home today, I was excited. This is exactly what I would have said if I had written it first. The tips are so good (and easy!) that I just have to share.

1. Do a load a day to keep the laundry monster at bay. If you have more than two people living in your house I would suggest doing a load of laundry every day. Pick a certain time and stick to it. For example: Wake up, do morning routine and throw in a load to wash. Feed kids, clean up and put clothes in dryer. Take 5-10 minutes after your lunch/dinner routine and fold clothes. (This was my biggest change. I now do one load a day and it is wonderful! It keeps me from getting overwhelmed and everything gets folded, hung and put away all in the same day. )

2. Fluff the dry clothes. When you are ready to fold laundry turn the dryer back on for 2 or 3 minutes to give the clothes a fluff and most of the wrinkles will be gone. I don’t run to the dryer the second it goes off, so this option works for me. (I usually try to get to the dryer pretty soon after it goes off, so I won't have to waste energy. But, if you can't for some reason, this is a great option.)

3. Hang em’ up as soon as they come out. Again we’re trying to lessen the wrinkles. 99% of my clothes are wrinkle free using these tips, however hubby’s dress shirts always have to be ironed. (I slack on this part. But, I have a friend who keeps her unused hangers in her laundry room and as soon as clothes come out she hangs them up. Smart!)

4. Only buy what you need. Don’t buy 30 pairs of socks or underwear for each family member when there are only seven days in a week. Remember, we’re washing a load a day now, your not going to run out. (So true. Since my children are so close in age they all share the same socks. I just buy plain white socks and keep them in a little bin inside their closet. This has worked much better than trying to figure out whose socks are whose.)

5. Reuse your towels. A towel is good for a few uses when you hang it out to dry after your shower. Number #4 can apply here as well. (Our children have 1 towel each that they use every time. John and I really need to get better in this area, though!)

6. Get the kids to help. Teach your children to be responsible for their things by having them put their clothes away. Don’t wait until they are ready to head off to college. Their roommate will not pick up after them. (Boy, oh boy, will this save you a lot of time! My children know that when it comes to be laundry time they need to fall in! My 22 month old already knows to put his laundry in his closet. He's also in charge of putting clean socks away after I put them together. Lilly knows which drawers all of Mommy and Daddy's clothing goes in and puts it away and Luke helps put the children's clothes away. Teach them now and you will be rewarded!)

7. Put the laundry away. It has to be done. Sorry there is no way around this one, but doesn’t it feel sooo good when all the laundry is done and it is all put away! (This...is my goal.)

So there are the tips that I think are, really, pretty easy. So far, my system has been saving me a lot of time. And I really enjoy not having these HUGE laundry days to deal with. Right now, it's 9:30 and I already have a load in the dryer and another one in the washer. I should be done by lunch time! Plus, ya know, everyone likes to have clean clothes. Hope your Monday's are off to a good start. Mine sure is! Be Blessed!

Running the race,

~A