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FAMILY/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Kids/Family/ Parenting/ Simplifying

Simple Chore Chart-Power Of 3

{whoops, spelled vacuum wrong on one, but got it right on the other:)}

It’s spring break for my girls, so my posts this week will be a bit shorter than usual.  Despite a very busy week, I am determined to have a blast with my girls this week, which means less computer time for me!
I’m excited to share this simple chore system we have been using, thanks to Liz’s idea of the Power of 3. (you can read about it at her site, here.)



Power Of 3
 Hoosier Mama Liz, over at Hoosier Homemade, wrote a great post and linked it to my “Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays” link party.  Her post really stood out to me, and caused me to start thinking about how I can incorporate her idea into our family. I love how simple it is!  She calls it the “Power Of 3”  Here is more from Liz:

I simply give each of the boys (18,16 & 12) and my husband 3 things each day to do. Simple…huh? Not quite sure why I didn’t think of it before.

I typed up a form that has each of their names and 3 lines, I use a different sheet for each day. And if a chore on their list doesn’t get done (gasp) it gets added to the next day, if they have a chore listed more than…you guessed it…3 days, they are grounded for…you guessed it…3 days!

I have taken her idea of 3’s and made a simple post-it note chart. It has been working beautifully! (I will be hanging a white board to replace this chart in the near future, there are many reasons for wanting a white board, but in this case it will replace post-it notes, one less thing to buy!)

My girls have really responded to the chart.  No one has been grounded yet:) My approach is not as relaxed as Liz’s approach, because I skip this part of her plan–“if it doesn’t get done in 3 days, it gets added to the next day.”  I want my girls to get used to the the idea that we all contribute daily as a family.  It is non-negotiable. They need to have responsibilities everyday as it teaches them to be hard workers, and it communicates to them that we are a team and work together as a family.  If my girls were grown like her kids, I would probably feel different.

It has been super easy for them, they like knowing they won’t have more than 3 chores a day (except for Saturdays), and they are surprised at how quickly it gets done.  There has been very little complaining, which quite frankly, has surprised me.  They seem to like the number 3 and the simplicity of our new rule– “3 chores a day, if not accomplished = 3 days of grounding.”  The “3 days of grounding” part widened their little eyes, but they took me seriously when I laid out the rules. I can’t believe how easy it has been, I love it!

{if you are wondering, “dr” means “dining room.” Oh, and the one that says “pick up mom’s room” is because they made a mess in there, not because I make them clean MY mess:)}

As you can see from the above picture, Saturdays are an exception to the rule.  We have always done chores on Saturday mornings, so they are used to a list and doing a bit more on the weekend.  It really only takes them 30 minutes or so each Saturday.

I will continue the idea of 3’s, even after our white board is hung.

I am also working on what I call “Daily Routine Charts” (brush teeth, get backpack ready, eat breakfast would all be part of their morning routine.)  We have done this before and it worked beautifully.  Why we stopped?  Hmmm, I have no idea, but it is time to start again.  By having these charts, mommy is not constantly nagging reminding them to get these little things done.  I’ll share those when I have the design finished.

So what works for you?  Do you have a chart system?  How many chores do your kids do?





DIY Day @ ASPTL
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16
HOME/ Homemaking/ Seasonal

Decorating For Spring

It has been so dreary and cloudy here in Nebraska, so when I thought about spring decor, I knew I needed COLOR!  I scrounged up what I had, bought a few stems for half price at Hobby Lobby, and got busy putting hints of color around the house.  I chose red, yellow, orange, and green.  I’m keeping it simple, so no big spring decor projects, just happy hints of color.

Here is what I had to work with. Those baskets were filled with pine cones during fall and winter, now they are full of books for my girls to grab and read, while they are sitting on the sunroom swing, or hanging out in the living room.  The yellow picture frame is up but still does not have a picture in it, its on my list!  The box that says “Faith” is for our family prayer requests, we will periodically look in to see what prayers God has chosen to answer for us.

I bought this two- tiered basket for $4.98 the other day.  It looked much prettier with bananas and a green pepper in it, but we’ve been munching around here.  
I love the burst of color these 2 art pieces bring to my dining room shelf. My daughter made them and I wish you could see the details! She used a glue gun and liked how the strands of glue looked so she purposefully made more stands of glue going every which way on top of these, (which you can’t see in the picture).  It makes them glisten and adds another element of interest.  These bits of dried paint are peeled off the top of paint containers from art class.  
Funny story…my brother- in- law is responsible for much of the decor you see, well, at least responsible for where it is placed.  I had them over this weekend, and asked my sister for some decorating opinions.  Bro-in-law jumped in, was not shy with his opinions, and took over!  Who knew he had an artsy side?  He is usually working on cars or doing yard work, so it was quite funny to have him decorating my house!  Thanks, bro!
A touch of yellow in the kitchen, makes me feel cheery.  So does the sun that is shining through the window today- first sunny day in way too long! 
Happy Spring!

Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special


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Frugal/ HEALTH/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Natural Products

Homemade Household Cleaners

These are CHEAP, biodegradable, and easy to make!  I love that the ingredients are not harsh, and I can put my girls to work without worrying about them coming into contact with harsh chemicals.

I’ve already posted on this basic cleaner, here, but here it is again:

Basic Cleaner

1 part vinegar

2 parts water

Put in spray bottle, shake.  I use this for almost everything…glass tables, counters, microwave, sinks, etc. (some times I do 1 part water to 1 part vinegar for more strength)

Scrub Cleaner

Baking Soda

Splash of vinegar

Good for grout, showers, tubs, ovens, stoves, sinks…

Disinfectant Cleaner

Hydrogen peroxide

Put into a dark colored spray bottle (light breaks it down) and use it to disinfect cutting boards, toilets, whatever..

Floor Cleaner

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup vinegar

2 gallons hot water

1 tablespoon dish soap

 *Can add 1/2 cup borax to make it a disinfectant 



This post is linked to:
Thrifty Thursday @Tales From Bloggeritaville


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ANTI-PROCRASTINATION/ FAMILY/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Organizing/ Simplifying

“Anti-procrastination Tuesdays” Link Party

I’m always thinking about topics to blog about, and usually I just share what I am doing in life.  If I am making a certain recipe, I share it, if we are doing holiday crafts, I let you know which ones, etc. 
 I’ve been trying to think of a way to motivate myself to take care of things that I have been putting off, and this brilliant:) thought popped in my mind “I should do a weekly post on anti-procrastination, so I will be forced to do something each week to share with my readers!”  

Not only will I be held accountable to deal my tendency to procrastinate, but here is the best part–ready?  WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER!  Hence, my very first weekly”link party!”  I am so excited!
As most bloggers know, a link party is where other bloggers can link up  posts on a similar subject, all in the same place (in this case, my blog since I will be the host). Then we can “visit” each others blogs, and get inspiration and MOTIVATION!  Not a blogger?  No worries, you can join in by sharing about your anti-procrastination of the week in the comments section, or you could just click through list of links, to read up on what other people have done, and hopefully become inspired!  
You may be one who does not struggle with procrastination, (Flylady & I call you people BO’s-“born organizers.” I also call you “lucky dawgs” and “people I’m really jealous of”) if you fall in this category, I WANT TO LEARN FROM YOU! It would be great if you could leave a blog post or comment with a tip or two of what DOES works for you!
If you are one who struggles with procrastination, you are not alone!  Please come back each week on tuesdays and link up! Tell us your thoughts, show us pictures of what you’ve accomplished or want to accomplish…it could even be a post showing us what you have been putting off, so that we can give each other tips or encouragement.  It could be big or small, from making a dr’s appt to tackling that overflowing storage room. 
I think this is a GREAT opportunity for me to get real with you!  I’ve joked with my sister that the pics of my cobwebs and dust don’t quite make it onto the blog.  We both agreed a “let’s get real” post was in order.  Now with Anti-procrastination Tuesdays, you will see and hear about my junk and hopefully that will motivate me to GET BUSY!

So Let’s Recap:

–Anti-Procrastination Link Party @ New Nostalgia on Tuesdays, starting March 9th.
-If you are not a blogger, join in by commenting!  Share with us what you have accomplished or would like to accomplish, or just enjoy visiting the different blogs that link up.
-If you are a blogger, share any post you have written about procrastination. It could be sharing about something you’ve accomplished, sharing tips on how to get motivated, or sharing different goals you would like to eventually get to.  Any post on something that you have accomplished, past or present, works!  I want to see those before and after pics– I’ll show you my junky gunk if you show me yours!
-Can be big or small…finishing a report, taking a load of stuff to goodwill, working on a project with a child, signing yourself up for jujitsu (why not?), cleaning the car, cleaning the shower head (on my list), etc..
Here is a button if you would like to pass the word along (ohh, that button.  You don’t want to know how long it took me to make that ^%#%$@! button!  It is not a perfect button, but it is two o’clock in the morning right now and I won the battle, er, sort of, and I’m feeling quite proud).  The button will also stay in my sidebar for future need.

Bloggers, if you have continued to read this far,  if this is something that excites you, or if you know others whom it may excite, I would be honored if you would help get the word out.  Feel free to grab and share my button, or even just give the post a little “tweet” by hitting the retweet button.  I am still pretty new at this blogging thing, so I for sure need my blogging community to spread the news.  
Readers, I’m humbly asking you for help, too!  If you know anyone who you think would get into something like this, feel free to share this post via facebook, twitter or email.  
It may take awhile to get people to participate, but that is ok!  I am pumped!  You don’t know how badly I need some motivation to get stuff done!  Spring is a comin’ and I got stuff to do!!

So what do you think?  Leave a comment and let me know..

13
HOME/ Homemaking/ Organizing/ Simplifying

Keeping Your House Picked Up

{Not mine, but love the baskets.  From Woman’s Day.com}

I follow the Flylady system, kind of.  I pick and choose what works for me from her system.  Many of the tips she gives are steps to keeping things picked up.  The following tips are inspired by her system, they are ones that have worked for me.

** Be Intentional**
Because I am not a natural born organized person, I had to train my brain to think like one.  I have to be purposeful and aware of things I naturally would not see, and think about things I normally would not think about.  Here are some things that are working for me:
 1. Look around.
When I walk in a room, I do a quick sweep with my eyes to find anything that does not belong in there or is out of place.  I try not walk through my house without being aware of what belongs where and doing something about it.  By being aware, I can grab a comb that is in the living room while on my way to the bathroom and put it away.  If I am walking through the living room and a couch pillow is out of place, I notice and straighten it.  If I am going upstairs, I grab something on the stairs that belongs up there to put away.  I’ve been doing this for so long that now it is just natural and I don’t realize I am doing it.  
2. Make a home for things
If there is not a specific home for something, then ‘picking up’ just becomes a useless game of shifting objects around from place to place.  There needs to be an intentional place for everything, especially
things that often get out of their place.  Most things only need ONE place.  If not one, as few as possible, for example–pens.  Pens should have one main place where the bulk of them live, and then a few intentional places around the house that you would normally need one.  Think about where the home for each object, makes the most sense.  I have a small bathroom upstairs that has great shelves.  They would be the perfect place to keep cute little baskets to hold all the hair accessories for my girls, but I don’t keep them there. The reason – they never do their hair upstairs.  It would make no sense and waste our time walking up the stairs just to get pony tail holder, so I keep them downstairs where they are accessible and easy to grab.  Keep objects ‘homes’ close to where you would use and need them.  This is efficient and will save time and steps.
3. Notice what is making the mess.
  If mail is constantly a mess, that is a clue to have a place and system for mail.  If child school projects/papers are creating clutter, create a place and system for them.  If you have plastic grocery bags coming out your ears, only save a few and recycle the rest, there is no need for more than 10.  If unfolded blankets are what is making the mess, find a basket to put nearby to place them in.  Magazines scattered?  Basket.  Books?  Book shelf or basket.  Husbands things taking over the counter?  Give them a container.  Look for things that are constantly out of place and creating mess, and find a place for those things.  Don’t know how to create a system for mail or school projects?  Google it!  The internet is full of great ideas.
4. Pick up after yourself!  
If you get it out, put it away.  Best kept secret to keeping a clean house.
5. When you think it, do it. 
 If at all possible, when the thought enters your brain, do it right away.  If you can’t, write it down.  If you think, “ugh the chair is not pushed in again”- then push it in.  If you think “I need to return that phone call” -then do it asap.  If you think “I should change out the laundry”- stop and do it.
6. Put things in time perspective.
  Lack of motivation is often because we think it will be too hard or take too long.  Changing a load of laundry only takes a minute.  Folding one takes 5.  Emptying the dishwasher can be done in 3-4 minutes.  Making your bed, 60 seconds.  
4. Get rid of clutter.  
If you don’t love it, and you don’t use it, get rid of it.  CLUTTER ATTRACTS CLUTTER!  
5. One thing at a time.  
One project at a time, one room at a time, one job at a time.  This keeps me from getting overwhelmed.  Small steps.  
6. Move it!
Work fast to get the job done.  Set the timer for 5 minutes and see what you can get picked up in that amount of time.  Set the timer for 15 minutes and tell the family “we are going to have a family 15 minute house pickup boogie”  Blast the music, show them how to move fast, make it fun.  We have picked up an entire house in less then 15 minutes by doing this.  I resort to the “15 minute boogie” technique whenever I feel the house starting to come unglued with things out of place in every room.  These are happening less and less as we have established homes for objects, and routines to keep those objects in their homes.  The kids do not mind them, because they know it will be over in 15 minutes.
I’ve conquered most of the clutter in our home, and keep it picked up most of the time.  I am now working on the whole ‘deep cleaning’ part.  That part does not come as easy for me, but I am encouraged knowing 3/4 of the battle is getting clutter out and establishing habits to keep it picked up.  I’m sure I’ll be posting my progress (or lack of) in future posts.  If you have any tips that work for you, let me know!
10
HOME/ Homemaking

Frigid Temperatures Outside, De-Cluttering Inside

(My Oldest Girls room-she’s the artsy one)
We’ve been having LOTS & LOTS of home time lately. My kids had Wednesday, Thursday and Friday off school due to snow and FRIGID temps. I am a major homebody, so I have loved it! We spend much of our time de-cluttering, cleaning and rearranging all 3 of the girls rooms. Boy, did they need it!
I have loved seeing them spend time in their “new” rooms. My younger 2 will keep theirs up w/o much reminding from me. It comes easy for them, they both like order. My oldest, well that is a different story. It only took a day for her floor to become the dropping place for most of the stuff she had interacted with during the day. Honestly, it made me want to blow a top when I peeked my head in! We spent so much time in there, we even got the labeler out! Everything that needed a place has a place, but she still chose the floor as her ideal place. I had to take a deep breath, remember God created her with an art brain that sees beauty in mess and does not zero in on small details (like the erasers, papers, socks, ello’s and cup all lounging on her floor). I called her in, and told her she now has to earn her tv time by keeping her room picked up. It has worked so far! That girl lives for watching “Cake Boss,” so it was pretty motivating for her.
(My Middle Girls Room-she loves reading, music, and decorating her room with family heirlooms)
Isn’t it funny how the rest of the house seems to come unglued as you focus in on a project? I have 3 great looking kid rooms, but need to play “catch up” with the rest of the house. My bedroom is no longer “A Retreat,” I had to change my socks twice today because of debris sticking to them, due to a house full of wood floors that had not been swept in days, (TMI?:)), and my laundry piled up almost as quickly as the white stuff out our windows. Thank goodness I used winter break to teach my 10 yr. old how to do laundry, what a help she has been! (and she likes it because she can watch her recorded “Cake Boss” shows while she works on it.)
In the midst of all the house craziness, we have had some precious “together” times. I tried to be purposeful about one on one time with each girl. I did a bit of baking, and made sure I brought at least one girl in the kitchen with me. I find if I can keep it light hearted and positive, even work is fun for them if they get alone time with mommy in the process. The nice thing about having 3 is when I take one for “mommy time”, the other 2 have each other to hang out with.
(My Youngest Room-she gets all the toys in her room.  She loves to make-believe.)
I have to admit, my meal plan went out the window the last 3 days. I think I am a bit too moody for a rigid meal plan. I like having 6 or so meals planned that I can choose from, but I don’t like assigning them to a specific day of the week, I just don’t roll like that. If I get in the mood to redo 3 little girls rooms in 2 days, then I gotta take advantage of that mood while it lasts! I made a quick meatball sandwich meal Wednesday, (I gotta share that recipe with you, it was emailed to me that same day by my sister, it was fast and good!). I called Todd while buried in room-redo mess and begged him to bring home a pizza for dinner on Thursday, then Friday we had our normal family movie night with Arby’s Roast beef sandwiches:); Saturday I made homemade Chicken and Red Pepper Pizza, and today (Sunday) I made bone stock and used it to make Chicken Noodle Soup (used this recipe, just added noodles instead of potatoes), which we ate with homemade bread. I used chicken for the pizza and soup that was cooked in my crockpot then shredded. (recipe here). I’m pretty excited about the Eat From Your Pantry Challenge, (despite going astray from my plan), my pantry, freezer and refrigerator are all looking pretty bare, so it is working!
So that is what has been going on here the last few days.  Life’s been good.
This post linked to Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
13
Homemaking/ Meals/ RECIPES

60 Nourishing Crockpot Recipes!

I’ve been surprised at how much fun I am having with the blogging community.  It is so fun learning and sharing with other mom’s/women!  My favorite fun is when one decides to have a “link up” party.

A “Link-Up” or “Linky” party is when one blogger allows other bloggers to come to her site, and leave a link to one of their own posts.  Different link parties have different themes.  I was very excited about a “Nourishing Crockpot Recipe” theme.
I think the beginning of the New Year is the perfect time to simplify, so I plan on using my crock-pot more often, especially when I have 60 healthful recipes to choose from!  Thank you, Lindsey @ Passionate Homemaking for hosting.
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