Homemakers: The Homebuilders of the World

Homemaking skills are so needed in this world.  Today, these important skills should not only be taught to daughters, but also to sons.  Here is the homemaking formula I found in an old church manual:

imagination + skill = creativity

creativity + production = satisfaction

homemaking x creativity = happy living

happy living divided among others = love

I like the idea of training oneself to be a homebuilder.  A certain amount of professionalism should be applied to building our homes.  You get so much more accomplished if the job is taken seriously.  As a homemaker for more than twenty years, I thought of myself as the manager of my own home.  As with all managers, the job requires organizational skills.

To be a successful homemaker it helps to study as much as possible the best ways to go about housework, food preparation, organization, decorating, taking care of plants, pets and raising children.  One homemaker gave the following description, "I learned organization as the mother of a four-year-old and newborn twins. I never got over it.  I still read things, and I write down little bits of information, for later use" (Mary Ellen Jordon Haight).

There are so many great blogs now that are much easier to read than volumes of books. God bless those people who break everything down picture by picture. There's a special place in Heaven reserved for these sharing teachers who do not assume we are all brilliant.  This is just one of the wonderful homemaking blogs available to us now:

http://homegrownmom.com/homemaking-for-girls-30-days

Grateful Living: Reflections on HOME

This is my post to share a touching story and lovely quotes about the most important place in a person's life--their home...

Best Snowflakes on the Block
It is Christmastime on our street. The homes are decorated with tinsel and many-colored lights. Some windows frame beautifully decorated trees, and well-shaped wreaths hang on the doors. At one home, however, a little confusion of homemade snowflakes congregates in the picture window. They are hung in childhood fashion (not in the adult perfection of other windows nearby) and whisper a special secret about the occupants of that home.

I want to share a secret with you. The secret is that children are more important than picture windows; that fingerprints and boot-drips and carpet stains aren't nearly as important as a child's self-esteem. Those little white snowflakes tell me something more. They tell me that smashed bouquets of dandelions adorn that kitchen table in the springtime and are loved as if they were the most beautiful of imported orchids. They tell me that a pet potato bug in a box can live there unmolested, that helping with a bug collection is just as important as doing the wash, that viewing the first violets of spring with a child's hand in yours is better than a shiny floor, that listening to a child's fears is more important than television, that children's art is more beautiful than the greatest of the old masters.
Oh, they do tell a special story, those snowflakes.
(Sherlene Parker, Ensign Dec. 1976)

A small house well-filled is better than an empty palace. ~Thomas Haliburton

Houses that express comfort and well-being can go a long way toward making us feel at home in the world. ~JoAnn Barwick

Everything in the White House must have a reason for being there.  ~Jacqueline Kennedy

Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free...Amish song

'Mid pleasures and palaces, though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.
~Pa, Little House in the Big Woods

God bless this house And all that's in it

A garden of flowers Some books for the hours

Sweet dreams Good Health

and Love, glorious love. ~unknown

“...I remember thinking how often we look, but never see...we listen, but never hear...we exist, but never feel. We take our relationships for granted. A house is only a place. It has no life of its own. It needs human voices, activity and laughter to come alive.” 
― Erma Bombeck, A Marriage Made in Heaven: Or Too Tired for an Affair

Love Affair with Pantries

I've had a love affair with pantries since I was a little girl. My next door neighbor had this whole closet right off the kitchen where she kept all her food.  This looks very much like the pantry she had in her early 1950's home. It's the type I want the most if I had a choice.  How convenient to just enter a room and be able to see everything you have at a glance!  I think all kitchens should have this included in the house plans.

My Grandma's kitchen had several mysterious rooms.  There was a mud room with a deep sink and updated with a washer and dryer. A screened-in porch where I'm sure many a pea was shelled and maybe used as a sleeping porch (the room was later closed in as an extra guest room).  Grandma had a lovely butler's pantry that she kept a giant, ancient freezer chest.  The room had windows in the alcove area and a built-in china cabinet.  But the most mysterious and unusual room was a long narrow closet that was her pantry.  From top to bottom the closet was lined with sturdy shelves.  It reminded me of the one the chauffer took a can of salmon out of in "Driving Miss Daisy." 

In The First Four Years, by Laura Ingall Wilder, Almonzo built the most amazing pantry in their new home.  The description includes flour bins!  I love to study the illustration shown in the book. 

Before Pinterest, I kept magazine clippings such as these, organized in a notebook, as inspiration for my ultimate pantry (I apologize for the picture's graininess.)  I've seen the first couple of pictures pinned on Pinterest that I clipped from a Martha Stewart Magazine years ago. 

From Martha Stewart Magazine

This is a great organizational idea for keeping up with and rotating food storage and supplies.  Another great idea comes from Ensign magazine for using an easy pocket chart system where even children (and husbands) can help.

From Martha Stewart Magazine

This is a great idea for those of us who must keep our storage in the garage or basement.



Here is an excellent way to use space inside the walls.  I love it cause you can see what you have, and yet it's still kinda hidden and there's the old-fashioned feel of a screen door.  Of course I don't find screen doors like this practical anymore on my front and back doors and opt for more energy-efficient storm doors, so getting to use a screen door somewhere in the house is nostalgic and you can often find them discarded and needing just a little TLC.

This pantry is what most new homes provide and is the simplest and least expensive for those of us who have an extra traditional closet to use.  I've seen a lot of good ideas on Pinterest for organizing pantry items using this storage system.

from Southern Living Magazine

I include this picture just because it is so inspiring.  Maybe one day I'll get my act together and have such an array of home-canned items.  Right now I'm lucky if I get jam or jelly done each year.

Eliminating Closet Clutter

While some would like to convert a whole room into a closet, if I could do away with closets altogether I would.  I personally don't like anything that attracts clutter like closets, garages, basements, and sheds.  However, I don't mind adorable little girls that fall asleep in their closet ;o)  I have a neighbor friend (mother of 14 children-half are now grown) who uses only old-fashioned, small armoires as closets.  They built their home without closets!  Ain't no clutter there, I can tell you!

First Step to Clutter Freedom

Take everything out of the closet and if necessary make any repairs to the space.  Kids can be really hard on closets and they may have to be re-painted every so often.  When cleaning and organizing a closet, you want all storage space to be see-through so you don't have to look for items.  Hang belts, bags, purses and shawls on the wall and put shoes on a rack.  Put sweaters in a box on the shelf at the top of the closet.  Give the closet an overhaul every six months before the next season begins.  I like to take that time to decide what to give to charity and what to store (in a clear box) for the season.  Winter clothes should be stored over the summer and vice versa.  Tuck bay leaves and fabric softeners amongst the clothes to keep bugs away.

Give away clothes that don't fit...

buyer's remorse purchases, or clothes you like but never wear.  Take them to a favorite consignment shop.  Have a closet rule:  "one in, one out."  This will ensure that you buy only what you truly love and your closet isn't overrun with things you don't wear.  I enforce this with the family too.  If my son gets new sneakers, the old ones are used for yard work, etc. and the old-old ones are thrown out (cause they are pretty nasty!)  This applies to all clothing and accessories, however you will probably donate or consign the items that are in good condition rather than throwing them away.

Divide clothes into groups:

work, home and fun, dressy, and repair.  Use different colored hangers.  Hangers are really important!!!  It's worth the expense to buy good hangers and it's important to use them properly and not try to put too much on the hangers or rip pants off of a hanger.  I like the kind that have rubbery surfaces that keep pants neatly folded over and they don't slip.  They hold shirts in place as well.  Camisoles and spaghetti straps stay in place on hooks provided.  I keep the hangers that my skirts come with from the store (the kind that clamp on).  You can buy these at the store as well.  This is what I use for skirts.  You can also hang throws and table clothes with these, which make it easy to remember what linens you have.

Nifty Recycling Bins

I picked up a copy of BH&G Big Style for Small Rooms 2012, and got a GREAT idea right off the bat--laundry baskets lined with plastic bags to make handsome recycling bins.

The baskets are actually laundry baskets.  I don't normally buy tall kitchen garbage bags, but I bought the odor control kind because I'm keeping this conveniently on the porch.  We live an hour away from any recycling places, so we don't make trips often.  The taller receptacles not only store more recycling, but we can use the tall bags to simply lift them out and throw in the back of the truck and carry to the recycling plant.

I rinse out all of my recycling before placing in the bins.  This can be done by filling the sink with water and rinsing small batches of recycling as they pile up on my counter by the sink.  I use a baby bottle scrubber to clean cans with sharp edges.  (Can openers can be purchased that don't leave sharp edges).  Rinsing cuts down on odors and pests.

Consistently Clean

I've found that when the family comes back to a clean, homey front porch, we are a lot more cheerful when entering our house.   At Christmas time I decorate the porch and even have scented candles burning and Christmas music softly playing.  My husband really enjoys this homecoming.  Be sure to clean exterior light fixtures, remove dead bugs and cobwebs on a monthly basis.  Also, clean windows, dust sills, clean floor, and spray for bugs.  It's easier to make a space homier if you have a large front porch or porch room, but even if all you have is a stoop, it can be clean, well-lighted and decorated with a few personal touches.

An alternative to spring and fall cleaning is to clean one room thoroughly at least once a month.  It is easier to remember to do this if the same day is scheduled for cleaning, such as the first Saturday of each month.

When cleaning any room, start with the closets, cupboards, and drawers.  Discard or give away the clutter.  Wash the shelves and drawers, then reorganize the remaining contents.

Every day make the bed and encourage family members to do the same--after all it's not a hotel.  Also, keep the bed clear of clutter!

First thing every morning or before going to bed each night, go around with a basket and pick up clutter and return them to the correct places.

Clean as you cook.  When washing dishes in the sink start with the least greasy items and work to the dirtiest so that your water stays cleaner longer.  Use an inverted metal colander on top of a hot skillet to catch splatters.  Then place in the dishwasher to clean.

Make lunches at night, and sweep the floor.  Plan tomorrow--what needs defrosting, what you're going to wear--write down tasks before sleeping.

Keeping all the cleaning supplies together in a bucket or other container can make cleaning a lot easier and train the family to put them back in the bucket too so you can find them more quickly.

Enact a "No Shoes" rule and your house will be a lot cleaner!

A great tip (since I'm a Scentsy Fan) is how to remove hardened melted candle wax:
Place candle holders upside-down in the freezer for about 20 minutes or longer; then take them out and place them on the counter.  The wax just falls out, (you may have to tap it lightly on the counter).

Winter Days: Cleaning Schedules

I admit, my New Year's Resolution could only be exciting to a Homemaker.  I resolve to clean my entire home and yard in an organized manner!  Yes, I am very excited about this!!  A personal cleaning schedule is something I want to include in my own homemaking journal I am putting together for my kids.  The idea came from recently rereading all of the Little House books (Laura Ingalls Wilder) and finding a cleaning schedule in Little House in the Big Woods.

"Wash on Monday,

Iron on Tuesday,

Mend on Wednesday,

Churn on Thursday,

Clean on Friday,

Bake on Saturday,

Rest on Sunday."

I think everyone would take a restful Sunday more seriously if they had to work hard six out of the seven days a week.  Little House in the Big Woods takes place before everyone had kerosene lanterns and coal burning stoves.  Very few women could work outside the home because there was so much to accomplish at home.  I really feel for the women back then who believed they were not talented at homemaking.  You really had to make the effort anyway!

I've been reading old Relief Society manuals from the late 1980's and 1990's.  I love how much emphasis the Church used to put on Homemaking Skills, keeping homes clean and tidy, and being organized.  Now I remember where I get this from.  I had my 19 year-old daughter read a lesson by Russell M. Nelson, (Apostle) about abortion.  When she was through reading that lesson, she became so interested in the other lessons that she asked if she could take the book back to school with her.  (I'm so proud!)

Some of my Daily Chores are pretty hefty and may take splitting the chores up for that day and completing them over two weeks.  Also, we only have 1400 sq. feet (by choice) so I don't have a huge house to clean.  If the kids are around with nothing better to do (like homework...) they help me.  Here's my Daily Schedule:

Each Day:
8-9am
Personal Prayer
Garbage/Recycling
Laundry (1-2 loads daily)
Dishes
9-10am, Work Out (Leslie Sansome Walk at Home)
10-12am, Daily Chore (listen to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Conference Talks during chore):
Daily Chores List:
Mondays:  Mop floors and vacuum (furniture too), wash rugs, clean porch room floor
Tuesdays:  Clean personal bathroom (husband and son share a bathroom that they clean), my bedroom, and dust my bookcases (takes up one whole wall), blinds and fans (including bath exhaust fan)
Wednesdays:  Dust a different room each week including porch room, (blinds and fans, corners and ceilings included and wash windows, clean leather chairs).
Thursdays:  Bake bread, clean out fridge and clean appliances (exterior)
Fridays:  Water plants, vacuum and wash truck (my personal vehicle) thoroughly, pay bills, create menu (using up stuff in the fridge and pantry) and create list for the rest of my groceries, grocery shopping
Saturdays:  Deep clean (a different one each week)--
oven
fridge
cabinets (any throughout house)
laundry room (and vent system)
range hood and filter
vinyl siding
exterior windows and screens
also
paint any wood exterior (this years' project)
yard work

12:00-2:50pm, While resting, study either GRE test, a past bookmarked Ensign article, or the Sunday School lesson (scripture study)
2:50-5:00pm, School pick-up and fix dinner
5-7pm, Pay bills/File papers, menu and grocery list updated, help with homework
7:00pm - bedtime, Do something creative (catch up on scrapbooks, sew dress and fleece shawl, complete sanding and cleaning repurposed furniture, complete cross-stitch project).
Family Prayer, Personal Prayer/Read novel

Here's my checklist for the week:

Three Day Chili

Instead of cooking the week of Thanksgiving, I fix a big pot of chili that will last for days.  Then it's easier to get ready for our Thanksgiving Feast.  

The first day I made a big thing of rice in my rice maker to go with the chili (one way to rotate rice in my food storage).  I place chili on top of rice and sprinkle grated cheddar on top so it melts.  It's very filling and you can use brown rice for a healthier dish.  

The second day I had chili with corn muffins.  The corn muffins fill you up so you don't eat too much chili.  

The third day I made taco salad using the last of the chili (chopped lettuce, tomato, corn chips or tortilla chips, sour cream, grated cheese, etc.).  See my Tacos in a Frito's Bag.

It was also time to get Scrap Happy!  I had to make room in the refrigerator for my make-ahead Thanksgiving dishes.  I used extra eggs, scraps of cheese, 3 pieces of leftover bacon, toasted some bread, and whipped up the last of the instant grits from the pantry to make scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon tossed in, and toast and grits.  That took about 15 - 20 minutes.  We also have been eating on paper plates all week to cut down on the dish washing.

Pretty Chili 
(Yield: 5 servings--can be doubled or tripled)
1 lb. ground beef
1 c. onion, chopped
1 c. green pepper, chopped
1 can (16-oz.) chili beans, undrained
1 can (16-oz.) dark red kidney beans, undrained
1 can (6-oz.) tomato paste
1/2 c. water
1 T. chili powder
2 t. oregano
2 cloves garlic, minced
Garnish with chopped green onions and sour cream, if desired
In a large pan cook beef, onion and green pepper until meat is browned.  Drain excess grease.  Stir in remaining ingredients except green onions and sour cream.  Bring to a boil.  Cover; reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Garnish with green onion and a dollop of sour cream.

UPDATE:  I decided to include my favorite 1980's Taco Salad recipe.  This is the best taco salad and the secret is the refried beans and taco sauce:
1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 (16 oz.) can refried beans
1 (16 oz.) jar taco sauce, DIVIDED
8 c. lettuce, torn in bite-size pieces
1/2 c. sliced black olives
1/2 c. onion, chopped
1 lg. tomato, diced
1 ripe avocado, diced
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
1 c. tortilla or Frito's chips
Prepare ground beef according to directions on seasoning mix package.  Add refried beans and 3/4 c. taco sauce.  In large serving bowl, arrange half the lettuce.  Add beef and bean mixture.  Top with remaining lettuce, olives, onion, tomato, avocado, cheese and chips.  Serve with remaining taco sauce.  Yield:  6 very hungry servings.

Cleaning: Team-building Time for Families, organization part 4

When I was growing up, we used to have a "ghost" who was responsible for any messes around the house that no one else claimed responsibility.  What else can you do as a parent when you ask, "Who made this mess?"  That is why I have always enjoyed the following story:

Goodbye Mr. Nobody  

Lurking in our house is a grim, relentless creature.  He is elusive, but I can track his tricky trail with my carefully trained eye.  This disgusting creature has the gall to eat an entire box of doughnuts in one night.  He can devour a gallon of milk, leaving none for breakfast.  He tracks mud onto freshly mopped floors and leaves toys and clothing strewn throughout the house.  He hides coats, shoes, and even homework.  Who is this abominable alien?  Mr. Nobody.
I was tired of Mr. Nobody and the tension he created in our home, so I decided to try something new.  I invented Mr. Everybody.  Since Mr. Nobody was leaving the toys out, Mr. Everybody would pick them up.  Instead of demanding to know who left the mess, I had Everybody help clean it up. 

It took the children a few days to catch the spirit of Mr. Everybody.  But once they realized that I was no longer trying to place blame, we were able to resolve many minor problems.  Now that Everybody pitches in to help, we have much more cooperation and unity in our family.  (Velda Gilbert Mc Donald, "Good-bye Mr. Nobody," Ensign, 6/89)

Teaching Children to Clean

I haven't convinced my family yet but I firmly believe that shared chores build a family team.  I read that, "In a survey of 250 children, over ninety-seven percent honestly felt that they should work at home."  Which is probably one of those surveys where people say what they think they should say, not what they really believe!!!  However, I honestly believe that children like to help and know they should because finishing a task from start to finish builds self-esteem and so does keeping the house looking nice.

Where no oxen are, the manger is clean, But much increase comes by the strength of the ox.  (Proverbs 14:4)

Mealtime
Where mom is the primary meal manager, dads and eventually teens can become proficient at making a meal that is "their domain."  So this is a chore that all can take a turn and give Mom a break once-in-a-while.

A good method of delegating mealtime chores (for example):

1. On a large index card, divide chores (in this case meal-related) as equally as possible into three groups (I have three kids).  Ours looks like this:  Blue=Set table, wipe counters and table, switch cards; Yellow=Unload dishwasher; Red=Wash dishes that can't go in dishwasher, put away food
2. The index card is on the calendar in the kitchen.  
3. On the calendar in each Sunday square are marks of blue, yellow, and red.  
4. Beside each color is one of the kids' names.  
5. If they don't like this weeks' tasks, at least they'll change next week.  
6. Everyone is responsible for bringing in his own dishes from the table, rinsing them, and putting them into the dishwasher.
7. Be Consistent!!!

Chores Instruction

With all chores, give a clear idea of what is expected of the child and when it must be completed.  One year when my kids were first learning to do chores such as cleaning the bathroom, I found a really good Achievement Day activity (I was an Achievement Day leader at the time) where I put the instructions for chores such as cleaning the bathroom on index cards.

I (patiently) showed them how to clean the toilet, tub, sink, floor, mirror, etc. repeatedly, until they could do it themselves.  I also instructed the children (and husband) on the location of the cleaning equipment and how to store it.  There was a performance standard expected and time frame in which the chore must be done.  


To this day, I have to ensure expectations are consistently maintained.  "If children are allowed to go two full weeks without doing their chores, they question whether they really need to do them at all.  Inspect jobs when they are done.  It says to a child that these tasks do matter.  Be generous and genuine with compliments for a job well done...If there is a problem, withdraw a privilege, but don't nag."  (Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg, Table Talk, Focus on the Family 1994 pp. 63-71)

The beauty of work depends upon the way we meet it; whether we arm ourselves each morning to attack it as an enemy that must be vanquished before night comes--or whether we open our eyes with the sunrise to welcome it as an approaching friend who will make us feel at evening the day was well worth its fatigue.  ~Lucy Larcom


Cleanliness is next to godliness.  The Spirit of God will not dwell in an unclean place--and that goes for your room as well as your body.  ~Florence S. Johnson


What this country needs is cleaner minds and dirtier fingernails.  ~Mark Twain


Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.  ~Phillis Diller


Ma used to say:
Wash on Monday, 
Iron on Tuesday,
Mend on Wednesday,
Churn on Thursday,
Clean on Friday,
Bake on Saturday,
Rest on Sunday.
~Little House in the Big Woods, Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Legacy of Meal Planning, continued

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and the mother is queen of the kitchen. ~Owen Meredith

Meal planning lends us time to work on the families’ table manners. Each person, no matter how young or old, should show gratitude for the meal that is placed before him. We should never verbally complain about the food offered at home or elsewhere. Remind children of the work involved in making the meal. Parents set the tone for grateful living. New manners lessons can be introduced one meal at a time over the weeks and months. Manners to work on can include passing the dishes counterclockwise, asking the host/hostess if you may be excused, learning to set a table correctly, and learning to introduce people to one another. Also, when children learn to prepare dishes, there are kitchen manners as well such as the rule that messes must be cleaned up before the dish is eaten.

Take a few minutes to make this table-setting place mat I found in Family Fun magazine quite a while back.  Fashioned from shapes of colored paper that show the proper locations for the plate and silverware, this mat effortlessly teaches the fine art of setting the table.  Kids will feel good about being able to help out, and they'll get practice in following a diagram.  Colored drawing paper can be tacked together with glue, then laminated on both sides with Con-Tact paper.

Mealtime should not be a battle of wills. Don’t let anyone snack between meals. If children don’t finish the meal, they do not need a snack or dessert. Children who are picky eaters have had their preferences catered to too often.


Finally, on those rare occasions of eating out with kids, keep them busy at the restaurant. Give them a snack before leaving home and go prepared with milk and cheerios. Save a small bag of “quiet toys” that are only for eating out (include crayons and paper) and dine early to avoid the rush.


It is important to always remember that even though we want to be efficient meal planners, the kitchen can be the most therapeutic room in the home. “We go to great effort to save time in the kitchen, but there’s a sort of time in the kitchen that cannot be sacrificed or replaced. It’s a strategic baking cookies or stirring the pot and listening time” (Table Talk, p. 123. Mimi Wilson & Mary Beth Lagerborg).  


Ruth B. Wright expressed it this way, "The best conversations happen around our kitchen table.  Many times we have laughed, cried, shared feelings, hopes and dreams; sorted out differences; solved the problems of the world; recognized our strengths and weaknesses into the wee hours of the morning."  

There is a special bond among those who break bread together--a custom established by the Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a precious legacy we can leave our families and is worthy of our time and attention.

To be a good cook you have to have a love of the good, a love of hard work, and a love of creating.  Some people like to paint pictures, or do gardening, or build a boat in the basement.  Other people get a tremendous pleasure out of the kitchen, because cooking is just as creative and imaginative an activity as drawing or wood carving, or music.  And cooking draws upon your every talent--science, mathematics, energy, history, experience--and the more experience you have the less likely are your experiments to end in drivel and disaster.  The more you know, the more you can create.  There's no end to imagination in the kitchen.  ~Julia Child

The Legacy of Meal Planning

Over the years, I have realized one eternal truth—motherhood is 24/7.  If you want or need a break, you have to decide to take one.  However, these have to be timed just right or they will not be as beneficial as you need them to be.  If you know that most afternoons are going to be spent from 3pm to 7 - 8pm taking children to a 40 minute orthodontist appointment, and/or 90 minutes of piano lessons, and/or a 2 hours of cheer practice, and/or 2 ½-3 hour cross country meets, not to mention as-long-as-you-can-stand-it fund raisers, and the 15 minute church activity that took you 30 minutes to get to, etc., then you don’t need to add any additional errands to this list.

Errands need to be done while the children are at school and as early as possible.  You need to get your work done quickly and efficiently so that you have time to work on personal projects, (like painting the bathroom…) and still have time to get plenty of rest before you pick up the children.  That requires a healthy lifestyle so that you have the energy it takes to do all this.  Getting a 30 minute walk or workout, taking a vitamin, and eating nutritious meals are vital to having the stamina to be a mom.  But do not forget the necessary down time that we should take each day before we head out at 3pm.  We need to understand our limits and allow ourselves the opportunity to recharge, such as reading a book for fun, taking a hot bath, doing some yoga stretches, reading the scriptures.  It is also good to encourage your husband to do something to recharge each day as well.

Meal planning should be an important part of each day.  When it comes to planning meals, we must ask ourselves, what are the wisest uses of our time and money?  With children at home, three-hour meals just don’t make sense.  “There are so many options, so much to do, so many demands on women.  There is no point in taking one hour to do a ten-minute task, nor should we slap together an hour-worthy project in ten minutes.” (Elaine Cannon)  As a mother, taking time to plan is essential.

Planning can help us actually enjoy the meal we have prepared instead of being too tired to eat.  Planning the week helps us know what days mealtime needs to be simplified due to appointments or having to eat in shifts.  Planning meals allows us to invite company for dinner or go on a picnic.  Meal planning helps us change things up by trying out new recipes (put winners in a file to record in cookbooks).

Planning our meals involves keeping a running grocery list that everyone can contribute to so there is no back and forth to the grocery store because we forgot something.  I like to prepare meals that I call “one-dish meals” because they do not really require sides since the meat and veggies are all together, (like chicken-pot-pie).  I also like to find the “perfect recipe” for recipes such as pancakes, mac-and-cheese, biscuits, etc.

The best way to become a proficient meal planner is to work out a basic schedule of seven to twenty-eight menus that you can become proficient at.  These are the meals we eat most regularly.  Just start a list that includes each meal you make at home until you have come up with twenty-eight.  It is a known fact that most folks generally eat the same things each week and each month.  These recipes can be organized into a notebook, and eventually a master grocery list prepared so that the basic ingredients are collected in your pantry.

Being prepared in this way helps you to have the opportunity to get really good at cooking one thing such as bread, cookies, or even a freezer meal—and then make two to give one away.  When you are prepared, it can be very gratifying to give service in this way.  Also, before going  to bed, I like to figure out what I will need to do for tomorrow’s dinner, such as does something need thawing or marinating, etc.?

Meal preparation helps me buy most of the groceries for the week at one time from the cheapest, nearest store and then forbid myself from going back—even if we have to drink powdered milk to get through the end of the week!  If I run out of something like cereal, then it takes no time at all to make homemade oatmeal.  Meal planning also helps me choose recipes with fewer ingredients, making the dish cheaper and less work.

Be flexible because schedules will change.  Children will begin to eat more, or we may have to switch menus around on the calendar at the last minute because something was accidentally eaten!  Learn to cook from scratch.  Then you will know how to make homemade biscuits when a recipe calls for canned biscuits, or homemade chili or tacos when you don’t have the seasoning packet, or homemade mac-and-cheese from leftovers in the fridge and pantry.  Basically, if you know what’s in a dish, then you can figure out at a glance what you have on hand and what you can make with it.  If you only have eggs and some leftover meat or veggies, you can make amazing omelets or quiche!

Homemaking Journals

“Homemaking journals were…passed down through family generations in the ‘olden days.’  It is a journal where you record in one place all things related to homemaking: all of the things special to you, traditions you have instilled, secrets, tips and more.”1

When my aunt retired, she and her husband began to serve a mission in Washington D.C.  Soon after their mission began, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  Aunt Phala used this remaining time to finish family history, purchase quality photo albums for her many grandchildren, and she compiled her own Homemaking Journal.  She gave her children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, and nieces such as myself, a copy of this wonderful book.

Aunt Phala was one of the most creative and talented people I’ve ever known and a true asset to the LDS church.  She wrote many a road show skit and put on Girls Camps and many other major church events, including weddings and baby showers.  Everything was done with style and hospitality not common today.  My favorite recipes of Phala’s were recorded in her journal, including chicken and stuffing casserole, pearly shell chicken salad, and orange box-cake cookies.  She also included quotes, family stories, treasured and rare photos, original poetry and drawings, and advice/instruction on anything from cleaning to entertaining.

I have been fortunate to know many people throughout my life that have been an inspiration to me especially for homemaking and Phala’s journal has certainly inspired me.  Her suffering was long and painful, but she courageously completed goals most of the healthy would never attempt.  My own homemaking journal will be dedicated to Aunt Phala for inspiring me.

It occurred to me, as I have been compiling my homemaker’s journal, that I have become much more organized by doing so.  I am able to find what I need…when I actually need it!  I believe sitting down, (maybe for a few hours each Sunday), and working on this specialized journal can help us to organize ourselves.  Topic ideas for a homemaking journal listed by Dionna Sanchez include but are not limited to:

• “Recipes (especially beloved family recipes that have been in your family for years)
• Inspirational poems, quotes, Bible verses or excerpts that inspire you in your love for family, home, and homemaking?
• Tips, tricks, hints and ideas that aid you on a daily basis in helping your home to run smoothly
• Home schooling information—if relevant
• Health and first aid remedies and tricks
• Ideas and tips for Emergency Preparedness
• List of birthdates and anniversaries
• Holiday Traditions
• Kid stuff (activities, projects and kid recipes like “goop”)
• Gardening—planting information, seasonal planting favorites that you have used, tips, tricks, and more.
• Your daily routines—do you keep a to-do list?  Does it help you to stick by a certain schedule?
• Meal Planning—how do you keep organized in your kitchen?  What helps you keep meals rotating regularly?
• Budget outline
• Trusted phone numbers of doctors, dentists, builders, pastors, and more

Not only will you now be breathtakingly organized, you will have a precious gift to give or leave to your loved ones.

1)  Dionna Sanchez has written about Homemaking Journals for Emphasis on Moms, a monthly online newsletter http://www.emphasisonmoms.com/.

Living Small

Homemaking Journals

Grateful Living

Grateful Living Series: Dress Up M. H. Windows

Grateful Living: Repurposed Trunk

Grateful Living: Repurposed Armoire

Grateful Living: Class Up the Mobile Home Fireplace

Grateful Living: Front Porches

Grateful Living: The !#*! M.H. Walls

Grateful Living: M.H. Spa Retreat
Grateful Living: The Homebuilders of the World

8 Ideas for Living Small

Ideas for living in a small space: 

1. Put children's artwork on the fridge. Place child in front holding how many fingers he is. Snap a photo. Throw out less-creative work.
2. I use only kitchen tools that are multi-purpose. I gave away the "extra." None of my furniture is decorative. I don't have enough cabinet space so I use a china cabinet to hold the dishes we use each day. I only have one set of dishes (that serves 8). For years I used Corell because it was indestructible. I'm creative about what I serve food in--like my beloved Pyrex collection rather than fancy stuff. 
3. I decorated my bathroom with a "Spa" feel because it lends itself to being minimalist. Family members use the bathroom in shifts in the morning according to priority. Also, think 1988 BYU Deseret Towers--1 bathroom for half-a-floor of girls. Personal items leave the bathroom with you to be stored in your bedroom. Every bedroom has a large mirror. 
4. It literally took five years to whittle away the excess. Every year, study and find ways to do without is my advice. Bookshelves are essential to us because we read our collection of books over and over, and I have quite a few albums. Digital albums can be a time and space saver--just be sure to make a "hard copy" (meaning you publish the book) because technology is always changing. 
5. Christmas begins about a week before Christmas (not the whole month). Focus on Christ--not space defying decorations. I just divided up our mostly homemade tree decorations for my nearly grown children since two girls will be leaving this fall. Decorations take one box now. 
6. My office consists of a tiny desk with a used laptop and a multi-purpose scanner. A cardboard file box fits underneath and is thinned out each January.
7. My style is eclectic. I don't like that Rooms-to-Go feel that many houses have. Most of my furniture is hand-me-downs that are repurposed. The narrow hall is the "family history" gallery. All my cross-stitch has been framed and displayed on various walls. 
8. One week's worth of classic clothing is all we need. No dry cleaning (except for men's suits). I pay for good clothes and good shoes. Two church dresses. No fluctuating in size allowed. When my husband lost 30 lbs., I gave away all his clothes. When he gained it back--he decided to lose it for good because his clothes were TIGHT, and he has. (I look like Aunt Bee--but I don't fluctuate).

Aunt Bee

Sustain Life, Not Lifestyle: Self-Reliance, part 1

Camping at the Beach

Preparing to give a fifth Sunday lesson on organizing food storage, I studied and was inspired by the 2009 Welfare Training found at lds.org.  Here can be found the essential information we all need to know.  Brother Robert D. Hales said that provident living means not coveting the things of this world.  It means using the resources of the earth wisely and not being wasteful, even in times of plenty.  Provident living means avoiding excessive debt and being content with what we have.  (Much of this is a synopsis of my notes from this training, particularly Hales and Beck's talks).

It is important to understand that self-reliance is a means to an end.  Our ultimate goal is to become like the Savior, and that goal is enhanced by our unselfish service to others.  Our ability to serve is increased or diminished by the level of our self-reliance.

President Marion G. Romney once said:  "Food for the hungry cannot come from empty shelves.  Money to assist the needy cannot come from an empty purse.  Support and understanding cannot come from the emotionally starved.  Teaching cannot come from the unlearned.  And most important of all, spiritual guidance cannot come from the spiritually weak" (Ensign, Nov. 1982, 93).

If necessary, we should change our lifestyle--and possibly our place of residence--to live within our means.  We should willingly seek additional training and learn new skills, regardless of our age.  Maintain our health and stay close to our spouse and children.

The presiding bishop, H. David Burton also said:  "We use the little phrase, 'sustain life but not lifestyle.'  As we sustain life, Church assistance is designed to furnish food, clothing, and appropriate shelter as well as other assistance, as determined by the bishop, needed to help the individual become self-reliant."

Individuals are expected to use any assets they have for their support and in an orderly way downsize to accommodate budget restraints.

Our family has been through tough times where it seems everything went wrong financially all at the same time.  But what we learned from adjusting is priceless:  how to actually use food storage, how to use our garden's bounty, having fun with the family on a budget (picnics and camping), purchasing large ticket items, like a car, with prudence, etc.

Above all, we learned to be grateful.  We learned to express our gratitude in our prayers, especially when times our seriously tough.  Brother John Bytheway says that when you feel least like praying, that is when it is most essential.  During the financial stress our family endured, I suffered from painful hives for six months, (even though I had never been prone to this before).  I decided to immerse myself into the scriptures--The New Testament to be exact.  I gained a testimony that:
Heavenly Father loves me.  His Son has promised, "All these things shall give [me] experience, and shall be for [my] good" (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7).

Be Organized And Do Fast Pages

It really helps to go through your pages and plan them ahead. Sometimes I use sticky notes on my actual album pages to write notes to remind me what order, theme, idea I'm using from a publication, etc.  Then I put the stack of photos I'll be choosing from in a zip-lock baggy with those photo album pages.  I stack them just like they would be organized in the album, and then I place them in a photo box that's designed for photo album pages.  Everything's ready to go when I finally get a chance to settle down and start scrapping.  Also, it's so important to journal your album pages.  You might use a combination of the photojournaling suggestions, or stick to one, depending on your personality, available time, etc.  Digital cameras, the internet and computer have all revolutionized scrapbooking.  Now everything can be done by the click of a button.  This makes journaling a breeze!  

I used this information from Melinda Dye to get started back in 1995:

1. Collect all of your photos and memorabilia into one spot.  Look in old photo albums, drawers, hope chests, baby and wedding books and relative's homes.

2. Put photos in chronological order and/or events:  Weddings, baby books, high school years, special trips and growing-up phases.  Sort your photos by putting them in stacks that resemble years, then sort into months, seasons, events or outings.  Use envelopes from the developer, rubber bands and Ziploc bags to keep photos and memorabilia in order.  Slip in the memorabilia (cards, brochures, ticket stubs, etc.) where it belongs, or it will be forgotten.

3. Next, collect cropping tools (templates, trimmer, scissors, pen, etc.) into one place.  Crop all of the photos for several pages or for one time period, but keep them in order (this may seem risky but this is the key to doing it fast).  Lay out the photos by month or event.  Next, see if you want to do something special with them and how many pages you want to devote to the theme.

4. Collect supplies and tools into one spot (I set up a card table in  my living room where the kids play; they can see me, but don't need my full attention).  Sometimes it is helpful to put tools in a basket or large bowl for easy access.  You can separate colored paper in an accordion file folder and stickers can be divided by themes in Ziplock bags.  The key to getting lots done quickly is having easy access to photos and supplies.

5. Take every free minute during the day to work.  Get up early and stay up  late when there are fewer interruptions.  At the end of the work period, re-organize the work space and drape your table with a sheet to protect your photos.  Another time-saver option:  Complete every aspect of the page before moving to the next page (I write all captions, dates,  names, etc., before I do stickers).

6. Just like exercise, we have to set time aside to work on our albums.  Schedule album time into your  monthly calendar.  Attend workshops, schedule one full Saturday a month, work a few hours every Sunday afternoon or set up a work party with friends.  Set a goal to complete cute, simple and fast pages that have great memories preserved and enjoy your completed albums!  

Don't forget--working on your photo album is not a matter of time, it's a matter of commitment!

("Do It and Stick to It, Be Organized And Do Fast Pages," by Melinda Dye, Creative Memories)

Setting Organizational Goals: organization part 2

In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord told us to "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." (D&C 88:119) ("Organize Yourselves," Ensign, Nov. 1980).  To me this scripture from The Doctrine and Covenants states the essential purpose of every homemaker.  As homemakers we are to "establish a house."  Our house should have prayer, fasting, faith, learning, glory, order and God as the foundation.  The word establish is defined as:  "To set up; found.  To bring about; generate.  To place or settle in a secure position or condition; install.  To make firm or secure."

In my opinion, being disorganized is simply a matter of having developed bad habits.  I believe being organized can be developed just as any "gift."  Organization begins with the heads of the household.  We must honestly evaluate whether or not we're truly ready for the challenge of being an "organized person."  Just like any gift, the gift of organization requires consistent effort.  Prayer, research, and study are necessary.  

Hide not your talents, they for use were made.  What's a sun-dial in the shade? ~Benjamin Franklin

When I entered the Young Women program at age twelve, I was given a beautiful Personal Progress book. It was white, full-sized, with a picture of the ideal Latter-day Saint Young Woman on the cover.  Inside were six values and homemaking was one of them, as well as my favorite.  We were given excellent step-by-step instruction on how to plan goals.  By following these simple steps, becoming more organized as a goal can be successfully accomplished.

First Evaluate:  What do I want to have happen in my life now and in the future?  Then make a Plan by setting a date for the goal to be accomplished and how this goal will be accomplished.  By having a Target Date, the goal becomes more real.  The plan needs to be broken down into small steps.  It helps to have someone to Report to.  This can be Heavenly Father if the goal is very personal, or it can be to a family member, friend or recorded in a journal.  Last, begin the process again.  The ultimate goal of an organized household can be broken into smaller, achievable goals.

The noblest search is the search for excellence. ~Lyndon B. Johnson

Gordon B. Hinkley, former president of the LDS church said, "We will not become perfect in a day or a month or a year.  We will not accomplish it in a lifetime, but we can keep trying, starting with our more obvious weaknesses and gradually converting them to strengths as we go forward with our lives."

(The Quest for Excellence," Ensign Sep. 1999)

Becoming organized is a process as well.  It can be fun and even addictive (but in a good way).  You may find yourself organizing where ever you go.  Following the goal-setting process outlined in the old Young Women Manuals helped me to earn my Young Women Medallion twice!  And I have been pretty darn organized ever since.  This has brought me much joy.  I've also taught my own children this process and it has helped them to be successful students and earn their own recognitions at church, school and scouting.

Sometimes we can plan to have a goal accomplished by a certain time and devote a particular time to complete the goal (like cleaning out the shed), but it's also true that the best time to organize is when you catch the mood.  For quite some time I may research the best way to organize the shed, and make an inventory of what needs to be in the shed and what to donate, etc. before I actually feel like doing it.  Don't be upset if you have to change the target date.  When I'm "in the mood" to organize, I do a much better job.

80% of success is showing up. ~Woody Allen