Happy Home

Happy Monday bloggy buddies. I hope you all had a great weekend! I wanted to start the week off with a Happy Home post. Have any of you been working on keeping your visual space clutter free? Yes, no, maybe so? If you have, great job! Keep it up! If you haven't.... oh well! I hope you will give it a try though. You won't be sorry!

Today I want to talk about a house work schedule.

The first thing I would encourage you to do is to have a chart posted (small white board, paper on the fridge, index card on your mirror). Where ever or in whatever form you like best. The key is to have it visible. Your list needs to include all of the chores you wish to accomplish in a week (vacuum, dust, bathrooms, mirrors, etc.) Be sure to add anything to your list that you consider to be important enough to be done on a weekly basis.

So, are you someone who loves to have a big cleaning day each week? Or are you like me and would rather do one or two major chores a day? That is the next decision you need to make. I have learned that sometimes I have one big cleaning day and other times I clean as the week goes. Life kinda determines that sometimes ;-) so be flexible with it!

Having the list on a white board is really helpful. When I finish a chore I check beside it, then at the end of the week I can erase all the checks and have it for the next week. It's good for me. Find what is good for you and run with it. Perhaps a new sticky note each week on your planner would work best.

The main thing is to determine what chores you consider to be "weekly". Having them be a constant factor will make your housework become more natural. When things become natural, they get easier and feel less like work. Your housework should not be as big of a chore as most people make it out to be. I hope this helps you have a Happy Home.

Money Making March

Money Making March
3M Challenge

Google Image

Feburary was a tough month budget wise for me. I have phases with my budget. For a while I will be totally on top of things and really do great. Then we hit a slump where it seems like we are just unable to keep our budget in the front of our mind. Are we the only ones? Please tell we aren't alone.... anybody else out there wishing their budget was closer to what it is on your monthly outline?

Well coming in March I am doing something drastic with my budget. Not so much drastic, more challenging really. I am not changing anything on my outline. I am not switching over to an envelope system (quite yet) I am simply going to use cash only for my miscellaneous category. That is the one category that I have the most trouble with (big surprise!). The other thing I am going to do is have a calender with a spending schedule on it. I want to have it outlined when I will do what shopping for the month. Along with this schedule there will be mandatory 'no spend' days. That means on those days, unless it is a medical emergency needing medication or something major like that or my husband needing gas for his vehicle to get to and from work, no money will be spent.
This is my blank slate (sorry it's a little grainy). On March 1st I will post my filled out calender. Then throughout March I will post updates to how I am doing. I will let you know if I think these few changes are making a difference. My goal is to do a better job of spending the money God is blessing my family with. I fail over and over again to do a good job with our money and I desperately need to do better. These few changes should change our budget by $300 in the positive direction of done correctly. If I can do this for 3 months I will have positively increased our bank account by $900.00! WOW! Then, if I can do it for 6 months you're talking $1800.00! This is a big deal my friends! But let's not put the cart before the horse though.

Do you need to buckle down and get better grip on your money? Don't be afraid to join me! Perhaps just adopt the mandatory 'no spend' days and scheduled shopping trips. Make Money Making March work for you! Grab a calender and fill it out! Don't want to fill out a calender, then just post about how you plan to save money in March. I'm not picky, I simply want to see what ideas you have about getting a better handle on your budget. Post about it on your blog and give your readers updates on your progress! Lets encourage each other this March! What do you have to loose? Each Friday I will have a Money Making March post with a link tool. If at any point during this challenge you want to join in on the fun, please do!

Venting

I wanted to take Lula Mae out for a biscuit this morning to get the kids out of the house. Getting out of the house was fine. Eating was fine. Leaving was..... not.

We don't have to deal with public meltdowns often (and I am very thankful for that) but they do happen from time to time. Today was one of those times.

She refused my instruction. She quickly began giving me that horrible look. Then as I grabbed her hand to help encourage her to come, the fit really got started. The screaming was loud and the flailing was strong. While trying to hold on to a flailing toddler and carry a huge infant seat I could hear many comments and see all the funny looks. I could barley make it out the door before I began to cry.

How could they judge my child and my ability to parent by a two minuet period they witnessed? They don't know me. They don't know her. They have no idea what our home life is like. They have no idea how old I am (although it really get under my skin every time I hear someone say "She's too young to have kids, that's her problem.") I am well aware of my short stature and young face. I know that I have two small children close in age. None of that gives anyone the right to judge me, my child or my parenting.

I have a very strong willed daughter. Stronger than strong willed! That trait will be a gift someday I am sure. She will be a strong woman and I will never have to worry about her "doing it because every one else is doing it". Her will may also cause her many problems because there is a time for just going with the flow and not being so assertive. She will have to learn that delicate balance as she grows.

Do you have any idea how tough it is to feel as though you are not doing anything right? We all feel like that from time to time, right? It's not just me.... right???? I hope I'm not alone on this one. These days Lula Mae has been tough and Jayce has been tougher. I feel as though I can do nothing right for either of them. I feel like my emotions are never where they need to be.

Jayce is very cranky. Don't get me wrong, he is a good baby, a sweet baby... just fussy and not as content as most babies. I feel like nothing I do makes him happy. I feel like I can't please him. I'm his mom and I can't make him happy. All day long I feel defeated.

Lula Mae is testing every boundary possible. Her temper worries me. Her behavior confuses me from day to day. Her lows are lower than they ever have been before. I feel like all the effort I am putting into her is a waste. Nothing I do works these days.

Even though Jayce is cranky I know he loves me. I know deep down he is happy. But I am still lost in a sea of emotions. I know Lula Mae is benefiting from what I am teaching her about God and His love for her. I know that she has a huge heart and is quick to forgive and ask forgiveness. But I am still mentally exhausted by the battles.

I am not telling you this so that you feel bad for me or to make you think I hate my life. Believe me, I am exactly where I want to be. I am telling you this because writing is therapeutic for me. If no one reads this, I don't care. If no one comments, it won't change anything. Just know that I am in need of your prayers. I need you to pray that I stay focused on God. If I just stay focused on Him every other decision will be easier. God is working on me every single day and I am humbled by His grace and mercy.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
-Philippians 4:13

Letters Of Intent

Dear Horrible Day,

You broke my spirits pretty bad. I am still trying to recover. Do me a favor and please, please, please never come back again!


Thanks In Advanced,

In Shambles And Nearing The Point Of Needing To Be Institutionalized

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Dear Lula Mae,

I promise we are going to Disney World. I am sorry that you think every time we get in the car it is time to leave on our trip. I know you don't have a great sense of time yet, but please stop asking if we are going to see all of your friends yet. Time is going fast enough, lets not rush May! I am not ready to have a 3 year old and a one year old! Are you trying to kill me darling? Stop growing up! I promise, when we are leaving for Florida you will know. There will be tons of packing going on dear, it will be hard to miss. We won't forget you so just relax and enjoy being two for a little while longer please!


Love,

You Mommy Who Throws A Party In Her Head Every time She Thinks About Disney World Too (sorry girl, it's just genetic!)

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Dear Gas Prices,

I have nothing to say to you. You sicken me!


Singed,

Going Broker By The Fill-Up





Do you need to get something off of your chest? Do you want to do it in letter form? Then link up with Julie at Foursons! Have a great Friday everyone!

This Is What Whining Looks Like

Annnnnnnnnnnnnd GO!!!

• I accidentally ripped the toilet paper holder off the wall while half asleep this morning
  
• Jayce refused to eat his breakfast
• I spilled Lula Mae's milk everywhere while fixing her breakfast
• Jayce cried all morning because... well, because he is Jayce and sometimes that's how Jayce is
• I went to get the clothes out of the dryer so I could get dressed and saw that they had been dried on medium heat... therefore I felt like a big old fatty trying to fit into my jeans
  
• Lula Mae argued with me about playing in the playroom for about 15 minuets
• Lula Mae then had a time out where I got to hear hear scream "I want my Daddy because he loves me more than Mommy!" over and over and over again (I mean I only carried and birthed the child, heaven forbid she like me or anything!)
• Jayce decided napping was not really on his agenda for the morning so he cried and played instead
• Lula Mae's lunch fell on the floor and I had to prepare another meal (luckily it was an accident!)
• Jayce did not enjoy the lunch I picked out for him and to show his disapproval he screamed through lunch, nibbling and gagging here and there
• I needed to get the kids ready to go to the book store after lunch and started with wrestling Jayce through a diaper change
• During said wrestling match/diaper change I got pooped on
• While dealing with the poop Lula Mae informed me that she couldn't get her jeans off because they were too tight so she pooped in her panties
• Once I finally got the kids loaded in the van I needed to get the double stroller out of the garage and loaded into the van
• On the first attempt at putting the stroller in the van it fell out
  
• While picking it up I pulled my toe nail back and began gushing blood
• When I got to the store I had to park in the "additional parking in rear" area because there was an old man just sitting in the way of the first entrance to the very awkward parking lot
• When we got home both kids were not thrilled that it was nap time
• Pretty quick though they both fell asleep
• Then Lula Mae woke up screaming for some reason which then meant Jayce was awake screaming

And here I sit... frazzled by the first half of my day. If the second half goes this darn smoothly I may spend the rest of the day in tears. If you never have hard days, you wouldn't appreciate your good ones. However, I would love a good one tomorrow!

Happy Home

Welcome to my first series Happy Home! As of now, I am not sure if this is going to be a weekly thing, bi weekly or whatever.... but I am going to be sure to make them regular. Enough of the chatting, lets get things started!

When you think about your home, what comes to mind? Do you just shake your head? Do you laugh and brush it off as though its condition just doesn't matter? Do you daydream about what you wish your home was like? Well, you shouldn't! Your home should make you happy, comfortable, excited and proud.... just to name a few things. I want to start Happy Home simple. I know that having clutter free and organized pantry, closets and drawers is important, but we need to start with the basics.

Visual space

Your homes visual space is one of the most crucial elements. If your visual space is cluttered you can't keep the unseen space kept up either. It is nearly impossible. So lets get right to tip #1.

Tip #1: Keep your visual space clear (focus on the living areas in your home clear first. Personal areas like bedrooms can come later.)

Do not let your kitchen table become a drop off point.


Keep it clean and ready for a meal all the time. Your table is probably a large space and if you keep it cleared your visual space is possibly 50% taken care of.


Now that the table is clear, lets move on to the next areas that need to stay cleared. Counters! Don't let your counters absorb the impact of keeping your table clear.


Our buffet is another surface that I am constantly working to keep clear. It is in the center of our house and does not need to house "stuff" waiting to be put away.


Can you think of other surfaces in your home that you are catchalls? Our entertainment center is one. I even limited my decorating on this piece of furniture because it is the focus in the room. Too many decorations can even look cluttered, so choose wisely. At least try to be minimal of focus points. See that chest there? Not only is it a decorative item, it also houses our remotes so they aren't just laying all over the place. I love multipurpose things!

So what is the solution for tip #1? Have designated locations for your "clutter" type items.


Hang an organizer in the kitchen to hold your keys, mail, wallets and things of that nature. Want to know my real secret?


I have one spot in my house that is allowed to be cluttered. My school table in my bedroom. If there is something that needs to be looked at or just needs to find a home, I put it there. Have a place like this in your home. Somewhere that isn't in your living room ;-) Be determined to only drop your clutter off there. Then, have a day of the week that you focus strictly on dealing with that area and its acquired clutter.

So, what did we learn today?

• Keep your visual space clear.
• Keep your kitchen table in eating condition at all times.
• Don't allow your living areas to become catchalls.
• Have specific locations that are designated for clutter.
• On a weekly basis make it your goal to put away and organize your designated areas.

These few things will give you a great start on having a Happy Home. I know I was long winded and probably confused you on several occasions, but I hope something here has made a light bulb go off in your head. Take tip #1 and run with it! See how you feel about your home with clear visual space!