When creating/organizing anything–a space, a room, your life–It’s a mistake to leap to action too soon. More time should be spent identifying the real desire. Be calm. Be still and then ask yourself: “Why even begin this endeavor in the first place? What is my primary motivation?” When you say: “I want to do this […]
White (or Not-So-White) Washcloths and Bleach
“Alright, Ms Susie Homemaker,” my mother announced near the end of our latest phone conversation, “I have a question about cleaning white washcloths. It seems no matter what I do, mine always look like I just mopped the floor with them. They never get white.” She’d even tried one of the well-known powder oxygen bleaches […]
Energy Tip #2: Schedules & Rapid Routines
To save time and energy, think plan…think schedule…think routine. Thinking takes time. Deciding takes time. When you make the decisions necessary to produce a schedule, you plan once and then never have to decide again. Why keep reinventing the wheel? Once you establish a routine, don’t think—just do. Your schedule (your pre-planned list of what […]
Energy Tip #1: Get Rid of Those “J.D.I.s”
If unfinished business is an energy leak, what’s finished business? The other day my husband and I were discussing the difference between “operations” (ordinary, repetitive work that is part of your daily routine) and “projects” (work that is unique, not part of your normal day and that only lasts for a short time). He began […]
How to “Break or Make” Your Family
To “break or make” –To make of something a failure or a success Your ability to manage your resources (financial, physical, or otherwise) can “break or make” your family. You can live unconsciously or impulsively and waste time, talents, energy, and money or you can see the opportunity to make a difference and learn to […]
Our Real Business is People
“The goal of a leader or a manager is to help the person expand and grow.” –Mitch Pogue Homemaking can be a tough job. There’s so much to do each day. There’s laundry and cooking and cleaning and managing the finances. There’s juggling schedules and chauffeuring family members to school or appointments. There’s dealing with messesyou may have […]
C.A.Y.GO: The Best Homemaking Habit EVER
One of the best cleaning practices my homemaking mentors ever taught me was to “C.A.Y.GO.” Are you preparing a meal in the kitchen? Then “C.A.Y.GO.” Are you shaving or doing your makeup in the bathroom Then “C.A.Y.GO.” Do you want to keep your home decently clean and tidy for most of the day? Then “C.A.Y.GO.” […]
A Way to Work Smart
“…I’m beat! This is hard work.” “…why don’t you take a break…and sharpen that saw?…it would go a lot faster.” “I don’t have time to sharpen the saw…I’m too busy sawing!” -Stephen Covey, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” One of the most vital […]
Safety in the Kitchen (Part 2) –“4 Simple Steps” to Know
As noted previously, keeping our people safe from food poisoning is one of the most important responsibilities we have as homemakers. To help you accomplish that objective, the federal government has condensed the current best-practices of food safety into Four Simple Steps: Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill. Here are a few brief samples of what […]
Is Your Linen Closet Beautiful?
“The foundation of beauty is cleanliness, order, harmony and symmetry.” –Beverly Pogue, The Homemaker’s Coach™ Go look at your linen closet. No, really. Go look at it. Is it beautiful? Never mind being “organized,” is it beautiful? When you look at it, do you feel pleased? For a quick moment could you almost imagine you were in a nice […]
