Bettering Myself...

I am trying to think of some new things I can do to better myself as a wife and a mother.  I snagged a handful of books at a local garage sale today that I think will help me out!  I plan to take some of these topics and use them for blog post ideas.  I think I will begin a new series or something like that soon based on my reading...more to follow...

The "One Touch" Rule

Well, I am back to update you on how I have been doing with this new rule I have applied to my life.  I must say in the last couple of days I don't know how many times I have told myself (in my head) to only touch things once!  I have had to re-evaluate how I do quite a number of things around the house, but for a great cause!

So far I am doing better with the dishes and trash.  I am also doing better at taking things upstairs all at once when I am going up there.  I need to come up with a few ideas regarding dirty laundry.  Since the kitchen and a guest bathroom are downstairs, there are always towels that get dirty and need to go upstairs where our laundry room is located.  I need to come up with a creative place/way to keep the dirty laundry for the day that is not in the way that I can just take upstairs at the end of every day instead of having to walk upstairs every time there is a dirty towel...thoughts/ideas?

I would love to hear how you de-clutter and keep your home neat and tidy.  Please share with me.  Feel free to share links to where you got ideas or how you came up with them!

Cheers to keeping your home tidy and organized!

Getting Rid of "Flat Surfaceitis"

Lately I have been thinking about how to become a better helpmate (& now parenting mother).  While there are many things I can do to begin this process, one jumps out at me at the moment.  I need to be more organized in certain areas of life.  I must admit, I have what my sister and her husband coined as "flat surfaceitis"...i.e. if there is an empty table, chair, etc... I put stuff on it!  

So, my first goal at becoming a better helpmate is to rid myself of "flat surfaceitis".  I don't care how long it takes, I am setting my mind to this and I am going to conquer it!  I think like most people I have too much stuff.  Not only that, I am great at getting something out and not putting it away or getting things out to use and leaving them out.  

In my quest for ideas, I have come across this post from Natalie's great blog regarding the "One Touch Rule".  This is one of the simplest, yet BEST, rules I have come across to get a great start at cutting down clutter!  Read more about it here.

I would get lofty with more ideas, but I want to be honest with myself, so for now, I am going to start with just this one goal.  In an effort to hasten my goal and earn some extra $$, I have opened an eBay store here.  I am beginning to go through things that I no longer use or need to sell or give away.  If the items are in good condition someone else may as well get use out of them! 

Then, when I get the "One Touch Rule" down pretty well, I will move on to another goal. 

What are some ways that you minimize clutter in your home?

Wish me luck!

A Day in the Life of a Helpmate...

So, it has been way to long since I have blogged here.  I decided today that I needed to get this blog up and running again, so here I go...

So much has happened since I last wrote.  I became pregnant with our first child, Faith, who was born into Heaven on April 15, 2014.  I am now pregnant with her sister, Joy, who has a due date of 4 days after Faith's.  

Since I have a high risk pregnancy, I am going to the Doctors frequently.  I have a weekly shot, and see a MFM specialist every 2 weeks and my regular Doctor every 4...until later, at which time, my appointments will be more frequent.

So, I am currently looking for work that I can do at home from my computer part-time.  Along with that, I am now able to do light housework, work on building my jewelry business, and focus on growing Joy.

You can see my jewelry business site, which is in honor of our first daughter, Faith, here: faithmelodymemories.etsy.com.  I began making jewelry after we lost Faith almost a year ago, and turned into being in her honor and her namesake.  10% of my profits go to a charity for summer camp scholarships.

...now that I have brought you up to speed in my life...back to my day.

I believe that there are MANY ways that we can be helpmates to our husbands.  I want to be a productive & helpful wife who produces fruit in my life as well as in the life of my husband.  I know the importance of sowing seed and reaping a harvest of fruit from that seed.  We are instructed to bear fruit in our lives with everything our hands touch, and with His help, I see fruit in my life more and more daily.  I need to constantly sow seed, as well as constantly reap the fruit from the seeds I have sown.  Otherwise I am not doing what I am supposed to be doing.  God tells us He will bless the work of our hands, thus, we actually have to DO WORK.

Today, I got up, had my coffee (decaf), had a smoothie (like every morning), and started my day.  First, I started a load of laundry and folded and put away towels from my load of laundry from yesterday.  Then, I had to go to the grocery store to pick up a few items that we needed in the house.  

After getting back from the store and putting away the items I purchased at the store, it was time to make and eat lunch.  I used leftover grilled chicken to make a chicken salad.  It turned out very good and I had some melon along with a sandwich.  Lunch was VERY delicious!

Then it was time to do dishes, more laundry tasks, and clean up in our bathrooms.  

After my husband got home, we got to enjoy some great time, watched a movie, and just spent some time together.  That is always so much fun no matter what we do together.  

After my husband went to bed, it was downstairs for me to relax some, watch some TV, Golden Girls, of course, and to work on the onesie that I am currently making for Joy.  It is going to be very special.  I can't wait until it's done to show you all my work!  It is coming along nicely.  

Well, I will wrap up this post and relax a bit more before I head off to bed so I can have energy to get in a good productive day tomorrow.