de-clutter

I am using the summer months to de-clutter my home and simplify my life. Here are some rules of clutter control that have helped me keep order in my home over the years:

1. A place for everything and everything in its place. Label, if necessary.
2. Organize things for efficiency/ease of access.
3. Pick a number and stick with it: if 12 pairs of shoes works for you, then get rid of one before you buy another.
4. Handle something once; resist the urge to pile it up to take care of it “later”.
5. If you haven’t used it in a while, get rid of it; resist the urge to save it “in case” you need it someday, give it to someone who can use it now.
6. When in doubt, throw it out, give it away, or recycle.
7. Displayed items must pass a test: “contribute” in some way to the “spirit” of your home, have sentimental value, or a functional purpose.
8. Take good care of what you have.
9. Weigh the value of an item against the effort it requires: if something requires more time/effort/room than you are willing to give, pass it on to someone else.

I’ve made it a practice to clean/organize one shelf or drawer each day. Of course it doesn’t happen every day, but by trying to keep up with that habit, things never get too far out of control, and pretty much everything gets cleaned/organized at least once a year.

You may have noticed a few changes to my blog. I’m trying to de-clutter that, too, hoping to eliminate unwelcome comments and get back to posting more often.

Tim Tam Slam

A few weeks ago, my children introduced us to a fun delicacy called a Tim Tam Slam. Tim Tams are an Australian sandwich cookie made of two malted wafers with a fluffy icing in between and covered with a thin layer of chocolate. (Pepperidge Farm also makes them). To make a Tim Tam Slam, prepare a mug of a hot beverage (we like hot milk). Make the Tim Tam into a straw by biting off two opposing corners of the cookie. Draw the hot milk up into the cookie “straw” and as soon as the milk hits your mouth, pop the whole cookie inside (the hot milk melts it) and SLAM, heaven in your mouth!

Google “Tim Tam Slam” for some fun videos!

Ark Day

A friend reminded me that today is an obscure holiday called Ark Day which celebrates the landing of Noah’s ark on dry ground after the flood. “How do we know that?” you ask. Because when they landed, Noah opened the ark and commanded the animals, “March forth!”

And just how does one celebrate Ark Day? By eating animal crackers (two by two), of course!

take five

When my children were little and much of my day seemed to be taking one step forward and two steps back, I came up with the “five or five” principle as a way to help manage things. The “five or five” principle involves either taking five minutes in a room (to put away or clean up as much as possible) or doing five things. I’d do it anytime I was in any room. For example, any time I’d go into the bathroom, I would do five things before leaving: replace the roll of toilet paper, re-hang the fallen hand towels, wipe down the mirror, replace the trash bag, close the shower curtains… whatever needed to be done to keep the place in good shape. If I could spend 5 minutes I would do more, scour the sink or scrub the toilet. If I put the baby down for a nap, I would put away five things before slipping out, or take five things with me that needed to be put away elsewhere. It is amazing what a difference even five things can make, and how little time it takes, even children can manage that. It is really amazing what a difference five minutes can make, especially when your children learn the principle and you make it a family blitz: set the timer and everyone chooses a room for a whirlwind five-minute pick-up.

The “five or five” principle is still a part of my make-up, and still helps me to manage things: I will pull five weeds when I go out for the paper or take out the trash. I’ll spend five minutes working in the sewing room when I put the laundry in the dryer. I put away five things before I leave the kitchen after I’ve had a drink of water. The “five or five” principle doesn’t eliminate the need for thorough cleaning, you can’t really manage dishes by washing only five at a time or weeds by pulling only five a couple of times a day, but “five or five” really cuts down on the clutter that can so quickly become overwhelming. When things start to feel too much to handle, I jut remind myself that doing only five things will make a difference and I can handle that, or I have the energy to spend five minutes and maybe that is all it will take… So give it a try!

apprentice

Summer break will be here soon. Something fun and productive we have incorporated into our summers over the years is the “apprentice program.” Every summer I let my children each choose a few things they’d like to learn how to do and they enter into an apprenticeship with me. I encourage practical, age-appropriate things such as ironing shirts, mopping floors, and cleaning toilets, but also let them choose fun things like learning to use power tools, how to paint a room, or crochet. They especially enjoy developing new kitchen skills: making the perfect pie crust, donuts, or a favorite main course. If I catch them young enough, they love to learn to use the machines including the vacuum, washing machine, and even the sewing machine. By the end of the summer they feel very confident in many new skills. It’s great to have one of them say, “Can I fix sweet and sour chicken for supper tomorrow night?” And I can’t help but chuckle when I hear a big sigh and the lament, “And I just scrubbed that floor…”

An invitation...

You are cordially invited to a Very Special Christmas Season. I invite you to share these ideas with your family and friends, then individually or as a family choose one of the options and then watch the magic of Christ bless your holidays!


Random acts of Kindness
Each morning in December, prayerfully offer yourself to the Savior as His servant for the day. During the day watch for opportunities, and listen for His promptings, of things you can do to brighten another’s day and help them feel the love of the Savior.

Love is a Verb
Prayerfully select someone toward whom you have difficulty showing Christ-like love. Each day in December, ask for the Lord’s help and guidance in making your thoughts, words, and deeds toward that person like those of the Savior.

Stand as a Witness
Each morning in December, pray for a missionary experience that day. Be sensitive to the Spirit and be prepared when it guides you to share a message of the Savior.

Learn of Me
Prayerfully choose a book about the Savior to read during December. Read 10 minutes each day (in addition to your scriptures).

Give a Gift from the Heart
Prayerfully consider the many gifts and talents the Lord has given especially to you, especially to bless the lives of those around you. Use one or more of those gifts to prepare and give a Christmas gift that is uniquely you. Be creative and let the Spirit help you know what the “perfect” gift is.

Give a Gift to the Savior
Christmas gifts celebrate the greatest gift of all, The Savior. One of the greatest things you can give Him in return is your obedience. Choose a commandment that is difficult for you at this time. Each day in December, prayerfully ask for the Lord’s help to strengthen you in living that commandment more fully and acceptable to the Lord.

fifty states

To celebrate Independence Day this year my children and I decided to honor our nation throughout the year by having a "state" dinner each Monday night. We draw the name of a state randomly from a jar then have a meal featuring foods and traditional dishes from that state. It has been great fun researching the states, their foods and history (so much of the food culture is tied up in the history). We are amazed at the diversity of our great nation from the Mexican influence of the southwest (we had chile rellenos and refried beans for New Mexico) to prairie fair (we had rabbit stew and cornbread for Oklahoma but not to worry, the neighborhood rabbits are alive and well, we got our rabbit from a meat market). Tonight we celebrate Michigan, birthplace of the coney dog! Pass along suggestions/recipes from your state; we'd love to hear from you!