My Homemaking Notebook

I debated about whether to post this here or on the Proverbs 31 Homemaking blog...but decided to do both. It's really a "homemaking" thing, but it's also so much a part of what I do every day that it seemed to deserve a place here. So, here we are :)


I had to switch to using a larger notebook with my new system. Fortunately I just happened to have a larger pink notebook laying around, LOL. Now, I will just have to find a use for the pretty cover I had made for my old notebook.




The first divider in my notebook is "Information". (Please excuse the Flyboat in the picture...Joseph dropped it right as I took the picture, LOL) MY first page in this section is a basic information page, similar to that found in most planners. Then I have a page for birthdays and anniversaries, a page for important phone numbers, family medical information (just a quick reference sheet with our doctor's information and such). The last page in this section is a Babysitter's Information sheet. This I have in a sheet protector so that I can just pull the page out and post it if we have a baby sitter. This page has all the information she would need to reach us, our doctor, or a neighbor in an emergency. It also has basic instructions such as bedtime routine, what to do if a time-out is needed for the boys, etc...




The next divider is "Schedules and Routines". Here I keep a copy of our family's schedule, and have any basic routines written down for reference. I like the thought that anyone could pick up my notebook and have a good idea of how to run my home. Especially with having a child with Asperger's Syndrome, and even just having four boys, and homeschooling, things like routines and schedules are a neccisity in getting things done!

I like to also write little words of encouragement on the bottom of my written out routine. I like being able to look back and feel refreshed and inspired. :)




My next divider is "Checklists". In this section I have a Master Cleaning list for things that I like to accomplish. I have a daily list, a weekly list, and a copy of the boys' chore charts.







My next divider is "Cleaning". Here I keep detailed instructions for how I like things done. I also keep instructions for deep cleaning (such as seasonal cleanings...) I also keep things like my favorite homemade cleaning supply recipes.




Next comes "Meal Planning". This might be the most important section as far as my family is concerned, LOL. (you have seen my GIANT sized boys, right?) In this section I keep a copy of our menu.

I also like to keep a list of ideas for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snack, and Dessert, which is helpful in future menu planning. I haven't finished putting this one together yet ;).





The next section is "Shopping Lists". In this section I have 12 blank shopping lists (one for each month). As I come across things I need to add to our list I write it here. Then, when it is time to go shopping, I take this list, and imput it the Shopping List Software, so that I can print out a list with a estimated total.






My next divider is "Pantry and Freezer" Inventory. In this section I keep a spreadsheet with the inventory of our pantry and deep freezer. We do quite a bit of bulk shopping, so it is helpful to keep track of what we have in stock.





"Hospitality" is the last divider before my daily planning section. In this section I keep notes on ideas for when we have guests in our home, and that sort of thing. I also have planning sheets for when we are having company, so that I can be prepared for meals, and making sure everyone has what they need to feel right at home.



And now, to the heart of my homemaking notebook...

I made a divider for each month and because I am incredibly cheesy (or just madly in love with my husband, who is in sales, and thinks on the "quarter" system) I used different papers for each quarter, lol.



On the back side of the divider page is a calendar for the month. Here I note important holidays, feast days, and birthdays. In each month's sections, I have a daily planning sheet for each day. Here I write to-do lists, I can jot down a note to myself, or make notes of things I need to add to our grocery list. This section is really the "heart" of my notebook since I use it everyday.

At the beginning of each week I have a sheet where I can write down the basic goals I would like to achieve that week, and also a few enjoyable things I might like to find time for (such as a craft project...)



So there you have it... the crux of how I keep our home in order. I like having it all neatly in one place, right at my fingertips.

You might have noticed that I used quite a bit of pretty papers, and took the time to cut out flowers to embellish the divider pages. I even used scrapbooking papers to make the divider tabs. This might seem a bit frivalous, but I wanted to make my notebook pretty. It is something that I use everyday, and I wanted it to be a "joy" and not "drudgery". So I picked a calligraphy like font, and pretty pink flowers and made the perfect notebook for my liking.


Hugs,

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Happy Monday!

We are still enjoying our own little winter wonderland here...well I say "enjoying" but I don't think it was so fun when my poor husband had to carry groceries up the long hill through the snow!

Little Joshua was worried that our pool was gone! But we explained to him that it is just under the snow, and it will be there when the snow melts, lol.




I can't help it, but every time I look at a picture of my boys I think they must be the cutest kiddos on the planet...


We are starting a new schedule this week, now that things are settling down with baby Jamie. We plan to start kindergarten next week, so we really need to be settled into a good routine.

Happy Monday!

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A Good Day...

Today was one of the good days. I don't know why, but everything just seemed to run smoothly. It was a nice change of pace, because lately it has seemed like there have been more of the challenging days!

We got a late start so I was worried it would be another day of playing "catch-up". With Jamie not sleeping through the night yet it feels like we are always running behind schedule and feeling a little sluggish.

But today something amazing happened. All of the "systems" we have been working hard to implement just worked. This morning as I unloaded the dishwasher and reset the Christmas dishes on the dining room table, I smiled as I realized that the table would already be nicely set for dinner. And then, after breakfast, I smiled again as I watched Jacob loading the dishwasher, Joseph helping to wipe the table, and Joshua sweeping the floor. As I walked into the laundry room, I smiled as I just had to start the washer, because there was already a load in the machine, just waiting for me to start it. As I brought the clean clothes upstairs, I smiled yet again to see the laundry baskets lined up, just waiting for me to be able to sort the clothes into everyone's individual baskets. And now, it will be so easy for the boys to put their clothes away. It all sounds like such simple little things, but today, it just all seemed to fall into place. :)

Dinner was easy. I decided to cut up the leftover turkey and use it in my Chicken and Broccoli Casserole recipe. It was so nice to have the time to put it together and have it just ready to go into the oven once it is time. This left me with time to bake a couple loaves of bread. A dear friend of mine was telling me about how she uses her Kitchenaid to knead her dough, and believe it or not, I had never tried this! So, I decided to give it a go, and WOW, it saved me so much time, and was so much less of a mess to clean up.
School ran smoothly today, too. Jacob really loves to learn! As we were reviewing his letter flashcards, we played the "What starts with..." game, and I was just amazed to hear how many words he knew for each letter. When did my little Jakers become such a big boy???
Our day went so smoothly that I had time to enjoy a nice cup of peppermint tea this afternoon. I was telling a friend how much I enjoy tea and it made me realize that I have a ridiculously large tea collection...especially considering how much coffee I also drink, lol.
Well, I am off to bask in the pleasantness of my day. I am hopeful that today is just one of many more smoothly running days to come.

Pax Christi,

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A New Look for Proverbs 31 Homemaking!

I've been working on redesigning my homemaking site, and it is now up and ready! So stop by and take a look- new content is being added as well!

Hugs,

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Thoughts on Being a Homemaker

Ok, deep breath. I am going to say something that might just make someone mad. That is of course not my intention, but whenever you say something that isn't "warm and fuzzy" you are bound to ruffle someone's feathers.

Whenever I tell someone that I am a "stay at home mom" I tend to get one of several reactions. It's either, "Wow, aren't you lucky to not have to work", or they look surprised to see me dressed in something other than sweatpants and tee-shirts. For some reason there is this expectation that if I stay at home with my young children, I should look frazzled, and like I did not even brush my hair this morning.

Obviously stereotypes are born for a reason. They aren't always accurate, of course, but they do exist due to some degree of truth. Many, many mothers out there, who are home all day with their children fall into the habit of just throwing whatever clothes on, pulling their hair back in a messy pony tail and just trying to make it through the day. Now, this post isn't really about appearance (you didn't think I was shallow, did you, lol?). I think this issue of appearance is really just a symptom of a bigger problem. It's a problem that almost all of us who stay at home have faced, and one that it is hard to really recognize until we are ready to make some changes.

When our children are babies, our days are often filled with yucky diaper changes, spit-up, and sleep deprivation. As they get a little older the spit-up becomes sticky gooey messes (I had no idea that animal crackers could create such a horrendous mess!). It just seems like as they get a little bigger so does the mess! As the mother of babies and toddlers and preschoolers I have often found myself feeling as if I was drowning in a sea of laundry, diapers, and a house that I can't quite seem to get under control. It's an overwhelming feeling, and one that can lead to feeling discouraged.

I tend to be the type of person who sets high expectations, and can be a bit of perfectionist (yes, I know, I'm sure you are shocked, lol), so finding myself in this prediciment is frustrating to say the least. I don't want to just "skate" by through life, I want to be excellent at the things I do. So, why would my life as a homemaker be any different? Why does making the decision to stay at home to raise my children and take care of my family mean that the standards for how I live my life should drop?

So what do you do to fix this? How can you change the way your days are feeling?

First, dress does affect attitude, and not just your attitude, but the attitude of others toward you. Just because we are not heading out into the work place, or because we are spending most of our time surrounded by our children, is not a reason to skip getting dressed. What sort of message does this send to our husband, and to our children? Your husband will likely feel like you do not care enough about his opinion to get dressed for him. If you have daughters they will feel like once they become a mother they are no longer "pretty" and have to give all of that up (which, frankly, isn't a very good incentive to make them want to be homemakers) and if you have sons they will think that once their future wives have children this is what they will become. Even strangers are affected by your appearance. They take one look at someone in typical "stay at home mom" attire and decide that you must not be making a valuable contribution to society (which is of course ridiculous, but let's face it, people make rash judgements based on nothing more than their first impression).

Here is what I have found: It doesn't necessarily have to take that much more time to put on something that looks neat and tidy and pulled together than it does to throw on jeans and a tee shirt. When I am wearing something that feels pulled together, then I feel pulled together.

Second, we need to make an attitude change in how we view our work in the home. Because we are home, we often have more flexibility in our days...meaning that if we don't feel like doing a specific task we can just let it slide. Of course it always catches back up to us, leading to us feeling like we have fallen so far behind, but there just isn't the same urgency in the way we go about our days as people who are in the workforce might have. At work, you can't just ignore the things your boss asks you to do or you will get fired. But who's going to fire you if the laundry piles up? At work you can't just say, well I don't feel like going to this meeting today, so I'll do it tomorrow. You have to be at the meeting when the meeting takes place, lol.

We need to view the things that we do each day as important. Laundry isn't just laundry. Having clean clothes in the proper places helps each of our family members start their day on the right foot. Cooking dinner isn't just about food, it's about nurturing your family. Keeping a clean house shows your husband how much you value what he has provided for you, and your children that you care about the way they live. Not to mention that shouldn't we want to be good at what we do? Shouldn't we want to learn how to prepare great meals, decorate our homes in a way that is pleasing to both the eye and budget, and keep things running efficiently around the house?

I have ladies come to me quite often saying that they feel overwhelmed and like they just can't get things done. I ask them a little bit about their day and the answers are usually fairly similar. Honestly it seems to be an epidemic amongst us. We are overwhelmed, feeling like we are failing and falling short, and frustrated because we can't figure out why.

Fixing the problem seems like a contradiction. Raise the expectations. Wait, but won't that make us feel even more overwhelmed????? It could, unless we rise up to meet those expectations.

But how???? Ok, well I think the first two suggestions are a good start. Get dressed, and change our attitude. But then what? Figure out what it is that you want to accomplish every day, set some priorities, and then make a road map of how to get there. Whether that be a set schedule, or a loose knit to-do list, just make a plan.

Homemaking is something that I feel passionately about. Partially because it is what I do, but also because I feel like it is a very special role that God created especially for women. Knowing that He has created this place for me encourages me because I know that He also created me with everything that I need to be able to do it successfully. It's just up to me to use what He has given me to the best of my abilities.

Happy Homemaking,

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A Neat and Tidy Pantry

In keeping with the theme of cleaning the kitchen, today I organized the pantry and cleaned out the refrigerator (my least favorite task:)-) But I do enjoy organizing! After straightening a few things the pantry looks less full, but I think that is because we have not been buying many pre-packaged foods. We are working through the last of the store bought items in the pantry and not going to be buying any more. Looks like I need to do some food preparations! :) Perhaps tomorrow on the last day of cleaning the kitchen I will use that time to restock the pantry with homemade items.

Happy Homemaking,

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Kitchen Cleaning Challenge

A few lady friends and I have decided to really focus in on cleaning the house over the next couple of weeks. We are starting with our kitchens, which I think is a lovely idea. The kitchen seems to set the tone for the entire house. It is the room which is used most frequently throughout the day, and likely is the easiest to become messy.

My Kitchen To-Do List:
1. Take all decoratives off of the counters and thoroughly clean counter tops.
2. Clean out side of oven and microwave.
3. Clean inside of oven and microwave.
4. Clean stove top.
5. Wipe down cabinet doors and drawers.
6. Polish refrigerator doors.
7. Clean out refrigerator.
8. Clean inside of refrigerator.
9. Polish sink faucets, give sink a good wipe down.
10. Dust decoratives.
11. Sweep.
12. Air out mats.
13. Mop.
14. Straighten towels and dishcloths drawer.
15. Straighten toys in the playpen, wipe everything down. (Yes, I have a playpen in the kitchen, our current kitchen is rather large and we spend a good deal of time in there, so it just makes sense :))
16. Wipe down garbage can and compost bin.
17. Wipe down baby walker.
18. Clean outside of dishwasher.
19. Wipe down blinds.
20. Enjoy my fresh clean kitchen! :)


I may not be able to get it all done as my little ones are a little, well, rambunctious today. But perhaps during nap I will have time to do a nice thorough cleaning of the kitchen. Singing my favorite hymns as I clean would make for a nice afternoon.
( I will add a picture once I am finished:))

Happy Homemaking,

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A New Apron

GRANDMA'S APRON

"The principle use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a holder for removing hot pans from the oven; it was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken-coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. When company came, those old aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids; and when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling-wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, it was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out on the porch and waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields for dinner. It will be a long time before anyone invents something that will replace that old-time apron that served so many purposes."~ Author Unknown

I found that little passage a few years back, and I love reading about how aprons were once such a part of a homemaker's day. I love aprons, I have cooking aprons, and cleaning aprons, and a gardening apron. There's something about putting on an apron that just makes me feel ready to face the day.

This morning I made a new apron. I made this one from half of a top sheet from a set of twin sheets that we did not have a need for. ( I used the other half to cut pieces to make a slip). The boys "helped" me sew. Jacob loves to watch and ask a hundred questions :).

I found it neat to be able to take one thing, which did not have a purpose for us and turning it into something that I can use. And I still have the entire bottom sheet to use for something else!

In His Abounding Grace,

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Why Follow a Schedule?

Those who know me well know that I love to organize. I love schedules and lists and charts and calendars. Not everyone shares my passion for organization, so you may be asking yourself, “Do I really need a schedule?”

Do you find that you no longer have time for hobbies that you once enjoyed? Did you set aside knitting or card-making when the responsibilities of keeping the home increased? Did you stop baking bread or cooking from scratch as your family size grew? Or perhaps you always wanted to do these things but thought that you just didn’t have the time?

When we were expecting our second son everyone told me, “Well now you won’t have time to do all that baking”, or “You will have to learn to accept a messy house”, “It’s too bad you won’t have time to make those pretty cards anymore”…

Well I knew that we had hopes of a large family and that we were praying for God to bless us with children. But I also knew that I loved homemaking and making things and that my husband found these qualities endearing. I knew that the smell of freshly baked bread added to the comforting atmosphere of our home. And I knew that seeing the things that I made for our home made my husband happy and that he appreciated the love and time that went into making them. There had to be a way to hold on to these as our family grew!

I needed a plan. A good, working schedule that included time for all that we wanted to accomplish. A schedule that would include time for prayer, time for our children, time for our home, and time for the things that I enjoy.

At first following a schedule can feel daunting. It may feel restrictive or rigid. Many many times I have been tempted to just throw the schedule out of the window. But whenever I stray from the schedule I find myself feeling like I am drowning in a sea of laundry, rushing to get the basics done, throwing dinner together at the end of the day and frustrated that I have had no time for the activities that I enjoy.

But what a sense of accomplishment I feel when my husband comes home to a neat and tidy home with a lovingly prepared dinner waiting on the table. And the children excitedly tell him about what we did during school, and I show him the needlework that I am working on.

Following the schedule gives our home a sense of order. We have found that our children are better behaved and that the chaos that disorganization creates seems to fade away. I feel better prepared in my duties as wife and mother, my husband is pleased to know that his home is well ordered and the children feel secure in the routine.

II Thessalonians 3:11-12
“For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.”

In Christ's Love,

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New Schedule

We decided to rework our current schedule this weekend. We wanted to add in a little time for exercise and some other things so we had to move our day back by half an hour. We also decided that we needed separate schedules for Saturday and Sunday since we have different things to fit in on those days.

Weekday Schedule:

5:00~ Wake up, Morning Prayers
5:30~ Exercise
6:00~ Shower, Get dressed
6:30~ Prepare Breakfast, Wake Children up, Breakfast
7:15~ Morning Prayers as a Family, Daddy leaves for work, Boys Get Dressed, Start Laundry
8:00~ School
10:00~ Big Boys Play Time, Rock Baby
10:30~ Baby’s Nap, Big Boys help with Cleaning and Chores
11:30~ Boys’ Lunch and Clean up
12:00~ Mid-day Prayers
12:15~ Children Play, Mommy eat lunch
1:00~ Craft Time or Outside Play
1:45~ Story Time
2:00~ Children’s Nap. Iron Laundry, Fold and Sort into Baskets, Finish any Cleaning
3:00~ Task (this varies from day to day depending on what needs to be done)
4:00~ Begin Dinner Preparations
4:30~ Boys up from Nap, Afternoon Snack
5:00~ Supervised Play Time, Straighten House
5:30~ Cook Dinner, Set Table
6:00~ Dinner
6:30~ Family Worship Time (bible lessons with an activity, studying the catechism, reading about saints, etc..)
7:00~ Family Rosary
7:30~ Get Children Ready for Bed, Read a Bed Time Story
8:00~ Children’s Bed Time
8:15~ Clean Up
8:30~ Wind Down Time, Evening Prayers
9:30~ Bed

*Friday Night Bed Time is one hour later.

Saturday Schedule:

6:00~ Wake Up, Morning Prayers
6:30~ Exercise
7:00~ Shower, Get dressed
7:30~ Prepare Breakfast, Children Wake Up, Breakfast, Morning Prayers as a Family
8:15~ Daddy out to do Yard Work, Children and Mommy Play Time and Help with Chores
12:00~ Lunch
12:30~ Children’s Nap, Relaxation Time
2:30~ Afternoon Snack
3:00~ Run Errands
5:00~ Dinner Preparations, Children and Daddy Play Time
6:00~ Dinner
6:30~ Family Worship
7:00~ Family Rosary
7:30~ Haircuts, Children’s Baths
8:30~ Children’s Bed Time
8:45~ Clean Up
9:00~ Wind Down Time, Evening Prayers
10:00~ Bed Time

Sunday Schedule:

5:00~ Wake Up, Morning Prayers
5:30~ Shower, Get Dressed
6:00~ Children Wake Up, Breakfast
6:30~ Children Get Dressed
7:00~ Leave for Mass
8:00~ Mass
11:00~ Lunch
11:30~ Nap
2:30~ Afternoon Snack
2:45~ Study Time/Play Time
5:00~ Prepare Dinner, Children and Daddy Play Time
6:00~ Dinner
6:30~ Family Worship
7:00~ Family Rosary
7:30~ Get Children Ready for Bed, Bed Time Story
8:00~ Children’s Bed Time
8:15~ Clean Up
8:30~ Wind Down Time, Evening Prayers
9:30~ Bed Time

+ A.M.D.G.+

Happy Homemaking!

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Beautifully Frugal

Many times frugal equals simple. But it doesn’t always have to. One example of this can be our dining room table.

For instance paper napkins are obviously not a frugal choice, but sometimes cloth napkins can get pricey (especially if you are having to purchase enough for a large family and use them at every meal) So why not make some? It is a very simple project even if you have limited sewing skills. One thing I have done is to look for bed sheets at thrift stores and garage sales that are the right colors or patterns to match my dining room. I just cut them into squares ( i used a purchased cloth napkin to get the size) and then hem around the edges. Even just one sheet makes a ton of napkins.

Another frugal yet beautiful touch are pretty serving trays. I have found pretty silver look trays at the dollar store, or even garage sales and thrift stores. They may not be high quality, but they look pretty on the table. I arrange fresh fruit or vegetables on them and it makes for a beautiful breakfast or lunch table. Also look for pretty glass pitchers or bowls. You can mix and match your finds and create a gorgeous table for very little cost.

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