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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Jan 06 2010 at 2:39pm | IP Logged
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JodieLyn wrote:
I love the idea of "hiding clutter" but I know that it will just stay hidden.. out of sight, out of mind and nothing more will ever happen to it.
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That's what happens to me over and over and over again. I'm going to e-mail dh now to ask him to pick up my library holds which include the ADD Organizing book! 
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Jan 06 2010 at 3:36pm | IP Logged
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Would you believe dh brought home fresh flowers last night? Must be a sign that it is time to get to work on this beauty thing!
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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teamommy
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| Posted: Jan 06 2010 at 5:14pm | IP Logged
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I like William Morris's maxim of "Have nothing in your home you know not to be either beautiful or useful!" This helps me when I am trying to de-clutter a room. As far as making my home more beautiful this year, I think I need more help than my home! 
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Sharyn
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| Posted: Jan 07 2010 at 12:42am | IP Logged
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I have been really working on making my house a welcoming place, a 'home' since about 6 months ago.
There were a few catalysts one of which was wanting to do aHomemaking notebook for girls with my dd 9yrs and realising I had much to learn in order to teach.
I got some good idea's for books to read from Mackfam's St. Martha's Apron Strings
And this post Organising tips that changed your life
Fly Ladyhas been a big life changer for me. I'm finally getting my house under control.
This book is worth getting (from the library) for idea's :
Southern Lady:Gracious Spaces:Creating the perfect sanctuary in every room by Phyllis Hoffman
She also has another book, 'Gracious Tables'.
I don't have loads of beautiful tea sets, furniture, a big beautiful house and gardens etc. like Phyllis but I have gotten little inspirations that I can use from her books.
One thing that has struck me about the things I have learnt over these few months is that being a housewife is all about serving others. For a housewife the home is her school for learning to serve others in Christ. For the letting go of her selfishness.
It has taken me a long time to get where I am. And I have a long way to go (my New Years resolution is to become a gentle mum ). But slowly I'm learning the skills of the women I have always admired, and so please God, will pass on a love for and knowledge of this beautiful vocation and all it can be.
(edited to correct Fly Lady link)
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Mum to dd (00), ds (03), dd (04), ds (06), one in God's care (08), dd (09), ds (11), one in God's care (13), and ds (13)
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Sharyn
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| Posted: Jan 07 2010 at 12:56am | IP Logged
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This is a good book to get from the library:
Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook
and also: Martha Stewart's Cooking School
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Mum to dd (00), ds (03), dd (04), ds (06), one in God's care (08), dd (09), ds (11), one in God's care (13), and ds (13)
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Sharyn
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| Posted: Jan 07 2010 at 1:18am | IP Logged
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I'm starting to make my own home keeping products too, some of which have essential oils in them to make my home smell beautiful. Yesterday I put little sachets with essential oils on cotton balls in them, in our clothing drawers, and with some luck our clothes will smell lovely 
These are two books I am currently reading and would recommend to get from the library if you are interested:
The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier and Organic Cleaning by Ellen Sandbeck
Lastly congratulations on the birth of your new baby!!!
Enjoy this time It is so precious.
God bless 
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Mum to dd (00), ds (03), dd (04), ds (06), one in God's care (08), dd (09), ds (11), one in God's care (13), and ds (13)
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JenPre
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| Posted: Jan 07 2010 at 7:53pm | IP Logged
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Sharyn wrote:
I'm starting to make my own home keeping products too, some of which have essential oils in them to make my home smell beautiful. Yesterday I put little sachets with essential oils on cotton balls in them, in our clothing drawers, and with some luck our clothes will smell lovely
These are two books I am currently reading and would recommend to get from the library if you are interested:
The Naturally Clean Home by Karyn Siegel-Maier and Organic Cleaning by Ellen Sandbeck
Lastly congratulations on the birth of your new baby!!!
Enjoy this time It is so precious.
God bless |
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Sharyn wow! Thank you so much for all of your posts. I'm off to go look through the links you provided.
I'm very interested in making up my own home making journal/notebook.
My "issues" right now with bringing beauty to my home is that I feel very disorganized in my thoughts! A new baby and not a lot of sleep will do that
Plus I've never been the most organized person anyways...I always have the best of intentions but it never seems to materialize. I need to buckle down and work on more self-control/self-discipline.
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Jen
Mommy to Marie-Therese born 12/4/09
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KauaiCatholic
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| Posted: Jan 08 2010 at 2:06am | IP Logged
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the best thing about candles and flowers is that they fit in the middle of the dining room table (while we're actually eating, that is. it is usually piled with active clutter, but it always gets cleared off for meals.) so, inspired by this thread, I am continuing our pre-holiday tradition of candles at mealtimes.
ahh, a tiny moment of beauty amidst the clutter. next up, the rest of the house.
thanks for all these lovely ideas.
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Viviane
Grateful mama of Jonah Augustine ('01), Sophia Marie ('05) and Luke Dominic ('10)
We can do no great things; only small things with great love. -- Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
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juststartn
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| Posted: Jan 13 2010 at 9:27pm | IP Logged
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The last couple of months, I've been making a concerted effort to try and do this--make sure that the house had something beautiful in it..
Actually, I have to take that back. I've been trying off and on since we moved here, in April of 08. Sometimes I get off-track (I was somewhat depressed most of 09, unfortunately), but the past couple of months, I've been getting back into the swing of things.
I've discovered that visual chaos makes me a wreck. I do not do well when things are permitted to build and fester, especially in areas where I spend my awake time (the more public areas of the house). My bedroom is a wreck. But I only go in there to sleep. Seriously. Nothing else happens in there (well, ).
ANYWAY! I've found that by having a plan (DH calls when he is leaving the office, which tells me I have 20 min to get things tidied up, finalized, etc), I can 'put the lead out', and get the last of the laundry folded and put away, the bathrooms tidied, a last minute vacuuming, dinner preps finished, etc (many hands make light work  ). Of course, I try to keep up with it during the day, so that it is not an "all at once" kind of thing, but if I can do what I can earlier, tidy up a wee bit more before he gets in the driveway, then I am far less stressed all evening long...
And being less stressed allows me to think creatively, to "shop the house" for ways of beautifying our enviroment without spending an arm or a leg (or even just an arm! lol), and to just try and make the most of what we have already around us.
Adding color via wall paint is always a nice way to enliven spaces (just go two shades lighter than the paint chip. Really. I had Barney walls because I didn't obey that rule. For three-four years...ugh). And it isn't that expensive. I really like those sample cans you can get from Home Depot, to try out shades with, on your walls at home. WELL worth the investment!
Anyway, I'm just chiming in late, here, but wanted to say that you are not the only ones trying to make a difference in this way.
Rachel
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Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Jan 13 2010 at 9:33pm | IP Logged
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oh.. I just straightened up my bulletin board.. it's not adding something really.. but it makes a huge difference that I can see stuff again without lifting and hunting.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Jan 13 2010 at 10:29pm | IP Logged
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Linking a past thread: Pretty Little Ways
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Suzanne in ID
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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Cay Gibson
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| Posted: Jan 13 2010 at 10:34pm | IP Logged
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I'm enjoying some posts by Lady Lydia at Home Living which are helping me find beauty in my home...in simple, realistic, -felt ways.
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Cay Gibson
"There are 49 states, then there is Louisiana." ~ Chef Emeril
wife to Mark '86
mom to 5
Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks
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JenPre
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| Posted: Jan 14 2010 at 9:20am | IP Logged
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I'm still pondering and praying about all of this and so much wanted to start a housekeeping journal this past weekend but I got sick again  I'm telling you...I just want to focus on my home and baby and I keep getting derailed!
Anyways now that I'm feeling better I've been thinking about all the things that need to get done around here (just general maintance really...such as putting the Christmas decorations away and really dusting and vaccuming!). But I was getting tired just thinking of it all. Then I had a "brainstorm" last night...I don't have to do it ALL at once! That's why I've been putting things off!
So one of my goals for this next week will be to put together a "schedule" of when to at least do the general maintaince things (cleaning the bathroom...vacuuming etc). That'll help me a lot towards beauty and peace here!
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Jen
Mommy to Marie-Therese born 12/4/09
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JenPre
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| Posted: Jan 14 2010 at 9:22am | IP Logged
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Cay Gibson wrote:
| I'm enjoying some posts by Lady Lydia at Home Living which are helping me find beauty in my home...in simple, realistic, -felt ways. |
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Cay that's a beautiful blog! Thank you for linking to it. This post on being at home really spoke to me this morning!
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Jen
Mommy to Marie-Therese born 12/4/09
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JenPre
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| Posted: Jan 14 2010 at 9:24am | IP Logged
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Thank you Suzanne!! More ideas for me to ponder! This past link is great!
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Jen
Mommy to Marie-Therese born 12/4/09
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juststartn
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| Posted: Jan 14 2010 at 8:28pm | IP Logged
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Cay Gibson wrote:
| I'm enjoying some posts by Lady Lydia at Home Living which are helping me find beauty in my home...in simple, realistic, -felt ways. |
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I love this blog...I may not agree with her theologically, but I do like many of her ideas.
I also like the Nester's blog...Nesting Place. EXCELLENT blog. If nothing else, the "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful" line, is worth the entire blog..she has children, so that helps too. :-)
Rachel
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Married DH 4/1/95
Lily 3/11/00
Helena(Layna) 5/23/02
Sophia 4/19/04
John 5/7/07
David 5/7/07
Ava Maria, in the arms of Jesus, 9/5/08
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 6:23pm | IP Logged
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Coming back here to rejoice and to encourage anyone who is "considering" a fresh coat of paint or a new color or two....to DO IT!!!!!!
We ended up painting a LOT of walls in January / beg of February and we are just so THRILLED with how much better everything looks! Sometimes we both just STOP for NO REASON and just LOOK at our walls!!!!!!!!! It looks so nice and is such a lift!
Beat the February-Blahs....and PAINT!
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Suzanne in ID
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Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 6:47pm | IP Logged
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SuzanneG wrote:
Coming back here to rejoice and to encourage anyone who is "considering" a fresh coat of paint or a new color or two....to DO IT!!!!!!
Beat the February-Blahs....and PAINT! |
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It's on my list, Suzanne!!! Right after I declutter the basement! I'm hoping to do it soon.
Meanwhile -- has anyone tried mixing SafePaint colors? I need a kind of appley-green.
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stef
mom to five
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 6:52pm | IP Logged
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stefoodie wrote:
| Meanwhile -- has anyone tried mixing SafePaint colors? I need a kind of appley-green. |
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Can you link, Stef??? Never heard of this, but MUST KNOW! I just googled it, but not sure it I'm even on the right track.
Are you talking about SafePaint from The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Co?
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Suzanne in ID
Wife to Pete
Mom of 7 (Girls - 14, 12, 11, 9, 7 and Boys - 4, 1)
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stefoodie
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| Posted: Feb 24 2010 at 7:12pm | IP Logged
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yes, yes, yes!!!
i'm so excited, especially now after your giant letters!! 
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stef
mom to five
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: New Year--Beauty in the Home
