MTOD: Homeschool Edition #27

My family can get over just about any of my failures or organizational lackings if they just have clean socks and underwear available. This is laundry priority at our house!

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MTOD: Homeschool Edition #26

The $25,000 IDEA
Years ago, an efficiency consultant named Ivy Lee met with the president of a small steel plant. The president was stressed because he believed his employees really didn't know how to manage their time and tend to priorities. Ivy Lee made a simple suggestion:

At the end of each day, take out a sheet of paper. Write down the six most important things you have to do the next day. Then rank those items in the order of importance. When you begin work the next morning, take out the paper and start with item number one. When you have finished that item, move on to number two (and so on down the list). If you cannot complete an item because of external factors, skip it and move on to the next one. At the end of the day make another list of the six most important items you have to do the next day....

The President sent him a check for $25,000 because his suggestion (which took only about 15 minutes of his time) made such a huge difference for the company.

How could you apply the $25,000 idea to your life and homeschool?

Story source: Gray Solutions


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Make the Most of Shared Spaces with Designer and QVC Expert Sharon Hanby-Robie

New to Mom Seriously? Welcome! You'll find tons of great parenting articles, homeschooling encouragement, and every day, a Mom's Tip of the Day. Enjoy!

Sharon Hanby-Robie

Did you share a room with a sibling when you were growing up? Today, that practice is not as common. Larger homes and smaller families allow for many siblings to enjoy a space of their own. Sharon Hanby-Robie, an interior designer and author of Decorating Without Fear: A Step-by-Step Guide To Creating The Home You Love and Beautiful Places and Spiritual Spaces: The Art of Stress-free Interior Design, is the eldest of six. She recommends that siblings share a room whether they need to or not! “I feel so blessed that my sisters and I learned how to love each other even when we didn’t like each other,” she laughs. “We learned a lot about compromising, sharing, and how individual personalities are so important.”

The Art of Compromise. Sharon likens siblings learning to share a room to newlyweds learning to share a home. When two children are able to understand the importance of finding a middle ground that incorporates each other’s likes and dislikes, they have discovered a valuable life lesson. “Home is the first world they experience,” explains Sharon. “What they learn here they take forward, and that is how they treat the world.” Sharing a room teaches kids how to get along with not only each other, but also people in general.

Sharing and Caring. When children share a room, they have unlimited opportunities to practice showing Christ’s love to each other. As a mom, you have unlimited opportunities to teach them how. With the older child, seek to hone his leadership skills. Encourage him to step up to the place the Lord has given him in the family. Help him understand that he has the position of serving as a role model—for good or bad.

Getty Images

This is Mine. When children share a room, it is critical that each is still able to express her own personality, style, and taste. Is it possible to achieve a cohesive design with two unique children? What if one likes orange and the other wants purple? “Use their colors,” Sharon assures. “You can make any combination of colors work if you just find one thing that ties them together.”

Sharon suggests finding a fabric that both children can agree on. Use that as your springboard. It can show up in the valances, dust ruffles, throw pillows, or as a background for bulletin boards or headboards. And discount the flexibility as well as the affordability of a coat of paint! “You can’t go wrong with paint,” Sharon explains, “because you can always just re-paint.”

Sharing a room teaches kids how to get along with each other, developing friendships by keeping children close when school and other activities are vying for their time. Make the most of shared spaces! There are only so many years siblings are at home together, and there is only so much time for making memories.

If you're in the Orlando area, you can see Sharon in person at the Create The Space You Deserve Event!

Want more?

Check out Sharon's official website--lots of great stuff here!
Sharon's QVC Blog
Sharon's Facebook page
Sharon's Twitter
Sharon's book, Beautiful Places and Spiritual Spaces: The Art of Stress-free Interior Design is bargain-priced at Amazon! Check it out!




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Weekly Wrap-Up: Back to School!

New to Mom Seriously? Welcome! You'll find tons of great parenting articles, homeschooling encouragement, and every day, a Mom's Tip of the Day. Enjoy!

Hey Everybody,

It has been good for me to post about routines and "flying" this week because it has really helped "up my game" around here! I totally needed a shot in the arm to start off the new year, and it's been great to revisit FlyLady. I hope it's helped some of you find some relief and structure, and I hope you'll check back at her site often for motivation and encouragement!

I got to meet the FlyLady in person a few years ago. She and Leanne Ely came to do a weekend workshop for the military wives at Fort Campbell, KY. At the time, I was leading a moms' group at the hospital on post, and so I got to help with some of the arrangements. It was VERY cool! She was just terrific. She had a bunch of her resources out on a table, including her very own, actual, live-and-in-person morning routine check-off list. You would have thought it was the Holy Grail! LOL! Ladies were walking by oohing and ahhing, gently reaching over to touch it. "Oh, that's hers!" they clamored as they gathered round. "That's what she really uses!"

It actually was very inspiring! And it made all the difference to hear the FlyLady strategy taught by the one who developed it, and lives it, every day!

I guess it's good for all of us to go "back to school" and revisit concepts that may have gotten old to us, or overlooked--buried under the carpet, so to speak! LOL! I haven't really considered the New Year to be a time of thinking "back to school" thoughts, but it really is. My boys have had about a month off, and they dug in this week, revisiting those familiar books and concepts that have been gloriously overlooked during our break! But it is definitely a good thing to get back into our routine, back into the books, and back into life as lived the other eleven months of the year!

Speaking of "back to school," there's a great conference coming up in the spring that is geared expressly for bloggers who are homeschoolers! There's always so much to learn about both subjects, and this conference seeks to enlighten and inspire us in both those callings. Check it out HERE and see what you think! I'm going, and I would love to see you there!

Check out all the Weekly Wrap-Ups at WeirdUnsocializedHomeschoolers.com!


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How Perfectionism and Procrastination Affect Your Relationship with Jesus

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It has always boggled my mind how good habits are so difficult to develop and bad habits are so easy to acquire! Maybe it's because bad habits "happen" to us, but we have to "happen" to good habits in order to make them stick! Author Marla "FlyLady" Cilley candidly admits her routines took months to become habits. Perhaps that's why so many people love the FlyLady and her wonderful website! She isn't ashamed to share that her good habits took a great deal of effort, and therefore, a great deal of time.

Unfortunately, our culture places a premium on speed. The battle cry is, "Get 'er done!" When our homes or our schedules don’t fall into perfect order immediately, we are quick to declare ourselves failures. But the truth is not everything can be popped in the microwave. Good habits will not be had at the drive-thru window. Nope...sometimes we are going to have to find a place to park before we go anywhere else!

Did you know your relationship with Christ can suffer from that same perfectionist mentality? Oh, believe me--it can! See if this scenario sounds familiar: You decide that you want a deeper walk with the Lord. So you begin reading God’s Word, praying more, and looking for ways to serve Him. After a mere few days of this resolve, you still aren’t the Christian you want to be. Life crowds in with its dirt and clutter: secret sins, favorite hurts, and familiar fears. Your resolve is shaken, and once again, you find yourself feeling defeated. What then?

Or this scenario: Trying to establish the habit of a daily quiet time. Dear readers, not only does this take daily determination, it must stand up to daily interruption! Whether it is your kids, your husband, or simply your own wandering mind, this is where the enemy will fight you the hardest. Will you fight back? Or will you say, "Well, there's no way I can have a decent time with the Lord today. There's too much going on. Or, I need my rest. Or, The kids are already up and going crazy. Or, I'll do it later."

When I battled perfectionism with my quiet time, the Lord reminded me of one boy, two fish, and five barley loaves. I hate to think if I had been there and had anything to do with that day! I would have immediately dismissed that child's lunch because it wouldn't have been enough. But not Jesus. He knows it is never going to be enough. That's why we need Him. When it comes your quiet time, there will never be enough time. There will never be enough energy. There will never be enough focus. There will never be enough holiness. That's why whatever we bring to Him is just loaves and fishes. He does the multiplying. He makes sure there is enough.

Maybe the tendency to perfectionism is rooted in not fully understanding the Grace of God. But we don’t have to be perfect to please Him. He loved us first! That undeserved love washes over our sin with the grace of forgiveness and the healing power of a Father’s favor. Whether it is our homes or our hearts, there is nothing we can do without Him. Surrender your imperfections to the power of the perfect Savior. He will strengthen your weak resolve, heal your hurts, and dismiss your defeated mindset. Give Him your loaves and fishes: Got 30 minutes? Great! Only got 5 minutes? Give them to Him anyway!

The FlyLady says, "Housework done incorrectly still blesses your family." So then, it makes sense to me that a quiet time done imperfectly will still bless your heart. :)

Posts in this series:

• Do Your Routines Work for You and Your Family?
• Three Steps That Will Take You from Wanting to Be Organized to Actually BEING Organized
• Simple Routines for Kids (That Really Work!)
• How Perfectionism and Procrastination Affect Your Relationship with Jesus

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Mom's Tip of the Day #121

An arrangement of fresh flowers on the table, a light in the window, or a plate of homemade cookies for dessert will convey your love and appreciation toward the family you hold dear.

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Simple Routines for Kids (That Really Work!)

New to Mom Seriously? Welcome! You'll find tons of great parenting articles, homeschooling encouragement, and every day, a Mom's Tip of the Day. Enjoy!

Create a "launchpad" by the door so you don't
 forget what you need for the day!

Kids thrive on routines. Routines help children establish a sense of responsibility and encourage self-esteem.

Every child’s schedule should include his participation in a chore that benefits the rest of the family, whether it’s helping with dinner preparation, folding a load of laundry, or vacuuming the den. Let your child know he is blessing his family when he helps take care of himself and his home. *Also important, never “do over” your child’s attempts at housekeeping tasks. Remember, he is taking baby steps, too! Check out the ideas below as a starting point for simple routines for your kids.

Before Breakfast Routine
Make bed.
Get dressed to the shoes.
Have a brief devotional.

(Homeschooling moms: Your need for a routine doesn't stop here. Be sure you have a plan in place for your daily school time.)

After School Routine
Decide with your child on a homework schedule. Some children are refreshed with a snack and some outside playtime before tackling their assignments. Set a timer to challenge reluctant scholars to stay focused and “beat the clock!”

Bedtime routine
Check calendar for tomorrow’s activities.
Pack backpack.
Lay out next day’s clothes.


Routines don't have to be hard. They are simply habits that you put in place to make your life EASIER. Yes, easier! You already have habits in place now...are they making your life easier or more difficult? Ask yourself the hard questions, and be ready to do whatever it takes to turn things around. I believe you can do it! Believe in yourself and then there will be two of us! :)

Posts in this series:

• Do Your Routines Work for You and Your Family?
• Three Steps That Will Take You from Wanting to Be Organized to Actually BEING Organized
• Simple Routines for Kids (That Really Work!)
• How Perfectionism and Procrastination Affect Your Relationship with Jesus

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Three Steps That Will Take You from Wanting to Be Organized to Actually BEING Organized

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Part of Marla "FlyLady" Cilley’s charm lies in the fact that, while her routines are in place today, she remembers all too well what it was like to live in CHAOS (Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome). She's been there! “I was miserable,” she recalls. “I wanted to be a good housekeeper but had no clue where to start.”

Cilley says it was her perfectionism that was so destructive in her life. She wanted her home and her routines to be in place immediately. Sound familiar? “Our all or nothing thinking keeps us trapped in our perfectionism,” she explains. “We try to do too much, too fast, and as a result, we crash and burn.” Another failed attempt produces a more defeated mentality, and as Cilley notes, “We just give up!” Cilley had to force herself to take things slowly, learning new habits and putting routines in place, one “baby step” at a time. This was how she made the leap from wanting to be organized to actually being organized.

Shine Your Sink. Cilley started with her kitchen sink. Every night before she went to bed she made sure her sink was empty and sparkling, not merely serving as a holding and storage area for dirty dishes. What she found was that a shiny sink not only lifted her spirits, it was contagious and spread from the sink to her counters, stove, and refrigerator! Shining her sink became part of Cilley’s evening routine.

Get dressed to the shoes. Many stay-at-home and homeschooling moms can benefit from Cilley’s advice to get up, get going, and get dressed to the shoes before doing anything else. When she put this new habit in place, it was empowering. “Just getting dressed when I first got up in the morning set me on a positive note for the whole day,” she explains. “I was not ashamed to answer my door. I could run outside at a moment's notice.”

Make your bed. While your home is your family’s haven, your bedroom is your sanctuary. It is a gift to yourself and your spouse when you keep it clean and decluttered. Start with making your bed. Don’t get sidetracked and go overboard thinking you need new linens, paint, and wallpaper! Just make your bed.

A peaceful home serves as a witness to your first ministry, your family. It also serves as salt and light in your community when you are able to open its doors and reach out to others. Cilley believes that new routines can be accomplished fifteen minutes at a time. Consider those fifteen-minute increments a gift to yourself. Take that time to do something that will make you smile when it’s been accomplished. When you think of your routines as a way to worship God, bless your family, and serve others, you’ll find in every shiny sink a reflection of His love.

Posts in this series:

• Do Your Routines Work for You and Your Family?
• Three Steps That Will Take You from Wanting to Be Organized to Actually BEING Organized
• Simple Routines for Kids (That Really Work!)
• How Perfectionism and Procrastination Affect Your Relationship with Jesus

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Do Your Routines Work for You and Your Family?

New to Mom Seriously? Welcome! You'll find tons of great parenting articles, homeschooling encouragement, and every day, a Mom's Tip of the Day. Enjoy!

A new year never fails to bring with it a new resolve. This year I will make sure my laundry gets done! This year I will keep the bathroom clean! This year we will actually sit down together and eat home-cooked meals around the dinner table! Year after year I made lists full of those resolutions with the best of intentions, but year after year, my best efforts quickly fizzled out. My resolutions became guilt-propelled arrows of shame Satan used as daggers in my self-esteem. “This place is a mess,” he hissed. “You don’t know where anything is. What kind of person lives like this?”

Then my mother-in-law introduced me to FlyLady, a website serving tens of thousands of perfectionistic procrastinators (or procastinating perfectionists!) as a virtual mentor. She didn't know that I had been praying for someone to help me with my household duties, but I had been, and FlyLady literally changed my life, and my family's life.

Marla Cilley is the bossy but loveable “FlyLady,” and she believes the enemy wreaks havoc against moms and their families when it comes to home management. “Housework is not pain or punishment,” she says. “That’s just the way the devil turns it against you.” Cilley believes that every woman actually has routines in place--it is simply a matter of whether or not her routines are working.

Think about it: Your routine may be to leave dirty dishes in the sink (presumably “soaking” LOL), to madly search for the car keys every time you have to go somewhere, and to have mounds of laundry to face every weekend. Please don't read judgment in that--for many years, that was the story of my life. If your “routines” are robbing you of peace and tranquility in your home—which ought to be your safe corner of the world--then your routines need to be changed! Until you decide to do something, Cilley says, “You’re depriving your family of a wonderful home, a nurturing mother, and a caring wife.”

I recently re-visited the FlyLady philosophy as I read back through Cilley's best-selling book, Sink Reflections. I definitely need to brush up on several things, but truthfully, just reading back through the book I realize how it changed my life.

I'll never forget my son David's reaction when I first began "flying." He was around 8 or 9 years old, and he had just gotten up and was coming to the kitchen to find me. He eyeballed the clear counters and freshly-mopped floor of my clean kitchen and asked, "Who's coming over?" Huge moment of revelation for me: Did my kids think a clean house was for company only? Shouldn't the house be clean for the family who lives in it every day?

I interviewed Cilley by phone for ParentLife magazine several years ago, and she is just a joy. I told her how she was the mentor I had prayed for, and she got choked up--she truly loves helping people just like me--and maybe just like you! I'll be sharing portions of that interview this week, and I hope you'll join me! btw, if you're already "flying," leave a comment--I would love to know about it!

And if you've got any Christmas money leftover, I urge you to get Marla Cilley's book. This is a topic near and dear to my heart. Don't you want to love the home you live in? And don't you want to get off your own back about it, and actually do something besides beat yourself up over it? Think of it as an investment--in yourself, your marriage, your children, and your home.

Posts in this series:

• Do Your Routines Work for You and Your Family?
• Three Steps That Will Take You from Wanting to Be Organized to Actually BEING Organized
• Simple Routines for Kids (That Really Work!)
• How Perfectionism and Procrastination Affect Your Relationship with Jesus

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Mom's Tip of the Day #115

Explore the minimalist lifestyle. If you have two of something, give one away.

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Mom's Tip of the Day #114

Keep at least one drawer or cabinet shelf in your kitchen empty. You’ll be surprised at how good that empty space can make you feel.

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Mom's Tip of the Day #133

"Boundaries are one of the most important things. There’s a time and a place for everything. If I don’t devote the most important time to my family, my work will not be blessed."

 ~Cherie Drennan, Founder and Creator, ChandiCharms

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Let There Be Light at the Family Table!

New to Mom Seriously? Welcome! You'll find tons of great parenting articles, homeschooling encouragement, and every day, a Mom's Tip of the Day. Enjoy!

When we moved into our home several years ago, I was excited to finally have a dining room! For years we had a roomy, eat-in kitchen, which was great, but I was raised in a home with a dining room, by a mom who knew what to do with one! So there was excitement, but there was also a little intimidation. My dining room has a big, beautiful, gold chandelier, and when I saw it, I just thought, "That's not me." And it's really not, to this day, it's not. So while we still eat dinner in there, my chandelier was something I occasionally dusted off (when it got really gross, LOL) and otherwise tried not to think about. I thought about selling it, replacing it, painting it, but being the procrastinator that I am, and having way more important things to think about, I never got around to it! My family likes to eat in the dining room, and they are not nearly so picky as I am about how it looks. So we're good. :)


Trying on "Festive Shimmer in
Crimson Red"

ChandiCharms, however, have breathed new life into my 30+ year old chandi! It looks so adorable now decorated for fall (see the picture here), and it just looks more friendly. I actually like it now! And when we were eating together last Saturday night, all the kids commented on the pumpkins. It's true: people notice the details; they really do. And when it comes to loving on my family, and spending time together at that all-important family table, I want them to know that I care about the details--that it is important to me to do those little things for them that make a big difference. (After the pumpkins, I may go with the red for Christmas! So pretty!) Check out the tips below from my friend and the creator of ChandiCharms, Cherie Drennan.

GENEROUS LIGHTING FOR YOUR DINING ROOM:

1. Don't pick a chandelier that's too small! Cherie recommends you choose a chandi that is at least one-half the width of your table, but do not go over the full width of your table.
2. You need more than one source of light in your dining room. "Don't count on your chandelier as your only light source," Cherie advises. "Wall sconces, candles, and lamps can be used effectively as additional sources of light in the room." Cherie also recommends a dimmer switch for your chandelier. (My 16 yo son has assured me those are not difficult to install, so we will be looking into that!)
3. Hang your chandi between 30"-36" off the table. "Lighting affects the atmosphere at the family table," Cherie notes. "The family table is all about conversation, so you need the main light to be just high enough so that it is not casting shadows or causing an annoying glare."

GIVEAWAY: You can still enter for a chance to win a set of three Harvest Pumpkin ChandiCharms! Go HERE to leave your comment and enter by midnight tonight, Tuesday, October 26!

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GIVEAWAY! Celebrating Fall and Family with ChandiCharms

New to Mom Seriously? Welcome! You'll find tons of great parenting articles, homeschooling encouragement, and every day, a Mom's Tip of the Day. Enjoy!

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

 Now THIS is a great giveaway! :)

Cherie Drennan

My friend Cherie Drennan is a mom of five, a lighting designer, an entrepreneur, and an inventor--and I am thrilled to say that as I have watched both her family and her business grow, I've watched her faith grow right along too, in perfect sync with what God has choreographed for her life. So I'm excited today to introduce you to her, and hopefully to inspire you--wherever you are in your own journey!

It was while renovating her home (a farmhouse built in 1860) several years ago that Cherie’s interest in lighting began. When she tackled the job of restoring the dining room’s antique chandelier (including teaching herself to rewire it!), what began as a pastime grew into a passion. Soon there were chandeliers in every room of the farmhouse, all custom-designed by Cherie! Quite naturally, a home-based business was born, because Cherie says, "There was no way I was going to give up raising my children, and I didn't have to. When I took my business online, all the advantages of a global market became mine."

Today, Cherie has branched out from custom-designed chandeliers to the creation of ChandiCharms (patent pending): "removable, interchangeable charms [that] slip on in the time it takes to change a light bulb, accessorizing chandeliers and wall sconces with new depth, added dimension, and vibrant definition" (from the website).

Cherie is outfitting my dining room chandelier with these gorgeous
Harvest Pumpkin ChandiCharms! Welcome, Fall!

With 19 styles, Cherie found a way to give homeowners the power to design their own chandeliers by customizing them with gorgeous charms and ornaments--no rewiring, sanding, or painting necessary. Just like you change your tabletop with dishes and fabrics, now you can accessorize your chandelier!

Cherie has learned that motherhood and business can co-exist. But it took a while. “For so many years when I worked,” she explains, “I wanted to stay at home. While I was home, though, I still had a yearning to start a business.” She struggled with feeling guilty, believing that being a mom should be enough. “I told myself I shouldn’t want to do anything else,” she admits. “I felt so guilty about it, but after lots of prayer, I realized that God made me this way! God didn’t make us all to do the same thing. Even a stay-at-home mom can do other things.” Fortunately for Cherie and any other mom who feels called to work at a job alongside being a mom, the possibilities for working from home are limitless.

I love this Fleur-de-lis design!

“Beautiful lighting is like artwork for your ceiling,” says Cherie. “With ChandiCharms, anyone can upgrade, redesign, and recreate a chandelier. It totally transforms the look and feel of your home.”

Now, wouldn't you like to win some ChandiCharms?

In celebration of this season of fall, faith, family, and friends, I'm giving away a set of three Harvest Pumpkin ChandiCharms™ (retail value: $39.99)! These are so adorable for fall--I'm keeping mine on my chandelier all the way through Thanksgiving! ChandiCharms also fit candles and wall sconces (below)! So cute!

See how cute they are on candlesticks? Enter for your chance to win!

How do you ENTER?  Leave a comment on this post, and provide your email or link back to your blog so that I have a way to notify you. This contest runs through midnight Tuesday, October 26!

Be sure to browse Cherie's website, and "Like" her ChandiCharms FB page, which she just set up. :) Check back here tomorrow to learn more about Cherie, plus a few smart lighting tips and tricks!

Read more:

Let There Be Light at The Family Table



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My Giveaway Guidelines are HERE.

Mom's Tip of the Day #112

Most men don’t mind helping out around the house. What bothers them is our criticism when they don’t do things the way we would.

 

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Mom's Tip of the Day #89

Date nights with your husband are great! In the same way, it is imperative that you schedule some time with your girl friends.

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Updating Your Home for Fall? Get More Bang for Your Buck!

Time to come in, y'all!

That's how I feel about this time of year. As fall approaches, I begin to realize that my family and I are going to be spending lots more time indoors. Is my house ready for it? Lots of people are doing their fall cleaning (which sounds much better than to say that you are just now doing the spring cleaning that you put off LOL), and it's natural to want to update as well.

But...we're kind of in a recession...so is there a way to update, fix up, and spruce up on a budget?

Design by Vickie Morehead, VM Designs LLC

I went straight to an expert with this question--my friend Vickie Morehead, the owner of VM Designs, a very talented designer whose expertise is showcased in the homes of the rich and famous around Nashville and Atlanta, as well as in the homes of her friends and neighbors. What should you do to get the most style satisfaction for the least amount of money? Vickie says paint, lighting, and window treatments--working together or as single elements--can transform a ho-hum home into a special space for your family.

Paint. “Paint will always change a room,” says Vickie. “Pick three colors you like and then narrow down from there. If you pick more than three colors, you will just get confused.” An inexpensive option, paint offers homeowners a re-do in a just a few hours’ time. (This is a great time of year to buy paint, too, as there are several rebates going on and Labor Day sales that will last through this week!)

Lighting. Sometimes a couple of new lamps are all you need to change a room. Try swapping light bulbs for more or less wattage to see how it changes the atmosphere in the space. Remove tinted or frosted glass on lighting insets and replace with clear to let the light really shine. (Funny story: I had a kitchen lighting fixture that I thought had frosted glass for some time...until I cleaned it...and all the "frost" came off with windex. LOL)

Window treatments. “Curtains will change a room completely,” Vickie says. And she says they don’t have to be custom-made. Take a store-bought curtain and add a little extra treatment at the bottom with a contrasting fabric. Another idea is to add a strip of ribbon or beads to the bottom of a pre-made valance. All you need is a glue gun and some creativity!

When it comes to your home, little changes can be truly transforming because they change the way you feel about your space. A vase of flowers or a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen table may seem minute to some, but for a busy mom, it becomes a place to rest your eyes and then press on with a new perspective. And that can make a big difference in your day--and consequently--in your family's!



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Pruning Always Leads to New Growth

Hey Everybody!

My mom told me last night that it was "redbud winter." It does help to know that the cold weather we have had is going to a good cause: beautiful redbud trees! While the nights here are still chilly, yesterday was actually a gorgeous day--warm, sunny, bright--and I noticed that my crepe myrtles are starting to bloom! Yay!

A few weeks ago, a friend at church, Bill (our resident crepe myrtle expert LOL!), told me how to prune my crepes so that they will do well this year. My crepes are in their third season, and I had never pruned them. When Derek and I, along with his buddy Lucas, went outside to prune them, all three of us hesitated.

"Mom," Derek said, "are you sure?"

I stood poised with the clippers in my hands, and I just repeated what Bill had told me. "Cut them to about here (knee high), and they will grow taller than a man and bloom all summer." 

I began to cut.

"Mom!" Derek cried out. "What if they don't grow back?"

I repeated, "Derek, Bill said to cut them to about here, and they will grow taller than a man and bloom all summer. Bill knows what he's talking about. I'm going to trust Bill."

I want you to know that my stomach was in knots as I tried to cut those bushes down. Lucas ended up doing most of it, and Derek and I dragged the limbs away. But guess what I noticed today? Those crepes are already beginning to grow and get buds on them!

Sometimes, in our lives, God tells us to prune things away in order to gain new growth. When that happens, it is easy to question the truth of what He has said. We begin to play the "what if" game and that can create a lot of confusion in our minds and hearts. If that is going on in your life right now, please keep repeating what the real Expert has to say! Then just do it! Do it with your stomach in knots! Do it because you trust the One who knows what He's talking about.

*Don't forget to check back at noon for Mom's Tip of the Day!

Dinner Plans

Hey Everybody,

Ever since I met Kelly of Faithful Provisions, my view on dinner has changed! After being mentored by her in a new way of shopping, it naturally led to a new way of eating and menu planning, as well! I believe that Kelly's shopping techniques will work for stay at home moms as well as working moms. In fact, I believe that there are a lot of moms who could even manage to stay home if they decided to follow her shopping principles! It could make that much of a difference in your family's budget! (I just have to mention that this pic was taken last summer, and just seeing that beautiful sunny day is giving me spring fever! It has snowed more in the last three weeks here in Middle Tennessee than it has in the past seven years! Not kidding!)

Here's a sample of one way that a two-income family could make up a week's dinner plans, with a few tips I've learned from Kelly sprinkled in!

Monday—Dad cooks. Leave something defrosting in the fridge for Dad to throw on the grill or in the oven when he gets home. What will it be? It will be whatever meat you have bought on sale! Kelly suggests adding your marinating sauce to your meat before you put it in the freezer. I have tried this and it works great!

Tuesday—Mom cooks. Use the crock pot for everything from lasagna to low-cal vegetable soup. One of my favorite crockpot recipes is here.

Wednesday—Many churches offer a family night supper on Wednesdays. If yours does not, make this meal a light supper of salad, sandwiches, or hot dogs before your regular mid-week church activities. At our church, the Wednesday night meal costs $3 per person, which adds up to $15 for the Powells. Obviously, I could cook at home for a much lower price! However, the value here is for the fellowship and the friendship that is so generously offered around our tables!

Thursday—Casseroles are easy to put together when you cook the meat ahead of time and freeze it. Also, Kelly encourages folks to have baking days and put your casseroles together, then freeze them. You then have go-to meals available in your own freezer, which helps tone down the impulse to "just grab something" on the way home.

Friday—Celebrate the weekend by eating out or ordering in! Just be sure you use a coupon! LOL!