Here's a great tip - label and organize your pantry shelves. This will make cooking and grocery shopping so much easier because you'll be able to see exactly what you have on hand and what you need. Also, this is a great time to wipe down those shelves and make them all sparkly!
This is a task that can easily become overwhelming, so set your timer and start with just ONE shelf. I take everything off of one shelf and either crowd the stuff onto the other shelves, or put it on the counter. Then I take a damp cloth (I typed damn cloth!) and give the shelf a quick wipe. Then I decide what item groups I'm going to use for that shelf. Here is how I group my items:
Soups
Canned fruit & veggies
Cereals - dry cereal, oatmeal, granola, etc.
Drinks of any kind - Kool aid, hot chocolate, iced tea
Pasta and beans
Boxed staples - pancake mix, au gratin potatoes, Minute rice, etc.
Baking items - flour, sugar, baking powder, etc.
Spices (in a separate cabinet)
Snack items - chips, cookies, twinkies, crackers
The items we use the most are the ones I want on the most accessible shelves. So I would start with cereals and snack items because we use those pretty much every day. Group similar items together. Don't forget to leave a little extra space for your next shopping trip. Label your shelves so when your family is putting away groceries, they will put them in the correct place. Don't get hung up on having all the labels face a certain way or having all the boxes line up just so - that's perfectionism and it's not helpful!
Once you finish that one shelf, you can call it a day, or if you have time, start on another shelf. You should have some room since you will have moved some items down onto the first shelf. This time you might be able to just shove everything to one side and wipe it down a side at a time rather than take everything out. You'll be surprised at how much extra room you will find when everything is organized properly.
Then when you are getting ready to shop, you can see at a glance how many cans of soup you have or how many boxes of cereal. During class, you should have received one of my fabulous grocery lists. I love my grocery list! I have it in an Excel spreadsheet and I have 3 columns all separated by meal or by type. Then I can go down and just check off what we need for each meal. Example: Breakfast - I check eggs, cereal, waffles, and bagels. Paper goods - check, check, check. Paper products, cleaning supplies, pet goodies, plus a little space to write special items.
It takes me two minutes to throw together my grocery list for the week. Then I hand it to my 19-year old son and send him off to Target. He works there, so we can take advantage of his 10% employee discount - ka-ching! That adds up when you are doing two weeks worth of groceries. Plus he finds all kinds of coupons laying around. This week we are saving $15 cash rebates in addition to his 10% discount - double ka-ching! Sorry! Just had to brag a bit. Plus it is making him a very smart shopper.
But I reward him by letting him spend most of the money he saves on all the pizza, soda, and other goodies he loves for his lunches. I'd probably buy it anyway, but this way he feels like he's getting a reward - shhhhh!
10/30/08
10/28/08
Challenge for Today
You have a challenge today! Your challenge is to round up a whole grocery bag of papers and either toss them, file them, or shred them. When you are done, don't forget to reward yourself with something small.
10/19/08
Stress Free Holidays
This is an essay that Flylady posts every year. I know it's really early to even be thinking about Christmas, but time really speeds up this time of year and it will be here before we know it. The holidays can be such a fun time, but it can be a very stressful time, especially for people who have issues like ours.
For years I have set up my vacation to include something I call my "Christmas sanity" week. I plan 3 to 5 days of vacation time around the second week of December to get my decorating, shopping, and mailing done in time to meet the holiday shipping deadlines (most of our family is out of state). I've found this to be very helpful and reduces my stress somewhat, but I also follow some of Flylady's guidelines as far as getting my daily routines set so my house looks nice, and doing my decorating a bit at a time instead of in a marathon session. I've also tried to simplify my holiday traditions and not go so crazy spending so much money on gifts.
Dear Friends,
Every year we declare that this year we will be ready for the holidays and every single year we find ourselves wrapping gifts or running to the grocery at the last minute. Do you want to have a stress-free holiday? I can see you affirming this with your head nods! Well it is not going to happen if you just sit and wish things could be different. It is going to take a little Franny moving on your part so that your lives will be peaceful. Are you ready to look at some simple ways to keep your life calm during the holidays? If you will follow our 6 weeks worth of missions, you will have a headstart on holiday preparations.
1. The very first thing that we all have to do is maintain our homes. Now I am talking about having your routines established so your home practically cleans itself. I know you don't believe me, but it will happen if you will just get up and dress to shoes every single day, commit to keeping your sink shining and lay out your clothes for tomorrow. This is not rocket science. I can hear you now, "I don't know where to start!" I am going to tell you. Many people need to see something clean so they can keep it that way; It is the perfectionist in each of us. This is why we always start with our sinks. Shining sinks make us smile which energizes us into keeping the rest of the kitchen clean too. On our website we have a link to an essay called Crisis Cleaning. This is a simple and fun way to stay focused and get your home picked up in record time. We all have done stash and dash to get ready for company; this is a little different, because you are required to rest and take care of yourself. We use a timer, fun music and a happy attitude while we do this.
The hardest part is keeping it looking nice, but you can do this if you will pick up after yourself. Yes I said you! We are the world'sworst at putting things away when we are finished, probably because we never finish anything. If we will just practice stopping and putting things away, then your home will stay looking nice until your company comes. In fact your home will look nice for you and your family all the time, not just when guests are coming. I can hear you yelling at me. It is the rest of the family that trashes the home. Well get over it. It is your responsibility to set the example and give them fun ways to pick up and put away; 27 Fling Boogies, Hot Spot Fire Preventions twice a day or at the top of every hour. This way, things will get put away on a regular schedule. Then every night as part of your before bed routine; everything gets put away and you get to start with a peaceful room each morning.
http://www.flylady. net Click on FLYing lessons; scroll down to the section, As you make progress and you will see the last item; FlyLady's Crisis Cleaning. Print this out and follow it step by babystep.
2. Now with your home looking nice, you are freed up to think about the holidays, but you can't forget about keeping it picked up. There are lots of things that need to be done, so it is important that we not only make a few plans, but that we carry out those plans in babysteps. We all are good at making lists but we never really follow through with those ideas. We are going to help you with this. As part of your basic weekly plans we will integrate holiday missions. These are going to be fun. Kelly has a way of wording her Holiday Cruising Missions that they are not like work at all. You will be blessing your family with a happy person instead of a stressed out one.
3. We always spend way too much money on gifts and decorations. It is time we looked at this with a budget in mind. Now I am not going to get picky about every single penny you spend, but I don't want you dragging out those credit cards all the time for unplanned purchases and then having to pay the piper next year with huge interest and overwhelming guilt. A little thought and actual doing, you can have a stress free holiday and an even more peaceful new year without the debt.
4. None of us have enough time, yet we all have the same amount. Itis time that we quit whining about this and accept that we can't get it all done and just do what we can. Do you understand this? Life is too short to dwell on what doesn't get done. Celebrate what you do every day and start fresh each morning. Don't look back and jump in right where we are. This is going to be a lot of fun if you will quit feeling sorry for yourself and commit to doing one thing to get ready for the holidays each and every day.
5. The holidays are supposed to be a time to enjoy your family while setting up traditions that make you and your family happy. This is a tough one. Your traditions may not be fun anymore. You have always done the same thing and no one ever questioned it. If your traditions don't make you smile then it may be time for new ones. Who says you have to have a traditional holiday meal or get-together. The most important part is that each member of your immediate family feel loved. Have a family meeting to discuss your plans and ask for suggestions. I have always told my son and his wife that we can have our Christmas anytime. This it is not a requirement that I see him on December 25th. When he was a baby, we were expected to attend traditional celebrations at the Grandparents homes. We were blessed that we all lived in the same town, but two dinners 4 hours apart is too much. Make your decisions now and stick to them. Keep it fun for your family and most of all stress free for you. You know what we say, if Momma ain't happy ain't nobody happy.
6. Decorating can be stressful all by itself. The perfectionism in us wants to see it done all at once. Well sisters that is just too much for anyone. We can start small, by just putting out candles first, then do one small box at a time. After about 7 days you can have the whole house decorated for the holidays and it has been done 15 minutes at a time. Don't forget to be nice to yourself putting things away after the first of the year. BabySteps will get it decorated and undecorated; without the guilt. One member let the children put ornaments on the tree each evening. They would light a candle and just put one ornament each on the tree until it was decorated. They made a special occasion and had fun. Isn't that what the holidays are all about; Family time. You can do these things if you are not stressed out by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and your home. This is why I want you to pretend that you are going on a Cruise December 1st until Christmas Eve. That way you can be free of the last minute torture and just sit back and have a good time with your family.
7. Everyone loves to make gifts for your friends as well as bake. Well if you have not thought about those homemade sewn gifts by now, let's face it, they are probably not going to be finished by the deadline. Right now you may be feeling a bit guilty. Well stop this. There are some simple little gifts that can be made that most everyone loves: Spice tea, my cafe' Mocha mix, cookies in a jar. You know them as well as I do. All you have to do is stir them up and put in a jar and put a bow on them; Simple, easy to do and fun for the family to help. Don't get caught up in trying to impress when it is going to put too much stress in your life. Now if you have been knitting all year or quilting then you have your projects well in hand. I am very proud of you, but for those of us that are not there yet, let it go and keep it simple. Some friends of mine like to have a cookie swap. Each person bakes their favorite holiday cookie recipe and puts them in containers to give away. Everyone at the party gets a variety of holiday cookies and you didn't have to fix them all yourself. Yippee! More fun and less work: That's for me! The good thing about cookie dough is that it can be frozen! Mix up several batches and roll them into balls or wax paper logs to be cut later; children love to help. Then you will have cookie dough ready for the baking without all the mess.
8. Menu planning and preparation can be hard on your budget, that iswhy it is a good idea to start buying now. You have six weeks before USA Thanksgiving to spread out your purchases; Buy a few items at atime and stock up. I like to keep hors d'oeuvres on hand for those impromptu parties we like to have. With our home in order we can pickup the phone and invite people over for an evening without having to run to the store. We keep several varieties of crackers and cheeses on hand, as well as cookies, fruit, and beverages. Sometimes it is just fun to treat my sweetie to an evening of candles and hors d'oeuvres when he comes home after a hard day at work. We all like to be treated like company. Before you start buying it is a good idea to plan your menu and make your grocery list so you can check the specials before you make your grocery run.
9. Now for the rest of the family's gifts. I am not a big fan of shopping and mall crowds, this is why I order many of our gifts and I shy away from clutter. I also try to shop at home as much as possible. We all need to limit our purchases to our list that we are going to make. Write down all the names of people you intend to buy for and set an amount and don't go over it. By starting now, you will have plenty of time to find an acceptable gift without maxing out your credit cards.
10. Another thing I absolutely despise is gift wrapping. I try to do as little as possible. In fact I am not fond of buying wrapping paper. Ribbons are another story. I love pretty ribbons. I have been known to wrap our gifts in brown paper bags from the grocery store and put pretty gold ribbons around them and use old greeting cards for gift tags. A few years ago I even wrapped them in unprinted newsprint paper and spray painted them gold. I guess I can be a cheapskate sometimes. When I buy gifts, I usually take the time to have them wrapped while I am there. That way I don't have to do it myself. Since I live in a small town they usually don't charge for it.
11. The hardest person to buy for in your home is YOU! Do you have any idea what you would like for a gift. Our spouses and our children cannot read our minds, it is up to you to give them a want list. Now is the time to start making your list and don't keep it a secret. We have our children do it, so why not try this. This doesn't mean you are going to get all you have asked for, but it will give your loved ones someplace to start.
I want for you what I have; Peace. This peace came from using my routines to keep my home in order and a little planning ahead with 15 minutes of moving my Franny each day to accomplish what I have planned. You can have this peace too, if you will adjust your attitude toward the holidays and take care of yourself.
Are you ready to Cruise through the holidays too?
FlyLady
For years I have set up my vacation to include something I call my "Christmas sanity" week. I plan 3 to 5 days of vacation time around the second week of December to get my decorating, shopping, and mailing done in time to meet the holiday shipping deadlines (most of our family is out of state). I've found this to be very helpful and reduces my stress somewhat, but I also follow some of Flylady's guidelines as far as getting my daily routines set so my house looks nice, and doing my decorating a bit at a time instead of in a marathon session. I've also tried to simplify my holiday traditions and not go so crazy spending so much money on gifts.
Dear Friends,
Every year we declare that this year we will be ready for the holidays and every single year we find ourselves wrapping gifts or running to the grocery at the last minute. Do you want to have a stress-free holiday? I can see you affirming this with your head nods! Well it is not going to happen if you just sit and wish things could be different. It is going to take a little Franny moving on your part so that your lives will be peaceful. Are you ready to look at some simple ways to keep your life calm during the holidays? If you will follow our 6 weeks worth of missions, you will have a headstart on holiday preparations.
1. The very first thing that we all have to do is maintain our homes. Now I am talking about having your routines established so your home practically cleans itself. I know you don't believe me, but it will happen if you will just get up and dress to shoes every single day, commit to keeping your sink shining and lay out your clothes for tomorrow. This is not rocket science. I can hear you now, "I don't know where to start!" I am going to tell you. Many people need to see something clean so they can keep it that way; It is the perfectionist in each of us. This is why we always start with our sinks. Shining sinks make us smile which energizes us into keeping the rest of the kitchen clean too. On our website we have a link to an essay called Crisis Cleaning. This is a simple and fun way to stay focused and get your home picked up in record time. We all have done stash and dash to get ready for company; this is a little different, because you are required to rest and take care of yourself. We use a timer, fun music and a happy attitude while we do this.
The hardest part is keeping it looking nice, but you can do this if you will pick up after yourself. Yes I said you! We are the world'sworst at putting things away when we are finished, probably because we never finish anything. If we will just practice stopping and putting things away, then your home will stay looking nice until your company comes. In fact your home will look nice for you and your family all the time, not just when guests are coming. I can hear you yelling at me. It is the rest of the family that trashes the home. Well get over it. It is your responsibility to set the example and give them fun ways to pick up and put away; 27 Fling Boogies, Hot Spot Fire Preventions twice a day or at the top of every hour. This way, things will get put away on a regular schedule. Then every night as part of your before bed routine; everything gets put away and you get to start with a peaceful room each morning.
http://www.flylady. net Click on FLYing lessons; scroll down to the section, As you make progress and you will see the last item; FlyLady's Crisis Cleaning. Print this out and follow it step by babystep.
2. Now with your home looking nice, you are freed up to think about the holidays, but you can't forget about keeping it picked up. There are lots of things that need to be done, so it is important that we not only make a few plans, but that we carry out those plans in babysteps. We all are good at making lists but we never really follow through with those ideas. We are going to help you with this. As part of your basic weekly plans we will integrate holiday missions. These are going to be fun. Kelly has a way of wording her Holiday Cruising Missions that they are not like work at all. You will be blessing your family with a happy person instead of a stressed out one.
3. We always spend way too much money on gifts and decorations. It is time we looked at this with a budget in mind. Now I am not going to get picky about every single penny you spend, but I don't want you dragging out those credit cards all the time for unplanned purchases and then having to pay the piper next year with huge interest and overwhelming guilt. A little thought and actual doing, you can have a stress free holiday and an even more peaceful new year without the debt.
4. None of us have enough time, yet we all have the same amount. Itis time that we quit whining about this and accept that we can't get it all done and just do what we can. Do you understand this? Life is too short to dwell on what doesn't get done. Celebrate what you do every day and start fresh each morning. Don't look back and jump in right where we are. This is going to be a lot of fun if you will quit feeling sorry for yourself and commit to doing one thing to get ready for the holidays each and every day.
5. The holidays are supposed to be a time to enjoy your family while setting up traditions that make you and your family happy. This is a tough one. Your traditions may not be fun anymore. You have always done the same thing and no one ever questioned it. If your traditions don't make you smile then it may be time for new ones. Who says you have to have a traditional holiday meal or get-together. The most important part is that each member of your immediate family feel loved. Have a family meeting to discuss your plans and ask for suggestions. I have always told my son and his wife that we can have our Christmas anytime. This it is not a requirement that I see him on December 25th. When he was a baby, we were expected to attend traditional celebrations at the Grandparents homes. We were blessed that we all lived in the same town, but two dinners 4 hours apart is too much. Make your decisions now and stick to them. Keep it fun for your family and most of all stress free for you. You know what we say, if Momma ain't happy ain't nobody happy.
6. Decorating can be stressful all by itself. The perfectionism in us wants to see it done all at once. Well sisters that is just too much for anyone. We can start small, by just putting out candles first, then do one small box at a time. After about 7 days you can have the whole house decorated for the holidays and it has been done 15 minutes at a time. Don't forget to be nice to yourself putting things away after the first of the year. BabySteps will get it decorated and undecorated; without the guilt. One member let the children put ornaments on the tree each evening. They would light a candle and just put one ornament each on the tree until it was decorated. They made a special occasion and had fun. Isn't that what the holidays are all about; Family time. You can do these things if you are not stressed out by the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and your home. This is why I want you to pretend that you are going on a Cruise December 1st until Christmas Eve. That way you can be free of the last minute torture and just sit back and have a good time with your family.
7. Everyone loves to make gifts for your friends as well as bake. Well if you have not thought about those homemade sewn gifts by now, let's face it, they are probably not going to be finished by the deadline. Right now you may be feeling a bit guilty. Well stop this. There are some simple little gifts that can be made that most everyone loves: Spice tea, my cafe' Mocha mix, cookies in a jar. You know them as well as I do. All you have to do is stir them up and put in a jar and put a bow on them; Simple, easy to do and fun for the family to help. Don't get caught up in trying to impress when it is going to put too much stress in your life. Now if you have been knitting all year or quilting then you have your projects well in hand. I am very proud of you, but for those of us that are not there yet, let it go and keep it simple. Some friends of mine like to have a cookie swap. Each person bakes their favorite holiday cookie recipe and puts them in containers to give away. Everyone at the party gets a variety of holiday cookies and you didn't have to fix them all yourself. Yippee! More fun and less work: That's for me! The good thing about cookie dough is that it can be frozen! Mix up several batches and roll them into balls or wax paper logs to be cut later; children love to help. Then you will have cookie dough ready for the baking without all the mess.
8. Menu planning and preparation can be hard on your budget, that iswhy it is a good idea to start buying now. You have six weeks before USA Thanksgiving to spread out your purchases; Buy a few items at atime and stock up. I like to keep hors d'oeuvres on hand for those impromptu parties we like to have. With our home in order we can pickup the phone and invite people over for an evening without having to run to the store. We keep several varieties of crackers and cheeses on hand, as well as cookies, fruit, and beverages. Sometimes it is just fun to treat my sweetie to an evening of candles and hors d'oeuvres when he comes home after a hard day at work. We all like to be treated like company. Before you start buying it is a good idea to plan your menu and make your grocery list so you can check the specials before you make your grocery run.
9. Now for the rest of the family's gifts. I am not a big fan of shopping and mall crowds, this is why I order many of our gifts and I shy away from clutter. I also try to shop at home as much as possible. We all need to limit our purchases to our list that we are going to make. Write down all the names of people you intend to buy for and set an amount and don't go over it. By starting now, you will have plenty of time to find an acceptable gift without maxing out your credit cards.
10. Another thing I absolutely despise is gift wrapping. I try to do as little as possible. In fact I am not fond of buying wrapping paper. Ribbons are another story. I love pretty ribbons. I have been known to wrap our gifts in brown paper bags from the grocery store and put pretty gold ribbons around them and use old greeting cards for gift tags. A few years ago I even wrapped them in unprinted newsprint paper and spray painted them gold. I guess I can be a cheapskate sometimes. When I buy gifts, I usually take the time to have them wrapped while I am there. That way I don't have to do it myself. Since I live in a small town they usually don't charge for it.
11. The hardest person to buy for in your home is YOU! Do you have any idea what you would like for a gift. Our spouses and our children cannot read our minds, it is up to you to give them a want list. Now is the time to start making your list and don't keep it a secret. We have our children do it, so why not try this. This doesn't mean you are going to get all you have asked for, but it will give your loved ones someplace to start.
I want for you what I have; Peace. This peace came from using my routines to keep my home in order and a little planning ahead with 15 minutes of moving my Franny each day to accomplish what I have planned. You can have this peace too, if you will adjust your attitude toward the holidays and take care of yourself.
Are you ready to Cruise through the holidays too?
FlyLady
10/16/08
Young At Heart
I think this is a great post for the difficult times we are going through. Having a positive attitude is key to making positive changes in our lives. This saying is great for those days when you feel like you just can't pull it all together, and we all have those days. Maybe keep these words in your head for those rough days.
Young @ Heart by Pam Young
All is well. Come on, you can say it. Take a big deep breath and say, ALL IS WELL. When you say "all is well" and you are bombarded with buts, those are buts that are powerless if you will do this exercise! It is something I was taught as a child by my grandfather and it has served me for well over 60 years. It will help you too. Oh, and it's kind of fun!
First, imagine that your mind is like your home. Like your home, it has a front door and YOU are in control of whom you let in (those would be thoughts). So imagine the doorbell rings and you go to the door and open it to see a huge long line of Darth Vaders, mixed in with a bunch of Eyores and let's throw in a big bad wolf or two. Each scary character has a different sign: gloom, doom, fear me, worry about this, what about that, I'm angry, why me, whaa, whaa, whaa, (you get the idea). The line goes as far as you can see! Now, all you have to do is say "All is well" to the first Darth in line with his sign and he will vanish. Each and every negative character will disappear with your words "all is well: because those words are like magic on negative thoughts. You are in control of the front door to your mind and you have protection just as you are in control of whom you allow into your home. The words "all is well" are as affective on negative thoughts as a can of mace would be on an unwanted intruder.
Second, imagine that some of your favorite people in your life are in line. (Right now stop reading and mentally run through ten of your favorite people and while you're at it, imagine each one laughing because of happiness.) Invite those happy people into your home (mind). Now invite in some of your favorite things. A summer breeze, fresh apple pie, FlyLady's smile, new shoes, a wallet stuffed with hundred dollar bills, a sleeping baby, the aroma of new mown hay, a shiny sink, lunch with a favorite friend are some of mine. My grandfather taught me in the most loving way that we must stand guard at the doorway of our thoughts and let in only those that nurture goodness and well-being.
In especially hard times we need to encourage thoughts that give us relief. When events happen beyond our control we can still control our thoughts, feelings and emotions. If we choose not to we can get buried in sort of a group negative soup.
Once on a very turbulent flight to visit FlyLady, upon the approach (ten minutes from landing) a young flight attendant "lost it." She came over the loud speaker and said, "Ladies and gentlemen the captain has informed me we are in a very dangerous storm!!! Please get in your seats immediately! !! Those in your seats, tighten your seat belts very tight because we are in for a very dangerous landing!!! The small commuter jet dipped and leaned and lurched and dipped again almost as a demonstration of what the flight attendant had reported.
I was seated in the center seat with a young girl at the window who began to cry (quietly) and a missionary on her way to Russia in the aisle seat who began praying out loud. I was frozen with fear and as I've told God before, "When it's time for me to go, please don't tell me! Just shoot me, or take me in my sleep, but don't tell me I have ten minutes before IT happens." Reminding God how I felt about what was happening I made myself take a few deep breaths to calm myself
down and I put my hand on the young woman's arm to comfort her as an older woman and mother would do. I managed to say to her, "It'll be alright. All is well."
As I took my third breath and quieted my raucous mind, a clear sweet thought came into my head (I know this voice). It said, "It's over. Look out the window and look up." Whenever I sit in the center seat I don't like to look out the window because I don't want to get in the window seat person's space, but when I heard this directive, I minded.
The next five minutes was as smooth as honey and the landing was a 10!
What is happening in the world is like what happens on a flight during a storm. We can't drive the plane but we can tend to our own thoughts. As you go through your day, and the days to come, stand guard and mace those fears with a big deep breath and the words, ALL
IS WELL.
Young @ Heart by Pam Young
All is well. Come on, you can say it. Take a big deep breath and say, ALL IS WELL. When you say "all is well" and you are bombarded with buts, those are buts that are powerless if you will do this exercise! It is something I was taught as a child by my grandfather and it has served me for well over 60 years. It will help you too. Oh, and it's kind of fun!
First, imagine that your mind is like your home. Like your home, it has a front door and YOU are in control of whom you let in (those would be thoughts). So imagine the doorbell rings and you go to the door and open it to see a huge long line of Darth Vaders, mixed in with a bunch of Eyores and let's throw in a big bad wolf or two. Each scary character has a different sign: gloom, doom, fear me, worry about this, what about that, I'm angry, why me, whaa, whaa, whaa, (you get the idea). The line goes as far as you can see! Now, all you have to do is say "All is well" to the first Darth in line with his sign and he will vanish. Each and every negative character will disappear with your words "all is well: because those words are like magic on negative thoughts. You are in control of the front door to your mind and you have protection just as you are in control of whom you allow into your home. The words "all is well" are as affective on negative thoughts as a can of mace would be on an unwanted intruder.
Second, imagine that some of your favorite people in your life are in line. (Right now stop reading and mentally run through ten of your favorite people and while you're at it, imagine each one laughing because of happiness.) Invite those happy people into your home (mind). Now invite in some of your favorite things. A summer breeze, fresh apple pie, FlyLady's smile, new shoes, a wallet stuffed with hundred dollar bills, a sleeping baby, the aroma of new mown hay, a shiny sink, lunch with a favorite friend are some of mine. My grandfather taught me in the most loving way that we must stand guard at the doorway of our thoughts and let in only those that nurture goodness and well-being.
In especially hard times we need to encourage thoughts that give us relief. When events happen beyond our control we can still control our thoughts, feelings and emotions. If we choose not to we can get buried in sort of a group negative soup.
Once on a very turbulent flight to visit FlyLady, upon the approach (ten minutes from landing) a young flight attendant "lost it." She came over the loud speaker and said, "Ladies and gentlemen the captain has informed me we are in a very dangerous storm!!! Please get in your seats immediately! !! Those in your seats, tighten your seat belts very tight because we are in for a very dangerous landing!!! The small commuter jet dipped and leaned and lurched and dipped again almost as a demonstration of what the flight attendant had reported.
I was seated in the center seat with a young girl at the window who began to cry (quietly) and a missionary on her way to Russia in the aisle seat who began praying out loud. I was frozen with fear and as I've told God before, "When it's time for me to go, please don't tell me! Just shoot me, or take me in my sleep, but don't tell me I have ten minutes before IT happens." Reminding God how I felt about what was happening I made myself take a few deep breaths to calm myself
down and I put my hand on the young woman's arm to comfort her as an older woman and mother would do. I managed to say to her, "It'll be alright. All is well."
As I took my third breath and quieted my raucous mind, a clear sweet thought came into my head (I know this voice). It said, "It's over. Look out the window and look up." Whenever I sit in the center seat I don't like to look out the window because I don't want to get in the window seat person's space, but when I heard this directive, I minded.
I leaned over and looked out and up. Up above, the clouds were angry and black and it was clear that we'd flown through the storm and were now under it, for there was clear blue sky down below and ahead of us.
The next five minutes was as smooth as honey and the landing was a 10!
What is happening in the world is like what happens on a flight during a storm. We can't drive the plane but we can tend to our own thoughts. As you go through your day, and the days to come, stand guard and mace those fears with a big deep breath and the words, ALL
IS WELL.
10/12/08
The Importance of Appreciation
One very important way to get cooperation from your family members is simply by showing your appreciation for their help. A simple thank you or complimenting them on a job well done can go a long way toward building cooperation from them. One of my managers had a great plaque displayed in his office that stated this principle very clearly:
I love this saying because it's very all-purpose. Notice that it doesn't just say Positive actions that are recognized.... It means ANY type of action, positive or negative. If you reward your child for whining by giving him what he wants, that negative action will be repeated. If you reward your teenager daughter by ignoring her breaking of a rule, that action will be repeated also. Similarly, if you allow a child (or a husband!) to slide by on an assigned chore without consequences, that action will be repeated as well.
But if you come home and thank your husband for unloading the dishwasher, compliment him on how nice the front lawn looks, and tell your son how proud you are that he has kept his room clean for the last few days, how likely is it that these actions will be repeated?
You might even take it a step further. I've been known to reward chores done well with surprise rewards of candy bars, liters of their favorite sodas, or other unexpected treat. I had a chore that I've been trying to get my husband to do for months and I was totally frustrated with him. His father passed away in February and he needed to sort out all the old photographs from their house and send them out to his various relatives. It was an emotional chore and I could see why he didn't want to do it, but I was tired of having the half-done task laying around in the family room. So I had a $20 gift card to a restaurant he liked. I tacked it up on the bulletin board and told him he could have it as soon as the job was done. It still took a bit more prodding, but he finally finished it this week and we used the gift card for lunch today. He even thanked me for giving him that little extra push to get the job completed.
Actions that are recognized and rewarded will be repeated
I love this saying because it's very all-purpose. Notice that it doesn't just say Positive actions that are recognized.... It means ANY type of action, positive or negative. If you reward your child for whining by giving him what he wants, that negative action will be repeated. If you reward your teenager daughter by ignoring her breaking of a rule, that action will be repeated also. Similarly, if you allow a child (or a husband!) to slide by on an assigned chore without consequences, that action will be repeated as well.
But if you come home and thank your husband for unloading the dishwasher, compliment him on how nice the front lawn looks, and tell your son how proud you are that he has kept his room clean for the last few days, how likely is it that these actions will be repeated?
You might even take it a step further. I've been known to reward chores done well with surprise rewards of candy bars, liters of their favorite sodas, or other unexpected treat. I had a chore that I've been trying to get my husband to do for months and I was totally frustrated with him. His father passed away in February and he needed to sort out all the old photographs from their house and send them out to his various relatives. It was an emotional chore and I could see why he didn't want to do it, but I was tired of having the half-done task laying around in the family room. So I had a $20 gift card to a restaurant he liked. I tacked it up on the bulletin board and told him he could have it as soon as the job was done. It still took a bit more prodding, but he finally finished it this week and we used the gift card for lunch today. He even thanked me for giving him that little extra push to get the job completed.
10/7/08
9 Ways to Improve Your Life
This is a little article I ran cross by Dennis Harting. He has a great blog with a lot of inspirational material. It's mostly inclined towards business people, but I think it has some good advice for us as well. His blog is http://www.DennisHarting.blogspot.com.
9 Ways To Improve Your Life
2. Ease up. The old saying “someday we will laugh about this” epitomizes how unimportant many things are in the grand scheme of things. Reduce the stress by remembering that everything will work out alright. Look at each situation as an opportunity to learn and grow while remembering to laugh.
3. Master your habits. Your habits are either empowering or disempowering. Determine the habits that adversely affect you then begin the process of eliminating them.
4. Examine your closest influences. We are all products of our environment. Everyone around us has input into our personalities, beliefs, and ideals. Make sure that those who are closest to you are assisting in moving you forward rather than prohibiting your progress.
5. Entertain the child within. Remember to take time to do that which you love. Too often we get focused on the drive to move ahead that we forget to engage the child within. Recharge you batteries by spending regular time doing what you are passionate about.
6. Resolve your unfinished business. Activities left unresolved have the ability to drain a great deal of energy out of us. Reclaim this energy by cleaning up all the old business and putting it to rest. Pay the old debts, discard old things, and tie up all other loose ends.
7. Focus. Focus. Focus. Get rid of the sloppiness in life by placing extra focus upon all that you do. Develop the habit of doing one thing at a time until it is completed. Pay attention to the details that make a difference.
8. Spend time creating your life. Most people allow circumstances to dictate the type of life they lead. Set aside each day to ponder what type of life that you want to live. Consider your dreams, traits that you want, and what you would like to contribute. Become proactive in the creation of your own life.
9. Invest in the most valuable computer in the world-your mind. Read books and listen to cds that expand your knowledge base. Learn new skills that will enhance you financially, mentally, and physically. Garner and utilize the knowledge available to better your life.
Share and Enjoy!
9 Ways To Improve Your Life
2. Ease up. The old saying “someday we will laugh about this” epitomizes how unimportant many things are in the grand scheme of things. Reduce the stress by remembering that everything will work out alright. Look at each situation as an opportunity to learn and grow while remembering to laugh.
3. Master your habits. Your habits are either empowering or disempowering. Determine the habits that adversely affect you then begin the process of eliminating them.
4. Examine your closest influences. We are all products of our environment. Everyone around us has input into our personalities, beliefs, and ideals. Make sure that those who are closest to you are assisting in moving you forward rather than prohibiting your progress.
5. Entertain the child within. Remember to take time to do that which you love. Too often we get focused on the drive to move ahead that we forget to engage the child within. Recharge you batteries by spending regular time doing what you are passionate about.
6. Resolve your unfinished business. Activities left unresolved have the ability to drain a great deal of energy out of us. Reclaim this energy by cleaning up all the old business and putting it to rest. Pay the old debts, discard old things, and tie up all other loose ends.
7. Focus. Focus. Focus. Get rid of the sloppiness in life by placing extra focus upon all that you do. Develop the habit of doing one thing at a time until it is completed. Pay attention to the details that make a difference.
8. Spend time creating your life. Most people allow circumstances to dictate the type of life they lead. Set aside each day to ponder what type of life that you want to live. Consider your dreams, traits that you want, and what you would like to contribute. Become proactive in the creation of your own life.
9. Invest in the most valuable computer in the world-your mind. Read books and listen to cds that expand your knowledge base. Learn new skills that will enhance you financially, mentally, and physically. Garner and utilize the knowledge available to better your life.
Share and Enjoy!
10/4/08
7 Steps to a Permanently Clean Kitchen
Here is a great article by Jeff over at TheCleanTeam.com. Pop over to their website for some of the great tools he mentions here.
I am going to share a secret with you: The longer you spend thinking about cleaning your kitchen, the less time you spend actually cleaning it. Until suddenly the task has become so insurmountable that when you finally do dig in, it will take you hours of back-breaking, toothbrush-wielding work. On the other hand, if you routinely clean your kitchen as you go, you will never have more than a 20-minute clean-up in front of you. And even deep cleaning will be a cinch, since the daily chores will be done and out of the way.
Get The Edge on Discouragement
So, how do you maintain this perfect kitchen stasis, without giving up all your free time? The answer is simple: Make it a habit to clean as you go. You've no doubt heard this advice before -- and perhaps you've made a valiant effort to implement it. Maybe you've kept the kitchen clean for a few days or even a few weeks. But then life got hectic and your kids got sick and the next thing you knew, all your momentum was gone and your kitchen sink was once again full of three-day old dishes.
The discouragement of that overflowing sink is quite powerful: It makes it seem like your kitchen will never be clean again. Or worse, that the whole process of cleaning is totally futile, since even if you do spend an hour cleaning now, it will just be like this again tomorrow.
The truth is that maintaining a clean kitchen -- just like keeping up with the laundry or any other home maintenance task -- is a bit redundant. You do it, it's clean for an hour or for a day, and then it gets messy and you have to do it again. The key to not getting discouraged by the repetitive nature of cleaning your kitchen is to accept that messes happen, especially when you have young kids. A mess is not a sign that you have failed as a home manager; it is a sign that vibrant life is happening in your home, which is as it should be. Once you accept -- and embrace -- the mess, it will seem a lot less daunting to dig in and keep up with it.
Let Go of Perfectionism
Another thing holding many of you back from having a clean kitchen is your own perfectionism. What's that, you wonder? Wouldn't a perfectionist have a perfectly clean kitchen?
The answer is no -- and here's why: A perfectionist starts by washing the dishes. But as she is soaking a particularly greasy pan, she notices some hard water stains on the faucet. So she grabs a toothbrush and some hard water stain remover (Tile Juice or Scum Bum) and begins to furiously scrub her entire sink. Next thing she knows, she is using a toothpick to remove build-up from under the calking. Pretty soon, she is on her hands and knees, scouring the oven, bleaching the garbage pail and rearranging the fridge. All of this activity is caused by perfection-itis. This is an incredibly common condition that causes people to avoid doing tasks they can't do perfectly. And of course, the perfectionist's definition of perfect is a whole lot more exacting than that of the non-perfectionist.
The good news is that there is a cure for perfection-itis: Limit yourself to no more than 20 minutes of daily kitchen cleaning. Set a timer if you have to. It may seem impossible at first, but you will get used to it.
Make a List and Check it Twice
Make a master list that tells you everything you have to do each day to keep your kitchen clean. Below is a basic outline with the seven essential chores, but you may need to tweak it for your personal set-up. These tasks should take you no longer than 20 minutes, and that includes washing the dishes!
If you are a beginner at keeping a clean kitchen, you may want to print out this list and post it on your fridge as a daily reminder. If you are a perfectionist, you may want to print multiple copies, so you can cross off items as you go (perfectionists love checking off lists!).
1. Load the dishwasher. If you have a personal dishwasher rather than an electric one, make sure that all dishes are hand washed by the end of each day. Before you go to bed, all dirty dishes, pots and pans should be vanished from the sink and the countertops. I prefer to run the dishwasher at the end of each day, right before I go to bed. I pop into the kitchen, get a glass of water and press start on my dishwasher.
2. Unload the dishwasher. Start your day by emptying out the dishwasher or the dish drain. That way as new dishes get dirty throughout the day, you will have no problem popping them into the dishwasher. If your dishwasher is still full of last night's clean dishes, the dirties will quickly pile up. Avoiding the pile-up helps you to avoid feeling negative about your kitchen and yourself.
3. Wipe the counters and table (if you have one) as you go. Don't leave this task until the end of the day. It takes less than 30 seconds to wipe off your counter tops and table after preparing or eating a sandwich, so don't let those crumbs sit. Like dirty dishes, crumbs tend to multiply, which discourages you from your goal of a clean kitchen. Keep a stack of cleaning cloths under your sink, along with a spray bottle of Red Juice. Unless your crumbs/splatters really go flying, there is no need to move your toaster and any other appliances. Just clean what you can see is dirty.
4. Wipe the stovetop as you go. Like with the counter top, this is a 30-second task that should be done as it needs doing. If you wait until the end of the day, you'll end up with burnt-on messes. Instead, wipe down your stovetop as soon as you are done cooking. Let the burners cool a bit and then spray them with Red Juice and wipe with a cleaning cloth.
5. Sweep the floor. You can leave this task until the end of the day, unless there is some major Cheerio disaster at breakfast. Do a quick sweep and dump the crumbs in the garbage bin. If there are major spills, spot clean them with a paper towel or sponge. Unless your floor is a huge mess, you can leave mopping for your once-a-week cleaning. Remember: The goal is not perfection! The goal is clean.
6. Empty the garbage and sort the recycling. Depending on how much garbage you produce and how large your bin is, you may need to do this nightly, or just a few times a week. Also, be sure to wash out any containers for recycling and put them in the right place.
7. Put away mail, school papers, etc. Kitchen flat surfaces are magnets for paper clutter. Since you can't wipe off your counters or your table when they are full of permission slips and junk mail, find a central place (like a pretty basket on top of your kitchen table) to keep this stuff until you can sort through it all.
Whether your cleaning challenge is perfectionism, laziness or untested skills, these seven steps will make it a breeze for anyone to maintain a clean kitchen. None of these tasks should take longer than 3 or 4 minutes -- and most will take less than one minute. And remember the key: Accept the mess, then roll of your sleeves and dig in to clean it up.
I am going to share a secret with you: The longer you spend thinking about cleaning your kitchen, the less time you spend actually cleaning it. Until suddenly the task has become so insurmountable that when you finally do dig in, it will take you hours of back-breaking, toothbrush-wielding work. On the other hand, if you routinely clean your kitchen as you go, you will never have more than a 20-minute clean-up in front of you. And even deep cleaning will be a cinch, since the daily chores will be done and out of the way.
Get The Edge on Discouragement
So, how do you maintain this perfect kitchen stasis, without giving up all your free time? The answer is simple: Make it a habit to clean as you go. You've no doubt heard this advice before -- and perhaps you've made a valiant effort to implement it. Maybe you've kept the kitchen clean for a few days or even a few weeks. But then life got hectic and your kids got sick and the next thing you knew, all your momentum was gone and your kitchen sink was once again full of three-day old dishes.
The discouragement of that overflowing sink is quite powerful: It makes it seem like your kitchen will never be clean again. Or worse, that the whole process of cleaning is totally futile, since even if you do spend an hour cleaning now, it will just be like this again tomorrow.
The truth is that maintaining a clean kitchen -- just like keeping up with the laundry or any other home maintenance task -- is a bit redundant. You do it, it's clean for an hour or for a day, and then it gets messy and you have to do it again. The key to not getting discouraged by the repetitive nature of cleaning your kitchen is to accept that messes happen, especially when you have young kids. A mess is not a sign that you have failed as a home manager; it is a sign that vibrant life is happening in your home, which is as it should be. Once you accept -- and embrace -- the mess, it will seem a lot less daunting to dig in and keep up with it.
Let Go of Perfectionism
Another thing holding many of you back from having a clean kitchen is your own perfectionism. What's that, you wonder? Wouldn't a perfectionist have a perfectly clean kitchen?
The answer is no -- and here's why: A perfectionist starts by washing the dishes. But as she is soaking a particularly greasy pan, she notices some hard water stains on the faucet. So she grabs a toothbrush and some hard water stain remover (Tile Juice or Scum Bum) and begins to furiously scrub her entire sink. Next thing she knows, she is using a toothpick to remove build-up from under the calking. Pretty soon, she is on her hands and knees, scouring the oven, bleaching the garbage pail and rearranging the fridge. All of this activity is caused by perfection-itis. This is an incredibly common condition that causes people to avoid doing tasks they can't do perfectly. And of course, the perfectionist's definition of perfect is a whole lot more exacting than that of the non-perfectionist.
The good news is that there is a cure for perfection-itis: Limit yourself to no more than 20 minutes of daily kitchen cleaning. Set a timer if you have to. It may seem impossible at first, but you will get used to it.
Make a List and Check it Twice
Make a master list that tells you everything you have to do each day to keep your kitchen clean. Below is a basic outline with the seven essential chores, but you may need to tweak it for your personal set-up. These tasks should take you no longer than 20 minutes, and that includes washing the dishes!
If you are a beginner at keeping a clean kitchen, you may want to print out this list and post it on your fridge as a daily reminder. If you are a perfectionist, you may want to print multiple copies, so you can cross off items as you go (perfectionists love checking off lists!).
1. Load the dishwasher. If you have a personal dishwasher rather than an electric one, make sure that all dishes are hand washed by the end of each day. Before you go to bed, all dirty dishes, pots and pans should be vanished from the sink and the countertops. I prefer to run the dishwasher at the end of each day, right before I go to bed. I pop into the kitchen, get a glass of water and press start on my dishwasher.
2. Unload the dishwasher. Start your day by emptying out the dishwasher or the dish drain. That way as new dishes get dirty throughout the day, you will have no problem popping them into the dishwasher. If your dishwasher is still full of last night's clean dishes, the dirties will quickly pile up. Avoiding the pile-up helps you to avoid feeling negative about your kitchen and yourself.
3. Wipe the counters and table (if you have one) as you go. Don't leave this task until the end of the day. It takes less than 30 seconds to wipe off your counter tops and table after preparing or eating a sandwich, so don't let those crumbs sit. Like dirty dishes, crumbs tend to multiply, which discourages you from your goal of a clean kitchen. Keep a stack of cleaning cloths under your sink, along with a spray bottle of Red Juice. Unless your crumbs/splatters really go flying, there is no need to move your toaster and any other appliances. Just clean what you can see is dirty.
4. Wipe the stovetop as you go. Like with the counter top, this is a 30-second task that should be done as it needs doing. If you wait until the end of the day, you'll end up with burnt-on messes. Instead, wipe down your stovetop as soon as you are done cooking. Let the burners cool a bit and then spray them with Red Juice and wipe with a cleaning cloth.
5. Sweep the floor. You can leave this task until the end of the day, unless there is some major Cheerio disaster at breakfast. Do a quick sweep and dump the crumbs in the garbage bin. If there are major spills, spot clean them with a paper towel or sponge. Unless your floor is a huge mess, you can leave mopping for your once-a-week cleaning. Remember: The goal is not perfection! The goal is clean.
6. Empty the garbage and sort the recycling. Depending on how much garbage you produce and how large your bin is, you may need to do this nightly, or just a few times a week. Also, be sure to wash out any containers for recycling and put them in the right place.
7. Put away mail, school papers, etc. Kitchen flat surfaces are magnets for paper clutter. Since you can't wipe off your counters or your table when they are full of permission slips and junk mail, find a central place (like a pretty basket on top of your kitchen table) to keep this stuff until you can sort through it all.
Whether your cleaning challenge is perfectionism, laziness or untested skills, these seven steps will make it a breeze for anyone to maintain a clean kitchen. None of these tasks should take longer than 3 or 4 minutes -- and most will take less than one minute. And remember the key: Accept the mess, then roll of your sleeves and dig in to clean it up.
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