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Menu Monday ~ April 16, 2018

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Once again, it’s time for Menu Monday here on Life With Dee. Don’t these weeks roll around quickly? You may notice a bit of a change in our menus from this point forward. Of course, there will be more of a focus on the fresh fruits and vegetables coming into season. I love farmers market season! But beyond that we will be trying to eat more of a Mediterranean-style diet.

David had a bit of a health scare and his cardiologist has recommended some dietary changes. My research indicates that a Mediterranean diet is an excellent choice and it’s something we can live with. There’s no point in adopting a strict diet and then giving it all up in frustration. Better to choose a healthy, yet tasty and livable eating plan, don’t you think?

Menu Monday March 26, 2018

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

DEE’S MENU

Important note: Be sure to scroll all the way past the menu for a time-sensitive offer I think you’ll love!

Monday

Meatless Monday!

  • Flageolet bean and vegetable casserole
  • mixed green salad with feta and blueberries

Tuesday

Wednesday

  • Mediterranean style roast beef with artichokes and Kalamata olives (slow cooker)
  • orzo
  • zucchini and red onion sautéed in olive oil
  • spinach salad with strawberries, blueberries and feta cheese

Thursday

Friday

  • French roasted whole chicken
  • oven roasted carrots, onions, red potatoes
  • fresh green beans
  • mixed green salad with homemade French dressing

Saturday

Date night!

Sunday 

  • soup made with leftover roasted chicken and vegetables
  • toasted baguette

 

WHAT’S COOKING AT YOUR HOUSE THIS WEEK?

If you have any recipes that are compatible with a Mediterranean diet would you share them with me, please? I’m especially interested in fish or seafood recipes that might appeal to someone who isn’t a big fan of fish (that would be David – I love seafood!).

~~~~~

If you’re looking for some resources to help you in the kitchen, I highly recommend the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle. I buy it myself every year. This year’s bundle contains 129 products worth $3,687.47 all for only $29.97. There are resources covering everything from cleaning, to budgeting, to home organization, to intentional living, to self care and more.

 

Here are some of the kitchen and recipe resources I’m most excited about:

Bread and Roll Making Basics for Beginners by Rachel Paxton 
Learn to bake homemade cinnamon rolls, Hawaiian sweet rolls, one hour dinner rolls, no knead dinner rolls, pretzel rolls, and more with downloadable recipes and step-by-step videos.

How to Organize All Your Recipes (For Easy Meal Planning) by Laura Smith
This course shows you step by step how to organize all of your recipes (both physical and digital) so that they are easy to find and meal planning is a breeze.

25 Crock Pot Soup Recipes: Family Approved Easy Slow Cooker Recipes by Arlene Mobley 
The 25 Crock Pot Soup recipe eBook is packed full of easy to make crock pot soup recipes that your family will love and that can be prepared and frozen ahead of time.

The Ultimate Kitchen Printable Pack by Megan Duesterhaus 
The Ultimate Kitchen Printable Pack contains 200+ pages to help you organize your kitchen, streamline your meal planning and grocery shopping, and ultimately create a prettier, more organized, and better functioning kitchen!

 

Just these four resources would normally cost $114.99 yet the entire bundle is only $29.97. I think that’s quite a bargain. The bundle also includes printables, planners, e-courses, e-books and even some great bonuses.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in you can read more about it here. The only thing is, the sale ends tonight, April 16th, so don’t dilly dally.

P.S. Still feeling unsure? I love their 30-day happiness guarantee. Their customer service is stellar, and it means there’s really no risk in trying it out, especially since this is your last chance to grab it! If you have any questions I’m happy to answer them. 

MEAL PLANNING RESOURCES I RECOMMEND

Eat At Home weekly meal plans:

  • Do you want to eat a healthy, organic, grass fed diet but don’t think you can afford it? My friend, Victoria of A Modern Homestead, explains how they do it on less than $200 a month. Click here to find out how:

 

 

This post is linked up at I’m an Organizing Junkie. Check it out for more great menu ideas!

 

Menu Monday March 26, 2018

Let’s Fly(Lady) Together!

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Have you tried The FlyLady system but never quite got the hang of it? Have you wanted to give it a whirl but just never got around to it? Or perhaps you did it years ago but fell off the wagon. Well, here’s your opportunity to work through the 31 Day FlyLady BabySteps with other “FlyBabies” working along with you and cheering each other on.

Starting this coming Friday, April 13th, I will be leading a group through the 31 Day BabySteps in my Facebook group, Make Over Your Life With Dee.

 

FlyLady BabySteps

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

 

31 Day FlyLady BabySteps: How it Works

 

First of all, who is The FlyLady and what is this all about? Marla Cilley is The FlyLady and her housekeeping and life organization system will help you beat the CHAOS in your home.

Note: CHAOS stands for Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome.

 

There is no charge and nothing to buy. All you need to do is join the group and follow along with us.

 

Click here to join:

Make Over Your Life With Dee

 

Each day this week before we begin on Friday, I’ll be sharing a bit of information so you’ll be ready to hit the ground running on Friday. Here is what I wrote in the group on Monday:

You may be wondering what you’ll need in order to begin. You don’t need to purchase anything. Please don’t get into the mindset that you can’t start until you have certain “perfect” items. Use what you have.

Other than basic cleaning supplies, you’ll need a timer and some sort of notebook or binder that you can add pages to. This will become what FlyLady calls a “Control Journal”. You might call it a household notebook, homemaking binder or actually give it a person’s name. It doesn’t matter.

If you want to purchase a new binder that’s fine but I suspect most of us have one or more lying about not being used. I have several from boards and committees I’ve served on in years past. I’m trying to go through and toss all those old notes and agendas.

The other important “tool” you’ll need is a timer. You can use the one on your phone or a kitchen timer. Whatever you have will work just fine. Personally, I like using something other than my phone simply because I’m way too likely to sneak a peek at Facebook if I pick up my phone. About 20 years ago I bought a cheap, battery operated timer which sits on my desk most of the time. It still works just fine so don’t go spending a lot of money on a timer.

Here is what the FlyLady says about “BabySteps”:

“Your home did not get dirty in one day, and it will not get clean in a day, either. You have been living in clutter and CHAOS for many years; you are not going to get your home clean in a day. I do not want you to crash and burn. This is why I teach you to take BabySteps. If you try to do this all at once, you are going to be mad at me, because this will be like every other “get-organized” method you have tried. I want you to take your time. As you establish one habit, you will very easily be able to add another one to your routines.”

 

I will put all of the posts pertaining to this in the Facebook group’s files so if you are reading this after we have started, you will have access to everything right from the beginning.

 

I’m excited to be sharing this with you and yes, I’ll be working through the 31 steps right along with you. I’ve done this in the past but it’s time for me to get back on that wagon and ride. Together we can do this!

So go join Make Over Your Life With Dee and get ready to eliminate the CHAOS in your home.

 

Sink Reflections

 

CHAOS to Clean

timer

Previous posts about The FlyLady:

The Best and the Worst of the FlyLady

FlyLady

 

FlyLady BabySteps

Menu Monday ~ Pinterest Recipes I Want to Try

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Do you ever get a little bored with your usual collection of recipes? I’ve been cooking for my family for going on 37 years and sometimes I feel like shaking things up a bit. Fortunately, Pinterest offers a lot of inspiration. I’m sure I’m not the only one who pins LOTS of recipes but never tries them. This week’s Menu Monday features 7 days worth of Pinterest recipes from my boards. Perhaps you’ll find a bit of inspiration here, too.

Menu Monday PInterest Recipes

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

DEE’S MENU

 

Monday

Let’s kick off the week with a “meatless Monday” recipe.

Tuesday

Wednesday

I often make something in the slow cooker on Wednesdays if I have choir rehearsal. Everyone can eat whenever they need to and cleanup is minimal.

slow cooker

Thursday

I’ve somehow ended up with meetings almost every Thursday afternoon. Instant Pot to the rescue!

Instant Pot

Friday

Saturday

I am SO ready for warm weather so we can start grilling outdoors. One of the things we miss from California is In-N-Out. Their burgers are so good, especially when ordered “animal style”. 

Sunday

I don’t generally cook on Sundays. We often eat lunch out if we’ve gone to church so we only need something light for dinner. This salad looks delicious!

 

Do you have any recipes you’ve pinned but haven’t tried yet? (Silly question, right?) I’d love to see some of the recipes you’re hoping to try soon. Leave me a comment with links to a couple of recipes. And If I’m not already following you on Pinterest, share your link and I’ll follow. Click here for mine.

 

WHAT’S COOKING AT YOUR HOUSE THIS WEEK?

~~~~~

 


 

MEAL PLANNING RESOURCES I RECOMMEND

 

Eat At Home weekly meal plans:

  • Do you want to eat a healthy, organic, grass fed diet but don’t think you can afford it? My friend, Victoria of A Modern Homestead, explains how they do it on less than $200 a month. Click here to find out how:

 

This post is linked up at I’m an Organizing Junkie. Check it out for more great menu ideas!

Menu Monday Pinterest Recipes

 

 

10 Tasks to Tackle During Spring Cleaning

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It’s officially spring, although you might not be able to tell by the weather. Some of you (poor dears!) are still getting snow. We’ve had a bit of everything. This morning my daughter messaged me to say that in addition to the high levels of tree pollen expected this time of year, we also have ragweed which is a late summer/early fall thing usually. We are also expecting a freeze and sleet tonight. She asked, “What season is this?”. My reply: All of them.

But despite all that weather foolishness, it IS spring and that means spring cleaning time. There are any number of exhaustive lists of spring cleaning chores available. I don’t know about you, but one look at those crazy long lists and a sense of despair washes over me. There truly is no way I could ever find time to do all those things.

Take a look at these, for instance:

The ULTIMATE Spring Cleaning Checklist

A Thorough Spring Cleaning Checklist

 

Lists like those only serve to make me want to curl up in my dusty library with a martini and read a book. But what if we just pick ten tasks to do instead? That sounds manageable, right? We could do one a day for ten days and call it good. If, during those ten days, you notice something else that really needs attention, put it on a list and schedule a time to do it a bit later.

Remember…it’s YOUR home and you can make your own rules. Few of us are heating our homes with coal these days and I’d venture to say we all have vacuum cleaners. Those two things alone eliminate or at least greatly reduce the need for the sort of deep cleaning that was necessary at one time.

Still, there is something quite lovely about a freshly cleaned home so let’s make our lists, check our cleaning supplies and clear away some of the grime!

 

Spring Cleaning

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

 

10 Tasks To Tackle During Spring Cleaning

 

1. Dishwasher

I’m going to be honest here. I’ve never actually done this. We didn’t have one in the first two places we lived. The next two homes we lived in for 7 and 5 years so it didn’t seem necessary. However, we just celebrated 20 years in this house on Valentine’s Day and we remodeled the kitchen about 2 or 3 years after we moved in. Yeah, it’s probably time for this. If, like me, you’ve never done this, here is how to do it:

Green Dishwasher Cleaning & Tune Up

 

 

2. Trash Cans

As soon as you get a warm, sunny day, scrub your outdoor trash cans. Pour a couple of pans of hot water inside, squirt in some dish soap (something safe for your lawn if that’s where your doing this), give them a quick scrub and rinse with the hose.

While you’re at it, give your kitchen trash container a thorough scrub, too. To keep things fresh smelling, you might want to make these deodorizer tabs:

Trash Can Deodorizer Tabs

 

 

3. Windows

After a long, dark winter, there’s nothing quite so cheering as bright sunshine streaming through the windows. All the more so if those windows are sparkling clean.

Several years ago I somehow ended up with a squeegee in my possession. I don’t recall buying it. Maybe David did. In any case, I discovered how much easier it is to clean windows with the proper tools.

 How to Clean Windows Like a Pro

My squeegee is only about 8 inches across and has a short handle. That means a lot of reaching and in some areas, standing on a ladder. But I’m adding this long-handled version to my spring cleaning supply purchases this year:
Squeegee

 

4. Oven

If you have a self-cleaning oven I want you to take a moment to give thanks for it. And then offer up a moment of silence for those of us who don’t. I have a vintage stove that is as cute as can be until I contemplate cleaning the oven. For a number of years, David cleaned it for me each fall before Thanksgiving. I have severe asthma and can’t tolerate oven cleaner fumes. He would clean it while I was away from home for a few hours.

Then we discovered the vinegar and baking soda method and that was the end of my oven cleaning help. We aren’t going to discuss what mine looks like right now but suffice it to say “clean the oven” is on my spring cleaning list.

How To Clean an Oven with Baking Soda and Vinegar

 

 

5. Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans

This is a good job to get some help with. Pick a time when your spouse or an older child is available to help. Unless you are a lot taller than I am you’ll need at least a step ladder. Depending on the fixture, you may be able to clean it in place but many will require removal of some parts. It’s a lot easier to hand them to someone than to try to descend a ladder while holding them.

Wash in hot soapy water, rinse in very hot water and dry thoroughly before replacing. While the fixture is off, give the light bulbs a quick wipe, too. If any need to be replaced, go ahead and do this now. In fact, before you start this project, go through your entire house and take note of any bulbs that need to be replaced. Many fixtures have several bulbs and for some unknown reason they don’t all go out at the same time. If you have really high ceilings I would recommend changing all the bulbs while you are up on that ladder. You can use the ones that still work in lamps or easier to reach light fixtures.

If you have ceiling fans, give the blades a good cleaning and make sure they are set to rotate counter-clockwise for summer.

Ceiling Fan Direction for Summer and Winter

 

 

6. Window Coverings

Now that your windows are sparkling clean, you’ll want to address your window coverings. Depending on the type of curtains or drapes you have you can either wash and iron them yourself or take them to the cleaners. If they aren’t washable and only a little dusty, give them a good vacuuming. I have velvet drapes in our family room and library and this is what I do.

If you have blinds, give them a good dusting. If they are plastic or metal and need more than dusting, you can give them a scrub in the bathtub.

Clean Mini Blinds in your Bathtub

If your blinds are wood, like mine, just dust them well. There are all sorts of dusters for blinds or you can simply use an old sock on your hand. I recently bought a duster with a washable, replaceable head. I bought mine from Grove Collective.

duster

 

7. Change Seasonal Decor

Put away the winter decorations, decorative pillows, that lone Christmas decoration you overlooked and anything else that belongs to winter. Put away heavy table coverings and let polished wood show instead.

Grab a sturdy box or other container and walk from room to room looking for excess decorative items to pack away during warm months. What looked warm and cozy during cold weather may look cluttered now. Bring out your spring/summer decorative items and enjoy a fresh look.

 

 

8. Outdoor Furniture

If you have porch or patio furniture, either bring it out of storage or if it stays out year round, give it a good cleaning. Thoroughly sweep outdoor areas such as porches, patios and decks and hose them down if needed. This is the one I’m most excited about because I love Porch Time!

 

 

9. Bed

As soon as cold weather is well and truly gone, wash or dry clean heavy bed linens, down comforters, etc. and switch to lighter weight covering. Flip your mattress and wash your pillows, too.

How to Wash Your Pillows

 

 

10. Computer and Phone

This is a good time to do a little “spring clean” of your computer and other devices. Do you have apps on your phone you never use? Delete them. Upload your photos and videos to your computer, an external hard drive and/or cloud-based services. Personally I like to have them in more than one place. You can then delete some of the excess from your phone and clear some space.

If you listen to podcasts take a look at your subscriptions. If there are some no longer offering new episodes go ahead and delete. If you use a feed reader such as Feedly or Bloglovin’ scan through your subscriptions and clear out the ones you never read or which are no longer publishing new material.

Set aside a bit of time each day during “Spring Cleaning” to get your inbox under control. I am a huge fan of SaneBox which you can read about here:

Tying Up Loose Ends…

 

 

Bonus

As soon as you complete your ten tasks, go buy yourself a bouquet of tulips or a flowering plant to reward yourself for all your hard work. You deserve it!


More Spring Cleaning Tips and Helps

My Spring Cleaning Plan + Free Printable Checklist

Spring Cleaning Tips From 50s Housewives

Free Spring Cleaning Printable

Spring Cleaning ~ Tips and Motivation

Spring Cleaning to Welcome Mother Nature’s New Year! 22 Ways to Start Fresh

 

Spring Cleaning 10 Tasks

 

Simple Organizing: 50 Ways to Clear the Clutter

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I'm on a mission to completely declutter and organize my home this year. Or at least this decade. I'm a fan of Melissa Michaels' website, The Inspired Home, as well as the books of hers I have read. So when I had the opportunity to read and review her latest book, Simple Organizing: 5o Ways to Clear the Clutter, I jumped at the chance.

Simple Organizing ~ A Book Review

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

I already had two of Melissa Michaels' books:

Love the Home You Have

and...

The Inspired Room

 

I love them both so I had high expectations for her latest release. Fortunately I was not disappointed. Simple Organizing reflects the author's trademark style - beautiful yet simple and achievable.

A quick look at the contents shows that this book is more than the typical decluttering book.

Contents:

 

Make the Most of Your Space

Entrances

1. Start SMART
2. Fashion a Fabulous Front Porch
3. Welcome Yourself like a Guest
4. Establish an Entry-Level Plan
5. Straighten Up a Small Space
6. Prep Your Purse
DIY  Command Central Cabinet
7. Make a Mail Sorting Station

 

Living Spaces

8. Make Memories
9. Question Everything
10. Identify Your Family/Personal Style
11. Repurpose Your Space If Necessary
12. Set Some Goals
13. Make Room For What You Love
14. Strike a Happy Medium

 

Kitchen & Dining Room 

15. Power Clean and Establish a Routine
16. Arrange Areas into Task Zones
17. Deal With Dishes
18. Figure Out Food Storage and Organization
19. Create More Space in Your Kitchen
DIY  Under the Kitchen Sink
20. Delight in Your Dining Room
21. Simplify Mealtimes

 

Master Bedroom

22. Discover the Domino Effect
23. Eliminate Excess to Make Room for Style
24. Whip Your Wardrobe into Shape
25. Remember Your Routine
26. Put Your Closets and Drawers to Work
27. Create a Cozy Nest
28. Declutter Your Dresser and Bedside Tables
29. Simply with Organic Style

 

Bathrooms 

30. Streamline Your Cleaning Routine
31. Transform the Towel and Toiletry Supplies
32. Corral Supplies in Creative Containers
33. Consider Simplifying Your Cleaning Products
34. Pamper with a Personal Spa
35. Pare Down Beauty Products
36. Live with Laundry
37. Set Up a Wellness Station

 

Kids' Rooms

38. Help Establish Orderly Habits
39. Introduce Housekeeping Routines Early
40. Streamline and Simplify Kids' Stuff
41. Arrange Areas for Imaginative Play
42. Control the Clothing Situation
43. Set Up Kids for Success in School

 

Home Office & Creative Spaces

44. Take Control with a Family Command Center
45. Establish a Place for Everything
46. Rotate Items Seasonally
47. Pare Down Paper Clutter
48. Set Up Stations for Specific Tasks
DIY  Wrapping Center
49. Find a Home for Creative Supplies

 

Conclusion

50. Embrace a Mind-Set of Simplicity

 

I like the way we are directed through our homes one room or zone at a time. Other methods require tearing up your entire home at once but Melissa's approach is far more realistic for busy households.

The book is full of creative storage and organization ideas, as well as a focus on how to create a space that reflects the way each individual family lives.

Bonus: The pictures are gorgeous and her dogs are adorable!

 

Simple Organizing

Simple Organizing was released today, April 3, 2018, and is available in all major bookstores. If you are doing some spring cleaning, this book is the perfect companion.

 

Note: I received a free copy to review but all opinions are my own. 

 

Simple Organizing ~ A book review

Simple Organizing ~ A Book Review

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Simple Organizing: 50 Ways to Clear the Clutter

Simple Organizing
Categories: ,
Tags: , ,
Author:
Genre:
Publisher:
Published: April 3, 2018
Many struggle with clutter and disorganization on some level and there are any number of folks willing to tell us what to do about it.  In "Simple Organizing" we learn how to determine which items we need and those that contribute to our home life in a positive way. The rest is clutter. The author then demonstrates how to organize what we keep in a functional and attractive way.

I'm on a mission to completely declutter and organize my home this year. Or at least this decade. I'm a fan of Melissa Michaels' website, The Inspired Home, as well as the books of hers I have read. So when I had the opportunity to read and review her latest book, Simple Organizing: 5o Ways to Clear the Clutter, I jumped at the chance.

Simple Organizing ~ A Book Review

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

I already had two of Melissa Michaels' books:

Love the Home You Have

and...

The Inspired Room

 

I love them both so I had high expectations for her latest release. Fortunately I was not disappointed. Simple Organizing reflects the author's trademark style - beautiful yet simple and achievable.

A quick look at the contents shows that this book is more than the typical decluttering book.

Contents:

 

Make the Most of Your Space

Entrances

1. Start SMART
2. Fashion a Fabulous Front Porch
3. Welcome Yourself like a Guest
4. Establish an Entry-Level Plan
5. Straighten Up a Small Space
6. Prep Your Purse
DIY  Command Central Cabinet
7. Make a Mail Sorting Station

 

Living Spaces

8. Make Memories
9. Question Everything
10. Identify Your Family/Personal Style
11. Repurpose Your Space If Necessary
12. Set Some Goals
13. Make Room For What You Love
14. Strike a Happy Medium

 

Kitchen & Dining Room 

15. Power Clean and Establish a Routine
16. Arrange Areas into Task Zones
17. Deal With Dishes
18. Figure Out Food Storage and Organization
19. Create More Space in Your Kitchen
DIY  Under the Kitchen Sink
20. Delight in Your Dining Room
21. Simplify Mealtimes

 

Master Bedroom

22. Discover the Domino Effect
23. Eliminate Excess to Make Room for Style
24. Whip Your Wardrobe into Shape
25. Remember Your Routine
26. Put Your Closets and Drawers to Work
27. Create a Cozy Nest
28. Declutter Your Dresser and Bedside Tables
29. Simply with Organic Style

 

Bathrooms 

30. Streamline Your Cleaning Routine
31. Transform the Towel and Toiletry Supplies
32. Corral Supplies in Creative Containers
33. Consider Simplifying Your Cleaning Products
34. Pamper with a Personal Spa
35. Pare Down Beauty Products
36. Live with Laundry
37. Set Up a Wellness Station

 

Kids' Rooms

38. Help Establish Orderly Habits
39. Introduce Housekeeping Routines Early
40. Streamline and Simplify Kids' Stuff
41. Arrange Areas for Imaginative Play
42. Control the Clothing Situation
43. Set Up Kids for Success in School

 

Home Office & Creative Spaces

44. Take Control with a Family Command Center
45. Establish a Place for Everything
46. Rotate Items Seasonally
47. Pare Down Paper Clutter
48. Set Up Stations for Specific Tasks
DIY  Wrapping Center
49. Find a Home for Creative Supplies

 

Conclusion

50. Embrace a Mind-Set of Simplicity

 

I like the way we are directed through our homes one room or zone at a time. Other methods require tearing up your entire home at once but Melissa's approach is far more realistic for busy households.

The book is full of creative storage and organization ideas, as well as a focus on how to create a space that reflects the way each individual family lives.

Bonus: The pictures are gorgeous and her dogs are adorable!

 

Simple Organizing

Simple Organizing was released today, April 3, 2018, and is available in all major bookstores. If you are doing some spring cleaning, this book is the perfect companion.

 

Note: I received a free copy to review but all opinions are my own. 

 

Simple Organizing ~ A book review

Housekeeping or Homemaking?

By 1 Comment

Is there a difference between homemaking and housekeeping? Do you differentiate between the two? Ever since I wrote this blog post about homemaking, I’ve been pondering the question. I also asked this question on the Life With Dee Facebook page and received some interesting comments. The general consensus was that there is a difference. We all basically agreed that the term “housekeeping” seems to refer largely to cleaning while “homemaking” encompasses a much wider variety of activities.

 

Housekeeping or Homemaking

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

In my mind, homemaking includes housekeeping but certainly isn’t limited to that. It’s entirely possible to be an excellent housekeeping but a lousy homemaker. And while a good homemaker has a reasonably tidy and sanitary home, she may not be a “perfect” housekeeper. Instead, I think a good homemaker keeps her focus on the people living in the house rather than the house itself.

I’m pretty much one of those naturally neat types (please don’t hate me!) so keeping the house in decent order comes easily to me. And there are certain cleanliness things that are important to me. For instance, I want reasonably clean bathrooms, a kitchen that is sanitary for food prep, and clean sheets every week.

I’m also fussy about my house smelling clean so trash is taken out often, garbage gets composted, and other sources of odors are dealt with promptly. However, I can let the dusting and vacuuming go, and right now my kitchen floor could use a good mopping. While the main living areas are usually tidy, please don’t open my closets expecting to see color-coded perfection.

There’s a limit to how much time I want to spend cleaning so I focus on what is most visible and what matters most to me and my family. That means that before I start actually cleaning, I make sure the house is in order first. Beds made, dishes done, “stuff” put away – that sort of thing. I also throw in a load of laundry and give some thought to the day’s meals.

In my experience, most men are reasonably content if they have clean clothes, good food and can find their things. At least that’s the situation in my household.

The needs of children and pets are a priority for those who have either or both. In fact, the thought “living stuff first” goes through my mind when I start my daily tasks. That also includes houseplants or a garden.

I also make an effort to set aside time at the end of the day, before David comes home, to make things cozy and welcoming for him. Especially during the fall and winter as the days shorten and grow colder, I try to make sure the house is warm and cheery. That means being sure that the porch light is on, as well as the lamp on our entry table and a few other lamps around the house (I think lamp light is much homier than bright, overhead lighting). Oftentimes I’ll have music playing – never the television. And if he can smell something delicious cooking when he walks in, that makes him very happy.

Monday is the day I wash our sheets – and iron the pillow cases (!), water my houseplants (aka: jungle), and generally catch up after the weekend. Today, in addition to these things, I baked a Molasses Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Icing, made a pitcher of iced tea (I used 4 black tea bags, plus one peach and one green tea), and baked a nice homemade macaroni and cheese with caramelized onions for dinner. David was home for just a bit after work before going to a meeting so I fixed a cup of tea for him to enjoy before he had to go. I also pulled out a puzzle for us to start working on in the evenings. When we go to bed this evening, we will crawl between freshly washed sheets and lay our heads on those ironed pillowcases. And yes, the kitchen floor still needs to be mopped.

One of the women who commented on this topic on my Facebook page said that homemaking is “about people and communicating love through actions”. I think that sums it up beautifully. When I think about the homes where I’ve most felt loved and welcomed, it was not because the house was spotless but because the women in those homes know/knew how to truly make a house a home. That’s the goal I strive for.

I am grateful for the women I’ve known who have shown me what is truly important in being a homemaker. Here is a little bit about couple of them:

 

What Would Aunt Hazel Do? ~ Southern Hospitality

The Wisdom of Grandma

 

You may also enjoy this post by my daughter who blogs at Retro Housewife Goes Green:

Homemaking is More Than Cleaning

 

I’d love to hear your thoughts about homemaking vs. housekeeping. Leave me a comment and let’s discuss.


~~~~~

Housekeeping or homemaking?

Menu Monday ~ Easy Recipes for Spring Cleaning Week

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Anyone else spring cleaning this week? I have a list of seasonal tasks I’m planning to attend to this week so that calls for easy dinners. If you are also tackling some spring cleaning this week, take a look at my easy recipes for menu plan inspiration.

Menu Monday - Easy Recipes for Spring Cleaning Week

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DEE’S MENU

 

Monday

Instant Pot

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

slow cooker

Saturday

Date night!

Sunday

Leftovers or take-out

WHAT’S COOKING AT YOUR HOUSE THIS WEEK?

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MEAL PLANNING RESOURCES I RECOMMEND

 

Eat At Home weekly meal plans:

 

  • Do you want to eat a healthy, organic, grass fed diet but don’t think you can afford it? My friend, Victoria of A Modern Homestead, explains how they do it on less than $200 a month. Click here to find out how:

 

This post is linked up at I’m an Organizing Junkie. Check it out for more great menu ideas!

Menu Monday Spring Cleaning Week

LWD Book Club ~ April 2018

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Happy Easter and welcome to the LWD Book Club selections for April! I’m really looking forward to reading this month’s books and hope you will enjoy them, too.

LWD Book Club April 2018Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

LWD APRIL BOOK CLUB SELECTIONS

 

Summer With the Country Vet

When Lucy Jacobs is made redundant from her inner-city teaching job she fears her career is over. Teaching is all Lucy knows and she’s determined to get back in the classroom as fast as she can.

Except the only job on offer is at an idyllic village school in the middle of nowhere – Lucy’s idea of hell. Where are the disadvantaged kids who need saving, where is the challenge?

But as Lucy finds herself welcomed into the warm-hearted community of Langtry Meadows, she begins to realise new challenges await – like frogs in the classroom, a rather difficult donkey, and a very brooding local vet…

Local boy Charlie Davenport has his own issues about living in the close-knit village of Langtry Meadows. His private life is already fuel for the well-meaning gossips and the very last thing he needs is to get close to the new school teacher…no matter how lovely she is.

But as summer days drift away Langtry Meadows weaves its magic, Charlie and Lucy both get the chance to turn over a new leaf and start anew…maybe with each other?

A fun, romantic story to make you smile and long for your own country escape.

Summer With the Country Village Vet

 

 

A Piece of the World

To Christina Olson, the entire world was her family’s remote farm in the small coastal town of Cushing, Maine. Born in the home her family had lived in for generations, and increasingly incapacitated by illness, Christina seemed destined for a small life. Instead, for more than twenty years, she was host and inspiration for the artist Andrew Wyeth, and became the subject of one of the best known American paintings of the twentieth century.

As she did in her beloved smash bestseller Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline interweaves fact and fiction in a powerful novel that illuminates a little-known part of America’s history. Bringing into focus the flesh-and-blood woman behind the portrait, she vividly imagines the life of a woman with a complicated relationship to her family and her past, and a special bond with one of our greatest modern artists.

Told in evocative and lucid prose, A Piece of the World is a story about the burdens and blessings of family history, and how artist and muse can come together to forge a new and timeless legacy.

A Piece of the World

 

 

Playing House in Provence

Author Mary-Lou Weisman and her husband, Larry, didn’t want to tour a foreign country; they wanted to become part of it. They were eager to pierce the tourist veil, and get as close to the essence of the culture as they could. No more observing from the outside with their noses pressed to the glass. They yearned for someone to open the door and invite them to step right in and make themselves at home. They wanted to become so French that even Americans wouldn’t like them.

In September of 2003, the Weismans arrived in Provence, France, for the first of four, monthlong stays. Playing House in Provence follows them on their sometimes wonderful, sometimes humiliating, always playful pursuit, as they learn that feeling disoriented and stupid on a daily basis can be fun. So can looking up French words they need to ask for directions—où est la pharmacie—only to realize there’s pas une chance they will understand the answer.

Playing House in Provence

 

Watch for my review of Melissa Michaels’ new book, Simple Organizing: 50 Ways to Clear the Clutter. It is available for pre-order now and will be released April 3rd.

 

Simple Organizing

 

LWD Book Club April 2018

 

 


 

What’s better than curling up with a good book and a delicious cup of tea? And when the tea is named “Reading Nook“? Perfection.

Plum Deluxe “Reading Nook” tea blend

Reading Nook Tea

PREVIOUS LWD BOOK CLUB CHOICES:

March 2016

April 2016

May 2016

June 2016

July 2016

August 2016

September 2016

October 2016


LWD Book Club April 2018

Pork Chops in Dijon Mustard Cream Sauce

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I’m all about a good sauce. Take simple pork chops, add a delicious sauce and suddenly you’ve got something special. Wine and cream are always a good place to start. Add if you add the tang of Dijon mustard? Dinner is served!

Pork Chops in Dijon Mustard Cream Sauce

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.

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Pork Chops in Dijon Mustard Cream Sauce

Ingredients

  • 2-4 pork chops (boneless works best but bone-in are fine)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1-2 tbsp flour
  • salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 - 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in oven proof skillet over medium high heat.

  2. Lightly flour pork chops on both sides and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. 

  3. Brown pork chops on both sides. Remove from skillet. 

  4. Cook onions until translucent. 

  5. Deglaze pan with wine, scraping up all the browned bits. 

  6. Place pork chops on top of onions, pour 1/2 cup chicken broth over, sprinkle with dried thyme, and place in oven preheated to 325 degrees. 

  7. Cook until pork chops are done which will depend on thickness. Check at 25-30 minutes. Add more time if not done. If necessary, add a bit more liquid (water or broth) during baking so skillet doesn't go dry. You may also need to cover the skillet. 

  8. Remove from oven and place on burner over medium heat. Add remaining chicken broth and Dijon mustard. Bring to a simmer and cook a couple of minutes. 

  9. Reduce heat to low and add cream, stirring to combine. Heat through. 

  10. Serve pork chops with sauce spooned over top. 

 

Pork Chops

 

The sauce/gravy is so delicious that you might be tempted to eat it with a spoon. When I made this the other day it had been “one of those days” so I opted for easy baked potatoes as a side dish. But I recommend serving them with mashed potatoes or rice and spooning some of the sauce over each serving.

 

Pork Chops

There were three pork chops in the package I used so we had one left over. The next night I heated a couple of tablespoons of butter in the skillet, sprinkled in a little flour, cooked a minute or so then added the leftover sauce from the night before. I added some chicken broth, sliced up the remaining pork chop into the sauce and added a splash of cream. I served this over cooked rice.

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Pork Chops in Dijon Mustard Cream Sauce

 

This post is linked up on Miz Helen’s Full Plate Thursday.

Full Plate Thursday