Five Things We Can Learn From the Amish

September 14, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 6 Comments

For a number of years, my daughter Lisa and I have attended the annual auction and sale held by a nearby Amish community. We have both long been fascinated by the Amish and love the opportunity to see their handiwork up close, as well as purchase a few items. It’s held in September every year and the proceeds go to fund their school. We went recently and it made me think of things we can learn from the Amish way of life.

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1. Home Cooking Tastes Best

One of the things Lisa and I look forward to at the Amish auction are the homemade cinnamon rolls. They are SO good! And so are the pies, bread, rolls, noodles, jams and jellies, and all the other tasty homemade treats. I cook most things from scratch but have gotten out of the habit of baking homemade bread and making my own yogurt. If life slows down a bit as summer draws to a close, I intend to get back to doing both of these things.

2. Simplicity

You may recall that the word I chose for my 2018 focus was “simplicity”. I can’t honestly say I’ve implemented as much simplicity in my life as I had hoped but it remains an important goal for me. The ways of the Amish may not be easy, but in many ways they exude simplicity. Everything from the clothes they wear to the way they decorate their homes demonstrates this quality. While my grandmother was not Amish, she did live her life in a very simple way and there is much about this which appeals to me.

3. Fashion Freedom

No one would call the Amish stylish but I suspect there’s a great deal of freedom associated with the way they dress. Imagine how easy it would be to get dressed each morning if your wardrobe only consisted of four dresses: one for wash, one for wear, one for dress, and one for spare. I have no plans to limit my wardrobe to four dresses but many are embracing the concept of a capsule wardrobe and that seems doable to me.

4. Working With One’s Hands is Satisfying

My favorite part of the Amish auction is admiring the gorgeous handmade quilts. They sell for around $1000 each so all I do is look. Each tiny stitch is nearly perfect and the patterns are truly works of art. Likewise, the handmade furniture is beautiful in its simple perfection. It’s certainly easier to buy bed coverings and home furnishings but that will never replace the satisfaction of a home filled with items made by one’s own hands. I’m not taking up quilt-making anytime soon and furniture building isn’t in my future at all. However, I’d love to learn how to crochet and perhaps embroider such things as tea towels and pillow cases.

5. Social Media and the Internet are Distractions

When we look at those gorgeous quilts and huge quantities of homemade goods for sale each year, Lisa and I always joke about how much more we might accomplish if we didn’t have computers or social media. Obviously, without access to a computer I wouldn’t be writing this blog. And social media is a great way to connect with friends, family and blog readers. But they can also be huge time wasters if we aren’t careful. I am experimenting with ways to cut down on the time I spend online in order to free up time for other pursuits. Expect a blog post on this topic sometime in the near future.

If you share my interest in the Amish and their way of life, here are some resources you might be interested in:

Oklahoma Amish

The Amish Way of Life and Culture – Everything you Wanted to Know!

75 Best Amish Recipes

Let’s Fly(Lady) Together!

April 10, 2018 By Deanna Piercy Leave a Comment

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.

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.

Previous posts about The FlyLady:

Housekeeping or Homemaking?

April 3, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 7 Comments

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.

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.

~~~~~

The Best (and Worst) of The Flylady

February 9, 2018 By Deanna Piercy 8 Comments

Note: I am currently leading a 31 Day FlyLady challenge in my Facebook group, Make Over Your Life With Dee. You are welcome to join. We started Friday, April 13, 2018 but you can still join. I’ll be putting each day’s task/lesson in the group files so you can read them at any time.

If you’ve thought about getting your house in order sometime in the past decade and looked online for help, chances are you are familiar with The FlyLady. Inspired by Pam Young and Peggy Jones, otherwise known as “The Slob Sisters”, Marla Cilley started an email group, first on e-Groups and then Yahoo Groups, as a means of helping others get control of their homes using what she had learned from Young and Jones as a starting point then putting her own spin on it.

I first heard of The FlyLady in the early days when she was still on e-Groups. I received her (numerous) daily emails off and on for years. Even though I tend to be fairly neat by nature, I still found much value in her methods. If I had been living alone in a modest-sized home I probably never would have paid much attention to The FlyLady but at the time I was homeschooling two children in a 3000 square foot house. Having kids at home 24/7 is a challenge, even for someone who is basically neat and orderly. And the amount of “stuff” a homeschooling family acquires is a true test of a family’s organizational skills.

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

So I signed up for the emails. Several times a day I would get reminders such as:

Get dressed to shoes.
Have you emptied your dishwasher?
Reboot laundry.
Swish and swipe bathroom.
Check your calendar.

This was pre-Facebook days so email was my primary source of online interaction. Even back then some people complained about the number of emails but I didn’t find it a problem. Once you’d read them a few times you knew just by the subject line what it was about so you didn’t even have to open the routine ones. I’d see one show up in my inbox and I’d be reminded to go attend to some task. I’d just delete each one after it was done and at the end of the day delete any I hadn’t done so I’d start each day with a clean slate.

In a way, it was sort of like positive brain washing. If you see a reminder to do something every day it eventually worms its way into your psyche. Even though I haven’t received the emails in years, I still have a little voice in my head which sounds suspiciously like The FlyLady.

In general, I think her methods have merit. For instance, here are some of the things she recommends:

Get dressed: Yes, all the way to shoes, first thing in the morning. Do I do this? Heck no. Do I think it’s a good idea? Absolutely. I tend to stumble out of bed following a night without adequate restful sleep, put on my robe and slippers then head downstairs to get the hot tea my sweet husband has made for me. I then curl up in my chair in the library and start reading Facebook until I realize how much time I’ve wasted. As for shoes, this is a big sticking point with a lot of her followers. It seems many of us balk at the lace-up shoe recommendation. My feet like to be as free as my spirit so the best I can do is a comfy pair of Birkenstocks. But even that is better than barefoot. It’s better for your feet (ask me about plantar fasciitis sometime) and if you have to run outside in a hurry it’s nice not to have to search for a pair of shoes. And I haven’t given up on that notion of getting dressed right away.

Shine Your Sink: The FlyLady calls it the “shiny sink” and has very detailed instructions for this. Once you get your sink clean and shiny initially, the idea is that you return to this state every night before you go to bed. Make sure the dishes are done, the sink has been scrubbed and you’ve laid out a clean dishcloth and towel for the next day. This is the lynchpin of her plan and I totally agree. If I wake up in the morning to a clean kitchen sink the day seems ripe with promise. On the other hand, a sinkful of dirty dishes is a sure way to get off on the wrong foot and to feel behind before the day has even fully started.

Swish and Swipe: This is FlyLady terminology for a daily “lick and a promise” in the bathrooms. Okay, maybe “lick” isn’t the best choice of words. Each day you quickly swish the toilet bowl with a little cleanser of some type. If you do it daily it really doesn’t matter much what you use. A splash of vinegar, a bit of PineSol, a squirt of toilet bowl cleaner – whatever. It literally takes 10 seconds a day to have a clean toilet bowl at all times.

Aside from the toilet, you take a minute or so to put away toiletries and other items, wipe the mirror and sink, pull the shower curtain closed, and put out clean towels if necessary. Once a week you do a more thorough cleaning, including the tub/shower but this daily attention means you’ll never again be embarrassed by a drop in visitor who asks to use your bathroom.

5 Minute Room Rescue: This assumes you have a room, closet, garage, etc. which needs a lot of attention but you keep putting it off because you don’t have a spare 18 hours to clean it. With this method you simply set a timer for 5 minutes and work on it in small bites. If you keep at it regularly you’ll begin to see progress.

27 Fling Boogie: Take a garbage bag and as quickly as you can, walk through your house and find 27 items to throw away. As soon as you have done this, close the bag and throw it away (or put it in your recycling bin if you have one). Then take a box or other container and find 27 items to give away. Put the box in your car and drop it off the next time you are near a place which takes used items. The FlyLady has a reason for choosing the number 27 but you can certainly pick another number. And if you don’t have time to do both the throw away and the giveaway on the same day, alternate.

Morning and Evening Routines: This seems pretty obvious but simple morning and evening routines can make a world of difference. Start small. Pick three things to do in the morning and three at bedtime. Do these consistently for a month or so then add something else.

Hot Spots: In FlyLady lingo, a hot spot is an area of your home which tends to collect clutter. A table near the entry, a corner of a kitchen counter, a bedroom chair, the coffee table, the table by your favorite chair. These are the places where it is all too easy to leave a coffee cup, the day’s mail, unfolded laundry. The thing about hot spots is that they seem to attract clutter. All it takes is ONE item left there and before you know it, it’s piled high with stuff. I’ve found that if I leave something on one of these surfaces it gives the rest of the family permission to do likewise and before you know it, we’ve got a mess. As FlyLady says, “clutter attracts clutter”. Clear these spots and then police them daily.

One of my favorite recommendations is to put something decorative in that spot. If it’s attractive, it’s less likely to become a dumping ground. Clean off your coffee table, polish it well, and place a plant, flower arrangement or bowl of fruit on it. Maybe your family will be less likely to think it’s an alternate wastebasket and will throw away their empty gum wrappers or used tissues instead. Hey, we can always hope!

Zones: If you like tearing your house apart and spending a week deep cleaning until you’re exhausted every spring and fall, have at it. But there is another way. Divide your house into zones and focus on one area each week. In addition to your regularly weekly cleaning, do one or more deep cleaning tasks in that week’s zone. Rotate these chores and over time they all get done. No, you won’t have that awesome feeling of everything spotless all at the same time. But you also won’t need a week to recuperate every spring and fall, either.

Daily laundry: Each morning throw in a load of laundry then be sure to see it all the way through the process. Dry, fold and put away. If you have a family you will likely need to do more than one load, at least on some days. But even at just one load you can be sure everyone has clean underwear and then catch up on the weekends or whatever other day you choose.

When I had kids at home I did approximately 15 loads a week. Mondays were my catch up day and it wasn’t unusual for me to do 5 or 6 loads that day. But by doing one or two loads each day I kept it under control. Now that it’s just the two of us, a load a day plus an extra one or two on Mondays keeps our laundry caught up.

Household Notebook: Take a look at Pinterest and you’ll see that the household notebook or planner is a very popular concept. But when FlyLady first gave the instructions for creating what she calls a Control Journal, it was not on most people’s radar. There are a multitude of ways to create one and it’s important to consider your own lifestyle but the instructions for creating a Control Journal is a good place to start.

Sink Reflections by The FlyLady

So now that I’ve shared what I consider the best of The FlyLady, is there a downside? Yes, I believe there may be. Now, let me just say that her plan was developed for people whose homes are out of control. She refers to it as C.H.A.O.S. – Can’t Have Anyone Over Syndrome. If your family is regularly out of clean underwear, you’ve resorted to plastic silverware and paper plates because all your dishes are dirty, you have to move piles in order to sit down and you spend an inordinate amount of time every day trying to find things then I believe her plan is well-suited to getting a handle on the situation.

That was not the case for me, however. I was simply looking for a structured plan for making sure everything got done on a routine basis. And in many ways her methods worked. But over time I began to notice something that concerned me. The emphasis on doing tasks quickly (often with a timer) and just barely “good enough” started to make me think of housekeeping as simply a series of tasks to do as fast as possible to get them out of the way. And if you despise housework on a deep and visceral level this might be a good thing. But I was one of those little girls who loved to play house and couldn’t wait to grow up and have a real home to take care of.

In those early days of marriage I loved taking the time to set the table with our wedding china, even if we were just having hot dogs. I enjoyed cleaning and scrubbing until everything sparkled and smelled wonderful. I was forever moving things around, decorating and basically playing house on a grownup level. I’m a nester by nature.

The message I was receiving from FlyLady emails was that perfectionism was the enemy. Set a timer, follow instructions, get it done and then go do something fun. Don’t worry about those extra touches. But I think there’s another way to look at housework.

When I think back to my childhood days I am reminded of the way my grandmother kept house. There were no lists, no timers, no housekeeping journals. She approached homemaking in a more natural, organic way.

People needed to eat so she cooked meals. She did the dishes after each meal so they would be clean for the next one. Beds were made each morning as a matter of course. When there were enough clothes for a load, she ran the washing machine. I didn’t ask her if she had specific days for such things as cleaning bathrooms or vacuuming or if she just did them when they needed doing. I do know she was in the habit of cleaning the refrigerator on Saturday mornings, though.

I never heard Grandma complain about keeping house. On the contrary, she hummed or whistled while she went about her tasks. She never seemed rushed. She kept a tidy and comfortable home, even with eleven grandchildren in and out all the time. And she seemed to enjoy the process or had at least made peace with it.

That is what I’m aiming for. I can make use of many FlyLady methods but with my own philosophy of mindfulness. Instead of rushing through a task with an eye toward the next thing on my to-do list, I’m trying to focus on what I’m doing. The feel of warm, soapy water on my hands as I wash dishes. Noticing the way sunlight reflects off a freshly polished mirror. Taking a few minutes to rearrange the decorative items on the coffee table after dusting it. I find that I tend to enjoy the things I put a bit more effort into and housework is no exception.

So while I do think The FlyLady has some terrific ideas and many of her methods are worth trying, I would also encourage a bit of caution. I believe there is something to be said for finding ways to make housework a pleasure whenever possible. Develop a regular morning routine but then take a few minutes to do a little something extra. After you swish and flush the toilet, add a few drops of a favorite essential oil. Light a candle and play some music while doing the dinner dishes. Iron your pillowcases when you change the sheets. These small touches help elevate housework from drudgery to creative expression. And isn’t that a happier way to take care of our homes?

~~~~~

Other posts you may enjoy:

How to Create Your Own Homemaking Binder

The Wisdom of Grandma

Ironed Pillow Cases ~ A Little Luxury

A Clean (-ish) House in 30 Minutes a Day

Note: I originally wrote and published this as a guest author on the (sadly) no-longer-published site, The Glamorous Housewife. Bethany Herwegh, the site owner, granted me permission to republish it here. The graphic at the top of this post was Bethany’s work from the original post on her site.

Best Homemaking Tips ~ A Reader Roundup

April 28, 2017 By Deanna Piercy 1 Comment

I’m always looking for homemaking tips to make things easier, less time-consuming, or simply make my homemaking life more beautiful. I decided to ask YOU, my readers, to share your best tips and received some great responses.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Life With Dee!

The Best Homemaking Tips From Life With Dee Readers

I love all these wonderful tips and am so pleased to be able to share them all with you!

Mandy: I love a great smelling home. It is so comforting for me and my family but it is also very welcoming to our guests. Even children love to walk in my home and say “your house smells so nice”. It makes me feel good. Not only is my home clean and clutter free but smells wonderful. I use natural essential oils. I have different scents in different parts of my home. It is not overwhelming or mixed up. In the main part of the house and entrance I use rose oils. In the kitchen and dining room I use either lemon or cinnamon. The bathroom and hallways I also use rose oils and I use lavender oils in the bedrooms. It is one of the best and simplest things you can do to make your home special.

Dee: I’m the same way about having my home smell good. I love the idea of having specific scents for each area of the home!

Kat Murray: I love hanging my laundry out on the line. I think it is the nicest thing I can do for my family. My husband could tell the bedding was hung out as soon as he walked in our room.

Dee: There is absolutely nothing like the scent of line-dried laundry. David doesn’t know this yet but he’s going to be installing a clothesline for me soon!

Karla Riggs Neese: 1. I like to keep cleaning supplies in each bathroom under the sink so I don’t have to go very far to get to the stuff.

2. We mostly go barefoot in our house so we keep a pair of flip flops by the back door to put on when we go outside.

Dee: I do the same thing regarding cleaning supplies. This is especially helpful in an upstairs bathroom! And I love your idea of keeping flip flops by the door. I do wear my Birkenstocks in the house because they keep my feet from hurting. However, I don’t like the idea of wearing the same shoes indoors and out. I just bought a new pair so I think I will follow your example – sort of in reverse. I’ll put my old pair by the door to wear INDOORS.

Patricia Snodgrass: I have discovered that white vinegar does a wonderful job of taking soap scum off the bath tub.

Dee: We have terribly hard water here so that just adds to the soap scum issue. Vinegar is a great help!

Denise L. Moore: Following up on Karla’s suggestion about cleaning supplies in the bathrooms, she suggests keeping a roll of paper towels under the bathroom sink, too.

Dee: I try not to use paper towels but I do something similar. I keep a cleaning cloth on the bottle of glass cleaner under the counter and a microfiber cleaning cloth hanging in the shower. Whichever you prefer, it really does help to have all the necessary supplies close at hand.

Mellissa Bond: Home making tips…mine are basically just establish a routine. Stay on top of dishes and laundry. Declutter often. Sorry Dee. Nothing fancy here.

Dee: Ah, but it’s those simple, routine tasks which can make such a HUGE impact! It’s all too easy to overlook the obvious but they matter most.

Alice Birchfield: -Keep powdered milk in your cupboard. You never know. I don’t even drink cow’s milk, but I keep it for recipes and in case I need it.

Keep a basic drill and some bits and screwdriver tips.

Always have white vinegar and baking soda. You can clean most things with them, separately and together.

Also, a spray bottle with water, a tablespoon of bleach and a tiny squirt of dish soap is a good sanitizer cleaner too. I love bleach.

I do make my own laundry soap/detergent (powdered) and you can turn baking soda in to wash soda by heating it in the oven on low for a couple of hours. I set my timer and stir it around and then let it go another hour. I then put it in a container to use when I make my laundry soap.

I lived on an island for about 15 years, so I always keep back ups of things like toilet paper, toothpaste (I make that too), Dog and cat food and other essentials. I hate being forced to run to the store. I have to make myself grocery shop most of the time.

Dee: Wow! So many great tips. I don’t live on an island (yet!) but it’s about a 20 minute drive to town for me. When we moved to the country I learned the importance of keeping extras of the essentials.

Joan Johnson: Every other day, I set a timer for 15 minutes and grab 2 paper towels and a bottle of windex. I don’t stop wiping things down until the timer goes off. At first you’ll do windows, mirrors, etc. But if you keep at it, soon you’re doing lamps, phones, TV remotes, switch plates, etc., and quickly you see your home start to sparkle!

Dee: I LOVE this idea! I’m envisioning a group challenge. Maybe in my “Creating a Beautiful Life” Facebook group?

Annabel Smith: Fold everything from the line and do not crush things up in a laundry basket ever! Also dry shirts and tops on hangers in the breeze, no ironing. Let the breeze do the ironing for you.

Dee: I will definitely keep this in mind WHEN David puts in my clothesline. 🙂

Jeff-Rhonda Oliver: My tip is to make lists to prioritize and plan ahead and then just do it. Procrastination just costs money with late charges on bills not paid, overdue library books, food that spoils because you put off cooking it, coupons that expire because you don’t use them, plants that die because you put off taking care of them. This list could go on and on. When you procrastinate laundry, the stains may set in and never come out, causing ruined clothes. I plan ahead as much as possible. I loosely plan out our budget for the year, including expenses that may only occur 1 or 2 times like insurance, pet checkups, vehicle registrations, etc, so they aren’t a big uh-oh when due, gifts, etc.

Dee: What a good point. So much could be solved simply by avoiding procrastination.

Jeff-Rhonda Oliver: (referring to a discussion about line-drying) Most of my clothes are knits and I wash them with fabric softener in the rinse and then hang them all to dry in doorways inside our home. Then when they’re dry, usually overnight, I just move them to the closet. There’s no folding or letting them wrinkled in the dryer. I do my husband’s knit shirts like this too. We had a clothesline, but our Oklahoma wind can just be fierce and would sometimes blow my laundry to the ground or just blow it gone. So I prefer indoor drying.

Dee: I like the idea of drying on hangers! I may need to come up with a place to hang them in our laundry room. I still want an outdoor clothesline (makes things smell so good!) but as you say, some days it’s too windy (or rainy).

Janice: When I was young, my nanny taught me a trick when sewing. You know how sometimes it’s hard to pull a needle through a fabric because it’s either getting rusty or the fabric is so tight? Well, she rubs the needle on a candle so it glides in and out with no problem. I’ve even seen her rub the needle on her scalp! Lol. She said not to do that, but she thinks it does the same job. Oh, I forgot to mention, she also wraps the threads around the candle and pulls, sort of to coat them with a bit of wax, so they don’t tangle while sewing.

Dee: I’m not much of a seamstress (that’s the understatement of the year!) but I do have a small basket of things that need to be mended. I’m going to put a candle in there so I can try your trick!

Greta Durbin: My best tip would be to clean as you go, especially in the kitchen. Do quick pick-ups as you go through your home and then it’s always easier to dust, vacuum , etc. when you don’t have every room to clear first!

Dee: Such a good reminder. David usually helps me clean the kitchen after dinner and he is very happy if I have cleaned as I cook. I figured out as a child that it isn’t cleaning I mind but tidying up after other people (my younger brothers, for instance!) drives me nuts.

Lisa Sharp: Set up a good morning routine. It will help get your day off to a good start and make your day seem productive even if the rest of the day doesn’t go as planned. Here is something I wrote about this: A Homemaker Morning Routine.

Dee: This is SO true. My morning routine keeps evolving. I’m working on a new routine for summer. If I want to get any gardening done I’ll need to do it in the mornings before it gets too hot.

Thank you all SO MUCH for your great homemaking tips and ideas! If anyone else has a tip to share, leave me a comment. Maybe I’ll do a “part two” if there are enough.

~~~~~

How To Create Your Own Homemaking Binder

April 26, 2017 By Deanna Piercy 6 Comments

Taking care of a home and family is a surprisingly complex job. Managing schedules, planning meals, organizing daily/weekly/seasonal tasks, keeping track of home-related information and so much more. Creating a homemaking binder can be a huge help in getting it together and staying on top of all that it takes to manage a home and family.

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How To Create a Homemaking Binder

I first heard of the concept of a homemaking binder many years ago when I began following The FlyLady. She calls her version a “Control Journal”. She now offers a number of free journal downloads including versions for holidays, packing, office, student, home maintenance and others. You can see all of them here:

FlyLady Control Journals

Initially, however, it was a simpler concept including a list of cleaning zones, daily cleaning, weekly checklist, detailed cleaning lists, daily spiritual focus, and a weekly schedule. It also included an address book and I think a menu planning sheet. One thing she recommended which I think is a good idea is to put your daily and weekly checklists in clear plastic sheet protectors. You can then use a dry erase marker to check things off and then erase and use again.

The next major source of information regarding homemaking binders that I ran across was on Organized Home. They refer to it as a Household Notebook and offer a large number of free printable pages. It is more detailed and wider in scope that The FlyLady Control Journal, although perhaps a little less personal.

Here is the link to the list of printable pages they offer:

Organized Home Household Notebook Printables

When I put together my homemaking binder I used resources from both The FlyLady and Organized Home. I bought a white, 3 inch, three-ring binder and printed a cover sheet with “Deanna’s Household Notebook” on it which I slipped inside the front cover.

Over time I added sections for birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions, menus and grocery lists, emergency information, health and medical, holidays and personal. I also printed helpful or inspirational articles about homemaking and tucked those inside.

And then I didn’t use it. Oh, I’d occasionally drag it out and read through parts of it. But honestly? It became a symbol of good intentions and lack of follow-through. Otherwise known as “the story of my life”.

And yet I’m convinced that there is great merit in creating some form of a homemaking binder. The key is in determining how you plan to use it and what it should contain in order to make it genuinely useful for YOU.

You see, just because something works for someone else and sounds really cool doesn’t necessarily mean it will fit your lifestyle and your way of doing things.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before creating a homemaking binder/household notebook/control journal or whatever you prefer to call it:

Do you prefer paper or digital? This is a big one and deserves some serious consideration. If you love using the latest technology and like to be able to access everything from all your devices, then perhaps a physical binder is not for you. You can definitely create a digital “binder” instead and that might work much better for you.
Where do you spend most of your time? If you are at home full-time with few outside activities then a large, single binder containing everything you need to run your home and schedule could work well for you. However, if you work outside the home or are involved in many volunteer activities you are not likely to drag around a big binder all the time. You may need to consider a digital version or keeping some information and lists in a binder at home and others in your phone or a small notebook which fits in your purse.
What is YOUR purpose for a homemaking binder and what will make it useful for YOU and your family? When The FlyLady first created her Control Journal I recall that she considered it not only something the homemaker would use but that it could be helpful if someone else needed to step in and help manage your household in case of illness or for some other reason.

After you have considered these questions here are the steps I recommend for creating your very own homemaking binder.

1. Make a list of what you want in your binder.

Some possible ideas include:

Daily cleaning tasks
Weekly cleaning
Monthly or seasonal tasks
Morning and evening routines
Menu planning sheets
List of favorite recipes, perhaps including the cookbook and page number where it’s found
Emergency information
Family medical information (blood type, surgeries, medications, doctors, pharmacy, etc.)
Addresses and phone numbers (this may sound old fashioned and unnecessary – until your phone dies and wasn’t backed up recently)
Household information such as heat and air filter size/type, refrigerator water filter number, list of special types of light bulbs, paint colors, various measurements, etc.
Household project list (maybe include a pocket folder to hold paint and fabric samples, magazine pages for inspiration, receipts, etc.)
Household budget
List of birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions
Vacation packing lists
Freezer inventory list
Pantry inventory list
Passwords

And on, and on…

Carefully consider which of these will be useful to you. There’s no point in a packing list if you rarely go on vacation. And some of these things I listed might well be kept in some other place besides your homemaking binder. Just because someone made a free printable for it doesn’t mean it needs to be in your binder.

2. Purchase a binder.

Once you know what you want to include, then you can shop for the perfect binder. You might be tempted to reverse this order but you need to know how much it will contain so you can decide what size to purchase. As I mentioned above, I have a 3-inch binder. And it’s quite full. If you plan to create a very comprehensive binder and especially if you think you might want to include pocket folders and/or an address section, then I recommend a 3-inch version.

On the other hand, if you are more interested in a streamlined version with just your cleaning lists and a few other things, then choose a slimmer size. This may be especially important if you plan to leave it out somewhere during the day to check things off. If it’s too big and bulky it might just end up staying on a shelf somewhere.

Mine is just a plain white binder that I’ve had for over 15 years but I’m ready for a change. I think I “need” something prettier. I’m going to be doing a major overhaul of my homemaking binder this summer and am now in the process of finding just the right notebook/binder. I’ll be sure to share a photo!

3. Print the necessary sheets.

There are countless sources of free printables. You can certainly create your own and one of these days I’d like to do just that. However, chances are you can easily find any type of page you desire.

Here are a few sources:

Organized Home

Scattered Squirrel

Fab N’ Free

4. Use it!

This is where some of us lose the plot. Like any new habit, it takes time to implement. Once you’ve determined your purpose for a homemaking binder you can then decide how it will best serve you. Is it something you will leave out and utilize every day, checking off daily tasks and referring to often?

Or is it more of a resource for occasional use? If that’s the case, it’s way too easy to forget about it. I recommend setting up some type of reminder to pull it out and look through it on a scheduled basis. Even if you are just using it as a household information resource, it will soon become out of date without regular updates.

5. Schedule an annual review and update.

As soon as you get your binder up and running, get out your calendar. Schedule time one year from now to do a thorough review of your binder. Remove sections you aren’t using. If you have sections for addresses, passwords or other information that has changed, update those. Perhaps you’ve thought of something else that would be helpful to have in your binder. The key to a useful binder is to keep it up to date and relevant to your life. Things change…so should your binder.

Do you have a homemaking binder? If so, is it working well for you? I’d love to hear about it.

~~~~~

This is one of the binders I am considering when I update mine. Isn’t it pretty?

If digital is your preference, here is a resource that you might find helpful:

This post is linked up at Linda’s Lunacy Homemaking Linky:

Give Me Your Best Homemaking Tip

April 24, 2017 By Deanna Piercy 3 Comments

Do you have a favorite homemaking tip? If so, I’d love to see it AND share it. I’m going to do a reader roundup post this Friday and would love to share YOUR best tip.

You can reply directly to this post or contact me via email. Either way is fine. Be sure to include your name the way you’d like it posted (initials are fine). Also, if you have a blog and would like me to link to it, include that as well.

I’m really looking forward to your tips and excited to share the whole collection with all of you. The deadline is Wednesday evening, April 26th, so don’t delay!

A New Blog Feature ~ Cozy Corner

April 14, 2017 By Deanna Piercy 2 Comments

Welcome to a brand new Life With Dee blog feature: Cozy Corner. I adore seeing little glimpses of other people’s homes and I feel certain I’m not alone. Every once in awhile I will share a little peek into my house. I hope you enjoy it.

The Entry Table

We have a very long, narrow entry hall with a rather unusual feature. Just inside the door to the left is an open area. We were told by the owners who built the house that they originally had the staircase in the entry but they decided to move it. They enclosed what would have been the staircase, giving us a very long, narrow storage closet/room. That left this odd little inset area.

When we bought the house we thought about turning this area into a coat closet but my mom mentioned that it was just the right size for my antique oak table. I inherited the table from my grandparents – it had originally belonged to my great (or great, great?) grandmother.

Mom was right. It fit just right and provides the perfect place for seasonal decorative displays. It could easily become a place to set things upon entering the house but I am vigilant about not letting that happen. I might set a letter on it to be mailed the next day but nothing is allowed to stay there that doesn’t belong.

My favorite thing to have on this table is a bouquet of fresh flowers, especially if they have a nice scent. What a pleasure it is open the front door and get whiff of the lovely fragrance of lilies:

I also have candles and a little candy dish. Right now I have a lilac-scented candle and the dish contains Easter candy.

And that’s it for this first “Cozy Corner”. Oh, one more thing. I have a habit of spelling it “cosy”, rather than “cozy”. The former is the British spelling and apparently a lifetime of reading old-fashioned British novels has seeped into my brain. So don’t be surprised if you see that spelling on my posts occasionally. In fact, I had to edit the title of this post because I had “spelt” it wrong. 😉 I trust you’ll excuse occasional inadvertent British spellings.

Now it’s your turn. I’d love to see a picture of a little corner of your house. Leave a comment with a link to a blog post or Instagram pic. You can also post a picture on the Life With Dee Facebook page, my private little Facebook group “Creating a Beautiful Life” (if you aren’t a member and would like to be, feel free to join) or send me an email.

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Create a Beautiful Life: Cloth Napkins and Real Dishes

April 11, 2017 By Deanna Piercy 19 Comments

It’s all too easy to skip the niceties of a beautiful life in the name of ease and convenience. Sadly, I see many people opting for paper plates and paper towels rather than real dishes and cloth napkins. But it really isn’t that difficult to set a cosy supper table. It just takes a bit of a mindset change.

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Cloth Napkins and Real Dishes

Cloth Napkins

I do understand that to some, cloth napkins might seem a bit fussy these days. In fact, I was surprised to read a couple of articles about the fact that paper napkins are becoming obsolete. Apparently people are using paper towels instead.

I began using cloth napkins several years ago but until that point I always bought paper napkins which I folded into a triangle and placed to the left of the plate, just like my mother taught me.

I was still using paper towels in those days, too, but it never occurred to me to substitute those for paper napkins. And I’ve even noticed a fair number of folks who don’t even bother with paper towels unless eating something with the fingers.

It’s really not that difficult or time-consuming to use cloth napkins. I happen to like mine ironed but then again, I’m the one who irons her pillow cases every week, too. In fact, I generally iron napkins while I have the ironing board set up to iron pillow cases. It takes only a few minutes and I like the looks of an ironed napkin.

But if you remove them from the dryer immediately, smooth and fold right away, most cloth napkins are perfectly fine for day-to-day family use.

Another option is to use fingertip towels for napkins. These wash and dry very easily and of course, require no ironing.

My recommendation is to buy dark colored napkins so stains are not much of an issue. Have you noticed that many restaurants these days use black napkins? While I do have a variety of cloth napkins, including white, our usual choice for a family dinner is black, as you can see in this photo:

These are the ones I have:

100% Cotton Everyday Napkins

Real Dishes

First of all, allow me to say that I absolutely believe there are circumstances when paper plates are a reasonable choice. A new baby, elderly folks with mobility issues, illness, large parties, etc. Years ago when we remodeled our kitchen I used paper plates almost exclusively because I’m not a fan of washing dishes in a bathtub.

About a decade ago I got more serious about eco-issues and started eliminating disposables, a little at a time. Until then, I kept paper plates on hand and it wasn’t unusual for us to use them for a lunchtime sandwich. However, we always used the “real dishes” for dinners (except during the aforementioned kitchen remodeling).

Until we all started posting pictures of our meals on Facebook and Instagram I didn’t realize how many people eat all their meals on paper plates. I’ll see the most delicious-looking meals on a paper plate and this always surprises me.

I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m being judgmental or snobbish. Honestly, I believe we all deserve to live our lives according to our own standards and that our homes should be a place of comfort and respite.

We tend to repeat the patterns of behavior we grew up with. If your mom served dinner on paper plates with paper towels instead of napkins, that seems like the norm and you’re likely to do the same.

My mom wasn’t “fancy”. We ate on real dishes and used paper napkins but it wasn’t unusual for us to eat on T.V. trays in front of the television. I was the one who would occasionally ask if we could use the good china and silver. When I was in high school we lived in a large home with a formal dining room. We also had an informal dining room but most of the time we ate at the bar in our recreation room with the T.V. on. I loved our beautiful dining room, though, and once in awhile I’d get out the china, polish the silver and set the table. The rest of the family would humor me and my “fancy” ways.

We don’t have a separate dining room in this house, something I do miss. But we have a breakfast nook in the kitchen where we eat most of our meals. As you can see in the picture below, it is far from fancy. My wedding china and Mom’s silver would look a little silly in here so on more formal occasions I set up a table in our family room. The rest of the time we use our everyday dishes and flatware at the kitchen table.

Like so many aspects of homemaking, it doesn’t take much to elevate the everyday and make it just a tiny bit special. And I honestly find that I enjoy putting a little effort into making things prettier.

If you’re in the paper plate and paper towel habit, I challenge you to pull out the real dishes and the set the table for just one dinner this coming week. If you have cloth napkins, use those, too. If not, consider purchasing an inexpensive package of paper napkins. If you have any flowers blooming in your yard, cut a few and put them in a vase on the table or create some other type of centerpiece. Maybe even light a candle or two.

Take your time and enjoy a relaxed meal at the table with your family (or even just by yourself). You might just find yourself doing this on a regular basis.

Your Thoughts

What about you? Do you set the table with real dishes and napkins? If so, is that what you grew up with? Likewise, if you prefer paper plates and paper towels, it that because you are just used to it? Is it a habit you’d like to change? Or is this simply not something that matters to you one way or another? I’d love to hear your thoughts…and no judgment from me!

~~~~~

Fiesta Dishware

Note: My dishes came from Walmart over 15 years ago. They aren’t Fiesta but look very similar.

You may also enjoy this post:

Hygge in the Springtime

April 4, 2017 By Deanna Piercy 8 Comments

From the first time I heard of the Danish concept of hygge, I’ve been enchanted. I instantly related to the whole idea of coziness and sweet little pleasures. In fact, it seems like something created just for me.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Life With Dee!

Hygge in the Springtime

There has been an absolute explosion of books, articles and blog posts about hygge in recent years. For some reason hygge is truly resonating with us. I have my theories about why that is but I’ll save those for another day.

We tend to equate hygge with winter and cold weather. Snuggly blankets, hot cocoa, a roaring fire in the fireplace…this is the stereotypical image of hygge we have come to embrace.

However, there is absolutely no reason we can’t bring the spirit of hygge with us into springtime. Let’s examine some ways we can “Hygge in the Springtime”.

Porch Time

If you have been reading this blog any length of time or know me personally you likely know how much I love “porch time“. As soon as it gets warm enough I take to the porch. It usually starts with the occasional warm afternoon but at some point “porch time” can happen at any hour.

Morning: Is there anything as delicious as a warm spring morning on the porch? I love to take my morning cup of Earl Grey to the porch and enjoy the birdsong. There is no better symphony.

Afternoon: During colder months I take afternoon tea in my library. This is a ritual I love and look forward to each day. However, when spring arrives I often observe teatime on the porch. When it gets very warm I may opt for iced coffee rather than hot tea. In either case, I light some incense and either listen to music or read. I even have a Spotify playlist titled, Porch Time:

Evening: And then there is perhaps my favorite – evening Porch Time. I get David to light the torches for me while I light several candles and incense. I bring my Bose outside and we usually listen to something romantic and bluesy while sipping wine. This is one of my favorite playlists for an evening on the porch:

Dinner on the Patio

I’m always happy when it’s warm enough to start grilling. And yes, that’s partly because I get some help with the cooking. Now that David has built a roof over our back patio I have big plans for decorating the space with lots of hanging plants, wind chimes and a nice table and chairs set. I would love to have a few friends over for grilled burgers, margaritas, music and conversation. Doesn’t that sound lovely?

Stargazing

David and I adore stargazing. We lie back in our chairs and ponder the universe. Sometimes we chat a bit; sometimes we are silent. And sometimes we listen to music. I just put together a playlist for stargazing:

You can read more about our stargazing ritual here:

A walk after dinner

This is a sweet little ritual I want to implement around here. At least until it gets too hot! We live in the country and have a huge circle drive in front of our house. It’s about a third of a mile around. We can take our dog, Shiloh with us and let him enjoy this hygge ritual with us.

Picnics

A picnic is yet another way to enjoy the spirit of hygge in the springtime. Pack a basket with some delicious food and enjoy a meal al fresco with family, friends or that special someone. Click here for lots of ideas to help you plan a picnic.

More Ways to Enjoy Hygge in the Springtime

Create a Hygge Box – Find a pretty, decorative box or other container and fill it with items that just speak “hygge” to you. A favorite cozy novel, decadent chocolates, an expensive tea you save for special moments, a particularly special candle, etc.

Evenings by the Fire Pit – If you have room for one, a fire pit is a wonderful thing. There is something truly mesmerizing about watching a fire. When it gets too warm for the fireplace you may still have several weeks of cool nights. Pour a glass of wine, turn on some music and enjoy an hour or so outdoors by the fire pit. Or roast marshmallows!

Change Your Evening Beverage – If you usually enjoy a cup of hot tea late in the evenings during colder months, perhaps a change is in order when it warms up (although I still often have hot tea year round!). Perhaps you’d like to create a seasonal cocktail. David and I sometimes enjoy a cocktail on Friday night if we are at home. It signals the end of the workweek and the beginning of the weekend. Check out this recipe for an Earl Grey Martini for a very refreshing option:

Change Your Wine – I’m generally a red wine drinker but with warmer weather and lighter foods, a rosé or white wine can be a nice choice. Or take it up a notch and splurge on Champagne!

Choose a Television Series – We don’t watch a lot of television around here so finding a series we both enjoy watching together is a cozy, hygge thing for us. We loved Sunday evenings watching Downton Abbey or Mad Men when those series were still on. In fact, we loved them so much we bought them both on DVD. Just this past Sunday we started Downton Abbey all over again and plan to make it our Sunday night ritual until we’ve watched the entire series again. And then we may start Mad Men.

Read a Book – Spend a rainy afternoon reading one of your favorite books from childhood. There is simply nothing cozier. Here are some of my favorites:

Plant Something – Flowers, herbs, a vegetable garden…it doesn’t matter. There is something special about putting one’s hands in the soil and then nurturing life with frequent attention.

Baby Chicks! – Speaking of life, one of my favorite springtime activities is a visit to the local farm and ranch store to see the baby chicks. I’ve raised chickens in the past and hope to do so again one of these days. It’s not practical for us right now because we travel a fair bit and it can be hard to find someone to take care of chickens in addition to Shiloh. But I can certainly go visit the sweet wee things.

Ice Cream – Purchase a really good ice cream, or make it yourself. Then serve a tiny portion in a beautiful dish. Maybe get out a couple of teaspoons from the good silver you only use on holidays. Take teeny, tiny bites and make a ritual out it.

Fresh Flowers – If there’s anything lovelier than fresh flowers I’m not sure what it is. Certainly, one can purchase flowers year round and that’s a practice I highly recommend. But springtime absolutely calls for flowers in the house. If you grow your own you can have them indoors rather inexpensively. David spoils me with beautiful bouquets from the florist about once a month. I then do my best to extend that loveliness as long as possible by changing the water and trimming the ends frequently. I remove the flowers one by one as necessary and then fill in with inexpensive flowers from Aldi’s or from my yard if there is something blooming. I can often keep a bouquet going for close to a month this way.

Lighten Up – Spring is a good time to clear clutter that may have accumulated over the winter. Unless minimalism is truly your aesthetic (It’s not mine), don’t feel you have to be drastic with this. You can still have pillows and throws on your sofas – just switch them out for lighter colors and weights.

Spring Clean – A freshly cleaned home is a truly lovely thing. Wash windows so the sunshine sparkles on them. Polish mirrors and silver and anything shiny. Take a hard look at each room and do at least one thing to freshen it up. We can get a little complacent in the winter but now is time to look at our houses with fresh eyes so we can continue to enjoy home as a refuge.

Invite Friends Over – Part of the hygge aesthetic involves interaction with others. Some of us tend to hibernate during the winter (raising my hand!) so when the weather turns warm it’s good to start being social again. Invite a few friends over. It doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact, it’s better if it’s not. You can order in pizza and play a game (our favorite is Cards Against Humanity). Make a pitcher of margaritas and sit outside listening to music. Or if you are really fortunate and have friends who are musicians, ask them to bring a guitar and have a singalong.

Visit the Farmers Market – Make regular trips to the farmers market and cook light, nourishing meals. We try to eat seasonally, at least to a degree, so I am thrilled when I can bring home a huge bag of fresh sweet corn, new potatoes, green beans, peaches and other locally grown produce.

Candles – Candles are practically essential for the practice of hygge and you don’t have to give them up when winter is over. Just change the color and scents. My current favorite is Mrs. Meyer’s lavender scent:

I also have bought a couple of lilac-scented candles at Aldi’s recently. Lilacs are one of my very favorite flowers and I adore the scent.

Indulge – I generally buy handmade goats milk soap made here in Oklahoma by a homeschooling family. It is really good soap and I love the patchouli version. David really likes it, too. However, sometimes you just need a little indulgence. And if it smells like lilacs? All the better. This is what I’ve been using lately:

Hopefully I’ve encouraged you to bring the spirit of hygge into springtime. If you have more ideas, I’d love to hear them. Leave me a comment!