Homemaking Organized Blog

Archive for the ‘Home Life’ Category

I received an email in my inbox today from Tawra at Living on a Dime. In it she answers a question from one of her subscribers who questioned her frugal living but yet having a nice house. I love Tawra’s answer to this because it is so true.

Frugal living does not mean that you live in a hut with threadbare clothes and nothing new in your life. Living frugally does not mean living poor. It means you know where to cut costs and save so that you do have the money to buy quality items and NOT on credit. It means being good stewards of what God has entrusted to you.

We lived frugal waaaay before it was in. My mother brought us up frugal. As a single mother she had to cut costs and after having lived in a third world country she knew how to do it. We had lovely clothes but they were bought second hand. And I shouldn’t say ‘but’. Just they were bought second hand. They were beautiful clothes. Back then you could usually attach a designer name to well made clothing. Not so today. Designer name does not mean that you will get quality clothing. Paying the most does not always mean paying for the best.

The title of my post is a quote from a long time friend of the family. Her mother told her asthey were growing up that because they were poor they could only afford to buy the best. Not the most expensive, the best. When it came to certain items she had to buy the best to ensure longevity and that she would get what she paid for.

We live like that today. We try and buy the best we can afford to ensure longevity, and a quality item that does what we need it to do. From vitamins to household goods.

I bought quality bed linens and bath towels because I’ve seen too many of the cheap ones become threadbare in a year. And I use the past tense because they are lasting. This past year was the first time I purchased new bed linens for us in 13 years of marriage. And only because I poufed the bed up with a feather bed and we needed those deep sheets.

When it comes to clothes we purchase them at an outlet store in our city. It’s a well known brand that I couldn’t afford full price of. The quality of the clothes is one you don’t see in stores anymore and as such I have not had to buy new clothing in quite some time. I buy classic styles that stand the test of time.

When it comes to grocery shopping I use coupons and buy items on sale. But because of food allergies and general health concerns much of what we buy is not found in the coupon flyer. I make a lot from scratch originally from necessity and now for the health and enjoyment of it.

We don’t eat out. First because of food allergies and now because we tend to cook better at home. We cook as a family watching cooking shows, reading cookbooks, and trying new things. We call it Chez Quinn.

I’ve picked sewing back up. I don’t think sewing is frugal because fabric costs an arm and a leg. But I was getting very discouraged by the clothing to be found for my 6 year old. Luckily my mother had some fabric she put away for such a time as this. And I have found a few sales on some nice fabric for her. But some call it frugal so I list it.

I’m not a perfect frugal person.  In fact many say I’m not frugal because we don’t live poor. We give first to God and then try to live wisely…and well, on the rest.

Share some of your frugal tips with me.

I like a good book. Sometimes I like too many good books. I know I don’t talk about them often enough on this blog but mostly because I’m one of those who will read the cereal box just to read something. I read a lot of different things and they’re not always newsworthy.

But this time I really like what I’m reading so much so that I crawled under the dining table yesterday evening to escape and read some more. My husband and daughter understood. My daughter came over to pet my head.

My soon to graduate and head into the world of college nephew turned me on to the book. It’s actually his copy I’m borrowing so I’m being careful not to eat over it and such as I usually do.

Because the author is a female author and it’s Christian fiction one would think chick-lit but it held appeal for him so there must be more.  And there was. He discovered the book in his English class where they were studying bits of writing and he enjoyed the bit from this book. He wanted to know more so he went and bought a copy.  He thought my mother would enjoy it so he loaned it to her and then she thought I would like it too. I wasn’t sure what to expect when he loaned it to me but I’m impressed and now have ordered the rest of the series because I love to read. But what held the appeal for my nephew? Probably the focus on the teenage boys in the different families. I found them most interesting too.

Oh! What is it?

Title: By the Light of a Thousand Stars (The Derby Series #3)

Author: Jamie Langston, Turner

Synopsis: The book is written in the first person of four female characters, two Christian women and two non-Christian,  who’s lives intertwine and the changes that happen in their lives and their families’ lives over the space of about a year. There is also a poetry club that sort of gives you the hint that there are many more characters perhaps whose lives are delved into in other books. I can’t say right off that I was ready to give this book a try. The opening pages are of a mother who is grieving for her lost child. Having lost a child I was finding myself getting a bit sad reading thoughts that mirrored once mine once were but I pulled through and I’m glad I did.

Geesh I know I’m not giving you much of the book but you can go to Amazon and read the first few pages. I kind of like that you know because you usually know by the end of the first chapter if you want to read on.  I just don’t like to give away the all of a book you know.

The book is highly detailed. Meaning you will know every move of a character, “She went to put on her coat.  Her left arm in the sleeve and then her right. She zipped the jacket closed and then pulled on the hood. Looking down she felt in her pockets for her gloves”.  Okay that is NOT verbatim but some of it is like that and it can seem over the top but that is the beauty of the book. You really get to know the characters and even the family members.

It is the third in a series of 5 so I have a lot to read.

I enjoy it and hey! you might too.

Did  you know that January is Get Organized Month?

Gotta love it. I do.

Well we all have areas that we would love to get organized and busy mothers might feel like there is no end to the disorganization.  But there is. (Just think of your older female friends who’s children have flown the coop. Notice how neat an organized their homes are? How about how they have all this time for crafts and hobbies. See it does get better .)

Well the secret to much of this being organized stuff is knowing when YOUR time is. The time when mom can refocus, regroup, plan, and organize.  For busy moms that time is usually morning.

Morning is that time when you want to stay in bed. Let your kids wake you begging for breakfast. Tell them to help themselves. Get another few minutes of shuteye time. But if you take control of that time it can be the most rewarding of your day.

To help you get started Kat over at Inspired to Action has put together a totally free and incredible ebook to help you start planning your mornings, using them wisely and getting more done. It includes morning devotional ideas, checklists for your day with meal planning and errands and much more. Just click on the cute button below.

First thank you everyone that has entered the Yoplait Smoothie and KitchenAid Blender giveaway.

Pssst! It ends tomorrow at midnight (my time).

Now as we all prepare tirelessly for Thanksgiving (my house) here is a new lovely printable more about the Thankful part than about the eating part.

Silverbox Creative Studios, customizing design, and creative beautiful photos for customers and such, has  uploaded a lovely printable to remind us to be thankful this holiday season. Print them off. Add your personal touch and use them to decorate your holiday dinner table.

These are very pretty. I like the craft paper. Have to see if I have some around. I would like to make the ring and use it as a centerpiece.

So lovely…

Download yours here.

Do you ever have a fridge full of leftovers, no desire to cook anew, and not an idea in your head about what to do with them?

Yes this happens to me a lot.

Tonight it was chili. I also have some turkey in there.

So here are a few ideas.

I made chili pie with the leftover chili. Top with cheese and some dropped on cornbread batter (yes technically I had to cook to make those).

For the turkey I make soft turkey tacos. Chop up the turkey, sauté some onions and peppers.  Add the turkey to heat through. Serve with cheese. Delicioso!

October is Fire Safety month and it’s good timing. It’s been community service workers for the last few weeks in my daughter’s kindergarten classes and the fire station was the focus for a few days.

To supplement her learning experience we took her by the local fire station and checked out a cute video explaining the different cars associated with the fire station and what to do when one is coming down the road. I guess there are more in the series.

She’s made her own fireman hat. Seen how a fireman gets in his gear before responding to a call and learned about fire safety in our home (fire alarms, drills, and do NOT play with fire).

Here are some printables to help with fire safety in your home.

Fire Safety Checklist – A Fire Safety printable Adults

Fire Safety Coloring for Kids – Coloring Book

Fireplace Safety – Fireplace And Home Fire Safety Printable

I have to admit to feeling a bit smug as this is how I put on my daughter’s duvet cover after washing.

So I’m redoing the master bedroom the easy way (changing up bed linens, new lamp shades, a new piece of furniture or two, moving stuff around and CLEANING UP!). And I was browsing around The Company Store’s (thecompanystore.com) flannel duvet cover selection, because I REALLY want a flannel duvet cover but having spent so much already I’m just drooling for now, and came across a video for putting on their duvet covers. Now admittedly my daughter’s is a twin size so I decided to do a bit more research to find out if I would have problems changing out ours which is the larger queen size.

I’m came across this delightful decorating and home type blog (and by the way I was going to buy that duvet cover in the picture but I waited too long, because I like a sale, and they sold out in the store AND online!!!). Which of course leads you to this demo for putting on a duvet cover with the nice British accent.

So voila! Have problems no more!

p.s. When I was in college my stylish best friend made a queen size duvet cover from two Ralph Lauren flat sheets. So if you can sew a straight line you can make your own. Tres Chic!

In our Sunday newspaper there was an article (and I will paraphrase here) stating that most American kitchen’s couldn’t pass the same health inspection test performed on restaurant kitchens.

Now here in this household we very rarely eat out (due to food allergies) and the slim pickin’s select few restaurants that we can eat from we do go to based on their health safety ratings.

So we felt it only fair that we should take the online quiz linked to in our paper to see how we would do if the health inspector came a knockin’. 

Having taken the local food safety quiz a few times in the past when I helped out in a homeless shelter kitchen and when I was hawking my great baked goods at a very small sweet farmer’s market I (blowing on knuckles here) know a few things about food safetfy.

BUT I do not live alone and in fact my husband loves to cook as much as I do so our kitchen is very much shared….hmmm why do I do all the cleaning then.

Anyway we both thought we should take it separately and not tell each other the results until we were done.

So how did we fare?

I got a B and he got a C.

Where did we go wrong? Okay so some things we marked to be funny. Such as do the one about which restaurants do you eat at (he loves “hole in the walls”). And are your kitchen counters clean. We both marked no because it’s my pet peeve about having anything on the counter at all. I DO need to clean out the cupboards and wipe down the fridge and because of the test that is actually on the list for tomorrow. And I am knowingly bad about thawing and defrosting.

So how do you fare? Los Angeles County Home Kitchen Self-Inspection Quiz

“We are poor so we can only afford to buy the best.”

My aunt loves to tell me about a close friend who once told her that her mother lived by this quote. What does it mean? Buy quality. Quality lasts longer and you will save in the long run as there will be few replacements needed. Quality does not necessarily mean expensive though. Do your research.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner…I mean just! So what are you doing? Lavish gifts? Dinner out?  None of the above? Well if you’re like me and like to acknowledge all the mother’s you know, just not as lavishly as you do your own mother, then here are a few links for small crafts and cards to make for the special mother’s in your life.

Take Me Home: Printable Mother’s Day cards.

Mother’s Day Tissue Paper Card

Make Handmade Sachets for Mother’s Day

Spring Bouquet for your Mother’ Day table.

Darling and Cute Eco Mother’s Day Crafts

Mother’s Day Crafts for Kids to Make

Mother’s Day Cup and Saucer Flower Holder