Laundry
Doing laundry is one of those chores that NEVER ends. Some people don’t mind this and have a feeling of
achievement with each folded towel or attached sock. Most people, however, despise the monotony of this task and procrastinate until they run out of underwear or procrastinate and just go buy more underwear. If you fall for the latter, here are some tips to help you stay on top of this endless work.
Pick a day or night of the week to do laundry. Put it on your calendar to avoid double booking. Then take that time to sort, wash, dry, and fold everything. While this is going on, read a book, watch a movie, surf online, or even (gasp) clean the house. If you start doing this consistently, you’ll find that it takes less time because the piles of laundry aren’t as big. And you may find that you don’t need as many clothes because you have most of your clothes to choose from since they’re hanging in your closet and not in the hamper. Another advantage of this plan is that you can mentally check off the laundry on the list. You have a designated time and space in your life and you will do well when you are supposed to.
Another option that works especially well if you have a large family or a LOT of constant laundry is overnight charging. Basically, every night you do a load. For example: Mondays are dark, Tuesdays are light, Wednesdays are white, Thursdays are sheets, and Fridays are towels.
Bottom line, make a plan and make the plan that works best for you. Don’t be afraid to get the kids involved. Even young children can separate the colors and collect them from the baskets. If you start teaching your children how to take care of themselves early on, it will benefit them and you for years to come.
home maintenance
If you have children, you probably have a ring around the bathtub. Especially now that summer is here and playing outside leads to dirty hands, feet and well…everything (I’m amazed where dirt can get trapped!). To quickly and easily clean that ring around your tub, wet the tub, spray with a non-abrasive powdered cleanser like Bon Ami or Bar Keepers Friend to create a paste on the surface (or use a creamy cleanser like Soft Scrub), and leave it on. rest for five minutes. Avoid harsher powdered cleaners like Comet and Ajax, which can scratch porcelain and make it porous and more receptive to germs. After five minutes, rinse with water and TADA, clean the tub! For a more natural alternative, Seventh Generation Shower Cleaner is safe to use while showering, although more effort may be required.
cabinet maintenance
By installing a valet hook just outside (or inside if you have a walk-in closet) of your closet, you can plan your outfits for work, parties, or travel. It’s also handy for hanging and airing dry cleaning before storing it in the cupboard. Be sure to remove the plastic bags first so the clothes can breathe.
Time management
Do you have trouble leaving the house on time? Try these tips to keep your outing running smoothly and stress-free.
Put your clothes on the night before. Have them ready to go, including the iron and any accessories you want to use. Don’t forget the kids – choose their clothes the night before and avoid the fuss and confusion the next morning. This will be so much easier with my closet maintenance tip above!
Establish a place for your keys and stop looking for them every time you have to leave the house. Get a simple hook and hang it by the front door or use a decorative bowl to drop them on when you walk in the door. So getting out and locking yourself in will be painless and quick!
Prepare lunches the night before. Plan breakfast and have the “table set”: take out the cereal bowl and spoon and place them on the table, place the pot on the stove with pre-measured water ready to boil for the oatmeal, set up the coffee maker and just turn it on (best yet, one with an automatic timer!).
Pack your briefcase, bag or diaper and walk out the door, ready to go.
Think about how long each action takes in the morning, and make sure you get up early enough to get everything done. Shower, blow-dry, make-up, dress (20 minutes) + breakfast (20 minutes) + kids dressed and teeth brushed (15 minutes) + kitchen cleaning (5 minutes) = how much time you’ll need before you’re out the door ( 1 hour).
Home decor
Now that you’ve revamped your night and morning routine to get out on time, consider this. Is your home helping or hindering your time management efficiency? For example, the lobby or main entrance is a place that receives a lot of traffic. Is that space configured to handle heavy traffic and serve you as it should? Maybe you need to add hangers for purses, briefcases and jackets; a basket for shoes; an umbrella stand or even a rug to help minimize dirt being carried around the house. Take a look at the space in each room and think about what its purpose is, and then decorate accordingly. You can find beautiful yet functional pieces everywhere from Pottery Barn to Wal-Mart and plenty of places in between.
Family
Most families don’t frequent restaurants much, especially if you have more than one child. However, if you’re out to dinner with your kids, I’ve found this trick to be really effective, especially with a 2 1/2-year-old.
Keep a small bag of books and toys that are ONLY for special outings and occasions when you need to entertain a little one. Don’t let these toys/books get mixed up with your everyday ones. So the child will appreciate the “new” or “special”. I have a small bag that I carry just for these moments. Some items I have in our bag are: a slinky, a stress ball, a small doll, a “magic” glitter wand, a kid’s magnifying glass, mini markers and a notepad, smaller books that play music (Baby Einstein , Thomas, Disney’s Cars, Elmo, etc…), flashcards and the resistance cakes… a mini Mr. Potato head and friends (Spud Buds). This has worked well for us, whether in a restaurant or any environment not suitable for children. Hopefully this will help you enjoy your time away from home.
Health and Beauty
What is really needed for the basic beauty routine? The word on the street (dermatologist) is that you should exfoliate, tone, and moisturize daily to reap the rewards of smooth, beautiful skin. Genetics don’t keep all the secrets (of course it helps), but consistently doing the right regimen can take you from bored to radiant. Each of these steps plays an important role in helping your skin. Step 1, when you exfoliate, you are removing the outer layer and allowing fresh, new layers to come to the surface. It’s called cell proliferation in the skin care business. This process slows down as we age, causing our skin to look dull and aged. Exfoliation speeds up the rate of skin renewal helping it look fresh and young. Step 2, when toning, it’s important to find a toner that is alcohol-free and at the correct pH for your skin. Alcohol is severely drying and alters the natural pH of the skin. Finding a toner that has the correct pH will give you the advantage of enhancing your skin’s natural defenses as you brave the elements. Step 3, Hydration is vital to your skin care regimen. It offers protection and nutrients that will help your skin during the day or night. Finding one with SPF is a smart move as skin cancer is on the rise. However, be sure to read your labels. Lotions with mineral oils and petroleum products do more harm than good and can prevent healthy ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Nutrition
If you’re looking for ways to make healthier choices and also learn why those choices are better, sign up for this 7-day fitness boot camp. [http://www.smartandhealthyliving.com]. The information is both educational and practical, not to mention free!
Kitchen and Kitchen
Cherries are one of the tastiest and most fun fruits of summer. They’re great straight out of the bowl, but what if you want to put them in a fruit salad? You can’t throw them away with apples, grapes and watermelon if they still have their pips!! Now, you can go to a fancy kitchen supply store and buy a cherry pitter OR just take a large clip, unfold it in the center and (depending on the size of the cherry) insert the large or small end of the clip into the bottom superior . Loosen the hole and pull it out. To leave the stem intact, simply insert the clip from the bottom.
Relations
We have the unique opportunity, be it positive or negative, to impact the people around us. It is our choice what attitude we bring to the relationship; whether or not we are ethical in our dealings; even what we believe to be right and wrong. I want to encourage you to take the time to think about who you really are and what you honestly believe about yourself. Consider the attitude you wear day in and day out and take 100% responsibility for the fact that it is your decision and choice to wear it. As Zig Ziglar says, “It’s not what happens to you that determines how far you’ll go in life, it’s how you handle what happens to you.”
