Caring for My Chaos

I was reading an article on another blog about what she thought some luxuries that all housewives needed. She listed things like blackout curtains for when we actually got to sleep in, a padded carpet area near the sink and stove, things like that. I got to thinking about it and I think those are ok but I had some ideas for other luxuries that are way more important. 1-Coffee. Without this, I wouldn't be able to move in the morning. I love coffee more than wine. The stronger the better. 2- A DVR. I never really thought these were important until we got one. I love that I can record my shows like Real Housewives and Grey's Anatomy and watch them in peace and quiet when everyone is gone. This is highly important. Also Netflix and Hulu. A Handmaid's Tale is highly recommended. 3-  A bottle of wine. This is highly important, especially at the end of a very long week. I treat myself to this at least 2 times a month. I don't drink it every day, just when I really need ...

I realized it has been a while since I have done a post about being a housewife! And with my oldest talking about moving off campus next year or the year after, it got me thinking about how to set up house. Particularly the kitchen.

As homemakers, our primary job is to make our house comfy and cozy for our families. What does that mean to you? Comfy can mean different things to different people. Me, I lean toward traditional decor. I love vintage, antique, the older the better. I dot sentimental things all around and I love pictures. I have to have pictures of family everywhere. And as you can guess, there are crocheted afghans all over the house. Our new house took some getting used to and is a little chillier than our old house, so there are a lot of blankets in the living areas and bedrooms. We love to snuggle. I also like to have nice scents everywhere too. I have the plug in Glade scent thingys in different rooms and I love candles.  Not as much as Doodle does, but I have a few. I think just surrounding yourself with things that make you feel good is important. You want your home to be inviting to outsiders too, but let's face it, you live there. It should be all about you and your family's likings....

Lately, I have been feeling blah. You know the blah I mean. The "Oh my God, if I have to fold one more load of laundry or put one more dish away, I'm gonna lose it" blah. The "Why am I always cleaning?" kind of blah. Being a housewife is a hard job. There is a lot of monotony. And it's hard to get through the blahs when they hit. But, I have found a few steps to help get through them and through the monotony that is a big part of my job. 1. Be thankful. As you are folding that millionth load of laundry, be thankful that you have the clothes that you have and a family to get them dirty. As you load or unload the dishwasher for the umpteenth time, be thankful you have food to feed your family. Sweeping up that dirt trail from the door, be thankful for the little feet that carry it in (or husband feet). My biggest one lately is sweeping up dog hair. Our 15 year old lab mix has decided to shed like there's no tomorrow. I just keep reminding myself th...

Since I did a list of some of the many uses of baking soda, I thought it was only fitting to do a list of vinegar's many uses!

No home should ever be without a box of this lovely multi-talented stuff! It works wonders in many ways, other than just opening a box and putting it in your refrigerator or freezer! (Which by the way is a wonderful way to use it and the box should be changed monthly!) 1. Vinegar plus baking soda equals clean drains! Put about 1/2 cup of baking soda in your sink or bathtub drain. Follow with 1/2-1 cup of vinegar. Let set about 10 minutes and follow with hot water. Cleans the drains right up! 2. Freshen your carpet! Sprinkle baking soda all over your carpet and let set at least 15 minutes, but longer is better. Vacuum as you normally would! 3.  To make your own "Soft Scrub", mix a little baking soda with a little water and salt. You can add some lemon essential oil for fragrance. Use all over your counter tops and stove. This is very gentle yet effective. 4. If you get stung by a bee, create a paste with baking soda and water and pat over the affected area. It wil...

  I was thinking the other day that there are things around the house that need laundering, but exactly how often? Take for instance sheets. How often do you launder them? I try to get them weekly, which is the standard guideline. But, I've heard of people going longer than that. I decided to look up the guidelines for laundering schedules of different things around the house and here's what I found-- Aprons- After 2-3 wears  Bath mats - Every two weeks (I actually wash this every week.) Bath towels - After 3 uses, maximum, but many people say more frequently (I actually wash after one use. I can't let them just dry and re-use. Just a personal thing) Bed sheets - Weekly  Blankets - Every month  Comforters and bedspreads - If used as a blanket for sleeping, monthly. If taken off the bed each evening before sleep than every 3 months.  Crib bedding - 2 times a week, including the mattress pad. Bumper pads should be washed monthly.  C...

  I don't know about you, but I don't think about the toilet often. This morning, I was cleaning the bathroom and really noticed how stained and yucky the toilet was. I then looked it up and you are supposed to swap out your toilet seats every 5 years! Did you know that? I didn't! I hadn't changed out our seat since we moved in! So, I took my little butt to Wally World and bought a new seat. Then came the fun of taking the old one off. It's actually pretty simple; you just pop the lid on the covers at the top of the seat and unscrew the bolts. Be warned, it'll be nasty under those covers. I bleached the whole thing before putting the new seat on. And putting the new one on is just as easy. Just line up the holes and screw on the bolts. Go check your toilet and if it has been longer than 5 years, go get a new one!

I got to thinking about meal planning the other day when my best friend and I were talking about freezer meals. Have you ever heard of buying for a week, cooking one day and then freezing for the whole week? Or month? I don't have the freezer space right now to do it, but this got me to thinking about meal planning. Meal planning is relatively simple, but yet, when you are cooking day in and day out, it can get overwhelming. It's very easy to fall into a rut and suddenly you have meat loaf Wednesdays. Since I have an emptying nest and Hubby is gone so much, I have gotten out of the routine of meal planning, but here is how I do it. First, make a list of what you want to have for dinner each night for the next 7 days. Here's an example- Sunday- Homemade chicken soup with bread Monday- Sloppy Joes and green beans Tuesday- Chicken cutlets with salad Wednesday- Meatloaf and mashed potatoes Thursday- Chicken nuggets with french fries Friday- Take out night Saturda...

Now, for those of you who do not know, I am a full time housewife. I have been the entire time I have been married except for one year when I took a part time job before Bubby was born. This is a decision I made with my husband before our children were born and is my career choice. Yes, I call it a career. I am a chef, maid, laundress, nurse, therapist, gardener, personal shopper, vet, plumber, you name it. Most days, I don't know what day it is because I'm so busy. Which is why it gets my goat when other people put down what I do. I have heard that I don't have my own identity, I couldn't get a job, why don't I get a "real" job, you name it. And I don't understand this mentality. My favorite is that I'm "a slave". I don't judge people by their jobs. Why am I thought to be less because I choose to serve my family? One woman, who is the mom of one of Doodle's friends just made my heart melt when I met her. She is a teacher at one...