Anyone who knows me knows that I like to read blogs. I really do enjoy the glimpses into people's lives. One thing that I've been reading a lot about lately is homemaking. It seems to be a lost art these days, women who stay at home and keep a clean, orderly home that is pleasing to their husband and their family. I know it's definately a struggle for me, with three little ones, to keep our home looking fresh and clean (especially the kids bedrooms!!!!) but it's something that I'd like to do better at. I created a cleaning schedule a while back when I started making a home management binder (another lost art that our grandmothers used to run an efficient home) and I've since fallen off the wagon. I'm hoping to relook at it and climb back on board because I hate feeling like I'm always playing catch up. And I hate it when Steven and my mom come home and the house looks like a tornado blew through! Especially if we are going to start homeschooling fulll time next year, I need to get my habits under controll first or everything will fall apart.
In addition to keeping up with the house I want to start doing more cooking from scratch. Even though we tend to eat pretty well, I make a lot of dinners from prepackaged items that I know aren't as healthy for us, and are filling the kids with additives that they just don't need! (Not to mention packing on pounds that could otherwise be lost!) But when I think about being a fresh bread, homemade yogurt making girl I'm at a lost! I just don't know where to start to turn our eating habits around and start using more whole foods and less processed stuff!
I'm also looking at more natural ways of cleaning (which is kind of funny if you could see all the cleaning supplies I've stored up lately!!!). The store bought ones are so expensive, and let's face it, they are packed full of all kinds of things that we probably shouldn't be bringing into our homes! I figure, if our grandmother could clean their houses with vinegar, baking soda and ammonia, why can't we?!?!?!
So I guess that brings me to the whole reason for this post! I need advice! I don't even know where to begin. When I google whole foods, for example, I'm just inandated with information that I don't even know how to being processing it! So, if you know of any good resources for cooking more naturally, or cleaning, or anything else that I talked about, please leave a comment and share! I love to learn about all the great stuff that is out there, and I am so ready to make some changes around here! I'll post about how our progress is going in case it might be encouraging to someone else. Thanks for all your advice!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Keeping the Home
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Call or email Leila James. She's a pro at all the things your trying to do. The cooking, the cleaning, the home schooling. She's super woman!
As far as food goes I have learned lately the best things for me are making things that become convience foods. Cook ground beef so it is ready to add to meals. I made twice baked potatoes today and froze them, so easy to add them to any meal. Make your own frozen foods so you still have the ease but not as many calories or at least control of ingerdients in the food. One blog I visit mostly all home made http://mykitchencafe.blogspot.com/
Other things I freeze or have heard of ready made garlic bread, diced onions, red peppers.
I make homemade bread and can send you the recipie. With the bread what helps me is having a routine. Every Monday I would bake bread and clean house. We would eat grilled cheese or tuna on fresh bread and tomato soup. Then have another loaf for the rest of the week. Good luck!
sending love your way.
sending love your way.
I will have a blog going in about a week that deals with this topic...stay tuned.
I wish I had advice, but I struggle lots with that! This week I have been trying to keep a cleaning schedule, ie laundry on mondays, bathrooms on Tuesday. And then after I do my "chore" I can then get on the computer. My house is still a wreck, but at least one thing is done everyday :). I can't believe you are home schooling, you're amazing! I couldn't do that, I don't love my kids enough :)
Kari, I have a few suggestions for you. One, don't try to do everything at one time. Second, After I had Ryan instead of making a list of to do's for the day I tried make a list of what I had done. I included every diaper change, every feeding, taking a shower, blow drying my hair. YOu will be amazed at how much you actually get done. Third, enlist your kids help. Do you start your day with a clean house, or do you start with a sink full of dirty dishes and a family room full of toys? If you start your day like this tey getting ahead at night when Steve is home to help with the kids and the house. Last bit of advise, choose what foods are most important for you to do homemade. Again start with one thing at a time. You can bake bread on Saturday and freeze the extra loaves. You can do this with dinners too. Make a bunch and then freeze them. I personally would not even attempt the homemade yogurt :) Hope this helps.
Thanks for all the tips you guys! I know that I need to take it slow...and enlisting my children's help is a biggie! (If you could see Brianna's room right now you'd probably fall over dead!!!!) I will take some of your tips and start running! Thanks guys!
Hey Kari,
Have you seen these blogs: keeperofthehome.org and simplemom.net. They have great ideas about using natural products and even a homemanagement notebook, which makes me think maybe you've read them ;). And your blog is adorable. Hope you don't mind me stopping by.
Alyssa,
Of course I don't mind you stopping by!!! It's always good to "see" you! I have been to keeperofthehome.org but never simplemom.net. I'll have to check it out! Thanks for the tip!
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