Making Your Home a Haven Monday: Getting Your Home Back in Order

Today over at Crystal's blog she wants us to do a two hour clean up to get our house back in order. I can't take any pictures because my camera is in my husband's car, so if he comes home for lunch I might take some this evening. Crystal also says before we get started we need to spend some time in God's word. Then we need to get dressed from head to toe. Then she gives this list:
And now you're ready to roll...

1. Put on an apron, turn on some uplifting music, light a candle, and start a load of laundry.

2. Go to the kitchen sink and wash, dry, and put away the dishes. Then, shine the sink (ala FlyLady!) and wipe down the counter tops. Try to get this completely finished in 30 minutes or less.

3. Set the timer for 15 minutes and briskly go through the house and pick up as many items as you can which are out of place and return them to their proper places (and if it's trash, throw it out!).

4. Switch the laundry in your washer to your dryer or clothesline and start another load of laundry.

5. Take some all-purpose cleaner and a few rags and go quickly spray and wipe down all the bathrooms. Remember, this is just a simple spray and wipe of your bathrooms which should only take five minutes maximum per bathroom. Save the heavy-duty cleaning for later!

6. Do a quick sweep and mop of your kitchen and bathroom floors if they need this (and if your home is anything like our home, they will need this!).

7. Vacuum the main living areas of your home--don't worry about moving furniture or going over every inch of carpet, just make sure and hit the main traffic areas.

8. Pull the laundry out of the dryer and fold and put it away. Switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer, and start another load in the washer if you still have more laundry to do.

You're done! Make a pot of tea or coffee and put your feet up for a few moments. Way to go! Your whole family will enjoy the fruits of you labors.


This is my to do list:
~ Read Psalms 55
~ Start and finish laundry(I have about 4 loads from the weekend)
~ Make all beds.
~ Get caught up on school (We got behind because we have been house hunting)
~ Give my bathroom a good cleaning.
~ Put all dishes away from the dishwasher and start a new load.
~ Sweep and mop the Kitchen.
~ Vacuum the entire house.
~ Dust the living room.
~ Take Bryson to ball practice.
~ Relax and enjoy my family.


This is my to do list. As you can see I have not posted in a long time. That is because my husband has got a promotion and we are moving out of state, so I have been busy trying to get this house sold and look for a new one. So please keep us in your prayers. I hope everyone has a blessed day.


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I haven't got everything done just yet but I had to update. I was cleaning the kitchen after dinner and I had put some baskets in the living room to fold and when I walked in there Haley was folding the clothes. I did not ask her to, she just started doing it. I have to say she is a really good folder to just have turned 3 in January. I am so proud of her. I will update later.

KITCHEN TIP TUESDAY: GETTING RID OF KITCHEN CLUTTER

I have a bad habit of buying too many kitchen gadgets. I see something on sale, and think, "wow, what a good deal" and buy something I probably will never use. So my tip for Kitchen Tip Tuesday is to take all your gadgets, wooden spoons, spatulas, etc. and put them in a box. As you need something go to that box get it out, use it, clean it and put it in the appropriate place. After 12 months of non-use of items in the box, get rid of them and the best part is the stuff is already boxed up. For more great tips and ideas visit here.

Making Your Home a Haven Monday: Pick a Pile!

Today on Crystal's blog, she wants us to pick a pile, and organize it. I picked my computer desk, I have been wanting to do it for about 2 weeks and have kept putting it off. I know some of you who have seen all my cleaning lately must think my house is a mess, well that is partly true. Lately I have been doing a lot of organizing but I have a bad habit of getting the house perfectly clean and then not keeping it up. My desk was cleaned and organized in January, but I kept putting it off and everyone kept piling it up. So far, since I have started "making your home a haven," everything I have cleaned has stayed that way. Last week I organized all my kitchen cabinets because I got new cookware, and let me tell you it is so nice to need something and know exactly where it is. I have prayed that God would let me be more organized and I believe that "Making your Home a Haven" was what I was looking for. Now I am more accountable to a lot more people(who ever views my blog, even if it is just one or two people). Not to mention my husband can not stand a messy and disorganized house.

Crystal also wants to know any tips for keeping piles to a minimal. My suggestion would be as soon as a bill comes in pay it, and file it, and throw away/recycle unnecessary papers.

Works for me Wednesday baking and decorating birthday cakes

I always bake and decorate my Children's birthday cakes instead of buying them at a bakery. They are so much cheaper, once you buy all the stuff needed, and they taste so much better. I am not creative but with the help of Wilton's I have succeeded. I use their recipes for the butter cream icing, and oh my goodness that is the best icing in the world. For more works for me Wednesday go here.

Making Your Home a Haven Monday: Pick a Drawer!

Today Crystal has asked us to clean out a drawer or dresser. It is ironic because I have been cleaning out my kitchen cabinets(making room for my new pots and pans).this weekend and all I have left to do are these 3 drawers. She says "Today's project is to clean out and organize a drawer or dresser. Set a goal, set the timer, and get busy!"
The first drawer isn't that bad, I just need to organize it. The second drawer is awful, I have way too many utensils. The third drawer just needs to be organized. I will update later.

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Well I am finally finished. I have been busy all day decluttering. Honestly I have way too much stuff, and my house is in chaos with too much stuff. My goal is to get rid of 75% of everything. I know that may seem extreme, but if you could just see all the stuff I had you would agree. I hope everyone has a blessed day making your home a haven.

Nasty Flu has struck our house!!!

When dh came home Tuesday from his trip he was feeling really bad. It got worse and he was unable to go to work Wednesday so we went to the doctor and they said it was the flu, but were able to control it since it was caught early. Haley has been running a fever since last Saturday, so I called her doctor and they called her in some medicine. They normally don't do that but I told them I didn't want to bring her in to contaminate other people in the waiting area, since we were sure she had the flu. So I am praying that Hannah, Bryson, and I don't catch it. Just keep us in your prayers. Have a blessed weekend, Delilah.

Kithchen Tip Tuesday

Here is a tip to share with Tammy's Kitchen Tip Tuesday


What I do to make my cheese grate better is to put it in the freezer for about 15 minutes. I always hated grating cheese because it was too soft and would smear all over the grater, but if it is really cold it grates fast and easy.

Making Your Home a Haven Monday: Closet Clean-Up

Today at Crystal's blog we are to pick out a closet and unclutter it. I chose Haley's closet(I actually cleaned out Hannah and Bryson's last week) it is not as bad as it looks I just need to organize the clothes that has fallen on the floor and get rid of some of the clothes she has out grown. I will post the after pictures later this evening.

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I got done a little bit earlier today. It really didn't take that long. First I pulled everything out and then I organized the clothes and got rid of outgrown and unwanted clothes. I put all the dresses together, then all the outfits together, and all the sweaters together. I put all the long sleeve cotton shirts in her drawer(to save room). I put all the board games in top of Bryson's closet and all her coats in his closet as well, because his is 3 times the size of hers. I still have a lot to do today. I have laundry from the weekend and my kithchen needs a good cleaning as well. I hope everyone has a blessed day.

Crazy Weekend so far!!

It has been one crazy weekend. Thursday I made dinner for Valentine's Day, and set the table for me and my honey. I set up a special table for the babies. I believe my son ate too much chocolate because around 9:30 he threw up all over the carpet and it would not come up. The house smelt awful, so Friday I went and rented a Rug doctor. Boy did that make a difference the house smells so much better. Since I spent $55.00 on the rug doctor and supplies I decided to clean my van out. It was way over due. It looks and smells much better as well. On the bright side, I made $450 on ebay this week selling all the kids clothes from last summer. The pictures are of the tables on
valentines day, Hannah dressed haley up and took those pictures of her and
Bryson, and the other picture is of me and my very spoiled nephew Ethan. I hope everyone has a blessed weekend!

Pictures Galore!!!

I just wanted to share some pictures from Haley's birthday party. My baby turned 3 January 19 :(, She is growing up way too fast. I made her cake and decorated. I know it is not the best, but it sure was cheaper and tasted better than store bought cake. Also there is a picture of all three of the babies with baby cousin Ethan. The picture of Hannah in black and white, I took it thought she looked beautiful in it. I hope everyone has a blessed day!!!