When I Use Disposable Items - Thrifty Thursday...

Is there a time and place to use disposable items?  Isn't that costly?  

For me - there are times that it's just not worth the time & effort to clean 

something, etc.   Let me share a few things that I go 'disposable' on...

1.  Shower Curtain Liners.  These can get gross.. and I don't want to

 daily be bothered to wipe them down.  Did you know that Dollar Tree 

sells them for - yep $1?  And if you're opposed to Dollar Tree - 

I've seen them other places for around $2.  I replace mine every 6-8 months.

I'm very willing to toss and replace for $1 a couple of times a year.

2.  Paper Towels.  Again - some jobs are just messy.  Too messy to

 use a rag and then wash it.  So yep - I use paper towels at times.

But of course - I also keep a supply of rags on hand and 

try to be eco-friendly when possible.

3.  Disposable Gloves.  I love these for messy jobs like cleaning silver, 

some gardening, when using certain cleaning chemicals, etc. 

 They're worth it to me to have on hand.

We could also talk about plastic wrap, paper plates, etc. and

 perhaps we will in another post sometime.  But for now - know

 that being 'thrifty' isn't just about dollars and cents.  Our time is a

 precious commodity and its hard to put a price tag on it.   

Take the time to be with your family,  your friends and of course - 

daily be spending time with the Lord.

We never get back the moments we just lived - Joyce

Getting The 'To-Do' List Done...

We all have a to-do list a mile long.  

And we all feel we hardly have time to do them.

So what's the secret?

  It's simple really... plan to do it - and then do it!

Here are a few more tips to 'get stuff done'...

Make room in your schedule...

Don't bite off more than you can chew... (know your time/ability limits!)

Write it down (make a check-list)...

Tackle the most dreaded thing first...

Multi-task where possible but not overwhelming.  What can be done while something else is happening?  (ie - while something is cooking I can...)

Give yourself extra time if 'learning' is required... 

Do it as close to when you notice it as you can...

If a project is large (ie - flower beds) do just a portion each time...

Last evening I noticed a corner of our front flower bed that was

 quite overgrown and unattractive.

Sunday is our day of rest - so I didn't tackle it then -

 but I did write it down to tackle this morning...

I only have mornings to work on my list.  

So keeping the list small and simple is best for me.

Then 1st thing this morning (after throwing in a load of wash)  - 

I got out to that section of the garden and removed a bunch of

 overgrowth and several plants altogether.

Now it's ready to bounce back for fall.

 

Then I moved indoors to work on pasta salad and the rest of today's list...

 

I can't tell you how good it feels to have those things done!

A final tip:

Simplify according to your schedule...  (i.e. - don't have time to

keep up with the flower beds?  Don't have them or reduce to one.

Same with vegetable gardening, canning, or other noble things.  

We are us - we can't be someone else.  Let's be us well!

Tomorrow my list will have just one main thing... 

cause it will take me all morning.  Stay tuned!  ~Joyce

The Perfect Date Planner...

The idea of spending more than $10 for a planner/calendar when they 

have never been quite what I needed anyway has seemed ridiculous to me.  

So for several years I've been using dollar store planners.

 (You can keep your phone or computer system; I'm a pen and paper gal.)

But....I just found the perfect planner and went ahead and bought it!

Let me tell you about it...

First it's beautiful!

 But what makes it great?  

Well - it's got little pockets for clippings (gotta have those!)...

 And an absolute must for me - 

a place for 'to do lists' on the SAME PAGE as the weekly calendar...

There's also a place for random notes... (I always make lots...)

 and shopping lists that tear out!   (Yay!!!)

Each page also has a little note of inspiration or a bible verse that is helpful.  

I particularly like this one on a page that I've already begun some notes...

Turns out this book was created by a busy Christian wife and mother

 who also couldn't find a planner that she liked.  

Now why couldn't I have been so enterprising?  

The planner is self-published and is not available in major chain stores... 

but is available in some Christian stores.  

And if there's none near year - you can order on their website.   

 This is in no-way a paid advertisement - I just really like my new planner

and wanted to share it with you.

I'm already looking forward to 2016!  

Happy planning ~Joyce

Organizing My Time...

For weeks, months, years I've been struggling to try to fit it all in.  

And yet SO much goes undone.  I'm not nearly as productive 

or healthy as I believe God desires me to be.   

Yet there are only so many hours in my week.

To add to my challenges - some tasks that I need to perform 

seem to need to be done at only certain hours of the day.  

There are only a limited number of those hours each day.

(i.e. - taking photos in certain light)

Tonight I am struck with the thought that perhaps

 some of the things I've been trying to do in my daylight hours

could wait till my evening hours... thus leaving more daylight hours.

  Who says I have to do laundry in the morning?

  Perhaps I could do it before I go to bed.  

I've been doing most of my computer time in the evenings -

but that tends to add to insomnia issues for me.

But maybe I can make meals the evening before too and

do computer time with the more freed up daylight hours.

It's all worth a try right?  We'll see how it goes and how God directs...

Do you have scheduling challenges? 

Do you follow a daily schedule?

I feel like I'm really old to be only looking at this now -

 but it is what it is!  And God is patient with us. ~Joyce

Make Your Own Air Freshener For Pennies....

One day on Pinterest I discovered an air freshener recipe.  

I decided to try it - with what I had on  hand. 

I'm happy to announce that it works!  I used plain old tap water 

and this orange oil - picked up at a local

 discount grocery store for 99 cents...

You can find this oil here if you're interested and

 can't find any essential oils in your area.

I'm happy to have an all natural alternative to store bought air fresheners.  

That first link I shared will give you a lowdown of all the yuck in most of them.

To make: 1 T. baking soda, 3-5 drops essential oil,

 water (distilled if you like)

Mix oil into baking soda.  Pour baking soda mixture into 

spray bottle and fill with water.  Shake - and that's it!
I used the bottle from my old air freshener - thrifty huh?

You can supposedly also use this to freshen fabrics and carpets - 

but I've not tried it that way.  I'm so happy with this discovery!  

What cleaning or home products have you tried that you like?  

I'd love to know about them.

Be blessed & stay healthy ~Joyce
Linking to Home Sweet Home Linky Party

Kitchen Countertop Pantry...

Tupperware?  Plastic?  I'm discovering it's not the best for long term 

pantry storage.  That plastic smell leaks into the food after a while.  

I've decided glass will be the wave of the future for me.  

Trouble is - right now I've no good cupboard or pantry area 

that can handle the weight of all the glass.  

  I like easy access - and this little corner is my food prep area 

'cause its the only area close to the stove.  This is the 'before'...

 And after today's efforts....

bummer - this one got blurry!

 I picked up 4 canister jars at Target (under $6 each!) and used 

Mason & miscellaneous other jars to help corral my ingredients.

 Yep, right there on the kitchen counter...

This stretch of counter needed a bit of rearrange too.

  Believe it or not - this is the 'after'.  Looks a bit cluttered I know...

 I grouped in small vignettes to help calm the chaos a bit. 

Some things are 'out' because I want to remember to use them soon.

 I'm hoping some of these jars can eventually be in a  lazy susan pantry

of sorts that we'll have to create - but for now - a countertop pantry it is!

 And talk about awesome!   Don't even attempt to clean a kitchen 

area without some orange cleaner.  I think I bought this at Dollar Tree.  

The spray trigger doesn't even work right it's so cheap.  

I simply dumped some onto my wet rag to use it. 

Does it ever do a number on grease!
Linking to Saturday Night Special @ Funky Junk

Cleaning Up the Laundry Room...

We have a very tiny laundry room and have added

 some old cupboards to help with storage...

Love this wall cupboard with its original paint!

 Everything that is headed out the back door lands here.  

Thus - the basket on the dryer to hold 'stuff' till it leaves.  

The other basket is holding my big jar of homemade laundry soap.  
The bird house is waiting to go in the yard come spring.

The facing wall has another big cupboard that I

 bought at a yard sale some years ago for $25!  

My bargain of a life time I think...

 The sink shows wear - but I'm very OK with that!

 Our humble laundry room...

Linking to Wow Us Wednesday 
and Home Sweet Home

Homemade Orange Household Cleaner...

I finally got around to making some of that 'almost free' 

orange cleaner that shows up here and there around the 'net.

orange peels steeping in vinegar 2 weeks

 Essentially I used this recipe - except I didn't boil the 

vinegar first.  Next time I'll try that just for fun.

strained vinegar - with added 1/2 water

 So far I've cleaned my bathroom sink and my kitchen floors.  

Worked great!

Cleaning White Kitchen Cupboards...

I'm late to the party I know - but I had 

no idea this product would work like it does.   

(Said product has no idea I'm doing this post - so there's nothing in it for me...)

I have these white stock kitchen cupboards 

because it's we could afford at the time...

(under $3,000 for 3 walls - installed by hubby)...

 They have this wood grain look in vinyl that is a real

 pain to clean.  Splattered dirt wipes easily enough...

 ...but these greasy spots and surface dirt that gets 

in the grooves and grain - not so much. 

 But look - and with just a few wipes!

 Thank you Magic Eraser!  I am sold! 

 Now in just 2-3 minutes while something is cooking

 in the microwave - I can  whip out an eraser and do

 a few cupboard doors...or the refrigerator handle...

or the backsplash or...(you get the idea)... 

 

No spray bottles or buckets required.  

Yippee!

Mattress Fluffing...

I must say - I love Pinterest for all the housekeeping

 tips & ideas.  Today I freshened my mattress...

 ...following these tips from the  

The Clever Housewife.  

Wow - our whole bedroom smells amazing.

 A little baking soda and some essential oil did wonders.  Can't wait to sleep on it tonight!

Not every tip I have tried has worked for me 

(using cornmeal to clean a rug for example). 

But this one I am proud to blog about.

Also recently 'pinned'... just 'cause it's beautiful & I love those 

flowers in the old paper...

source

What Pinterest tips have you tried lately?

Linking to Home Sweet Home

Feathered Nest Friday 

I'm Saving Orange Peels...

Yep, right here on my kitchen counter...

 (And yes, those are flower petals in the background - for other projects.)

Thanks to Pinterest - I found this powerful natural  

All Purpose household cleaner recipe...

...can't wait to try it!

Spring Cleaning...

Gorgeous, gorgeous day!  I had to throw open 

some windows and do some spring cleaning.

Our front dutch door.

 I decided to tackle a bathroom - twas in a bad state...

 ...especially the window.  This was my view as I cleaned.  Our trees are pretty ivy laden I see...

 Cleaned every single surface - walls, floors, 

(wasn't planning on that one but spilled a whole bucket of water!!),  faux floral swags and all...

 I'm a tired little puppy...  But I'm not complaining.  There was a time spring cleaning was not an 

option due to some physical limitations.  

I'm thankful for today's abilities.  

Have you done any spring cleaning yet?

Yep, this is a pink bathroom.  Hope to change it someday...

Linking to Pink Saturday
Seasonal Sunday