Time Management: One of the 12 Homemaking Skills

Rise and shine Pretty Palace Organizers out-there! This week's dedicated to one of my least favorite words.... shhhh... I still don't like saying it out loud, it makes me feel tied down.... ready?Schedules. I've been trying to maintain my Beautiful Life (thanks Melissa!) lately and time management needs readressing.

Ahh... I know. Well, in truth there are a good measure of you ladies out there who were born with a Franklin Planner for a brain.... I totally missed out on the line where those were being handed out, probably because I had to rise early and get there on time. So, confessional moment number 1089.... I'm allergic to schedules. Trying to get me to sit down and draft a schedule is like giving your cat a bath... this "cat" can however be lured by chocolate. That's how hubby reformed me... well almost ... I still fall off the wagon now and then.
If you wanna get it all done, you gotta have an execution plan... and no, my plan hasn't killed anyone yet. This week is going to be a great week to begin your homemaking resolutions again! Get your supplies ready: Chocolate (enough to get you through planning your day), Calendar, Notebook, and some of those sticky tabby divider colored thingy's see this post.
If you want a guide book to how I run my life... well mostly. I don't think this author has 6 kids and ever had to attend 4 school Christmas parties on the same day within the same 2 hours, but she's a guru in her own right and she guruized herself in ink with this book. BUY IT... BORROW IT... don't steal but BEG someone for it if you can. It changed my life... not quite as much as having those 6 kids did though... what a doozy.

Buy my favorite book HERE!

How much time each day do you devote to cleaning? How much time do you devote to all of the other important things going on in your life? When I was 25"ish" I figured out that whatever it was I was doing, wasn't cutting the mustard. I needed to make a few life changing adjustments.

So I took stock of what time I had in a day, blocked out how much was devoted to eating, meal prep, and caring for kids, dressing, etc... you get the idea. There are only SOOO many hours in the day to get things done and to ensure I accomplished what was most important, I made a plan.
Here are a few tips to creating your cleaning schedule:

1. Inventory your time: Use a simple calendar. Write down the hour you wake up and the hour you go to bed. Block out times for meal prep, child care, work, nap times, errands... In short, determine what your daily schedule looks like so you know where you can fit in priorities like cleaning.
2. Estimate how much time you need to keep house: A rough house cleaning estimate is 1-1.5 hours per person in the house each week. For a family of 8 that's 8-12 hours of cleaning!!
3. Priorities what cleaning needs to be done each week. For me, it's bathrooms and if you have boys you KNOW what I'm talking about. Is it a MUST that all windows are cleaned each week? Nah... Just keep your priorities in order and go down the list.
4. Block out set cleaning times in your week long schedule: Do what works for you. Some people devote an entire day to cleaning and do maintenance for the rest of the week. Other people do a little every day. What works best for you? You might do bathrooms one day, vacuuming another, and have a day for deep cleaning.
5. Rotate your deep cleaning schedule: Cleaning behind the fridge doesn't need to be done each week but it ought to be done. Determine which jobs are monthly or quarterly cleaning jobs and set a time in your schedule to do monthly or quarterly deep clean jobs. Maybe the last Saturday of the month could be set aside for monthly deep cleaning, or perhaps you can concentrate on one room to deep clean a month. Again, this is your schedule do what works for you.

Weekly Cleaning Checklist Monthly Cleaning Checklist

Having a plan is essential to getting things done. I think the most helpful thing for me was realizing how much time it takes to care for all of the needs of my family. It was so great to sit down and figure out how much "free" time I had during a day. Sometimes that free time is scheduled for housecleaning and errands, other times it is scheduled to work in my kids classrooms, and sometimes it may be used for a craft or much needed nap time. The key is keeping your Priorities Pretty Organized. You can't know the time you're wasting or where to trim fat on a schedule unless you block it out. Don't forget to reward yourself with your own free time for a job done well! I LOVE Barnes & Noble cafe... chocolate, books, quiet... doesn't get much better than that!

If you're looking for more tips on time management check out these posts!

• Making your lists
  
• Identifying Time Wasters
  
• Hold the Phone... Calls
  
• Touch it Once
  
• I'd Lose my Head if it weren't attatched!

How are you with time management?

A New Approach to Thrifting....

In this age of "Use it up, Wear it out, Made it do, or Do without," garage and yard sales are becoming all the rage and truthfully, I love dressing up something old.


So what if you didn't have to go out and find a paper? What if you could sit in your pink bunny slippers and sip your morning drink and eat your toast in front of the computer to find deals in your area? What if you wanted to advertise your yard sale for LESS than the newspaper?

Well, I found the solution! Franz over at Garage Sales Tracker contacted me awhile ago when I decided to sell ad space on Pretty Organized Palace. When I heard about this site I LOVED the ease and opportunity it gave my readers. We are all thrifty moms right? (Well, if you're not a thrifty mom you must love me for some other reason... maybe my toile fetish?) We need a way to advertise our junk and let someone else turn it into their treasures.

Sigh... this is my treasure... I want her bad... she needs some love.

So, Pretty Please... ya'll be good curious people and go poke around the Garage Sale Tracker site for a little gander at what it's all about. Go ahead.... I'll wait. No, really, I'll be right here. I've got NOTHING to do today... zero on the schedule.... zip. -well, darnit okay I've got laundry but that doesn't count unless someone is willing to proclaim at least 1 naked day so I get a day off without the worry of something being in the hamper! Back yet? Good.

Now... this weekend is coming up. And I know you can scrape together a few things for a sale to list. Maybe that champion stuffed Elk head your husband shot in college?



How about your first kitchen wares? After 14 years of marriage I think someone needs to throw me another shower because all my wedding stuff is falling apart. How longs this stuff supposed to last? Surely you've got something. Now go head on over to Garage Sale Tracker and list your sale!

There is a promotion going on until the end of May - ALL LISTINGS ARE FREE!!! Whoo hoo! Let the thrifting begin! Not only can you get better exposure than a paper, you can also get mapped out directions to the sales, coupons, and more!

***If you are interested in ad space on Pretty Organized Palace check out my Advertise HERE button on the right side bar. I've got GREAT rates for home businesses and corporate as well. Email me if you have any questions!***

I've got a little thrifting garage sale find that I'll share with you after I haul it's $15 beautiful body out of my 12 passenger van. It's coming to the Pretty Organized Palace to live but first needs a little paint job. No worries friends, you'll get the before and after shots... and probably the what in the heck was I thinking shots as well.

Hob Nobbing Knob Snob

Knobs make the Piece. I'll buy a piece of furniture for the knobs alone if I love them- just did today on Craigslist. That SOUNDS crazy but if any of you have been surfing the world wide sea of stores and hob nobbing at all the knob snob shops, it may be the cheaper option.

I think I'm morphing into a knob snob... I'm dreaming up the perfect project to display my snobbery, inspired by this beautiful display at Anthropology. See, according to this A+ hob-nob knob store I don't even need furniture to put it on! I can just go rip off a piece of my neighbors old barn and mount them to that!


To be a Hob Nobbing Knob Snob you gotta have a job to get a lotta knobs. I'm personally drooling over the Roman Numeral Clock face knob. I wish I could get 6 of them that worked... all set 8 minutes fast. That green and black one below is calling me... "Pssst, Hey... Pretty Organizer... You've sold enough ad space to buy me. You have... take me home and put me somewhere I can start conversations!" Uhhh... snobby knob. I'll have none of that in my house... maybe I could put him on the font door!

Somewhere there is a black dresser screaming for that red heart shaped knob... that red $32.00 per knob snob knob. Geesh... I could afford one for the whole dresser! Can you imagine how much an entire dresser would cost? (Ya'll could probably pop out a number. My artistic brain just imagines a number... it's much easier that way... )
Now at this Palace, these are the knobs of choice.... The "Duh...It's right Here!" line of knobs. A place for everything and everything in it's place... Don't forget the custom order knobs like: "Measuring Spoons are in here SOMEWHERE", "Pitcher tops and Lids you Can't Find", and my personal favorite- "Blender Blade is RIGHT HERE!"

Knobby Snobby me loves these monogram knobs... and yes, no palace is complete without jeweled knobs. Might need them in the royal throne room... a place that needs some refinement since my throne looks very much builder porcelain white.


Now all you hob nobbing knob snobs with thin pocket books.... HOBBY LOBBY is having their 50% off sale on knobs and hardware until MAY 9th. I missed this sale by 2 days when I needed to buy knobs for my kitchen cabinets... groan... it was like being told Godiva was all out of chocolate... no worries, I recovered. Rest assured I'll be there to scrape every last needed knob from the barrels. With luck, I'll have them up on my cabby's to show soon!

What furniture do you have that can use a knob job?

I'm hosting a Talk Show!

Happy Monday! What a treat I have in store for you at the Pretty Organized Palace. You see, I've been working on my own celebrity talk show and wanted you to get the first transcript of my show!

(Loud Applause- Que entry music)

Welcome to Pretty Organized Palace... we have a great show in store for you today. My guests today are Nester girl from Nesting Place and the mysterious Battery Hacker Guy from... well, You Tube. Both have valuable information that are sure to inspire you and keep that money in your pocket book.


First up- she's a mother of 3 boys, a tassel creator extraordinaire, married to a great guy who doesn't freak out when she paints brick, and working her way to financial freedom by running one of the most successful home decorating blogs and teaching people how to decorate without going into debt. Please welcome my dear friend.... NESTER!!

(LOUD CHEERS... APPLAUSE.... Kimba stands up from the audience and flashes her homemade "Get your Nest on" t-shirt.... camera pan to Kimba then back to Entering Nester)

Pretty: Welcome Nester. Thanks so much for agreeing to appear on Pretty Organized Palace first instead of Oprah.

Nester: Oh, Pretty, I wouldn't dream of going anywhere else. I love your Palace! It speaks thrifty efficiency mixed with organized chic and a touch of realism... so glad to be here.

Pretty: So you are here I understand to promote your new eBook entitled "It doesn't Have to Be Perfect to be Beautiful."


Nester: That's right girl! I released my new eBook today over at The Nesting Place and want to invite everyone over to take a peek.

Kimba- I LOVE YOU NESTER!!!-- (que security)

Pretty: When I got your email last week inviting me to preview the book I was so excited. Of course you know I read the whole thing and LOVED it but I want you to tell everyone in my studio audience today about why you wrote the book:

Nester: Well, I answer a lot of that over at the Nesting Place but basically I wanted to write a manifesto about what I believe in. I want women all over the world to love their homes and make them places that they enjoy being in and want to share with people they love.


Pretty: In your book you have a section entitled Break the rules. I love that. Being a law abiding Christian rule breaking isn't my strong point... but I admit, after I saw you hang a door on your wall, glue fur on a wreath, and plant succulents in milk glass urns I'm convinced that breaking home decor rules are good for you.

Nester: That's right Pretty. The most important thing you can do for your home is make it what YOU love. In my new eBook you'll learn all about creating a space that's accomplishes it's purpose and reflects YOU. That to me is beauty... flaws and imperfections are beautiful and it's okay to have those in your home and still have a place that welcomes friends and family.

Pretty: Well Nester, our time is almost up. Where can our guests get a copy of your new eBook?

Nester: Everyone who visits Nesting Place today can download my eBook for free when they sign up for my newsletter!

Pretty: Free?!?!? Nester you're so generous. Thank you for visiting the Pretty Organized Palace today.

Nester: I wouldn't miss it friend. Glad to be here... your Palace is Imperfectly Beautiful.


Pretty: Well you heard it right from the toaster strudel eating, high heel loving, bird watching friend of mine. Head on over to Nesting Place and pick yourself up the new Ebook. Remember to tell her Pretty Organizer sent you.
::Celebrity Voice Impersonated::
Photo Credit: BHG.com
Next, we have a money saving tip for you handy moms out there who are tired of buying a majillion batteries for your quadrilion remotes, MP3's, and the like.

Mr. Battery Hacker Guy.... Take it away!

Okay.... this is what Snopes had to say about my battery hack guy!  http://www.snopes.com/photos/humor/batteryhack.asp

Pretty: Thank you all for coming. Pretty Organized Palace was brought to you today buy the letters: CHEAP and the number: FREE. All guests of the Pretty Organized Palace stayed at their own house and in their pajamas instead of the Omni hotel.

Post it Party!-- Impromptu

I admit, I didn't advertise.  I didn't even make sure all of my rock star friends knew I was doing this... and in fact.. I didn't know I was doing it until about 5 minutes ago.

You see, I've been thinking about all of you.  I'm wondering what posts you're proud of.  I have just started to recognize how hard it is sometimes to come up with good posts.  Sometimes those posts are seen by only a few.  Sometimes the posts you bust your buns for are the ones that get few comments... and then, you write some extemporaneous dribble and people LOVE IT!  I guess, I'm still trying to figure out if I should write like my college professors said I should or just let loose and write the way my brain thinks.... complete with static, topic jumps, and ..... what was I saying? Yep, thars me brain talkin again!

And yes, you know I can't resist featuring this photo at least once a month... drooling... sigh... I love this room.... okay, back on topic:

So, welcome to my Post-It Party! ~ Impromptu~ I want to get to know my readers better.  I want to know what post you're most proud of... or what post gave you a sense of accomplishment.

Just head back to your Palace... grab the Post URL and you can sticky that Post down below at the party.  Feel free to visit the Proud Posts of my Palace Guests today and don't forget to comment and let them know you liked the post!

Looking forward to getting to know ya'll better!  I'm sure these posts will be the best blogland has to offer... on any subject!  So glad you stopped by!

Oh... And I'm announcing something Free and Fabulous on Monday.  Something you need... and can all get free- EVERYONE... no giveaway.... Shh.... I'm hook'n you up with one of my rock star friends... who?  Come back Monday!

Eye-Candy: Architectural Salvage of San Diego

Ladies... and perhaps there are a few gentlemen: Feast your eyes on architectural heaven.  This is where all of the good pieces of architecture go when a house dies and turns to dust.  This is where items that are worth remembering are resurrected and live, if your lucky, to grace your home with beauty.
May I introduce you to my old stomping grounds of San Diego-  Specifically, to one of the best stops in the tour: Architectural Salvage of San Diego.  Nester.... this is why you're saving your pennies... just look at all those doors... you're gonna need to buy a few more couches friend, just to accommodate them.
Latches, and Knobs, and pulls.... oh my!  I invented projects just staring at this picture!
No wonder why we invented hidden hinges... they're nothing like they used to be... you should check their site.... better yet, you should plan a road trip.  Blissdom in San Diego anyone?
Kimba, get that can of spray paint ready... there's got to be an old jelly cabinet somewhere waiting for some of these fancy brooches to pin on her front!  Speaking of pins... Kimba's flaunt some creatively fabulous hardware as well!
You've got mail.  Need one... or two... or three of these.  I think 1 for each of my 6 kids would look fabulous lining my entry. I wonder if they'd fit all those socks my kids leave down stairs?  Then I could just take the smelly mail up an launder it. 
Face plates... why did we decide every plat in the house had to match?  I'll take one of each.  If you get a minute... head over to Architectural Salvage of San Diego and gaze at the beauty of salvage wares.  A look here and you'll agree, "They just don't make 'em like they used to."
Which picture is your favorite?

Photo Credits: Achitectural Salvage of San Diego

You Know it's Time to Change the Sheets When:

1. You put your toes under the covers and feel crumbs.... which after further investigation you conclude are the leftover cookie crumbs from the cookies that were hi-jacked from the jar (You found it empty in your moment of cookie desperation) and quite literally kept "under covers."
2. You lay down on your pillow and catch a whiff of what smells part construction worker, part Suave, and part spit up. After further thought you realize there were several days in the week where the shower never quite happened... even though it was planned. You wince when you realize that indescribable odor was created by you... but hey, you can always wash it tomorrow...
3. Your husband asks "Why does the bed smell like pee? I didn't pee the bed." At that point you remember you let the toddler take a nap in your bed. Hmm... no wonder why she changed her clothes again.
4. The sheets remind you of the moments when your older huskier boy tries to wear his favorite shirt which no longer fits. The elastic corners ride up until they pop off the bed E.V.E.R.Y. Night!
5. You can't remember when you last washed the sheets.
   

Keeping it real... I'm washing my sheets today.

So, while I'm laundering sheets that have become one size to small and trying to scrape all of the cooking crumbs from between my toes, you can think about this:

How about updating your sheets or bedding with a little fabric paint? The green bedding above has been given a makeover.

How To:

1. Use vinyl sticky back shelf paper to create a stencil. Peel and stick to fabric.
2. Using paint mixed with a fabric paint conditioner or medium, stencil those old bedding duds back to life!
3. Peel stencil off while paint is still a little wet... this prevents the painted surface from peeling as well.

Don't forget to give those pillows a face lift too!

Anyone else washing sheets today? Laundress's Unite! Uggg.... send chocolate stat!

All Photo's BHG.com

What I learned from Joseph: 12 homemaking subjects

Never mind that I only have a half gallon of milk in the fridge right now and unless I go to the sore tomorrow my kids will be eating something made out of ketchup, old lettuce and freezer jam... I know this subject.  I stockpile food.  Normal people would call this an unnatural amount...
I call it being prepared, for ANYTHING.
Beautiful eh? This is not my pantry but an example of a well stocked one.  Do you remember the story about Joseph who was sold into Egypt?  Remember when he interpreted Pharaoh's dream?  Joseph told Pharaoh that he would have 7 years of plenty and then 7 years of drought.  He instructed Pharaoh to store food... and he saved all of Egypt because he stockpiled food in the years of plenty.... crazy?? No, wise.

Hee, hee, couldn't resist this picture... 

So, why store food?  Why pack rat food away?  Why spend your life overbuying cans then trying to invent furniture that will hide them?
Yes, that's me.  Those cans are in every closet, under every bed, in every dead corner where I have a piece of furniture turned on the diagonal.  WHY?  

Well, to illustrate my point I asked my friends Kari and Kijsa to give us a little gimps into their real life experience this winter as they were "iced in" with an ice storm.

Thank so much for thinking of us...especially during those difficult three weeks!! It really did make us think about preparing...needs...essentials...food!

 As it was freezing (literally)...we were able to salvage perishable goods outside, but quickly used up as many freezer items as quickly as possible (we had an apple pie fest one night!!) Fortunately we were together during the most trying time at the beginning, and had combined many nonperishables from our pantries. Kijsa's gas cooktop would start, so we were able to heat up cans of soup, chili, vegetables, even pie fillings combined with our quickly perishing fresh fruit to use on top of pancakes for a treat (one must have a treat when surviving lengthy power, heat and internet outages!!!) 

 It was a very interesting time to reflect on how much we depend on communication and convenience. The eerie silence of no cell phone or land line capabilities...not one working electric light piercing the darkness...nothing open to acquire supplies....and when they finally did open...everyone only took cash...for the lack of electricity crippled all debit and credit machines, as well as gas pumps, electric doors...etc. 

It is at those times when it begins to try your spirits as you watch children shivering all huddled under blankets in the darkness around the one set of working gas logs!

We would definitely build a pantry staple list (Kijsa finds herself adding a couple extra canned good staples every grocery run.) Keep a list of those items you might use frequently, as well as a few quick meals in a can (soup, tuna, spagettios, etc). We would also say make sure you keep batteries and flashlights or lanterns on hand, as well as a supply of cash- this became a difficulty for people even if they were able to get to an open store or gas station.

I hope this helps- This is a great idea- Going through that ice storm was lifechanging- we were fortunate- I saw the long, long lines of cars that would pull up to the national guard each day to get a lunch and some daily rations- Thanks for sharing! ~

blessings, 

kari & kijsa

Really, how far away is this reality for you?  Natural disasters are unexpected.  My family has fled twice for fires in San Diego and had nothing but their photographs, loved ones, and drumroll....... their 72 hour kits full of food, money, and clothing to care for their families.  Crazy?  Na... wise.  

How would it be to be a mother unable to care for her children or family in a time of crisis?  A little extra food and cash on hand is a blessing and for anyone is a wise preparation for the future.

Here's what I store:

• 3 month supply of food.  Basic canned and dried items that I can prepare for my family.   Work off of a week or two worth of menu's and start buying a few ingredients every time you go shopping.
• Water. I live in the desert.  I have (please don't judge me a freak) 6 50 gallon water barrels on the side of my house. They're ugly.  They're blue... but I know my family will have enough water for over a month should they need it... though, I'd gladly share with my neighbors in need.
• Cash.  Kari and Kijsa saw first hand the value of cold hard cash.  Stick small bills and change somewhere you won't be tempted to raid for your chocolate fixes or an emergency run for a Sonic drink.  Only for emergencies.
• Long Term Storage.  After you get 3 months of meals, work on long term items like beans, rice, wheat, and a bit of dried milk and oil.  Life can be sustained for a longer period with these raw ingredients.  Of course space is and funds are limited but do what you can.

Times when I've used my food storage:

• Power outages
• Hubby out of work.  Supplement to grocery shopping.
• Times of lean.

If you're looking for food storage helps consider the following:

• Food Storage For the Clueless (available at my Pretty Organized Store)- I love this book.  It teaches you several methods to use to acquire your supply and it has recipes on everything from homemade cheese to homemade sourdough bread- which I can't seem to perfect.
• The Provident Living Website for the Church of Jesus Christ- this seems to be a comprehensive site on how to live frugally and manage the home.  I clicked on the Family Home Storage link.

Times are rough for everyone.  A little food and money stored away for a rainy day brings a lot of comfort when you're providing for your little ones.  Even if nothing happens, you'll have a great supply on hand should you need to get to the store... unless you prefer ketchup, old lettuce and freezer jam. 

Colors Perfectly Placed

Have you ever wondered how those super decorators make their rooms looked balanced and blended?  Well, they know a trick: The Triangle Trick.  See that dreamy picture above?  Can you spot the triangles?  The blues are laid out in a triangle and so are the whites.  If you look closely, there are more... I just didn't highlight them.  
They say opposites attract. I guess they're right because I noticed today that a cute angle is complementary to one that is obtuse. Hee hee... Math Humor!!

Let's play the triangle game.  Using color as a theme, can you spot the triangles in the next room?   
This decorator arranged the florals in a triangle, the greens in a triangle, and you'll notice the lamps are in a triangle and so are the pillows.  Just connect the same colored triangles....
Q. What triangle comes from a socialist country?
A. An equilateral one.  Killing myself... because I still get it!

Again, here the golds are arranged in a Triangle and so is the greenery.   That big black coat on the wall acts as the tip of the triangle to the table top... which I think counts as 2 points because it's so wide.
Q. What dances did the twin isosceles triangles excel at?
A. The rhombus, of course.  Okay, that one made my brain flex.

How many other layers of triangles can you spot in this room?

Yep, more triangles.  See how the decorator used white objects in a triangular shape (there are more than one) and there are several black triangular patterns as well.
What did the hypotenuse say to the other sides? Nice legs! These are the kind of jokes you hear when you marry a geek.... and thank you, I do have me some good look'n legs!

What else am I  missing?

All photo credits: House Beautiful

Don't forget tomorrow:  Dare to Dream Homemaking Series.... and I have to special guest sisters to help me out!