Frugalicous Domesticity - Thursday Edition

Good day dear readers~!

Thought I'd share a photo of me with my fridge.

I finally made it to the grocery store today.

Between the two stores I went to, I spent $121.57.

That will feed me, Glenco, and Aaron, breakfast and lunches, and me, Glenco, my sister Cindy and Aaron dinners for about a week and a half. I don't think that's too bad, but I'd like to see it lower. My sister and Aaron eat supper with us more often than not. The family eating together is incredibly important to me, almost a sacred event. After working a full stressful day, I don't see why my sister should have to go home and cook, when I have food right here, hot and ready.

I had the absolute delight, and the absolute horror of meeting one of my readers today at Aldi.

I seriously have to dress myself before I 'go to town'.

Pam, it was such a delight to meet you!

Thanks for introducing yourself to me.

If you see me in town again, looking like I did today, please look away.

Today was Bedroom and Livingroom day.

I took the nicest photos of both rooms.

I can't get them transferred to the computer.

My camera is in a box now, ready to ship back to Canon.

What is a blogger without a camera?

It's going to be ten days before I get it back.

It's like...it's like peanut butter without jelly.

Like coffee without cream.

I'm rather lost.

A tad frustrated.

I'm going to TRY and take pictures tomorrow morning with my phone.

Today's blog seems a little pointless without pictures to explain things.

To show you how sparsely my bedroom is decorated.

Well, my bedroom is very sparsely decorated, but I do love it. I have a dust allergy, as I've mentioned before, so I have no carpet. I don't have a lot of 'things'. I wouldn't have any books in there at all, or curtains. Nothing that will collect dust. I don't have a pile of pillows on my bed. I can't use the 'fancy' sheets because I have to wash them in hot water to kill the dust mites. I also keep nothing under my bed, so that it's easy to dust mop or vacuum under.

Before becoming a better homemaker, I had to take Allegra D everyday to deal with my dust allergy. I no longer have to take it. I do notice on Thursdays, from dusting the house that I do wheeze a little.

My weekly bedroom routine involves the 'work around the room' method. Working top to bottom, right to left, all around the room, ending with the making of the bed. Vacuuming is done with the rest of the house.

As I mentioned before, you should air your bed every morning. As soon as I get out of my bed, assuming Glenco is out of it too, I take all the covers off and open a window in the summer and turn on the ceiling fan. I can't open the windows in the winter, because we have that plastic on the windows that you blow dry....so I just turn on the fan.

Your bedroom becomes oxygen depleted throughout the night, from breathing. It's true! I like to replenish the oxygen, and let the bed breathe some. It makes a big difference.

I vacuum the bed about once a month, when I wash the dust allergy mattress cover.

If I'm in the mood and have a little extra time, I'll dust the blinds, or the ceiling fan.

Once I can post the bedroom pictures, you'll notice something suspiciously missing from my bedroom.

That would be a closet.

I have none.

I have one, 3' x 3' closet upstairs.

It houses our scuba diving gear and a couple of random coats.

I have an antique dresser with two large drawers, and two small 'sock and underwear' drawers.

If it doesn't fit in those drawers, I don't have it.

I own about three pair of shoes.

It's hardcore simplicity with my wardrobe.

I simply have no room for it.

If there were ever a candidate for 'what not to wear', it would be me.

Ask Pam, she'll tell you.

The livingroom is the same.

Work around the room method, dusting everything from right to left, up to down. I dust all the pictures, etc. Again, I have a very simple, yet inviting decor. I find it so easy to keep clean. I do not allow magazines to accumulate. I do not buy movies. We have a CD player that holds 300 cds. We have a booklet that holds all the cd paper covers, so you know what number the cd is, and I don't have all the clutter of the cd's about. I am vigilant about not letting it get cluttered.

I vacuum the upholstery every other week.

I shampoo the carpet every month.

Not necessary, but it just makes me feel better, ok?

I know I have issues.

Total time today spent on housework:

29 minutes.

Two rooms completely cleaned and dusted.

House vacuumed.

Bathroom spot cleaned.

You know what I love about this routine?

I never come home to a mess.

I never wake up to a mess.

When I see dead lady bug carcasses (does anyone else that lives in an old house have ladybug troubles?), stuck next to the baseboard and carpet, I don't freak out...I just know, that on Thursday, I'll get that. When I see a dustball rolling through my bedroom, I don't think....oh woe is me, I know that it will be dealt with on Thursday. When I see dusty kitchen shelves, I don't feel that I need to spend my day cleaning, I know that on Monday, when I'm cleaning the kitchen again, I'll get it.

You'll be surprised at the freed up brain cells you'll have.

A few of you asked about the tub and bathroom.

If you look under 'labels' and click on This Old House, scroll down a few posts and you'll find everything about the bathroom re-d0.

I'll leave you with a great recipe, since I've no pictures to show you.

Dirt cheap and delicious.

Spicy Black Beans and Rice

Prepare enough rice to feed four.

In a skillet with two tablespoons of olive oil, saute four cloves of minced garlic with a medium onion, chopped.

Add one 14 oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed.

Add one 14 oz can of diced tomatoes with chilies.

Add ground red pepper to taste (I use a 1/4 t)

Simmer for ten minutes.

Serve over rice, top with shredded cheese and cilantro.

Frugalicous Domesticity - Wednesday Edition

Do you have any idea how foolish I feel telling you how to clean a bathroom?

I'm not Martha Stewart.

I just play her on the internet.

OK, my schedule for Wednesday suggests (doesn't dictate) that I clean my bathroom, and front porch as part of my cleaning routine for the week, and do the grocery shopping.

In the winter, I don't clean the porch.

Why, that's something someone with OCD would do.

Because I really have no clutter in my bathroom to speak of, (other than that shelf up there) and I spot clean it daily, it's really a piece of cake.

I do my 'work around the room' method.

First, I wet the sink, and sprinkle my cleanser in it, so that it can soak a bit.

I put in the toilet bowl cleaner, brush it around.

See these corner shelves?

I only clean those about every three weeks.

They just don't seem to get very dusty.

See that old tub?

I only scour it every couple of weeks.

It just doesn't get filmy.

I do take everything off of this counter and clean it.

I do use my homemade (1 cup of olive oil, 1/3 cup of lemon juice in a spray bottle) furniture polish and dust the tub rim, and the little dressser.

I wash the throw rug once a week, on Mondays.

I check my toilet paper supply.

I do get down on my hands and knees and give the outside of the toilet bowl a good cleaning.

I finish up by washing the sink, drying it, and cleaning the mirror.

Then I dust the light bulbs in my big light bar that I don't like too much.

I really can't tolerate dusty light bulbs.

Total housekeeping routine today, including making beds (we'll be in the bedroom tomorrow), running the vacuum, cleaning the bathroom, and doing a couple of stray snack dishes from the night before.

28 minutes.

I really have to say that having a routine like this completely liberates me.

I never have to spend an entire day cleaning.

I have a LOT of hobbies that I like to do.

Including, but not limited to:

Dollhouses

Sewing

Knitting, Crocheting, Embroidering

Just learning to make rag rugs now

Soap making

Baking

Camping

Gardening on Steroids

Being a member of a Cooking Club, BeeKeeping Club, Garden Club

and hosting a Stitching Club here every week.

Throw homeschooling into the mix, and I'm a busy girl.

Today, my schedule looked like this:

Up at 3:30. (I'm usually not up til 4:30, but Glenco had an extra early start)

Made Glen's smoothie, and packed his lunch.

Waved goodbye to him at 3:45am

Started my routine. Yes...before coffee!

Finished my routine at about 4:15am

Made coffee, had quiet time, read blogs and returned a few emails.

at 5:15am I baked muffins and cleaned up the mess.

5:50am I blogged.

6am I cleaned out a couple of drawers in the bedroom, watched the sunrise and took care of the chickens.

At 7am my friend came over and we worked out til about 7:45am.

I got myself cleaned up and dressed.

Started homeschooling at 8:15am and did that til 12:15pm

Had lunch and headed to Salvation Army in Illinois for thrifting fun and Aaron's 'Practical Skills' portion of homeschooling.

We do practical skills every Wednesday.

Once I took him to the thrift store and gave him $5 to find an outfit he'd wear.

Nice Levi jeans and an Abercrombie shirt were found - $4.50 total.

One day I told him to make sure he wore a shirt with buttons.

I cut them all off when he got here, and gave him a thread and needle.

Today, he needed to pick out furniture to 'refurbish' and use in his bedroom.

He found a pretty cool piece. I'll share that with you later.

There was a dollhouse shop in Illinois that I wanted to go to, so we headed there next, with the intention of peeking around a few minutes, and heading to the grocery store, and then heading home.

We were there for two hours.

The shop owner generously offered to give me a hands on lesson on electrifying a dollhouse.

I didn't get home until 6pm tonight.

Guess what? I didn't go grocery shopping.

I stopped at KFC and brought Glen dinner.

My schedule is a guideline, it's not written in stone.

I do what works for the day.

I wasn't going to force myself to shop tonight.

Look what I found thrifting!

Sorry for the bad pics...

This old cake cover with acorns and oak leaves! It's going to be perfect for my vintage camper AKA 'The Squirrel'

A few vintage dishes. There are two of those platters.

Love the old wire dish drainer!

Can't see the fabric too well, it's for an apron, and then an old vintage ironing board cover.

It's now 7:15m and I'm pooped. I'm hitting the couch with my afghan project and I'll crochet til I fall asleep. In about 30 minutes!

Please know that in no way am I saying you should, or you need to follow a weekly schedule.

I'm sharing this with you, as a former overwhelmed, frustrated homemaker that never wanted to have company because of what the house looked like, never felt like I had 'time' to do what I wanted to do. I never really cleaned, I just moved piles.

This routine really changed my life.

I hope you can glean something from it, that could maybe make yours better,

if you want it to be.

Tomorrow....the bedroom, and the living room!

(and grocery shopping!)

Lookin' Like a Fool With Your Pants on the Ground - Wednesday Weigh In

It's Weigh In Wednesday.

Guess what?

I'm not weighing in.

I will once a month.

Once a week is too much for me to break the cycle of dieting and worrying about my weight.

I hope I haven't disappointed any of you.

This much I know.

I'm lookin' like a fool with my pants on the ground.

Since I've made an American Idol reference, was it just me, or was last night rather lame?

The new jeans that I bought for the Pioneer Woman book signing event are laughably large.

I could shoplift in them.

Carry my groceries home in them.

I thought about trying to take them in, but thought I'd end up with one big pocket in the back, so off they go to Goodwill, or maybe they'll end up in a rag rug. I hate to do that to them, they are still so new.

I wish I could say that this has been 'a piece of cake', easy peasy, no problemo.

It's been tough.

I've nearly cried at times.

I'm not hungry.

But I want to eat.

I still haven't figured out why, unless it's just the habit of nibbling constantly.

Last night, I wasn't hungry for supper.

I'd made dilled new potatoes.

I wanted supper.

I didn't eat any, cause I wasn't truly hungry.

*(@&#*$@)()@#$*&@#($&

It's NOT easy.

I'm not perfect with it.

But I'm SO much happier.

My mind isn't so preoccupied with 'what will I eat today, what will I not eat today'.

I no longer think 'oh you did bad today Jayme', or 'wow, you did great today Jayme'.

I just ate when I was hungry.

It's almost like thinking....'geez, you just really breathed too much today', or 'you really need to breathe more'.

Bad analogy, I know, but you get the picture.

Food should just be what it is. Something to make us not hungry. Something to sustain our life.

That's all I've got on this subject today.

The Frugalicious Domesticity continues today.

Menu planning was yesterday's post in case you missed it.

Today is grocery shopping and the bathroom.

Riveting. :-D

Frugalicous Domesticity - Menu Planning and The Office

I went to bed last night very worried that I may have come across as some one with OCD, ADD and a slew of other undiagnosed illnesses with acronyms.

I'm just me.

What's a girl to do.

Today I did my usual morning routine. Today's room to 'clean' was the office.

What I'm becoming painfully aware of since starting this post, is that I'm really not happy with a few of the rooms in my home. I'm going to have to do some decorating. I haven't done that in quite some time.

The 'office' is what I call this room, because the computer and the check book reside here. If I ever get a laptop, I'll use this as a sewing room. This room is used for everything. Utility room, pantry, storage, office, etc. It's the most cluttered room I have, but it just sort of has to be.

I enter, and work my way around, dusting, wiping windowsills, emptying the trash.

I vacuum this room when I do the rest of the house.

Oh, go ahead and laugh at the map on the wall. It still doesn't help me know where I live.

It's a cool old Rand McNally map.

There's nothing fancy going on around here folks. Form is following function.

These old shelves were here when we moved in, and I'm glad I kept them. I just repainted them a couple of weeks ago.

Today my morning routine of chicken tending, house vacuuming, bed making and cleaning the office took 36 minutes.

Then I planned my menu.

I don't time this.

This is a pleasure to me.

A few thoughts on cooking, meal planning and the like.

I really enjoy it.

I know there are lot of you out there that would rather be tarred and feathered.

I really can't think of anything to say to change your mind, or to help you.

So, if you are reading this, and you can think of something to tell someone that doesn't like to cook, please leave a comment!

What I eat is important to me. Ya'll know my food issues, all too well.

Food evokes emotion for me.

I love people with food.

Comforting casseroles in the winter, cool crisp salads in the summer, such are the things life is made of.

I keep thinking of when my parents were in their last year of life, and we had to put them in a nursing home (can't even talk about that), I would see what they ate. I found it so sad that food was just presented to them, like it or not, it's what's for dinner. No choice in the matter.

I mentioned to Glen once how sad I found that, saying

"Can you imagine not having any choice in your meals?"

He replied..

"You mean, like me?"

Why I oughta.

So I guess I feel that there is a day coming in my life, where I may not get to eat what I enjoy, so dad gum it, I'm gonna do it now.

As with a cleaning routine, I find that a menu planning and shopping routine make life so much more simple and stress-free.

I begin by making my grocery list, and sorting it by department.

Fruits & Veggies/Dairy/Meat/Canned Goods/Boxed Goods/Frozen/Misc.

I like to try and follow the layout of the store. I hate making a random list and having to look over the whole list while your in the produce aisle, only to miss something and have to back track.

I hate grocery store backtracking!

I actually have a binder that I keep notebook paper in, and it's tabbed, and my life is rather organized in it. Under the menu planning/shopping menu, I keep this sheet. It's a good reminder of some things that may need to be re-stocked when I go shopping.

I then sit with cookbooks, and my binders of recipes and choose the week's meals. Now, don't freak out, but I rarely make the same thing twice in one year. I don't know why, I just like trying new recipes constantly. Now, I might make chili four or five times, but it will always be a different recipe for chili.

These are the binders I have in the pantry. As I find recipes online, or in magazines, I print them out, tear them out and file them in the appropriate binder for future use. If I LOVE it, then that recipe gets transferred into the Recipe Keeper folder.

If I don't like it, I pitch it.

Please know that I make this alot harder than it needs to be. Please reference first sentence of this blog post.

So here I sit, sipping tea, pouring over recipes. It's 'me' time. I don't like to rush it.

I do have a little method to my madness.

I follow this guideline:

Soup and Bread Night

Sandwich Night

Pasta Night

Asian Inspired Night

Mexican Inspired Night

'Classic' Night

Casserole Night

It's not written in stone, but it helps me jump start the menu plan, and insure that we aren't eating beef or chicken every night. It mixes it up.

I also bake a lot.

This is what's on the menu for the week:

Black Beans w/Rice & Salad

Beef Tacos w/ Chips and Salsa (I make my own chips and salsa)

Vegetarian Chili with Cornbread

Chicken Florentine Panini & Salad

Little Travelers Chopped Salad (a salad with bacon and pasta)

Asian Beef Wraps with Spring Rolls

Pioneer Woman's Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans and Biscuits

I'll be baking:

Cranberry Scones

The Best Cookies in the World

Three Day Coconut Cake

Aunt Donna's Broccoli Bread

Bagels

Ciabatta

Sandwich Bread

Misc things I'll cook:

Pioneer Woman's Cowboy Calzones

Biscuits and Gravy

Italian Breakfast Casserole

MeMa's Cream Cheese Jello Salad

Baked Beans

This is what it looks like when I'm all done.

I have a sheet with the menu for the week.

A sheet to take to the store.

My recipes are filed in the pocket of my binder.

I don't try and follow a budget per se.

I do buy store brands.

I shop at Aldi for the most part, and finish up at the regular store.

Tomorrow, when I go shopping, I will report to you how much was spent.

Shannan, at Flower Patch Farm Girl has some great meal planning and budget posts here under her food label. Scroll down a few blogs and you'll find her meal planning posts.

Good stuff.

Frugalicous Domesticity - Kitchen and Laundry

My laundryroom.

Ya, in my dreams! Be honest, didn't you just hate me for a minute?

What'd I'd give for that room. I'd be looking for things to wash.

Today we'll talk about laundry and cleaning the kitchen.

Two of my favorite things.

I really enjoy the routine of laundry, and the feeling of having it all done and put away. Order has been restored, and Glenco won't have to wear a pair of my panties to work. I love the smells of laundry, and the clacking of zippers in the dryer. I also enjoy ironing. I do find domestic work most enjoyable. I really believe it's because I have a routine, and there is something so comforting in a routine. If I could go as far as saying, I believe it's our domestic routines that make a house a home.

You are about to see something that friends I've had for years have never seen.

The bowels of the 1869 farmhouse.

My laundry room.

I'm in the process of trying to 'fix it up' the best I can. I'll be painting the walls.

I found those frames at a yard sale for .50 each.

I think it could look cool.

I won't fork over money for a nice washer and dryer.

I could, I just won't.

Not for this small intestine of a laundry room.

The image you are about to see is hardcore frugality.

You've been warned.

It's redneck, it's Green Acres, it's, it's....

It's frugalicious.

My homemade drying rack.

I mean, come on, there's a perfectly good heating vent there going to waste.

I sure can use the humidity.

I feel a bit like Alice Cramden from the Honeymooners, but I laugh all the way to the bank baby.

I've realized that I can't use the 'pin' type clothespins. I can only use the spring type.

It's akin to the cotton ball. The pin clothespins squeak.

I've been making my own laundry soap. I'll post the 'recipe' at the bottom of the page.

I do like it.

I like the smell.

I don't have super dirty clothes, so I'm afraid I can't report on how effective it is on grease, and ground in dirt.

It's frugalicious.

I have enough Snuggle left for a few more loads of laundry and then I'm switching to vinegar.

This is a tough one folks.

I'm not sure I can make it.

I really admonish you to try the laundry soap recipe. It's SO much cheaper than buying your own. There are also recipes out there for liquid if you prefer it. I personally like the powder. I really love that I'm not buying those big plastic bottles anymore.

I also encourage you to do all of your laundry on one day, instead of 'a load here and there'. I suppose you should do what works for you, but assess if what you are doing is working for you. Do you have clothes baskets full of clean, hopefully folded laundry sitting around more often than not? Does your clothes sour in the washer cause you forgot to put them in the dryer? I find it easy to throw a load in while I'm home, and keep going until I'm done. Done means, it's put away. Right? You put it away, right? You don't use your dryer as a closet do you? I'll be talking more about clothes when we venture into the bedroom later this week.

I like that Monday is laundry day, and it all gets done and put away, and I don't give laundry another thought until the next Monday.

Disclaimer * I don't have a house full of messy kids* I'll give you that.

Let's move on to the kitchen.

I set the timer today whilst I did my chores.

I really wanted to see how long it took me to do my things, you know...make the bed, vacuum, feed the chickens, scoop kitty poop, spot clean the bathroom and do my weekly cleaning of the kitchen.

Did you know I'm building a dollhouse?

Of course you didn't.

I've never told you.

I love miniatures.

I can't begin talking about it now, because I won't stop.

I had this dollhouse spread all over the island last night, and paint was drying, so I let it set overnight, so I did have this extra mess to clean up, and put back on the floor. I really have NO idea where I'm going to put this beast when I'm done with it.

I'm using pictures of the kitchen that I took last fall, just cause I didn't see any need to re-take photos. The fall decorations aren't up anymore...so please look past turkeys, pumpkins, etc.

I've really pared my decorations down, so that cleaning is easy.

I always, always start in one corner of the room, and start from the top down. I have my all purpose spray cleaner out, and a small bucket of soapy water and a rag. I begin. Let me add one thing here, I work as fast as I can. Why? Why not? Do you want to spend all day cleaning? Why dilly dally?

I always start in this corner where the hutch is. I wipe down all the shelves, except the very top one. I take things off as I wipe, and put them right back. About a minute, or two tops is spent here. The very top shelf...heck, no one sees it, so I like dust it once a month, if that.

This area is next. That shelf only gets wiped every other week, and the items on it.

The bench, gets cleaned every week. The picture, which is now hung up, gets dusted, and the chalkboard. The windows on the door get washed, and the door itself is wiped down.

This area is next.

I wipe the shelves off every week, alternating, top and bottom. This week I wiped the bottom shelf, next week I'll wipe the top shelf. It's much faster than you can imagine. I don't remove everything and replace it. I pick up the bowls, wipe, replace, pick up the toaster, wipe, replace...etc.

I really have to fight the urge to re-arrange things while I'm cleaning, as I've never really been happy with this counter area. It's completely different now than in these pics a few months ago!

I do remove everything off the counters, and give them a good scrubbing. I run a dishpan of hot soapy water and put the stove burners in to soak. Once every few weeks I'll wash the fronts of the cabinets. I wipe the bathroom door. Those old doors collect a lot of dust.

Now I move to the fridge and stove area.

While the burners are soaking in the soapy water, I wash the front, side and top of the stove. Everything on the shelf above the stove gets washed, the shelf gets washed. The side cabinet gets wiped down and everything on it. I clean the front and sides of the fridge. I'm really picky about my fridge. I don't like things sitting on top of it, (like cereal boxes) nor do I like things like magnets, pictures, etc. It looks cluttered to me, and it makes it harder to clean. I only clean the very top of the fridge about once a month. It's just cause I'm lazy.

About every other week, I do empty the fridge and wash it down with a bleachy solution.

Fridges are breeding grounds for bacteria.

Just do it.

Now I move on to my favorite piece of furniture ever, the black cabinet that my cousin made for me. I wipe the top of it off, and dust what's on there. I make sure that my cookbooks are in order, and that the bowls, etc, are neat.

Next, I do the island. A good wipe down, top and bottom.

Then I wash the light fixture over it.

After washing and replacing the stove burners, I put on a big pot of water to boil, and scrub the sinks out. I pour boiling water slowly down the drains.

Vacuum.

Mop.

Badda bing, badda boom.

Sounds like a lot, doesn't it?

Trust me, I'm not even that great of a cleaner.

I did all my morning chores, including chickens, bunny, whole house vacuum (except the upstairs), made the bed, spot cleaned the bathroom, and did all the above in the kitchen in...

Fifty seven minutes.

Mondays are my longest days too. The rest of the rooms are a piece of cake.

That takes care of the cleaning.

What about the clutter?

I have a bit to say on that, and I truly hope that I don't step on any toes here.

I was a pack rat.

I was a gadget girl.

I was a 'I might need this one day' kinda gal.

Girls, just throw it away.

If it's chipped? Bye bye.

If it's a plastic cup with a super hero on it? Adios!

If you didn't even remember you had it? Seriously? Freecycle baby.

Exactly how many travel mugs do you need?

I challenge you to go to the kitchen right now, and throw away ten things.

Ten.

Things.

Now.

Do it.

Be careful about 'one use' gadgets.

Alton Brown, my favorite Food Network guy, whom I've had the pleasure of meeting (and is seriously the nicest guy ever) says 'Death to Unitaskers'.

Do you really need an egg separator?

Do you really need all those gadgets that are only good for one job in the kitchen? They are such space robbers. A cluttered kitchen is difficult to clean, difficult to work in, and just not nice to look at.

I got rid of my bread maker years ago. It took up so much room! That's why God gave me hands! I never liked the texture of the bread anyhow. That bread machine took up so much room.

I know there are some of you reading this, that don't need it one bit. You have your kitchen just the way you like it, and it works, and you're happy.

I know there are some of you that sorta need this, and you can do a little better.

I also know there are some of you that desperately need this, and feel hopeless and overwhelmed, and can't ever imagine a moment where there are no dishes in the sink or Cheerios on the floor.

Take heart.

Be encouraged.

Take one corner at a time.

Clean your fridge out. Work hard to keep it clean thereafter.

Take one cabinet at a time.

Try not to let sentimentality, or 'I might need this one day' thinking take over.

That's what got you in this mess in the first place.

About twice a year, I do go through all of my cabinets, and if I haven't used something, it gets tossed. I can't allow clutter to accumulate again. It's at that time that I wash all the drawers out, and move the stove and fridge to clean.

Try instituting a routine into your life that works for you. Maybe you can glean something from my routine that will help you. If anything, maybe you'll be inspired to just try a little bit harder, or work a little bit faster.

Frugalicious domesticity isn't just about saving money. It's about saving time too. Time to me, is much more precious than money. I can always get more money.

My time, once gone, is gone forever.

I do not want to live my life with an attitude of frustration over the house, which will then spill over to my family, as I act like I'm doing them a favor to cook them supper, or do their laundry. My time, not spent wisely, robs them of time with me. Time laughing, time walking, time dreaming, or time just spent being.

It's just too big of a price for me to pay, to live cluttered up, feeling overwhelmed, hopeless and helpless.

Apron up girls!

Simplify.

You'll be so glad you did.

Oops...almost forgot the soap recipe....now that I'm off my soapbox, here it is...I'm just posting the link for you, cause you can print it off this website much easier than you can here.

It's from the Duggar's, it's the third recipe down.

http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html

Frugalicous Domesticity

Good Morning!

Starting today, we will have a week long series entitled

"Frugalicious Domesticity"

Oh how I love to say that.

I've been trying to re-write the words to Fergie's 'Fergalicious', but I'm finding it a challenge since the words are nonsensical.

"I'm F, to the R, to the U, to the G A L, boy I'm thrifty...."

What does 'Frugalicious Domesticity' mean?

It will mean something different to everyone, I'm sure.

To me it means:

Using my time and resources to my best abilities.

Doing my domestic chores with vigor and delight.

Looking cute while doing it.

Being the CEO of my home.

Making home the best place to be.

Today we will cover the kitchen, and the laundry. We'll go room by room in your house and talk about decluttering, cleaning and establishing routines.

We'll cover menu planning, and grocery shopping.

I hope you will join me!

If you would, please leave a comment and give me your definition of 'Frugalicious Domesticity'

Check back later today for the first installment!

Why Me?.....You People

Why Me?

and

You People.

Don't those words have a negative connotation?

I'm here to change that.

Most people use the phrase Why Me? to express a complaint of unfairness.

I'm saying Why Me? as in,

Why am I so blessed?

You people.

When I worked at the DMV, or, the BMV as we in IN call it, I dreaded hearing 'you people', it was never good.

Never.

I'm saying 'you people' as in you - my readers and friends.

How did I ever find 'you people'?

You people are wonderful.

Since I began blogging almost a year ago, I've found the most wonderful people and re-connected with childhood friends.

I've been humbled by the kindness of strangers.

The generous spirit of women.

I'm incredibly grateful.

Here are just a few examples of what I mean:

Cindy at Cottage Instincts.

After just a few emails back and forth, we became fast friends. Her generosity, creativity and insight are wonderful. She stopped by here one day in late November with her husband on their way back from Chicago. She lives a bit south of me. Or is it East of me? Southeast?

The day I saw this photo, I called and made a hair appointment.

Can you say 'flat iron'?

We have some fun shenanigans planned in the near future.

Then there is this Sindy.

You've no idea how I've confused Aaron with these two girls, and given that his mom's name is Cindy, he really had no idea who I was talking about at times.

The picture says it all....that girl is a flat out nut.

She is south of me, a few hours. Right? South, right?

I'm incredibly directionally challenged.

I really can't begin to tell you how much I enjoy your emails and comments. You guys crack me up to no end, touch my heart, encourage and inspire me so much.

This is what put me over the top today with gratitude.

In a recent post where I lamented over using paper towels, Beverly graciously offered to send me some rags to use for a paper towel substitute.

Look what I found in the box.

Look at that tag.

#9? She doesn't miss anything.

So incredibly sweet.

The bee paper? Ack! I'm too old for this. It made me leak a little with excitement.

This isn't what was in the bee paper...but look at these great rags.

THIS is what was in the bee paper.

Stop it.

Don't you love this!?

All the seams were finished like this, no raw edges. The sign of something sewn very well.

There were little vintage touches all over the apron, and would you look at that fabric?

Dancing chickens and eggs!?

Beverly, you are too much.

I'm speechless.

Again, I ask.

Why me?

You people.

In completely unrelated news, Jinksie still has testicles.

I'm confused.

He has a tattoo in his ear to show he's neutered.

Did my cat have a vasectomy?

Chicago French Market

Perhaps you noticed that Aaron's PW recipe review was missing.

Perhaps you didn't.

We hitched up the wagon and went to town again yesterday.

The big town.

Chicago.

Aaron's been learning about France, and I wanted to do something 'French' with him, so we went to the French Market that recently opened in Chicago.

I told him he has to cook Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon next.

He's thinkin' I'm jokin.

I wanted to share some of the photos from yesterday. I get really camera shy out in public.

I want a T-shirt for me that says "I'm a Blogger" and one for Aaron that says,

"Stop Staring, I'm Homeschooled" Everyone looks at him like 'shouldn't that boy be in school?'

Gypsy Bacon? Does anyone know what Gypsy bacon is?

The market was full of vegetables and fruits, some organic, some not. Reasonably priced I thought. I got sweet red peppers for .99 a pound.

I loved loved loved this sign.

It was for a bread bakery.

"Bee Good" is their motto.

I'm drawn to anything bee related at the moment.

Homemade soaps.

Another thing I love, and used to make.

Gotta get that going again.

Gelato.

Another thing to add to my 'roll in naked' list.

How cute is this?

And this?

And this??

Aaron got a Vietnamese Pork Meatball Sandwich.

Hello Aaron...France....remember France?

What's with the sandwich?

My friend Barbara, always the adventurous eater got something called

"The Frenchman"

It had duck confit on it. Gack. Duck con-not-fit to eat is what I'd say.

I opted for a buckwheat crepe that had smoked turkey, swiss cheese, pesto, bacon and some greens. It was pretty good. I had a really hard time picking what to eat. Nothing really looked good to me.

These little jars of honey were adorable. $12 for about a cup of artisanal honey.

Wow.

I can't wait to get bees.

I fear I didn't really capture the spirit of the market. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and enjoying time with Aaron and my friend. It was a fun way to spend an hour or so, but not really something you should drive all the way to Chicago to see. If you are there, I'd say go! It's 131 N. Clinton. If you are an hour away from Chicago, like me, I say, stay home in your 'lounge wear' and knit.

I came home with four red peppers, a half a pound of sea scallops (for Glen, I wouldn't touch them), some fresh dill and cilantro. I wanted to buy a lot of things, but I just wouldn't fork over the money for it. $7 Ciabatta? I can make that. Jams, Jellies, soaps, etc...I can make those too!

Do you ever find yourself in that situation, or do you just buy it and enjoy it, and remember the fun day you had when you got it?

Curious minds want to know.