Have a Vacation

I'll be gone this weekend, and I'm sure all of you will be busy with fun things too, so I'm declaring it Housework-Free Weekend. (Ha! Like that could ever happen!) But, let's pretend anyway. Instead of housework, we all need to get a really good book, fill a tub with extra warm water, and soak our worries away.

It's the Little Things

Aubrey gave me these kitchen towels for Christmas, and they really brighten up my kitchen! It's fun that you can add one little new thing and it all feels different. These are Martha Stewart from KMart, by the way. There are lots of darling sets of kitchen towels there.

A Little Advice

Today we ALL are going to share at least one little bit of home-keeping wisdom that we have discovered. It doesn't have to be anything big, and it can be something that you think everyone already knows... because sometimes we really don't! Who knows, we all might learn something that will really help us!

Merry Christmas, Girls!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, full of Christ, full of family, home, and love!

Love, Mindy

We are All Servants

Homemaking is a sacred calling. It is not just something that can be accomplished with a quick sweep and a wipe. A homemaker has a purpose for the things she does: to show care and concern for the people she is responsible for. We are all servants, no matter what work we do, and it is a much lighter task if we are serving the ones we love and who love us back, and who will be with us to honor our special days, and care about us in return when we have times of illness or need extra help.

Lady Lydia

The Laundry Quandry

I like a task that I can start and finish in the same block of time. I think this is what I find so frustrating with laundry. There are several time-consuming steps that drag it on seemingly forever. Sort, wash, dry, fold, put away. For years I've stalled during one or more steps. How many times have you started a load of laundry--with the best of intentions--and then rewashed it the next day because it never got moved to the dryer. Or how about the chair that is never available for sitting because it is always full of laundry--not the same load all the time, but always full, nevertheless.

,

Laundry was my least favorite household chore for so long. I still struggle with it from time to time, but thanks to a goal I set about a year ago, and Shout dye-catchers, I have learned a routine I want to share. I have my setbacks and sometimes I have to resort to a good old-fashioned marathon day of laundry, but more than half the time now, I am "caught up" with my laundry. Lest you think I'm special because of this accomplishment, let me assure you that I still struggle with bathrooms, closet organization, and my catch-all storage room. First, you must catch up on your laundry. This might mean a trip to the laundromat or a day devoted to little else besides laundry. Once you're caught up, you can then move into the system. As soon as everyone has showered in the morning (I don't want to ruin someone's shower with hot or cold surges), I put in a load of laundry. With six people in my family, I have a load every day. The great invention of a Shout dye catcher is a life saver. You can throw one sheet into each load and it keeps darks from coloring the whites. Things can be washed all together. (If something bright has never been washed before, I will not wash it with the load.) This makes it so that all of the dirty clothes can be washed together. It also makes it so that the loads aren't huge. They dry faster and are easier to get folded and put away--something I try to do immediately on the completion of each step. Two or three days a week, I'll do a second load of sheets, towels or bathroom rugs. This had made keeping up with the laundry well worth the 20 cents that the dye catcher costs.

Give it a try. During the times that I am caught up with my laundry, I feel freer and more organized. If you have any other great ideas on the subject of laundry, let me know. It makes me feel like I'm a better wife and mom when my family doesn't have to ask if there are clean socks or jeans for them to wear.

Happy Washing!

What Do You Girls Think?

I've had a couple of you ask if I made the cute aprons that I've been posting, and the answer to that is no (they're from the 1940s aprons link to the left), BUT I would like to. I have actually been thinking it would be really fun to make aprons to sell. Do you think people would buy them? Do you think it could be a somewhat profitable business? Does anyone have experience selling things like that? Would it be best to sell them exclusively online, or try to get them in boutiques? Is it even worth trying?

I've always loved aprons, especially old ones. My mom has 2 that I have always loved. One is green gingham with black rickrack, and the other is a pink floral print. I don't know how old they are, but my mom has had them as long as I can remember, and I don't ever remember them being new. I was thinking it would be fun to make really old fashioned aprons, possibly even tea dyeing some to make them look antique.

Melissa's Cinnamon Rolls... I Made Them!

I made Melissa's Cinnamon Rolls that she posted awhile ago, and they were so disgusting that I had to FORCE myself to eat 6 of them since yesterday evening. My family hates them so much, that they keep begging for just one more... since they like punishment. I'll probably make them again and again, just to build character.

Playing House

Have you ever wondered how some women manage to make their homes feel so wonderful? One way is to have company often. When you do this, you increase your own appreciation of your home. Another way is to combine the old with the new in furnishings and decorations. Another way is to live in your home. Signs of life in the home include lit candles, soft music, something on the stove or in the oven with a wonderful aroma, crafts, art and needlework projects ready to be picked up and worked on at any time, and flowers growing by the front door. A house feels more like a home when there is someone there. Even if it is just you, the homemaker, all by yourself, you can tell the difference. With your puttering and improving and cleaning and even "playing house," it has a feeling of love in it.

Lady Lydia

"It is a lazy mother that makes her child's bed."

~Anonymous

Hey all you homemakers and mothers out there. I'm sending out a 'HOLLA' to all of you. I don't feel like I'm properly teaching my kids in the department of housekeeping/housework. I feel that I'm doing them (and me) a disservice. They generally don't pick up after themselves without a lot of encouragement, and they usually aren't responsible for their own stuff. (I have an 8 year old girl, twin 6 year old girls, a 2 1/2 year old girl and a baby boy f.y.i.). I would like some advice. I have tried many, many techniques & incentive programs to try to implement chores, basic upkeep, and responsibility in such matters. I know I shouldn't pick up after them. Although I believe this, I am weary of nagging them. Any ideas?

The Art of Puttering

The Art of Puttering: Puttering around the house is one of the most relaxing things you can do. It is not the same as cleaning, working or keeping house. It is a quiet, unhurried method of doing things at random just to make home a nicer place. Puttering consists of watering plants, moving decorative items on a coffee table, rearranging books, adding doilies in creative ways, replacing the color of your candles or putting out a fresh bouquet of flowers. Updating your photographs and placing them in a different grouping is also puttering. Puttering is a non-pressured way of beautifying your home. You can discover your own creativity while puttering. Puttering is putting things here and there, taking things away, standing back and looking, then determining what is the most pleasing. When you begin to feel tension, take a few minutes just to putter.This is not to be confused with being idle and useless, however, as putterers will tell you.

Lady Lydia

Do YOUR Best

We each do the best we can. My best may not be as good as your best, but it's my best. The fact is that we know when we are doing our best and when we are not. If we are not doing our best, it leaves us with a gnawing hunger and frustration. But when we do our level best, we experience a peace.

Marjorie Hinckley

A Favorite Cartoon of Mine

I wanted to contribute a funny cartoon as well! I think I actually know some people like this!

-erin

-Belicia

Saturday's Reflection

I’m not going to vacuum until Sears makes one you can ride on.

Rosanne Barr*

*(NOT someone I look up to, but I thought it was funny. ;)

Housework

Okay, so those of you who know me, you know that I can out craft any of you but, I have an awful time with the house work. I need some ideas on how to stay on task. I will start cleaning up but then I take something to another room and i start something new in that room. By the end of the day I have started cleaning every room but not finished one of them. I really need help because my christmas tree trimming extras are still sitting in front of the tree that was put up and decorated 2 weeks ago. I need motivation and a way to stay on task. I you gals have any ideas please post them.

Gifts for Girls

Aubrey needs an idea of a Christmas gift she can give to her friends. (12 year old girls) We need ideas that are cheap, fast, easy, and cute!! It can be store bought, or homemade... it just needs to meet the criteria. Any ideas?

Items of Business

This has been so much fun so far! I love that we're getting ideas and sharing with each other. I just wanted to let everyone know that if you have a favorite homemaking website, email me the link, or post it here, and I'll put it on the favorite links at the side. (I will get to yours soon, Brenda!)

Also, if you have friends or family who would love to contribute, let me know their email addresses, and I'll invite them.

If you have anything you want to add to this blog, please do! I am not the boss here, this is for all of us! Feel free to post whatever you'd like, including a "Reflection" or whatever you want to call it. If you'd like anything added to the sides, just let me know! I'm open to any suggestions. I just want this to be helpful to all of us, and most of all, I want us all to have fun here!

Friday's Reflection

The only advantage of not being too good a housekeeper is that your guests are so pleased to feel how very much better they are.

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Gumdrop Trees

I know Hannah was asking about an easy Christmas craft that was kid friendly, and my kids and I did this one today.

It was pretty easy for both my kids (the 10 and 4 year olds). All I did was go buy a couple styrofoam trees and a big bag of gumdrops. Then we used toothpicks to stick the gumdrops into the tree. I had to help Kevin a little bit. He could do all of it on his own, but to make it go a bit faster, I suck the toothpicks in gumdrops for him, and then he pushed them into the tree. We cut the toothpicks in half, and that made it a little bit easier. The full toothpicks were a little bit too long.

Our Family CHRISTMAS Book

Are you looking for a soft place for your Christmas cards to fall? If you are like me and you have a hard time throwing away photo cards and some of the gorgeous Christmas cards that come every year...then here is an idea for you. I found it in the Ensign last year. I had a stack of photo cards and a select few beautiful cards that I had saved over the years. I started stashing them into this Christmas album for our family to look through each year. I don't like wasting time or money on scrapbooking. Some whole cards ended up being the backdrop of a page. I also cut out designs, pictures, or words from cards which then became embellishments. I also included some photo sleeves to stick in family Christmas photos from parties or Christmas morning. Combining some white cardstock I already had, other scraps of paper I already had, grabbing a glue stick & scissors...I had this cranked out in no time...and didn't spend one dime on it. I love how it turned out. When I got my Christmas stuff out this year, there was the Christmas book waiting for us to look through. It is fun to see how much people have changed over the years and to read meaningful messages from those we love. Merry Christmas, homemakers!

White Hot Chocolate

I don't like brown chocolate so much so when i saw this recipe in Parenting magazine I just had to try it. It tastes so good and is so fast and easy to make, this recipe is only enough for 1 person.
1-3/4 cups milk divided
1/2 cup white-chocolate chips
whipped topping
Blue sugar crystals and sprinkles
In a small saucepan, heat 1/4 cup milk and white-chocolate chips over med. heat, whisking until chocolate melts. Stir in remaining milk and heat to warm. Pour into 2 or 3 glasses (I think it's only enough for 1). Garnish with whipped topping and blue sugar crystals and sprinkles.
-Belicia

Wednesday's Reflection

I'm sorry, I just couldn't do any sort of upbeat thought. Every dish in my house is dirty, nobody has any clean clothes to wear, we can't shower, and everything is a mess. We're having sewer drainage problems. If you want to read details, read my blog.

Homemade Christmas

This past weekend we had our family Christmas party, the one for Travis' family anyway. Each year a different sibling is in charge. Last year was our year and we started something that may turn into a tradition. I was really frustrated with spending so much money on presents for our extended family when I didn't have the money for my own kids' Christmas, let alone Christmas for all of them too. So anyway, we decided to make presents for everyone rather than buy a present for just one person. I thought I'd share a few ideas from last year as well as this year; I love it!

Last year one sister-in-law collected holiday recipes from everyone and put them in a flip recipe book with laminated pages. Another bought a picture frame with three photo spots and bought vinyl lettering to say "Live Well ... Laugh Often ... Love Much" and tied a ribbon to hang it from. Our other sister-in-law made little photo brag books that we just had to add pictures to. Oh, each year I make a Sorensen Family Calendar. I must admit that this year's was the best yet!

This year we came home with a homemade apron, even Tillie got one. A wall hanging that says God (star) Family (star) Country, one that says S. Claus and Co, Fine Toy Makers. A little sleigh that says Merry Christmas. And the highlight for us was a collection of letters, some nearly 100 years old, between my husbands great-grandfather and his future wife. I could count how many time I've seen Travis cry but this definately brought tears to his eyes!

I should take some pictures and add. It works out that we spend about the same that we used to when buying for one sibling and his parents. But we are giving out 5 gifts instead. But each thing is more meaningful and they get used!!

As a side note: We made hand dipped chocolates this year!! My sister-in-law and her husband prepared the filling previous, about 8 different flavors. We dipped in milk, dark and white chocolate, as well as nuts, coconut, cocoa... We also drizzled chocolate on toffee, gummy worms, peppermints... It was a lot of fun and we have about 5 boxes of chocolates (after eating a few) in our fridge! If anyone is interested in a recipe let me know and I'll get it from her!

I love this time of year!

Tuesday's Reflection

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

they shall run, and not be weary;

and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Treat recipes

I found this recipe in my Gooseberry Patch cookbook, so I haven't actually tried it out yet, but it sounds really cute.

Christmas Wreaths
30 marshmallows
1/2 cup margarine
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tsp. green food coloring
3 1/2 cups corn flake cereal
Garnish: maraschino cherries

Heat marshmallows, margarine, vanilla and food coloring in a double boiler until marshmallows melt. Spread cornflake cereal on a baking sheet and carefully pour marshmallow mixture over cereal. Blend well and as mixture cools, form in wreath shapes. Add whole or sliced cherries on top to resemble holly berries. Makes about 2 dozen.

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I was thinking instead of maraschino cherries, you could also use red hot candies, or other things like that. Also, if you want to make things easier, just make rice crispy treats, and then shape those into wreaths, or Christmas trees, angels, etc.

Here's another recipe I saw on the Ellen show. It sounds kind of weird, but they seemed to think it tasted good. Plus, you mix it with your hands, which would be good for a kid friendly treat, maybe.

Chocolate Cheese Fudge
1/2 pound Velveeta cheese, sliced
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped nuts
Two 16-ounce packages confectioner's sugar
1/2 cup cocoa

Melt cheese and butter together over medium heat in saucepan.
Remove from heat, add vanilla and nuts.
Sift together sugar and cocoa in large bowl. Add cheese mixture. Use hands for final mixing!
Remove candy from bowl with hands and roll into balls.
Refrigerate for 30 minutes and enjoy!

On the show they put skewers in the fudge balls, and then rolled them in nuts (I think it was), to make it a little more fancy.

Pumpkin Pie!

I made pumpkin pies today, since this Thanksgiving I was in the middle of moving, and didn't make the traditional 500 pies. Okay, so I don't usually make 500, but I think I made 10 one year... apple, cherry, pumpkin... a few of each. I just think pies are so pretty! That is one of those homemaking things that I feel a real sense of accomplishment with. I could look at a pretty pie forever! I don't know how these pies taste yet... but I'm betting they're delicious!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I love Christmas wreaths! I could put them everywhere. This one is on our "other" front door. I love how it looks against the red door with the old knocker.

Sorry this picture is blurry... I was trying to trick the camera into taking a light picture instead of a dark one. That worked, but it was blurry. Anyway, there's our tree.. the first year with a fake one. I enjoyed not having to put lights on, and it is a really nice tree. You can also see the wreath in the window. I have always loved wreaths in windows, ever since I put them up in our 100 year old house in Newton. It's so fun to have cute windows again!

I have had these jars empty for years, and haven't been able to decide what to put in them. I got inspiration when I came across the big old fashioned candy canes at the cutest little shop called Goosebumps. I put those in one jar, and went in search of different old fashioned candies for the other jars. Not a lot of variety... but I think it turned out cute!

Christmas Craft

Here's a cute, quick little Christmas craft if anyone is interested. It's the only nativity I have and I love it!

Supplies:
Wooden star
yellow paint
wire
straw/hay/raffia stuff
3 clothes pin dolls/ wood people
3 scraps of fabric
hot glue

It's not rocket science. The picture gives you all the instructions you need. I made mine at a primary activity with a bunch of 3 year olds. They can't help with the glue gun, of course, but they loved wrapping wire around the star and putting the straw down in the hot glue, etc.

Christmas treats

So I don't really have anything amazing to share with you. I was actually wondering if anyone had any cute, simple and inexpensive Christmas craft or treat ideas. I am in the mood to make something and even better if I can do it with Molly, my 2 year old. So if you have any let me know.

Monday's Reflection

As you create a home, don't get distracted with a lot of things that have no meaning for either you or your family. Don't dwell on your failures, but think about your successes.

-Marjorie Hinckley

Sunday's Reflection

Life, believe, is not a dream

So dark, as sages say;

Oft a little morning rain

Foretells a pleasant day.

-Charlotte Bronte

Cinnamon Rolls, this is for you Mindy

So Mindy I tried out the mashed potato cinnamon rolls and they're the best I've ever made, not that they had much competition. It's Patti's recipe and she said potato pearls work great, I used instant potatoes which was much easier than the real thing. Also I left out the raisins and walnuts cuz they're gross. Anyhow, here's the recipe.

Cinnamon Roll
2 pkg dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups milk, scalded
1/2 cup shortening
7 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup potatoes, mashed
2eggs, slightly beaten
2 teaspoons salt
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
Butter, melted
Cinnamon
Sugar

Soften yeast in warm water. Let stand 10 minutes. Pour hot milk over shortening. Cool to lukewarm. Stir in 4 cups flour, sugar, mashed potatoes, eggs, salt and dissolved yeast. Combine 1 cup flour, raisins and chopped walnuts in a separate bowl. Stir into dough. Slowly add remaining flour as needed to make a soft dough. Cover. Let rise until double. Divide dough in half. Roll into a 1/2" thick rectangle. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Starting with long side, roll up jelly roll style. Press edges. Cut in 1" slices. Place on greased cookie sheet. Cover. Let rise until double in bulk. Bake at 350* for 20 minutes. Ice. Yield: 2 to 2 1/2 dozen rolls.

Friday's Reflection

Stick to a task,

'Til it sticks to you.

Beginners are many,

Finishers are few.

-Anonymous

Hard to Decorate

I'm finding my living room/kitchen/dining room area very hard to decorate. (It's all one room, by the way) I like all the stuff I have, but it just doesn't seem to flow. That may very well be because I kind of just hung stuff where the previous owner already had nails. I haven't really spent a lot of time figuring out where things would look best. I also have a lot of smaller pictures that I haven't hung up yet, that I don't quite know what to do with. I need help! I think the fact that it's all one big room doesn't help, and the vaulted ceilings make things hard too, at least for me. And then everything is one bland color--off white walls, beige carpet, beige tile, beige countertops, light wood cabinets.


Here are a few of the smaller pictures that I have. These are all in 8X10 frames. I'm aware that the black and whtie one doesn't match the rest. :) I was just going to do them matted on shelves, but I'm not sure I love that idea. The three in brown frames are ones that Troy (my husband) brought back from Brussels for me, so I really want to use them. I also have a couple slightly larger pictures that we got in Paris that I need to frame and figure out a place for.



This is my stairway. Obviously something needs to be done here. But what, is the question? I know that one little picture looks pretty bad there, but that's where the nail already was. See, I need help here!


This is some of the stuff I have in my dining room. All of it except the picture (and the wicker cabinet and shelf) were brought back from various trips to France and Belgium. So these are all things I want to keep, but I've gotta figure out a way to make everything look good together and work.



This is the top of my doorway. The black thing is an eiffel tower. I also have space for stuff above my cupboards and you can see the vaulted ceilings.



Here's the living room. I think the Christmas tree helps a little bit. It's hard for a room not to look cozy when there's a Christmas tree.

And finally, we have the monstrosity of the living room. The TV, and the big huge receiver box, both of which are my husbands way of torturing me. When we first bought this house I thought I could do such cute things with this fireplace and mantle, but not so much, as you can see.

So, ideas? Suggestions? Anyone want to come to my house and fix it all for me?

Help Me!!!

Okay, so about a month or so ago, I washed a load of towels, and a RED towel happened to be in the bunch. So, I had a load of pink towels. Then, I washed a couple more loads with some of those pink towels, and the lovely pink spread even more. I'm still washing loads thinking, oh, one light pink towel won't hurt... it hurts. Or, the last straw, I washed my 2 new kitchen towels in a load I thought was okay, but green towels hide that pinkness well. I know, you're all thinking I'm an idiot, but this pink is taking over my life!!! Do I "throw in the towel" and throw every towel away, and buy all new towels, or is there something that can be done?

Welcome!

Welcome, fellow Apron Girls! I really want this blog to be an inspiration to all of us, but I'll admit, it's mostly for me! Post about whatever you would like that will help us all make our houses more homey. And that's homey, not homely!