5-Minute Fixes

When folding towels, try to remember to tug the corners (all four) to keep them from...well shrinking. Such a simple thing that honestly will keep your towels looking better longer. Also, folded towels just make a room, like the bathroom seem a bit more tidy.

Each day, take a moment and fluff all your pillows and cushions! Not only will it shake the dust off seldom sat on furniture -- but it does make the room look a little brighter.

Make your bed (encourage the kids to also). Silly as it sounds even a kinda messy room will look a little better when the bed's made.

Clean your (all) sinks and swish the toilets. Especially during the winter months when everyone is sharing germs.

Wipe down appliances. The stove, fridge, dishwasher, coffee maker microwave -- basically if it lives on a countertop or if it takes up a lot of eye-space. Give it a little wipe-down.

Sweep or dust your floors. Again this can't be said enough a messy floor just attracts more mess. Not sure why it is. But it does.

Set your table before bed! If your home is like ours the kitchen table is a major artery. Kids play, do homework, random things just get dumped and its a hot spot straight from Dante's Inferno. Setting the table before bed, culls the need to drop things on the table. Breakfast bowls or plates, silver and glassware...and it's one less thing to do during a busy morning!

Lay out your clothes for the next day! Do we need to explain this one? Gather your purse, iPod, charge your phone -- where are your keys?

What's for dinner?

iPhone Saves The Day

I recently got an iPhone. Honestly I was just excited to have a new phone that would allow me to easily access the internet (and continue to chat with friends, of course) while I was away from home. I got so much more than I bargained for, though... the thing is amazing! It's allowed me to completely organize my days right from one app called Seize the Day (recommended to me by mouse). 

I've been able to set my chore list so that it repeats itself and I can always add in odd jobs as needed. Plus I've worked out a writing schedule for each week including blogging. 

I definitely recommend the iPhone to anyone who wants an all in one phone, social network, and daily organizer in one, but if you can't get the phone I would seriously suggest at least trying to get some sort of electronic daily organizer. It has really simplified things for me and my days have been running a whole lot more smoothly!

Some Cool Tips

Just got these in an email and thought I'd share them here. I've actually heard of most of them, but haven't tried them. I probably should:

• Have an ant problem? Ants hate cucumbers, so leave the skin of cucumbers anywhere you see ants coming into your home.
• To get pure clean ice, boil the water before freezing.
• To make a mirror shine, clean it with sprite.
• To remove gum from clothing, put it in the freezer for about an hour. The gum will come right off.
• To whiten clothes, soak in hot water with a slice of lemon for about 10 minutes (and I've also heard that it helps to dry them in the sun afterward).
• To give hair shine, add 1 tsp of vinegar to your hair then wash it.
• To get the maximum amount of juice from a lemon, soak it in hot water for an hour, then juice it.
• To keep the smell from cabbage from overtaking your home while cooking, keep a piece of bread over the cabbage while it's cooking.
• To avoid tears while cutting onions, chew gum (will definitely have to make use of this one).
• To boil potatoes quickly peel the skin of one potato from one side only while boiling.
• To remove ink from clothing, apply a generous amount of toothpaste to the stain and allow to dry completely. Then wash.
• To skin sweet potatoes quickly, soak in cold water immediately after boiling.
• To get rid of mice or rats, sprinkle black pepper anywhere you find them. They will leave.