By: Julie (Mrs. Scotty)
When we think of Summer the
first thing that usually comes to mind is: VACATION! No School! No homework, and no learning! If you're a mother such as myself, our thoughts are seemingly different. The biggest question that comes to my mind is, "what am I going to do with my children for 3+ months that will not only be fun but educational as well?" As a mother, I want my child to not only have fun but I want them to learn while they're doing it.
Among the hundreds of activities based around summer, there is an all time favorite at our home. This activity is educational (SCORE!), inexpensive (now who's not interested?), interactive (see, you are a good mom!), and most importantly, it's super fun (your kids will think you're cool!). This makes me excited already!
This no-brainier is gardening. No matter your living situation or budget the fruits of your labors (and love) will pay off! Just a little money upfront and the reward is priceless.
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How to Decorate Your House - for Almost No Cost!
Everyone wants to have a home like those featured in Architectural Digest, but if you're like most, your finances will not allow for it. There are, however, several approaches to decorating and designing that you can take without breaking the bank.
A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for brightening up a room, or even changing it completely. Having a room professionally painted can be pricey, however, depending on the contractor hired and the type of services provided. Rather than hiring someone, painting is a skill that is easily acquired and can even be fun to do. While it may be time consuming, it is not a difficult skill to master. A roller, pan and brush set will cost about $10.00, and a gallon of paint between $20.00 and $30.00. Add in some extra money for spackle to fill any cracks or nail holes, some primer or a base coat, drop cloths and paint remover. If you figure on two gallons of paint, depending on the room's square footage, you could have a white-walled room turn a beautiful hunter green for less than $150.00 all told! In the end, you will be left with a freshly painted, new look and the pride of having done it yourself.
Another way to save money decorating is to shop the yard sales. Sound silly? It's not. Springtime is a great time to do this, as many people are cleaning out their closets and putting things in the yard that they no longer want or they simply don't have room for. You've heard the saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure?" This can be your opportunity for treasure hunting! How many times while shopping have you stepped into an expensive boutique or gallery, just to window shop, and while browsing spotted the ‘perfect' oversized vase for your floor, or a really odd sculpture or ironwork that would be just right for your living room? Yard sales are full of these type items! Because proud homeowners re-decorate every few years, they put perfectly good (and pricey!) merchandise out for sale to the highest bidder. If you do not live in the suburbs, you can still take advantage of these type sales at your local flea market on a Saturday morning or the market on your block.
Want a completely FREE solution? Move some furniture! Not only can you change the look of your home by moving furniture within a room, you can even get creative and change the actual rooms themselves. Why not? If you have a large spare bedroom on the second floor that you have been using for a guest room, why not make this into your growing toddler's bedroom and convert his or her room to the less used, smaller guest room? If you have a family room and a living room that are approximately the same size but in opposite areas of your home, why not simply reverse the floor plan? You would be amazed at the difference this can make in livening up a house that has become stale in the decorating department. If this seems too drastic for you or you don't have the extra rooms, even moving furniture within a room can be a completely cost-free way to renovate.
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Cleaning a Child's Bedroom - 15 Minutes a Day
by: Jess Knutson
Here is a simple plan to help your child/teen keep their rooms clean. Don't worry if the room is a disaster. Just set the timer for 15 minutes each day and get started. Continue clearing clutter each day until you find the tops of the dressers and the floor. By the end of the week, you will be amazed at the progress! When you are ready… start the weekly plan.
During the first few weeks, you may want to assist (or at least supervise). Start by making sure that everything in the room has a home. Don't worry about perfect organization, just get the surfaces cleared off.
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Simply Moms Cleaning Frenzy Program
(C) Jennifer Gove
This program and the name of it was created for you by Jennifer Gove. Please do not copy or redistribute with out giving proper credit.
Is your house out of order ? Get in a Frenzy With SM!
What is this program?
Frenzy cleaning is a program that teaches women that house work
can be done with speed and effectiveness. We help you cut the clutter , and too clean with speed so you can get on with life.
Why does it work?
Cleaning your home is a big job .When you look around and there is hours of work you tend to put it off. Or you start and quickly get off task (I have eight kids still living at home so its not hard to do) Cleaning Frenzy is a solution...why? Because you break your day up into small manageable chunks. Think about it. How much can you do in 15 minutes? Try it right now; right in the room you are in. Clean as fast as you can for 15 minutes. See! You can achieve a lot in very little time and the best thing...as you use this method you will develop a rhythm and more speed. This program works because at the end of that 15 minutes you can stop, look back and see a clean room. It is rewarding and efficient!
You say there is motivation?
Speed is great but it’s not really motivation when you are starting out. I remember when I started cleaning this way how impressed my husband was. He actually used to brag to every one how fast I was at cleaning! How ever I know in reality most husbands are family or even friends are going to care how fast you clean. That is why I have integrated this program into our forums. You can create friendships and have people that say HEY you did great today! I know how nice it is to hear! We also post home work and Ta Da’s (you will learn about these later) and tips. Motivation will be plenty here!
Let’s Begin!
We will start with
HOT ZONES . A hot zone is referred to by this program as any area in your home that is a magnet to clutter. Counters, fridge top, tables, coffee tables ect. Before you do any thing else these areas MUST be cleaned. Your house will look as much as 50% cleaner. I don’t care if you go from hot zone to hot zone with a laundry basket and toss all the clutter in! We can deal with the basket later.
There are two reasons we do hot zones first. One it looks cleaner if your home is not cluttered, secondly counters and tables are far more simple to wipe down with out clutter (bills, nick knacks and other un-necessaries) in your way to slow you down.
Step Two
Do you have 15 minutes? I think we find little spots all day where we can add in 15 minutes no matter how busy our day is. The most important part of our program is the
Frenzy 15
You will need a timer. Set it to fifteen minutes and clean ONE room as fast as you can. If you must leave the room to go put some thing away do so...but return to your frenzy room quickly! If you finish before the time that’s GREAT if you don’t that’s ok too. You can do another frenzy on it later. I tend to frenzy my kitchen 5 times a day but those frenzies are very short unless there are dishes to do. Once the time goes off take a break if you are following the message forum program post your frenzies (You may post what you did or just the room you worked in). Often times once I start one frenzy I feel energized and will often do a couple in a row. When I feel tired I stop and do some thing I enjoy. The key to a good frenzy is S-P-E-E-D and starting with what will have the most effect.. Obviously you would not dust before you pick up a pile of dirty clothes.
Don’t have 15 minutes?
Do a
Frenzy 10 This is a modified version of the Frenzy fifteen I like to do it when just walking threw a room. Stop and do ten things. Like picking up toys ect. I do this once every time I walk into my kitchen. If there are dishes I will quickly wash ten. Therefore unless I am making a meal I don’t often have dishes piling up it take less time then you could imagine! You can post these under the frenzy 15 threads on the board.
Frenzy 1-30
I know many of you are thinking what about deep cleaning! Over time with this program you will need to deep clean far less because you learn to get trouble spots over time so they don’t build up. Also the home work will help with this as well.
A Frenzy 1-30 is a deep clean frenzy..
When you start this program you may want to do 2 rooms a day...I Don't recommend it.
Pick a room. The worst room in the house.
This room you will deep clean in a frenzy for 30 minutes.
This means you ONLY work on this room.
I like to do my 1-30 frenzy after my children are in bed then there are no distractions or interruptions.
Do what desperately needs doing in that room...(steam cleaning windows organization) The heavy stuff.
Your 1-30 frenzies should go in a rotation.
Lets say you have a 3 bedroom home
You will list your 1-30 frenzy order lets say
Kitchen
bath
living room
bedroom 1
bedroom 2
bedroom 3
You would do them in order each day then start at the top again.
If a room gets really bad often say a Child's room add it in twice a week.
You could also double 15 frenzy it twice a day.
**Ta Da’s**
Each so often pick one
large project..
You know like steam cleaning!!! Or that closet that all the contents spill out each time you open it.
Post your Tada in the Tada thread for the month...Members with the most TADA get a special graphic at the end of the month **TIP you can do more then one a day** No washing the table does not count** .
Frenzy Home Work
Each day you will have
frenzy home work .
Some times it will be an easy some times hard...It will help.. so do your home work, and report to the home work thread of the day when it is completed!
What to look for at the Cleaning Frenzy forum
Daily you will find a HOME WORK THREAD.
Daily you will find a 15 Frenzy Thread. You should post the start time of a frenzy, the end time, what room you frenzied and what you did.
There will be a monthly **Ta Da** Thread to place you BIG accomplishments in. There is a monthly graphic prize for the MOST ta da's
You may ask questions, for support even challenges if you like! Its all about motivation!
Frenzy Tips.
The most important cleaner to own...All-purpose spray cleaner. When you are in a frenzy in the kitchen spray all surfaces with your cleaner (if these surfaces are safe for this) then sweep or what ever else needs doing. Then go back and wipe the surfaces down with a paper towels. This is very fast and easy! Same idea for the bathroom.
Baskets are wonderful I have one for every room that gets a lot of clutter. I keep a tote in the corner of my living room. When things are left out toss them in the tote. You can frenzy the basket once a day taking it from room to room retuning items. Or tell family members to get their stuff!
Multi Task!
When I am on the phone I find some thing to do, fold laundry ,wash a few dishes, sort mail. If I am making toast I'll put a few dishes away between each set of toast you get the picture...A moment wasted is a moment lost!
I look forward to seeing you on the Frenzy Forum!
