Keep it simple (and frugal):
Crystal Payne over on Biblical Womanhood had a great Frugal Friday post this week. Not only are they great tips for frugality, but because they center around keeping things simple, it will help tame more than just financial chaos. By simplifying groceries, clothing, toys and appliances, life itself will remain clutter-free and streamlined. Click here to visit Crystal's blog and read all about it.
Keep it safe:
Summer is here, and outdoor fun calls the children to yards and driveways! Meredith, over at Like Merchant Ships, was prompted by news of the Maria Sue Chapman tragedy to become more vigilant about driveway safety. Her simple net-gate could be adapted for almost any drive, and does the job with characteristic practicality, thrift and tastefulness.
In addition to a visual barrier to alert traffic, I'd suggest a safe place where children are trained to go when a car will be backing or entering. Even with a farm-style gate securing our property, we enforce the "all hands on deck" rule. (If children are outside when the gate is opened for a vehicle, PrairieFrogs must be visible on the deck by the house. )
Keep motivated:
Do you need someone to remind you what to do each day? Do you forget to change the dishtowels or clip the children’s fingernails? Have you cleaned the telephones lately? Would you like reminders of what to do each day of the year–from menu planning to reading through the Bible--all in one place? Motivated Moms provide a downloadable chore calendar that tells you exactly what you should do. Just read the day’s chart, check off the boxes, and your done.
You can see the free samples--free of course, but the whole package is a thrifty $8.
From their website:
The Motivated Moms Chore Planning System comes in six versions, the full-sized with Bible readings scheduled (a schedule to read the Bible through in a year), the full-sized without the Bible schedule, a half-sized version with and without scheduled Bible readings and a "page per day" version with and without the Bible schedule that has one day of chores per day and also has lines for appointments and a box for the daily menu plan and a place for notes. Any of the six would be a great tool in order to be able to get everything done each day.
This sounds like a great tool for slugging through days of illness, pregnancy or any season when autopilot is needful. Sometimes thinking through what needs to be done is the hardest part!
Domestic Chaos Tamer and Homeschool Mom of Five, Dell writes about home, heart and hearth.
