For Part 1, visit here, where Dorene shared on family ministry. Part 2 delves into the topic of home business.
Dorene is very gifted in sewing and thus started her own business from home making wedding veils. I was blessed to have her make my wedding veil, which you will see a picture of below. I have asked Dorene to share some thoughts on starting a home business.
One of my goals during the holiday break was to compile a monthly menu plan. I was first inspired to work out a monthly menu plan by Tammy’s Recipes. I saw this as a good means of simplifying by grocery shopping and planning all at once. It has saved me time and energy and the frustration of never knowing what to make on a certain week (maybe this is just my problem!).
Now this menu may vary in the summer, and I will probably make a separate summer monthly menu to throw in some variety. My method may not work for you, but here are a few things that I have learned that may be helpful in whatever menu planning method you choose…
The final product: 3 loaves of bread, 2 dozen muffins, 1 dozen biscuits
In light of my goal to simplify my life (schedule and all!), I have began to complete my baking for the month all at once. I am trying to increase eating whole grains as a more substantial part of our diet. They are so nutritious and filling, so we don’t have to eat as much meat (as grain is an excellent source of protein as well and far cheaper!).
My Blurb book has arrived! Talk about a wonderful way to preserve family pictures and memories in a simple and lovely fashion! If you have not heard of Blurb.com, it is worth checking out! It took time, but it was well worth it! You simply download the BookSmart program they offer and get to work in uploading and laying out your own book! Now we have the first two years of our marriage in book form and it is not going to disintegrate any time soon. All the pictures are printed on the pages.
Welcome back for part 2 in Decorating on A Budget. Check out part 1 for further ideas that I am expanding upon here…a post in my Natural Living on A Budget series.
Remember that above all you are seeking to make your own a haven of rest and comfort for your family and guests! This is your embassy to extend the Kingdom of God! Make it comfortable and relaxing and above all…keep Christ the center!
Again, I thank my sister, Christa, for her input, creative juices, and inspiration! She has pretty much taught me everything I know!
Did you know that your home is an embassy of Christ’s kingdom? It is especially designed by God to be a place for others to find refreshment, encouragement, a haven of rest to their souls from the weariness and trials of this world. This haven must be a welcoming place to display the glory of God! This should always be our chief goal in our decorating. How can I make my home more of a testimony to the work of Christ in my life? How can I seek to refresh others as they enter into my home?
Now I am no decorating expert. In fact, I am not quite sure why I am talking about this topic right now. The gift of creativity passed me by and was given to my younger sister…so most of what I have written below come from her creative juices! My house is far from being decorated as I would like…but maintaining a simple home is my goal anyway!
BEFORE
I have been reorganizing my kitchen storage system lately to maintain a more clean, simple, and organized layout of all my baking products, grains, legumes, etc. I have so many different varieties of containers that are just taking up a ton of space.
I have also been researching lately on the harmful PVC toxin that is added to most most plastic and vinyl products/containers, etc. It seems that plastic can be very harmful and migrates from the storage container into your food. An additive called BPA that is used to harden plastic in baby bottles, storage containers, water bottles, etc. may cause a wide range of health problems including cancer, brain damage, infertility, and other issues. It is especially dangerous for infants, they are discovering. Read more by following the links below.
With this in mind, I have decided to begin to gradually fade out my plastic storage and switch over to glass containers. I am using simple glass canning jars of different sizes, but mainly wide mouth quart canning jars. The reason I am using wide mouth jars is that I can easily pull in and out a measuring cup or spoon. These are easy to come by at your local Goodwill, and Craigslist. I bought several at Goodwill for 20 cents each. Not bad at all. It is wonderful! They are all uniform and my cupboards look greatly improved! See pictures below. I am still in progress…on the lookout for some larger glass jars (1/2 gallon and 1 gallon sizes for larger quantities for my lower cupboard). Any ideas of where to find these at?
AFTER
Here are a few interesting articles on possible harms of plastic. Please use your own discernment when viewing these sites, as I cannot recommend or agree with everything presented:
Scientists Fear Chemical in Plastic
Chemicals Used to Harden Plastic
PVC: The Poison Plastic – a cute little video helping to identify what products in your home have PVC
Visit Kitchen Tip Tuesdays for other Kitchen tips and ideas!
Wow! I love storing things in baskets. They are so incredibly useful tools! I personally do not like using plastic containers, because you can see right into the box and nothing is hidden from view (aren’t we trying to hide it?). Also, I am trying to keep away from purchasing plastic items as much as possible (in concern and care for the environment). In my process of reorganizing and de-cluttering this week, I have found some wonderful baskets for sale at my local Ross. The prices were so reasonable, and the baskets so cute, I couldn’t turn them down! I paid no more than $5 on a large basket ($3-4 dollars for most of them). Goodwill is also another place to get great deals on these storage pieces. They will last longer and be more attractive to look at as well. I have included a few pictures below of my baskets and the uses that I have incorporated them for. So if you’re thinking about organizing…think about investing in some nice baskets!
Do you remember when I was organizing my kitchen junk drawer? Well I found an excellent wooden divider that I am now using in this drawer. It works wonderfully!
This small basket I am using in the closet for our simple games. We only own a few card games, and such, so this basket holds them all nicely.
This basket is storing my linens and extra towels in the laundry room.
This basket is storing our movies and CD’s of sort. The first picture shows it on the shelf in our closet and the second is all that it contains.
Lastly, here is the baskets that contain miscellanous gifts to give away for upcoming events, and shoes that Karis has yet to grow into.
So my first week off from my teaching break was somewhat of a wash due to our illness, but it was refreshing to just sit around, comfort my little one, and read in bed. I wanted to make a plan of action for this upcoming week to reorganize and refocus for the New Year. I have noticed some of my friends de-cluttering and organizing themselves and their homes anew, which inspires me to pick up where I have been slacking! Thanks Stephanie & Lylah! I want to be able to jump into the New Year with a clean home, refreshed heart and mind. Having a clean home for me greatly allows me to relax and refocus…so that is where I am starting! If you know me well enough organization is one of my gifting, so it is something I love doing! But at the same time I struggle with putting things off and not being motivated. So with the encouragement of others, I have made my list of goals this week and with your accountability, I will get them done (Lord willing!).
Starting the new year off right at the Edmonds:
1. Prepare my heart and mind for the new year
Lylah also encouraged me to re-evaluate the status of my relationships, which I believe is an excellent idea. Each morning this week, I am going to strive to evaluate my present state in each of the following relationship. How can I improve more strategically?
-How am I doing in my relationship with the Lord? How can I improve?
-How am I doing in my relationship to my husband?
-How am I doing in my relationship with others?
2. Make a more specific menu plan (monthly) incorporating more grains, fruits & vegi’s, legumes – limiting grocery store runs to twice a month.
3. Make a reading list for this year - DONE – This helps me keep going with reading and refreshing my soul throughout the year. Want to join me? I would love to see your reading list goals.
4. Begin to work on completing a Blurb book of the past year
I am not a creative person, so unfortunately scrapbooking is not my thing, but I have found Blurb books to be a great resource for compiling your pictures in a fun, simple and yet long-lasting way.
5. De-cluttering the following areas:
I like Lylah’s idea of not throwing anything away…find a better place for it, or give it to someone or somewhere to be reused or recycled. I am going to aim to tackle one area each day this week in my de-cluttering, and put the items that are not in use to better use somewhere else. Donate it, give it away, and recycle!
-Bathroom cupboards & drawers -Monday
-My desk cupboard - Tuesday
-Kitchen drawers & cupboards - Wednesday
-Closets – Thursday
I’M DONE! WOW! That feels so good…I am returning to a simpler way of things. It’s not too late to join in on the organization challenge!
“Ladies, we have a great and glorious work before us. Keeping the home has been entrusted to us by God…Using our gifts and talents to glorify God in our role as helpers to our husbands, all within the well-choreographed dance of home life, imparts a quiet lesson to a watching world and communicates true contentment in the loveliness of womanhood. It declares ‘His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people’ (Psalm 96:3).”
- Stacy McDonald