Ask The Helpful Housewife

An Ailing Refrigerator Has It's Benefits...

Our refrigerator died.  On the hottest day of the century.  Of course.  Thankfully we have an old 1950's Westinghouse model in the garage we use for extra gallons of milk, the odd soda, and other miscellaneous items.  (With four little kids, you tend to buy milk 6 gallons at a time!).  So what do you do when your frig goes out?  In this order:

1.  Curse KitchenAid.  (I can't stress enough at how miserable these appliances are... after 2 dishwashers, a microwave, a stove/oven, 2 coffee makers, a toaster, and now the frig, I am completely avoiding this brand as if it were the bubonic plague!)

2.  Call KitchenAid to schedule a repair visit.

3.  Curse KitchenAid while emptying said refrigerator.

4.  Clean it til it sparkles!!!!!

I know it's a pain to have to go through dealing with a dead refrigerator, but on the upside, it's a great opportunity to clean it out!  No condensation building up because it's still cool inside, no stuff in the way...  it's great!  Now I have the wonderfully clean appliance you see above!  Take note, those of you in Housekeeping 101 -- this is a valuable tidbit to file away for future reference!

Cleanliness is next to a sleeping child...

I love my children.  I really and truly do.  But I've noticed something:  the moment I'm done with my cleaning, it's no longer clean.  They've followed me along, and in my wake of clean floors and decluttered surfaces they have done tricks on their boogie boards and created a new expanse of mess to clean up. 

For those of you who face this problem everyday, I haven't solved the problem.  Sorry.  But I have found one way to work around it!  I have learned to time my cleaning so that it is finished right before naptime!  That way I can at least enjoy my clean, clutter free home for a few hours before the whirlwinds known as Attie, Annika, Aelin, and Andrew come tumbling through and sending it back into chaos.  And for quite some time now, this system has worked well.  They don't have much time between their nap and dinner to do too much damage, and after dinner is prime time for them to follow Daddy around, so they ignore everything in the house at that point.  Then it's bathtime and bedtime, so I can sail into the night time hours in relative order.  Don't get me wrong, there are still toys to pick up  and books to return to their shelves, but it's not nearly the natural disaster it could be.  And I can get through my list of daily maintenance tasks without too much hassle. 

So, if you can get the kids to burn off a lot of energy in the morning, give them some quiet activities for an hour or so before lunch to settle them down while you clean, then after lunch they can go down for a nap and you can revel in a clean house!  And if you want to indulge in a nap yourself, go right ahead, but for those of you with very young children I have a better suggestion:  start dinner now.  Put something in the crock pot, or at least prep dinner and put it in the frig to pop in the oven later.  It's so much easier to do in a clean kitchen that doesn't have kids running around underfoot!  And that way, when the kids get up from their naps and the witching hour before dinner begins, you can just play with them rather than try to shush them and send them away while you begin the dreaded "what to make for dinner dance" while standing in front of an open refrigerator.   

See?  Cleanliness really is next to a sleeping child!

Routines

*UPDATE*

The link to the right that will take you to The Helpful Housewife's Routine has been updated!  The daily schedule that is given is now the fall schedule we will be following once the school year begins. 

Happy Dusting!

The Helpful Housewife

Swap Time!

Tea Time Swap is almost ready to start-- if you haven't signed up yet, hurry on over to see Ms*Robyn at her swap site to be part of it.  And I mean hurry!  The sign up is closing any minute now!

The Linen Closet Corner of My Home

The linen closet is on our second floor between the girls' bedrooms.  It's a nice spot because all of the bedrooms are up there as well as all the bathrooms with showers/tubs.  I can keep the hand towels for the bathroom on the first floor in the cabinet down there, so it's no big deal.  I'm not posting these photos to show off or anything (although I am a little bit proud of my ability to organize while on maternity leave with my first kid! I felt so busy, and now I wonder how I wasn't bored stiff!) but I'm posting them to go along with the next lesson for Housekeeping 101.   Here is a photo of my linen closet (there are empty spots on the shelf because at the time I was doing laundry and needed to iron the sheets before putting them back):

Here is a close up of one of the labels I installed.  I purchased them from MarthaStewart.com back in spring 2002.  I think I have two extra sets around here somewhere.  If I can find them, I might be persuaded to part with them!  They have been a huge help in keeping me organized, and I recommend some type of labelling system for your own linen closet.

I have also designated a couple things just for guests.  One is a spot on the top shelf just for guest towels.  They are put together in sets and a ribbon is tied around each set so a guest can just grab a set and go without having to search for towels or washcloths on their own.  I also have a first aid kit and a guest toiletries kit labelled on the shelf below them.  That way we can always find the necessary items for boo-boos, and if a guest forgot their toothbrush or deodorant or razor, we have one for them.  We keep these very clearly labelled, and on a high shelf away from the kids.  We also keep Attie's asthma medication refills here since it is dark, cool, and a good central location.

If you, like me, like to use proper table linens such as placemats and cloth napkins, I have a good solution for storing them.  I keep the zip-up plastic pillowcase and curtain panel packages from past purchases.  An entire set of napkins will nicely fit inside one.  I have ironed all of the linens, and then simply folded the placemats in half within a group of the same style each, and laid them in the basket shown.  Then I placed the napkins in the plastic cases and set them on top.  All I have to do is grab a package of napkins and a set of placemats to set the table.  This keeps them organized and easy to use.  The stack next to them are a supply of dishtowels I've picked up on sale and keep on hand to replace the ones that wear out in the kitchen and get tossed in the rag pile.

Finally, don't forget to utilize the floor of your linen closet.  We buy our toilet paper in bulk packages, and I hate the plastic wrapping they come in.  So, I pull it all out of the package and store it in a basket here on the floor.  I can just grab a couple rolls on my way by the closet and place them in whichever bathroom needs to be refilled.  Ialso keep my extra boxes of tissues here as well as my unopened bottles of ironing water.  When the ironing water I am currently using is gone, I just grab a bottle from here.  I buy it several bottles at a time since I order it online.  I have very little storage space in my laundry room, so I don't want to clutter it up when I can just as easily store the extra here.  The clear bin holds one of my Great Grandmother's quilts that she made.  I placed it in here for now because it has a small tear to mend, and I want the rest of it protected until I can fix it.  Otherwise, there would be less on the floor here! 

I hope this helps give you some ideas for your linen closet organization.  I welcome any suggestions you may have for mine as well.  Mine is a work in progress, but I think it has a good start.  I get a lot of emails asking me how I manage to maintain my home and my housekeeping schedules/routines with four small kids running around.  This might help back up my answer:  I try to stay organized and ahead of the game so I don't get swallowed up by it all!  I have been diagnosed with mild Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and although I don't  wash my hands 10,000 times per day, I do need to have things in their place or I literally consume myself thinking about it.  If my house isn't clean, I get anxiety attacks.  So please don't think I'm actually Bree from Desperate Housewives!  I've just found a way to maintain the order in my home to keep myself from going crazy, and found systems that allow me to stick to my routine in order to have things at a standard that makes me satisfied and gives me lots of time to spend with my family instead of scrubbing imaginary spots off the walls! 

I probably gave too much information in this post that you all didn't want to read, but I guess you had to find out eventually!  I'm not Martha Stewart after all...  but then again, I don't have a prison record either!!!  Yay!!!!!

My Husband Has Gone Crazy...

My husband, dear housewives, has gone crazy.  Stark raving mad.  Off the deep end.  And I am paying for it dearly.  I am seeking advice from anyone who has lived through, witnessed, or even heard of this particular phenomenon happening in my home, and that is:  my husband has decided he wants to rearrange all of our furniture!!!!  WHAT?!?!?!?  I never knew he even cared, let alone wanted to pick up a chair and carry it somewhere!  Now, I confess, when I was single and had my own charming, CLEAN, and orderly home, I rearranged furniture constantly.  It was great fun!  But in the five years (by the way, we closed on the sale of this house 5 years ago today and were hauling in boxes while getting ready for our wedding rehearsal dinner!) we have lived here, I haven't moved a stick of furniture since it was set in it's final resting place.  Yes it was time to do a little refresher move-around...  but to have him initiate it?  I went up to bed the other night, rather late I might add as I had been posting for the next day's lesson, and couldn't get into my bed.  He was up there re-decorating and the room was torn apart!  I didn't get in bed until almost 3 am, and not by choice or even rational reason. 

Is this normal behavior for a man?  And what on earth do I do to survive this new phase?  I'm so afraid I'll wake up one morning and the bed will be in the kitchen and the family room furniture will be in the master bath!  Help me!!!!

Also, lesson 4 is in your email inboxes waiting for you...  Have a lovely day my dear housekeepers!

Happy Dusting,

The Helpful Housewife

Spring Cleaning With Herbs

Here are some natural cleaning recipes, courtesy of Frontier Co-op.

Lavender Carpet Freshener

Imagine yourself in a field of lavender flowers as you wpread this blend on your carpet.  It will absorb odors and dirt and impart a lovely scent as you vacuum it up.

3/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup lavender flowers

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.  Sprinkle over carpet and let sit overnight.  Vacuum it up in the morning.

Cinderella Cleaner

Use this all-purpose cleaner on washable walls, courntertops -- you name it!  The herbs contribute both scent and antiseptic properties.

1 cup liquid castile soap

6 cups water

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup eucalyptus leaf or thyme leaf tea, strained

Swish all ingredients together in a a cleaning bucket, and use with soft, colorful cotton rags!

By the way, girls, today's HK 101 lesson is in your email inbox now... go get it and get busy!

Happy Dusting!

The Helpful Housewife

The Toothpick, a Very Useful Tool

Have you ever taken a really good look at your dishwasher door?  I have.  YUCK!  On a very regular basis I scrupulously clean that thing because it grosses me out that my dishes would come out of something that has such nasty gunk stuck in the crevices.  Take a look at this:

This is with regular cleanings, too, so if you've never done it, you might want to look at your dishwasher door.  And the absolute best tool for this job?  A toothpick!  Just slide it along the crevices (using new ones as you need to, of course!) and it will pull all that yuck right out.  Then spray a little vinegar into it, pour a cup of vinegar into your empty dishwasher, and run a normal wash cycle with no dishes inside.  Your dishwasher will be sparkling and fresh again!  You'll thank me for this disgusting post, I promise...  Now get to it!

New Address

The new official email address for this site is:  thehelpfulhousewife@hotmail.com

All future emails and questions should be sent to this address.  Since typepad won't allow me to change the previous email link to this address, I simply removed that link from the sidebar and will be sure to include this email link in the closing portion of each post.  That way it is always accessible to click on it!  Be sure to add it to your address book!

Housekeeping College

I know that when I was in high school, there was only 1 period where Home-Ec was offered, and now you can't even find it in most curriculums.  I wasn't able to take that class as it was offered at the same time as Physics, and, well, back then I was much more interested in getting into the Navy's Nuclear Program than getting into an apron.  How foolish I was!  I never did join the Navy, and now I find that I didn't even like working with the engineers I once collaborated with on highway designs.  Nope, now I am in love with wearing aprons and all things domestic!  Go figure...

So, my personal mission this week is to try and find out if there is a movement to save the Home-Ec instruction in our schools.  And if there isn't?  I think I'm going to start one!  And I don't want it to be exclusive to girls.  Many men are waiting longer and longer to marry and settle down.  They need to know how to take care of home as well, and when they do have a family, a little knowledge would be a good thing in order to get them to pitch in when the baby's been up all night with fever and mom needs a rest. 

Back to my original thought, it seems that very few of us have ever been taught the right way to "keep house".  Since I felt that this site needed a more definite plan and a path to follow, that's what is going to be found here at The Helpful Housewife.  I'm going to continue to put the little tidbits out here that have been characteristic of the site all along.  But as a concurrent theme, I will start posting about the way to keep house properly.  Not a strict, this-is-the-only-way methodology, but a general guideline of hygenic standards and pleasant added touches.  I hope you enjoy this new format.  I'm going to try to post daily, Monday through Friday, with a longer post on Friday to carry throughout the weekend.  (Hey, even I need a break!  I'm a little tired out suddenly between the three sites, the kids, the farmers market, the aprons, the husband, the laundry....shall I go on?!)

And, as another new item, I want you to utilize the "email me" link on the page.  If you have any question about a housekeeping issue (cooking, cleaning, laundry, gardening, pets, anything at all) please email me your question.  I will then post it with the answer on the site (no names mentioned unless you want it there!) so that all can benefit from it. 

Now, go get dinner started and freshen yourself up before hubby gets home!  Tomorrow will be the beginning of our new education!

My Latest Treasure Trove

OK, I don't know why the pictures aren't clear but I haven't changed the settings on the camera at all!  Anyway, here is the wonderful collection of goodies my parents brought to me this weekend!  Other than the two prom dresses and two pair of prom shoes hanging over the ironing board, and the jar collections, everything else belonged to my Great-Grandmother Attie.  The amazing woman that my daughter is named after.  I have lots of pictures, so if you don't mind, I'm going to share all these goodies with you!

First is the wooden ironing board.  It is in excellent condition, and I can't wait to sew a cover for it!  Under the green shoes is a quilt made entirely of feedsacks, turned to the inside so you can't see the printing on them.  Here's a closer look:

Here is a photo of the things on the bench in front of the ironing board:

There is a set of 4 nesting canisters, 4 lovely (3 are vintage) dishtowels, and a selection of glass jars that my father was collecting.  The blue ones are part of a complete set and the white ones are original smooth ground top jars that are self-sealing from the first year they were ever made.  Here are the other jars:

Here is a view of the jars that I've already decided to use as vases.  Don't they look beautiful?  Perfectly suited to the purpose...

Two of them are the largest blue jars and I just love them.  The other two are little pint milk jars!  They are so sweet!  And the neat thing about them is that they are slightly pink, and the more they are exposed to sunlight, the more pink they will get!  How scrumptious!  Here's a closer look at them:

Then there are these two quart size milk jars that were on top of the ironing board in the first picture.  The caps that you use to cover them are in front on the table here...

And now the absolute best item of the entire collection...the absolute treasure for me of all time...Great-Grandma's flour sifter!  If I never had another kitchen momento of hers, that would be just fine, as I am in love with this!!!!! In fact, in this book:

on page 162:

Did you see it?  From the center of the ironing board?  You got it!!!!  My Great-Grandmother had the yellow version, and it is in pristine condition considering it's age!  I've never been in love with a kitchen gadget in my life as much as I am in love with this one.  It was hers, which I love the most, but it has my absolute favorite type of print on it!  Don't you just adore it?  Here's the one I now have:

And Meghan, at your bridal shower today you said that you would like to have some of these things as well.  Next time you are here, please please please feel free to pick through them!  Mom and Dad said they were bringing more stuff down as they are starting to clean out the basement and there are some real treasures in the boxes and cabinets they are going through...  You are welcome to the things that you would like to have, since you will now be a part of our family and Ryan has lovely memories of the farm himself.  I know he would love you to have a part of his history, too! 

Mail Call!

As a housewife loyal to her calling, I feel compelled to do research for my sister housewives.  Therefore, I placed an order a while ago with Feather Your Nest to make sure that it was indeed worthy of mention to you.  This is where the beautiful cake stands and the cherry glasses were from that I posted about here.  I must say that it was more than worthy!  I just love all of the selections I purchased.  There is a pair of pink gloveables for my dishwashing duties along with two tea towels for the Christmas season.  They appear to be handmade and are adorable!  I also restocked my pancake mix and tried a new item:  carmel apple butter!  Doesn't that just sound scrumptious?!  The cookbook, "101 Things to Do With A Slow Cooker" is filled with delightfully mouth-watering recipes that I will be making very often.  But the best part?  The soaps and lotion.  Pictured from left to right are:  White Lilac hand soap, White Lilac dish soap, and White Lilac hand lotion. All smell divine.  So fresh and springy!  I promptly put them in the hall bathroom and on my sink to make it really feel like spring here.  So if you do get a chance to check them out, I highly recommend shopping with Feather Your Nest!

Today Is The Day To Re-Stock

You've got a sparkly refrigerator and a spotless pantry.  Today you are going to go through them and make note of anything you need to restock and take yourself shopping!  Remember:  fresh is best, frozen next when it comes to produce.  Look for vibrant color and absence of blemishes.  Be sure to check expiration dates on all purchases.  Ask the butcher about the cuts of meat and choose those that look the brightest, firmest, and most marbled for meats.  The fishmonger can direct you to the freshest fish and recommend a new way to prepare it, too!  Steer clear of processed foods, but don't ignore aisles with the dried pastas.  Even though fresh pasta is wonderful, it's nice to keep a box of spaghettini or farfelle on hand for a quick pantry meal. 

While making your list, consult your cookbooks, recipe cards, and your weekly menu if you have one (I highly recommend it!).  This way you are sure to purchase all of the items you need.  But don't forget to take the list with you!

You may also want to check if you have any manufacturer or store coupons.  This may help you decide where to shop.  Many stores offer double coupons on Wednesday.  With the money you save grocery shopping, you can go get a manicure tomorrow!

The Pantry Is NOT A Mushroom

Good morning, darling Housewives!  Now that our refrigerators are sparkling and pretty inside, it's time to move on to our next task.  We are going to tackle the pantry now.  And in case you were wondering why in the world I could admonish everyone by saying the pantry is NOT a mushroom, it is because most people treat the pantry that way.  They keep it in the dark and it's covered in dirt!  I know that us Housewives don't do that, but you would be surprised to peek into the pantries of those who are homekeeping-phobic or those who would love to be an efficient homemaker but have no idea where to start or what to do.  Pantries tend to be neglected more than any other area of the home with exception of the utility closet, but most use their pantries as a utility closet as well. 

I'm going to tackle this as if your pantry is a multi-purpose area.  If you are fortunate enough to have separate closets for brooms and paper/cleaning goods, and the like, then only take out the points that would pertain to you.  Let's get started!

To keep foods fresh and to prevent pest infestation, we need to keep the pantry clean and dry at all times.  This doesn't mean filling a bucket with bleach water and scrubbing it down everyday.  You can maintain a high level of cleanliness with afew simple preventative measures.  But a good, thorough initial cleaning is in order, as well as at least one per year thereafter.  Here are the steps to take for that initial scrub-down:

1. Remove everything from the pantry.  Every can, box, bag, crumb of food.  Remove all cleaning supplies or paper products that you may have stored there.  The pantry should be completely empty. 
2. Sort through the items you pulled off the shelves/hooks and discard anything that's past it's prime.  If you have items that are still good and you don't plan to use them, DON'T TOSS THEM OUT!   Set aside a box of these items to deliver to your local food pantry, shelter, or church for those less fortunate.  These places are always in need of donations and every little bit helps.  Any cleaning product that you are going to get rid of need to be properly taken care of.  Be sure to read labels for disposal guidelines.  Most can be flushed down the drain with lots of water and the container recycled.  If you have some things that are a little stronger and require different disposal techniques, be sure to do so appropriately.  Contact your local waste management company for advice or instructions on where to take these things.
3. Now that you have room to work, it's time to clean.  First, dry dust the shelves and walls to remove any dust and crumbs.  Sweep the floor to prevent any dirt/dust from becoming wet and hard to clean up.  This way any drips from the cleaning will not create a bigger mess. 
4. FIll a bucket with warm water and a drop of two of a gentle dishsoap or an all-natural cleanser.  (I really like Dr. Bronner's liquid soaps for this type of job. The peppermint or eucalyptus scents work especially well, although any of them are perfect for this project.)  Grab about 6 cleaning cloths from your rag bin stash and lets get to work.
5. Wash down each shelf.  As your cloth gets too dirty to continue, toss it in your washing machine and grab a clean one.  Keep going until all shelves have been cleaned.  Next, wipe down the walls.  Start at the top and work your way down.  If any drips get on your clean shelves, simply wipe them away. 
6. Using a spray bottle, lightly mist your shelves with a very weak vinegar and water solution.  This will help to ensure a thorough rinsing of any residue, and will also act as an antiseptic for anything that may have  been setting up home in your pantry.
7. All that is left to scrub is the floor.  This is one of the times that I encourage a little bleach in your water.  This will ensure that no pests decide to meander on in and make themselves comfortable.  Give the floor a good scrub with a natural bristle brush and rinse thoroughly.  Leave the door open to air and dry the pantry while you go on to the next step.
8. Now I want you to wipe down any jars or cans that will go into your pantry.  Dust off any boxes that will be returned to the shelves or, ideally, empty the contents of the boxes into airtight glass or plastic containers. 
9. When placing items back in the pantry, place like items together.  Heavier items go toward the bottom and lighter items at the top.  Place all cleaning products on the bottom shelf or on the floor so that there is no chance of contamination of the food items.  If you have small children, you are probably thinking this is absolutely insane for childproofing reasons.  It really isn't.  In our main floor pantry, we keep snack foods, cereals and cleaning products, while the bulk of our items are in our basement pantry.  We simply put a hook-and-eye latch on the door at our eye level.  This keeps the children out of the pantry and away from the cleaning supplies.
10. Using your vacuum, clean the bristles of your broom and the strings of your dust mop.  Hang the mops/brooms back on their hooks (don't stand them up in a corner--this ruins the bristles) and place any bucket or cleaning caddies on the floor beneath them.  This is also where I hang our plastic grocery bag catch-all and my cleaning smocks/aprons.  TIP:  to cut down on the massive collection of plastic grocery bags, ask for paper bags the next time you go to the market.  You can always plant another tree, but we can't always create another landfill, that's my motto.  I've found that paper bags are easier to  manage when putting them in the car.  They fit side by side very neatly.  I usually bring my own canvas and oilcloth totes to use.  When I'm low on paper bags for holding my recycling items and newpapers on trash day, I will ask for paper at the market.  When I am low on plastic bags that I use for changing the litter box, lining the utility room wastebaskets, or containing dirty diapers while away from home, then I ask for plastic bags at the market.  But for me to get any type of disposable bag from the market, it has to serve a dual purpose later. 
11. Step back and admire your clean and organized pantry!  To maintain this work of art, all you have to do is remember to rotate out your items that you keep in there, wipe up any spills or crumbs immediately, and vacuum the floor every week or so to keep any dust bunnies at bay.  Occasionally wipe a mop over the floor to maintain, but with proper attention to the pantry on a minimal daily level, the floor should stay clean for longer periods.

For more information on a sparkly pantry, you can go to the following places for some great tips, ideas and instructions:  Real Simple Magazine, Home Comforts : The Art and Science of Keeping House, Keeping House: Hints and Tips for a Beautifully Clean Home , and of course, Alison has the most wonderful site on all things housekeeping vintage-style!

The American Housebook

Join the American Housekeepers Club.  (Did you know there was such a thing?  I didn't either!) This is just now starting to form, and looks to be a very promising place to go for almost anything a housekeeper may need to know.  Receive the complete ORGANIZED HOUSEKEEPER'S HOUSEBOOK CD absolutely free when you sign up.  To find out what this wonderful new organization is all about, visit them at their site at www.housekeepersclub.com.  I've already signed up, so if you have any questions just ask me, The Helpful Housewife!

Is Your Refrigerator In Need of Some TLC?

Your task for today?  Empty your refrigerator and freezer.  I mean EMPTY them.  Sort as you empty.  Anything that is beyond the sell-by date, has been leftovers for more than 3 days, is just going to sit there until Cookie Monster is elected the next US President, or even looks questionable although the date is still good on it, MUST BE TOSSED OUT.  Anything that is still edible and safe to keep, place it in coolers to keep it from spoiling.  Take all ice out of your ice maker or your ice cube trays and put it in plastic ziploc bags and then toss the bags in the coolers as added insurance to keep things cold. 

1. Now, turn off the refrigerator and freezer.  Vacuum the coils and the floor around, under and behind it. 
2. Remove all shelves, bins, drawers, racks, etc. 
3. Vacuum or wipe out any crumbs and foreign matter from the appliance.
4. In a generous bucket or container, place a drop or two of a gentle dishsoap and a generous sprinkling of baking soda.  Fill the bucket with warm (about 100 deg.F) water.
5. Gently wash the inside, then outside of the frig/freezer.  Then wash all of the shelves, etc., that you just removed from the frig/freezer.
6. Open two new, small containers of baking soda and label them with the date "July 1, 2006".  (This is when you will toss them out and replace them with new ones labelled "Oct. 1, 2006").   Now place one open box in the frig and one open box in the freezer on a center shelf.  (Once a week you may need to shake it up, or empty a little of the top of each box to keep it active and absorbing foul odor if you don't have the flow-through mesh version from Arm & Hammer).
7. Turn the power back on to the appliance and begin to return items back to the frig/freezer.  Be sure to wipe down all containers as you put them back in.  You don't want sticky puddles on your newly cleaned shelves!  Place larger containers to the back and smaller to the front so you can see everything in there.  Bottles of dressings, sauces, etc. are best stored in shallow compartments on the door. 
8. Remember, the coldest parts of the frig and freezer are at the back on the bottom.  This is the best area for storing meats, etc.  Eggs and cheese can go closer to the top.
9. Toss out the old ice cubes that you had in the ziploc bags.  They probably hold old freezer odors anyway!

If you want, you can pretty up your frig now.  I have an old coffee can that I covered in a pretty contac paper that I use to pour drippings into.  I put a lace bowl cover on top to make it even prettier.  I have lemons and limes in a white bowl with scrollwork around the edges and my eggs are out of the plastic container they are sold in and placed in an egg holder.   I try to keep plastic storage containers out of the frig and use glass storage dishes.  Now, not only can I see everything that I have on hand and know that it's all fresh and sanitary, it's pretty to look at too!

This photo is of the 12-cup glass refrigerator dish at Cooking.com.  I have two of them.  I also have two of the 2-cup size and two of the 5-cup size dishes.  Why?  Because I hate Tupperware and any Tupperware imitators.  Because these are pretty.  Because these remind me of the old Anchor Hocking and Fire King dishes of the 1950's.  Because these stack very well in my cabinets and in my refrigerator, and do not fall over when you bump them with a carton of milk in the refrigerator.  And they don't stain when you use them for tomato sauces!

If you want more ideas on how to make the inside of your frig nicer, go see Alison May over at Brocante Home and read about "Brocante-ing Your Frig". She has such wonderful ideas for making life prettier.  There are even more at her Vintage Housekeepers Circle.  Go sign up today!

Bowl Bonnets

These are just a couple of the bowl bonnets I've made.  The inside of our refrigerator looks so pretty with these covering the dishes inside it.  I still haven't decided if I'm going to sell them on etsy or go with my own website yet, but as soon as I make up my mind, I'll be sure to let everyone know!  There are also going to be market totes, wash bags, and lots of other goodies!  In fact, I've completed one market tote already, pictured below.  It's a cream canvas with a fruit and floral print.  I lined the inside with clear gauge 4 vinyl so that it's easy to wipe out after a trip to the farmer's market.  (Or after a bottle has leaked, a sippy cup has dribbled, etc...  you moms know!)  It's not huge, only 15" wide, 12"high, 4" deep.  But perfect for little trips, holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers with a bottle of wine, or carrying a bunch of loose items from different market stands. 

The Kitchen Project...

Well, I've decided I'm happy with the results of my little project!  A week ago, I decided to line all of my cabinets and drawers in the kitchen with shelf paper.  I wasn't sure if I would like it or not, but now every time I open a door or a drawer, I'm even more in love with it!  Isn't it funny how the little things can make the mundane become beautiful?  My kitchen has stayed spotless this week because I'm thoroughly enjoying being in there, more so than usual.  The underlying bonus of the shelf lining adventure is that my cabinets were given a thorough cleaning and now they are organized again.  Don't they look inviting with everything in it's place? 

In fact, I even got out my copy of "Tiffany's Table Manners for Teenagers" and put it back on the shelf over the sink.  Such a pretty kitchen needs a touch of elegance!  I need to order the newer edition, as it has the trademark Tiffany blue cover.  My edition is older, and has the original cover to it.  That makes it more valuable to book collectors, but I'm into the Tiffany blue boxes!  I've saved every single one that I've received over the years, no matter what was in it. One large box held our champagne glasses that were a wedding gift from my parents, and one of my smaller boxes held a beautiful cross that Andy gave me for a birthday gift the first year we were married.  No matter what was in any of them, I treasure the trinkets for who gave them to me and because I just LOVE Tiffany's!!!

And since the new wonderful thing to do is share the corners of our homes with each other, I'll just start with my kitchen for this week's glimpse at a corner of our home.  To top off all of the scrumptious frills recently added, I popped a flower into a cute little lemonade bottle and put it on my enamelware tray that holds our coffee, tea, and toast complimentaries to brighten our morning beverage time.  And our oldest daughter Attie really wanted some flowers when she went to the store with Dad last night, in order to properly prepare for her wedding that she is elaborately planning every moment of the day!  I had to convince her that they needed to be in water to live to see the big moment--oh to be 3 again!  So we popped them into a cute little green vase and set them on my flower tea tray that I use to carry my teapot and teacup to wherever I may be taking my cup of relaxation.  And of course, laid out on the kitchen island for wearing as soon as we start our day?  All of the girls aprons, of course!  One for me, and one for each of my girls.  Aren't they sweet?  Mine is from April Cornell, but the girls' aprons are from cath kidston.  Just perfect for them!

Requested Routines

For Nixie, Jane, Michelle, and all of the other Happy Housewives Club gals that have requested these files:  I'm posting them here in one convenient location for all!  I'm warning you, I'm nuts.  But this helps keep me organized with these kids running everywhere!

What Gets Done On What Day?

The Daily Checklist of Minimum Requirements

The Master List for Everything!

Every Woman Needs A Sanctuary

There are two places on earth that should be a woman's sanctuary: Her bed and her bath. Soft Surroundings' luxurious line of sheets, blankets, duvet covers, pillowcases and towels are destined to deliver soul-satisfying comfort.

This little paragraph on the Soft Surroundings website really struck a chord with me.  Andy laughs lovingly at the fact that I adore ironed, lavender-scented cotton sheets.  But our bed truly is my sanctuary.  Every time I slide in between those freshly pressed and fragranced sheets I feel a wonderful calm come over me and a comfort that cannot be described.  So no matter how energetic our day or how frantic our day, bedtime is my favorite little treat to me.  And I suspect it is to him as well, although he won't quite come right out and say so!