Two Easy-to-Make Hats

Here are two easy to make hats: a starched lace hat and a crownless brim hat. Both are attractive and will be a pleasure to wear.

Starched lace hat

Material Required:

Buckram Frame
2 yds. 5″ lace applique
1 yd. velvet tubing

Method Used

Fit lace to frame, clipping where necessary. Pin lace all around brim edge. When lace is perfectly fitted to frame, sew lace where it has been clipped using an overcast stitch. Be careful not to sew through frame.

Remove lace from frame and dip into liquid starch (direction for making starch below). Squeeze starch through lace thoroughly. Wring out extra starch. Lace should be damp with starch, but leave none in spaces. Place lace back on frame and stretch lace to fit frame. Pin lace around edge of brim. Allow lace to dry on frame, then remove lace from frame. Slip wire through velvet tubing. Fit around brim edge, join wire. Pull velvet tubing tight over wire and sew ends together. Pin tubing to facing and carefully slip stitch to lace.

Finish with ribbon band inside crown, pulling ends of ribbon through lace in back for trim.

Directions For Making Starch

Dissolve 1/4 cup starch in 1/2 cup cold water. Boil 1 1/4 cups of water, remove from flame, and then slowly stir the starch mixture into boiling water –stirring constantly. Place back on flame until it thickens. As soon as starch is cool enough to handle, dip lace into starch.

Crownless Brim hat made of chicken wire net

Material Required:

3 yds chicken wire (wide width)
4 1/2 yds. velvet tubing
2 bunches lilacs
1 velvet head size clip
1 pkg. glue on rhinestones
3 yds. 1″ satin back velvet ribbon
Sizing and narrow head band ribbon

Method Used

Cut chicken wire into two 11/2 yard lengths. Match diamond openings in net - for brim. Pin chicken wire with push pins to flat side of brim block edge, lapping ends of net over. Match diamond openings and tie-tack. Steam net while pulling into headsize. Smooth out all wrinkles and pin net around headsize. When net on brim is dry, size net with a light coat of sizing and let dry on block.

Wiring Brim

Put 3 wires on under side of brim. Run wire through velvet tubing - measure wires to fit brim, starting 1″ from brim edge. Join wires with wire joiners, and join and finish ends of velvet tubing. Remove net brim from block - pin net to headsize clip, and sew to clip. Cut off some of the excess net around headsize. Then, pin velvet-covered wires on net facing about 2″ apart, and slip stitch wires to facing.

Trimming And Finishing

Measure top of head from side to side and from back to front. Cut 2 pieces of velvet ribbon and sew ribbon to velvet head band. One piece from back to front, and one piece from side to side. Tack velvet pieces together on top of crown, and finish with a small cluster of lilacs.

Arrange sprays of lilacs on brim top, pulling some of the buds through openings in net to facing side and tack. Draw several strips of velvet ribbon on brim and finish with velvet bows. Sew head band around headsize to finish raw edge of net. Glue rhinestones on lilac flowers and buds.

Either of these two hats will enhance the beauty of the clothes you wear.

Introducing The Surefire Way To Make Trendy, Unique Hats

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Make Your Furniture Shine

There are two general types of finishes for furniture, classified according to whether they are transparent or opaque. The transparent finishes, designed to bring out the natural beauty of the wood are oil, water, and spirit stains, rubbed oil and wax finishes, shellacs, varnishes, and clear lacquer. The opaque coatings include paint and lacquer enamels.

The most vital step in the finishing of furniture is the preparation of the wood surfaces. The wood is the foundation of the finish, and whether the finish is opaque or transparent, what lies under it will affect its character and reflect the degree of skill and care bestowed upon it.

In all newly made furniture, whether a copy of an old piece or the latest modern design, the basic treatment is the same. The wood must be smooth and free from rough grain, and all dust carefully wiped off before any finish is applied. The first stage in finishing any piece is the smoothing of the surface, and for this operation steel scrapers, sandpaper, and steel wool may be used.

Scraping

On certain woods, such as soft pines and cedar, it is sometimes advisable to smooth the surface after planing by scraping. The tool used is a flat piece of steel such as a piece, 5″ x 2 1/2 “, cut from a hand saw blade. The edge must be perfectly straight, and filed to a slight bevel, say 30 degrees, and smoothed on an oilstone. Then a cutting edge is formed on it by rubbing a piece of hard steel along the edge so that a burr is formed on one or both edges. The scraper is used by holding it firmly with both hands, bowing it slightly outward in the center and pushing (and sometimes pulling) it along parallel to the grain of the wood.

Sanding

The best type of sandpaper for fine cabinet work is the garnet paper, and the most useful grits are (in order of increasing coarseness) the 4/0, 3/0, 00, and 1/2. The 6/0, wet-or-dry paper, dipped in water, is often used for smoothing between finish coats. Sandpaper is always applied along the grain in a straight forward and back motion.

Working with Steel Wool

Pads of steel wool can be used to finish any wood surface, though flecks of metal are apt to become imbedded. It is, however, better reserved for smoothing after the application of filler or the first coating. The coarsest wool used for these purposes is the No. 1; and Nos. 0 and 00 are generally better for fine work. In all cases the steel wool is applied in the direction of the grain. If a coating of any kind has been applied it is necessary to use long, sweeping, light strokes so as not to generate appreciable heat in any one spot.

Stains

Of the three types of stain available, the oil stain is much the best in the hands of a novice. The water stains raise the grain, and both they and the spirit stains are quite difficult to apply without streaking.
The oil stain should be applied with a clean varnish brush, after testing the color on a piece of scrap wood of the kind used in the furniture. If a light finish is required, the stain can be wiped off after a minute or so. The longer it is left, the darker it will become, within limits. If the stain is too dark to begin with, it may be thinned with turpentine. Since end grain absorbs more stain it normally finishes darker. This can be checked by dampening it with clear turpentine before staining.

In staining horizontal grains it is usual to begin in the center and work toward the ends. For vertical grain, as in cabinet ends, start at the top and work down. Any recesses or inside angles should be done first, but do not let any part dry before completing the whole surface.

Once the furniture has been finished, you can enjoy the work you have created.

Discover How To Build Your Own Amazing Furniture With Our Free Furniture Plans!

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Do Not Let Your Fears Stop You From Being In A Relationship

Do not let your fears stop you from being in a relationship. Here are a few suggestions on how you can manage your fears before getting involved with someone.

Always remember to get all of the facts of the given situation. Gathering the facts can prevent us from relying on exaggerated and fearful assumptions. By focusing on the facts, a person can rely on what is reality and what is not.

Learn how to manage your fearful thoughts that may be difficult to manage. When experiencing a negative thought, read some positive statements and affirmations that help lift your spirits and make you feel better. Remember that your fearful thoughts may be exaggerated so balance these thoughts with realistic thinking and common sense.

Take your problems to God. God is stronger than your stresses and anxieties. When the going gets tough, talk to God about your problems as if you were talking to a friend. Be persistent and be open in the avenues that God may provide to you in solving your problem. It is not always easy, however God is in control and he will help you if you ask him.

Don’t tackle all of your fears at once. Manage them one at a time. Try to learn what is the real source of your fears and anxieties. Knowing what the source of your problem is can go a long way in finding the solution. Think about it and try to figure out what is the source of your fears and anxieties. If you do not know, then ask a professional.

Managing your fears and anxieties will take some hard work. Trying to avoid you problems will do nothing in getting rid of your fears and anxieties. Remember that all you can do is to do your best each day, hope for the best, and take things in stride. Patience, persistence, education, and being committed in trying to solve your problem will go along way in fixing your problems.

Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear” an easy to read book that presents a overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com

How To Make Your Own Corsage

photo credit: trumanlo Flowers not only beautify our surroundings, but have a great tendency to lift our spirit and brighten our appearance if we wear them. They are a principle accent in our attire for many occasions. A bride would look empty handed without her bouquet. There is a special glow in the eyes of a teenager when she receives her first corsage from a beau.

We need not always wait for an occasion to wear flowers. A dewy gardenia, bought on the spur of the moment can brighten an entire evening.

Corsages may be divided into two groups: Formal and Informal. Each has its place.

An informal corsage consists of a spray or two of flowers without floral tape or bow. This type is worn during daytime activities.

A formal corsage usually has a bow and is always taped. It is worn at formal affairs, holiday celebrations, and other gala occasions throughout the year.

To be a successful corsage maker, you must learn the proper procedure.

Though a rose in itself is one of the most beautiful creations in the world, here is a way to further enhance its beauty by fashioning it with several of its kind into an ornamental work of art.

This project calls for the use of seven roses. You may, however, use anywhere from five to nine.

Cut the roses in the morning and put them in water to the calyx. Keep them in the refrigerator on the second shelf to harden them up.

Roses may be selected from the garden, keeping in mind that the buds are the beginnings of the corsage, with a gradual gradation in size toward the center, which is a full open rose. Nature grows her roses with this same gradation. After making your choice of roses, select some of the foliage to set off the corsage. If you can not find the right sizes, you may make fuller roses by gently peeling back the petals at the bases, being careful not to bruise or tear them.

Procedure for making rose corsage

A - Select the roses

B - Remove stems just below the calyx. Cut some number twenty four wires in halves. Insert one end into the calyx of a rose and pull through to other side. Twist wires together, after bending them down away from the rose. This preparation provides a flexible and sturdy stem with which to work. An additional half wire may be used to strengthen the stem.

C - Taping. These procedures cover up the wiring process and leaves a smooth neat finish on the stem.
Select three perfect rose leaves; holding them stem inward against the calyx and starting with a small collar of tape, gently turn the rose and wrap the tape tightly and firmly around the stem with a downward motion.
Pipe cleaners may also be used as stems. Cut the rose in this case, to the base of the calyx, leaving no stem. Insert pipe cleaner upward into the center of the calyx. Tape on rose foliage.

D - Roses numbered one, two and three are grouped together making two separate units. Do not crowd the foliage. Next attach the full open rose, number four, to your upper unit. Attach the lower unit; completing the corsage.

If you would like to add a ribbon, place it in the focal point which in this design is the center of the corsage. The ribbon is an accenting feature. It should add, not detract from the beauty of the roses, be careful to select your ribbon colors to contrast pleasantly with the color of the corsage.

As a finishing touch, sprinkle a little water on the roses. This will give them a garden fresh, dewy appearance. Be careful not to wet the ribbon.
Now you can wear your beautiful corsage with pride.

Discover How To Create The Most Stunning Flower Arrangement Ever!

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Diversity in Youth Sports

For some parents across the country, weekends are measured in soccer game start times, baseball innings and tournament scores. Researchers estimate that over 14 million children play one type of organized sport and several of those youngsters play multiple sports depending on the season. Sports are important for teaching good sportsmanship, goal-setting, teamwork, and for encouraging children to have an active lifestyle. Aside from these obvious advantages, organized sports can also play a much larger and culturally significant role as well.

Sports combine athletic as well as social skills and mix them up into an organized framework. Children are often required to put aside their own desires and ego for the sake of their team. They spend time learning from and befriending teammates who often are more like brothers and sisters than mere friends. Team uniforms are worn to signify solidarity and equality; everyone’s uniform looks the same. Children learn to play, strategize and communicate with people from all walks of life; those of different religions, race, ethnicity, gender and culture and work toward a common goal - winning. They are often exposed at an early age to those that are different from themselves but possess equal or greater skills and they come to realize that everyone is different, but differences can be strengths as well. Consider the following sports when looking for a diverse team activity for your child:

1. Baseball - - Baseball not only requires good communication from all team members; pitcher and catcher, outfielder to infielder and between the out and in-fielders themselves, it also encourages children to assist struggling teammates who are not performing well. By succeeding individually, children help contribute to a winning team environment and each child knows that even though he or she may not have their best game that day, one of their teammates will pick up the slack.

Major League Baseball also has many international stars and role-models that children of different ethnicities and nationalities can look up to and admire. There are players from Japan, Korea, Canada, the US, Australia, Mexico, Cuba and several other countries around the globe. MLB has training centers in a number of Central and South American countries and are constantly providing instruction and education for their players. The teams play exhibition games overseas and have created a World Baseball Classic which features international teams competing against each other for the title.

2. Basketball - - Basketball requires communication as well. While on the court, players make each other aware of their positions as well as the position of the defenders. It also encourages and rewards players for unselfish play in passing the ball to others to score. It necessitates an understanding between all players and the coach when plays are created in practice or called out during the game. Basketball is a game of camaraderie and the more time a team spends together practicing, the better they know where teammates will be during any given play in the game.

Recently, the National Basketball Association has seen an influx of international players as well. There are players from all different walks of life and several different age groups, as the NBA allows high school players to participate. Basketball is a very popular international Olympic sport and thousands of fans from every different country come out to support their team during the trials and 2 week events.

3. Football - - In football, we truly see the uniform disguising all differences. The helmets children wear to protect themselves also offers a mask to hide skin color, gender differences and cultural distinctions as well. Everyone looks the same on the football field; there is no one better than another; the great equalizer. This helps children to be judged more on their ability to play, rather than what they look like or where they come from. Football, like Baseball and Basketball requires communication skills between teammates as well as a desire to unselfishly sacrifice oneself for another teammate.

4. Other Sports Programs - - There are a number of other special sports programs in communities across the country that focus on helping children with disabilities participate and establish relationships. Special baseball fields, basketball courts and tennis facilities allow children in wheelchairs, walkers and on crutches to play sports alongside of their peers. Mixed leagues provide children without physical disabilities the chance to participate and learn about children that are different from themselves.

Although many people may consider sports divisive and ego-driven with all players performing for themselves, parents can use sports as an opportunity to teach children about the satisfaction that comes from being part of a team. Children can learn life lessons as they play; leadership, teamwork, social skills and they can also learn that people that look, speak or play differently from themselves are people that they want to get to know and become friends with. Children are open to learning about others and accepting those who are different. We as parents need to be conscious of what we are teaching and the opportunities that we provide to them for doing just that.

Lisa Smith has a BA in Psychology & is the Owner/CEO of Regionz Kidz, a multi-cultural infant & toddler clothing line featuring ethnically diverse characters and designs. She publishes a blog on her website http://www.regionzkidz.com that discusses cultural diversity & children & is a frequent guest blogger on other blogs and websites regarding parenting and children’s issues. You can contact Lisa directly at: lisa@regionzkidz.com

To Fathers with Love

In June of each year, we celebrate the wonderful Fathers and father figures in our lives!  The modern celebration of Father’s Day has ancient roots, dating all the way back to the Babylonian period of history.

The earliest record of Father’s Day was found in the ruins of ancient Babylon. A young boy named Elmesu carved a Father’s Day message on a card made out of clay nearly 4,000 years ago. He wished his Babylonian father good health and a long life. The tradition was passed down from generation to generation and is currently celebrated in several countries throughout the world.  In many countries, where the Catholic Church has had an important influence on the culture, Father’s Day is celebrated on St. Joseph’s Day (March 19) but in others, the date varies with the calendar year.

In the United States, we typically purchase greeting cards or small gifts for our fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, etc.  In other countries around the globe, they have unique and different ways to celebrate the Father’s Day tradition.

1. The UK and Australia:  Breakfast meetings for fathers and families are held along with public games and activities that strengthen the father-family bond.  These events include picnics with sports or games, fishing contests and hiking or running races.

2. Canada:  Different colored roses are worn by families signifying the well-being of their fathers.  A white Rose is worn if the father has passed away and a red Rose signifies father or grandfather in good health and vitality.

3. South Africa:  Social and cultural societies host large community Father’s Day celebrations to stress the role of fathers in building a stronger society and in nurturing their children.  They read stories and poems that have strong male characters.

4. Ireland:  Families make donations in the name of their father or perform acts of community service that pay tribute to the important men in their lives.

This year in June, we can all look into some different ways to express thanks and gratitude for the fathers and father-figures in our lives.  Whether we spend time strengthening our relationship by participating in an outdoor activity, performing some community service together or just sitting down to a meal together, we can all look to different cultures around the world to see that celebrating fathers is not just something we do here at home.  It is an ancient and wonderful tradition that can be expanded upon to create some wonderful new memories and traditions of our own.

Lisa Smith has a BA in Psychology & is the Owner/CEO of Regionz Kidz, a multi-cultural infant & toddler clothing line featuring ethnically diverse characters and designs.  She publishes a blog on her website http://www.regionzkidz.com that discusses cultural diversity & children & is a frequent guest blogger on other blogs and websites regarding parenting and children’s issues.  You can contact Lisa directly at: lisa@regionzkidz.com

Organizing Your Bill Paying

Bills, they are an inevitable part of our lives. We all have them; we all dread receiving and paying them, yet it is something that has to be done. The question is, how will you make sure that you pay all your bills and that they are paid on time?

Having a system for organizing and paying your bills can be just the ticket for saving yourself a lot of headache when the due dates for your bills rolls around. The thing with bills is that they tend to come in periodically over the period of a month, the due dates may be scattered throughout the month and unless you have a system in place, you may have a hard time keeping up with it all. Not only keeping up with where you put the physical paper bill itself, but also whether or not you’ve paid the bill or the due date for when the bill is to be paid may slip by you unnoticed.

Putting a bill paying system to work for you can be so rewarding. I know you’re wondering, “Just where do I begin”? The answer is by setting aside the time to create your “system”. You will need to gather your bills, track your due dates, establish a home for your bills, as well as determine a time when you will devote to the practice of “paying” your bills, whether you sit down and manually write out checks for them or you hop on your computer and set up an online bill payment.

First, you should gather all the bills that come in over the course of a month, and determine home or a place where you will keep them together in an effort to establish your system some form of organization.

There are many options when it comes to a home for your bills. You may want to go frugal and drop them into a large manila envelope as they come in, or you may want to go out a purchase a fancy, wooden bill organizer for your desktop. Either way, the important thing is that you place the bills into their home as soon as they arrive in the mail.

Secondly, you will want to sit down and make a list of when your bills are due. You might want to jot the due dates in your planner or on your calendar or just create a list of bills you will pay at the beginning of the month and those you’ll pay at the end if this makes it easier for you.

Once this is done you can determine the time that you will set aside each month to pay your bills, this may be twice monthly or just once depending on how your bills fall and your income comes in.

You can even create a home for this as well, gathering the supplies you will need. This again, may just be your computer if you’re able to pay your bills online or it might include your checkbook, envelopes, return address labels, and stamps for getting the bills into the mail.

In the end, you will appreciate that you have taken the time to create your bill system and to organize it in a manner that will work best for you. It may take some time to create the habit of putting your bills into their home, and to establish a schedule for paying them, but you will be glad that you put forth the effort, when you avoid late fees and have everything paid on time.

Alyssa Dees Avant is a Christian author, blogger, podcaster, speaker, and business owner, when she is not speaking to audiences of young girls and their mothers, she is writing as a freelance and ghostwriter. Whether she is sharing her passion with girls on the topics of beauty, modesty, and etiquette or with their moms on time management and organizing Alyssa has a true passion for helping others. Visit her on the web at http://beautybydesignonline.com or http://organizedlifebydesign.com

One-Minute House Cleaning Chores

Doesn’t it seem as if you never have time to clean house? You don’t have to do it all in one shot. Try finding spare minutes here and there to get things done. This set of tips will give you some ideas for chores that take less than a minute.

Dust One Thing

It only takes a minute to choose one thing and dust it. You can either use a feather duster, a dust spray and a rag, or a dust wipe. Here are some things you can dust quickly:

• TV screens
• Shelves
• Blinds
• Ceiling fans

Change Towels

Fresh towels make a room smell great, whether they’re in the kitchen or the bathroom. It takes less than a minute, and it freshens up the whole room.

Sort Today’s Mail

Mail can really pile up if left alone. If you take 60 seconds every day to organize that day’s mail, you’ll have a lot less clutter. Don’t be afraid to throw away junk mail.

Take Care of Plants

A minute is more than enough time to care for your favorite houseplants. If they need water, fill a pitcher so you can water them all faster. While your at the plant, pinch off dead vines or leaves.

Collect Garbage in a Room

If you don’t have time to clean a whole room but want to make it look a little bit better, clear out the garbage. Grab a trash bag or a waste paper basket and start stuffing. You’ll find that this improves the look of a room dramatically.

Light a Scented Candle
A clean house may be the first thing people see as they come to visit, but what are they smelling? An inviting smell in your home is just as important as keeping it clean

Don’t think you can find a minute? Then multi-task: any one of the above tasks can be performed while on the phone. It only takes a few stolen moments to freshen up a room. Imagine what you can do in 20 minutes.

About The Author

Cara Mirabella is manager and founder of The Household Helper (http://thehouseholdhelper.com), a site providing tips and resources for cleaning, organizing, meal planning and more. A former “domestically challenged” wife and mom, Cara now coaches other moms, whether working outside the home or a WAHM, to help them save their time, money and sanity when managing their home and family. More information about home and family management coaching can be found at http://thehouseholdhelper.com/coaching

Math Help: Why is My Child Struggling in Math?

Parents often ask why their children are doing poorly in math, particularly in grades 2-6. For young children, abstract quantities can be daunting, especially when taught in the context of skill drills. Many children do not find immediate meaning in numbers as symbols, although that is what parents and math teachers hope to convey to them.

Children in third through fifth grades who are having difficulty with procedural operations, such as long division and multi-digit multiplication, very often have not had any kinetic activity associated with the learning of the multiplication tables which are the basis for their computations. They become distracted from the procedures of multiplication and division by their concern over the “blank space” in their knowledge of multiplication tables and they lose momentum.

Parents often say that they download tables form the Internet or they use flash cards. Another, perhaps better, alternative is to provide art and craft materials for the student to use in writing his or her own personal multiplication tables. When the tables are personalized and used frequently with pride and familiarity, students gain in experience, confidence and expertise.

Children tend to enjoy having their own personally crafted multiplication tables from 1×1 through 12×12. They use these with pride and confidence. Even taking them to the supermarket to compute the total cost of multiple items will help to make the applications of arithmetic real and valued to a child.

Making a child’s learning experiential is of utmost importance in creating interest in math and developing skills. Many are not aware of the essential uses of elementary mathematical and spatial concepts in daily lives. Heightening awareness of these events is essential to pointing them out to children and sharing experience with them.

Just as parents read to our children, so should they communicate a reliance on mathematical principles. This may vary from family to family depending on individual pursuits and interests. For some families whose common interest is sports competition, a short discussion of the role of sports statistics could make that dreaded skills homework more interesting and relevant to a child’s life. Others may be interested in video games, which use computer programming that requires trigonometric applications. Cartoon animation programming uses principles of topology, the mathematics of mapping in space.

Road trips and map reading are also mathematical adventures for parents to share with children. Topographical maps use numbers in an obvious way, while road maps with scale measurements open the discussion to ratios and scale.

The history of measurement and attempts at standardization can become real when discussing money or the differences among the metric, imperial and U.S. measurement systems.

Toddlers, even with a rudimentary understanding of concrete quantity, can enjoy games of “which is less and which is more?” Counting games and rhymes abound and have been traditionally used to accustom children to quantitative symbols even at very young ages.

Perhaps the most useful tool of all in developing a child’s math ability at an early age is precision in language. Most students who have experienced the “drill and kill” math experience in school are shocked when they start to solve math word problems as a mathematical exercise. These applications of the skills so long deemed to be the foundation of math education are daunting to children who have been trained to believe that mathematical studies begin and end with computation.

If children learn mathematics as a foreign language, with symbols and grammar of its own, they are better able to handle the rigors of higher mathematics - with its whole new set of symbols and logic - and they are more productive students. Reading to a child, discussing concepts of “more and less,” “before and after,” “twice as much” and hierarchical classifications such as supermarket shelf organization and street name organization can pay off in a child’s mathematical performance.

Organization is the key to success in solving math problems. Giving a child adequate writing materials and encouraging him or her to experiment with blocking his work with designs to make it easier to read when he checks his work. Organizing work and establishing a rhythm for work is essential to success at problem solving. It is well worth the expense of large paper, markers and even colored pencils to establish the habit of conceptual organization.

So it really is not all about numbers, but it is about the ability to organize, translate concepts and think inductively and deductively. Many skills and experiences contribute to those goals and - with parental involvement - children can improve their quantitative skills while enjoying the simple pleasures of life.

Math Made Easy provides Math help for Algebra help, Geometry help, math homework help using math online tutorial services and math tutorial cd so you can watch your math scores soar.

Getting and Staying Motivated to Get House in Order

The biggest battle that every mom faces is the finding a time to do everything. Whether you work at home or work outside the home, the duties of the house seem to fall under your jurisdiction. It doesn’t seem quite fair but there it is. So, we have to pull double duty sometimes.

On a good day, it’s not easy to get in the mood to clean house. For one thing, it is always in the back of your mind that as soon as you get things straight, someone will come along and mess it all up again. It’s like that story of Sisyphus in the Underworld. He rolled the stone up the hill only to have it roll back down and he had to do it all over again day after day after day.

Since cleaning is a necessary evil, enlist the aid of some able-bodied helpers. I’m referring to the family. Create a family cleaning day where everyone participates to make the job faster and easier. For example, let’s use Saturday morning.

Each person can get up early before any other activities take place. Assign each person a task. Even the smaller kids can put their toys up and throw trash away. Allow a five or ten minute break every hour so no one gets too tired. With some sort of organization, each job gets done. The motivation here is that you won’t have to tackle all the housework alone.

Certain household jobs can’t wait until the weekend. If I washed my dishes once a week, the smell from the kitchen would be unbearable. Not to mention the fact, that there wouldn’t be anything to eat or cook with. The same goes for washing clothes. My boys go through so many clothes each week that they would have to go to school wearing dirty stuff.

For tasks that you can’t put off, build them into your day. No one likes to do these tasks, but if you tackle them in the morning, when you are already energized to start the day, you are more likely to get the job done. The morning always makes me feel hopeful—like the day is full of promise. That is the best time to get going on activities you would rather avoid.

Tell yourself that the sooner you get finished, the more time you will have to work and to play with the kids. Do what you like later and longer.

About The Author

Cara Mirabella is manager and founder of The Household Helper (http://thehouseholdhelper.com), a site providing tips and resources for cleaning, organizing, meal planning and more. A former “domestically challenged” wife and mom, Cara now coaches other moms, whether working outside the home or a WAHM, to help them save their time, money and sanity when managing their home and family. More information about home and family management coaching can be found at http://thehouseholdhelper.com/Coaching.html

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