Although the fall season isn’t quite here, it is definitely on the horizon. Here in my neck of the woods the temps are supposed to start dropping this weekend, a sure sign of what is to come. One of the things I do in the fall is what I call “fall cleaning.” It is similar to “spring cleaning,” but with a little bit of a different emphasis. You see, I’m getting the house ready for the colder months in which the windows will be shut and we will be spending more time indoors. What I do during fall cleaning is … Continue reading →

Summertime is the season of houseguests. I think everyone has at least one every year. My mom will be coming to visit for my sisters wedding so I’m getting ready for her company. In addition to cleaning the house I need to get the room she will sleep in ready. There are some basic things you can do to make your houseguests stay a little nicer. Bathroom Lots of clean towels, easily accessible Extra rolls of toilet paper in a convenient place Toiletries- usually when staying at someone else’s home you don’t bring shampoo and toothpaste so make sure they … Continue reading →

What does it mean to have a hospitable home? It means a home that is welcoming and friendly to those who visit. It also means a comfortable and pleasant place to live in. So whether you are entertaining guests or taking care of your family, your home should be hospitable. Here are 5 keys to having a hospitable home… The first is having at least one room where everyone can comfortably gather. For some people they can’t keep up with an entire house, in making sure it is always guest-ready or family-friendly. So if you pick one room to create … Continue reading →

So my husband and I have been trying to decide what to do about our oldest son’s high school graduation, which is less than a month away. The only reason we have procrastinated is because we had been hoping to hear a date on when he will leave for the Air Force. Our plans have been to combine his graduation party with his going away party. In fact, a couple of months ago our intentions were to work on areas of the home that we felt needed some sprucing up before having a big party. But as time kept passing … Continue reading →

Being a house guest for the weekend made me think of all the times I’ve been the host. Did I make my guests feel as welcome as JJ made me feel? I know I spent the week before my guests came cleaning like a mad woman, even dusting the tops of door frames, but did I really prepare for them so they would feel welcome? If you have a bedroom and bathroom that your guests will be using it’s important to make sure they are really clean. Also, make sure there is an extra blanket, sometimes guests are colder than … Continue reading →

In my last blog I kicked off a sort of series on housekeeping that I will be doing. I laid the foundation by providing a definition of what the word housekeeping means. One of the definitions was, “the management of a house and home affairs.” A manager’s job—in any facet—is to plan, coordinate and organize. Whether you are managing a multi-million dollar business or your home, these three components are vital. So as we are looking ahead to a New Year, this is your chance to develop a plan on how you will tackle your home. This will depend on … Continue reading →

Whoever thought that decorating your home could be dangerous? Well according to the “U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,” injuries from holiday decorating and decorations are on the rise. I read that many people are cut from shattered glass ornaments and falling from ladders while trying to put up lights or other holiday decorations. Burn injuries and deaths are also issues when it comes to fires caused by candles or Christmas trees. No one likes to think it could happen to them but we really do need to keep safety in the back of our minds as we prepare our homes … Continue reading →