SMALL VICTORIES (PART TWO), CLOTHES PINS, AND AN EASTER STORY

It seems like the longer we put things off, the more daunting they seem…

I had made such a big deal of the insurance paper work that I put it off for…well, a very long time. Once I finally did it yesterday, I chastised myself, as it was really quite simple. My husband, on the other hand, is ultra efficient. I am STILL learning from him…It’s just too bad that it’s taking so long!

One thing that I absolutely love about this new Organizational Goal that I have is that it makes life so much simpler! For instance, tonight, DD and I hosted a Lia Sophia jewelry party. Generally, whenever I have something at my house, I dread the getting-ready part. You know…the cleaning and setting up, etc.





Well, since I have been following my program, my living room was already clean, my bathroom was already clean, and all I had to do was to set up some extra chairs, which Hubby had gotten down from the attic for me. It really was a snap!

My cute niece, Ryanne, showing the jewelry...





My beautiful mother (left) and mother-in-law (right)...



Nieces Ryanne and Shannda...



Lovely niece Kylie...



So…Hard work really does pay off, and small victories really turn into large accomplishments! I still struggle with keeping up, but I am getting better and better, and by the end of the year (or sooner), I will be quite efficient.



As I love to hang out my laundry, I have wanted a clothes line for a long time…

And…Since I haven’t had one in years, my clothes pin supply was gone…

I decided to make due for now with a cable we had originally strung for the dog…It can’t hold much, but a little is better than nothing…

So, without pins, I tucked the ends of the two sheets under the blanket on either side…We had such strong winds that day that by the evening when I went out to get the laundry, I was down to ONE sheet and the blanket…

The other sheet has never been found! :/

Needless to say, among today’s purchases was a package of clothes pins… ;)





I had the little people over the other day and wanted to combine some fun with the real reason for Easter…

I had some little eggs, which when opened, contained a little chick…



When put in water over a couple of days...



They will grow…



While they were playing with the chicks, I read them this book…

Let’s Celebrate Jesus on Easter…



It is sad to me that Easter is just one more commercialized holiday where baskets, candy, and now even gifts are bought…

We do the baskets and the egg hunt, but I really like to teach the little people the real reason for Easter…

After the story, we went down and watched He is Risen…

This was put out by Living Scriptures…They have a wonderful way of telling the scriptures that keep the children's attention...When my children were young, I collected all of these animated videos...







Little people are so very very special that we HAVE to teach them and we need to love them…

May we all realize the blessings of Easter this weekend...

SMALL VICTORIES...PART ONE

I have found over time that when I REALLY don’t want to do something (or anything), if I can force myself to just do one thing, it will snowball…







As small victories often do, they lend themselves to a sense of accomplishment and a greater self-esteem…

Things that seem daunting to me are often small…

Figuring my bills…
Filling out insurance or Flex paperwork…

OR…

Cleaning the bathroom…



These things seem pretty insignificant when I think about them, but for some reason, at times I can mole hills into mountains…

By, first of all, MAKING A LIST, you set yourself up for success…

By, second of all, CROSSING OFF your to-do list one at a time, you set the cement for success…



It somehow gives a great sense of accomplishment when it is WRITTEN IN INK (instead of just in your mind) and then crossed off!



Coming up with new systems can sometimes take some of the burden away…

Within the last few months…(and after having my credit card number stolen)…I have found a safe way to pay my bills online through my bank…This is so much easier than figuring the bills, going to the bank to withdraw money, going to the store to purchase money orders, filling out all the money orders, addressing and stamping all the envelopes, and then going to the post office box to mail them…

So, even though I still dislike taking any time to do the drudgery of bill paying, I just tell myself that with my new system, it really won’t take much time at all…I just have to get on my computer, type out what I want to pay, and then, when I have finished, I cross that item off, and I’m on to the next!



To be continued…

TWO CANDLES FROM ONE

You know when your candle gets down toward the bottom, and it’s looking less than what you would like to display?

Well…There is a frugal AND fun way to save on candles…

I always save my wax and then when I’m ready, I will melt a couple of candles and make one whole new one…

Put your mostly-used candle jars in a pot of water and turn on medium or medium-low…Do not let it boil…

You may want to use old pots, as wax invariably gets in them...

It may take a couple of hours depending on how much wax you have to melt…



You will probably have to add a new wick to the new candle…Wicks and wick holders can be purchased inexpensively at a craft store such as Michaels…

Once the wax is melted in both jars, pour one into the other…Making a complete candle…

Or…

You may use a clean third jar, adding both jars of melted wax to it…

The fun of combinging candles is not only the good feeling it gives you in saving rather than throwing but also the new scent that you have created!

Most recently, I combined a mango and peach for a lovely aroma. You can also do layers, but wait for each one to set before pouring the next layer.



When I was finished, I ended up with a brand new large-sized candle (not pictured) and had enough wax left over to make a small one to set in the kitchen…

It is a light peach color and smells yummy!

One note to watch for is that they tend to settle and funnel…Sometimes I am able to overcome this by pouring in layers and allowing to fully cool before adding the next layer. I haven’t gotten it fool-proof yet, however, so if anyone has any tips, I would be glad to hear them.

I love Salt City candles…This where the wax and jars were from…

As they can be rather spendy, the money savings is wonderful!

As you can see, this candle still needs a bit of cleaning up and the wick trimmed...



The full-sized candle that I made would sell for about $21.95, and the small one would go for around $12.00…So, that is a savings of $34…

Creativity melded with thrift makes for a few hours of satisfaction and fun!

YOU HAVEN'T FAILED UNTIL YOU QUIT TRYING

A step back in life gives a fresh look at what’s really important…

Being away for a couple of days helping my brother move, allowed me to revisit some very valuable things…

Being away gives a fresh look at what’s really important…

That I don’t need to stress over the insignificant…

That we all have idiosyncrasies…

That we all have talents and abilities to learn from…

That old has strength…

Old buildings…



Old people…



The only thing old is her age number...She was thatching the lawn when we surprised her today...The garage floor is scrubbed and the walls washed for the big Easter feast next weekend...The house walls were washed last week getting ready for the painters...



Old cars…



That having a brother means so much…



That little people are God’s greatest creations…



That being multifaceted is fun…

Wearing high heels and lipstick one day and jeans and a Harley bandana the next…





That you can review your chemistry from the side of a U-Haul…



That new is not always better…

Like high-tech cameras that have a setting that takes blurry pictures, and if you don't know how to turn that setting off...It can lead to frustration...



That grampas are wonderful…



That Chevy is better than Ford, but that Ford makes some nice emblems ;)…



That mamas are sturdy and ever-strong…And they sing and joke while they work…



That frustration can end in success…

KEEPER

I received a beautiful ode the other day and wish to share part of it with anyone who may read...

Keeper

Their
marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best
friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now,
Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house
dress; lawn mower in his hand, and dish-towel in hers.
It was the time for fixing things.. A curtain rod, the
kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a
dress. Things we keep.

It
was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All
that re-fixing, eating, renewing, I wanted just once to
be wasteful.. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things
away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But
then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night,
in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with
the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any
more. Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used
up and goes away......never to return. So... While we
have it.... It’s best we love it... And care for it....
And fix it when it's broken...... And heal it when it's
sick.