Monday, February 11, 2013

Stockpile or Hoarder?



What do you think of when I say stockpile? Rolls of toilet paper lasting until your grandkids have kids. Enough hot dogs to feed everyone in a baseball stadium…..not the high school stadium but major leagues. On the other hand, cat food to last you a year BUT you do not have a cat! 

Because of all these new reality shows, people who use coupons have been giving this label of not stockpiling but hoarders. The shows find the most over-the-top people and feature them like the norm. This is far from it. 

Here are a few suggestions when it comes to stockpiling. This will keep you on the non-hoarder end of couponing!


  1. Usefulness – make sure you stockpile items that you will use. Just because you can get cat food at .02 a can, if you do not have a cat then do not buy. However, maybe pass the deal onto a friend who can use it.
  2. Dates – be aware of expiration dates. There is no reason to buy 20 jars of mayo when it is going to expire before you get through it all.
  3. Organize – be aware of what you have. Organize your pantry so you know that you have 4 bottles of BBQ sauce and 7 cans of corn. Nothing like thinking, you do not have something, go out and spend money to only find it hiding behind a box of cereal.
  4. Motivate – the whole reason to stockpile is to have food in your house so you want to eat at home. Be proud of what you have and enjoy those home cooked meals!

Below are just a few pictures of my stockpile. Nothing fancy but it feeds and keeps the family clean.




Blessings,
Jill

Saturday, February 9, 2013

5 Tips to a Cleaner Home



Not everyone has time nor wants to clean every day. There are better things to do like catch up on reality shows, have a glass of wine, or Facebook. 

Below are 5 simple things you can do each day to make the house look nice.
  1. Make your bed – I have said it numerous times. My floor could completely be covered but with my bed made, I feel good. 
  2.   All dirty clothes in the hamper – We teach this basic chore to our kids at an early age. No clothes on the floor
  3.  Straighten up pillows – I ‘fluff’ the couch cushions, fold all blankets, and coffee table is cleaned of clutter
  4. Dishes – It takes just a few minutes to unload and load the dishwasher. We run ours every night while we are asleep. Then I wake up to clean dishes!
  5.  Each night I take 5 minutes to gather all toys and non-living room items. I will either put them where they belong or in a pile for the kids to take care of the next morning.


Blessings,
Jill

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Throw-Away Thursday - Clothes in Closet



It is another Throw-Away Thursday but today is a little different. This project is going to take at least 6 months to finish it. 

Anyone still with me?

*crickets*

Wait, you can do this because it will take you 5 minutes to ‘set-up’ this up. Why will it take you 6 months? Because we are going to work on your clothes. All you need to do is head to your closet and turn all your hangers backwards. (See picture below)


When you wear a shirt or pair of jeans, hang it back up with the hanger the opposite way. Now fast forward to June. Go look at your hangers. Anything that is still hanging backwards means you have not worn it for at least 5 months. GET RID OF IT! 

Blessings,
Jill

Monday, February 4, 2013

Clean Naked



I honestly do not mind cleaning the bathrooms. The counters, the toilet and even the floors. I lose all motivation by the time I get to the shower/bathtub. Many times, I have just close the shower curtain and acted like there was nothing behind it.

“Don't pay attention to the man behind the curtain”

Name that movie!

Sorry, so I finally found a great way to clean the shower while naked. Say what to who?! I clean after I take my shower. Fill this awesome dish wand with half vinegar and half dish soap. It will knock out all the grossness in the shower plus the hubby has to watch the kids while you ‘clean’. Then just store the wand in your shower so it is there for the next cleaning.


Blessings,
Jill