We have covered steps 1-4 to this point. We have talked about getting a blue print for your house, a Daily Quick Clean, 3 Boxes and Routines. We have decluttered and learned how to keep the house looking straight. Now we are going to pull out the cleaning supplies and get to work! 
It’s time to gather your cleaning supplies. To begin you will need a cleaning tote. This can be an actual cleaning tote that you buy at the store, a mop bucket you can tote your cleaning supplies in or even an ice cream bucket if your supplies fit in it!
Having a cleaning tote will you save you time! You will no longer have to run from floor to floor or room to room to gather a cleaning supply that you forgot. If you have the closet space, you can also have a cleaning closet in each area of your home for convenience. You need to decide what works for you. The tote keeps all supplies near you at all times. It is very handy!
Once you have something to put your supplies in, you can start to fill your tote. You will want to stock it with window cleaner (this can be used for so much more than cleaning windows!), toilet cleaner, swiffers (I use these to dust my blinds), microfiber cloths (these can be used to dust and clean just about anything!), and paper towels. You may have other supplies that you want to add to the list. Remember less is more. You don’t want to tote a ton of cleaners all over the house. You don’t need them. You can get the job done with very few supplies! Once you have gathered the supplies and added them to your tote you are ready to go.
Cleaning is tons more fun if you do it as a family. A Saturday Checklist will help you make sure that you get it all done. Saturdays can be extremely full! It seems to be the day we all use to get caught up but it should also be a fun day with your family! To avoid spending every Saturday working ALL DAY, make a list of all the chores you need done on Saturday and put them on your checklist. Once you have created your list, make assignments. You can randomly assign jobs, assign them according to age appropriateness and/or have them choose them out of a hat (this way you are not the mean mom!). Whatever you decide, post the Saturday checklist and let them know that when the jobs are done, play time begins!
Remember to take things one step at a time! The following link is a song by Jordin Sparks called One Step At A time. It is fun to listen to and to clean to! Prepare your supplies and your checklist then check back in 2 weeks to learn how to create your own cleaning charts and a cleaning schedule. In step 5 c&d, you will learn what to clean and when.
One Step At A Time
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Check-out www.preparednotscared.blogspot.com for Two Fun Projects!
A Temple Memory Game and How to Make Your Own Portable Washer!
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One of my favorite activities that everyone loves in the family is “snuggle time” before bed. I remember as a child and even as a teenager, my mom coming into my bedroom at night and sitting on the side of my bed to just talk about whatever was on my mind. I loved and cherished this one-on-one time with my mom.
Now that I am a mom, I marvel at how she had the energy and patience at the end of the long day, to make time to talk to each one of us. I wish I could say that I’m doing just as good of a job as my mom. But, I’m trying. As a mother of 4, I find it really hard to spend time with each one of my children every night. So, we have a set schedule. I’ve assigned each child two nights a week that is just for them to be snuggled. (My two youngest share one of the days, if you are trying to figure out the math!) I set aside time each night to chat about their day, read books, or have their back tickled. My kids love knowing it’s their special time with mom and it let’s me know that they really look forward to being with me. Of course, I never forget to give them hugs, kisses and tell them how much I love them!
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O.k. I have to admit that if there would have been a whole plate full of these delicious treats I would have eaten them all that night in front of everyone, at our Baptism preview. I have never had a more delicious dessert of oreos and yet I didn’t know they were made from oreos until I asked for the recipe.
1 Full package of Oreo cookies
6 oz. of Cream Cheese
White Chocolate (melted)
Leave out 3 or 4 Oreos from the package. Food process the rest of the cookies until you have a fine constancy. Add your cream cheese and mix everything together. Form into small balls and then dip in your white chocolate. Crush up your left over Oreos and sprinkle some crumbs on top of your chocolate balls. Let sit and harden.
Just be sure to have some one else in the room making them with you so you have some left by the time you are done making them!
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This family home evening lesson is to supplement what your children learned in primary on Sunday. It can be easily adapted for small children or older children who may be ready to dive in to deeper doctrine. The children have been learning about the atonement this month.
Opening Song: The Third Article of Faith p. 123
Opening prayer
Lesson/Activity: This week they are one and the same!
Have your family act out the scripture story of Alma the younger and his conversion to the gospel. It is found in Alma 36. The kids love acting it out. It really brings the story to life. While you are telling the story point out how the people may have felt when Alma was speaking against the church. He was the son of the prophet. They may have felt confused, angry, helpless, etc. Throughout the story point out how the people involved may have felt – try to make the story come to life for them. The table below will help you outline what happened in the story and how it relates to us today (I found this on LDS.org in a talk given by a general authority – it is fabulous!)
| Verse
(Alma 36) |
Phrases from the scriptures |
Parallels to our day |
| 6 |
Alma went about seeking to destroy the church |
You commit a sin |
| 6-11 |
God sent His angel to stop Alma |
You get caught in your sin |
| 11-16 |
Alma was struck with fear; he was racked with torment |
You are tormented, afraid and penitent |
| 17 |
Alma remembered to have heard his father prophesy of the Atonement |
You remember what you were taught in family home evening about the Atonement |
| 18 |
Alma prayed for mercy |
You pray for forgiveness |
| 19 |
Alma could remember his pains no more |
You feel no more pain for your sins |
| 21-23 |
Alma received joy, light and strength |
You receive joy, light and strength |
| 24 |
Alma labored without ceasing to save souls. |
You teach those around you the gospel and you are a good example |
| 27 |
Alma was supported in his trials |
You are supported in your trials |
Testimony: Share your testimony of the Savior and what the atonement means to you. You may want to have your children finish the following phrases:
I am grateful to the Savior because _____________ and
The Savior will help me ____________________
This will give them a chance to share their testimony of the Savior.
Closing Prayer
Treat
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Okay so I realize I’m a little behind (since this post should have happened on Friday!). I have had a crazy 3 weeks and completely spaced my post – so sorry! Anyway I wanted to leave a fun idea for you since we have had President’s Day this month. My little boy was born on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12th) so every year we spend a little time talking about him. I came across a fun activity you can do with your kids. It is called Penny Puzzle.
Can you find the following things on the front side of a Lincoln penny? Be careful, some are tricky. The first answer is given.
1. Flowers – tulips (two lips)
2. Fruit
3. Part of a river
4. Country
5. Small animal
6. A drink that is against the word of wisdom
7. Yourself
Good luck! You may want to give a little history on Abraham Lincoln as you do this activity. He was a man worth learning about.
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Do you feel like your night’s are full of chaos? Does it drive you nuts trying to get everyone in bed? Do you panic on Sunday night when you realize you have to face another crazy week? This video has tips and ideas on how to organize your time and put everything into perspective. Good luck with your new routine!
Evening & Weekly Routines
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Here’s a great way to have your Webelo pass off a cub scout requirement and get a great tradition idea in as well. When my oldest was 10 he had to make something USEFUL from wood. We came up with the idea of making wooden hearts with wire in the top for some love note holders for our Valentine’s Day Dinner. (I know that they look VERY homemade, but that too brings up those great memories of watching him make these by himself. I wouldn’t change a thing about it.) You and/or your spouse can write a letter to each of your children expressing why you love them and what qualities they have that you really enjoy. Put them in your card holder and place them on the table at dinner time. Then, before or after dinner, everyone can open theirs and read it aloud or to themselves while sitting at the table. It’s a great way to spend Valentine’s Dinner with your family and bring some extra bit of love to your children. You can even express a desire for your children to do the same for you and your spouse so that everyone can have a little something to read.
Another fun idea is to have a bucket with their names on it. Walmart has some cute red tin ones on sale right now. We have ours high up so no one can get in them until Valentine’s Day. On that day they get to retrieve them down and look inside for a special Valentine’s Day treat. This could be anything from socks, candy, gift card, coupon for a night out, etc. Make it match what they would think would be cool. In these times of spending thrifty, give everyone a bottle of bubbles and you can have a bubble war with the family! Everyone will be laughing by the end and you will have created a fun and simple, yet memorable, event that they will remember for a long time. Sometimes the cheapest ideas make the greatest memories!
CHALLENGE: Try it and see. I would love to see your comments on what you put in your child’s bucket that didn’t cost a lot of money but was something that created a great memory. I will be looking after Valentine’s Day to see who rises up to the challenge. Remember part of the challenge is to come back and share your ideas with me and everyone else who reads our blog!
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If you’re looking for a fun Valentine’s Day Tradition, check out: www.preparednotscared.blogspot.com!
I will be posting Valentine’s Day Ideas
Today & Tomorrow!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Okay so it’s not rocket science but when I found these I was heaven just looking at them. I LOVE chocolate covered strawberries. I never think to make them but I sure love it when I get to eat them! This is the perfect Valentine treat! It is somewhat healthy (after all it does incorporate fruit right?) and it has a very important ingredient – CHOCOLATE! You can serve them as an after school snack, give them to your sweetheart or send them as a surprise in your child’s lunch box along with a love note from mom. If you aren’t into strawberries turn it into a fondue night and have fun with pretzels, pineapple, shortbread cookies (there goes the healthy part), and anything else you love covered in chocolate. I found this recipe on the Food Network and it is delicious!
Ingredients
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 3 ounces white chocolate, chopped
- 1 pound strawberries with stems (about 20), washed and dried very well
Directions
Put the semisweet and white chocolates into 2 separate heatproof medium bowls. Fill 2 medium saucepans with a couple inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Turn off the heat; set the bowls of chocolate over the water to melt. Stir until smooth. (Alternatively, melt the chocolates in a microwave at half power, for 1 minute, stir and then heat for another minute or until melted.)
Once the chocolates are melted and smooth, remove from the heat. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the dark chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries. Dip a fork in the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over the dipped strawberries.
Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!
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