Tami Fox

Counter It Friday – Getting Organized

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Tami

Getting Organized

Walk into your kitchen. Look at the counters. Have they attracted more clutter this week? Clear the Hot Spots. I know we talked about this earlier in the week. I think it needs a little reminder as we are going into the week-end. If you are having trouble keeping clutter at bay in your kitchen, identify where the clutter is coming from. Is it from you? Is it someone (or more than one) in the family? Is it everyone in the house? Clean up behind yourself. Don’t dump stuff on your counters to deal with later. Don’t put it there to begin with. Put it up instead of putting it down on the counter. The exception is when you bring in groceries. Carry them in and put them on the counter until you have them all carried in. Then put them away. If you are piling mail on your counter, get a new location for in coming mail. Trash or recycle junk mail as soon as it comes into the house. File bills in a file folder to be paid. File any receipts you get in the mail in a specific file for them. I only file receipts that I need for tax purposes or for warranties. Put some flowers out on your kitchen counter and see if that acts as a clutter repellant. Purpose to keep the clutter off your kitchen counters.

Zone Mission: Friday – Make one more pass on your kitchen counters and put away things that have landed there this week. We all have that happen in our kitchens.

Holiday Mission: Finish up your Christmas cards

Home:

Make Your Bed (Do this as soon as you get up.)
Get Dressed Down to Your Shoes
Swish and Swipe
Start Your Laundry
Decide on Dinner
Check Your Calendar
Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.

School:

Time for FUN FRIDAY!

Afternoon Routine:

Eat Lunch
Clear off One Hot Spot
Reboot the Laundry
Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)
Drink Your Water

Family Fun:

Play a game with your children today.

Before Bed: (This starts right after dinner.)

Check the Calendar for Tomorrow
Lay out Your Clothes for Tomorrow (Have your children lay their clothes out, too.)
Put things at your launch pad
Shine Your Sink
Clean Off a Hot Spot
Go to Bed at Decent Hour

Do for Others Thursday – Getting Organized

Posted on November 12, 2015 by Tami

Getting Organized:

In your home and homeschool

Have you thought of ways you can do something for others this month? Check around your town for places that are needing food or clothing donations this year. Our local food pantry has a large donation drive in November because they usually have more requests for help in November and December. See what they need. Pray about how you can help. A local restaurant is holding a coat drive for children. See if you have one in your area. You need to do something with your children’s outgrown coats anyway. Why not donate them to a child who needs a coat. Call your local soup kitchen and see if they need more volunteers. There are lots of ways you can give back to your community and teach your children how to give back, too.

Zone Focus: Thursday - Go through your pantry. Toss out things that are outdated. Put things to the side that you are not going to use and find a food pantry to donate them. Add items to your shopping list that you need for your Thanksgiving menu or for table service for Thanksgiving.

Holiday Mission: Add items to your shopping list as you are cleaning out your pantry.

Home:

Make Your Bed (Do this as soon as you get up.)
Get Dressed Down to Your Shoes
Swish and Swipe
Start Your Laundry
Decide on Dinner
Check Your Calendar
Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.

School:

Have you done some hands on learning with your children this week? Plan something for tomorrow! Make tomorrow a Fun Friday for school!

Afternoon Routine:

Eat Lunch
Clear off One Hot Spot
Reboot the Laundry
Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)
Drink Your Water

Before Bed: (This starts right after dinner.)

Check the Calendar for Tomorrow
Lay out Your Clothes for Tomorrow (Have your children lay their clothes out, too.)
Put things at your launch pad
Shine Your Sink
Clean Off a Hot Spot
Go to Bed at Decent Hour

Washing Wednesday – Getting Organized

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Tami

Getting Organized:

In your home and homeschool

Let’s wash the Thanksgiving serving pieces and dishes. It’s not too early to start using them now. Enjoy them! Review your Thanksgiving menu today. If you don’t want to make something on the menu, take it off. If there is something you want to fix, and it is not “traditional” for your family, make it anyway. If you have never hosted Thanksgiving in your home, you can celebrate Thanksgiving any day of the week. One year, I made a Thanksgiving meal earlier in the month to serve when a friend was visiting from out of town. It was a special meal for all of us. Other years, I have participated in a Thanksgiving meal early in the month with our homeschool friends. We all sign up to bring different foods, and we have a family who hosts us. It is so much fun to celebrate Thanksgiving, and it does not matter what day you choose to do it.

Zone Mission – Kitchen: Wednesday – Pull out your Thanksgiving serving pieces and dishes and wash them. Put them in a handy location or go ahead and set your table with them. Start using them now.

Holiday Mission: Review Your Thanksgiving Menu Plan. If you have not read the book, Cranberry Thanksgiving, get it at the library and read it. You might want to add Cranberry Bread to your menu.

Grocery Shopping and Errand Day – Take your list, pack snacks, and water bottles.

Home:

Make Your Bed (Do this as soon as you get up.)
Get Dressed Down to Your Shoes
Swish and Swipe
Start Your Laundry
Decide on Dinner
Check Your Calendar
Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.

School: Is your paperwork caught up? Do you need to update lesson plans or attendance sheets?

Afternoon Routine:

Eat Lunch
Clear off One Hot Spot
Reboot the Laundry
Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)
Drink Your Water
Errand day: Make your plan for grocery shopping and errands. Pack water bottles and snacks for everyone. Pack up your library books that need to be turned in.

Family Fun: Plan a fun activity while you are out. I am in the habit of checking for free activities that are going on while we are out doing errands.

When you get home from doing errands, have everyone work together to unload and put away everything.

Before Bed: (This starts right after dinner.)

Check the Calendar for Tomorrow
Lay out Your Clothes for Tomorrow (Have your children lay their clothes out, too.)
Put things at the Launch Pad that you will need first thing in the morning
Shine Your Sink
Clean Off a Hot Spot
Go to Bed at Decent Hour

Clear the Hot Spots Tuesday – Getting Organized

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Tami

Getting Organized:

In your home and homeschool

The countdown to Thanksgiving is on! This week’s Zone is the Kitchen, and I want to help you get the Hot Spots in the Kitchen under control, so you can get ready for the Holiday. You can do your Holiday cooking and baking easier if you have clean counters. Take care of the Kitchen Hot Spots today and spend 5 minutes a day keeping them put out. Once you get used to keeping the counters clear, you will want to have them that way all the time. I know in my house, it is a daily battle to keep the Kitchen Hot Spots in check. As a part of my evening routine, I take care of the Hot Spots daily. It makes a big difference for me.

Download my Daily Missions e-book to help you get ready for the Holidays. CLICK HERE and get it now. Holiday Missions started on November 1.

Zone Mission: Tuesday – Work on your counters. Put out any Hot Spots. Put away things you do not use regularly.

Holiday Mission: Work on your Christmas cards. Set your children up with a Christmas craft. If you don’t have an idea for them. How about giving them paper and markers and let them make a few Christmas cards for special people in your life?

If you need more help with organizing your home and homeschool, you can download The FlyLady’s Homeschool Teacher and Homeschool Student Control Journals for free.

Set your timer for 15 minutes for the Home Assignment and 15 minutes for the School Assignment

Home:

Make Your Bed (Do this as soon as you get up.)
Get Dressed Down to Your Shoes
Swish and Swipe
Start Your Laundry
Decide on Dinner
Check Your Calendar
Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.
Clean out your refrigerator. Toss the science experiments.

School:

Are you taking time to enjoy the fall weather as a part of your school day? Take some books outside and enjoy doing some school work outside today.

Afternoon Routine:

Eat Lunch
Clear off One Hot Spot
Reboot the Laundry
Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)
Drink Your Water
Write up a menu plan for the next 7 days. Check your pantry and freezer and make a grocery list. This habit will save you time and money. Try out some new recipes with the slow cooker. It will save you time once you start back to your school schedule.

Family Fun: Take your children for a walk.

Before Bed: (This starts right after dinner.)

Check the Calendar for Tomorrow
Lay out Your Clothes for Tomorrow (Have your children lay their clothes out, too.)
Put things at the Launch Pad that you will need first thing in the morning
Shine Your Sink
Clean Off a Hot Spot
Go to Bed at Decent Hour

Fall Into Monday – Getting Organized

Posted on November 9, 2015 by Tami

Getting Organized:

In your home and homeschool

Let’s Fall Into Monday and finish decorating for Fall. Did you know there are only 17 days until Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is one of my favorite Holidays. I like to spend time this month sharing with my children the things I am thankful for. I also ask them to list things they are thankful for. We write thee things on pieces of paper and read them each day. Some years, I put a construction paper tree on the wall, and we add our “thankful leaves.” Other years, I have cut out construction paper leaves, and we have just put them in a quart canning jar. It does not have to be complicated, but it is a good practice to list the things we are thankful for in this life. Another thing I like to do with the children in November is write Scripture verses about being thankful or blessed. We have also done volunteer work in November to show others blessings.

In case you have not downloaded it, here is the link to my Holiday e-book. You are not behind. Just start where you are.

Holiday Missions.

It has helpful pages for you to do your menu planning, grocery lists, gift lists, and a daily calendar for November, December, and January. I will also put the daily tips in my newsletter and on the blog. The e-book will just help you see the whole picture and give you forms to use.

Holiday Mission – Monday – Work on your Christmas Cards. You want to have them ready to mail the day after Thanksgiving. Think of a craft your children can make that you can let them give as a Christmas gift. If you have the supplies, go ahead and let them make it today. If you need to get the supplies, just mark a day on your calendar to buy the supplies and make the craft with them.

Now let’s move on to our daily missions this week:

This week we are in Zone 2 – The Kitchen.

Monday – Put out the rest of your Fall decor in the Kitchen. Clear a Hot Spot.

Tuesday – Work on your counters. Put away things you do not use regularly.

Wednesday – Pull out your Thanksgiving serving pieces and dishes and wash them. Put them in a handy location or go ahead and set your table with them. Start using them now.

Thursday – Go through your pantry. Toss out things that are outdated. Put things to the side that you are not going to use and find a food pantry to donate them. Add items to your shopping list that you need for your Thanksgiving menu or for table service for Thanksgiving.

Friday – Make one more pass on your kitchen counters and put away things that have landed there this week. We all have that happen in our kitchens.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Home:

Make Your Bed (Do this as soon as you get up.)
Get Dressed Down to Your Shoes
Swish and Swipe
Start Your Laundry
Decide on Dinner
Check Your Calendar
Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.

Weekly Home Blessing Hour:

Spread these out over the course of the week. Put a note on each day of the week with one or two of these per day.

7 Parts of the Weekly Home Blessing Hour from The FlyLady:

Quick Dust
Sweep/Mop
Purge Magazines or Paper Clutter
Change Bedding
Empty Trash
Clean Windows/Mirrors
Vacuum

School:

Do you have some hands-on activities planned for the week? Look for a Thanksgiving Unit Study to work on this month.

Afternoon Routine:

Eat Lunch
Clear off One Hot Spot
Reboot the Laundry
Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)
Drink Your Water

Family Fun: Have some outdoor time with your children today. Play. Do some nature journaling. The point is to add some movement to your day.

Before Bed: (This starts right after dinner.)

Check the Calendar for Tomorrow
Lay out Your Clothes for Tomorrow (Have your children lay their clothes out, too.)
Lay anything out that you will need first thing in the morning
Shine Your Sink
Clean Off a Hot Spot
Go to Bed at Decent Hour

Protected: pics

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Tami

Get it Done Thursday with a Special Offer

Posted on November 5, 2015 by Tami

Get It Done:

In your home and homeschool

How are you doing with getting organized? Do you need homeschool encouragement? This is the time of year when it shows when we do not have things planned and organized. As we get busier, things start slipping to the side. After a few months of homeschooling for the year, our energy and enthusiasm fades. We need a little boost. I wrote Giving Your Children Wings last year to help you and encourage you in your homeschool journey. The FlyLady published the Homeschool Teacher Control Journal and Student Control Journal to help you organize your homeschool. It is set up in an easy-to-use format. You only need a pen or pencil and a 3-ring binder to set it up. You can use page protectors if you like, but they are not required.

For the next three days, I am offering a Homeschool Package with a copy of my book, a Homeschool Teacher Control Journal, and a Homeschool Student Control Journal for the lowest price this year. It’s regularly $30.00 for all three books, but you can get all three of them for $20.00. That’s a savings of $15.00. (If you live outside of the US, I will bill you for the actual postage.) For US residents, the shipping is included in this low price. (Click the link for ordering information.)

If you are looking for a few homeschool resources, I am listing some homeschool curriculum to clear off my bookshelves. My Ebay Store can be found HERE.

Zone Focus: Zone 1 – Front Porch, Entryway, Dining Room – Take care of the Hot Spots in Zone 1. Detail dust any areas your have not dusted in this Zone this week.Holiday Mission: Sign your Christmas Cards, affix address labels, and stamps. Take an inventory of your pantry. Write down spices you need for Holiday baking.

Home:

Make Your Bed (Do this as soon as you get up.)
Get Dressed Down to Your Shoes
Swish and Swipe
Start Your Laundry
Decide on Dinner
Check Your Calendar
Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.

School:

Have you done some hands on learning with your children this week? Plan something for tomorrow! Make tomorrow a Fun Friday for school!

Afternoon Routine:

Eat Lunch
Clear off One Hot Spot
Reboot the Laundry
Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)
Drink Your Water

Before Bed: (This starts right after dinner.)

Check the Calendar for Tomorrow
Lay out Your Clothes for Tomorrow (Have your children lay their clothes out, too.)
Put things at your launch pad
Shine Your Sink
Clean Off a Hot Spot
Go to Bed at Decent Hour

Don’t Put It Off Wednesday – Getting Organized

Posted on November 4, 2015 by Tami

Getting Organized:

In your home and homeschool

Today is anti-procrastination day. What are you putting off? Let’s tackle that today! I find that the thing I put off the longest can be done in minutes most of the time. It’s taking the first step to doing it that is the hardest step. Just do it. Then email me and tell me how it went, or post a note on my Facebook page. You will gain peace as you deal with getting things off you list that you have been putting off.

Zone Mission: Dining Room: Clear off the dining room table, dust it, and decorate it with your fall decorations.

Holiday Mission: Start your Thanksgiving Menu Plan

Grocery Shopping and Errand Day – Take your list, pack snacks, and water bottles.

Home:

Make Your Bed (Do this as soon as you get up.)
Get Dressed Down to Your Shoes
Swish and Swipe
Start Your Laundry
Decide on Dinner
Check Your Calendar
Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.

School: Is your paperwork caught up? Do you need to update lesson plans or attendance sheets?

Afternoon Routine:

Eat Lunch
Clear off One Hot Spot
Reboot the Laundry
Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)
Drink Your Water
Errand day: Make your plan for grocery shopping and errands. Pack water bottles and snacks for everyone. Pack up your library books that need to be turned in.

Family Fun: Plan a fun activity while you are out. I am in the habit of checking for free activities that are going on while we are out doing errands.

When you get home from doing errands, have everyone work together to unload and put away everything.

Before Bed: (This starts right after dinner.)

Check the Calendar for Tomorrow
Lay out Your Clothes for Tomorrow (Have your children lay their clothes out, too.)
Put things at the Launch Pad that you will need first thing in the morning
Shine Your Sink
Clean Off a Hot Spot
Go to Bed at Decent Hour

Plan It Tuesday – Getting Organized

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Tami

Getting Organized:

In your home and homeschool

Are you thinking about Thanksgiving yet? It’s just around the corner. Spend some time today planning your Thanksgiving celebration. If you celebrate it with family, reach out to them with an invitation. Work on your menu. Start picking up ingredients with your regular weekly grocery shopping, so you are not spending a lot of money at once the week of Thanksgiving. Watch for sales on the food items you need. Stores put turkeys on sale this time of year. Get yours early and save money and avoid the shopping rush the week of Thanksgiving.

Download my Daily Missions e-book to help you get ready for the Holidays. Subscribe to my newsletter to get it now. Holiday Missions started on November 1.

Zone Mission: Detail clean your entryway and decorate for Fall. Put Fall flowers on your dining room table.

Holiday Mission: Work on your menu plan for Thanksgiving. Order your pictures for your Christmas cards.

If you need more help with organizing your home and homeschool, you can download The FlyLady’s Homeschool Teacher and Homeschool Student Control Journals for free.

Set your timer for 15 minutes for the Home Assignment and 15 minutes for the School Assignment

Home:

Make Your Bed (Do this as soon as you get up.)
Get Dressed Down to Your Shoes
Swish and Swipe
Start Your Laundry
Decide on Dinner
Check Your Calendar
Start the Day off with a Shiny Sink. Don’t leave the breakfast dishes sitting.
Clean out your refrigerator. Toss the science experiments.

School:

Are you taking time to enjoy the fall weather as a part of your school day? Take some books outside and enjoy doing some school work outside today.

Afternoon Routine:

Eat Lunch
Clear off One Hot Spot
Reboot the Laundry
Declutter for 15 Minutes (Be sure to have your children declutter, too.)
Drink Your Water
Write up a menu plan for the next 7 days. Check your pantry and freezer and make a grocery list. This habit will save you time and money. Try out some new recipes with the slow cooker. It will save you time once you start back to your school schedule.

Family Fun: Take your children for a walk.

Before Bed: (This starts right after dinner.)

Check the Calendar for Tomorrow
Lay out Your Clothes for Tomorrow (Have your children lay their clothes out, too.)
Put things at the Launch Pad that you will need first thing in the morning
Shine Your Sink
Clean Off a Hot Spot
Go to Bed at Decent Hour

Weekly Wrap Up Post About Ireland

Posted on November 3, 2015 by Tami

Last week we studied the country of Ireland. We enjoyed learning about the country and where it is on the globe. We enjoyed learning about the economics and government. We talked about places of interest and practiced speaking with an Irish accent (Top ‘O the Morning to you.) We talked about the religion in Ireland and colored a flag.

Our meals were delicious. We cooked Bleu Cheese Burgers, Shepherd’s Pie, Soda Bread, Irish Stew, and Reuben Sandwiches.