UpSiDe DoWN PeRFeCTioN

HaPPy!! HaLLoWeeN!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 12:40:00 +0000

Hey Y'all!! Yes it has been a few weeks. I've had so much going on and just not enough hours in my days to keep up! Whew!!

But I couldn't let today get away from me without sharing this yummy treat!!!

I have always loved "Pay Day" Candy Bars. And I love the salty 'n' sweet taste it provides. So when a fellow co-worker shared this awesome treat I knew I wanted to make it and share it with you.

It is super easy to make and not really expensive either.

HaLLoWeeN MaSH aka Pumpkin Patch Munch

2 cups Brachs Candy Corn
2 cups Dry Roasted Peanuts
Air Tight Container

Place the Candy Corn & Dry Roasted Peanuts into the Air Tight Contain. Mix gently with your hand. This is so you do not nick up the candy.
Let it sit overnight (if you can). This allows for the flavors to mingle together.
Yeah....I couldn't wait either. (wink wink)!

Warning....THIS STUFF IS ADDICTIVE!!! DON'T SAY YOU WEREN'T WARNED!!!

My daughter Mandi made this yummy treat for all the carpool teachers where her little angel goes to school. Didn't they turn out so cute??

My favorite way to eat this tasty treat is 3-4 peanuts per 1 candy corn.
What's your favorite way to eat this treat??

Enjoy and have a GHouLiSH & SaFe HaLLoWeeN!!!!!!

Encouragement For The Soul ~ God is Good.... Psalm 100:5

Blessings ♥
Betsy

PinTrusted or PinBusted How To Get Print Off Plastic Containers

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 13:27:00 +0000

Hey Y'all!!!
Today's PinTrusted or PinBusted review is from FilthWizardry.Com
It's a fairly popular pin on Pinterest. So I thought I would give it a try.

You take your plastic container of choice....all I had on hand was a container of Sour Cream so here it goes.....!

The original blog post states to remove the print all you need is a "Mr. Clean Magic Sponge" (or brand of choice) and your container.

Wet the magic sponge and start rubbing.

She doesn't give any length of time to rub.

So I rubbed for a good bit and with a good amount of pressure too, until nothing else was coming off. Since this container still has my sour cream in inside I just did a small spot for our experiment. As you can see it did come off but not all the color came off. If you are wanting to have a perfectly cleaned off container then I would say this is Pinbusted.

However if you are just wanting the print to be gone and do not care that there is discoloration then

I guess you could say this Pintrusted!

What are your thoughts on this PinTrusted or PinBusted pin? Have you had better success than I did?
Love to hear your thoughts!!!

Encouragement For The Soul ~ Do what you can, with what you have, where you are....
Theodore Roosevelt

Blessings ♥
Betsy

How To Make A Storage Box

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 12:00:00 +0000

Hey Y'all!!
I'm a day late but here is my D.I.Y. Project.
First I must apologize for my blurry pictures. My battery was running low.

I pinch pennies.

And I have been wanting some storage boxes to get my Linen Closet...

not just organized but pretty and fashionable too.

But my budget just won't allow me to go out and buy any.

I asked my daughter Allie to save me a diaper box from one our littles

so I could try to cover it and turn it into a storage box.

I first thought about using some burlap that I had in my craft closet,

but decided it might be too hard to keep clean.

Today I was in my favorite craft place...Hobby Lobby and found this awesome wrapping paper that was absolutely perfect!!

And I had a 40% off coupon that brought the regular price of $4 .99 down to $2 .99!!

WOW!!

I came home and got out my box and cut off the top tabs.

Then I cut my paper being sure to leave just enough to tuck inside the top opening.

I made an angle cut on all 4 corners of the long edges.

This will make it easier to fold the edges into the inside.

I folded the long edges in first. Taped it with good ol' scotch tape

Then I turned the pointed cut angels inside...

Next I turned the edge inside and taped it down and finished the bottom end just like

you would if you were wrapping a package.

And there you have it!! An absolutely darling storage box

And it only cost a few pennies to make!!!!

Now my spare bed linens have a pretty place to stay until I'm ready to use them again!!

Tell me what you have made from things you would've normally thrown away!

Encouragement For The Soul ~ Faith is putting all your eggs in God's basket, and counting you blessings before they've hatched. ~Unknown~

Blessings ♥
Betsy

PinTrusted or PinBusted ~ Using Fabric Softener To Remove Wallpaper

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:00:00 +0000

Hey Y'all!!
Okay today I'm going to test this pin on Pinterest. Removing Wallpaper using Fabric Softener.

Hip 2 Thrift

Here we go. I've had to remove wallpaper in my Bathroom and Kitchen (future post) makeovers.

This is my bathroom before I started tackling the wallpaper. I must admit I was somewhat intimidated by the thought of having to take this stuff down. I had heard a bunch of horror stories and I didn't want to be added to the infamous list!!!

Many sights on the internet and Pinterest as well said to use one of these little Scorer Tools.

As you can see it has these little "teeth" that makes holes into the wallpaper surface. This is suppose make it porous and allow wallpaper stripper to penetrate through so it will come down "easier". I have never used one of these tools so I can't say if it works or not. But seeing what it looks like when you use this tool it seems like it would make it come down in tiny pieces. Seems very time consuming!! Plus the cost of the tool is approximately $13.00 + wallpaper stripper approximately $4.50 for 32 oz.

So I started doing my research on Pinterest of course, with the thought in mind that things don't always go as planned or instructed. I first had to pull the old wallpaper off. Wallpaper is in 2 layers. The first is the pretty part and the other is the layer that is left behind when you pull it down.

I just got on little corner to let go and started pulling the outer layer off the walls. I was amazed at how easy it came down. Then I was left with the under layer to try and get off.

I think this is probably the "nightmare" layer.

I went to my laundry room grabbed the fabric softener, a spray bottle and water.

Now this pin said to use equal parts of Fabric Softener and Water. I did that. Then it said to spray it on the wall. I did that too. But my hands began to get pretty sore. And it was kinda hard to control where the overspray would go. Down on the floor, counter and anything else that was below. In the blog post she does say she found out too how sore her hand got. She decided to use a paint tray and paint roller.

I didn't see any since in wasting a paint roller because I'm not sure how well the Fabric Softener would rinse out of the roller and how paint would react if I used it again. I'm a fairly frugal lady and didn't want to waste a good paint roller. So that is why I took a bowl and a rag and started dabbing it on. She also said the paint roller was a little messy but I found dabbing the rag on the wall not to be messy at all. It was SOOOO much better than spraying or rolling. As you can see it came down in sheets.

Dab it on. But do not let it dry or you'll have to start all over. Do this in small patches. Dab, wait just a moment to let the liquid soak in good and then pull the "nightmare" layer down.

Once you get the "nightmare" layer off you need to wash the walls with warm water. Do not soak the walls, just wipe with a rag or sponge to get rid of any of the leftover glue and Fabric Softener. You will be left with a wonderful smelling room for a few days. Please be sure to let the walls completely dry before you finish them.

So I have concluded that this pin in a PinTrusted pin!!!

Encouragement For The Soul ~ Commit to the LORD whatever you do,

and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

Blessings ♥
Betsy

How To Do Faux Venetian Plaster Wall Texture

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 13:05:00 +0000

Hey Y'all!!
I know you've all seen the walls at "Olive Garden Italian Kitchen". You know those beautiful yet rustic Tuscan walls. I love those walls so much!!!
For years I have been trying to figure out how to do those walls!!
I finally decided after searching for a good tutorial without much success that I was just going to have to venture out on my own and try to do it myself. I first tried it in a small room....the Bathroom Makeover.
And now I've gone bigger. I'm doing my kitchen walls.

It's extremly easy. I mean it's just "mud" and if you make a boo boo you can just scrape it off and try again. I wish I had a video of it for you. I'm sure that would make it even better for you to understand and see just how easy it really is.

There's no real wall prep work to do unless you're like me and you have to take down wallpaper first. I know there's another post in there somewhere!! (wink wink). I would suggest that you get all the cobwebs down and dust the walls if you have had pictures hanging. That dust can find it's way into the smallest and sneakiest places!!

Okay, so the walls are ready and here are the supplies you will need.

A contain of Joint Compound. Some people call this mud and rightly so. Its looks and feels like mud. This product comes in several different size containers. When I did my bathroom I started with one of the small containers and had to go back and purchase another small container so I could finish my project.
When I went to the "Big W" this time I was going to go a head and purchase this big boy. He's 42 pounds. Well I bent over to pick it up and Oh My Stars!!!! That big boy was HEAVY!!! So I opted for another kind they had which was called "Light" (sorry I don't have a picture of it)...but it didn't go very far at all. So I asked my hubby, Bill if he would go with me and pick it up and get it to the truck for me. He is a sweetheart kinda guy!!

You will also need a Putty Knife. I suggest biting the bullet and getting the 6" Metal Putty Knife. If you get it any smaller it will you take for ever to get even one wall done. They make plastic ones but they tend to bend and crack fairly quickly. So go a head and invest in the real deal!

And you will need a container wide enough to get the metal putty knife in without any effort. When I did the bathroom I just used one of those rectangle Ziplock containers and it did good.

This time though I decided to just use the paint end of a paint tray. It was a little sturdier but also kinda big. But you're gonna need one for your paint later on. You can get them at The Home Depot fairly inexpensive.

You will also need something to stand on to get to the top of the walls. I use a step ladder and a short stool.

But you can use what ever you like just be careful and be sure it's sturdy enough so you don't fall down.

Okay, so we have our supplies now we're ready to get started.

Open the container of "mud" and get you a good size blob but don't fill the "paint area" completely because this stuff is heavy. It will make the hand that's holding the paint tray get tired fairly quickly.

Now you can start on which ever wall you want to but I work around the room clockwise. Not sure why? Load your putty knife up just on the end like this.

You will be tempted to get too much just so you can get through quicker. But trust me less is more in this case.

Now go to the upper left-hand corner of your wall and at the edge where the wall and ceiling meet and possibly two walls meet place your putty knife at a 45 º angle and as you're pulling down gently change to a 25 º angle and then pressing almost flat to the wall, angle and just drag the putty knife down or across the wall so that the "mud" comes off the putty knife in a smooth streak. You may have some pits and bubbles. That's okay! You can take the putty knife again and drag it at a 45 º angle again to the right or left and make an X but you want to be sure and leave a ridge behind. This is not a perfectly smooth look we are going for. It is suppose to have ridges and some pits. Make X's, Lines, Squiggles, make it your own. There is a technique but it's going to be your own I suppose? I mean you will have to find and get your own groove and technique but I've given you the basics.

I'm going to throw some pictures on here so you can kinda get a better idea and feel of what I'm talking about.

Now I started working on my kitchen walls on Friday and didn't get done. I thought they looked good at the time and when I went back on Sunday afternoon to finish up I was a little heavy handed on purpose because I just wasn't as pleased with Friday's walls after they dried. So I'm going to go back today and apply just a little more "mud" today.

And there you have it! It is really very easy to do!
I hope to have this project finished sometime this week So check back to see the finished Kitchen project.

Have you ever wanted to try this technique on your walls? What kind have you done on your walls before?

Encouragement For The Soul ~ Where there is peace there is blessings!

Blessings ♥ Betsy

Fallen Off The Radar!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Sat, 06 Sep 2014 13:13:00 +0000

Hey Y'all!
Yes I'm still alive! It has been sooooo long. And I do apologize. I have been running like a chicken with my head cut off. Sorry!! With cleaning and organizing homes, school starting and getting my preschool room and lesson plans ready, I have hardly had time to sneeze!

But I'm back and will be posting regularly. Monday's will be DIYs & Crafting Ideas, Wednesday's will be PinTrusted or PinBusted, and Friday's will be open. So I'm open to suggestions to post about on Friday's it will be a hodge podge day!

Check back on Monday to see how things are going on my Kitchen Makeover!

So what would you like to talk about on Friday's?

Encouragement For The Soul ~Anyone can have a house, it takes love to make it a home!

Blessings ♥ Betsy

PinTrusted or PinBusted ~ Edge Colored Cupcake Liners

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 11:29:00 +0000

Hey Y'all,
It's that time again when we try another pin from Pinterest to see if it can be Trusted or Busted!

Today I'm going to try this pin from "Hello Little Wren". Lauren shows us how to dress up our plain ol' white cupcake liners. Her's are really cute aren't they?

{Lauren's Cupcake Liners from "Hello Little Wren"}

How wonderful that would be if they really work.....so here we go!!!!

According to her instructions you need Food Coloring, Water, Container to put the liquids in and Cupcake Liners. Oh and something to cover your work area so you don't end up coloring your countertops too!

All I had on hand was Blue and Green Food Colors. I got my stuff together and started dipping.

Lauren didn't tell how long to let them soak so I just counted to 15 and then tried to get them out of the bowls without squishing them.

To me getting them out of the liquid is probably the most difficult part. They want to close up on you. So I got a fork and a knife to help lift and elevate them out of the bowls.

I did quickly discover you do not have to wait to the count of 15. Since they don't really soak up very well. You are just simply putting a coating of color that will color the edges.

I just dipped, pressed gently to immerse the cups {they do like to just float} and took them right out.

Also I discovered you can squish them and they pretty much bounce back so to speak.
They are pretty resilient little things.

Now to let them dry..........{whistle, whistle, whistle}.....this is definitely a project that you need to plan ahead for. It took approximately 1 ~ 1&1/2 hours for them to dry completely. Of course they don't all dry at the same time. The first ones will dry before the last.

This one is probably one of my favorites. It is a specialty cupcake liner from Wilton's.

This little cup didn't do too well. He kinda wimped out on me.

But I do believe this is a Trusted Pinterest Pin!!!! Like I said just be sure and plan ahead!!!

What are your thoughts on this Pinterest Pin?
Do you think you will be trying these little cuties?

Encouragement For The Soul ~ Harsh words make no friends; a spoonful of honey will catch more flies than a gallon of vinegar ~ Benjamin Franklin

Blessings ♥
Betsy

My Kitchen Update

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 13:06:00 +0000

Hey Y'all! How y'all doing?

I have been going in circles lately.
But I am not complaining by any means! Being busy is great!
Work on my kitchen is coming along. I have been trying to squeeze in as much time to work on the kitchen as I can.

But I had a lady call and she needed me to come and do CPR on her home! (wink, wink)
Actually she wanted me to come and help get her home organized, cleaned out and cleaned up!

So I called princess # 1 aka Mandi to come and help! We make a great team. We think a lot alike and in fact we can almost finish each other's thoughts and sentences.

We have been working 2 to 3 days a week lately plus I already had a couple of homes that I take care of on Wednesdays. So squeezing in spare time has been crazy tight!

I've hit a snag in my kitchen update though. The first snag I've hit is my pantry door. I sanded the door along with all the cabinets and got them all prepped.
I decided to get Behr Oil Base Black Paint. Why? I really do not even know.
I came home and couldn't wait to get it painted. So I got out my brush and jumped right in only to be very disappointed really quick.
I have used oil base paints before but this had to be the worst I've ever had happen. It wouldn't move, or smooth out. I have never seen so many brush stroke in all my life. And I was using Behr, .a good brand. So it was suppose to be a great quality. I went ahead and tried finishing it the best I could. 4 hours later it is still just as wet as it was when I brushed it on. My heart just sank.
I ended up taking the can of paint back. The guy at Home Depot told me it usually took 24 hours to not be tacky any more. It had been 12 hours since I bought the paint and the little dot that they put on the top of the lid was sit just as sticky as it was when I picked it up. They were nice though and gave me my money back and I went home very unhappy. 4 days later the door was finally dry! Thank goodness cause we were getting tired of having black fingertips when we opened the pantry door through the door knob hole.

Pantry Door Before Paint

Pantry Door After Oil Paint
Very Streaky

We decided to use a spray paint on the doors. I'm much happier with the way they've turned out!

We haven't gotten the Pantry Door rehung so I don't have a picture of the door yet. Hang on though because it will be in a later post.

I've been painting the bottom kitchen cabinets black too. I took the doors off and all the hardware too. I sanded them down and the drawers too. I primed them with an oil base primer and started painting them.
This time I'm using Glidden Duo Semi-Gloss Latex Paint that has a primer in it as well. I figured I was going to cover all my bases!

I have put 2 coats on the cabinet frames and then 2 coats on the cabinet doors both outside and inside. 2 days later they feel sticky. And I accidentally let 2 of them touch each other for just a few minutes. And when I pulled them apart they had stuck together. WHAT??? Once again my heart sank! What in the world was I going to do?? I have always used latex paint and NEVER have I ever had this happen.

Underneath Kitchen Sink After Bill Put In Braces For New Floor

Underneath Kitchen Sink After We Got In The New Floor

Now the conclusion I have come to is the primer that is being put into the BETTER QUALITY LATEX PAINTS whether it is Glidden, Behr, Valspar or who ever, isn't making them BETTER but WORSE.

Yes! They may be great on the walls but for other things it is a waste of $$$.

I was talking to the lady in the paint department at Lowe's about the issue I've been having and she said they have had a lot of complaints from a lot of their customers. So FYI don't use the new latex paints for anything but walls. Just sayin'!

Kitchen Cabinets Before Latex Paint

Kitchen Cabinets After Latex Paint

Other Kitchen Cabinets After Latex Paint

Having said that! I HAVE FOUND MY NEW LOVE!!!!! CHALK PAINT!!! When I started researching online what to do about sticky tacky latex paint, I came across Chalk Paint. It sounded like my only hope! Other than stripping all my cabinets and that just wasn't in my game plan at all.

I looked at Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint and oh my! I knew I couldn't spend that much money after all the money I had just spent and basically wasted. So I found out you can make your own! And you know how much I love all this DIY stuff. Hummmm! I think I've found a future post in the making. I will go into more detail on that later. Let me just say my heart is singing once again!!! I hope you enjoyed the pictures of what I have gotten done to date.
There will be more coming in the very near future.

This I believe has been the longest project I've ever done! I'm getting tried of all the issues but I sure am learning a lot about what to do when things go wrong!

But through it all my hubby has been so sweet by overlooking the mess. I know I have been neglecting him and the house. But by the grace of God I will get this all done!

What projects are you working on? Have you ever had an issue with any type of paint before?

Encouragement For The Soul ~ In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6

Blessings ♥
Betsy

PinTrusted or PinBusted ~ Skinny Shake Tastes Like Wendy's Frosty

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 13:52:00 +0000

Hey Y'all!!!
I'm switchin' gears. The last 2 PinTrusted or PinBusted post were about cleaners. But today I wanted to share with y'all this pin that has made it's way around many blogs.

The post claims that it tastes just like a "Wendy's Frosty". And the comments for the most part have been good!

Recipe is:

Ingredients:
3/4 cup of Almond Milk
About 15 Ice Cubes
1/2 teaspoon of Vanilla
1 to 2 Tablespoons Cocoa Powder
1/3 Banana

Directions:
Mix
Enjoy!!!

Now I was so excited to find this. Because I'm trying to lose weight and My Hubby is diabetic. And he loves his chocolate!! So this was right up our alley! And I just happened to have all the stuff to make one!

I go in the kitchen...get out the blender....and mix one of these yummy delicious "Wendy's Frosty's" up!!!
I pour it into a glass....stick in a cute little striped straw....give it to Bill (My Hubby), and waited to watch the delight come across his face. Only the look wasn't delight it was "What the heck it this????" "I though you said you were making me a Wendy's Frosty?????"

I took it and took a sip myself and couldn't even swallow it! It had absolutely no flavor. It was like bitter icy nothingness!

So I went back to the recipe thinking and hoping that I had made a mistake and left out the key ingredient. But to my disappointment I had not!!! I thought maybe they meant Chocolate Milk Powdered Mix instead of Cocoa Powder. But that wouldn't make it Skinny?! I thought I know the difference but maybe they didn't. But NO! Every blog that I visited listed this same recipe. Some even made sure you knew that it wasn't the Chocolate Milk Powdered Mix by listing it as UNSWEETENED COCOA POWDER!

Yep! I read and made it just like it was suppose to be made.

Now I'm sorry but I have to give this pin a PinBusted!!!!

I'm not sure what all these people were talking about. But if they had tasted the one I made....I'm just sayin' it WAS NOT A WENDY'S FROSTY TASTE ALIKE!!!

Have you made this one? What are your thoughts on it????

Until next week keep on pinnin' and I'll keep testin'

Encouragement For The Soul ~ In the emergencies of life...God is always on call!

Blessings ♥ Betsy

PinTrusted or PinBusted ~ Miracle Cleaner ~

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 14:18:00 +0000

Hey Y'all,
It's that time of the week when we see if a pin is Trusted or Busted.

This week I decided to put the "Miracle Cleaner" to the test. You know the one that claims you can make your pans look like new again by making this paste out of Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide. I have just the cookie sheet to test it on. So come on and check it out.

I know....let's all say it together....GROSS!!!!

So I got the supplies I was going to need, my box of Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide and my bowl to mix my concoction in.

I am really am rooting for this!!! I would love to see this trusty little baby shine once again!!
So I poured it out....is it me or do you think this blob looks like a snow man? Ha! Ha! I know such simple things can make me chuckle!!

I spread it out

Getting it as even on one side as I can.

And now we wait.........

Oh LOOK!!! It is starting to do a little bubbling action!!

And we wait.....

45 minutes now have gone by since I last looked at it. Let's take a quick look.

Oh WOW!!! Look how puffy it has gotten.

Surely something is going on under all those bubbles at least one would think so anyway!

And we wait another 15 min....

The original post from "One Good Thing By Jilliee" never really gave a specific time to wait. She said she went to breakfast. But I thought I would give it at least an hour.

Now let's see....Ooops I forgot to get a picture of it when I just shoved the concoction to the left a little.

But when I did...nothing moved. I mean NOTHING!!

The original post said she just rubbed a little of the cleaner off and that she was astonished.

Me too!!!! At first I thought okay that's a bust! And going by what she said it is a bust. But I read some of the comments below the post and decided to put a little elbow grease into this. I got out my Scotch Brite Scouring Sponge and started scrubbing.
I scrubbed.....and I scrubbed.
Now at this point I have started to sweat!
Not at all what the original post had said!

Look at that sludge! Yuk!

Okay you can see that I did give it my all.
And I hope you can see that I did try to scrub the side that had never had the "Miracle Cleaner" on it just to see if the "Miracle Cleaner" had made a difference.
Guess what? It did! I put just as much time and effort in scrubbing the left side as I had on the right side of my cookie sheet! And not much at all happened on the left side.

So I'm torn....
I give it a Busted for the fact that it did not do what the original post had said!

Before

After

But I give it a Trusted for the fact that if you really want to get your pans cleaner than they are now and don't mind scrubbing then go for it.
You can decide on this one! Which one Trusted or Busted?

Encouragement For The Soul ~ Each journey with God is an adventure of FAITH.

Blessings ♥ Betsy

Jalapeno Poppers Dip ~ Recipe of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 12:30:00 +0000

Hey Y'all,

Thanks for visiting today.
Who out there is like me and just loves the taste of Jalapeno Peppers.

Yes I know they're hot but they just have a flavor that I crave a lot.

I love Jalapeno Poppers too don't you?

The crunchy, cheesiness is just so hard to resist.

Well I had the opportunity to try this awesome substitution! Which by the way I think is even better than their namesake.

Our daughter, Mandi prepared an appetizer for

a family gathering a while back.

It was absolutely addictingly delicious!!

It has just a little bit of heat with the delicious flavor of jalapenos along with ooey gooey cheesy goodness.

She told me she had found the recipe on Pinterest.

So I searched and here it is!

~ Thank You Closet Cooking ~

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Prep Time:10 minutes

Cook Time:20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

8 oz of Cream Cheese, room temperature

1/2 c. Mayonnaise

1/2 c. Cheddar Cheese, shredded

3/4 c. Parmesan Cheese, grated (divided)

4 oz. Pickled Jalapenos, drained and diced

1/4 c. Panko Bread Crumbs

2 Fresh Jalapenos (optional)

Directions

1. Mix the Cream Cheese, Mayonnaise, Cheddar Cheese,

1/2 c of the Parmesan Cheese and
diced jalapenos in a bowl.

Pour into a baking dish

2. Mix the Panko Bread Crumbs and

other 1/4 c. Parmesan Cheese.

Sprinkle over the dip.

3. Bake in a preheated 350 º F oven until the sides are

bubbling and the cheese has melted

and turned a golden brown on top, about 20 minutes.

Now take some Tortilla Chips or Ritz Crackers.....dip....and enjoy!!!!
Don't forget to share!

What's your favorite spicy food?

Food For The Soul ~ To find God let your heart do the walking!

Blessings,
Betsy ♥

PinTrusted or PinBusted ~ Magic Shower And Tub Cleaner

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 12:30:00 +0000

Hey Y'all
I had hoped to get this story done yesterday but had some technical difficulties.
I'm going to start a new series on Wednesdays called Pinbusted or Pintrusted.

If you're like me you have seen on Pinterest some really awesome ideas or recipes....or you thought they were awesome until you tried it only to find it was a flop.

Well you're not alone. I have too. That got me to thinking....why not try things and let you know what I found out.

So today's test is on this pin I found for a MAGIC SHOWER & TUB CLEANER

Now if you're like me the shower or tub is last place I jump up to clean! So I started reading about how it works. The part that I like the most was You spray it on leave it for 1 hour and then simply wipe your tub clean. Really?!? So I decided it was well worth a try. I just happened to have the ingredients and a small Spray Bottle too.

All you need are 3 things

Spray Bottle
1 part Dawn Dish Washing Liquid (I had 1/2 cup on hand)
1 part Distilled Vinegar (so I added 1/2 cup of this too)

Directions:

Pour Dawn Dish Washing Liquid into spray bottle
Pour Vinegar into spray bottle
Or if you are heating like the original recipe says to then pour your Vinegar into a microwave safe dish and heat until warm (not boiling hot cause it might melt your spray bottle)
Put on the spray top
Gently shake the spray bottle to mix your solution
Spray on shower wall, tub glass door, and fixtures
Let sit for 1 hour
Gently wipe with a wet rag
Rinse
And be amazed (that's what it said!) We will see.....

Now like I said above the original post said to heat up your vinegar (not really sure why) but I wasn't going to be home. It was my day to go clean a clients home. So I thought I would give it a try on her tub and shower. Trust me I still took my trusty shower clean just in case.

When I got there I went straight in & sprayed my Magic Tub & Shower Cleaner (Dawn & Vinegar Solution) onto her shower walls & tub.
I went on and got busy cleaning the rest of her home.

When I came back it had dried on the wall. This really isn't what you want to do. Because it makes it a little harder to get the blue soap off.
SO HEADS UP DO NOT WAIT LONGER THAN 1 HOUR.
In fact I'm not sure how long it takes for the solution to start drying up. Learn from my mistakes! Please!!!

So here is the before

It's not too bad or at least that's the way it looks in the picture. But trust me when I say the soap scum was pretty awful.

This is the after

WOW was all I could say! Wow Wee!!! It was so shiny and clean. I didn't scrub at all. I did put just a little water on it and then took a sponge (not the scrubie side) and just rubbed gently over the soap scum to get the dried on blue soap to remove. I could see as I was wiping, the shine coming through. When I rinsed I was simply amazed. Clean as a whistle.

I did discovered it will not take care of mold or mildew

I had to use my commercial spray to fight off this ugliness.

I just found out there is a "Cleaning Vinegar" It is suppose to be over with the cleaning supplies at the "Big W". I haven't been to the store to get some and see if it is better than the food grade vinegar.

This does make a LOT of suds. I did some research and found the original recipe was invented when Dawn wasn't ULTRA so that could be why it makes so much suds. Next time I make it I might try cutting my Dawn in 1/2. If you have a detachable sprayer in your shower this really makes it super easy to get all those bubbles down the drain.

Some comments on other blogs have said they find the fumes from the vinegar to be very strong. I didn't have that problem at all. To me it gets rid of all the offensive odors found in your home.
Others said it may be from heating the vinegar in the microwave until warm.

You be the judge. Go make some really quick and let me know what you think.
Do you have any homemade cleaning solutions you like to make and use?
Are you on Pinterest?
Have you ever made any of the things you've pinned?

Encouragement For The Soul ~
The miracle of God's love isn't that He loves us....but that He loves us just as we are.

Blessings ♥ Betsy

The Kitchen Project

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 14:45:00 +0000

Good Morning!! It's great to be back. I think we are finally back to some normalcy for a while. Hope you're doing well!

Today I wanted to show you my latest project. Now mind you I have just gotten started and it will take a little while to get it all finished.

Friday I got a wild idea! And I had a little uninvited friend that help motivate me! He had decided my home was his home too and I decided Oh No It's Not!!!!

So with a little courage.....not knowing what I might find....I took the bottom out from under my sink cabinet! It wasn't pleasant at all! Ugh! It hadn't seen the light of day in over 50 years. It was like unveiling a time capsule! I found bottle caps, you know the kind you need a bottle opener for. I found someone's hospital bracelet. I even found this!

It's what ladies use to put up their strawberries and peaches in so they could freeze them. I wish it had come out all in one piece. My hubby and I remember seeing our grandmothers with these cute little boxes.

I pulled and I tugged until I got of the rotted wood and yuk all up and out of there.

When Bill came home from work that day, I met him at the door with a glass of ice tea....I stood tall, trying to hide what was behind me and I asked him "how was your day? was it long? honey I love you!" He looked at me and said "what have you done?" He knows me well. After 45 years he knows when I've been up to something....I said..."well?" And he shook his head and took a look behind me and saw the bottomless cabinets under the sink. And he smiled and said "I knew I should've stayed home another day". I told him "you know I shouldn't be left alone unattended" and we just laughed as I started explaining my game plan as it was in my head!

As you can see I have plugged up the holes made by our uninvited guest and put up hardware cloth (there is nothing cloth about it). It's a 1/4" mesh wire that I cut into strips and then I got to use a Brad Nailer (kinda like this one)!!! Oh The Power!!! Bill just sat back and watched me having fun!

This was the biggest hole. This was his way in from outside!!!! Shoooooo!

And you can see I have it all covered and even placed some cement caulking inside the hole!

This is a hole where our uninvited guest made so he could enter behind the dishwasher.

Nasty!!! This is behind the dishwasher. You can see in the left back corner one of the holes I had to cover up. This was where he found he could make his way out and into our kitchen!!! Ugh!!! But I put wire over it too! Hehehe!!

Made a frame for the cabinet floor to sit on. There wasn't a frame before. So it kinda sagged.

Framing work

More Framing Work

Made the cabinet edge wider that it was so you can't see the outside edge of the dishwasher wall.

New Kick Boards

For a long time I've wanted to paint my lower kitchen cabinets. I wanted to paint them "Pottery Barn" black. However since I'm not the only one living here and Bill wasn't too keen on the idea of black kitchen cabinet we made a compromise. We both liked how the bathroom project turned out so I decided that was the same technique I would use on the lower kitchen cabinets.

When we moved into our 50+year old house my Daddy had helped me fix it up and kinda make it our own. I had always loved glass doors on kitchen cabinets.

So he took my solid wood doors just those on the bottom and cut out the insides and put window panes in for me. I'm so proud of them and could never ever even think of getting rid of them. So they will stay the same.

As you can tell by the pictures above I have a whole lot of work ahead of me.

Oh so much to do and so little time to do it in.

But I will get it done and when I do you will be the first to see it. So please keep coming back to see the work and the finished project!

Do you have any projects you're working on? Have you ever used any power tools?

Encouragement For The Soul ~ The world has yet to see what you and God can be!

Blessings ♥ Betsy

Chicken Taco Casserole

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:30:00 +0000

Chicken Taco Casserole
Serves 6 (15 gr. carbs per serving)

Ingredients:

Great Value Olive Oil Cooking Spray
12 oz. Chicken Breasts (cut into strips for stir frying)
2 minced Garlic cloves
1 t. Chili Powder*
2 t. Olive Oil
1 medium Onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 medium Red or Green Bell Pepper, seeded and chopped
1~10 oz. package frozen chopped Spinach, thawed & squeezed dry (place in a cup towel, gather and twist the towel to squeeze as much of the water out of the spinach as possible)
1&1/2 c. Salsa (store bought is fine, but if you make your own it can help cut down on sodium)
4~6 inch Corn Tortillas, coarsely torn
3 oz. Reduced-Fat Monterrey Jack Cheese, shredded 3/4 c.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Coat an unheated large nonstick skillet with cooking spray.
Preheat skillet over medium-high heat.
In a medium bowl, toss together chicken, garlic, and chili powder.
Add to hot skillet.
Cook for 4 to 6 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring frequently.
Remove chicken from skillet; set aside.
Pour oil into hot skillet and add onion and sweet pepper.
Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Stir in spinach.
Coat a 2-quart square baking dish with cooking spray.
Spread about 1/2 cup of the salsa into the bottom of the baking dish.
Top with half of the tortilla pieces, half of the chicken mixture, and half of the vegetable mixture.
Pour half of the remaining salsa over the vegetables and top with half of the cheese.
Repeat layers once, except do not top with the remaining cheese.
Bake, covered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through.
Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
If desired, garnish with cherry tomatoes, chopped avocado, and/or fresh cilantro.

Nutritional Info Per Serving:

196 Cal., 6 g. Total Fat 2 g. Sat. Fat, 43 mg. Chol., 544 mg Sodium*,15 g. Carbs., (4 g. Fiber, 4 g. Sugar), 20 g. Protein

* To reduce the Sodium count you can make your own Chili Powder. Store bought Chili Powder is high in sodium so you can make your own by using the recipe below which will lower the sodium count by 121 mg.!

Original recipe is from Diabetic Living online.

Optional

Make Guacamole

6 small servings:

Mix in a small bowl:

1/2 Roma Tomato, seeded & chopped
2 Avocado, pitted, peeled, and chopped
1 T. Fresh Cilantro Leaves
1/4 t. Ground Cumin
1 t. chopped Red Onion
1 t. seeded & chopped Jalapeno (optional)
Season to taste (not too much salt!)

Homemade Chili Powder

2 T. Paprika
2 t. Oregano
1 & 1/4 t. Cumin, Garlic Powder, Cayenne Pepper
3/4 t. Onion Powder

Toss together and store in an air tight container.

Food For The Soul ~ Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure.... 1 Peter 1:7

Blessings♥
Betsy

Bathroom Makeover!!

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:16:00 +0000

Well it's almost finished!!

All I have to do is paint the frame that Bill (my Hubby) made to go around the bathroom window.

I was going to give you a play by play on the pictures but I believe they can speak for themselves. So sit back and enjoy!

The Before

I will show you in a tutorial later how to take your wallpaper off super easy!

Getting The Walls Ready

I took the medicine cabinet out. Bill asked me what I was going to do to cover up that big hole?

I told him just wait!! You'll see!

Here I added Joint Compound to my bathroom walls. It gives the look of Venetian Plaster.

Very easy to do!! I'll be showing you how to use this in a tutorial later.

He was so surprised when he came home from work to see what I had done that day!

Whew!! It fits!

Here I am screwing in the drywall!

After looking and searching for a paint color I finally came up with a color that Benjamin Moore makes called "Dessert Tan" I went to Home Depot and they made it for me. When I started painting I thought to myself....that is sooooo dark and golden. But I thought I should give it a chance.

So I cut in the whole room.

Then I decided to make that "big W" but I thought I better put it where it will be hidden until I'm sure I like this paint color.

It just didn't get better....I was so disappointed.....not sure what to do now.

So we went back to Home Depot and I looked and I looked and I was just stumped!

God has an amazing sense of humor though...doesn't He?

I was standing in front of all those paint chip samples feeling completely overwhelmed. All of a sudden a man came up to me and said "You're really concentrating aren't you?" "Why look so troubled?"

I looked at him and said "You have no idea!!" I told him my dilemma thinking he worked in the paint department. He told me a solution. "Take your paints (all I had was my acrylic craft paints) and to mix them to get my color. Try it on your wall first. When you get the color you like, make a swatch and bring it in and they can mix it up for you as a custom color". I heard the heavens open and angels singing "Hallelujah"!!!

I went straight home and did what he told me to do and it worked!!!!!!!!!

Oh by the way you know I told you I thought he worked in the paint department.....nope...he was the Heat and Air Salesman!!! Only God!!

Vanity Door & Drawers are getting painted. I'll show you how I did it in a tutorial.

Sorry for the blurry pic but this is the only one I have of the window after the

static cling "stain glass" was pulled off.

I had to prep the floor for the paint. I figured painting the floor was better than just bare wood. Our original flooring started pulling up so we helped it and pulled it up the rest of the way. I just can't decide how I want them to look. So they were just sitting and waiting.

The After!!!!!

Coming together!!

I have always loved shutters. A friend of ours had given us some shutters out of his old house when he was renovating it. They have been up in the loft out in our "barn" for YEARS. I was trying to decide what kind of window treatment I wanted to use in the "new" bathroom, when I remembered those shutters. Our bathroom window is 24" x 36". The shutters were 48" x 32". Not quite the right size but my sweet Bill figured out how to make them work.

Here I am screwing the hinges back on.

I will be doing a few tutorials on how to take down wallpaper and using joint compound to do the special finish on walls and painting over laminate.

Here is the COST BREAKDOWN for this Bathroom Makeover!

What do you think about how my bathroom turned out?

Encouragement For The Soul ~

God will make you fit for what He's called you to be.....2 Thessalonians 1:11

Blessings ♥
Betsy

How To Leave A Comment On A Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 13:37:00 +0000

Can y'all believe it's Friday!! And that's the start of the Weekend !!!!!

You know, I've had many people telling me...."I left you a comment on your blog but it isn't showing up!"

I was as befuddled as you! What's up with that?

That got me to doing some research on this. It seems it is an issue with enabling "third-party cookies" Sounds yummy doesn't it. Cookies? Yes but not that kind.

So many of you, myself included, have blocked "Popup"!
The comment box that I have as do many other bloggers is "embedded". So if it weren't for these "third-party" cookies you would have to allow "Popups" on your computer in order to leave comments.

Today, I'm going to try and tell you how to allow those "third-party" cookies so you can leave your comments on my blog as well as other blogs!

Here goes!
Scroll down to this box and you see where it says "Comment" (right now this screen still probably shows "No Comment") Click and it will take you to the next page.
#1

Then you will see this screen
#2

Click on the "Comment As". You can see you have a choice to make. If you have a YouTube Account you already have a Google Account, but you will need to sign into it before you can make this choice.

These are the 7 ways and what they are.

Yourself (Easy Peasy! you have to have a "Google Account")
Live Journal (an online social network community)
WordPress(another blogging avenue)
TypePad(another blogging avenue)
AIM(a communication tool)
OpenID(an add-on that allows you to stay signed in on websites)
Name/URL (your website)
Anonymous(no name) MY LEAST FAVORITE BECAUSE I WANT TO KNOW YOU!

The easiest way is # 1. You can open a Google Account very easily! Here's how!

Go to your search engine and type in Google Account, click on "Open Account" and open an account.
#3

When you open a Google Account you will automatically get a GMAIL account. *This is where I would leave my reply to any comment or questions you might have. In Screen #2 you will see a small red circle around the words "NOTIFY ME" be sure to check the box. That will allow me to reply to your comment in your email.

Now if you're like me, I don't like to have a bunch of email accounts to keep up with. So I went in and changed my email to my account with MSN after my Google Account was verified.

Here's how I did that...

Sign into your Google Account

Click on your profile picture if you have one. It may just be a blank face? Not sure it's been so long ago.
Then click on Account

Click on settings

Click on add email
#6

Add & Choose your primary email and that's it!!

Here's a hint!!! If you aren't already signed into your Google Account do so before you get ready to leave a comment and then it will already have your name chosen on the comment section. This just makes it easier for you.

So there you have it! Easy right? So I'll be waiting to hear from you now since we've gotten that all cleared up!

Encouragement For The Soul ~ Faith is choosing to believe with our hearts, and not with our eyes.

Blessings ♥
Betsy

Sneak Peek Of My Bathroom ~She's A Work In Progress ~

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 13:24:00 +0000

Hey Y'all!

I wanted to give you a sneak peek at what's been going on in my home.

I came home after the last day of school last year, 2013, and got as the Hubby calls it...."a wild hair" that I needed to make a change in my bathroom.
Now mind you I have a ~~really small~~ "VERY TINY" bathroom. It measures 7' x 5' all inclusive. Total floor space you can walk on is 3.33' x 4.75'. Yes that is correct!!! TINY!!!!!

Left Side

Right Side

So tiny that to get in there and take pictures is really kinda hard!

Center

See I told you she was tiny!!!

So when I got home that day I decided I was going to get started and I did......

Now if you look really close to the right you can see the border has been

trying to come down on its own for sometime.

No one ever told me the bathroom wasn't really the room to do wallpaper in. Oh well!

Hey it lasted for 13 years. So I'm not complaining. It was absolutely time for a makeover.

Here I started taking the "chair railing" down. Like my mini wonder bar. Don't laugh! It did the trick!

I was amazed at how much dust gets behind something stuck tight to the wall.

Next was the electric plate cover.

Paper coming down!

I have seen so many posts on blogs and on Pinterest wanting to know how to get the wallpaper down. What tools to use and such. I'm not sure what the issue is? They make this tool that perforates the wallpaper and it makes it come down in small pieces. WHY? Would you use one of those. I simply took and pulled the edge and just started pulling!

And it's down.

Most wallpaper is going to come down in 2 layers. You have the pretty side and the paper side. I got the "pretty" part down and I will have to come back later and do the next step of taking layer # two down. Maybe that's what people are trying to avoid. The 2 step process .. But trust me they were both a breeze. Now I say that. And it really was. It's just....it took me another year to fully commit to the hows of the second step. I know.....another whole year?.....REALLY????

You see shortly after I got the first step done we (the Hubby and me) took what was to be a wonderful vacation with Princess # 2 and her family. We were heading to the coast, the Gulf of Mexico, for a relaxing and lazy dazy time. Only the Hubby got sick, which is a long story in itself. And we were at the hospital our entire vacation. When we finally got back home our lives were changed and the bathroom just wasn't as much of a priority as it had been before.......TO BE CONTINUED!!!!!

Check back next Tuesday and I will show what "she" looks like now!!!!

Here's a little sneak peek.......

Do you have any special projects you're working on? I would love to hear about them!

Encouragement For The Soul ~ Life is a journey that begins and ends with God.

Blessings ♥

Betsy

Nail Polish ~ What's Your Favorite Color? ~ Saturday's Beauty Before Age ~

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 16:46:00 +0000

Good Morning Y'all!

Did y'all have a great 4th of July?

Our family gathering was a fun one. We have another one today! Party! Party! Party!

I was getting ready to polish my nails when I thought the colors that I have are so plain.

You go to the stores and see all those bright and pretty colors.

Gee-Whiz! I think I need a complete over-haul on my nail polishes.

{Something About Spring}

Did you know you can try nail color on online before you buy it? Well you can! I found it on OPI ! You click on a tab and out pops this hand! You can change the nail length and skin tone too. It's really neat! And with all those colors....how am I going to decide! Lets see....

I love !!!!! { LeaPink For Joy} I think that's one of my favs!!!!! It's so and delicate but not too soft that it makes my hands look pale.

I just love all the funny and cute names that OPI has come up with like....

{Fresh Squeezed} and {Fabulous Is My Middle Name}

{Have A Heart} and {Candy Is Dandy}

I guess you can tell by looking at the colors I picked I'm pretty much a "Pink" gal. And I love OPI because it last on my nails longer than other brands. No I don't get a kick back from them I just really like the quality of their products!

What is your favorite brand and colors?

Beauty for the Spirit ~ The best things in Life are found in the One who created You!

Have a Great and Blessed Saturday! Until next week!

Blessings ♥

Betsy

Have A Happy Southern 4th of July

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 14:52:00 +0000

Hey Y'all!

Hope y'all have something special going on today to help celebrate our country's birthday!

We're going over to my sister-in-law's for a cookout and then watch an amazing fireworks display.

Now tell me what cookout would be complete if there wasn't yummy Potato Salad or scrumptious Banana Pudding!

That's what I thought.....so I'm going to make them both to share with our family and friends.

I'm sharing the recipes with you too! Click on the links below the pictures to see the recipes.

{Banana Pudding}

{Dill Potato Salad}

So what so you do for the 4th of July?

Enjoy your fun, family and fireworks!!! HaPpY!! 4th of JuLy!!!!!

Food For The Soul ~

Blessings ♥

Betsy

3 Easy Ways To Organize Your "Everyday Big Bag" ~ Day 17 ~

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 12:52:00 +0000

Hey I'm so glad you're back!

I have something much smaller for us to organize today!

Let's organize our purses!

So I don't know what size of purse you have. But I feel that this concept is one that can be done with just about any purse.

Let's Get Started!

It can be so frustrating at times when I'm getting ready to walk out the door. I grab my keys out of my purse only to remember I forgot to change all my stuff into a small purse that goes better with my outfit than my regular purse. But I don't have time now! I'll just have to take in my clunky purse anyway!

This issue is easily taken care of if I am using this awesome system I found in.....you got it....Emily Barnes "Simply Organized"

I know if you will use these few steps I'm going to share with you, you'll be able to change your purse out in the blink of an eye.

Supplies

1) Large Handbag

Nice large size for everyday use.
This will hold just about everything you might need throughout the day while away from home.

2) 3-7 small bags.

These are the purse size cosmetic bags.
I would suggest you get each one a different texture, size and color.
This makes it much easier to know which one you have in your hand without having to look.

3) Wallet

Needs to be functional for you!
It's a very important item in your purse & you use it a lot!
Make sure it has a section to keep a few bills and change, credit cards, checkbook, driver's license, store perk card, gift card....you know!

Now Get It Organized

These are the Items you will have in your Everyday Big Bag

A. Wallet:

pen
checkbook
change compartment
money
credit cards
driver's license

B. Makeup Bag #1

lipstick
blush
comb
small brush
mirror
small hair clip
small nail file

C. Small Bag # 1

breath mints
gum
cough drops
small perfume
headache medicine
hand lotion
tissues

D. Eyeglass Case for sunglasses

E. Eyeglass Case for reading, spare glasses

F. Small bag # 2

business cards (yours & hubby's) for:

hairdresser
doctor (health plan)

seldom-used credit cards
store perk & reward cards
library cards
gift cards

G. Small bag # 3 I do not have this extra bag in my Everyday Big Bag. I have most of this in my #1 Small Bag.

small Bible
mini sewing kit
band-aid
small tape measure
tooth picks
toothbrush
toothpaste
spot remover
feminine protection

This is an awesome little organizer from

Thirty-One Gifts.

My "Youngest Princess" gave it to me

for a birthday gift!

Love it so much.

I keep my coupons and shopping list inside.

Now you have everything contained and easy to get to and change out when you're in a hurry.

You will be able to run into the dry cleaners, flower shop, Starbucks, etc. And rather than having to carry in your Everyday Big Bag you can simply reach into it & pull out your wallet & run in.

By doing this system with your purse it will take you less that a minute to grab a few of the bags out of your Everyday Big Bag and throw them into a smaller purse if you are going out for the evening or to lunch with a friend. Then when you get back home you can simply put all the little bags back into your Everyday Big Bag.

And for those of you who are not into carrying an Everyday Big Bag, that's okay! Because I have the same exact bags and everyday needs right here in my Thirty-One Skirt Purse. Which is about half the size of my Everyday Big Bag.

So you see you can do it big or you can do it small! The main thing is to just do it!! Get that purse under control!

What are some strange but necessary things you carry in your purse?

Encouragement For The Spirit ~
Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to find out and do whatever the LORD wants you to do.
Ephesians 5:17

Blessings ♥
Betsy

8 Ways To Find Sanity Among Your Chaos ~ Day 16 ~

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 15:45:00 +0000

Good Morning! Did you get you lists made? I hope so!

Did you get your index cards done? Good!

So you're ready to get started with saving time & money in your busy day!

In other words becoming a good steward of what God has given you!

Well today I want to give you some shortcuts or ideas to help you accomplish that! And, also help you find areas that are robbing you of your time & money!

1) When you leave your home to go shopping do you know where you are going, what you're going after and the route you're going to take?

What I have learned is to group my errands together. Say it's Monday and there's a mirror at Hobby Lobby that's on sale I've been wanting. I could just jump into the car and go on a get it. Right? But, I start thinking...I know on Wednesday I'm going across town to clean someone's home. I also need to pick up the Hubby's prescriptions at Target and they are all right close to Hobby Lobby. I think about it and decide I will wait. Yes it's hard! Cause I want that mirror right now! I've been waiting FOREVER! But with gas prices soaring and trying to be a better steward of both my money and my time I'll wait. I can just do it all while I'm going to be out in that area anyway! By doing it that way I have saved money and time.

2) Do you have certain products you use on a regular basis? Sure you do! You know bathroom tissue, paper towels, shampoo, laundry stuff, etc. Do one just get what you need? Or do you try to stock up?

If you're like me, you may not always feel you have the extra money in your budget to stock up. But if you look at this way....I'm going for one and we use it frequently, for just a few dollars more I can make our money and my time work for us better! I'm here now and we will run out and I'll have to use more fuel to come back and get more later and it may not be sale then. So if you can, without causing problems by going in the red on my budget.... I'll be a good steward of our money and my time!

3) Do you make lists or do you just try to remember what you need to do and go and get?

I have started leaving little post-it pads and pencils lying around so when I do think of the things I need or want to be sure and get at the store....I will have them written down. No more getting to store and not remembering the main thing you went for.
In our hustle and bustling world it's hard to remember everything. I've been on my way home from the store only to remember half way home I forgot something I really needed.
Years ago I use to keep a personal daily planner. You remember those? They were the best at keeping everything organized. I mean you had your calendar, address book, birthdays, note pad, to-do lists, etc. But now they're just a thing of the past.
If you have a smart phone or tablet you can keep all those important to do's all right there in a tidy neat little place small enough to fit into your pocket. They can even send you a reminder of your "to do's" and important dates. How convenient! So make use of all the awesome things you can do in such a small space.

4) Are you a morning person or night time person?

I use to be a night time person but over the years I have had to rewire my internal clock. You know that clock that tells you it's time to get up only when you get up, you realize it's Saturday and you soooooo could have slept in this morning.
Anyway it doesn't matter what type you are; just make the best use of that energy. No matter what time it is.
Learn to do energy consuming tasks when you have the most energy and ability to stay focused on mind taxing things. Rather than running out of steam before you've even gotten started.

5) Do you procrastinate?

Man I sure do! It can get me in trouble and really cause a lot of unnecessary wasted time.
Sometimes our procrastination comes for being afraid of how to do the task. Just get up go in there and get started. Once you get started you realize all the stress and torture about not wanting to do it was self inflicted!

6) Are you a perfectionist?

If so that could be where your procrastination stems from. If you don't start you won't fail! I'm a perfectionist. That doesn't mean that everything is always perfect. It just means that's the way I want it to be.
I have always said...If a job is worth doing, then I'm going to do it the absolute best that can. I mean why waste my time to do something half way only to have to fix it again later because I didn't take the time to do it right in the first place. However I can be a procrastinator because of it. And it really gets in the way of trying new things. I have more projects that I haven't even started because I'm afraid I'll make a mess. It won't turn out right. I'll waste my money I spent. Well isn't it money wasted if it is just going to sit there in the sack they gave it to you in at the store? But once I do finally get started I realize it's easier than I thought.
So it's okay to be a perfectionist, just don't let it keep you from getting things done. Not everything has to perfect, it just needs to be done.

7) Have you ever been invited to a party and don't have the time to go get them a gift?

The solution for this is to buy and store small gifts in a plastic bin or on an extra closet shelf or a cabinet. Find things on clearance and buy them. One of the absolute best times to do this is after Christmas. When all the stores are trying to get rid of all their holiday gift pack items. Like bubble bath, bath gels, lotions, toys, household goods, etc. I have found some pretty nice things for some sweet people.
Don't go over-board because you'll need to be able to store them for a few months.
Oh! On that shelf have some extra gift bags, tissue paper, ribbon and wrapping paper.

8) Did you forget to by someone special a birthday card?

One thing you can do so that doesn't happen is to buy all your birthday cards once a year. Yes I know it can be a costly thing. So instead of doing that, buy them quarterly or monthly. Whatever you can fit into your budget. Remember we are trying to be better stewards of our time and money. It may be a chunk of change but you're here, you need them so why not get what you're going to need instead of waiting until you HAVE to have them. Monthly is better than one at a time. Baby steps.

So there you have it! I've given you 8 ways to add time in your day and money in you pocket. What are some ways you have found to save time and money? Leave a comment in the green box below because I know everyone would love to hear your ideas too!

Encouragement For The Spirit ~

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22

Blessings ♥

Betsy

How Can I Get More Hours In My Day ~ Day 15 ~

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Mon, 30 Jun 2014 15:39:00 +0000

Good Morning!!!

It's a new beginning to a brand new week!!!

Now you and I both know that God has given each of us the very same hours in our day.
What you choose to do with them is up to you!

We have gotten our home cleaned and organized now....and.... it's time to learn how to keep it that way!

Do you clean daily? Or do you clean once a week?

Reality is that if you clean daily you don't have to knock your brains out on Saturday or whatever day you have decided to clean your home. The same goes for your laundry. Do you do a little each day? Or do you wait and do it all at once?

Let me show you a way that really works and will truly make you feel like you have more time than you've had in the past.

Supplies

Note Pad
Pencil
3"x 5" Colored Index Cards
3"x 5" Tabbed Dividers (As you can see I simply made my own. Always trying to save where I can! + it helps me get the cards back into the right spots because they are color coded the same as the index divider card "wink-wink")
Small File Box (this could even be a cardboard box. I just happened to already have a plastic one I wasn't using anymore!)

Label your Tabbed Dividers with:

Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly
Semi-Annually
Annually
Storage (these are the boxes of things we couldn't part with when we were organizing and the things we use only on special occasions....remember?)

Now take your note pad and pencil, and start making a list of all the chores that should be done daily. Whether you do them now everyday or not.

This is my list of DAILY MUST DO's (your's can have whatever you see that needs to be done in your home on a daily basis)

Cook Breakfast
Fix Lunches
Quiet Time, Coffee
Exercise
Dishes ~ unload & reload dishwasher ~
Make Beds
Straighten Bedroom
Straighten Rest of House (this is just simply picking up and putting up, not dusting or vacuuming)
Go Through Mail (get ready for trash, shred, file)
Clean Kittie's Box
Cook Supper
Straighten Kitchen

Continue on now by adding the next category titled WEEKLY MUST DO's
This is what I have on mine (your's might have other things)

Monday

Wash Hubby's Clothes (he works outside so his clothes get all sweaty....ewww)
Dust (all rooms)
Vacuum (all floors)

Tuesday

Plan Menu & Grocery List (go through adds and PRICE MATCH for the BIG W)
Clean out Refrigerator & Pantry (this way they are ready for the NEW groceries)

Wednesday

Wash My Clothes
Go Grocery Shopping
Empty trash cans (our trash is picked up on Thurs.)
Dust mop hard surface floors

Thursday

File & Shred Papers
Clean Kitchen (dust top of fridge, wipe everything down, scrub sink, etc.)

Friday

Wash sheets & Towels
Clean Bathroom (scrub tub, toilet & sink)

Continue on by adding another category titled MONTHLY MUST DO's Remember, these you only do Monthly. Try and keep this to 4 so there is only 1 extra thing you need to do once a week! You can assign this to a specific day or you can do this when you see you have some extra time that day.

This is what I have on mine (your's might have other things)

Clean Woodwork

Clean hard surface floors
Dust Baseboards

Dust Blinds

Continue list adding another category titled QUARTERLY MUST DO's These only get done every 3 months and I haven't designated them to a specific day....just sure I get them done when I have the time

Straighten Closets
Change Air Filter
Move furniture and vacuum underneath

Now add another category titled SEMI-ANNUALLY MUST DO'S These only get done every 6 months and I haven't designated them to a specific day....just sure I get them done when I have the time

Clean and re-shelf Kitchen Cabinets
Straighten Linen Closet
Straighten Drawers
Clean Carpets

Lastly add ANNUALLY These only get done once a year and I haven't designated them to a specific day....just sure I get them done when I have the time

Clean Curtains
Clean & Purge Closets

Now I want you to take those cute and colorful 3" x 5" index cards and assign each category a color. On the first color of cards you will write down your daily must do's. Like Cook Breakfast....Fix Lunches....Quiet Time,Coffee....etc.

On the next color of cards you will write down your weekly must do's.

On the next color of cards you will write down your monthly must do's. And well you get the pictures. Just keep on until everything is written down on a card.

This is how the system works. You have your daily must do cards that need to be done just as the name implies.

Then once a month you get to add another must do to your list. For instance here's how my Monday once a month list might look.....

Cook Breakfast
Fix Lunches
Quiet Time, Coffee
Exercise
Wash Dishes
Make Beds
Straighten Bedroom
Straighten Rest of House (this is just simply picking up and putting up, not dusting or vacuuming)
Go Through Mail (get ready for trash, shred, file)
Clean Kittie's Box
Cook Supper
Straighten Kitchen
Clean Woodwork ~ this the Monthly I have added to my list.

On Monday the "Oldest Princess" calls and says "Hey Mom, let's go and grab a quick bite to eat and run over to Kohl's. They're having a big sale and I have some Kohl's Cash that I need to spend before it expires."

Now I've already done my daily must do's except Cooking Supper of course, but I still need to clean the woodwork... "Sure I can go".... because that's a Monthly Must Do so I will move it to another day. I have the whole week to get this must do done!

Now the same scenario but say it was a Weekly Must Do..... Hubby's laundry, dusting and vacuuming.

I've gotten everything except putting away Hubby's clothes and the vacuuming.

I know I can get his clothes put away sometime before bedtime, or he can, but I'm not sure about the vacuuming. Bedtime comes around and I haven't gotten the vacuuming done. I say well I can just add that to my list for Tuesday. But it doesn't happen then either. Before I realize it the week is almost over and I haven't gotten the vacuuming done.

So instead of beating myself up, what I do instead, is put the vacuuming back into the file box under the weekly section and it will not get done until the next time it's day comes back up.

So now if my "Oldest Princess" calls on Monday again and wants to meet for lunch and shopping.... I look around at my dirty floors and say...."I would love to but what if I meet you at the mall after lunch. I've got a few things I need to get done first."

And you are right back on track.

You see by rotating the cards this way you're not trying to cram a weeks worth of must do's into one day. You're learning to get into a routine. This will help you keep your priorities in order.

By working your time this way you will be continually maintaining your home and you won't ever have to go through all that cleaning and purging and organizing again. And don't forget those Semi-Annual & Annual Must Do's too!! These will all help keep you and your home clean and organized!!!

These ideas and system I have adapted from Emily Barnes and her book titles "Simply Organized". It is a wonderful book and also loaded with many great ideas for your home and you.

So, I have shared with you what I have down on my pretty little 3" x 5" index cards... What are some of the things you have put down on your Must Do's Lists?

I really would love for you to share with us because that is what helps keep us all motivated and organized!!

Encouragement For The Spirit ~

She watches carefully all that goes on throughout her household, and is never lazy.

Proverbs 31:27

Come back tomorrow and I will give you some pointers on how to keep your sanity among your chaos!!

Blessings ♥

Betsy

Speed Cleaning Your Master Bedroom ~ Day 14 ~ Really All The Other Rooms In Your Home

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 16:35:00 +0000

Hey! It's great to be back. Good to see you too!
Today we will be looking at how to clean the other rooms in your home.
I want to focus on the Master Bedroom since you probably just finished the bathroom in the Master Suite.

As I was thinking about this I realized even your Dining Room, Living Room, Home Office and Family Rooms will be clean pretty much in the same manner.
The cleaning plan I'm going to give you today, we will assume that your Dining Room has a solid floor, the Living Room & Bedrooms, etc. have carpet.

Ready?
Gather The Supplies You Will Need For The Jobs:

Cleaning Apron

Duster
Microfiber Cloths
6-8 Cleaning Cloths (later you will be able to figure better on how many cloths you need for each room, but since we are in training its better to have too many or too much of something that not enough)
Furniture Polish
Felt Type Polishing Cloths
409 Cleaner
Window Cleaner

Extras you will be needing as well:

Broom
Vacuum Cleaner
Pillowcase
Step Ladder

Get Set!

Starting Point In Your Room. **

Walk into the room and set your Carry-All Caddy at the right of the door. Remember to work in a clockwise motion.

Dust the top of the door facing and begin moving around the room encountering each piece of furniture as you get to it.
Use your duster being careful not to flick or swing it in the air. Think about it. Your duster is full of DUST and when you flick or shake it you are throwing all the dust you just removed back out it the air only to land once again on the furniture you just remove it from. Don't make work for yourself. Dust from top to bottom, back to front.
Remember to check for cobwebs in the corners and dust on the baseboards as you come down.
Dusting furniture

Starting at the back edge lifting any items up, dust item (knick knacks, books, lamps, clocks, etc). Replace it and move on to the next. As you are dusting when you get to the edge of the furniture piece stop! Don't flick the duster on out from the furniture. I know you are thinking but I'm getting the dust off! No! You are throwing it out and into the air. Only to land on something else. If you dust to the edge and stop you are giving the duster a chance to grab the dust and hold on to it.
When you are moving to the next piece of furniture, give the duster a quick tap on your ankle (which is at the floor) and the dust will fall to the floor and wait to be vacuumed up in a few moments.

Don't forget chairs, pictures on the wall and other door frames in the room. They need your attention too.

Check for fingerprints Use your 409 cleaner on woodwork and Window Cleaner on glass and mirrors
Remember the TV, Stereo or other dust catcher that might be in the Armoire
Upholstered furniture should be vacuum
Leather furniture use a leather care product on them to prolong their "life"

Mirrors

when cleaning any mirror don't look in it head on
stand at an angle or to the side of it and you will be amazed by how the streaks show up
this will allow you to clean it without having streaks

Nightstands & End Tables

dust above the table first if it is next to a wall
then dust the lamp since it is the tallest and any dust that might fall will fall downward onto the table below
keep dusting the objects on the tables from tallest to shortest
then lift the items and dust under them
dust all the table top surface and down to the floor until finished
USE CAUTION AND DO NOT GET IN A HURRY!!!
THAT'S WHEN BREAKAGE HAPPENS!!!!

Once you have finished with all the dusting it is time to start vacuuming

if there is upholstered furniture in this room vacuum it now
start a the point farthest from the door to start vacuuming the room
try to vacuum the nap of the carpet in one direction. I know there are times when this isn't possible due to furniture
lift any chairs and vacuum underneath them
move light pieces of furniture and vacuum underneath them, dust gets under there too!
work your way to the door.
when you are done all the carpet will be vacuumed and there will be no footprints left behind.

** Monthly things to do

Since these collect a lot of dust do them before you dust anything else. In fact I dust them and then go into another room and do the same thing. Do this in all the rooms where ceiling fans and blinds are. Now go back where you started and finish the room. This has given the dust that has gone out and a chance to find a new home waiting to be collected by the duster or vacuum.

Blinds

These will be done before you start dusting anything.
close the blades facing upward
pull the string that runs through them and pull them out from the window
dust in a straight downward motion in a straight line; not left to right.
Stop as you get to the bottom of the blind
tap the duster on your ankle
do the same thing on the next section until you have dusted the entire backside of the blind.
Now turn the blades in the opposite direction and repeat the steps you just did only on the front of the blinds this time. You don't need to pull them out this time "wink,wink"

Ceiling Fan (you will need a step ladder to stand on and reach the blades properly & a pillowcase to cover the blades)

These will be done after the blinds.
For this the best way is to get on the step ladder just to the left end of the blades
open the pillowcase and cover the blades one at a time.
put one hand on the top & one hand on the bottom of the fan blade pull the pillowcase out slowly.
now move onto the next blade and continue until all the blades have been cleaned
while you are up there dust the fan motor and rod as well
now you have a clean ceiling fan with minimal dust loss

Edge of the carpet and baseboards

do this before you start on the room just like you did with the blinds and ceiling fan
use you broom to sweep this area
you can sweep off the baseboards at this time too!
if there are any scruff marks on the baseboards this would be the time to take care of them using 409 cleaner and a cleaning cloth

Under Bed

I know this is or can be a major task in itself, if there is stuff stored under the bed
pull things out and dust them
vacuum the floor underneath the bed
replace items
Now that wasn't so bad and now it's clean.

And there you have it!

You now have a game plan on how to Speed Clean your home.

Take all the tools, advice and instructions, then customize them to your floor plan.

But the techniques have been tried and true and therefore are the best to save you time.

Next week I will be showing you how to organize your time so you have more than before.

So come back on Monday to see how!

Have an awesome weekend!!!

♥Please if you have any questions about anything I've shared with you or you have ideas that you would like to share leave a note below by clicking on the "Comment" link in the bright green box at the bottom of this post and I will do my best to get you a quick answer. Also when I have mentioned many items and locations to purchase them; I do not get any money or kick back for doing so. I am merely trying to make it easier for you to locate the items. Thank you so much for your visit here today and I hope you were able to glean something from it.

Encouragement For The Spirit ~

In everything you do, put GOD first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Proverbs 3:6

Blessings ♥

Betsy

How To Speed Clean Your Bathrooms ~Day 13 ~ Clean & Organize Your Life & Home

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Wed, 25 Jun 2014 11:33:00 +0000

Well did you get your kitchen done yesterday? I know it was the fastest you've every cleaned it before!
Today we will use the same techniques in the Bathroom as we did in the Kitchen. However all rules were made to be broken at times and this is one. We will be making 2 trips around the bathroom since it is a WET and DRY Area!

The Bathroom
Cleaning items you will need in your Carry-All Caddy

"The Works" Shower Cleaner
2 qt. Plastic Pitcher
Blue Scrub Sponge
Spray Bottle w/ Bleach Solution (diluted 1 part bleach to 4 parts water)
409 Cleaner
Window Cleaner
Toilet Brush
Tile Brush
4 Cleaning Cloths
Duster

You will also need:

Broom & Dust Pan
Broom, Dustpan, Bucket and Mop

Cleaning Apron

Plastic Scraper
Razor-blade holder w/ sharp blade
Toothbrush
2 Plastic Zip Bags
4 Black Binder Clips to hold bags in 2 pockets of apron

Starting Point

Walk into the bathroom and go over to the tub. Place your Carry-All Caddy to the right end of the bathtub.

Remember to walk and clean in a clockwise manner. This time will be a little different that the kitchen. Do not place your feather duster in your back pocket. Also do not put your cleaning cloths in your apron pocket yet!

Today unlike the kitchen where we made only one trip around the room, today we will be making two trips around the room!

First will be to do the wet cleaning
Second will be to do the rest of the room

Ready!Tie on apron

Set!

Place Window Cleaner & 409 Cleaner in their loops on your apron.
Set trash can outside the door. Or if there is a trash bag inside the can take it out instead and put in a clean bag.
Lay rugs onto the carpeted area if planning to vacuum

Go!!!
First Trip Around!

Shower & Tub

Set all the stuff on the tubs edge onto the floor out of the tub including the bar of soap. Be sure to place it upside down so the soft side it up!
Grab the Shower Cleaner & Scrub Brush from your Caddy.
Spray Shower Cleaner on the shower wall & tub.
Working from the end away from the drain, scrub the shower wall using gentle circular motions. Let the chemical do the work!
Go back where you started and using you Scrub Sponge start gently rubbing. See how much easier it is coming off now that it has sat on there for just a few minutes.
Use your toothbrush to clean the fixtures as you come to them and to get around and in all those creases and small places
You will learn to feel the difference in the friction of a dirty surface and a clean surface. The dirty usually feels a little draggy and the clean will feel smooth and move freely
Use Toothbrush to clean the soap dish
If there are shower doors don't forget to clean the runner and wall edges with the Toothbrush
Time to clean the tub. Start at the end farthest from the drain working the scrub sponge in a circular motion.
Place your un-rinsed tile brush & sponge in the sink.
Now its time to rinse the shower and tub. If there is a removable shower head use it! Use cold water, hot water will make fog. Start with the door and walls. Save the tub for last. Moving all the foam and water toward the drain.
Wipe the fixtures dry
Spray any mold with bleach BE CAREFUL AND KEEP BLEACH BOTTLE TIP COVERED SO IT DOES NOT DRIP BLEACH ANY WHERE YOU DON'T WANT IT.

Sink Inside

Take the scrub brush & sponge you placed in the sink and use them to clean the inside of the sink now.
Once sink is clean, rinse out brush, sponge and sink.
Wipe the sink fixtures in just a moment. Wait!
Go rinse bleach out of tub. BE CAREFUL AND KEEP BLEACH BOTTLE TIP COVERED SO IT DOES NOT DRIP BLEACH ANY WHERE YOU DON'T WANT IT.
Put items back around tub edge that you set on the floor so you could clean the tub area.
Grab the toilet brush and bowl cleaner out of Caddy

Toilet

Squirt cleaner around the inside of the toilet bowl under the rim.
Move the brush in a scrubbing and circular motion
Clean as deep in the bowl as you can, to get as much of that gunk out.
Don't forget to clean around & under the rim
Flush / rinsing toilet bowl brush
Put brush and cleaner back into the Caddy

Second Trip Around

Get the duster out of the caddy and place it in you back pocket
Get 1 Microfiber Dusting Cloth and place it in a pocket
Get 4 Cleaning Cloths; 2 in your apron and one over your shoulder and use the other to start cleaning (you may need less or more cleaning cloths)
When the cloths get too wet gently toss onto Caddy
Starting at the right of your Caddy; work clockwise around the room
When you get to the mirror lightly spray your window cleaner onto the mirror
Wipe until dry
Go back over Mirror with the Microfiber Dusting Cloth to remove any streaks
Remember to place your Window Cleaner back in your apron after each use. Don't sit it down!
Check for fingerprints on door facings and light plates. Use your 409 to take care of them
If It Isn't Dirty Don't Clean It
Dust any vertical areas as these are the place dust likes to land
Check corners for cobwebs and under cabinets for dust bunnies
Remember the towel racks and toilet paper holder. They collect dust too.

Vanity and Sink Fixtures

Spray window cleaner lightly on countertop and fixtures and wipe with a cleaning cloth
If there is soap scum around handles use your toothbrush to tackle them and any crevices and in corners too
Use a dry cloth for the final wipe to make the fixtures shine!

Fingerprints and Debris

Check below the sink and around the cabinet for fingerprints
Dust windowsills, pictures moldings, etc.
Don't forget the light fixture

Outside of Toilet

Clean from top to bottom - top of tank to bottom of the bowl to the floor using 409 cleaner
Cleaning the seat-

spray the underside of the seat and lower it
spray the top of the seat DON'T WIPE YET
spray the underside of lid and lower it
spray the top of lid and hinges and small flat area of porcelain on the far side of them

Hang your 409 back into loop on apron
Start wiping in the reverse order that you just sprayed.
Use the toothbrush as needed

Shower Door Outside

Just before you get ready to go back to your Caddy stop and spray the outside of the door and wipe with a clean cloth
Set Carry-All Caddy outside the door

Floor

Sweep starting at the farthest point from the exit door and use dustpan to gather the debris
Throw debris into trash outside the door
Now mop starting at the same place you started sweeping ending up at the exit door.

All Done!!!!!!

Now see it went pretty fast didn't it?! The more times you work with your Cleaning Apron on the more comfortable and easier it will become.

Tomorrow I will be taking a day off from my blog. I will be back on Friday and we will talk about how to clean the Living Room. So until Friday have a great day of cleaning

How To Speed Clean Your Kitchen ~ Day 12 ~ Clean & Organize Your Life & Home

noreply@blogger.com (Betsy Sherry) — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 13:06:00 +0000

Hey there!
So we've got our supplies ready!

And we know our 10 steps!
I had planned to show you a real cleaning apron until I got it and really LOOKED at it!!!!
My Cleaning Apron is so gross!!!! I'm so embarrassed for you to see it. So I went looking for one online.
I visited a friend Karen @ karenehman.com and she had an adorable apron made by Sheri who has an Etsy shop with some really cute items. Give her store a look see. This is one of her cleaning aprons. Isn't it adorable? I only have one thing that needs to be changed and that is there are no little pockets to hold the toothbrush or scrapers. Other than that it is ready to help me clean the Kitchen.

{Busy as a Bee}

{Diva Gloves by Apron Queen}

When I first started cleaning homes I wasn't too keen on the idea of having to wear an apron with all this stuff hanging off. And you're probably asking yourself, just like I did...."Why in the world do I have to wear an apron to clean my house?" I can just use my Carry-All Caddy and grab my stuff from it." Your right, you could. Because I did. I didn't think there would be a difference. Because you still have to take the caddy into every room with you. But trust me it makes a huge difference. For one thing, you will have to sit the caddy down on the floor or counter-top. Right? You get the product you need for that one job....say the toilet bowl cleaner and the toilet bowl brush. And of course you need to get your gloves on. Speaking of gloves aren't these just the cutest in the world? I found them on Etsy too! Anyway.....You go over and pour some cleaner into the the bowl, you sit the cleaner down and then you scrub the bowl with the brush and when you're finished you pick up the cleaner and the brush and carry it back over and put it back inside the caddy.
Now!! If you have the apron on you're going to put the products in the pockets that you're going to need for that room. So when you get ready to clean the toilet, you already have the product and the tool you need with you and when you finish you put it back into the apron and move on to the next task and the next product. You see! You have cut out 4 to 5 wasted steps. I know! I didn't realize how much wasted time and effort I was spending until I did it. Now trust me it is going to take you a few times to get the system down. But when you learn to put things in the same pockets every time, you will automatically know right where to reach for the tool and product you need for that very task without needing to stop and look!

Okay!!!!
Ready!!!! Apron Loaded!!!! In the kitchen you will need:

{Carry-All Caddy}

Powdered Cleanser (B.K.F.)
Window Cleaner
409
Blue Scrub Sponge
Duster (this will go into your back pocket of your pants.)
Rubber Gloves
Scraper
Toothbrush
Razor-blade Holder with a Sharp Blade
2 Plastic Zip Bags
4 Big Clips (black binder clips work great!)
4 Cleaning Cloths/Keep additional ones in your Carry-All Caddy.

Hand carry your mop, bucket, broom w/dustpan, and have them ready and right there, for when you are ready to use them.

Set!!!! Apron On!!!!

Go!!!! Start Cleaning!!!!

{Set you Carry-All Caddy here and leave it until you are ready to leave the room}

Starting Point

When you walk into the kitchen you will set your Carry-All Caddy on the right side of the sink! You will work Clockwise through the room (and every room you clean).

In the kitchen you will be using the picking up and lifting motions a lot.
For instance:

Take out the duster and dust the area to the right of the sink from top to bottom and put the duster back into your apron
Get 409, lightly spray, wipe and replace
And so on

The rhythm will get natural the more you do it! Trust Me!!!

The order will depend on your own floor plan. This is mine so that's where I will start.

Cabinets,Counter Tops & Fingerprints

Set the trash can outside the door. Don't empty yet because you will be placing all the trash from the other rooms in it.
Place rugs out flat onto a carpeted area to be vacuumed when you get to that room.
Use 2 cloths.

Use one to wipe and put the other over your shoulder to have quick access too.
As the one you are using gets too wet to dry put it in one of your apron pocket with the clipped plastic bag to use for general wiping.
Grab another dry cloth from your apron or bucket and throw it over your shoulder.

Go to your starting place just to the right of the sink. Dust the upper cabinets. First lightly spray and wipe any fingerprints using 1 of your cotton cleaning cloths and 409.
Lift up your Carry-All Caddy and wipe the counter top from back to front and replace your caddy. Always work from back to front.
Don't forget the drawer fronts and knobs also. These get used quite a lot.
Dust and wipe fingerprints from lower cabinets.
Idea is to be focused, efficient and fast. Remember IF IT ISN'T DIRTY DO NOT CLEAN IT!!!! When you spray anything do it lightly. The more you spray the more wiping you have to do and that is time!
Work your way around the kitchen. Get in the habit to replace your spray bottles into the loops on your apron and not on the counter tops.

Grungy Counter top

When you have those tough areas like dried glop, spray and leave it while you continue to clean that counter top. It will be ready soon to care for either with your scrapers (hold at a 45 º angle to not cause damage) or simply giving a scrub with your kitchen scrub sponge. Then wipe.
Remember to "see" through the spray with your fingertips to be sure the space it clean before you wipe.

Glass & Mirrors

If you need to clean a glass front or mirror you have what you need on your apron and won't waste any step or time to go get it from caddy.

Cobwebs & Dust Bunnies

Remember to check for cobwebs and dust bunnies.
Get these with your duster.

Open Shelving

Open shelves will probably only need to be dusted on the front edge and the top of items on the shelves.
If it has been a while and you need to take things off BE CAREFUL.
Start with top shelf and move items to the right and dust the left and then reverse.

Outside of Refrigerator

The first time you clean the refrigerator, clean top first working your way down. Just like shelves move items to the right, clean the left then reverse.
Next time you will only have to dust and wipe front and handles.
Use your toothbrush to clean around hinges, rubber gaskets and handles.

Stove Area

This area isn't too easy to just dust if you haven't done it in a while. Grease, steam and dust don't make too good of friends. Use you 409 cleaner and a cloth to wipe this area clean
Next time you will be able to simply dust.
Vent Hood; Take out filter(s) and run through the dishwasher. If they are really bad you may need to replace them.
Always clean up spills as soon as your stove cools down. This makes cleaning it much easier.
Ceramic Glass Top Stoves. Use your 409 cleaner to wipe it clean. If things are really messy and marked up then use a special cleaner made just for glass stove tops.
Electric Stoves. Remove heating elements and bowls. Place bowls in dishwasher. Depending on how yours is made, either lift top up and use 409 cleaner to clean under burners or clean by reaching through and under burner holes.
Gas Stoves. Remove grids and flame caps & place in dishwasher. Wipe using 409 cleaner.
Knobs. Wipe area and knobs and if they come off lift off and clean under the knob.
Front. clean with window clean IF IT NEEDS IT ONLY!

Toaster, Microwave and Can Opener

Make your toaster & can opener look like brand new using your Razor Blade Scraper . Remember to hold it at a 45 º angle. Spray liberally with 409 cleaner first. Then gently scrape the brown gunk right off. You may also need to use your toothbrush to get into those crevices.
Spray and wipe the microwave inside and out. If there is stuck on glop spray cleaner, close door, "cook" for 1 minute and then open the door and wipe clean. Use your plastic scraper if needed.

Middle of the Room

Island. If your cook top isn't here then just spray and wipe clean

Sink

This is your last area. There shouldn't be any dishes here because that is a daily chore.

If they are put in dishwasher first.

Clean the rim, faucet and handles with 409 cleaner and toothbrush.
Clean sink below the rim with the kitchen scrub sponge & powdered cleanser (B.K.F.) conveniently located in your Carry-All Caddy to your right.
Use toothbrush to clean around the drain and stopper.
Rinse well so no powdery residue is left behind.
Fill Mop Bucket with hot water and a few drops of dish washing liquid.

Dry sink with cloth so it shines!

Floor

Sweep, Dust Mop or Vacuum floor
Pay particular attention to corners and kick board.
Mop starting at the point farthest from the exit door and continue all the way across kitchen.
If you need to wax the floor I recommend using a product like Brite. It won't leave a build-up on your floor.

And we are finished with the kitchen. That wasn't so difficult now was it?!

The Kitchen is probably the room with the most moving, lifting, spraying and wiping. All your rooms will be done basically with the same steps. I know there seems to be a lot to do but really once you get started you are going to be amazed at just how quickly you are finished.
Tomorrow we will work on cleaning the Bathroom. So be sure you check back in to see just how quickly we get that room done!

♥Please if you have any questions about anything I've shared with you or you have ideas that you would like to share leave a note below by clicking on the "Comment" link in the bright green box at the bottom of this post and I will do my best to get you a quick answer. Also when I have mentioned many items and locations to purchase them; I do not get any money or kick back for doing so. I am merely trying to make it easier for you to locate the items. Thank you so much for your visit here today and I hope you were able to glean something from it.

Encouragement For The Spirit:
It is far better to not say you'll do something than to say you will and then not do it.
~ Ecclesiastes 5:5 ~

Blessings ♥
Betsy