"America's #1 Cleaning Expert"

Do you know who "America's #1 Cleaning Expert" is?

Apparently, it is Don Aslett! After watching his absolutely hilarious video, "Is There Life After Housework?", I'd have to agree!!! I laughed until my cheek muscles ached! He is the father of six children, and had plenty of tips and time savers, to help in your housekeeping.

His website link: http://www.cleanreport.com/
has lots of helpful tips and advice! If you really need to get "re-inspired" to clean, Don Aslett's books are the place to start!

Clean
http://www.cleanreport.com/catlist.cfm?subid=13

Dejunk
http://www.cleanreport.com/catlist.cfm?subid=11

Get Organized!
http://www.cleanreport.com/catlist.cfm?subid=15

One of the best books to get inspired in cleaning is, "Is There Life After Housework?" (available on VHS as well). The first "decluttering" book to read is, "Not For Packrats Only". These will be the first two books I'd recommend to start with. Before long, you'll "be hooked", and reading more of his books! They are full of humour and wisdom! They may be available at your local library as well.

Hope this will motivate you in your role as homemaker this week and in the weeks to come! His books and video really inspired our family!

Organizing Annie
http://www.organizingannie.blogspot.com

The Grace of Yielding

One of my favorite authors is Derek Prince. He has recently passed away, but his writings and messages are deep and profound! One of my favorite books by this Christian author is called:

"The Grace of Yielding"

Another excellent book is:

"Blessing or Curse: You Can Choose!"

He discusses how spoken words can have a profound effect in our lives. He provides solid biblical examples to illustrate his message, giving reminders from scriptures, where the Bible clearly teaches us to "guard our tongues".

The home page is: http://www.derekprince.org

http://www.derekprince.com/ (global websites)

His credentials are impressive, and he is a well-respected biblical scholar. His outreach is interdenominational. May it be a blessing to you!

Organizing Annie
http://www.organizingannie.blogspot.com

One Year Bible Readings - On Line Link

Here is a handy devotional reading link for the "One Year Bible On Line":

http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com

Click on the "month" at the link above: (Scroll down the left hand column.) After you select the "month" you can select which "version" you wish to read from as well!!!

To read through the devotions three times here is a suggested method:

MORNING DEVOTIONS - Old Testament (OT) Reading
NOON DEVOTIONS - New Testatment (NT) Reading
EVENING DEVOTIONS - Psalms and Proverbs

"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." (Psalm 55:17)

Organizing Annie
http://www.organizingannie.blogspot.com

"What's the secret to a happy family?"

"What’s the secret to a happy family? Researchers have studied tens of thousands of families to find out – and the happiest share the same traits……

* For instance, they keep the faith. A study by the University of North Carolina found that families who say grace before meals and attend religious services get along better than families who don’t. Why? Because faith gives people a common interest and common values.
* Happy families are not the cleanest families, though…Research shows that the happiest homes are also the least tidy. Because when parents get so focused on the way the house looks, it can set a negative tone……It says that folded laundry and dust-free shelves are more important than emotional issues. It can also set the stage for power struggles that resonate through the entire family. That comes from psychologist Pat Stewart. Of course, it doesn’t mean you should live like slobs, but cleanliness shouldn’t be your highest priority.
* The happiest families also do two things: They display family photos and they have collections that everybody participates in – whether it’s stamps, teapots, or anything else. Both things increase the bond between family members.
* Happy families also have set dinner times. Research shows that people with consistent routines are less stressed and more satisfied with their daily lives. Routines give every member something they can depend on.
* And one last thing happy families have in common? A family pet. 70% of the families surveyed by Texas A&M University said there was an increase in family happiness and a decrease in stress after they got a pet. Children who own a pet have higher self-esteem and are more likely to take part in sports, hobbies – and even household chores. Families with pets are also more likely to feel hopeful when dealing with a stressful situation.

So sit down to dinner with your family at a set time, talk about adopting a pet, and then leave the dishes for later after you work on your coin collection. And if you want to know more, the book is called “100 Secrets of Happy Families” by David Niven."

Source: http://www.tesh.com

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (I Thessalonians 5:11)

Organizing Annie
http://www.organizingannie.blogspot.com

Sacred Parenting

Have any of you read, "Sacred Parenting" by Gary Thomas? I just heard it discussed on the radio program, "Haven Today" I have read his book, "Devotions for a Sacred Marriage" and really enjoyed it!!!

http://www.garythomas.com

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!

organizingannie@yahoo.ca

Organizing Annie
http://www.organizingannie.blogspot.com

"Ladies all want to know: Why don't men listen?"

Ladies all want to know: Why don't men listen?

"According to relationship therapist Karen Allen-Burke PhD, that's women's number- one complaint about their husbands. So here's how to get their attention! We found these tips in Woman's World magazine.

Try sitting strategically. Men perceive face to face interaction as threatening. It automatically makes them want to run. Instead, when you have something you really want your husband to hear, sit beside him. When men aren't forced to make eye contact, they're more likely to open up. Eye contact makes a guy feel too vulnerable. Another way to get a guy to listen - you gotta turn off the TV. Men don't multitask as well as women do. That's according to Dr. Marianne Legato, the author of "Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget". She says you'll only get a man's full attention when there isn't something else around to distract him. Women also need to simplify their message to get through to men. Men listen with the logistical right side of their brains. That's the practical side. It makes them great at comprehending step by step details. So when you have something to say, lay out the facts - without unnecessary details. And one last tip to help women communicate better with men - talk faster. The average man can process up to 600 words per minute - while the average woman speaks only 125 to 150 words per minute. That leaves guys a lot of room to daydream and mentally checkout while you're talking. So get the info out quickly and precisely and the man in your life will get the message."

Permission granted to post this message with source link, with thanks!
Source:http://www.tesh.com/radio/search/default.asp?mode=new

Organizing Annie
http://www.organizingannie.blogspot.com

DRINK WATER CHALLENGE!!!

I am inviting all ladies who would like to try this challenge to post here daily (whether or not they achieved the goal)! Would you like to participate in this? There are many health benefits to increasing daily water intake!

The link for the challenge is below:

http://forum.christianwomentoday.com/viewtopic.php?p=12174#12174

Some guidelines to "what counts" for water intake, can be found in this dental article:

IMPORTANCE OF WATER IN THE HUMAN BODY

"Let's start with our 8 glasses, assuming we really are drinking 8 glasses to start with and subtract if we,

Drink coffee? Subtract one cup of water for every cup of coffee

Drink tea other than herbal? Subtract 1/2 cup of water for every cup of tea.

Drink soda with caffeine (this includes both diet and regular)? Subtract a cup of water for every 10-12 ounces of soda.

Exercised for one hour? Subtract at least 2 cups of water for even moderate/light exercise."

Source:

http://www.dentalplans.com/Dental-Health-Articles/Water-A-Hot-Weather-Survival-Tool.asp

This second article is also helpful:

"Water & 20 Tips For Getting Your 8 Glasses Daily / How 8 Glasses a Day Keeps Fat Away"

http://www.dwlz.com/WWinfo/water.html

Who would like to join me in this challenge?

Most important of all....don't forget the words of Jesus in John 4:13:

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Organizing Annie
http://www.organizingannie.blogspot.com

Using the Chore Chart (with fines and younger children)

Here are the two previous posts I made about the "fine jar" and using the chore chart with younger children. Several members missed reading these posts, and e-mailed me about them, so I am resending them. If you would like the chore chart, please e-mail me for it, since attachments will likely be removed through Yahoo. (I will try to attach it, you can check for it, in case you'd like to use it.)

USING THE CHORE CHART (with fines):

We have used it for years, attached to their bulletin boards. My DD16, said it was THE REASON why she still keeps her bedroom so neat and tidy!!! The list "trained" her to do regular maintenance. When the 3 weeks were over, I would add up the totals, and pay them a small allowance, which was really motivating for them! (If they didn't do the jobs, they were fined double what the payout would have been!) At the end of the week, the child who did the most work, earned all the money in the fine pot too!!! This was a HUGE motivator! You really need to be specific what a "clear win" is, especially if kids have totals that are very close. You may need to "split" the fine jar between them. Write out all the rules BEFORE you start, if you plan to use that method, so there are no problems on "pay day"!!! Our kids LOVED this!!!

USING THE CHORE CHART WITH YOUNGER CHILDREN:

At the time we first used the charts, I had a brand new baby (my 5th), and my little girl was ony 4 years old! She LOVED checking off her jobs as she did them. I attached the choreganizers cards with velcro to a vinyl chart. We made a lot of our own cards, since I felt that many jobs were left out of the Choreganizers Charts. We laminated them, prior to sewing on the velcro. She loved to pull off the picture of the job that was finished, and then put it in the plastic "pamphlet" holder rack that we screwed onto the cork bulletin board. It worked quite well!!!

PS/ The link to the "Modified Choreganizers Chart" is in my blogspot, in case you missed my previous post. You may have to "scroll down" to find it:

http://organizingannie.blogspot.com/2005_09_01_organizingannie_archive.html#112723760569707451

Organizing Annie
http://www.organizingannie.blogspot.com