~ Tuesday Tips ~

Photo Courtesy of Maare Liv

It's Christmas, and everywhere we turn, we hear debates over "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays." I'm grateful to see Christians rising up and defending our "Christmas Season," refusing to be told "Happy Holidays." However, those Happy Holiday people are still out there. How else can we get the Christmas message across without sounding brazen?

Here's one tip on spreading Christmas cheer without offending the recipients:

I try to write an annual letter every Christmas. I like to send it out with our Christ-centered Christmas card and a photo of the family (or, at least of the kids...). In the letter I make it a point to share at least one thing that God did for us in the past twelve months. I want my family and friends to understand that He is the giver of all things in our lives. I want to turn the glory back to God, in hopes that they will warm up to the fact that Jesus is still the Only Lord and Savior, that babe born in a manger over 2000 years ago. In this way, I hope the letter is our Living Epistle, shining Jesus' light on all who read it.
 

Please Excuse Me...

I hope y'all don't mind, but I must be excused from blogging today. I signed up to participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). I should have 50,000 words written before midnight tonight, but I've got 17,000 to go. This puts me in a slight place of torture, because I really want to get other things done today (like blogging). However, I really want to live up to the challenge. Is it possible to write 17,000 words in one day? I'd like to find out...

My tip for today? Don't give up until you've made every effort to meet your goal or make your dream a reality. With Christ, we can do all things!

Have a blessed Tuesday!

~ Tuesday Tips ~

 Photo copyright 2010 Alycia W. Morales

I must confess. I hit a wall this week with my writing. My heart wants to pour out blessings and wisdom and love, but my brain is as blank as a computer screen. It may be because I'm anxious for my husband's arrival home. His original flight took off without him last night. He'd gotten caught in traffic on the thruway, just shy of his exit. He supposed it was an accident, since traffic was at a stand-still. We pray whoever was involved is uninjured, especially on a holiday week, but he had no report for me other than he was about to miss his flight. So, he's on his way home now, a day later. I am excited and can't wait to see him, which is interfering with my work...

How about some tips on holiday travel? Whether you're flying, driving, going across the country or around the block, holiday travel can be nerve wracking. I know from experience the simple act of loading the kids into the car can be stressful. 

Tip number 1: Be considerate of others. I despise myself when I become impatient on the road and realize I've been yelling under my breath at an elderly woman who can barely see the road. Maybe the person who cut you off is five hours behind schedule and trying not to miss their flight. We all have someplace to go. Count your blessings while the minutes tick by and remember it may be God slowing you down by putting that slow poke in front of you. He may be sparing you from an accident about to occur up the highway...

Tip number 2: Leave ahead of time. Pack the night before so you can get started first thing in the morning, while everyone is fresh and excited about the trip. Or, drive at night, while the kids sleep in the back seat. It's a great time for you and yours to catch up on things. If you've worked all day and travel at night, have the person who didn't work drive first. Sleep. Then, take over for the second half of the trip, so your spouse or friend or sister can sleep. This can save costs on hotel rooms, as well. 


Tip number 3: Pack snacks and drinks. It's far cheaper to buy a 24 pack of bottled water for $3.50 at Wal-mart than it is to stop at the rest area vending machine - usually at $1.25 per bottle. Having fresh fruit and granola bars or potato chips is cheaper than pulling up to a drive through for multiple containers of french fries. It's healthier, too. 


Tip number 4: For long trips with children, stop every two hours or so and let them walk to the bathroom, eat a snack at a picnic table, or play at the McDonald's playground. This will get their energy out and prepare them to sit still for another hundred miles.


Tip number 5: Invest in a laptop, portable DVD player, or have one installed in your car. My children and I survived a move from Upstate NY to Mobile, AL because I purchased an $80 portable DVD player before I left. I didn't hear one, "Stop touching me!" "Quit sleeping on me!" "Moooooommmmm!" They quietly enjoyed watching movies the entire trip. It was the most peaceful drive I've ever made with them.


Tip number 6: Flying? These may be obvious (I usually fly alone, if I fly at all), but:
a) Check in online before leaving home. Print your tickets out and avoid the lines. 
b) Pack light. Take a carry on, rather than having to check a bag. (Nothing frustrates me more than having to wait half an hour for my luggage when I've been standing on the plane for half an hour after landing.) Do your laundry every other day at your family or friend's house. Use your mixed outfits savvy to make a few pieces last a week. 
c) Leave early for the airport. It's better to get through security and have a half hour wait than to get stuck in traffic and miss the flight.


I hope some of these helped! Have a safe trip, wherever you may travel this holiday season! 
Happy Thanksgiving!

~Tuesday Tips~

My tip for this Tuesday is going to wow you! It's this simple: If you need one of those small, red, round things that make your headache go away, and you find yourself wanting to snooze at the screen, it may be a clue that you need to take a day or two off. 

I find myself feeling that way this week. It's time for a break. My body isn't feeling as it should. I want to sleep at the computer, not write. 

Too many times I've seen others fight their illnesses and continue to work through, all in the name of ... making money, toughing it out, feeling as though the office won't be able to function without them ... Whatever the reason, they neglect their body's warning signs and keep at it. Until they can't keep at it anymore because they've landed themselves in a hospital bed with pneumonia or worse. 

So, my tip for today is to listen to your body's signals. Take heed when that headache won't quit, no matter how many Tylenol/Advil/Aleve/Motrin/Aspirin you've taken. Lie down for a day. Watch a great movie. Sip some orange juice. Keep your feet up. And enjoy the respite from the daily grind.

I know I'm going to...I'll see you Thursday, if not Friday. ;)

~Tuesday Tips~

"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse" ~ Malachi 3:10

A tithe is giving ten percent of your income to the Lord. This was a new concept to me when I first came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. However, just as the commandment to honor your father and mother comes with a promise, so does tithing.

 

"'And try Me now in this,' says the Lord of hosts,

'If I will not open for you the windows in heaven

And pour out for you such blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it.'"  

~ Malachi 3:10

 

The Lord promises that when we bring our tithes into His storehouse, He will pour out blessings on us. We will have so much we cannot receive all of it for ourselves. Our own storehouses will not be large enough to contain it. 

 

See, God's math is different than ours. While we are adding up the bills and subtracting out of our checking (and sometimes savings) account, God is multiplying. He is thinking of turning our five loaves and two fish into enough to feed a multitude. In Malachi He says to bring the tithes into the storehouse "That there may be food in My house." He wants to give us increase and blessings in order that His house may have more to share. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) When we put God first, He is able to do far more in our lives and the lives of others.

 

"'And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,

 So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,

 Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,'

 Says the Lord of hosts."

~ Malachi 3:11

 

This is the second promise which results from our tithe. God will rebuke the devourer. The devourer is the seed killer. He is the one who comes against all of our efforts, labors and plantings. He steals what we sow. He kills our attempts at earning a living, planting spiritual seeds and bringing in a harvest. God promises that when we put Him first in our finances, He will rebuke the devourer for our sakes. He will no longer have the power to come against our attempts at getting ahead in life. 

 

I have experienced the effects of tithing firsthand. 

 

There have been times when we've been super tight and I've withheld the tithe in an effort to keep food on our table. Only, instead of having enough provision, things became more and more difficult. Our bills weren't paid on time. We'd overdraw the checking account, wasting hundreds of dollars as we paid overdraft fees.

 

But no sooner than I changed my heart-itude and returned to faithful tithing did God come through. The devourer was rebuked and we had all that we needed, if not more. It's during these times that we have plenty of food and some to spare or share. It's during these times that our savings account would grow. It's during these times that work would be in plenty. Layoffs would be fewer. (My husband's in construction.) It's during these times I'd have a little extra to do something special for the kids. It's during these times we could even increase our giving and we'd have offerings for guest ministers or felt needs in the body of Christ (the church). 

 

God's word never comes back void. If He says it is so, it is. If He promises blessings will flow, they will flow. Be encouraged today. 

 

My tip? Tithe. It's the only place in the Bible where God says, "Challenge me and see what I do." Take the challenge. Bring your tithe into the storehouse this Sunday. Bless the Lord with your firstfruits. He provided them in the first place. They belong to Him already. See what He can do with them. He's into multiplication!  

~Tuesday Tips~

Sometimes it's necessary to change the way we do things at home. Sometimes a schedule will work for awhile until a new activity shows up in our weekly schedule. Sometimes we get overloaded and our kids suffer for it (we do, too). Sometimes we need to step back and ask ourselves if everything in our schedule is bringing honor to God and good things to our home. Or do we need to become better stewards of our time? 
Setting kids up with a schedule (and ourselves, for that matter) allows for consistency in their daily lives. This may seem taboo to a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants planner, but that consistency brings stability to their otherwise chaotic lives. It brings a sense of peace to their day. They know what to expect (most days) and will adjust accordingly to the schedule put before them. Following is a list of tips or reasons as to why schedules are an important part of our daily life:
1. It teaches us time management. There are certain things we need to do every day. This is a great way to make certain it all gets done.
2. It teaches the importance of being on time. How many times has someone been late for something you were in charge of or leading? Don't they understand your time is precious? Americans have so much to do in 2010 that time is just as important as money or the air we breathe. Let's teach our children the importance of being on time as a courtesy to others. 
3. Scheduling hinders procrastination. If we know we have an assignment due on Wednesday, we know research should begin Friday and a rough draft should be finished by Monday. Turning work in on time is important. This is another important lesson in today's world. Our best work can't be done through putting it off until the last minute.
4. Through scheduling their afternoons, children will know what to expect. So many times things get thrown into our schedules. And kids are dealing with getting bullied at school, bodily changes going on, who's the next big thing and will I pass my test tomorrow? They need a place they can come to for rest and reassurance. Having a schedule in the afternoons, rather than just running all over the place, allows them that time peace and rest in their day.
5. It keeps them healthy. Children need up to 10 hours of sleep a night in order to maintain their health. Having a bath time routine, bedtime routine and assisting them in getting that sleep will make a world of difference in their health, attitudes, and behaviors.
These are just a few reasons why scheduling a child's day is important. Feel free to add to my list via the comments section below! I'd be happy to hear your thoughts!

~ Catching Up ~

Forgive me for not posting at the end of last week and the beginning of this week; our family went on vacation. For the first time in several years.
It was a short vacation, only four days. Two of those were filled with travel. However, traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway for an afternoon feels like vacation to me. Except when I look over the edge as my husband winds up the steep mountain road. Then it feels like I might fall off the edge while my knuckles turn white from gripping the handle on my Yukon's door. (Like that will really help if we do cascade over the edge of the mountain.) 

So, on Monday I was musing about the glory of God and how He is evident in all of creation. His beauty can be seen in the fall foliage (insert photo here...blogger is updating something and photo uploading is down for the moment). His joy can be found in a child's smile or their innocent laughter. His love can be seen in the eyes of one's spouse. His Truth is all around us. It's simply up to us to open our eyes, hearts and ears to it.

On Tuesday I was considering tips for camping with kids. Bring extra blankets during cooler months. Indoor swimming pools are a great way to wear them out at the end of a day. Have a steady supply of tissues, band aids and simple snacks that are easy to grab and go (like Pop Tarts, fresh fruit, fruit snacks, crackers, etc.). Let Dad give them a cup of coffee in the morning, if he wishes. Watch them smile as they feel like one of the grown ups, drinking it down. Enjoy every moment without wishing you were back home with private bath rooms and a washer and dryer at your disposal. If someone spills something on your bed cover at 9:00PM, don't fret. It's not the end of the world as we know it...

And for wisdom on Wednesday? "O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions -" (Psalm 104:24) Like I said before, God's evidence is everywhere. His earth is full of His possessions. Autumn is a great time to view them! 

Enjoy!

~Tuesday Tips~

Caleb with Mrs. Richardson

School is in full swing. Fall is here with its fresh sweep of color. The air is crisp. Pumpkins are available at the local super market and various farm stands across the nation. Report cards and Parent/Teacher Conferences are just around the corner.

 

Spending my childhood in my mother's elementary classrooms, assisting grading papers, hanging bulletin boards, organizing shelves of books and closets filled with construction paper and school supplies, I understand the hours it takes to be a teacher. Parents sometimes don't realize that teaching isn't a mere 8-3 (or 7-2, if you're in the South) job. It requires many additional hours outside the classroom taking classes, participating in workshops, grading papers while watching television at night, preparing new lessons and much, much more. I remember many nights when my mother was busy at work, at home, while I self-entertained, wishing she could spend more time with me.

 

As Parent/Teacher Conferences approach, I'd like to give a few tips on how to make this school year a success for your children and their teachers.

 

Keep the lines of communication open with your child's teacher. Whether it's a concern about their grade on a test, a question about homework policies or a frustration over a behavior report, contact the teacher directly. Most will hand out their email address, cell number or some other way to contact them. Never be afraid to ask. All teachers know "there's no such thing as a stupid question."

Give the teacher the benefit of the doubt, always. Johnny comes home complaining about something his teacher said, did or made him do. He feels he's been treated unfairly. (I'm talking about every day things here, not abuse.) A mother's natural tendency is to automatically jump into defense mode favoring her child over the teacher. Don't do this! Rather than reacting to your child's emotional state, help him/her to learn how to handle the emotions of disappointment, frustration and anger. Use it as an opportunity to teach a life lesson. If you want to know more about the situation, contact the teacher before you judge their disciplinary action toward your child. Kids don't always tell the whole story. Adults have better judgment. 

Volunteer to help out. Ever wonder what's going on behind that closed classroom door? Now's the time to find out! Volunteering to assist in your child's classroom is a great way to get to know the teacher, his/her instructional style, their personality and what your child is learning about. It's also a great way to show your child how much you care about him/her and their education. Teachers can never have too many helping hands. The school systems cannot afford to place an aide in each classroom and there are typically 18-22 children in each one. Your presence allows them to get more accomplished throughout the day and puts smiles on kids faces you'd never dreamed you'd touch. 

Don't yell at the teacher or go to conference with an attitude. Susie isn't failing because the teacher is failing to do his/her job. Susie is failing because of several varying reasons, depending on who Susie is:
a) She's not doing her homework or her classwork. This is a sign of two things. One, Suzie is lazy and puts forth no effort. Two, no one is making Susie put forth an effort. Your child's teacher cannot stand over every student every day, making them do their work. It's impossible. It's up to us as parents to teach our children self-discipline and hard work. If we aren't willing to do that, it's our fault, not the teacher's.
b) Susie has a learning disability. There are several solutions to these issues. Check with your school to find out how to effectively help Susie overcome these disabilities.
c) Susie has a hang-up with taking tests. I know someone who is very smart but seizes up when it comes test time. Bad grades on a test do not always reflect a person's intellect. If Susie is having issues with taking tests, find out if there is another way the teacher can go about giving them. Maybe Susie does better with an oral exam than a written one. Ask for help.
d) Susie has difficulty comprehending something. If your child struggles with this, it will affect every area of their learning. Comprehension is simply understanding, connecting the dots, between what is being presented. It's the who, what, when, where, how, why, etc. of the material. Helping your child understand things at home is one way that you can start them on their way to overcoming this issue. Read a book at night. Ask questions about what you've just read to them. What do they think will happen next? Have them think cause and effect: What will happen to this egg when I put it into the hot frying pan? Ask them math questions while you grocery shop. How much change will I get for this $4.00 box of cereal if I give the clerk a $10 bill? 
Discuss these issues with your child's educator in a calm and agreeable manner. Work with him/her in order to get the best education for your child, not against him/her. If you think you could really do a better job, quit yours and homeschool your child.I can hear the teachers cheering and the parents cursing me while saying they'll never read my blog again.


Bio: Alycia Morales is the daughter of an elementary educator who is nearing retirement (go Mom!), mother of four, step-mother of one, classroom volunteer. She has been volunteering in classrooms since she could draw welcome back class pictures on the blackboard with white chalk (SmartBoards were not in existence then). She spent three years teaching elementary education in a private Christian academy. She home schooled her own children for a year. Alycia understands what it takes to work with children and is a cheerleader for teachers everywhere, including moms who choose to teach their own children.

~Tuesday Tips~

My husband and I celebrated 12 years of marriage on Sunday. Those who've been married a short time are in awe when the number 12 is mentioned. Those who've been married a long time smile and nod their heads. If only I could hear their thoughts...what would they sound like? "Twelve is such a small number." "You've got a long way to go." "Just wait until you see what's around the corner. " "Wow. That's nice."

Vic and I have been blessed with the opportunity to pour into a few married couples within the past year. It's not something that we take lightly, marriage. In fact, it's something that we honor as a God-ordained covenant between a man and a woman. Marriage was God's idea, not man's and it traces all the way back to the Garden of Eden.


Some of the marital advice or "tips" I've found us sharing repeatedly (seems every couple can benefit from these) are (in no particular order):


Never go to bed angry. Ephesians 4:26-27 says, "Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil." Any time that we go to sleep without resolving a disagreement with our spouse, we give place to the devil. Seeds of bitterness, doubt, malice, contempt and others have the opportunity to grow overnight. In the morning, we are faced with a tree of discontent where there was only a tiny sprout the night before. Always resolve disagreements before you close your eyes, even if you can only agree to disagree. Kiss each other and fall asleep knowing there won't be a tree needing to be pulled out by its roots when the sun rises.

Proper order in the home is important. Biblical structure for relational priorities is this: First, your relationship with God. Next, your relationship with your spouse. Third, you and your spouse's relationship with your children. Fourth, serving the church. Fifth, your responsibilities such as your career. If any of these ever gets out of order, your relationships will suffer. Putting your job as a priority over spending time with your children simply because you need to feed them is not God's idea. He is the provider of all things before you are. Putting ministry needs or classes at church above your family's needs is not acceptable. Your ministry starts in your home (See 1 Timothy 3).


Don't keep secrets. I'm not talking about dumping out your filthy past on your spouse. There's no need to burden him or her with your sin record. I'm talking about current issues. I'm talking about the times that you overdraw the checking account. I'm talking about forgetting to tell them about your plans for next weekend because you don't want them to find out you didn't include them. I'm talking about hiding things from them because you don't feel like involving them or hearing their input concerning a situation. Keeping secrets will erode trust faster than paint stripper removes paint. Another form of keeping secrets? Talking about your spouse behind their back. If you know they would feel violated by you speaking with your best friend about their faults or your recent argument, don't do it. 

Only God can change your spouse. We all come with strengths and weaknesses. There is going to be something in everyone we love that we can't stand. What we were willing to overlook during courtship should still be overlooked in marriage, unless it's a threat to you or your spouse's life. If you didn't like the way he smelled his socks every time he took them off while you were dating, you still won't like it when you're married. But it's nothing to hold against him. If you don't like the way he treats his mother before you marry him, don't marry him. It's likely that character flaw won't change and he'll be treating you that way once his ring is on your finger and you've said, "I do." If you've recently discovered that he has anger issues and they've only surfaced now that you two are wed, pray. If he isn't abusing you in his fit of anger, suggest he get counsel and pray for God to remove that angry spirit from him. You can't love him enough to heal him. Only God can make that change. (And if he is abusing you, verbally or physically, seek godly counsel and refuge. It'll only get worse until he admits he's got a problem and desires to get help to change.)

Step-families are a whole other ball game, but priorities in the home should stay the same. Step-families are all different. Relational dynamics are different. Some spouses still get along with their ex. Some tolerate their ex for the childrens' sake. Others can't stand their ex and everyone around them knows it. In our situation, my husband has a son from a previous marriage. I had no children and had never been married before. The key to keeping a second (or third, fourth, or fifth) marriage intact? PUT YOUR NEW SPOUSE FIRST. I can't say that loud enough. Remember the order in the home previously mentioned? Seek God first. Then comes your wife (marriage). Then comes child 1, 2, 3 in the baby carriage. It doesn't matter if your son or daughter or clan is your child from a previous marriage/relationship. Your wife or husband is your priority. Your children will grow up and leave home one day. You'll either stand with your wife and wave goodbye as they leave your home or you'll stand alone as they move on to their adult lives. If you and your spouse are on the same page with each other concerning parenting tactics (which should be discussed prior to saying "I do"), you'll have nothing to worry about. 

These are just a few pieces of advice and wisdom we've been sharing with others as we've begun to minister to married couples. There's plenty more that we've learned, figured out, been taught or received counsel on in our twelve years together. The one thing we always remember before anything else is this: marriage requires hard work in order to maintain a healthy relationship. Without effort from both of us, we wouldn't be where we are today. Happy. Excited. Content. More in love with each other today than on our wedding day.

~Tuesday Tips~

The kids are back to school. Having four of them makes for a load of paperwork and signatures and shoes and backpacks and homework and all of the other crazy stuff that a year of education brings with it. How does one keep the masses in order? I have read several articles as magazines highlight the back-to-school season and this is what I've found to work for our home:

1. Keep the backpacks lined up near the door. As homework is completed and agendas are signed, the bags are zipped, signifying that all is complete and ready to return to school tomorrow.

2. As soon as the kids are finished with snack, homework is completed. This prevents any "I-need-to-finish-my-math" five minutes before bedtime excuses. We also wait until everyone is finished before the television is allowed to come on. This prevents the distractions from interrupting homework time.

3. As I pull papers from their take-home folders, I toss copies. I sign what needs to be signed and returned and place them back into their folders. If it is something that I need to keep for future reference, I file it or hang it.

4. I have a file system with a folder for each child. In that file I have copies of birth certificates, shot records and other documents that schools need for registration. I also keep copies of their interim reports, report cards, etc. in these files. Since my husband's job requires us to move every couple of years, this helps me have everything at my fingertips for new schools.

5. I have a clip system on my refrigerator door. As individualized classroom information comes home, such as upcoming field trips or picture days or things of that nature, I clip them to each child's magnetic clip. I have a separate clip for the school calendar and any other general papers that are temporary, such as monthly newsletters. Once a month, I clean the clips out, throwing away old materials. 

What are some useful tips you have about keeping school items organized? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments! 

~ Tuesday Tips ~

Life gets busy and things fall behind. Then there's always catch up. When this happens to me (isn't it obvious it has lately? I haven't managed a blog post in how long?) time management is the first thing that pops into my mind. (We won't talk about writer's block here.)

So, for my Tuesday Tips, I'd like to offer up some time management lessons I've learned over the years. Maybe I'll throw in some organizational pointers, too.

Make every step count. I learned this one from a wise boss several years ago. Waitresses must make every step count. If you are bringing coffee to a table, bring an empty plate or dirty fork back with you. Efficiency is key. The same can easily apply at home. If you are walking to the bedroom to put clothes or toys away, bring the garbage back to the kitchen with you. Some moms have it together, I'm sure, and can focus on one task at a time. I am not one of those moms. I multi-task until I'm spinning through my house like a torando. I go from one task to the next when I start cleaning. I'll start with the dishes and find toys on the counter. I run the toys to the boys' bedroom and find dirty laundry all over the floor. I drop the toys into the toy box and pick up the dirty laundry. Then it's off to the laundry room, where I find that I need to throw the lint away. Off to the kitchen I go with the lint, where I'll remember that I was trying to finish the dishes. For those who would enjoy some help with housecleaning, be sure to visit this wonderful website: www.flylady.net

Get organized. Some of us are blessed with the gift of organization (everything is in order, just as it appears). Some of us appear to be a mess but are secretly organized (Don't move anything, or I won't be able to find it!). Others of us just don't know where to begin (Do I keep it, toss it, hide it under the bed?). Being organized saves time in the long run, because you already know where things are. There's no fifteen minute hunt for the keys in the morning when you've got them on a key rack near the door you use most often. There's no hunt for the kids' sneaker(s) if they are neatly lined in the closet or on a shoe rack or are left by the back door. Being organized is always a time saver. I'll post more tips for getting organized next week.

Put the phone on vibrate and let it go to voice mail. One thing that can interrupt progress is the incessant need to answer the phone. Caller I.D. is a huge blessing to me. If I am trying to get something accomplished, whether it's writing an article on deadline or cleaning my house while no one's home (Isn't it great when the house stays clean longer than five minutes?), I use my caller I.D. If it isn't my husband or the school, I let it go to voice mail. If they want to talk with me, they'll leave a message. I can call back later when my immediate task is finished.

These are just a few pointers for managing time effectively. What time managment tools do you use in your daily agenda? Feel free to share your pointers!

~Tuesday Tips~

I call this photograph Life in the Laundry. Laundry is one of those things that seem to never end. It doesn't matter if I catch up on it. No sooner than I turn my back to the empty basket, it is full again. 

So, this Tuesday, I bring you some laundry tips that I have learned over time.

1. Not all things labeled "Dry Clean Only" must be dry cleaned. Use wisdom, but some things can be washed on gentle cycle in cold water and laid flat or hung to dry. This saves $$ and time. (I will not be held responsible if you try this at home and shrink your $100's business suit or bridesmaid's dress...as I said, use wisdom.)

For example, I have a couple of winter sweaters from JC Penney's that request dry cleaning. I use cold water, gentle cycle, flat dry for them, and they are just fine. They've also lasted many years. I would not do this with my wedding dress.

2. Use cold water to wash and rinse with. This will save you a ton of $$ on your electric/oil bill. My clothes come just as clean in cold water as they do in hot water. My electric bill shrinks, but my clothes don't.

3. Hang dry when possible. My electric bill was cut in half when I started to line dry my clothes this spring. My jaw dropped when I saw how much it went down. I'm sure the heater not running had some to do with it, but I know the dryer makes a huge difference, too. Besides, who doesn't love spring fresh clothing? 

4. White Vinegar helps get rid of musty smells. It also tends to brighten. I didn't know this until the past year or two, but a good dose of white vinegar to the wash helps to get rid of the musty smell in the washing machine and our clothing. It also tends to brighten the colors in the clothes. I usually pour in half to one cup, depending on how musty they smell.

5. Did you know that the musty smell comes from using too much detergent, among other things? According to my trusty washer repair guy, we only need to use a bleach cap's worth of detergent per load of laundry. More than that is too much. I have saved a lot on laundry detergent since I heard this pointer, as well. Laundry budget - shrinking. Clothing - not shrinking, lasting longer, and smelling better.

6. Wait until you have a full load. It's a waste of water (and money, if you pay a water bill) to wash half a load. Wait until the machine is full (up to the top of the agitator...don't overfill it). Then, run the load.

7. Extend the life of your dryer by washing your lint trap. My sister sent me one of those handy "pointers" emails that everyone forwards. One lady mentioned that her repair man told her to clean her dryer lint trap with water and a fine bristled brush, like a toothbrush, once every six months. Even though they look clean when we remove the lint, there is a waxy build up occurring from the scent and such on the dryer sheets. By cleaning them, one can extend the life of the dryer up to two times the usual. It also saves on your electric/gas bill by running more efficiently.

8. Use your dryer sheet more than once, and then dust with it. This is something that I have discovered recently. I can use the dryer sheet more than once. Usually, two or three loads can be dried before it becomes unscented and virtually useless. BUT...then, it makes a great dust cloth! Save on those paper towels and reuse your dryer sheet to dust the end tables or the computer, the lint dust off of your dryer, etc. 

9. Use towels more than once. Wear jeans more than once. This may sound gross to some, but if you haven't sat in peanut butter from your kid's lunch or dripped gravy down the front of your jeans while cooking dinner, they can easily be worn up to three days before the knees are obviously saggy from being dirtied. This can save the life of your jeans. We all know we have our favorite pairs. Imagine making them last a few months longer...not to mention saving more money (on laundry cost and on clothing cost). Towels don't need to be washed after every use, either, unless the baby was filthy or someone was a guest. 

10. Zip your zippers before putting them in the wash. Zippers will catch on the other clothing in the load, causing them unnecessary wear and tear. By simply zipping up all pants, jeans, shorts, coats, etc., you can save clothing and money.

I hope these tips have helped! Feel free to comment with your learned laundry tips! I always like to learn more about how to save time and money! ;)       

~Tuesday Tips~

A new weekly post, Tuesday Tips will contain (hopefully) valuable information, concerning all things household and family management. You may find an interesting tidbit, a piece of information that you never knew before, or a helpful hint. Whatever you discover here, I hope that it assists you in your daily task of managing your home!

Tuesday Tips Part One:

Did you know that the color of your bread tie can tell you how fresh the bread on the grocery store shelf is?
Apparently, it is different amongst bakeries, but here is a sample list:

Monday = Blue
Tuesday = Green
Thursday = Red
Friday = White
Saturday = Yellow

Save your bread bag ties! (I like recycling!) Here are some other uses for them:
1. Use on open bags of chips to keep them fresh.
2. Did you use half of the frozen vegetables in bag? Reseal the bag with a twist tie.
3. One lady uses them to pull her hair up in a quick pony tail before doing the dishes.
4. Use them to wind up extension chords, ear phone chords, etc.
5. Recycle them into craft projects...I have been saving mine to use in card-making.