Grandmother's Apron

An apron can be such a wonderful help. Read "Grandmother's Apron" at Homeliving Helper.

Building a Master Schedule - Part 1

I downloaded the Final Master Schedule, Microsoft Word 2.0 Format (http://www.titus2.com/m-schedule1.htm) from the Titus 2 website. In Microsoft Word, I made my master schedule. For help in creating a master schedule, I recommend the following websites:

• Titus 2
• Candy from Genuine Profit
• Practical Homemaking
• Brandy from Lady4Jesus
• Crystal from Biblical Womanhood Online

Most of our schedule is self-explanatory. You can click on the photos to read them.

From 8-10a.m. the kids work on school work they can do independently. I work on my daily chores, help with school work, and complete school paperwork (planning and such). My daily chores are: Monday - Laundry Day, Tuesday - Kitchen Day, Wednesday - Gardening Day, Thursday - Office Work Day, and Friday - FlyLady's Home Blessing Day.

From 1-2 p.m. we have a project time. Monday - Cooking lesson, Tuesday - Handwork, Wednesday - Games, Thursday - Crafts, Friday - Computer Game.

From 2-3p.m. the kids play or read quietly in their own rooms while Mom usually talks to her own mom (a thousand miles away) on the phone.

From 3-3:30p.m. each of us works on straightening and cleaning our own rooms.

From 3:30-4p.m. we work on the week's zone. Week 1 - Entryway, Porch, Living room, Dining room; Week 2 - Kitchen & Office; Week 3 - Bathrooms; Week 4 - Bedrooms; Week 5 - Family Room.

From 4-6p.m. the kids complete any schoolwork or chores they have yet to finish. If they've finished their work, they are free to play inside or out.

Our schedule is for Monday-Friday. I don't schedule the weekends; too many changes and nothing is constant. I also do not schedule H.

I keep our master schedule posted in the office next to the family calendar. Also, one copy is posted in each kid's room and another copy is in my control journal.

Part 2 will tell how I built my master schedule.

Money-Saving Tip: Cleaning Wipes

I've been trying to keep my bathroom cleaner, especially the mirror, sink, and counter area. I made these cleaning wipes to save time and to make the cleaning more convenient and easier. (The idea being that, if it's easier and faster, I will do it more often.)

Cleaning Wipe Recipe:

• one roll paper towels
• one plastic container
• 1/2 C. Alcohol
• 2 1/2 C. Water
• 1 Tablespoon vinegar

I cut the paper towel roll in half and unrolled each half as I folded it into wipes. I didn't tear the sheets but left them attached. I placed one half of the paper towel roll (now folded) into the plastic container. Then, I mixed the alcohol, water, vinegar and poured half over the paper towels in the container. Voila, cleaning wipes! I've been using them to wipe down the counters, sinks, mirrors, doors, door knobs, etc. and I really like them. They have saved a lot of time and, yes, I have been cleaning the bathroom more frequently now.

Painting Concrete Floors

The dwindling funds require some changes in plans (meaning: kitchen cabinets or tiling house) so, instead of tiling the house, we're looking at painting the concrete floors. Our neighbors just did a room and we took a look at it yesterday. I thought it looked pretty good. Some people go with designs and faux tile looks but we would just paint one color. I'm thinking something in the beige family - like the tile I would have chosen. Hopefully, we can tile the house later on. Has anyone painted their concrete floors?