Shopping prep...

I don't have much time to blog today. I've spent my "free time" (if that's what you can call nap time around here) doing up our shopping list.
Ah, the shopping list. We each have our own way of doing one. Some just scribble down what they think they need and others, like me, have charts and graphs, store layouts and flyers ready for price matching. 


Yes, grocery shopping for me is not just something we have to do once in a while, it is a full on family activity!
We price match here. For those of you who don't know what price matching is, where have you been? It's only the best way to save time AND money! You go through your local grocery flyers, find the deals and when you go shopping at your favourite store you find the same item, show them the flyer and they give you the same price! You save time from having to drive from one place to the next and money because if you only shopped at one store you'd have to pay their regular price for that item instead of the discounted price.
Yes, shopping is not just going to get food, it takes planning, prep work, and lists! We've worked it out so that now it doesn't take us long to go shopping, but the prep time before hand sure does!
We plan our meals a week to two weeks ahead and then shop accordingly. It takes time but we feel we save money. It's not cheap feeding a family of four on one income, especially now that all four members are eating "regular" food! I think it's worth the time and energy. 

What kind of shopper are you?

Organized Chaos

Today I was blog searching when I came across one that really hit home with me. "DIRT"Y LITTLE SECRETS a blog about becoming an "ideal homemaker". It really got me thinking about what I do each day and how I can try to perfect it even more.

I try to keep my house organized and clean, try being the word when you have little ones. I have a cleaning list, of daily cleaning chores and a schedule that we loosely follow on my fridge that I do each day.

 One of the phrases that "DIRT"Y LITTLE SECRETS posted was one that my Grandmother and Mother always drilled into me as a child and one that I try to still follow today.

 "A place for everything, and everything in it's place." 

That is such an important phrase to me because I think that it's key to keeping a house organized. I often look at different places in my house that seem to have 'clutter' and try to figure what is cluttering up that spot and how can I find those things a better place to rest instead of that one pile.

Sometimes I have success, other times (like the top of my fridge right now) I don't have the much success. LOL

I like a home that feels welcoming and like you can just walk in, sit down and relax, and I hope that for those of you who have been to my house you feel that way. I think being organized helps to create that feeling.

I have a long way to go and sometimes I doubt I'll ever feel like my house is 100% organized and clean. I find myself constantly scrubbing something, sweeping somewhere or going through a drawer to organize!

I wish I could invest a large amount of money in bins! I LOVE bins, but have never had enough money to invest in a bunch (except for my Christmas stuff). Oh cdnkaro if only I could have your problem and have too many bins! That's my dream!!
That and shelves! I need more shelves! I'd love to have everything in bins on shelves! LOL Now that's a dream!!!

I love being a homemaker! It's been a dream of mine to be a mother and homemaker and I do what I can to make our home run smooth and relaxed. 

Thanks  "DIRT"Y LITTLE SECRETS and fourunder4plustwo (cdnkaro) for the inspiration and motivation to organize the chaos!

How to wash clean laundry!

B-Man was sitting on the bed happily watching as I folded the laundry! He smiled and played as he watched each fold and grabbed at his shirt to chew on.
I had Carebears laundry nicely folded in front of him and didn't think much of it till I heard the oh so familiar gurgle coming from deep within B-Man's tummy!
Then it happened! B-Man puked all over his sisters clean clothes! Yuck!

I just wish his idea of helping wasn't getting me to do more work! LOL

All this got me thinking about how much laundry I do in a week. I know I'm not up there with the Mom's who have larger families but it still amazes me how much laundry I do in one week with only a Rooster and two chicks!

The washer and dryer seems to be always running during the day (which sucks with the Smart-Meters). I always make a point to put it all away and have the machines empty by the end of the day. I hate having laundry lurking downstairs waiting to be finished! LOL

This being said, there always seems to be a basket full somewhere in this house, not to mention sheets and bedding that are constantly being pee'd or puked on!

I'm not really complaining since I'm one of those weird chicks that like to clean, so doing laundry doesn't bother me, I'm just amazed at how much laundry a few can make and how messy chickies can be!