Home Sanctuary

Turn in November Points!

2010 is zooming to the end and November truly was a blur to me! Seems like it was just Halloween and here we are into the Christmas season! Hoooo-eeeee! And it's already time to tally up your points for the month in order to win some prizes.

I'm so excited about the prize that I'm giving away to November's Most Points Winner.

(Please note, I did not design this room...the Pottery Barn people did.)

I'm offering a personal decorating consultation for the room of your choice....why I've never thought to offer my services before is simply beyond me! But I LOVE to discuss color, so if you have a paint dilemma or can't figure out a good palette to work with, you have come to the right person. I will offer suggestions for furniture arrangement and decor....maybe it will be a wish list, or at least something to shoot for...but I think you will walk away with some inspiration and ideas to make your room look wonderful. Plus we will have fun :).

The Random Drawing Winner will receive "Self Talk, Soul Talk" by Jennifer Rothschilds.

This book has such a simple, yet profound message about what we say to ourselves and how we can replace the lies with positive truths and sensible soul talk. I think every woman should read this and I'm delighted to share a copy with you this month.

Today's Small Thing is two steps:

1. Email your point total number to me at [email protected].  Just sharpen your pencil and add up what you've done this month! Please be sure that you only give yourself points for the tasks you completed on the days they were assigned (or within the timeframe given). No cheating and "catching up" all at once on the last day! That would defeat the whole purpose of daily Small Things, right??

If you simply want to be entered into the Random Drawing, let me know in an email as well. Anyone is eligible for the drawing...no adding of points required.

2. Leave a comment, letting us know which Small Thing you enjoyed/needed the most this month.  This is a fun way to nudge the fence-sitters to go ahead and jump in next month. See?  It's fun!!

You even get points for doing today's Small Thing.

POINTS: 40 for the two steps: sending your email, and leaving a comment...good toward November's total. If you've already won previously, you won't be eligible to win again, sorry. I'll collect points/emails until midnight CST.

Song of the Day: Count Your Blessings, Bing Crosby

 

Head Start Program

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I missed our Small Things, but had a great time with my family, and even got our Christmas tree put up over the weekend. (I had help, so I took advantage.) The only thing I'm struggling with is the Turkey Guilt I still feel for not pulling every last morsel of turkey meat off the carcass before throwing it away. I'm sure that if I'd wrestled with that bird for another half hour I could have gotten another 1/2 cup of meat from it, but I just got sick of the greasy job and quit long before my Dad would have ever considered quitting. It's rough being a frugal Norwegian sometimes. The guilt. The GUILT!

 

Well, let's just jump into Today's Small Thing, which is to get a head start on your holiday preparations.  Oh, I know that since this last weekend was the first "official" weekend of the Christmas season this won't technically be a "head start," but if your life is like mine, I need several "head starts" to get moving. :) It always feels like I have pleeeeenty of time....and then suddenly I'll look up and find that it is December 15 and I'm behind. I don't want to do that this year, do you? Naaah.

 

So for example, with a houseful of guest coming in a few weeks, and not enough beds or bathrooms to go around, I will be putting some guests in the master bedroom.  A horrifying thought!  We picked up in there last week, but the master bedroom is usually the dumping ground for all the stuff that gets moved out of the rest of the house! But I really do not have any choice.  That means that the clutter I don't normally care about will have to get shoved into someone else's closet, and I don't want to be doing that an hour before they arrive.  I need at head start on it if I have any hope of pulling it off.

 

Some of you will be traveling during Christmas and won't have to worry about cleaning your house. (Lucky!) But it still means that you will be packing and making sure people have socks and underwear to last. And no one wants to be shopping for shoes that you just realized Junior outgrew and won't have anything to wear but holey socks to the Christmas feast.  Give yourself a head start by making a checklist of things to pack, things to purchase, and things to bake so you won't be running around at the last minute.

 

Here are some other head start ideas that will help us fight our Procrastinating Tendencies:

• Check your pantry supply for baking items.  I'm out of shortening and low on flour. 
• Purchase "extra" things like butter, eggs and milk for the extra pie or dessert you'll need to make for the party you forgot to put on your calendar. 
• Wash sheets and towels so they are ready to go before company arrives. 
• Wash sheets and towels so you have something clean to come home to from your trip. 
• Bake and store what you can, if you can keep from eating goodies ahead of time. 
• Clear out space in your freezer for leftovers. 
• Purchase storage containers so they are ready for duty - hey! we just did this!  
• Assess tablecloth/centerpiece/serving dish situations: do you have what you need?  I just realized that I only have 8 glasses for 35 people coming over.... 
• Polish silverware (or buy plastic ware)  
• Start a Christmas Planner.
• Make your gift list if you haven't already. There is still time to hand-make some simple gifts.
• Take advantage of some "Cyber Monday" deals and do some shopping online.

Ticking even one item off your list will help you relax and enjoy the next few weeks.  I want to be joyful and grateful, in spite of our tight budget and time constraints, and being proactive will get me going in the right direction. 

60 POINTS!

POINTS: 60 for giving yourself a head start by DOING one thing that you're tempted to procrastinate

Share your ideas!  What can you do NOW that will make a difference later?

Song of the Day: It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, Bing Crosby

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is one my my most favorite holidays. With no shopping/gift giving/extra parties/major decorating involved, it is all about gathering with people who are important in your life, feasting, and giving thanks. Whether your table is filled to overflowing, or a little on the "lean" side this year, I hope you will be filled with thankfulness for the blessings in your life. Every single one of us has challenges that confront us - usually those aren't real fun - but this weekend, focus on the good things God has placed in your life. They are there, even if you have to look a bit harder than usual :). This is a great weekend to recount them...and maybe make some new traditions.

There is no Small Thing today....I'm sure everyone has a million "small things" to get done without me adding to the list! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I will see you back here on Monday!

Love,

Rachel Anne

Song of the Day: Thank You, The Katinas

Move Over, Leftovers

A day or two before a holiday is a good time to make room for the "new" leftovers that will inevitably take over your fridge. May I just say that I'm already looking forward to leftover sweet potato casserole and turkey sandwiches? I want to make sure there is plenty of room to welcome them.

Today's Small Thing is to clear out the fridge. Dump the containers of old stuff and give them a good washing so they'll be ready to house the cranberries, stuffing and green bean casseroles that make Thanksgiving so great. 

Today is my big shopping day for the whole weekend - and I've put storage bags and storage containers on my list along with the food items so I'll be prepared when the tryptophan kicks in and I'm too tired to do any more than stuff leftovers into ziplocks. 

40/20 Points

POINTS: 40, for making room in the fridge (even if you aren't having a Thanksgiving dinner at your house....it probably needs it). Get rid of old leftovers and empty bottles, throw out the mushy tomatoes, etc.

BONUS POINTS: 20 for checking on the state of your storage containers. Do you have enough for everyday use? For post-holiday leftovers? Either put them on your list or pat yourself on the back for such preparedness.

I'm off to the store.....

Song of the Day: You're No Good, Betty Everett (great song to sing to your old leftovers as you toss them!)

32 Things, But Who's Counting?

My bedroom actually looked pretty neat yesterday.  Bed was made beautifully, not much on the floor....it felt good. 

But as I was laying there for a little Sunday nappipoo, I began to look around.  First at my dresser....and I noticed a few miscellaneous items on top: a pen, a tube of anti-itch cream (poison ivy), a sock, a scarf, a magazine and a phone.  Also a safety pin and a stack of razor blades from the last painting job. 

Eight Things!  I was surprised, because it really didn't LOOK all that bad....until I started counting.

Well, if there were eight things just on my dresser top, I began wondering just how many things were out of place in the rest of my bedroom.  I glanced at my night stand and the rat pile on the floor.   5 Things there.

Husband's night stand and surrounding territory:  7 things

Clothes draped over chairs: 3

Cups: 1

Floor: 2 pairs of shoes, a cook book and box of greeting cards.....

I stopped counting at 32.

For a "Neat" bedroom, that's a lot of things that add up to "Not So Neat."

Today's Small Thing could be a real boon to your points.  Simply count up each thing you put away in your bedroom, and get one point for each item.

....Possible

POINTS: 1 per item, limit 100.

Mercy me!  There's No WAY you could have 100 things out of place in your bedroom!  Or. is. there??

OK, you can go into other parts of your house....but only after you've done all there is to do in the bedroom.

How many things did you find in your bedroom?  I dare you to share! :)

Song of the Day: One Two Three Four, Feist

Appreciating Shadows - and CG Coffee

I’ve been painting a baby nursery this week. It’s a farm theme, and I will finish up today with a silo, more animals and lots more detailing. On one part of the wall, there is a tree that fills a blank spot. Mind if I show the step by step process I took to paint it?

 

First, I started with the basic tree shape. I painted the trunk and branches, but didn’t add any detail to them because I knew that I’d be covering up most of the branches with leaves - so why fuss with them at this point?

The next step is to add the shadows. This is one of the most important parts of any scene, because without the shadows, everything looks too flat and lifeless. The dark green blobs of paint (FolkArt Olive Green) are place randomly over about 1/3 of the area...these will be the shadowy leaves in the background.

Next comes the mid-tone green (Folk Art Hauser Med. Green). This color is also painted in blobs, but I pay a little bit more attention to making the edges of the blobs with “leafy” shapes. This is kinda hard on bumpy walls - blast you, orange-peel texture!

The tree is starting to look pretty good, but now it needs light green leaves (FolkArt Hauser Green Light) to give it life. This color is painted on with more leafy, choppy strokes and gives the green blobs the illusion of real leaves.  Adding selective “highlight” green (citron) on the top parts of clumps gives it life! You can see a couple of leaves I started with the citron. The contrast between the highlights and shadows is what makes the tree “pop!”

Painting the trunk is similar, in that, after basecoating with a medium brown, I lay down the shadow color - in long wavy streaks. Next comes a medium shade, followed by a highlighting golden tan. It is a simple technique that doesn’t look like much up close, but when you stand back.....that trunk has depth and dimension.

It’s funny how something like painting a tree can have deeper lessons that apply to real life. As I worked on those shadows, God was reminding me of the dark times He has allowed me to experience. I usually don’t appreciate them while they are happening, but when I stand back to take a look, I can see how those times have accentuated the other colors and experiences He has so skillfully worked in with His brush. Without those difficulties, it might be hard to fully appreciate the beauty He wants to bestow in me. There is a richness to life that can only come when you've walked through some deep valleys and come out the other side. And boy, I have been through some deep ones.

Are you experiencing a dark time in your life? It’s tempting to think that God has left you alone to flounder through it on your own, but listen - He is with you. Even though you may not see how He can possibly bring beauty from your ashes, remember that this is exactly what He does best. He is working, even in the most hopeless of situations, to do something good in spite of what you might see. He is painting a masterpiece that will amaze you when you stand back to see what He has finished.

Today's Small Thing is to appreciate the "shadows" - the difficulties - in your life. Praise Him in spite of what you see right now....and trust that He will bring you through with flying colors. He is big enough to do something beautiful! Jesus says we should ask and keep on asking and to pray without ceasing.....so YES! ask Him to change things, but don't miss what He is doing right here and now - in the shadows. When you come out on the other side, you'll see vibrant colors and vivid highlights that will be all the more spectacular for the depth of faith He has wrought in you.

40 Points

POINTS: 40 for offering a prayer of thanksgiving - no matter what your circumstances. There is more along these lines over at GoingBeyond today.

Song of the Day: God with Us, MercyMe

 

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Table Courtiers

All these Christmas commercials before Thanksgiving have done a number on me. I guess you could say I'm "over" being angry about their premature entrance into prime time...this year I'm simply resigned. I dunno, whatayagonnadoo? 

But the early focus on the holidays HAS gotten me to start thinking about sprucing up the place sooner than I normally would. And that brought my attention to the Table Courtiers.

These ambitious attendants stand night and day, ready to serve the family royalty with their supplies from afar. Yes, these are the stately butter dishes, sugar bowls, salt and pepper shakers and honey pots that wait for the royal nod so they can jump to attention. Eager to be seen as responsive, loyal and discreet, these servants like to be on hand at all times....sometimes at open court, and other times behind closed doors - just a whisper away.

My Table Courtiers are the sort who feel at home both at state dinners and at potluck affairs, but their service has left them shabby and disheveled. Some of the royals (mostly HRH, the prince) take them for granted and manhandle them, an experience that leaves them shaken and empty.

Today's Small Thing is to bestow kindness upon your own Table Courtiers - giving them the royal treatment of being cleaned and polished. Make your butter dish proud to hold pats of melting goodness, and fill your sugar bowl with sparkling sweetness. Take those salt and pepper shakers and wipe off the unsavory fingerprints that should never be seen at court. These grand gestures toward your attendants will go far in garnering their continued loyalty and humble discretion. 

Each

POINTS: 20 per courtier you deem worthy of your royal attention (a set of shakers, sugar bowls, butter dishes...clean and fill them) Limit 10 - up to 200 points possible!

Song of the Day: God Save the Queen (it's only half the song, but you get the idea....)

My personal favorite Table Courtier: A sugar bowl from my grandmother's china. What's yours?

M&M's

November is the month of M&M around here!

Great, I LOVE these guys:

Almost as much as I love their nutty cousins:

Oh, not THOSE M&M's??? Silly me, I forgot. It's the OTHER M&M we are celebrating this month.

Minimum Maintenance.

Minimum Maintenance is the clever idea that each day deserves at least a minimum level of attention in order to be successful. If you aren't familiar with this, feel free to catch up here. This simple habit will revolutionize your life.

Today's Small Thing will give you an opportunity to rack up some major points... because I'm giving both CURRENT AND RETRO points today.

Each!

Current: 50 for doing some M&M (not the edible kind) in your home.

Retro: 50 if you did M&M (again, not the edible kind) on any weekday last week - while I was away from this blog. If you did it on your own, collect your points, girl.

Song of the Day: Big Rock Candy Mountain

Somethin' Dudn't Taste Right

Several weeks ago, when we were working on all that signage outside, I grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge to quench my thirst. I noticed that it was one that some family member had taken a sip out of and put back in the door...but I shrugged (hey, family germs, no big deal) and took a gulp.

Hmmm. I smacked my lips and moved my tongue to the roof of my mouth several times at the taste of the water. It had an odd tang.

I couldn't quite place it. I took another sip.

Minty, that was it. I inspected the rim of the opening and held the bottle up to look at it.

Looked fine. Looked normal.

I shrugged again and kept drinking. I took the water bottle outside and continued to sip on it as I worked - but I still kept wondering about that minty flavor. Why would it taste like that?? Had the anonymous pre-sipper just brushed their teeth before drinking and left a faint trace of toothpaste? Ew, that was kinda gross to think about.

So I didn't.

I tipped my head back and drained the container....and that's when the mystery was solved.

A gigantic wad of gum was stuck inside, at the bottom of the bottle.

YUCK! Ptew! Gag! Blech!

As we say here in Texas, "if somethin' dudn't taste right, it probly idn't."

It made me think about my home - how sometimes there is just something that just dudn't feel right. Sometimes it's quite obvious what idn't working: maybe the house is a disaster or you family hasn't had home-cooked food in a week. But other times you just can't quite put your finger on it....it's something, but what?? Remember my theory about sanctuary being a three-legged stool? The answer will always be found in one of the three legs.

Peace, Order, or Beauty.

These are the things sanctuary depends on. I wrote about it back in April, it is definitely worth reading here.

Today's Small Thing is to apply a little bit of work in one of the three areas of sanctuary. You don't have to do a complete overhaul to your house and your life today, but simply discover the joy of concentrated effort in one area. Bring some fall leaves or branches inside for an autumn display, or light a candle - beauty can be easier to find than you imagine. Establish some order by picking up shoes or straightening the couch pillows or clearing your counter. Or say a kind word to your husband, encourage your kids or say "no" to another commitment to grab some peace and make it real in your home. You choose what you'd like to do...or what you need to do.

50 Points!

POINTS: 50 for bringing some peace, order or beauty into your home today. And hey! Let us know what you are doing! Simply telling another person gives it great impact, no matter how small the task may be.

Song of the Day: Something Beautiful, Needtobreathe

Whited Sepulchres

Ever have a phrase pop into your mind out of nowhere? The other day, I was getting the house ready for company when the phrase "whited sepulchres" dropped in, and I said it to myself about 25 times for no reason except that it sounds quaint. As a kid, I grew up on the King James Bible, with the poetic language of verses like Matthew 23:27:

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness."

But was is just coincidence that I was cleaning the outside of a toilet at that very moment?

I realized just then that the outside of the potty was something I don't spend a lot of time on. Perhaps in my quest to be spiritual on every level, I have focusing on swishing out the inside of the bowl and hitting the tops and lids....while leaving the outsides alone. I mean, it would be silly to clean the outside of the toilet and leave the inside, right? That would be so woefully hypocritical.

Today's Small Thing is to wipe down the outside surfaces of your white monuments to bodily function. I like to start at the top and work my way down - from the tank and handle, to the the outside of the bowl and down to the base where it is anchored to the floor. Blech. This is definitely a job for paper towels or pop-up wipes....and gloves.

I'll even give extra credit for swishing the inside...because ye really don't want to have outwardly beautiful sepluchres that are full of all uncleanness.

30 and 20 points....

POINTS: 30 per outside of each toilet

BONUS POINTS: 20 per inside of each toilet

Song of the Day: Straight Flush, The Frantics