MAKING YOUR HOME SING: KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS

Welcome to the Making Your Home Sing Monday meme! Every day you are doing something to make your house into a home for yourself and your family (if you have one). My point with each Monday post is, what are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing?

It can be an attitude or an action. Motivation, our attitude, baking, encouraging our husband or children (if we have either one), organization, cleaning, saving money....the opportunities are endless.

I love making lists, do you? I love being able to scratch something off and be done with it. There is so much satisfaction in being able to say "I did that!"

So often I try to operate without a list but then guess what happens? I forget things, or I forget the order and importance of things. I blame it on my "perfectionist" side.

For example, last week we had some people coming over one night. I knew that there were several things that I needed to do. Was I doing them? Nope. Instead I was focusing on one small thing that didn't even really matter, noone would notice and as a matter of fact, could be put off until later in the week. But I wanted it done now.

Fortunately, I did get my priorities in order and put off what I wanted to do and instead took on the task of doing what I needed to do. The perfectionist side of me wanted to take that one small task and get it all done, just for the joy of having it done and having it done "perfectly." Or, at least, done and completed just the way I wanted it.

We have a houseful of people coming next weekend, and I have lots of ideas floating in my head. However, this would not be a good time for me to decide I want to refinish the dining room hutch. This would not be a good time for me to rip all the wallpaper off of the bathroom wall and begin painting it or installing beadboard. This would not be a good time to repaint the hallway or the fireplace bricks.

Yes, many of these people have never been over before. But that does not mean I need to try and "impress" them with my freshly painted stair railings. Chipped, worn paint will have to do. We'll call it the "shabby chic" look, lol! I doubt it they'll notice it anyway, and who cares if they do?

Isn't it funny how sometimes, just knowing a bunch of people are coming over can cause you to start seeing certain things that need doing and repair work that needs to be done?

I know my limitations, and taking on a remodeling project or decorating project this week and stressing myself out is not in my best interest. It works for some people, but it won't work for me.

Do you know your limitations? Do you stress yourself out with poor planning, like I was doing? Do you use stress as a motivational tool? Do you find yourself snapping at those you love because you waited until the last minute to get something done again?

Some people say that they work better when they wait until the last minute to meet a deadline, and that may be so, but I don't think that the stress I would feel would be worth it. In fact, they may do the work because it has to be done, but I wonder if all that stress is worth it.

So this week, I will be making my home sing by making my list (and checking it twice.......sorry, *rolls eyes*). I will see what needs to be done around here in order for things to flow smoothly this week and in preparation for our guests this weekend.

I will also try and make sure to keep priorities in mind so that I don't ignore the big, important things and obsess over the small, unimportant things. I will try to chip away at my list and not wait until the last minute and then get all stressed out!

What are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing? Please go here for instructions and/or ideas and come back here to link up to join us today! Please do not put your own Making Your Home Sing Monday Linky on your blog. As always, please don't forget to link to this post. Also, please don't forgot to leave me a comment!

CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD WITH MY HUSBAND

I love calling my hubby at work. After all, it's not like he's got anything better to do. I'll bet he just sits there by the phone, waiting for my phone calls. I tend to view calling my hubby at work as a cross between a twitter and a facebook status, only more fun. Because after all, sometimes I have some really important things to talk about.

• Like asking him "What is the name of that thing that I like?" And he'll say "What thing?" and I will answer "You know, the thing. The thing! The thing that does the thing!" I get louder each time I use the word thing, because clearly he can't hear me. We do lots of talking about things and thingys around here.
  

• Or saying "Did you see the link I put on my facebook status?" To which he will reply "No. I'm working." To which I will reply "Well, you get a lunch break, don't you?"
• Or stating "I just cleaned the bathrooms" and my hubby will reply "I am happy for you."
• Or "Hey, is it raining where you are?" because, after all, the church is sooooo far away.
• Or "I'm going to Costco today" to which he usually replies "And how is that different from any other day?"

To continue and read more about "important" conversations I've had with my hubby, including headaches, grumpiness and cramps, please hop over to Five Moms And A Blog as I am blogging over there today! Oh, and this is probably going to be my last post until after Thanksgiving so have a lovely one!

MAKING YOUR HOME SING

Welcome to the Making Your Home Sing Monday meme! Every day you are doing something to make your house into a home for yourself and your family (if you have one). My point with each Monday post is, what are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing?

It can be an attitude or an action. Motivation, our attitude, baking, encouraging our husband or children (if we have either one), organization, cleaning, saving money....the opportunities are endless.

I don't think I have to tell you what's coming up this week. Not if you live in the U.S., anyway. We will be celebrating Thanksgiving this week.

I do not have a MYHSM post. I have been very busy today, and it just didn't come together. I've been trying to write a post here, but the words aren't coming so at this point, I give up. Otherwise, it'll be Wednesday before I come up with something and I have got to get this meme going!

I cannot think about all I have to be thankful for without thinking of those that are having a difficult time right now.

Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas can be especially hard for some people. People who have lost loved ones, people who are far away from their families, or who have loved ones serving in the military or are far away, or who just feel alone. People who are in hospitals or care facilities, and cannot be home. For those who already feel lonely, a holiday can intensify it.

Also, there are alot of people living in uncertainty right now. Maybe you're one of them. If not, I'll bet you know somebody who is out of work or facing a loss of hours, or may be losing their job or their home soon, or facing a difficult illness, or they have just lost someone they love.

This is a good time to reflect on all we have to be thankful for, but also to prayerfully remember those who are going through a hard time.

Sometimes, the best thing to do for someone, is to let them know that you care. Let them know you're thinking of them or praying for them. Then maybe, they won't feel so alone.

What are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing? Please go here for instructions and/or ideas and come back here to link up to join us today! Please do not put your own Making Your Home Sing Monday Linky on your blog. As always, please don't forget to link to this post. Also, please don't forgot to leave me a comment!

"HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW ME?" QUIZ

Welcome to a rousing game of "How Well Do You Know Mom's The Word?" Feel free to make up your own quiz or borrow mine and replace the answers, of course.

1. I have _____ children
A. Four
B. Two
C. Six
D. 14,000

2. My husband is a _________.

A. Pastor
B. Airline pilot
C. Doctor
D. Idiot

3. My hair is _______

A. Blonde
B. Red
C. Brown
D. Not speaking to me at the moment

4. I recently have tried to cut down on drinking

A. Hot chocolate
B. Water
C. Diet Pepsi
D. Ensure

5. I have two ______

A. Dogs
B. Cats
C. Gerbils
D. Pimples

6. I have been known to blog about

A. My hairy legs
B. My ugly nails
C. A pimple on my chin
D. All of the above

7. My favorite style of decorating is

A. Cottage Style
B. Traditional
C. Eclectic
D. Clutter

8. I once blogged about a road trip to

A. Yellowstone National Park
B. Sonic
C. Washington D.C.
4. The moon

9. I am currently ________ my youngest

A. Bench pressing
B. Ignoring
C. Homeschooling
D. Glaring at

10. My first name is
A. Shari
B. Nan
C. Cathy
D. Steve

11. I made up this quiz because

A. I have way to much time on my hands
B. I don't know the answers and am hoping that you do
C. My dog bet me that he knew more answers than you did
D. I am being paid $50,000 for every one that you get right

12. There are twelve questions on here because
A. I like even numbers
B. I like even numbers
C. I like even numbers
D. I like even numbers

Answers below:





˙sɹǝqɯnu uǝʌǝ ǝʞıן ı = ˙21 ؛ɐ = ˙11 ؛q = ˙01 ؛ɔ = ˙9 ؛q = ˙8 ؛ɐ = ˙7 ؛p = ˙6 ؛ɐ = ˙5 ؛ɔ = ˙4 ؛ɔ = ˙3 ؛ɐ = ˙2 ؛q =˙1

Or: (if you want to read it right side up)

1.= B; 2. = A; 3. = C; 4. = C; 5. = A; 6. = D; 7. = A; 8. = B; 9. = C; 10. = B; 11. = A; 12. = I like even numbers.

HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

Yesterday I was waiting in line at the grocery store (yes, I went to the grocery store two times in a row, your point?) and I noticed that the man in front of me had better hair than I do.

Seriously, it was longer, thicker, and I think I saw a bit of curl in there.

I am pouting.

A man has prettier hair than I do. Just doesn't seem fair, does it?

I mean, I don't mean to complain because frankly, I am thankful that I have hair. I have to admit I've threatened to pull it out enough (but, if you have children, you already know that feeling).

While I was standing in line, the PA system kept talking in some kind of code, saying stuff like "Deli, 200" or something like that. I think it was actually talking about me. Telling the Deli department to glance over and look at my hair and compare it to the guy's hair.

I think they were hoping that somebody from the Deli department might have some mayonnaise or something that I could use as a little extra conditioner. In fact, I'm sure of it.

My hair stylist is a sweet friend, and she does an amazing job of cutting my hair and trying to make it look thicker than it is. She is a genius. However, she can't do miracles. They have mascara to make eyelashes look bigger and bolder, so where is my hair-mascara?

I am seriously starting to worry that pretty soon, some guy with gorgeous thick hair is going to be doing a shampoo commercial. For women. And that I am going to buy it.

Y'all think I'm kidding about his hair, but I'm not.

In fact, I pushed him out of my way, stepped on his head, flew into the air, did a two and a half gainer (with a twist) in the air and hijacked the PA system in order to make a personal announcement about the glories of all that hair.

Y'all think I'm kidding about that too. I am. Sort of. I did think about it though.

Then I reached into my purse, pulled out a pair of scissors and gave him a haircut. After all, if my hair can't be that long and thick, then why should his get to be?

Y'all think I'm kidding about that, and yes, I am. But really, would it have been such a bad thing to do?

After all, all is fair in love and hair.

YEAH, BUT I GOT A GREAT RIGHT HOOK

Somewhere out there is a store clerk tonight, just shaking his head because he had to help me in a store today. Somewhere out there is a store clerk who is regaling his family with tales about waiting on me today. Somewhere out there is a store clerk who is probably wondering how I manage to take care of myself, let alone a family.

Do you ever have days like that? Days where the "you" that you present to other people is a "you" that you don't even recognize? A wild "you," a disorganized "you," a "you" that looks like you should not even be let out of the house on your own, much less licensed to operate a moving vehicle or allowed to care for your own children?

I like to be prepared when I get up to the register. I like to be ready to place an order, have my cash or payment all ready, and not make anybody wait behind me. I don't like knowing that I have masses of people behind me......waiting.....breathing down my neck and frowning at me.

When the kids were little, I made sure that I had the order all straight in my head so that I could place it. I never waited until I got to the counter and then had them think about what they wanted. I was prepared.

Except for today. Today my son knew what he wanted but I wasn't prepared.

Ooooops.

After paying, I asked the clerk and my oldest son if either of them had taken my cup. My son said "No, I gave it to you" and I answered "No, you didn't." Then my son promptly came over and said "It's in your hand, Mom."

Oh.

I looked down and yup, there it was. In. My. Hand.

Sigh.

Then the same son put his arm around me and laughingly, gently, led me away. Because clearly, I need guidance. Clearly, I don't even know when I am holding a cup in my left hand so how can I know which direction to go?

I just ask you, why does the state allow me to have a license? If I don't even know what is in my left hand, should I be allowed to operate a car that probably weighs over 3,000 pounds? Should I be allowed to operate a blog?

MAKING YOUR HOME SING: FAMILY VS. COMPANY

Welcome to the Making Your Home Sing Monday meme! Every day you are doing something to make your house into a home for yourself and your family (if you have one). My point with each Monday post is, what are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing?

It can be an attitude or an action. Motivation, our attitude, baking, encouraging our husband or children (if we have either one), organization, cleaning, saving money....the opportunities are endless.

In case you have been hiding under a rock somewhere, I thought I would mention that Thanksgiving is less than two weeks away and Christmas is a little over five weeks away. GASP! Where is the time going?????

We know for a fact that we will be having family and friends over for the holidays. That's just a given. It's also a fact that even though I know they are coming to visit us and not our home, I still want my home to look neat and orderly, warm and inviting. That is also a given.

The terms "warm and inviting" strike me as sort of funny. After all, what is warm and inviting to me may not be warm and inviting to you. However, I want my home to feel welcoming and comfortable just the same.

What is "warm and inviting" to you? Is it a crackling fire in the fireplace? (Well, unless it's 80 or 90° outside). Is it a whistling teapot on the stove, waiting to make some hot chocolate? Is it softly scented candles or warm, soft throws over the couch?

What do you do when you have company coming to your home? Do you do something special? Put out special towels, buy a bouquet of flowers, clean the bathroom?

When you know company is coming do you give your home an extra-special cleaning? Do you want everything sparkling and neat?

I know I have been sitting here thinking about all the company we'll be having and thinking "Wow, I need to get this house into shape, I haven't mopped the floors for awhile (my bad, they're supposed to be mopped every Friday.....), I need to make sure the family room is neat and orderly, and wouldn't a fire in the fireplace be nice?"

The thing that strikes me is that I have to admit that I forget that we live here and we deserve just as much consideration as company. Even more so!

Doesn't my family deserve clean bathrooms and "nice" towels and a fire in the fireplace now and then? Maybe they won't notice it right away, but deep down, somewhere the beauty of it and the comfort of it will say "aaaaah, now that's what I'm talking about!"

I just know that when I think about company coming over, I have a tendency to think about what I can do and what I can offer to make their stay more comfortable. I need to be thinking about those same things for my own family.

When my son was in preschool we visited at the home of one of his preschool friends. After using their bathroom and washing my hands, I opened up the door to discover their four year old daughter standing there.

She walked into the bathroom and asked me "Which towels did you use? Did you use these?" and she pointed to a lovely arrangement of very fancy towels hanging over the bar. They even had tassels!

I said that I had indeed used those. She sternly said "You aren't supposed to use those. Those are for company" and showed me a towel hanging over near the bathtub and stated that I was to use that one.

Her mom came in and heard her telling me this and she was mortified. I just laughed but her mom was very embarrassed.

While I totally understand her reasoning the message she is unintentionally sending is that company gets the better towels, or the better sheets, or the better _____ (fill in the blank).

I want to send a message to my family (and myself) that they deserve something welcome and inviting too. I don't need to wait until the holidays to make my home a place of beauty, welcome and rest.

However, it's not just the physical things that make you comfortable and draw you in. What would you rather hear in a kitchen? Pots and pans slamming and tempers flaring, or someone whistling a happy tune?

So this week, I will be thinking about "company" in a whole new way, and seeking to make my home sing for my family each and every day, and not just in a special way when company is coming. Above all, a loving home is an inviting home, don't you think?

What are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing? Please go here for instructions and/or ideas and come back here to link up to join us today! Please do not put your own Making Your Home Sing Monday Linky on your blog. As always, please don't forget to link to this post. Also, please don't forgot to leave me a comment!

HOW COME ELEPHANTS DON'T SELL WRINKLE CREAM?

Does anybody have a "daytime" makeup look and a "nighttime" makeup look? You know what I'm talking about, don't you?

Those magazine articles that show pictures of a gorgeous, perfect six year old model....o.k, maybe she's seven......but like I said, my pediatrician looked like he was twelve the first time I met him.

Oh, before I get to my point I am going to digress a bit. How come they have gorgeous models who don't look a day over 18 talking about wrinkles?????? Seriously. They expect me to take the advice of a 16 or 18 year old-looking model who is trying to sell me wrinkle cream?

Plus, I am supposed to believe that she uses it on all those 10,000 wrinkles that she has, because everybody knows that teenagers have extremely wrinkled skin. Yeah, right. If they were a teenage elephant maybe.

How come elephants never do commercials and sell cream for wrinkles? Or do they? How come skin cream isn't marketed to elephants? They have lots of wrinkly skin! I'll bet somewhere out there is a mama elephant going "Oh no! I just found another wrinkle."

Not only that but somewhere out there is a mama elephant looking in a mirror and exclaiming "Would you look at all this gray!!!!"

What are toddlers doing selling wrinkle cream and talking about hair color to cover the gray? I mean, you don't see pictures of 80 year old women selling acne cream do you?

I have earned every wrinkle I have, from living my life and loving my husband and children and laughing with family and friends, and sometimes crying with them as well. Why should I have to hide that? Why would I want to?

Now, if I want to, then at least do me the courtesy of having somebody older than 18 advertise it to me!

O.k., back to my question. Do you have a daytime look and then a nighttime look? Do you wear less makeup during the day and more at night?

I have never done that. Even when I was younger I had one makeup look. I put that sucker on and it had to last all day and into the evening.

I never wore a daytime look, and then rushed home and washed my face and put on a nighttime face. I never added more makeup so that I could go out wearing a "nighttime" look.

I had, and have, just one makeup look. When I wear makeup, I mean. So there. Now try to sell me a nighttime "look." My nighttime look: no makeup, comfy sweats or jammies, slippers, and bed. Works for me!

WHO PUT THAT THERE ANYWAY?

So last night I noticed that I have a whole lot of things in my kitchen that really don't belong there. This happens on occasion. Half the time I don't know why they are there, how they got there, who put them there, or how long it'll be before they leave again. So I figured they are in the kitchen, so they must be kitchen utensils, right? So I decided to amuse myself.


Yes, I know that glasses belong in the kitchen, but no matter how hard I try I can't get these things to hold milk or water. Also am having trouble finding a matched set. Go figure. Don't know what I'm doing wrong....



No, this is not a laptop. This is a waffle iron. You just pour the batter in, close the lid, and hope for the best. If all else fails, you can print a picture of a waffle. It won't taste very good but it has less calories so you won't gain weight.


This is used as an egg timer for hard boiled eggs. Just put it in the water with the eggs. Feel free to use your imagination though as it won't work. Hey, what did you expect? It says Duracell, not Dura-egg.

Would somebody please explain why there is a partially chewed dog chewy in here? Would you also explain why it isn't at least on the floor where it belongs? Well, this utensil is obviously used as a stir stick. However, after stirring I would not recommend that you drink it. Ugh.

This is great for baking cookies. Very small cookies. Just roll out your dough and cut around the outside for a cookie. Then cut around the inside and make donut holes. Or instead of shaping the dough you can tape it together.

This shampoo will come in very handy if you need to wash lettuce, potatoes, or even carrots for that matter. It will cause them to be very silky, smooth, and fluffy. Not only that, but it's 2-in-1 so you won't have to add moisturizer.

These are great for holding serving spoons, spatulas, or any other serving utensils you may have. It's great because they come in many different colors (and flavors) to match any kitchen decor. You can also get it in Dr. Pepper as well.

You know how hard it is to eat corn-on-the-cob? Well now you can do it in style. This will hold it right on there, and if the corn becomes loose and starts to fall off you can use these to tighten it back up again.

You can never have to many empty paper towel holders. By all means don't throw them away after replacing the towel holder, that would make to much sense. If we get another one, we can attach a line to it and string it out the window. Then we'll be able to talk to our neighbors. Who needs phones?

We are so ready for a party with 100 of these plate-thingys. They look all nice and shiny and hopefully will serve the food attractively. The best thing is when you're done eating you throw them away. No dishes!

So, what kind of strange "utensils" are in your kitchen today?

TUESDAY FASHION WOES

It's Tuesday and I am blogging over at the Five Mom's blog again! Head over there if you want to read about my latest fashion woes.

MAKING YOUR HOME SING: SING ABOUT GRACE

Welcome to the Making Your Home Sing Monday meme! Every day you are doing something to make your house into a home for yourself and your family (if you have one). My point with each Monday post is, what are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing?

It can be an attitude or an action. Motivation, our attitude, baking, encouraging our husband or children (if we have either one), organization, cleaning, saving money....the opportunities are endless.

This Sunday my husband was preaching on God's grace. He was talking about how God's grace is a free gift, we can't earn it and we will forever be indebted to Him and yet not owe Him.

He quoted Col. 3:1-3. Verse 3 says "For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (NIV). He asked the question, "What are you hidden in? In the t.v.? Computer? Alchohol? Drugs? What are you going after? What is the core of you going after?"

What AM I going after? What are YOU going after? If I say that the Lord is so very important to me, does my life reflect that? Do my values? My choices? Does my time?

It makes me think of priorities. What are my priorities, what are yours? Does your life reflect them in the proper order? Does mine? If I say that the Lord is my first priority, does blogging take first place over my quiet times with Him? Do my husband and children believe that they are high up on my priorities?

Later on, in talking about the gift of God's grace, my husband made the comment "Trying to repay God with your works is like trying to pay a great debt with a penny. It can't be done."

It got me to thinking how when the kids were little, we wanted them to obey us because they wanted to and not because they had to. We wanted them to do their chores because they wanted to please us, and not because they were forced to. We wanted them to respond out of love, not out of obligation. We still want that. We want a relationship, not works.

Isn't that what God wants of us? Relationship instead of works? Of course, when the relationship is there, the works (actions) will be there too. But they will come out of love, not out of a "have to" mentality, or "earn it" mentality. Also, they will come out of God's grace and strength, not our own.

How often do we exhaust ourselves by trying to complete a work that God started in us, using our own strength and power?

How often do we hold ourselves up to our own expectations, and then when we fail, we feel so bad and so guilty?

How often do we decide how we think we should be, and how we think we should act, and start on a "self improvement" plan to get us there? How often do we leave God out of the picture?

The best way I can make my home sing this week, or any week, is to stop trying to work out my own agenda. Stop trying to be how I think I should be, and trust God to make me into what He wants me to be. Stop operating under works and operate under grace instead.

We need to be in His Word consistently. If we don't stop and listen to Him, if we don't get into His word, if we don't spend time with Him, how will we know what He want for us?

What are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing? Please go here for instructions and/or ideas and come back here to link up to join us today! Please do not put your own Making Your Home Sing Monday Linky on your blog. As always, please don't forget to link to this post. Also, please don't forgot to leave me a comment!

A LITTLE MORE DECORATING, MY WAY

Around the corner in my kitchen, underneath this 10¢ picture, is a little metal "baker's rack" that I picked up for about $10 somewhere. Like I said here in an earlier post, just because you try to live a little frugally doesn't mean you can't decorate. I wanted a baker's rack but didn't want to pay a lot of money for it so this one suited my needs and the budget.

Ever since I was a little girl and watched "The Sound of Music" I knew I wanted a gazebo someday (or summerhouse or whatever they're calling it now). Guess I'll have to settle for a little tiny one on my shelf! Hmmmm, I don't think I'll fit.....

As mentioned before, I still love birdhouses and bunnies and flowers!

That birdhouse on the left cost $15 but is an example of my sweet hubby's love for me. At the time I really wanted it but agonized over the cost. The kids were little then and I just felt like $15 was to much money to spend when I could use it for groceries or something else that was needed. So I didn't buy it, even though my hubby said I could.

The birdhouse was in a little town that is nearly three hours from here. We saw it when visiting relatives. My sweet hubby called his sister (who lived near there), described the store and the birdhouse and asked her to pick one up for him, and he'd pay her. She then brought it down next time she visited and my sweet hubby surprised me for Christmas with "my" birdhouse!


I guess even the dog appreciates a little decorating now and then!

PARDON ME, IS THAT JACKET TAKEN?

So recently I went to drop my son off somewhere and I had some extra time afterwards, so I drove to the thrift store.

First I had to deal with the car in front of me who couldn't decide which lane was the "best" lane. Like Goldilocks and the Three Lanes he had to try every one. Several. Times. Pick a lane buddy, you aren't missing anything.

Then I got into the store and found a "North Face" jacket I thought my son might like. Then I was struck with a moral dilemma and many questions. What do I do with it? Do I buy it, knowing that my son might not like it, and then have to return it for store credit?

What if I can't find anything else I like and thus can't use the store credit ever???? Because clearly, I am never, ever going to find anything that I like at the thrift store again ever again and then I'll be out the $9.99 and how will we pay the rent????

Also, is $9.99 to much to pay for a secondhand jacket, even if it is North Face? Can you see the dilemma? So do I just buy the jacket or do I hide it somewhere and doesn't that seem rude (to hide it)?

Seriously, who knew that you could go to the thrift store and suddenly everything you stand for is called into question and you are wrestling with your conscience. Suddenly you find yourself sliding very close to the edge of the slippery slope to nowhere, man. Just one step away from total moral degradation. At the thrift store. Who knew?

So I carried the jacket around with me for a bit, while I debated on whether I should buy it or not, since I didn't feel right about "hiding" it. While walking around I walked by three men trying on jackets and I just knew that they were stalking my jacket.

I mean clearly, that's the only reason they were standing there trying on jackets. They really wanted MY jacket. But they didn't have the nerve to ask me if I was buying it, so they stood there "pretending" to try on jackets. Because clearly, people never do that without an ulterior motive. I know that because I watch t.v.

I saw right through them, poor actors that they were. Imagine standing in a public store, trying on jackets and expecting everybody to believe that you just "happened" to be trying them on because you were really interested in them.

Yeah, right. And I am _________ (insert your favorite celebrity name here). You're not fooling me mister. I know you were there because you wanted MY son's jacket.

That's right, folks. I did the unthinkable thing. I named the jacket. "My son's jacket." I crossed the line.

Every saavy, frugal shopper knows: you never, ever, ever name the jacket!!!!! That is crossing the line. Suddenly the impersonal becomes personal.

Suddenly, you have named the puppy, and everybody knows once you name the puppy you are taking it home. Once you picture that puppy in your home, you are a goner.

Once you name that jacket or picture it in your closet or paired with your favorite shirt you are doomed. Doomed! Do you hear me?

I will now put you out of your misery (or sheer boredom) by telling you that I did NOT buy the jacket. I did NOT hide the jacket. I put it back on it's hanger, leaving it there for everybody and their brother to try on and perhaps buy, if they wanted.

You know why? Because I have experience with cute puppies, I mean, jackets. I figured it'd still be there after I picked up my son, and if he was interested, we'd look at it then. If it wasn't there, that was fine too. It was there, it wasn't quite the color (or the size) for him, so we left without it.

Somewhere out there are three men fighting over my son's jacket. I just know it.

YET ANOTHER SILLY TITLE

I am blogging over at the Five Mom's blog today, so hop over here if you're curious as to why slacks and jeans can't get along.

MAKING YOUR HOME SING MONDAY: SETTING THE EXAMPLE

Welcome to the Making Your Home Sing Monday meme! Every day you are doing something to make your house into a home for yourself and your family (if you have one). My point with each Monday post is, what are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing?

It can be an attitude or an action. Motivation, our attitude, baking, encouraging our husband or children (if we have either one), organization, cleaning, saving money....the opportunities are endless.

This week I have lots of catching up to do. Last week was one of "those" weeks. You know what I mean. Sometimes I feel like all I do on Mondays is blog about how I'm behind in my housekeeping and have to dig myself out of the mess this week.

So that's what I'm going to do this week, again......dig myself out. After all, I didn't want to disappoint you!

One thing I've noticed is that if you leave something out, it seems like it is an "invitation" for someone else to do so. After all, if mom doesn't think she needs to put her plate in the dishwasher, or hang up her coat or put her shoes away, then does anybody else?

If mom doesn't care, should they care? I don't know that my family sits and thinks this through, but I do know that when I leave my things out it just seems to lower the bar around here.

I really do think that we need to set the example. If we want them to make their beds, we need to make our beds. If I tell my kids "Clean your room" and they look at our room and it's a mess, what example am I setting for them? I am not having my actions match my words.

I already have a cleaning schedule, and I already know what is needed, so I need to start with my priorities. Those are what I deem important to keeping the house in shape: dishes, laundry and meals are important to keeping things running smoothly around here.

You have to eat, and you need clean dishes to do it, and clean clothes to wear. Clean bathrooms and a clean kitchen are important for hygienic purposes, as well as it just makes it easier to use them if they're clean and tidy.

Having the rooms picked up means that you don't risk having an accident by tripping over something in the middle of the night, or tripping over something and falling down the stairs.

So you need to establish some cleaning habits, figure out a cleaning schedule that works for you, and then follow it. Set the example!

So while there are lots of things I could do this week to make my home sing, I really think that just putting things back in order will make me smile, and I'm sure my family will like it too!

What are you doing or going to do today to make your home sing? Please go here for instructions and/or ideas and come back here to link up to join us today! Please do not put your own Making Your Home Sing Monday Linky on your blog. As always, please don't forget to link to this post. Also, please don't forgot to leave me a comment!