This photo was taken at a recent Halloween party at our neighbor's home. Read on and you'll find out what we used to make the very realistic beards.

In the video clip in this blog, my sister Peggy and I share some great last minute Halloween costumes and some very good advice.

(You'll notice Peggy has a beard too. In the first segment of the show she demonstrated how to make that beard. You just smear Karo syrup where a beard would be and then roll your face in fresh coffee grounds.) I've discovered a new way to create that beard and it's very "healthy." 

Halloween is wearing a costume. Halloween is scary. But the biggest thing Halloween is, is Halloween CANDY!

You know your kids are going to bring home a pillowcase full of Halloween CANDY, and you know you'll have CANDY left-over after the last witch leaves your porch.

So the question is, What can you do with all that Halloween CANDY?

In this video you'll see what our grandkids did with their haul one year. 

It was 5:30 pm and I hadn’t had a single “savoring moment” in my hour (I try to get in at least four moments per hour), so I asked Terry, “Do you have a few minutes before dinner to spend some “savoring time outside?”

He knows I do this and he said, “Sure!” And off we went hand-in-hand (savoring moment # one)! I wanted to show him our neighbor’s Fire Thorn bush while it was still in the setting sun. (From our kitchen window, it looked like a big, brilliant, red, exercise ball.) We walked to a vantage point on our property where it was in plain sight and I was thrilled to see the sun had continued to spotlight it (savoring moment # two)!

“Oh wow!” he said. (That’s about all I can ever get out of him, when he’s moved to exhilaration.) He ran back in the house to get his camera and shot this picture. 

Once he was satisfied with the shot he got, we left our view of the neighbor’s yard and headed up the steep hill to our drive-way which is 300 feet long leading to the main road. As we walked along the shiny, black pavement from an earlier rain, we both got engaged in the beauty of our little piece of God's earth.

Do you love to make a "To Do" list every day?

When you've established a routine, your daily housework becomes a habit and you don't have to make a To Do list for it or have 3x5 cards to remind you to do it. When you have an established routine, you're hardly ever too busy to do the next thing that needs to be done on a daily basis.

If your kids are grown and you've gotten used to the reduced workload, of raising a family, you've probably forgotten how busy young moms are these days. All it takes is to have one or more grandchildren for a few days and it all comes flying back to you what our busy moms are dealing with today.

One mom of four said, "When my husband comes home at the end of a long day and wonders what I've done all day, I figure if I can account for all four of his children, I've done my part." 

If you're a list maker, do you ever put things you’ve already done on a list, so you can cross them off. That's great if you do. We need all the sense of accomplishment we can get. That got me to thinking, what if we made a list of things we don't have to do today. It'd be very fun and give us a sense of relief!

Today, you don’t have to:

1. Rob a Bank

2. Jump off a Bridge

3. Join the Circus

4. Lock Your Kids in a Box Car

5. Run Off with the UPS Guy 

This is a sweet and inspiring letter from a successful, longtime SHE (Sidetracked Home Executive). It’s so well written, it deserves to be shared (with her permission). Enjoy her humor and SHEness.

Dearest Pam,

You and Peggy came into my life in the early eighties. I sat in the middle of a big, beautiful new house after our tenth corporate relocation, indulging in a well justified tantrum. (I sometimes fear this will be the episode my three now, adult daughters will bring up at my wake.) Not a pretty sight. I enrolled the girls in their new schools that day and took myself to a bookstore for purposes of covert procrastination. It was there where God lassoed me with a copy of Sidetracked Home Executives: from Pigpen to Paradise.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Through your words and your humor and your stories you mentored me, gave me sanity one 3 x 5 card at a time, and were, well...my
friends. The two of you reflected the relationship I had with my sister, except for the fact that we lived 1500 miles from each other. And I'd found myself again a stranger in a new city. I read every book you published again and again and sometimes remember your stories as things that happened to me. (Not a good sign.)

Why Not Turn Dreary into Fun?

Make memories you'll talk about for years to come.

Living in the northwest, we learn early on, we can’t let the rain dowse our fun outdoors. Just make sure you all have play clothes, so you don’t have to worry about messing up your good ones.

Yesterday I was waiting for Terry, standing outside JoAnn's Fabric (he hates to go into fabric stores as it reminds him of when he was little and getting in trouble while his mom was looking through Simplicity pattern books). It had been raining hard and the parking lot had many shallow puddles. I watched a young, harried mom with a sleeping infant in her arms and a two-year-old by the hand, heading into JoAnn's. She was hell bent for fabric. The two-year-old was thrilled with the puddles he managed to stomp in from the car to the store. It made me think, 'we're always going somewhere and what would it be like if we weren't?' What if we set out to have fun? Just think how inexpensive it would be to take your kids to a parking lot after a heavy rain and let them play! I wish you could have seen the joy in that child's face with that quick to the store!

Whether it's just misting or pouring cats and dogs make the most of the wet weather and play with your kids in the rain with these family-tested outdoor activities. 

1. Puddle Play

Mom, you usually discourage your kids from jumping in puddles, so they’ll be shocked and excited when you suggest a splashing contest. Get your play clothes and rain boots on and head out looking for the biggest puddles you can find. Let your kids get soaking wet! Let the child who makes the biggest spray, get to pick the movie the family will watch or be freed from some chore. Give points for the one who gets the wettest. If you’ve got dancers in the family, have them practice some steps they’ve learned.

COME ON Mom, get in the puddles with them! Motherhood is not a spectator sport. Let your kids splash you. All it takes is saying, “Don’t you splash me,” in a way they know you’re daring them to do it. Oh and just think how good a hot shower will feel after the fun!

The holiday season is notorious for inciting panic in women and if they don’t know how to deal with that shoulder-burdening aspect of this time of year, they’re destined to miss what the holidays are really all about…PEACE, JOY, HARMONY. We need free time to re-charge.

Last year at this time I appeared on a local television talk show in Portland, Oregon, to talk about the free day I have in my weekly plan. To bring up this topic, this time of year when most women who work outside their homes can barely find a free hour let alone a free day each week, seemed absurd!

If you'd like to watch that segment, just click on my little Christmas girl. She's my granddaughter Brooklyn who is now a freshman at Berkeley.

Meet Kathy Roberts, The Tidy Tutor. You've probably seen some of my emails mentioning her because we created a webinar together a few months ago, which sold out.

We're doing another live webinar on October 26 at 9:00 EST (NY time) with the sole purpose of helping SHEs get organized just enough to enjoy the holiday season like a child; from the festivities to the underlying spiritual nature of this holy time (as if all time isn't holy).

Here's an email Kathy sent out to her readers yesterday and her video will help you dejunk your dresser and closet. I watched the whole video (28 minutes) and she touches on every aspect of dejunking in a way that will resonate with you. (I did want her to decide on that scarf she mulls over through the entire video, but remember, she's a SHE.) Kathy also offers an opportunity to sign up for her free video series on dejunking other areas of a home. She's a wonderful teacher!

If she inspires you to action, I'd love to hear from you! Just click on her photo and enjoy this dejunking video!

If you are a chocolate lover, you love the smell of chocolate! 

This DIY video shows you how to make your own, inexpensive cocoa scrub, that'll leave you refreshed as it makes your skin smooth as a baby's butt. 

You can make it yourself with ingredients you have in your cupboard. What's fun is this healthy scrub is loaded with carbs, but they're for the outside of your body, not the inside and while you use it in the shower, you'll feel like you're at the bakery!

Watch Karen (my bonus daughter's neighbor) show me how to make this fabulous scrub. As they say in restaurants...."Enjoy!"

1. See the sights

October in our state of Washington and its neighbor Oregon is stunningly beautiful now. Take a drive through the countryside and remember, it’s not too late to get one more picnic in.

What are some famous sights in your area? Go check them out. If you have already been to them, try to discover something new about them. If there aren’t any famous sights in your area, then go discover ones that aren’t famous.

I received an email one day from a woman who challenged my motto “Make it fun and it will get done,” and it caused me to think about what I mean by that. She said something about fun not leading to happiness and since I think happiness is the most important goal we can ever have, (I think it’s more important than being organized) I had to think seriously about my definition of fun.

The word fun can conger up vacations, yachts, fast cars, parties and any of the stuff of brochures luring us to spend money. The brochure brand of fun doesn’t make us happy unless we already are. Don't you know that from experience? This pic was taken at Senior Frogs in Cancun. The Frog definitely knows how to play and get not only children, but adults to have fun if they want to. I remember on that outing one of our grandchildren was upset about it all. It was too loud for her and she wanted no part of it. She was an example that joy has to come from within in order to have fun.

Clooney's Refrigerator

In this video on getting to know your inner child, you'll learn how to talk to her when she's about to put cookies in the cart at the grocery store and how to remind her who's in charge before you even go in the store.

If you're just starting to wrap your mind around this concept of having an inner child, this video will really help!

Here are some questions and some presumptuous answers.

1. Question: Why do you want to be organized? Answer: You know you’ll feel better.

2. Question: What is that you look forward to during the holidays? Answer: Sharing fun, food, celebration and love of God with family and friends.

3. Question: How have those past holidays measured up to your desires? Answer: I wish I’d been more organized.

The answer to question #1 is correct for everyone; we know that getting organized will make us feel better.

When I got organized in 1977 (yes 40 years ago) I knew I’d feel better if I got organized, because I came from a home that was run by a loving BO whose main goal in life was to create a cozy, clean, happy home. My mom accomplished her goal and I was witness to and recipient of the results of what order does for a family.

The holidays can be a really stressful time of year when they really should be so much fun! If we could enjoy the holidays the way children do, every holiday season would be what it's supposed to be...FUN!

Kathy Roberts (The Tidy Tudor) and I are going to help you make the preparations as much fun as the celebration itself. After all if the journey isn’t fun, usually the destination won’t be either!

When you think about it...the events we spend weeks and even months preparing for are over in a flash so why not make all that leads up to them all a part of the celebration so that your efforts will feel well worth it.

I've actually been crowned "Zucchini Queen" in Woodland, WA. Just look at this giant zucchini I took on television yesterday! 

I was 34 years old when I hit bottom. Someone said, “The bottom is a great place to be because there’s nowhere to go but up.” Not until I hit bottom did I surrender to my situation and ask for the guidance that’s available 24/7. That’s when miracles happen. In that moment of surrender I was reminded that even though I was in a mess, I was in the right place with the right people, I was just fine and the only element I really lacked was direction. Following a direction is a spiritual issue.

In my 40 year career helping moms get organized I’ve come to one big conclusion about being organized: it’s about mind management, not time management. There are thousands of books giving you direction, but until your mind is changed the direction won’t be followed.

Before you read the 7 things to think about when it comes to getting organized, I’d like you to pretend I’m one of your guardian angels and you've prayed to get organized and I’ve been assigned to work your case. I love the assignment because I’ve always loved you and to work with you personally is exciting to me!

So, I’m sitting on your chest when you wake up in the morning and I can’t wait to see you open your beautiful eyes so we can start our fabulous day together. But you’re so tired, you miss the joy before you. I should have known that’s how it’d be because you played on the computer until 2:00 am and every time I tried to get you to go to bed, you ignored me. 

When you finally went to bed, I wished you a wonderful night’s sleep, but you didn’t hear me because you conked out before I was finished talking to you. Anyway, now it’s morning and you stagger to the bathroom, tripping over shoes you left in the pathway to the toilet. (I was able to block your fall.) By the way, I love to hear you swear! We don’t get to do it here in heaven, so it’s fun to hear (sort of like when you first tried out a swear word when your mom wasn’t close enough to hear).

As your days progress I try to get a few words in edgewise. Little suggestions like, “Look at your calendar Love,” “Get a drink of water Sweet One,” “That job won’t be that bad, put your timer on for 15 minutes and start Darling,” “Don’t take that comment personally, what he thinks of you is none of your business,” oh and “God loves you,” “I love you,” and “Please be kind to yourself Blessed One.” 

Sometimes you listen and take my guidance, but most times you just don’t hear me or you say, “I’m too busy, too tired or I don’t have time. (I really get a kick out of that last one!  I wish you knew how funny you are when you say, “I don’t have time.” LOL My Adorable One, you have all the time in the world.)

All day, every day I am there and I’ve watched you struggle with this lack of direction for years and years. Your team of angels has led you to the House Fairy and Club Organized and it’s because of us you read, if or when you read Sidetracked Home Executives, and The Joy of Being Disorganized. But I can’t really help you until you let me. Until then I just have to wait, but remember I have all the time in the world too and there is no pressure. 

Mind you, while I wait, I keep myself busy. I’m here to love you and surround you with light which is a fulltime job. Oh, and I’m constantly on the lookout for things that’ll make you laugh, get you to dance, sing and play because when you’re busy enjoying your life you are one with God and that joyful energy lights up the planet.

By the way, you are here to enjoy the ride and I’m like your personal tour guide with wings. Now you can read Pam’s 7 things to think about.

In this video, I explain how the zones work to help you stay on track with housecleaning. Inspired by the "Sidetracked Home Executives," the zones help you focus on one room at a time. Flylady's Flight Plan is the SHE Zone plan. We gave Flylady permission to use it to help you be organized in your home and if you get her Flight Plan but are still confused about how it works, this short video will help.  

Within the House Fairy Program you'll find the Messy Room Rescue series which was a make-over of a real child’s messy bedroom. Sophie, (the child in the video) is my granddaughter and the mother is my daughter, Peggy. Sophie is now a freshman in college and my hope is she’s learned a lot about keeping a neat room. More important than that is that she is an amazing young woman.

Here's video clip from the series.

In order to get organized and run an efficient household you require energy and a desire to follow some kind of plan. A simple plan that directs your days and establishes a routine and habits that serve you, not drag you down. But it’s very hard to follow any plan if you’re down in the dumps. So if you want to stay on top of things, feeling good is really important. 

What if you had an indicator that let you know whether you were flying high or sinking into despair? You really do. It’s just invisible to the eye, but you can always stop and “check in.”     

For an example, where would you rate yourself right now. Are you more happy than sad? Are you more anxious than content? Are you more angry than loving? Are you more afraid than feeling safe? 

There’s really little guesswork in knowing how you feel, because you’re wired to know in any given moment. Unfortunately it’s so easy to ignore the signals. We can get so busy we neglect taking time to check in with what’s going on inside.