In order to get organized and run a clean, cozy, efficient household you need energy and desire to follow some kind of plan. You need 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 so very 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.

USA! Proud to be an American? Love our flag and what it stands for? Love our military? Love our men and women in blue? 

I've been watching the exciting news surrounding the festivities in our nation's capitol and I'd love to be there for the celebration! Unfortunately, my husband, Terry, is a combat war veteran and if he gets too close to the fireworks, he suffers the consequences.

So Instead of going to Washington, we'll be here at home on our deck where we overlook hundreds of communities that have fireworks displays...at a distance.

We'll watch what's going on in Washington too, since they'll be in the dark three hours earlier. If you are going to be at the capitol, have a super time!

I'd like to thank the two largest pyrotechnic companies in America, Phantom and Grucci’s for their donations to make this event spectacular. Grucci has been a family-run business since 1850. It's considered among the premium pyrotechnics firms in the world. The Washington show will feature state-of-the-art technology and creations. The 15-minute show, expected to cap the event at 9:07 p.m., will be run by a crew of 25 people operating 18 computer systems. Mr, Grucci said, "The $750,000 tab for the display was footed by Phantom Fireworks, an Ohio-based retailer of consumer fireworks, which often works with the family." 

The show is so big that the family started installing it in Washington on June 25. The logistical challenges were such that the entire show was brought to the site Thursday on 19 flatbed trailers. 

In a salute to America's men and women in uniform, the fireworks display will be choreographed to patriotic music. Each of the nation's armed services will have its own moment. When the music plays for the Army, for example, green fireworks will fill the sky, the Army's symbolic color. For the Navy, the displays will be blue.

When "The Stars and Stripes Forever" plays, the family will reveal its own creation of a fireworks-generated American Flag, 700-feet-wide and 600-feet-high, Grucci said.

Sidetracked Home Executives has been in business for 42 years! That means there are thousands of women out there who have used the 3x5 card file system for organizing their homes and families.  One of the best parts of the system is that it’s flexible and easy to pick back up if, in the course of life, it was abandoned for a few months, years or decades. Here’s a neat letter from one such woman!

Dear Pam,

Wow!  42 years!  I think it was about 1995 (just guessing since it's been so long ago!) when I found you and started using the file system.  You saved my sanity, and probably the sanity of my 5 children and husband.  

We were a poor military family and I discovered yard sales.  I thought I'd died and gone to heaven, because now I could actually buy clothes for my children without making them myself.  I was a pretty good seamstress but even that was expensive.  But of course that backfired on me, and I became addicted.  I bought everything I could afford!  I started to get my life under control and started clearing things out.  Not very efficiently, though, because my kids had by then also become my accomplices at yard sales.  

Anyway, many years have gone by and now the kids are all grown with kids of their own.  I'm cured of my addiction, but some of my kids aren't.  I have one son, a stay-at-home dad with 4 children, ages 2-12.  His wife is a doctor so she's W A Y too busy to help.  He's on his own with the house.  He's pretty overwhelmed, but he’s NOT a clutter bug, so he's wearing himself out trying to keep the house clean. He's usually making excuses that he's too busy picking up after everyone to get them to help, or teach them better habits.  

They're moving from the east coast to the west coast, (I live in Oregon and also have a part-time home in Washington.  Do you have any suggestions about how he could help his family?  I think he might be interested in the card system.  It might be simpler for him, and for the kids.  Do you still have the "Fairy" for the kids?  

Sorry to talk your ear off, but I've wanted to tell you for years how much I appreciate you and all you do!  

Take care,

Lisa 

This is a “what if” blog and it’s just for fun so don’t get all twirled up like it’s political! It isn’t meant to provoke any kind of political narrative to anger you into a public demonstration with signs that say, “Pay Up.”

Let’s start by pretending that on Mother’s Day all adult children owe money to their mothers. Not roses, not brunch, not candy, a call or cards (although those are all really nice too), but MONEY. Here goes…

The reasons for this yearly expense are many, but primarily it’s because a full-time mom never gets paid for her work, which is THE most important work on the planet. No other profession compares with the importance of this job and the world will NEVER address this lack of appreciation.  So what if it were up to the children to do that. After all, who carried them nine months? Nursed them? Rocked them? Changed their diapers? Dressed them? Wiped them? Sang to them? Taught them to ride their bikes? Have good manners? Tie their shoes? Talk? Walk? Pretty much everything we adults can do is because of our moms day-in-and-day-out, 24/7 care.

So what if Mother’s Day was treated the same way our country treats April 15, the day our income tax returns are due? The agency would be called the MRS (Maternal Revenue Service), instead of IRS. The amount of money one owes to the MRS would depend on the income of the child, just like your taxes do? In other words the more successful the adult child is the more it would have to pay.

If you're a SHE, no doubt growing a garden is tempting, but before you go all out to plant one (as I did in 2015), watch this video! 

The biggest lesson learned was.....well watch the video and you'll find out.

There are just some things we SHEs should not attempt.

Happy Easter! May you truly enjoy the magic of this holy time.

Terry and I have been taking vitamin supplements from Jigsaw Health for six years because they were recommended by my physician who has helped my husband and me get healthy on a Paleo diet. We don’t know whether to blame our good health on the low-carb diet, the vitamins or a combination of both. We keep hearing that supplements are useless, but I’m just not ready to go along with that theory, because of our good health.

With my last order of vitamins they sent me a gift (probably because I’ve been such a good customer for so many years). It was a t-shirt that says: “It’s fun to feel good.” Yes, it is fun to feel good, but that sentence got me to thinking.

We humans came here to have fun. Life is supposed to be fun and when it isn’t it means one thing, we’re not in alignment with the reason we’re here. Whatever you call the power that is within the Christ, God, inner being or some other name, it wants you to feel good. That idea, “It’s fun to feel good,” is a great place to start with an exercise in having fun right where you are right now.

A Fun Way to Gradually Streamline Your Wardrobe:

 The Farewell Wearing Ceremony

Spring is what I call my ex-husband season. My ex was always unpredictable and the only thing predictable about him was his unpredictability. Before you unconsciously store the warm sweaters, knits and jackets that are for colder days, to make room in your closet for your spring clothes, remember how ex-husbandy spring’s weather can be and join me in a few Farewell Wearing Ceremonies.

What’s a Farewell Wearing Ceremony? It was coined by my good friend Krista. She’s very organized and she always looks great in her clothes. I used to see her once a week because we sang in a chorus together. She shared with me this fabulous idea she partakes in regularly to keep her wardrobe reflecting just what she loves and therefore wears. I just had to tell you about it, before you unconsciously store your warmer clothes that perhaps have seen better days. 

Putting off writing a thank you note can drain your energy

I was talking to a good friend of mine who is definitely a BO, and I asked her, “Have you ever not written a thank you note for a gift or for having a meal at someone’s house and such?” She answered immediately, “Oh no! Never! Energy drain!” She’s a massage therapist and has studied a great deal in the holistic health field. She went on, “If I didn’t take care of a thank you as soon as possible, I wouldn’t be able to get my mind off the person. Why would someone not take care of it right away?”

Well, Miss BO, here’s why! We’re creative. Our creativity gets in the way of getting a quickie thank you off in the mail (it takes less than five minutes to write a thank you note, address an envelope and put a stamp on it).

We were devastated!

 Years ago, my sister’s neighbor was killed in a freak accident (a tree fell on him in their backyard) and we were all devastated. His poor wife was left with three small children and our hearts were broken for the family.

 My sister spent an hour at the Hallmark store looking for just the right sympathy card, but none seemed to fit the situation. She went home and called me saying she’d like to write her own sentiment and could I help her. Of course I was moved to be part of a thoughtful note to convey our sympathy. I told her to write something and I would make it rhyme.

You are Your Own Best Teacher

If you're a good sleeper, could you teach another person the best way to fall asleep? Probably not, because drifting off to sleep is unique to each person. Terry says I fall asleep within four or five minutes from the moment I put my head on my pillow. If I tried to impose my falling asleep techniques on you I would be remiss. 

Only you can figure out the best way to fall asleep. Sure I could give you some suggestions like, don’t have a television set in your room, turn off the lights and don’t have any electronically glowing digits announcing the exact time, but as far as the ritual that will put you to sleep, it has to be yours alone.

I could not fall asleep in the nude (I’ve tried it and every time, I’ve ended up putting pajamas on.) Mind you I didn’t say nightgown. I can’t sleep in nightgowns because the thought that it will end up all bunched up around my sweaty armpits by morning keeps me awake. I have to have pajamas on and the waist can’t be too tight and I don’t like button up tops because the buttons get between my breasts and bug me.