Planning for Success: Purchase Batteries – Day 14

January 14, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 14: Purchase Batteries

If I had known how many batteries we would need once we had children, Paul and I would have purchased stock in Duracell. Besides coming with wires, plastic cases, and complicated packaging, most toys require batteries. Though we keep a stash of the basic types – AA, AAA, C, and D, we rarely have 9-volt batteries in our stockpile.

Since our smoke and carbon monoxide detectors take 9-volt batteries and we change these batteries on Daylight Savings Time weekend, I add a reminder on my calendar to buy batteries.

If the weekend arrives and I don’t have the batteries, then no change is made. By the time the weekend is over, changing the batteries has slipped my mind and will go untouched until the next Daylight Savings weekend.

With Daylight Savings Time occurring this year on March 10 and November 3, I have added to my calendar at the beginning of February and October a notation to purchase batteries. The reason for the early notice is to watch the sales during the month. As most sales run on 6-week cycles, I should find a battery deal within that time frame.

In planning for success, purchase batteries prior to Daylight Savings Time. Having this reminder in my calendar alerts me to the upcoming time change and this important household maintenance. Though our detectors work on electricity with a battery backup, I want all systems in top condition should an emergency occur.

Continue adding your household alerts to your planning tool. With the reminders, you can address these maintenance items in the desired season. Keep using time wisely as you add tasks to your calendar while planning for success. Happy scheduling!

Question: How often do you change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors?

Planning for Success: Schedule Your Annual Home Maintenance – Day 7

January 7, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: iStockphoto

Knowing that a successful year will not materialize on its own, we must plan and prepare for a prosperous 2013.

Throughout the 31 days of January, I will choose one topic each day to prepare or schedule for this year.

Without preparation, I know I will forget, miss, or overlook certain items. If you desire an organized year, then join me in this adventure of Planning for Success for a prosperous 2013.

To receive a daily e-mail around 11:00 a.m. with the new posts of each day, subscribe to my free daily newsletter. In case you miss a post in this series, I will provide the link to each day as the month progresses. 🙂

Day 1: Select a Planning Tool

Day 2: Add Your Priorities

Day 3: Print and Display Your Menu Planner – with free printable

Day 4: Record Membership Expiration Dates

Day 5: Mark Due Dates for Monthly Bills

Day 6: Insert Credit Report Schedule

Day 7: Schedule Your Annual Home Maintenance

Getting these items on my calendar is lifting the weight of trying to remember all these details. By writing them down and assigning them a day or a month, I have plan. Though that plan might change, I know that the information is documented. If I find conflicts, then I can just reschedule.

In progressing on this planning for success journey, I am adding annual home maintenance items to my calendar. If I don’t add these items to our schedule, then I will forget. These items are needed, but quickly escape my mind.

The annual home maintenance items added to my calendar include the following:

HVAC cleaning
Pressure washing
Termite inspection

Your annual home maintenance items might also include:

Lawn and garden treatments
Pest control

By adding these items to my calendar, hopefully, I will get these services completed in the correct season this year. I have had the spring HVAC cleaning done in the summer for the past two years. With the reminder on my calendar at the end of winter, I hope to get my air conditioner and furnace serviced on time this year. 🙂

In planning for success, schedule your annual home maintenance in the recommended season. With a written reminder on your calendar, you can concentrate on your priorities and address these services at their appropriate time. Happy scheduling!

Question: What annual home maintenance items did I miss?

2012 Update Week: Yard Work

December 10, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Welcome to Update Week! During this week, I will follow-up on topics introduced throughout the year. Each day, I will choose one topic from that category. For today, I chose our yard work update.

Back in May and June, I posted about our spring yard work. Though we finished later than planned, I have been able to keep up the weeding.

When I wrote the last post, we had completed our side bed and under our tree. I still had 2 more beds to complete.

For some reason, I can only find the pictures of the one bed. I’m almost positive I took pictures, but I cannot find them. Oh well, here’s an update to the one bed as we cleared it out.

With the yard work complete, I only needed to nip the weeds before our Halloween party.

In November when Paul cleaned out our garage, my son raked our leaves in the front yard. The kids were playing in the little pile of leave before collecting them in the trash bags. Seeing the fun they were having with a few leaves, I took them after school to a field with a huge leaf pile. They had a blast!

This morning, I snagged a few more weeds, and then took a picture. (Our Christmas net lights are on, but I’m not sure you can tell.) With our yard work up-to-date, our home has a clean look within our neighborhood. Keeping the weeds at bay has been worth our time and energy.

As you continue your yard work, take it one area at a time. My kids enjoy helping as they get to wear their own gloves. Giving them a tool encourages them to help which saves me energy and time. Happy weeding!

Question: How is your yard work coming along?

Decorating: Our Nativity Scenes

December 3, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Excitement is in the air at my house. My oldest daughter is 5 years old, and she awoke this morning asking to turn on the Christmas tree lights. Sometimes I think she eats, sleeps, and breaths decorating. She is very creative and in her element when we decorate together.

Bombarded with lights, sparkles, and advertisements aimed at squashing our contentment, Paul and I emphasize the Christ of Christmas. He is the reason for Christmas though we, myself included, can quickly get caught up in the wrapping, purchasing, and wanting mentality.

To focus our hearts and minds on Christ, our family follows a daily advent calendar beginning December 1, and we place nativity scenes around our home. We currently have 5 scenes: crystal set in living room, vinyl cling set on wall in hallway, 2nd grade son’s plaster set, kindergarten daughter’s ceramic set, and toddler daughter’s plastic scene.

Nativity Scene Tradition

Our manger scene tradition began with receiving our first one in our first year of marriage. I love crystal items and am blessed to have beautiful pieces which currently are stored away.

Tracy’s choice: Though I would love to display my beautiful crystal items, my children need freedom to play in our home without fear of breaking these items. As they grow older, I will get to incorporate my things more and more. After all, the crystal is just a thing. For me, building relationships with my children is a higher priority than the decor of my home.

Our first nativity scene consists of 6 crystal figures that rest on a circular mirror. This Christmas decoration has become my favorite. Resting in the middle of our mantel, this manger scene resides at the center of our decorations and our celebrations. Though we have had a few other nativity scenes, I have pared down and only keep this one for our family. I also keep a vinyl cling nativity set that we place on the wall in our hallway.

Nativity Scene Choices

My 7-year-old Son

When my son turned 2, his grandparents presented him with a manger scene. He carefully played with the characters and continues to care for his manger scene.

As our oldest daughter grew more inquisitive, she kept sneaking over to play with her brother’s set. Of course, my son protected his plaster-made manger scene, and we knew it was time to get her a set of her own.

My 5-year-old Daughter

For Christmas that year, my daughter was gifted a Precious Moments nativity scene from a dear friend. Though ceramic, my daughter carefully lines them up and moves them around.

A few figurines have been broken, but all breaks have been mended without noticeable errors. Her set still looks new, and she protects her figurines from harm (i.e., little sister.)

My 2-year-old Daughter

Yep, my toddler is now 2 years old, and she desired her own set. In watching the deals, I found the Little People Manger scene on sale at Family Christian. Using a promotional code, I purchased her set for $24 which was a bargain. Excited to have a manger scene of her own, my toddler plays with her plastic characters and all the animals.

In keeping Christ at the center of our Christmas traditions, Paul and I encourage our children with manger scenes of their own. From plaster, ceramic, and plastic, the nativity scenes are different for each child, but portray the reason for the season.

As we continue our 25 Days ‘til Christmas, our family includes the gifts, Santa visits, reindeer food, Christmas movies, and stockings, but we keep our focus on the Christ of Christmas.

You can follow along as I document our journey this season. I post the result of each day on Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page.

Day 1 – Visited a museum for a Russian Christmas celebration

Day 2 – Decorated our home with nativity scenes

Please join me in the comments or on Facebook sharing your progress in celebrating this holiday season. Happy decorating!

Question: How is your holiday decorating coming along?

Cleaning for the Holidays

November 26, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

With Thanksgiving and Black Friday complete and Cyper Monday here, I am focusing on cleaning our house with an eye on a few items.

We are not in a hurry to purchase. If the price drops within our cost range, then we will snag it. If not, then we will wait. Last year, we bypassed a television that was $50 more than we desired on both Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The week before Christmas, our flat panel was the Amazon deal of the day, and we snagged it for the price we wanted to pay. Research, establish a price, and wait. The deal will come if you are looking. 🙂

In gathering our gifts and deals, I desire a clean, organized space for these items. Over the weekend, I cleaned our living room from top to bottom and rearranged. We now have an empty space for when we set up the Christmas tree.

Though I am planning to clean every room of my house in the coming weeks, you might not have much time. Because I understand your time constraints, I present the Little Time, Some Time, and More Time Methods to cleaning for the holidays.

Little Time Method

If you can only squeeze in a little time throughout the week to clean your home, then try this Little Time Method.

Little Time Method

Monday – General pickup of every room in the house. Allow children to help by playing a game.

Tuesday – Dust every room of your home. Spend no more than 10 minutes per room.

Wednesday – Use disinfecting wipes to clean your bathrooms.

Thursday – Sweep your floors with broom, Swiffer, and/or vacuum cleaner.

Friday – Spot clean any marks on pictures, mirrors, furniture, and floors.

Some Time Method

If you can devote some time to cleaning, then try this Some Time Method.

Some Time Method

Monday – Picking up every item out of place in your home and returning the items to their designated spaces. Children can help run items to their “homes.”

Tuesday – Dust each room of your house making sure to remove all dust from the tops of tables, dressers, and counters.

Wednesday – Clean your bathtubs and showers and then use disinfecting wipes for sinks and toilets.

Thursday – Sweep and mop and/or vacuum your floors.

Friday – Clean all pictures and mirrors, and then spot clean marks on furniture and floors.

More Time Method

If you can spend time cleaning your home, and then try this More Time Method.

More Time Method

Monday – Work through each space of your home putting items away, reorganizing items, and allowing children to help.

Tuesday – Dust each room of your house including the ceiling fans. Use furniture polish to keep the dust bunnies away.

Wednesday – Clean your bathrooms wiping the outsides of the bathtub, shower, and toilet.

Thursday – Sweep and vacuum your floors. Then wash your hard floors by hand and steam clean your carpets.

Friday – Clean all pictures, mirrors, baseboards, and windows. If any marks remain on furniture or floors, then spot clean.

In using time wisely, I prefer the More Time Method about four times a year, and then the Little Time and Some Time Method between the deep cleans. As you examine your time frame, you might only get to squeeze in the Little Time Method. However you prepare, focus on your priorities. Spot clean as needed until your schedule slows down.

Find a system that works for you and your family. With a plan in place, you can focus your attention on executing your cleaning schedule. Happy cleaning!

Question: How often do you clean your home?

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