1. Light a fragrant candle by your sink to enjoy as you wash dishes. I like strong fragrances of McCalls' candles. Their fragrances are strong enough to enjoy throughout my living room and dining room. I've shared a couple of nice fragrances below.
2. Listen to worship music, classical music, The Bible or an audio book you love as you work. I love listening on Scribd. It's an inexpensive way to listen to or read as many books as you wish in a month. Try two free months.
3. Clean one room at a time. Declare it off limits when you're finished with it.
4. Take frequent breaks to do something you enjoy for just a few minutes. Then get back to work. ~smile
5. Use cleaning products that either smell great or are homemade. Here's my super easy super quick laundry detergent recipe.
6. Be thankful for what you have. Thank your husband and the Lord for what they have provided.
7. Start looking at yard sales and thrift shops for things that fit in with what you would like your home to become. Oftentimes, you can find things that are just perfect for pennies on the dollar.
8. Think comfort in all you purchase for your home. Some styles may be pretty; but if you want a cozy home, comfort is what you really want.
10. Ruthlessly get rid of the things that you don't need or enjoy. Think real estate investment!
11. Smile!
12. Pray while you iron.
13. Invite someone over. It's great motivation; and, God tells us to be hospitable. It's also fun!
14. Make time in your day for doing something you enjoy...knitting, sewing, crocheting, writing, reading, whatever it may be.
15. Place your favorite chair near your husband's favorite chair. Reach over and hold his hand. Remember how you did this in your dating days?
16. Seek friendships with ladies who enjoy homekeeping and love the Lord.
17. Try new recipes regularly.
18. Make useful things for your home and for your family.
19. Make things homemade as often as possible. There's such satisfaction in it.
20. Take time for tea hot or iced! Homemade lemonade is refreshing, too.
21. Use it up; wear it out; make it do; or do without!
This list is for me, too. I do many these things, but not all of them. I'm looking for ways to enjoy homemaking, too. I'd love to hear your ideas.
Just Something to Think About....
Blessings to you all from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ....
Laura
Learning to Enjoy Homemaking More and More
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May I suggest?
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* “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”
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Hello Laura!
ReplyDeleteI don't get the time to visit a lot of blogs but I have been to yours now a few times and enjoy it. I wanted to thank you for all the nice comments you leave on my blog.
I really loved this post of yours! I love your ideas on how to make homemaking enjoyable. I do some of the very same things as well and now have a few more ideas to think about! :)
Blessings, Crystal :)
Homemaking Homesteader
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/quiverfull/
I have lit a candle while doing dishes. Actually, I like the feeling of hot sudsy water and the process of washing by hand. I have played worship music while cleaning, cleaning takes me so long to finish because we have too many rooms for me to do at one time. I do thrift or I re-paint furniture to make it look new. My husband and I sit on the sofa in the morning and have coffee together and talk about the day before and what we will do today. I always make time for tea. I cannot sew, but I do try new recipes. Most of my friends have careers that do not render them the time to focus on homemaking, and I feel badly for them. Anyway, your words are encouraging and always so right on target!
ReplyDeleteginny
What a great list! I love your header too! Come visit me to claim your award! :)
ReplyDeleteThose are great! :) I love them!!! Thanks Laura!
ReplyDeleteHello Laura, thank you for visiting and commenting so kindly on my Raising Homemakers post-I'm very glad to meet you :-)
ReplyDeleteI really love this list! Lots of wonderful ideas here. It's so practical, plus fun. That's a great combination to keep us nicely balanced! After I do my housework, I'm going to pour a cup of tea, sit down and read through your lovely blog today. That will motivate me to work quickly lol !God bless you..Trish
What a great post! Lighting candles, listening to good music, praying while you do your work -- all such wonderful, soothing ways to enjoy the blessings of getting to be keepers at home. Thanks for the wonderful list.
ReplyDeleteSo simple, so pretty, so true!
ReplyDeleteHello Laura,
ReplyDeletethank you for linking up today-it's great to have you joining in!
That is such a fabulous list :-)
I love candles..and music is such a powerful tool for setting the atmosphere in the home!
bless you..Trish
I REALLY enjoyed this post. Thank you for blessing us with this. I have to remember when I am feeling in a slump I have to review this list. I bookmarked it in my homemaking folder. *grin*
ReplyDeleteAnd it is so NICE to meet another knitter too. [0=
Blessings in Him<><
-Mary
Wonderful thoughts! I couldn't help but smile while reading these. Homemaking is such a blessed task and it is so wonderful to find ways to remind us of that. Thank you for this list!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice, encouraging list. I'm going to try some of these to brighten my homemaking day, thank you. :-)
ReplyDeleteExcellent suggestions! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJean
What a lovely list! I loved all the sweet little ideas you gave to make your housekeeping more pleasurable, like lighting a candle while do dishes or taking time for tea. Great post!
ReplyDeleteVisiting through the Domestic Arts link up. I love the suggestions and need to try a few other things to make the work of my vocation to be more pleasurable.
ReplyDeletewonderful tips!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of lighting a candle while I do the dishes. I'm going to try that. One thing that I do is to give myself a reward for finishing my work. Like sit and read for an hour before dinner. It motivates me to get my work done.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips!
Hi Laura, I thank God every day that I get to be a home maker. Being a wife and mother is my greatest joy. I have always enjoyed house work and cooking. Your ideas were wonderful. There are those that I do, but others that I would love to try. Thanks for sharing this with Share Your Cup.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jann
p.s. now following you.
Laura...fabulous tips! I love the ones about making things for your home and making some time to do the things you enjoy, like reading or crafts. Oh, and the chairs next to each other is so sweet. Thank you for sharing this at WJIM.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this. I have been a stay at home mom for almost 5 years now I was starting to go a little crazy doing the same thing over and over every day but with this list I can do the same things just a little different and it should help from the everyday getting old.
ReplyDeleteGood advice! :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is a great collection of ideas. They really highlight some of the pleasant things about homemaking. Everything we do has the hard things, but we sometimes forget these things that bless us and our family.
ReplyDeleteHello Laura,
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice to meet you. I am blessed to be doing what I've always wanted to do! Although I could have had a career, I chose to stay at home and raise my children. It is my greatest joy to be a wife and mom.
You shared a wonderful list and some very good tips. I appreciate you sharing your faith in Christ with others in Blogland. Thank you for coming to my HOME and I pray you have a lovely weekend.
Blessings,
Sandi
Thank you for your kind words, Sandi. I found your blog yesterday and hope to enjoy perusing your writings further.
ReplyDeleteMay God bless you and keep you,
Laura
Lane
I like listening to sermons/Bible studies while I work. It helps to think about God while serving my family. Plus,it gives me something interesting ti talk about with my husband when he comes home from work.
ReplyDeleteHannah J
dreamingofperfect.weebly.com
Hi Hannah,
ReplyDeleteI find that I can concentrate on my work around the house so much better when I'm listening to the Bible, a sermon, a teaching tape or even an audio book. It makes the time go more quickly and the work seem easier.
Thanks for talking back!
Blessings,
Laura
What a lovely post! I certainly need those reminders! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking to Tuesdays with a Twist!
What a beautiful post! I really enjoy homemaking. Thank you for taking the time to participate in our HomeAcre Hop! We'd love to have you back again tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThank you Black Fox Homestead!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful inspiration. Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring.
ReplyDeleteDebi and Charly @ Adorned From Above
Thank you, Debi and Charly!
ReplyDeleteLove candles! So many great tips...thanks so much for sharing at Amaze Me Monday.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Cindy
Cindy,
ReplyDeleteThere's just something about watching a flame that is relaxing add a lovely fragrance and it just helps me feel peaceful.
Blessings,
Laura
I enjoy lists and this one is fun.
ReplyDeleteI like #11, smile. I don't think we do that often enough.
Thanks Christine. I know I don't smile nearly enough. It puzzles me why it's so easy to smile at strangers but not at loved ones.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Laura
What a great list... and what a way to be deliberate in our ministry as homemaking wives and mothers. :) Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love this list. Since homemaking is my "career" there's no reason not to enjoy it. :)
ReplyDeleteAs an unmarried homemaker, I definitely enjoyed reading this list :) Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo glad Hannah. Enjoy your life as it is. God will bring change when the time is right.
ReplyDeleteBlessings to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Laura
You're a blessed lady Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteOh, I *love* this list!! Thank you for sharing from your creativity and own experiences!!
ReplyDeleteI'm new here but will definitely be coming back -- I love the homey, encouraging atmosphere and the way you encourage us ladies to happily serve where we are with what we have. Such great lessons!
Blessings to you!
So glad to hear if Frannie. Thanks so much for your kind words.
ReplyDeleteIs this a flashback post? I saw the dates and did a little double check!
ReplyDeleteIt's all still quite appropriate! My friend taught me to pray while I fold clothes. That the different items protect body parts like a shield and the shirts to keep the heart toward God.
I try to pray in thanksgiving when I'm cleaning bathrooms. Primarily because having an indoor bathroom with running water is truly SUCH a blessing!! I think of using outhouses (used them) and running out of one because there were bees inside!! Eeeeeeeek!!! My aunt's farm had the shower about 50 ft. from the back door in an old shed. It was frigid in winter and there were always spiders in the corners! Fastest showers I ever took and that run to the house with wet hair? Brrrr!!! And I was young and fast back then! I can't even imagine doing it now!
Love!
ReplyDeleteIf we were closer, we would be super duper friends!
We share so much love for home and family, my lovely friend.
Thank you for all the tips!
Especially the candle by the sink.
Why did I never think of that?!
Hugs!
You bet we'd be super duper friends! I learned the secret of the candle by the sink during a time when I was overworked at holiday time getting ready for lots of company. It helped me feel peaceful when I looked at the flickering flame.
DeleteHugs back!
Laura
Such great ideas. I'm going to try to incorporate a few in my routine this week. I consider your blog an answer to number 16 for me. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are too sweet Evie. I'd love you to give me your email address so that I can respond directly!
DeleteBlessings,
Laura
Yes, Debby, it's an updated post from the first year I wrote Harvest Lane Cottage.
ReplyDeleteYou are perceptive. ~smile~ Those are good ways and reasons to pray. I never used an outdoor shower, but I do remember spiders in outhouses! I was always afraid there was one nearby that I couldn't see that would bite me. Not a pleasant experience even without the spiders!
So glad you've stuck with me through these past years.
Hugs from Missouruh,
Laura Lane
What a great post and I so needed it. I have been having a case of dissatisfaction lately and I need a reminder of how blessed I am. I am sure this has been brought on by working too hard and being over tired.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really good list and I do many of them. Last week in our Bible study we discussed how important it is to be appreciative.
ReplyDeleteI love this list! I should print it and hang it on my refrigerator.
ReplyDeleteI love this list so much, thank you for sharing your wisdom. I think I may write these all down!
ReplyDelete