We are not asking for charity — but instead we are prepared to offer
our precious readers and friends some amazing prices on things to
benefit you, as well as to help our family out of this crisis.

For starters, we are offering ALL of our Homemaking 911 downloads for an amazingly low price.

In addition, over 20 other Christian businesses have added more than $250 worth of their products as a special gift for you. In all, we are giving you over $300 worth of great products for $20.00. We have been overwhelmed by their generosity to help us through this crisis and we hope their products they have sent us will REALLY bless your family.

Oh, one other thing. If you are quick, you could get one of these additional bonuses:

• The first person to order will receive membership to the Notebooking Pages Treasury from NotebookingPages.com (a $74.95 value)
• The second, third, and fourth people to order will receive membership to MomsToolBelt.com (a $15.95 value)
• The fifth person to order will receive the ABC Bible Memory Verse Songs and a Parent/ Teacher Guide from Candace of Sonbeams (over $10.00 value)
• We will use a random number generator to choose ONE very fortunate customer to receive a free Downloadable copy of the COMPLETE “How Do You Do It All” Home Study Course from Mary Jo Tate values at $97.00. This will be chosen from among those who purchase this amazing bundle in the first 24 hours.

Whew! That is a lot of product for just $20!!! Check out the long list of items below. Click the Buy Now button to purchase, and you will taken to the download area upon completion of payment. Thank you for taking advantage of this amazing special offer. This sale ends this Saturday, February 4^th at 8 PM Eastern.

Homemaking 911 Fire Sale, $20

These items are from Homemaking 911:

Product	Description	Value
From Chaos to Order: 25 Tools Bringing Organization to Your Home (MP3)	This encouraging MP3 download, recorded based on our conference presentation is solidly based on the fundamental truth of God’s word, Malia’s personal experiences, and insight gained from working with hundreds of women every year. This workshop session helps turn modern homemakers from overwhelmed to overjoyed! Includes worksheet.	$5.00
High School Graduate Portfolio (PDF files)	A copy of our daughter’s high school portfolio, including her full four year reading list, year by year curriculum and activities, the letter we used with great success to request letters of recommendation, transcript creation instructions, and much more! Many folks have used this resource to get ideas for their high school students. You can also use it as a template of sorts for your own transcripts and college applications.	$9.95
Home Management Binder Podcast with Q & A Session	The home management binder is a great tool for families. This podcast and Q & A session explains the Russell family’s home management binder — how it is used, what it accomplishes, and additional binder ideas that you can use to bring order and happiness to your household.	$5.00
Hot Stone Treatment: Casting Away the Stones of Bitterness (MP3)	This audio MP3 uses God’s word to help transform your thinking so that you can cast away the stones of bitterness and judgmental thoughts and replace them with the ones that will glorify the Lord and bring you peace.	$5.00
Managing the Multi-level Homeschool (MP3)	With several children in different grades, it can be difficult to keep everyone on track and moving at the appropriate pace. This practical workshop will teach you the ideas and techniques we (and others) have employed to effectively manage many grades at once.	$5.00
The Joy of the LORD is My Strength, & Keeping Young Ones Happy and Occupied During School Time (MP3′s)	The Joy of the LORD is My Strength. 10-minute devotional for Home Educators. Keeping Young Ones Happy and Occupied During School Time. This combines our philosophy for keeping young ones happy and occupied during school time with several fun and easy ideas for keeping toddlers busy while the rest of the family continues with school work.	$5.00
Marriage 9-1-1 (MP3)	Taking care of your marriage, while homeschooling, homemaking, and just the basics of self-care can be an elusive task. However, Christian marriages are under attack and need strengthening. What are the most important things you can do to protect and enhance your marriage now? What do you do when things get tough?Malia Russell, joyful wife to Duncan and a home school mother of five children ages 1-21, talks about the struggles women face in marriage and gives practical, biblical help for couples who want their marriages to go the distance. This 24-minute seminar session was given by Malia at the 2009 Christian Home Educators of Kentucky (CHEK) Conference in Louisville KY.	$5.00
Saving Gas Money (e-book)	I spent some time researching ways that I could save gas. After reading dozens or articles, tips and reviews, I KNEW I had to share this information in a concise way for all my readers. I compiled all the useful, practical tips into a quick e-book for my readers.	$3.70
Teaching the Difficult Child (MP3)	Do you have a difficult child? Is everything a struggle? What do you do when one of your children is just “different” and you struggle daily with self-control, patience and loving kindness?Malia Russell, a home school mother of four children ages 4-18, talks about this deeply personal issue and shares biblical precepts and examples to offer you encouragement and practical ideas to make loving the difficult child and the smooth running of your home school a reality. This 25-minute seminar session was given by Malia at the 2009 Christian Home Educators of Kentucky (CHEK) Conference in Louisville KY.	$5.00

Homemaking 911 Fire Sale, $20

Plus these additional bonus items from our friends:

Product	Description	Value
E-Book: The Curiosity Files™- 9 Pack Bundle, from Gena Suarez of The Old Schoolhouse	Want to switch on the excitement mode to science investigations and fun learning? Introduce your child to The Curiosity Files™ and discover some unusually interesting subjects . . . you know, the unfamiliar, zany, and strange things of nature that kids are so attracted to? Professor Ana Lyze and her research “spy” team specialize in the obscure, the abnormal, and the bizarre. They search land and seas for oddities and make each one a star, such as outlandish insects, rare diseases, unique gems, and more. This 9 pack bundle includes: Blue Diamond, Dung Beetle, MRSA, Puffer Fish, Red Tide, Zombie Fire Ants, Blue-footed Booby, Cicada Killing Wasp, and Quicksand.	$46.00
Creating a Business Plan (excerpt from Starting a Micro Business), from Carol Topp of CarolToppCPA.com	This 24 page ebook is an excerpt from Micro Business for Teens: Starting a Micro Business by Carol Topp, CPA. Your teenager (or even mom or dad) can plan to launch a successful micro business with no debt this week with the help of this ebook!	$2.17
Homestead Simplicity: Frugal Clean, from Lisa Barthuly of HomesteadOriginals.com	We share easy to make recipes, frugal tips, & ideas for you to create and simply implement at your own homestead! You’ll learn how to make your own cleaning sprays, Vinegar Hair Rinses, Dishsoaps, our own Lavender Baby Powder, even the coveted “Homemade Laundry Soap” recipe and MANY more!	$4.95
Strategic Shopping, from Candy Foote of CandyFoote.com	Read about how Candy Foote learned to shop in order to be a stay-at-home mother of 12! This book will not only show you how to get the best prices, but it will also walk you through the steps you need to get things for free. You will even learn how to get the stores to pay you!	$10.00
Movie Making Basics for Homeschool Co-op or Movie Making at Home, from Kathy of Toddler Bites Publishing	With the success of Christian films such as Soul Surfer, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, and now Courageous…the movie industry is taking note! Have your homeschooler learn the basics of making movies. Who knows, it may spark an interest that may one day lead him/her down this exciting and worthwhile career path!	$7.99
The Art of Public Speaking, from Dana Wilson of Train up a Child Publishing, LLC (Epi Kardia Home Education)	It has been noted that three out of four Americans suffer from some type of speech phobia with public speaking being the number one noted fear. The inability to speak in front of others can prevent your student from being successful in college and the workplace. The Art of Public Speaking allows you to cover four major types of speeches in a step by step approach.	$39.95
Homemaking 911 Fire Sale, $20
Emotional Wellness Audio Set, from Cindy Carrier of Values Driven Family	Whether you’re just feeling overwhelmed and need some encouragement, or dealing with post-partum blues or bona fide depression, dig into this set of 4 MP3 audios to find out how you can cooperate with God to experience victory over negative emotions.	$4.95
They Pledged Their Lives, from Larry Pruett of Ancient Paths Christian Bookstore	This Memorial Day reading will honor those who have died in the service of our country. Using the example of the founding fathers and patriot Nathan Hale, the two readers remind the audience that the freedoms we enjoy today are ours because of those who “pledged their lives” for America. This dramatic reading would be perfect for a family performance, at a Memorial Day picnic, or at a church gathering!	$2.97
Basic Lined Notebooking Pages, from Debra Reed ofNotebookingPages.com	This e-set contains 200 pages of primary and regular-lined notebooking pages. There are 100 different layouts available in each type of lined format. They are great for any variety of subjects or studies. This notebooking set also includes 25 bonus color border pages! Use these pages for copywork, narrations, writing assignments, reports, science labs, journaling, and more! Use them with a variety of subjects and interests…Bible, history, science, literature, map studies, hobbies, etc.	$12.96
Ruth Study Guide, from Jenn Perry of Bright Ideas Press	Study Guide on the Book of Ruth.	$10.00
Facebook for Business and Lessons from the Proverbs 31 Woman for Moms, from Laurie Neumann of Christian Home Business Connection	Two reports from the Christian Home Business Connection, Facebook for Business and Lessons from the Proverbs 31 Woman for Moms	$5.00
A Homeschool that Handles the Hard Times: A Guide for Christian Homeschoolers (e-book), from Tammy Cardwell of tammycardwell.net	Do you want to know now that you will be able to continue homeschooling even when times get tough? If so, read A Homeschool that Handles the Hard Times: A Guide for Christian Homeschoolers and start building the right foundation today! In just forty pages (Everyone has time to read forty pages!) Tammy Cardwell shares truths she has learned through over 17 years of helping homeschoolers, as well as homeschooling two boys of her own through graduation.	$5.95
Homeschooling through Hard Times Workshop (MP3), from Tammy Cardwell of tammycardwell.net	Is it possible to continue homeschooling when times get tough? Absolutely! Tammy Cardwell, veteran homeschooler and the mother of two admirable young men, has weathered a variety of storms and continued the homeschool lifestyle through it all. This audio workshop comes as a zipped file containing 7 mp3 tracks.	$5.95
Cherry Pie: Recipe for a Successful Christian Homeschool (MP3), from Tammy Cardwell of tammycardwell.net	In her Cherry Pie workshop, veteran homeschooler Tammy Cardwell shares valuable insights into what it takes to have a successful Christian homeschool. This audio workshop comes as a zipped file containing six mp3 tracks. Note: Part of track 5 and the entirety of track 6 were accidentally recorded after the workshop had officially ended. Because the recorder’s microphone had been removed and set aside, the quality of this section is below par. However, due to the worth of the information shared during this question and answer time, we have chosen not to edit it out.	$5.95
Growing Your Groceries (e-book), Kimberly from Joyful Mamma	Do you want to get started gardening, but aren’t sure where to start? Growing Your Groceries can help! Other books may turn gardening into a complicated and expensive hobby; Growing Your Groceries focuses instead on gardening as a way for a busy mom like you to save as much money as possible!	$9.95
Short & Sweet: Short Stories with a Message – E-Book (Volume 1), from Katherine Loop of Christian Perspective	Want to sit down and read a short story to your child that will both entertain and challenge? Try this collection of short stories! Each story is written as a mini allegory and illustrates a spiritual truth in a memorable way that you and your child will not forget. Originally published as part of Christian Perspective’s e-mail newsletters.	$2.99
Science in the Kitchen: Fearless Science at Home for All Ages, from Susan K. Stewart of Practical Inspirations	“Doing” science is the philosophy behind Science in the Kitchen:Fearless Science for All Ages at Home. Susan K. Stewart helps eliminate science-phobia by showing how to use any curriculum at home, where to get science supplies, and take the mystery out of the big three: physics, biology, and chemistry.	$4.95
Phonics Game Set Level One, from Chris Joseph of TeachWithGames.com	This set has 15 games for your kindergarten student’s learning pleasure. I know kids love them and they work!	$7.00
Creative Review Games, from Wendy Toy of ToyTown Treasures	Creative Review Games is a thorough guide to using review with students. It includes the importance of review, how to create questions and directions for games to use with review.	$9.99
Serious Couponing Course, from Mrs. Homeschool of Serious Couponing	The Serious Couponing course covers how to get started using coupons and start saving 30-70% on your grocery bill every month. Our family of 7 went from spending over $800 per month to around $400 a month…and we weren’t starving or eating only rice and beanie weanies. )	$27.00
Coffee Delights Mini Lesson (e-book), from Martha Greene of The Homemaker’s Mentor	In this mini-lesson for Home Qtr. #1 you will find my inspiration for a lovely gift to make and give or just to enjoy at home to bless your family and delight in a special treat. Perfect too for a coffee party! Let’s make some coffee mocha mix, coffee nougats and chocolate-dipped spoons to make it extra special!	$4.79
Valentine’s Day Lapbook with Study Guide (pdf), from Betty Eisenhour of A Journey Through Learning	Your child will learn all about Valentine’s Day in our Valentine’s Lapbook with Study Guide. Our Valentine’s Day Lapbook with Study Guide is 3 folders big, educational, creative and very colorful!	$13.00
American Virtue Magazine January 2012 (Digital Edition), from Melonie Kennedy of American Virtue Magazine	American Virtue Magazine is committed to improving the lives of today’s American families. We believe that by focusing on similarities and common concerns, all Americans can find a voice and a renewed sense of hope.	$5.00
A Quick Guide to Teaching Children with Attention Concerns, from Dr. Christina L. Berry, Ed. D. of One Faith Publishing	A helpful booklet for homeschooling moms who work with children that have attention concerns. This quick reference guide is encouraging and easy to use for the busy home educator.	$9.99
World of People StoryBuilders, from Kim Kautzer of WriteShop	Need a cure for writer’s block? StoryBuilders writing prompts make writing fun for the whole family! These printable card decks provide the basic elements of a story—character, character trait, setting, and plot. Children develop tales—humorous or realistic—by picking one card from each category. Activities and ideas included. Let the fun begin!	$7.95
Winter Word Bank, from Kim Kautzer of WriteShop	A weak or inaccessible vocabulary can be a huge stumbling block to children. They know many words, but they have a hard time thinking of them when it’s time to write. Word banks equip children with topical vocabulary—and when they don’t have to wrestle with ideas, they’re usually much more willing to write. WriteShop’s new Winter Word Bank provides them with an icy blast of words to help them add interesting details when they’re crafting stories and poems about winter.	$1.95
Creative and Crafty Writing for Girls and Boys, from Jan May of New Millennium Girl Books	This is a 12-lesson Christian course that is perfect for homeschool families, co-ops and classes. It combines creative writing lessons with cool crafts that kids love. Even reluctant writers are inspired to create with these inviting, hands-on lessons. Recommended for ages 8-12.	$11.99
Creative and Crafty Writing Student Workbook, from Jan May of New Millennium Girl Books	This book accompanies the Teacher’s Manual (Creative and Crafty Writing for Girls and Boys)	$9.99
Preschool Beginning Notebook Set I, from Diane Hurst of Gentle Shepherd	To help the tiniest tots learn to recognize their numbers and to count, there are several number pages in Gentle Shepherd’s Preschool Beginning Notebook Set I e-book. This set also includes alphabet letter recognition, rhyming, and some songs.	$4.00
Counting Cards, from Diane Hurst of Gentle Shepherd	Here are 15 colorful picture pages, with items to count and place a number tile next to. Fun for young children learning to recognize numerals one through five.	$3.00

Homemaking 911 Fire Sale, $20

And here is part two of this revelation, as a mommy, I mess up an awful lot, too.

And each one is so completely different.  What we experienced with Christina in her teen years will be completely different from what we experience with the rest of the children as they go through these years.

So, entering the teen years once again gives me the opportunity to reflect on some of the most important lessons I have learned over the years, so here we go:

1.  Children, just like adults will make errors, will sin, and will make choices that will have painful consequences.  How I react as a mother speaks volumes to them about how the heavenly Father treats his wayward children, of which I am sometimes one.

2.  Don’t parent in anger or confusion.  If something is upsetting me, I am not thinking clearly.  It is better with an older child to delay making a decision about a problem and let them know you are considering the issue than to make a poor decision in haste.  Last week we had a huge problem and I remembered this.  I spent about an hour in prayer and contemplation on the issue.  The Lord revealed two very clear scriptures dealing with the issues at hand that revealed to me exactly what i needed to do.  If I had made a decision in haste, I would have blown it.

3.  If you are noticing a problem, and keep having a feeling deep inside that something is not right- you are probably right. Do not wait until things blow up to stop and figure out the issue. Stop and pray and discuss it right away.

4.  Be open with your spouse.  My husband is my best friend and is responsible before the Lord for our family.  I should be seeking his advice and ideas when dealing with parenting issues. Just because he is at work or otherwise occupied when things come to light does not mean he should be left out of the equation.

5.  Do not parent out of fear or out of false assumptions.  I know what kind of things I got into in my teen years- and sometimes I judge the hearts of my children based upon the way I did things in my youth.  This is not fair to them and is a tool of the enemy to constantly throw the past into your face.  However, the Lord does use events from the past to make us aware of the possible temptations our children will face.  Do not ignore the past, either.

6.  Remember that it is not personal.  This one can be kind of tough.  I know it seems very personal when your children violate your rules or your trust.  Try to remove yourself from the emotional equation and work on the issues at hand.  It’s hard, and near impossible at times, but it is a worthwhile thing to keep it in the proper perspective.

7. Use less words.

8.  Praise, love, and hope the best for your child at all times.

9.  Teach forgiveness, repentance and restoration.  Do not hold your child at arms length emotionally because they made a mistake. Show them how to seek forgiveness, how to repent of evil and how they can restore the relationships they have damaged through sinful actions. Remember that the relationship is more important in the long run that “breaking” a child’s will.  This does not mean that I do not want to help my child out of a sinful behavior, but I do not want to make threats or ultimatums that will disable my ability to speak into their hearts in the future. Do not forget to seek forgiveness when you make mistakes or sin against them as well.

10.  Pray a lot.  Pray constantly.

This is a kitchen soap dispenser for the home.  I have often wished I had a no-touch soap dispenser when I saw them in public restrooms.  This one is made for the home cook.  It has a unique soap that works great on the dishes, but also works fine as a hand soap as well.

All the children were especially excited to try it- my kids love kitchen gadgets!

Here is how it works;

You place it near your sink.  When you need a squirt of soap, you just place your sponge or hand in front of the dispenser.

It works beautifully.  It was great when I was making chicken and was handling the raw meat.  I was glad to be able to soap my hands for washing without touching the bottle.

The one issue we had was easily resolved.  At first, every time we put dishes in the sink, soap would dispense because they were placed in front of the No-Touch Kitchen system.  Once we realized this problem, we decided to try shifting the bottle back further on the sink- issue resolved.

The soap cleaned the dishes and pans with ease, and I did not notice any drying of my skin in using it. On the down side, The Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System did seem to dispense a more generous amount of soap than I am accustomed to using.

If you like the idea of the totally hands-free operation, I think you will be very pleased with this product.  This is one we will continue using since I do so much cooking and baking!

Here is information on the product from Lysol:

Lysol created a revolutionary automatic, hands-free dispenser with a multi purpose formula that:

• Powers through grease on dishes
• Cleans tough messes on surfaces
• Kills bacteria on hands as it gently cleanses them

All these great benefits in a no-touch design!

The starter kits are available in Sparkling Tangerine and Shimmering Berry.

The starter kit includes: one dispenser, one 8.5oz refill and three AA batteries.

Refills are available in 3 great scents: Sparkling Tangerine, Shimmering Berry, Sunkissed Lemon.

1. Going through the younger children’s room early. Since Daniel naps much of the day I already went through the boy’s room and culled all the outgrown clothes and unwanted/unneeded toys and books. That way I will not lose my momentum because of a napping baby.

2. Start making a mental list of problem areas.

3. Get some empty boxes for things to take to charity and some big black garbage bags for things that need to leave.

4. Come up with some fun rewards you can offer the family for goals met so that they share the excitement.

5. Invite a friend. Having a friend along helps you get rid of things more easily. I have no idea why! But it works. In my case I invited my daughter, Christina to join me for the day and amazingly she agreed.

6. Let the kids and your husband know ahead of time what you are doing so no one makes any other big plans that are going to cause problems during your de-cluttering day.

7. Empty the vacuum bag and get your cleaners ready. You will find dust and dirt when sorting and organizing, so be sure you are stocked up before you begin.

8. Go read about our decluttering challenge, talk it over with your family and get it on the calendar!

http://www.homemaking911.com/2008/02/02/decluttering-challenge/

For Sarah and Anne, they will spend:
1 hour on math (completing one Saxon Unit) daily.
1 hour on reading (using the Robinson Curriculum reading list. Most of these can be found free for the Kindle, a tool we will be using a lot this year. You can put a Kindle App on an iPod touch, a computer, a smart phone and a Kindle.)
1 hour of history 3 days per week. They will cover two large books for the remainder of the school year, both of which are highschool level reading: A People’s History of the United States and We The People.
1 hour of Science 2 days per week. The girls requested to re-do Botany.
1/2 hour of Bible. This will include one lesson in their curriculum, and reading scripture for the balance of the time.
1 hour of writing daily to include: Learning Literature Through language Arts, Foreign Language (Sarah is doing Spanish, Anne is doing Spanish and French), and journaling.
1/2 hour of exercise.
30 minutes of Piano
1 hour of daytime chores and 1 hour of evening chores. Sarah (13) will be responsible for all kitchen cleaning duties and Anne (11) will be responsible for all laundry duties.
They both spend 30 minutes with each sibling in one-on-one time.

David’s schedule (age 6) is shorter.
He will do his daily chores and will assist Sarah and Anne with their chores.
Math- 20 minutes
Reading – McGuffey reader and Teach Your Child to Read in 100 easy lessons
Writing- WriteShop level A- he dictates, I write, he traces the next morning.
Bible time and Art with Anne (30 minutes)
Phonics tapes and fun activity with Sarah(30 minutes)
Piano- 10 minutes
Playing with Daniel (30 minutes)
Exercise

Now, to keep everyone moving, they are required to check in with me before they move to the next subject. I quickly scan the work. If I am able to grade it in just a minute or two I will grade it immediately. If it needs more review, I just check mark and date it for grading later.

1. Time management – what have been my big time wasters in 2011? Where do I need to make changes to be more efficient with my time in 2012?
2. Discipleship of the children. Have I been consistently training their hearts? Have I been systematically working with each child where I should?
3. Spiritual Disciplines – am I seeking God and the disciplines of holiness that I should?
4. Homeschooling- where am I in regard to home schooling? Are the children all on track with the goals set for the year?

Here is what everyone had to say:

Although this movie had no obvious Christian message, it certainly did not have anything in opposition to our faith.  That is very important to me.  The movie is about a boy who helps rescue a dolphin which subsequently lost it’s tail.  Through many trials and turns, the story has a typical feel-good ending.  Although I found the film predictable, the children enjoyed it lot.  It had a lot of great actors in it:  Harry Connick Jr, Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd and Kris Kristopherson.  The true stars of the film were two children played by Nathan Gamble and Cozi Zuehlsdorf, who plays a home schooled young lady with a sweet spirit and quick smile.  Throughout the film you learn that the main character struggles with a father who walked out five years earlier so this theme element may be one you want to avoid if you have younger children.  The young lady in the film likewise lost her mother to death a few years earlier, so their common pain seems to help the children form a bond that helps them both heal. Although these elements brought the children together, they were not a huge focus in the film, for which I was thankful. Here is what the children had to say:

David:  Age 6 “It was awesome.  I would give it five stars.  My favorite part was where the blender blew food all over the place because the kids forget the lid.”

Anne Mary:  Age 11 “I thought it was pretty good.  I would give it four stars. I am kinda into the animal rescue thing, so that was my favorite part. the beginning part was too predictable.”

Sarah: Age 13 ” I liked it a lot. I thought it was very well done, a very cute movie. I liked how they used the real Winter (the dolphin) in the movie. I thought the way they portrayed the characters was really fun. Two thumbs up. 5 stars.”

So, there you have it. All the kids enjoyed it. I liked it as well. It was a safe, positive film for the whole family.

1.  Eliminate some of the noise.  I gotta get the balance back.  Since May I have been baking on Fridays for the farmer’s market on Saturdays.  This means up to 10 hours of baking- on my feet, in a hot kitchen, away from my children.  Then, working the market itself for 5 hours.  I love it and I hate it.  I love the doing.  I hate being away from my children for a whole day.  I do not like ho much energy it depletes from the ones I love. I realize that sounds wimpy and very UNmodern. But it is the reality.  I miss my babies.  So, Duncan and I agreed that my time at the market is ending until next summer, when we will reevaluate.  I feel a little sad about it, but I also feel very relieved.

2.  I need to exercise.  I will do this- for me, and for the children.

3.  I need to take my vitamins.  When I take my Supermom vitamins and my Bee Strong and Berry Well, life is just better. I feel better,  I have more energy.  I have more strength.  It’s not that I do not want them, I just forget to take them, so now I am moving them to my upstairs bathroom next to my toothbrush.  I know you should not store vitamins in a moist environment, but at least I will remember them there.  That will be better than not taking them at all.

4.  I need to cultivate my friendships.  Working too much leads to a huge imbalance, and I have been REALLY missing my close friends.  Monday morning, I am putting some dates on the calendar with some girlfriends.  And I mean it.

5.  I am starting a new in-depth inductive Bible study.  My brain craves input and when I spend time reading fluff I can shrivel up and die mentally. Here is the one I started last Monday:

6.  I am getting my house back in order.  With all the hours I have been working, some of the basics have been neglected.

7.  Get outside in the sunshine and fresh air daily.  Not kidding, I really have to put this on a list or I will work myself to death in a cave and never see the light of day.  My sickly pale fair complexion can attest to this.

8.  I need to increase my water intake.  In April I gave up sodas entirely.  All kinds, all flavors, all colors.   However, I still do not drink enough water.  Lots of times I find myself going about my day THIRSTY because I do not take the time to grab a drink.   This is goofy and can be easily fixed.

9.  I am striking things off my to-do list and moving them to a “I am really never going to do this, but it might be nice if someone else will”  list.  Having open loops, especially ones I can never act upon is just a downer.  This will leave more room in my list for those things the Lord is calling me to do.

Now, if you are in a serious depression or have chronic issues with depression or the blues- this is not medical advice.  This is just one mom sharing with another the things I KNOW have helped me in the past.  It is time I quit singing that song from Alice in Wonderland; “I give myself some very good advice, but I very seldom follow it.”  Of course, I hope to do it before I find myself down another rabbit hole.

Here is my review:

The speed dial on the Masterlock is meant to be a simpler way to remember your combination, while still allowing security and privacy.  You can set your own password or combination on this lock- and can make the combination as long or short as you prefer.

It also features one-hand operation- super for those times you are holding lots of other things.  It also features “No-look” operation.  When you pick your unique combination, you will use one hand to slide the combination in one of four directions.  Once you have it memorized, you will be able to quickly do your combination without looking at all.

Now, the lock I received for review and giveaway is the white lock with the Pink “Search for the Cure” breast cancer ribbon on it- making it a girl- colored lock.

This lock performs well, and the one-handed operation is a big help when approaching a locker with an armload of books (or children, or gym gear!).  The one problem that we had with the lock was that the size of the lock was short and it would not actually close around the gym locker baskets where my husband was trying to use it (his was gender neutral!).

If you would like a chance to win the lock, please enter below.

When we received this bottle, it looked similar to any other concentrated cleaner. We had a tough job to tackle, so I decided to give this cleaner a try. The front porch has siding on it, that somehow collects dirt, grime, dust and sometimes bugs. Our siding is a pale tan color, but over the last couple of years it had changed to a darker brown color. I sent Sarah out with a bucket of water with a small amount of the concentrate and a scrub brush.

A few minutes later she came inside, very excited to tell me just HOW clean the porch siding was looking. I came outside and we were thrilled to see that the porch was back to it’s original color. The degreaser took away all the grime with relative ease.

We have since used it on all kinds of jobs, primarily in the kitchen. We have diluted it for the cabinet fronts, the vinyl flooring, and the fronts of appliances. It seems to work well, and we have not been unhappy with it yet.

We are excited to have one bottle of this to giveaway to one reader. Please enter below if you want a chance to win.

We will contact winners via email and they will have 48 hours to respond. After that, we will select another winner.

Stanley Home is pleased to introduce you to their new Degreaser Concentrate (http://www.shponline.com/english/shop_product_detail.asp?CatID=19&ProductID=2); four times more concentrated than leading cleaners, it powers out tough grease build-up and stains wherever they’re found. Since you use less, you save more, for better results! It is safe for septic systems, bio

Would you like to see a list of innovative ways to use this product?
50 Ways to Use the DEGREASER From Stanley

Kitchen
1. Clean stainless steel sinks using Degreaser and Stanley stainless
steel sponges.
2. To keep drains running smoothly pour 1 tsp. down the drain and
allow to set overnight.
3. Clean garbage disposals by adding 1 tsp. of Degreaser to 1
quart warm water. Pour solution into disposal and allow it to set
overnight.
4. Presoak dishes using 1 capful of Degreaser in your dish-water.
Soak dishes for several minutes, then wash as usual.
5. Regular use of Degreaser in your dishwasher helps prevent
grease build-up in drains.
6. To clean baked-on food from dishes, mix a few drops of degreaser
with hot water & place on the dish. Allow dish to soak for 5-10
minutes before cleaning.
7. Spray Degreaser and allow to set on dried on food on
countertops. Allow cleaner to set 10 minutes, gently use a scrub
brush or sponge to wipe off counter.
8. Use Degreaser full strength to clean baked-on grease on pots,
grill rack and broiler pans. Scrub with a sponge or stainless steel
scrubbers, rinse and wipe dry.
9. To clean outside of your microwave use 1 oz. Degreaser mixed
with 1 gal. warm water. Wipe down with a sponge.
10. Spray the top of the stove with Degreaser when you’ve
finished cooking and are ready to sit down and eat. This makes
for a quick and easy clean-up after mealtime.
11. To maintain your stove’s exhaust fan, periodically remove grease
and lint accumulation from the hood. Soak the mesh wire filter in
solution of 1 tbsp. Degreaser and hot water for 5 minutes. Rinse and
dry.
12. Spray down outside of refrigerator with Degreaser and wipe
immediately with a sponge.
13. Dilute 1 oz. Degreaser in warm water and clean interior of fridge.
14. Degreaser is safe enough to be use on kitchen cabinets. Use 1
oz. diluted in a gallon of water and wipe down with a sponge or
soft cloth.
Bathroom
15. To clean showers and tubs use 1 oz. Degreaser per gallon of
warm water. Wash down with a sponge and rinse well.
16. Clean ceramic tile with solution of 1 tbsp. Degreaser mixed with
1 gallon of warm water.
17. Soak hair brushes and combs in 1 tsp. Degreaser per 1 quart of
warm water. Allow to soak for 10 minutes before cleaning.
Laundry
18. Clean make-up and lipstick off clothing by using Degreaser full
strength on stain. Also removes tar. Launder as usual.
19. To boost your laundry detergent, add 2 oz. of Degreaser to your
wash water.
Miscellaneous Uses
20. Clean children’s plastic and vinyl toys with 1 oz. Degreaser per
gallon of warm water. Rinse well and allow to air dry.
21. Use 1 oz. Degreaser to wash down painted walls and surfaces.
22. Clean vinyl wallpaper with 1 tbsp. Degreaser mixed with 1 gal. of
warm water. Clean with sponge and wipe down to prevent streaking.
23. To clean baseboards add 2 tsp. Degreaser to 1 gal. warm water.
24. For extra cleaning power pour 1 capful into spray bottle of window
cleaner.
25. Spot clean stains from carpet using Degreaser. Spray down
soiled area and use scrub brush for cleaning.
26. To clean Vinyl and Composition Floors dilute 1 oz. per gallon of
warm water. Rinse floor and allow to dry.
OUTDOOR
27. To remove grease from hands, add a few
drops on your hands mixed with hand
soap. Scrub and rinse for a quick cleanup.
28. Make a 50/50 solution of Degreaser &
water to clean Barbecue racks. Spray
racks, insert in large garbage bags.
Allow cleaner to work overnight. Use
stainless steel sponges to clean off the
racks, rinse, and dry.
29. Soak barbecue utensils in solution of 1
tbsp. per gallon of hot water. Allow
utensils to soak for 5 minutes, drain
solution, and wash.
30. Pour 1 capful in garbage can and add
to 1 gal. warm water. Allow Degreaser
to set for 10 minutes. Scrub down can
and rinse.
31. When opening and closing pools for
the swim season spray down, sides,
liners, and steps with Degreaser for
easy cleaning.
32. Clean outside of lawnmower with Degreaser.
33. Scrub down patios and decks with 2 oz. Degreaser per gallon of
water.
34. Power-wash concrete and blacktop driveways using Degreaser.
35. Scrub down outside steps and sidewalk with solution of 1 oz.
Degreaser and 1 gallon of water. Scrub, rinse, and allow to dry
36. Clean screens on windows and doors with 1 oz. Degreaser per gallon
of warm water. Scrub down screens, rinse, and allow to dry.
37. Use Degreaser with a pressure washer to clean vinyl and painted
siding on homes, campers, and trailers.
38. Spray down house gutters with degreaser. Scrub, rinse, and air dry.
39. Clean outdoor furniture made of resin or vinyl with 1 oz.
Degreaser per gallon of warm water. Scrub, rinse, and dry.
40. Vinyl tents can be cleaned with 2 oz. of Degreaser per gallon of
water. Scrub down tent, rinse well and air dry.
41. For bike maintenance spray Degreaser 2x a month on bicycle
chains.
42. Soak greasy tools in 50/50 solution of Degreaser and water.
Allow tools to soak for 10 minutes, scrub, rinse, and dry.
43. Clean vehicles with 1oz. Degreaser diluted in 1 gal. of water.
44. Spray down whitewalls on cars and trucks, scrub and rinse.
45. Use Degreaser to clean vinyl interior of cars & trucks.
46. Clean truck beds with 2 oz. Degreaser in warm water.
47. Spray down chrome surfaces with Degreaser, rinse and wipe dry.
48. Use full strength to clean up motor oil spills.
49. Clean garage floors with 2 oz. Degreaser per gallon of water.
Using a scrub brush, clean from back to front of garage. Rinse
with garden hose and allow to dry.
50. Clean fiberglass boats with Degreaser. Dilute 1 oz. in a spray
bottle, spray, scrub, rinse and dry. Also may be used full strength
for spot cleaning.
Your Home Solutions Company