Daily Living Room Reset

 If your family is like mine, you spend a significant amount of time in your living room, which naturally becomes a lived-in space.

In the mornings, I dedicate a quick 5-minute or less reset to my living room.

First, I embark on a mission to find any misplaced drinking glasses or food dishes. Then, I gather all the items that need to be returned to their respective bedrooms or offices.

Finally, I tidy up the throw pillows and refold the blankets, ensuring that the living room is in a tidy and inviting state. 

That is all it takes!!

Before bed, kids can be taught to gather up their dishes and either put them in the dishwasher or at least the sink. Afterward, they can grab their phones, tablets, or laptops and return them to their backpacks or rooms. 

Even with two other adults in my household, evenings can be quite sleepy, and things tend to get left in the living room overnight. However, I don’t worry about it. The daily reset routine will restore the room to its tidy and calm state. 

Instead of a daily marathon cleaning session, I prefer a quick swipe-and-gather approach. 

Bedroom Bookcase

We quickly discovered our very full bookcase was going to need a new home... We bought an antique buffet for behind the couch. 

We live in a rental house, and we had to make some quick decisions that wouldn’t result in further clutter and chaos in our rooms. 

We love books. We collect them from antique stores and thrift stores. Once in a while we splurge on a new book from Amazon. Our collection has grown beyond our two bookcases, and there were piles on the bedroom floor and on tabletops. Something needed to change. 

We disassembled our bookcase and decided the best place was an open space in our master bedroom. Hubby had the smart idea of double rows of books rather than continuing with our dangerous stacks. 

Here is our solution:

The least-read books are in the back, and the ones we want to read this fall and winter are in the front. I had just started a new collection of the Bobsy Twins books and bought a few new history and psychology books that I am currently reading. Now we can see what books we have and try not to buy duplicates. Wish us luck!!

We did sort through the books and said good-bye to a few books we had grown weary of reading. We moved my Christmas cactus upstairs with the bookcase and had room to display the five books I have written over the past year. Yes, I have written five books.  They are my pride and joy! 

A few plush friends were brought out of hiding from the closet to guard my written work. 

A few fall flowers from Costco add color to the bookcase and the window. 

The only money spent was on the flowers, and my hubby is happy to let me replenish them as needed.

Our books are safely in the bookcase, and the living room has room to breathe.  It is nice to sit in my chair in the morning, grab a book or two, and enjoy the sunrise or sunshine as it washes over the room. 

P.S.

This space has become one of my favorite spots in the house. So quiet and filled with sunshine... and my favorite books. 

Everyday Graces: A Thank -You Note

Each week, my Grandma would sit down and pay her bills, write letters to friends and family, and write thank-you notes. 

Thank-you notes for others' kind gestures and the gifts I received. One day, she said it was time for me to learn how to write thank-you notes after my birthday. 

We created little cards out of construction paper.  Next, she told me what each card needed to say:

1. Thank you for the gift. 
2. How I was going to use the gift in my life. 
3. To affirm their generosity and my appreciation.  

Some of my cards were simple. “Thank you for the birthday money. I plan to use the money to buy my new school supplies or save it for a dress I saw at the store (or new shoes).  Your gift is greatly appreciated, and I love that you remembered my birthday.

Sometimes, I would share my summer plans or let people know what grade I would be starting next month. For those I knew well who lived far away, I would suggest that we exchange letters throughout the year. 

She then helped me add the address and the stamp. 

Some of the letters I would personally deliver, and it was delightful to see the smiles on their faces when I handed them my card. 

When my son got old enough to write, I insisted that he write thank-you notes.  People love to be thanked. They love to be appreciated. 

Times have changed.  Very rarely, I will text someone a thank-you or email them. But I still love getting out my pretty cards and paper and handwriting a formal thank-you. 

It takes but a few minutes to say “thanks for thinking of me on my special day”.  “Thanks for making my day so much better”. “Thanks for helping me”.  Thanks for being such a great friend/family member”. “Thanks for having us over for supper. The food was wonderful.”

Grab a blank piece of paper, an envelope, and a stamp. Simple things turn into something amazing. A quick text or an email can strengthen the connection between two people. 

Thank you for reading my blog. Your time and your presence are valued here. 

Pumpkin Sugar Cookies- No Chill

 I am always on the lookout for a good cookie recipe. Cookies are my weakness. 

I found this recipe on Pinterest and keep coming back to it year after year, holiday after holiday. 

It is a no-chill recipe. It is not mine, but I am gonna share the recipe with you and leave a link to the original recipe because she is a smart lady and it is wrong to take credit for her hard work!!

• 1 cup of unsalted butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour

The original recipe calls for almond extract. I leave it out of my cookies (I am allergic to almonds). One other alteration to the recipe is: I leave out the salt. My husband and I are both on a low sodium diet.  With one cookie per meal/snack, we are able to keep enjoying this recipe. 

There is no need to put it in the fridge for an hour or more. Just roll it out, cut out your cookies, and pop them in the oven. It is a bit of a time saver.

Here is the link to the original recipe: (a new window should pop up when you click on it).

Sugar cookie Recipe 

I used this recipe for my pumpkin-shaped cookies, Valentine cookies, and Christmas cookies-- every time. 

Enjoy... and have a great month of October with your fall parties, Halloween parties, and bake sales. Oooh, and ahh them with this recipe. 

**The frosting is a thick powdered sugar recipe with orange sprinkles. 

First Dates

The other day, my son was getting ready for another first date. I was hopeful for him. 

He left to fill his car with gas. He came back home carrying a huge bouquet of roses. I must have looked shocked. He quickly explained that "she loves roses". 

I asked him to remind me how long they had been dating and if they were serious. He looked sad and said it was another first date. 

I told him that a whole bouquet of roses was not a good idea.  He looked like I had torn his heart out.  I told him that if his father had presented me with a huge bouquet of roses on our first date, I would have freaked out. 

I was his same age many moons ago, and dating as a girl was scary, even then. I had dated many guys who were desperate to woo me on the first date. Very awkward. 

My son just looked at the money he had spent. I said he could take her one rose or leave them all at home. I wanted to hug him. 

He paused for a few seconds and handed me the roses. He said, "Mom, they are for you". I said thank you, but I thought he should enjoy them himself. 

While he was getting ready for his date, I quickly cut the roses and put them in a blue glass vase and presented them to him. "Put them in your room". I kept a few of the roses and put them in our living room so that the family could enjoy them. I also snuck a couple of red roses in a small vase, and I put them in his bathroom. 

I am hoping the date went well... without the roses.

Watching my adult kid maneuver the dating world is hard for this momma. My husband and I are very honest with our son about dating, romance, and being a good date. Some lessons are painful to watch, and sometimes we can catch things before he makes a mistake. Luckily, he is a good communicator and sees us as safe to come to during this phase of his life. 

Roses are for love and commitment. Choose your dating gifts wisely. 

 

Daily Routines: Laundry

If your home is like mine, there’s always laundry to do.  With small children, the amount of laundry can feel endless and overwhelming. 

Growing up, I watched my mom do multiple loads of laundry every weekend. If she had a spare minute during the week, she would quickly wash the essentials.  As I got older, I was given the task of keeping up with my own laundry to ease her workload.  I did the same with my son, once he could safely reach the dials. 

Now, with only my laundry and my husband's to manage, I still run one load every day. Some days it's clothes and other days it's linens like sheets or towels.  Keeping this simple routine means we rarely run out of clean items. 

One load of laundry a day can do the following:

• Lessens the risk of running out of clean clothes
• Lowers stress levels and reduces the feeling of overwhelm
• Makes the "mountain" of laundry on the weekends almost non-existent, freeing you up for other things.

No one enjoys getting up in the morning only to discover they are out of underwear or their favorite shirt isn't clean.

The visual clutter of seeing clothes tumbling out of an overflowing laundry basket adds to your stress. And having to postpone fun outings-- or give up your weekend-- just to catch up on laundry is the worst.

Instead, grab the basket and toss in a load of whites or towels while you are watching TV or doing other chores.  An hour later, move it to the dryer and go back to what you were doing. Once everything is dry, a quick fold is usually all it takes to keep things under control. 

You can even involve little kids by having them fold washcloths and match up socks. It is a small habit that makes a big difference in keeping the laundry chaos away. 

Doing one load of laundry every day is a simple habit that helps keep laundry from becoming overwhelming. Instead of facing a huge weekend pile, you can stay ahead with small, consistent loads- whether it is clothes, towels, or sheets. This routine reduces stress and prevents last-minute "I am out of clean underwear" moments and frees up your weekends for rest and fun. By involving kids in small tasks like folding small items, you turn laundry into a manageable part of daily life rather than a never-ending chore. 

Everyday Grace around Expectant Mothers and New Babies

My grandmother had a wonderful way of subtly teaching me poise and elegance.

As a girl with numerous male cousins and predominantly male classmates, it was difficult for me to remember the subtle nudges she gave me. However, I eventually managed to learn.

One thing I quickly realized when new cousins arrived was that expectant mothers are beautiful but also tired. Their round bellies and loose, flowing clothes made them look so lovely. 

I was delighted to welcome a new cousin into our family. We made it a point to visit the new little ones shortly after their birth on most occasions. 

My grandma instructed me to keep my hands to myself and to talk quietly around the baby and the tired mom.

As a new mom 25 years ago,  I expected others to have the same respect. Nope! Everyone wanted to touch my belly while I was pregnant or cuddle with my son shortly after coming home from the hospital.  I cringed inside.

Luckily, my grandmother was around shortly after my son was born. She scolded people who tried to take my son out of his carrier or insisted it was their turn to hold him. She strongly encouraged them to wash their hands and not stand so close.

While I was pregnant, a lady came up to me and immediately started to reach out for my very large belly. I swung out of her reach and promptly said I would prefer she not touch my growing belly. She was insulted.  

Our first time in church after our son was born, everyone wanted to hold our son. We insisted that they just look but not touch. Some people were respectful, and others were hurt. 

We chose an old-fashioned name for our son. Quite a few people said they didn't like his name and wanted to know if they could call him something different. We refused most suggestions for nicknames. 

25 years later... here is some friendly advice: 

• Respect a mother's growing belly. The belly is hers. Give her lots of room to move around and get comfortable.
• Respect the baby. Immune systems will increase slowly, just not all on the first outing. Let Mom and Dad handle the carrier or stroller.  If you have had a cold or the flu, keep your distance. 
• If you don't like the name... keep it to yourself.
• If they let you hold the new baby, treasure the moment. 
• The greeting should be "Congratulations," no matter how many children they already have at home. Babies are a blessing. 
• Finally, please keep yourself from suggesting sleep or feeding schedules.  I guarantee you, the mom and the dad are tired from getting so much advice.

A casserole dish of food, a cozy sleeper for the baby, or a gift card for take-out are welcome gifts. And keep visits short. 

A little bit of kindness and grace goes a long way with a pregnant woman or a new mom/dad. 

Are there any ways you have found that show love and kindness to new moms/dads and new babies?  Please share it in the comment section. 

Cabbage Rolls Recipe

 Another one of my favorite recipes from my Grandma is Cabbage Roll

I used to call it "Pigs in a Blanket," but my grandmother said that is not what we were eating.😆 Sometimes I called it that just to irritate her.  She still loved me. 

Here are the ingredients:

• Head of green cabbage
• Large pot of boiling water
• 2 lbs of ground beef/turkey
• 1 cup of white long-grain rice, cooked (rice should double in quantity once cooked)
• 1 large can of tomato sauce 
• One small onion, chopped into very small pieces

Start by browning the ground beef. Ground turkey works, as well. Season the ground beef/turkey with salt and black pepper. Add the chopped onion and cook it until the onions are starting to get soft. 

Cook the rice.

Mix the ground beef/turkey, rice and chopped onion together.

Boil individual large leaves of cabbage, until tender. It should turn a bright green color

While the cabbage leaves are still very warm, carefully fill the leaves with rice and ground mixture. 

Without burning your fingers. Roll the cabbage closed and put them in the pan with the edges down so that the ground beef/rice mixture will stay inside while the dish cooks. 

You will need a 9 X 13 dish or a large oval dish. You might need to squish them in tightly. This is great, as it will help the cabbage rolls from coming apart.

Once you use up all the ground beef and rice mixture, pour the tomato sauce over the cabbage rolls. Err on the side of "enough sauce"; otherwise, the cabbage leaves will get tough in the oven. 

Bake the cabbage rolls in a 350-degree oven for 30-40 minutes. The tomato sauce should be bubbling and the edges of the cabbage golden brown. 

Carefully remove the rolls from the baking dish. You will want a spatula about the width of the rolls. Don't be alarmed if some of the ground beef/rice mixture slips out. 

Cabbage rolls are good with crusty whole wheat bread or my favorite, Knfela (German Dumplings and Potatoes). My grandmother would also serve a green leafy salad with the cabbage rolls. 

As a kid, my favorite thing was to eat the extra ground beef/rice that was left in the pan. So yummy!!

Beware if you under-cook the cabbage in the boiling water or in the oven, the cabbage can be tough. 

Sehr gut!!! 

Daily Bathroom Reset

Nothing says I love you like a clean and tidy place to soak in the tub, wash your hands, or recover when you are not feeling well. A quick daily reset in the bathroom not only keeps things fresh, but it's a small but meaningful way to bless your family. 

A daily bathroom reset takes about 5 minutes per bathroom: -

1. Once you are done in the morning- shaving, washing your face, applying your makeup, and brushing your teeth-- grab ag a clean cloth and wipe down the sink, faucet, and countertop.

2. Give the tub/shower a rinse and then wipe off the faucet and knobs. 

3. Wipe off the outside of the toilet (and the lid) and give the bowl a good scrub with the toilet brush. 

4. Finish by tossing the bathroom rugs in the dryer for a few minutes.  This fluffs the fibers and makes them feel so much more luxurious than a crunchy or flattened rug. 

These tiny habits add up, creating a bathroom that feels calm, cared for, and ready for whatever your day brings. 

When you build this simple daily bathroom reset into your day, you're not just cleaning- you're creating a calm space for the people you love. Start with one bathroom. One small habit. Enjoy the peace that comes with having your home tidy. 

 

Kitchen Reset

Every day, our kitchens become bustling hubs of activity. We end up with dirty dishes and sticky, cluttered counters.  If your life looks like mine, you get up and make lunches and breakfast, and then prepare supper. Sure enough, your sink is filled with dishes,  your countertops are a mix of clean and dirty items, and your stove carries the unpleasant evidence of overflowing pots. 

How to do a daily kitchen reset:

1. Begin by rinsing out the sink and filling a basin with hot, soapy water.

2. Wipe down the microwave and the stovetop.

3. Load the dishwasher with dirty dishes and start it.

4. Wash the plasticware, fragile dishes, and any that didn’t fit in the dishwasher.

5. Wipe down the counters and put away food in the fridge or cupboard/pantry.

By this time, you should notice your kitchen becoming tidy and clean.

6.  Rinse out the sink again and put away any hand-washed dishes.

Stand back and admire your hard work.

Today, I completed all these tasks in under 30 minutes.

Later in the day, the tasks are simple: unload the dishwasher, add any new dirty dishes, wipe off the counters, and rinse out the sink. 

Husbands and kids can help load and unload the dishwasher. They can also remove countertop crumbs and place non-dishwasher items in a sink basin. 

No hour-long cleaning marathons needed-  just a quick reset that keeps your kitchen feeling calm and under control. 

Runza Recipe

My grandmother used to put me on a step stool so I could cook with her. One of our go-to recipes was Runzas. Yummy dough filled with ground beef and cabbage…. Perfectly seasoned with salt and pepper. 

Even as a little girl, I could eat a whole Runza myself. I would dip it in ketchup. 

You will need the following ingredients:

• 1 package of active dry yeast
• 4 cups of all-purpose white flour
• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 2 eggs
  
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter
• About 3 cups of shredded cabbage
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup very warm water
• Dash of salt/salt alternative and ground pepper (in the cabbage mixture)

Start by proofing the yeast in the warm water with the sugar. 

Next, add the eggs and butter. Mix together gently to combine.  

Add the white flour and mix well. You may need a bit more water, depending on your room's humidity. 

The dough should be soft but still firm.

Lightly flour your countertop or cutting board, and knead the dough.  This is important as it helps activate the gluten in the flour. 

Place the kneaded dough in a large bowl, put it in a warm, draft-free space, and cover with a towel for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The dough should nearly double in size. 

While the dough is rising: Brown ground beef or ground turkey in a skillet. Add the shredded cabbage and cook them together until the cabbage starts to soften. 

Roll out the risen dough on a clean, floured countertop. You want the dough fairly thin, but not so thin that it tears. It needs to be thick enough to fold and tuck. 

Take a piece of the flattened dough and spoon some of the meat/cabbage mixture into half of it. Fold the other side over and seal the edges closed. You can make them round or loaf-shaped.  You should get about 8 Runzas from the dough and filling. 

Make sure the seams are pinched tightly, and then place the runzas on an ungreased baking pan. 

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, until the runzas are golden brown on the tops and edges. 

Enjoy the Runzas right out of the oven--- but beware, they will be hot!  

Some people like to eat them with ketchup or ranch dressing. 

***If you want to add some extra fun inside the Runzas, add some shredded jack or cheddar cheese when you add the ground beef/turkey. Mushrooms are also delicious inside. You add chopped onions to the cabbage mixture, which is traditionally done, but I am not a fan of cooked onions.