Heather Solos's Blog, page 24
July 20, 2016
I Am Overwhelmed.
Dear Home Ec 101,
I have a condition called skizo-affective disorder (skizofrenia and bipolar). My life and my house are a mess. I don’t even know where to start. Is there a step-by-step online course I can take or anything like that. Any information would greatly be appreciated.
Thank you.
Anonymous
Heather says:
Before I comment any further, I have to be clear that the advice of your physician trumps anything I have to say. Always listen to your doctor over me, I’m just a random person on the Internet who gives out common sense advice. Your physician knows you and your needs much better than I can from a single email. If you are not under the care of a physician please, find one.
You are not alone.
There are lots of people out there who feel just as overwhelmed as you. Many of those overwhelmed people are perfectly “normal,” they haven’t been dealt a crap hand by life and still they are overwhelmed. It happens to people with stable jobs and good marriages, it also happens to people who aren’t living “the easy life”. Either way, you have lots of company.
There is a program like what you’re looking for and it is free. It’s run by a lady named Marla Cilley, but it’s definitely geared toward women. She gives a step-by-step, email-by-email-by-email approach to getting your home in order. Give FLYlady.net a look if you need that kind of guidance.
I think Marla gives sound advice, but I can’t tolerate the number of emails and I’m not particularly touchy-feely. If that’s not for you either, continue reading.
You are not going to get it perfect, ever. No one does. Aim for good enough a majority of the time.
Start with getting your kitchen cleaned up and some food -any food- in your refrigerator. If you can have something to eat without a big hassle or without having to squash down disgust at the state of your kitchen, that’s a little bit of improvement you’ll see at least twice a day. I’m assuming you have a job outside of the home, if you’re like me and work from home, that’s an improvement you’ll see three times a day.
Take a look at the yellow post-it note on my site. (If you’re reading in email, click the title to get to the post on the site) It is clickable and will take you to a weekly chore chart. You don’t have to do it perfectly the first week. It’s also going to take longer than it should that first week because you’re working through all the time you haven’t been keeping up your home. Even if you don’t see a lot of progress the first week, you’re making a difference. It will become much more apparent over time.
Here are 3 points to focus on over the next few days:
Clean your kitchen and get food in your fridge / cupboards
Make sure you have your clothes / uniform ready for work. Know where your keys are.
Make sure your bills / accounts are in order. Ignoring them is not an option.
Those three things will cut down massively on the stress you feel and everyone benefits from less stress in their lives. Providing yourself a semblance of order is empowering; this sense of control can carry over into many other aspects of your life.
If you like audio books, Audible has a free trial.
Try Audible and Get Two Free Audiobooks
You just have to remember to cancel it (set a reminder). I recently listened to two that I found helpful. You are in my thoughts.
Keep in mind that I never buy into any self-help system fully. I listen and find relevant, helpful bits of advice and use those, leaving those that don’t fit behind.
Send your questions to helpme@home-ec101.com
The post I Am Overwhelmed. appeared first on Home Ec 101.
CommentsMuch has already been said – suffice to sum it all up then… ... by GROOVY GOLDENDOODLESMy advice to those feeling overwhelmed for no reason or with ... by Lloyd ClaycombThat was when you needed us the most! I hope someone did come ... by RachelI agree with your timer! i absolutely hate to do the dishes (no ... by Sara MuncyWell, so many people have commented already on this topic, but ... by Alli McFarland CrumleyPlus 18 more...
June 27, 2016
Menu Monday Week #26
Heather says
Every year I delude myself thinking that the end of the school year will result in some down time. I don’t know where I get the idea, but it plants itself firmly in my mind and I hang onto it from February until school is done in late May / early June and then I blink it’s nearly July.
The only thing that really changes is that it is hot.
HOT. Hot. Hot.
The last thing I want to do at 4:30pm is turn the oven or stove on and add more strain to the AC unit. We’ve got a wall of west facing windows and even with blinds, the main floor gets pretty toasty. It’s time for the grill and slow cooker to do their part to keep the house cooler.
Do you menu plan? Would you like a printable to make your menu planning a little easier? Enjoy.
What will you be having this week?
Monday: Caesar Salads with grilled chicken
Tuesday: Chipotle Style Burrito Bowls
Wednesday: Chicken Salad, Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Thursday: Grilled Sausage and Grilled Vegetable Packets
Friday: Fish Tacos (we’ll grill the fish)
Saturday and Sunday are to be determined as we may, we never count on it until it actually happens, have one of those magical weekends where all of the children are at their other parents’. Neat.
Have a great week and if you’re in the US, have a great Independence Day, if you’re elsewhere, just have a great 4th.
The post Menu Monday Week #26 appeared first on Home Ec 101.
June 26, 2016
Inside The Car | Weekly Organizational Challenge #26
Heather says:
Can you believe we’re halfway through the year? Last week we organized the outdoor toys and made sure we had everything needed for outdoor fun.
This week it’s time to clean out inside the car. If you don’t have a vehicle, revisit a challenge you may have missed from earlier in the year.
If you don’t have much time just do a basic cleaning. Grab a bag for trash, a rag, and a vacuum or shop vac. Get the trash out of all the pockets and under the seats, as well as any items that don’t belong in the car. Use a dry cloth to wipe off the dashboard and other non-carpeted areas. Vacuum the seats, floors, and floor mats. Your car will look and feel much cleaner!
If you have more time you can clean the windows, use a cleaner on the dashboard area, wash the floor mats, organize the glove box and trunk, etc.
When you clean out your car, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make sure you aren’t behind on any scheduled maintenance, oil changes etc. If it is time, make getting those items scheduled a priority. Also, check to make sure you’ve got napkins, tissue, and an extra trash bag handy.
Week One
The Coat Closet
Week Two
The Entry Way
Week Three
The Linen Closet
Week Four
Your Clothes Closet
Week Five
The Laundry Round-Up
Week Six
The Pantry / Cupboards
Week Seven
The Refrigerator
Week Eight
Food Storage Containers
Week Nine
Kitchen Counters
Week Ten
The Junk Drawer
Week Eleven
Daylight Savings – clock change
Week Twelve
Medicine Cabinet Clean-Out
Week Thirteen
break
Week Fourteen
Take Stock of Personal Your Finance
Week Fifteen
Organize Bill Payments
Week Sixteen
Begin Menu Planning
Week Seventeen
Organize Your Schedule
Week Eighteen
Get Rid of Book and Magazine Clutter
Week Nineteen
Check for Financial Leaks
Week Twenty
Bathroom Counter / Vanity
Week Twenty-One
Hair and Body Product Declutter
Week Twenty-Two
Week Twenty-Three
Week Twenty-Four
Week Twenty-Five
The post Inside The Car | Weekly Organizational Challenge #26 appeared first on Home Ec 101.
Weekly Organizational Challenge #26 – The Garage
Heather says:
Can you believe we’re halfway through the year?
Last week we organized the outdoor toys and made sure we had everything needed for outdoor fun.
This week it’s time to clean out the car. If you don’t have a vehicle, revisit a challenge you may have missed from earlier in the year.
When you clean out your car, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to make sure you aren’t behind on any scheduled maintenance, oil changes etc. If it is time, make getting those items scheduled a priority. Also, check to make sure you’ve got napkins, tissue, and an extra trash bag handy.
Week One
The Coat Closet
Week Two
The Entry Way
Week Three
The Linen Closet
Week Four
Your Clothes Closet
Week Five
The Laundry Round-Up
Week Six
The Pantry / Cupboards
Week Seven
The Refrigerator
Week Eight
Food Storage Containers
Week Nine
Kitchen Counters
Week Ten
The Junk Drawer
Week Eleven
Daylight Savings – clock change
Week Twelve
Medicine Cabinet Clean-Out
Week Thirteen
break
Week Fourteen
Take Stock of Personal Your Finance
Week Fifteen
Organize Bill Payments
Week Sixteen
Begin Menu Planning
Week Seventeen
Organize Your Schedule
Week Eighteen
Get Rid of Book and Magazine Clutter
Week Nineteen
Check for Financial Leaks
Week Twenty
Bathroom Counter / Vanity
Week Twenty-One
Hair and Body Product Declutter
Week Twenty-Two
Week Twenty-Three
Week Twenty-Four
Week Twenty-Five
The post Weekly Organizational Challenge #26 – The Garage appeared first on Home Ec 101.
June 19, 2016
Organizational Sunday Week #25 – Outdoor Toys
Heather says:
In most of the country, school is out or soon will be out for the summer. Unlike January where everyone is adding layers, mittens, and coats, now we’re applying sunscreen and bug spray.
Today’s mission:
Find a place for all of your: “We’re heading into the great outdoors” necessities. Your kids think the toys are necessities, but there are a few other things that come in very handy.
Locate all of your sunscreen and insect repellant, check and dispose of expired products. Make a list of what needs back-ups or replacements.
Do you have a first aid kit? Someone is going to skin their knee at the worst time. Make sure you have a kit in the car and at least small one in the beach / pool bag.
All of our kids (4) have their own water bottles for the beach / pool. It gets very hot here and even in the water it’s easy to get dehydrated. Each kid keeps track —mostly, there is some serious nagging— of their own color. This helps us narrow down which kid left it where.
And don’t forget to look for and dispose of any broken sand, water and pool toys, recycle what you can.
Click the picture for the list of challenges
A tote or outdoor toy box works great for summer gear and toys. Make it easy to access even if it’s not the prettiest thing to look at. That way there is hope that the kids will at least put some of the toys back in the box instead of all over the yard.
I love to use a drawer for winter things that is accessible all year long. Whenever I find a stray glove or hat I throw them in the drawer. Gloves seem to show up in crazy places in the middle of summer! Hopefully, by throwing them in a drawer, the kids can find a matching pair when it’s time to go sledding. If not – at least they can find one for each hand.
Do you have a great place to store your winter things from winter and your outdoor toys for summer? Leave a comment and let us know!
Good luck!
The post Organizational Sunday Week #25 – Outdoor Toys appeared first on Home Ec 101.
CommentsGot this one done, though it was simplified by the fact that we ... by Narariel
Organizational Sunday Week #25 – Going Outside?
Heather says:
In most of the country, school is out or soon will be out for the summer. Unlike January where everyone is adding layers, mittens, and coats, now we’re applying sunscreen and bugspray.
Today’s mission:
Find a place for all of your: We’re heading into the great outdoors necessities.
Locate all of your sunscreen and insect repellant, check and dispose of expired products. Make a list of what needs back-ups or replacements.
Do you have a first aid kit? Someone is going to skin their knee at the worst time. Make sure you have a kit in the car and at least small one in the beach / pool bag.
All of our kids (4) have their own water bottles for the beach / pool. It gets very hot here and even in the water it’s easy to get dehydrated. Each kid keeps track —mostly, there is some serious nagging— of their own color. This helps us narrow down which kid left it where.
And don’t forget to look for and dispose of any broken sand, water and pool toys, recycle what you can.
Good luck!
The post Organizational Sunday Week #25 – Going Outside? appeared first on Home Ec 101.
June 12, 2016
Organizational Sunday Challenge Week #24 | Under The Bed
Heather says:
This has been edited in light of the current tragedy.
I don’t know the right words on days like today. I think about what keeps me going:
“We are called to the light we are given.”
I think about the phrase “be the light” and I think about the mother of Mr. Rogers’ advice, “Look for the helpers.”
I thought about how silly or callous even it could seem to send this out today.
I also thought about how in the darkest of times sometimes we need some normalcy or to fix something small so we don’t become overwhelmed by the things over which we have no control.
I am sorry so many family and friends received the calls no one should. My heart breaks for you.
***
If you need the normalcy, I understand that, too.
Today we were going to continue organizing the bedroom by cleaning out under the bed. 
It’s amazing how many things can get pushed under a bed. If you can make it fun you might even get your kids to clean out under their own beds. A time limit, a bribe, and a flashlight worked wonders with my kids. Then they spent the next hour playing with the toys they had found way back under the bed. Win-win for me!
Click the picture for the list of challenges
There are lots of under the bed storage ideas on Amazon.
The post Organizational Sunday Challenge Week #24 | Under The Bed appeared first on Home Ec 101.
Organizational Sunday Challenge Week #24
Heather says:
This has been edited in light of the current tragedy.
I don’t know the right words on days like today. I think about what keeps me going:
“We are called to the light we are given.”
I think about the phrase “be the light” and I think about the mother of Mr. Rogers’ advice, “Look for the helpers.”
I thought about how silly or callous even it could seem to send this out today.
I also thought about how in the darkest of times sometimes we need some normalcy or to fix something small so we don’t become overwhelmed by the things over which we have no control.
I am sorry so many family and friends received the calls no one should. My heart breaks for you.
***
If you need the normalcy, I understand that, too.
Today we were going to continue organizing the bedroom. Today’s challenge was / is to clean out under the bed.
The post Organizational Sunday Challenge Week #24 appeared first on Home Ec 101.
June 10, 2016
Can We Talk?
Heather says
You may find this funny; it’s been a few weeks, and I’m still somewhere between puzzled and amused.
There was recently a request, from an individual, for this site to test multiple smooth stovetops and rate them by manufacturer and glass type. I am hoping that this person just doesn’t realize that:
a) that’s what Consumer Reports is for
b) I’d have to take out a sizable loan
c) this website is my second job, my head hurts thinking about the amount of time that would involve
d) even I don’t cook enough to seriously test multiple ranges
e) the ad revenue for that post or series would never begin to repay the amount of money it would take to create, it probably wouldn’t even chip away at the interest
f) I’m saving up to have a gas line run to the kitchen, the sooner I can kiss our smooth top range goodbye, the happier I’ll be.
I promise I didn’t cause the bubbles in your smooth top range, contact the manufacturer and if you don’t like their answer, don’t buy from them again. Yes, it sucks. You may not get your money back, especially if you didn’t follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
It is kind of funny, right? Except when it isn’t. I’ve been deleting a lot of rude comments lately. I don’t know if it is my tolerance has lessened or if it’s just a symptom of the way the internet is changing. Respectful disagreement is fine. There was recently a librarian who took umbrage that I dared suggest donating magazines as a part of decluttering. We both made assumptions, and we’re both wrong. It varies by district or region. Comments like that aren’t what I’m referring to.
The internet is a large place, and if you need someone who is going to freak out over “chemicals” cue scary hand motions, I am not your go-to girl. My kids are no longer babies, and I work full-time. My standards may not be the same as yours; I have learned just to let some things go. Yes, I take reasonable precautions when it comes to keeping the kids, dog, and hedgehog away from harmful chemicals, but the thought of a round of salmonella going through the house ensures that we will use chlorine bleach to disinfect.
Sometimes the answer to how do I fix something is, you don’t. Some things are broken beyond repair or stained permanently. Not liking that isn’t a reason to send me a nasty curse-filled email. Pump the brakes, buddy. I didn’t cause the damage and you didn’t pay me anything except a few moments of your time.
You might not like every recipe posted. That’s okay, too. I enjoy cooking; it’s my hobby and creative outlet, it doesn’t have to be yours. I try to ensure that the ingredients are available for a majority of American cooks. If the spices aren’t easily found at places like Walmart, it probably isn’t going to make the cut, unless it’s for a special occasion. I know I’ve turned my nose up at Walmart, but their grocery pick-up service? That is life-alteringly wonderful. I can get all of my grocery shopping done without having to navigate around people or deal with the checkout clerk not recognizing ginger root. I don’t have to hunt for where they hid the brown rice pasta this week? Fantastic. I give, they win my business for the grocery staples.
Have you ever seen Jim Gaffigan’s entire bit on McDonald’s? I promise this relates.
I’ve never wanted to play the my way is better than your way game. There are enough people and media outlets for that. Let’s quit pretending we don’t have our foibles and shortcomings and give each other a bit of grace.
If we can’t, I’m pulling this site over until we can speak respectfully and kindly to each other.
The post Can We Talk? appeared first on Home Ec 101.
June 5, 2016
Organize Dresser | Organizational Sunday Challenge Week #23
Heather says
This week’s challenge is still in the bedroom, your goal is to clear off the dresser / organize dresser.
As with most horizontal surfaces, dressers tend to become a catch-all. Put any stacks of clothing away and deal with the receipts, loose change, etc. If you are holding on to ticket stubs or other ephemera for scrapbooks, it’s time to figure out a place for them to live while they await preservation.
If you tend to empty your pockets onto your dresser, you may find something called a valet tray useful to corral these items.
Hopefully this week’s challenge is a quick one for you. Have a great week!
Playing catch-up? Here’s what we’ve done so far:
Week One
The Coat Closet
Week Two
The Entry Way
Week Three
The Linen Closet
Week Four
Your Clothes Closet
Week Five
The Laundry Round-Up
Week Six
The Pantry / Cupboards
Week Seven
The Refrigerator
Week Eight
Food Storage Containers
Week Nine
Kitchen Counters
Week Ten
The Junk Drawer
Week Eleven
Daylight Savings – clock change
Week Twelve
Medicine Cabinet Clean-Out
Week Thirteen
break
Week Fourteen
Take Stock of Personal Your Finance
Week Fifteen
Organize Bill Payments
Week Sixteen
Begin Menu Planning
Week Seventeen
Organize Your Schedule
Week Eighteen
Get Rid of Book and Magazine Clutter
Week Nineteen
Check for Financial Leaks
Week Twenty
Bathroom Counter / Vanity
Week Twenty-One
Hair and Body Product Declutter
Week Twenty-Two
The post Organize Dresser | Organizational Sunday Challenge Week #23 appeared first on Home Ec 101.
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