The following tips are for preventing a variety of allergy causing situations:
Dust Mite
1) wash bedding weekly in water that is at least 130 degrees.
2) place dust mite covers on mattresses and pillows.
3) replace carpets with solid floors.
4) use low pile instead of shag carpets
5) avoid upholstered furniture, opt for leather or wood.
6) use slipcovers on upholstered furniture and wash in hot water.
7) check filters monthly: air conditioner, furnace, dehumidifier
8) get rid of clutter, dust weekly.
Mold
1) keep bathrooms dry by running a fan when showering.
2) squeegie walls after a shower.
3) use paint or tile instead of wallpaper.
4) fix leaky plumbing immediately.
5) keep humidity below 50% by using a dehumidifier.
Pets
1) keep pets out of the bedrooms.
2) keep pets clean
3) wash pet bedding or clean places they frequently lay down.
4) get hypo-allergenic pets that don't shed.
Pest
1) hire an exterminator if you find bugs.
2) caulk edges where bugs may enter the home.
12.31.2011
Keeping the Bath Sink Clean
We have dual sinks in our master bathroom. My husband uses one, and I use the other. His sink always has toothpaste drips all over the faucet. After watching him to determine why this was, I realized the following:
Water softens the toothbrush bristles, but he was using it to soften the toothpaste on the toothbrush.
I have mentioned this to him, explaining the effect his wet toothpaste has on the faucet. I have invited him to clean his own sink and tried not to look at it. I have frustratingly scrubbed his sink harder and more often than mine. I have given up and ignore him when he is going to brush his teeth.
My opportunity is with my children. They all get out their toothbrushes, wet the bristles, turn off the water, THEN apply toothpaste. They brush while they hum Twinkle Twinkle Little Star twice through, then they turn the water back on and clean their toothbrush, rinse their mouths then the cup. They put their toothbrush in the drawer and get out the floss.
If I am not supervising, I do find toothpaste in various places in the bathroom. On the hand towel, on the shower curtain, in the sink, on the counter. Their bathroom gets cleaned each day and as they grow in maturity and coordination, the mess is less each year. I just use Huggies Natural Care baby wipes for surface cleaning and a nail brush for scrubbing each week. The toilet brush swipes the bowl each day so nothing settles at the water line. The linens are washed regularly and the mirror gets wiped weekly with a natural window cleaner and a lint-free cloth.
In the end, I clean my husbands sink weekly along with the back of the toilet and floors. I love having a clean bathroom. Then I go buy myself a bouquet of flowers for the diningroom table, and smile as I walk through the house or use the bathroom. My husband knows that flowers are less expensive that marriage counseling, and by seeing the flowers I am able to forgive him a wide variety of imperfections. Having something beautiful really makes a difference in the drudgery of house cleaning.
Water softens the toothbrush bristles, but he was using it to soften the toothpaste on the toothbrush.
I have mentioned this to him, explaining the effect his wet toothpaste has on the faucet. I have invited him to clean his own sink and tried not to look at it. I have frustratingly scrubbed his sink harder and more often than mine. I have given up and ignore him when he is going to brush his teeth.
My opportunity is with my children. They all get out their toothbrushes, wet the bristles, turn off the water, THEN apply toothpaste. They brush while they hum Twinkle Twinkle Little Star twice through, then they turn the water back on and clean their toothbrush, rinse their mouths then the cup. They put their toothbrush in the drawer and get out the floss.
If I am not supervising, I do find toothpaste in various places in the bathroom. On the hand towel, on the shower curtain, in the sink, on the counter. Their bathroom gets cleaned each day and as they grow in maturity and coordination, the mess is less each year. I just use Huggies Natural Care baby wipes for surface cleaning and a nail brush for scrubbing each week. The toilet brush swipes the bowl each day so nothing settles at the water line. The linens are washed regularly and the mirror gets wiped weekly with a natural window cleaner and a lint-free cloth.
In the end, I clean my husbands sink weekly along with the back of the toilet and floors. I love having a clean bathroom. Then I go buy myself a bouquet of flowers for the diningroom table, and smile as I walk through the house or use the bathroom. My husband knows that flowers are less expensive that marriage counseling, and by seeing the flowers I am able to forgive him a wide variety of imperfections. Having something beautiful really makes a difference in the drudgery of house cleaning.
Annual Retrospective
What if once a year you asked yourself the same questions and wrote them down for future review? On the inside cover of a single subject spiral notebook you could write some meaningful questions, and then on the first page, write the date across the top, and start answering the questions honestly in full detail to give a picture of who you are at the time. Ask yourself about your hopes and dreams, likes and dislikes, pet peeves and lessons learned, things you are most grateful for and your most precious thoughts to be recorded.
The questions may change, and can be added along with the date on the inside cover. On the outside cover you can write Annual Check In, or New Year Journal, or Birthday Review. Pick a date that brings you to do some self-reflecting and keep it in a place where you will remember to check it out each year. Maybe this is a good time to go through your closet and toss clothes you never wear, or move them into the rotation. Maybe this is a good time to look around your house and ask yourself if you are happy with each item you see. Do your surroundings reflect who you want to be? Are you happy in your environment? Is there anything that you would change if you could do whatever you want? Give yourself permission and see what you can accomplish!
I always thought that I was stuck with my backyard the way that I bought it, when I realized that I had the ability to change it. All I really wanted is a tree moved and more grass planted. Those two things are easy to do, especially if I just work on it an hour a week. My yard looks so much more open and inviting without the tree blocking half of the view. I have also been able to trim and remove other greenery that was crowded and spider infested, so my dark corners are cleaned out and less dismal.
As I look into my closet for something to wear, I sigh because I don't love very many of my clothes. Many of them are waiting for me to lose a few pounds, but the ones that I love, love me the way that I am. I have decided to set aside $5 a week to go shopping at the local second hand store. I don't go clothes shopping every week, so it will add up at the end of the month when I find a sitter and spend the better part of an afternoon browsing and trying on gently used clothes. Wearing clothes that make me smile and feel happy about how I look gives me confidence and helps me be the person I want to be.
The things that we surround ourselves with reflects on who we are. If it is cluttered, we are cluttered inside and we may have trouble improving or accomplishing. If it is warm, and inviting, or cold and impersonal, what does that say about us? What are we trying to say with the things that are around us all of the time? Most of the time, setting aside an hour a week is sufficient to make significant changes over a lifetime. One hour focused on an area. Maybe you can do it while you watch tv. Maybe while you are doing laundry. Maybe while you are upset and trying to work something through in your mind.
For my yard, I have committed to filling my green waste bin every single week. The garbage truck comes on Wednesday, around 5:30 or 6am. I usually check the weather report for the week, and choose the warmest day to set aside an hour or two to clearing out fallen leaves, dead brush, weeds, mowing, trimming back overgrowth. I'm done when my bin is full. The rest is saved for the next week. I find it deeply satisfying to make a difference in my yard each week, and feel happier knowing that I am making progress, and maintaining improvements. I'm also satisfied that I'm saving hundreds of dollars by not paying someone else to do it. Also, I've been able to meet more of my neighbors by being outside regularly for hours at a time.
The questions may change, and can be added along with the date on the inside cover. On the outside cover you can write Annual Check In, or New Year Journal, or Birthday Review. Pick a date that brings you to do some self-reflecting and keep it in a place where you will remember to check it out each year. Maybe this is a good time to go through your closet and toss clothes you never wear, or move them into the rotation. Maybe this is a good time to look around your house and ask yourself if you are happy with each item you see. Do your surroundings reflect who you want to be? Are you happy in your environment? Is there anything that you would change if you could do whatever you want? Give yourself permission and see what you can accomplish!
I always thought that I was stuck with my backyard the way that I bought it, when I realized that I had the ability to change it. All I really wanted is a tree moved and more grass planted. Those two things are easy to do, especially if I just work on it an hour a week. My yard looks so much more open and inviting without the tree blocking half of the view. I have also been able to trim and remove other greenery that was crowded and spider infested, so my dark corners are cleaned out and less dismal.
As I look into my closet for something to wear, I sigh because I don't love very many of my clothes. Many of them are waiting for me to lose a few pounds, but the ones that I love, love me the way that I am. I have decided to set aside $5 a week to go shopping at the local second hand store. I don't go clothes shopping every week, so it will add up at the end of the month when I find a sitter and spend the better part of an afternoon browsing and trying on gently used clothes. Wearing clothes that make me smile and feel happy about how I look gives me confidence and helps me be the person I want to be.
The things that we surround ourselves with reflects on who we are. If it is cluttered, we are cluttered inside and we may have trouble improving or accomplishing. If it is warm, and inviting, or cold and impersonal, what does that say about us? What are we trying to say with the things that are around us all of the time? Most of the time, setting aside an hour a week is sufficient to make significant changes over a lifetime. One hour focused on an area. Maybe you can do it while you watch tv. Maybe while you are doing laundry. Maybe while you are upset and trying to work something through in your mind.
For my yard, I have committed to filling my green waste bin every single week. The garbage truck comes on Wednesday, around 5:30 or 6am. I usually check the weather report for the week, and choose the warmest day to set aside an hour or two to clearing out fallen leaves, dead brush, weeds, mowing, trimming back overgrowth. I'm done when my bin is full. The rest is saved for the next week. I find it deeply satisfying to make a difference in my yard each week, and feel happier knowing that I am making progress, and maintaining improvements. I'm also satisfied that I'm saving hundreds of dollars by not paying someone else to do it. Also, I've been able to meet more of my neighbors by being outside regularly for hours at a time.
12.29.2011
Brain Balance
The new self improvement thing is called Brain Balance. The brain is made up of two hemispheres. Occasionally, we get stuck with unwanted behaviors because we are unable to cross the median and access both halves of our brain. There are physical activities that we can do to encourage a leap between left brain and right brain such as crawling. The amount of progress that can be made by accomplishing a few simple tasks suggested by a trained professional is astounding.
I suggest the following as a jumping off point:
www.brainbalancecenters.com/
www.braingym.org
May you live long and prosper.
I suggest the following as a jumping off point:
www.brainbalancecenters.com/
www.braingym.org
May you live long and prosper.
Creating a Gratitude List
Toward the end of the year or the beginning of a new year, there is much talk about making lists. I was challenged to write a list of 100 things to be grateful for. This seemed immediately daunting, tho I could go incredibly minute, being grateful for each hair on my head, then I found the suggestions below.
List 10 things in each of the following categories that you are grateful for:
physical abilities
material posessions
living people
deceased people
about nature
places on earth
foods
modern inventions
life experiences
things about today
If you write ten things from those ten categories, you have 100 varied items. This is just the jumping off point, and by pondering what else you can be grateful for, I believe you will be surprised and humbled.
Last Thanksgiving the following poem was shared with me, and I've copied a portion of it here:
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times,
For during those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
They give you opportunities to improve.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
They will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes,
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
Because it means you've made a difference.
We are reminded to be grateful for our trials and struggles, and I believe that the easiest way to accomplish this seemingly impossible task is to remember the baby bird who has to emerge from its shell on its own, with no help, to gain the strength necessary for its survival.
As a parent it is difficult to see our children struggle. We can solve their problems efficiently and effectively, but if we do this, we rob our children of the opportunity to grow in that instance. Even offering them the solution keeps them from having to think of it themselves or work toward finding a solution and feeling that satisfaction. This is not to say that we cannot ask them questions that will help lead their thinking in another direction or mentor them in some way that still allows them to grow. How rewarding is it for us then, when they do succeed and we see them reveling in their accomplishment? So much better than the general thought of their innocent incompetence when we used to do it for them automatically.
I am grateful for the miracle of conception and for the opportunity to naturally birth 4 growing and struggling children.
List 10 things in each of the following categories that you are grateful for:
physical abilities
material posessions
living people
deceased people
about nature
places on earth
foods
modern inventions
life experiences
things about today
If you write ten things from those ten categories, you have 100 varied items. This is just the jumping off point, and by pondering what else you can be grateful for, I believe you will be surprised and humbled.
Last Thanksgiving the following poem was shared with me, and I've copied a portion of it here:
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times,
For during those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
They give you opportunities to improve.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
They will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes,
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
Because it means you've made a difference.
We are reminded to be grateful for our trials and struggles, and I believe that the easiest way to accomplish this seemingly impossible task is to remember the baby bird who has to emerge from its shell on its own, with no help, to gain the strength necessary for its survival.
As a parent it is difficult to see our children struggle. We can solve their problems efficiently and effectively, but if we do this, we rob our children of the opportunity to grow in that instance. Even offering them the solution keeps them from having to think of it themselves or work toward finding a solution and feeling that satisfaction. This is not to say that we cannot ask them questions that will help lead their thinking in another direction or mentor them in some way that still allows them to grow. How rewarding is it for us then, when they do succeed and we see them reveling in their accomplishment? So much better than the general thought of their innocent incompetence when we used to do it for them automatically.
I am grateful for the miracle of conception and for the opportunity to naturally birth 4 growing and struggling children.
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